Hob and Dream's storyline maps perfectly to a romance arc though. Allow me to demonstrate (borrowing from Gwen Hayes who wrote what I consider to be the holy scripture of romance novelists, Romancing the Beat):
1389: the Meet Cute. This is obvious. Hob is there, mouthing off about how he's Never Going To Die and Dream is instantly interested. He's so interested Hob actually gets immortality out of the bargain. Hob, too, is clearly interested. There's an initial spark. You can see there's SomethingTM going on here. This scene also contains the first No Way, the first reason It'll Never Work: Dream tells himself that Hob will not actually want to live forever, and Dream we know IS immortal so obviously they could never *really* be together.
1489: the Adhesion. The part where it becomes clear that they're going to have to jump onto the plot and start rowing. Dream fully expects Hob to be like "okay done with life now" but no, he finds Hob thrilled by chimneys and playing cards and he's going to have to come back in another hundred years because Hob refuses to be tired of life.
1589: the second No Way. It'll NEVER WORK because Dream is disgusted by Hob's (in his opinion) shallow version of success and maybe a little mad that he got married?? to someone else???? rude. He's going to fuck Shakespeare about it. There could never be anything between them because Hob is just like the rest of them, there's nothing special about him, he's greedy and shallow and much less interesting than the adorable twink across the room.
1689: the This Could Work. Hob is miserable. He's been miserable for 80 years. Dream sees him at his absolute lowest and yet?? and yet he doesn't want to die??? Maybe Dream can keep him. Maybe Dreams can have a little Hob, as a treat.
1789: Deepening desire. Do I need to justify this one. The way Dream looks at Hob, the way Hob looks at Dream, the way Hob straight up propositions him and Dream does his best impression of a fucking brick because he was into it! He watched Hob absolutely wreck two thugs twice his size in heels without hesitation or breaking a sweat and he was turned the fuck on. They're SO CLOSE to acting on it. Hob is Peak Hot here too btw.
1889: Maybe This Will Work. Dream is so pleased when he sees Hob this time. Hob is different. Hob has ChangedTM, the narrative arc has forced him to grow, he's a suitable partner for an unending metaphysical concept who looks great in eyeliner. Hob looks slightly less hot in the fashion of the day but it doesn't matter because Dream loves him, the first No Way has been addressed. Unfortunately Hob then says "you love me :D" and Dream freaks the entire fuck out because he's Not Ready. The arc isn't complete yet. He has not had to do the Dark Night of the Soul so he's not ready for whole-hearted love. The Inkling of Doubt, Deepening Doubt, Retreat, Shields Up, and Break Up happen like snorting a line of coke and Dream storms off into the rain being Dramatique, Hob is on the verge of tears.
1916-1989: the Dark Night of the Soul. Dream is literally in a little Christmas ornament sulking. Hob shows up in 1989 and waits and drinks and is v. emo about being stood up (which he literally says) and then worse! more drama! the pub's been sold. They can never get back together because it won't be there in another hundred years. everything is AWFUL.
2022: Death takes her sulking little brother on a whirlwind adventure during which he remembers that he does quite like people. And then she, as is traditional at this point in the narrative, is like "remember that one human you're in love with? he's still around. Maybe apologise? you'll feel better." So anyway Dream does. The Grand Gesture here is as grand as they get: Hob has a) spray painted a sign for his clueless eldritch horror of a boyfriend and b) been waiting in the same pub for thirty years apparently, which as shows of devotion go is fairly huge, Hob is STILL THERE which addresses the first No Way. Dream though. Dream swallows his pride, which is 80% of his weight by volume (the other 20% is eyeliner), walks straight up to Hob, and calls him a friend without any prompting. Hob looks at him like Dream just handed him the universe. We see them back to normal, talking as friends, whole-heartedly in love.
TL;DR: Dream and Hob are in a romance novel
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