THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

[bitemark]

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

Comments

[chrysanths]

[ Cute bird... may you stay like that forever.

But yeah, it's drained. The battery is beeping its imaginary death throes. ]

A walk on the pier?

[ He won't disagree that it's nice, but... ]

... That's fine.

[obdure]

[ It is a cute little robot bird that now once in a while sings baby shark. ]

You sure? We can go home, too.

[ Jacopo seems flexible.

Also, their burgers arrive. Portion is massive with a side of fries that take up half of the tray. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Good. He has done a civil service today. ]

I'm fine with the pier.

[ He looks down at the tray and. ]

Why is this so big...

[obdure]

All right.

[ Jacopo thinks to himself it's been a while since he enjoyed a night stroll at the pier.

Borger. ]

For the price we're paying for, it should be or I'd cause a riot, but it is a little daunting.

[ Squeezes ketchup bottle for his fries. ]

[chrysanths]

Just a little?

[ Adolphe gets his own burger to eat and is actually struggling a little from how big it is. He can't get a bite in no matter how big he opens his mouth.

...

He puts his burger down. ]

This is impossible.

[obdure]

[ If Adolphe looks over to Jacopo, he's cutting his burger like it's a steak... Fork and knife in hand.

Does he look ridiculous? Maybe. ]

Have to get it in our stomachs somehow.

[chrysanths]

[ Maybe he looks ridiculous, but Adolphe can't judge since they really can't eat this thing properly.

You know what. He tries taking a bite out of the bottom half. It's partially successful. Then the to half. A whole bite. Wow!

...

He also feels ridiculous. ]

This is so much.

[obdure]

[ He's just eating it in a prim way, which is fine. He cuts the burger into quarters or something, but doesn't eat yet.

Instead, he's watching Adolphe struggle and lets out a snort... ]

It'll keep you full at least?

[ Doesn't realize he's idly eating fries with a fork now. ]

Maybe you need to really squeeze the burger.

[chrysanths]

If I do that, everything will fall out.

[ The last thing he needs is a mess... the burger eventually gets smaller and smaller as he chips away at it and now it's gone. ]

That was way too much work for a burger.

[obdure]

You should have just ate with a fork and a knife.

[ Jacopo isn't as fast as eating because of it, but he's down to his last bit of burger and a couple of fries.

Passes some fries to Adolphe's plate via fork. ]

Food wasn't that bad, actually. It put up more of a struggle than expected, though.

[ He lifts a hand to wave down their server so they can pay. Have his card. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe looks at Jacopo because the way he worded that sounded as if the burger was sentient and alive.

... ]

I'm full.

[ He passes on the generous donation. ]

I think I would have enjoyed the burger far more if I didn't have a hard time eating it.

[obdure]

[ Well, it was once alive. It once moo'd and grazed grass plains.

Jacopo as he signs and adds tip takes the time to mention the mechanical bird next to them and some oversight about it... Please reconsider the feature. Children are around.

Adds that his friend has made it sing baby shark, which both him and the server have a small laugh about before they leave. ]

Maybe your mouth is small.

[ Says Jacopo who didn't even try to wrestle it. He takes the fries back, but stacks his plate onto Adolphe's since it's empty, then wipes down the table a bit with a napkin. Less work for the servers. ]

I do agree they could have sized it down... Maybe sliders here would be the size of regular burgers.

[ Once he downs his water, he picks himself onto his feet and tucks the chair back under the table. ]

Not so full where you're ready for a nap, right?

[chrysanths]

I don't take a nap immediately after eating.

[ He thinks that's bad for the digestion... also pointedly ignoring the small mouth comment. ]

Let's go. Thanks for the food.

[obdure]

Sometimes that's not a choice.

[ It all depends on how long people can resist the sleepies. Jacopo is all right and rises from his seat so they can leave the rainforest cafe.

Gestures with a hand. ]

Where next?

[chrysanths]

We can go to this one next.

[ He points at the unfurled map.

But we can skip that and fast forward to their walk on the pier. The rest of their zoo outing was uneventful, but still fun. They're now here with the waves lapping up on the shore. ]

It's so empty out here...

[ No people for some reason. The sunset is a nice backdrop. ]

[obdure]

Most people prefer to go during the day so they can actually enjoy the sun and water.

[ Usually, there would be some people, but not this evening it looks like. As if in this moment this is the whole world and there's nothing else.

The sand almost looks like it glimmers under the setting sun. ]

The dogs find a visit to the beach a treat. Maybe next time.

[chrysanths]

Would you throw fetch balls into the ocean for the bigger dogs?

[ He wonders if they like splashing in the water. The salty breeze... he tries not to let it get to him. ]

[obdure]

And exclude poor little Harold? I would never. Especially when he'd struggle moving about looking like a mop after chasing the ball into the ocean.

[ Harold is just a little guy, but he doesn't realize he is. Such is having a pea-sized brain, smart for animals but dumb for humans scale.

He continues to look out as slowly the sun disappears from the horizon and lamp posts start lighting the pier. ]

I used to when it was just Rocco. Fortunately, dogs still find fun in fetch even on the wet sand. Not so fun for me when I have to clean them after a visit. They will whine over the sand in between their toes.

[chrysanths]

[ It gets darker, but Adolphe still finds himself feeling... not so bad about being here, actually. The conversation with Jacopo really helps a lot. Two guys talking about dogs on the beach... nothing weird here. ]

Maybe they like the new texture.

[ Of them stepping onto something new, even if it gets mushy. ]

Do you have an issue on bathing them all at once? Actually, it sounds really tiring.

[obdure]

Well, that texture is a pain in my ass.

[ When you must clean each paw toebean by toebean and there are 16 paws... The things he does to make sure the dogs' skin don't get irritated. ]

I do... Olive and Harold are more excitable, so they wiggle around a lot in the inflatable pool.

[ Adolphe is usually gone when Jacopo has to bathe them, so he doesn't get to see all four dogs in a inflatable pool, some looking sad and some having the time of their lives. Maybe he has caught him shooting one of the dogs in the yard with the hose though like a water gun. ]

Did you want to go to the beach in daylight with them?

[ Is that why Adolphe asked? ]

[chrysanths]

[ Dog bathing 4 dogs sounds hideous even if they can be all well-behaved for it. Then Jacopo tells Adolphe that Olive and Harold are more excitable, which. Sounds fair. He also caught Jacopo using the hose like a water gun at some point, but he decided not to bring it up. It's fine. ]

Oh... no. I was just curious. Everyone has a different reaction to the ocean, even dogs.

[ He's. Doing his best to keep the conversation going, so that's why he's a little caught off guard when Jacopo asks him if he wants to go to the beach in the daylight with the dogs. ]

[obdure]

[ Well, Jacopo isn't going to push it because as he said taking the dogs to the beach can be a pain. They get dirty, so if anything he isn't inclined. If it's just him though then that's fine.

Oh, Adolphe. You're doing great, buddy. Jacopo picks up on the awkwardness and continues, helping him along. ]

I'm from Sicily. Being close to the sea was part of my early childhood until my family up and left. I didn't appreciate a lot of things back then. [ Reluctantly, ] Sometimes even now, but... I like the taste of salt in the air. I missed it.

[ This was more for Adolphe getting out and doing things than it was for him. How silly. ]

[chrysanths]

A bit of nostalgia for you?

[ Jacopo talking about himself really made Adolphe pause and pay full attention. ]

They say you only start appreciating something when you no longer have it in your life... though I only half-agree on that.

You're still living close to the ocean, so maybe it's not too much of a change?

[obdure]

Ideally, it shouldn't get to that point, so I'm with you on half-agreeing.

[ Jacopo keeps looking out to sea, wondering. He eventually made this way here for work, so it's coincidence at most. There have been a lot of coincidences in his life, though. ]

It helps. [ His eyebrows knit before dramatically sighing. ] I don't know what I'm being nostalgic for. I didn't have a lot of good memories in Italy. What do you think of this giant water puddle we call the ocean?

[chrysanths]

[ When a question gets directed at him, Adolphe finds himself staring out into the ocean in silence for a good while. ]

... That it shouldn't be underestimated.