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[ezrasfics]

Chapter 1.2 of my fic. Part one here.

This kinda turned into a hob-venting-to-dream thing but I hope it's okay! I really like it, and a lot of people look over the fact that Hob thought dream had abandoned him, and I wanted to explore that? So here u go. (There's so little of Ezra's original idea in here help, I hope it's implied enough)

Hob had never minded the state of his house, living for 8 centuries meant he collected a lot of things, and never had anywhere to put them, but suddenly he had this sudden urge to clean up. For fuck's sake, the anthropomorphic personification of dreams was coming to his house, he didn't want to be seen as messy in front of Dream.

Hob fidgeted with his keys, "I hope you don't mind, could you just wait here for a moment? It's… pretty messy in there," a nervous laugh followed as he waited for confirmation.

Dream furrowed his brow, "I do not mind the state of your home, but you may clean up if you so wish, I will wait here," he said.

"I'll just be a minute, honest," Hob promised, and quickly slid inside. He rushed to his living room, trying to gather the items on the floor and put them on his shelves in some sort of orderly fashion. Running to the door, he made one last check, and something caught his eye. The mirror. Judging from how Dream has reacted to his reflection in a glass, maybe a mirror wasn't so good to have around. Deciding it was too much effort to move, he found a towel, and quickly draped it over the glass. He put away his dirty glasses too, just to be safe. Realising his friend was still waiting, he rushed back to the door, "Sorry I took so long, I hope it's presentable in here," why was he so nervous? It's just a friend coming to his house, nothing he'd never experienced before, "We can sit on the sofa if you'd like. Hey, have you ever watched TV? Incredible invention, I must say. Oh Dream, you have no idea what humanity has done in the past century!"

Dream sat, eyeing the black screen in front of him, "No, I have not, I have not been around for the last century, unfortunately," he said.

Hob realised his mistake, "Oh, shit yeah, sorry Dream, here I'll put the TV on, and then I can tell you all about it, yeah?" He felt guilty now, he could never keep his mouth shut, could he? Turning the TV on, he flicked to some mindless show. He doubted he or Dream were actually going to be watching anything.

The two spoke for hours - well, Hob spoke for hours. Dream merely listened, nodding and asking questions when appropriate - about all the things humanity had done the past century, good and bad: The wars, the weapons they created, so far different from what he knew back in his time. He spoke about electricity, the television, cars, technology; they spent a whole hour going through Hob’s phone, Hob showing Dream what every individual app does, even how to use google.

“Oh, and I'm a teacher now. History, would you believe? I love it to bits, I really do, but do you know how frustrating it is when you know an account is wrong, but you can't explain it to the kids? It's infuriating! Did you know they still study Shakespeare too? Came into my class one day after their English class, still talking about him. I swear to god, what bargain did you make with that man?” Hob stopped for breath. He forgot how much he loved telling Dream about his life. It was always one thing he knew he could look forward to.

Dream smiled (again!), “No deal as cruel as you are thinking, my friend. He believed he could make other men dream, and I simply wanted to make that into a reality.”

Hob shook his head, “Of course, he always spoke about dreams didn't he? Is that what caught your attention?” Dream nodded. “You know, when you left me that night, in 1589, I was so jealous. Seems petty when I look back on it now.

Dream seemed surprised, “You… were jealous that I spoke to another man?” He inquired, head tilting to one side. For an entity out of human comprehension, he definitely acted human enough.

Hob realised his mistake, and felt his face get hot, “Well, when you put it that way, it seems really silly now. You- you were always just interested in me, and you were the only constant I had so… I thought you had… lost interest in me.” Hob didn't expect that answer to come out of his mouth, but it felt right. That is how he felt about it. He couldn’t shut up after that, “And then, in 1889, after our argument, I really thought you had enough of me. I thought I had worn my welcome. I was so sure that I would be dead soon after that, you know? I thought that was it, that's what I get to see, 500 years down the drain, just because I dared to imply you needed a friend. It got worse the next century. I thought maybe you had stood me up on purpose, that you were going to leave me immortal, but never speak to me again, leave me guilty and regretful of that night for eternity, and never relieve me of this… gift, no matter if and how much I begged.” He sighed out a breath of relief. “Wow, didn't expect to say that much.” Glancing over, he noticed his friend. Dream had sat there patiently through the entire thing, listening. He looked… upset? Guilty? Hob couldn't place the emotion he saw on Dream’s face, but it was definitely an emotion. So that's what it took? Hob ranting for a solid 5 minutes about where he went wrong? Wonderful.

Dream spoke slowly, as if he were afraid of his own words, “I am sorry, Hob Gadling. I did not mean to come off that way. I was… arrogant, and selfish back then. You were right. I have changed, and I hope you can forgive me for that. I also hope that my explanation for my… absence clears some of that confusion, for I did not miss our past appointment on purpose, as you know.” He looked up, and met Hob’s eyes, “I thank you for being my friend, Hob Gadling. And for everything you have… done for me.” he finished, eyes darting over to the covered mirror. He was thankful he didn’t have to look at his reflection, although they both knew he was too proud to admit that.

Hob slapped his knees, afraid of the awkwardness that was starting to appear in the air, “Well then, I’m sorry Dream, but it’s 6pm on a school night, and I still have to finish my marking, eat and get to bed at a reasonable time. Perhaps I can see you again, in less than a century?” he asked, hopeful. He was aiming for 50 years, maybe even 10.

Dream nodded, “I shall visit again soon, my friend. Perhaps much sooner than you think. May you have pleasant dreams, Hob Gadling.” And with that, he was gone, leaving Hob wondering how soon Sooner than you think really is.

[ezrasfics]

So I wanted to post the first part of the first chapter of this fic plan, and so here you go. Criticism is much appreciated, especially on how the two interact + the dialogue.

“So, my friend!” Hob starts. He doesn’t really know what to say now. The initial euphoria of seeing his friend has faded slightly, both sitting in companionable silence. “What have you been up to this past century? I hope it was important enough that you felt you could stand me up 30 years ago!” There is jest in his tone, but he's still curious. This man has met him every century for almost 800 years. Surely he didn’t not turn up just because of a petty argument? Right?

The tensing of his friend’s shoulders told Hob he was right. Something must have happened. His friend seemed to think for a minute, most likely trying to find the right words, “I… First of all, I feel I should tell you my name. I’ve heard it is appropriate for friends to know each other’s names." Hob couldn't contain his grin at that, silently encouraging his friend to continue "I have many names, but you may call me Dream."

"Dream," Hob repeated, savouring the way it felt to say. He definitely felt like he was dreaming. “Not what I was expecting, If I’m being honest.”

Dream cocked his head to the side slightly, “And what were you expecting, Hob Gadling?”

Hob laughed “Ah, I don’t know. Dream suits you, actually.”

“Thank you.” It’s small, but Hob hears it. “I suppose I should tell you what happened to me, shouldn’t I?” He sighs, pauses for a moment, “An occultist, a man named Roderick Burgess… Trapped me in a cage of glass and iron for a century. For 100 years, I listened to them beg. Beg for gifts they do not deserve. Wealth, power, immortality, even. It was humiliating, staring at my naked reflection in that cage, while men of all sorts watched me, bet on who or what I was, or when I would talk.” He took a sip of his drink, something he had never done when meeting with Hob. “I escaped only recently, and had to search for my belongings, which were stolen from me and scattered. My sister was the one who suggested I meet with you today, actually”

Hob didn’t know how to react. A hundred years? Did he have food? Water? Air? A single sentence came into his mind: But you can be hurt, or captured. A thought struck his mind, “Hold on, you have a sister?” Probably not the best response to Dream’s… situation. But it had caught Hob’s attention.

“Ah yes, Death. She is the one responsible for your immortality, not me.” Dream smiled.

“Hold on, hold on. What are you? How am I immortal? And why is your sister named Death, of all things?”

Dream huffed a small breath. A laugh, of some sort? “You are a curious one, Hob Gadling, I will give you that. My title is Dream of The Endless. I rule the kingdom of dreams and nightmares. When you sleep, you are brought to my domain, The Dreaming. I have many siblings, although I do hope you don’t have to meet some of them.”

“Dream of The Endless… That's definitely something,” Hob sips his drink. What else is he supposed to say in this situation? “Hold on, you said you got out recently? When?” he asked.

Dream thought for a couple moments, “Tuesday, I believe. In your sense of time, Why?” Obviously Dream did not see how much of a problem this was.

Hob simply sighed, resisting the urge to facepalm. This man would be the end of him, somehow. “Dream. It's Friday. You’ve been out for 3 days. Shouldn’t you be, I don't know, resting or something?” His arms were assisting his words, drawing attention from some of the customers. Dream didn’t respond. Hob looked away from the stares, at his friend. “Dream? Did you hear me?” Silence. He was getting a bit worried now. Dream’s hand was resting on the table, had he always been slightly shaky? He looked deep in thought, almost like he was analysing something. Oh. He waved the current waiter down, “Hey, would you mind cleaning this up for us? We’re in a hurry.” The waiter smiled and took their drinks, disappearing behind the Staff Only door.

Dream looked up, snapped out of whatever memory he had been in, “We’re in a rush, are we? Where might we be going, Hob Gadling?” He sat up, fidgeting with his hands slightly under the table.

Hob smiled. “Back to my place, of course. I still have 130 years of experience to enlighten you with, don’t I?” He stood up, and started leading the way. Looking back, he noticed Dream following him, he didn’t really expect him to actually want to go to his house, but oh well.

“Well then, we had better get going then. Lead the way, my friend” Dream smiled, following Hob through the doors of The New Inn.