#elsewhere

Skyhook is always at work, more projects under way, always

And Tweak gets to hear them all shouted at her as she pokes around

"Hollow Earth railroad still in design stages!" Someone bellows from one area

On the plus side, the giant mecha turtle looks like it has a chance to take ownership of the sea away from Sunkissed waves Barony.

"Shell plates are holding up under deeper and deeper pressure" She's told

Yes, she keeps a keen ear out as she lurks in the corridors.

"Enough to hassle 'em mer-folk?"

"I'd stake your life on it" the engineer says

"Paws off my life. Stake yer own. You taken 'er on a piloted dive yet?"

"Yeah, but not max depth"

"We'll have to take it further out for that" His assistant says

"Huh. You havin' any trouble with Tighty Whitey?"

"The water is out of either Barony, but they still try to board for 'safety inspections'"

Some Boggan is carried to medical on a gurney, sobbing as she clucthes her broken torso Covering "Why would you say such HATEFUL THINGS" Looks like the 'Insult Proof Vest' still isn't working. Either that or Boggans are babies.

"Huh. I call him, tell him he can cap that bullshit."

"Ahhhh, fuck." She watches the boggan get carried away. "Stupid project, but she dedicated."

"Thought it would hold, then I told her she was turning into her mother.. and it shattered" someone tells her

"That IS big caliber" One female nocker nods

"Hey, ya gotta bleed fer yer fuckin' art. She gonna be back at it in a couple days."

"Good luck with Tidemarch, Capataz... guy hates your guts"

"His guts ain' too snazzy themselfs."

"AH, the boss will eat him for lunch"

"Probably tastes like Cack"

"Heh!" she snorts appreciatively, and heads to her office.

"Hey, number one, get me Tidepool on th' phone."

"One moment, let me put this away" SHe puts away some designs. Hey, those look new

"Hang on, lemme see that..." she shoves close to get a view of the designs.

"Those aren't ready.." Spock says but it's too late. Hell, delicate work, really dangerous, but interesting. Looks like a pregnancy test, but the etheric runes of male symbol submlimanted under the tower of ruin, and the female symbol of chariot... tarot and magitek is tricky. Interesting it.. wait, this drains good luck from the father and gives it to the mother to be? Nope, not the baby either. It's like a foul fortune on him, a fair fortune on her. But only if she's pregnant with his child?

"This be...some kind of mornin' after justice?"

"In theory it's a varation of the 'once a part always a part' rule. Taking his material as a conduit for the luck transfer; it increases her chance of making it to a place or state that provides services, maybe a small windfall for same? But I don't have the ethical buffer down, so it only affect creeps, not the man you're in love with or the like. And it's very tricky . I just..well, for say a victim of rape? " She winces

She looks it over quietly for several moments. Then she nods. "This here? This be a winner."

Tweak can see already how touch and go creation of this would be, but yes, the concept is solid

"It's just rough designs, barely an idea" Spock says, then "you think there's potential?"

"Fuckin' nightmare to get it just right. Lot of shit goin' on here..." she points to an area on the drawing. "But fuck yeah, this idea ain' drek. You leave this on th' shelf, an' I kick yer ass."

"Thank you" She says knowing the threat is meant with approval "I'll still need to get a team for further development"

"Anybody you wantin' in partic'lar?"

"Thought about you" She admits

A blink. "Yeah?" She looks at the sketches again. Another long hesitation.

"YOu did make the moobulator, and that means bioinfluencing mech is up your alley way. Also considered Kleats, from Medical"

"Huh." A slow nod. "Y'know? I'm in. I wanna piece of this shit."

A smile at that

"An' I put Kleats on it, too. You right, that the start of th' right team for this. Prob'ly need more when we get th' first drafts together and get into th' practicals."

"Sure thing" She makes a note, then "AH, right, you wanted me to call Tidemarch?"

Another look at the plans before she says, "Yeah, put 'im on hold for me when ya got 'im too." And with that she goes to her desk and drops into her perfectly squeaky chair.

She chews on her cigar and makes a few notes of her own.

She does, then... a moment later "He..doesn't have time to take your call. I can leave a message with his secretary" She tells the boss, bracingfor it

"Oh, yeah?" She smiles toothily around her cigar. "I think I leave my own message wit' his secretary. Put me through."

"You got it, boss" She clicks and

"This is the Secretary to Baron Tidemarch" A voice says

"Well, helLOOOO, Secretary to Baron Tidemarch," she says with an exaggeratedly pleasant tone. "This be Mama Capataz over at Skyhook. Seems like you tol' my assistant..." emphasized to indicate that she outranks secretary "...that th' good ol' Baron ain' got no time to talk to me right now. That right there, Secretary?" All in that saccharine sweet tone that makes the hackles stand up on one's neck.