#darkgatefortress

"Ye wanted to see me?" Chieftain Hewitt asks

"Which fits, as I was hoping to talk to you" He responds before Sylvi can answer, and motions to a chair

"Yes, Chieftain Hewitt. I kind of got that impression," she adds with a slight grin. "Thank you." She takes a seat in the chair he indicates.

"I...um...Colton suggested there was a thing you needed to talk with me about. I need to head back to see my parents, so I wanted to make sure we spoke before I left." She seems a bit awkward, for her.

"Ah, well, I did ask him what he thought of it, should have known he'd tell you" The Chief says "You're a talented young woman, Sylvi. You're skilled with people, have a good grasp of tactics when you need it, you coordinate, evaluate, and administrate almost like it was as natural as breathing to you. You think outside the usual confines, yet take pride in Troll traditions."

She colors, modest. "Thank you, sir. I'm just...I feel like you're over-praising me a little. I mean...I'm just trying to help out, and I'm glad I'm doing it in a way that's actually helpful."

"As a Chieftain, when I need matters of finance, cooking, and to some degree morale, I'm supposed to turn to the Hearth. But Marsileelis, while a great cook, isn't always great on the morale part and mostly is troll focused. Sir Colton is a fine lad. A solid storm! Fierce. And a better thinker of strateggies and the like than most would know. He's a good squad leader. Looks out for his troops. The fact he's good with dreamers is icing on the cake for me. But he'd be he first to say he's not as good at some of the fancier interactions and interconnections. Then there's Wildheart. Chip on her shoulder. But damn she's well taught. And namers are in short supply. Fine Mountain in her way but reclusive at times. I'm supposed to turn to each for this or that. But i's amazing how much falls thorugh the cracks or doesn't fit"

"I...I guess I can see what you mean. I hadn't really thought about that. The gaps, I mean. They're all amazing, but...well, I mean nobody can be great at everything."

"And truth, I may not even be that good a Chief. I was used to being a baron, but the deal for this place meant it as a lodge and i honor that. I have been relying on you as a Sub Chieftain of sorts. And.. as your beau may have told you, that is what I am hoping to offer you as a long term position. You've been doing grand by me and the Fort. You smooth the process without complaint, and yet when you see me bottlenecking you're not too shy to pull me aside and tell me of this or that person I've been neglecting. And, usually in a polite and respectfu lbut firm manner. You could say you're doing Reeve work, but you're also doing Chancellior work. And Darkgate and I have benefitted. You see why I might want to keep you around? It isn't idle praise. It's truth. "

Sylvi bites her lip as she listens, then takes a deep breath. "I can see it. And...thank you. I really appreciate that you...well, that you appreciate me." She grins at her own awkward turn of phrase, but then goes serious again. "It's just...well, forgive me, Chieftain Hewitt, but it's just kind of weird for me. I wasn't expecting to...I wasn't looking for a permanent role here. Or, y'know, anywhere. I hadn't thought about it. I mean...I'm still in high school, whatever that means this year," she rolls her eyes and shrugs. "And talking about this, it's like...part of me is like, well, sure, I can do that...and the rest of me is like, but I'm still just a kid." Then she takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders. "Sorry...that's not what you want to hear. So...I guess...I want to know what you'd want me to do if I stayed. Pretty much what I've been doing?"

"More or less, perhaps more formalized so your authority's reach wouldn't be challenged to often when you needed it " he ponders "Sometimes I forget how wilders around here are blessed with family and a support net work. When I ran away from home to..well, let's say I forget sometimes . Of course you're not sure about this. But I can tell you, you may feel like a kid, but you've been doing an adult's work around here and you're good at it. I would like to have you be approachable for the commoners when they feel I'm too isolated or imposing. I'd like you to speak for them if you feel there is an injustice I should be dealingw ith. I'd like your advise on those matters and more. I'd like you to help me administrate matters that don't fall to the Hearth, Mounttain, and Storm. Does that explain it?"

She swallows and nods. "I...I do want to think about it, if that's okay? While I'm home for a few days. Um...." She hesitates. "You wouldn't need me to swear to a House or anything, right?"

"Lady Captain Siv suggested that if any House had Dibs, it would be called by Fiona" He looks amused "Then she said 'but you have your own house already'. I don't know what she means exactly, but too answer your own question, you would not need to swear to a House or take a title. Oaths aren't something trolls run from, but this is a lodge, so I do not think it approporiate to insist on one of fealty and vasallage unless you wanted it"

"There is an Oath manny take to guard the gate. " He admits "But not all"

Sylvi grins a bit as he describes Siv's opinion, then nods. "Okay. Thank you. Um." An awkward pause. "Maybe...maybe something other than sub-Chieftain? I think that kind of sounds too powerful and too silly at the same time." An apologetic shrug. "I mean...it's not a Lodge title, but Chancellor kind of sounds like what you're talking about."

"I suppose but I feared it would be too.. Sidhe? " he admits

"Well...yeah." Sylvi doesn't look totally comfortable with the title either. "Maybe something else? But sub-Chieftain sounds like...like it assumes I'm going to be Chieftain someday, like there's an order of succession or something, and I don't think your Hearth, Mountain, or Storm would appreciate that." Interpersonal politics in mind.

"Mmm I had no considered. Okay, let me ask. What authority and ranking, titles aside, would YOu see this role as having to work?"

"Um. Wow. Well...." She thinks about that. "Like you said, I need to have some kind of authority in your place, like people need to know that if I'm asking them to do something, it's because you've trusted me to make those kinds of decisions when you're not available. So I guess kind of like a...a first officer?" she suggests.

"First officer? Mmm other option might be Aide. Or if you want to get game of throne's about it 'Chief's hand'"

"Oh!" She considers. "Those are all good possibilities." She nods, now sounding more interested; apparently the succession thing was an obstacle. "Okay...Um...Well, like I say, I want to think a couple of days. Please don't take that as an insult. I'm just...trying to figure it out."

A chuckle "Lass, the fact you want to actually think things through just means you have some sense. " A nod "And no doubt, you have friends and family you might want advice from. Know this, if you say no, you are still welcome here. It is your life and you owe me nothing. If you say yes, I hope to keep you busy , but you will still have a life "

That brings a relieved expression. "Thank you, Chieftain Hewitt. That helps." Apparently these were questions she didn't know how to ask. Sylvi rises from her chair. "If you'll excuse me?"

"Of course . Oh. If you DO take the position, best be firm on whatever you are called, or else the lads will try to make one up. And I don't think you want to risk 'Oompa loompa' or 'Girl Friday' sticking"

"Best to nip that fastt before you have to bust heads" A smile

She laughs. "Noted. Trust me, I've gotten enough of that kind of talk from being a cheerleader, I know exactly what you mean." And with a respectful bow, she turns and leaves the Chieftain. She's off to gather her stuff and bid Colton farewell before she heads home.

Colton, of course, does his boyfriend duty of trying to slow her own with kisses and offers of a proper send off. Naturally, she has training at making sure his seductions aren't TOO effective. if she wants.

Well...they're kind of effective...and very enjoyable. But she's also distracted by the decisions she has to make. "I might be a few days," she murmurs between kisses, "but I'll text you, for sure."

"Please do. And I understand. Sounds like a lot of fall out at the Lodge there and your mom and dad might need help. I'll text you back, but patrols will be kind of heavy for a bit anyway"

"Right. Makes sense, considering," and she makes a vague gesture to encompass all the recent drama. Then claims another kiss.

"mmmm" He agrees in the fashion that allows him to keep the kiss going longer. Damn he could lose himself in her for hours. her kiss, her gaze, her touch. It occurs to him that if he were a satyr he'd NEVER get anything done around her

"Mmmm," she agrees, and then eventually pulls away. "Okay. Go do your work." She pokes his chest with a finger.

"Yes, ma'am" he salutes smartly and winks

She beams at him, then puts on her backpack (Flopsy perched atop), and waves goodbye as she heads out of the Lodge and makes her way to the trod entry and home.

Flopsy says "You all right? this is all quite the bombshell"

"I don't know," she confides in him. "I mean...it's so weird. I was just trying to be a good guest while I was there...."

"Oh Sylvi, good guests offer to clean dishes, they don't streamline the whole communications format" He tsks

"I wasn't even trying to do that. It just kinda...happened."

The rabbit says "Are you going to close me in the bag if i mention how your mother may have rubbed off on you?"

She glances back at him and gives an annoyed huff. "No, I guess not."

After a few more yards, she says, "What if I screw it up? Like, once it's an actual thing, what if I'm bad at it when it's official?"

"How is that worse if you screwed up when it wasn't official?" The rabbit says "Folks were still counting on you, still following your system, and trusting you. Why the panic just because you get to be High Rabbalaba or whatever you'll call it? "

She doesn't answer right away. Then she mutters, "It will not be High Rabbalabba." Another few paces. "It would mean really moving there. Not visiting."

"Yes it would" A nod "Though that trod would let you visit Rivervale." A pause 'Still, quite the shift. And.. .well, Dark Gate IS a rather grim place at times"

"Yeah," she nods, glad that Flopsy knows this aspect of it. "It's not like Rivervale, or the Farm or Brightwinds."

"there is no shame in refusing a place that you might think will make you miserable" He says "IF you worry that will be the case. Brighwinds eh?" A pause "you liked Brightwinds?"

"Brightwinds is beautiful," she replies, with a subtext of D'uh. "And besides that, it's got this energy around it, right? Like everything's coming out of hibernation. There's a lot of healing to do, but it feels like it wants to heal."

"Well, goodness, Sylvi. Then you should visit again. Maybe that's where you migght want to make a future for yourself, maybe it's not. But if it's made an impression right up there with Rivervale and the farm, both places where you have FAMILY and friends, maybe that's worth considering too."

"Maybe," she mutters. Trudging silence to rival Dagmar.

"I'm sorry, I suppose having too many choices is almost as daunting as feeling like you have too few choices. " the rabbit says