#debukefarmhold

Jessica nods. "You're not wrong on some of that. Ok. Let's see what she thinks." They return to Mara. "Mara, I'm looking for someone to work in my County, to serve as a... a representative between me and another Freeholder. Be my voice, when I can't be there. Would you like to come to Renaissance and see how you like it? If you do, we could talk about you staying."

She raises a plumed eyebrow. "I don't know if I'm well suited to be a diplomat. Ask anybody, I swear too furkin' much..."

Clem looks a bit amused.

If stared at, she says "I fear you'll learn swearing on a whole new level if you meet Tweak."

"You would be at a nocker run Co Op in Tijuana." Jess explains.

"Nocker... run.. co-op..." She tastes the words, and seems to find them pleasing.

"Representing you. I mean, I know trolls like a fat girl knows cake..."

Clem wonders what kind of cake they're being mentally compared to, but stays quiet.

"But, like, no way can I be OWNED by a Countess, no offense. I'm a DeBuke."

Clem says "I don't think she's asking you to swear, darling. Coy didn't."

"I dont." She confirms.

"Now, another thing, Mara. There's no guarentee you get or keep this position. Jessica's got to look out on what's best for her people. You might best at this, you might be better at something else. If the latter, you need to face facts she will be duty bound to thank you but put someone else in that job. She's not owned either. So, if you don't want your ego to risk a bruising, you best say so now."

Jessica nods.

"Oh, my ego ain't gonna be bruised by not being the best diplomat..." Something unsaid, there/

Clem nods "I imagine it'll be more your concern about where you rank as a crafter. Well, that's what learning is for, to get where you want to be. "

A flicker of nerves/insecurity, and she nods.

"Tell em all you had to work with were trolls who actually believed if it weren't broke it ididn't need fixing... you might find them nodding or rolling their eyes in a KIND of sympathy" a slight smile

"I am not a second-rate crafter."

No smile, quite serious "Damn right you're not. You didn't just save things and keep them running, you've worked miracles, and maybe we don't always show our gratitude for it proper but we DO notice"

"How you gonna keep Big Green running?" The tractor, older than Emmitt, is notoriously tempermental.

"Bix will manage, and then, now and then, we beg you to visit for a weekend" SHe says

Clem says "We'll be okay"

"Hmph."

"Well, think about it?"

"...I'd like to see this co-op."

"But, like, they might see me as an intruder, or as your bitch."

"What matters is how you see yourself and what you know to be true," Clem says

Eyeroll.

"Fine. Go on down to the co op on your own and get in trouble there if you want or don't, but I'm not going to hold jessica hostage here while you make up your mind how mean folks will be." Clem says

Jaw-jut.

Clem stoops a bit, to be more on eye to eye, "I know you worry that we've hindered you, that you won't be up at their level of crafting, and that that would sting, but every DeBuke started at the begining of something. You think Mountain Emmit wasn't an apprentice once? He had to travel the world. Murray maybe mean, but he's also traveled the world, meet new people, and learned how to kick their asses. He didn't start that way"

"I am hoping that ass kicking will not be a part of your work efforts." Jessica supplies.

"Ass-kicking is a normal part of my work efforts..."

"She did this thing with a lawnmower, practice weapons, and a trip wire to discourage folks from touching her toolbox... well, no one was really injured" A shrug

Jessica clears her throat. "But you do work with, um, non-lethal tech?"

"Mostly. Not gonna hurt some over-curious childling, for 9*&%&% suck..."

Jessica nods. "I am trying to tone down items of a war-like nature."

"...I like cars."

"Tractors are fine, but not fast enough."

"She also strengthened our spare pick up truck. Thing can carry elephants now, not sure how"

Jessica chuckles. "You and Tweak and Symond can talk cars, then."

"So, you at least want to give the area down there a look, Mara?"

"Yeah, I'd like a look."

"We'll be glad to have you."

"Well then, we will see how it all works out then. Change is ..." She catches herself and sighs

"Well, sometimes it's just fine" She says

She laughs.

A faint frown, but Jessica does not object.

"Jessica, I can help you in another way if you like"

"You can?"