#goldfinchfreehold

She thinks about it and nods slowly. "I think that makes a lot of sense for you two."

After a pause, she lowers her voice, "If he were interested, though...?"

BLUSH.

"Yeah."

"I feel safe with him. And if he wanted, I trust him."

"Dunno if there's any other guy I would say that."

Sylvi grins. "Wow."

Another bounce. "I am so damned HAPPY for you guys!"

She ducks her head, but smiles.

"I kinda... don't laugh... I want to brag about it. He's mine, I'm his, we're official."

"I'm not going to laugh about that! I totally get why people are thinking parties, because that's a way that a lot of people celebrate brag-worthy stuff. You totally should brag, but in your way."

"Oh! Maybe...maybe you should both take on a new name? Like a family name to add on after your last name?"

A small frown. "King was... hard-won." A pause. "I wonder how he feels about tattoos?"

"Good point," about King. Then a grin. "Tattoos would work."

"Maybe tattooed rings?" She indicates the ring finger on her left hand.

She rolls her fingers, considering. "Maybe."

"Or over the heart."

She nods. "So all you have to do is settle on an image." A mischievous look, knowing that's the hardest part.

The little bird hops from one horn to the next, wings fluttering.

A soft laugh. "I have some ideas." She glances up.

She looks up at the bird. "I mean, I guess you have a brag already."

"True. He sticks pretty close."

It preens at one of Dagmar's curls with a skeletal beak.

"Is it just the one bird? Does Symon have one with him when you're not with him?"

She shakes her head. "No. You saw the BIG bone creature?"

"This is what hatched from its remains."

"Right, got it." She watches the heart pumping inside the ribcage of the little bird. "Freaky thing, which makes it perfect."

"Oh, it's very much part of Symon." A little lift of her chin. ("And I will protect it with everything I have")

Sylvi nods understanding and absolute approval.

"So. Okay, I will be open minded about a date. And I can still plan something - maybe the good korean place, and..."

"And a movie, maybe?"

"But if he wants to court you, let him suggest the first date," she recommends.

"Yeah? Okay. God... Sylvi, you're a lifesaver, as always."

"You are so good for my ego," she laughs. "But seriously, mostly I just listen a lot. You've got good ideas...you just need somebody else to confirm that they're good." An elbow nudge.

"That's an important friend duty, thank you. Affirmations. May I offer any? Perhaps some smashing? Opening particularly stubborn jars?"

That gets another laugh. "I'm good at the moment, but I'll let you know. And don't fool yourself...you're good at helping me think things through sometimes." A happy grin at her. "This is so awesome."

"Yeah." She sits back, content.

A quiet moment. "So when you go back to Rutgers...how's the apartment going to work? Getting somebody new in there? Hell, I was so scared that Cairrean was going to try to move in!"

"I mean, knowing what I know now, that wouldn't have happened, but I didn't know that then."

"But I mean, are you gonna make it, like....your newlywed place?" A light tease.

"OH God, not that."

"I... I really like that apartment, but yeah, covering it without a third will be tough."

"Yeah, true. Sorry about that."

"I'm mowing lawns again, so saving up some."

"Scholarship helps a lot, too."

"You could get a smaller place."

"We could. Like I said, I just like that place. It's familiar. Also, wings."

"Wings are a definite bonus of that spot. Well...maybe take a look at a couple of other places during the year to see if any appeal for next year."

"True. We have a few weeks if we are gonna change for fall..."

"Same landlord might have different units."