#goldfinchfreehold

Shy smile, shrug.

Sylvi looks around at the group. "Guys, I don't know who else is coming. I mean, I was hoping there'd be more...." She bites her lip, looking around. "But we can start."

Rikki and the apartment crew comes in just then "Dramatic saving the day"

Prissy, and Dirk too! Arguing. they used to date

Jordan grins

Okay, the influx of more Goldfinch-ers makes Sylvi beam. "Hey, everybody! Okay, pizza, beer, soda, and then...let's talk."

Dirk says "Oh good, food I don't have to thank anyone for" He grabs a slice of meat lovers

"Hey, a 'thank you' wouldn't be inappropriate, either, but no pressure." She gives him a wink.

"Don't ruin this for me" Dirk says but not hostiley

She gets herself a slice and a cup, then takes one of the two seats on the raised dais. The other, people know, is for Piper. It is the way.

She's sitting on the floor on a cushion, and... winces a bit as she sees Sylvi glance her way, and towards the chair.

Piper makes a compromise and moves over to sit on the dias, hooves dangling over the edge, next to Sylvi.

"You called this meeting, you've got the spotlight."

Sylvi accepts that with a shrug and a nod. Goldfinch is Piper's, and she doesn't want anybody to forget it, but she also doesn't want to make Piper uncomfortable.

"Okay, so!" She pauses for the room to get quiet before continuing. "Goldfinch is just a little over a year old. Happy birthday, girlfrien'!" she calls over her shoulder to the balefire!

It roars! Well, pops happily

A bright smile, and she turns back to the others. "Now, back when we started, we sort of talked about how leadership was going to work, but then we said we'd table it for later. Well...it's later."

"I've been your freeholder for a year, and I hope I've been doing okay at it. But I don't want to treat this like a sidhe hold, where I stay even if you guys all end up hating me."

Basil nods "True that" The satyr (And Piper's cousin) "You've done all right though. "

"Thanks," she says, giving Basil a grateful smile.

Piper fidgets a bit.

Rikki starts handing out her Vote For RIkki t shirts and racoon tailed baseball caps (Faux tails) "Yup, may your dynasty never die"

A laugh at Rikki. "Okay, so, as Rikki is sort of anticipating, I want to open up the floor to discuss what happens next. I want to start with some ideas: Do we have yearly elections? or Do we have one leader until that leader gets tired of it and decides to move on? or something else?"

"Well" Dirk asks "ARE you tired of being holder?" He shrugs

"I'm not in favor of yearly elections, I don't think. A year... that's how long it's been? And it still feels NEW and all. That just doesn't seem long enough to really even get the hang of things before you're ousted again."

"I'm so NOT tired of it," she answers Dirk. "But...I am about to head off to Rutgers, with Dagmar and Symon, y'know? I can be back and forth, somehow, but...I don't know if that's what you guys want."

She nods to Piper. "That's a good point. I'm concerned about that, too."

"Killing me smalls" Rikki says to Piper

"A year is too fucking close " A nod from Dirk

"But at the same time, you don't want to have somebody turn tyrant while they've got the balefire, and not be able to get rid of them peacefully, y'know?"

Piper reasons, "Why don't we say that the Freeholder can have the option to leave after a year, or if they need to if something comes up - but once a year, if someone has a grievance, or thinks they can do a better job, they could campaign to be the new head honcho?"

Slowly, thinking aloud. "That way there's no EXPECTATION you gotta step down, but if you really suck at it, then there's a way to boot you."

Dirk ponders "Works, maybe an election every three years three months and 3 days no matter what?"

"Why 'no matter what'?" She shrugs. "Why force the issue if things are good and everyone is happy?"

"Well, because otherwise a challenge becomes...hurtful?"

"If there's a predictable end to a term, it won't hurt, right?"

"Cuz change is good" Dirk reminds "And the powerful must always be reminded they gain power from those that perceieve it"

"If someone has a problem with how things are being run, but they're not willing to step up and fight for a change, then maybe they shouldn't be in charge either."

A blink at Dirk. Then a nod. "That, too."

Sylvi's brow furrows a little and she bites her lip as she listens to the others.

A lively back chatter about this starts up

Some agree with Piper, others with Dirk

"I mean... like..." She frowns and rubs a hoof on the ground. "How long as the Chieftain ruled Rivervale? No one is coming up to tell HER she needs to step down in three years..."

"That's a monarchy thing, and Sylvi can get RE Elected" Dirk says

"That's different, Piper. Rivervale's a noble hold, even if it's run like a Lodge."

"What's the point of forcing a re-election? It seems like meaningless folderol and red tape."

"I say, if someone wants to say they would do a better job, they can step up and ask for a vote. Let the voice for change be the spark that starts that, not an arbitrary amount of time. Else, what... it's been three years, Sylvi is out, and... what, we settle because no one else really wanted the job?"

Sylvi looks across the room to Dagmar, to see what she might think about all this.

"But then, Piper, it's like a vote of no-confidence, and that'd hurt. But a person could get re-elected if folks want them to stay."

Her arms are crossed. "You asked my opinion." A shrug, trying not to get frustrated.

"You're right, I totally did. I don't mean to shut you down. Sorry," she offers an apology to the satyr.

Rikki snorts "See the silencing inheirit in the system?"