#rria answers

[rriavian]

How do you think Corinthian would react if Dream give him a set of parents. You know, since he wants to feel what it's like to be human so bad 😹

When I tell you that I grinned like a fool when I read this—well, I grinned like a fool when I read this! What a concept! It's exactly the kind of unusual punishment/lesson Dream would know his nightmare would hate, giving him an aspect of being human that I think the Corinthian would just see as utterly humiliating. It's half joke, half lesson, an alternative to destruction but also a way for Dream to ensure a close eye is kept on his nightmare.

Oh it would be perfect because the Corinthian would not expect Dream’s response to his ‘I wanna taste what it’s like to be human’ complaint to be to give him parents.

The Corinthian: I kill people to taste what it’s like to be human

Dream, probably: sounds like you need a parental figure

Honestly I think it would be the most baffling turn of events for the Corinthian who absolutely did not have this on his bingo card for 2022.

He's locked in the Dreaming (grounded, Dream had said sternly, eyes glittering with a cruel sort of mischief) while his creator begins plotting. Lucienne had excused herself to the library almost immediately but the Corinthian can still hear her laughing. He honestly can't decide if he'd have preferred to just be turned into a pile of sand rather than this. Because you just know that once Dream has made up his mind there’s no changing it.

In fact, he’d double down in the face of any complaints, and he’d be utterly meticulous in his self-appointed quest to find the Corinthian the perfect parents.

How had he gotten here?

The Corinthian doesn't quite know where exactly things took such a sharp turn towards sheer insanity. Did 100 years in a glass fishbowl scramble Dream's brain? Whatever happened his creator is scarily intent on his task. The only reason why Dream wouldn’t straight up put the Corinthian up for adoption would be because there’s an age limit.

But he’d definitely find another way to screen prospective candidates.

Part of me feels like Dream would want them to be human (for maximum accuracy) but I think he’d realise that probably won’t work. The Corinthian would just kill them, and Dream refuses to put his dreamers in danger. So he starts looking for immortal couples. I can just imagine the supernatural community suddenly all having the same very strange encounter with Dream of the Endless and calling each other up like ???

Imagine that after one hundred years of absence the personification of dreams shows up in your house, looks you dead in the eye, and asks if you and your partner would like to become parents to his serial killing masterpiece.

[apocalypse4209]

Smiley #1 (2/3): So(f)rria

10 YEARS LATER

  So far, so good. I am jumping pretty swiftly from one container to another without losing speed thanks to the fact that the suit is pretty light, except for the dark purple plates covering the important stuff, the weapons and the Smart Helmet. As I figured, it is pretty hot in here, so the headband was a nice idea. Hate sweat on my eyes, plus it adds to the aesthetic so, two birds one stone. Wish this fucking torrential rain would stop, though. This spot is dark enough and I can see the gun shipment from here, great.

Okay, let’s see...

  I can spot three guards through the thermal imaging. Looks like they got assault rifles and are not too far away from one another. Plan A was zapping them with the nunchucks but even with the raincoats they are soaking wet, not gonna take any chances. Just a minor setback, after all, these cuffs ain’t for show, they’ll spill the beans about our Mysterious Buyer. Was kind of expecting more, but guess whoever ordered all of this is trying to keep a low profile, plus has no idea that I exist, no need to go overboard.

Holy shit, it just hit me.

  They have no idea that I exist. This is it. A small deal, but it is my first impression, the very first time I fight crime. Fuck, my hand is shaking and my mouth is dry already. Stop. Breathe. You got this. You’ve been training for years for this exact moment, it’s gonna be fine. I exhale slowly. At least my hand stopped shaking.

The shipment is here. Showtime.

  I pour some gel inside of the Smart Bomb...geez, I suck at naming stuff. One drop should be enough. When the little purple ping pong ball closes, I get the nunchuck ready. As soon as the crane lifts the crane above the water and between the ship and the docks I gently throw the ball up with one hand and smack at it as hard as I can,with the ‘chuck. As soon as it connects the eletricity flows from it to the ball, which not only arms the load the registers at which point it has been hit and changes it shape accordingly to increase the aerodynamics and help it reach the target.The entire thing flies like a cannonball and all of a sudden a dazzling light followed by a deafing explosion shines upon the whole scene, and the remains of the container get engulfed in purple flames before falling into the ocean.

  After changing into night vision I use the diversion to run off my spot, jumping from almost two stories high and grabbing the top  of the head of the guard that wasn’t in the line of sight of the other two, just to pull it back and burry my knee together with the weight and momentum of my entire body on his left kidney. He lets out a blood curdling scream of pain as I use his body to get a soft landing, grabbing his rifle as soon as I touch the ground, just to get back up and keep moving while the man curls up and cries.

Keep going, two left.

  The scream is too loud and the other two turn around, but the confusion born from the explosion mixed with the shock of seeing me for the first time gives me time to throw the rifle at one on my right while the guard on the left takes aim for my head. I let my knees give in and use the slippery floor to get closer as a spray of bullets flies over me, my left arm in the full motion for a uppercut. While his mind ackowledges that he is now sterile and his expression starts to become the pure image of suffering, I take away his firearm and swing it in the direction of the assault rifle that was almost pointed at my scalp, the gun slips from my grip  but I use the opportunity to get up one leg at a time, while his bullets hit the crate next to me.

   Right when I get back up I see the back of his gun going for my throat.

Fuck! I can’t dodge this.

  I am able to lower my chin in time, so the fatal blow instead follows the surface of my smooth mask and gets me right in the spot the chest plate has not started yet. The pain is unreal and if it weren’t for the layers of spider web tranced in the fabric absorbing the hit, It would’ve cracked my ribcage. He takes a step back and gets in position to shoot me down at the same time I take a step forward, howling in pain, and use my right arm to elbow him across the nose, taking in the sound of the breaking bone while I backhand his face to the other direction with the same arm, leaving his right temple wide open. I take advantage of the opening and use my best stance to channel as much force from my body movement to my left fist, landing a full force blow on his skull.

He collapses on the almost flooded ground.

.

I won.

  I abandon my stance and relax my body. My lungs are burning. I put my hands on the security rail and hunch, breathing heavily. The next thing I feel is a strong blow between my legs. I turn around slowly. It is the first guy I beat up, looking for a reaction from me.

“There is nothing there, pal.”

  I say it in a serious tone, with the voice modifier making it even more serious and deep A lightning turns the whole bay white for a fraction of second, followed by the loudest thunder of the night. His face goes from a red, shit eating grin from a humiliated man that got his revenge to an expression of complete despair and dismay, as the tears start to flow from his eyes, already swollen from crying. Poor thing, can’t blame him. I look kind of androgynous in this, on purpose. The less they know about what just scarred them for life, the better. I get my shit back together and jump, kicking his leg right above the knee, making it bend backwards. He falls down and starts holding his leg, looking at me with only pain on his face and rage on his eyes. I was prepared for this, I was OVER prepared for this. Now, the spoils.

I start crouching slowly. “That is nothing compared to what happens when you don’t answer my questions. Now, who do you work for?” I say while putting my hands on top of my bent knees. “ DIE, YOU BITCH!” He shouts in fear. Wow, so original. “Nice one-

I cough.

A loud and dry cough. The kind that starts an asthma attack. Nice try, you cunt, but not today. Built-in inhaler, goes off as soon as you start to throw your fits.

I cough louder.

and again.

and again

and again, and again, and again, I can’t stop anymore. I can’t breathe. WHY ISN’T IT GOING OFF?! I try to walk away, but my strength starts to fade. I hold on to the rail then see myself at all fours on the ground. I take off the helmet. I can see my reflection on it. I’m getting blue. The rain. The thunder. That fucker’s devilish face laughing his lungs out while crying. It is all becoming white noise. I collapse completely and my vision starts to blur. Men. Men with guns. Backup has arrived. I’m gonna get shot to death while suffocating. Great. I try to give in and laugh at my misery but I can’t even do that, only try to simulate what looks like a hazy smile. I’m watching myself die.

Just like that...

...It’s fine.

I did what I always dreamt of...

The final hours of my life weren’t controlled by anyone.

“SHE REALLY IS DYING! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THANK YOU LORD! THANK YOU! YOU LISTENED TO MY PRAYE-

He got shot. In the head. His lifeless eyes are staring at me. the blood dripping down while the smile is still fixed on his face. What? “Stay with me, boss!” A man dressed like a security guard says while holding my body on his arms and stuffs an inhaler in my mouth. I use my last breath to inhale the aerosol. I try to hold it in, but my body instantly graps for air. Little by little, I finally manage to let it settle and start breathing with difficulty. Slowly, I get back on my feet and pick up my helmet, starting to follow his subordinates. Of course he would never allow me to die. As I am being escorted back, I see all the men I risked my life to subdue without killing with their brains all over the floor. One of them saw my face, and he doesn’t take chances. I finally reach the cars. Two black SUVs with an black Audi in the middle. No license plates. Pitch black windows. and between two lines of heavily armed security, next to the open back door of the Audi, under an umbrella held by a soaking underling, There he was, Rodrigo Iwanaka. As usual, his face shows no emotion, except for his eyes, and they look pleased.

Shit.

“How was it?” He asks with a deep, caring voice, still looking straight forward as I settle myself on the backseat. He then careffuly, but firmly sits on the other end of the backseat while giving a discrete look at André, our driver. He keeps looking straight forward, or so it seems, because a pale and scared André rearranges the rearview mirror as soon as the car starts moving, putting it at an angle he can see me with no issue. He is analysing me. My body language, my breathing, my eyes. The best course of action would be staing silent, but I have to find out how much he knows, how bad I fucked up.”Something tells methat  you know quite well how was it. The question is, how?” After calmly waiting for my answer, he responds “I always knew. Did you really think you could achieve something of this caliber, while under my watch and tutorship, using my resources, without any knowledge of it reaching me?”Good try, but I have my own schemes, my own money, and I know very well how to cover my tracks, been doing that for a very long time. Even so, I will pretend to take the bait.”And how exaclty did you know where I was and that I needed an inhaler?”With the most straight face ever, and no hesitation he just says “I put a GPS on your mask after sabotaging the inhaler.”

WHAT?!

I snapped.

“I COULD’VE DIED YOU SADISTIC MONSTER!” With a face torn up by hatred, I try to punch his jaw, but skillfully and gently he directs my fist outwards with the back of his right hand and with almost inhuman speed he puts his hands on my shoulders and turns his cold and determined gaze at me. “Listen to me, Shien! I am NOT of the mind that dreams should be left to die and far fetched goals should be put aside on the first major obstacle. If I believed in that the Rocha Industries would be a simple glimpse, a whisper haunting the back of my mind forever.However, our actions define us as beings, not our beliefs. Yes, I simulated the worst possible scenario, but if you wanted to be a hero or a vigilante you should be ready for EVERYTHING and you wasn’t. It isn’t just about your life and it doesn’t need to be that direof a situation. Your built-in inhaler was brilliant and fast, but not enough. If you had an asthma attack in the middle of a rescue, even a single moment of divided attention, of hesitation can cost your life. It can cost innocent lives. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands of them. Their blood and eternal suffering weighting down your soul and being as long you exist. It is time you stop acting like a fool, blinded by a childish and restrained sense of justice.” He breathes in and gets back to his usual composed self, staring at the road ahead.

  Wow, if I didn’t know him, I could actually believe he cares. No wonder the media and the board adores him. Ok. Time to get MY shit back together. I let my emotions run rampant, can’t afford to do that again. At least now he thinks he is in control and my next moves will be genuine. Gotta work with that. I act like his words wove into me and stay quiet looking at the distance for a few moments, then say: ”That is rich coming from someone that just had three people killed in cold blood.” His eyes get more calm as he sees my comment as just a childish attempt  at a comeback after receiving “sage advice ”I did not take a single life tonight Shien, you did, with your recklessness. The people, even though not knowing who truly was it, will blame that persona of yours, now tainted with their blood. For all they care, a maniac killed three men and blew up a container with Nitroglycerin.” he says, triumphant.

I go wide eyed for a second.

  Luckily, I am able to fake that as a reaction to the thunder that just happened and strain myself from giving anymore signs. I am so relieved. He said that with certainty, but that wasn’t Nitroglycerin. It was Syline, a chemical I created that makes any other explosive in the world look lackluster, I even had to use a “watered down” version of it. It can only be matched in the destructive power per kilogram factor by a nuclear warhead, except it is much easier to produce. If anyone finds out about it and it gets mass produced, any douchebag with money could have his own little fallout-free, nuclear apocalypse in a bottle and humanity would end. “You are like the Venus de Milo, my child. One of a kind, brilliant, even so, incomplete. That is where I come in. I always understand what is missing in what you craft and make it better, that is why we are an unstoppable duo. That is why that if you want to help people across the world, the best option is to get back to work.”

“I am not your child. Also, working for you? pass.”

“Working WITH me. Would you rather risk your life? Think about Javier, How devastated he would be if something happened to you.” I don’t even give him an answer. Now I see it, that is why these streets look so familiar. He is taking me to Javi’s place to guilt trip me. Big mistake, Iwanaka, that is the only place I know for sure isn’t wired.

  As the car stops in front of Javi’s house, he says: “At least consider it.”He looks at me with a caring look. “I still hope to have our little family together once more, my daughter. I believe that, someday, you will call me father with pride again.” He really means it. Creeps me out. I get out of the car and hunch a little, until my head is in the car’s windows level and look at him. “We can’t have once more something that never existed, Rodrigo. Good night and good night to you too, André.”

André doesn’t answer back.

“Don’t worry Shien,”He stares at André’s soul through the rear view mirror. “Wether it concerns the present time or the past few hours, André did not hear ANYTHING.” André looks at me terrified with all the white hairs on his beard and head that weren’t there before. I take it as a sign to step back, or else things will get pretty bad for him.

Everytime he looks at me like that, I die a little inside.

 Then I turn around and there he is, leaning back agaisnt the door sipping on his coffee while holding a steaming mug for me. He is the only one that knows EVERYTHING about me yet remains calm and casual seeing me on this attire arriving at his place at dawn accompanied by that man. He is a much better actor then me. Well, go figure. “Good morning, morning flower.” he says as the cars drive away, the sun rises, and I get in his house and the world is peaceful again. Or at least I thought, As soon as he closes the door, he goes apeshit.

“WHAT. THE FUCK. HAPPENED.”

“I’m gonna need a hot coffee and a cold shower to tell that tale.”

  I am finally wearing some comfortable clothes and laying on his bed, that feels like a cloud. He is just staring at me in shock. This kind of stuff hits him way harder than it hits me, even so he made it pretty clear that doesn’t want to be in the dark and doesn’t need me to protect him from the ugly truths. Like I don’t know.

I stop looking at the ceiling for a moment and look at him, smiling as best as I can.

He gives me the trademark “Yeah, right” look while smirking then turn his atenttion to the rising sun.

“Well, it was good while it lasted” he says, accepting the facts.

“Oh, I am not gonna stop.”

He looks at me again, worried.

“How come?”

“He is an asshole but has some points, I realize now I can’t go toe to toe with him from the underground, he owns the shadows. Got to think about this from another angle. Make it as public as possible, as big as possible. something that he can’t touch, and if he does, it will only hurt him. Also...as much as it hurts me to say this...it can’t be me.”

“How are you gonna do that? Who will it be?”

I look at the ceiling again and start laughing at myself.

“I have no fucking clue to be honest, but I’ll figure something out, always do. Now...*yawn*...I am going to take a sweet nap.”

“Your call.”

I close my eyes as he looks at the skyline again.

“Psst, Javi?” I whisper.

“Yes?”He almost whispers, very seriously.

“Don’t worry, I may not untangle this mess, but somebody will.”

“ATCHOOOO!”

“God bless you, Félix.”

“Thanks, mom.”

[rriavian]

Do you believe Dream can use smartphone and love movie?

I might be amongst the minority here when I say that Dream can absolutely use a smartphone (though whether he does so/admits he can is another question entirely) because I see no reason why not. When asked about it he’d probably say something like ‘how foolish you are to ask me such things, you should know that this was dreamt just as all else'

I do think he’d love films!

Even with the knowledge easily accessible in the collective unconscious I believe Dream would be fascinated by actually watching them—maybe reclined on his throne with his smart phone in hand?—the same when reading a book, enthralled by the storytelling ('a stories medium may have changed form but I am still the Prince of them'). Even so Dream would definitely have favourites, those he returned to often, and I can see him having very very intense opinions on what he likes.

Lucienne has definitely been a witness to more than one instance of Dream bickering with Matthew over their differing tastes in film.

[rriavian]

Hey do you think Dream like to show off Cori? I mean he is creator and most of creator love to see their work get appreciated but maybe just Dreamer scared Cori is enough for his ego?

Ooh! Yes! Thank you so much for the ask I loved thinking about this!! <3

I don’t necessarily see Dream as one to really fall prey to ego. He’s definitely proud, and possessive, but I think he sees the Corinthian’s very existence as showing him off. To display him any further undermines, implies Dream could improve by an edit, that there is a need to persuade another to appreciate him and all that does is suggest a deficit.

The Corinthian is the display; a walking line of poetry, an art exhibit, he needs no additions and if you cannot see how perfect he is, well, that’s your fault.

Dream just doesn’t think any extra trappings are needed, the artistry is there already, and he will not show the Corinthian off as if he considers his nightmare subject to the judgement of another’s eyes. Dream submits his work for the approval of no one. I do think it is enough that the Corinthian scares the Dreamers! He created the Corinthian to reflect part of humanity, their darkness and their pain, to give voice to it, and that is a solemn, dutiful thing as much as it is a joyful one. 

That said…

If someone made the mistake of saying ‘wow what a shit creation’ Dream would be like how dare you actually, what the fuck are you saying this is my creation (this is humanity’s shy commission, their souls, their darkness, what they hide and bury so deep in uncertainty and vulnerability, and Dream gave it form with such bold confidence because there should be no shame) 

It’s a personal slight, it’s one far deeper; one against every Dreamer that needs the Corinthian, now jeered at too, belittled, all that have been helped by him caught in that disdain.

How wrong that is, how cruel, to insult both a wound and the salve offered to soothe it. 

[rriavian]

I notice some people especially who knows nothing about sandman or corintheus thinks that corintheus is The Corinthian, that it is HIS name. Even my sister mistaken that so many times and she watches the Sandman 😹 it's hilarious but also understandable. Actually, in where I'm from, Corinthian is literally translated to "Korintus". I'd like to think in one of universes, Corinthian's name is Corintheus🤭

This is beautiful and your sister is incredible. I love how hilarious and also understandable this is given that translation! It must be really easy to slip up and accidentally call him Corintheus.

And just thinking of it happening in universe has amazing crack potential; is this inspired by the Corinthian doodling hearts around his and Dream’s names in notebooks? Kicking his feet, twirling his hair, testing combinations and coming up with one where his name comes first? Does he get caught out and then just goes 'no you misheard/misread it's Korintus'. Just lies and then is like ‘but if it was Corintheus then it has a bit of your name in it because you’re mine too’.

Dream being like ‘oh? How romantic’ in that tone where you can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or not but either way he’s laughing at you.

Alternatively it happens and the Corinthian is absolutely furious, and then every time someone accidentally mixes it up with his actual name he just feels the urge to murder them as brutally as possible. It’d be funny if it is genuinely a slip of the tongue, but there’s also the idea of someone else purposefully being the one to come up with ‘Corintheus’. Though that does lead to an interesting question about who exactly is coming up with ship names in this version...

Matthew?

I can see Matthew doing it tbh, and that also being the reason why Lucienne is aware of the name (does she accidentally slip up and call him Corintheus? and do they both then stand there awkwardly for a moment similarly stunned)

[rriavian]

Do you consider Morpheus' Corinthian and Daniel's Corinthian two different persons ( i mean nightmares ha ha) playing the same role? To be more clear- do you consider them like Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker and Tom Holland's Peter Parker?Or do you consider them as the uprated version of same software? Like Corinthian 1 is Windows 10 and Corinthian 2 is Windows 11?

I am asking about your interpretation. Not necessarily it has to be based on canon.

PS. Not sure if I should write my own interpretation here. But anyway, I am gonna write it.

For me, Morpheus and Daniel are completely different personifications. Like- yes they are both doctors/pilots/teachers/bankers-whatever really. But they are different persons. Doing the same job doesn’t make them the same person.

On the other hand, My understanding of Corinthian is completely opposite of "Dream 1 and Dream 2". No matter how different Corinthian and Remade Corinthian are- they are the " same personification" to me. It's like same person getting a second chance to life after coming back from coma state. I am personally not too eager to use "Cori 1 Cori 2". For me, they are both the same " Cori".

L

Sorry for my English if it's too incoherent.

Oh you love to make me think don’t you! I think my interpretation is still in flux; I’ve not read the comics, or seen a lot of super spoiler-y panels bar a few of the big ones, and the show is also still quite far off this storyline. 

I suppose the truth is that the existence of the second Corinthian is a narrative element I struggle with, because to me it’s not very satisfying. I enjoyed how the show handled Dream making Gault a dream, because it was very clearly a cosmetic change, but with the Corinthian it feels like it would be a lot more. The idea of recreating isn’t an easy one (doesn’t feel like a great match for the themes of the story either), as it just seems like a very simplistic way to get a character to change without them actually growing. And this change is entirely against the characters will/doesn’t even involve the Corinthian doing anything at all.

Which is quite chilling given how his rebellion was very much a quest for agency.

The idea of the Corinthian rebelling, spending 100 years sticking to his choices, and then being unmade only to be recreated with everything suddenly being fine, with all the reasons he had to do what he did seemingly gone/resolved, just doesn’t feel very satisfying to me. 

I’m still holding off on a full judgement until I’ve reached that point in the narrative, but there has to be some trajectory for me to really get on board. What did Dream alter in that moment of recreation? If it’s a new character with the old one’s face/name/memories but apparently none of their motivations then why should I care? And if there was a reason for not just making a completely new character as Dream’s second attempt at a masterpiece then what was that reason because I’d love to know what that is!

It’s probably because I’m not there yet in the story, but right now I don’t see it, and so I’m not sold on it.

Perhaps everything was somehow resolved while the Corinthian was unmade. Perhaps all he needed was a really good nap. Perhaps he got therapy while chilling as a skull. Joking aside—and finally looping round to actually answering your question—I think there has to be continuity between the first and second Corinthian because, unlike Dream, he’s not really the combination of two distinct identities. Well, in a way he could be, Dream not so much remaking him as giving him something more, not cutting out but adding a balancing factor. Upgrading the software to use your turn of phrase :) 

I think that’s the interpretation I go with in Transmutation, and that fic was essentially me exploring what the complexity of identity could mean. It’s the interpretation I go to for Dream as well. Also—just to reference a spoiler I have seen from the comics—the panel of the second Corinthian choking Loki out when looking for Daniel?

Listen: that’s the same nightmare for sure.

[rriavian]

5&6 for love your fandom ask? 😸

Thank you for the ask! Ok, so there are so many different things to choose from but I've narrowed it down :)

5 something you see in fics a lot and love

Dream being unashamedly Weird. Saying the most unhinged/insanely poetic/terrifying shit you’ve ever heard in your life, moving through the world in a way that’s utterly unique, somehow able to be compelling and off putting in equal measure depending on his mood. He’s Dream of the Endless and everyone will know that whether they like it or not. I love those moments in a fic where another character is confronted with his everything and just has to pause for a second while they try and figure out how to interact with him.

(I honestly think Dream would enjoy those moments too haha)

6 something you see in art a lot and love

This is turning out to be very Dream focused but—his starlit eyes. Absolutely love seeing that! Not just because of how gorgeously they are depicted, but because I adore art of Dream that leans into his Endless nature. Also, I’ve seen a lot of art where Dream is wearing his fire robe, or something equally unhinged and beautiful (like the battle suit). The detail that artists put in is just incredible! It sounds like an odd thing to pick out as a favourite, but I really enjoy the creativity of it.

[rriavian]

I loooooove how u write Dream. He is powerful and prideful cat energy. ❤️❤️

What is your fav Dreamling/Coritaneus trope? Which fic would u like to recommended?

Powerful Dream with prideful cat energy is a wonderful description of how I write him! Thank you so much! I’ve been overjoyed reading all of your comments over the past few days <3 really brightened up my week and I’m just incredibly happy you’ve been enjoying my work :)

I think my favourite trope has got to be anything that leans into (and respects) Dream’s nature as an Endless and explores how that is navigated in a relationship.

As a trope it can be serious, can be humorous, but I just love Dream being the most confounding thing in any room. Even to his own creations. Just at any given moment there’s Dream 100% ready to radiate sheer incomprehensible energy to everyone around him, perhaps also to test if a lover has the mettle to navigate that part of him. In Corintheus I love how that’s this irresistible (if sometimes irritating) challenge, a nature that the Corinthian wants to triumph over in some way, coveting it in a way I don’t think many others ever have.

The infinity within Dream is so easily misunderstood.

This is probably not even a trope per se, but it's very much what I most enjoy in a narrative. I suppose I love Dream getting to feel desired for the parts of himself others might find unsavoury/indecipherable/difficult. And that sort of leads into the other side it—I love the Corinthian’s nature as a nightmare being leaned into as well, and how perhaps the ‘dream’ part of Morpheus is something he both does and doesn’t always understand. Absolutely love when people play with the mix of the Corinthian knowing Dream so intimately—perceptively predicting him, understanding who and what he is in a way few others do—while also being like ‘my lord what the actual fuck?’

Ok so I lost interest in Dreamling pretty early on for a myriad of reasons.

And I actually wrote a fair bit more about it here than I meant to before condensing it down (though I will elaborate if you want!) but I think this trope translates as slow burn for them. Hob doesn’t have a) any real context and b) any real information about who/what Dream is. I think a lot of people forget that, or assume Dream will be open with him so quickly/easily, or assume that Dream should be open with him so quickly/easily.

It’s not something you see very much but I really feel like the fact that Hob knows absolutely nothing about Dream has so much unused comedic potential.

A fic rec! Ooh! There are so many talented people in this fandom, but I would definitely recommended Thymoeides by @aisalynn. It’s a WIP set in an alternate universe (human AU) where Dream is hired by Burgess to cleanse his haunted manor, and it’s so so good I absolutely love it!

[rriavian]

7 and 8 for Love Your Fandom asks :)

Bobbole! <3 thank you so much for these questions! I really enjoyed having a little think about them :)

7 your favorite tropes to read/write/draw

What a great question! There are so many but I've narrowed it down to a few :) I am very much a fan of ‘there was only one bed’ trope, or any other iteration of ‘forced to interact by Circumstances’ — just pure gold every single time!! It’s a tragedy that I haven’t written anything like that for Corintheus.

Truly I am suffering, but one day I’ll do it! The closest I think I’ve gotten is there’s a lot of uneasy allies/enemy tension in a lot of my fics.

Tbh if there was only one bed I really think both Dream and the Corinthian would be like ‘well you can sleep on the floor’ and probably only end up sharing because the other one refused to give it up. Dream could make another one with his fancy Endless powers, but I do feel like he’d stubbornly dig his heels in, or make a really comfy bed and the Corinthian would be outraged that it’s better and so try and kick him out of it (ok that’s enough of me work shopping scenarios!)

A well done fix it fic is definitely my kryptonite, as I’m sure it is for a lot of people!, because they can be very comforting as well as ways to resolve frustrations with canon material. Deliverance is probably my version of a comforting fix it :) 

Another trope that makes me go insane is the whole ‘I see you as you are and I want all of it’ — which again you’ve probably seen a lot of in my writing. I love when a character looks at another one and accepts and loves all that they are, good and bad, without reservation. Not necessarily in a toxic way, more in a ‘I fell in love with the real you not a you I want you to be’ way. They see what the other hides/is ashamed of/has been rejected for and are like…no, other people are fools actually.

That probably says a lot about me as a person—so let’s not look too closely haha—but I just love relationships that affirm identity.

8 you hope more people will come to appreciate ___ (a ship, a trope, an episode, etc)

I can't help but say Corinthiel! There is so much to love about it as a ship, and I hope it will become less of a rare pair in future.

Definitely platonic/gen relationships too! They’ve always been a favourite of mine (your Dream & Orpheus prompts were so amazing to write for!) and I love explorations of character/themes outside of romantic relationships. I was actually far more used to writing gen before I started Baiting the Trap.

Those types of relationships/themes are still present in that series, and in all my other work, because even when I’m writing something shippy it’s never in isolation. The ship will always slot into a network of other relationships/themes outside of a ‘main’ pairing, and I love seeing that explored and appreciated in fics. I really hope it has been able to shine through in my own writing because it’s very important to me :)

[rriavian]

I don't like to think myself as shy reader, it's just as a reader sometimes I think my comments lack something others would be able to say easily....😅 most of the time I'm scared that what I said might just sound stupid to the creator... 😬

This is a very fair point! And something I also used to feel myself when leaving comments…just not knowing how best to phrase what I wanted to say, or how to translate my love for a fic into words. It can still sometimes take me a little while to wrangle my thoughts into a coherent comment.

I’ve seen some guides on structure going around tumblr that look pretty useful, so I might reblog them again/save them somewhere :)

But just to reassure you—as a writer I cherish every comment I get, because it’s the only way I know that someone enjoyed what I wrote. We are all only human—and even though it’s fun writing can take a lot of energy and time—and the encouragement really does inspire you to keep writing. There’s nothing quite like seeing a comment come through to my inbox! Kudos/bookmarks don’t really give the same buzz, or the same relief, that reading someone’s words and saying ‘oh thank goodness. They liked it’ does.

That connection with a reader is really precious to me, I suppose the equivalent of someone smiling at you, or giving you a big hug.

So there’s someone who has just discovered Baiting the Trap and I’ve been getting email notifications of their comments all day. The comments aren’t super long (they don’t have to be!) but this person has my whole heart <3 I have been smiling all day because of their words.

In a fandom that functions largely online—and which for a long time I participated in only as an anonymous writer—that connection means everything, makes me feel like part of a community. This was partly why I joined tumblr in the first place (sorry if this is a bit too personal!) because I was feeling very alone, and struggling to know if people even enjoyed what I was writing anymore.

Corintheus is very much a rare pair but in the beginning a lot of people were reading it, and when that changed I couldn’t help but feel like I had done something wrong.

Which is a little silly (and why I don’t really talk about it!) but that creeping doubt was very hard to get past for quite a long time. I really don’t mean to say this to make anyone feel bad, but it was my experience, and tumblr has been such a lifeline because it really helped me to feel connected to others in the fandom. Not only that, but peoples words/questions have inspired me to write some of my favourite prose :)

And when I logged onto tumblr just now and saw your happy valentines message...my heart felt so full it could burst! So I want to also let you know how much I appreciate you, and how happy I am every time I see your username in my notifications/on my dash.

I know from experience that figuring out how to phrase a comment can be really hard, and how one can worry that they sound silly to the creator. Especially on a fic you really love! You want it to be perfect. But the comments you leave are your words, the way you phrase things is your unique style, and that’s always perfect <3

[rriavian]

N. 14 from the 'Love Your Fandom' Asks please. 💖

Thank you for your question <3 this was a fun one!

the ship that always makes you smile

Ok so Corintheus makes me grin slightly insanely most of the time, though it has its softer moments, and while that technically counts as a smile it’s not quite as wholesome as I feel this question implies. Corinthiel is both more wholesome and in many ways more unhinged, with a side of bittersweet, so while it too makes me smile once again I must set it gently to one side.

Dreamuse can be very bittersweet (and for me that complicated history is part of the lure) so I usually smile through the pain, but I’m mentioning it because it's still very special to me.

Before this turns into a tour of all my ships (which I accidentally almost did oops!) I will skip straight to the winner!

It might be a bit surprising given what I usually write, but I think that Lucienne/Dream is the ship that always makes me smile. No matter what it’s just very beautiful. The devotion they have to each other, the deep intimacy of their bond, the support and understanding and love they share…it’s just an incredibly rare and precious dynamic.

[rriavian]

ooooo this ask game has a lot of good ones. How about:

🐌 What is one of your smallest writing goals?

👾 Do you have any "bad" writing habits you want to break?

💥Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're most excited to write? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

🐌 What is one of your smallest writing goals?

My aim is to finish a few smaller projects in the first six months of this year. I’ve got some prompts in my inbox that I’m finishing fics for (all smaller stories) and I'd like to keep to a goal of regularly filling prompts this year.

I’ve also got another Corintheus ficlet I want to finish, and Cursed is a shorter piece. So a rough goal is the get those two out for February and then do the rest in whatever time they need :)

 👾 Do you have any "bad" writing habits you want to break?

I think my bad habits are the other sides of my good habits, if that makes sense? The billions of ideas I’m always having can mean that unless I catch that wave when it happens, it feels like I’ve not done anything with that thought and just stalled instead. My own brain can quickly swamp me, and that can make me then struggle to finish. So I’m trying to pace myself better and be less stressed about ‘right now immediately’.

I also tend to write a little chaotically. Prose out of order, leaving rough sentences/ideas as place holders, but this doesn’t always work for longer projects. It can leave some tricky bits to clean up at the end. I can dip back in and be like aha! I know exactly what this needs, but it can also trip me up and stall me.

I’ve got a relatively flexible style, I’ve taken some different approaches in different fandoms and/or fics. Though Baiting the Trap and its specific tone/style was very much something I’d already practised in another series. Just not as explicit and not quite as poetic (the Corinthian’s POV naturally seems to be very lyrical, though not in the same way as Dream's). 

To keep flexibility I like to shake things up and do something completely new to keep myself from losing an edge and getting lazy. Not that I think I am a lazy writer, but I have ways to make sure I’m taking the same care and thought every time. Prompts from other people really help with this as I love considering new angles and tropes.

When something is hard/new I think we go more carefully, and are forced to be more novel, and I really really like improving my skills by doing that. It’s helped me write some of my favourite work.

💥Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're most excited to write? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

There are two secret Corintheus fics I wrote alongside those for Corintheus week that need a last edit before posting but I’m being very quiet about what they are :) should be a nice surprise! I’m also very proud of my Corintheus ‘divorce au’ that I still need do some work on before I post. I think the one I’m most excited about is probably role reversal au because when finished it’s going to be the longest fic I’ve yet posted that’s not split into a series. It'll also be the longest fic I’ve written in years.

It’s quite ambitious, and will probably have a sequel. I’ve planned the second arc out because I had to split the original fic in two. There’s lots of threads as well as other relationship dynamics and subplots. It’s about Dream and the Corinthian of course, but also very much about how they interact with other characters. Death shows up quite a lot, but I would say that Lucienne and Gault are the other really major characters in the fic.

I’m also branching out into other parings/writing some more gen fics. And, as an honourable mention, what was intended as the last two parts of Baiting the Trap have both been written for over a year and every single day I just want to share where it’s going. Unfortunately there’s at least two more in the middle, which I’m also excited about, but when I get to it I’m going to feel so relieved. 

Oh! And the Corintheus seduction au! Goodness I’m excited about everything aren’t I? Though I guess that sums me up! Thank you so much for your questions I hope you enjoyed my answers :)

[rriavian]

For reverse Wip wednesday. (This is an idea I've had since I've gotten back into drawing and making fanart) Uhh it's a spicy one 🫣

The Corinthian and Dream try wax play. Dream wearing a blind fold as cori drips melting wax onto his lower back. Maybe Cori would start with a warm temperature of wax but eventually want to raise the temperature enough for it to leave a mark.

Oh this is going to live rent free in my head until I write it (and if you draw this I think I shall immediately go insane because wow).

Dream in a blindfold and the deal is that he doesn't cheat, doesn't use his extra senses, and the wax the Corinthian drips on his back is the sort that can actually hurt him if used correctly. It's a slow build; both to tease and to luxuriate, the Corinthian wants to take his time and enjoy this, stares transfixed and starts to lose himself in the deliberate drip of melted wax on Dream's unmarked skin.

The first time it burns him the Corinthian isn't even expecting it, still surprised it even worked, but he is so very greedy when faced with something he wants.

One mark isn't nearly enough - by the time he's done he wants Dream covered in them.

[rriavian]

Get attacked!! ✨🌈SEND THIS TO OTHER BLOGGERS YOU THINK ARE WONDERFUL. KEEP THE GAME GOING🌈✨

Seiya my love!! This is so sweet of you thank you so much! <3 It's always a delight to see you on my dash, you are so incredibly lovely to interact with and seeing notifications from you always makes me smile :)

[rriavian]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💗 (i don't know if you do these sorts of chain-letter things, or if you'd prefer not to, but for my part i do like to know which of their works a given author is especially hype on, so consider this an opportunity to gush!)

Thank you for the ask! Ooh I'm happy to be tagged/sent chain-letter things, though sometimes I might I miss one or take a while to answer. Ok so I’ve been going back and forth over this for a few weeks, because I’ve written far more than I ever thought I would and it’s really, really hard to pick favourites!

I’m really sorry for the delay, but here are 5 of my Sandman fic self recs:

Baiting the Trap – Corintheus oneshot. I feel like this one was almost a given, it’s the fic that started it all, and as much as I remember spending weeks and weeks agonising over whether to post it I had a lot of fun writing it. Still the fic I’m most known for I think! I feel a little self-conscious recommending my own work (and to be honest I spent far too long trying to word a description of this fic!) but this is essentially Dream choosing not to destroy the Corinthian after the Convention. Think Dream deigning to play a game of 3D chess with his nightmare for the very first time, but in a sexy way, and the Corinthian thinking he’s winning right up to the final move…also in a sexy way.

Deliverance – Corintheus again, currently 5/6 chapters. Season one AU where the Corinthian’s curiosity gets the better of him and he visits Dream while he’s trapped by Burgess and ends up breaking him out. He’s quite pissed off about it too. We get a love confession, a trip to the Dreaming, and then a Corintheus version of Dream’s quest to retrieve his tools. A little bit soft, a little bit angsty, with the Corinthian’s unique mix of love, rage and possessiveness shining through in varying degrees. I almost didn’t rec this as it’s incomplete but I am very very fond of it! The last chapter is very nearly finished, I just need to sit down and really work through it.

Astronomers – Lucienne/Dream oneshot. A ficlet based on a prompt from @bobbole. Soft and sweet, filled with mutual devotion. I adore the relationship between these two and there are some fascinating parallels I’d been itching to explore. I think they are the same flavour of workaholic just in different species—both proud characters with incredible dedication to the Dreaming, and to each other, and I wanted to capture the intimacy of their relationship. The sheer depth to it is portrayed so well in the show. Ahh I need to write more for them!

Lead the Way – Orpheus & Dream, one of two one shots I’ve written for them and it was very hard to choose! This was another fantastic prompt from bobbole. It’s a human AU where Dream is teaching Orpheus how to cross the road, which can be very daunting to a child. Sweet family fluff, Dream’s meticulous approach to even the simplest of things. This one is very special to me because it’s inspired by a real memory from my childhood, so I hope you enjoy it if you do give it a read! I really wish I could draw because the image of little Orpheus holding Dream’s hand as they wait to cross the road is adorable.

A slow advancing tide – let’s end on more Corintheus shall we! 4/4 chapters, a gift for @aisalynn. 5+1 fic where either the Corinthian or Dream end up nearly unconscious while in the others company. It definitely has some of my favourite prose, as well as exploring one of my favourite tropes. The Corinthian all relaxed and dazed flirting with Dream after a punishment? Dream high af for (spoilery) reasons and refusing to keep his hands to himself? So much fun to write! I always love scenarios where I can explore how powerful characters act in moments of vulnerability, though anyone whose read my work probably knows my approach to it tends to be unexpected.

Again, thank you for the ask!! This has definitely reminded me how lucky I am to have such incredible friends who've sent me such amazing prompts (though I’ve also got a fair few still unfinished, which I feel really bad about because I love writing for prompts and you’ve all been so kind to indulge me!). It’s been a bit of a slow year, but hopefully picking up a bit now.

If you’ve read these already then I hope you enjoyed them <3 and if you haven’t then I hope you enjoy any that interest you :)

[rriavian]

🪩and 🫘 for the Writer Goal ask game!

🪩 Do you have any "good" writing habits you want to cultivate?

Ooh! I think writing every day (even if just a little) is one I'm trying to maintain but not really push myself over. There's an obvious caveat for when it's not possible, but I'm trying to set some pretty consistent writing goals :) Just as a support rather than anything to add pressure, so they are going to be relatively flexible if it becomes unmanageable. Will see how it goes!

I think the other one might be to write some smaller things alongside the bigger projects. Which I'm sort of doing already!

And of course I really want to try and get better at pacing myself/taking a break when I need to. It's been going better this month, but I know I'm prone to ignoring my limits.

🫘 Spill the beans. What's a new project you're doing this year?

New projects? Me? This is that sixth sense you have for me having secrets again! Though I have been teasing at new content a lot too. I will mention one that I know you don't know about already :)

I've decided to add to the 'amnesia au' snippet thing I posted ages ago (I'll need to dig for the post link!) and I started writing an unrelated deaged Dream fic just because. Which actually has a fair chunk of a first chapter written. I will be aiming to try and continue my cat!Dream fic and make it into a longer series, which is likely to be more of a long term project.

My two secret Corintheus fics have titles so I'll share those! One is called At First Touch and the other is very tentatively (because I just opened it and realised oops no title) called Forms of Inspiration.

There is one additional very secret new project which might not even be this year, but I've mapped out a 12 ish chapter AU that could very well be 2024s nanowrimo.

Oops. I just reread this and realised that I said one! As always I can't help myself! But I hope it makes up for the vagueness of some of my answers :)