#goldfinchfreehold

Sylvi laughs at Piper.

Then her smile vanishes. "What's wrong?" She stands with Colton.

“It’s like, physical weapons are only such a small part of what one can do. Does it really make sense to lock them up when a voice or bit of magic can be just as devastating?”

She falls quiet…

"Protection racket for Dross in Rome New York...." Colton says "And, Piper, I think you have a point... I wish we had a voice like yours att Dark gate"

Sylvi bites her lip. "I'm going to be up there in a couple of days, Colton, but let me know if there's anything I can do to help from here."

She looks pleased at the praise but a little surprised. “Dark Gate needs musicians?”

"I will" He nods "Pardon me folks. I need to bust some heads." He gives Sylvi a kiss, then looks at Piper "I thought every place did." A smile, then offhe goes

She grins at that. “Won’t argue there. Good busting.”

She returns the kiss, then smiles at his parting words. "Make 'em feel it!"

and he departs.

And she watches him go.

“Dross protection racket?” She looks a bit puzzled. “Like, extorting dross for protection? But from what?”

"From the extortionists, probably." She looks a little sad, but after a moment, she turns back to Piper. "So...what if we say that they have to check all mundane weapons?"

“Like, maybe it's just them… but there COULD be an actual threat, too.” A small frown, but, “sorry, I’m sure Colton know his business.”

"There's been plenty of actual threats at DarkGate. But it's a lot better than it was."

"And yeah...Colton's a pro."

She considers this. “That could work. Maybe making it clear that this is a developing policy, and there’s a lot of honor system on keeping chimerical things, and using cantrip.. until or unless someone abuses it.”

She nods. "It's going to be a lot of making-it-up-as-we-go for a while."

“Ugh. I don’t want to think of having to dish out punishment.” An unhappy look. “It’s going to happen sooner or later, but… it’s never fun. …I don’t think Rikki had been back to the lodge since the whole truck debacle.”

She sighs, but then glanced over at movement. “Oh! Siv is up. Can I take her one of these pastries?”

"Go for it!"

Sylvi offers the pastries. "I've had too much, already!"

A smile, and Piper gladly leaves that train of thought behind.

And while Piper goes to talk to Siv, Sylvi takes a moment to check in with the balefire before exploring the freehold a bit more. Later, she'll gather everybody to discuss what's next, but that'll be later.

...........

Siv stirs, and sees both of her lovers are gone, "Well, I do believe a pout is coming on"

She rises and stretches, tippy toe

“Siv, I brought breakfast sugar…”

And she leans up to offer a kiss, she can’t reach but she can pucker up and wait.

"Mmm?" She turns "Oh, something sweet for me" A kiss, then she parts "And oh, food too." She takes one "PIper I am so damn PROUD of you"

“Well, Sallie May brought them.”

"Not about the food" She laughs "About the hold! You.. you found it, you saw the good in it."

“It’s Sylvi’s hold, though.” She reminds Siv. “She was granted it and did all the work to bring it about and poured her glamour in. She’s the one with the title and link and role and responsibilities.” Piper doesn’t sound like she envies that.

“I’m going to have to figure out how to do the managing side of things for the studio. Frankly, Siv? It terrifies me. I know how to make music, but I don’t know how to run a business! What if I mess it up?”

"Title? " A brow "Sylvi's PROUD of being not a noble. I once joked she was a proud member of House Do The Right Thing. Sure, she's got the duty, she's Freeholder, but she's not titled. And I think she's afraid of gettin a lable that sounds too hoity toity" Siv strokes Piper's cheek "You're better than you think, and you have friends who will help you if you feel like you're stumbling. Besides, the point isn't to make money is it? It's to make dreamers glow. It's to help folks find their love of music. You're the most qualified woman I know for that"

“Freeholder, not TITLE, title.”

She does lean into Siv though. “I’ll do my best.”

"You are the best," Siv wraps her arms about Piper "And sure you might mistep but we all do. But your love of music always lifts you up again, you shine with passion and love for it. Let that love light your way"

“Aw, sheesh.” She leans into her troll. “It might cut into my DJ time.”

"It might" A pause "Hold on a sec.. it might also help you. I mean, the girls dance but it still might give you a hook to some musical talent no one else will hear out"

She looks thoughtful. “There are at least a couple of the girls that could do other dance. Cabaret, theatrical, professional- if they had options.”

"And if they were asked to be part of say a music video?"

"I mean, I kow this isn't a visual recording studio but.."

“…but it COULD be. I mean.. maybe? Not high tech, but if it could be used for web recordings like podcasts and v-tubers, why couldn’t it do viral vids and TikToks? There are tons of dance and music tiktoks, and some even get their start on bigger things, or just like being internet famous with the ad revenue. Siv, this could be BIG…”

"if only some talented yet petite lass were willin to make it happen" Siv shakes her head "But where would we find such a woman? Why we might have to go all the way to Cali to find such a dynamo"

A snort. “Okay okay.” she grins. “First we need to fix this place up. Before we can actually think anyone will think this is more than a rundown nothing. I don’t want to ask Sallie May for any more funds, though.” She settles back onto a pillow.

“Some of the work can be done with elbow grease, but there’s more. Electrical, structural repairs, and after all that, equipment. it all costs.”

"It's a freehold, you'll be surprised how many will come together... besdies, I think some of the damage got undone when Sylvi put so much glamour and spring magic into it"

“That’s the Freehold, though. The studio is kinda its own thing.”

“I don’t know if I want to ask people to give money to fix up the studio.. not when they already gave glamour for the freehold. It’s too much like buying dreamers.”

"Mm fair pointt" She realizes

"But really we know some folks good with devices and such, no shame in asking. "