#goldfinchfreehold

"Dorkmar, take the cash" Prissy whispers, well, she's a redcap so it's not a quiet whisper

"You're not robbing me" Lydia says "This is just how it works for we mortals"

"No? I..." She frowns again, and her shoulders curl.

Lydia puts a free hand on Dagmar "Dagmar... what did I do wrong?"

"You didn't."

Lydia looks unsure of that, but then nods "Fine. You drive a hard bargain, but 25 bucks per lesson, not a penny lower!"

Then lydia smiles in a way she hopes is adorable, despite the fact she's no longer a childling

A soft exhale, and she nods.

Prissy rolls her eyes. But they hear something, happy chirping from the bird of Goldfinch!

Lydia's attention flits to the soun "We're close"

"Yeah."

Before them, small and sassy, is the Goldfinch hold. No Lodge or Noble hold, it is a meager amount of glamour compared to those others. Yet the warmth of it, while weary this time of year, still greets kithain like a comfy but colorful blanket

"I love this place" Lydia admits

"It's nice." Dagmar agrees.

Apparently having heard the welcoming chirping, Sylvi appears at the front door of the studio building. She spots them and waves, holding the door open to welcome them.

"Mom let me know you were on the way," she says with a smile.

"Come on in!"

The small lantern burns bright with the ember they bring. Lydia grins "Dagmar and I are BOTH honorary firebrands tonight"

A sheepish smile and shrug from the Gwydion.

"I'm gonna get something out of the machine" Prissy says

Sylvi notes the white outfits. "That's awesome! And Prissy, thanks for helping escort them."

As she ushers them in, she gives an extra grin and wink to Dagmar, glad her friend got to take part in this tradition after all.

"I sent Piper a text saying you were arriving, but she hasn't gotten back to me yet, so I don't know if she can join us."

"Eh, I missed the autumn duo and the raven" Prissy admits 'Just was there the last stretch"

She looks at the glow within the lantern and gets a little shiver, the kind you get when the front half of you is warming up by the fire while your back is still cold from outside.

LYdia says "Oh it would be so cool if Piper were here" Her favorite cousin

"It would," she agrees with Lydia, "but...well, the 'Fire's a little dim, and I'm not sure we should wait. Certainly can't put it off until Imbolc."

"Oh it's okay. She would understand" Lydia is sure "I'm just a bit jazzed to be part of it"

"I'd think she'd still feel it?"

"I think..." Sylvi's interrupted by the buzzing of her phone, and she looks a the screen. "Oh, okay, she's got the babies tonight. Says we should party hard," she adds with a grin. "And yeah, she'll probably feel it, and if she doesn't, she'll feel the difference when she gets here tomorrow or whenever."

"C'mon," she gestures them to follow her to the stairs leading to the freehold proper. She hasn't touched the lantern yet, leaving it in their custody for the moment.

Lydia nods "The kids are really adorable. I hope one of them is a satyr. A real satyr" WIstful and she follows Sylvi

"Well, with all the glamour in their lives, they'll probably pop early, like I did."

"That would be awesome" A pause "Though I suppose a satyr kid that can outrun them might wear poor Jonas and Siv out. FUNNY though"

"Or they'll be kinain. Or, y'know, trolls. Could be lots of things."

"Watch, they'll get a redcap in the mix."

Down the stairs into the red-curtained sanctuary of the freehold. The lights are low, but not too dim.

"Yeah well... yes, kinain " A less enthused face for a moment, but they go into the sanctuary and snickers at the idea of a redcap

Sylvi goes over to the spotlight by the raised-platform stage and opens the flanges fully. The green glimmer of balefire is there, but it looks like it's definitely seen better days. "It's okay," she murmurs to it. "It's time. You'll be okay."

"To you, O Holder, we turn over this, the seed of hope, the ember of dreams" Lydia says VERY formally then looks to Dagmar to see if she wants to say something fancy too

Sylvi turns to face the firebrands, and she manages not to grin at Lydia's carefully-memorized formality. She also looks to Dagmar.

Dag shakes her head. This is Lydia's show.

Lydia did say 'We' so at least she's not hogging it all, she thinks

Sylvi nods then. "Firebrands, you have brought this seed safely past peril and threat that it may now grow anew. You have this freehold's thanks." A formal bow, and then she reaches to accept the lantern.

The lantern is in Sylvi's hands, and the weary flame perks up a bit at this. The bird sings joyfully, the tune a mix of known songs and something very very old

Sylvi smiles at the fresh little light within the lantern, and she very carefully brings it over to the spotlight. She opens the back of the lantern and gently reaches in to scoop up the ember in her palm, then moves it in a slow, smooth arc to the inside of the spotlight housing, coaxing flame and ember to join. "Here you go...." she whispers.

A rueful shake of her head as Sylvi takes the Flame in her bare hands. "Ain't that somethin'."

That's not to say that it doesn't hurt to do so, necessarily.

The flame laps out, the ember seems to leap on, and as is this part of the cycle, the twisting of the two ignites and renews! All about the hold, there is a stronger mein to just about everything, and everyone! The Decor more vibrant! And the music about it glorious!

"Oh!" Sylvi's seen it before, of course, but it never stops being a delightful surprise!