The next evening

The Venetian’s hotel bar was packed. HODL t-shirts mixed with business suits. The energy from the expo hall had spilled over. Everyone was louder and looser.

Maya was sitting at the bar. Scanned the room every few minutes. Told herself she wasn’t.

And then there he was. Sean. Walking in with someone.

Her fingers tightened around her glass.

She was staring. He locked eyes with her. He smiled immediately. At her.

He steered them toward her.

“Wait, let’s stop at the bar,” Sean said to Dave. “I see someone. Yesterday at the Nostr booth. Have you heard of Nostr?”

“The shittier X for Bitcoiners?” Dave rolled his eyes.

“Nah man, it sounds better. You own your identity. And nobody can take it away. That’s Bitcoin-ish.”

Sean’s pace quickened the closer they got.

“Don’t get too excited.” Dave shook his head. “I gave it a shot. Ghost town.”

They reached the bar.

“Hey!” Sean shot finger guns at Maya and immediately regretted it.

She bit her lip. Tried not to laugh.

“Maya.” Sean’s smile got even wider. “This is Dave. Dave. Maya.”

Dave leaned against the bar. “So, a Nostr evangelist. How’s the ghost town?”

“Dave.” Sean’s tone shifted. Not quite a warning. Close.

Dave ignored him. “I tried it last year. I don’t know why you guys think anyone would leave X for that.”

“No one is trying to be Twitter.” Maya shook her head. “It’s just the first use case. Everything can, and will be rebuilt on Nostr. Media. Payments. Marketplaces. All of it.”

Dave blinked. “That’s ambitious.”

She held his gaze. “Some people see it early.”

“Bitcoin was a ghost town once too,” Sean said to Dave. “10 years ago, you would’ve called it dead.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

The bar noise faded. Maya’s smile widened.

Dave looked between them. Realized he was outnumbered. “I see the guys. Looks like that investor made it, too. You coming?”

Sean looked at Maya, then back at Dave. “I’ll catch up.”

Dave shrugged and left.

She was right. He hadn’t found anything, or anyone, cooler.

Sean turned back to Maya. “Sorry about that.”

She waved it off. “He’s not completely wrong, you know.”

Sean pulled out the stool and sat down.

“The network effects aren’t there yet. Discovery is hard. Most people quit after a week.”

“So why do you stay?”

Maya thought for a second. “Because I don’t want to build on someone else’s thing. I want to build my own.”

“Build — like, you code?”

“I code.”

“Well, then you’ve got to be right about this.” Sean decided. “Dave is in accounting. The fuck does he know?”

Maya laughed. “You know, it’s not the job. I just think Bitcoiners who prefer Twitter might as well be shitcoiners. It’s a tell.”

Sean blinked. “Wow, it’s that serious?” He grinned.

Maya leaned forward. Her eyes sharp. “Do you like Twitter?”

Sean shook his head. “I ain’t paying for no blue checkmark.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “Wow.” She nodded. “A mark of integrity.”

They both laughed.

“And you’re already defending Nostr to skeptics.” She paused. “I like that.”

Maya’s phone buzzed. The noise rushed back in. Her attention broke.

“Well. I’ve been zapped. I’m a believer now,” Sean said. Trying to meet her eyes.

“There’s an after-party tonight. Downtown. For Nostr people.” She drained her drink. Grabbed her purse.

She held his gaze. Didn’t break it. “I have a dinner now, but maybe I’ll see you there? Everyone’s coming.” She threw a party invite on the bar. “Come?”

“Yeah. Sure.” He picked up the card. “I didn’t know about it.”

“Hang out a little less with the shitcoiners and you’ll learn all the cool stuff you’ve been missing.” She winked.

She walked out.

Sean watched her go. Couldn’t look away.