#bergen_county

A big grin and she leans up to plant a smooch on the man's rough cheek. "Aww, Muddy, folk will start thinking you went soft."

"Hmmph, I ought to make you wipe counters down," He faux grumbles.

"Let me know when you've got the poster " He says "I have to get back to my job. Your wife or husband coming in to pick you up?"

Muddy may not understand that lifestyle but he doesn't judge it either.

She checks the time. "I think Jonas will be by shortly, unless he got caught up with the kids. Then I can always take the bus, or walk." Though, as she peers out a window, she can't help but shiver a bit and mutter something unrepeatable about snow.

"You cali girls, I thought they had snow in that state SOMEWHERE," Muddy chuckles.

"Not the PROPER bits." She says huffily.

Corazon calls out, "Stop being mean to her, Muddy."

"mean?" Muddy rolls his eyes, "When I was a kid, this was what I walked to school in, and back again. And they expected us to do it with a smile on our faces."

Dusty the bouncer mutters something under his breath about uphill both ways, which earns a look from his boss, and Dusty tries to look innocent.

Piper hides a chuckle behind her drink.

"DID you smile as a child?" Corazon asks him sweetly. Piper can tell she's using humor to take her mind off her concerns about the guy who came in earlier.

Piper's amusment fades somewhat and she asks the waitress in an aside, "have... um. People been bothering you?"

"What? NO. I'm from Jersey," Muddy reminds her "Smiling is for tourists." Which gets some laughs. / Corazon hears Piper, then says "Sorry, just , rumors are that there some ICE raids going on in the small businesses. People being taken without warning or warrant... it's not big in Bergen but now and then? I lost a cousin, he was working in a hardware store, and then... this guy came in, don't know if it's THAT guy, scoped the place out, and a day later, ICE stormed in and ...well, he's.. I don't even know where he IS now."

She bites her lip, then jots a note. “If you need help, you text me, okay? I mean it.”

I should talk to someone. She thinks to herself. Maybe Sylvi would be a good place to start.

Carazon isn't so sure and whispers "Piper, they're going after white girls too now, at least the ones who help. They could lock you up for days. You shouldn't risk yourself for me."

Piper stomps a foot. "I'd like to see them try." A dangerous hint to her tone, though she is still... Piper and not very intimidating.

A smile from her, Corazon is not huge herself but still a notch over her "You're a good person, Piper, we short people are fierce for our size no? We have to be or tall people would never take us seriously. Still, leave the muscle to Dusty, okay?" She does give Piper a hug and there is gratitude in that hug, gratitude for having SOMEONE who she can at least talk to about it.

"Have you met my husband? He makes Dusty look like a dust-mite. I have backup."

As if summoned, Jonas enters in, of course, Corazon cannot see how TRULY big he is, but even in his mortail mein, the fellow is... damned tall. Corazon looks up, and up, and says "Is... that your husband?" She whispers as he heads towards them politely.

Dusty is nodding to Jonas, apparently the two have a friendship, or at least understanding.

Piper just GRINS. "Like I said, text me, okay?"

Carazon mutters something about needing a tall ladder and maybe a grappling hook but nods "Thank you."

Jonas walks over, and gives that 'slight smile' that Piper knows means he just lit up for her , "Did I come too early? too late?"

"Just on time." She beams up at him. "How were the bubs? Did they behave for Auntie Sally May?"

"Sally Mae has taken pictures I'm to share with you of them in little viking hats as they are in the snow, and apparently fun was had," Mind you, one of the twins likes winter cold more than the other.

If she checks her phone, it looks like Sally Mae has sent Piper Pictures too! Viking hats, adorable little sled, lots of winter clothing that makes them look like staypuff marshmellow costumes are on.

“ They are going to be little icicles!” Piper worries.

Jonas mutters low "Well, we knew there was a chance of them turning blue one way or another."

Then he ahems "They're fine. Really."

He gives a reassuring look, "Their outfits are really quite good for cold weather."

She shivers none the less. "Spring can't come soon enough."

"Siv thought you might think that," he nods and lowers his voice "She said something about suntanning on a beach in the pacfic. Something about her ship being handy for crossing distance?"

She starts to brighten up, then frowns a bit. "Tempting... but I think I need to watch over things here."

Jonas looks curious at that and taking her arm asks "Trouble?"

"It's not just the snow. Seems like Rivervale has an ICE problem." She says sourly.

At that his jaw sets "Here? I did not know about that. Tell me more."

So, she draws him down to the table and orders him a drink, and tells him what she knows.

Jonas listens, then frowns in that slight way "I see. I think you will probably not be on their list from what you described, but you worry for Corazon, and wisely so. How do you want us to help her?" Not if, how. He'll lend support because it's right.

A dismissal wave. "I'm not worried about me. It's our people I worry about. And... it's not exactly like Siv has a birth certificate, y'know?" She says in an undertone.

He pauses "I had not considered that."

"Anne Marie needs to be warned too, given her help in the past," The woman has forged/arranged a lot of papers.