Voice of Reason
#42 of Roman Life
Preparation for Luca's date with Edward are on they way!
Hey everyone!
It has been a great while since I wrote a chapter of my story.... of that I am really sorry. I should try to put out more... Though school is beginning next week so I can't promise anything.... Oh well. Hope you will like the new chapter and that you will show it with a fave, a comment or a vote!
As always and forever, thank you Gritou for editing and loving me and living with me *hug*
"Uhm, cosa indossare1, this is the question...." The fluffy furred lupo thought aloud, watching intensely his wardrobe, just a towel saving him from being completely nude. If he had been alone he wouldn't have cared, but Ale was there and he was sure he appreciated such modesty.
Not that the rottie was focused on him, after all. The muscled dog was sitting cross legged on his bed, his attention completely taken by playing Assassin with the Ezio doll. Though Luca knew that only his eyes and paws were distracted, his ears flicking to the question.
"It depends on how you want to play this date, amico mio2". He solemnly said while making the wolf plushy jump and somersault in the air. "And on which message you want to send. "
"Duh, of course that Ale!" The wolf chuckled, still intent in analyzing the contents of his wardrobe. "I just don't know what message I want."
A sigh came from the dark canine, not at all unlike their old History of Middle Ages Art used to give in when a dumb student mistook Duccio di Buoninsegna from Giotto3. Ale proceeded to explain, raising one thick finger in the air. "You have three choices. One, go in a simple sweater and cargo pants, letting him know you consider it just an outing between friends."
The lupine opened his muzzle to deny such a thing, but he was interrupted by a wiggling of the raised finger. "Questions at the end of the lesson." The look on the tan and black muzzle was serious, but the kind of serious you perfectly knew was fake, the rottie keeping it while continuing the list.
"Second, take it as a completely romantic date, and wear top notch clothing to sell yourself at your best." The raised eyebrow showed what the Rottweiler thought about such a choice. "Third, and last, go wearing a polo and some nice jeans, the perfect combination if you don't know how the evening will evolve."
"You have much wisdom, Ale-sensei." The lupo took the bother to turn around and give a bow to his friend, tail swishing behind him.
"Indeed." The other replied with a huge smirk that completely obliterated the serious façade he had kept so far. "So which path will you follow?"
"Uhm, fammi pensare4..." Luca raised his paw to ponder on the dilemma. "I certainly won't go for the first... It is for just close friends like you..."
"Hey! I deserve a fucking suit from you!" The rottie protested loudly, pouting visibly and increasing the deadliness of poor Ezio's areal evolutions. His ears stood still though, so his words, however outraged, were just part of his usual joking.
"The second option on the other paw...." The lupine continued, not bothering to acknowledge the fake discontent of his friend and going back to scan his wardrobe, his eyes wandering to the formal section of it. "I don't like the idea of showing myself as something I really am not."
"Plus, you are going to a pub, which takes out suit and tie." Ale pointed out while throwing Ezio high in the air and catching him at the last moment.
"You are right on that, after all." The lupo agreed, mentally crossing away all the most formal clothes he had.
"In più5, you don't know if it is meant as a romantic date." The rottie said, having taken the, uncharacteristically for him, role of voce della ragione6.
"Well, I think the kiss and the various texts are proves enough that there are romantic vibes..." The wolf trailed off, hearing a faint and short growl coming from behind his back.
"Plus, there is the matter of his girlfriend..." Ale's voice took a dangerous edge in remembering that, the mystery hanging over them. The cougar had assured him that he would explain once they saw each other, but still didn't give hints on the resolution of the mystery.
"I know, I know, it will be the first thing I will ask him." The tall restorer snorted. "And if you dare add another "plus"..."
"In-infatti7, it is what I am expecting you to do." The buff canine stammered, saving himself at the last minute. Luca was sure that his cheeks were turning red under his black fur, but he was tactful enough not to witness it directly, content of picturing it in his mind.
"So, third option I guess. Any suggestions?" The lupine asked; after all, time was passing and the hour of the date was growing closer.
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllll I must say you should put that Bordeaux polo you've got for Christmas and those dark tanned pants." The rottie didn't waste time in answering, strangely sure of his choices.
"I approve the combination." Luca said, already busy retrieving the mentioned pieces of cloth, adding a black leather belt and red socks for good measure. "But why those pants and polo?"
"They look great on you, and those pants highlight your sed-" Ale stopped abruptly on his tracks, before completing the word. That was enough to make the wolf spin on his place to look at his friend, whose was sitting upright with a huge blush and ears flicking.
"What were you saying? Complete the sentence." The tan furred dog asked, having an inkling of what his friend was about to say but too amused not to force it out of him.
"Niente8." He mumbled, his eyes purposely fixed on the Ezio plushy as if his life depended on it. But that wasn't nearly enough to make the wolf desist from his intent.
"Now, just tell me." The restorer adopted his best lecturing tone, his arms folded on his chest and one eyebrow quirked up. Probably the effect was lessened by him wearing nothing but a towel; usually he wasn't bare-chested when delivering a lecture.
The rottie squirmed on the bed in such a delicious way, his mind conflicted on spitting it out or bring it in his tomb. That pleased the evil and mischievous side of lupine, so he kept staring and waiting, almost tapping his footpaw on the ground but refraining from it.
"So my pants highlight my what?" The standing dog demanded, ensuing another bout of squirming from his roommate.
"They hug your... sedere9well." The dog whispered shamefully, the word barely auditable. Or so it would be, luckily Luca possessed a pair of incredible triangular antennas on the top of his head and heard the word perfectly.
"Abbracciano il mio cosa10?" The wolfish canine pursued his prey, trying not to burst in a huge grin. He just loved to torture his friend too much, especially in these cases.
"Your... ass..." He finally confessed and the wolf could swear that the blushing intensified to a deep crimson. Or maybe his eyes were tricked. Still, seeing Ale struggling like that was really amusing.
"See, was it hard to admit?" The tall restorer said in a fatherly way, going as far pet his friend on his broad black head, between his ears. "Besides, do you spend much time admiring my ass?"
"I-I don't- what are you- Cazzo11Luca!" The Rottweiler didn't manage to talk coherently now, after his heterosexuality was put in question. The wolf would have laughed, but he feared he had come too far with this, way too far.
"Don't get mad now, I am just pulling your leg Ale." Luca lowered himself to bear hug his friend, trying to convey as much calmness as he could in his words. "There is nothing wrong or gay in what you said there, you know. It is normal to say such things to friends."
The rottie kinda resisted the hug, but then wrapped his meaty arms around his friend, showing that he understood. "It was just an aesthetical remark, that is all..." He grudgely rumbled in a perked ear.
"I know it was: I was just scherzando12. Sorry." The wolf added, patting a bit his friend before freeing him from his hug, standing up and walking away quickly to spare more embarrassment. "Not to imply anything, but what underwear should I wear?"
His was just an attempt to ease the mood, and he was happy when the rottie jibbed back. "As above, it depends. How do you want to end the night?"
"I.... don't know.... Maybe... dunno..." Even if he had been the first to ask, Luca hadn't grasped the implication of that choice and now he wasn't sure how to answer.
"I take with sexy time from that. Put some silky boxers, they will impress him. They always look wonderful on the floor!" The rottie boomed with a laugh, probably enjoying getting back with his friend; he had all the reason to do that, after all. Luca chuckled with him, taking out a fresh pair of silky boxers as instructed.
"If I really want to impress him, I should wear a jockstrap." The lean wolf chuckled, mentally slapping himself when the information slipped through his lips: he had just given fine ammo to the rottie.
"Jokstrapp? What is a jokstrapp?" Ale predictably asked mangling the word, with curiosity and a hint of maliciousness in his voice. Any hope that he wouldn't use the occasion to get vendetta flew away.
"Well, a jockstrap is... is... is... a type of male underwear..." The lupo tried to avoid the question, frantically smoothing his prepared clothes. From the almost purred chuckles of the rottie that wasn't going to happen.
"Yeah, that much I understood. I am just not familiar with that English word. Care to translate?" The roman Rottweiler insisted nonchalantly, as if he wasn't aware of the commotion he was causing. Luca was forced to answer in some way... he was! But maybe with a distraction.... Maybe...
Still turned toward his clothes, he grabbed his boxer with one paw, while the other let the towel fall down, leaving his ass buck naked. Quickly, he slightly bended to cover his nudity, the smooth cloth gliding on his legs and settling over his rump and crotch as fresh as a sea breeze.
Silence fell for just a second, replaced by a booming laugh from the rottie. "Scusa13Luca, but was that an attempt to distract me?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." The lupo stammered, going to sit on his desk's chair so he could put on his socks, all the while not looking at his friend rolling in laughter on the bed. He didn't know why he tried that, but maybe... maybe losing his dignity like that was better than explaining what turned on gay furs... maybe.
"You put too much confidence nel tuo culo14, Luca!" The dark canine kept roaring in his merriment. "It's not like it can distract me by its sexiness!"
"I-don't-know-what-you-are-talking-about!" He defended himself while being occupied by the difficult task of putting one sock on in the right way, whishing that his ears weren't moving too much.
"Yeah yeah, use that on Edward next time!" Ale said between chuckles, slowly retaining his composure and breath. "Comunque15, what the hell is a jockstrap?"
The wolf remained silent, putting on the second sock, then standing up to pull up his pants, all the while feeling the intent stare of his friend on his back. Finally, he took courage and confessed. "It's a... sospensorio16."
"You mean one of those ass-less slips sportsmen wear some time?" The built canine asked for clarification, after processing the information for a few seconds. It was clear that he didn't understand the charm of jockstrap... But he was straight after all.
"Yes, exactly those. And," the lupine continued, sensing the incoming question, "they are sexy as fuck because they show your... assets."
"Oh." The rottie said in a subdued way, then the realization struck. "OH! You mean they are the gay version of kinky lingerie di pizzo17for us vagina lovers?"
"Exactly." Luca simply said, hoping that the argument was exhausted now. However much he liked to tease the fellow restorer on his sexuality, he wasn't fully comfortable in disclosing his own in many details, at least with his best friend...
"So, maybe I should buy a pair and walking around in the apartment wearing them, so that you will be caught staring and I can-ouch! Nooooooo Ezio!" The goading was stopped by a well aimed pillow in the muzzle, Luca's throw being so well timed that he had caught his friend while launching the plushy in the air, sending the toy to the far end of the room.
"You were getting mad with power, I needed to stop you." The wolf explained while applying some deodorant in strategic places along with a light perfume, stuff he had brought with him from the bathroom.
"NOOOOOO EZIO, NOOOOOOOOOO! YOU WILL BE AVANGED! I WILL CALL THE ASSASSINS AND YOU WILL BE AVANGED!" The Rottweiler wailed loudly and melodramatically, paws extended toward the fallen plushy but still not standing up from the bed.
"Ehehehe you sound almost like Cobbie Smulders18." Luca laughed, recognizing the imitation of his friend, his head disappearing for a second behind the wall of cloth of his polo.
"I might be as sexy, but I lack her boobs and being a feline. And I am definitely male." The buff dog sobered up immediately, his grin coming back just after the new bout of mad laughter by his best friend.
"I think a huge part of the female population is grateful for that... And a minor part of the male one to." The lupo managed to wink, hoping to get some embarrassed reaction: no such luck now, the rottie just chuckled away, meaning that he was firmly in advantage in their daily squabble.
"I have no doubt of that." Was the cocky remark from his friend, followed by a stretching of his arms and upper body that was surely meant to show off. Luca barked a laugh at such behavior, then did a complete turn on himself, tail swishing after him.
"So, how do I look?" He asked his roommate's opinion. Not that he wanted to give a good impression or something to the cute, foreign accented, probably well toned cougar from the New World.
"You look fine! Except you lack your shoes and your belt, those pants are in danger of dropping before you meet this Edward guy!" The Rottweiler pointed out, motioning his paw toward the lacking items; and he wasn't even lying, Luca could feel that his pants were a tiny bit too large.
"Not my fault if I am getting fitter and fitter with each passing day!" The wolf jabbed back, already busy with fastening his belt around him.
"More skinnier and skinnier. You should come to the gym with me, not by yourself! Così ti pomperai19." The rottie advanced his usual proposal, something that didn't even make him skip a bit as he was putting his shoes on.
"We shall see." He answered, meaning to never do such a thing. The lupo didn't want his friend to know how much he lifted or how he worked out, because... he feared that he did much less than him. He surely didn't want the jokes or, much worse, the pity.
Luca looked at his watch and noticed that it was just nearly time to leave, his heartbeat increasing. "E' ora di andare20!" He exclaimed, feeling excited and a bit worried.
"Are you sure you want to go with the car? With the motorcycle you can get out a bit later." The dark canine asked, sprinting on his footpaws as he spoke.
"Yeah, don't worry; I prefer leaving the moto to you." The wolf dismissed the idea, the keys for his car and his wallet already packed in his pockets.
"Suits you. Wait, where are you going again?" Ale asked, quickly adding more to his questions. "You know, your outfit might be too fancy for it."
"I hardly think that. And we are going to that temporary pub in the gardens of Castel Sant'Angelo." The lupine said, his ears flicking as he walked out of his room with his friend. He thought he had already told him that... Or maybe it was just his impression.
"That is a good place: you can walk to many other places from there!" The rottie nodded in appreciation, accompanying his friend to the door.
"Well, yeah, he proposed it since he had to do an early shift at his workplace." Luca pointed out, his paw circling the knob of the door, so that he could pass the threshold.
"Well, I hope he will be dressed as properly as you then." The bulky dog said, though his tone revealed his skepticism. The wolf didn't care, as long as he had a good fun with the mountain lion it was a win for him. Especially if it would become that kind of fun....
"I think he will. And I have to go now." He blurted out, suppressing the thoughts that were just appearing in his mind.
"Okay Luca! Have a good evening with that guy, and hope you will get lucky too!" Ale waved him farewell by from the door, like a proud father sending off his first born to his first date.
"Yeah yeah... You too!" The lupo answered back before turning and heading to the stairs, his ears capturing the faint sound of the closing door.
***** *****
Ale spied Luca's walking down the stairs through the peephole, running one of the windows facing the road to assume position. Without failing, he saw the familiar car turning from their garage and driving his friend down the road toward his date.
Even considering that, he waited a good five minutes more; Luca's choice to get the car enabled to do things with a leisure pace, meaning he could wait to see if he was back before passing to the next phase.
The lupo didn't come back, making him sigh in relief. The rottie walked to his room, picking up the phone he had left on the couch previously and sending the pre-written text to one of his assistants.
_Il Falco ha lasciato il nido_21
The restorer entered his room, one paw throwing the clothes making up his disguise on his bed, the other busy picking a number from his phone and calling it.
"I guess he has left." Clara chimed on the other side, his voice betraying her excitement.
"Yes, just now. I am dressing myself and coming to pick you up." The dark canine replied.
"Did you warn the others?" The German Shepherd asked next.
"Yes. The Operation Guarding Falcons has begun."
Translation:
1) What to wear?
2) Dear friend.
3) Two Italian artist of the XII and XIV centuries. Giotto is very famous for hand-drawing a perfect circle.
4) Lemme think...
5) Plus.
6) Voice of reason.
7) I-Indeed.
8) Nothing!
9) Ass, bottom, butt.
10) Hug my what?
11) Fuck! Literally, dick, cock.
12) Joking.
13) Sorry.
14) In your ass/butt!
15) Anyway, anyhow.
16) Jockstrap
17) Lace Lingerie
18) Here's the video I am referring to. Might have used in a previous chapter, but it is too darn funny XD
19) You will bulk up
20) It's time to go.
21) The Hawk/Falcon has left the nest. I will be going with Falcon in the translation