At The Precipice Of Something New

Something Traced

Diamond City
April the 2nd, 2289
23:18

"She's insufferable, and so damn smug about it and the fact she's a former Courser. You know what those are? The Institute's hunters. Only good news is she's supposedly going to stay the hell out of my way as much as possible, but I still don't feel entirely comfortable with her or them, if they can get me into the Institute or not. I'm pretty sure the only one of them who actually cares about me is, well..."

"She will stay out of your way if she knows what's good for her. You are a fire fight. You need my remedy? The trick is simple. Insufferable people are dampened in their annoying things by a good drink. Let me get you one on the house, lapochka."

His usual, lighthearted self, Vadim Bobrov popped the cap on one of the best beers he could find before handing it to the irritable former lawyer, humming to himself. After a few sips, and setting the drink down to her left, Nora gave the cheery bartender a half smile, which he happily returned. She laughed a little when she saw Cait reach over and grab his hand, dragging him forward and, having caught him by surprise, managing to pin his arm down for a few seconds. She winked when she let go, telling him with a smirk to time her and pour twenty eight shots of the man's best moonshine. Perking up from where she had been swirling her drink in its glass, half asleep, Rowdy excitedly began tugging at the former lawyer's right arm, briefly startling her though she, amused, rolled her eyes and swept up her beer to swap seats with the Atom Cats' leading lady. Clapping and cheering when Vadim brought out the shots, Rowdy elbowed Cait, now on the former cage fighter's right, and began frantically whispering to her, all but begging her to win. The ruckus getting their attention, Zeke and Bluejay left the two women they had been flirting with to come over to and cheer Cait on. The former cage fighter cracked her knuckles with a smirk before snapping her fingers only a few inches away from Vadim's face.

"If I win," She said, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You have to give me these free, don't you?"

"I do," Vadim said, dusting his hands off. "Why so bold tonight, lapochka?"

"Doing as many shots as I've got years alive," Cait winked. "Turned twenty eight a week and a half ago, and me thinks I got a pretty good chance."

"Time starts in seventeen seconds," Vadim turned towards the clock. "Be prepared."

"She will be!" Rowdy cheered. "Shots, shots, shots!"

The second the seconds hand passed over, the first minute having begun, the former cage fighter snatched up the first two shots, taking one after the other. Seeing Zeke was watching the clock, Vadim turned back to take the empty shot glasses as they were downed. Five already before him, he chuckled. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Halfway there, Zeke shouting out she had a little more than a minute left, Cait snatched up one, downed it, and then the next, her hands moving in a frantic rhythm. Her pace almost as quick as his, Vadim counted the empty shot glasses as he took them down from the counter the moment she set them back down. Rowdy kept cheering, Bluejay and several other patrons joining in. Zeke shouted out she had thirty more seconds. Twenty one. Twenty two. Twenty three. Twenty four. Twenty five. Twenty six. Out of the corners of her eyes, the former cage fighter realised Nora had abandoned her beer and had come around to be on her left side. Smiling at her, adrenaline seizing her when she saw the seconds hand close to passing over, Cait snatched up the last two shots and downed them in quick succession before taking a twenty ninth from Zeke for good luck, breaking the last glass in her attempt to slam it down with the others. The glass shattered shortly before the seconds hand passed over and, taken aback, Vadim began frantically clapping, cheering for her with Rowdy, Zeke, Bluejay, and the crowd.

Swivelling in her chair, Cait leapt up and, startling her, threw her arms around Nora and kissed her.

For a few seconds, she felt nothing.