. . .
Seeking a temporary reprieve from her heartache and stress, Nora wandered through the entrance of Goodneighbor's bar built inside the ruins of an old subway station, determined to drink herself into a coma as Piper followed behind her reluctantly, practically oozing apprehension...
"Mayor Hancock says newcomers are welcome at The Third Rail..." One of the mayors ever-present, well dressed, fedora sporting Triggermen told them reluctantly, looking contrite as he stepped aside to allow them entry to the repurposed, subterranean venue. "'Don't disturb the Patrons."
Nodding absently to acknowledge the warning, Nora breezed by him carelessly, excitement rising with each step she took as they listened to the sound of smooth Jazz reverberating up the narrow stairwell, becoming louder and clearer the closer they got- and when her feet finally touched down on the landing below, she gave pause, wide grey eyes sweeping across the dimly lit, smoke filled establishment curiously to find the source of the swanky tune...
Ignoring the prying eyes of the regulars crowding the tables on the floor, the young vault dwellers lips parted in pleasant surprise as she discovered that the entertainment was live even, occupying the back corner of the establishment on a crudely built stage above the old train tracks- and she was perfect, Nora thought appreciatively, eyeing the classy dame up and down shamelessly as they lingered by the stairwell. Tall and curvaceous, she was like beauty personified, with pale, milky skin draped in a short, sparkling red dress that hugged her curves as close as a lover as she stood before the microphone, moving her hips and shoulders provocatively to the beat.
"I see you looking round the corner
Come on inside, and pull up a chair...
No need to feel like a stranger
We're all a little strange in here..."
"What a lovely place to get shanked." Piper observed casually beside her, looking around the room before following her reckless companion toward the bar, where an unfamiliar handy bot wearing a grey knit bowler hat hovered behind the mismatched structure, polishing a freshly washed wine glass with a dry dish rag.
"Have you got a history that needs erasing?
Did you come in just for the beer and cigarettes?
A broken down dream your tired of chasing?
Ooohhh well im just the girl to make you forget..."
"Oy- I got beer, an if you ain't buyin' beer, you ain't buyin'." The bartender greeted them rudely, speaking in a cockney British accent that paralleled Codsworth's own Posh one.
"...Whose the singer?" Nora asked curiously as she mulled over her options, taking a seat in one of the empty bar stools to watch the woman snap and sway to the beat, while a saxophone played between the verses, drowning out the steady sound of the bass and snare.
"Hm?" He hesitated, brought up short by the unexpected question. "Oh, that's Magnolia- the flower of The Third Rail...Anything else you wanna know, is her business." He informed her bluntly then, not sparing a thought for her pride.
"The Third Rail huh?" She repeated, unperturbed, gazing around them objectively as she spoke. "This your place?" The dimly lit lounge was crowded, and the smell of cigar smoke and beer hung thick in the air, creating an ambient atmosphere that reminded her of an old speakeasy. All around them, patrons sat quietly, listening contentedly to the music or conversing quietly amongst themselves as they nursed their perspective drinks.
"Ah, no Gov- this establishment belongs to Hancock. Ol' Whitechapel Charlie just keeps the bar clean, and the drinks dirty, hehe- Speakin' of which, you gonna buy anything? Im trying to run a business here..."
"...Yeah- I'll take a shot of Bourbon, please." Nora ordered finally, eyeing the British flag stamped to the bots chassis thoughtfully as he reached for a bottle, pouring her chosen poison into a polished shot glass before sliding it to her across the bar. Wasting no time, the road weary traveler hocked the burning liquid back quickly, grimacing as the bitter taste washed over her tongue and burned her throat- Normally, she was a wine drinker, but today she needed something stronger, so she took a note from her husbands book and went for his preferred liquor.
"And can I get a beer?" Piper inquired hopefully as she took the spot next to Nora, craving a stiff drink to calm her nerves.
"What, nobody ever teach you your "Please's" and "Thankyou's" miss Wright?" Whitechapel Charlie berated rudely as he recognized the reporter- She did a double take at his remark, feigning a sense of shock.
"Woah, you talk to all your customers that way?" She responded indignantly as Nora watched the exchange with raised brows.
"Well, they sure as hell don't pay me to keep the floors clean..." came the bots quick, witty response, prompting them to look down and see the truth of his statement firsthand. All at once, the tension in the atmosphere faded.
"No kidding." Piper stated dryly, an amused smile decorating her lips as she eyed the filthy floor. "I'll have a beer, Please." And while Charlie slid the reporter an amber colored bottle of Gwinnett pale, Nora's attention drifted back to Magnolia on stage as she crooned the next verse in her smoky alto, appreciating the way she seemed to relate to every word.
"-or are you runnin from yourself?
Are you thirsty for a brand new kind of pleasure?
or are you hungry to be somebody else?"
"So, Hancock owns this place?" Nora inquired conversationally as she mulled over the lyrics, returning to the initial line of conversation while Piper sniffed the contents of her bottle, before taking the first timid swig of the hoppy ale and making a face- vaguely, Nora wondered if beer aged the same way wine did?...she didnt think so.
"Sure does." He responded matter of factly. resolute. " He's the owner and mayor of this whole bloody town...Wouldn't try getting on his bad side if I were you...and Steer clear of his Bodyguard." The brash bot warned helpfully, piquing her interest.
"His bodyguard?" She prompted curiously, hoping to discern the relationship between the charismatic Ghoul, and the tall young redhead he had been with that morning- though she wasn't sure why it even mattered to her to begin with.
"Yeah- Redhead with the condescending stare...Trust me, something about her ain't right- not that I'd ever admit saying that, mind you..." Nora nodded thoughtfully at his words, pondering the implications- The girl must have been a formidable fighter, to have earned the mayor's trust as his personal bodyguard at such a young age. She couldn't have been more than Seventeen, she thought.
"That's right Goodneighbor- I'm the one your lookin for..." The flower of the Third Rail claimed seductively as her song came to an end. "We'll be right back after a short break."
"Beautiful as always, Mags." Whitechapel Charlie complimented then as the singer stepped down from the stage and made her way toward the bar gracefully, almost dancing as she took the free spot closest to the raised platform where she performed.
"Thanks Charlie, can I get some water?" She asked, climbing into the available stool with long, elegant legs that made Nora feel almost self conscious.
"No need to even ask." He informed her easily. "I always set aside a stash of the good stuff, just for you." Magnolia smiled brightly at his kind words, flashing a set of perfect pearly whites that dazzled Piper as she gaped at the woman beside them awkwardly, blushing.
"You are such a sweetheart Charlie- thank you." Magnolia replied sincerely, grateful for the bots support and affection. Nora cleared her throat then, and motioned for Charlie to get her another shot before throwing it back as quick as the first and trying not to make a face as the aged liquor assaulted her taste buds.
"Excuse me, miss?" She forced herself to speak up, addressing the singer casually, as if she weren't totally intimidated by her unparalleled looks and flawless talent...
"Hm?" The unfamiliar woman responded lazily, regarding Nora in a polite, friendly manor as she turned in her seat to face her as she spoke. "What's the matter sweetheart- don't tell me you didn't like the song?" Her eyes were like liquid gold, shot through with flecks of honey inside a frame of thick, long black lashes- and her lips were full and pouting, exaggerated by her thick red lip stain, made all the more striking by her flawless alabaster complexion... To Nora's eyes, she was perfect, like an Angel...
"Oh no- I loved the song." She reassured the artist honestly. "It was perfect."
"Yeah! Great set tonight- of songs that is!" Piper complimented awkwardly beside her, turning five different shades of red as she realized she had been starring at the woman's cleavage as she spoke. "Oh man, is it getting hot in here..?"
Amused, Magnolia snickered cutely, enjoying the young reporters reaction to her assets as she stumbled over her compliments- She had heard worse before...
"Thank you- a girl tries her best." She responded easily, making Piper nearly swoon before she turned her attention back to Nora.
"Now, there's something special about you though, isn't there?" She asked insightfully, before the vault dweller could ask anything, or reveal any information about herself. "Don't tell me- let me guess..." Patiently, Nora waited, a small smile spreading across her own lips as the singer studied her clothes, posture, and demeanor momentarily before making her best assumption. "hmmm...I think I know a fellow performer when i see one." She informed silkily, the corners of her mouth twitching into the feintest of smirks as her smoky, coal smudged almond eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "You're good with your words, aren't you? Always know the right thing to say at the right time..?"
"You got that right!" Piper exclaimed enthusiastically, interjecting before Nora could answer either way. "Blue here single handedly managed to talk our way out of getting whacked by Skinny Malone after we busted nick valentine out of his vault!"
Impressed, the ebony haired beauty clucked approvingly as she considered the implications. "A real survivor then, it sounds like... I bet the whole world could stand in your way, and you'd just keep going..."
Smiling wryly, Nora shrugged in answer.
"The show must go on..." She quoted cryptically, nodding an affirmation as she mentally credited the other woman's powers of perception- as a Lawyer, the battle's Nora had fought had been in the court room, and her only weapons had been her mind, words, and the evidence- words were what influenced peoples perceptions, and perception was everything when it came to reaching a verdict- but to be able to properly influence peoples perception, you had to have the charisma needed to properly deliver the necessary facts and relevant factors.
"That's right...So the real question is, what brings a woman like you to my part of town?"
"Who, me? Im just playing a game- first asshole that grabs my ass gets his arm broken." She joked evasively, finding herself pleasantly engaged by the stimulating conversation. "Ten points if he's drunk- Charlie can I get another shot?"
"Comin right up." The Handybot acquiesced dutifully, sliding Nora another round- This time, the Bourbon went down like water, and the warmth that was already blooming in her core began to spread rapidly through her extremities, making her feel pleasantly light...More confident. Magnolia let out a hearty laugh at the vault dwellers joke, appreciating the way she had deflected her inquiry.
"Now that sounds like the beginning to a great song..." she admitted in good humor, grinning widely as she spoke. "I think we're really gonna get along...So, I guess its my turn to answer some questions than, right? What can I do for you?"
Thoughtfully, Nora considered the stunning singer for a moment- She was unlike anyone else she had met in the wasteland so far; Flawless. intuitive. Sophisticated- but the question seemed to have some sort of double meaning to it she couldn't discern, and the shadow behind her eyes made her thoughtful...
"What's your story Magnolia? How did you end up singing here?" She found herself asking with genuine curiosity, leaning in toward her subconsciously as the words rolled off her bourbon soaked tongue. "A woman like you could be singing anywhere- Why Goodneighbor?"
She looked down, and her smile fell a bit as she pondered her answer.
"Oh, I flew into town like any songbird does- on a heavy wind with a wounded wing...This place has a stage and I needed to sing- and Whitechapel Charlie needed customers, so here we are..." She explained almost whimsically, with a flourish of her hand, offering up just as much information as Nora had about herself- which was none really, but Nora sensed a bit of Ire in the way she explained it, sensing it was a sensitive topic for her. So, to keep the conversation going, she would have to pivot a bit.
"...Whitechapel Charlie's been here a long time I take it?" She inquired conversationally, prompting both pairs of eyes to slide toward the old Handybot, hovering dutifully across the bar while tending to the patrons on the far right. Magnolia shrugged then, looking back to Nora with a humorous glint in her eyes.
"He never talks too much about his past- neither do I really. Guess that's why we get along so well...You should get to know him though- Charlie always likes to talk business after someone's had a few..." Magnolia advised helpfully, gesturing toward her empty shot glass with a small smile.
Grinning, the vault dweller shook her head in frustration, once again failing to glean any real insight into the mysterious woman, and finding herself begrudgingly admiring her for it.
"Come on- tell me the whole story. Who were you before all this?" She tried again, already knowing shed be denied.
"You really wanna know?" Magnolia asked playfully, taking a sip from her water bottle and scooting out of her stool. "Its all in the songs...Everything I am." She admitted seriously, offering another quick, playful smile and shooting a parting wink in Pipers direction, before turning on her heel to glide smoothly back toward her stage...Nora watched her go ponderously, feeling the need to light a cigarette as the mysterious beauty stepped in front of the microphone once more...
"Oy- Now that you're all liquored up, I got a proposition for ye..." Charlie informed her subtly, Proving Magnolia right once more as he resumed polishing glasses to avoid suspicion. "I need a dirty, dirty girl to do some dirty, dirty work- Blood on the pavement, bodies on the ground, that kind of thing...Interested?" He asked, already sensing she would be- No stable minded woman wandered into The Third Rail without proper backup, and put down multiple shots of bourbon in under an hour without a care for her surroundings unless she could handle herself in a dangerous situation.
Piper looked at Nora with an expression that begged her to say no-but when the vault dweller thought about the meager amount of caps she possessed, and the amount she was currently spending, she decided she couldn't turn down an opportunity to earn more- honest work or not...
"I wanna hear all the details first..." She told him, giving Piper an apologetic look as she heaved an exasperated sigh. Pleased, Whitechapel's sensors tightened fractionally in response.
"I got a certain anonymous client paying top dollar for a cleanup job... three locations, everyone inside- No witnesses...only catch is, its all in town- the old warehouses- so I cant use my regulars. That's where you come in...The job's 200 caps- Payment after its done- and don't worry, I'll know when it is..."
Eyes narrowing, Nora thought about the job at hand- top dollar meant high stakes, and high stakes games were played by important people. Before she accepted the job, it may be prudent to find out whose pawn she would be playing, before stepping onto the field...
"I don't do work unless I know whose paying the bills." She pressed, unwilling to risk stepping on the wrong persons toes. Whitechapel made a movement similar to a shrug, before answering plainly.
"Alright gov- its not like its a big secret who I represent..." He admitted, keeping his voice low. "Mayor Hancock is frontin the caps... internal political struggle- you know how it is. You don't gotta' be concerned about it though, just clear out the warehouses and get paid. Simple."
Wisely, Nora considered it- if Hancock was the one paying, it might benefit her to get on his good side. He was obviously the top dog around town, and she might even get the opportunity to learn more about him this way.
"Alright...I'll get it done." She decided after a long moment of deliberation, much to Pipers dismay- On the other spectrum, Charlie seemed much pleased.
"Blue, are you sure you know what your doing? We barely fought our way through vault 114, and that was with Nick!" Piper cautioned prudently, desperately hoping to avoid taking any more unnecessary risks- after all, she did have Natt to worry about...
"Oh, don't worry so much." Nora admonished light heartedly, the picture of ease. " We'll go at night when everyone's asleep and pick them off quietly one at a time- it'll be fine."
"I don't know...I think you should think this over before you-"
"Whaaaattt?" An exasperated, nasal voice exclaimed from somewhere behind them as two large men wearing army fatigues and tactical armor pushed their way through the crowded lounge, interrupting their argument. "More of you Mercs looking for MacCready? he's in the back room..."
"MacCready?" Piper murmured thoughtfully, distracted as she watched the pair shoulder their way toward the far right of the establishment, toward a room labeled "The VIP room". "We should follow them." She suggested then, quickly hopping off of her stool in pursuit of her quarry. Confused, and slightly intrigued, Nora followed after, suddenly feeling quite tipsy.
. . .
. . .
. . .
Robert Joseph MacCready sat alone in one of the lavish, leather couches lining the walls of mayor Hancock's VIP room at Goodneighbor's bar, the Third Rail- named for its location, built within the ruins of an old subway station.
"Cant say I'm surprised to find you in a dump like this, MacCready." The familiar tenor of an old acquaintance spoke out, distracting him from his thoughts as he sat, listening to Magnolia's voice reverberate off the tiled walls around him- he had been listening so long, her songs had begun to weave a story in his minds eye- A sad one at that- which was good for him. It helped distract from his own sad story...
"...I was wondering how long it would take for your bloodhounds to track me down, Winlock...It's been almost three months- don't tell me your getting rusty." MacCready felt his pulse quicken as the big man was joined by his partner- another stout man by the name of Barnes. " Should we take this outside?"
"It ain't like that- I'm just here to deliver a message." Winlock clarified calmly, hoping to avoid drawing any more attention from the locals- with so many big players in one rats nest of a town, it was best not to ruffle any feathers, and risk biting off more than one could chew...
"Well, incase you forgot, I left the gunners for good." He reaffirmed sternly, refusing to be intimidated.
"Yeah, I heard- The problem is, you're still taking jobs in the commonwealth, and that isn't gonna work for us..."
Just then, two women- One MacCready recognized as Piper Wright, and a vault dweller he didn't know- appeared by the entry of the VIP room, disrupting their little Mexican standoff. Emboldened by the backup, MacCready inflated.
"I don't take orders from you- not anymore at least...so why don't you take your girlfriend and walk out of here, while you still can?" He suggested defiantly, sure the men wouldn't try anything as long as they were outnumbered...
"What?" Barnes hissed, insulted by the blow to his manhood. " Winlock, tell me we don't have to listen to this shit?"
Winlock silenced his partner with a wave of his hand, before turning back to lay down their boundaries- all business.
"Listen up MacCready...the only reason I haven't filled your body with bullets yet, is that we don't want a war with Goodneighbor- see, we respect other peoples boundaries. We know how to play the game- something you never learned..."
Callously disregarding the larger mans threats, the young merc took a deep breath, forcing himself to look into Winlock's beady blue eyes as he issued a haughty retort.
"Glad to have disappointed you."
Smirking, Winlock chuckled in response to the juvenile dismissal, shaking his head at the younger man.
"You can play the tough guy all you want, but if we hear your still operating inside gunner territory again, all bets are off, you got that?"
Averting his gaze, Macready scoffed impatiently. "...You finished?" He asked rudely, still full of bravado.
"Yeah...We're finished here." The older man retorted calmly, giving his foe one last, hard look before turning around and starting for the door. "C'mon Barnes."
Barnes gave Macready a lingering scowl, shifting his weight restlessly between him and his partner, before reluctantly following Winlock passed the girls standing in the doorway, waiting patiently for them to vacate the premises- Once the hostiles were finally gone, he could finally address them.
"Piper- you finally here to give me that exclusive one on one interview?" He joked lightheartedly, appearing genuinely happy to see the brash reporter. Danger passed, Piper relaxed, rolling her eyes at the short, lean muscled young man- He was younger them then by at least five years, wearing a oversized military cap over short, sandy hair, and a torn, worn out khaki duster over military greens, missing the entire right sleeve.
"Oh MacCready- not even in a million years." She answered bluntly, causing him to grin despite the underhanded insult.
"Well then, ladies- if your preaching about the atom, or looking for a friend, you've got the wrong guy...But if you came for a hired gun, than maybe we can talk?" Immediately, Nora thought about the contract she had just accepted from Whitechapel Charlie, and how Piper was worried they wouldn't be able to pull it off- If she hired someone else to help though...
"Maybe- Why don't you tell us who those guys were first?" Nora suggested, jerking her chin in the direction the men had gone- she didn't want to seem too desperate for help.
"Just a couple of morons looking to climb the ladder of success by stepping on everyone else on the way up... Shouldn't be surprised though- that's the way it goes when you run with the Gunners."
"Never herd of the gunners." Nora admitted plainly, surprising both Piper and MacCready. " Who are they?"
"Only one of the biggest gangs in the commonwealth- they have a rep for being crazy...You know- so tightly wound you'd think they were a cult or something? I stuck around because they paid good money, but I never fit in, so I made a clean break and started flying solo..." He explained simply, mincing on the details. "So what about you? how do I know I wont end up with a bullet in my back?"
Nora smiled a little, shrugging- the tense encounter hadn't done much to diminish her buzz. She was still pretty lit up.
"You don't- that's part of the risk, right?" She asked whimsically, seeming unconcerned.
"Cant argue with that- tell you what. My price is 250 caps up front, no bargaining- what do you say?"
Nora thought about it, clucking indecisively as she pretended to consider his offer... "Come on- everything's negotiable...would you take 150?" She haggled, taking a chance.
"...Alright. " He agreed after a few moments, deciding it was better not to be by himself for now anyway, with Winlock and Barnes skulking about. "You drive a hard bargain- and you just bought yourself a hired gun. Come on, lets get out of here- id kill for a drink...come to think of it, I have..."
Nora giggled at the joke as Piper despaired internally at the unexpected turn of events- While she cared enough about the frustrating mercenary to stand between him and two large hostile men, she wasn't thrilled with the prospect of traveling with him, so she decided then that it might be best for them to part ways...
"Hey blue?" She called to the other woman meekly as they turned to leave, somehow feeling guilty before the words could even form in her mouth. Nora raised her brows, giving her friend an expectant look as they wandered out of the private room, back toward the bar. "If its all the same to you, I think im gonna go catch up with Nick- I really have to get back to Natt and the paper in Diamond city..."
"Oh- okay. Yeah, I understand." Nora exclaimed then, eloquently masking the hurt she felt, even though she knew it wasn't reasonable to ask Piper to keep putting herself in harms way, when she knew she had responsibilities of her own to attend to- Still reluctant to leave the vault dweller in his company, Piper gave MacCready a withering look, preparing to take her leave.
"Maybe try not getting each other killed out there?" She suggested doubtfully, making her concern for the vault dwellers well being obvious.
"Getting us killed is the last thing I plan to do, Angel." He stated suavely, in a vain attempt to reassure- she grimaced in response to the compliment, a light blush coloring her freckled cheeks as she dismissed the flirtatious remark. Both a little tipsy, the two women gave each other a stiff, awkward hug before Piper scurried off, hoping to catch up to Nick Valentine before nightfall, leaving Nora alone with her newly purchased companion...
"MacCready...As I live and beep." Charlie greeted the young merc dryly as they returned to the bar. "Come to finally pay off your tab?"
"Yep- 100 caps. Got it all right here..." He affirmed, pulling a worn coin purse out of his inner coat pocket and throwing it on the bar.
"Awwe no, MacCready..." Whitechapel groaned in exasperation, as disappointed as a robot could be. "I told you- 100 caps settles the finders fee, but you still owe me for the disposal..."
MacCready blushed, looking sideways toward Nora while she listened with interest as the bot chastised him publicly. "I'll tell you what...for old times sake, ill let the debt go- but you owe me a favor."
"Yeah yeah- your all heart Whitechapel..." The merc responded disparagingly, tossing back his shot of whiskey as soon as it was poured, drowning his embarrassment and stress. "Alright- got enough caps for a room?" He asked then, bringing her up short. Nora sighed heavily in response- she did, but only for one...If she had been bedding down with Piper as planned, she wouldn't be bothered, but now things were different. Her companion would be male...
"Yeah..." Hope he doesn't mind sleeping on the floor, she thought listlessly, calling for another shot.
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