Ah...such a lovely day. It was autumn, in the little village by the Tree. The little village full of bigoted assholes that had never seen a consequence in their lives.

The Tree was the only one who's leaves didn't change color in the autumn. It stayed in full leaf all year round, completely unaffected by the powers of nature. The other trees around the village were already shedding their leaves, and the younger kids were trying to make the biggest pie they possibly could.

Nightmare watched from the window of his house. They looked so carefree. It was a stark contrast to the sneer and glares they'd give him when he was around.

He huffed and turned back to Dream, who was getting ready to go to village.

"I don't see why you have to go today," Nightmare said, watching Dream get his jacket. "Yesterday they had you do all sorts of stupid chores that sixteen year olds shouldn't be doing. You should be taking the day off."

Dream sighed, slipping his arm through the sleeve of his jacket. "I don't know why you're so against it," he said. "It's my duty to help. You know that."

Nightmare scoffed. "You're never going to make them happy. They're just going to keep making you do their dirty work until you wither away."

"We're immortal, Night."

"That's not the point," Nightmare argued. "They don't do anything for you, except tell you how good and kind you are and inflate your ego, and you still do everything they ask you to."

Dream's irritated expression didn't change, and Nightmare threw up his hands. "But what do I know? I'm just your housemate and the guy everyone wants to throw off the tallest building."

"Nightmare-"

But Nightmare was already leaving the room. He didn't want to get into a full argument about this. Dream was going into the village, and that was that. Nightmare would never be able to change his mind.

He had things to do, anyways. If Dream was in the village, then he could work without distractions. He reached under his bed and pulled out the carving knife he stole from the carpenter in town.