Making I ship Jayvik pins soon that will be on a different etsy because my family is homophobic lol. I'll post it soon when I have them made. I'll likely have 25 ready this Friday! Stay tuned!
Not bad for a first time bingo. :D Plus I did manage a line! Winning!
@dreamlingbingo
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A1, Woke Up Dead > hey world (aren't you running out of time) | AO3
M, 4.1k. Hob wakes up suddenly, a pain on his temple almost unbearable as goes to pick the offending object out―
A2, Mother Is a Creature Office > try a little more (then try a little harder) [Chapter 1] | AO3
A4, Civil War Competence Kink > [Chapter 2] | AO3
E, 4k. A takeover of Hob's small company finally allows Dream to see him for the first time in ages.
A3, Time Traveler Organisation > The Linchpin | AO3
T, 5k. Dream has something life-changing coming up, but it's not what he thinks it is.
A5, The New Inn Is A Temple > reflecting on you | AO3
G, 1k. It’s been over three centuries since Morpheus has stepped foot into the New Inn.
B1, Sexline > The Red Line | AO3
E, 6k. Hob gets a new life - and a new job. Dream begins to appreciate it, in his own way.
B3, Endless Family Get Along > with a glimpse of your teeth [Chapter 1] | AO3
E, 10k. After the unfortunate demise of their parents, life goes on.
B5, Creampie > clinging to the status quo | AO3
E, 2.9k. Just that emotionally, there’s nothing there now, only going along by rote, so used to being like this that he’s stuck, even though he knows how to get out.
C4, Tied to A Bed > you didn't know that i could be so savage [Chapter 1] | AO3
E, 5k. (Overall 30k) A mission at a certain club brings certain things to light for Dream and Hob.
C5, Broken Soulmarks Kink Discovery > i smile to you | AO3
E, 1.5k. And like so many times lately, the night ends with Dream and Hob falling into bed together.
I was a little overambitious getting a 25 square card for my first ever bingo lol. But hey! I did get a bingo! And I have a bunch of wips for these prompts that I still plan on completing despite the event being over. All in all, so glad I joined @dreamlingbingo, I had a ton of fun 🤘
A2- Come Swallowing: Rip and Tear (Dreamling, Explicit)
B2- Threesome: Every Hand to Hold (Immortal Throuple, Explicit)
C3- Free Space: A Better Mirror (SNIPPET) (Past Dream/Thessaly)
C5- Semi-Public Sex Meeting an Ex: It's This One Thing (Dreamling, Past Corintheus, Explicit)
D2- Bar Fight: Skin Deep (Dreamling, Explicit, TW: past rape/noncon)
Chapters: 2/2
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: ~3,200
Ship(s): Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Criminals, Blood and Violence, Possessive Behavior, Jealousy, Hand Jobs, Marking, Mutual Pining, Angst, Flashbacks, Unhealthy Relationship
"I loved you," Hob says, the words tumbling from his mouth before he can think better of them. His grip on the phone feels tight enough the screen might crack.
A moment passes. Then two. No sound but Dream's sharp intake of breath, and then, "Loved?"
writing:
the trouble with talking - series - complete - explicit - 19k - canon verse - Dream learning to communicate while Hob is the most patient man in the universe.
warning sign ⇾ mercy ⇾ the list
someone to stay - series - compete - explicit - 55k - alternate universe - tag - tattoo artist Dream and florist/handyman/professor Hob meet and fall in love.
take it easy - series - complete - explicit - 17k - post-canon - tag - Dream retires and moves in with Hob. Fics focused on Dream experiencing things for the first time.
breathe ⇾ remedy ⇾ practice ⇾ drunk (in love) ⇾ stripped
by the minute - complete - explicit - 11k - alternate universe - tag - Dream takes a job as a phone sex operator so he can win a bet with Desire. Hob can't stop calling him.
nightswimming - complete - mature - 3k - canon verse - Dream and Hob go swimming together in the middle of the night.
hurts like hell - series - wip - explicit - 5k - alternate universe - tag - Hob and Dream are criminals with a lot of history and a lot of feelings.
break me shake me ⇾ the hand that feeds
distraction (reaction) - wip - explicit - canon verse - Dream stumbles on some suggestive photos of Hob and becomes hopelessly distracted.
golden days - wip - mature - canon verse - In which Dream agrees to visit Hob more often and neither of them quite know what they're getting into.
Hob all but stumbled out of the bus as soon as the doors opened. It was finally Friday, and he could go spend the night eating pastries on his couch while watching bake-offs, or immediately pass out and sleep for 40 hours. He hadn't decided yet.
The past week had been a series of late nights preparing exams and early mornings of faculty meetings that really should have just been emails. It was that time of the semester again where it felt like the entire university was busy, and at this point Hob was pretty sure he was looking forward to summer vacation even more than his students were.
He made the short walk from the bus stop to his flat, trudging up the front steps and yawning as he unlocked the door.
He was planning on collapsing on the couch, but he stepped into his living room and saw that someone was already in it, carefully arranging a plate of croissants and chocolate éclairs on the coffee table.
“Dream?” Hob was suddenly wide awake. “It's not date night, right? Oh my god, did I forget—”
“Hob.” Dream's voice was soothing and his expression soft as he gracefully stood up and walked towards Hob. “You did not forget anything.” He cupped Hob’s face in his hand and kissed him, a gentle press of their lips. “Welcome home, beloved,” a smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
He helped Hob out of his jacket, hanging it on the coat rack by the wall, then took Hob’s bag from him and placed it on the couch.
Hob followed, still unsure of what was happening but certainly not complaining. “Is there a special occasion somehow? A holiday in The Dreaming?” They had been dating for a few months already, but Hob had never come home to Dream waiting in his flat before.
“No,” Dream replied as he sat back down. “I merely saw your daydreams while you were on the bus. They were quite vivid.”
“So you came here and waited for me?” Hob felt warmth bloom in his chest at that. He took a seat next to Dream and looked at the food on the coffee table. “And where did these come from? Can we eat dreamstuff?”
Dream gave him a smile of fond amusement. “These are not from the Dreaming. I ordered them from your preferred coffee shop, using the phone you gave me.”
Hob’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I didn’t think you’d know how to do that.”
“I did not. But it was easy enough to reach into certain dreams and learn how. Carl brought the food again, the young man from last week. He handed me a coupon and said that our next order from them would have a 10% discount.”
Hob saw the coupon on the coffee table and looked back at Dream. “Did you see his daydreams while you two were talking?”
Carl was not the most subtle of delivery men. Hob was the one who usually received food orders whenever there was a new dessert he wanted Dream to try, but there was a time last month when he had been washing the dishes when their order arrived, and Dream had opened the door before Hob could say anything. Carl had looked like he nearly swallowed his own tongue, his cheekbones pink as he tried to tell Dream how much the food was. Hob had rushed over and paid before the poor lad fainted on their doorstep.
Dream tilted his head just slightly. “How would you know whether he had daydreams?”
“Love, I don’t need mind-reading powers to notice that he’s always the one delivering our food now ever since he saw you for the first time,” Hob playfully pointed out.
“Regardless, this night is about you.” Dream was looking at him so intently that Hob felt his face warm. “Would you still like to eat first? Or sleep already? I can make you sleep whenever you wish and ensure you only have the sweetest dreams. Or no dreams at all, if you would prefer that.”
Hob reached for the back of Dream’s neck and pulled him in for another kiss, lingering longer this time. “I had no idea you were so sweet,” he teased after pulling away.
“I learned from the best,” Dream said easily, his eyes twinkling, and Hob didn’t bother to hide his grin. “Which one shall it be? A dreamless sleep?”
“Oh, I don’t think I’d ever want to be Dream-less.”
Dream rolled his eyes—a gesture he had learned from Hob—but Hob could see the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Dream always looked adorable when he was pretending to be exasperated at Hob’s terrible puns, which was why Hob continued to make them.
“And I might like a hot shower first, actually. It’s been cold all day.”
Dream nodded once. “Then let me draw you a bath.” He stood up and took Hob’s hand, gently leading him to the bathroom.
“A bath?” Hob blinked.
As soon as Dream opened the door, Hob heard the tap running and noticed a pleasant scent in the air.
The bathtub was filling up with soapy water, suds covering the entire surface, along with…
“Are these rose petals?” Hob said in surprise, turning to Dream.
“A lot of humans seem to think that a warm bath with scented oils and flowers is agreeable after a particularly tiring day,” Dream said hesitantly. “Do you object to this?” He began to raise his hand as if preparing to vanish the contents of the tub.
“No, no,” Hob said hurriedly, squeezing Dream's hand. “I was just surprised.” He glanced at the soapy pink water in the tub before turning back to Dream. “Join me?”
Dream furrowed his eyebrows. “I have no need for bathing.”
Hob smiled at him fondly. “I know. But I still wanna spend time with you.”
Dream looked surprised for a moment before his features softened. “Then allow me to help.” He leaned closer and kissed Hob, his hands reaching up to slowly undo the buttons on Hob’s shirt.
Hob swayed into the touch, unbuttoning Dream’s coat in turn. He felt Dream’s tongue sweep on his bottom lip, and in the next heartbeat they were both in the tub, fully soaked to the chest and without a stitch of clothing on either of them.
Once Hob’s senses have settled down from the sudden teleportation, he realised that he was leaning back against Dream. Their bare skins pressed together, Dream’s chest a cool contrast to the warm fragrant water.
The tap had turned off, so Hob heard clearly when Dream leaned forward and spoke in his ear.
“Will you allow me to take care of you, beloved?” His hands were already lathering shampoo in Hob's hair.
“You're spoiling me,” Hob sighed and melted against Dream, his eyes fluttering close at the feeling of Dream’s fingers on his scalp.
“As you deserve to be,” Dream murmured, and pulled away just enough to glide his hands down to the nape of Hob's neck and his shoulder blades, firmly kneading the tension out of the stiff muscles.
Hob let out a groan that he would have been embarrassed of, except Dream had never made him feel embarrassed of anything.
Dream's hands slowly went down Hob’s back, coaxing the soreness out inch by inch until Hob felt like he might fall asleep right there. And he must have for a minute or so, because when he woke up, Dream had the showerhead in his hand, holding it so that the hose didn't get in the way, and was beginning to rinse off Hob's hair, gently tipping his head back so no shampoo got in his eyes.
“Is this a good time to admit that I've fantasized about this in 1689?” Hob asked as Dream’s fingers were carding through his hair.
“It is unnecessary. I was aware of your daydreams then.”
“Oh? A shame you didn't act on it,” Hob said playfully.
“You were in a vulnerable position. I did not wish to take advantage.”
Hob’s eyebrows lifted in surprise and he turned around to face Dream as much as the bathtub would allow. “Wait, really?”
The showerhead vanished from Dream’s hand and returned to its place on the hook on the wall.
“You had lived on the streets a long time without a single kind touch. And I…” Dream’s eyes cast downward. “I was different. At the time. Greedy. If you had allowed me to touch your hair in the bath, I would have taken more. More than what you might have allowed had you not been in a desperate situation.”
Hob felt dumbstruck; he had already been so grateful for the food and lodging that Dream provided for him that night, as well as the handful of coins. And now, knowing that Dream cared about him that much even back then… Hob just stared at him for several moments, unable to say anything.
Dream met his eyes again hesitantly, his shoulders tensing as if he was preparing for Hob to yell at him or kick him out.
“Love,” Hob rubbed Dream’s arm soothingly. “That's… Thank you, for that. I knew you were kind to me then, but I had no idea just how much.”
“It was the least I could have done. After everything that you had been through.”
Hob smiled. “You really are very sweet, you know? Also,” he pointed at Dream's chest accusingly. “Are you telling me we could have shagged over 3 centuries ago and you didn't say anything?”
Dream blinked at him in surprise. “I had just explained—”
“Well what about in 1789? I knew I wasn't imagining the look you gave me. You're saying I wanked myself to sleep that night when I could have had the real thing?” Hob barreled on. He had the right to, after hundreds of years of holding back.
“I was concerned for your safety.” Dream was evidently trying to suppress a smile and only partially succeeding. “Have I not made up for those times with our plentiful hours in bed as of late?”
“I haven't decided yet. Might need to add in more hours to be sure.” Hob placed his hand flat on Dream's chest, feeling the heart under his palm that beat only for him.
Dream pulled him closer and planted a soft kiss on his neck. “I was under the impression that you wished to sleep already,” he whispered against Hob’s skin.
Hob felt himself flush, heat pooling low in his belly, and he shuffled around to face Dream properly. “There's lots of time to sleep. Later. I've got other things on my mind right now.”
“Oh I am quite aware of the things in your mind right now, Hob Gadling,” Dream rumbled quietly, his lips finding their way to the shell of Hob's ear.
Hob let out a shuddering exhale and turned his head to catch Dream’s lips in his.
Dream pulled Hob forward to sit on his lap, water sloshing out of the tub from the force. Hob grinded down on Dream's growing hardness under him, rubbing his own against Dream’s torso.
Dream moaned against his mouth, only making Hob’s blood run quicker south. “This is really what you want?” Dream asked breathlessly, his pupils blown wide. “You are not too tired for such activities?”
“I'd stay awake for a week if it means we get to do this now,” Hob’s voice sounded hoarse to his own ears. He gripped Dream’s hair and surged forward to kiss him again, his hips twitching forward when he felt Dream’s tongue sliding against his own.
Hob felt firm hands massage the flesh of his arse, and then a slender finger slick with soap teasing his rim. A shudder ran up his spine, and he moved encouragingly against Dream’s finger. His hands held either side of Dream’s face, keeping their mouths pressed together as if he needed it to breathe.
Dream finally took mercy on him and slipped his finger in, twisting him open and adding a second one.
“Fuck,” Hob gasped, leaning his forehead against Dream’s. “Yes. Right there.” He distantly wondered if he could come like this, riding Dream’s fingers while his cock rubbed up and down Dream’s body. But he wanted more, wanted what he knew Dream was more than willing to give.
“And you shall have it.” Dream added a third finger, spreading Hob open and brushing across his prostate.
“Dream,” Hob nearly sobbed, digging his blunt fingernails into Dream’s shoulders. “I'm ready. Please…”
Dream withdrew his fingers, and Hob’s whine at the sudden emptiness turned into a wail as Dream’s cock filled him.
Dream held Hob’s hips in place; his eyes had fluttered shut and shallow breaths were coming out of his parted lips, his cheeks flushed a ruddy red.
Hob’s chest was heaving, his cock impossibly hard, but he thought he could spend an eternity just staring at Dream like this, frozen in a moment's pleasure.
Then Dream started to move and all thoughts fled from Hob’s mind.
“Dream…” Hob’s voice wavered as he felt Dream slowly slide in and out of him.
Dream’s eyes had turned into galaxies. “My name sounds so sweet on your lips.”
“Ah—!” Hob’s eyes rolled back in his head as Dream filled him even deeper at the next thrust. His thighs were trembling so much that he had no idea if he was still helping raise his own hips.
Hob leaned in and kissed Dream, tasting the sounds of their moans. He would have chased the heat of Dream’s lips and tongue for much longer, but Dream began thrusting at a faster pace and their kisses turned messier until Hob didn't have control over his own mouth anymore; gasps and pleas and curses spilling out as he threw his head back.
Dream was panting now, his eyes squeezed shut as he relentlessly hit Hob’s prostate with each movement of his hips.
“Hob.”
His name sounded positively sinful from Dream’s lips, and it was all it took for Hob to be hurled over the edge, stars exploding behind his eyelids as a scream tore from his throat.
He rode Dream’s cock through his orgasm, gasping softly when Dream came and spilled inside him with a low drawn-out moan.
Hob collapsed against Dream, boneless and half-conscious, only faintly registering that the water was draining and the tub was filling up again with a fresh batch, rinsing them of soap and spend before draining again.
“Shall we move to your bed, my love?” Dream asked breathlessly, his hand rubbing soothing circles over Hob's back.
Hob hummed in agreement and held Dream tightly.
In the next heartbeat, they were on his bed, dry and warm under the blankets.
Hob wrapped an arm around Dream and snuggled in the crook of his neck. “Thank you. For tonight. I love you.” He raised his head slightly and planted a kiss on Dream's jawline under his ear.
“And I love you, Hob Gadling,” Dream said softly, holding him close. “Now rest. There are pastries waiting for us in the morning.”
Another hum that was more a sigh of contentment slipped out of Hob, and he felt himself smile at the certainty that Dream would be waiting for him in the morning.
Omegaverse accidental bitching? Either canon or warprize au~
Dream is an Alpha. He enjoys it, it feels right. It gives him an extra advantage besides his magic, makes things easier. The knot during sex is a pleasurable bonus.
Hob is also an Alpha. He's... ok with it. Doesn't really care either way, just accepted his presentation and moved on-- there were more important things in life (fighting, stealing, fucking, drinking among them). The only thing he cares about it is the advantages it gets him.
When they start fucking, Hob's the one being fucked. Dream's Alpha instincts are too strong to let it happen otherwise, not yet, and Hob's done it a few times before anyways. They're both enjoying it too much for Hob to give much thought to it anyways.
He might be a bit cum drunk, to be fair. Because when Dream comes, he comes a lot-- he always has, and something about Hob just makes everything so much more. After two or three rounds, Hob's guaranteed to have a slight stomach bump and absolutely leaking cum from his hole, knot or no.
Dream doesn't know when he first notices Hob's scent starting to change, just that it drove him wild. He starts fucking Hob more often (which is saying a lot, considering how often they were fucking before), fucking him harder, somehow coming in greater amounts than usual, wanting moremoremore. Eventually he locks the two of them away in his room, keeping Hob on his knot as often as possible. It's all Dream can focus on right now.
As for Hob... his body is becoming more and more sensitive every day. It feels good, some days; painful, others. Some days, Dream is able to make him come just from gently playing with his nipples and his cock, some days he feels so hot all he wants to do is soak in a cold bath. Things start to settle, though, and eventually Hob's able to come without anything touching his cock; he does it a lot, in fact, and even comes just from Dream telling him to, on occasion (it was while Dream was knotted inside of him and they were waiting for it to go down-- it was just talk but Hob came anyway and Dream was in awe watching it; it was definitely something he'd have to work on with Hob).
But now, after being locked up for days, scenting nothing but Dream and being filled with and covered by nothing but Dream's cum, Hob was craving something he didn't understand, Dream's teeth were aching and his instincts were screaming bitematebond and-
He bites down.
Oh hell yeah!!! The fact that it’s an accident, totally instinctual - definitely makes it even more compelling.
Just imagine all the little physical changes that happen, almost so that neither Dream or Hob particularly notice. His hole is so much more easy to prepare, not looser but just more flexible. Dream could swear sometimes that Hob is wet, although he quickly dismisses the thought. Hob’s chest is more sensitive, and the muscles seem softer than usual, more able to ripple and jiggle when he moves. If Hob wasn’t too embarrassed to admit it, he’d think that his cock is actually shrinking… but maybe he’s just imagining it. His hips and pelvic area ache so much, but it’s surely just because of all the fucking. Not because anything is changing inside him…
And then Dream bites him, and it’s like everything suddenly slots into place. He’s an omega. Or at least, he’s well on his way to being one. His scent has changed, his body has changed, and on top of all that - Dream has mated him good and proper. The huge swollen bite of Hob’s neck is altering his hormones even now.
He should be angry. But oh, he feels so good inside his body. His blood is singing through his veins. He’s clamping tight around Dream’s knot and he finally, finally feels a missing piece slot into place. This is who he’s meant to be. Which isn’t to say that he won’t give his alpha a good scolding later, but. He’s so happy now, he just wants to bask in the feeling as Dream pumps yet another load inside him. His belly is already curving outwards with the sheer quantity. And he’s such a good omega, holding it all inside.
Keeping Sanctuary (subscribe for updates here) - Giving Sanctuary Sequel follows Dream and Hob from the events of the altered meeting in 1689 up to the modern era. (aka, What if they hooked up after the 1689 meeting?)
Current word count: ~7,000 words across several chapters. Realistic progress update: 1/10 complete total, Ch. 1 is about 1/5 complete.
Come live with me and be my love - Dream and Hob fall in love during the Regency Era when Dream loses a bet to Desire. Shenanigans ensue. (aka, What if they hooked up after the 1789 meeting?)
Ch. 16 is at 2,500 words, probably about 1/3 done. Current plan is to wrap up Part 1 in the next few chapters then create a part 2 which finishes out their "1 year of marriage" on a month by month basis instead of following them day to day like Part 1 done. Probably won't be a separate fic though, just a change of format.
This Rough Magic - My take on "Hob rescues Dream from Burgess" with a twist that Hob ends up on Burgess's radar himself when he picked up some occult magic skills in the hopes of contacting Dream after 1889 and apologizing. Now he has to pretend to be friends with Burgess in order to get them both out of there, because Burgess thinks Hob can help force Dream to give him immortality. (aka, What if they hooked up after the 1889 meeting?)
Ch. 9 is about 800 words in. Story is still very much in progress I just have a lot of WIPs, as you can see.
Joke's On You (I'm Into That) - The 1589 meeting goes very different when Hob proposes to Dream, who is so offended that he just can't let the matter go. A very angry, very horny competition kicks off between them. (Aka, what if they hooked up in 1589 when they were both at their absolute worst as people?)
I have literally 40,000 words written for the rest of this fic. The problem is, there's big gaps in that first draft I have to fill in and scenes that need to be added. This might be my favorite WIP but it's also the hardest to write with all the smut scenes so it'll arrive whenever I can manage, I'm afraid.
Banana Daiquiris Ch. 2 - Comic-canon compliant (mostly) - Dream fakes his death to go on a vacation with Hob and Destruction. They end up in Tahiti. Destruction plays matchmaker. Hob doesn't know whether to thank Destruction or strangle him.
Current word count 6,000 words. I've been playing around with adding on to this fic for ages. One of these days, I'll pull it all together.
And for fics that haven't been posted anywhere yet (you can subscribe on my Ao3 author page for alerts about them):
Hob Amesia Fic - Dream and Hob are dating officially now in the 21st century when Hob gets hit with what seems to be a memory loss curse, shaving off 100 years of his life each day until Dream finds a cure. This effectively grants Dream a walk down memory lane as he is reacquainted with the Hob of each era and, in the process, learns how much longer Hob cared for him than Dream ever realized.
Current word count: 35,000 words. Currently writing 1489 (1889-1589 are done) and I might re-write the opening. It genuinely kills me not to have this one posted lol.
"Dream Accidentally Cursed Hob with a Normal Life" Fic - Dream learns that from 1689 on, Hob's life has been safe. Too safe. Improbably safe. Nothing bad or extraordinary or even terribly special has happened to him since Dream began to consider Hob his friend. He knows this because during his imprisonment, Hob's life became exciting again and suddenly went back to normal the day Dream was freed. Hob is not convinced that Dream is the reason for this, Dream disagrees. They talk about it. And fight about it. And some things that they've probably needed to talk about for a long time finally get said. (aka, sometimes the author just needs to write their weird headcanon into a 20,000 word fic that's almost entirely dialogue).
Current word count: 16,000 words. This one also kills me that it's not done yet.
Divorced Hob One-Shot - (Comic) Hob's girlfriend Audrey survives the car crash. They got married. Then, in 2021, they got divorced. The Hob Dream meets at the New Inn when he returns is newly-divorced, bitter, and angry, and not in a good headspace to reunite with the friend who ghosted him over thirty years before.
-9,000 words. One of the first one-shots I wrote for this fandom then abandoned. Never could quite find an end for it that didn't become a huge long fic. But part of me would like to publish it at some point.
"Fairy God Marlowe" - 1589 fixit fic where Hob and Kit Marlowe strike up a conversation while Dream and Shaxberd are talking. Hob and Marlowe talk about plays, and faith, and salvation, and queer love, and what it means to live forever. Hob gets a second chance at a first impression.
Current word count: ~5,000 words. Sadly, it's all dialogue in script format. I'd need to convert it into prose to publish which would be a slog. So it's a bit shelved until I find the energy to do so. No, I will not post it in script format, I'm allergic to the thought.
I've got a few other concepts kicking around, but these are the ones that actually have (*does a quick calculation*) over 100,000 words written that I haven't had the chance to post yet?? And it's driving me insane????
Anyway, I should probably pin this post for those curious lol. Feel free to ask me any follow-up questions, I love talking about WIPs even as they ruin my life!
Hi hi! This one's my lil fairy tale (kinda) fic about an immortal-human Dream who can see the dreams of everybody and make them come true. He lives in a cabin outside of the woods, and eventually, a Hob whose dreams always comes true stumbles upon him. They adopt a couple of ravens too, it's a great time. Here's a little snippet from chapter two :)
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He bundles the poor thing up in the cloak, cradling it close to his chest. There is a faint warmth as he brushes a finger over silk-soft feathers, as cold as he imagined they would be, and the bird still breathes. Faintly, but it still does, and he is grateful for that. For the chance to do something to help heal it, to give it a place to grow warm again until it can take to the skies once more.
”What is your name, then?” he murmurs quietly, trying not to think overmuch of the biting cold. He will be home in the cabin soon, and that will have to be enough for him.
The name comes to him easily, a faint whisper in the back of his mind. “Jessamy,” he tries, and—yes. It fits. It fits perfectly, and the bird in his hands seems to respond pleasantly. Jessamy it is, then.
The walk back to his cabin is much slower than he would like. He is cold, breath frosting in front of him, and the winter clothes he wears does little for the chill. Still, the bird seems to enjoy being cradled close to him while bundled up so snugly in the fabric of his cloak--its dreams slowly become a tiny bit brighter, even if its desperation to feel less pain still occupies most of them--and so by the time he reaches his cabin, he thinks it is worth it.
It is even more worth it when he sees the man who stands on his doorstep once more, looking more than a little dejected where he stares at the closed door. It is the stranger again, the one who foolishly dreams of immortality, and Dream startles at the sight of him. Truly, he had not expected to see him the last time--at least, not for a reason as innocent and as lovely as simply wanting to offer Dream stories because he seemed to enjoy them the first time they met--and to see him a third time feels...
It feels impossible. It feels a little too good to be true, somehow. People do not visit him. He made this cabin his, far enough away from any civilisation that he will not be disturbed, because he did not want people to visit him. Because he did not want to be used for his abilities, because he wanted to hurt less, because he wanted to exist without such expectations.
Occasionally, there are some who stumble upon him. He is an unwilling legend in these parts, a story that has passed onto newer generations through word of mouth. He knows how they think of him, what they call him, what they want from him. And sometimes, somebody takes their chances. Makes their way towards his cabin on nothing but desperation and dreams alone in the hopes that somehow he exists, that, for some reason that is beyond him, he will make their dream a reality even if he had not done such a thing in centuries.
Yet this man continues to find him. He does not request his dream come true. He makes no demands. He does not even ask--he has requested only water and Dream's company, so far, and neither of these take energy or magic from him.
It is baffling. It is wonderful.
And still, it is hard to trust. A third time cannot be a coincidence, surely. He must know by now who Dream must be. What he must be. Dream does not think the man would be so rude as to outright demand he grant the dream that hangs in the air around him, one he imagines so fiercely Dream can still feel it without reaching out, but his muscles still tense.
After two nights of his companionship, after sitting by the fire with the man in front of him...After having somebody spend time in his company after so many years of the walls of his cabin closing in around him, he does not think he will be able to turn this man away. Not after all of that.
Immortality would be difficult to grant. It would be painful, and would take much from him. He thinks it might be a worthwhile price to pay. "Hello," he greets. It is...softer than he intends, quieter. The bird in his hand lets out a little sound, still in so much agony, and he brushes a finger over her head once more. It appears to soothe her, and he is happy to give whatever comforts he can.
The man whirls around, so fast Dream fears he may hurt himself accidentally. He remains properly balanced, however, staring at Dream with widened eyes as though he hadn't expected Dream to be there at all. Which is...strange. This is where he lives. Where else would he be?
A smile as bright and glorious as the sun breaks across his face. It is a smile Dream would do much to see again, one he wishes to burn into his memory so he might revisit it again. "Stranger!" he greets in return, and Dream thinks he will never get tired of the joy, the excitement, that shines through in his voice so easily. It has been terribly long since somebody has been truly delighted to see him. "I thought you weren't here for a moment."
"My apologies," he murmurs slowly. The man has not asked anything of him yet. He wonders how he has gotten lucky enough for this man to find him. "I had not been expecting guests."
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