something i haven't seen explicitly mentioned yet, or maybe i've just missed it because i've only now gotten around to watching S2 and diving back into Sandman fandom
but there were all the parts of a 'rule of three' set-up to dream leaving hob, acting like he'll never return, and yet coming back anyway.
the first leaving, in 1889, after their fight
the second leaving, just before dream went to rescue nada from hell
and then the third, at audrey's grave, where the trope was practically lampshaded because this really is just what dream does, in hob's experience, he makes these Dramatic Announcements but still shows up again, even if it takes 130 years
hob waits and dream comes back - or maybe, having gone two rounds already, the power of repetition is already starting to make it an if/then of as long as hob waits, dream will come back - and in all the old stories, it's the third time that's the charm, that makes the magic stick
only then it's left unfinished, a build-up that never pays off
and instead we get a funeral.
there was a pattern, is all. even if it didn't seem to go anywhere.
