I trudged past the sack of gold coins - the third one this week, each one larger than the last - as I headed to bed.
“I won’t take gifts!” Maybe it was the pressure that had me shouting at nothing. Only three more days to come up with the money, and I only just started my new job. “I know enough about you lot!” Maybe I was just tired… the first day of work had been exhausting on top of everything going on. “The gold wouldn’t work anyway. Too many questions…” My voice had dropped to a mumble as I flopped on my mattress.
In the morning, I was half expecting to find an even larger sack of gold sitting there. Instead, it was a stack of bills… and a piece of paper.
I read through it carefully as I ate breakfast, then again once I’d gotten most of the coffee into my system. It seemed legitimate enough: the ‘Tenants’ - who were only named as such for the entire document - would pay rent regularly, continue living as they had been on the property (with a few clauses that I couldn’t get rid of them), and… that was it. A surprisingly simple deal, in spite of the elaborate legalese it was written in.
“…this amount is pretty high. My mortgage is barely half this. Are you sure it’s fair?” I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, honestly. Maybe for the number to start adjusting, or for a voice to suddenly speak up.
Instead, a shimmer at the bottom of the page caught my eye. The text above the 'Sign Here’ lines shifted as I watched, 'I certify that I find this deal equitable and agreeable’ being added to the rest.
I shrugged, feeling a smile creep onto my face for the first time in almost a month. I picked up the sparkly gold-and-purple pen that had been sitting with the contract… then paused.
“…actually, there’s one other change I’d like to make.” It was probably a terrible idea. I would almost certainly regret it later. But in the moment, suddenly feeling hope for the first time in far too long… I guess I just wanted to share some of that joy. “This part here, about the 'Tenants’ remaining unobtrusive. Maybe we could reword that? I wouldn’t mind a bit of company sometimes… so long as you still respect my privacy and any boundaries I set as we go, of course.”
I might have imagined the giggle, but I’m fairly certain the faint clapping was real. The text changed again, the page expanded as that section was quickly rewritten to include clauses about the 'Tenants’ coming and going in the main building as they wished, so long as they respected the customs, wishes, and requests of the 'Homeowner’. While I’m sure there could have been loopholes I didn’t catch, the wording all seemed to treat my decisions as the highest authority in the matter; it was heavily enough in my favor that I had to double-check that the 'equitable and agreeable’ bit was still down below.
“You really want me to keep this place, don’t you?” I smiled, then put pen to paper. “Well, so do I~”
As I scribbled my signature in glittery purple ink on the 'Homeowner’ line, several characters in a language I was unfamiliar with stamped themselves on the 'Tenants’ line just above. Squinting at them as I finished, I realized that *each one* was a name… I had at least eight fae leasing my property now.
As I set the pen down, it and the contract vanished… and in their place was a tiny winged humanoid figure, with too-big eyes and a pointy-toothed smile. “I shall represent the tenants! Nice to meet you, landlord!”
I bleched. “Right, I guess I technically am one of those now… I kinda hate the word, though.”
The faerie’s smile vanished as it tilted its head. “…what word should I use then?”
“Well, you can call me by my first name. I signed with it, so you should know it.” I hesitated, and it waited to see if I had more to say.
I knew enough fae lore to be cautious with things like this. Of course, I was also giddy, and found myself rather emotional over how much the tiny creature in front of me had just helped me. And I didn’t know *that* much, so I wasn’t sure if it would mean something more than I intended, but…
I opened my mouth again anyway. “You could also use, um… 'friend’? If you wanted?”
It stared at me unblinking for a moment… and then its face lit up. Literally. “FRIEND!” The buzzing, glowing ball impacted my collarbone, and I could feel it squeezing against me in something of an awkward hug. “We will be happy to call you that!”
“…friend.” I gently patted the little faerie, finally giving up on holding back my tears. “I’m happy you’ll be calling me that, too…”
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