#Morpheus bittersweet

[writing-for-life]

Sooooo… does fandom still think we’ll get a different ending?

I’ve noticed that a lot of media that I consume (shows, mostly, but also books and movies) do something where they set it up so that the main character will have to die at the end in order to save everyone else. One of two things happens, and it annoys me. One, the character dies and then is brought back. Two, at the last minute there’s another solution and the character doesn’t have to die. I feel like more writers should commit to a meaningful sacrifice of their main characters. Sometimes it works, but sometimes I just want that brutal, bittersweet moment, and I want it to be final, so that we can really appreciate the character’s sacrifice. Or even if it’s not a sacrifice, and the character just flat out fails, I sometimes wish there was a commitment and we can feel that failure. I don’t mean to say that happy endings shouldn’t exist, I like happy endings. But sometimes it feels like it could totally work to keep the main character dead.

Anyways, I was wondering your opinion on this, my late-night rambling.

You'd probably like Sandman.

[itskindofidontknow]

What dreams know about love?

Chapter 14

Dream of The Endless/Morpheus x Love!OFC

Summary: The Queen of Love has grown used to the absence of her husband, the Dream King. After banning her from the Dreaming, they only saw each other when Morpheus summoned her for social or marital duties. He would go decades without calling for her, enamorated by a variety of mistresses. It broke Love's heart. Not that her husband cared. However, after being imprisioned for a century, The Dream King wants to regain his Queen's love. She doesn't believe him, not after centuries of neglect. The question is: Can dreams repair a broken heart?

Tag: Established relationship, arranged marriage, regency romance, eventual happy ending, angst, morpheus is a dick prepare to hate, love is eoster from west germanic mythology, typos are to be expected

As soon as they returned from the parade, Eoster confined herself to her quarters, making Elijah run through her everything that was missing to the Solstice.

The Spring Queen made every little detail her business, a perfect excuse to avoid her husband. She would check the invitation list, rearrange seats, make final decisions on decorations, and even details about the reception for her court that she previously left under Elijah’s supervision, such as the color of napkins and the setting of the table, the queen took upon herself to make the final adjustments.

Anything that would make her husband less inclined to interact with her, she took it upon herself to do it. She knew from Elijah that Dream wanted to talk to her, that he asked Lucienne to ask Elijah if she was available for a luncheon or tea. The Cupid apologizes for his queen's full agenda, but she did not have time for “anything nonrelated to the Solstice” which translates into “anything related to Morpheus”

Of course, he could summon her by the bound, but after their night together, she knew he wouldn’t dare. Both of them crossed paths in the palace halls, but, if he even thought of starting a conversation, she lowered her head, pretending not to notice and being too far busy with her tasks.

But there is only enough table setting a queen can choose for a solstice festival, and it’s not near the amount necessary to avoid a husband.

And so, she escaped the Dreaming.

It was complicated. He knew about Desire. He knew about innocence, Love was now as a victim as him, trapped in the most sacred of unions with him. Love should feel relieved. ‘He can finally forgive me. We can be happy.’ She repeated to herself, although the words were bittersweet.

She should be relieved, of course, she should. It was what she had always wanted: Morpheus to believe in her, seeing her devotion and adoration were true. But instead, she felt conflicted and suffocated.

Yes, he now believed in her, but not because of her words but because he could visit her memories, and feel her feelings. It never happened before, and Eoster suspected it did happen because of their proximity. They never stayed together in the vulnerability of sharing a bed. Their bed, his bed, was duty, obligation, as everything in their marriage was. They never shared a bed for more than an hour, until the parade. The bond must have felt the permissibility of their souls, the proximity of their bodies, and let one visit the other’s memory, or he visited hers, because Love didn’t see anything.

He would never believe her word otherwise, would he? He believed what he saw. It was two very different things. Maybe she was overthinking. Maybe she wants him to suffer a bit more before giving herself to him. A few centuries might do the deed. Love chuckled to herself. Who was she trying to convince? She hates those games. But wasn’t her marriage a game from the start?

How did their marriage become so complicated?

So she escaped. Hiding in plain sight at her favorite park. Hoping the flooding of Cupids arriving at the Dreaming would be enough to make no one look for her.

Although “hiding in plain sight” is quite a stretch, after all, if Love’s beauty was already the talk among entities, even in casual up-to-date clothes, trying to mix with mortals, she still caught a lot of attention, her presence magnetic, and every single mortal gravitate towards her. Men, women, and children are all in awe.

How could one not fall in love with love itself?

“You just made a mortal meet his soulmate before I collected him.” The Queen jumped in her seat, completely lost in her thoughts, gazing at the people living their ordinary lives around her. When she looked up, there was Lady Death, her sister-in-law, with a disapproving look that broke down in a warm smile.

Love gave her a weak smile, moving on the bench so Lady Death could sit with her. Death knew it wasn’t intentional on Love’s part. Unlike the Cupids who had to bring arrows, study perfect matches, and wait for perfect situations, Love’s presence was enough to make mortals fall in love left and right. It was not as nearly as precise as the cupid's work. It was pure spontaneity, not to say chaotic (just ask anyone who lived during Henry VIII's reign) that relied entirely on mortals' feelings.

The park was blossoming in it. Mothers at the children's park noticed how much that tiny copy of them meant the world, friendship that would last a life being made by the kids, and especially lovers. Couples deciding to get married, travel the world together, move in together. One could look left and right and would see the park immersed in pure love.

“Couldn’t you give them more time?” Love sighed a complaint with not much enthusiasm to insist on it, said out of habit.

The first time it happened, Eoster would do everything to stall Death. She would ask about every single sibling, the next reunion, and would create a thousand stories from the Garden that she simply must urgently share, just to give a family or two lovers more time.

If it was their day, a mortal would die independently, but with the presence of Love, they wouldn't go without meeting either their soulmate or being in the company of loved ones. A tragedy for most, but what would one expect with Love and Death at the same place?

But now, Love said the words without any meaning, as that hope that she could save those mortals, meant nothing more. It became ordinary, a habit.

Just like Lady Death repeating to her younger brother that he needed to give attention to his wife. Before his capture, every time they met he sulked by her side and she would scold Dream, saying that feeling sorry for himself would not help anyone, that his biggest problem was having a sweet devoted wife who would do anything he asked, a problem that any Endless or not would love to have. “Promise you will take better care of Love, Dream. You know that she doesn’t deserve it”, Death would say, and he would keep looking at his feet, until mumbling an upset "fine".

He wouldn't do it, and she said it more out of habit than anything.

She remembered the first time Love joined them for a family reunion, she was radiant, eagerly wanting to talk to the siblings, listening carefully to Delirium’s antics, and constantly looking for Dream’s approval, like a puppy trying to please its owner. She was the living propaganda for her marriage.

Praising the Dreaming and its folks, telling how delightful everything was, exaggerating how marriage life was even more perfect and Dream even more of a gentleman than she could have expected, excusing her husband for having yet to come to meet the Garden. Love thought that it was what Dream wanted to hear.

And she was desperately trying to please him, everyone could notice. They thought it was sweet. Death, Destruction, and even Delirium thought that her charms would eventually get past their brother's stubbornness.

How little did they know?

“I thought you would be busy with the Solstice, what are you doing in the mortal realm sulking on a park bench?” Death tried to change the subject, as the brunette didn’t make any attempts to continue the conversation, which was odd since Love was the conversationalist between them.

“Hiding in plain sight. Are you going to tell on me?” Love kept picking her nailbeds, before looking hesitantly to Death with her doe-eyes, over her eyelashes. The way her sister-in-law furrows her brows is a sign that she does not understand. “Your brother.” Love sighed, looking down again, as she was somewhat embarrassed by saying it.

“Is he being a dickhead?” Love smiled at Death’s question. ‘Dickhead’ what a childish but at the same time perfect way to describe her husband. Love watched the game happening a few feet away from her, without paying any attention. She loved her sister-in-law but, Love just wished to be anywhere away from her problems.

“I wonder if he was ever not a dickhead to me” The queen admitted shrugging off in an unlady-like manner. “It is ironic when I come to think of it. I spent years trying to get Dream’s attention, make him see me, want me, and now that he does, I am hiding in the mortal realm.” She laughed humorlessly. Does her marriage ever stop being an unfunny joke?

Death didn’t know what precisely to answer at Eoster’s confession, unless what it was the truth. “You were young.”

“Yes, I was. And eager to please and to be loved. I did what my older sisters taught me: Carefully watch him. His taste became my taste. I only read his favorite books, learned his favorite songs on the pianoforte, played them whenever I felt him close by, visited his favorite dreams, and cared for his perfect nightmares. I even dressed-" A sad smile and a hint of color reached her cheeks, full of the embarrassment of a desperate young self “-like his mistresses, if you can believe it, because maybe it would be enough.“

“Did it work?”

“If it did, we would not be having this conversation.” ‘Of course’ Death thought, cursing herself for asking such a stupid question. This was new between the two. And if she dared to guess, it was new to Eoster talking about it, because she threw the words quickly, like if she didn't spit them out as fast as she could, she might never do it.

“The muse, the fairy queen, or any other that I simply can't force myself to remember now. Every single one had the upper hand on my husband. I was not even a runner-up in the race for dear Lord Dream’s heart.” The brunette furrowed her brows, looking over to her sister-in-law, “I forged myself to him, to be what he wanted, and it angered him even more.”

Death listened to her quietly, after all, she did not know what to tell Love, she never heard the brunette speaking so clearly ill about her marriage, let alone her position in it. Dream's sister knew she was somewhat unhappy, even if they always arrived at the family reunions, arm to arm, his brother pulling the chair for her, both sitting side by side, Love in stunning gowns, complicated hairstyles, and adorned in jewelry. Even if they looked perfect together.

Love would always already be drunk or get drunk at the dinners. Dream would always try to stop her from pouring more wine or more champagne, but she always snapped away from him. And there would always be some antic Love would pull out of her drunk self. Dream would get furious at her. Everyone pretended not to notice when they would storm off, but, it was difficult not to hear their heated argument as they walked away.

Love never spoke of problems, well, not directly. While drunk, her complaints always were around lack of attention and cheating, but Death always assumed they made up. After all, next week they would be at a social, together, having polite conversations. And since her brother never let anyone sniff around his marriage, what Death assumed was that her brother could be neglecting Love from time to time, but they would patch things up. The expected consequences of being married for too long.

“It is fine. Really. I got used to that, no need to give me the pity look. I urge you not to. I simply can not take more of those.” Love shook her hand as to physically dismiss the pithiness. Loneliness becomes comfortable after one gets used to it. But pity is something she would always detest.

“After a while, I’ve stopped thinking of his love, and after his capture, I’ve never imagined, hoped, or planned that he would return with a newly found fondness for me.” Quite the opposite. Remember, Love thought Dream was courting another. Naturally, she thought that after the inevitable breakup, he would be in an awful humor. She had nightmares with it and woke up feeling guilty for having nightmares about her husband's humor, and then feeling stupid because he would not care if she was scared or not. Love did not matter in this marriage. But this was before. Now…

The brunette shifted in her seat and Lady Death noticed she was nervous, wetting her lips, looking to both sides, and speaking a tone lower than before “ And if I can be honest, it is awful.” It felt shameful to admit that Dream’s fondness was awful, but at the same time, it felt like she was discarding an enormous weight off her chest. Love took a deep breath, eyes wide in desperation to her sister give her some guidelines “I don’t know what to do with it. We don’t know how to be in the same room without going at each other’s throats. Carefully selecting words to hurt one another, waiting for a small slip so we can attack. For so long I craved to be with him, and now I do not even know how to breathe the same air he exhales.” The brunette rests her back against the bench in defeat finally taking all of it off her chest. Death took a few minutes to process that abundance of information. Love was beginning to worry and planning to apologize for having thrown all of it at her, that it was not her initial intention when she spoke.

“What about trying from the beginning? You two were tossed into marriage with very different ideas of it. Maybe-” Love shook her head interrupting “We tried, and we ended up in a room in the House of Mysteries" Or was it House of Secrets? If she would be honest, she didn't even remember which one was the nice one, and which one was the short-tempered. "Sharing a bed. He violated my dreams.” This time, Death's gaze widened. “On purpose?” her brother, the brother that she knew, would not violate his wife's private thoughts like that.

“No, I mean, I do not know. I felt him nudging in there, like a shadow on the corner of my eye. And that never happened." Death signed, relieved "Not even when he was suspicious of some improper behaviors of mine.” She had Aunt Temperance to thank for that. “He put Lucienne to sniff around my dreams.” Death nodded silently, even Love was somewhat admitting that her brother would never actually invade his wife’s private thoughts. But their bond, maybe he was pushed there by it, after all, no one knows for certainty how the sharing of souls of True Marriages affects the couple, what are their limits, their boundaries.

“Anyway, he got his proof that I didn’t plot with Desire.”

“Well, that is good news!” Death grabbed Eoster’s hands in celebration, but seeing Love’s cranked face about it, Death had to ask “Is it good news?”

“It is supposed to be. But it’s bittersweet. He didn’t believe in my word, his wife. I did nothing over the years to have him question my loyalty, but it wasn’t enough. He had to see it. If he never invaded my dreams, would he know? Would he ever believe my innocence?” Although Death wished she could say yes, both of them knew Dream too well, and the Endless sister respected Love enough not to lie in her face.

The couple seemed to be trapped in a web of complicated and delicate knots full of ramifications. Love was right. Her marriage became a game of who could hurt each other more. She made herself the perfect bride for a husband who at first didn’t want one and now doesn't know how to be the husband she needs.

“You two need to start from the beginning.” Death said after a few moments pondering how to put it in words. Love signed a hint of impatience in her voice, thinking that her sister-in-law wasn't listening to her. “I told you, we tried-"

Death abruptly interrupts her clarifying what she meant, and what it was true. Honestly, who gave Dream the idea of a parade? She couldn't fathom the idea that her anti-social and selfish brother would want to be around loud subjects who wanted to steal his wife's attention. “No, you two went on a parade. Public parade, with smiles and flowers. You two did the theatricals of a reconciliation. You need to talk. Privately talk." She sighed smiling throwing her back at the bench "You two are the most similar anthropomorphic personifications I have ever known.” Love was opening her mouth to protest that she and Dream couldn't be more different, when once again, Death showed her why she was older and wiser “Loyalty means everything. You want to forgive but hold grudges, The Dream is the same. You want to believe but your awareness doesn’t let you. Isn't your husband the same?”

Love got up from the bench, facing Death, and at the same time, she theatrically threw her hands to the heavens. Was Love ever this dramatic? Death couldn’t help but wonder, if this was her with some sparkle, some anger, rather than her usual apathetic and compliant self. Although she kept speaking politely, it was obvious that what started with a conversation was turning into a disagreement. “Oh, sister! awareness of what, pray to tell me? When did I ever have my husband-”

Death smiled internally. She purposely engaged in a rhetorical philosophy to see if Love understood where she was going. The Endless had to hold a laugh. Like Dream, Love was not receptive to ideas and opinions contrary to what she already made up her mind. Death kept her posture and a neutral tone. “Never! I am not telling you he is right. He is not. I never thought Dream could be more wrong about someone. But you two are not far apart.” Love ignored her, continuing her rampage. How could her dear sister who, a minute ago, seemed to understand so clearly, become so antagonistic to the truth? “All I ever did was forgive him! All the time…” She emphatically repeated, her muscles tensed and Love seemed to use all of her strength to not scream like a crazy anthropomorphic personification in the middle of a park.

To which Death simply shrugged, and gave her the simplest answer ever: “Then take him back.” The response took Love by such surprise, that she froze, and Death thought that she might have broken her sister-in-law. Instead of poetries of couples, tragedies, and the sad life of Stepford smilers, Death offered her such a simplistic, obvious but at the same time impossible. Wasn't she listening? “I beg your pardon?” Love said as she heard the most gushing suggestion of all mortal existence.

Death raises herself, posed in a cool manner, with hands in her pocket. Love always thought that she was the definition of what mortals called a ‘cool girl’, and this demeanor made Love for the first time in forever, want to strangle her. “If all you did was forgive him, then forgive him one more time. Grant him pardon for all his transgressions, coldness, his mistresses, and his son born out of marriage. You put that behind you. If he is repent as you said, you can finally have a worthy husband and live happily ever after.” Love let a strangled laugh escape her mouth. In utter disbelief. “No, you don’t understand, it is not that simple-”

Death gave Love a knowingly smile “No, it is not.” Now, the Love Queen was more lost than before, her brows furrow and her eyes searched Death’s for any sign of logic. She felt a migraine and cursed herself for coming to this park. Peace, was that too much to ask? Was Dream the only one allowed to sulk alone? Love let herself fall on the bench in defeat. “I don’t understand why-”

“It is not simple, Love. Reasonable or not, both of you have a hard time forgiving, you didn’t, because if you did, you would not be holding so much pain in your heart. I know this because mortals constantly cross to my realms with hearts full of pain that they never will be able to resolve, lying to themselves that all is forgiven.”

Death reached to hold Love’s hands, caressing the soft skin as the lady of spring started to see the meaning behind what her sister in the law meant. It is not “enjoying a honeymoon” “punishing him” or even “you must do your duty as a wife and take what he is giving to you, it is just their ways”. It was something else. “I am not saying that you need to forgive Dream, that you need to take him back, accept him into your bed. That is up to you to decide. But, you need a resolution. About your marriage, about both your past... About his son.”

Love repeated her words, not understanding the emphatic pause at the mention of Dream’s offspring. “ His son?” Death first thought Love could be sarcastically repeating her, in a way of saying that she had no intention of talking about Orpheus, but as the pause continued, she realized that Love might have forgotten, not that Death understood how could she “His son died for a mortal girl.” It didn't seem to recall his brother’s wife anything since she kept quiet, seemingly waiting for anything that would explain, “He died because of love”

As soon as Death spoke those words, and Love quickly understood what she meant by that, Love took her hands away, feeling like a witness who suddenly became a suspect in a murder trial. Unprepared and too stunted to react besides trying to make sense of what Death just said “And you think-”

But the sister was quick to disperse any new arguments Love wanted to start, although if she was taken aback by this, she completely could understand why the need to defend her innocence. Although, as Death explained, she should not waste her breath “No, I don’t think. I am just explaining how his tale is known.” Which was true, a love tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. It was well documented “Whatever happened, may belong in a conversation between you and Dream.” “I did not-” And as Death was starting to regret mentioning it, cursing herself for speaking so much, an angel descended from the heavens to her aid, or better, a cupid in his lilac robes, shirt, and pants, and brown curly locks, appeared. He did not bother to change his usually 18th-century nobility attire to up-to-date clothes, different from the two women. He respectfully bends his head to Lady Death who gives him a warm smile.

“Hello, Elijah.”

“Blessing from the Garden, Lady Death.” He turned to the queen, who was still trying to find arguments for her innocence and only actually noticed her cupid when he called her “My queen” bowing his head. Even though her head was spinning from Death, she also had some questions about the cupid, after all, was everyone aware of things that she wasn't? “How did you find me?” The cupid looked confused. As the answer was obvious. “My lady, Centennial Park is your favorite park.” She nodded slowly, for a moment thinking that maybe Morpheus sensed her through the bond and made Elijah come all the way to make her return. “Is my lord husband looking for me?”

Elijah held his tongue not to answer that he never wished more for Lord Morpheus to appear from his sand and send half of the court cupids to the darkness. Maybe there, they would give him peace. “I have not seen our lordship yet.” Which he never thought would be an unfortunate truth.

Just by the morning, he had to scare away three Eros cupids that tried to woo Lucienne with the same line in the spare 2 minutes. They made very dramatic declarations using Romeo and Juliet “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” Thankfully Elijah managed to intervene before they started dueling for her hand, shushing them away like a pack of annoying crows, as they cacked explaining that their hearts never knew love until they met Lucienne (Or their ‘Dreamy Lady Librarian’ as they called her).

He also had to save some dreamfolks from being indoctrinated by Agape cupids, so they could leave the life of being dreams or nightmares and devote themselves to the spirit and soul. That didn’t even make sense. He finally managed to shove them all into some candlelight room with a strong smell of incense and dense fog where they could entertain themselves, reading their holy texts and meditating. Agape Cupids love nothing more than their sacred scriptures and candlelight rooms,

When he finally manages to stop a cult and the duelings, he is granted a visit by the Seamstress, who was already in a foul mood thanks to the number of cupids surrounding her and begging to glimpse at Lady Love's dress or a slot in her busy schedule to make new garments in the “Dreaming fashion”, which did not exist. After escorting her to Lady Love’s quarters, he took a minute to breathe, thinking of the Emissary. He didn't even have the time to miss his lover, but the absence of his jests and his don’t-care attitude in the middle of a chaotic event, like this, was starting to make the cupid’s heart hurt.

But just as he was daydreaming about his lover, the Seamstress began to poke him with her cane, asking about Lady Love, where she was, when she was coming, saying the dress would not be ready, she would make a fool of herself, lord morpheus would be angry, and the whole dreaming was going to collapse because of a simple dress.

Of course, he did not say any of this to Lady Love. She had problems of her own to deal with, hence why they are in a mortal park and not in the Dreaming. “ The Seamstress is in a funny mood because my lady’s dress is yet to be finished.” Love knew that ‘funny’’ was a very polite way to say she was being a demonic hag, although Love would not admit to ever thinking that of the Seamstress. Duties always come first. And since bringing the court was her idea, she had no way other than going back. “We will finish this conversation, sister.” She said in a warning tone to Death.

Death knew Love had nothing to do with Orpheus's death. But just the possibility of others considering it might make her sister-in-law approach the subject with Dream, and knowing Love she would be careful with the topic, after all, losing a child, was suffering too terrible to be named. Love may not harvest any affection for her long-dead stepchild, but she knew the love of a parent to a child enough to proceed with caution and respect.

And if Dream proceeds himself with caution. There might be a conversation.

There might be a way.

“See you at the solstice, sister.”

@secretdreamlandmentality @littlemoistcarrot @lokigirlszendaya @roxytheimmortal

[tj-dragonblade]

[FLUFFBRUARY FICLET] Shampoo

Rated: G Word Count: 541 Tags: Fluffbruary, Fluffbruary 2024, fluff, established relationship, retired Dream, Hob Gadling loves Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Dream of the Endless | Morpheus loves Hob Gadling, he just doesn't speak it so plainly, scent, processing life changes

Fluffbruary 2024 Prompts Day 1 downy clinic nuance Day 2 engagement scent jam

On AO3

"Hmmmm," Hob purrs drowsily, nuzzling into the nape of Morpheus' neck, pulling Morpheus closer against him. "You smell nice."

Morpheus allows himself to be spooned into Hob's embrace beneath the blankets, nestling into the curve of Hob's body behind him, the warmth of Hob's arm around his middle. "Was my scent unpleasant before?"

"Not at all, not at all." Hob sounds languid and pleased, drunk with the lassitude of encroaching slumber and utterly content. "You used to smell amazing. Indescribable, but amazing. Clean and clear, like…like starshine and midnight frost in the middle of the forest in winter, that kinda thing."

"And now I do not." He can hear, in his own voice, the same bittersweet pang that colors nearly every thought of Before compared to Now. He is happier, of that there is no doubt; there is little to regret in having relinquished his duty and taken up a quasi-mortal existence with Hob. But that does not mean that he does not feel the loss of what he had been, that he does not feel lesser, inadequate, in small and everyday ways, in spite of his relief.

"Well, no," Hob agrees, gently, and presses soft lips to the back of his neck. "Now, you smell human. Touchable." He noses up into the downy hair at the base of Morpheus' skull and breathes in deeply. "You smell like my shampoo, and like the lotion you picked up from that little boutique last month." Hob's arm shifts closer about him, and Hob's mouth brushes the juncture of neck and shoulder, skirts the collar of the tshirt that Morpheus has donned for bed. "You smell like new clothes and comfortable old jumpers and clean sweat and just the faintest touch of rain and right now there's toothpaste in the mix too, and—mm." Hob buries his face in the back of Morpheus' shoulder, worms his other arm around Morpheus' chest and hugs him tightly, breathing deep, scenting him fully. "You smell like Morpheus, my Morpheus, and I love you."

Morpheus hums a small sound in acknowledgement, and brushes gentle fingers over Hob's upon his stomach, rests them there. It pleases him that so many of the scent elements just named by Hob are elements of Hob himself, small ways in which he might consider himself marked by Hob, marked as Hob's.

Hob, who has welcomed him into his life full-time without batting an eye, who waited for him in faith that he would return, who loves him. Hob, who treats him with more kindness than he is rightly due, who holds him while they sleep.

Hob, who thinks he smells nice.

"G'night love," Hob says then, pressing one more kiss to the base of his neck, and Morpheus settles. In only a moment Hob's breath has evened out, slow and deep; Morpheus listens, matches himself to it, lets sleep rise up to claim him safe in the circle of Hob's arms and the cradle of Hob's body.

His last thought as he slips into his old realm, a visitor, is that whatever trepidation he may continue to feel at this change, whatever he may count as lost, that which he has gained in Hob is entirely more precious, and entirely worth it.

= Started: 2/1/24 Drafted: 2/2/24 Posted: 2/2/24

[ohallthecrushes]

"Need A Little Love"

A/N: Why is this so freaking sad? Well, I was in a mood for a good cry, so I gave myself something to cry about. ;( The song: Need a little love

Summary: Reader is in love with Morpheus and wishes he feels the same. She puts all her feelings to this little love song she sings. And Morpheus hears her.

The night had been slowly crawling into your bedroom through an open window. You were sitting on your bed, holding a guitar. Alone with your thoughts and hopes. Your heart was beating in your chest a melody dedicated to him.

You were hopelessly in love with the Lord of Dreams. You were trying to tell him that on numerous occasions, but could never bring yourself to do that. The fear of rejection stopped you from giving yourself a chance to know if he felt the same about you.

Your thumb ran smoothly across the guitar strings. The vibrations created a sound you were looking for. Even though you were never good at expressing your feelings with words, music always gave you a way to freely speak what was inside your heart.

It was time I figured out what everybody knew Life is lived in black and white if I don't have you

You knew he tolerated you in the Dreaming, liked you perhaps at times. There was evidence, cause sometimes you spent most of the night with him while he was telling you all those wonderful stories he had... But there were also times when he left you on your own as if he almost ignored your presence. You understood when he was busy, but sometimes he wasn't and yet, he couldn't bother to even look at you.

Oh, you can make my head spin all night long By your sweet side, that's the place where I belong

Couldn't find the answer, oh, I lived for ridicule Some girls they made eyes at me, played me for a fool

You couldn't figure what he felt about you. Always so enigmatic and reserved. but you guessed it was ok... Someday you'd tell him what you felt.

Need a little love, I won't say no Need a little love, I won't say no...

In the quiet depths of the Dreaming, Morpheus stood amidst the walls of his palace. The soft glow of moonlight bathed his pale face as he listened to the ethereal melodies that filled the air. Y/N, a mortal with a heart full of love, had struggled to express her feelings to him. And now, she had found her voice in a love song dedicated to him. As the haunting notes reached his ears, Morpheus closed his eyes, allowing the music to weave its way into his essence. The lyrics carried your emotions, your longing, and your vulnerability. So he listened attentively.

Need a little love, I won't say no Need a little love, I won't say no

Need a little love, I won't say no Need a little love, I won't say no to you In that moment, the Lord of Dreams felt a stirring within him, a flicker of something he rarely experienced. It was as if the song had pierced through the walls he had built around his heart, reaching a part of him that had long been dormant.

Found me just a taste of heaven, every day was bliss How can flesh and bone collide and make me feel like this? A bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he contemplated the significance of your gesture. He could feel the weight of hope your heart was holding that he, The Lord of dreams, perhaps could love you back...

You could deny this world and I'd agree Now you're out there keeping all your love from me

The song echoed through the Dreaming, resonating with the dreams of countless souls who sought solace in his realm.He knew you loved him truly. His Little Dreamer... Morpheus found himself drawn to you, his footsteps carrying him towards the waking world. He materialized beside you, his presence both comforting and enigmatic.

Need a little love, I won't say no Need a little love, I won't say no... You looked up, surprised to see him here. You didn't realize your song could have reached the Dreaming. Your hand stopped moving. Your eyes filled with nervous anticipation. The words you had struggled to say were now written on your face, waiting to be acknowledged. "Morpheus..." you whispered, you voice barely audible. He reached out, his hand gently cupping your cheek. In that touch, you could feel the depth of his emotions, the complexities of his being and the heartbreaking answer to the longing of your heart. "You have found a way to speak to me," he said proud of you, his voice a low murmur. "In the language of dreams and music. It is a gift." A tear escaped you eye, mingling with a smile. You had hoped for understanding, hoped for connection. "I love you," you confessed, your voice steady and resolute. Hope never dies. Morpheus leaned in, his lips brushing against your forehead, a gesture both tender and comforting. "And I, in my own way, cherish you," he replied, his voice almost apologetic.

You closed your eyes, letting this shared moment to sink into the softness of the night. When your eyes fluttered open, Morpheus wasn't there. Your fingers slightly trembled before they brushed the guitar strings again.

Soar on a trip to the stars Never thought I'd slip out of your atmosphere

Your shaky voice, heavy with feelings filled the room and the song continued to play.

Now it's clear if you reappear I'd pray softly and then maybe You could break this spell

[swanimagines]

AN UPDATE ON MY POSTING SCHEDULE

I have written 7 pieces so far, but I decided to publish only 5 of them during this month (like I originally promised and said "maybe more" without promising) because I also decided that starting from January 3rd 2025, I will be posting once a week, every Friday at 4pm EET. And to kick that off, I put those 2 extra pieces to publish on 3rd and 10th.

Also another change:

AO3 is my primary posting place and it gets an "exclusive pre-access" from now on with my fics as it's the only site that doesn't have a schedule function. To put it simply, it means that fics will be published there before any other platforms, usually a few days beforehand.

Tumblr is my secondary publishing place, so fics come here second in line.

Wattpad is my third posting place, and the schedule system is unfortunately botched when I have so many books. I get it that it's not meant to be able to manage dozens of books at once, but yeah, unfortunately it also means the fics will come there much much later and really randomly because I got so messed up with schedules, please don't eat me for that if you prefer reading in Wattpad.

Through Christmas time, my "special" fics will be published in Tumblr on these days:

Today, 11th of December: Regina Mills, gn reader (you try to have a normal date but something always interrupts)

Next Tuesday, 17th of December: Morpheus/Dream of the Endless, fem reader (he stands you up on your 4000th anniversary because of Calliope's imprisonment)

20th of December: Kurt Wagner + Warren Worthington III, gn reader (they both have a crush on you and have a verbal fight over you)

23th of December: a Christmas special fic with Pin Hawthorne, fem reader (everyone thinks he likes Zoe and is going to ask her to Mistletoe Ball, which makes reader jealous but also insecure of herself)

26th of December: Kaz Brekker, gn reader (Prompt A6. “Ugh, people are so weird.”)

After New Years, these fics have been queued:

3rd of January: Jaskier, gn reader (you think he has feelings for Yennefer because the two have befriended)

10th of January: Luke Patterson based on "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" from One Direction, gn reader

A word of warning that it's pretty angsty/bittersweet. My next JATP piece will be fluffier, promise!

I have no active wips going on right now but I'll start working on the next one soon (which will come out on 17th of January), I'll try to write as many as I can before Sunday because after that I may not be able to write much (or not being able to finish anything) for two weeks as I'll be at my mum's and my laptop is over 4 years old so its battery is half-dead.

Also a little note about my posting pace because I know some of you may think it's too slow: this may or may not be temporary. It depends on how much I'll be able to write and within what timeframe. If my queue has fics for the next 5 weeks, I won't have to stress about being late on the schedule because I'm trying to get myself back to writing regularly after a long slough because I finally have motivation again, even when I'm kinda struggling with writing and constantly change up words, write sentences again, erase, write the original one, erase, write the second one, erase, erase the whole paragraph, altering the scene. I KNOW most writers have this exact same problem but it wasn't my problem earlier, my writer friends have always admired me for that, how I've been able to write good text with minimal editing and now editing takes twice as long as writing 😅

But yeah there will be times when I can't bring myself to write because of one reason or another, especially when it's likely that after I come back from London in March, I will be pretty convention-depressed and may not have much motivation to write, and it would be nice to have time to readjust by having my queue safe and I won't have to "stress" about writing immediately. I know that all my non-toxic readers understand that me writing for free means this isn't a responsibility and I can do this as much or as little as I want, but it brings me peace when I know there's fics coming up and I have schedule that's on a sturdy ground. I'm still regretting how I ended up spamming all my 2022 autumn-2024 January fics here in February because of that one angry ask about wanting to see new stuff instead of fics they've already read, that I'm clogging their dash with my old stuff and then my resolution was just spam them all at once so it will drown under all the other posts soon enough, a genius plan endeed... (sarcasm). A lot of people blocked me that day, so won't be doing that ever again 😅

Though, depending on how much I'll be able to write before the con, I may schedule a few extra fics for that week 👍🏻 (3rd of March-10th of March) But again, not promising anything until I can be certain I can handle it.

[cosmictapestry]

25 and 38 for the writer asks??

25. Which fic do you think is your saddest?

i think it's gotta be "the heaviness we've known," my only trigun work... like obviously both "we, divinity" and "i want to be well" deal with heavy shit but in the latter case it's a deeply hopeful story and in the former the point is that The Love Was There Even If It Didn't Change Anything. "the heaviness we've known" is just like. dismal. in my opinion. the love wasn't there when it needed to be and now the distance is insurmountable and your kid only comes home when he needs maintenance which literally requires you to hurt him. like og my god

38. Pick three of your fics and share a song to go with each

GREAT FUCKING QUESTION THANK YOU

i often make entire playlists for fics so this is difficult for me. to narrow it down.

okay i don;t think i ever mentioned it but you know the first part of the first chapter of "benediction" with the little fight on the beach? i listened to rory by foxing OBSESSIVELY for that shit i literally think it's so perfect. like so WHY!!!!!!! DON'T YOU LOVE ME BACK!!!!!!!!!! juzt insane, CRAZY, you KNOW that;s what dream's about because dream's CRAZY, but he's all stoic and teary about it but you should be a little bit scared. because he's fuckijng scary. love this song

then idk if it counts because it's the second chapter ofthe same fic but yeah the second chapter of "benediction" from morph's perspective is i don't mind if i'm with you by brian fallon...... i paid for my sins 'til the blood filled the room i don't feel any better now i don't mind if i'm with you...... you've been a light in the hallway in the dark of my room....... okay. okay. and i LOVE the juxtaposition w/ rory. that's mental illness babey

and then "trinity" is a bit odd to me because i listened mostly to strangers by raj ramayya. which is strange because the fic is sex and the song is not sex. but it really speaks to lucien's longing and his grief and the weird bittersweet love he finds with lucienne and morpheus. and the song and the fic are inextricably linked in my head now. so when will it end so when will we meet my friend..... thematically it's there i think. ouchie

[rriavian]

Oh I’m FOREVER weak at the knees for a good forehead touch…could I please get the prompt “pressing their foreheads together” for a Lucienne or Calliope pairing of your choice? Doesn’t have to be romantic either! Thank you <3

First Flight (2340 words) by Korzhel Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022), The Sandman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Gault/Lucien | Lucienne (The Sandman), Dream of the Endless | Morpheus & Gault, Gault & Jed Walker, Dream of the Endless | Morpheus & Lucien | Lucienne Characters: Gault (The Sandman), Lucien | Lucienne (The Sandman), Dream of the Endless, Dream of the Endless | Morpheus Additional Tags: Getting Together, Prompt Fic, Requited Love, Mutual Pining, Gault's complex relationship with identity, Gault's complicated relationship with Dream, The Dreaming Realm (The Sandman), Post-Season/Series 01, introspective, Forehead Touching, Kissing, bittersweet but happy ending, Canon Compliant, and minimal spoilers, somewhat of a character study Summary: The last time Gault saw Lucienne she stole a kiss.

Sorry it took a while to finish! This really grew from the initial prompt and I really hope you enjoy it <3 thank you so much for the prompt!

[maelstroms-blog]

Sandtober begins

Day 1- Dream

The tears of Morpheus would give you such bittersweet dreams.

Please accept my dream, done in markers, acrylic and gold

It was fun, even if it didn't turn out right.

[kittttycakes]

I want to hear about 'strange' 👀

Heavily inspired by a YouTube comment that concludes with “how strange it is to be anything at all,” strange is a non-canonical as heart for heart one shot off-shoot focused on the aftermath of the Kindly Ones. Newly immortal but human Dream; Grace and Hob picking up the pieces; definitely some bittersweet angst-ing vibes but also hope and love in there, too.

Here’s my new few sentences added in:

For a moment, Morpheus imagined what it would be like, to allow her to show him. What did she consider the things that made life worth living? He could guess, but he did not know, he realized. Perhaps, after all, he would like to find out.

[drifting-pieces-blog-blog]

Breaking down the comics: End of dreams (Issue 12)

Moon Knight, Issue #12: The Nightmare of Morpheus

Written by Doug Moench and drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz

Let’s head back to 1981 when Doug and Bill were still on the team. 

So originally I was only going to review a few key issues. And then I just… did them all. But I skipped a few of the early ones that just didn’t strike me as key. Or ones that just didn’t click with me when I initially read them back in the day. 

This was one of them. Which was a bit of a disservice because it introduces Morpheus, who ended up being a big deal as far as his recurring or vital villains go in the early run. Then he came back later in Mackay. To those that didn’t read the early runs, they just didn’t understand where Morpheus was coming from or why it was bittersweet to see him go the way he did. 

I’ve already reviewed subsequent Morpheus issues and we’ve seen the death of Marlene’s brother at the hands of Morpheus, which lead to a major blow between Marlene and MK and MK and his own self doubt. 

So let’s go back to the start. 

We open on an office building at night. Dr. Peter Alraune is working late. 

"And in a way, it's all my fault... And now that Markham is missing, I'm even responsible for his disappearance." He thinks to himself. 

"He must be in torment by now...Half-mad with anguish, unable to sleep, unable to even close his eyes, stumbling through the streets in a perpetual daze...He could be anywhere out there in the city...Anywhere at all." 

We see a man in a trenchcoat moving down the street towards Peter's office. He tries the door to find it locked. 

The man reveals a clawed hand and he breaks the window. 

"Locked doors can't hide Alraune from me...Nothing can hide him from the vengeance of Morpheus!" 

Peter decides that despite his 'professional ethics', he has to report the disappearance. 

He calls the police to report his patient is missing. Just as he's about to give the name, the man in the trench coat bursts in. 

"You! Markham! But...But that black field! My god--What happened to you?!" 

The man in the shadows unveils himself to be a terrifying looking creature. 

"You happened to me, Dr. Alraune...And now I am about to happen to you!" 

He pleads with Markham, "I warned you of the risk, Markham! Your disease was completely unknown--An uncontrolled breakdown of chromosomal structure--" 

Markham claims the experimental drug reacted with the disease and mutated him, turning him into the monster before us. 

Dark shadows emanate from Markham to wrap around Peter's neck. 

Peter again points out that Markham did sign a release and knowingly took a drug that was untested. 

Yeah, because logic is going to get him out of this situation. 

Markham claims that he is unable to sleep. Unable to close his eyes and unable to dream. 

"It deprives a man of his psychic need for dreams..And it drives him mad! But those psychic dream energies must go somewhere, Doctor--They must be released somehow..." And more dark shadows emanate from him. 

"In my case, thanks to the effects of your drug, that psychic dreamstuff has become a tangible physical energy...The Ebon sleep-energy which even now squeezes the life from you!" 

It tightens around Peter's throat. He claims that he can put others to sleep and force them to dream, or he can put them in a 'permanent sleep'. 

Alluding to the Greek god Morpheus, son of somnus, we see where he gets his new name from. 

Just as he's about to off poor Peter, the police arrive. 

Markham, now Morpheus, blasts Peter once more before he flees the scene. 

The next night we see Moon Knight returning to Grant Mansion. 

As he lands, Marlene rushes out to meet him. 

"Quick, Steven--I just got a call from the hospital--They've been trying to locate me all day! It's my brother, Peter--He's badly hurt! We've got to get down there!" 

Now, we it's interesting that to this point we've only really seen Marlene and don't know anything about her family. She was the one following her father out to the dig sites and into the desert in Egypt. Also interesting is that she was hard to locate. Meaning perhaps her brother didn't really know her location or her standing with 'Steven Grant'. 

Moon Knight pulls off his cowl, "Of course, Marlene. Just give me time to change to Steven Grant." 

It's these social situations that always call for Steven. Jake never goes anywhere with Marlene and Marc isn't invited. Steven is the socialite. He's the one that knows how to be proper and deal with adult situations. 

At the hospital Marlene demands to see Peter, claiming that she's his only surviving family. 

When she is finally let in to see him, we find him in poor shape. 

He struggles to tell her that "Morpheus...Patient named Robert Markham...Rare disease...Experimental drug...turned him into a monster...Tried to kill me...For revenge and.." It's more than he can take and he slumps back, slipping into a coma. 

Steven tries to comfort Marlene and take her home, but outside the hospital the police have gathered and are shooting at someone. 

Morpheus has arrived at the hospital. He uses his dark powers to deflect bullets and toss about cars. He will have his revenge! 

Steven rushes off to change and Moon Knight introduces himself the Moon Knight way. 

He's doing fine. 

Morpheus attacks and drains Moon Knight. 

Moon Knight tries to keep attention on himself and away from the crowd of people nearby. 

It works. 

He’ll be fine. 

But you see, the more he uses his powers, the more the become depleted and the big show with the police and with throwing Moon Knight around has worn him out. 

He runs off again to recoop. 

As Moon Knight extracts himself from the car, Marlene runs up to ask if he's alright. 

"Be serious, Marlene... After he made me look like an amateur?" 

He's so hard on himself all the time. 

He tells Marlene to go home while he heads to Peter's office to look through his files for Robert Markham. 

And to Peter’s off we go where we find DETECTIVE FLINT! And my all time favorite panel. 

Let me introduce to you Detective Flint. This man has put up with so much. 

(six through the window entrances on the counter now) 

I love how Flint just rolls with the fact that Moon Knight just crashed through the window behind him. Could have used a door or opened the window of the crime scene... But no. 

Still, he just invites Moon Knight to come in and do his thing. 

Let’s take some time to devote love to this man. 

He introduces himself. He knows vigilantism is frowned on, but he could care less. Flint figures it's help or watch them do it anyways. 

He tells Moon Knight the details on the medical experiments and lets Moon Knight do his thing in the files while he has himself a cup of coffee. 

And I just appreciate the way this page is done. Flint making his coffee so meticulously, looking so tired, and Moon Knight just digging through the file cabinet in the background. It's beautiful. It’s also a brilliant way to lay the ground rules of the bad guy and move the story along without a lot of investigating and exposition. 

There's this beautiful respect here. Moon Knight is used to dealing with people that don't trust him, that give him a hard time, or that just refuse to work with him. 

He instantly takes a shine to Flint and I must say that I do too. 

Also Moon Knight totally just jumped out his broken window. 

Moon Knight returns to Grant Mansion to find a hysterical Marlene. 

"He's still in a coma, Steven. He's my brother and I hardly even think about him--And now he may be dying!" 

"My brother. Steven, do you understand?! You've got to stop Morpheus--You've got to!" 

Yeah... It's safe to say he understands. Considering that Marc's brother Randall was killed a long while ago early on in the Moon Knight career before he got his own comic. 

Elsewhere, we find Morpheus gloating about being stronger than even Moon Knight. 

It's dawn and Morpheus finds himself drained, but now he rebuilds his Ebon energies. 

Come nightfall his energy has rebuilt to a dangerous level. 

Each night that he fails to sleep the more his energy builds. 

He concludes that if he waits a week he'd be able to destroy the hospital and Moon Knight. So he decides to unleash his energy robbing banks in order to build a palace for himself in the meantime. “A dream palace”. 

Look, I never said his plans were coherent. 

It’s a sleepless man with no eyelids that walks around shirtless all the time. He’s going to be a little eccentric. 

So he goes and blows up a bank. This attracts a little attention. 

Moon Knight gets the drop on Morpheus and punches him in the back of the head. 

Then Morpheus uses his powers to fling Moon Knight around a little. 

Look at this dramatic man. He’s so hard on himself! 

…Oh no. Not the zoo. Moon Knight no. You know you and animals never ends well… 

I really wish I had kept a count of the number of times Moon Knight is attacked by animals. 

Yeah that seems about right. 

He manages to get away from the panther. Just a little torn up. 

Morpheus taunts him to take his best shot. Moon Knight throws his truncheon past him to ricochet off a wall and bean him in the back of the head. 

Unfortunately for Moon Knight Morpheus still has a load of power and he blasts Moon Knight away. 

Worn out but desperate not to lose again, Moon Knight makes a break for the caretaker's building. 

Cornered in the building, he puts his plan into action, he tells Morpheus to just finish him. 

At the last second, Moon Knight doges out of the way and Morpheus strikes the generator. 

The electrical backlash runs up his Ebon energyand strikes him right in the eyes. 

The light negates his dark energies and strips Morphus of his powers. 

And Moon Knight takes advantage of Morpheus' lost powers to knock him out. 

The police are called in to clean up. 

Flint shows up and we've got a buffed out but exhausted Moon Knight with a panther clawed up mask and this man...

"You're a good man, Moon Knight. Now you'd better split. Before I'm forced to ask questions. I hate questions. The answers never cut it." 

"Yeah. Well take good care of him, Flint. --And make sure you have the "Do not disturb" sign on his bedroom door knob." 

Moon Knight is such a cad. 

They transport Morpheus to the hospital where he is sedated. They note they have to sedate him 8 hours every night forever unless someone comes up with a cure. 

Many days later, we come to Marlene waiting next to her comatose brother, who finally wakes. They are reunited in a hug and end issue! 

OKAY! So why did I skip this issue in my original review run? I’ll be honest: I was never a Morpheus fan and my memory is terrible. I forgot about Detective Flint and the joy of the panels I included here.  Aside from introducing Morpheus and Detective Flint, not much actual Moon Knight advancing in character actually happens here (if you discount him sobbing to himself in a crumpled heap about being a loser). 

And you know, maybe it was a happy accident that I skipped this one till now. It works now that MacKay has killed off Morpheus. Now you can see his start. We know that he comes back and there’s a huge run with Moon Knight hallucinating about being on the moon and then he comes back again to kill Peter, which I feel is the starting point of sending Marelene into a spiral that eventually does lead her to pull away from the Moon Knight system. 

Considering this is issue 12 and so close to the start, we are trying to build up a villain base for our new hero. In classic comic book fashion, they are looking for villains that can come back again and again and up the stakes each time. And, Morpheus did do that. He has scary powers, a scary appearance, and Marelen’s brother is often at stake (until his death at Morpheus’ hands). 

And I’ve said it before, but the thing about Moon Knight villains is that they are weird. They aren’t typical and don’t have the personal vendetta that, say, Spider-Man villains have. They tended to just come out of nowhere and have their own issues that may or may not make sense, and then they disappear for long stretches at a time. 

The most common villain in Moon Knight’s roster tended to be mental health and self doubt. 

And while Morpheus can now be looked back on and given an approving nod, it feels sad now knowing that all of Moon Knight’s original villains have been killed off in today’s runs. Making room for bigger and better villains with higher fight value and bigger stakes. 

But a part of me can’t help but miss the old villains. The old stakes. The way they challenged him in ways that were more than fists and weapons. And perhaps, it feels like the old Moon Knight is fading away too. Or more still, perhaps we lost the old Moon Knight many years ago as the writers lost sight of where he came from. With the death of Moon Knight approaching in the current MacKay run (We shall see how future me looks back on this once it is all said and done), is it a way to kill what has been done and finally start fresh? A way to bring back something lost? Or is it a way to finally put an end to the dreams of the past? 

[ao3feed-corintheus]

The Price of Knowledge

The Price of Knowledge by Kind_ohne_Eigenschaften Years after Dream of the Endless is captured by Roderick Burgess, the Corinthian has come into possession of a powder that will ensure his creator can only speak the truth to him. The nightmare is ready to finally get answers regarding his own nature and that of his relationship to Dream. Or is he? Words: 2637, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: The Sandman (TV 2022), The Sandman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: The Corinthian (Sandman), Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, Desire of the Endless Relationships: The Corinthian/Dream of the Endless, The Corinthian/Dream of the Endless | Morpheus Additional Tags: Angst, Feelings Realization, Truth Serum, Implied Previous Emotional Abuse, Emotional Outbursts, So many emotions, Set during Dream's imprisonment, Bittersweet Reunion, desire is desire, The Corinthian fucks around and finds out, Dream can't hide behind aloofness, Everyone Needs a Therapist

[ashke-e]

Into the Gaimanverse...

Taking care of the wide scope of my fixation, I listened to Sandman's audiobook (yep, this with Michael Sheen as Lucifer). But my brain couldn't let go…

What if…

A Hope in Hell is issue 4 of the Sandman comic series. Created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Drigenberg, released February 28, 1989.

At Morpheus' request, Lucifer summons 10 million demons to the fields in front of his palace. Including one very specific one. Crowley isn't thrilled, he doesn't know what all the fuss is about. Some kind of helmet. Whatever. He cannot show that he actually knows the Lord of Dreams. He visits his kingdom very often, in fact he spent the entire 14th century with him…

Meanwhile, the action intensifies and a real fight begins in some bad bar. Crowley sees his chance to gain advantage from Satan, comes over and talks (probably about his son, the confrontation was in 1988, the book apocalypse sth about 1990…).

I see Crowley commenting sarcastically on the fight, I'm sure he bet Lucifer that Morpheus will win because his opponent will lack imagination. I already have the end of this conversation in my head, and some bittersweet thoughts about dreaming of heaven.

Imagine all of that with Micheal Sheen's voice... as Lucifer Morningstar, with his long blond curls...

To write or not to write...

[melancholypancakes]

This is about Aphrodite telling Morpheus off and why they stopped being friends all those centuries ago.

Aphrodite:….

Dream:….

Aphrodite: Oneiros.

Dream: Aphrodite…I

Aphrodite: No, I don’t want to hear your excuses. You are going to hear me now.

Aphrodite: first, it was Nada a defenseless princess who fell in love with you, and when the sun punished her for being with you and killed her kingdom. She killed herself and when she refuse becoming Queen of the dreaming you banished her to hell?!

Dream: I-

Aphrodite: Then calliope! You two were great for each other! She made a child for you and her! When Orpheus beg you for help you denied him and left him for dead! He never forgave you! You drove calliope away, she was heartbroken!

Aphrodite: Titania, Alianora and Thessaly. Those women you abandon them when your “love” faded Thessaly saw through your lies and façade!

Dream: Aphrodite, you don’t-

Aphrodite: No! I’m not finished Oneiros. Our friendship, You never let me express my feelings! That is why we stopped being friends!

Dream:…I thought we stopped being friends because I said humanity is selfish and cruel.

Aphrodite: sure, that was bad but it was mostly because you were a shitty friend!

Aphrodite: Oneiros, you are so shallow, selfish, sexist, deceitful and you don’t know what love is!

Aphrodite: I always listen to you going on and on how you hated your siblings and how humanity was so selfish.

Aphrodite: But for a second when I express how I was unhappy in my marriage with Hephaestus, my relationship with my sons, Ares Arrogant, selfish attitude and Adonis death which shattered my heart.

Aphrodite breathes out on the verge of tears. Just thinking about Adonis and all her sins.

Aphrodite: you always cut me off and threw off it like it was nothing! I tried to help you with your happiness, love and friendship I have given you! But it was never enough.

Aphrodite: You treated me like dirt! Like I was nothing to you, I was your only friend and I stood up for you against your family and the gods!

Aphrodite: Its no wonder your family doesn’t like you! Or you don’t have any friends!

Aphrodite: at least, I acknowledge I was awful parent, lover, wife and goddess but you. Pretend it’s everyone else’s fault and not yours!

Dream, looks at Aphrodite with his glossy eyes as he tried to keep his composure.

Aphrodite: What makes this mortal witch, Y/n L/n any different?… all you’re going to do is break her apart like the others.

Aphrodite: What makes you think you’re worthy of love?

Dream:…Because I’m trying to be better. Aphrodite, listen more and ask for help more and that’s all thank to her.

Aphrodite:….

Dream: she accepts me for who I am. She doesn’t change me nor ask me of my past, she show me how humanity isn’t always cruel. She showed me ways to be better.

Dream: She’s different and…I deeply love her as she loves me, I’ve never felt this way about a mortal woman like her before.

Aphrodite looks at Oneiros for the first time in centuries with pity and forgiveness. Maybe they could put all this anger, sadness and betrayal behind them?

[rriavian]

Transmutation (4580 words) by Korzhel Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022), The Sandman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death Relationships: The Corinthian/Dream of the Endless, The Corinthian/Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, The Second Corinthian/Daniel Hall, Daniel Hall & Lucienne, Daniel Hall & Matthew the Raven Characters: Dream of the Endless, Dream of the Endless | Daniel, The Corinthian (Sandman), Lucien | Lucienne (The Sandman), Matthew the Raven Additional Tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Bittersweet, Grief/Mourning, Hope, Identity Issues, Requited Love, Spoilers, author works through her feelings about the comic ending, Canon Compliant, Getting Together, I'm not entirely sure how to tag, Dream's plans within plans, sometimes a god has to matchmake themselves, sometimes a god looks at a broken universe and thinks 'I can fix this', sweet but sharp, Post-Book 9: The Kindly Ones Summary: In the days leading up the The Wake, Daniel tries to discover what—and who—he is. The Corinthian faces a similar struggle.

(Very nervous about this one because I've been trying to edit/post it for days. But a big thank you to @bobbole and @windsweptinred who both inspired this, I hope you enjoy it!)

[smallandangry24]

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading the Sandman… but I wonder if Delight became Delirium because she missed her big brother. Not only because she couldn’t find it in her to be joyful with him gone, but illusions of the mind and a sleepy wonder was the closest she could get to him.

[ajokeformur-ray]

This is such a gorgeous and bittersweet fic. I love how Morpheus validates the grief by not sugarcoating it and uses reader's words to comfort them 🥺 you write him so perfectly I can hear his dialogue in my head🥺🥺🥺

Furry Comfort [Morpheus]

Summary: You're having a bad day after you start to miss your old life, and Morpheus knows just what to do.

You didn't exactly know what had gotten into you again today. Anything in particular hadn't happened, but today had felt horrible from the moment you opened your eyes. Getting up felt like an unbearable thought, so you stayed in bed.

Maybe it was stress. When Death made you immortal, you hadn't thought it all the way through. You just saw Morpheus and your cotton candy dreams of being his wife to all of eternity. It kinda was a shock when your family and friends started dying from old age, sicknesses and accidents... and you were left alive and feeling helpless, being unable to do anything about it.

The last person who you had held dear while you were a mortal had passed a few decades ago, but sometimes the guilt got to you. You wondered how people who loved you reacted when Death told them you aren't in afterlife. Feeling regret about it at times, but not enough to ask to reunite with them. You loved Morpheus, you had gotten new people you loved and you couldn't have both sides of your life.

Morpheus heard you sobbing softly in your bed at your apartment, and he sighed quietly as he sat down beside you.

"What's wrong, my love?" He whispered, caressing your hair.

You turned around and buried your face into his chest, sobbing harder.

"I just... I miss my old life." You sobbed, rubbing your eyes with your hands.

"Tell me?" He asked gently, running his hands down your back.

"I... I miss my old friends. I miss my family." You sniffled, trying to hold back more the tears.

Morpheus's heart broke, hearing your pain.

"I know. But they're gone, my love." He sighed.

You nodded, letting out a few more sobs.

"I... I miss my home, I miss my workplace, I... I miss my cats." You sobbed, the tears coming in waves now.

"I'm sorry, love," He whispered, still caressing your hair. "I'm so sorry you had to lose all of that. But I promise you that I will take care of you for the rest of the universe. I promise."

You sniffled, snuggling into his chest. And after a while of laying there against him, you felt how he suddenly became soft and fluffy. You looked up and saw a giant cat looking back at you. You blinked at it and the creature let out a soft purr and nudged your forehead with its own, and you realised it was Morpheus.

"I didn't know you can turn into a giant cat." You managed to chuckle with a hiccup, petting his head.

"I can turn into anything you want." Morpheus said in your head. "Anything you can dream of."

You nodded before snuggling back into Morpheus's fur and he let you. He purred quietly as he laid there with you, which was most likely an involuntary thing. But it made you know he enjoyed being there and cuddling you just as much as you enjoyed it. It made you smile softly and feel much better, as you slowly drifted off in his arms - or paws - and saw the most pleasant dream of reuniting with all those people you missed.

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