#fenixtj

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Jessica knocks on the workshop door.

"What?" brays the grump nocker within. "Ah'm busy!"

"It's Jessica. I have news."

"Yeah? Come in, then, and watch yer step." When Jessica enters the Forge, she has to step over masses of coiled metal springs, like a hundred Slinky's decided to have a wrestling match.

Jessica's seen worse. She comes in carefully. "Tweak, I've spoken with Duke Tierone."

She snorts. "That pipsqueak. What he gonna do, turn th' fief into a goddam ball pit?"

"No. Um. He's going to keep me here. And give me Summerstrike's fief. But you'll run it. And I'm getting a promotion so I can hold both."

"Under him, of course."

Tweak turns around, the perfectly-squeaky chair giving its own curious commentary. She gives Jessica a long look. "Don't be fuckin' wit' me now, B. This on th' level?"

"Yes."

Another long look, making sure....And she gives a pump of her fist. "YES! An' a FUCKIN' ABOUT TIME too! Co-op be gettin' they due!"

"It's in the works, Tweak."

Tweak pauses. "Wait, now you sayin' it ain' a done deal? Th' hell, B?"

"I'm saying the Duke's agreed to it but I don't exactly have the keys in my hand yet. It takes a minute."

"Well, ain' better be nothin' to get in th' way of it happenin' then! Got plans for the rehabili-freakin-tation of that place!" She chuckles...no, nearly cackles! But then a sharp look at the troll. "So, what this promotion gonna be?"

"Um. Countess." sheepishly "with Renaissance and Summerstrike's lands."

Wide eyes, mimicked by the goggles over her forehead. "You...you sellin' out, B?"

A sigh. "It gets us both fiefs, and the Balefires. It gets you what you're owed. I don't have to choose a House."

A narrow, measuring look, up and down. "You wanna do it, though?"

A shrug, "Not really, but I'm willing to."

"Huh." She considers this, then shrugs. "Still gonna give ya shit 'bout it, but if it work, it work. "

Jessica nods. "I'm not asking anyone to Oath to me, but....."

"Tweak, I plan to put you -directly- in charge of the Summerstrike lands. A barony."

A blink. "Uh. Th' Co-op jus' be wantin' a freehold, B."

She shrugs. "I need someone to manage the land, Tweak."

"I...uh...." She rubs the back of her neck. "A fuckin' barony?"

"Welcome to -my- world." Dryly.

"But...uh...you ain' gonna noble-ize me."

"Not if you don't want it."

"I be wantin' th' goddam hold, B! For th' goddam Co-op! Like we been goddam promised and dicked over th' last time. But gettin' a fuckin' title weren't no ways part of th' deal!"

Blink. "Right, so that's a 'no thank you' then? But you have to take the hold -and- the land."

"I c'n have it wit' no title? Yer boss gonna let me do that?"

"I haven't discussed it with him, but .... well, shouldn't I be able to?"

"Damn right you should be able to!" Tweak still looks a bit flustered, and she looks around the Forge, momentarily at a loss.

"You agree, then?"

"I...uh...I gotta figger who gonna take over th' Forge here....WrenchWench be over at th' Pit...." Troubled as she looks at the pipes and furnace and machinery...and yes, even the tangle of springs.

"Oh. Yes, I guess you can't just .... pick it up and move it." Jessica looks around too as if considering doing just that.

"Naw. She tied to th' hot spring."

Tweak may not show it often, but right Jessica might suspect that she's got a strong sentimental streak for certain things.

"Well..... yes, I want to make space for the Co-op in Summerstrike's barony, and yes, I need someone to manage it and the land but.... if not you, who?"

"Nah...nah, I go. I guess...figger, serves th' fucker right, right? We take over his digs, get 'em all common-ized. 'Sides, gotta get Shuri brung up right, not surrounded by a bunch of folks what don' know what side of a soldering iron to grab."

"You sure?"

"Course I ain' fuckin' sure, B!" She looks overwhelmed.

"Ok, well..... nothing set in stone yet, except the Co-op gets space."

"Yeah...yeah..." She nods, preoccupied. "Lemme rub some braincells together, see what they spark up. I c'n get you a answer t'morrow?"

"Sure, of course." Jessica carefully steps back over the mating Slinkies.

"Yo...B." Tweak looks over. "Congrats, you lucky bitch. You done made it happen. Good looks."

Jessica looks like Tweak feels. "Thank you, Tweak." A deep breath. "I need to go call my folks. Talk to you later." And she departs.

"Yeah...yeah." And Tweak settles back in the perfectly-squeaky chair. Well, at least that can move with her. But she's got to talk to Crawley.

(End scene)