Red Dead Reborn

xv) Just One Drink

"Just one."

Lenny and Danny entered the saloon where they found how bustling the business was.

As soon as they walked inside, the joyful sound of piano music filled their ears while men occupied tables and the bar. A few prostitutes lingered around the room; eyeing men worth accompanying for a good time or minding their own business, fanning themselves after a good time.

As they made their way towards the bar, two men departed, granting them both a spot to occupy.

"Just one or two, right, Danny?" Lenny warned the outlaw just a year above him.

His caution was validated, but Danny knew dreadfully how quickly things will turn once they have that one drink.

"Of course, of course. 'Scuse me, bartender? Two shots of whiskey." Danny whistled.

The bartender brought his attention onto the two men and expressed a warm smile underneath his fancy, thick moustache before bringing out two shot glasses and a bottle of fine whiskey.

"Cheers."

Danny slapped a couple coins on the counter as whiskey was poured into the glasses.

The two boys tapped their glasses together and swallowed the shot down in one gulp.

"So what happened, anyway?" Danny asked curiously.

Tossing a few more coins, Danny requested another shot for himself and Lenny.

"Well, we were supposed to go scouting ahead, so I kept asking him. But he was all, 'you worry too much, kid,' just some business to attend to, kid.' You know how he is. He was half-soaked before we even got there. Then we run into some fellers - one of them Micah knew - drank some more, and this is supposed to be a dry town we're in, too."

"And then he shoots one of 'em. I know how things like that turn out."

Danny gulped his shot down while Lenny held his, stating how he was amazed at how things turned south so quickly, like at the strike of a match, before gulping his shot down.

"Law was on us fast, too. They was ready to string me up there and then, but I got away, just about. Micah seems to know a lot of people... that was the problem. I mean, I done seen a lot of crazy, crazy stuff, but Micah..."

" 'I seen a lot of crazy, crazy stuff.' " A voice parroted from Danny's right where a patron remained while the other two whose places they took, had left.

"Shut up, mister." Danny threatened in a deep, menacing voice.

" 'Shut up, mister.' "

The patron tittered as he barely managed to remain on both feet without holding onto the bar for support.

"They're dullards. My Lord, you men is dull! Look at you... hey boah. Boah. Hey. I'm talkin' to you."

"Ignore him. C'mon. Let's get out of here." Lenny whispered into Danny's ear.

Two dozen thoughts ran through Danny's mind on how he could approach the drunk patron. It was evident in the bartender's expression that he just knew a fight was imminent to break out.

Before Danny could lash out at the patron, he gave up and gave one last remark under his breath, which Danny heard, as he walked out of the saloon.

As their reward for not engaging in aggressive behaviour, Lenny purchased beer for them both. This led to them purchasing more and more drinks as their drunk selves drastically lost control of sober thought. Both Lenny and Danny wandered the saloon at every new serve of beer or whiskey.

At one point, Danny lost sight of his black friend when he was distracted by how talented the pianist was playing. Staggering across the saloon, Danny eventually located Lenny upstairs, attempting to balance a shot glass on his forehead.

They both drunkenly entertained each other for another half hour until Danny had to relieve himself outside. Given his drunk state, it shocked Danny when he walked back inside to find every person Lenny's doppelganger. Losing sight of Lenny once again, Danny stumbled around, accusing them of being his friend until he blinked and realised that they were not black, nor Lenny.

"LeNnEh! F-F-F-FoUnD yA!" Danny slurred drunkenly.

"How many you had, pal?" A patron asked.

Stumbling over to the next stranger, Danny burped. "I'vE bEeN lOoKiN aLl OvEr FoR yA, LeNnY!"

"Do I look like a Lenny to you?"

Danny set his eyes on a Lenny in a dress with a fan and pointed at them.

"ThErE yOu ArE, LeNnY!"

"Lenny? Go away, you drunk buffoon."

"LeNnEh!!" Danny wailed. "WhErE iS yOu?!"

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Danny's shoulder and spun him around.

Finally, he'd found the real Lenny Summers.

"Danny, Danny, what are you doin'?" Lenny questioned hysterically.

To ensure that this Lenny was the real Lenny, Danny struck his cheek, to Lenny's amusement. Danny blinked his eyes and of course, it was Lenny Summers.

He'd been slapped with such force that it caused Lenny to stagger slightly and touched his cheek before winding up to slap Danny's in return. This sparked a slapping contest in which patrons joined in and cheered them both on before they went for another drink.

The two boys clinked their glasses together and saluted each other when another voice parroted their salute.

"NoT yOu AgAiN!" Danny growled and latched his hands on the man's coat before dragging him out the back towards the pig pen.

Lenny encouraged his friend while Danny dunked the man's face in a water trough over and over until the stranger managed to punch Danny right in the dick.

"OOMPF!"

Lenny burst into laughter in reaction to Danny getting punched in the dick. They both fell to the ground, rolling in mud while the stranger made his escape to alert the sheriff of their misconduct.

Once Lenny was done laughing, he and Danny entered the main street where they were pursued by the lawmen. One man tackled Lenny to the ground while another had broken into sprint to apprehend Danny.

But no way was Danny going to let that happen.

While Lenny was being arrested, Danny ran back down an alley.

"Come here, you drunken fool!" A deputy barked.

"nEvEeEeErRr!! YoU'lL nEvEr TaKe Me AlIvE!!" Danny screamed at the top of his lungs.

Due to how heavily intoxicated Danny was, he misjudged his step and stumbled into a full barrel. He ran into it and fell backwards where a deputy fell down on top of him and grabbed his forearms in an attempt to restrain him.

"I've seen enough!" Said another deputy.

That deputy hit Danny over the head, finally rendering him unconscious.