“Well, I guess we should go to the general store. I need bullets and you need... well... everything.”
Rogue smiled widely and grabbed Vash’s arm. “Lets go!”
The two quickly entered the general store, which was a combination everything. It had clothes, to firearms, to candy. Slowly, a ear to ear grin made it’s way to Rogue’s face.
“Rogue, I’ll look over the guns while you choose a wardrobe, don’t forget wilderness survival gear.”
Rogue nodded and began looking over the clothes with a excitable gleam in her eyes. Meanwhile, Vash waked up to the counter and rung the bell. From the back walked a stern old man who was supporting himself with a cane with one hand, and holding a double barreled shotgun with the other.
“Wha’dya want stranger?” he growled.
Vash smiled. “My... ‘aprentice’ and I are looking to get equiptment. I was told we could get a discount.”
The old man behind the counter sighed. “Ah great, every time that young moron hires some outside help ta deal with the towns problems, he promises them a discount...” the old man slammed his shotgun on the counter and sat on a stool. “Well lets get one thing damn clear. Unless I see that you’re not just some Johnny-come-lately who’s all talk, no skill, and is only lookin’ to make a buck at the expense of our suffering, fuck ya. You can pay full”
“Ah, okay...” muttered Vash. “I’d like to know how many rounds of .45 Long colt you have, and I’d like to see your guns.”
“What? Don’t you got one?” the old man scoffed. “Idiot.”
Vash chuckled to himself. “Well, I do... but Rogue back there was captured by one of the neiboring towns.”
The old man winced. “Those fucked in the head bastards?” He looked Vash in the eyes to see if he was honest. “Damn, you ain’t fibbin’... Okay. I might give ya a deal on the basic necessities. Can’t blame folk for running into those animals. I’ll give that little lady a travel pack and three changes of clothin’ fer 25% off. That’s me bein’ hosbitiable. You ain’t gettin’ none off that ammo, guns, or nothin’ else ‘till I see that you’re worth the money that Jack is paying to git you to stick ‘round.”
Vash nodded. “Okay, I understand. Thanks. So, can I see the guns?”
“Pistols or Long arms?”
“Pistols.”
The old man nodded, undid a lock under the counter, and pulled a large tray covered with various firearms. “This is what I got in handguns at the moment.”
Vash nodded and began to look over them sorting them out. While most of them were in good condition, almost all of them were in need of attention from a decent gunsmith. That is except for two, and old military issue 9mm Automatic and a pristine and finely crafted .357 magnum revolver.
Vash lifted both the guns and gave them both a very close examination. He stripped both of them down, did several test draws and dry fires to make sure they were adequate.
After a good fifteen minutes of close examination, be placed the 9mm on the tray. “I’ll take the revolver..”
The old shopkeeper laughed to himself. “Damn boy, you really know them guns. You picked the best two out of the lot with a glance and I’ve never seen no body scrutinize a firearm like you just did... in fact I never saw no body draw like you did either. I’ll give you that damn discount. I think Jack stumbled onto a real professional when he hired you boy… what’s your name?”
“Vash. Vash the Stampede.”
The shop keep blinked. “Well, either your damn delusional or tellin’ the truth... I don’t know wither to run like hell or pity those damn fools who are gonna have ta go against ya.”
Vash smiled. “Most people try for the bounty.”
The old shop keep looked Vash dead in the eyes, and stated, “We don’t grow ‘em that stupid round these parts. There must be a damn good a reason you’re considered the badest motherfucker in these here wastes. We haven’t lasted is long, and I haven’t got this old by bein’ stupid. Now, that gun’ll be 750 bottlecaps.”
Vash winced. “That’s a bit steep.”
“Boy, I don’t care if you are Vash the Stampede... hell, I wouldn’t care if you were Jesus on the cross himself. 750 is as low as I’ll go. Take it or leave it.”
Vash winced. “You strike a hard bargain.”
“And that’s the secret to sayin’ in business for forty years.”
Vash sighed, placed their payment for the guard duty on the counter, then pulled another 250 from his jacket. “There you go!”
“Enjoy your gun... now what did you want for ammo? We got two boxes of Long Colt, and one of .357 Mag.”
“Any .38 Special?”
“Three boxes.”
Vash smiled. “I’ll take them all”
“Another...” the Old man paused and began to mumble out figures, doing the math in his head. “225 caps.”
Vash winced. “Damn... I’m going to loose my shirt here.”
“Pleasure doin’ business with ya kiddo...”
“Vash?”
“Yes?” Vash asked as he turned around. “Are you done?”
Rogue nodded. “Yes.”
“Well then girly, lets see what ya got.”
Rouge nodded and placed her purchase on the counter. It was pretty basic. Three pairs of black jeans, a few shirts, a pair of combat boots, a belt, socks, underwear, and a short old leather jacket with a “X” patch on the shoulder.
“I guess you want me to add a travel kit and gun-belt to that?”
“Yes,” Vash replied
“Comes to 150 caps.”
Vash looked through his jack and winced. “I’m a little short.”
“Without the jacket it’s only 120.”
Vash winced. “I’m sorry Rogue...”
The girl sighed and picked up the jacked to put it back on the hanger.” “Hold on girl...”
Rogue turned around to look at the store’s owner. “Yes?”
“Keep the coat. You’re probably the first person in five years to even look at it twice. Been thinkin’ of throwin’ the damn thing out. It’s yours it you’ll take it… just don’t tell no body I gate it away.”
Rogue smiled widely. “Thanks a lot!”
“Damn, if I was only 50 years younger...” the owner looked up to Vash as he put the items in an old paper bag. “You keep an eye on that one boy, she’s gonna grow to be a fine lookin’ woman and she already’s got the eye for ya...”
Vash blushed brightly, and paid the man his 120 caps. “Ah, If you say so sir!” Quickly, Vash too the bag and started out the door.
As Vash and Rogue left, the shopkeeper muttered, “That boy is a damn fool. Doesn’t know a good thing when he sees one...”
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by PsyckoSama
(Posted Thu, 05 Jun 2003 08:32)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.