Harbors of Our Own
Epilogue
It was spring again. The birds chirped, and the trees and flowers were all in bloom. The waves crashed against the rocks, and the sun was up, shining in the sky. There was a gentle breeze, and it was simply perfect. Directly across the from the dock and the ocean, a small little restaurant, brand new, with the exterior freshly painted, replaced the old seafood shop that had once been there. The sign on the swinging glass door read "Open" and the little bell tinkled as people moved in and out of the small, cozy little place. It was beautiful and bright on the outside, and on the inside the walls and tables had a very oriental, calming, welcoming feel to it, adorned with decorations and paintings everywhere one looked. The tables were all occupied both outside and inside. The air was abuzz with pleasant conversation. It was midday, and it was lunchtime.
A tall man who would appear out of place, what with his silver hair, alabaster skin, and violet eyes, moved about quickly, taking orders and carefully carrying items on trays, in sync with the small amount of staff that was doing the same. His movements were fluid and oddly graceful as he moved about, a smile on his face, engaging in friendly conversation with the customers. They all took a liking to him, and if one thing was for sure, he was far from out of place.
He finished taking orders and went into the kitchen, announcing them as he clipped them up to be received. Another figure came up to his side. This one was smaller in stature, he was thin, and had a small frame. He had large brown eyes, and his dark brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail.
"We're very busy today, Yao-Yao." the silvery-haired man said.
Yao smiled, "Shi, it is great isn't it."
"Da, it is." he replied.
"Oh, Ivan, by the way, I put the finishing touches on the painting this morning before we opened up."
"You did?" Ivan's face lit up even more than it already was.
"Shi. While you were setting the tables and cleaning the counters I did."
"May I see?"
"Yeah, of course. I think we can afford to take a small break to put it up. The staff can handle it, aru, don't you think?"
Ivan nodded.
"Come on." Yao dried his hands on a towel, before the two of them entwined fingers and then went out the door of the kitchen, and made their way towards the back room where the dual artist and resteraunt owner kept supplies.
They had been together for five years now.
About a year and a half ago, after vacation in the countryside, they had put a down payment to buy the venue that had once been their favorite cafe. It had gone out of business, as it was old and rundown, and very much out of its time. The two had transformed it into their own little resteraunt; a family-friendly place where Yao could hang his artwork and live his dream as a chef. It had quickly started to grow in its popularity, known for its good food, amazing artwork, and wonderful, kind environment who welcomed everyone regardless of who they were. Yao was the full time owner and worker, and Ivan was there part time, doubling sometimes as both a waiter and a host. The other half of his workday he spent teaching little children how to dance. He had taken online college courses, received a degree in dance and visual and performing arts, and then used it to get a job at a local dance studio.
Needless to say, they had gotten everything they wanted. They could not be happier. Yao had his resteraunt and his art, and Ivan had his dance instructing and the waiter's job he so adored. And of course, they had each other.
Yao opened the door to the back room. In the middle of the room, in shaft of light cast by the open window, was an easle, covered by a canvas sheet. Yao pulled it off and cast it aside.
"What do you think?" he asked.
Ivan's face lit up as he gazed, speechless, at the beautiful painting. It depicted a beautiful scene. There was a couple sitting on a rock with their back to those who looked at the painting as the main focus of the picture. They were looking out at the ocean, at the sunset. In the distance there was a old, wooden ship, and two silhouettes of dolphins leaping from the water. One member of the couple was sitting, clad in beautiful, intricate, oriental robes in red, embroiderred with tiny, white vines and flowers and leaves. The long dark hair waterfalled down their back and part of it was pulled in a half bun, held by a hair fork that was golden and looked like it was from the sea. Beautiful jewels, shells, and hair-pieces adorned their hair as well. The person sitting beside them was not a person, no, it was a merman. Pale, scaly skinned glistened in the dying sun, and the tail was a large, beautiful, vibrant violet. His short, silvery blonde hair was adorned with tiny shells and pearls. He was wearing a necklace made of shells, and there was a golden armlet on his muscular arm. His muscly back seemed to ripple on the painting.
"Yao-Yao! It's so beautiful! It looks like us!"
Yao beamed, smiling at the merman-turned-human. "Because it is. However, you're a merman prince or king, and I am a "princess". It's us, but only we're going to know that."
Ivan chuckled, "My Yao-Yao is so clever."
"Come on, let's go put this up. I know the perfect place for it. I've kept it reserved specifically for this one, aru."
"Okay."
Together, the two of them picked up the rather large, heavy canvas and carried it into the main dining area. They wove their way carefully between the servers and customers, towards the large wall that you saw when you first walked in. There was a blank spot, with hooks already up to support the painting. Some heads turned to watch as they carefully put it up.
Once it was straight, they stepped back to admire it.
"It's perfect." Ivan said, "It completes all the decorations I think."
"Shi. That was what I was going for."
The others in the restaurant marveled at the sight of it, gasps and sounds of awe filling the room.
Happily, Yao and Ivan entwined fingers and smiled, gazing lovingly into each others' eyes.
"Oh! I just remembered something, aru!"
"What is it?"
Yao leaned up on his toes and kissed the merman-turned-human, "Happy anniversary, Vanechka."
Ivan blushed, and a huge smile appeared on his face.
"'Ello~" a cheerful voice rang clear across the room. The recognized the voice immediately. They made their way toward the front of the restaurant.
"Do you 'ave a table for...everyone?"
Yao smiled. There was Francis, and Arthur, and with them was Michelle, Genevieve, all of Yao's siblings, and the seven members of the Nordic family.
"Hello Yao." Kiku smiled at his brother.
"It's so nice to see everyone." Yao said.
"Ivan called us," Mei said, "He asked us all to come here to surprise you."
Yao smiled even brighter, and met gazes with his partner again.
"So do you, like, have a place for all of us to sit?" Leon snorted.
"Da, right this way. I will seat you." Ivan led them towards the back of the resteraunt to a large table that they could all sit at. Yao lingered a bit longer, surveying the scene around him, before following after his family and friends. Everything was just as it should be. And he liked it that way.
