#1889 dream

[notallsandmen]

The Picture of Hob Gadling

Given that Dream commissioned a Shakespeare play to subtweet his ex Titania, I’m just gonna go right ahead and suggest that Dream immediately post-1889 meeting inspired Oscar Wilde to write a novel about a handsome, cocky young man made immortal through Faust-like corruption by an imperious aristocrat, only to then become an ungrateful prick who friendzones sensitive misunderstood artistes

[airlocksandaviaries]

1889 👀🔥

[4typercent]

Happy 635th Anniversary, fellas! 🫂

"You can't sit with us."

They're talkin' some serious shit about you

[valiantstarlights]

[dailydreamling]

1889!Dreamling + text post meme

[achillesuwu]

Random thought I just had but when you think about it it's actually not that surprising that Hob waited for Dream in 1989. That he thought he would be there. Why? Because technically 1889 is in some way their second fight.

In 1589, Dream left without looking back and without a proper meeting and yet, in 1689 he is there first. What does Hob tell him as soon as he sees him? "I knew you would be there"

So what did Hob do in 1989? He did what his stranger did last time they had a fight. He came first and waited because his stranger must know that he will be there

[nynevefromthelake]

Lover’s eye

[goldflinches]

Thinking about age regression/deaging trope but very specifically:

Hob getting deaged but the curse was meant for mortal creatures - not for an immortal human.

It might be someone connects the dots, figures out his relationship with Dream, and tries to incapacitate him. Or just a random boobytrap Hob activated while poking around in a place he was told explicitly not to go poking around in.

Either way, Hob gets deaged by like a 100 years and is so, so surprised when his once a century stranger comes to rescue him, acts so warmly and treats him with a fondness so unlike their most recent meeting in 1889. Hob is extremely grateful but also very cautious because he doesn't want to scare off the man again - not before finding out his name!

Meanwhile Dream is having an absolutely shit time. He's trying to break the curse while dealing with this huge setback in his relationship with Hob (as friends? as husbands? as some yet-to-be-named nebulous thing between them?) and trying not to be too visibly losing his mind when he's with Hob. They end up having meetings just like before but Dream is the one doing all the talking for once - it's the most Dream has talked in centuries but if there's a chance of jogging Hob's memory, he's willing to try.

So while Hob is getting reacquainted with the 21st century with the great/dubious guidance of Matthew, Dream is in the background trying to undo the curse by menacing the local magical community while in the line of fire of Johanna Constantine's very pointed questions and Lucienne's knowing looks.

Toss up of having the curse being broken by

true love's kiss

some convoluted spell that puts Dream in danger and Hob is fiercely against it but Dream goes ahead anyway (because of course he would)

Hob slowly gains his memories because the spell wasn't meant to last long and there was no need to panic actually

So basically: much miscommunication, lots of patchy history lessons from a Raven, so so much of Dream discovering the depths of Hob's affections for him (centuries worth of it) just as much as Hob is rediscovering Dream's deep regard for him (even before their 1889 meeting).

[shipsgaysfordays]

okay, let's talk about the 1889 meeting between Dream and Hob

(i'm currently rewatching the episode and just i need to talk about it)

Hob has spent centuries barely knowing anything about the Stranger, he'll ask questions at every single meeting to never get any clear answer as to who the Stranger is. all he has are assumptions, "you know everyone, don't you?" because Dream didn't answer him. and you can see very clearly that Hob was annoyed at Dream deflecting yet again this time, that instead he of talking about himself he talked of Lady Joanna. but, at least he learned something about the Stranger.

for centuries their conversations have really only been about Hob despite his many attempts to learn about Dream.

Hob says "people are almost always better than you think they are. not me, though. still the same as ever." simply being a bit self deprecating, he feels bad for his past actions and he can't see himself as a good man anymore.

Dream says that Hob's changed, because he's seen over the centuries that Hob has changed, he's complimenting Hob by saying that he's changed.

and yet...

the minute Hob brings the conversation around to Dream, at first possibly attempting to return the compliment in saying that the Stranger has also changed. it's an assumption, because all Hob really has to go off of with the stranger is assumptions. "i think it's you that's changed". he doesn't know, how could he? Dream barely lets himself be known by Hob.

and despite this being said by Hob with a smile, despite this being a reflection of a compliment from Dream, Dream's face falls. "how so?" it's easier to see change when you're not the one changing, when you're on the outside.

Hob continues forward with his assumptions, a bit more confidently, possibly overconfident, "i think i know why we still meet here, century after century. it's not because you want to see whether or not i'm ready to seek death. i don't think i'll ever seek death. by now, you know that about me." he's slightly projecting, they've been at this for centuries so Dream must know by now that he won't seek death, right? he knows Hob better than any living person at that time, he must know this about Hob. "so, i think you're here for something else."

this corporeal form of a man has literal tears in his eyes, "what might that be?" (this is possibly the moment when Hob should have realized it was a bad idea to push it)

"friendship." i believe Hob is projecting, that he's hitting the target right on the mark, but he's projecting. maybe i've read too much fanfic or thought about this too much, but Hob is an immortal being who has to almost constantly lie about who he is to everyone, except Dream. except the man who already knows everyone, who sees the best in Hob despite what Hob has done, who drives Hob to be a better man. in 1789 it is very clear that this relationship is of great importance to Hob, the way they act, it's obvious that Hob cares and they are friends in his mind.

and there's been the idea that i've read (because i read a bit too much dreamling fanfic) that, in 1689, Hob says "i've got so much to live for" at least partially because of Dream. now it's probably a better message if he said it on his own account and not because of specifically who he was speaking to. but i've seen the idea that he said it in order to make Dream happy (because Dream is almost never happy, and the last century he supremely failed to impress Dream), i've seen the idea that part of that "so much" is Dream and their friendship. i think 1689 confirms to him that Hob doesn't need to be impressive for Dream to want his company, that Hob doesn't need to be constantly happy, he just needs a will to live (idk how he has it, personally that sounds really difficult). 1789 confirms that Dream can guide Hob into being a better person, that Dream cares for his well-being, and that the Stranger might just finally tell Hob something about himself (Dream was just about to actually give an answer--a shocking turn of events--when Lady Joanna came in and screwed it all up).

anyways, back to 1889, Hob shoots his shot and offers friendship to the only being who could possibly understand him....and then he takes it a step too far, flies too close to the sun, and says, "i think you're lonely". and honestly, i don't see Hob's reason for saying this. not in a "why the hell would you say that" type of way, but like, in my mind, he doesn't have much reason to assume the Stranger is lonely. at this point in time he actively has reason to assume otherwise. Dream mentioned how he knows all of this information about Lou, about how he worked with Lady Joanna again, Hob even gives thought to the idea that the Stranger "knows everyone". so why would Hob think he's lonely? he's projecting. no one can understand Hob's life and a similar situation is probably going on with his stranger. no one can understand except them two. immortality is isolating.

and what does Dream do with this offer of friendship from a person who he does obviously care for, he focuses on what he perceives as an insult. "you dare (call me lonely and say i need your friendship)".

Hob tries to go back on what he's said, on the boundary he's overstepped, "no, look, i'm not saying..."

but he's angered an Endless, he doesn't know it, but he has. he's basically called a huge ego'd God lonely. there's no stopping Dream from being a drama queen at the idea that HE could be in NEED of HOB'S COMPANIONSHIP.

and oh Hob, oh Hob, oh Hob. you just have to be an overconfident cocky bastard, you just have to dare.

and because Dream is incapable of being vulnerable and allowing himself to have nice things such as friendships, he's gotta prove Hob wrong. he announces his leaving.

they stand. Hob moves forward, like he's about to grab Dream's arm or something like that, ask him to stay maybe. Dream swiftly walks past him and Hob grimaces, they've fucked up the only constant in their lives. the only friendship with a being who could truly know him.

walking out dramatically into the dramatically raining night sky and Hob dramatically exclaiming, "i'll tell you what, i'll be here in 100 years' time. if you're here too it'll be because we're friends." (why are you friend zoning yourself man, you're in love) "no other reason, right" (the other reason is that you're in love with each other, why can neither of you idiots see that?)

"fuck." says the man who has just ruined his most long running friendship with the man of his dreams (i think i'm so funny).

and that's my analysis of their meeting in 1889, from Hob's perspective mainly.

[avelera]

This Rough Magic (15835 words) by Avelera Chapters: 4/12 Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022) Relationships: Dream of the Endless/Hob Gadling Characters: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, Roderick Burgess, Hob Gadling Additional Tags: Occult, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, BAMF Hob Gadling, Spells & Enchantments, Hob Gadling Saves Dream of the Endless | Morpheus from Roderick Burgess, POV Hob Gadling, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, 1920s, Occultist Hob AU, Deception, Suspense, Alternate Universe - Magic Summary: After the disastrous 1889 meeting, Hob Gadling turned to the occult to find a way to contact his stranger and apologize. Yet despite becoming a fairly adept occultist in the process, Hob ultimately lost his nerve and never cast a single spell to contact Dream. Unfortunately, that was not the end of the matter, when Hob's dabbling brought him to the attention of Roderick Burgess, who is now convinced that Hob is a fellow Magus, capable of convincing Dream to give Burgess the gift he gave to Hob all those centuries ago: immortality. Now, Hob must use wits, magic, and a great deal of charm to convince Roderick Burgess he is indeed an ancient, powerful Magus who wants nothing more than to help Burgess become immortal too, if he is to get himself and Dream out of Fawney Rig.

--

I realize it's been awhile since I updated this, but it turns out the edits this chapter needed were more minor than I feared! Hope you enjoy!

[dorian-debrah]

Dream: So when are you going to go out with me?

Hob: I dunno,when are you gonna ask me out?

[Later]

Death: so you ran away?

Dream: I DID NOT EXPECT HIM TO FLIRT BACK

[notallsandmen]

The Sandman as Reductress Headlines: 1889 Dreamling edition

[collectingforgottenpoetry]

Sing to me once again, till I forget That now we hate, and dream we love on yet. Thy voice, if aught on earth, can wake regret, Sing to me once again, till I forget. Sing; at thy voice the old dream shall arise. Make me thy fool, feed me again with lies, —For I was happier, ere I grew so wise, Sing; at thy voice the old dream shall arise.

Two Songs of Singing, Part I. by Anne Reeve Aldrich. As featured in The Rose of Flame and Other Poems of Love, 1889 edition.

[rufflywings]

Passing the phone in 1889 :3

[valiantstarlights]

[murphyoftheendless]

Hob Gadling - King of "Not me though stay safe"