17. Empty bottle

"Hey Mike! I found one!"

Louise's voice carried out over the railtracks, echoing across the dark Mojave night. Mike didn't know why Louise had requested that they scavenge for such an odd request. There was only so much that one could do with empty soda bottles. He looked down at the bag, it's form bulging under the weight of the junkyard treasures they'd found.

"No offence or anything, Loulou...But why empty bottles? Full ones are more valuable, and useful." He said, walking back over to her and handing her the bag. Many things she did were confusing, not that he was one to question odd actions. She wasn't harming anyone, or at least he hoped not. Her smile suggested that something was up.

"Don't give me that look, all will become clear in time. Swing by my safehouse in a few days and I'll be more than happy to show you!" She chirped, digging about in another of her bags and tossing a bottle of Nuka cola at him. "Payment, try not to drink it all at once!" Louise teased him as she backed off into the night, leaving him confused and curious about what she was up to.

It was a week before he got the chance to head anywhere near Louise's safehouse, safely tucked away near Ranger station Foxtrot. He approached the door with slight apprehension, what had she been planning to do with all those empty bottles? He didn't think she was going to do anything dangerous...though all would probably be revealed after he knocked on the door.

She greeted him with a bright-eyed smile, throwing the door open in relief and welcoming him inside. It immediately became clear why she'd wanted so many bottles. They were everywhere! She'd hung them from the cealing by string and was carefully weaving her way between them all.

"Mind your head, Mike. Be careful of the bottles!" She giggled, sitting him down without even an explination of her actions. She'd decided to let her hands do the talking. She picked up at the stick, gently tapping a few bottles to form a tune. Her eyes barely left him though, silently begging for approval and recognition for her odd actions.

When she eventually came to a silent stop, turning to face him with a sheepish smile on her face.

"...Always wanted to try that."