#goldfinchfreehold

Goldfinch has help, and one ring tailed source is Rikki

Sylvi's waiting at the door and greets Rikki when she arrives.

"El presidante, back so soon? My coup isn't half formed"

A troll brow at that. "Hey, I gave people a chance to take over, and you all told me no. Anyway...thanks for coming. C'mon," she leads the way, not towards the lower level, but to a studio with a stereo set up.

"My big recording chance?"

She follows

"Maybe, if that's what you want. But no...hang on a second." She sets up some chaotic and ironic sounding music, and turns it up, not so loud that they can't hear each other, but loud enough to be uncomfortable for those with sensitive ears.

RIkki's own raccoon ears twitch but only a second. She waits

"Okay. So. I need help, and I think you're the one who can help me, or you might know somebody who could."Sylvi moves to a pair of chairs off to the far side from the door and sits down, gesturing for Rikki to take the other chair.

She takes it "Is this a situation where I borrow a truck and get someone all mad at me and Eden?"

Sylvi starts to answer, then pauses. Finally, she says, "To be honest...somebody's likely to be pissed off by the end of all of it. Somebody vengeful."

Rikki ponders "That could be a perk or work. Is this about Piper?"

A blink. "Uh, no. Is Piper okay?"

"Oh yeah, the alien face huggers are out now" She assures "Bit busy but other than that. I just...well, you wanted ME and I only have so many friends"

"I'm pretty sure this wouldn't fall under the category of one-of-your-friends. But mostly, I think you've got the skills and the balls to pull this off."

"What's the risk, what's the reward?"

She considers a moment. "The risk if you fail is that I'll be disappointed, and a good person will continue to be victimized. The risk if you get caught is that your target and another person will seek revenge. The reward...." a pause. "You get to screw over somebody who's screwing over one of my friends. And...you tell me. What do you want?" She braces herself.

Rikki looks surprised "I've dreamed of something like this. I mean, every wicked fairy does. Your first born? Nah... having seen kids, who wants one anyway? Your throne? I've seen the toilet here, not that special. Mmm how about you owe me a favor. To be named later? And... it'll be a big one"

She looks like she was expecting this. "I won't do anything that hurts people who don't deserve to be hurt," she says firmly. "If you can agree with that...then yeah, I'll owe you a favor. A big one."

"Who defines who deserves to be hurt?"

A frown. "I mean...I won't help you hurt somebody just for fun. I won't...I won't hurt somebody unless hurting them stops them from hurting others. Is that fair?"

The fact that Sylvi's still negotiating after that question says something about how much she wants Rikki's help.

And that's when Rikki slips in the Boon COnfidant "You're scared for a friend, aren't you?"

The nod comes immediately.

Rikki sighs "Fine, we'll use the Davidson dictionary, the red one. Now what's the sitch?

A deep breath and a long exhale. "Thank you." She extends a hand to shake on it.

They shake. The electric charge is brief, intense, and has the pooka laughing "You fell for the oldest.. I mean, seriously? Oh I had that on my bucket list"

She jumps slightly and shakes her hand out...but she's smirking. "Maybe I did...but you shook on it before knowing what you have to do."

She seems to be savoring this victory, as minor as it might be.

"Mmm...well played, Davidson. Well played"

"So...basically this could be a heist, a burglary, or a mugging. I need you to grab a charm off of somebody."

A brow "Interesting. Go on"

"The charm is controlling this person's emotions, and the person who gave it to him is manipulating him into being her bank account, among other things. And I think she's draining him beyond just that."

A brow knit "What for? I mean, what's 'she' gain? She stealing his video game credits?"

"Well, money, first off. Beyond that...I'm not sure. I do have theories, though." She looks like she doesn't like where those theories are going.

"Lay it on me, Agatha Christie"

((Pause))