I probably should have mentioned that this story contains spoilers...but duh.


"…And he had a long fucking dick!" the woman sitting next to The Courier slurred. She had just shoved a few caps toward the bartender after snatching the whole bottle of whiskey out of the woman's hand. The Courier hadn't expected Cass' last statement and had snorted, laughing loudly enough to startle a group of NCR soldiers who were in the corner booth of the bar.

Cass started laughing at the glaring troopers and The Courier's snorting. After the two calmed down the caravaneer looked at the younger woman nursing her sarsaparilla. The older woman caught sight of a nasty scar on the younger's forehead.

"Shit, what happened to your head?" Cass saw the girl go red when she asked and immediately put a hand to her forehead.

"Uh…trouble with some…guys I met," the girl didn't look happy about the subject, but Cass was too far gone to care.

"Aw, it's not so bad. You should have seen my dad, he'd been shot up more times than you though. Even had a metal plate in his head," the girl was looking steadily more uncomfortable as the conversation went on, "He used to say whatever didn't kill you made you stronger, but not prettier!" she dissolved into giggles and took another drink.

The Courier was rubbing her forehead with a sad look on her face when Cass slammed her bottle on the counter of the bar, startling the younger woman.

"Aw don't look so sad, you can barely see it," she laughed again, "Some guys even get off on that kinda stuff. Well, the weird ones anyway," The Courier put her head in her hands as Cass laughed until she nearly choked. The caravaneer stood, throwing more caps on the table.

"It's on me tonight, kid," said Cass as she stumbled out the door. The Courier looked glumly at her drink. After a few more minutes, she left the bar to find a place to sleep.