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arialerendeair · 1 year ago

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Many gremlin wishes on this most auspicious of days, the day of your birf!! As a gift of words, I offer...

OKAY SO I KINDA COMBINED BOTH, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIT OF BOTH.

~!~!~!~!~!~

It started because Hob needed something to care about after Eleanor and Robyn. The first plant, gently handed to him, with care instructions, and a small basket of fertilizer, a pot for it to grow into, and fresh soil, had been what he needed and he hadn't even known it until he'd gotten the plant home. It flourished, and Hob spent the better part of a week crying when it flowered for the first time.

He was back immediately after he'd managed to pull himself together, the enigmatic man behind the plant counter giving him a quick, secret smile as he asked for another, so his plant wouldn't get lonely.

Six months later, his flat had become a veritable jungle and he had no regrets. He had something to live for, something small, and it was enough, for now. The Orchids required daily care, the spices were flourishing (and he'd started cooking again to have a reason to use the spices), and his small shelf of succulents next to his computer made sure that he didn't fall too deeply into despair.

The benefit to so many plants, of course, was that he had an excuse to return to the garden center to see HIM. Dream, the man who had sold him his first plant, and then all the subsequent ones, who always seemed to know what his plants needed before he did, who always gave him the smallest and tiniest smiles, and nods of acknowledgment, was someone who understood Hob didn't know entirely how, but he did understand.

Which was why, when he made his way to the garden center, he blinked in surprise at seeing it was closed. His face fell, but he headed into the larger building to get what he needed. Dream was allowed to have days off, of course, but Hob had gotten used to being able to see him whenever he made his way over. Which made the sight of Dream standing behind a check out counter, looking pale, and thin, and drawn, even more surprising.

"Dream?"

"Hob," Dream said with a nod. "Apologies for..." he swayed, blinking hard. "For not greeting you outside as is custom. The shop required assistance."

There was no one else nearby, and the store was probably empty, so Hob stepped closer, and watched Dream's eyes that were glassy and cloudy, meet his. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. "Dream? Are you all right?"

Dream managed to summon a scowl, but only barely. "Of course. I do not need your-" his knees buckled and he grabbed onto the edge of the counter, barely managing to stay upright.

Hob was around the counter, with an arm around Dream's waist, taking his insubstantial weight in a split second. He steadied Dream and bit his lip when Dream went even more pale. "Dream? What do you need?"

Dream trembled, fighting down a growl. "Outside. Sun. Need sunlight."

Hob looked out the front door, but they'd draw attention to themselves if he went to stand out there. Lifting Dream into his arms, Hob strode through the store and toward the Garden Center. The other man felt like nothing and was almost limp in his arms. He shouldered the door open and strode into the bright sunlight, biting down on his lip.

He found a chair to sit on, keeping Dream carefully cradled, even as he tilted his chin up and to the sunlight. Hob smiled faintly. "That better?"

Dream nodded without speaking, keeping as much of his skin as possible exposed to it, and after a few minutes, he no longer felt ready to shake apart. "Yes, thank you."

"Vitamin D deficiency?" Hob asked. Dream hadn't moved from his lap, and Hob wasn't about to force him to move.

Dream hummed. "Without continuous exposure to the sun and other plants around me, I would die. Working in the store is akin to torture if I cannot take breaks. Today was the third day in the store." He shuddered and let his mouth fall open, breathing in the scents around him, deep and slow.

Hob blinked, opening his mouth before he shut it. Dream not being entirely human, or human at all, explained a great many things. Such as how Dream knew about his plants, and about what he needed for them all of the time. "And you work at a garden center?"

"No one suspects anything if I spend my days outside among plants," Dream answered, shifting to rest his cheek against Hob's shoulder, his skin warming steadily. "I can care for them, and ensure they are placed in homes that will care for them properly."

"So I should be flattered that you've steadily turned my flat into a jungle with your recommendations?" Hob asked, even as Dream squirmed and then settled properly into his lap again. He adjusted his arms and then wrapped them around the not-a-human in his lap once more.

Dream frowned. "You have been surprisingly non-reactive to the information that I am not human. Should I be concerned?"

Hob shrugged. "I don't get out a lot these days, and you helped me find something worth living for. Unless you're actively hurting people, I don't care what you are. I just want you to be all right."

Dream trembled with his entire body. "The shop must stay open. It allows my home to stay safe."

Hob looked up at the building, at Dream's reminder that he would die if he was stuck inside. "How about you stay out here and tend to your plants, and I'll run the register. I already know where most everything is inside, anyway, and the orchids will be all right if I water them after closing."

Dream's eyes widened and he tipped his head up to look at the human holding him. "You would... work inside?"

Hob leaned in and kissed Dream's temple, where at his hairline, he could see vines at the base of his hair. "I will. You stay out here, and if I need help, I'll come ask."

Dream nodded once. "I would.. be very grateful."

"Happy to help," Hob said, helping Dream rise to his feet. He made his way back into the store and did a lap around the store, helping the few people who had been lingering, checking them out and getting them on their way. He tidied the shelves, and straightened them, and put away the stock that had arrived, and waved to Dream when he could see him watching. It felt good to be working, to be doing something, and when he finished, he was a bit at a loss, and made his way outside.

"Dream?"

Hob laughed in delight as Dream's head bobbed up from behind a plant shelf, and held out the shop keys. "Everything is locked." He handed Dream the keys, and watched him hold them close. His heart turned over in his chest as Dream stared at him. His lips were pink once more and he relaxed at seeing Dream much more normal.

Dream cradled the keys close and looked down at them. "You have done me a remarkable kindness. I don't know how to repay you."

Hob lifted his eyes to the door at the back of the garden center that led to the greenhouses and swallowed. The orchids would be all right. "Will you... show me your home?"

Dream reached out to take Hob's hand and gave it a slow squeeze. "I would be honored." He turned and led the way back into the greenhouses. By the gasp the human gave the second they stepped through the doorway, he knew they were not nearly as small as they appeared.

Hob followed Dream through a veritable forest, and was led to a grassy clearing, and when he was pulled down to lay under the moonlight of two moons, he didn't hesitate to stretch out beside Dream, admiring his ethereal beauty. "I'll work the shop as often as you need. So you can stay safe."

"You would?" Dream whispered.

"I would," Hob agreed, reaching out to tuck some of Dream's hair behind his ear. "Often as you need, promise."

Dream reached out to cup Hob's chin, tilting it up. "It is customary for you to kiss, now?"

Hob managed a soft laugh and turned to kiss Dream's palm. "If you would like-" the words were cut off as Dream surged forward, sealing their lips together, pressing him back into the soft and comforting grass. He tightened his arms around Dream and pulled him close, letting the kiss go on and on. Whatever Dream was, Hob didn't really care, he could help, he was maybe a little bit needed, and he had missed being needed.

#Aria Posts #sleeponfutons #Dreamling #Eldritch Plant Creature Dream #Plant Dad Hob #Birthday Asks

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arialerendeair · 1 year ago

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Happy Birthday!!!!!! May all your wishes come true!!!! Good health and wealth to you!!!

As a Gabe anon, I feel compelled to give you a little idea and here it is. A Sleepless in Seattle AU!

Hob is a recently widowed father to a precocious 10-year-old, Robyn. They lost Eleanor just the year before and to help themselves, they pack up and move out of the city she grew up in to move to Seattle.

On the other side of the country, Dream is preparing to marry Calliope, whom he met at work. The relationship is fine. He likes her well enough and she likes him well enough. Marriage is just something that makes this all seem real.

It's Christmas Eve and while on a long drive home, Dream tunes into a radio show where Robyn is asking for a new wife or husband for his father. He's been real sad since his mom died and he just wants someone to join their little family.

Then Hob catches him and sends him off to bed and takes over the call. He gets to talking about what he loved about his wife and what he misses most. Dream heart melts for this stranger so many miles away.

Dream decides to write him a letter. He wants to meet Hob and Robyn on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day, much to the chagrin of his friend Lucienne who rightly tells him he doesn't want to be in love in real life. He wants to be in love in a movie. He's also still engaged to Calliope after all. Dream thinks better of it and tosses the letter, which Lucienne still mails.

Hob meanwhile has moved on and has started dating again. Which Robyn doesn't like. He finds Gwen too weird for his tastes. Besides he likes Dream's letter the best. Which puts the house at odds. Robyn wants to go to New York for Valentine's Day, Hob wants to go to a cabin for the weekend with Gwen. They fight about it all day long until Eurydice, Robyn's new friend, uses her parent's travel agency to put him on a plane.

Robyn's going to New York to see his new dad <3

- 🤜 anon

ANON I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE GRATEFUL IN MY LIFE THAT YOU DECIDED TO COME AND GRACE MY INBOX WITH THIS. BECAUSE THIS IS GLORIOUS.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~

Hob has never been more panicked in his entire life than he was when he got the phone call from his babysitter that Robyn wasn't at home. The ensuing fight with Gwen had been quick, vicious, and frustrating. She had understood his need to go after Robyn, of course, but when she found out that Robyn had left to meet this mystery letter person, they'd had a fight over the love letter that Hob still carried in his wallet.

(Why did he carry the letter in his wallet? How long had he had the loopy handwriting memorized, how long had he known every single word, no matter how many times he'd read it....)

Hob had taken Gwen home, and had accepted her demand to delete her number from his phone and hauled ass to the airport, purchasing a ticket the second he hit the counter, racing to the gate in time. The flight was agonizing, and Robyn had clearly turned his phone off, no matter how many times Hob looked at it and begged for his kid to answer one of his dozen or so texts.

~!~

Perhaps Dream should have known that Calliope would not stand to play second fiddle to anyone, even an imaginary man who had no basis or truth in reality. Yet when she'd handed him the ring back with a regretful look, he'd felt nothing but relief. He had no doubt that in another world, they could, perhaps, find happiness together, but every time Dream looked at the Empire State Building... he wondered.

Strange that the sound of a single man's voice had made him decide to abandon all reason. But Robert Gadling (call him Hob, according to his adorable son) had sounded so wistful and so lovely that it had been impossible not to be drawn to the possibility of offering what it was that the man was seeking. No matter that he lived across the entire country and the possibility of him being at the top of the Empire State Building tonight was so unlikely as to be called impossible...

The romantic in him couldn't deny it how much he wanted Hob to be waiting for him there. Even if Dream had no idea what he looked like, or how someone like Robyn would like him, it didn't matter. The possibility of it all was a break in the 'fine' that it seemed had been suffocating him his entire life.

So Dream raced to the Empire State Building, barely making it past the guard, promising a quick look before he left, and ran out onto the observation deck. The sight of no one there, only an empty chill, had his heart sinking, because of course he'd been foolish, of course he had wanted too much, wanted the impossible - when the door opened behind him.

Standing there was a man, with his son, and they were in the middle of an argument.

"I told you no one would be up here, they were closed-"

"But Dad, his letter promised! He promised!"

"I know, but sometimes adults make promises that they can't keep," Hob said, his voice softening, gentling.

Dream stared in shock, because it was impossible not to recognize both of those voices. He'd heard them in his dreams for weeks now, and they likely hadn't seen him because of his all black ensemble. He cleared his throat and stepped into the orange light from the inside.

"I am in the habit of keeping my promises," he offered up, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. He stepped closer, even tough it was clear that they were both in shock. A moment later, Robyn was barreling toward him, and Dream caught the boy against his legs carefully, well aware that Robert Gadling (Hob, Hob, his name was Hob) was watching. "It's a pleasure to meet you Robyn."

"I knew you'd come, Mr. Dream. You promised. You said that everyone needs to have dreams, and how important they are, no matter how fantastical they are!" Robyn said, his face pressed tight to him. "You're perfect for Dad, I just know it."

Dream swallowed down the instinctive disagreement, because he was far from perfect for anyone, and in fact, it was the distinct opposite, where he was often too much. "I think that will be up to your Dad and I to determine, Robyn. But I have you to thank for our meeting." He knelt down, uncaring of he cold granite on his knees and met the warm brown eyes of the boy who loved his father so much, he'd tried to do the impossible.

"No matter what happens, Robyn, never forget how important it is to-"

"Put magic into the world," Hob finished, quoting Dream's letter from memory, meeting the wild blue eyes that sent his heart stuttering all over again. "Because if we do not make our own magic, if we do not rejoice in the magic there is to be had, it will fade away before we even know what we have lost."

Dream's breath caught and he stared at Hob. "You read my letter," he whispered.

"Dad keeps it tucked in his wallet," Robyn stage-whispered. "He's read it so many times when he thought I wasn't looking. I think he needs a little magic."

Dream's lips quirked and he grinned as Hob began to flush, his cheeks growing more and more red by the second. "Does he now?" He reached out and gave Robyn's hands a small squeeze before standing and moving closer to where Robert Gadling was tugging at his ear lobe in embarrassment.

"Hello Robert," Dream breathed, his voice soft. "My name is Morpheus Endless, but I would have you call me Dream."

"Hello Dream," Hob repeated, his voice soft, reverent. He could feel his cheeks were flaming red because the most beautiful man he'd ever seen swayed closer to him. "Call me Hob, please? If that's not too weird?"

Dream nodded. "Hob," he agreed. "You kept my letter?"

Hob nodded and reached out to pull it from his letter, unfolding it carefully. "I, I used to be a medieval professor. No one hand writes letters anymore. But yours was handwritten."

"Of course. It was important," Dream whispered. "It had to be a little bit magical. For the man I fell a little in love with over a radio show."

Hob gasped, his eyes widening. There was a story in the way Dream's chin tilted up, unrepentant, but aware it was too much, that it should be too much. It was a story he very much wanted to discover. He swallowed and looked down at Robyn who was grinning wildly at both of them.

"I think I fell a little in love with you when you turned around to tell Robyn you always keep your promises," Hob admitted, his heart pounding. Pink streaked across Dream's cheekbones and he wanted to chase it with his lips. "But don't you live in New York? We, we don't..."

"As it turns out," Dream said, pushing his hands into his pockets. "I am a children's author who is quite able to work from wherever he likes. So perhaps, I could offer my guest room to you both this evening, and I could visit the west coast soon?"

"Really soon, Mr. Dream?" Robyn asked. "Please?"

Dream winked at Hob and looked down at Robyn. "If I can manage it, I have every intention of flying back on the same flight as both of you. I can't have someone else stealing your father away when I have decided to properly court him, after all."

The noise that escaped his throat was embarrassing, but hearing Dream say that he intended to COURT him was... he wasn't the one who should be COURTED, not when Dream was, was, he was the one who deserved to be courted!

"If he will have me of course," Dream added, meeting Hob's eyes again. "I am perhaps out of practice, but I will do my best."

Hob could see the hesitancy there, the worry, and if he wasn't halfway in love with Dream already from that small declaration, he didn't know himself at all. So instead, he reached out, tangled his hands in the collar of Dream's jacket and pulled him in close. "We can practice together," he breathed against Dream's lips, swallowing his gasp with a soft kiss.

They broke apart to Robyn's loud cheer followed by the pointed clearing of the throat of the elevator bellman. Hob laughed and pressed his forehead against Dream's, holding onto his hand tightly as they made their way to the exit. Perhaps it would end horribly, perhaps it was a dream not meant to last, but...

Dream didn't let go of his hand for the rest of the night.

Or on the flight home.

Or on the car ride back to his house.

Or when he offered the use of his guest room in return for Dream's kindness.

Or, when, three weeks later, he admitted that he had fallen in proper love, and he wanted Dream to stay.

Dream didn't let go, and Hob let himself believe in the magic of happily ever after.

#Aria Posts #Dreamling #Birthday Asks #Romance Novels #A SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE AU I AM DYING #AND SCREAMING

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