Chapter Text
Many, many, many years ago....
The old tavern was as nice as an old tavern could be. The chairs were polished, the wood floors were always swept, and the alcohol was the best one could find on the outskirts of the Yuuie Desert. The staff were clean pressed and the clients were greatful for drink. This night, however, alcohol glasses crashed against wood as a patron argued with the bartender in the empty bar.
“Look, mishter,” slurred a man previously dressed to the nines, “I ain’t payin’ for this bullshit bottle. I didsh—dytn’t—di..d not….orda the…the..”—he glared at his empty bottle sitting on the bar—”this shit.”
The glass the bartender was washing was slammed down as they were yanked forward by the drunkard. They glared at the man but didn’t say anything. The man’s grumbly hands were dirtying up their shirt and their shift was almost over.
“You aren’t gonna bill me for’e this,” yelled the merchant. “ And if you think—”
“I sure hope you’re not treating my bartender like a common servant, sir.”
The drunk turned right to face the voice. The voice belongs to a man with an imposing figure. His stark white curls complimented his deep gray deep grey kimono. If one payed close attention, a person could spot small white spider embossed at the bottom of his right sleeve.
“I, the owner of this lovely establishment, think,” the new figure spoke, his words like thunder, “ we can sort this out…like sensible men, no? Let’s go talk outside about your bill.”
He gestured towards the taver doors, and the merchant nodded happily in agreement and let go of the bartender. As he stumbled towards the doors, the bartender picked up the forgotten bottle and glass and spun around. The owner of the tavern had a small smile on his face as he followed the stranger out, his ruby red eyes glinting in the darkness.
The doors shut with little fanfare.
Red light pierced the warm cast of the oil lamps.
A garbled shriek was swiftly silenced.
And somewhere, hidden crudely under the tavern’s floorboards, a jewel-encrusted horn stirred.