#goldfinchfreehold

If not for Piper distracting and cheering the kids on, and Sylvi handling teenagers and up (Though she helped with the kids too) and the help of Eve , Lucia and others... what took a mere two hours or so would have felt like all day. But a text comes through from alisa

TXT: Bad Guy Caught. All Clear

Alisa does not give many details it seems

Sylvi confirms that she got the message, informs the other wilders who are managing things, then makes an announcement: "Okay, everybody! Just got word that everything's clear outside, the threat's over, and I'm going to start calling your families to come pick you up. Everybody do me a favor, clean up what you can before you go. Help each other, and ask questions if you don't know where something goes." Two quick claps. "Annnnd, go!"

And a cleaning begins, some more enthused than others, but the shear relief is tangible for all

While the kids are doing that, Sylvi starts contacting the kids' guardians, mortal and kinain kids first.

She finds Lucia's mom ready to help, of course. And the wayburtons are grateful for the news (They were worried for Lydia)

It looks like the crisis is over, and Goldfinch shoulder it's part of the burden very well indeed

(End scene)

Sylvi texts Dagmar: You heard from Alissa? We're all clear, they got the shooter.

"Hey," A grizzled youthful mix of a voice "I take it from the rush of folks leaving here, and looking relieved, I'm too late to save the day?" Zane? Zane

"Zane!" She gives him a big hug. "Yeah, no day-saving for you, but it's good to see you!"

"Good to see you too" he hugs back, She remembers when he had no horns just nubs, a kid. Now his horns are proud and large, and he has 3 o clock shadow in a scruff. She's still taller though, even with his horns, she's still taller and that makes the universe seem trustworthy "You look good. Colton sends his love by the way. we saw the news. He couldn't go. I could. "

"I know he'd be here if he could. You get to assure him I was totally safe, on babysitting duty the whole time." She shrugs.

"I've babysat before, never felt THAT safe" Zane smiles "Parents were freaking out about Lydia"

((Was Lydia there at Goldfinch?))

She wasn't.

Sylvi's eyes go wide. "Lydia? She wasn't here. Do they know where she is? Is she home?"

"She is now" He says

"Oh, crap...you had me worried. Hey, there might be some pizza or pasta left. Want some?"

"Luca's family's stuf? Oh hell yeah, I wouldn't say no to that."

"I can't say there's much left..." She leads him to the kitchenette. Fortunately, there is about half a lasagna left, and a few slices of mushroom pizza.

He follows, and gets him self some Lasagna, "THis is heaven, thanks. I mean, don't get me wrong, Hearth cooks like a master, but he doesn't cook Italian often"

"He's got some funny biases, yeah."

"Now, not to slight your hold but I hear you guys are the ones who hurt for food now and then?"

"Here? Well...there's no kitchen, but we get plenty of contributions from Mom and others. There's usually something around to nibble, even if it's not some awful crisis." She waves to another kid who's leaving with his parents.

Zane waves as well, and then answers quietly 'in a way, i can see how it brings Finchers together. Different folks bring food by to help"

She whispers back, "Actually, yeah, that's been part of why this works. Everybody contributing makes it everybody's 'hold."

A smile "When this started, who thought I would be the one going to military troll town and you the hippie commune leader?"

She grins, then says, "Actually...as long as you're here, I kind of need to bend your ear about something."

More kids and people filter out, "Down stairs towards " he lowers his voice 'the fire" then?"

She nods and checks that the only folks left are wilders, then grabs up a roll and leads him downstairs.

He follows, grabbing a soda, albeit a warm one

"Hey, Mic." She crouches to pet the cat, and then settles in a chair, nibbling on the roll.

"HEY, when did you get this guy?" he pets Mic

Mic promptly threatens to knock the soda over

"Mic? He's a bit of an idiot. Tried to pounce on the Goldfinch in the window, nearly gave himself a concussion. Piper doesn't like him, though, so he stays down here."

"Oh yeah, sorry about that. Piper has never been big on pets" He sighs "she's not even that crazy about sunshine our dog"

He looks at the fire, and smiles "Small, but it dances to it's own groove'

"I mean, I get it. Don't want the equipment damaged."

Then a grin at the compliment to the 'Fire. "She's got spirit, yeah. So..." A pause. "I forget, were you here when we had the first meeting about this place? Like, figuring out who was in charge and stuff?"

"the one where you guys decided it would be a demoratic thing? And definitely commoner focused?"

"Right, yeah." She nods. "Do you remember we talked about transitioning from one holder to another?"

"Yeah, every year and a day? Oh geez. you guys should have election time soon shouldn't you? Keep it short, just my opinion but election cycles over a month are toxic"

"SEE?" She almost jumps out of her chair, pointing at him. "See? It DID happen! I swear, Piper was satyr-lighting me."

"Satyr lighting?" A brow

"Instead of gaslighting. She thought everybody agreed that I was going to be freeholder until further notice up to possibly forever."

"well, maybe we're remembering it wrong" he says

then winks "Okay I seem to recall talking to you some. "

"I think Piper likes how you handle things. It's also possible she's worried someone might elect her"