#i just love bamf hob

[loverfriendsomeone]

something I've been daydreaming about

deaf!Hob

just, Hob navigating the centuries while not been able to hear and him having to learn how to exist in a world that was most definitely not made for people with disabilities (specially back then)

imagine how happy and amazed he would be at the invention of hearing aids, imagine how surprised he would be when, in their late meeting at The New Inn, he hears Dreams voice for the first time (because he can hear now!!!), like he imagined Dream sounded completely different, but he finds his voice suits him

imagine him gushing to Dream about hearing aids, and how lovely it is to hear peoples voices and not having to be always alert because now he hears when someone approaches

imagine him hearing for the first time, hearing children laugh, and hearing music, and just hearing people being people in a tavern somewhere in London

imagine him crying because he has always desired to hear his mothers voice since he was tiny, hear her telling him a bedtime story, but she never did because he couldn't hear it

imagine him wanting with all of his being to hear Eleanor telling him she loves him, and how much he would love to hear his boy Robyn laughing, and just being a child

imagine him as a child being scrutinized and ostracized in his village by the other kids because he is deaf

just, deaf!Hob finding comfort with being in silence and just feeling the ambient and the vibrations of sounds around him, but at the same time being just utterly dumbfounded because he can hear now

forgive me, i just love thinking about how he would have fared, and how he could have treaded the line of his immortality, and how his lack of hearing could have helped in getting to places and knowing things that hearing people dont know, because they aren't afraid to talk around him since he doesn't hear

[sourcerry]

I read a lot of fics where Hob takes a lot of precautions and effort to keep his immortality a secret and I love them. I also love the ones where he is a BAMF and can keep himself and others from harm (sometimes by harming others first or worse). But today I was at work staring blankly at my computer and wondered - what if he didn't do anything to keep his secret? I mean, he did get drowned as a witch even though he changed his name. So he just tells the truth and nobody believes him anyway.

"Shakespeare stole my date once. That's why I resent him." - yeah sure Professor.

"I am older than chimneys." - that's a really weird invention to relate to.

And every now and then he really gets kidnapped because of it. And he is pretty embarrassed but also kind of likes it, when Dream rescues him. He absolutely loves the forehead kisses he gets, when they're back home and Dream tucks him into bed.

[gabessquishytum]

Hob gets kidnapped and as he's slitting the throat of the last person alive, Dream stalks in, full on Nightmare mode, prepared to unleash his wrath upon the fools that dared take his human.

Dream freezes for a second when the scene registers: Hob, knife in hand, near naked, sporting wounds from his imprisonment and successful escape. He’s covered in blood, his own and that of his enemies. Bodies lie scattered across the room. Dream can smell the lingering traces of sedatives and unknown humans on Hob.

He growls.

Dream smashes into Hob with all the force of an undammed river. He lifts Hob, clawed hands under his thighs, without breaking stride until they hit the wall, Dream drowns Hob in fierce, bloody kisses all the while.

Hob drops the knife in favor of gripping Dream's hair, grinding insistently against the erection he can feel growing against his ass. He pulls his head back to speak. “Fuck, I need you in me,” he gasps. “Make me forget every touch but yours.”

Dream drags sharp teeth along Hob's jawline, traces the shell of his ear with a long, black tongue. “Patience, my vicious wraith. Your body will know only me before I enter you,” he croons.

First, he plans to lick the blood from every inch of Hob's body. Then, he will overwrite the wounds others have left with tooth and claw. Only when Hob bears the bruises and gashes Dream has granted him will he tenderly prepare Hob. He will call Hob back from the battlefield with gentle lovemaking, will soothe him with soft touches and playful kisses.

There will be nightmares later, but Hob will rest, safe in the knowledge Dream is watching over him.

Aww hell yeah! Bamf Hob, Bamf Dream, post-kidnap sex. I'm convinced that Dream would to see Hob being unhinged and bloody (although the circumstances could be better). He loves seeing his little human let go of all his civilised restraint and just going absolutely ballshit crazy.

Also, Dream should definitely use the blood of their enemies as lube when he finally enters Hob’s body again. All other traces that the captors left on Hob have been eviscerated but now Dream wants to use them to bring Hob pleasure. They are nothing to him now, nothing more than a tool that he can use to make Hob feel good.

Hob loves it all as much as Dream does (although he would prefer not to have been kidnapped and beaten up). He loves that Dream is so possessive and protective, and it almost makes the whole ordeal worth it when Dream literally licks him clean from head to toe.

And later, when he's in bed and shivering after a bad nightmare, Dream will be there all over again to hold him and kiss him and make him feel safe. They can love each other in so many different ways.

And being fucked up against the wall by his 7ft, sharp clawed lover, is definitely one of Hob’s favourites way to be loved.

[karalynlovescake]

Read a whole bunch of rescue fics last week - not Burgess fishbowl rescues but “whoops, Dream got kidnapped again, established relationship Hob to the rescue” fics and I’m all sure, ok I love me some angry “you kidnapped my husband you fuckers” BAMF Hob but why does everyone want Dream?

Wouldn’t some lunatic prefer to get … idk Desire? And didn't the Corinthian SPECIFICALLY name some of the Endless including Desire? Yeah, Burgess wrote that info down in some journal, and some ruthless greedy tech billionaire (I know, redundant adjectives are redundant) got the Burgess journals and is like “well if i can control what people desire I can make them Buy All The Things, I can make investors desire to give me all their funding, and also make all the 19 year old interns fuck me too? Sign me up!" So, let’s kidnap Dream’s LEAST favorite sibling.

And I really want to have Hob be like “what the fuck, babe we have to rescue your sibling” and Dream being all grumpy like “ugh, do we HAVE to?” And Hob be like “YES, do you remember how unhappy you were that none of them came to help you?” and Dream is like “I don’t know, suddenly I can’t read.” and Hob is like “I’m going to rescue them and you’re coming with me,” and Dream is like “whatever, FINE” and sulks the whole fucking time, just absolutely useless, refuses to help other than the minimal amount to keep Hob safe, just sulks in the background in giant nightmare form, all shadow and glowing eyes and pouting turned up to 11, and Hob is doing his BAMF thing left and right and Dream is sulkily deflecting bullets from him because god if he’d known husbands were such a pain he wouldn’t have gotten married. ok that’s a lie. and then they finally find the twins (because Desire and Despair are a package deal and they both got nabbed, and Mr. Billionaire didn’t know what to do with that) and Morpheus sees them and finally gets properly angry because ‘NO ONE GETS TO TORMENT MY SIBLINGS BUT ME’ and then it’s all over.

Desire knows who they really have to thank for getting rescued, and is now extremely well-disposed towards their brother in law.

[ml-nolan]

We made it, friends. The last chapter of Music When You Speak is up.

Hob needs reassurance. Dream has just the thing.

Music When You Speak (72083 words) by The_KickIt_Domain Chapters: 15/15 Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022), The Sandman (Comics) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling, Dream of the Endless/Hob Gadling Characters: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Hob Gadling, Death of the Endless, Matthew the Raven, Desire of the Endless, Delirium of the Endless, Roderick Burgess, The Corinthian (Sandman), Lucien | Lucienne (The Sandman), Jessamy the Raven, Alexander Burgess, John Dee | Doctor Destiny (The Sandman) Additional Tags: Rock Star Dream of the Endless, Musicians, Record Store Owner Hob Gadling, BAMF Hob Gadling, Dream of the Endless | Morpheus Loves Hob Gadling, Smut, Falling In Love, Stalker Roderick Burgess, Kidnapping, The Endless are a Rock Band, Alternate Universe - Human, Top Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Service Top Hob Gadling, Bottom Hob Gadling, Bottom Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Protective Hob Gadling, Happy Ending, Dream of the Endless is a Horny Little Weasel, Canon Typical Endless Sibling Dysfunction, light blood, Violence, Fistfight, Emotional Manipulation, Threats, BAMF Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, SpünkelCouchen, YAY WE FINALLY GOT THE SPUNKELCOUCHEN ----- "I should have asked you earlier, but I don't suppose you'll still be in town tomorrow?" Hob says. "It'd be lovely to see you again." The man truly looks regretful as he says, "We won't." It was worth a shot. They hardly know each other. There's no reason for the sick film of disappointment settling over him. "Ah, well. I'm happy to have met you anyway," Hob says, subdued. "Are you doing anything right now?" -- When incognito rock star Dream of the Endless drifts into Hob Gadling's record store, it's instant attraction. Neither of them expected things to get this serious.

[landwriter]

Oaths | Dream/Hob | 40K | Explicit | Ongoing Ch.8: My Lost Love (5.5K)

Falling In Love, Magical Realism, Dream is a Beautiful Fey Creature and Hob is a Handsome Bandit, Protective Hob Gadling, Protective Dream of the Endless, Historical References, Scotland, Middle English, Border Reiving, Adventure & Romance, Fairy Tale Retellings, Alternate Universe - Historical/Medieval/Fairy Tale, finding beauty in hard times, Oaths & Vows, Curses, Outdoor Sex, First Time Blowjobs, Frottage, Anal, Kissing in the Rain, really a lot of banging, Hair Braiding, Dirty Talk, Ballads, Duty, Friendship/Love, Mutual Pining, Miscommunication, Canon Echoes, Self-Denial, Repression, Tenderness, Confessions, Bathing/Washing, Strangers to Lovers, Lovers to Friends, Friends to Idiots, BAMF Hob Gadling, (absolutely fucking feral Hob Gadling), unhinged words and deeds, or: a man and a fey walk into a meadow and they're both equally insane

“Until now, I did not believe in faeries, and now I believe just as surely that you have been bewitched.” Hob laughed. “I knew you would say it. Aye, I fear I have been. I am changed.” He paused, and spoke again, soft and thoughtful. “But am I not better for it?”

Hob shares his secret, and tries telling a story. Prices are discovered, and paid.

[Read on AO3]

[valiantstarlights]

I SAW U REBLOG XEDGIN FANART HAVE YOU WATCHED THE DNDHAT MOVIE DID YOU LIKE IT DO U SHIP XEDGIN AND ARE YOU COOL WITH ME SCREAMING ABOUT IT TO YOU bc u are among my most favourite fanwriters EVER and I love ur blog sorry for scaring you. Did u like the movie

Hello! 😊

Yes, I have watched the DND movie, and despite my negative feelings towards WotC thanks to the OGL debacle (and other shady things that they do), I found myself enjoying every minute of it; even the credits, where we get a glimpse of the legendary sharpened gourd. 😂

As a rule, I can't help but love movies that feel like chaotic RPG sessions (like Guardians of the Galaxy and Pulp Fiction), so as soon as I saw the DND movie trailer and Xenk said, "Follow me to the orifice," and Edgin was like, "The orifice? 🤨" I knew there was a high possibility that I was going to love it. 😂

I mean, hello, plot aside, Regé-Jean Page as a BAMF Oath of Devotion paladin, who is autistic coded and is also bard!Chris Pine's love interest? Say no more. ✋️

Chris and Regé are both so attractive and they have so much chemistry with each other that I feel like shipping Xedgin is a given. 👀 And Xenk's little smiles that happen because of something Edgin said or did? Please. OTPs have been built on less.

That being said, my favorite character in the movie is actually Holga. 😊 Just, everything about her. 10/10 potatoes. 🥔

So uh...yeah. 👀 As a DM, I have some questions and quibbles about the movie. But as an enjoyer of chaos, I think it's excellent and deserves a sequel. 🥰

Please don't hesitate to yell about DND Honor Among Thieves! 😂 I remember my silly little addition to @kirkenovak 's post where Hob successfully convinces Holga to get on board with the quest to rescue Dream from his fishbowl, and I hope someone out there is writing this crossover fishbowl heist, because the Forgotten Realms is not my forte, but I sure would love to read a fic about it. 🖤

[roosterbox]

Fic Rec Friday 11/24/23

Title: Sing Me To Sleep

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: M/M

Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022)

Relationship: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling

Characters: Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Hob Gadling, Jessamy the Raven

Additional Tags: Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Traumatized Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Touch-Starved Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, BAMF Hob Gadling, Married Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling, Protective Hob Gadling, They're married but they don't know it yet, Fluff, Love Confessions, Happy Ending

Summary: Jessamy enlists the help of Hob Gadling to free Dream of the Endless.

———

Who doesn’t love a good ol’ Fishbowl Rescue story?

I think I gravitate to this particular subgenre of Dreamling fics for a few reasons. One: it seems plausible with the canon of the show. Even if their relationship is 100% platonic, you get the sense that if Hob had known where Dream was, he would have been all up in the Burgess’ business. Two: Hob getting to be even more of the BAMF we all know he is. Three: I just love a good rescue story, lol.

Also, an unexpected bonus to Hob rescuing Dream early is that, occasionally, it means that Jessamy gets to live. Which I always love to see.

The emotions are what really get me. The fact that Hob springs into action (practically literally) when he hears what has happened. The way they get all touchy-feely with each other when Dream is freed. Especially Dream, damn. And you will never, ever, hear me complain about a good old fashioned bridal carry. I’m quite predictable in that way.

In the end, these two silly immortal jerks have me in quite the stranglehold. And this particular flavor of AU is a very big reason why.

———

Next Week: how about something new? New for the recs, anyway.

Thanzag!

One of the rare canon queer ships, lol. Though this particular story is a very delightful AU, set in the modern ‘normal’ world. A sweet little slow burn that will have you feeling alllllll the warm and fuzzy feelings.

See y’all next Friday!

[teejaystumbles]

Flatter the mountain tops - A Dreamling fanfiction

Flatter the mountain tops - Dream of the Endless/Hob Gadling - Dragon AU - Mature - WIP

Summary: Dream of the Endless meets a young dragon who seems to feel quite comfortable among humans. 

“Who would choose to live like this?” Why would you choose this, he thinks but does not ask. He doesn’t need to, Hob knows what he means. "You could find out. You could come down here, once in a while, watch the people, let me tell you about what it’s like." Hob says, smiling brightly.

Alternate Universe - Dragons, Shapeshifting Dragons, Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort, Getting Together, lingering identity trauma, BAMF Hob Gadling, BAMF Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, they're both pretty bamf because they're dragons

~~ Dream smells the humans before he hears them. They are coming up the mountain, a dozen of them. He stiffens and stretches his limbs. He’d been asleep a long time and only awoke a day ago because he felt hungry. He had refused to move immediately though. He rarely sees the need to do anything quickly. There is always time, after all. Now the scent of the approaching humans sours his slow awakening and forces him to get up.

When they get closer to the cave he hides near the entrance, ready to bathe them in fire should they try to enter.

He can only just make out a few of them, small but well equipped, except the one in the front who looks like a shepherd, unremarkable and without weapons. Dream wonders what a man like that is doing here. Perhaps he is a guide. He has not smelled him before around here, though, and something about his smell is off…

Continue reading Chapter 1 on AO3

(This is me joining the club of dragon au enthusiasts in my Dreamling Discord server, having been enabled by the lovely @mandolinearts, @violetequus8 and @minisgatewaytoinsanity especially. Check out their dragon stories!! This dragon cake we're baking has many layers, I chose to join with dragon/dragon dreamling and I hope you enjoy. :D)

[ravennightbirt]

Timetravel, Endless Laws and BAMF Hob also a Sandman ending fix it!

I’d like to apologise to @redmalkin in advance because this is the third time in less than a week that I’m tagging them…and I’m not a 100% sure they are appreciating it considering the last time…

Soo about that Rules of the Endless post…( because my brain is a one show pony at the moment!)

Can you imagining the plot of the Kindly Ones happening? And all of the Endless siblings are just standing there watching as their brother is reborn into Daniel.

And everyone is silent and shocked with the exemption of Desire who is fucking pissed! (I’m also on my let Desire be a bit feral FOR their Brother train) and they are screaming and raging and demanding their siblings to DO something! Because it’s DREAM!

Their brother. THEIRS!

And Death/Destiny go: The rules!?

And Desire is like FUCK THE DAMN RULES! I am endless I AM what everyone on this planet wants and they do NOT want this! (Me pointing POINTEDLY towards the overture)

And Death is ready to argue, because it’s already to late, At which point Hob just goes: Who made the rules? Because (explanation added by this post)

At which point ALL of them realise that not only do they have NO clue but also fuck he is right!

More importantly though WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING AROUND US?!

Because the Dreaming has stopped moving. Daniel has stopped becoming Dream and time as a Whole feels kinda iffy!

(Which is were @redmalkin Time!Hob Au comes in, because I love that so much)

And Hob upon getting told what is happening to him just smiles. Because the man was a mercenary, a killer, a slave trader (I’m gonna call it what it is!) and more importantly he is Dreams husband. Prince consort of the Dreaming. He will not loose his husband! (Also Daniel is a CHILD GOD DAMN IT! DadHob going absolutely NOT!) he has NO chill and Desire is absolutely behind him.

So he goes to Time and makes the man a Deal:

Either you send us ALL with our memories INTACT back in time to save Dream. No other stipulation, no games or I am going to absorb all of your power into me and do it myself erasing you from existence FOREVER in ALL realities!

Like I said no chill! Time agrees because he KNOWS Hob will makes good on this.

And sends them back.

And then wibbbly wobbly timey whimey shenanigans where the Endless siblings learn to break the rules snd get out from under their parents thumb. Hob taking care of the Dreaming because FUCK THIS, but they can not free dream because…time magic bullshit (I want angst ok?!)

But them also making sure that no matter what Dream will NOT die.

Festuring Destruction who majorly confused, because??? (Hob said ALL of them so…)

Desire who is still in love with Unity but does is properly this time and also takes care of their kid/grandchildren (I love Rose and Jet sue me! I also want absolutely feral Desire going after Jets foster dad before anything happens at all because HELL NA!

Johanna Constantine who would like to strangle her ancestress and Matthew who is only there because Hob said so.

Anyway…if you wanna know more just ask!

[loverfriendsomeone]

Hob acting as the supernaturals community investigator/executioner/rescuer

and Dream knowing nothing about it

just, i saw a post about Hob being very active in the supernatual community and just lending a helping hand to some entities now and then

but my mind immediately went to a bamf!Hob using that fact of being prominent in the community to gain things, like knowledge and artifacts that no mortal has ever laid eyes on (because come on, Hob loves learning new things, and if you think he wouldn't be absolutely flabbergasted that he now can access the supernatural and now has entities, powerful entities, in his debt, i think youre wrong)

(but i dont think he would use that knowledge, i think he would just like to know but not use)

imagine he becames this kinda of investigator/collector/helping hand by accident, like he was doing something and accidentally found something and didn't kept it for himself like so many humans would have done, he returns it, he finds the rightfull owner and gives it back, and this entity is dumbfounded cause no humans have ever done that

i also imagine he would have some kind of identity, another name for the supernatural community, because after 600 and odd years the man has to have some form of self-preservation instinct, not only a completely different name but also a uniform, to hide his identity

him being known as some fancy ass name like vigilante, or perhaps highwayman

him having a symbol and a place where entities go to find him and ask for his help

him gaining a bunch of protective amulets, a good number of books and other magical artifacts

him collecting blessings and liabilities and boons of different entities like fucking pokemon cards

imagine dream going to him and asking for his help finding his tools because he doesn't want to go to the fates, but not knowing its Hob behind the mask

the muses going to him and asking his help in finding their sister Calliope and freeing her from her imprisonment

him being the reason that a lot of major thing happened in the supernatual community

[windsweptinred]

OK, so building that multiversal chaos sandwich so I may ship Death of the Endless and Susan Sto Helit.

So first major hurdle... Make two Deaths exist in the same universal plane. OK. So we have Death of the Endless, Thanatos.... The anthropomorphic personification of Death, who IS birth and death. Who carries the souls of the Dead into the afterlife.

Now Pratchett's Death is described as a servant of The Old High One known as Azrael, the Death of Universes and ruler of all deaths. OK he works for Death of the Endless, like a Lucienne to Dream. A reaper responsible for the literal act of Death. He is the Grim Reaper, who severs the living from life at their allocated time with scythe or sword. Save he could be responsible for Earth rather then the Discworld. If he needs a separate name, well there's always Bill Door 😅. He still rides Binky, he still loves kitties and let's totally bring Quoth the Raven over to be a friend for Matthew.

From then on, everything can proceed as normal. He can still adopt Ysabell, she still marries Mortimer and along comes Susan. Just like the books she's inherited her 'Grandfather's' gifts, but prefers to live as a human as a nanny or school teacher (Make her be one of Hob's teacher friends for the giggles). Now all that's needed is the meet cute with Grandads boss lady.

Death gets her very own BAMF Goth Mary Poppins, to be the deathling grump to her sunshine. Who truly gets her and her responsibilities. A lady love to call her own. 🖤

Well, that's that universal sandwich made... Now to feast!!

[tryan-a-bex]

Tagged by @dancinbutterfly, thanks!

Current time: insomnia o’clock

Current mood: everything hurts (kinda glad that’s not the baseline anymore though, honestly)

Current activity: pretending I don’t care about not sleeping while scrolling tumblr (which is a lot less depressing than scrolling Facebook, so, you win some?)

Currently thinking about: watching Nimona later today! Yay!

Current favourite song: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and West My Friend’s Lady Doubt (keep asking, it’s not going to change)

Currently reading: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Salvage Right is coming out today!!!! So excited!!!!! @27dragons @figtreeandvine trying to remember who my Liaden Universe friends were!

(Also trying to catch up on my fanfic for later list which I added to but didn’t read from during June)

Currently watching: Hannah Gadsby’s Something Special, Nimona, finally got to watch DND Honour Among Thieves this week! (So now I can finally read @moorishflower’s fics!)

Current favourite character: how can I pick one?!?! I guess Hob Gadling because who doesn’t need a BAMF ray of sunshine in their life? But Lucienne (my beloved) is a close second because who doesn’t need competence and more books in their life? (Go check out the Lucienne x Gault art @historyandqueershenanigans did for me, it’s gorgeous!!!) And then there’s Murphy from Fuckboi Dream, who I’m not obsessed with at all, just ask @karalynlovescake, she’ll tell you!

Current wips: I’m working on a food one for @carnelianmeluha, because her cooking/baking is magical. I have not forgotten you!

I’m supposed to tag someone now! @mallory-x if you do this one for DB, tag me too! @two-hands-toward-the-sun please don’t hate me for loving Hob! Anyone else who’s tagged in here or who sees it, go for it!

[serenailith]

my heart, my love i

for @dreamlingbingo

Square: e3, kidnapping Rating: e Word Count: 2559 Ship(s): dream of the endless/hob gadling Warnings: graphic depictions of violence Additional Tags: bamf!hob gadling, king morpheus, prince orpheus, orpheus lives, depictions of mercenary-level violence, no set time era, anal sex, blowjob, outdoor sex, frotting, handjobs, falling in love far too fast Summary:

When King Morpheus calls upon him, Hob Gadling cannot say no. When he sets out to complete the task given to him, he finds more than he ever expected.

chapter 1/4 Link: on ao3 masterlist

It isn’t quite how Hob expected his morning to begin. After all, no one expects a messenger to pound on their door before the sun is even peeking over the horizon. No one expects said messenger to announce that their king is requesting—no, demanding—their presence. At least the messenger had the decency to keep his gaze on Hob’s face rather than the spectacular display of nudity.

What can he say, he wasn’t exactly alone in bed.

This visit from the messenger is how Hob finds himself riding behind a carriage decorated with the royal coat of arms and golden filigree. It’s ostentatious, Hob thinks, and a quick way to get themselves robbed of their coinpurses. He pauses, head cocking. Do royal messengers even carry coinpurses? Or is the coat of arms enough to dissuade the lower class from asking for payment?

Knights surround the carriage on all four sides, four leading the procession, two on either side, and two before Hob. He would feel slighted at the lack of consideration for his safety, but he’s certain he’s far better at maintaining his status of ‘alive’ than the knights are. They may train, but it’s in the safety within the castle’s borders. Hob has learnt from the real word, real experience that’s nearly killed him dozens of times over.

His gaze darts from side to side, keeping watch through the trees as they make their way down the trail. The struts on the carriage squeak with each dip and uneven rise in the dirt, and he can hear the messenger’s voice though not the words. The tone is of anger, however, so perhaps it’s best that Hob stay out of that particular conversation.

A twig snaps, barely audible beneath the latest screech of metal against metal, but Hob hears it. He calls out a warning a split second before the party bursts forth from the tree-line. The knights are, surprisingly, slow to react, taken by surprise; their horses react faster as they rear up and kick their front legs. Hob’s mare backs up a few steps but otherwise remains calm. It isn’t the first time he’s been ambushed.

Hob pats her neck then spurs her forward. Reaching out, he grabs the arm of the nearest attacker and yanks as Marabelle canters past. The man struggles to keep up but fails, falling to the dirt. His sword lands feet away. Hob pulls Marabelle up sharply before dropping to the ground. She shuffles her feet, hooves clomping against the packed earth, and Hob hopes she stays as he sprints toward the blade lying neglected.

It’s easy enough, once it’s in hand, to fall back on his instincts. He dispatches the one whose shoulder he dislocated with his stunt followed by one whose face bears evidence of a prolonged lack of bathing. The knights have finally caught up by now, and Hob counts his odds as barely improved with the eight other swords on the same side as he.

The leader goes down with a bloody mouth and even bloodier abdomen.

The point of Hob’s blade presses against the throat of the youngest, the one barely out of boyhood. The boy—God, he’s just a boy—stares cross-eyed at the steel that threatens to end his life. The knights press in, though they don’t react. It’s as if they are deferring to Hob’s judgement. He’d laugh if the situation hadn’t been so fucked.

“You run with the wrong crowd,” Hob says lightly as if speaking of nothing more than the weather.

“They were all I had,” the boy mumbles, backing up a step only to find his retreat blocked by a tree. “And you’ve killed them.”

“Aye, and I’d do it again were my life in danger.”

The boy glares but swallows at the slightest prick of the blade against his skin. “You gonna kill me, too?”

“I should.”

“Then do it already.”

“Ah, I said I should. I don’t think I will, though.” Hob pulls the sword away but keeps himself ready. “You’re just a child, and I am not in the business of murdering children, no matter the danger they pose to my continued existence.”

“I’m not a child,” the boy snarls, spitting on the ground at Hob’s feet.

“What are you, of thirteen years? A child.”

“Fourteen, I’ll have you know.”

“Gadling, we don’t have time for this,” the messenger calls from inside the carriage. “Dispatch the child so we can be on our way. The king tolerates no dallying.”

Dallying. As if Hob hadn’t just defended his precious life. Rolling his eyes, Hob jerks his chin toward the trees. The boy hesitates, staring with narrowed eyes, then turns on his heel and runs. Hob pointedly avoids letting loose his tongue toward the messenger as he strides toward Marabelle. She stands still as he hauls himself astride her, and he waits for the others to pass before falling into line.

The ride to the kingdom takes all of three days. Night has fallen by the time the procession approaches the border; Hob’s arse and thighs ache, his spine a line of molten fire, but he keeps his complaints to himself as he passes through the magnificent gates for the first time in his thirty-three years.

Hob recalls all the times he’s vowed to enter the kingdom proper—“I’d be invited, see,” he’d said amidst the raucous laughter of his friends—and his lips twitch. If only Crispin and the others could see him now. The thought sobers him. Crispin never will see another day, and Richard and John moved away long ago. Edward is the only one who remains, but he has refused Hob’s friendship since the day that changed everything.

The day that Edward’s girl and Hob’s boy were murdered.

Hob blinks once, twice, four times to banish the tears and sits up straighter in the saddle as the carriage rolls down streets of stone. People stop and stare, whisper to each other behind upheld palms, and Hob resists the urge to wave as jauntily as possible. He’s made it this far in his life without calling too much attention to himself. Being seen within the kingdom will draw far more than enough, as it is.

Reaching the castle brings with it an apprehension Hob has yet to feel before. It stands tall and imposing, near-black against the brilliant blue sky. Enormous windows glitter in the sunlight; behind them, Hob imagines, lies the cruel and capricious king who gives very little care for those he is meant to lead. After all, no one has seen him in…

No one outside the castle has seen him since his coronation, now that Hob thinks about it. Everyone speaks to his advisor whenever they’re allowed audience.

The carriage slows, halts before the doors, magnificent and intricately carved, and Hob pulls Marabelle to a stop as someone rushes down the front steps. The messenger waits until the newcomer has pulled open the carriage door before even moving in his seat; Hob watches the newcomer’s face as the messenger passes. It takes all of Hob’s willpower to not laugh at what he sees: pure, unadulterated disgust. Certainly none of the respect a royal messenger would command. The newcomer’s cheeks flush vivid red when he sees Hob’s amusement.

“Sir?”

Hob turns to see another boy of no more than seventeen summers at his foot. The boy reaches up a hand and frowns when Hob doesn’t move. Hob frowns back.

“Yes?”

“I have been instructed, sir, to house your steed in the stables until your departure.”

Hob hesitates. He never leaves Marabelle with anyone, let alone strangers, but there’s the messenger waiting just inside the doors. The impatience on his face gives Hob pause—what could possibly be so damn important? Surely the king knows of patience, perhaps even maintains a modicum of it.

Sighing, Hob swings down off Marabelle’s back and hesitantly passes over the reins. He isn’t sure if he is allowed to threaten the stablehand of the royal court, but he really doesn’t care: He tells the boy that harm will come to him if something were to happen to his mare. The boy doesn’t bat a lash. He only nods, clicks his tongue, and leads Marabelle away.

Hob hurries to follow the steward through the doors. The messenger is gone; evidently, bringing Hob to the castle was as much as his job entailed. The steward leads Hob down a long corridor and through a set of doors just as beautiful as the front. Hob runs his finger along the carvings then turns to face forward.

A narrow rug runs down the centre of the cavernous room, leading to a dais upon which sits a throne. Upon which sits what Hob can only assume is the king. His dark hair hangs about his thin, pale face in a curtain of black, and the crown upon his head looks heavy in more than just physical. He glances away from the woman at his right, and Hob nearly stumbles.

High cheekbones and a sharp jawline make for a handsome face. Silver-blue eyes, made bluer by thick, dark lashes, find him easily. They narrow as Hob grows closer, and the steward gives a deep bow. He casts a glance at Hob, gaze pointedly flicking between man and floor, and Hob swallows before bowing as well. The king waves a hand, though his gaze never leaves Hob’s face, and the steward scurries away. The king must truly be cruel if his subjects are so afraid of him, Hob thinks. Well, I’m not.

“You are Robert Gadling,” the king says after a few minutes, and Hob suppresses a shiver at the rich, deep timbre of his voice.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“You are a hunter, are you not?”

“I believe so, sire. At least, it’s only one thing I do.”

The king raises a brow but doesn’t comment on Hob’s lack of decorum. “I have need of your skills, Robert Gadling.”

“Might I enquire as to what that need is, sire?” Hob asks when the king doesn’t speak further.

“I…” Here, the king falters, and Hob swallows his surprise at the sheen in those silvery eyes. “If I employ your services, Robert Gadling, you must swear loyalty, a solemn vow of bearing the secret of your task.”

A secret task? “Of course, sire, whatever my liege requires of me.”

The king nods to the dark-skinned woman who ducks her head and begins writing in the ledger she carries. Once Hob has promised fealty and that he will speak no word of what the king is to ask of him, she holds out her quill and ledger, and Hob signs where she silently points. She steps back from him the moment he’s finished, as if he is something dirty she dare not acquaint herself with. Hob refuses to take it personally.

He’s only a hunter, common amongst men, while she bears the royal insignia.

The king draws in a breath that, if he weren’t listening, Hob would say was steady. But there’s a quaver to it, one that says this task is more personal than perhaps the king is willing to admit.

“My son has been stolen from me,” he announces following a pregnant pause. Hob tries not to react, but his head jerks back anyway. The king doesn’t notice, but the woman does. She shakes her head slightly without looking at Hob. “I know not who committed such an act, nor do I know where they have taken him. That is where I require your assistance.”

“Sire, I—”

“You are a hunter,” the king interrupts. The tears aren’t gone, but there’s no sadness in his eyes now. No, there is only a blazing fire. “You admitted as such. You hunt. Which means you surely know how to track.”

“Yes, but sire, I make no effort to track and hunt humans.”

“You do now.”

Hob tries to think of a way to refuse, to leave this castle and go home where he can be just regular Hob again, drinking and swiving and boasting of jobs well done. But—

He can’t. This is his king, in all his glory and power. If Hob were to say ‘no’ and escape, surely the king will send his knights after Hob, and Hob would most likely not get another chance. He would be thrown in the dungeons for daring disobey. Finally, he blows out a breath and dips his chin.

“Of course, sire, your wish is my will.”

“You may go. Lucienne, please show him his chambers for the night.”

Hob and the woman have just reached the doors when the king’s voice echoes through the room: “And Robert Gadling, when you find those who took my child, be sure they live no longer.”

Lucienne leads Hob away before he can say another word. She doesn’t speak as she guides him up a grand staircase. The corridors here are drafty, chill, as if rarely used so little cared for. When she comes to a stop, it’s outside a plain wooden door. Hob realises with a start this is the wing for the common staff. It’s also far from the entrance; he would never be able to find his way out of here in time, and that is purely by design.

“Someone will come wake you at dawn’s first light, Robert Gadling,” she says, her voice clipped. Her wire-rimmed glasses slip down her slender nose, and she hesitates then pushes them back up.

“It’s Hob, please.”

“Goodnight, Robert Gadling.”

With a sigh, he turns toward the door and pushes it open. Inside is a rather bland room. There is a bed, of course, and a washing basin beneath the window. A chamberpot rests in the corner. Hob shakes his head at the fact he expected more and is slightly disappointed that he didn’t receive it. It was foolish of him to anticipate ornate sleeping arrangements.

He washes the dirt from his face and arms, and grimaces at how quickly the water turns a muddy grey, then strips from his days-old outfit. He uses his tunic as a washing cloth, dipping it in the basin and swiping at the dirt crusted on his skin. It does little good, but he feels better for it in the end. Without bothering to dress again, he slips beneath the blanket—at least this is nice, soft, warm wool—and closes his eyes.

It’s far before dawn when he wakes. No light lingers in the room as he lies there. He wonders what woke him, what roused him from such deep sleep, then realises it’s the silence. Never before has it been silent in his life. First, it was his family, their snores and quiet snuffles in the night, then it was his friends as they fell together in a heap on someone’s floor, drunk and forbidden from going home to their women in such a state. Next, it was Eleanor, with her gentle breathing as her hand rested upon his breast. After Eleanor, Hob had found himself listening for Robyn’s breaths through the wall, counting each inhale and exhale until he fell asleep.

After he lost Robyn and his friends, he used the nature of nighttime, the owls and grass-dwellers as they hooted and sang in the dark.

Now, it’s only Hob, and he loathes the silence.

[sleepsonfutons]

@blueberrymffn tagged me and then I got distracted avoided facing the ordeal of my WIPs

Witcher Fandom

(Not Posted)

-Unconditional (working title) - (~6.6k written) - trans!Jaskier Geraskier fic post-Caingorn break-up where Geralt is looking for Jaskier to reconcile and also discovers that dysphoria has a unique scent.

Sandman Fandom

(Posted/Incomplete)

-Even When the World's On Fire, I Won't Stop To Watch It Burning - (~14.7k written) - my John Dee wins fic with protective BAMF Hob!

(Not Posted)

-Truss Me Up But Never Leave Me Hanging - (~3.8k written) - a Dreamling shibari fic

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Punishment" - (~800 written) - Hob is an adventurer and has heard unsettling rumors about a peaceful order of druids now holding a creature bound in their tower deep in the wilderness. He goes to investigate despite his requests for entry having been rejected and finds things far stranger than he expected.

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Last of Their Kind) - (~300 written) - Dream remains imprisoned for far far far too long and is literally crumbling into sand as the Dreaming crumbles taking the universe along with it. Even freeing Dream from the fishbowl is risky at this point as the slightest shift of his form sees more of him crumble away. Hob will not be deterred though and will do everything he can to rescue his Stranger.

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Love Triangle" - (~1.3k written) - Human AU Artist!Dream x Bartender!Hob with Wingman!Cori(Corinthian) trying to support Dream in his crush but making things extra awkward and creepy.

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Tied on a Table" - (~500 written) - Hob succumbs to the hanahaki of his heartbreak following the disastrous 1889 meeting with Dream. He sets up a trust to pay the Constantine family to take care of his body once he's completely incapacitated by the flowers overrunning his lungs. Dream finds him in repose in Johanna's apartment when she enlists her help to track down his vestments after escaping the fishbowl.

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Time Travel" - (~200 written) - Dream finds out that Hob accepted Death's gift a few decades before he escapes the fishbowl. Distraught, he resolves to rewrite the universe, but still weak is only able to return to when he was summoned and crashed to the basement floor of Fawney Rig surrounded by Burgess' cult.

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Bound and Gagged" - (~150 written) - WARNING: Implied/Referenced Non-Con, Serial Killers, Demon Possession, PTSD - Hob is possessed by a demon who uses Hob's immortal body to become a prolific serial killer while Dream is imprisoned in the fishbowl. When Dream shows up to deal with the Corinthian at the Cereal Convention, he spots possessed Hob and exorcises the demon, rescuing Hob.

-Untitled Bingo Fill Fic for "Creature: Feline" - (~1.6k written) - Hob is actually a demon but Dream never realized. Hob didn't know what happened to Dream after their disastrous 1889 meeting, but when he comes across a helm imbued with his Stranger's magic he makes sure he claims it to return to the other man whenever they next meet...unfortunately that turns out to be in Lucifer's throne room in hell where he can't just give the helm back. Everything goes to shit, but ultimately Hob winds up becoming pet to the Endless and remains (voluntarily) collared in a demonic summoning circle as a kitten.

-In Darkest Dreams They Slumber - (~700 written) - The Dreaming is the tartarus to the elder gods and the dreamstones are the anchors of their binding. When Burgess traps Dream, far more is at stake than just the emergence of the sleepy sickness. Things better left forgotten and lost were rousing from their slumber. Their madness bleeding out beyond their weakening bonds, creating ideal conditions for Dream vortexes to emerge, and cracking the foundation of the current universe. Hob and Johanna have been investigating the mass dreaming of cosmic/eldritch horrors that have become the norm for dreamers in the 20th century since they started appearing in “weird fiction rags”.

-Untitled Soteria (original fic by @phinofthestorm) AU ficlet - (~900 written) - The Endless are shamans that channel the untamed magic of the seven core aspects of the realm. In the early days of Ubrudlys, there was an unknown successor to the shaman of Death. With no training and left alone in the wilds, the unbridled magic of the Sunless Lands flows through them trapping the dead they encounter in their decaying bodies. Soon the child Death has a host of undead following them and the people of the realm are frightened by this mysterious "parade of 100 demons".

-As a stranger I know myself - (~1.2k on my part) - Collab fic with @phinofthestorm ! WARNING: Dubious Consent, Non-Consensual Body Modification - Roderick Burgess wanted to capture Death, but instead he captured Dream, Shaper of Forms, and decided to force the Endless to reshape himself into his son. Hob attends a soiree to celebrate the return of his wartime friend (and lover) who he'd thought was dead at Fawney Rig. They rekindle their relationship now away from the war, but when the truth comes to light, what will happen to their relationship and will Dream be able to return to himself?

I have notes on some other plot bunny thoughts for both fandoms and a sizeable outline for a Dreamling Hook (1991) AU, but nothing actually written for those... I also don't know who all has done this already, but I want to see everyone's WIPs so feel free to say I tagged you if you want to do this! Hmm, I will poke @dramaoftheendless @thranduilland @mentallyinvernation @spockandthings @bluesundaycake @certifiedbisexualdisaster and apologies if yall have already done or been tagged for this~

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (16-22 Apr 2023)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰cast out fear (s0mmerspr0ssen) - 41K, star trek AOS canon-divergent - kirk almost dies saving Vulcan & is recovering there so there's some juicy hurt/comfort, slowly getting to know one another + BAMF amanda grayson (which is my fave)

😍The Mimicking of Known Successes (Mossa & Pleiti #1) (Malka Ann Older, author; Lindsey Dorcus, narrator) - novella, 'cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance' set in space - really dug this, gave me similar vibes to Becky Chambers' stuff, where it's more about the worldbuilding and the character relationships than the plot (tho that is quite entertaining). looking forward to more

🥰It's The Snow (postmodernmulticoloredcloak) - 44K, stucky modern AU - snowed in, only one bed, enemies-to-lovers, light D/s dynamic tropetastic goodness!

💖💖 +279K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

Variations on George Penn (beautifulduckweed) - Band Sinister (KJ Charles): Ned Caulfield/George Penn, 3K - excellently done 'Wikipedia' article + some other magazine articles discussing George Penn's life, work & impact - I just love this kind of fanwork

Banana Daiquiris (Avelera) - The Sandman: Dreamling, 4K - cute & absolutely hilarious little fic about Dream 'on vacation' in Tahiti and deciding he wants Hob there too

boots & budweiser’s miraculous misadventures (helix_stomper) - Stranger Things: steddie, 34K - "Steve and Eddie meet at a gloryhole Pre-S4. It goes pretty much exactly how you’d expect." - 2 fics so far in this ongoing series - truly excellent smut but also some really great character stuff! While I can't wait to see how the story develops, what's already been given is 🥵🥰!

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Game Changer - s5, e2, 4

Dirty Laundry - s2, e8-10

Um, Actually - s1, e1-2; s7, e1, 3-12, s8, e1-2

Schmigadoon! - s2, e2-4

The Brokenwood Mysteries - s9, e2

Ted Lasso - s3, e6 [x2]

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

The Sporkful - Squishy Or Crunchy? Why Texture Matters [Gastropod]

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Bete Giyorgis of Lalibela

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Pack Your Bag(pipes) with Ross Jennings

Switched on Pop - BTS goes solo together

Shedunnit - Death Under Par

⭐Into It - A Guide to Spoiler Culture from 'Lost' to 'Succession'

Vibe Check - Do Not Disturb

99% Invisible #533 - Dear John and Roman [Dear Hank & John]

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - For Keeps Books

Decoder Ring Plus - The Curious Case of Columbo's Message to Romania

Ologies with Alie Ward - Delphinology (DOLPHINS) with Justin Gregg

Our Opinions Are Correct - Episode 128: Dungeons & Dragons Gets Cozy

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - John Brown’s Farm

⭐Twenty Thousand Hertz+ - The Spatial Race

Into It - Will Hollywood Strike? And Are We Into Netflix’s Late 'Love' and AI Drake?

Welcome to Night Vale - Bonus Episode: Behind the Scenes (April 2023)

⭐You're Dead To Me - Cleopatra

Switched on Pop - A.I. Drake has put music in a tailspin [Vergecast]

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Duran Duran [Duran Duran] {1981}

Rio [Duran Duran] {1982}

Duran Duran

The Donnas

Rock 'N Roll [New York Dolls] {1994}

Anthology [Stiff Little Fingers] {2002}

Rancid

Presenting Electric Light Orchestra

Presenting The Beach Boys

Presenting Tom Petty

synthwave radio [Lofi Girl]