Long ago, Dapper held a year long stint overseas as a server and makeshift cicerone. Regardless of position, most if not all employees of this catering service were expected to pitch in with event setup--wait staff included--and this particular function was a rather large and rather distinguished one! Thus, Dap found himself up and running at an ungodly hour with his fellow co-workers, setting up tables and fineware in the cold autumn dawn. With all of the seating and partitions squared away in record time, the wait staff and kitchen crew were free to relax for a bit before the main bulk of the guests arrived. The soiree would be a day long affair after all, so now was the best time to rest and recoup before the function reached full swing!

Armed with some free time, Dap elects to wander around the palatial estate by himself and take in all the various sights! At some point during his meander Dap stops and to the horizon. The sun finally crests a nearby range of hills, bathing the grounds in a welcome glow of warm light and chasing away the autumn chill. Dap takes a sip from his mug of strong dark coffee and leans against a nearby pillar. He looks up and let's the warm sunlight wash over him as it filters through the trellises, closing his eyes and enjoying the calm of the moment--a calm before the storm, as it were.

Such moments of simple calm are both rare and immensely satisfying, and as such it's always a shame when these moments inevitably pass. As the sunlight fades into shadow and the din of arriving guests grows in the distance, Dap drains his mug to the dregs and heads back to the function with a bounce in his step!
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 Nomax was the artist who made this lovely piece--a familiar name to some I'm sure! I don't count myself as a morning person but there's something almost magical about watching the sun rise with a cup of coffee <3