Suzi, bleah. You should not have to participate in any rough conversations with the workfolk who are actually on your side. Any rough conversations you have should involve higher-ups in need of smiting, and your gleeful tearing of new assholes therein.
I just got an email from a Faire friend (one of the folks who also does improv with Cat-Stack Guy), responding to mine in which I admitted huffing Matilda's head. I think I love her:
I have a theory on why babies smell so good on the top of their head. You see, the soft spot on their heads is where the marzipan gets injected just before they're born. It's the sweet smell of sugar and almonds you detect. Later on when the marzipan gets old it comes out of your ears, and that where ear wax comes from. I think you'll agree, it's a pretty sound theory.
So huff away, it's marzipan!