#rivervale_lodge

****************************

The next day (ish), Kerri has enlisted the childling guards again to secure the privacy of the kitchen for a time. This time the pay-off is a whole (small) cake for them to share, so this must be important.

Jack sells out so fast you'd think he had a career in politics

Kerri and Sylvi are in the kitchen already waiting for Sally Mae and Piper (whom the guards have been instructed to let in).

Sally Mae enters in, "I cannot tell you how odd it is getting a 'sniff test' from Connor to make sure I am who I say I am.."

Connor is curious, but with a little pleading from Jack ("If we don't BOTH guard, NEITHER of us get cake!") he agrees...

Piper seems a little nervous at the 'summons', but shows up as requested.

"Sylvi!" A grin. "I didn't know you were back in town."

"Hey, Sally Mae. Hi, Piper." Sylvi offers a little wave to each as they arrive. She seems a bit subdued, but Piper's greeting gets a smile. "Yeah...coming home. It's...kind of complicated. But I think it's going to be good."

"Glad to hear it," Sally Mae says

Kerri nods. "Everybody, help yourself to what you like, you all know where everything is if you want something." She has put out a pitcher of iced tea and a plate of pastries as a first option. "We should get started before the guards get restless," she adds with a grin.

"Started?" She brushes at the front of her sundress, straightening it a bit. A touch more modest than she might wear around the apartments. "Should I offer congrats?" She says tentatively to Sylvi.

"Thanks," Sylvi smiles to Sally Mae and takes a sip of her tea.

Sally Mae gets some tea "I admit to being curious"

"Um...I think so, but...well, there's details and stuff...?" She looks to Kerri, and admits with a blush, "I kind of front-loaded the big news with some texting hints."

Kerri gives her a look, then sighs, "I guess that was inevitable."

"Okay," the Hearth continues, "the situation is this...."

Her eyes trail to Sylvi's left hand. "It's great news, though. I wish you the best! I'm not sure how I can help though."

"Planning, maybe? Music, certainly."

Sylvi blinks. "Wait...what?"

"Piper...what are you..." she follows the look to her hand.

"I don't want to ruin your announcement! I heard from Rikki, who was chatting with Leyla, who heard from Timmy... You're engaged?"

Sally Mae nearly loses her drink

"I THOUGHT I interpreted her right - oh man. Did I get Pooka'd?"

Blushing a bit.

Sylvi blinks again, a couple of times. "Um." A swallow. "Um...no...that's not it."

A kind of a tight expression, and she looks to her mother to continue. Some kind of unspoken mother-daughter communication for a moment, and then Kerri resumes. "It's not that," she confirms to Piper. "No, it's this..."

"...and this has to be kept quiet for the next couple of days, please. The Chieftain has access to a balefire ember, and she intends to have a commoner freehold established nearby. And she's chosen Sylvi to be the initial freeholder." A proud look.

"Well, that's WONDERFUL..." Sally mae beams "new holds are a joy to all"

"A... a new freehold?" She looks astonished. "Just like that??"

"It's not quite that easy," Kerri explains. "But it can be done. It's probably going to take a lot of fighting to keep it alive and defend it until it's solidly established...but it can be done."

Sylvi looks pleased and a bit embarrassed.
"The trick is..." Kerri continues "...in order to take root, as it were, it needs a site that has its own connection to glamour."

"I always thought it was a given that you'd be part of the Lodge someday, Storm or Hearth or something. Like, a successor. But I mean, that's super cool." Still a bit surprised on the idea, and then she turns back to Kerri, listening. She looks a little surprised, and then.. bites her lip. "It's Goldfinch, isn't it? You want the Studio..."

"That's why -I'm- here..."

Realization hits Sally Mae "Piper, if it's as wonderful as you say... it maybe one of the only places that woudl do"

Sylvi looks at Piper, then back at her mom. "Wait...Piper...it's yours?"

Sally Mae speaks up "Piper's the one who found it, saw the wonder it , well, a dreamer she knows. I think she fell in love iwht it a bit. Am I wrong on that, Piper?"

Kerri nods at what Sally Mae says, and gives room for Piper to say more.

Piper fiddles with her drinking glass for a moment, then shakes her head. "I discovered it, but it's not mine. I had wanted to find a way to save it, for my dreamer... for many dreamers, actually. It has potential to become a really rich spot for people to make music and explore..."

"But to be honest, even with help, there's no way I could swing it. I'd never have that kind of cash, or even the credit or capital to get a loan. The property is for sale, but it's NOT cheap."

Kerri nods. "It has exactly that potential. Piper...that studio has more than one floor, doesn't it? An upstairs, or a basement?"

Sylvi listens, biting her lip.

"The basement was used for storage - I didn't go down there, with the power out and all. I worried there might be, you know, rats and stuff since it's so worn down. There were a couple floors though. Lorelie wasn't sure we should go up. Might be space for more than one building actually, especially if you don't need the parking lot..." Uncertain, but volunteering the information willingly.

"If it becomes a freehold - that's great for fae and all - REALLY great, don't get me wrong - but wouldn't it then be offlimits to dreamers or mundanes? Like, unless enchanted?"

"Then...could...could it maybe be both?" Sylvi suggests carefully. "Like...an area that's Dreamer friendly, and a section that's, y'know, exclusive to fae?"

"Because having Dreamers creating stuff right there would be a great way to help keep a balefire alive," she points out hopefully.

Sally mae snaps her fingers "The farm does it, there are sections of the acreage that are mundane so we can rotate to avoid bedlam"

Piper blinks, and thinks on this. "And they wouldn't have to be enchanted? It would just be open for them - assuming they're the right sort for the place?

"Right! Yes! Like the Farm!"

"Piper, I'd be totally down for that. And the studio part could be totally under your control. I don't know near enough about music for me to be able to do it, and it's really your passion."

"I... I don't like enchanting. Personally. But I wouldn't want to take this away from Lori either. She's attached to the place, and if it's really anyone's to use, it would be hers. That's my dreamer, the one whose family owns the land."