#goldfinchfreehold

Sylvi's winter break has been great, Yule was wonderful. New Years at Gold Finch was a blast! (Literally thanks to some fireworks that were taken outside)

but she's catching up on paperwork, and there's a lot of it. Satyrs aren't always big on paperwork

Ugh. The responsibilities of leadership. But it's a labor of love. She leafs through the paperwork.

FInances are a real hassle. Good thing mom taught her how to balance

Sylvi might not be the strongest in Hearth training, but yes, she has the basics down. And if things get too complicated, she knows that she has resources to turn to.

Hopefully things are balancing up kind of easily....?

So far, so good. Sally Mae has been lending a hand on the side it seems. Bless her math loving heart!

There's a knock on the hold door

Oh, thank goodness...and interruption! She gratefully goes to the door and opens it.

Colton is there. "Ah, hi"

She blinks, startled. "Oh! Uh...hi."

"I mean...um...come in." She makes a welcoming gesture, stepping aside.

"I.. .uhm thank you" He steps inside and looks about "I hope I'm not coming at a bad time?"

"Well, I'm, uh, just doing paperwork. Bills and stuff. So, y'know, not a bad time." A grin that's only slightly awkward. "Want a soda?" she offers.

"Ah, yes, please. I... uhm brought a late late yule gift" A blush

She leads the way to the kitchenette. "We can try our luck with the vending machine, or there's some Dr. Pepper in the minifridge. Your choice."

A bit of a grin. "You didn't have to get me anything. But...I got you something, too."

"You did?" he seems surprised, and, yes, a smile escapes "And Dr. Pepper , please. The Vending machine is a gamble"

"Yeah. You never know if you're gonna get Diet Coke or beef bullion."

She gives him a Dr Pepper and gets one for herself, too. "It's not something big, the gift. Just...y'know, a thing."

"I'm flattered you... " An admission "I half way expected th e door in my face"

"Well, I mean...I got it, but I kind of chickened out of bringing it up to you. For kind of the same reason."

"Oh. I...wouldnt have done THAT but ..yeah, I don't think either of us..well, maybe I should speak for myself. Its just ... some days I regret this , other days I know it had to be?"

Sylvi's brow furrows, and she looks anywhere other than at him. "I don't know if it had to be like fate, y'know?"

"Not fate i.. I'm doing this wrong.. ' a sigh

"Doing...what?"

"Talking. I should stop that" He says "I guess I'm just trying to say that, the 'break' was needed so you didn't resent me, and so I didn't think I was a duty foisted on you?"

After a moment, she nods. "Yeah. I agree."

An awkward silence.

"You're doing okay?"

"Better than I was" He says honestly "My men make me proud. Good crew. We had some fights, but honestly that's not when I feel... unsure"

She grins a bit. "You've got a lot to be proud of with them."

"I do" his smile actually returns "How's your crew here handling the musing and such? I've actually heard about a 'revival' musically in the area thanks to you guys"

"Oh, it's been really good! I can't take much of the credit for the last couple of months, though. I've been at Rutgers, so Piper's been in charge of things on her own, but she's got this great situation worked out...." And she takes a few minutes to tell him about the used band instruments and the tutoring.

He listens, really does, and it's good. Sylvi may not brag that much, or maybe she does, but either way, with Colton, it's supportive and an open ear. He nods a lot "Yeah, but you're the one pushing for the LGTBT+ recognition online with it. I saw your video"

"You did? Yeah, I'm really pleased with that one. I haven't been doing nearly as many videos as I used to. I might try to revive that. Sylvi 2.0."

"New hair style same attitude?" Fond teasing

"Yeah. Unless I go bonkers and dye it purple or something."

"Siv dyes her blue still I'm guessing. So just don't get so close that she can say she's your inspiration" Deadpan

She rolls her eyes. "She totally would do that, too."

A nod "Does seem to be her style, doesn't it? Hope she liked the birthday gift Darkgate sent her"

Siv did.

"Oh, she absolutely did, she was showing it off."

"Oh, so...speaking of gifts...."

"I've got yours here. Just give me a sec to go get it?"

"Sure"

She leaves him there in the kitchenette, and is gone for a few minutes.

She returns with a cube-shaped box in one hand, wrapped in blue-and-silver paper with a matching bow. "Excuse any cat hairs on it. Mic was using it as a backrest."

"Mic's still alive? I thought he'd have licked a wall socket by now" He offers her a gift box as well- minus any cat hairs

And they both prepare to open at the same time