diff --git a/src/wormhole/_boss.py b/src/wormhole/_boss.py
index bb15e82..15a86c5 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/_boss.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/_boss.py
@@ -11,21 +11,27 @@ from ._nameplate import NameplateListing
 from ._code import Code
 from .util import bytes_to_dict
 
+@attrs
 @implementer(_interfaces.IBoss)
 class Boss:
+    _side = attrib(validator=instance_of(type(u"")))
+    _url = attrib(validator=instance_of(type(u"")))
+    _appid = attrib(validator=instance_of(type(u"")))
+    _reactor = attrib()
+    _journal = attrib(validator=provides(_interfaces.IJournal))
+    _timing = attrib(validator=provides(_interfaces.ITiming))
     m = MethodicalMachine()
 
-    def __init__(self, side, reactor, timing):
-        self._reactor = reactor
-
-        self._M = Mailbox(side)
-        self._S = Send(side, timing)
-        self._O = Order(side, timing)
-        self._K = Key(timing)
-        self._R = Receive(side, timing)
-        self._RC = RendezvousConnector(side, timing, reactor)
+    def __init__(self, wormhole):
+        self._W = wormhole
+        self._M = Mailbox(self._side)
+        self._S = Send(self._side, self._timing)
+        self._O = Order(self._side, self._timing)
+        self._K = Key(self._timing)
+        self._R = Receive(self._side, self._timing)
+        self._RC = RendezvousConnector(self._side, self._timing, self._reactor)
         self._NL = NameplateListing()
-        self._C = Code(timing)
+        self._C = Code(self._timing)
 
         self._M.wire(self, self._RC, self._O)
         self._S.wire(self._M)
@@ -112,6 +118,7 @@ class Boss:
         nameplate = code.split("-")[0]
         self._M.set_nameplate(nameplate)
         self._K.got_code(code)
+        self._W.got_code(code)
     @m.output()
     def process_version(self, plaintext):
         self._their_versions = bytes_to_dict(plaintext)
@@ -132,16 +139,16 @@ class Boss:
         self._M.close("happy")
 
     @m.output()
-    def A_received(self, phase, plaintext):
-        self._A.received(phase, plaintext)
+    def W_got_verifier(self, verifier):
+        self._W.got_verifier(verifier)
     @m.output()
-    def A_got_verifier(self, verifier):
-        self._A.got_verifier(verifier)
+    def W_received(self, phase, plaintext):
+        self._W.received(phase, plaintext)
 
     @m.output()
-    def A_closed(self):
+    def W_closed(self):
         result = "???"
-        self._A.closed(result)
+        self._W.closed(result)
 
     S0_empty.upon(send, enter=S0_empty, outputs=[S_send])
     S0_empty.upon(got_code, enter=S1_lonely, outputs=[do_got_code])
@@ -149,8 +156,8 @@ class Boss:
     S1_lonely.upon(scared, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[close_scared])
     S1_lonely.upon(close, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[close_lonely])
     S1_lonely.upon(send, enter=S1_lonely, outputs=[S_send])
-    S1_lonely.upon(got_verifier, enter=S1_lonely, outputs=[A_got_verifier])
-    S2_happy.upon(got_phase, enter=S2_happy, outputs=[A_received])
+    S1_lonely.upon(got_verifier, enter=S1_lonely, outputs=[W_got_verifier])
+    S2_happy.upon(got_phase, enter=S2_happy, outputs=[W_received])
     S2_happy.upon(got_version, enter=S2_happy, outputs=[process_version])
     S2_happy.upon(scared, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[close_scared])
     S2_happy.upon(close, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[close_happy])
@@ -162,7 +169,7 @@ class Boss:
     S3_closing.upon(scared, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[])
     S3_closing.upon(close, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[])
     S3_closing.upon(send, enter=S3_closing, outputs=[])
-    S3_closing.upon(closed, enter=S4_closed, outputs=[A_closed])
+    S3_closing.upon(closed, enter=S4_closed, outputs=[W_closed])
 
     S4_closed.upon(got_phase, enter=S4_closed, outputs=[])
     S4_closed.upon(got_version, enter=S4_closed, outputs=[])
diff --git a/src/wormhole/wormhole.py b/src/wormhole/wormhole.py
index 15023ba..23a6c6a 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/wormhole.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/wormhole.py
@@ -2,10 +2,72 @@ from __future__ import print_function, absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys
 from .timing import DebugTiming
 from .journal import ImmediateJournal
+from ._boss import Boss
 
-def wormhole(appid, relay_url, reactor, tor_manager=None, timing=None,
-             stderr=sys.stderr):
+class _Wormhole(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._code = None
+        self._code_observers = []
+        self._verifier = None
+        self._verifier_observers = []
+
+    def _set_boss(self, boss):
+        self._boss = boss
+
+    # from above
+
+    def when_code(self):
+        if self._code:
+            return defer.succeed(self._code)
+        d = defer.Deferred()
+        self._code_observers.append(d)
+        return d
+
+    def when_verifier(self):
+        if self._verifier:
+            return defer.succeed(self._verifier)
+        d = defer.Deferred()
+        self._verifier_observers.append(d)
+        return d
+
+    def send(self, phase, plaintext):
+        self._boss.send(phase, plaintext)
+    def close(self):
+        self._boss.close()
+
+    # from below
+    def got_code(self, code):
+        self._code = code
+        for d in self._code_observers:
+            d.callback(code)
+        self._code_observers[:] = []
+    def got_verifier(self, verifier):
+        self._verifier = verifier
+        for d in self._verifier_observers:
+            d.callback(verifier)
+        self._verifier_observers[:] = []
+
+    def received(self, phase, plaintext):
+        print(phase, plaintext)
+
+    def closed(self, result):
+        print("closed", result)
+
+def wormhole(appid, relay_url, reactor,
+             tor_manager=None, timing=None,
+             journal=None,
+             stderr=sys.stderr,
+             ):
     timing = timing or DebugTiming()
+    code_length = 2
+    side = bytes_to_hexstr(os.urandom(5))
+    journal = journal or ImmediateJournal()
+    w = _Wormhole()
+    b = Boss(w, side, relay_url, appid, reactor, journal, timing)
+    w._set_boss(b)
+    # force allocate for now
+    b.start()
+    b.allocate(code_length)
     w = _Wormhole(appid, relay_url, reactor, tor_manager, timing, stderr)
     w._start()
     return w