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Sklonda heaved a sigh and looked around the barren apartment. Faint outlines of furniture and pictures that had hung on the walls for decades announced their absence; the TV stand where she, Pok and Riz would watch movies every Sunday night, extending the weekend just that little bit further. The picture frames of her and Pok on their wedding day, and the various photos of Riz as he grew older that had slowly encircled it over the years. The divots in the carpet from the old, beat-up, yet unbelievably comfy couch and armchair that always were in the same place. The kitchen counter, where coffee stains from years and years of spilled coffee had collected under the machine – she and Riz had never once considered unplugging the thing to clean beneath it for that would be akin to sacrilege. The secret room they had installed where the master bathroom used to be. That had taken a lot of explaining to the landlord when he had come in to check things for the security deposit, which, needless to say, Sklonda did not get back.
It was all there in the apartment that had housed her entire life from the time she and Pok married and moved to Elmville up until this moment.
This moment…
It was hard saying good-bye to an old life, but Sklonda had known when she brought death into the place she and RIz had up until then deemed their sanctuary that it was time to let it go. So with a final glance, she closed the door and picked up the bag that was at her feet. It was time to move on and start a new life.
Riz had been accepted to Bastion City University with a full ride scholarship; as a mother, Sklonda couldn’t be prouder, but as a single mother of an only child who was leaving the nest, Sklonda wasn’t sure she was ready to face life all on her own again. The comfort of family hadn’t made her soft, per se, but she wasn’t about to take it for granted either. Which is why she had opted to take the Seacaster’s invitation to live with them. Cathilda had been by earlier in the week, helping Skonda to direct the movers on what to pack up and what to toss, and then she had been given her choice of two rooms in the manor – one for her bedroom and one for an office (and of course her own private bathroom). It was all overwhelming, but Cathilda had done nothing but make her feel comfortable and welcomed the entire time, and Sklonda was already considering the halfling more like a long-lost sister than a maid. It was the other two that had Sklonda feeling slightly nervous; she hadn’t had much contact with Gilear outside of group Bad Kids Parents’ night, where she had the buffers of Sandra Lynn, Jawbone, and the Thistlesprings to keep things from being awkward with her and her ex-boyfriend. And as for Hallariel – well, Sklonda barely knew a thing about the woman, as she never attended the parents’ nights. She had seen the way her son acted around her, though, and she wasn’t sure if she approved of the high elf’s hands-off approach to parenthood. Thank goodness that Gilear was there for their new baby.
All the same, she had been given the invitation to live with them, and she had accepted (she found that life at Mordred was a little too crazy and hectic for her, with so many teenagers and other people; after the time she had spent there she found that she preferred a quieter family setting). And now, ten minutes later, she found herself on the doorstep of her new home. She reached the door and hesitated – she lived here now, and even already had a key – but was she supposed to knock or let herself in? She stood there, fist levitating just a few inches from the rich rosewood door, when it opened inwards. She immediately withdrew her hand, hiding it behind her back as if she had been doing something wrong with it, but before she could process that she had nothing to hide, the door swung all the way open and Cathilda appeared before her, cheeks rosy and grin wide.
“Sklonda! I was beginning to think you had gotten lost!”
“Ah! No, no, I was just having one last good-bye with the apartment,” she explained.
“Oh, I see!” Cathilda’s eyes twinkled with deep knowledge and she beckoned Sklonda to come inside. As soon as she entered and Cathilda closed the door behind her, the halfling maid gently took her bag from her and led her to her bedroom. Sklonda already knew where it was, but all the same, she let her friend guide her. Once inside the room and the bag was down, Cathilda winked at her. “I think it’s time for my break, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Oh? Yes?” Sklonda said, a little confused but still smiling.
“Right.” Cathilda nodded, removed her apron, and then smothered Sklonda in a huge hug. “Welcome home, my friend,” she whispered, squeezing the goblin tightly – and it was a tight hug, the halfling still as strong and as capable as she had been in her pirating days.
“Th- thank you,” Sklonda replied, hugging her friend back, her eyes suddenly moist and blurry from the tears pricking at the edges. “It feels good to be home.”
“Aye, I bet it does.” Cathilda moved her head and gave Sklonda a small peck on the cheek. “The mansion feels all the more cozy to have you in here, and don’t you worry about work finding you here; you’ve got more backup than you could ever hope for!”
Sklonda laughed.
The two break apart their hug and as Sklonda put away the contents of her final bag, Cathilda gossiped about news from Fabian as he began his first week at university. Sklonda replied with her own updates on Riz, the two smiling and chuckling at the young men learning to live on their own. Bag unpacked, Cathilda stood up from the chair she had been sitting in and led Sklonda down a hallway and into a drawing room where Gilear and Hallariel were waiting.
“Welcome home, Sklonda!” they both cheered as she entered .
“Oh! Oh my!” she exclaimed, both shocked and warmed by their greeting.
Gilear walked over to her and held out a hand. “So good to have you come live with us,” he said.
“Indeed, this is an absolute delight!” added Hallariel, swooping in and shoving Gilear out of the way as she bent down to give Sklonda a kiss on both cheeks. “You’re part of Seacaster Manor now! So lovely!” she tittered, then moved aside, allowing Gilear to once more stick out his hand for a handshake.
Sklonda considered it for a moment, then decides ‘ah, fuck it,’ and leaned in and hugged Gilear, surprising the wood elf who managed to choke on nothing out of surprise.
“Ah, I did not think that you, ah, would want to, ah… well, we had been… because, you see.”
“Gilear, yes, we used to date for a short while, but it doesn't have to be awkward,” Sklonda chuckled as he fumbled over his words in shock.
“Ah, yes, indeed…”
Sklonda rolled her eyes good-naturedly and smiled at him. “Thank you both for allowing me into your home.”
“Well, it’s also yours now, my darling!” said Hallariel. “Cathilda, when you’re done with your break, I think champagne would be wonderful for all of us, including yourself!”
“Ah, thank you, Mistress. I’ll get right on that!” and the halfling bustled out of the drawing room, only to return a couple minutes later with a large bottle and four glasses.
“To our new friend and family member, Sklonda Gukgak!”
Later that night, after a lovely dinner and more alcohol, Sklonda tipsily made her way back to her room. Her bed was made, something she never took the time to do, and on the wall above a small desk where her personal laptop sat, she looked up to the picture of her and Pok, youthful on their wedding day, and the circle of pictures of Riz surrounding them. She smiled. She was home once again.