#Cage of Endless Dreams

[caged-nights]

🥀The Shadow in the Mirror🗡️- ONE SHOT [Pre-Stellarium]

⚠️CONTENT WARNING⚠️: Hallucinations, Delusions, and Graphic Depictions of SH

A rewritten piece of one I did back in 2022. This was originally supposed to be a quick piece to showcase Venueri's destructive tendencies that turned into 5 pages of nonsense very quickly.

As the TW above says, please keep in mind that there will be heavy SH in the story.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

✧ Sitting at the vanity in her expansive yet so empty bedroom, Venueri stared at her reflection with slight contempt. 

VENUERI: [“Look at yourself…”]

✧ Brushing the parted bangs more to the side, her eyes locked onto the marking that decorated her forehead. 

✧ Her brows furrowed,

VENUERI: [“...why did I inherit this?”] 

✧ With her pupils akin to slits and her vision going out of focus, she could hear the voice of someone play in her head.

MALUM: [“I love your markings, Venueri! There’s no need to feel shame over them.”]

✧ Such simple words, words that would once bring her comfort, now made her nauseous. 

✧  She gripped the edge of the vanity with such strength that her claw-like nails made new grooves in the wood. 

VENUERI: “Calm down… Calm down…” 

✧ An useless effort, she knew that, she has done this before. 

✧ Feeling something move behind her, she manages to shoot her eyes back up to the mirror before her. 

VENUERI: “!!!!” 

✧ She froze in place.

MALUM: “...Venueri.”

✧ She couldn't make a sound as her winged ears lowered in panic and fear. 

✧ She felt like she was going to vomit.

MALUM: “Why did you do it, Venueri?”

✧ Those were words that have haunted her for years and years. 

✧  The shadowy figure stared her down from over her shoulder as she tried to mutter out an answer. 

VENUERI: “I…I…I didn’t—” 

✧ The shadow shook his head.

MALUM: “I trusted you, Venueri.”

✧ Her hands trembled as he spoke.

MALUM: “You betrayed me.” 

✧ The shadow moved closer, making her want to curl up and hide. 

MALUM: “You could have saved me. Us.”

VENUERI: “What could I have done…?” 

✧ The part of her mind begging her to think spoke out before an onslaught of laughter came from behind her. 

✧ Their whispers like the cicadas in the summer buzzed in her ears before a hand gripped her shoulder

MALUM: “Ven… I’m right here.”

✧ She looked into the blurry face of the man behind her, his smile managing to feel the same as it used to.

✧ With her shoulder tense and her breathing becoming short, she waited for him to speak. 

MALUM: “You’re… a protector, right?” 

✧ His smile was charming, 

MALUM: “Why didn’t you help us?”

✧ The water began to well in her eyes, 

VENUERI: “I…” 

MALUM: “Surely we were worth protecting.”

✧ Every word was another bullet wound to the chest. 

VENUERI: “I couldn’t save you… Mother would have—”

✧ She could barely get that out before the Malum that stood by her now began speaking again. 

MALUM: “Why did you allow her to do such things?”

✧ She knew the answer to that. 

VENUERI: “Nothing could have been done; Mother’s words are absolute!”

✧ She glanced back at her own reflection for a split-second. 

✧ She looked horrified.

✧ Malum shook his head in seeming disapproval. 

MALUM: “Absolute? Simply because she labeled herself as a God?”

✧ Tears made themselves known as they dripped down her cheeks. 

VENUERI: “She punishes us if we don’t!”

✧ Images of her sister’s arm being ripped clean off her body in a ruthless display by their Mother flashed for a moment as if to remind her of her place. 

✧ Somewhere deep down, however… 

MALUM: “You deserve such punishment.” 

✧ She somehow agreed. 

✧ As if commanded, her eyes take their focus off the mirror and to a knife that laid only somewhat hidden under a cloth. 

✧ It’s the least she deserves. 

✧ The voices of others chattered endlessly as the shadowy figure of Malum gestured to the clean knife.

MALUM: “You know you do.”

✧ Like she was possessed, her hands reach for the knife while the chorus of voices grew. 

✧ “You deserve this.”

✧ “It’s only fair!”

✧ “You should have saved them.”

✧ “You’re too weak to do anything.”

✧ “You’ll never be able to protect anything you love.”

✧ Her fingers wrapped around the handle of the knife a little too tightly as she brought it closer to her person. 

✧ While her grip was choking, her hands still shook.

✧ She hesitated for a moment, 

MALUM: “You know, it really makes me happy when you bleed.”

✧ Any other state of mind and Venueri would have known those words did not belong to her dear friend.

✧ But, here– now…

✧ The tip of the knife met with the pale, porcelain skin of her arm.

VENUERI: “I deserve this…It’s the least I can do…” 

✧ The blade slices open in a clean line. 

✧ The jeering and mocking voices become softer as her world seems to spin. 

✧ Another cut is made hastily. 

VENUERI: “I’m sorry.” 

✧ And another. 

VENUERI: “It should have been me.” 

✧ Soon, the warm red of stardust and nebula blood is dribbling down to the hardwood floors and onto her nightgown; her whole arm is covered in large gashes. 

✧ The sight and scent of her own blood made her feel dizzy.

VENUERI: “I’m a monster; a demon– a devil.”

✧ The knife in her hand moved from her arm to the marks on her hands. 

✧ The knife made quick work in mauling up her hand as she sucked air in through her gritted, sharp teeth.

MALUM: [“I love your markings, Ven—”]

✧ Markings…

✧ Those words from the past made her look up into the mirror once again. 

✧ Markings….

✧ Her eyes lock onto the mark on her forehead.

MALUM: [“The Goddess is your Mother?”]

✧ Words like knives come flooding to her head. 

✧ Snarling and throwing the knife down, she opts for her sharp nails. 

✧ She no longer bothered to hide her sobbing as her nails like claws scratch and claw at her forehead. 

✧ The stardust and nebula red drip down her face while she wails, 

VENUERI: “Why?! Why?!”

✧ What she was exactly asking and to whom was beyond even her.

✧ Her tears and blood mix together, the stinging of her wounds making her even more delirious. 

VENUERI: “Why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be them?!”

MALUM: “Venueri, I—”

✧ She swore she could hear Malum saying something, the outside world felt so far away even though he was right there. 

✧ The voices of the others whispered mockingly, of how she was repenting, of how her blood and suffering was so small compared to those she had failed. 

✧ Hands laid gently on her shoulders, urging her to look up. 

MALUM: “Venueri.”  

✧ He opened his mouth, but she didn’t hear anything. 

✧ Just the crackling static and nonsense filled her ears.

VENUERI: “I’m hopeless;” 

✧ She spoke to the reflection in a daze. 

MALUM: “Venueri.”

✧ He speaks her name again. 

VENUERI: “Worthless.”

✧ She looks at Malum’s reflection as it twists and contorts. 

✧ The smile he wore filled with blood, dripping down his face. 

✧ The bloody holes she had left him with start taking up his body.

✧ So… many… holes…

MALUM: “V e n u e r i…”

✧ She could see that he was wrapping his arms around her, but she couldn’t feel him. 

✧ She was numb. 

✧ The Malum that stood before her met her eyes, somehow, in the mirror. 

✧ The words he would say synchronizing with those of the past long gone. 

MALUM: “I love you—” 

✧ And within a flash—

✧ All of them vanished. It all went utterly silent.

VENUERI: “What?” 

✧ Bewildered, Venueri goes to stand from the chair. 

✧ Her eyes, now dull and lifeless, glance around the room.

✧ Where did they…?

✧ The weight of a thousand suns seemed to suddenly fall upon her, getting heavier with every step she took around the room. 

✧ When she finally made it to the large bed, all her strength was spent, and she fell over onto the covers. 

✧ Her eyes drooping, she somehow still finds the energy to mutter to herself. 

✧ Her questions to her Mother and her pleas would fade as she slowly allowed the urge to rest finally overtake her. 

✧ Closing her eyes, her consciousness would fade, allowing her a small moment of peace. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

*:･ﾟENDﾟ: *

[five-and-dimes]

Sad thought; what if Dream doesn’t immediately give Hob any sort of explanation for why he was late and so Hob just assumes it’s because Dream was still mad at him? He’s scared to bring it up in case it scares Dream away again and things seem to be going so well between them.

Then one night, he gets drunk and asks Dream, “So, what made you decide to forgive me?”

“What?”

“What made you forgive me 133 years after I put my foot in my mouth and called you a friend – sorry about that, I know I had no right – but why now? Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy you've forgiven me. But I’d sort of figured, if I did ever see you again, it would be in 2089 to make sure I really got the message.”

(wow I am The Worst™ I just straight up forgot to answer this my b)

Tbh that would be SO in character for Dream. Like, especially cause he's so bad at fucking communicating, I think Dream would do his whole "It seems I owe you an apology, I've always heard it impolite to keep one's friends waiting" and in his head is like "nailed it. Hob 100% understands that that sentence was me apologizing for 1889 and explaining I didn't miss our meeting on purpose. Could not be any clearer. I am So Good at this."

I honestly think, especially if Hob is drunk when he brings it up, the conversation would mostly be just. Just confusion. Dream like "What are you talking about I apologized for that?" and Hob like "yeah but why then like why 133 years?" and Dream is like "because that's the soonest I could see you?" and Hob "yeah but what changed why were you suddenly able to forgive me enough to face me?" just back and forth for like. half an hour. Just two idiots on completely different pages.

Eventually they'd get to the angsty part of Hob "I'm terrified of saying the wrong thing and scaring you off again" and Dream "oh did I not mention the cage? yeah there was a cage this one time"

They cry and hug obvs.

[evilkaeya]

The first thing Hob’s students notice about the mysterious stranger attending one of their classes is that the guy looks like an anemic goth angel sent from above. The second thing is that he listens to Hob’s one of many 40 minutes long anti Shakespeare rant with the fondest heart eyes.

[aceofwhump]

@whumpgifathon | Day 15: "Locked Inside"

The Sandman, 1x01, Dream of the Endless

[allwillbecomeclear]

... 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥...

[teejaystumbles]

it’s still Halloween so have some more gory dreamling :P

For 24 long hours, when John Dee held Dream’s ruby, the world sank into madness, sleeplessness and nightmares.

Listen.

Hob Gadling dreams. He is in a dark stone basement. Moonlight through a skylight far above illuminates a broken glass sphere, large enough to hold a man.

There is a creature inside it, crouching between shards of glass. Hob steps closer, fascinated. The creature looks like a man, yet is not. Its limbs are impossibly long, its skin is white as marble and stretched tightly over visible bones. Its face is a face Hob has beheld only a handful of times but would know how to draw with his eyes closed, if he had any talent for such things. It looks like his stranger but its body is so strangely-shaped that he struggles to believe they could be one and the same. Its eyes are pools of black tar with red embers glowing in their depths. Hair that shimmers like raven’s feathers and black spider’s silk sits on its head like a crown, unruly and wild. Hob has fantasized about the feel of that hair. Despite himself he takes another step, still unsure. Can this really be…?

It watches him as he steps closer. Then it opens its mouth and releases a low and trembling moan that shakes the basement’s foundation and makes the hair on Hob’s arms stand on end. Needle-sharp teeth glint in a beam of moonlight and in a second the creature is upon him.

Hob falls to the floor on his back with a grunt, long white bony claws clutch at his chest and tear at his shirt. He stares up into the bottomless eyes and pleads:

“It is you, isn’t it? Let me help. I can help, I can…”

The creature snarls and rips straight through his shirt and tears bloody gashes into his chest. Hob hisses in pain and grapples with the creature’s – his stranger’s, he’s sure, it has to be – claws and shoulders to hold him off.

“Please, wait, what can I do-”

Needle-sharp teeth bury in his shoulder and he howls. Claws are ripping him open, digging deeper inside his chest and Hob sucks in desperate breath after breath, gasping in pain. The teeth release him and his stranger’s handsome face stares down at him with blood dripping from his lips and chin.

Give me Give me more so cold cold COLD

It shivers against him and Hob fights against the pain and lifts his arms to embrace the skeletal monstrous form of his stranger, draws painful breath to say:

“I’ve got you, I’ll hold you, I’ll warm you, please, I’m here-”

Stay stay STAY get me OUT of here give me more I NEED MORE hungry hungry cold cold HUNGRY

Sharp clawed fingers pull his ribs apart and soft lips and nose bury in his neck and pant against him as he screams. Hob is dimly aware that this must be a dream, it has to be. He has never held consciousness for so long under such physical strain and having his rib-cage opened is a first but he’s pretty sure he would have blacked out a while ago. His stranger is pushing at him as if he’s trying to crawl inside him and Hob can only shake and gasp for breath and pull him closer.

Closer Please closer more deeper deeper you you you HOB please

“Anything...anything, for you…” he whispers into unbelievably soft black hair, chokes on his own blood and coughs, pushes trembling fingers into bony shoulders to hold his stranger as he shakes and buries his face in Hob’s open chest to feast, to wear him like a mantle-

Hob HOB HOB

“Yes…”

“Hob…”

The stranger’s voice is suddenly different, no longer a rush of sound into his brain but a voice his ears register. Hob fights through the pain to open his eyes. His stranger looks at him, his face full of Hob’s blood, but his eyes are wide and glinting with now white stars in their midst and there is sanity and recognition in them.

“Ah… hello old stranger...” Hob wheezes and smiles. With a glance at them both the stranger releases Hob, a frown marring his beautiful features. He waves his right hand and suddenly the pain is gone. Hob looks down at himself and sees no blood, no torn open chest. His stranger stares down at him, now clad in a black shirt and trousers. He still has Hob’s blood on his face and Hob shivers.

He lifts his hand and brushes it over his stranger’s chin.

“You still got…”

His hand comes away bloody and his stranger’s eyes widen, he sucks in a breath and then the blood is gone.

“I am sorry, Hob. I did not wish for you to experience any of this.” he says in a voice full of sadness. “A madman held control over the dreaming for several hours. This was...a very personal nightmare that latched onto you. I apologize.”

Hob tries to think. “Oh...so this was your nightmare?”

His stranger cocks his head and then lowers his eyes. “Yes.”

“Why...why would it latch...onto me then?” Hob asks and waits with baited breath. Part of him is thrilled. His stranger is here, and even if it’s a dream, he knows it is real.

Lips like rose petals part and tremble for a second before giving him an answer.

“Because this is my nightmare. You, here...and me, like that.”

His stranger sighs softly and steps back.

“I was...imprisoned. For a very long time. When I escaped I left this part of me here… I could not control it. And you stumbled upon it. Of all the nightmares that exist, you had to find this one.”

He shakes his head angrily and turns to leave.

“There will be no more bad dreams tonight, Hob Gadling, I promise. Sleep well.”

“Wait!”

Hob desperately reaches for him, grabs at his shoulder and pulls him back. His stranger frowns at him but waits. Hob releases a nervous breath.

“It wasn’t a nightmare. Not to me. I would…” he swallows heavily. “I would give you all you need. Anytime. Anything. I mean it.”

The stranger stares at him, lips parted, looking taken aback, if Hob where to guess. Hob feels himself blushing, feels his heart tripping and beating loudly and gives a helpless smile. He releases the other’s shoulder and looks at his feet.

“Sorry. I, I just wanted to tell you. I...hope to see you again. Soon?”

He lifts his eyes to his stranger’s face again with so much hope it’s choking him. Twin stars glitter in eyes like black tidal pools and a tiny smile plays at the edges of the stranger’s lips. A voice like dark velvet is the last thing Hob registers before he is sinking into soft dreamless depths.

“Very soon, Hob.”

[weaverofdreaming]

[smallandangry24]

The cage it’s fucking Pandora’s Box I —

[cosmictapestry]

dream: i mean maybe it wasn’t even that big of a deal. i’m barely mad about it anymore. and i’m a better person now right. so maybe it was like, necessary. i keep forgetting to breathe which makes me panic and i never want anyone to see me naked ever again and i don’t really see myself as important beyond my function anymore but like. whatever yknow?

matthew: fholy shit dude.

[mayflowersfly]

I was listening to Zettai Kibo Birthday today, and boy was Nagito thristy (for Hajime/Izuru)

And that made me realize, the DownBad Voidpet fits Nagito so well.

"Down Bad is a popular pet who is sure to call you its best friend. This jovial creature can always can be found with a smile on its face, sniffing at you eagerly while begging to be played with. Your Down Bad is sure to love you unconditionally, but, as its companion, you must be careful dealing with its fragile sense of self. Down Bads that express unrequited love can suffer from low self esteem, and may display aggressive behavior towards others."

Of course, it doesn't neatly all fit in like a glove. But still, as someone who likes playing Voidpet (Garden) and love Nagito, this thought is extremely amusing for me.

He's a Deviant Fire Vivid because he exploded two buildings. And he likes quality time and sitting in silence. (ignore the birthday)

Though, as per my normal Voidpet naming conventions(I literally have a voidpet called "Ray's Literal Lifetime of Pain")

I called him "Nagito's Endless Love For Hajime"

I would've used "Absolute Love" instead to hint towards "Absolute Hope" Birthday but alas, text limits.

Nagito why do you like eating beat up styrofoam cups-

If you don't like DownBad for Nagito, hey there's also Desperate. Which is also another dog-like voidpet.....that looks quite similiar to DownBad...

"Desperate is a hardy scavenger that can survive in tough conditions and eat virtually anything. Some are solitary hunters, but others band together and hunt in packs. If you are giving your Desperate lots of love and abundance, be patient. It will take some time for it to get comfortable and wean off of its survival instincts."

Honestly, I kinda headcanon that Desperate would be voidpet Servant!Nagito lol

And there's some interesting implications with how Desperate's eyes kinda look like palm trees.....almost like the first time Nagito met Hajime as himself is in a place full of palm trees- after being a Remnant of Despair..... wink wink

This is what happens when you merge two of your hyperfixations.

[fleabagoftheendless]

I am absolutely a sucker for fanfics where Hob or the other Endless siblings save Dream. But there is just something deliciously satisfying about Dream saving himself 😌

[caged-nights]

💐Tea and Comfort🌿- Stellarium ONE SHOT

⚠️Content Warning⚠️: Slight warning for intrusive thoughts and hearing voices

A little thing I cobbled together because I wanted Meliora and Venueri to have dessert together and instead of doodling it, I wrote this! A little messy, but it was fun to do something sweet with them.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Ღ Venueri was used to being alone, ever since she was young. 

Ღ She would have never guessed it in a million years that the stars would bless her with the company of another after all this time. 

Ღ  She truly didn’t deserve it.

Ღ But here she was, waiting at the small, ornate outdoor table for the first Villicus she has seen in a long time to come back with her “surprise”. 

VENUERI: (“I don’t know why she bothers…”)

Ღ  Well, with her. Venueri didn’t see why her new roommate seemed to enjoy her presence. 

Ღ Not that she didn’t enjoy her company, it was more so…

Ღ She felt that she was a lost cause.

???: “No one should ever get close to you.”

Ღ A voice sneered at her, one she had grown accustomed to. 

Ღ Before she could dive deeper into that rabbit hole, the sound of her gilded heels came clicking on the white stone leading to the gazebo.

MELIORA: “Venueri! Sorry for the wait, had trouble figuring out the stove!” 

Ღ Her vibrant violet eyes that contained a sky similar to Venueri’s seemed to sparkle with excitement. 

VENUERI: “O-Oh, it’s not an issue! Please, come have a seat.”

Ღ Setting down the trays with grace, Meliora sat down on the chair across from Venueri. 

Ღ Venueri looked up from her lap finally and to the trays she brought. 

VENUERI: “You made tarts?” 

Ღ Quite surprising.

MELIORA: “Yup, you said in the past that you had trouble tasting certain flavors. So, I made something sour!”

Ღ She remembered that?

VENUERI: “Oh, you didn’t have to!” 

Ღ She was slightly embarrassed by feeling… seen, almost. 

Ღ But Meliora grinned and waved her hand, 

MELIORA: “I wanted to, besides, you need something indulgent for once. What did you have last night before we went to bed? …Bread?”

Ღ So she saw her do that. 

Ღ Venueri felt herself turn pink at those words, trying not make eye contact with the other. 

VENUERI: “I promise I do try to cook real food sometimes…” 

MELIORA: “...You do remember the last dish you made, right?” 

Ღ Oh, yeah, that.

VENUERI: “Please don’t mention it.”

Ღ Venueri sulked openly, the embarrassment still fresh on her mind. 

Ღ Meliora chuckled at her pouting before grabbing the teapot she had prepared for the two of them.

MELIORA: “I didn’t know what kind of blend you like, so I hope the one I chose is ok.” 

Ღ She plopped in two sugar cubes into her teacup, the scent of the tea rose into the air. 

Ღ It was really nice, actually. 

VENUERI: “It smells wonderful! Which one is it?” 

Ღ Meliora smirked in a victorious fashion, as if she was betting with herself on this. 

MELIORA: “It’s called Hot Apple Spice, you seemed to be really into the Autumn season when we went out last time, so I grabbed a bag!”

Ღ She could smell the apple and cinnamon, there was also the slight scent of orange and cloves in the mix. 

Ღ Meliora grabbed Venueri’s teacup and a small plate. 

MELIORA: “How many cubes?” 

Ღ She clicked the little sugar cube tongs as she asked.

VENUERI: “I, um, the same amount as you?” 

Ღ Meliora wasn’t pleased by that answer, 

MELIORA: “Do you like it more bitter or sweet?” 

Ღ Venueri sat straight up, as if she were being interrogated.

Ღ She put more thought into this answer this time. 

VENUERI: “I suppose sweet to pair with the sour of the tarts…”

Ღ Meliora nodded her head, grabbing a few sugar cubes and stirring her tea with the small, detailed spoon. 

MELIORA: “You do seem like more of sweets girl!”

Ღ She grins happily as she carefully handled one of the baked tarts she made. 

Ღ The scent of rhubarb and strawberries filled her nose, and the plate and teacup were gently set in front of her. 

Ღ Venueri stared at the tart like it had eyes, but she picked up the teacup and let the aroma fill her senses.

Ღ She had to wonder…

Ღ Why would Meliora bother with her?

???: “She’s just wasting her time on you.”

Ღ A voice mocked her from somewhere. 

???: “She would be better off kicking dirt.”

Ღ The shaking of her own hands became apparent to even herself as they continued to shout and insult her. 

MELIORA: “Venueri?”

Ღ Of course she would notice, she wasn’t doing a great job at hiding her panic right now. 

Ღ Venueri tried to calm down, to level her breathing, but even as her vision blurred– she couldn’t get her mind to cease the voices. 

VENUERI: “I…It’s ok, I’m just a little on edge…” 

Ღ Meliora wasn’t stupid, she knew that, but it was the best lie she had. 

Ღ But she approached Venueri regardless, her hand urging Venueri to put down the teacup and lay her hands down.

MELIORA: “Venueri, it’s alright, focus on me.” 

Ღ Venueri didn’t want to, but her voice was so warm, so compelling, that she looked up at Meliora’s face. 

Ღ Meliora’s hand gently squeezed her own, her violet eyes filled with indigo clouds and a warm yellow moon stared back into her own sky filled eyes. 

Ღ Venueri keep finding the one question bubble its way back up the surface of her mind as Meliora ran her thumb across her knuckles.

Ღ Why does she bother?

Ღ What did she have to gain from this?

Ღ Venueri was so confused, by this warmth and concern. 

Ღ It felt like an axe embedded in her chest. 

MELIORA: “Here, the tea isn’t caffeinated, the warmth might help ease your head.” 

Ღ She slowly let go of her hand and pushed the tea towards her, 

VENUERI: “...”

Ღ She was silent for a moment before she took a small sip of the tea. 

Ღ The warmth did feel nice. 

Ღ Meliora was quiet, but she didn’t leave her side. 

Ღ As the panic of her head slowly leveled, Venueri felt a bitter feeling come up in her heart. 

Ღ She finally decided to ask.

VENUERI: “Meliora?” 

Ღ Her eyes widened at Venueri. 

MELIORA: “What is it?” 

Ღ She looks at her fellow Villicus, 

VENUERI: “Why…”

Ღ She starts, almost stopping and burying her emotions deeper. 

VENUERI: “Why did you do all this?” 

MELIORA: “...Huh?”

Ღ She clearly didn’t get it.

VENUERI: “The tarts, the tea, the concern…” 

Ღ She listed a few of the most recent examples. 

VENUERI: “There has to be a reason you’re doing all this.” 

Ღ Meliora smiles though, she smiles with a sadness. 

MELIORA: “It’s simple, really.”

Ღ She looks down at Venueri, who looks up at her.

MELIORA: “I like you!”

Ღ She scratches her cheek in embarrassment, leaving Venueri flabbergasted. 

VENUERI: “L-Like?!” 

Ღ She could have dropped her teacup right there. 

Ღ Her eyes wide with confusion, while Meliora chuckled at her unusual expression. 

VENUERI: “You don’t know me though.” 

Ღ She knew if Meliora knew her… then…

Ღ Meliora didn’t let her finish that thought. 

MELIORA: “Even if I don’t know everything, I want to know more.” 

Ღ She smirks; honestly… 

VENUERI: “Do you not think that I’m… a disaster?”

Ღ A lost cause. 

Ღ A broken tool.

Ღ Meliora shrugged it off. 

MELIORA: “Even if you were, who am I to say that’s a bad thing?” 

Ღ Venueri blinked at that statement.

MELIORA: “If you’re a disaster, then I’m a hurricane!” 

Ღ She seemed… proud of that. 

Ღ Venueri finally let a smile slip through, even if it was small. 

VENUERI: “Meliora?”

Ღ Meliora tilts her head,

MELIORA: “What’s up?” 

VENUERI: “...Thank you.”

Ღ She snickers, a sound Venueri welcomed. 

MELIORA: “I barely even did anything, but you are welcome.” 

Ღ Venueri and Meliora look to the tea and treats on the table,

VENUERI: “Ah… my little meltdown took over our teatime. The tea most be cold–”

MELIORA: “Worry not, we have fire magic for a reason.” 

VENUERI: “We are not using that in the gazebo.”

Ღ That made Meliora laugh out loud.

MELIORA: “Then we better eat up!” 

Ღ She grabs a fork and cuts a piece of the tart. 

MELIORA: “Here, open wide!” 

Ღ Venueri felt her embarrassment peak as the fork was placed at her lips.

VENUERI: “Meliora! Are you serious?!”

MELIORA: “What? I want you to try it!”

Ღ She was playing dumb.

Ღ The sounds of the two bickering and chatting filled the expansive garden. 

Ღ Even with the clean white walls, the white marble, and pristine stone that made the world of Venueri’s Somnious feel so holy yet unwelcoming…

Ღ The warmth the two began to share filled the Monastery with a light that it had never seen before.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

₊˚ପ⊹ - END

[asofterdream]

it isn't the storm that makes the ocean dangerous.

[kaijuscientists]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dream of the Endless/Hob Gadling, Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling Characters: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Hob Gadling, Lucien | Lucienne (The Sandman), Matthew the Raven Additional Tags: Kidnapping, Torture, Drugs, Blood and Injury, Beating, Interrogation, Protective Dream of the Endless, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Whumptober 2022 Series: Part 2 of whumptober 2022, Part 1 of help me make the most of freedom (and of pleasure) Summary:

Sometimes, no matter how careful Hob Gadling is, someone, somewhere is paying enough attention to realize that he's different.

[evanthefunky]

Im certain Dream wouldn't have gone to see Hob in 1989 if he hadn't been in the cage. Had to develop and all that. Sure, maybe something else would have happened and he would have gone, but like. I dont feel like Dream would have gone.

[yandere-wishes]

Alice in Marvel-land

𐙚Yandere! Deadpool (Wade Wilson) x Reader x Yandere Wolverine (Logan Howlett)

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ In some worlds, you were Logan's little darling. In others, you were Wade's starry-eyed lover. But here in the void, there is only one of you and two of them.

⁀➷ GORE, yandere behavior, kidnapping, Deadpool being Deadpool.

⁺₊𝄞₊⁺ IDK, probs the Deadpool and Wolverine soundtrack

Logan feels the world slipping away.

Piece by piece, atom by atom.

In a blink, he's falling down darkness.

An endless rabbit hole.

What was the name of that fairy tale you liked so much?

The one with the girl who gets lost in splendor?

The dust is kicking up, framing the sunset portrait along the horizon.

The envoys are nearly home, this time they've brought someone back. The cage balls chime along the unsteady road. If you squint just far enough you can almost make out vibrant specks of red and yellow.

Strange, the void tends to wash out bright colors. Well, it tends to wash out just about everything.

You scrape your nails along the skeleton's sockets. Leave crescents in the decaying cartilage. "They're almost here" you call out awaiting Cassandra's next move. You watch dolefully as she's transfixed on a portal. The sparky thing unfurled like a fresh wound, strewing salt on persistent lacerations. She watches her brother, or well some variation of her brother. Surrounded by his new family, surrounded by those he loves. He's forgotten her, or maybe never even knew her. You think that the latter would hurt the most.

"Cassandra" Your voice rises in octave, this time getting her attention. "They're here".

"Coming" She sings, voice so chip it almost sounds like unshed tears. You send a final glare at the portal before it collapses on itself.

If you tried hard enough, maybe you could bring yourself to understand her pain. Those pesky notions of desperation for someone to love. But it

doesn't matter now everyone you've ever loved is dead anyway. And unlike Cassandra, you've long since given up on the childish dreams of being rescued by someone who would offer up love so freely.

"Maybe shut up now"

Logan's nerves are frying. Thin strings snapping with every syllable that leaves the red merc's mouth. He's starting to appreciate Stryker in a way he didn't even know he could. The man was a psychotic sadist but at least he knew when to sew someone's mouth shut. Maybe he can convince this Cassadra chick to do the same.

Logan's eyes are almost at 90 degrees of a roll when they stop. He stops, frozen. In the gaping mouth of the rotting skull, something all too familiar stands.

Or rather someone.

Someone he knew.

Someone he loved.

Your name tastes bitter on his tongue. All death and whisky.

Maybe cause it's been so long since the attack. Since he walked off for the night and left his family to die. Cause the last time he saw you, you were a mangled corpse laying in an open grave. Deadweight as he cradled you in his arms.

You walk closer. Face painted in too many shades of confusion.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Damn, he's started quoting that stupid book again.

"How do you know my name" You ask. You look just as beautiful as he remembers. Spine carved straight in pride with perfect lips, perfect eyes. His talons itch to glide across your soft skin, to feel you so intimately once more.

"LOOOGAN did you see what the bald chick just- HEY!!"

It takes too much effort to pull his gaze away. To stare at red and black and be reminded of cruel realities. But Wade has a tendency to be a persistent ache, some unwelcomed anchor to every problem he's ever had.

Only this time when he actually looks at him. Looks at the jittery body that's stilled abruptly. He can't help but be glad that he did. A bitter laugh bubbles in his throat. Maybe Wade's shut up for good this time.

He always knew you were special but this is truly a miracle.

"IT'S YOU!!"

Nope, didn't work. He knew he couldn't be that lucky.

Wade whispers your name, a forgotten prayer. Logan didn't even know the loudmouth knew how to pray. But he seems to almost soften when he sees you. That feral, cheeky killer, looks so so soft when he stares into your doe-eyes. Reaching out zealously to twirl a lock of your hair around his blood-soaked finger.

He can almost feel Wade choking on your essence, heart erratic, like a child finding a lost toy. He's drowning in ecstasy, and Logan is almost tempted to join him. You're here, a breath away. So close it's taking every ounce of self-control not to pull you to his chest and keep you locked between his arms until he finally dies too.

"Penunt look that's my girl!!"

"Your girl!?"

He had taken you for granted as he tends to do with most peaceful things. The realization had occurred a little too late. Right as he had been emptying a round into the target of the week's head.

He lands.

Arms high like an Olympian pleasing the crowd.

He wonders if he can make you cheer for him.

Clap and shout his name as he twirls around the mess he's made.

He wants to feel loved, although he'll never say it out loud. He's only ever been good with words when they're laced with sarcasm and profanity.

And maybe 'I love you' is just about the most obscene thing he can ever say to someone as sweet as you.

Wade plays the white rabbit, fluffy coat stained red from every kill. Tricking poor Alice into following him down cruel rabbit holes. Making you chase him through labyrinths then leaving you at every turn. He leads you to every kill, makes you watch as he dances in slaughter. He can even feel your eyes right now. Starlight slicing him open to quench vulgar interests.  

Alice always follows the rabbit.

He stalks closer, white eyes fixated on your deliciously bewildered expression. Precious thing caught in a warzone. He can almost taste you on his tongue, the sharp tip of a star slivering the inside of his mouth, soft hands painting crescent moons along the back of his neck. He needs to carve his essence across your lips, to pour the after-kill adrenaline into your soul. He needs you.

Only this time...

This time he'd been too distracted. So caught up in claiming you as his victory prize that he didn't notice the grizzled man clinging to life...

And a pistole.

The bullet punctures his shoulder. An afterthought.

But the lead keeps going.

Penetrating the air until it lands bunglingly between your eyes.

You fall into his arms.

Deadweight.

Did the white rabbit ever miss Alice?

Did he ever realize how truly special such a curious girl made him feel?

He doubts it.

Doubts that a stupid rodent would have better emotional stability than him.

He's been given a second chance. A whole plethora of them actually. He's been deemed holy, righteous. And aren't gifts of marvel bestowed upon the truly blessed? What better blessing than the sight of you standing amongst the sand and skulls?

Good to see your affinity for dainty dresses spans across all universes...

He lets the blood trickle down his claws.

What else is there to do but dream of you?

It's the fourth day of his massacre and he's lost count of how many humans he's killed. Maybe cause after the first hundred the faces tend to blur.

He leaves your pleasants in between the rotting carcasses and broken glass. Only taking the torturous parts of you. The things that can hurt him. The sharp edges that he can slit his pulse point on, the vague memory of your glare before you cried. The soft skin of your neck between his jagged teeth.

Enough to keep the hate burning.

He wonders if the creatures of Wonderland wept after Alice left. He wonders if Wonderland lost its wonder.

But now you're standing here.

Alive.

And he wants so badly to remember the sweet taste of your lips. The soft push against his chapped lips as he swallows you whole. Even desperate rabbits can go a little feral. His eyes take in every breath, every scowl.

Alive.

Alive.

Alive.

Good to see your affinity for dainty dresses spans across all universes...

Aliath skids forward, mystified in lightning and smoke. You feel your bones collapsing under the rugged man's, Logan's, vice grip. You thrash and scream trying to break free but he only barks out orders to his friend before they take off running.

"Your safe, don't worry we got you." There's a comedic cadence to every word Wade says. You can almost fool yourself into enjoying it if the two weren't actively attempting to defy Cassandra, to defy Aliath, to defy deities and absolutes. To ripe you away from the only semblance of opulence you've come to know.

"Let me go, you custome-wearing freaks." His gripe tenses. "Don't struggle so much, we said you're safe, now hold still" Logan's anger ripples through you. It's almost muscle memory to still, to obey.

Did you know him? Know them?

In some past life too out of reach?

The ground shutters to a jagged rhythm. You're flying up, escaping the misty horrors of the ground. Your head pounds with the force, air slapping across your body as you taste the cotton of the clouds between your teeth.

Is this how Alice felt as her head hit the roof?

Wade mutters about the stars and educated wishes. About people who live and matter. Logan slices through his thigh, the mercenary's optimism making his body ring with phantom pains.

No one matters.

And when they start to, they die.

There are cruel absolutes in this world. He's tasted them all. Let them slice his tongue and heart and danced to every tune they've sung. He rips his claws out and digs them into Wade's chest.

Again

And again.  

Wade savors the salty tang of blood inside his mouth.

Licks his teeth and runs his tongue over the gaping holes.

He's sitting in the front seat head rolled back.

High off the blood and adrenaline and the thought of having you so close.

"I take it all back, the Honda odysseys fucks hard"

Bones crack, interrupted mid-heal as Logan turns his head to glare. "Shut up" he rasps and Wade almost, almost, hears approval.

There's a low moan reverberating across the broken car. Late night sleepy mumble that's half 'I love you' and half 'I need you'. Neither one has heard it in such a long time.

"Finally awake sleeping beauty? Kinda surprised you could sleep through all of that" Wade shimmies to the back, only to be greeted by your foot smashing into his face, cracking his nose open, and sending a fresh wave of blood into his mouth. He pins your knee to the seat and wiggles himself between you. caging you with his elbows as he stares down at your pretty face. "Miss me, angel baby?"

"Wrong fairy tale" Logan turns around in his seat, claws out running them across your cheek "Please stop, just let me go" you've never begged before, never fallen so low. But these two things, mutants, mutates, or whatever they are, scare you. Reckless, suicidal, dangerous. You feel so helpless in their presence. Never knowing you're to be kissed or killed.

"You're as lovely as I remember" The melancholy colors him in a monochrome of sympathy. Here is a man who's gone through every horror and still gets out of bed. Or maybe he has to, maybe he can't quite die and can't quite reach heaven. So he gulps down his immortality with black coffee to at least pretend he's being buried six feet deep. "Even after all this time I still love you" You almost melt in his brown eyes. So lonely, so desperate.

Kill or kiss

You want him to do both. Want to kiss extinction on his lips while being impaled by the claws. Kill or kiss.

Both, both, both.

"You know~" Wade pushes himself up, "I think your dress should be red...and black. To match your favorite man."

"Who the hell said you were the favorite?" Wade leans forward, in a blink he's gripped Logan's wrist and lunged the Wolvarine's claws into your abdomen.

You writhe, the bones and metal feel almost heavenly inside of you. When he retracts the claws you moan out, it's too saccharine to hold back. Everything feels so much lighter, colorful. You feel your essence slipping out, gushing over the back seat.

Red waterfall, so pretty.

Dress stained red.

"Told ya so!"

Wade pulls you roughly by the shoulders and smashes his lips against yours. He's so cute, fickle Cheshire cat, tongue dancing across your mouth, slitting itself on your peaked teeth, and filling your mouth with thick red caterpillar smoke. "What the hell is wrong with you? You really are God's perfect idiot" Logan's anger is tangible, sweet, and bitter like hatter tea at midnight.

"S'okay Logan, it feels nice" Your words slur, slipping gauche from your tongue as you giggle profusely. You feel like Alice cracking open Wonderland's ribs, crawling inside, and smearing the wonder across your face.

"When I used to read fairy tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one" You've heard these words before, Alice's words. she's right. Your fairy tale is painted red with pretty, crazy, princes who think that slicing open a princess is easier than kissing her. You reach out for Logan, desperate for a kiss. "eat me" you mutter, and Logan's face morphs into pure terror "Wade what the hell have you done to her?".

"What? It's better this way trust me"

"I hate you"

Logan bends, meeting you halfway. He kisses you with all the wary of a dead man walking. All teeth and heart and bitter memories left to rot three lifetimes ago. He pushes himself between your bones, trying to carve out his ethos in your body. He'd burn the world so long as he gets to keep you.

You squeeze your thighs around Wade's muscular thighs and hips unlocking a gibby giggle from the man. His mask is half pulled up as he trails sloppy fervorous kisses across your neck and chest. The nostalgia slithering under your skin has you squirming, you've been through this all before. In a past life somewhere where storm monsters and voids don't exist. "Remember how good this feels?" Wade mumbles as his fingers dig into your puncture wounds, drawing slow, desperate moans from your puffy lips. You don't dare answer you don't know what would be worst admitting to liking the loudmouth ministrations or admitting there were other versions of you out there, other happy versions.

"Oh for hell's sake," Logan reclines the front seat and shuffles closer. Pulling down the back of your dress. His kisses are bite marks in disguise rabid and feral, the two things the man will never escape. His name rolls across your tongue, you let it slip in an airy moan. "No fair " Wade complains "I want you to say my name too." He pulls out his baby knife and etches the skin of your thighs. Scribbling doodles of stars and half hearts and the little symbol he wears on his belt. "W-wade" you gasp never knowing whether to scream in pain or giggle in bliss.

Logan laughs into your neck. You didn't even know he was capable of such a gentle thing. You bite his lip playfully. Dragging your fingers across his muscular arms. Your thumb pushes into the space between his knuckles asking for the claws. For the most macabre parts of him. You glide your tongue across the parish where flesh meets metal. Kissing the metal and bones and lapping at the blood. Watch curiously as he draws out a long airy sigh. "Good girl" he mumbles voice marred with ecstasy and you almost see the ghost of a smile smear across his pretty lips.

Wade's thumb gently rubs against your hips. Softly usering you into peace, tranquility. Your eyes get heavy, the car gets blurry. The grotesque realignment of their bones steering you into a deep, content sleep.

"Hey Peanut, you think Alice in Wonderland here would mind if we keep going? "  

"Shut it, moron "

"Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if only I knew how to begin.”

🎀Bonus

Deadpool: "Do you think the author's going to write about us again? Or is she planning to finally write that Dune fic she keeps talking about?

Wolverine: "I have no fucking idea what the hell you're even talking about.

🪐@yandere-romanticaa @bad4amficideas @sugarplumz100 @oscarissac2099 @facelessfionna @siphite @tocotuesday69 @linoleunm @mei-simp @shamelessdarkprince @gabriqllas @lovely-liliacs @shiroi-asashin17 @failinguniversity