#goldfinchfreehold

Siv enters Goldfinch. She rubs at her eyes and moves towards the fire. It's not HER fire, but it is precious to the woman she loves. And, it's not like she'll be fussed at here by her mom or dad if she deals with banality fall out here.

She's been taking on extra jobs, more mortal work. Some of it a bit more ..soul wearying than others.

But impeding parenthood takes money. Even with the contacts they have, it is not cheap. And there are so many things that are required for Piper's health, for the baby's safety, for the throuple's adjustment. She smiles weakly anyway.

Despite the dangers, and the concerns, the fact she's still going to be a mor, a mother, even if not THE mother, delights her.

The goldfinch in the window chirrups pleasantly to welcome her, but the main floor of the studio seems quiet.

She smiles at the bird

"Don't mind me, just getting a bit of a glow and maybe taking a load off"

A lash of an orange tail, and Mic leaps to bonk his head on the glass, even as the Goldfinch easily flutters out of reach. Sometimes cats can see the dreaming - often, in fact… but that doens’t make poor orange Mic any brighter. Someone else may be using the brain cell at the moment.

"Mic, you derp" She grins, and goes down below to the fire

The glow of glamour grows as soon as she gets past the door at the head of the stairs, and it warms her more and more as she descends.

However, she's not alone. Sylvi's straddling a chair backwards, idly fiddling with the lever that opens and closes the flange of the balefire lamp.

"Hinge getting stuck?"

The fire causes Siv's mein to intensify, looking less 'wobbly' around the edges and more...well, a troll.

Sylvi looks over and shakes her head. "No, it's fine." She leaves the flanges fully open, letting the balefire shine through brightly. "Hey, you okay?"

"Bit tapped" She admits "Thought I'd relax here a bit to recharge" Siv says "With your permision. I know Rivervale is always welcome, but mom will fuss. Price of being the Chieftain's daughter" A chuckle

"Sure, please. Help yourself." She gestures to the ubiquitous throw pillows for Siv to make herself comfortable.

A bit of an odd look at the comments about Rivervale.

She notes the look "Something wrong?" As she settles down

Sylvi tilts her head curiously at Siv for a moment, then says, "Not really, I guess. So...what's up?"

She seems like she's in a funk of her own, though.

Siv is almost sure she's missing something as she gets ANOTHER curious look, "Well, Piper is as big as a house and very touchy about it... I feel for my lady there. I'm working three jobs so we have a cushion for all the bills... but don't spread that around too much" She shrugs "It's temporary. Jonas is working almost as much. Piper helps at King's conveniewnce... so we're covered I think. "

"How soon is she due?"

(Good question... see Rae for answers 😉 )

"Well, they may induce in December but..."

"See, it would be January... but they don't want twins to come to term as it could endanger her"

(Rae provided the above info 😉 )

"Yeah, I get that. She's so little."

"Yeah..." A wince there, but then says "But we've got good medicos on it, and Aunt Clem ready to help"

"She'll be fine. Like you said, there's already a plan in place."

"Now, what's got you down? Don't think I'm so self absorbed on me and mine I didn't notice you look a wee bit blue... and I don't mean troll wise"

A drawn-out silence as she sits there with her arms crossed on the back of the chair, chin resting on them. "If you had to swear to Count Hemlock for...well, whatever reason...would you do it?"

"Just hypothetical."

Siv ponders "A lot depends on the reason. Mor did.." Speaking of her mom, "And I think that alone says that he's a worthy enough lord. But I'd need to know what was gained, and what was needed. Too many trolls swear too lightly. Me? Likely not enough" A bit of a blush "Then I never was a typical one I guess"

"Yeah, but your mom was already oathed to him before she chrysalized," she points out.

Siv nods "True, but I know me mother and father. If Hemlock were a dishonorable man, she'd find a way free, or dad would go to hell and back to do same for her. Again, you're talking to a knight with no lord. I've only considered 3 people to be my liege in my life time and still decided no. But ... what's brought this to mind? Goldfinch need not swear to Hemlock. I thought that part of the appeal for you?"

A shrug. "Like I said, hypothetical. Just wondering if I'd do it, if I had to." A pause. "I don't like him."

A head tilt, then "Well, I don't hate him, but he's not one of my three near oaths either. Honestly, it's fine you don't like him. just don't swear to him which seems unlikely anyway. Hypothetical or no. You've never much cared for the Noble system... unlike Dagmar who is a knight's knight, and me who went kind of 'freelance version'"

"But I mean...I mean, if it were a matter of me swearing or him deciding to take over Goldfinch and putting a sidhe in charge..." She trails off again, and another shrug. "Just kind of a thought experiment, I guess."

A wry grin. "We've been talking about ethics and stuff in one of my classes, so I guess that's why I'm thinking this way."

Siv was getting curious, but the ethics talk explains it "Well, to be blunt, we're not human, and we are driven by dreams and forces that complicate things. The Code of Dagda needs must guide, though each troll has their own view on it. Protect the Dreaming for some means just other kithain or fae, but some trolls also will defend Chimera.. like good ole Hammerstrike. Respect those of Higher station sounds like a sidhe's wet dream until you realize trolls of both courts believe it ONLY applies with those of higher station are doing their OWN duties... otherwise their station is meaningless. Never Abuse your Strength probably doesn't apply to your ethical problem... but I suppose you could suss and tweak it. Accept an Honorable surrender makes us chivalrous even if we are not seen as a ruling kith. Still, da taught me that code even before I came to this world. So... what does YOUR interpretation of the Code of Dagda tell ye?"

Without realizing it, she is stroking her chin as she talks of the Code, so important to trolls of all kinds. It is a beardless version.. .but otherwise like Frank's

Her brow furrows as she considers this seriously.

"I think...Protect the Dreaming means, for me, to keep this balefire safe, but also make sure that everybody gets a fair shake at access. Not just one kith or one court, y'know?" She thinks some more. "The higher station thing...yeah...if they're not doing their job, that deal's off." More thinking.

"I think Never Abuse your Strength does kind of apply here. It would be an abuse of strength to claim the balefire if it's not in danger under our control. But then again, Hemlock isn't bound by the Code of Dagda, so..." She hesitates. "I guess it doesn't apply."

"It's a trollish snobery" Siv grins a bit "Sidhe can't hang to our standards"

"And yeah, Honorable Surrender..." a smirk "Hard to accept an 'honorable' surrender from a dishonorable person. But again, doesn't really apply here."

Still smirking. "We can't help it that we're doing it right."

Snerk at that last part "Quiet pride is pride still. Aye."

Then she sobers and nods "Sounds like you're sussing out what the Code means to you and how much it helps in this hypothetical. At least two parts of it matter very much."