#goldfinchfreehold

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"No, really, Piper" Romana says "I got this..." She says, she had painted half the room when Piper showed up

A look like a kicked puppy. "I just... really, can't I help out at all?"

"Well, not with this I .. I move quickerr when no one is watching? But there are rooms that if you want to sweep maybe? I don't know ..." then she looks past Piper "Oh , Hi, Siv!"

"Hi," Siv's voice says

Romana will see Piper's expression change to one of vague dread. NOT her normal reaction on Siv's arrival! But her expression is schooled back to a cheerful neutral before the Satyr turns and, "Siv! Sorry, I think I lost track of time. I was just helping out Romana with this project... work is never done, right?"

"Right" Ramona looks between them, a calm seemingSiv, a smiling Piper.. and if she weren't a boggan she'd fall for it, "You two okay?"

"Kind of what I'm hoping to find out. Romana, I know you were working here but... Could we have 15 minutes?" Siv asks her, letting a bit of cocern show

Romana looks at Piper "Here, I'll leave the paint for you two work on. Two of you might be close to one boggan"

And she slips out! Piper has been desserted to face her troll captain alone

A look after Romana like she has been abandoned, and then picks up a brush. "Well, this way I won't need the ladder, right? Right!"

A weak smile, "Right" Siv says then she picks up the ohter brush "Baby, we need to talk. "

Brush brush, slapping paint onto the new drywall. Eyes on the wall. "You brought a sidhe noble - a Liam, into our home. Our home. Without asking, without warning... ...how did you think I was going to feel?"

"She's a child," Siv points out "A nine year old girl. And I had hoped meeting my father would have by now shown you not all Liams are as extreme as Count Jude"

She slaps a brush as well

"Siv... I.... it's not something I can control."

Her voice trembles a bit, even as she tries to keep it steady.

"I've TRIED. I've worked hard, to see your Da as your Da, and not just as a Liam. He's not a sidhe, which helps a bit... a LOT actually... and I've known him for years. This is different."

A frown "I'm sorry. I should have done more than just text that we needed to talk. I should have given you some context," Siv looks over at Piper as one hand casually spreads paint on the wall , "I underestimated how badly this would get to you, and for that, I am sorry"

Piper's paint is a bit of a sloppy splatter - probably will need to be redone. "How did you THINK I would react? 'Oh, yes, please welcome this sidhe into our home, can I offer her tea and cookies, ask about all of the recent news from Ardent Harbor? How's good ol' Count J doing these days?"

"She's never been to Ardent Harbor, only Caer Falken, where , when they learned her house was LOWLY LIAM, all the knights there snubbed her, and the few knights that considered taking her but already had a squire? Well, one squire beat her up and told Kassedy that she better keep her 'filthly oath broken face' away from their knight" Siv looks at her, "Others just snubbed, sneered, or if she was lucky, patronized her. And she won't be living in our home, she'll be living with my folks in my old room. She was just VISITING."

Siv's tone is mostly calm, though does stress some words. Her own paint job is running a bit wild hough

"Because she's a LIAM. There's a reason why Liam are snubbed, they're Oathbroken. That's why Liam should stick with their House - find another Liam to foster and squire and whatever it is that sidhe need from their Knights. Why not Sir Carowyn? Or, why here at ALL? Earthrunes is HALF Liam, there's SURE to be a Knight there who would welcome a squire!"

She continues, "She won't be living in our house- I hadn't asked that, so you're the one who was thinking it - was that what you wanted? To have her live with you?"

Siv stiffens "They should stick to their own kind? Sweet Sif herself, did you really just say that?"

And she stares at Piper as if she isn' sure she knows her

"That's NOT what I said!" Piper retorts back! "You're putting words in my mouth!"

"You think Liams should stick with Liam ... it sure SOUNDS the same" Siv's jaw juts, the she takes a breath "I love you , and you've a right to your anxiety about Liam, but I'm not crazy about the idea you hate a 9 year old girl because she happens to be Liam. And NO, I don't want her living with me, with us. Because I knew it would make you uncomfortable"

"Did you even think about talking to me before you made this decision? Taking on a squire - that's just a skip and a hop from adopting a kid! You didn't think maybe you could talk to me, to Jonas, as this would affect us too? ANY Squire - not just a SIDHE, not just a LIAM? Because if I was going to make a life-changing decision I sure as hell hope I'd at least bring it up as pillow talk!"

Perhaps not realizing that her volume has risen.

"It came on all the sudden, and I didn't have much time to sort it out" Siv doesn't flinch , like she sometimes has when Piper got angry, rather she goes on "You're right. This is unfair to you and Jonas for me to sprinng it on you so.. with ANY Squire, but I'm a KNIGHT, with no liege sworn, few duties, and I have it easy when I am supposed to SERVE. I have a DUTY to take squire, to provide counsel and lessons. That's part of what knnights DO... and you knew I was a knight!"

"I can't, I won't, live just for myself while I enjoy rank, it's not... not right"

"You do plenty! You're always busy - you patrol, you get sent on missions, you spy and scout and practically get killed on the regular! You only JUST found a job that will let you have a bit of slack, so you could be cut a break, and instead they're going to saddle you with more duties? It's not FAIR. Don't you have a duty to yourself? And to your partners?"

"The job was picked because I'd have less risk of Autumn people, if I recall, the more time is a very nice perk," She takes a breath, feeling a bit slapped at the mention of her partners "If I've been failing you and Jonas as a lover and partner before now, it's new to me. And I'm an Errant knight, I can refuse the Spymaster ANY time I want. I LIKE paroling, fresh air, good stretch of the legs. I don' consider it work. Look, I love you and I'll keep her out of our appartment, but I'm keeping Kassedy. She's a good kid, andn she deserves a knight. And I am a Knight, I need to grow as a Knight. You couldn't live without song and music, I'm a troll, and duty and purpose is part of who we are. "

"I know you're a Knight, and a Troll, and you have your duty! That doesn't mean..." She breaks off, trembling. "I need my music, but if you'd been tortured for months with a brass band squealing in your ears, I wouldn't show up in the living room to shove my new trumpet in your face and expect you to praise my decisions!"

"I'm not asking you to praise her. I thought you should know, it happened fast and I wanted you to meet her in a place where might feel safer, our home. I thought itt would be a hell of a lot better than meetinn her in the lodge where her title might make you extra nervous

"

She puts a hand on Piper's shoulder "I didn't mean to scare you, or ..remind you of your past imprisonment. I was wrong to think you'd moved on as much as I thought you had. But please believe me when I say honestly thought i would be better to have your first meeting be at your place of power, as it were"

Her chin quivers. "It feels more like that place I thought was safe, isn't. If I can't be free in my own HOME, without reminders of everything - then where can I?"

Siv stares at her bewildered, "I'm pretty sure this is my third or fourth time telling you she'll be at my old room in the lodge. I'll be teaching her there. She's not coming to the appartment again, no training there or anything"

"I just.. I... I need some time. I just can't, right now."

"I..." She pulls her hand back "Okay... you need some space. Will... will you be home tonight for dinner? We're having the veggie tacos you like so much"

"Siv, I don't know... I need to clear my head. I'm no good right now."

"Okay okay... I.." She looks guilty "I'm very sorry I.. didn't ..anticipate somethings, right. I really scrrewed up there. Kassedys' not to blame here. I am. "

A breath "And I'll .. I'll leave you alone. Just.. don't keep your phone off just to avoid our texts?"

She nods, looking a touch guilty there. "Promise. And.. I'm not... we're not... It's just some space, okay? To let me work through this."

Siv swallows, a bit of fear pressed down "I can stay at the lodge or lake house if you.. if you want more space at the appartment"

She reaches up and tugs at Siv a bit, so that she can give her a kiss. "You stay."

Siv returns the kiss "If you're sure. I... okay. You.. you want to tell Jonas abou this or should I? "

"I'm gonna stop by the apartment - if I see him, I'll talk to him. K?"

"Okay. I'll be at the lodge for the next few hours .. if you need me, call text, or yell 'hey chucklelhead'' real loud" A smile, but a weak one

She nods, trying a weak smile on herself. "Will do." And she trots out. She doesn't realize she's still holding a dripping paintbrush until outside.

There might be a line of paint droplets that followed her down the hall. "For the love of..." THAT being the final thing that makes her eyes well over, and she drops the tool on the sidewalk and hurries off at speed towards the apartments.

And Siv puts her brush down, unaware she's let it dangle against her left leg ...then when she does notice "Oh for Neptune's sake"