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

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Yeah?

[ He says that first, before letting his mind catch up with what that really means. It means they'll have to talk about what happened last night unless Jacopo feels like swerving topics last minute.

But Adolphe will take this as a gesture that Jacopo actually does want to talk about what happened the day before. ]

Edited 2025-08-16 14:28 (UTC)

[ Dear god, they have to talk about last night is hitting his hangover after those words left his mouth.

If they weren't basically living together, Jacopo would have glossed it over and added some distance so things could go back to normal. ]

You... Must feel uncomfortable—and I'm sorry for blurting that out. I had a lot of alcohol, but that was still out of line.

[ He wanted this place to be safe for Adolphe, so it weighs on him that he might have destroyed it. Rubs his face, ashamed all over again. ]

If you wanted to leave and never see me again, I'd understand. I can help you find a place.

[ This really escalated to assumptions, but he's prone to doing that. ]

[ It's a lot, yes, but Adolphe finds it frustrating for some reason—oh. Right. It's being assumed that he feels a certain way. He can't hold it against Jacopo though. He understands... kinda. ]

If I wanted to leave, I would have already left while you were sleeping. But I didn't. So I'm fine staying here. I know that you know better about things too, so I'm not worried about it.

[ ... ]

But me? Really?

[ It still feels surreal. ]

[ Adolphe's words are supposed to assuage the feelings of uncertainty... And they do, but it's hard to not feel nervous and frazzled over a secret he meant to keep in for a while rolling out so unceremoniously. Even with Maria's encouragement, he didn't have intention for it to be soon.

Reassured, yet still ashamed and embarrassed is a good summary. He finishes his first cup of water and reaches for the second, keeping his eyes anywhere else in the room. ]

Is it really so surprising...

[ Grumbly. Perhaps

he had a crush for a while

and had been hiding it for a while,

but also did everything he could to hide it.

Okay, maybe it is surprising? While he thinks his poker face is very good, he doesn't know if someone could see through him. Maria did, very easily. Ugh. ERGHHH. ]

I—suppose... I was also surprised. [ Swirls his cup of water just to do something like a restless idiot. ] When it happened.

But... Yes. You.

[ Adolphe is very surprised, because Jacopo did indeed hide it very well. He didn't suspect a thing. It's surprising, because it's not like he didn't have feeling for Jacopo as time passed, even though he started to gradually work his way through the feelings whether they were of friendship or something more. He was

But he's also surprised that it's still him. It's him? Why? He can't fathom it. He could never fathom being loved like that by anyone. ]

... I'm not sure what to say.

[ Taking another long sip of his water because he can still feel the hangover in the backs of his eyes and head, even though his anxiety easily occupies his whole self. Pretends to be calm, but truthfully he is still a wreck. ]

The good thing is that you don't need to say anything.

[ Jacopo isn't asking him to do anything. They're just both here, having to accept a truth, but it doesn't need to be about that. They have a whole day left, their whole lives ahead, and they can spend it however they want... They can forget this happened. ]

But I did mean what I said and I don't want you to forget.

[ Contrary to his idle thoughts about ignoring it all, he's here saying he wants Adolphe to remember he's loved. He isn't sure where these words are coming from, either. ]

[ Again, he doesn't know what to say to that. What does he do with this information? Fester with it, apparently?! He's not even thinking about being loved right now. He'll think about that later.

No, actually... he's thinking about it right now. His head feels like a mess and he thinks he should say something even though Jacopo said that he didn't have to. He can't just say "okay" and leave it like that. ]

I won't forget—

[ His phone rings its default ringtone that was set a decade prior, probably, and the owner picks it up. There's a deep frown on his face upon hearing who is at the other end of the call. Other than "what do you want" and "bye", Adolphe was quiet the whole time, almost grumbling.

... ]

Sorry, I need to go. When I get back, you better not have booked a motel or whatever.

[ Your problem now!!! Not his!!!! Jacopo feels so free as he finishes his water.

His gaze is dark, close to being a glower, but not aimed to Adolphe... Probably to whomever or whatever sprung up on the call. Snapping out of it, he rolls his eyes a whole revolution when he's scolded. ]

... Everything all right?

[ Hesitantly, after a pause. ]

[ An entire revolution of the eyes. Amazing. Adolphe looks at Jacopo like. Man. ]

... it's a hand check up.

[ If Jacopo wants to go with him, he can. Adolphe usually doesn't ask if anyone wants to come along because he always assumes no. ]

[ A full petulant eye roll revolution just for Adolphe's mild scolding because if Jacopo is going to be treated like a child, then he'll act like one because the hangover is killer.

But right now he's just being a concerned friend, worried in his own way even though earlier it looked like he'd bite whoever was on the phone. ]

A checkup that makes you so irritable.

[ He thinks it over because normally he would join, but... Aren't things weird between them? Won't it just make it weirder and more awkward for Adolphe? Jacopo can easily pretend and enjoys being around him, but he doesn't want to burden him. 800 thoughts per second after the most harrowing moments of his life last night. ]

... If you'd like company...

[ He rubs his neck nervously. Roundabout as usual. ]

[ I think Jacopo should bite whoever was at the other end. ]

... It's the doctor.

[ He holds back on a scowl and quietly sighs. Dealing with the guy isn't something he wants to do right now, but it looks like he needs to go for some reason—that wasn't scheduled beforehand. ]

I don't mind it, but it'll be really boring.

[ He would do anything for you, Adolphe... ]

I'm not expecting to be heavily entertained at a clinic. I'll be providing moral support instead.

[ Slowly, he stands back up and puts the glasses into the kitchen sink for a rinse before he heads to his room to pick out some clothes. ]

Are we going by car?

Yeah.

[ Adolphe is assuming that they are riding his car. His beat up old ass car. ]

I'll go wait outside.

[ And he goes, since he's already dressed for it. ]

[ how many times have they taken Adolphe's car while they've been living together

The dogs will greet Adolphe on his way out though they peer into the cafe like where is their dad.... why has he been sleeping for 800 years, but fortunately Jacopo doesn't take long, either.

He says goodbye to the dogs before they can beeline to Adolphe's car. Taking the passenger seat, he belts up. ]

I hope that it isn't these doctor visits that put you in such awful moods sometimes.

[ Probably not much together... bye dog children. Your dad is fine. Adolphe also puts his seat belt on first before starting the car. His car definitely looks more lived-in than the place he actually lives in right now, probably because he had to make do with a month or so of car housing. ]

What awful mood.

[ He knows he's not the most friendly, but he doesn't think it's often, which is what he's assuming what Jacopo means. ]

[ Sir... You can Live in his place, please. ]

Some Sundays you come back gloomier than usual. Sometimes I wondered if someone died.

[ He doesn't gloss over that Adolphe is a gloomy person and, yes, this is hyperbole. Adolphe doesn't look that bad where a funeral might be planned, but Jacopo tends to exaggerate to prove a point. ]

[ He's doing it!! He just cleans up after himself and it's too spotless... definitely not lived-in.

Adolphe shoots Jacopo a Look before focusing back on the road when they're stopped at a red light. ]

The doctor is just all kinds of annoying about it.

[ Jacopo squints at him when he sees him shoot a look. He's dressed so presentable and yet gives off the aura that he wants to be in bed still.

But he's here in the passenger seat, trying to be comfortable. ]

In a bad way?

[ Just because nagging can be good, even if it's annoying. ]

[ Boy. Mood. But also: ]

Is there a "good" kind of annoying with someone that isn't close to you?

[ He's just a sleepy grumpy dog, Adolphe....... ]

People could have good intentions despite their obnoxious delivery. I'm sure you thought I was annoying at first.

[ Jacopo is well aware of his inclinations to prod, poke, pry, and not leave people alone. ]

So you're admitting that you had good intentions, but your delivery was annoying.

[ Is that what he's saying? Adolphe finds it a little funny.

It doesn't take too long, but they arrive at some sort of hospital, but that's not where Adolphe is going--it's to the smaller offshoot building next to it that seems to be connected to the main facility. ]

... Here we are.

[ Not sure what else to say, he goes inside after getting out of the car, parking, and whatnot. ]

No, I am admitting to good intentions and I gleaned that you might have found it annoying, which you shouldn't have.

[ Which is entirely different. They're here... And Jacopo squints at the main facility, then slowly turns his head to the smaller one.

Should he go in, too? Should he wait outside? Looks at Adolphe like Please Tell Him What He Should Do before he goes inside. ]

[ Adolphe bites back a sigh when Jacopo says that, but pauses when he looks at him as if he's waiting for directions. ]

Come on.

[ He gestures with his hand to follow him inside.

Once he does, the small waiting room has a slight cozy feeling to it. The seats are plush, the decor is full of pastel colors with fake plants. There's a small air filtering machine that softly hums in the corner, usually undetected unless someone looks for it. Adolphe goes up to the counter, talks something over with the receptionist. ]

I'm here for my usual checkup. [ ... ] Yes, I brought someone with me. [ ... ] That's not a problem. [ ... ] Alright.

[ Then he gestures to Jacopo to come follow him again past another door before the receptionist calls out to Jacopo to remember to stay calm at all times, okay? Please?

:) ]

[ Wow... You don't find it funny anymore?

Jacopo follows obediently and doesn't make any comments like how he usually does. Well-behaved in a new environment, ready to make any impression he has to, because despite often being difficult and combative he doesn't want his actions to reflect poorly on Adolphe in any way.

Even though this is a clinic Adolphe frequents, so really it'd be the other way around. He merely looks at the decor, finding it not much to his taste, but no comment. There is some surprise when he's beckoned to follow since he thought he'd be waiting in reception. ]

Of course. [ With a smile. ] I wouldn't be able to provide support, otherwise.

[ Thinking to himself............ Why the warning? Why does he have to stay calm? Isn't this just a checkup? ]

[ The receptionist smiles. Right. Moral support. That sort of thing is always nice to have. Adolphe doesn't comment on it and keeps walking until they reach a room. They walk inside and there's who seems to be a doctor in a lab coat, sitting on a chair, seemingly relaxed. He gets up to greet them, gesturing that Jacopo can sit in the chair in the corner where there are multiple chairs so that he doesn't feel like he's being sat in time-out or anything. Adolphe takes the seat next to the person who's still assumed to be a doctor.

Then finally, he takes off the gloves. One hand is normal, but the other has a thin but sturdy looking hand exoskeleton. It could be something like a prosthesis, considering Adolphe is completely lacking a human hand in that regard. ]

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obdure - 2026-01-19 21:20 (UTC) - Expand

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