I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope Puck and Daniel can reunite. That little Hobgoblin bonded so hard with baby Danny. In a world where most look at the new Dream and long for the old, let Daniel have someone firmly in his corner rooting for him. And by someone, I mean a little fae embodiment of chaos with trigger happy fairy dust fingers.
Puck: This is my baby and all my trickster's wrath shall fall upon anyone who hurts him!
Sir, that's a fully grown anthropomorphic personification of dreams and nightmares.
Puck: (Hanging off Daniel like a particularly malevolent koala) MY BABY!
So did anyone else notice that Daniel!Dream wears sandals, and I think he might even be barefoot when he recreates Merv (although it’s hard to tell, could just be the angle that makes the sole disappear).
And then I think of how Morpheus basically refused to take his boots/shoes/socks off (unlike in the comics, where he does walk around barefoot quite often)…
notes ✥ huzzah! i'm probably not the first to write daniel hall x reader but i need more of his contents since months ago when i saw him in the comics so i'll be the change i wanna see lmao enjoy whatever this is. it's short btw
contents ✥ daniel hall x fem!reader, mild mild fluff, contain spoilers if you don't know the ending, english poopoo unedited
The castle isn’t too far. You gulp, nervous.
The portal to your realm has long closed and the hem of your dress was torn because of it—it wasn’t a wise decision for you to crawl out through a tiny opening in hopes you would not catch attention.
The Dreaming is dark—it looks like it’s already nighttime, or whatever it is in the realm’s term anyway. You are getting afraid to even approach the palace any closer. You have only met Lord Morpheus a couple times—perhaps in your dreams but dreams are always forgotten—so you know how scary he can be.
Especially as a forgotten Goddess of The Moon. You were once from here—born from the ideas of humans who believe in the magic of the Moon. But as modern times approach the horizon, it also devours the faith of your believers. Your realm intends to exile you to the Waking World, because of your fading powers. But you refuse—and that is why you escape yourself to The Dreaming.
“Ugh, since when there is a freaking forest in The Dreaming? Things do change a lot since three thousand years ago…” You grunt as your dress is stuck on a particularly sharp stem from a tree trunk. In frustration, you yank your dress, trying to get it off of the stem.
“You will tear your dress if you’re being rough like that.”
You jolt, turning around quickly. A tall man in an all-white garment is right in front of you. His smile is as sweet as sugar. His hands are behind his back and his stance is majestic—royalty. Seeing him makes your mind go blank—forgetting the reason why you are sneaking in the first place.
“Miss?”
“Ah!”
Crap! He would report me to the Dream King!
You quickly hold both your hands up, surrendering. “L-Listen, mister! I-I am not a threat to the realm, I swear. I’m aware that my way of coming in was very unsightly but I simply just wanted to see the Dream King.” You say—almost like blabbering, really.
One of his eyebrows cock up as he tilts his head. He steps carefully towards you. “You want to see the Dream King?”
“Y-Yes, mister… Sir… Lord…?” You mumble, not knowing what exactly his title is. He looks new—you only recognise Lucienne, Taramis and Morpheus’ raven. But this man… though he looks unfamiliar, his presence isn't. His eyes are piercing yet curious, as he circles you. “W-Will you take me to the King of Dreams?”
“You’re talking to him, yes.”
“Oh, thanks.” You nod, grinning happily before that grin drops instantly it crooks. “Wait, what?”
The ‘Dream King’ stops right in front of you, close. “I am Dream of The Endless. You’re talking to the… Dream King, yes.” He smiles. His voice is soft—with a tint of boyishness behind it.
“You are the Dream King? Lord Morpheus? But… he doesn’t… wear… white…”
“I do not have the right to that name but I am who you seek, lady.” He bows slightly, with a hand on his chest. “You seem… baffled about me. Were you not present during the funeral, months ago?”
“Funeral… I remember attending a funeral in one of my many dreams but… I do not remember who it was for…” You admit. Perhaps something has happened to the family of The Endless. Although as a (forgotten) goddess, you should have known about it, you were too focused on your situation in your own realm of gods.
“Will this…” He holds up the emerald stone on his necklace. “… be enough to prove it to you?” The stone gives a brief flicker towards you. The shape, the essence that is emitted from the jewel—it feels extremely similar to the ones you saw many years ago. You look up at him again. He is a different face, same being—Dream of The Endless.
“M-My Lord…”
You are about to lower yourself, to bow to him, but the king himself quickly holds you by your arms, halting you. “It is fine, Lady. I understand your confusion. Please, do not feel pressured to apologise.”
“Oh, but Lord… I sneaked into your realm uninvited.”
Dream chuckles. “Yes, you did. I sensed a ripple of space shattering not far from here. I do not wish to disturb my palace staff, thus I embarked on a journey here myself.” He says before he steps aside, gesturing you to walk by him. “Would you like to walk with me to the palace? It is proper for us to discuss your matter in my throne room.”
“S-Sure, Your Majesty…!” You fall into steps beside him, walking with a metre space between the two of you. This is strange—Lord Morpheus would not take an intruder like you lightly, let alone allowing you to even walk with him. You glance at Dream but you find his eyes to be already looking at you in interest.
“You are… a goddess.”
“Yes, I am… or more like ‘was’, really…” You say. Dream hums, curious.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I lost almost all of my believers, so I am not really a goddess now. My powers are not as great as it was thousands of years ago.” You reply, playing with the pouch you have been carrying.
“Ah, right. To kill God is to stop believing in Them. I… remember that.” Dream nods to himself, rubbing his chin as if he is reminiscing a past memory.
“So, uhm, Dream Lord. What happened to Lord Morpheus?” You dare yourself to ask. He smiles.
“He is no more.”
“Oh… and you're like… his son or heir?”
“No. I was someone’s son but… well, a lot of things happened within my first year of life. But I was neither Morpheus’ son or heir. I am Dream of The Endless. Just as he was Dream of The Endless.” He explains, his smile is a little solemn and unsure. “And I suppose I am fulfilling my function and responsibilities the way he could not.”
“I see… I wish you the best then. Lord Morpheus wasn’t really bright the last time I saw him. I expect myself to be eaten by the gatekeepers.” You shudder at the thought before you suddenly halt with a gasp. “You are not bringing me to the gate and letting me be eaten, are you?”
Dream looks perplexed, blinking confusedly at your assumption before he laughs. “No, Lady, no. I suppose my way of treating intruders has changed too.”
You sigh softly. “In that case, I am reassured. I guess I can plead my case after all.” You hug the pouch tightly. Dream chuckles, shaking his head before he stops his walk. You stop too and you realise that you are somehow already at the beginning of the bridge leading to his castle.
You look around—you swear your spot was far from here. But this is The Dreaming and almost everything can happen within it just from its master’s wish.
“That’s so nice of him, shortening our walk.” You unknowingly blubber your thoughts. Dream scoffs before he turns to you, hands behind his back. His white garment contrasting the nightly scenery surrounding you two.
“I tried my best. Besides, you seem eager to discuss your matter with me. I mean, you did make a portal, crashing into my realm through a tiny opening and rippled the space within it. I will say that… determination… is admirable.” Dream says. You cackle sheepishly, now finding how ridiculous your way to escape your realm sounds.
“Well, are you saying?”
“Now?” You ask back. Dream shrugs his shoulders.
“Whether you want to discuss it now or later in the throne room, I am hearing you.”
“Now, please, yes, I would like that.” You quickly say, almost holding his arm, but you retract. You fix your posture, hands at the front in the most humble way.
You take a deep breath, gazing at him. “As we have talked about just now, my powers have weakened. I am no longer the goddess the world and humanity remembers.” You pause. “Many gods and goddesses begin in your realm, including me. I was a forgotten goddess of the moon. My realm of gods will exile me to the Waking World because I lack the divinity and powers to stay a goddess.”
“I refuse to go there. I know that is where my believers came from but… well… to be frank, have you seen humans? Some of them are decent but a lot of them? Not so much…” You murmur your last bits of words, which strangely receives a chuckle from Dream.
“You refuse to be exiled to the Waking World… And I take it that you intrude The Dreaming to… stay here?” Dream asks, crossing his arms. Your eyes glimmer with hope as you quickly open the pouch in your hands.
“Yes! Yes, yes, I ask for a place here. A-And I also bring gifts for you, Dream Lord.” You say as you take out a bottle of lavender-infused wine from the pouch. Dream opens his hands and you put the wine on them before reaching into that small pouch to retrieve other gifts. You keep piling up gifts—the wine, a carved onyx, a handful of ground quartz, a haunted antique watch, a piece of demon’s horn and a beating serpent’s heart.
“You are very… determined, my Lady. I begin to think that you briefly belonged to my sister once upon a time ago.” Dream remarks with a snicker, watching the gifts in his hands. “Anything else from the tiny pouch?” He asks. You flip the pouch and shake it, making sure you have taken out everything. Nothing else comes out other than remaining quartz dust.
“That is all I have in my possession, Sire. I hope you consider my… wish… to stay here.” You stand straight, waiting for your verdict. Dream somehow looks confused of what to do with the interesting gifts you presented to him but he gives you a warm smile regardless.
“I wouldn’t say I am unimpressed with your effort, Lady. You certainly do not want to go to the Waking World.” Dream says.
“I do not think I am that fond of humans…” You answer truthfully, which causes Dream to snort, shaking his head.
“I suppose you would not be fond of me in the past.”
“What do you mean? You aren’t a human, are you?” You tilt your head as you watch him keeping your gifts into his white coat, slipping into the bright sky of his garment.
“In a sense, I was… for eight months. It was a very short time of being human, although I have existed since the beginning of time. Despite so, I still… am not entirely sure of whether things I do is correct or not.” He says before looking at you. He smiles and begins to cross the bridge. Although hesitant, you follow him.
“Was it fun, being a human?”
“I do not think the experience can be called… fun. I was lost… all the time, perhaps.”
“But you are now the Dream of The Endless. Things went well, no?” You say. But your attempt to make your voice sound cheerful rattle when you see his sombre gaze towards the palace.
“I suppose so…” He murmurs before he scoffs. “I think you are the first goddess I’ve talked to for the past few months. Perhaps you could teach me a few things about divinity and governing aspects of the universe.” He grins, boyish. You let out an awkward chuckle—you, a forgotten goddess, teaching a cosmic entity beyond your power? You are not that egotistical to consider yourself to be on the same level as him.
But something in his words tickle your mind. You hum and tilt your head at him. “Do you want a friend?”
“… I would appreciate one, yes.” He smiles—warm.
“Then, I suppose we are friends.” You return a smile to him. “I heard that Lord Morpheus tend to collect a lot of names for himself… but rarely friends. Do I call you Dream? Or do you collect names, just as the other Dream of The Endless?”
“… My mother still calls me Daniel.”
Your smile broadens, satisfaction fills in. You thank Destiny for leading you to this path when you decided to break into this realm.
“I like that name. It’s cute.” You nod to yourself, agreeing to your own words. “Very, very cute.”
Daniel chuckles. “But that boy is also no more.”
“That boy is still a part of you, Dream of The Endless. Just as Lord Morpheus is a part of you too. Oh— we’re here.” You halt your words as you two reach the entrance of the palace. The gatekeepers are asleep and you scoot yourself to stand behind Daniel.
“Do not be afraid. They will not harm you.” He says before the door to the palace opens. He walks in but you stay on your spot, not knowing whether to actually follow him or not. He turns when he realises you are still.
Daniel gestures to the inside of his palace.
“Come in, Y/N. I believe we have a lot more to discuss.”
Your tongue are tied—you never told him your name. But Dream of The Endless would know you—you were after all existed here before the faith allowed you to leave.
I had fun with this edit of Sandman characters to songs from a famous French musical, but there was one song I couldn't edit back then. Now, I need to grieve, and the song fits perfectly. Therefore, may I present...
So this is goodbye | Requiem for a Dream
Watch on YouTube here
Translation by me – All rights to the show and song to their creators
