At Times [NightError]

Chapter 3/12: A Band of Clowns

Nightmare zoomed past the guards, making sure not to ruin any of his clothing. He had a few strange looks that were aimed at him, but he ignored them in favor of reaching his destination. He knew he should just go and leave the kingdom's borders, but he really must entertain old friends. Perhaps afterwards he could flee to Nevarak for protection, or possibly be kicked out completely.

It doesn't matter anyway, Nightmare always has a backup plan for the worst. Most of the time, really. He fumbled before getting closer to his destination. After he reaches it, he takes a good look at it.

A lantern is on top of the door, the door is a plain dark brown, whilst the walls were made out of oak wood. On top of the door, right above the lantern, is a sign; Hate's High Profitting Tavern Business. Or just HHPTB for short, if Nightmare ever got too tired saying it. God knows why his friend chose to use that name for his tavern.

Knowing him though, the tavern was just an undercover and a way to make more profit, seeing as it was the most successful tavern in the kingdom. In other words, Hate was a noble from somewhere else, an actual noble from the Honor Kingdom, not a totally high ranking one, more in the middle. From time to time, he fleed from his parents to here.

And that's how Nightmare met him, really. Hate bounced around most of the time, and he and Nightmare accidentally got in contact from a local tavern that was, before, the most successful tavern, that title was eventually taken by Hate with his more modern approach of a tavern, Nightmare couldn't really see it since it looked just like any other tavern, but he supposes he can't judge his friend.

They were friends, second. Business partners, first. Nightmare found himself looking for Hate's help more often, now that he was doing bigger gigs such as these. Carefully, he opens the door, the lively music and chatter of drunks filled his hearing. He closed the door behind him and went to the front of the bar.

"Hey Bill. How're you doing?" He takes a seat, Bill laughs lightly in return, grabbing a glass from behind and pouring red wine into it. After he was finished, he placed it near Nightmare's hand.

"Doin' great, thanks for asking I suppose." He says, he was wearing his regular suit with his dark hood covering the remainder of his face. He had his cane on the right of his hand. "Red wine still your favorite, I presume?"

"You know me so well." He takes a sip of the wine, its a refreshing feeling, he sets it down for a bit to ask the inevitable question.

"Say, I haven't seen that flimsy pile of muck. Could you tell me where he is?" Bill chuckled a bit, setting another glass down.

"Hate's at the back." He points to it. "Might have to warn you that he's entertaining a guest as we speak."

Nightmare grins, "Hate and I, we go way back. Surely, he can entertain an old guest."

"Your loss." Bill chuckled.

Nightmare moved to the back, inspecting its dark and gloomy interior compared to the rest of the tavern, as he moves closer and closer to the sounds of voices, he blinks as he sees a bright red curtain in front of him, he slightly opens it, his eyes took in the surroundings.

A dark room that was only lit by two lanterns, one on the right and one on the left. Two chairs were sprawled out on the opposite sides with two people sitting on top of them. A table with two glasses of wine is in the middle of them.

Nightmare wasted no time entering the curtains, feeling the eyes immediately prick to him. He ignored them in favor of waving, might as well annoy them while he's at it. The man's eyes narrow at his new audience, Hate lightly chuckled into his palm as Nightmare approaches closer.