#fenixtj

A pitying look at Jess. "Yeah, B...that's a 'no-no.'"

"Greasemonkey tried t' stop 'em, but like you say, they steamroller'd her."

"I wish I'd been more aware, Tweak. I'm sorry. I try to keep out of the Co-op business...."

"Can't you use the fact they have your tools, and the right cantrips to... well, " Diego says "Spy on them?"

A stare... "Holy fuckin' shit, you ain' a complete idjit."

"But I ain' got that art."

Nancy looks at Diego "Tell me this is her being nice?"

"She is."

"Wait till you meet her trueheart" Diego assures her, "Nockers, as rule, have the social skills of a brilo pad with an electric current arcing through it."

"See, now you tryna get on my good side by sayin' nice shit 'bout my man."

"For that matter, Tweak, if they took your tools, isn't that, like... a nocker crime?"

Diego goes on "Tweak, I think I can find someone who can tattle tale through your tool box to the original tool and spy on them for you easy. Consider it my thanks for setting up a more democratic meritocracy"

"A more...uh...yeah, whatever." She nods to Diego. "An' yeah, B, but it th' kinda crime that...well, ya jus' don' DO it. You gotta be like married before y' even think 'bout it, an' then you still run th' risk of losin' a finger afterwards."

Nancy asks "So are their..Nocker police?"

whether Tweak wants to involve the Bes Din or not is up to her.

"More cultural than actual ... like, crime." Jessia tests out her understanding.

Tweak grumbles. "I don' wanna go there. Not yet. Settle in-house leadership first."

"You're in charge."

"A'ight...Horny gonna set up th' tattletale...so I should invite th' crafters tomorrow. Don' want to wait too long."

"Do you want to wait even -that- long?"

Nancy says 'well, she might want prep time. Sorry, I only understand maybe a third of this"

"I don' wanna wait at all! But if there a chance t' spy on the fuckers, I better take it."

Jessica nod. "Right. That makes sense. Sorry. I want to just march in and tell them what's what. You're right, though, you need to do it."

"Trust me, B, I wanna march in an' apply turbo cattle prods to some asses! Baby mus' be makin' me soft."

Nancy pauses, "Do you ...need a baby sitter while you do all this?"

A dubious look. "Not for nothin', Baaarbie, but I ain' know shit 'bout you, you think I gonna hand off th' perfectest baby ever, you mus' be on somepin strong."

"I baby sat before" she snorts "But fine fine, you're right you odn't know me. I'm just trying to do my part. This world is weird and wonderful and I kind of want to stick around"

"We'll, um, we'll talk about that, Nancy. Um. Sticking around."

Tweak bellows, "Greasemonkey, you back there?" deeper into the Forge.

"Yeah! Found the lists, got some gear organized What else you furkin want?" But the tone is more respectful than the words

"Need you t'play message girl again. I know, it fuckin' sucks, but sometimes th' gopher work gotta happen. "

"Yeah, well, furkin fine. I ougtha ask for more dinero on this job...but go on"

Tweak regards her for a moment, then nods. "So, you gonna invite as many crafters as you can find t' come here t' th' Forge for a meet-th'-baby party tomorrow. 'Cept you ain' invitin' Franzen or Bianchi. Any of 'em get twitchy 'bout it, tell 'em it they loss...but th' baby be really pretty." A proud mama grin.

Symond smiles, then "Youwant me to make sure those what work directly for Franzen and Bianchi like I work for you don't furking invited either? otherwise, little snots might squeel"

"Nah, invite 'em. Let 'em squeal. Franzen done had his fuckin' invite. Bianchi, too, an' she gimme th' big ol' fuck-you, so fuck her, too. She done had her chance. But they peeps? Let 'em come."

She nods, then turns back at Tweak, "When this go down, not..not tomorrow, but the whole thing? I want a piece of my furkin own back too. They treatemd me like nuthin, like I was still street trash. I ain't given them much slack for that. so I want a piece of them too. Cool?"

"Oh, girl, you are so gettin' yours. They done you dirty. You my Greasemonkey, an' you gonna give yer share of th' fuckin' payback."

Symondd SMILES, it is not a nice smile, but it is..utterly geniune, "You the best, boss. We gonna remind em" And she's gone

Jessica nods, having listened to the plans.

"Tweak, do you have a plan B?"

"Not yet. But I guess I fuckin' better get one. What holes you be seein' in th' plan?"

"Well. I mean, I'd come, because Shuri really is amazing.... but what if they don't?"

"Not all of 'em will...but show me a boggan who turn down an invite to th' boss's place?"

She nods slowly. "Good point."

Tweak nods. "An' once some say they comin', others get jacked up that they gonna miss somepin."

"And the boggans will spread the gossip you feed them" Diego muses aloud

"Right." Reassured, then to Diego, "I was just going to make that point, yes."

"A'ight, so my brain back in gear, an' we all fuckin' geniuses. Well, some more'n others." She looks at the group. "Y'all got any other suggestions?"

"Yoga," Nancy says, "I hear it's really good for getting your body limber again after childbirth"

A blink...and a long look at the new satyr...then a pained look at the somewhat-used satyr. "She serious?"