Ace

## **Introduction.**

**Ace** (Real Name: Aleksander) is a member of the protagonist gang in the main story of Virtue. He is Spike's twin brother, created in October of 2017 in tandem with his twin. Despite existing for as long as his brother, Ace has not seen a great deal of changes to his character. This is probably due to his aloof, dry personality. Ace is not as unstable as his brother, who Ace does his very best to support and watch after.

Ace is quite intelligent, but that is less of a defining trait of his character than it would be for the likes of Zero or Thorn. What makes Ace stand out among the rest of the cast however, is his pursuit of a better life. Unlike his companions, Ace is not quite so content with the idea of remaining in Virtue for the rest of his life. Ace is working hard to make an opportunity for a life outside of Virtue. Though he is intent on trying to convince his brother to join him, he knows this is unlikely. Ace is quite dry, and a tad inexpressive. He is described as wooden-faced, and not very excitable. Ace is quite tired of the drama surrounding his friends and their rivals. He is also aware of just how out-of-hand their bitter conflict could become, should he be around to watch it escalate further.

Ace has something of a unique part in Virtue's story, as he is the only character with the ambition and motivation to escape. While other characters have considered the idea, Ace is the only one to be actively seeking an escape. This creates a troublesome dynamic with his brother, who he knows would feel nothing short of abandoned by his brother, were he to leave. Knowing how unstable his brother really his, Ace feels responsible for keeping him out of trouble. Spike is the anchor, keeping Ace to sailing to a better life.

### **Description & Information.**

#### **Pre-Vunk:**

As a child, Ace shared his brother's intense fear of abandonment. Though as Spike's issues would worsen over time, Ace would overcome his paranoia. For twins, the two could not be more unalike. In the orphanage where the twins spent their early childhood, Ace would befriend Snips and Zero, though he was not very close to the latter. Ace and Snips would become particularly close, as they have very similar senses of humor. Once Ace and his twin were adopted, Ace would take an immediate liking to their foster father. Eventually, Ace would convince Spike to do so also. Ace would guide his brother often, acting as something of a safety-blanket in many situations where Spike would otherwise become overwhelmed with his trauma and paranoid nature. Even this early, Ace would act as something of a deterrent for the reckless habits of his companions, especially Spike and Snips. When his twin would present his friends with the idea of becoming involved in V-Punk culture, Ace was apprehensive. He would concede however, given the excitement of his companions.

Ace would not be particularly drawn to the likes of Thorn or Zero, as he would pick up on their toxic mannerisms. The extent of which however, he had not considered. Ace would also find difficulty in befriending Muppet, as Muppet had been told a lie about Ace's opinion of him, by Snips. This misinformation made Muppet nervous in the presence of Ace, leading Ace to believe Muppet did not like him to begin with.

#### **Prior Events:**

Ace, unlike his closest companions, did not see a disastrous break-up after their entry into V-Punk culture. In fact, he would only strengthen the bonds with his friends. As Spike and Snips would drift due to their tension and confrontation, Ace and Snips would spend more time together, becoming closer friends. Ace would confide in Snips, who he hoped to convince to follow him. Snips however, did not have the motivation to plan an escape from Virtue. While Ace was around, Snips would not be so unpleasant. This positive influence would extend to most of the friends Ace held close, though they were few in number. When Zero departed from the gang, Ace would express his concern also. Ace would also find his own romance, in the form of a long-distance relationship with a person he'd met on an online video-game. His friends would often deny this person was more than a long-running joke. Given the stiffness of Ace's expression, it was often difficult to tell when he was being serious and when he was speaking ironically, or sarcastically.

#### **Main Events:**

Domino's disappearance would act as something of a spark to Ace's ambition. After he and his companions were questioned by the CMF, he knew that the situation could potentially seal his fate forever. Because of this, Ace has started to put his plan in motion. Having saved a considerable amount of money made through working with his father and other jobs, he has started looking for a place to stay in the west. He intends on applying for a college, though he worries if his English is advanced enough to attend. Ace worries also of how his brother will react when the revelation of Ace's plan finally reaches him, knowing his twin's habit of lashing out when he feels left behind. Above all of his ambitions for escape and higher education, Ace cares for his brother and friends.