Ace pulled out one of his cigarettes and light it.
"You know those things will kill you eventually." Vash said.
"Not these, I make them myself." Ace said, "They're just tobacco and mint leaves."
"Oh.' Vash replied.
"Anyway, you asked me about my ideals?" Ace asked.
"Yeah, what's your outlook on life?" Vash asked.
"Well, given all of my experiences, life can really suck. Of course, there are good points." Ace said.
"I agree. Someone once told me you make your own destiny." Vash said, "What do you think?"
"Maybe, if that's the case, I wish I had made some different choices." Ace said, "I think of myself as a survivor. No matter what happens to me, I manage to survive. I survived on my own, I survived the attack on the camp, and I survived Miller's attempt to introduce me to God."
"I survived a lot of stuff too." Vash said, "Some people couldn't believe I did so without killing someone."
"Yeah, to me, killing is terrible, but it can be justified." Ace replied, "I would only kill in the defense of myself or the innocent."
"As for me, I don't like pain." Vash said.
"Nobody does." Ace said, "The greatest pain of all is death. Death doesn't care who you are, or what you've done. I learned that after Jack and the others were killed. They were good people, but others who hated them just because who they were took their lives."
"Hate is another evil." Vash commented, "It can be traced down to fear. Fear can lead to anger, anger becomes hate, and hate then leads to suffering. It's sad when you think about it."
"Suffering is also something that happens to everyone at some point." Ace said, "Like in war, no matter what side wins, there is suffering for everyone. Innocent people always suffers the most. They lose loved ones, their homes, and sometimes their lives."
"Do you think of yourself as a religious person?" Vash asked.
"If you are asking if I believe in God, yes." Ace said, "I do pray, and I ask for forgiveness, although I am a strong believer in horoscopes as well."
"It's funny." Vash said, "I had a friend named Wolfwood, and you kind of remind me of him."
"All I want in my life is a place to live, and people to care about and people who care about me." Ace said.
"Amen to that." Vash said.
They laughed and talked for another hour. Ace offered Vash a cigarette, and Vash thought that since they did only a little tobacco and mint leaves, it wouldn't hurt. He tried it and it wasn't too bad. Ace asked if he could take a look at Vash's gun, and Vash handed it to him. Ace thought it was interesting and made the notion they should have a shooting contest when the business with Miller was over. Ace gave Vash back his gun, and they talked about Milly and Mark. They agreed they would definitely would made a great couple and they seemed to care about each other. Ace asked Vash if he and Meryl were a couple, and Vash simply said they also cared about one another. He asked Ace what he thought of Kate, and Ace said she was the most amazing woman he ever saw. They talked some more about Wolfwood and Ace said he would have like to meet him. Vash told Ace that he and Wolfwood would've gotten along great. Vash told Ace how Wolfwood's death affected him over time and told about his brother, Knives.Vash said he still didn't like killing, but he'd do it now if he had to. Vash asked Ace about the song he was singing, and Ace told him that somehow he always knew the words, and whenever he was in a tight spot, the song gave him courage. He had a slight memory of a woman singing that song to him, Ace guessed that it was his mother. They exchanged of more stories, and later were ready to go to sleep. Suddenly, a shot broke the silence of the night. Vash and Ace dove for cover and drew their guns.
"Where did that shot come from?" Vash asked.
"I don't know, but we have to get back to the others." Ace replied, "I think I know who the shooter is."
Vash and Ace quickly headed back to where the others were as a feminine figure crept in the shadows.
"You better pray for a quick death, Ace." Sphinx said.
TO BE CONTINUED...
"You know those things will kill you eventually." Vash said.
"Not these, I make them myself." Ace said, "They're just tobacco and mint leaves."
"Oh.' Vash replied.
"Anyway, you asked me about my ideals?" Ace asked.
"Yeah, what's your outlook on life?" Vash asked.
"Well, given all of my experiences, life can really suck. Of course, there are good points." Ace said.
"I agree. Someone once told me you make your own destiny." Vash said, "What do you think?"
"Maybe, if that's the case, I wish I had made some different choices." Ace said, "I think of myself as a survivor. No matter what happens to me, I manage to survive. I survived on my own, I survived the attack on the camp, and I survived Miller's attempt to introduce me to God."
"I survived a lot of stuff too." Vash said, "Some people couldn't believe I did so without killing someone."
"Yeah, to me, killing is terrible, but it can be justified." Ace replied, "I would only kill in the defense of myself or the innocent."
"As for me, I don't like pain." Vash said.
"Nobody does." Ace said, "The greatest pain of all is death. Death doesn't care who you are, or what you've done. I learned that after Jack and the others were killed. They were good people, but others who hated them just because who they were took their lives."
"Hate is another evil." Vash commented, "It can be traced down to fear. Fear can lead to anger, anger becomes hate, and hate then leads to suffering. It's sad when you think about it."
"Suffering is also something that happens to everyone at some point." Ace said, "Like in war, no matter what side wins, there is suffering for everyone. Innocent people always suffers the most. They lose loved ones, their homes, and sometimes their lives."
"Do you think of yourself as a religious person?" Vash asked.
"If you are asking if I believe in God, yes." Ace said, "I do pray, and I ask for forgiveness, although I am a strong believer in horoscopes as well."
"It's funny." Vash said, "I had a friend named Wolfwood, and you kind of remind me of him."
"All I want in my life is a place to live, and people to care about and people who care about me." Ace said.
"Amen to that." Vash said.
They laughed and talked for another hour. Ace offered Vash a cigarette, and Vash thought that since they did only a little tobacco and mint leaves, it wouldn't hurt. He tried it and it wasn't too bad. Ace asked if he could take a look at Vash's gun, and Vash handed it to him. Ace thought it was interesting and made the notion they should have a shooting contest when the business with Miller was over. Ace gave Vash back his gun, and they talked about Milly and Mark. They agreed they would definitely would made a great couple and they seemed to care about each other. Ace asked Vash if he and Meryl were a couple, and Vash simply said they also cared about one another. He asked Ace what he thought of Kate, and Ace said she was the most amazing woman he ever saw. They talked some more about Wolfwood and Ace said he would have like to meet him. Vash told Ace that he and Wolfwood would've gotten along great. Vash told Ace how Wolfwood's death affected him over time and told about his brother, Knives.Vash said he still didn't like killing, but he'd do it now if he had to. Vash asked Ace about the song he was singing, and Ace told him that somehow he always knew the words, and whenever he was in a tight spot, the song gave him courage. He had a slight memory of a woman singing that song to him, Ace guessed that it was his mother. They exchanged of more stories, and later were ready to go to sleep. Suddenly, a shot broke the silence of the night. Vash and Ace dove for cover and drew their guns.
"Where did that shot come from?" Vash asked.
"I don't know, but we have to get back to the others." Ace replied, "I think I know who the shooter is."
Vash and Ace quickly headed back to where the others were as a feminine figure crept in the shadows.
"You better pray for a quick death, Ace." Sphinx said.
TO BE CONTINUED...
