Between The Yees And The Haws

Moonshine Miles

Name: Moonshine Miles
Age: 22
Occupation: Bartender
Created By/Modeled After: Miles Vetrovec

"You know, your liver ain't gonna be happy about this." Moonshine sighed as he slid another drink into Ar's hand.

"He can take it up with the complaint department." Ar Yan took a swig of the drink in his hand.

"You gotta stop doin' this, Ar. Gonna wind up dead and then guess who Buckleton gonna blame?"

"My lack of healthy relationships, I'd reckon." Ar Yan chuckled. Moonshine shook his head.

"For real, partner. I'm worried about you."

"You worry too much, buddy. I'm still alive. I'm still here, ain't I?" Ar Yan smiled at him.

"You ain't gonna be for long if you keep this shit up." Moonshine said, turning around to put a few empty glasses away.

"Well ain't you a ray of sunshine." Ar Yan muttered. Moonshine was silent for a little bit.

"Ain't no sunshine in this bar, partner."

   The sun began to fall. Ar Yan had eventually gone home, most likely to drink some liquor he had stolen from the town store. West knew about Ar's addiction, yet didn't seem to pay too much attention to the alcohol when Ar walked in.

   People would start to pour in soon, but for now, Moonshine was left alone with his thoughts. You worry too much, Moonshine. That ain't gonna get you nowhere in this town. Everybody fendin' for themselves. You gonna end up-

   His thoughts were interrupted by the bar door opening. His eyes took in the woman in the doorway and chuckled.

"Well I'll be damned. I thought the first one here'd be Ar, but no. It's the other town drunk."

"I ain't no drunk." Vanilla Bean huffed as she sat down on the barstool. "There's a fine line between being an alcoholic and just likin' liquor."

"And you walk it." Moonshine laughed. She rolled her eyes.

"Am I really the first one here? Coulda sworn you'd have more, especially at this time."

"I'm sure they'll start to come in soon. So what's been goin' on, Beanie?" Moonshine asked her.

"I done told you to stop callin' me that." She said. "And nothin' much. I took Ace out to this Rabbi's house a few towns over."

"Ace...pretty little fella, that horse." Moonshine smiled. "What'd you need with a Rabbi?"

"It's tough bein' a Jew in these parts." Vanilla sighed. "Y'all ain't ever know what the hell I'm talkin' about. Never celebratin' the same things I do."

"Sorry about that." Moonshine said as he filled up a drink for her. "The usual, I'm guessin'. You ain't really much of a 'try new things' gal."

"I know, but hey!" She smacked him in fake anger. She smiled. "So what d-"

"Oh my Lord, is that you Moonshine Miles?" Moonshine heard a voice coming from the open door of the bar. He turned to face Sally Elizabeth, his cousin from a few towns over.

"Shit, Sally! I ain't seen you in too long!" Moonshine laughed as he walked out from behind the bar counter and to the front door where she was standing. He pulled her in for a tight hug.

"It's been too long, it has!" She exclaimed, hugging him tighter.

"What brings you here?" Moonshine asked, walking her over to the counter and offering her a seat next to Vanilla.

"I had a friend of mine tell me how wonderful that hairdresser in Buckleton is. Saddle, I reckon." She placed her elbow on the counter and rested her face in her palm. Vanilla raised an eyebrow at her.

"Oh, I do apologize." Sally turned to Vanilla and held out her hand. "Sally Elizabeth." Vanilla shook her hand.

"Vanilla Bean. You said you was lookin' for Saddle? She's great. Her saloon ain't too far from here."

   Sally and Vanilla began a conversation about hairstyles, Saddle's talent, and other things about the town. Moonshine was left bartending for the townspeople that began pouring in. He knew his cousin would find good company in Vanilla, so he didn't worry too much. The one thing left on his mind, however, was...where the hell was Ar Yan?

   He looked over the townspeople in the bar, trying to find him. He saw Montgomery Montana Smith, along with Cletus and Edward all having drinks together and laughing. He walked out from behind the bar counter and over to their table.

"Hey, Moonshine! Have a seat, partner!" Montgomery grinned at him, patting the chair next to him. Moonshine shook his head.

"Thankful for that, buddy, but I'm actually just wonderin' if y'all seen Ar around here. He's normally here every night."

"Ain't it a good thing he ain't here, though?" Cletus chuckled. "I mean, guy's gonna wind up dead if he goes one more week in his daily routine."

"I just wanna make sure he's alright, that's all." Moonshine said, softer than before, but still loud enough to be heard over the noise of the bar. Edward laughed.

"How come? What's he ever done for ya?" Edward asked him.

"Well, nothin' really. But I ain't never done nothin' for him neither." He sighed. "I guess he's just...my friend. And I wanna make sure he's alright. Is that a fuckin' crime?" He asked the group of slightly tipsy men. Edward shrugged.

"I guess not. But no, partner. We ain't seen him." He told Moonshine.

"Sorry, buddy. Hope ya find your friend." Montgomery patted Moonshine's back.

   As Moonshine turned to go back to the bar counter, he couldn't help but overhear the conversation that ensued between the men afterwards.

"That boy's too nice for his own good. Always puttin' others before him and shit." Cletus said to Edward and Montgomery.

"Gonna end up in trouble if he keeps that up." Montgomery added.

   Moonshine wanted to go back and tell them off, that maybe they were the problem for not being caring enough. Maybe they were gonna end up in trouble. But Moonshine knew better. He knew they were right. Buckleton wasn't no place for a nice guy. Buckleton wasn't no place for a nice anything.

   There's hardly enough room for Moonshine in Buckleton, let alone sunshine.