#goldfinchfreehold

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And so it was that the Freeholder of Goldfinch issued a flash message that there will be an important meeting about hold leadership at ((convenient time)) on ((date when all relevant players are available)). Please be there. If you can't, please don't complain later that you didn't get a say.

Piper doesn't immediately respond. However, that doesn't seem to be a snub, as music blasts from one of her favorite spots to practice...

Oh Mickey, what a pity, you don't understand
You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand
Oh Mickey, you're so pretty, can't you understand?
It's guys like you, Mickey
Ooh what you do Mickey, do Mickey
Don't break my heart, Mickey!

Sylvi doesn't have much trouble tracking her down, obviously. First thing she does is make sure that Mic hasn't gotten into that rehearsal space.

It's one with a wide windowsill that lets in bright sunlight. There's even a plant on the window sill - rather wilted, Piper hasn't remembered to water it. She's not recording, just playing for fun.

Rikki sends a a text: My assecenion is at hand

Sylvi ducks out and gets a cup of water for the plant before returning. She waters the plant as she says, "You saw the text?"

Piper looks up, and then grins over at Sylvi. "I didn't, what's up? Hey, did you know that Toni Basil was a professional dancer before she recorded her first song? She choreographed for Talking Heads, Tiny Turner, AND David Bowie."

TXT: Would love to be there, but on diplomatic mission in Texas Gerd sends

Sylvi checks the texts she gets in, frowns a little as she replies to Rikki (( Don't get cocky. 🙂 )) and Gerd (( Will update you l8r )). "I had no idea," she says to Piper as she thinks who the heck is Tony Basil?

"So...um...remember the talk we had the other day? Well...I know what you want, but I also know what I promised others, so we're at least going to have a meeting about it all."

"What's that?"

"Um...about the whole freeholder thing."

A blink, and a small purse of her lips. "Oh, that." She checks her pocket - another pocket - then finds her phone on a table top, and flicks to check messages. "Ah. Yeah, I'm in. Cool?"

"Cool. But, I kind of want to let you know where I'm at before the meeting happens, okay?"

"See...I think you're right. Things have been going really well, and I don't want to stop being Freeholder if people want me to stay. But I also have college coming up, and so I won't be here all the time like I have been. And...I don't just want to assume that everybody is cool with me staying as freeholder. Like Rikki," she smirks as she indicates her phone. "So...yeah, I think we should have elections, but I also know I'll run for re-election if we do. But I want everybody to be part of figuring out how we do this."

"You too?" She glances over at Sylvi, and frowns a bit.

Her brow furrows. "Me too, what?"

"I just don't see the big pull about college. You've got a good thing going, you have a dedicated fan base, you're popular, and you have skills - why do you need a piece of paper that says you're more qualified?"

She sighs and sits down on the floor cross-legged, her back against the wall. "I keep going back and forth about it. I dunno, Piper. Seems like I go back and forth about a lot of stuff. But...well, the viewership is starting to drop off. Seems like people aren't so into it now that the pandemic is over. I lost a sponsor last month." A pause. "Plus...well...Lucia said something and it's sort of snowballing in my head."

“So? Online is where it's AT. Just gotta find something fresh! Lucia? What’s that?”

"She...um...she was talking about how we were managing the kids yesterday? And...she said maybe I should be a teacher."

Piper sits back in her chair, considering. "I guess. Kids are easier and harder than teaching adults, though." She warns, "At least, from my experience. Well, teaching music might be different. If I needed a degree to teach tunes, well, I'd probably still be touring instead."

"Well, I mean, I guess it depends on where you want to teach and who you want to teach. Like, some teaching needs a degree, and some doesn't ,right?" She bites her lip. "But...when Lucia said it...it kinda...clicked?" An embarrassed shrug. "I dunno."

"Hey, if it hits you in that inspiration g spot, I can't judge that. I don't mean to be discouraging. I just know what works for me, and I admit I might have a sore spot about people telling me to go to college so I don't 'waste my life'."

"That kinda talk is what made me drop out of high school, amongst other things."

"Oh, geez, Piper! I would never tell you something like that! Did somebody say that to you?!" Sylvi abruptly looks like she might fight somebody on Piper's behalf.

"Only every other teacher, counselor, and random whatsit on the street that think they have a say in things." She shrugs, "I learned to not let it bother me."

Sylvi nods quietly, then says, "You don't think that's what I'm trying to do though, right? Like, I'm trying to drag you along into the education thing?"

"Girl, if I thought that, I'd have shown you the finger and been out the door." A pause, and she considers. "You aren't, are you?" Honest curiosity.

"I just hope that you don't think that your whole thing you have going on, loving makeup and theatrics and all that - you said that interest is waning down, and you want to go back to college. THAT sounds like abandoning a dream, to me. But it could be chasing a new one. Which would be something else."

"I'm totally not trying to push you. I think you've got a good situation. Hell, you've got your own studio!" She gestures around her.

She takes a deep breath. "I think it feels like chasing a new one. I think."

"Your story sad to tell
A teenage ne'er do well
Most mixed up non-delinquent on the block
Your future's so unclear now
What's left of your career now?
Can't even get a trade in on your smile...

Beauty school dropout
No graduation day for you
Beauty school dropout
Missed your mid-terms and flunked shampoo..."

She sings a couple bars, Sylvi is sure to know the musical.

Beauty school dropout
(Beauty school dropout)
Go back to high school...

Sylvi rolls her eyes, then sticks out her tongue at Piper.

She gives a wry smile over to Sylvi. "Chase that dream. No, don't just chase it, catch it. But if it means you have to leave Goldfinch... well, I can't say I'll be happy you go. I already got a text from "Queen Ringtail The First of her Name, demanding I bring ice cream bars."

She tosses her phone into a chair with a snort, amused.

A smirk. Then, "You think she's serious? Rikki, I mean? Like...does she really want to be freeholder, or is she just saying it to be funny?"

Hands up. "I don't know... but it's possible that she might surprise us if she did. Being Overlord SOUNDS fun until you have to pay the bills and deal with problems, right?

"But usually, isn't the best way to go to give the job to someone who DOESN'T want it? That way they'll be less likely to abuse the power."

She says, obliviously.

"People say that, but I don't know if it always works out right that way."

"Probably. If they REALY don't want it, reluctance could turn into anger or upset at being trapped at it. But that's more for like, a job someone doesn't want. Who wouldn't want a freehold? It's basically a free pass to glamour and no worrying about forgetting as long as you're in the throne."

She gives Piper a narrowish look. "There's more to it than that. A lot more. I mean...is that what you think of me? I've just been in it for the easy glamour access?"

"No, NO." She quickly clarifies, "I mean, folk can see it that way, though, you know? Any job can look easy on the outside.

"Besides, if I thought that, I'd say you could just lounge at Rivervale, soakin' up juice with privilege as the Hearth's only daughter."

Hands up show that she's joking.

"Point is, -I- don't think that, but gotta make sure that anyone who is serious for this job knows that it's not just an easy meal ticket."

A smirk. "Yeah, I know. And you're right. That's part of what we should probably talk about with this whole meeting."

"Oof, I can already feel the headache. Glad it's your headache mostly. I'll handle snacks for the meeting, though. Nothing worse that being hangry..."