agora | THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

IL MATTINO

Il Mattino is an Italian cafe sidled between a bookstore and a jewelry boutique in small but popular business district, just a downhill walk from the local non-denominational Christian church and residential area. The ocean is less than a ten minute drive away and within view in the distance. The area is cool even when the sun is at its apex at noon with a tinge of sea salt in the breeze.

The cafe itself is medium-sized with plenty of light let in with the large storefront windows. The decor is simple, but accented with key decor with wheat centerpieces and plants. There are some trinkets that are displayed that may look out of place, like atop the charging counter there's a sliding puzzle painted in pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and all shades in between.

The cafe specializes in coffee and brunch, though pastries are sourced from local Italian bakeries in downtown Little Italy.

While the establishment has two floors, the cafe takes up the ground floor. There is a yard for some reason, but that's because there are four dogs. They're kept separate from the cafe to make sure patrons are not disturbed, but people are free to go outside to pet them. Reviews have mentioned the owner lives on the second floor and the dogs' names are Harold, Olive, Vera, and Rocco.

DRINKS ✦ FOOD ✦ all sorts of pastries available

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The pandas do not give enough distraction for him to ignore Adolphe's voice and escape feeling put on the spot, even though there wasn't intention to do that.

Instantly, he scowls and turns away to bury his red face into his hand. Shit. Fuck. ]

Yeah.

[ What is it? He lost himself for a moment to embarrassment. ]

[ What is it, indeed. Adolphe slowly blinks when he sees Jacopo turn away. ]

You're the one who said you like seeing smiles, Jacopo. Why are you embarrassed...

[ He sees... This could be a way out for him until he finds the occasion to speak the truth, but when will that be? Should he keep waiting for the right moment, the right time?

Why does it feel like he's made that mistake before? Slowly, he turns back, giving him a flat leer and frown. ]

I like your smile, you idiot. There's plenty to be embarrassed about.

[ What.

Hold on.

Adolphe continues his surprised stare at Jacopo. He's not too dense to not know what that could possibly mean, but still. It's a little hard to believe. He wonders if it has to do with how they feel so... "open" with each other. Adolphe still doesn't know how to feel about that and normally he would hate it, but... he doesn't. His brain is just a little fucked differently from canon. ]

Are you... flirting with me?

[ Unlike the first time he asked this question, he asks quietly, slowly, and... as careful as he can. ]

[ Adolphe... you soupy brain... Have you ever seen a million thoughts go through someone's head at once? Maybe that shows in his expression for a second where it's blank.

He opens his mouth, closes his mouth, and there's something in him that wants to bark that he isn'T FLIRTING. FLIRTING? HIM? FLIRTING? CAN'T A GUY LIKE ANOTHER GUY'S SMILE? Wow, he wonders to himself is this murderous intent? FLIRTING? CAN'T SOMEONE SAY SOMEONE ELSE'S SMILE IS NICE? How dare you, Adolphe. How dare you accuse him for being so conniving as to flirt especially with their circumstances. Goddamnit, this is a public space, so he keeps it together.

"Seeing you smile... It feels like I had been searching for it all my life."

What is this insane thought? He can't say that?! ]

I meant what I said. [ FLIRTING IS FRIVOLOUS. He looks like he's so incredibly frustrated and angry (with himself). His eyebrows are furrowed so intensely, but the color on his face just makes him look silly. ] I—am going to walk ahead.

[ Like when he confessed and just decided he will go back to trial. Going to move onto the pandas now to go look at the nearby exhibits. He isn't abandoning Adolphe completely, though. ]

[ apparently not ]

... You can mean what you say and flirt at the same time.

[ He mumbles as he watches Jacopo go for a moment before catching up.

There is a bear exhibit. It puts its huge paw longingly on the glass towards Jacopo when he goes further into the exhibit. ]

[ If Jacopo heard that he'd disagree.

He tries to distract himself with the bear. Thank you, dangerous but cute creature. He extends a hand and hovers over where the paw is. Normally, he wouldn't entertain, but he needs his mind off of it and to CALM DOWN. ]

[ paw through the glass touch... the bear is strangely moved and leans on the glass, mimicking when a dog wants to be petted. Adolphe watches this happen and takes his phone out to record this moment. Not because it's cute, but it's so strange to look at this. ]

[ Animals are so sweet sometimes... How can Jacopo not find it endearing even though bears can easily eviscerate him?

With a soft smile, he lightly taps against the glass in a rhythm with his fingertips, likened to petting but I guess ASMR. Sorry, no pets. ]

[ The bear seems to appreciate it and leaves just as Adolphe walks over to stand next to Jacopo after putting his phone away. ]

Maybe the zoo is a place fit for you. They have all sorts of reactions to you specifically for some reason.

[ His shoulders draw up from the sound of Adolphe's voice. Right. It's not like he totally escaped. He's Adolphe's ride... And he didn't actually want to be that far away from him.

Back to being awkward, but he tries not to be. Is his face less red yet? ]

What a way to say I belong in a zoo.

[ It doesn't have the usual playful cut and bite because he's a mess. ]

[ Jacopo is so affected... Adolphe feels bad for some reason. ]

I didn't say that you belong in one... jeez. Do you like bears?

[ do not feel bad for him. he can just try to figure himself out, except he sulks and simmers... maybe it's a good sign he isn't actually mad or offended. ]

Not in particular... I guess they're all right. They kind of remind me of someone.

The guy who works for you?

[ He forgot his name... sorry man. ]

With how fond you seemed of them just now, maybe that's also the same about the person you're thinking about.

No, not him.

[ Adolphe do you know anyone downstairs aside from Maria. Well, Maria is the only one that matters since she would try to size him up and be nosy.

A bit confused now, but tries to brush it off. ]

I wasn't fond, just... Keeping myself occupied and entertained.

[ Gratien and Maria... ]

Sure. Let's keep you occupied and entertained a little longer.

[ There's a zookeeper that tosses a fish to a bear. It tries catching it with its mouth, but it fails, so it tries to catch it with its paws. The paws fumble and flail a bit before it actually catches the thrown fish. Phew. Nom. ]

[ maria being like :3 hi Adolphe comes closer to him what's up... whatcha doin.... seeing anyone? you should come out more and hang!!! And Gratien just giving the usual bro encounter. ]

What? That's not something you can—[ He gets distracted by the bear trying to salvage what could be a very pathetic catch and honestly he felt his heart almost drop with the fish.

Watching the bear try to have a secure grip on it does have him laugh. ]

Well, it saved itself some heartbreak, not that I think it'd be deterred from eating it if it fell.

[ maria........I am sorry that Adolphe is just "no" about the seeing someone part ]

It definitely wouldn't have, but it looks like people aren't the only ones to have a close save in situations like those.

[ He's never seen an animal do this before. It's pretty funny. ]

I think the bear that was close to you is making weird faces at the zookeeper.

[ it's okay Adolphe... she will ask about your type and can set you up with a cute girl, or a cute boy if he swings other ways. Like she isn't also single. ]

In the wild, the fish would have landed back in the water, so I kind of get it. Still comical, though.

[ He turns to the bear he thinks feels like Marcoh, without remembering who Marcoh is. Bear is staring forlornly at the keeper... Big, round, and importantly sad aura. ]

You know that dogs developed eyebrows to better communicate with us?

[ He was about to take Adolphe's hand, but at the slightest touch of his fingers or palm at his fingertips, he self-consciously swerves to loosely taking his wrist instead.

To see other bears! There are a good amount of them, then I guess it'll be other small-medium forest animals. Arctic time?? ]

[ :agony:

He is surprised about the eyebrow part, but now he's being held by the wrist. At least the right one feels normal.

Arctic time!!! It's chilly in this exhibit, since it's not outside. ]

I think I remember hearing once that polar bears aren't exactly white...

[ But he forgot why. The only reason he remembers this tidbit was because of how outrageous it sounded when he was forced to overhear a conversation. ]

They're not?

[ Jacopo isn't a trivia master of everything, so there are things he doesn't know. Like this. Too bad Adolphe wouldn't be able to answer.

Into the exhibit area which is designed to be something like an arctic cave and the tall glass window lets them see the polar bears swim underwater and play around on land. There are toys set for them, too.

A polar bear is already standing underwater to greet people coming in, nosing the glass and paw placed on it. Hewwo. ]

Mom. But they look white to me.

[ So he will leave it at that. ]

I've never seen polar bears play with toys—

[ here's the polar nosing the glass in front of Adolphe's face and he gets startled, nearly jumping in place ]

... Christ.

[ Oh, Adolphe, he would laugh at you a bit if he didn't think you're a little traumatized. There's a sympathetic and humored smile as he massages his thumb against Adolphe's pulse a bit and leads him away from the glass. ]

You're not going to do an impression? [ like when he was speaking as Harold last night, a small tease. ] They do sometimes, but they prefer to swim.

[ There are two-tier ledges that are meant to be used as seats. A good portion is already taken up by people, but at the edge there's space for them.

He guides Adolphe to sit inward and he'll take the edge to soften any sudden appearances by people coming into the cave. You may be his lonely traumatized depressed dog, but he's also your service therapy dog. ]

[ his therapy dog...

Adolphe actually takes notice of this and he appreciates the sentiment. Bumping into people never stops getting annoying in whatever scenario. ]

... That's enough impressions.

[ He huffs. It feels weird when Jacopo does that with his thumb, but he realizes that he doesn't hate it. ]

That's it? I'm never going to hear another impression of yours again?

[ He's not holding his wrist any longer, at least. No weird pulse check... When it's just simply he wanted to rub his skin for comfort.

They have a nice view of the polar bears, though. The one underwater is still full view and watching the people seated in the cave. It almost looks like it's waving, but then a second one shows up on the land portion of the enclosure and bats a ball into the water. ]

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