God created the country, Man created the city, and the devil made the small
town- Some strange old guy in the apartment room next to mine
Grey City was a religious community of avid churchgoing, God-fearing
Catholics. That was all that could be said about them, really. Peaceful,
good people. They believed little boys should be seen and not heard and
little girls should sew and bear children for their husbands, and any one
who thought otherwise was persecuted as a witch and either burned alive or
hanged, or by any other means of death. Ok, so the town WASN'T as peaceful
as it seemed. There was enough crime, sin, and drugs in this town to make
it another city of sin on this little, desert planet.
Once you entered the town, you where immediately greeted by the large poles
with thick, rope nooses hanging and occasionally waved in the wind. There
was one main, dirt road that ran through the town, houses and stores and
things on each side of the road. Right in the middle of the town, however,
was a large pile of wood; a large stake in the middle of it with some
singed pieces of rope still attached to the large plank. At the end of the
small, yet almost macabre town was a large, grim-appearing church, the
large stained glass windows depicting scenes from the bible drawing the
suns' rays into the one, large white room. There was a small, red door that
stuck out from the dark interior like a spot of blood on a pale white gown.
People knew they where going to 'be forgiven by the Christ Almighty' for
the worst crime conceivable in the town, Witchcraft, by going into that
small, red door. No one knew what EXACTLY went on inside that door, but
they knew that the suspected witch was going to get what they deserved for
not worshipping God, and they where NEVER coming out, unless they confessed
and then they would be executed publicly. If you ignored all the items used
to destroy human lives for disbelief in the Catholic religion, at first
glance, the town would seem, almost, normal.
***
Vash, the legendary humanoid typhoon, walked almost happily through the
desert, carrying a small parcel filled to the brim with his favourite
delicacy, Doughnuts.
"Wow, too bad Meryl and Milly away, I'm ACTUALLY having some fun,
HAHAHAAAA!" Vash laughed in his trademark, hysterical way. He finally
managed to loose the two back in the previous town, and was feeling rather
smug of himself. Of coarse, until the large quantities of sand started
getting to him. So, to pass the time ((and large amounts of sand and time))
began to speak to himself.
"Hmmhmmhmm! La-la-la!" he sang to no tune in particular. "Where's the next
town anyway? There's GOT to be a new town SOMEWHERE! Unng," Vash moaned,
giving up his bad singing for his complaining.
Then, like a faint mirage, a small black dot ((among a large pool of
'water', which Vash later, to his dismay, was only an illusion played upon
him by the heat of the two suns and sand)). He walked closer; hoping that
the small, black dot would came into focus.
After a few meters of straining his eyes as he walked, he found the small,
quaint town of Grey City. After spotting the town, Vash broke into break
neck speed to reach the town, laughing happily and dropping his box of
doughnuts while he ran, and later regretted it.
"ALRIGHTALRIGHTALRIIIIIGHT!" Vash yelled happily, running with his eyes
closed.
When Vash actually thought to open his eyes, it was too late. With a large
TWACK, Vash hit one of the hangman's poles and fell to the ground almost
immediately, semi- conscience.
By the time Vash recovered from his pole-attack, a large amount of local
townspeople surrounded him in a tight ring like mourners around an open
grave. And at the head of the grave was a tall, thin man, who wore a long
black robe and white collar. A priest.
"Am. am I dead?" Vash asked weakly, he felt his head, where a large,
bleeding gash was.
"Far from it, stranger, this might be the start of your new life," the
priest said, a large, almost sly smile on his face.
Vash, confused and in pain, just stared at the blue sky above him, above
the people. Then, he blacked out again.
"Quick Amanda, take him to your home and nurse him to his health, then we
will free his soul," the priest commanded and suddenly, a 21 year old woman
((at best)) hauled Vash under his arms and dragged him her best to a near
by house.
** FEW MOMENTS LATER! YIPEE! **
Vash woke up in a poorly lit room. The roof, floor, and walls made out of
wood, along with the bed he was lying in. the covers where white and
slightly worn from years of use.
Vash sat up and felt his head, the gash in his head replaced by a large
patch of gauze. Once his vision cleared, Vash could also notice his lack of
clothes, with an exception to his pants, which, to his relief, where still
on.
He looked around desperately for his shirt and beloved red trench coat. He
stood up, wobbly at first, but his equilibrium was soon attained again as
he searched franticly for his clothes.
Vash stopped as he saw a small wooden chair, a white, button up shirt was
folded neatly on the seat. He picked it up, raising an eyebrow.
"Do. they want me to-" Vash began, supposedly speaking to himself, until
another voice popped into the room.
"You're supposed to put it on, sir," the voice said. It was a calm voice,
one that seemed to hide no anger or malice in it. Vash turned around
quickly to see whom it came from.
The voice came from a young man, 19 or 20, maybe, with choppy blue-ish
black hair, which fell into his thin, pale face. His large, almost glowing
green eyes had a sort of glow behind them as his mouth formed a happy, non-
threatening smile. He wasn't much taller than Vash, but much more anemic
and gaunt than Vash. In other words, his features matched his voice.
"Oh. hello," Vash said warmly. "What's your name?" he asked, giving him a
short wave.
The young man's smile seemed to grow bigger, as if his smile before was his
straight face. "OH! Forgive me sir, My name is Volf Bloodchurch, may I ask
what's yours?" he asked.
"Um." Vash began, putting on the shirt, which he noticed, was almost
identical to Volf's, as well as every other man in this town's, with the
exception of the priest.
"My name is.Ben. Yeah, Ben. Ben.Green," Vash responded, coming up with his
name by 1) the odd way of saying 'bed' and 2) Volf's odd green eyes.
Volf continued to smile. "Well Mr. Green, welcome to Grey City," Volf gave
a sort of bow and turned his back.
"WAIT! Excuse me! Where's my clothes? I mean, the clothes I came into this
town wearing?" Vash asked, hoping to catch Volf's attention once again.
Volf thought a second, his smile still somewhat there, and finally looked
up, a sort of confused look on his smiling, warm face.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Green, I wouldn't know," Volf said, turning back around and
walking out.
Vash's eyes lowered slightly and slouched in uneasiness. His eyes caught
the small, glass mirror in the room, which was slightly cracked in the
corner, which almost resembled a small black spider web.
He looked at himself in the white button up shirt and rose an eyebrow.
"Wow. wonder where's my clothes," Vash said, looking around again, then
giving up and walking outside.
The town was quiet, the people running around going about their business.
Vash rose an eyebrow. "This has. GOT to be too good to be true," Vash said.
No bounty hunters, no crime, no killing, he thought this place was pretty
nice.
"OH! Hello again, Mr. Green," a familiar Voice said from behind. Vash
turned around, recognizing his fake name and noticed Volf.
He also noticed how sickly pale he was. At least in the faint light of the
small house, he looked like he had SOME pigment in his skin, instead of
looking as white as milk.
-Milk. DOUGHNUTS!. I'm hungry.- Vash thought, Just as the thought of
Doughnuts entered his mind, a loud growl could be heard. Vash's bottomless
stomach decided to protest Vash's lack of food
Once again, Volf smiled. "I see you're hungry, well, come on, let's get
something to eat," he said happily, motioning with his arm for Vash to
follow him, which he did obediently.
Volf lead Vash into a small, saloon-like building, built up of, yes, more
wood. Small stools lined up against a bar counter, where a tall, bald man,
40 maybe, with black pants and a white button up shirt ((Vash by now was
thinking this town was some kind of cult)) stood.
"Hello customer," the man said, still staring straightforward, cleaning a
glass.
"Hello Bill, busy today?" Volf asked happily. Vash looked around, probably
looking for other people, then thought if Volf felt any other emotion than
Happiness.
-Well, at least he's optimistic,- Vash thought, still searching for the
people.
Bill turned to the direction of where the voice came from. "Volf? Hey! I
thought you where watching the stranger until he woke up with Amanda," Bill
said, staring now in the direction of where Volf's voice was.
"He IS awake, Bill, he's with me right now, his name is Ben Green," Volf
replied happily, then turned to Vash, who was STILL looking for people,
maybe they where invisible.
"Don't mind if Bill didn't see you, He's blind, but he doesn't seem to
mind," Volf whispered. Then Bill spoke up.
"Why Volf, there you go again, telling people that, I bet ol' Ben could
have guessed that right off the bat! Haha! You where always the one to
inform every one, even when you where a little kid," Bill laughed.
Vash blinked several times. He hadn't seemed to notice, still looking for
the 'invisible customers' which, by now he had given up looking for.
Volf turned back to Bill. "Well, Bill, how about a cool glass of water for
me and Mr. Green here," Volf declared happily.
"Sorry, Volfie, the water shortage is real bad, witches are up to no good
you know," Bill said.
-Witches? - Vash thought inquisitively. - He CAN'T be serious, are these
people THAT superstitious? - Vash continued to think
Volf's smile fell slightly, then perked up again. "Hey, Bill, how about
some doughnuts then? Obviously Mrs. Banker hasn't been TOO effected by the
water shortage," Volf asked.
"Alright, you know where she is, Volfie," Bill said, giving him a small
wave good bye.
Vash threw the witch thought out of his head and thought immediately about
doughnuts, a big smile on his face.
***
After Volf and Vash enjoyed their small break of doughnuts, night fell
quickly.
"Well, Mr. Green, you should really be getting to bed, you took a nasty
fall back there," Volf said, his immortal smile still on his face.
Vash looked at Volf, wondering how it was even possible to keep a smile for
that long.
"Yeah but, I feel fine," Vash said as Volf stood up. Volf looked at Vash,
shaking his head.
"But, it's best if you sleep, you'll feel even better if you do," Volf
said, this time, Vash standing up and following him back outside. The two
orange suns seemed to fall from the sky and into the horizon like two
racers, neck and neck, approaching their finish line, namely the long
stretch of desert.
Vash stopped short of the door, which Volf was kindly holding open for him.
"Why, what's the matter, Mr. Green? You seem alarmed suddenly," Volf asked,
a concerned look on his face, the large smile now just a smirk.
"." Vash was silent, he felt, strangely, tired. Just as if all of the
sudden.
"I. I'm just feeling. a little tired right now. I guess you're right. I do
need to go to bed," Vash said, holding his head. He felt unsteady on his
feet, swaying slightly.
"Oh. well, we should be getting you into bed then, I'd hate for you to
faint. Like I said before, you took a nasty fall back earlier today," Volf
said, holding up Vash and helping him through the door, his smile still
there.
"Oh. no. I'll-I'll be ok. I know it." Vash slipped in and out of
consciousness, his vision blurring. He was thankful for Volf being there,
or he WOULD have fainted.
"C'mon Mr. Green, off to bed with you," Volf smiled as he helped walk Vash
into the house that Vash had woken up to find himself in.
"N-no. I'll." Vash trailed off. He had officially blacked out, Volf held
the limp Vash rather well as he carried him to the bed and rested him
there.
Volf looked at the sleeping Vash for a few seconds more. "If only you knew,
how much pain you will be in." he said sadly, his smile falling into a
melancholy line. He turned and left the room
town- Some strange old guy in the apartment room next to mine
Grey City was a religious community of avid churchgoing, God-fearing
Catholics. That was all that could be said about them, really. Peaceful,
good people. They believed little boys should be seen and not heard and
little girls should sew and bear children for their husbands, and any one
who thought otherwise was persecuted as a witch and either burned alive or
hanged, or by any other means of death. Ok, so the town WASN'T as peaceful
as it seemed. There was enough crime, sin, and drugs in this town to make
it another city of sin on this little, desert planet.
Once you entered the town, you where immediately greeted by the large poles
with thick, rope nooses hanging and occasionally waved in the wind. There
was one main, dirt road that ran through the town, houses and stores and
things on each side of the road. Right in the middle of the town, however,
was a large pile of wood; a large stake in the middle of it with some
singed pieces of rope still attached to the large plank. At the end of the
small, yet almost macabre town was a large, grim-appearing church, the
large stained glass windows depicting scenes from the bible drawing the
suns' rays into the one, large white room. There was a small, red door that
stuck out from the dark interior like a spot of blood on a pale white gown.
People knew they where going to 'be forgiven by the Christ Almighty' for
the worst crime conceivable in the town, Witchcraft, by going into that
small, red door. No one knew what EXACTLY went on inside that door, but
they knew that the suspected witch was going to get what they deserved for
not worshipping God, and they where NEVER coming out, unless they confessed
and then they would be executed publicly. If you ignored all the items used
to destroy human lives for disbelief in the Catholic religion, at first
glance, the town would seem, almost, normal.
***
Vash, the legendary humanoid typhoon, walked almost happily through the
desert, carrying a small parcel filled to the brim with his favourite
delicacy, Doughnuts.
"Wow, too bad Meryl and Milly away, I'm ACTUALLY having some fun,
HAHAHAAAA!" Vash laughed in his trademark, hysterical way. He finally
managed to loose the two back in the previous town, and was feeling rather
smug of himself. Of coarse, until the large quantities of sand started
getting to him. So, to pass the time ((and large amounts of sand and time))
began to speak to himself.
"Hmmhmmhmm! La-la-la!" he sang to no tune in particular. "Where's the next
town anyway? There's GOT to be a new town SOMEWHERE! Unng," Vash moaned,
giving up his bad singing for his complaining.
Then, like a faint mirage, a small black dot ((among a large pool of
'water', which Vash later, to his dismay, was only an illusion played upon
him by the heat of the two suns and sand)). He walked closer; hoping that
the small, black dot would came into focus.
After a few meters of straining his eyes as he walked, he found the small,
quaint town of Grey City. After spotting the town, Vash broke into break
neck speed to reach the town, laughing happily and dropping his box of
doughnuts while he ran, and later regretted it.
"ALRIGHTALRIGHTALRIIIIIGHT!" Vash yelled happily, running with his eyes
closed.
When Vash actually thought to open his eyes, it was too late. With a large
TWACK, Vash hit one of the hangman's poles and fell to the ground almost
immediately, semi- conscience.
By the time Vash recovered from his pole-attack, a large amount of local
townspeople surrounded him in a tight ring like mourners around an open
grave. And at the head of the grave was a tall, thin man, who wore a long
black robe and white collar. A priest.
"Am. am I dead?" Vash asked weakly, he felt his head, where a large,
bleeding gash was.
"Far from it, stranger, this might be the start of your new life," the
priest said, a large, almost sly smile on his face.
Vash, confused and in pain, just stared at the blue sky above him, above
the people. Then, he blacked out again.
"Quick Amanda, take him to your home and nurse him to his health, then we
will free his soul," the priest commanded and suddenly, a 21 year old woman
((at best)) hauled Vash under his arms and dragged him her best to a near
by house.
** FEW MOMENTS LATER! YIPEE! **
Vash woke up in a poorly lit room. The roof, floor, and walls made out of
wood, along with the bed he was lying in. the covers where white and
slightly worn from years of use.
Vash sat up and felt his head, the gash in his head replaced by a large
patch of gauze. Once his vision cleared, Vash could also notice his lack of
clothes, with an exception to his pants, which, to his relief, where still
on.
He looked around desperately for his shirt and beloved red trench coat. He
stood up, wobbly at first, but his equilibrium was soon attained again as
he searched franticly for his clothes.
Vash stopped as he saw a small wooden chair, a white, button up shirt was
folded neatly on the seat. He picked it up, raising an eyebrow.
"Do. they want me to-" Vash began, supposedly speaking to himself, until
another voice popped into the room.
"You're supposed to put it on, sir," the voice said. It was a calm voice,
one that seemed to hide no anger or malice in it. Vash turned around
quickly to see whom it came from.
The voice came from a young man, 19 or 20, maybe, with choppy blue-ish
black hair, which fell into his thin, pale face. His large, almost glowing
green eyes had a sort of glow behind them as his mouth formed a happy, non-
threatening smile. He wasn't much taller than Vash, but much more anemic
and gaunt than Vash. In other words, his features matched his voice.
"Oh. hello," Vash said warmly. "What's your name?" he asked, giving him a
short wave.
The young man's smile seemed to grow bigger, as if his smile before was his
straight face. "OH! Forgive me sir, My name is Volf Bloodchurch, may I ask
what's yours?" he asked.
"Um." Vash began, putting on the shirt, which he noticed, was almost
identical to Volf's, as well as every other man in this town's, with the
exception of the priest.
"My name is.Ben. Yeah, Ben. Ben.Green," Vash responded, coming up with his
name by 1) the odd way of saying 'bed' and 2) Volf's odd green eyes.
Volf continued to smile. "Well Mr. Green, welcome to Grey City," Volf gave
a sort of bow and turned his back.
"WAIT! Excuse me! Where's my clothes? I mean, the clothes I came into this
town wearing?" Vash asked, hoping to catch Volf's attention once again.
Volf thought a second, his smile still somewhat there, and finally looked
up, a sort of confused look on his smiling, warm face.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Green, I wouldn't know," Volf said, turning back around and
walking out.
Vash's eyes lowered slightly and slouched in uneasiness. His eyes caught
the small, glass mirror in the room, which was slightly cracked in the
corner, which almost resembled a small black spider web.
He looked at himself in the white button up shirt and rose an eyebrow.
"Wow. wonder where's my clothes," Vash said, looking around again, then
giving up and walking outside.
The town was quiet, the people running around going about their business.
Vash rose an eyebrow. "This has. GOT to be too good to be true," Vash said.
No bounty hunters, no crime, no killing, he thought this place was pretty
nice.
"OH! Hello again, Mr. Green," a familiar Voice said from behind. Vash
turned around, recognizing his fake name and noticed Volf.
He also noticed how sickly pale he was. At least in the faint light of the
small house, he looked like he had SOME pigment in his skin, instead of
looking as white as milk.
-Milk. DOUGHNUTS!. I'm hungry.- Vash thought, Just as the thought of
Doughnuts entered his mind, a loud growl could be heard. Vash's bottomless
stomach decided to protest Vash's lack of food
Once again, Volf smiled. "I see you're hungry, well, come on, let's get
something to eat," he said happily, motioning with his arm for Vash to
follow him, which he did obediently.
Volf lead Vash into a small, saloon-like building, built up of, yes, more
wood. Small stools lined up against a bar counter, where a tall, bald man,
40 maybe, with black pants and a white button up shirt ((Vash by now was
thinking this town was some kind of cult)) stood.
"Hello customer," the man said, still staring straightforward, cleaning a
glass.
"Hello Bill, busy today?" Volf asked happily. Vash looked around, probably
looking for other people, then thought if Volf felt any other emotion than
Happiness.
-Well, at least he's optimistic,- Vash thought, still searching for the
people.
Bill turned to the direction of where the voice came from. "Volf? Hey! I
thought you where watching the stranger until he woke up with Amanda," Bill
said, staring now in the direction of where Volf's voice was.
"He IS awake, Bill, he's with me right now, his name is Ben Green," Volf
replied happily, then turned to Vash, who was STILL looking for people,
maybe they where invisible.
"Don't mind if Bill didn't see you, He's blind, but he doesn't seem to
mind," Volf whispered. Then Bill spoke up.
"Why Volf, there you go again, telling people that, I bet ol' Ben could
have guessed that right off the bat! Haha! You where always the one to
inform every one, even when you where a little kid," Bill laughed.
Vash blinked several times. He hadn't seemed to notice, still looking for
the 'invisible customers' which, by now he had given up looking for.
Volf turned back to Bill. "Well, Bill, how about a cool glass of water for
me and Mr. Green here," Volf declared happily.
"Sorry, Volfie, the water shortage is real bad, witches are up to no good
you know," Bill said.
-Witches? - Vash thought inquisitively. - He CAN'T be serious, are these
people THAT superstitious? - Vash continued to think
Volf's smile fell slightly, then perked up again. "Hey, Bill, how about
some doughnuts then? Obviously Mrs. Banker hasn't been TOO effected by the
water shortage," Volf asked.
"Alright, you know where she is, Volfie," Bill said, giving him a small
wave good bye.
Vash threw the witch thought out of his head and thought immediately about
doughnuts, a big smile on his face.
***
After Volf and Vash enjoyed their small break of doughnuts, night fell
quickly.
"Well, Mr. Green, you should really be getting to bed, you took a nasty
fall back there," Volf said, his immortal smile still on his face.
Vash looked at Volf, wondering how it was even possible to keep a smile for
that long.
"Yeah but, I feel fine," Vash said as Volf stood up. Volf looked at Vash,
shaking his head.
"But, it's best if you sleep, you'll feel even better if you do," Volf
said, this time, Vash standing up and following him back outside. The two
orange suns seemed to fall from the sky and into the horizon like two
racers, neck and neck, approaching their finish line, namely the long
stretch of desert.
Vash stopped short of the door, which Volf was kindly holding open for him.
"Why, what's the matter, Mr. Green? You seem alarmed suddenly," Volf asked,
a concerned look on his face, the large smile now just a smirk.
"." Vash was silent, he felt, strangely, tired. Just as if all of the
sudden.
"I. I'm just feeling. a little tired right now. I guess you're right. I do
need to go to bed," Vash said, holding his head. He felt unsteady on his
feet, swaying slightly.
"Oh. well, we should be getting you into bed then, I'd hate for you to
faint. Like I said before, you took a nasty fall back earlier today," Volf
said, holding up Vash and helping him through the door, his smile still
there.
"Oh. no. I'll-I'll be ok. I know it." Vash slipped in and out of
consciousness, his vision blurring. He was thankful for Volf being there,
or he WOULD have fainted.
"C'mon Mr. Green, off to bed with you," Volf smiled as he helped walk Vash
into the house that Vash had woken up to find himself in.
"N-no. I'll." Vash trailed off. He had officially blacked out, Volf held
the limp Vash rather well as he carried him to the bed and rested him
there.
Volf looked at the sleeping Vash for a few seconds more. "If only you knew,
how much pain you will be in." he said sadly, his smile falling into a
melancholy line. He turned and left the room