Claris stared at the ship still out at bay as he sat by a small table outside a cute coffee shop. He’d been persuaded to avoid drinking his crush problems away, but he still needed something to clear his head. He asked Larissa to give him some alone time and he walked off to the quietest corner of Wisteria’s port. There, at the very end of the walk, was Pearlie’s, Claris’ favorite place at the city of Wisteria. He’d asked Opal, Pearlie’s fifteen-year-old, rabbit werebreed waitress to bring him his usual order. The short girl with blue eyes, long white rabbit ears and white hair had come back to his usual spot, a table close to the edge of the harbor, with a tray carrying a cup of warm, black coffee and a piece of lemon cake.

“Thanks, sweetie.” He’d thanked her with a smile, which made the girl look at him surprised.

“Well I hadn’t seen you look like that in three years. I’m both worried and happy for you.” Opal patted his shoulder affectionately as he looked away embarrassed. “Casey’s coming to take over for me in an hour, you want to talk about it?”

“Not today, thank you for the offer.” Claris fiddled with his hair using one hand while with the other he rose the cup of coffee to his lips. “Maybe tomorrow? You’re free in the evening, right? We could go to our cove.”

“…I’d love to!” Opal gave him a huge smile before she noticed a client walk into the shop. “I already can’t wait! If you need anything else, make sure to call me!”

With a quick handwave and a wink, Opal left to tend to the new client. Now that Claris remained alone with his thoughts again, he found himself staring at the docks. The farther away from his corner, the more ships one could see docked. The largest space for a ship to come to land was in fact the very spot before Pearlie’s. Not many big ships came to Wisteria. One would come every now and then from the Lucella Archipelago some ways off the horizon. The Akakawan ship would surely look stunning in that spot by the stone wall… specially under the setting sun’s light.

While thinking about the ship, Claris saw a man arrive at the docks on a board with a sail. He brought along with him two other boards and two staffs, all tied to his back. The blonde man in blue trousers and a t-shirt with cutoff sides stepped onto the wooden port. He looked around and remained pacing about on the dock, he seemed to be waiting.

“Huh. No dingy… they use… surf boards?” Claris mumbled as he continued spying on the man on the docks. “Oh?”

The couple he’d encountered earlier were making their way to the blond’s dock. They all seemed rather lively when meeting up. The pacing blond had rushed up to meet the other two, he was jumping around and tugging on the taller man’s arms. The woman also seemed excited. She’d began tugging on her companion’s free arm as well.

Hahaha, it seems like my intense guy is a dad of sorts.  Claris laughed, he ended up taking several bites of his lemon cake as he watched the trio’s shenanigans.

In the end, his spying didn’t go undetected. The man with the chocolate skin noticed him staring. Claris didn’t believe so at first. From the docks he might have seemed to be looking at pretty much anywhere else. He had to face he’d been caught when the tall man remained looking at Claris’ direction, focused on the blue haired man.

Um, what’s he doing? Claris was starting to have a miniature attack when he noticed his crush saying something to his two friends before he walked off the dock and unto the main boardwalk. The foreigner was walking towards Pearlie’s… while looking at Claris’ table.

Oh, shit.

Claris was freaking out on the inside, full blown crisis mode. On the outside he had let his gaze shift towards nothing in particular out at sea as he indulged on his lemon cake. He didn’t even look startled, as incredibly anxious as he was, when the foreigner stopped at his table and gave him a small smile.

“May I sit here, sir?” The foreigner spoke the Common Tongue with a trace of an accent. To many it might’ve been indiscernible, but to Claris, who’s own accent was similar to his, it was quite obvious.

“Sure.” Claris replied with a flirtish smile.

Oh my goddess, oh my goddess, oh my goddess…!!!!

The foreigner sat on the chair across from him, sideways, right foot on top of his thigh, elbow on the table, head rested on his palm.

Goddess dammit! Claris cursed as he tried to look at anywhere but at the stranger.

“I noticed you looking at us at the docks… I also noticed you on the street earlier today.” The man spoke, Claris could’ve choked but kept his cool. “Did I, perhaps catch your eye?”

Holy goddesses, if you can hear me, WHY?

“Well you do have a pretty set of eyes.” Claris took an amused tone, his gaze now meeting the foreigner’s. “I didn’t think I’d be memorable much, what with all the people around us earlier.”

“I never forget a face that’s caught my attention… your hair also helps.” The Akakawan man shifted his gaze towards the coffee shop. Claris took a hand to his hair and remembered that cyan wasn’t exactly a common hair color amongst humans. Non-humans weren’t uncommon on the streets, but his particular shade of blue wasn’t found on other races. The hair color came with his species and his bloodline. “When the sun hits it, it gleams with stars. It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks…” Claris had had his hair described in many ways… but like this? Only once before. “I’m Claris, it’s a pleasure to have caught your eye.”

“Evan, the pleasure’s definitely all mine.” The foreigner chuckled, straightening up on his chair. “I’m, uh, new in town… and I’m ummm, maybe looking for someone who could show me around?”

Claris giggled. He could recognize nervousness in the man’s body language. Fingers moving slightly, blinking too much, he was holding his breath...also, he was stuttering, made it look natural, but it was definitely a stutter what was going on in that question of his.

“I can show you around, no problem.” The prince took a sip from his coffee before placing the cup back on the table, a little closer to the man than before. “Will it just be us, though?”

“Well yes,” Evan placed his hands on the table, almost brushing Claris’ own. “The lady by the docks is my boss, and she’s given me some free time after we’re done with some work tomorrow. We could meet here at noon, if you’re available by then?”

For you? Hohoho I’m afraid I might ditch Larissa with official work. Claris thought, seeming pensive for a while before he replied.

“I’m free… make sure you come ready to eat. I’ll take you to a great lunch place first.”

“Thank you, Claris… ummm, I’d stay a little longer but… I wasn’t expecting to meet you here and I have to go back to my, uh, ship…?” Evan glimpsed in the Akakawan ship’s direction, the expression on his face was that of embarrassment. “I…I’ll see you, tomorrow…”

The man stood up from the coffee table, gave Claris a wink and started his way back to the docks where his friends waited for him.

“See you tomorrow, Evan!” Claris called out. Evan turned around and waved at him before continuing his walk.

Claris watched the man reunite with his friends, who then looked in his direction. The woman of the group waved at Claris and he waved back. Afterwards, all three of the foreigners hopped on their respective surf boards and surfed their way back towards the Akakawan ship. Only after the trio was far enough for their shapes to be indiscernible did the prince smash his forehead against the coffee table and let out a shrill, excited squeal.

“Honey, is that the guy?” Opal came rushing back to his table when she noticed him like that. “Holy heavens, by our Goddess Aigneis, he’s quite the catch.”

“Opal, this was a coincidence! I’m not even sure what happened. He just asked me out, I said yes, and I don’t know what to do—” Claris rose his head from the table and started talking really fast. His forehead was an angry red color from how hard he had smashed it. Opal understood him, she had heard him talking like this before. “—what if he doesn’t like me? Am I even ready for this? I don’t know if I’m ready for a date! Sex is fine, but I don’t know if I can date anyone again and… ah shit, Opal what am I going to talk about with him?”

“Quite anything, he’s a foreigner! Anything you’d like to talk about is probably news to him.” Opal pulled the chair Evan had used closer to Claris. She sat on it and held Claris’ hands in hers. “He clearly likes you, and he seems like a really nice guy. You’re Claris Azure, Thirteenth Prince of Luna and Commander of the Sin Hunters. You can date a pretty boy… and you need this, sweetie.”

Claris took a deep breath, moved by Opal’s encouragement. He bit his lower lip, a huge train of thoughts racing through his mind. The man exhaled once he convinced himself to trust in Opal’s words.

“You think Larissa will get mad at me?” Claris asked, wincing as if he were in pain.

“You Highness, Larissa will ask you why you didn’t let our Akakawan friend kidnap you and do you in his big ship.” Opal joked pressing her forehead against Claris’. “She’ll probably also tell you you’re not expected back at your room tomorrow.”

“I will go back tomorrow! I still want to spend time with you at the cove…”

“Perfect! I get to hear your date details first!”

Both of them laughed, imagining Larissa’s reaction and at how silly Claris was being. Opal made sure he was okay before going back to work. Claris ordered another piece of lemon cake and remained on his table, daydreaming about his date the following day.