[Yawn...]
[My favorite day of the week...]
In truth, I didn't love Fridays anymore than any other day of the week. But any day I didn't spend in the hospital or in the Fever Dream was instantly my favorite day of the week.
I shook the young foreign girl sleeping at my side.
"Wake up, Gelda. We have a big day today!"
The strange interaction with Elena Grace and the pain of my injuries was still fresh in my mind, but sulking over that would do me no good.
The best course of action right now was a change of scenery and the money I had gotten from defeating the Executioner allowed me to do just that.
"We're going?" Gelda asked. "Where?"
I smiled at her, the first real smile I'd had in a while.
"It wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you, now would it?"
She only half understood what I had said but nodded as if she got every word. She adjusted the one pair of pijamas I had bought her and smiled at me to signal her readiness.
Together, we left our makeshift home and entered the streets of Deci. Not many people came out during the day, only the rich few with stable jobs. Granted most worked for the Hydra so their positions weren't exactly stable stable, it was millions of times better than any life I could lead.
Gelda held my hand and asked once more, "where are we going?"
I wanted to keep it a surprise but her innocent eyes melted away any resistance I had.
"We're going to buy a home."
With 100 Marks, we could afford to rent a home for about a month with some money left over for food. My hope was that I would make enough money in my next fight to keep us out of homelessness for sometime.
It would be cruel of me to introduce Gelda to the comfort of living in a proper home just to rip it away from her later.
"This way." We made our way past the police station, took a left where Felis Avenue and Wol Street intercrossed, and in the distance we could see Ferrose's Apartment Complex. The number one place for the poor rats of Deci who need a place to live
It wasn't much to look at and a little bit on the older side but it would do.
...
It's a strange feeling, being somewhere for the first time.
Together, Gelda and I entered the apartment complex and were greeted by an older woman wearing what was considered a 'standard' uniform this time of year: A dark colored polo with a long sleeve shirt underneath as well as a skirt with leggings.
The long sleeve shirt and leggings were tight on her, accentuating her thighs and arms. The goal was to remain appealing while allowing women to work without freezing to death.
Despite it being standard, many establishments didn't use these uniforms keeping their employees in ass-high skirts deep into the winter.
"How may I help you?" The lady asked with a smile.
I responded with a smile of my own.
"We'd like to rent an apartment."
Be it due to my polite smile or my face that Dan often described as anywhere from "not ghoulish" to "pretty charming", the older lady seemed slightly taken aback by something.
Men in Deci weren't exactly known for their manners so I assumed it to be that.
It didn't matter much as she quickly composed herself and guided us to the second floor.
"We have plenty of apartments to choose from, you'll find something suitable no matter your price range!"
I knew that last part was a lie, but I couldn't blame her. Most people renting an apartment here were too desperate to care what lies they were fed.
"I'm Dellila, if you were wondering." She turned to me and offered me a card with her name on it, it was to make sure her boss knew she was the one who made the sale.
As we explored the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, Dellila showed us apartments ranging from 56 Marks at the cheapest to 99 Marks at the most expensive.
The cheapest apartments could barely be considered livable, consisting of nothing more than a room with four walls. Excluding slightly better protection from the weather, renting out one of those rooms would be no different than our previous living situation.
The most expensive apartments actually had a certain sense of luxury to them, but spending all my money on them would be stupid.
After consulting with Gelda, we decided to get something within a 60-70 Mark price range. Our expenses would be spread out a little thin but I couldn't say no when Gelda gave me those eyes.
"How much for this one?" I asked Dellila. The room had one bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room + kitchen made into one room.
"It's not too much, only 60 Marks a month." She said with a smile. "Are you interested?"
"Yep, I just need to-"
My leg gave out under me.
[Shit!]
My leg hadn't fully healed yet. Infact, I shouldn't even be walking right now, but my stubbornness often overpowered my reason.
I crashed into Dellila.
"Sorry." I used the wall to get up and offered her an awkward smile.
"I-It's fine" Dellila stuttered, her face growing a little redder.
"You said it was 60 Marks?"
Dellila nodded. "You won't have to pay it up front, you can start living here today though you'll only have to pay once the week is over. Documentation thing."
"Alright" I nodded and winked at her. "Skirts with pocket? Nice."
I turned around to focus on Gelda, who had taken to poking everything pokable in the room.
In the meantime, Dellila checked her pockets in confusion only to find a 5 Mark bill. A tip.
She looked up at me and our eyes met for a moment. Our eyes were similar, the eyes of someone just trying to survive.
I signed the card she had given me earlier.
"I'll drop off the money this Sunday." I placed a hand on Gelda's shoulder and we left the apartment complex. We had a few things to do before we could settle in.