#goldfinchfreehold

Piper folds her hands, trying not to fidget. She’s USED to being on stage, but normally she knows the tune …

Symon lurks to Dagmar’s side. “Did I miss anything? Mom was being weird.”

“She asked me if I needed any money for my ‘outing’ and if I was “sure” this was the shirt I was going to wear…” he rubs at the worn collar of one of his favorite T-shirts, a bit baffled.

"Well, you look fine. You look like you. Didn't miss much."

Lucia mutters something low under her breath

Symon glances her way…

And rolls his eyes a bit. “Got a Mountain Dew in there?”

"Yes. "

"Can I get something from there?" Sylvi says of the cooler. "I'm not picky right now."

"Sure we got Mountain Dews, Pepsis, Diet Sprites... and even an Orange Crush"

"I'll take a Diet Sprite, thanks." She looks around the group. "Okay, lets get down to it. First of all...you guys kicked ass last night! Be damn proud of it, because you were amazing."

Dagmar hands Sylvi a Sprite, and takes the Dew over to Sy.

Sylvi smiles at Dagmar. "Thanks!"

Piper grins.

Symon takes the drink and takes a seat near Dagmar.

"We were pretty good" Romana says

Sylvi nods to Ramona.

"YOu were great " Zane confirms, "You guys don't realize how hard it is sometitmes to work that kind of awakening. Some holds snuff out in the attemp before they start."

Sylvi bites her lip and looks toward the alcove where the flame glows within the housing of an antique spotlight. "This one woke up, and it woke up happy. Now we've got to keep it awake, and safe, and healthy. What that means..." she looks back to the group "...is no free rides. If you want this, you've got to help to keep it. Otherwise, it won't be long until somebody tries to take it from us."

She looks around. "We need somebody to keep notes on stuff, so we remember later what we all agreed to now. Any volunteers?"

Romana and Lucia both pull out pens and pads at the same time

She smiles. "I guess two note-takers can compare notes later."

Symon leans back in his chair, popping his soda can. It cracks and fizzes loudly in the mostly quiet room.

Sylvi looks over to him to see if that was an attempt to get her attention so he could speak.

He sips, and then whispers. “Why should we feel obligated to help? I mean, good for you. You’ve moved up in the world. What’s that mean for us though?”

The satyrs are well represented, Lyronn annd he Mendoza sisters here as well.. a bit late.

If he sees Eden, he nods to her, maybe the pooka can be his voice if she's willing to say it correctly. It’s kinda like a lie if are acts like it's her own words.

Sylvi nods to the newcomers, then looks back to Symon. "Fair question. Here's the thing -- I grew up in the Lodge, but even I can see that it's not for everybody. There's a lot of you that I never see there, even on most holidays, but it's supposed to be a resource for you, a place where you can go when you need a glamourous space, away from the banality out there. So...I want this to be a space that is less tied to the structures of nobility, and...less trollish. More comfortable for all."

She's with Tikki and nods

Tikki speaks up "I volunteer to fight for truth , justice, and the haven way" His honorable and extravigent lies one of exageration

“The lodge has protectors because it's a lodge. The trolls there all have ties- family, or appointment, and duty bound. Are you going to ask for oaths and assign jobs? Such a little flame can't feed us all.”

Eden repeats what Symonn says, thouggh adds 'as I was saying'

Sylvi looks amused at Tikki.

"Damn, Sy, I thought I was going to be the ball buster here" Rikki grins at him, "But her balls aside, how many of us need it full time anyway? Long as we get vakays on our favorite holidays?"

She blinks at Eden, then realizes what's going on with the translation. She shakes her head. "Nope. No oaths unless you want to make one. And I'm hoping we can all help to support the flame. I've got some other ideas..." she offers.

It seems like they're listening, so she continues. "First, I want to be really clear -- this is not a seelies-only place. No matter your court, you are probably going to meet people here who do things that piss you off or who you don't agree with. You might even meet people here who you think are dangerous. Whatever it is...handle it Someplace Else. No violence in the freehold. Agreed?"

"Aww mann" Dirk and Prissy chime together

"I didn't say you couldn't be violent someplace else," she points out to them. "Just don't draw banal attention while doing it."

"Isn't this Escheat one o one anway?" Basil asks "Whatever the Court?"

Sylvi nods. "Yup. Escheat holds here, however you interpret it. That's the only way we're going to sustain the place."

Dag folds her arms, watching.

Piper answers this one. “It is and it isn’t. When you've traveled more, cuz, you’ll find that the Escheat isn’t as cut and dry as it may seem. There’s a lot interpreted differently by court, not to mention by location. You gotta look to whoever is in charge to interpret that, and here…” she nods to Sylvi.

"I want to be flexible about it. I've got my views on Escheat, but...well, you've all met my folks. I know there's more than one way to see it. I'm freeholder, but I'm not the boss of how you think."

"By your command" Rikki says in a cylon voice

"I do want people to check any mundane weapons before they come into the Freehold space, though. Just to be on the safe side. We'll set something up at the door."

"We're going to have to defend this flame. It's in a good position to defend, and maybe at some point we can develop a chimera to keep an eye on it like they have in Firnost...but until then, somebody should stay here each night, I think."

Dag mutters to Sy, under her breath.

She looks to Dagmar, noting the muttering. A curious expression, inviting her input, but not wanting to put her on the spot if she doesn't want to speak.

Prissy shrugs "Fuck. I'll protect it. Dirk's doing his peacekeeper shit all over. I can focus here.. I like scaring people"

"That's awesome, Prissy, but I don't want you to have to be here every night. That's not fair to you. I can totally do it a lot of nights, too, but I'm also still finishing up the transition at DarkGate," she nods to Zane to recognize her successor there.

Symon nods a bit to Dagmar, but is mostly listening.

Piper speaks, “one thing to keep in mind is that this is a chance to get in on the ground floor on something new. You want to have a say in how this freehold is run and how it grows? Now’s your chance.

And even if you don't care, think of other aspects.

One, it’s a FREEHOLD. And if you're not inspired by that, think of this.

If it's not run right and well, some noble could invoke their power, Fior what's it, and step in to take it. You think they’d be asking for help and opinions?

Or some motley could sneak in and steal the flame. Then you got nothing.”