Clam Spaghetti
#55 of Roman Life
It's time for another date between Clara and Ale!
Hey everyone!
Yay, another chapter of my ongoing series! We are getting closer to another big event, the week-end at the seaside! But first, we see what Clara and Ale are up to! I hope you will like this chapter, and show that with a fave, a comment or a vote!
All thanks and appreciation goes to the orca-in-chief, Gritou!
Ale paced in front of the restaurant for the fifth time, like a tiger trapped in a cage. Except he was a Rottweiler, and he namely was free to go if he wanted to. Which he didn't. He was dutifully waiting for his girlfriend to arrive, and it wasn't her fault if he had arrived there earlier than the agreed time. Still, it was not in his nature to wait without anything to do...
_"Fascinoso 'sto Giappo1"._Ale thought to himself, peering at the interior of the restaurant of choice for the evening. It had black wood all over it, fancy tapestry thingy with those weird Japanese letters, overall a very Far Eastern-ish air about it, though he was almost sure the cookers and the waitress were Chinese.
The joint did look a bit better than the All-You-Can-Eat Japanese he had gone with Luca that one time. At least the patrons were all sharply clothed, which made him happy to have chosen an elegant, if somewhat sportive, outfit for this outing. He wouldn't have liked to embarrass his date, after all.
Sighing, the buff restorer looked at his watch, noticing that Clara was ten minutes late now. She had warned him of some last minute act at her studio2, but years of knowing and then living with Luca had thought him the value of puntualità3, and being irritated by lateness. It was still in the norm, though, and he knew the sheppie wouldn't let him wait TOO long...
Still, waiting wasn't his thing, and the fact the rottie wasn't that much happy to eat Japanese wasn't helping either. His roommate was much more of a lover for Japanese things, even bringing him to less commercial and more authentic Japanese places, like that ramen restaurant while Luca was on Erasmus4. Which had been delicious and filling, but still not at the same level of a good dish of pasta.
Summed up, the dark canine would have rather went to eat some pizza that evening, something that really quenched his hunger with the right amount of carbo satisfaction; but this place was really close to Clara's office, which meant that she could arrive quickly once done with whatever was keeping her at work. Plus, she had been chirping about it for as long as he could remember....
Yet, the prospective of eating raw fish wasn't a nice for him. "What's wrong with some spaghetti alle vongole5?" Ale questioned himself, starting his sixth round in front of the place, his ears flicking. His mood, which had been bad already, had been exacerbate by this point, but he promised himself not to weight it on Clara; it wasn't her fault her boss was a huge stronzo6, dumping an urgent work without notice.
Leaning on the wall, big arms crossed on his well developed and green-shirt covered pecs, trying to calm himself down and think of what was the origin of his irritazione7. It had started at home, somehow, while the Rottweiler was talking with his best friend about... His ears perked a bit when he realized that the source of his fell mood had been a certain cougar's call.
That answer sparked more questions, and some introspection that maybe the muscled canine would have rather avoided. But he had time to think, it seems, and no other way to amuse himself... And he meant that since he had, as always, forgotten to charge up his phone, with the consequence that he couldn't find solace in browsing it if he wanted to keep that 5% of battery for as long as he could.
So the rottie started to ponder on why the American boy hit on his nerves in such a way, something that he himself found irrational. The cougar seemed so likeable and fun to be around, if a bit young, though he wasn't THAT young; the cat got along just fine with his lupo, having fun on the same level he and Clara were... And the lupine seemed satisfied on every aspect... "Perché non mi piace8?" The buff canine wondered as he looked at his feet for an answer.
He never had problems with Luca's previous boyfriends after all... Well, at least he hadn't disliked him. Sure Carlo had been a douche bag, and the other hadn't been a perfect gentleman either... But they hadn't inspired the kind of feelings he had for the puma. The rottie had gotten along with them just fine, and with those one night stands too...
Then, a sudden epiphany struck him, a big flash in his head that clicked the pieces together. "Ma certo9!" He exclaimed aloud, closed fist pounding the palm of the other, drawing the attentionof some passerby furs who looked at him suspiciously; Ale tried to smile apologetically at them, but the fearsome look of his teeth ruined the effect, prompting a fastened pace from those furs who probably now thought of him as a criminal.
The Rottweiler didn't care, since he had found the solution. And an easy one at that too! He disliked Edward because he was the first boyfriend of Luca since they had moved in together! The other times he had lived it as an outsider, and on small doses, but now the restorer had front seats on the blossoming forbidden romance, with everything that was entitled with. Hell, in the past two years he had seen only the effects of the lupo's night stands too, rarely seeing the guys!
Ale had grown so accustomed to having his best friend all for himself, and sharing the daily life with him, both at home and at work; it was no wonder that he would feel a bit indisponente10 if a third person entered the fray! Which probably was how Luca had felt when he got with his sheppie, which made him the better man considering how the other canine had been nothing but supportive of his new relationship.
The dropping of his triangular ears lasted just a few seconds, as he was too happy of having figured out what was the problem. And it had needed only a few minutes of quiet thinking! From now on he would be more open to accept the American boy, even if his subconscious was actively trying to make him hate the cougar's guts. He owned Luca that much at least.
"What a huge smile. Mi stavi pensando11?" Clara's voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts as she was standing a few feet away, fancy in her white blouse and skirt, her high heels making her even taller than she already was, almost towering on her boyfriend. She sported an amused smile, which made him wonder how long he had been thinking without noticing the sheppie...
"Y-yeah, of course!" The rottie lied, trying as hard as he could to stop any guilty flickering of ears. He covered the distance between them in one stride, holding her in his beefy arms to further hide the lie as he kissed her with passion. As always she closed her eyes while they made out, but he kept his eyes open to drink up her beauty.
And she truly was beautiful, even after a whole day at the office, her lush hair a cascade of black on her back, her symmetrical face hovering on him thanks to the height enhancing devices. He passed one paw through that marvelous capigliatura12, feeling how soft it was while their tongue wildly fought.
The kiss itself was nice, passionate yeah, but not too much, at least for him, feeling a bit like going through the motions since he knew that mouth so well at this point. That wonderful body pressed against his own did steer some excitement in his loins, much to the chagrin of the German Shepherded as she chuckled in their kiss when she noticed the increasing bulge.
Pulling her away after a last smack of lips, they breathed heavily, trying to subdue the lust that had overcome them. Though, to tell the truth, the sheppie seemed way more excited than him, with her flared nostrils and wide pupils and other subtle signals he had learned to pick him in their time together. Sure, he had half of a hard one, but he knew how to behave in public.
"Entriamo13?" The huffed question came from Clara, who was trying to rearrange herself after the passionate display of affection, failing to rein in her long her; though she managed to pull off having a more ragged hairstyle, she was that beautiful.
"S-sure." The rottie replied, holding the door open as he let his girlfriend in; a slight blush appeared under his thick fur, he really hoped no one had saw them exchanging spit like that, in the street... especially the patrons and waiters of the restaurant! That would be very embarrassing. Like when Edward had kissed his best friend, in the middle of Piazza Trilussa14, with so many people around... Him included.
Not that he had being squicked by it, far from it, he was a modern dog and display of homosexual affection wasn't a bad thing nor to be frowned upon! Just, he didn't like to see kisses in public places in general, though that made him feel a hypocrite since he had just done that. But well, he was caught in the moment, so it was justified... But so had been Edward...
Clara had approached and engaged one waiter, a tabby cat, in conversation, probably saying that she had booked a "tavolo per due15", or that was what the rottie understood; his mind was too busy thinking over stuff, so he just blindly followed his lady that was following the tabby to what looked like a small table lowered in a pit, with the seats being marked by two pillows, all of course in the omnipresent black wood.
The sheppie managed to sit with elegance, her long legs easily getting under the table, already pouring some of that black sauce made from soy in the small sauce plate. Ale wasn't that lucky, there was not so much space between the table and the encircling bench to begin with; he had to put one leg and bend it immediately, it being way too thick for the small space, before trying to get the second leg in place.
It took him several minutes to finally push his ample butt on the -very thin - pillow, all the while under the severe and entertained gaze of the lighter furred woman, which stayed silent for the duration of the ordeal. "What?" The Rottweiler asked once he was firmly sat at his uncomfortable place, his knees pressed against the back of the table.
"Mi chiedevo16 ... Maybe I should have asked for one of the normal table." She chuckled softly, her toothy smile showing that she was on his side and felt the pain.
"It's fucking too late now, ain't gonna get up from here until we have to go." The restorer declared, quite meaning his words. Honestly, for such a famous restaurant they could have thought better... He could just imagine what a taller and bigger guy would suffer with those wretched tables....
"Then, we stay. Oh, thanks Hiroshi." Clara thanked the tabby cat who had magically appeared besides them with big menu, handing one to the lady and one to the gentleman, the very perfect image of a smiling Japanese man though the rottie was sure he would turn out to be from Tor Tre Teste17 if asked.
They were left alone to ponder on the freshly-given menus, a swarming collection of photos with outlandish names as a description, with just the minimal details on their nature.
"I'm thinking we could get some miso soup as a starter, then maybe a sushi boat with some temaki?" The female canine asked, one quizzical eyebrow rose as she looked at her companion. A quick look at the brochure showed him what those names entitled and, while he wasn't that happy of the prices, he was in no mood to fight on food.
"Fine with me. I would love some onigiri too." He said, having ogled the ball of rice since he had spotted them. They looked exactly like the ones from Ramna Un Mezzoor Yattaman18, something that he had always wanted to try out.
"Two miso soups, two onigiri and a sushi boat." The waiter said aloud, startling the shit out of Ale who hadn't noticed his approach. "You already have an idea for the temaki?"
"Yes, I think the sake temaki would do. Salmon filled ones." Clara added for her boyfriend's sake, whose head was hurting under the barrage of Japanese names that it was subdued to.
"Good. We've just got some lovely sake, would you like to taste it?" The cat further inquired while scribbling on his notepad.
"Sure, bring that. And some beer for me, you choose which. E acqua frizzante19." The buff dog took charge of the booze, remembering that sake was some kind of rice liquor. And he sure loved booze. The feline nodded before walking away, his steps barely making noises.
"Are you trying to make me drunk?" The lawyer asked jokingly, lazily steering her say sauce with a chopstick as Hiroshi came back with a bottle of water, gallantly filling their glassed with it before disappearing once more.
"I'm trying to get ME drunk; otherwise I would order one for you too." The dark canine snorted, taking a sip of the sparkling water, quite enjoying the feeling of the bubbles on his tongue. Their efficient cameriere20 arrived with his beer in no time, the bottle bearing some weird name that he didn't try to read before gulping down the beverage.
"Tough day at work?" The German Shepherded inquired before stealing the beer without asking permission, mumbling appreciation for the golden drink. That kinda bothered Ale but he let it pass, after all it was a delicious beer.
"Had another faculty meeting. They are becoming more tiresome each time we have one..." He answered, taking away his birra21and keeping it in his paw, so that he could drink it without interruption. They were going to have sake after all, if she wanted more she could order it!
"Hear hear, I do hate those kinds of things. Especially with clients." The sheppie cringed for reasons her boyfriend could only guess; after all, his line of work dealt considerably less with clients and others in general, being more focused on what was yes an artistic job, but still more manual than hers.
"Yeah. Should be the last of the month, at least. What about you? Finished that act?" Ale asked in return, not wanting to delve too much in his day. Especially considering it had been just boring talks between professors.
"Uhm, yeah, finished, printed and signed. L'atto di citazione22 is on its way!" The athletic canine threw her arms in the air as a sign of victory, almost punching the waiter in the process. "Ups. Sorry Hiroshi."
"Nothing happened, no big deal. Your miso soups." The tabby cat said while bowing, presenting two bowls full of broth and some kind of algae in it that smelled actually good, making the nostrils of the bigger dog flare in pleasure.
"So you are going to do it or...?" The rottie asked further, letting out a moan of pleasure as the flavored liquid hit his tongue, exploding it with its exotic flavors. He did right in trusting his girlfriend, so far the entry was good, if just tiny since he finished it in three scoops.
"Nah, it'll be done by the agenzia23. I rather not wake up early tomorrow, if you know what I mean." Clara winked at him seductively, hitting at the activity they would engage in later in the night and eliciting a short laugh from the massive canine.
Silence fell over them, understandably so after such a long day of work for the both of them. It totally didn't mean they didn't have any topic to discuss or anything like that. Even the best of couples grew silent like that, and been able to do so showed how good they were together; though, he couldn't stop his ears to flicker in nervousness, since he had never been good at just being silent.
So the Rottweiler started thinking of something to talk about, all the while looking at his amazingly beautiful girlfriend. She sure looked tired, resting her back against the bench seat, her eyes starting on some painting with ideograms on it; and yet, even if tired, her inner light hadn't dimmed out, shining brightly even after a day of work.
Ale opened his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by the cat waiter bringing a huge small wooden boat, filled with all kinds of small sushi and raw fish, almost to the brim. His mouth salivated at such vision even though he wasn't a superfan of this kind of meals, his stomach almost growling with anticipation.
"The temaki will arrive shortly. Enjoy your meal!" The ninja declared, leaving the two of them to stuff their muzzle with what he had brought. The rottie took his chopsticks, which almost immediately dropped on his place as he tried to remember how to hold them.
"We can ask for a fork if you want." Clara proposed, having already picked up one sushi and eating it whole, not a difficult task for a long muzzled like her.
"No, I've got it." He replied, carefully choosing one piece of raw salmon and managing to bring it to his own muzzle, though it fell before achieving that feat.
"If you are sure of that. By the way, have you talked about the week end at Sabaudia?" The sheppie asked as she kept eating the sushi without any difficulty. "Damn, she ate four of them and I'm still at my first!" The rottie thought, deciding to impalae one rice-filled roll and eating it with much gusto.
"Oh yeah, I did! We should talk about organization!" He cheerfully said, very much looking forward to spend some time at the sea with his best friend. "By the way, can Sara and Franco come too?"
Traslation:
1) Fashionable this Jap(anese restaurant).
2) Unlike in English, simply studio means "office, law firm" in Italian.
3) Punctuality
4) E uropean R egion A ction S cheme for the M obility of U niversity S tudents, a program that allows EU students to frequent a university in another member state for a semester or a year.
5) Spaghetti with clams, a well liked and cooked sea food dish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti_alle_vongole
6) Dickhead, jerk.
7) Irritation.
8) Why I don't like him?
9) But of course!
10) Stroppy, irritating.
11) Were you thinking of me?
12) Hair.
13) (Shall we) get in?
14) Square that marks the start of the Trastevere neighbourhood.
15) Table for two.
16) I was wondering.
17) Suburb Neighbourhood of Rome.
18) Two anime that are well known and loved in Italy, respectively known as Ranma ½ and Yatterman in English.
19) And sparkling water.
20) Waiter.
21) Beer.
22) Google translator tells me that it's call a "writ of summons"; in Italy, it's one of the acts needed to start a lawsuit.
23) Agency, here referring to several agencies that work with lawyer to notify/deposit acts.