[HIATUS] I Am Hope

I am known by many names. I am Morpheus, I am Oneiros, I am Kai'ckul, Sandman and infinite others. I am sometimes known as Daniel. I am Dream of the Endless: it is enough. I will be playing Dream from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, both pre-Wake and post-Wake. Be sure to specify if you want a specific Dream, otherwise I will choose. I track: lordshaper & dream of the endless

[lord-shaper]

The Repaired Vessel

[archivedectopicfantast]

Sakura recoils her hand once he shies away, and can’t help a faint wince of her own. She pulls away, and brings in her foot-paws under the table. Hands are placed down nearby, flat on the wood and in plain sight.

His question brings a faint, half-smile at her face. “It’s just what I do.” She replies, “Maybe I can’t help it. Maybe there’s wisdom in sticking to kindness than to grudges.”

His sharp tone does incite another wince, however, and she looks away. She clears her throat at that. “Sorry.”

 Her multicoloured eye glance over in his direction at the apology.That comes with a series of quick, surprised blinks. She turns her head to see him proper, and regains that faint smile. Well then.

Apologies are new. And immediate ones, at that. “It’s, it’s okay. It’s new and scary. I can be a bit overwhelming too, sometimes. It’s something I’m trying to watch for.”

Her brow furrows as she takes a moment to think, before her attention focuses back on the Dream-Being before her. “I, don’t really deal with intense emotions, but I know that for a few bad ones, the best way to deal with it is to just … Try to feel it out. First instinct might be to try and bottle it up, but that’s bad. I think, you gotta take a moment to acknowledge what you’re feeling. Process it, you know?”

"Talking’s good." She chances, careful. "Speaking thoughts out-loud, expressing things somehow…" For the ever-present hint of fear in her features, in the way her eyes remain wide to take everything in, and her muscles tense for the slightest jump, she doesn’t hide away.

She remains seated firmly in place, choosing camaraderie over safety. “I can shut up fer a second too, if you’d like.” She adds, with a bit of humour.

[lord-shaper]

Daniel's eyes flick to her hands and then back to her face. He is not yet comfortable with touch, especially in this mortal form. Everything feels different. He has never taken a fully mortal form. His sister, Death, was the only one of the Endless who was required to occasionally take a mortal shell, live, and die as mortals do. Daniel wondered whether he would have to die in this form to return to his realm. 

Breathing deep, Daniel tried to still the heart beating in his chest to no avail. Folding his pale fingers together, he closed his eyes, the starlight and blackness disappearing behind ivory eyelids, a lacework of faint blue veins running underneath the skin. Strange, how this form had so many oddities. Discomforts.

"Overwhelming is one way to put it," he murmured, voice velvet and low. "This form is... intense. Mortals keep the Dreaming in existence. It is powerful, the mortal form, only I find it confining." Daniel fell silent, considering her words. He opened his eyes, the starlight within them flaring. The way she held herself--fear, caution, mistrust. He supposed that it was only fair, after what his predecessor had put her though. Despite that, he was faintly irritated. 

Drawing the gold chain from over his head, Daniel held forth the emerald Dreamstone. It dangled from his closed fist, glinting slyly in the soft light. "I will not hurt you, Sakura, but if you need convincing, you may hold onto this until you feel safer around me. You have my word as one of the Endless--I will not purposefully harm you." The stone was of little use to him in his current state, regardless.

"I have no real power here." It was difficult to admit. One of the Endless, whether he'd been tricked by his siblings or otherwise, rendered powerless and mortal. The light in his eyes burned with the indignity of it. 

[iamdeathoftheendless]

"I like surprising you sometimes and of course, thank you " she said as she took the seat

"how has everything been?"

[lord-shaper]

Shrugging, Dream flicked his fingers and a spindly little table appeared between them, topped with a pitcher of some cool liquid and two glasses. He poured and offered one to his sister before bothering to answer. 

"Things have been as they always are, Sister. Mortals dream. They grow complacent and unimaginative. I am forced to work harder in an age where dreams are no longer valued, but instead the importance is placed on abject consumerism and 'plans.'" Dream scoffed. "Ridiculous."

[lord-shaper]

iamdeathoftheendless:

"no one ever does" she smirked "I figured I would stop by and say hello, i kinda missed you"

"You do occasionally forewarn me of your visits." Dream's black robe flowed about his ankles. He gestured for his sibling to sit down as a chair formed just to her left. He flicked his wrist, raising another seat and sitting himself. "Would you like to take a drink with me?"

[lord-shaper]

"Hello little brother "

Dream looks up, starlight shining in his eyes. "Sister. I was not expecting you."

[lord-shaper]

The Repaired Vessel

[archivedectopicfantast]

"I imagine so. Took me years to figure out that denying desire completely is just a path straight to self-destruction. I only just managed to form a balance, there’s always that little fear I’ll lose it again." She adds, as a small after-thought. Still, she listens, and gives a slow nod at his words. "Hmm."

"… Sounds like someone I know." Her smile is soft, apologetic. "Feeling too much, mortal shells…"

"Just take slow, deep breaths. Count in your mind or out-loud, ten second intervals." She moves to sit on the corner of the table, one leg folded while the other remains grounded. She reaches out, her hand hesitant, until she settles with pressing feather-light fingers on his shoulder. They trail to his back, in a careful introduction to comforting strokes. "Keep these things in mind."

"Your realm is safe, you’ve said so yourself. It will be waiting for your return, and this is only a temporary set-up." Her voice is steady with the practice of traumatic recovery. "This discomfort will pass, and I’m certain you have the will to survive this strange, unknown thing."

"I’m here to help, as well. Any questions, any needs, just let me know. It’ll be okay."

"If you want, I do recommend chamomile tea?" Her head gives the faintest of tilts, one pointed ear perked. "It’ll help even out your breathing, and deal with the initial stress. But only if you’re up for it."

[lord-shaper]

While Daniel appreciated her listening, it was the most he had spoken to anyone in a while, even his siblings or Dreams. His expression does not change as Sakura speaks. If he were less concerned with his own predicament, he might have admired her ivory feathered wings, or the subtle change of color as her fur hit the light. Unfortunately, her lack of forthcoming information as to how to remove himself from this shell kept him fairly sober. 

At the feeling of her fingers on his back, Daniel shivered, shying away from her and turning eyes that burned with frantic starlight to stare at her. His pale eyebrows knit together at the idea of having to resolve himself to a mortal existence. Or until his siblings chose to allow him safe return. He considered attempting to summon his sister. It was something he decided would be better done once he'd considered exactly what he meant to say to her on the subject. 

"... Why are you so willing to help me?" The Shaper's tone was laced with suspicion and confusion. His predecessor had been a detriment to her, punished her (possibly unfairly), and taken something of hers--or his bird had, at that. The starlight shrinks to tiny pinpoints as he watches her, soft white hair falling in a mess about his face. "I do not need a calming tea," Daniel snapped. He was perfectly capable of taking care of himself and he especially wasn't entirely willing to accept help from someone with whom he had a rather questionable relationship with. He could not understand where he stood in Sakura's eyes. 

Would she judge him based on his previous actions? Or would she understand that while he is still Dream of the Endless, he is different--not the exact same being now. Realizing just how prickly he was being, Daniel folded his hands together and looked a little ashamed. "I am sorry. I should not have spoken to you like that. You are only trying to help. I do not like feeling trapped, nor do I like the... intensity of emotion that I am experiencing."

[lord-shaper]

The Repaired Vessel

[archivedectopicfantast]

"Desire…" Sakura’s voice is soft, and not without gentle fear. "Desire of the Endless — now that one, that one’s a person I hope I never meet." She finally steps down the stairs. "I’m pretty sure, they’d wreck me. I’m not good at dealing with desires."

She frowns in concern at his explanation. As she comes closer, the blade is set in an open barrel; easily within reach but no longer in her hand. “You can’t sense any of it? And they didn’t tell you anything, either…”

She shakes her head, “No, no, don’t worry about it. The past’s in the past, and so long as you don’t, heh, uh, try to send me into something beyond my head without my consent, well, we should be fine.” She swallows, before continuing, “C’mon, sit down. I think you’re the one in need of most things, right now.”

Sakura steps forward, and offers out a hand to him. If taken, she would guide him to the nearest seats; low-set pillows latched into the wood to prevent their sliding on the ship. “Is this the first time you’ve uh, lost track of the realm? Or been …” She squints her eyes as she tries to take in his words, “…mortalized?” She questions.

"Just — deep breaths, I ain’t here to start trouble when there’s already something afoot."

[lord-shaper]

"Desire takes a particular joy in tormenting those who deny their wiles, though I've yet to be convinced that my sibling doesn't just 'wreck' everyone they come into contact with." Daniel's voice was not exactly bitter, but his opinion of his sibling had yet to be positive. His eyes flash, burning like twin stars in his pale, angular face. 

The thin man raises a hand to his head, running his fingers through his hair and shaking his head. "No. I cannot sense it. Nor can I sense the other worlds. I have no fear the the Dreaming will be harmed by this--it can exist without me indefinitely now. My predecessor made certain that there were precautions in place, should his work be interrupted. It will be nothing like the time that he was captured in 1900's." He is musing, more to himself than to Sakura. His responsibilities have weighed heavy on him from the beginning and he is worried about the repercussions of this mortal foray. 

"I have no ability to do such a thing currently, so you can rest easy." Placidly, Daniel lowered his eyes to consider the offered hand for a long moment. He placed long, tentative fingers in hers and allowed himself to be led to sit, her questions not dissimilar to his own. "I have personally never experienced the loss of my realm, though when mortals tried to capture death, in all their hubris, and captured Morpheus instead, I recall a similar feeling of separation. As though a part of me is missing, I have lost an essential limb. It is not a pleasant feeling."

That tightness in his chest seemed to intensify and he was beginning to feel quite uncomfortable. He found this mortal form confining, wanted to return to his Dreamstate, always changing subtly. He sat down hard, thanks in part to his knees deciding that they could no longer support him. His breath seemed to catch in his throat as he lowered his head into his hands. "I do not like this form. I have never felt so... confined. I feel... I feel too much." His fingertips pressed hard against his pale skin, as though he would very much like to peel off the shell he was trapped in.

[lord-shaper]

The Repaired Vessel

[archivedectopicfantast]

His question breaks her trance of surprise, and instead incites a faint half-smirk of baffled amusement. “… Naw, you mad? Horrible way to say hello, that.” The blade is lowered. Not sheathed, for lack of one, but lowered none of the less. “I just … Hadn’t expected anyone.”

"Hadn’t expected anyone for years." She adds, as she takes a few more steps down.

She stops at the last few steps, remaining in place so that she may see Daniel eye to eye at a distance. It feels like a good place to be. “What brings you here, though? It’s an awfully far place to go, and so specific too.” That faint smirk returns, driven by the amusing absurdity of it all. “I mean, I’m here.”

The smile fades, replace instead with pure puzzlement. “Is there something you need?”

And after a pause, carefully adds, “Or want?”

[lord-shaper]

Returning her smile only faintly, Daniel gives a little shrug. "I am not angry. You were not expecting me. I was not exactly expecting to be visiting, either." His steps are nearly silent as he moves tentatively towards her. He pauses at her questioning though, wavering on the spot. 

He turns back to the maps, preferring them to whatever expression he might find on Sakura's face when he finished explaining. "You are here indeed," he murmured, absently touching a small country on one of the maps. "As am I, it would seem." 

The truth was, he did not know exactly why his sibling had sent him here. He suspected, but to go through all this work, Desire must have had help, and quite a bit of it. "I am inclined to believe that I was sent here on purpose. Perhaps you know of my Sibling--Desire. Well, I am sure that it was more than just Desire's doing, but I seem to have been severed from my realm." 

The Shaper took a breath, eyes flickering with starlight. "And all other realms as well. I cannot sense the Dreaming. It would seem," he swallowed hard, an unfamiliar tightness in his chest and throat. "That I have been tricked into a mortal form and sent to you, for whatever reason. I apologise, I know that I am imposing and that our last encounter was... unpleasant, to say the least." His tone was grave and austere, though his voice quivered when he acknowledged that he was no longer in possession of his true form.

[lord-shaper]

The Repaired Vessel

[archivedectopicfantast]

And meanwhile, in one room up above, there is a stone-sculpted chinese dragon embedded in the ship. Its eyes take on a sudden, fiery glow — but the rest of the statue itself remains forever unmoving. Echoing from it comes a voice; male, youthful, ghostly, and filled with nervous expression. “Mom?”

"Yeah?" Sakura turns her attention to the statue. She’s in the midst of folding up clean covers, and gathering up the pillowy nest she had turned the navigation room into. What had been a room built purely for the intent of high-speed travel, has been morphed into something much more comfortable and slow-going. Bedding, hanging gems, scarves, it was a place fit for sleep — and company, should it ever happen.

But she’s in the middle of taking down part of the decor, and her expression grows worried. “What’s up? Must be big, fer you to bother me up here.”

“Yeah, yeah I know, ”don’t pop in here in case it scares off visitors’ unless it’s an emergency’, and uh…”

Sakura hesitates in her folding. “…Well?”

“We … got a visitor.” The ship continues, “He looks like dad but it’s really not dad. And I mean, really not.”

Sakura frowns, and drops the covers aside. “What room? Is he causing a wreck?” She’s already looking aside, if only to take up one of the nearby stored cutlasses. This’ll do for an immediate weapon.

“No, he’s just, looking around. Stairs down, can’t miss him. He doesn’t look like he’s dressed to kill. No armor, kind of reminds me of Caelar. Looks like an okay dude? But you never know. Especially when he just, showed up. I didn’t see him sneak in.”

"Hm. Thanks for the heads up. Keep alert in case I need backup."

With that, Sakura begins the careful trek down the steps, into the main hall. Blue pawed feet go down step by step, and the sword is held tight in familiar hand. Today, she appears as her natural form; nearly lacking human features in their entirety. Skin with pale blue fur-scales, chameleon tail, ram horns over pointed ears…

And wings. Feathered wings, white at the top and dimming into shades of forest green feather-tips. They remain folded against her back, the muscles not yet fit for anything above a glide. “Who’s there?” Her voice commands.

"You’re pretty damn brave, getting onboard of a ship like — this…" Sakura stops mid-step as she finally sees her visitor. She stares in shock, just for the moment, unable to register anything else.

"… Daniel?"

[lord-shaper]

A voice demanded that he identify himself. It was a familiar voice, though it seemed much more familiar in his predecessors memory. He couldn't place it though, tilting his head to the side to listen, he heard footsteps moving at the end of the hall. Stairs, perhaps. Then came that voice again. Daniel turned, starlight glimmering deep within his eyes as realization dawned on him.

Of course. 

His siblings had a twisted sense of humor. He wouldn't be surprised if the others had a hand in this. Death, certainly. He doubted that Destiny could be pulled away from his book to help, but he saw all things as they were. It would explain his mortal form, his detachment from the rest of the worlds. Of course Despair wouldn't mind the chance to touch his heart. When he focused on it, he felt a sense of loss. Was this how Death felt when she took her mortal day? 

"Sakura." His voice is soft and dark as his eyes. "I did not realize I was intruding." He could sense her, now that she was close, but the living hum of the ship had overpowered his senses before. "Do you intend to cut me down?" There was a faint curiosity in his voice as his eyes came to rest on the gleaming sword. 

[lord-shaper]

How he had found himself here, of all places, Daniel could not entirely remember. He had been speaking with Delirium on a few matters of the Endless, though he rarely got far with his wayward little sister. It was then, he remembered, that Desire had come unannounced, stating in their sultry tones that they needed to borrow Daniel’s expertise on a subject. Perhaps foolishly, he had agreed—he wanted to foster a different relationship than his predecessor had had with their sibling. 

After he had agreed—well, it was all a blur. He’d been forcibly torn from the Dreaming, tumbling through the space between worlds before landing here. Wherever here might be. It seemed to be some sort of ship. He could feel the soft hum of life pulsing within it as he placed one pale, long-fingered hand against the wall. He closed those depthless eyes to listen. It was an exquisite creation, this ship, though Daniel could not seem to make heads or tails as to why Desire had sent him here, of all places. 

He was not angry at his sibling, nor was he upset. He found himself onset by a quaint curiosity as he trailed his fingers along the wall, pausing here and there. 

He was dressed simply, his pale white robes were embroidered with gold thread in simplistic floral designs around the shoulders and the hems. He wore no adornments other than the emerald gem that hung around his neck and glimmered within the folds of his robe. The Shaper’s skin was the color of fresh snow, his hair paler than moonlight, all in contrast to those infinite black eyes.

He paused in front of an intricate set of maps, his attention caught and held. Those thin fingers traced over the lines of latitude on the map admiringly. It seemed that many things on this ship were crafted with the same amount of care that Daniel took on many of his creations. How fascinating. 

[gorillaneuroscience-deactivated]

It would appear that even in his dreams Brain could not have his long sought after body. His optics moved to look at whatever being was sweeping dust from his shoulders.

"pardonnez-moi monsieur, but who are you? Last I remember I was in my laboratory, not… wherever this is."

[lord-shaper]

Dream watched the robotic consciousness with a cool interest. "You know Me. All who dream know Me. I am known by many names -- I am the Shaper." Stepping back, Dream swept his arm out, indicating his palace, looming towers and sweeping spirals all too impossible to be anything but dreamstuff. "And this is my realm."

[shrewdshrew]

You lick your lips, you taste like years of being alone.

(via firemxtt)

[fearincarnate-deactivated201802]

The glasses were pushed up upon his face with a slender, shaking finger. Yes--Jonathan was shaking. He was scared of Dream. Crane could never figure out why he sent him terrors rather than delightful visions. For Crane found comfort--power--in horrid things, but not when they stemmed from his own mind in the night. He hated his nightmares. He hated them more than the rats that scurried in his cell.

"Oh. I see..." In the pile of dry hay he sat in, Crane suddenly straightened himself up. Of all people, Dream had came to visit him. Blue, bloodshot eyes flickered in horror; in a way, Crane didn't want to gaze upon the King, but he did, watching the slowly moving shadows of his cloak, listening to the otherworldly sound of his voice. It made him shiver.

"Why did you need to see me?"

[lord-shaper]

Feeling the waves of terror rolling from the other, Dream's eyes glittered distantly and mysteriously as he watched the mortal. It was not unusual for mortals to blame Dream for the creations of their own mind. He was a neutral force, it was the Dreamer's mind that called the Nightmares to him. 

A ghostly pale and delicately boned hand reached down, offering Crane help up, if he wished it. "Perhaps you do, perhaps you do indeed." Dream's cloak and hair rippled as though some unseen force moved them, as if perhaps the Dream King was somehow under water. 

"I need your assistance, Jonathan Crane. I need you to create for me." The ruby dreamstone at the Shaper's chest glinted. 

[lord-shaper]

on-strange-tides, gorillaneuroscience, excessiveadaptationsyndrome have entered the Dreaming. 

The King of Dreams bent, examining his garden with a certain amount of interest and surprise. Reaching down with long spidery fingers, the Dream King tugged at the new plant. A mortal -- growing in his garden. What an interesting Dreamer. Gently pulling the mortal from the dirt, Dream brushed soil from their shoulders and raised dark eyebrows over starlit eyes. 

"Good evening."

[fearincarnate-deactivated201802]

Huddled into the darkest corner he could be in, Crane suddenly looked up to see a being most terrifying: with wiry black hair, skin paler than bone and intense eyes burning bright like stars. He had met this man once before, years ago, in Arkham, after his former cellmate Doctor Destiny stole away a certain gem. The Prince of Stories was someone he'd never thought he'd see again (and he didn't really want to).

Crane was nearly mortified. "I-It's you again..." He muttered, drawing his hands close to him. "What do you want, Dream King? If you're here for Destiny, he's long gone."

[lord-shaper]

Watching the fearful man through the depths of his night-starred eyes, Dream saw little more than a mortal man. A mortal man with too much madness inside and so much imagination. The pure potential for nightmares within Dr. Jonathan Crane was impressive. They had met only briefly in person, once, an expanse of time that was a mere breath for Dream, though likely several years for the scientist.

Several more steps took him only a hands-breadth away from the cowering man. "It is. Why should I be interested in the fate of a fool? I am here for you, Jonathan Crane."

[lord-shaper]

fearincarnate has entered the Dreaming. 

"Jonathan Crane." The King of Dreams swept from the darkness of the cell. It was as if he were once a part of the shadows, he seemed to seep from them, his cloak of shadow and fire trailing behind him. "It has been a long time."

[eyeslikenorthernlights]

Materializing in one of the many enchanting forests of the Dreaming, Morpheus moves silently through the trees towards a favorite spot where the dream sprites create lovely patterns in the setting sun. Sensing a presence that does not belong within his realm, the Dream Lord turns, black eyes glittering with distant starlight as he searches for the source of the disturbance.

Gerd didn’t sleep often, but when she did, her dreams were vivid. And like many of her days spent, it was always in a wooded area, rain or shine, night or day. This time she was dancing under the bright lights, twirling in the hues of green and blue as her pale skin gleamed under the moonlight.

[eyeslikenorthernlights]

Gerd sat up a little more to look at the being, frowning softly and tilting her head. She looked around, flopping back into the snow and curling up in her mass of furs as she looked up at him. Her long, shapely bare legs stretched out and she caught a bit of snow between her toes, wiggling it away. “But these look like my woods. Are they truly not? If that is the case, who are you and were you the one who brought me here?” she asked curiously. “I do remember falling asleep in my woods.”

[lord-shaper]

"I did not bring you here. This is my realm and all who dream do visit. For the Dreaming is a part of me and I am a part of the Dreaming. I am surprised that you do not recognize me. I am Dream of the Endless, though I have many names." Moving forward with an animal grace, the shifting material of his cloak flowing with him, Dream's starlit eyes glimmered in the dim light of the moon. 

[lord-shaper]

kissofmistletoe has entered the Dreaming. 

It is dark between the realms of Dream and reality, the swirls of other worlds flicker occasionally through the darkness. The realm of the Fae sings seductively in the distance, the dark and whispering realm of the Lonely Ones hisses as the Sandman falls past. 

And in the distance, the "Realm Eternal" as they call it. The shining Asgard glimmered in the distance, home of the æsir and their likeness. Plummeting towards the shining hall of Valhalla, the Sandman, King of Dreams, slid through the shield between the worlds. Dream slowed just before his feet touched the ground, landing with a lithe grace, his robes furling around his ankles.