#their fiddler changed

[maikhiwi00]

What's the name of the word for things not being the same always? You know. I'm sure there is one, isn't there? There must be a word for it... the thing that lets you know time is happening. Is there a word?

Change.

[anonymousdandelion]

The fundamental difference between Fiddler on the Roof and Fidler Afn Dakh:

English Tevye: Tradition!

Yiddish Tevye: Got iz a foter un heylik iz zayn toyre!

[ollierachnid]

normal people mountain

[muzzlemouths]

so according to google, hoodies actually become mad popular in the 1970s, which lines up perfectly because it means I can give dead mall au moon a hoodie instead of his nightcap. the thing is, searching “1970s hoodie” only yields results of hoodies with 70s aesthetic patterns and quotes. pinterest drip type of shit. this, as you can imagine, is putting a huge dent in my ability to character design

[supercantaloupe]

genuinely except for maybe a passing interest in seeing camelot (which is closing too soon for me to do anything about anyway) i haven't wanted to actually Go To New York to see smth on broadway since the music man. i am going to do everything in my power however to go see this cabaret tho

[sunlightfeeling]

Taking it upon myself to educate for a second because none of you know your Yiddish musicals and it shows (I love all of you 😙) ….or you don’t want my heart so won’t say what the reference is (rude but understandable)

Educate

Yourself

On

Fiddler

on the

Roof

…there’s a character called Lazar Wolf…

[pyrepostings]

Prodigal Son

Free Birds and Fiddlers

cw: referenced past events of the story, including character death and abuse. Polite discussion of Christianity (specifically the story referenced by this chapter's title), mild implied homophobia that gets checked

~~~

Kevin settled himself on the starboard side deck, bringing his knees as close to his chin as he could without losing his balance to the waves, and holding his staff in hand for further aid in not tipping over. He tugged at his hair with his free hand.

The others were port side as far as he knew, likely going below now they were surrounded by water, and would be for some time. While he had agreed to come back to Paradis, he wasn't going to voluntarily be be brought below deck again for anything.

It wasn't long before Julian came around the corner, with two bowls of food in hand. Kevin smirked slightly as the otherwise very dignified man had not quite the sea legs of a sailor, at least Kevin had an excuse for poor balance.

"Do you mind if I join you? I brought lunch."

Kevin nodded, forcing out a "yeah" and re-positioned himself so he could wedge his staff between himself and the wall and took the offered bowl.

Lunch was some kind of cured ham, sauced and seasoned, with bread on the side. They ate in silence, washing it down with a thermos-full of tea. It was an uncomfortable silence, Kevin knowing there was much that still needed to be said, and knowing there was much Julian wanted to say but was afraid of Kevin reacting poorly so soon after the tentative peace was struck.

Kevin figured there were things for him to say too, sooner or later, and so broke it himself.

"I want you to know, Julian, that I'm sorry for hurting you. I shouldn't have. I just... I just didn't know what else to do at the time."

Kevin didn't look at the other man, but he felt him shift to look at him.

"I also want you to know. When we get back, I'll accept whatever punishment you decide for me. Just. Please don't tie me up again. Please." Kevin hid his head in his arms, breathing heavier than he was expecting to at that confession.

Julian was silent for a moment. "I meant what I said, when I told you there wouldn't be a punishment. You have to follow the terms of parole you agreed to, but I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

"I know that's what you said but you couldn't have meant it. I know you were just saying that so I wouldn't hurt you more."

"Kevin, I meant it completely. All you have to do is ask to come back and you would be welcomed back with open arms. And you have asked. And so you will be welcomed back. I don't punish for the sake of punishment."

"But I hurt you. I killed Minstrel."

"And I really wish you hadn't. But- you've been punished enough. You weren't in your right mind. Hurting you more wouldn't bring him back, and you choosing to come back is like reviving you from the dead anyhow. I just want you to feel safe again. Why would I push you away now?"

Kevin stared off at the waves before replying. "Is everyone else going to feel that way?"

"I specifically ordered him not to go after you. Both times, in fact. But it was his choice to defy them. And you had made your intentions clear to him after the first. I won't say you were in the right either, but he knew what you were prepared to do, and he went of his own free will anyway. That is the truth, and that is what I will say to anyone who gives you trouble."

"Are you going to make me swear loyalty to you, commander?"

"Mm, I would like it if you did. But I can hardly force you. Either way you would be under my protection. Besides, you already swore loyalty to Elsa all those years ago. No one could argue you haven't served at least a few good years to us. Earned the right to still wear our crest, if you chose to."

"hm. And technically I swore first to Ezran anyway. I renewed my vows to Elsa."

"Exactly, see? You're one of the old guard."

Kevin did feel relaxed by his words, if only slightly. He seemed sincere. He leaned back against the wall behind him and closed his eyes against the sun.

"But I've been gone for so long. Will anyone actually remember that? Or just the crimes I've done?"

"I'll make sure to remind them if they ever forget."

"Thank you, Julian."

The time and silence stretched between them, gently rocked by the waves until Julian spoke again.

"There's something I wanted to ask you, if it's alright?"

"What is it?"

Julian pulled out a file of papers. "I'm sure you know, but part of the agreement to have you released back to us included giving me a copy of your file. Every conversation you had in custody, every note of your actions and whereabouts, of the trial."

"Alright?"

"Would it be ok with you if I read it?"

Kevin huffed. "As if anything in there is a secret?"

"I know, I just wanted to be clear with you. If you don't want me to read it, or any specific part, I won't. I'll throw the whole file overboard right now if you sincerely ask me to."

Kevin arched an eyebrow. "I don't think you'd actually do that. But if you wish to read it, and would truly follow my wishes, you may. I just want you to know... a lot of that- I'm not proud of what you'll find in there."

"I know. That's why I asked."

A particularly turbulent wave sent Kevin off balance, forcing him to extend a hand, and sending a slight shock of pain from where he instinctively extended and put pressure on his wounded leg. He felt a touch at his shoulder which quickly retreated.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. Thanks."

Kevin adjusted slightly, not wishing to fall off balance again but also trying to wrap himself against the cold sea wind as much as possible without the thick woolen cloak he had stubbornly refused. He could feel Julian's eyes on him.

"What?"

"It's just- do you want help?"

Was there an air of smug amusement in that voice?

"No I'm fine."

"You look cold, is all. We can go below deck to get out of the wind-"

"No! No. I'm fine, I don't need to go below deck." Even as he spoke, he could feel the chill setting into his bones in a way he knew he would soon regret not finding a way to ward off the wind.

Julian hummed, clearly not convinced but also having learned his lesson about pressing Kevin about things that weren't an immediate danger to his life. Kevin did notice how Julian let his own cloak open. An invite? It was clearly intentional, from the way he shifted to allow more of the fabric to the side where Kevin sat. He wasn't being slick at all.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"You know, we have these lovely cloaks, handcrafted and specifically designed to protect against the cold which comes with being outside, and not up to much strenuous activity."

Kevin suppressed a smirk, suddenly enjoying the game they were now playing. "I know, I used to wear one. Yours seems to have fallen, right- ah right there."

"Hm, so it has. I barely noticed. That probably means I don't really need it right now. Would you like to borrow it?"

Oh, he thinks he's so cool. Unfortunately Kevin had already decided he wasn't going to wear one of those anymore. "I don't need the whole thing, just a corner, I think." He slid a bit closer to Julian, letting their shoulders touch. "If that's ok."

Julian nodded. "I didn't think you'd want to be this close to me."

"Don't get me wrong. We're not there yet. But- I do miss you. I miss what we used to have. And I am cold."

"Mhm. Alright." Julian threw the side of the cloak over Kevin's opposite shoulder as he snuggled in, pressing his entire side of his body up to Julian's, and tucked a few fingers under his flight harness for security against the rolling waves. He felt Julian shift in a way that seemed to be checking to make sure Kevin wasn't snatching anything off of said harness, but then relaxed back into him.

He was warm. And the way Julian stroked his hair, like he used to, sent a different kind of shiver down his spine.

It was comfortable. Sans the hard wooden floor, and the rocking of the boat, and the gulls cawing-

Kevin pressed his face into Julian's shoulder and neck, just above the collarbone. Why did he ever leave? He could have had this the whole time.

With Julian's hand in his hair, and his own fingers entwined in the other man's harness, mooring him in place, he let himself drift off.

~

Julian couldn't be 100% sure Kevin wasn't trying to play him, but if he really did still hate him for what happened, he never had to agree to come back.

Kevin had a long way to go. It was true many of his old comrades turned against him when he had initially lashed out, and most of the rest when news was brought that Minstrel was dead by his hands. And that wasn't to speak of Kevin's personal journey in his own head. Julian knew by now what false peace looks like, how quickly a riptide can pull one under.

But he was hanging on, now. He would have more people than just Julian looking out for him specifically, a whole net this time. People that Kevin helped many years ago. People who were hurt in very similar ways, and maybe that would help more than Julian ever could have done the first try.

For now he smiled at the barely audible snores that started from Kevin. He opened the file still on his lap.

~

Eventually, Quinn came around the corner.

"Oh, sorry, I don't mean to intrude. I just wanted some air."

"It's fine. I was just doing some reading." Julian was suddenly very aware of his hand still in Kevin's hair at his shoulder. Aware because Quinn made no secret with the way he looked at him that was what he was referring to.

"He was cold."

"It's warmer, and dryer, inside you know."

"And stuffier, so you've mentioned."

"Eh, true." Quinn leaned against the guardrail. "I guess I just didn't realize, how involved you two were."

Julian quirked an eyebrow. "And what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing! Just that you didn't let on. You've been awfully reserved with that information, before last night I never would have suspected-"

"Allow me to interject, officer. Neither you, nor your crown, is entitled to know every last detail of our relationship. I will state plainly that I plan to uphold the deal I made with your government for his relative freedom, and any involvement with him will not hinder that.

"In addition, while you are coming along to keep his parole, the laws of Paradis are slightly different to those of your home. Not everything outlawed there is outlawed here. Not everything you know to be a sin is considered as such here."

His tone was hard, but diplomatic.

"Right, right, I'm sorry. Commander, I didn't mean it like that."

"Mhm, of course."

Kevin stirred beside him but made no indication he heard anything. Julian rubbed his head softly to coax him back to sleep.

"I guess I just didn't realize until now why you intervened for him."

"I didn't pull him out of a life of incarceration because I'm romantically involved with him, if that's the point you're trying to make."

"So why did you? You broke the policy of isolationism to fight the courts for extradition. For one man."

Julian watched Kevin's face as he rubbed his thumb gently along his scalp. "I've never been Christian, but a long time ago, he taught me some of the stories from the bible. I imagine you're Anglican?"

"Yes, why?"

"Do the stories change much between denominations?"

"Depends. Exact wordings change depending on the exact translation, but the overall stories and messages should stay the same between, say, the king James version and the catholic one."

"Then you should know the one about the son who goes off into the world, squandering all of his father's money. When the famine comes and the son has nowhere to go lest he starve and perish to the elements, he returns home, groveling to his father's feet, not believing he would ever be worthy of forgiveness.

"Instead, he is immediately forgiven. A feast is held in his honor. The father is just glad his son came home.

"Are there truly no obvious parallels here? He asked for help, to return to my side, so of course I would fight for him."

"Well I suppose, when you put it like that."

And at Julian's side, Kevin curled almost imperceptibly closer.

Masterlist

[physalian]

How To Make Your Writing Less Stiff 5

Movement

Dredging this back up from way back.

Make sure your characters move, but not too much during heavy dialogue scenes. E.g. two characters sitting and talking—do humans just stare at each other with their arms lifeless and bodies utterly motionless during conversation? No? Then neither should your characters. Make them…

Gesture

Wave

Frown

Laugh

Cross their legs/their arms

Shift around to get comfortable

Pound the table

Roll their eyes

Point

Shrug

Touch their face/their hair

Wring their hands

Pick at their nails

Yawn

Stretch

Sniff/sniffle

Tap their fingers/drum

Bounce their feet

Doodle

Fiddle with buttons or jewelry

Scratch an itch

Touch their weapons/gadgets/phones

Check the time

Get up and sit back down

Move from chair to tabletop

The list goes on.

Bonus points if these are tics that serve to develop your character, like a nervous fiddler, or if one moves a lot and the other doesn’t—what does that say about the both of them? This is where “show don’t tell” really comes into play.

As in, you could say “he’s nervous” or you could show, “He fidgets, constantly glancing at the clock as sweat beads at his temples.”

This site is full of discourse on telling vs showing so I’ll leave it at that.

Epithets

In the Sci-fi WIP that shall never see the light of day, I had a flashback arc for one male character and his relationship with another male character. On top of that, the flashback character was a nameless narrator for Reasons.

Enter the problem: How would you keep track of two male characters, one who you can't name, and the other who does have a name, but you can’t oversaturate the narrative with it? I did a few things.

Nameless Narrator (written in 3rd person limited POV) was the only narrator for the flashback arc. I never switched to the boyfriend’s POV.

Boyfriend had only a couple epithets that could only apply to him, and halfway through their relationship, NN went from describing him as “the other prisoner” to “his cellmate” to “his partner” (which was also a double entendre). NN also switched from using BF’s full name to a nickname both in narration and dialogue.

BF had a title for NN that he used exclusively in dialogue, since BF couldn’t use his given name and NN hadn’t picked a new one for himself.

Every time the subject of the narrative switched, I started a new paragraph so “he” never described either character ambiguously mid-paragraph.

Is this an extreme example? Absolutely, but I pulled it off according to my betas.

The point of all this is this: Epithets shouldn’t just exist to substitute an overused name. Epithets de-personalize the subject if you use them incorrectly. If your narrator is thinking of their lover and describing that person without their name, then the trait they pick to focus on should be something equally important to them. In contrast, if you want to drive home how little a narrator thinks of somebody, using depersonalizing epithets helps sell that disrespect.

Fanfic tends to be the most egregious with soulless epithets like "the black-haired boy" that tell the reader absolutely nothing about how the narrator feels about that black-haired boy, espeically if they're doing so during a highly-emotional moment.

As in, NN and BF had one implied sex scene. Had I said “the other prisoner” that would have completely ruined the mood. He’s so much more than “the other prisoner” at that point in the story. “His partner,” since they were both a combat team and romantically involved, encompassed their entire relationship.

The epithet also changed depending on what mood or how hopeless NN saw their situation. He’d wax and wane over how close he believed them to be for Reasons. NN was a very reserved character who kept BF at a distance, afraid to go “all in” because he knew there was a high chance of BF not surviving this campaign. So NN never used “his lover”.

All to say, epithets carried the subtext of that flashback arc, when I had a character who would not talk about his feelings. I could show you the progression of their relationship through how the epithets changed.

I could show you whenever NN was being a big fat liar about his feelings when he said he's not in love, but his narration gave him away. I could show you the exact moment their relationship shifted from comrades to something more when NN switched mid-paragraph from "his cellmate" to "his partner" and when he took up BF's nickame exclusively in the same scene.

I do the same thing in Eternal Night when Elias, my protagonist, stops referring to Dorian as "it" and "the vampire" instead of his name the moment they collide with a much more dangerous vampire, so jarringly that Elias notices in his own narration—the point of it being so explicit is that this degredation isn't automatic, it's something he has to conciously do, when everyone else in his clan wouldn't think twice about dehumanizing them.

—

Any literary device should be used with intent if you want those layers in your work. The curtains are rarely just blue. Whether it’s a simile with a deliberate comparison or an epithet with deliberate connotations, your readers will pick up on the subtext, I promise.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

First Nations leaders and families from northern Ontario are calling on the province’s Inspector General of Policing to disband the Thunder Bay Police Service and have a new police service investigate some of its cases.

“The Thunder Bay Police Service has turned into a cold case factory when it comes to investigations into the deaths of Indigenous Peoples. There is a complete lack of trust. Everything has broken down and it can’t be repaired. It’s like watching a disaster unfold in slow motion, and it has life-changing consequences for our members,” said Alvin Fiddler, grand chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, an organization that represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario.

“It is time for the provincial government to show they care about what is happening in Thunder Bay and disband this Service. Our families don’t need any more reports – they need action.”

Several reports since 2018 have documented systemic racism in the Thunder Bay police force and outlined how investigations into the sudden deaths of Indigenous people have been tainted by racist attitudes and stereotyping.

A confidential report obtained by APTN News found the sudden deaths of 14 Indigenous people were so poorly handled they had to be reinvestigated.

That is in addition to nine deaths that were already been reinvestigated. [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland, @vague-humanoid

[honeybeezgobzzzzz]

𓅨 Beneath the Moon's Watch

Beneath the Moon's Watch: Bored out of your mind, you decide to pay Fiddler’s Green a visit.

Warnings: Explicit Language, Explicit Material.

To Note: Morpheus x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ~5.4k

You lounge on a divan in the grand hall of the palace, your eyes tracing the intricate stained glass woven into the ceiling. The Dreaming is as surreal as always, a place where reality bends to whim and desire, where the rules of the waking world do not apply. Where your every dream comes true. Yet, even in this magnificent realm, boredom has a way of creeping in. Your boyfriend, Morpheus, the lord of dreams, is busy attending to his endless duties, leaving you to your own devices.

You sigh and shift your position, trying to find some spark of interest in your surroundings. The strained glass overhead has grown tedious after watching it for an hour, dreams, nightmares, and the palace staff are all off doing their duties. Even Matthew is indisposed!

Oh you can’t be this bored, could you?

Your head drops over the padded end of the divan and you let your hair dangle down to the marble floor. Oh you definitely are this bored.

"I am going to die of boredom," You sigh dramatically, throwing an arm over your eyes. The words echo through the grand hall, but there is no response. You peek out from under your arm, half hoping that Morpheus might appear, his presence breaking the monotony. But the hall remains pitifully empty, its vastness swallowing your voice.

You drop your arm and stare at the ceiling again, tracing the intricate stained glass patterns with your eyes. Maybe you should get into stained glass making? How hard could it be? Who are you kidding. You rise from the divan, determination welling within you. If Morpheus can't rescue you from boredom, you'll have to take matters into your own hands. A spark of excitement ignites in your heart. You hadn't visited Fiddler's Green recently! You skip across the grand hall, your steps echoing off the marble floor and vast walls. The first pep in your step in hours.

As you make your way out of the grand hall, the echo of your footsteps seems to amplify the silence around you. You try not to think about how alone you feel when Morpheus is busy. Instead, you focus on what new places that awaits you in Fiddler's Green. The arcana is always changing things up for you, varying the type of forest you might encounter or the specific blooms you might see. Tropical, Mountainous, Subsaharan… Upon exiting the palace, the realm warps around you and places you at the edge of Fiddler's Green.

"Thanks!" You call out over your shoulder to the realm, knowing full well that it didn't have to assist you in getting around the realm when it had more important things to do. A breeze flutters your hair in response and you smile. Oh you love the realm just as much as you love Morpheus.

Ahead of you lays a group of flowering bushes near some trees and you decide to see if the flowers are as fragrant as they look. Each flower seems to glow light, their hues shifting subtly as you approach and you catch a lovely scent wafting your way. The scent is intoxicating, a blend of sweet and spicy notes that makes you close your eyes and breathe deeply. When you are close enough you reach out to touch one of the blooms, feeling the softness of the petals under your fingertips. You swear you've never seen these types of flowers before and furrow your brow.

"I wonder what type of flowers these are," You muse, your fingers the vibrant red curls.

"It is the carolina allspice," Gilbert disembodied voices says. You look up to the canopy above you despite knowing that you wouldn't physically see the major arcana.

"Gil," you call out, a smile spreading across your face. While the major arcana's official name was Fiddler's Green, you prefer the name he went by when in human form: Gilbert, or Gil for short. "It's been too long."

"Indeed, it has," Gilbert responds, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You seem to be in need of some adventure."

You laugh softly, nodding. "You always know. Morpheus is busy, as usual, and I was dying of boredom."

"Ah, boredom in the Dreaming, a rare but serious affliction," Gilbert says, his voice now sounding closer. "Come, I have something to show you."

A path opens up before you, the foliage parting to reveal a narrow trail winding deeper into the forest. You follow it, excitement quickly replacing your earlier boredom. The air grows warmer, and the light takes on a golden hue as you venture further. After a short while, the path opens up into a breathtaking clearing. At the center of the clearing lies a lake, its surface perfectly still, reflecting the sky and surrounding trees like a giant mirror. The water is crystal clear, with patches of lilies floating gracefully on the surface. The scene is so tranquil and beautiful that it takes your breath away. Which given what you have been exposed to while dating Morpheus, is a feat.

"Welcome to the Lake of Serenity," Gilbert says, his voice now seeming to emanate from all around you. Like he is standing in the clearing with you.

"Lake of Serenity?" You repeat, your head tilting as you think the name is fitting. You walk towards the edge of the lake, the soft grass cushioning your steps. A perfect napping spot really. The water looks inviting, and you feel an overwhelming sense of calm wash over you. Oh yes, definitely a lake of serenity. You decide to sit down on a large, smooth rock at the water's edge and dip your fingers into the cool water. Even the water feels serene!

"This is perfect," you sigh, closing your eyes and letting the tranquility of the lake whisk away your boredom. "I've been restless since arriving with Morpheus so busy… but now, now I just feel at peace."

"Take your time, relax, Miss Y/N. I am sure you will feel rejuvenated in no time." Feeling the weight of your boredom and restlessness lift from your shoulders, you lie down on the soft grass beside the lake. The ground is warm from the sun, and a gentle breeze brushes over you, carrying the sweet scent of the surrounding flowers. When you close your eyes the sounds of nature combined with the floral scent of flowers lulls you into peaceful slumber.

The sun has set while you slept, and the forest around you is now alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures. The moonlight casts a silver sheen over the lake, transforming it into a shimmering mirror that reflects the star-filled sky above. Yet another view that takes your breath away. Sitting up, you brace your hands on the soft grass behind you and admire the mirrored stars on the surface of the lake.

Your earlier boredom has become a distant memory, replaced with contentedness and a renewed sense of mischief. Rolling your neck and stretching out our limbs, you get to your feet and look around, knowing that with the fall of the sun and rise of the moon, the greenery will have changed.

The lilies dotting the surface of the lake have closed their petals in slumber, and the green plants that trimmed the far side of the lake now have full blooms, shimmering an iridescent white. You had explored Fiddler's Green at night before, but this was all a new experience for you. You crouch at the edge of the lake, swirling your fingers through the water when a familiar voice cuts through the silence.

"Boss Lady! You there?" You look over your shoulder and up to the sky, seeing Matthew fluttering down to perch on a low-hanging branch. "I have been looking for you everywhere!"

You smile at the sight of the raven, his usual demeanor tinged with a mix of relief and exasperation. Poor Matthew has probably been sent to check on you by Morpheus. "I'm here, Matthew. Just enjoying the beauty of the night."

Matthew hops closer on the branch, his beady eyes glinting in the moonlight. "Morpheus has been worried. You know how he gets when he can't find you."

You chuckle softly, standing up and brushing off your clothes. "I know, I know. I'll head back soon. But look at this place, Matthew. Isn't it magical?"

The raven cocks his head, glancing around the beautiful lake and flora. "Yeah, it is pretty nice. But you should really let someone know where you're going next time. It would save me a lot of flying around."

"Noted," you reply before a mischievous idea suddenly takes hold of you. "Matthew," you say with a devious grin, "I think I'm going to go for a swim."

The raven looks at you, tilting his head and not liking the tone in your voice. You have a proclivity for shenanigans on occasion. "A swim? Now?"

"Why not?" you reply, already starting to unbutton your shirt. "The water looks so inviting."

"Wait, what?" Matthew squawks, his feathers ruffling in alarm. "You can't—what if someone sees you? Morpheus would lose his mind if a dream or nightmare happened upon you naked! You should just, I don't know, magic yourself a bathing suit! Why are you getting undressed!?"

You can't help but laugh at Matthew's panic. "Magic myself a bathing suit? Where's the fun in that?" you tease, your fingers deftly working the buttons on your shirt. "Besides, it's just me out here. We'll be fine."

"But I'm here!" Matthew cries, flaps his wings in panic and hopping from one foot to the other on his perch. When he starts to see your bra he quickly blocks his vision with his wing, covering his face. "I'm serious, Y/N! Morpheus is very particular about your safety. This is not going to go over well! You know what happened last time!"

Quite distinctly, actually. You still weren't going to change your mind.

Ignoring his protests, you pull off your pants and wiggle yourself out of your bra and underwear. Then you pad your way into the cool and inviting water, sighing as water washes over your skin with a delightful feeling. You wade in deeper until you're fully submerged and turn yourself around to look back at Matthew. He is still panicking, but now fluttering around and casting anxious glances around the forest from the grass, look anywhere but at you.

"This is a bad idea," he mutters. "A really bad idea..."

"Relax, Matthew," you call back, letting the water buoy you. "It's just a nice swim. What's the worst that could happen, I'm in the dreaming…"

Just as the words leave your mouth, you hear a rustling in the nearby bushes. Matthew lets out a panicked squawk and flutters up to a higher branch. "See? See!? Someone's coming!"

You look towards the sound, expecting Gilbert to appear. But emerging from the shadows is not the serene figure of the major arcana. Instead, it's Morpheus, his pale face framed by his wild dark hair. He blinks in surprise, hardly expecting you to be naked in the middle of Fiddler's Green.

"Matthew, why is my beloved naked in the lake?" Morpheus' voice is calm, but you can sense the underlying tension. Not to mention confusion.

Matthew flutters nervously, his feathers ruffled in agitation. "I tried to stop her, boss! She wouldn't listen to me and just started stripping!"

Morpheus’ eyes shift from Matthew, to the clothes you had discarded, and then to you, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Why are you swimming naked in the lake?" he asks, clearly perplexed.

You can’t help but giggle at the situation. "It's called skinny dipping, Morpheus. It's a way of enjoying the water. It’s quite fun and liberating."

Morpheus tilts his head, clearly not understanding this human custom. "But why without clothes? A bathing suit? What purpose does it serve?"

You smile, a playful glint in your eye. "Well, it's about feeling free and close to nature. The sensation of the water against your skin is... unique. And it's also a bit naughty, don’t you think?" you add with a wink.

Morpheus' expression remains serious. Oh your boyfriend isn't this dense is he? "Naughty?"

You chuckle, moving closer to the shore but staying submerged. "Oh yes, naughty. There's a certain thrill to it, being exposed, feeling the cool water everywhere. It’s a bit of an adventure, a bit of a secret."

Morpheus seems to consider this, his brows furrowing slightly. You decide to push your point home with a bit more innuendo. "You know, it's not just about the swim. It's about the freedom, the exhilaration... and sometimes, it's fun to share that with someone special."

Morpheus only blinked once, staring you in your naked state and subtle smirk, down, before saying, "Matthew, return to the palace."

It finally clicked.

"But, boss—" Matthew starts to protest, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"Now, Matthew," Morpheus commands, his eyes not leaving yours once. A light bulb appears to go off in Matthew's head and the poor raven can't scramble out of the clearing fast enough.

"I'm out! I am out!!" The raven calls, his wings flapping in a flurry of feathers, his own mind connecting the dots. This is not something he wishes to see. With Matthew gone, the night grows still, the only sounds being the gentle lapping of the water against the shore and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Morpheus steps closer to the edge of the lake, his intense gaze fixed on you. The moonlight casts a silver glow upon your skin, giving you an ethereal look that the endless drinks in.

"Skinny dipping," he repeats, as if testing the words on his tongue. "Humans have such intriguing customs."

"Care to join me?" you say with an arc of your eyebrow and curve of your lips. "I'm rather lonely at the moment."

He doesn't reply to your question, his eyes taking on an intense predatory look. You watch as Morpheus slowly begins to remove his clothes. Any other person would question why he didn't just dismiss his clothes with his sand, he has done so before… but Morpheus has long since learned you like a show because it gives you time to appreciate.

He starts with his long, star lined jacket, shrugging it from his shoulders and revealing the downy soft grey shirt beneath. The coat disappears in a wave of sand while your eyes are transfixed on lithe fingers plucking at the hem of his shirt. You flicker your gaze up to his eyes, telling him to continue with but a mere twitch of your lips. And so he does.

His fingers grasp his shirt, lifting it slowly. You watch, mesmerized, as more of his pale, smooth skin is revealed. The fabric slides up over his toned abdomen, his chest, and then over his shoulders. When you see the column of his glimmering neck your mouth grows dry as you long to sink your teeth into his flesh. Every movement is deliberate, a sensual dance that has your heart pounding with anticipation. One that leaves you desperate and needy. When the shirt finally clears his head, he lets it fall to the ground, where it dissolves into a fine mist.

Standing before you, bare-chested in the moonlight, Morpheus looks almost ethereal. The light plays over the contours of his muscles, highlighting the lines of his collarbones and the smooth expanse of his chest. There is a raw beauty to him, a timeless elegance that never ceases to captivate you. And his hip bones, sharp and beautifully curved, they make your entire body throb with want.

Morpheus' hands move to the button of his jeans, and you hold your breath, anticipation building in your chest. With one leisurely motion, he unfastens them and slowly slides the zipper down. A sharp lance of electricity explodes from your cunt as pushes his pants down his legs, revealing his cock and then legs. Your eyes ever so briefly dip to his calves which you have always been envious of. Okay maybe not envious, but certainly you worship them for your boyfriend is a Grecian masterpiece.

Morpheus stands before you in all his naked glory, his pale, flawless skin glowing in the moonlight. Barren from the marks of love you so cherished to give. You can't help but admire the way his muscles ripple beneath his skin, the perfect balance of strength and grace that is the very essence of Morpheus.

He steps into the water, the cool liquid lapping at his ankles as he wades in. The sight of him, perfectly naked and wet, sends quivers of desire through your body. You shift your body, sending ripples through the water as your skin tingles with anticipation, every nerve longing for his touch.

Morpheus moves closer to you, the intensity of his gaze is almost too much to bear, and you find yourself holding your breath as he closes the distance between you. When he's close enough, Morpheus reaches out and brushes his fingers against your cheek, the gentle touch sending a quiver through your entire body.

"You are beautiful," he whispers, his voice barely audible above the gentle lapping of the water, the words carried on a breath of reverence and awe. His words send a wave of pleasure coursing through you, and you can't help but lean into his touch, seeking more of his warmth and affection.

"So are you," you echo, your eyes sparkling with happiness as you reach for his free hand with your own. As your fingers weave together, Morpheus trails the fingers of his other hand down your neck, over your collarbone, and along the curve of your breast before sliding to cradle your back. When he pulls you again his body, you gasp at the sensations that erupt between your bodies. Warm, cool, everything you adore. Your body responds to his every movement, craving more of his touch, more of his warmth.

He leans in closer, his lips hovering just inches from yours. You can feel his breath on your trembling mouth, the warm air sending ripples of pleasurable tingles across your lips. Tilting your head back, you look up at him, your eyes reflecting the pure love you hold for him.

"Thank you for spending time with me," you whisper to him, giving his fingers a squeeze as your lips give him an appreciative smile. "I know you are busy."

"I will never be too busy for you, beloved," he replies, his face closing in on yours. You are nearly drowning in his silver-blue gaze. Then Morpheus closes the minuscule distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss. You stretch up onto your toes, wrapping your arm around his neck and flicking your tongue across his addicting lips to demand entrance.

He responds immediately, his lips parting to deepen the kiss, letting your tongue search for his. His hands slide down your back, pulling you closer until there is no space between you. The cool water laps against your bodies, a sharp contrast to the heat of your embrace. His tongue meets yours in a dance that is both tender and urgent, exploring, tasting, savoring each moment.

Your fingers tangle in his hair as the kiss intensifies, the world around you fading into insignificance. Every touch, every caress sends waves of desire coursing through you. You know the extent of his love, his adoration, but still, you miss him every second he is gone. Morpheus' hand moves to your waist, his fingers tracing the curves of your body, fueling fire with each gentle stroke.

The heat between you builds, and you can feel the tension rising, the desire for more consuming you both. Morpheus' hands roam your body, exploring every part of your skin as if he can't get enough. Knowing him, he never will. The water lapping at your bodies is a stark contrast to the flames of passion that burn like hellfire, both of you consumed by an insatiable hunger for each other.

Feeling the burn, Morpheus cradles your body and moves so you are in the middle of the lake, you bodies floating effortlessly. He kisses you deeply once more, making sure to indulge in the ecstasy of your lips and tongue. Breaking apart, you have a few moments to stare into each other's eyes, lost in the depths of love and adoration that swirls within them.

Morpheus begins to trail kisses down your neck then along your collarbone, and across the swell of your breasts. His fingers dance across your skin, every touch blooming torturous pleasure that makes you shudder and softly moan in his embrace.

Your fingers tangle in his hair once more, urging him on as his mouth closes around one nipple, teasing and suckling until you arch your back in bliss, thrusting your breast into his mouth. The water laps at your wait, creating a unique symphony of pleasure as Morpheus moves to lavish attention on your other breast. The sighs and sweet moans that depart your lips feed the endless being’s ministrations until he desires more than just precious sounds. He wants you to squirm in uncontrolled ecstasy. A sight that he finds most beautiful.

So Morpheus’ hands slide down your body, tracing the curves of your waist and hips before finding the apex of your thighs. Gently, he parts your legs, his fingers trickling across your inner thighs in a teasing manner before finding your folds and dragging his index fingers through the middle. You exhale a sharp breath, feeling his touch linger on your clit. Taunting you.

You curl your nails into his scalp, tugging on midnight strands as Morpheus' fingers continue to trickle along your most sensitive spots. His touch is feather-light, making you softly jerk with each gentle stroke. You can feel the tension building within you, even with such delicate touches.

Morpheus' fingers slide lower, teasing at your entrance before slipping inside. You moan, your head dropping back as your back arches and your fingernails rake at his scalp. With a soft yet pleased chuckle, Morpheus begins to thrust his fingers in and out of you in a slow and more than torturous rhythm. Beneath the softly rippling water, your body squirms at his touch, responding eagerly to his every movement, feeding his hunger for your pleasure.

“Oh gods,” you gasp out, your breaths now coming in ragged bursts as Morpheus continues his ministrations, his fingers expertly pleasuring you while his cock throbs against your thigh. The sensation is overwhelming, and you can feel yourself nearing the edge of ecstasy. Tears begin to prickle at the corners of your eyes and Morpheus brings his lips to your extended neck, his soft hair tickling your jaw as he coaxes you with delicate kisses against your throat. When your thighs begin to shake, Morpheus increases his pace, his fingers moving faster and harder until your muscles clench his fingers and thighs twist against his wrist.

You are so close to an orgasm, your body coiling tighter and tighter as you edge closer to release. He knows your body better than anyone, and with each touch, he brings you closer to the precipice of ecstasy. He can perform a symphony with but a few tender and well placed strokes! So when his pace backs off and the cusp of your orgasm disipates, you nearly cry in frustration at his cruelness.

"Morpheus," you gasp with a whine, your voice barely audible above the water's gentle lapping. "I need... I need..."

He looks at your pleading gaze, his silver-blue eyes filled with love and desire. "Tell me," he whispers, running his lips along your inflamed flesh.

"I need you inside me," you moan, your hips bucking as you seek out the connection you crave. "please, I crave you—“

Before you even finish begging to him he is moving, keeping one hand wrapped around back, Morpheus takes his cock in hand and runs it through your folds, enjoying the way you shiver and tremble. After the brief pause of Morpheus' cock running through your folds, a searing heat surges within you as he gently enters you, filling you with his thickness. A sharp gasp escapes your lips as your body adjusts to his size, the water lapping against your skin as he pulls back and thrusts into you again.

His thrust are slow at first, allowing you to savor the feeling of being completely filled by him. You wrap your legs around his, pulling him closer and pressing your pelvis as close to his as you can. You adore the way his skin feels against yours. Your fingers curl into the hard planes of his back, urging him on as he thrusts into you with increasing fervor.

With each powerful stroke, you feel yourself growing closer to the edge of ecstasy. Morpheus' gaze finds yours as you breathe heavily against his lips, his eye filled with a mixture of love, desire, and raw hunger. The sight of him, his face etched with passion, sends a fresh wave of arousal coursing through your body.

Your walls clench and thighs quiver.

When your lips part to let out a loud moan, Morpheus silences you with a searing kiss. His tongue tangles with yours with ravenous hunger and insatiable desire, his hips slapping against your wet flesh. Letting out a soft whine that is instantly smothered, your nails sink into his back and you rake them across his flesh. 

You feel your orgasm building deep within you, and you know that Morpheus can sense it too. He quickens his pace, his movements growing ever more urgent as he seeks his own release. The tension within your body tightens until your entire body is shaking, and you just know that your on the brink of shattering. His next thrust hits a spot deep within your body that breaks the tension and floods your body with unadulterated pleasure.

You arch your back, crying out his name as your orgasm crashes over you, a wave of pure bliss that rocks your entire body. Your muscles clench around him, milking him for all he’s worth as you ride the crest of pleasure. He runs his mouth along your breasts and neck, laying down kisses and love bites, all the while maintaining his thrusts through your orgasm.

The sensations are overwhelming, each kiss and bite sending shivers of ecstasy through you. His pace remains steady and controlled, his own desire evident in every powerful thrust. As your climax begins to wane, you feel him nearing his own release, the tension of his muscles beneath your fingers and thighs apparent. But rather than take his own release as you expect Morpheus pulls out of you, his cock still hard and throbbing. Your eyes fly open with a mixture of confusion and desire, wondering why he stopped. But then you see the mischievous glint in his eyes, and you realize that he has other plans in mind.

Wouldn’t be the first time…

Morpheus lifts you up with one arm, his other hand landing on your ass and sliding down the back of your thigh. With your body draped within his grasp, he carries you away from the deep end of the lake and towards the grass. You shiver as your inflamed, wet skin is exposed to the air and clutch yourself tighter to his chest.

“Morpheus,” you softly groan, much to his amusement. He chuckles at you and lays you down gently on the soft, dew-covered grass.

“Have patience, my beloved,” he purrs as his hands glide over your hips and legs. Morpheus’ fingers pluck at your thigh for but a few moments before he maneuvers your leg over his shoulders.

His gaze meets yours, and you're captivated by the intensity in his eyes. His stars burn so brightly for you this night they are almost blinding. Slowly, painfully slowly, he slides his thick cock back into your waiting cunt at an agonizing pace. A rather pathetic whimper slips from your lips and Morpheus drinks that previous sound from your lips like it is ambrosia.

He begins to thrust, his hips moving with a rhythm that makes you feel each and every push against your fluttering walls. The sensation of his cock filling you is like a lulling tide. Only it grows stronger with every draw.  It is almost too much to bear and you find yourself arching your back, desperate for more. Mid gasp for air, Morpheus' lips descend back to yours and kisses you with such possessive hunger that your mind goes blank. All you can think is how you want more. And you go and take.

The heel of the leg he has thrown over his shoulder digs into his back and you make your arm join, raking your nails along the hard plane of his shoulder. Pretty little lines of red along stardust skin. The sound of your passionate union fills the air, echoing through the beautiful landscape. The feeling of being so utterly consumed by Morpheus, both physically and emotionally and with such reverence, is overwhelming, always, but you never feel more alive than you do in these instances.

Morpheus's thrusts grow more urgent, more demanding, as he seeks his own release. His fingers dig into your hips, his breath coming in staged grunts against your mouth as he pushes you both towards the brink of ecstasy. You feel your another orgasm building, your thighs shaking and stomach muscles clenching in anticipating.

With a final thrust, Morpheus buries himself deep within you, pressing his pelvis against yours as his cock pulsates and fills your cunt with his seed. The searingly hot sensation sends you hurtling over the edge as well, your second orgasm crashing over you in waves of pure bliss. You wail this time before sinking your teeth into his shoulder and shuddering as the ripples of pleasure spread to each and every crevice in your body.

You are still trembling when you release your teeth form his shoulder and your sated body goes lax.

“I bit you again,” you softly comment, leaning your head against his. Morpheus chuckles and twists his head, pressing his lips against your hair.

“I shall wear your mark with pride, beloved,” he murmurs back, lovingly running his hands along your body in gentle strokes. While you are catching your breath, a realization dawns on you.  Fiddler's Green, while not in his corporal body, surrounds you and was most definitely a witness to you and Morpheus having sex. Embarrassment floods you and your cheeks feel as if they are on fire.

"I am so sorry, Gilbert," You whisper with mortification leeching into your voice. A soft chuckle echoes through the leaves, and a familiar voice responds.

"No need to apologize, dear. You are certainly not the first to enjoy yourself within my grounds. Nor will you be the last.”

The leaves rustle gently, as if to reassure you, but you still air out a moan of embarrassment. Morpheus smiles, his touch attempting to sooth your embarrassment as he caresses your cheek. "Fiddler's Green is a part of The Dreaming, just as we are. He understands the depth of our connection."

"It is embarrassing," You enunciate, trying to cover your face with your hand.

Morpheus gently pulls your hand away, his eyes filled with tenderness. "There is no need for embarrassment, beloved. Our love and passion are natural and beautiful, a testament to the bond we share."

Gilbert's voice continues from the surrounding greenery. "Indeed, your love is a part of the life that flows through The Dreaming. It enriches this realm and brings joy to its very essence."

"Can we please stop talking about this?" You whisper miserably, your cheeks still burning with embarrassment.

Morpheus chuckles softly, his thumb gently brushing over your cheek. "Of course, beloved. Would you like to remain here, or return to the palace?"

You take a deep breath, letting the embarrassment slowly ebb away. The serenity of Fiddler's Green and the comforting presence of Morpheus begin to calm your racing heart. You stare up at the glimmering stars and moon high above you.

"Can we stay here for a little while?" you ask softly, turning your head to look at Morpheus. “I want to enjoy some alone time with you.”

He smiles, his eyes filled with warmth. "Of course, beloved. We can stay as long as you wish."

Date Published: 9/11/24

Last Edit: 9/11/24

Morpheus Masterlist

[tj-dragonblade]

Dreamling Fic Masterpost

In honor of Dreamling Week, here's an updated masterpost of everything I've written for them so far, split into SFW and NSFW. Each section is arranged oldest to newest. Links go to Tumblr posts, and each Tumblr fic post has the direct AO3 link also.

You can also find me HERE on AO3.

(Read More for length so it's not ridiculous when pinned)

💕🌼The Fluff and Assorted Other Offerings🌦️❤️‍🩹 If it's rated M there is a brief spicy passage somewhere in the fic but not enough to warrant the full E

Use Your Words Rated T, ~2500 words Hob finds mistletoe hung in the bar. Dream is. Insistent. That they adhere to tradition.

Old Acquaintance Rated G, ~800 words It’s New Year’s Eve at the New Inn, and Dream and Hob are on the same page

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: velvet Rated G, 165 words One of Hob's favorite things about Dream

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: memory Rated G, ~230 words Dream is distracted by a memory

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: thread Rated G, ~200 words Hob loves his grey hair

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: daydream Rated T, ~800 words Hob's daydreams are not the only distracting ones

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: enthusiasm Rated G, ~200 words Enthusiasm is one of Hob's defining traits

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: trust Rated T, ~1500 words Dream finds Hob cooking for him (aka The Spicy Omelettes one)

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: grass Rated G, ~330 words A date in Fiddler's Green

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: fireplace Rated G, ~170 words Generic hearth metaphor

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: strong Rated T, ~3400 words Dream helps a drunken Hob get home (aka The Drunken Confessions one)

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: teach Rated T, ~520 words Dream teaches Hob how to summon him; self-immolation discouraged

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: vague Rated M, 465 words Sometimes Dream speaks vaguely. Sometimes he is Very Direct

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: glasses Rated T, ~330 words Sometimes Hob wears Glasses

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: yesterday Rated G, ~470 words Time works different in the Dreaming

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: recovery Rated T, ~2900 words Dream is dating; Hob works hard to just be a good friend while watching it fall apart (aka The Thessaly Breakup fic)

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: friend Rated T, ~1800 words Dream contemplates friendship, Hob, and the blurring of boundaries

In the Morning Light Rated T, ~1960 words Dream visits Hob on a rainy morning

Anticipation Rated T, ~700 words Dream chooses Hob’s Halloween costume (spoiler alert: it's the Wavemother's robe from BG3)

Untitled Knight Hob/King Dream Scene Rated M, ~1300 words A synopsis-plus-scene-draft of a potential Knight Hob and King Dream AU that in all likelihood I will never actually go back to, but I like what's here so it goes on the masterlist

The Keeper and the Traveler Rated G, ~1700 words Not-Exactly-Human AU. A campfire folktale about finding what you didn’t know you were searching for, or something like that. Inspired by Nightwish's 'The Islander'

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm Rated M, ~6900 words It’s winter in London and Hob is interested in sharing various cold-weather human experiences with his distinctly-not-human boyfriend

Shampoo Rated G, ~550 words Fluffbruary 2024 prompt 'Scent'. Big changes also mean small changes, and sometimes a loss can bring gain as well

London Fog Rated M, ~3500 words Sequel to Caribbean Sunset. Human AU. Dream does his best to ignore Possibilities while he copes with returning from holiday

Before I Go Rated G, ~850 words Fluffbruary 2024 prompt 'Evening'. A Season-of-Mists-style leave-taking visit, some time later in their relationship

Vogue Rated M, ~750 words Fluffbruary 2024 prompt 'Photography'. Human AU. Dream comes home and Hob greets him with a camera.

☂️The Umbrella Boys series, a Human AU☂️ A Sweet Romance Beginning in a Queue Rated T, ~4500 words 🎶Bus stop, wet day, he’s there, I say, ‘Please share my umbrella’🎶 Love Rain Down On Me Rated M, ~2300 words 5 times those Three Little Words go unspoken, and one time they do not.

Chaos and Calm Rated G, ~1550 words Searching for rain boots and meeting friends in the park. No real plot, just meandering domestic parenting vibes.

🔥🌶️The Spice and the Smut🌶️🔥 (aka The Stuff You Hide in the Pantry at Work For) 😉😘

Fluffbruary 2023 Prompt: snack Rated E, ~1800 words Hob comes home to find Dream waiting from him in the traditional murder-widow robe

Built For You Rated E, ~820 words Hob questions Dream on some particulars of his waking world anatomy

Insatiable Rated E, ~3100 words Dream gets rimmed and railed within an inch of his life

Of Cutoff Shorts and Classic Cars Rated E, ~4300 words Hob has made some very distinct wardrobe choices on a hot day. Dream approves.

Little Indulgences Rated E, ~1000 words A spot of fun with lingerie and sex toys

Caribbean Sunset Rated E, ~5500 words Human AU. Hob hooks up with a beautiful stranger on a Caribbean cruise

My Song Can But Borrow Your Grace Rated E, ~6800 words Fanfic for Flatter the Mountain Tops by Teejaystumbles (linked in the post). Dragon AU. Hob wants Dream in dragon form to fuck him while he stays in human form; Dream is beginning to see there’s more to it than just a size kink.

Appreciation Rated E, ~4300 words Sequel to Anticipation. Hob wears the costume (the Wavemother's Robe from BG3); Dream has his fun.

On the Edge of a Waking Dream Rated M, ~3900 words Monsterfucktober Bingo Square 'Ghost'. Human AU. Dream never believed in ghosts until his boyfriend became one

The Beauty of the Beast Rated E, ~3100 words Monsterfucktober Bingo Square 'Were-creature'. Recently-turned werewolf Hob wants to protect Dream from this new side of him. Dream is. Not interested in being protected.

Ambrosia Rated E, ~4000 words An exercise in celebrating the human messiness (and messy humanness) that Dream finds so attractive in Hob

Customer Service Rated E, ~4500 words For the Dreamling Week 2024 June 5 prompt 'Dirty'. Human AU. Mechanic Hob's just trying to fix the rich guy's Porsche but the rich guy is looking at Hob like he's a five-course meal

[respect-the-locals]

Daily Ray Fact:

The Fiddler Ray and their relatives are thought to be the oldest ray group, which explains why they are somewhere between a shark and a ray. It is understood that rays evolved from sharks and so really the Fiddler Ray is a visual demonstration of that change in biology, The earliest known fossil rays are only 150 million years ago and whilst there are very few well preserved fossils available there are whole bodies of ancient guitarfishes which very closely resemble that of modern day Fiddler Rays.

[dragon-kazansky]

When the raven calls

Morpheus x Female Reader

You, his raven, die protecting Jessamy while rescuing the Dream Lord. When Morpheus returns to his realm, he mourns your loss, only to find a stranger waiting for him in his throne room. The stranger claims to be you, now in human form. He doesn't understand, but his raven will always watch over him.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Chapter Twelve - Hold my hand

☆☆☆

Fiddler's Green walks with Lucienne through the palace. Morpheus had already left. He seemed particularly worried when you were brought up and left in a hurry.

Gilbert didn't know Morpheus was unaware you had left The Dreaming. Now he, too, was worried about you.

"So, he spent the last century in the waking world," Gilbert asked. Lucienne was bringing him up to speed.

"Yes, but he seems to have experienced the worst of humankind."

"Still, his time there appears to have changed him as it has changed me," Gilbert says.

"How so?" Lucienne asks.

"Lucienne, he came to you and told you he was wrong. It was very nearly an apology. The Morpheus I knew was incapable of that."

"Then perhaps he will be merciful to you since you came back on your own," she suggests.

"Oh, it doesn't matter what happens to me. What matters is that Dream stops The Corianthian and saves Rose Walker."

"There is no saving Rose Walker." Lucienne tells him.

"Why on Earth would you say that?" He asks, looking at her with a deep frown.

"Do you not know?"

He stares at her.

"She's a vortex."

"Oh. Oh, dear. I should have realised."

Now he understands why you were there. You were looking for Rose, not The Corianthian. And Morpheus didn't know.

"What have I done? He's... He's going to have to kill her."

You were going there to protect her.

☆☆☆

"I didn't expect to see you here. Especially like this. I love the new look." The Corianthian smiles at you.

"I... I didn't know you were here."

The Corianthian seems pleased. This means you weren't here for him. You were here for Rose. Still, this could work out for him.

"No. Well, I was in town."

"Right... well... I should go..." You go to take a step away, but he casually strolls closer.

"What's the rush? Why don't you come with me to meet some new friends, hm?"

You feel fear set in. Another emotion you weren't used to. You haven't felt fear like this since... since Alex Burgess.

You get the feeling it might be safer to go along with him for now.

"Sure..."

He takes your hand and leads you upstairs. You can hear voices further down the hall. The Corianthian follows them with you in tow, seemingly knowing who it is.

They sound frantic.

As you round the corner, you see Rose and Jed trying to run away as a large man corners them.

The Corianthian drops your hand and approaches the man from behind. He does not hesitate to stab him in the back. You gasp sharply and take a step back as yo watch him.

So that's what he's been doing all this time. Killing humans.

The man falls to the ground, and The Corianthian looks at the pair as they look back at him in fear.

"Hello, Rose." He pulls his knife out the man's back and wipes it clean. "Don't worry. You're safe with me."

☆☆☆

"I'm not going to hurt you."

You sit on the bed with Rose beside you, and Jed beside her. The Corianthian stands facing you all. He's mostly talking to Rose because you knew he intended to use her for his sick games.

"You just killed that man," says Jed.

"I just saved your life again. And I'm trying to save yours." The Corianthian says, firstly speaking to Jed and then to Rose.

"From whom?" Rose asks.

"From Morpheus."

Hearing his name makes your heart speed up. You were really starting to miss him now.

"Who's Morpheus?" Jed asks, looking at Rose.

"Uh, Jeddy, can you give us a minute?"

Jed moves.

"You're one of the missing Nightmares," Rose says, looking at The Corianthian. She glances at you, too. She recognises you from The Dreaming also.

"And you are the Vortex." He grins.

"If you know that, then you know Morpheus is watching me," she says.

"You think he's watching you so he can protect you? He's watching you because the minute you fall asleep and start beigning the walls down between people's dreams, he's gonna kill you."

You look at Rose nervously.

"But if someone protected you, kept him from killing you, well then you'd become the centre of the Draaming. He'd be powerless, and I would be free." The Corianthian tells her.

There's a knock on the door, and you jump. The Corianthian chuckles. He goes to answer it.

Rose turns to you. "Is he right?"

"I..."

"You were with Morpheus in the Dreaming. You know him." She says. "Is what he said right?"

"I... I'm afraid so..."

"Is that why you're here?" She asks.

"No. No! I came to keep you safe. I won't let either of them hurt you."

Rose looks lost and confused. There isn't much else you can say right now. She sits down quietly. Moments later, the Corianthian comes back in.

"I'm gonna go downstairs for an hour. Will you wait for me?" He asks Rose.

"No. I'm taking Jed. We're going home." She says, standing up again.

"Okay. Yeah, you can go if you want, but obviously, it's not safe for you to be wandering around the hotel. And if you leave the hotel, Dream's Raven will find you."

He side eyes you knowing that as soon as you get outside, you'll turn back into a raven, and Morpheus will be able to find you.

"I'll tell you what. This is your room. You can both keys. I'll come back in an hour. I'll knock. If you want, you can let me in. But if not, I'll go away. Lock the door when I leave, because you never know." He adjusts his glasses.

He then turns to you. "You're coming with me."

You want to tell him no, but as things are, it's probably best you don't fight him. Rose watches you as you walk past the Corianthian and step out into the hall. He soon follows you out, the door closing behind him.

☆☆☆

You follow him into a large hall full of people. They're all sat looking at a stage. Just being in here sends uncomfortable shivers down your spine. You are aware that every single one of these people is bad. Murderers. Killers.

The Corianthian wants to use Rose to make their dreams come true, and you really start to realise how deep in the hole you are.

He guides you to a chair, and you sit down quietly and slowly. He smiles as he sits beside you, one arm around the back of your chair to prevent you from fleeing, now that you would even attempt such a thing in here.

The man on the stage starts talking, but you're not listening. You keep looking around the room, keeping an eye out for anything. You're afraid.

You're afraid, and you're alone.

You miss Morpheus.

The Corianthian gets called up on stage. He smiles and nudges you to rise with him. He's not letting you get away. He leads the way to the stage and climbs on up. There are some seats free on the front row. You're guided to sit directly in front of him where he can see you at all times.

The applause dies down.

"I don't usually speak in public, but the opportunity to talk to so many people who share the same passion, the same dream, well, it was just too good to pass up. Because you are special people. Very special people. We are the American dreamers driving down the holy road of true knowledge that's paved with blood and gold."

You want to get out of here. You want to leave. You want Morpheus. You want to apologise to him and change his mind about Rose. You never should have got so upset with him.

The Corianthian keeps talking. You're not fully listening. You're wishing silently. Wishing for a way out.

"So just do me a favour." You look up at the Corianthian as he says that. "Close your eyes. And see yourselves as I do."

You look around you. They've all closed their eyes like he asked.

"We are gladiators. Conquerors. We are explorers... truth seekers. We are swashbucklers. We are hunters. Soldiers of fortune."

He stops talking for a second. You follow his gaze and feel your heart race.

Morpheus.

He's here. He's found you.

You smile.

Morpheus shifts his gaze from the Corianthian to you. He looks relieved to see you. You would get up and run to him, but you're still afraid.

Morpheus looks back up at the Corianthian.

"And kings of the night." The Corianthian adds.

Morpheus keeps his gaze fixed on his missing Nightmare.

"You disappoint me, Corianthian." He walks slowly down the aisle. "You and these humans you've inspired and created... disappoint me."

"I've done my best to be what you made me."

"No, you've done your worst, which was in so many ways what I had hoped." Morpheus says.

As he comes to where you sit, he holds out his hand. He doesn't take his eyes away from the Corianthian, but you understand the hand is for you.

You take it. His fingers curl around yours as he leads you up onto the stage with him.

"You were my masterpiece. A dark mirror made to reflect everything humanity will not confront."

Morpheus makes sure he puts himself between you and the Corianthian.

"That's what I am." Corianthian says. "That's what I've done."

"No. Look at you, walking this Earth for over a century, infecting others with your joy of death, but what have you given them? What have you wrought? Nothing. Just something else for people to be afraid of. That is all."

"So what now? You send me back to their dreams?" Corianthian asks. He pulls out a dagger from inside his coat. "Cause I won't go willingly."

Morpheus stares at him. "A knife against a dream?" He steps forward. You go to pull at his coat to stop him, but he moves quicker than you.

"You don't think dreams can die? Let's find out." The Corianthian smiles.

"Enough." Morpheus raises his hand, but the Corianthian does not hesitate to stab the dagger through his hand. You gasp and rush to Morpheus's side as he looks at his wounded hand. It bleeds.

Morpheus looks up at him. "How?"

"I've got Rose Walker getting stronger every second while you get weaker. She's taking your place at the center of the Dreaming. She's bringing the walls down between the sleepers' minds, and now they're all dreaming the same dream. A dream that I inspired."

You cradle Dream's hand between your own and look at him softly, but he keeps his eyes on the Corianthian.

"No."

"It's already happening. There's nothing you can do. She's asleep and dreaming."

"Then, she's not beyond my reach," Morpheus says.

"Oh, I think she is. Now that she knows you're planning to kill her."

☆☆☆

"You need to wake up!"

"Don't listen to him, Rosebud."

Morpheus entwined his fingers with yours and used what little power he had against Rose to project himself into the dream she was in. He was using you to amplify his power as a being created in the Dreaming.

The Corianthian appears behind Rose. "You're the one with power now, not him. This is your dream."

"It's his dream, for you world." Morpheus guides you into the horrible stale morge like room, his hand closed around yours.

"Then let's make it yours. Whatever you want, Rose. A blank canvas." The Corianthian says to her.

Everyone else, including Jed, vanishes from the room. It's just you, Dream, Rose, and the Nightmare.

"Where's Jed?" Rose asks.

"He's fine. He's upstairs, asleep. He's right next to you." The Corianthian tells her. "This dream is yours now. The Dreaming is yours now."

"The Dreaming is yours. Is that what he told you?" Morpheus asks.

"He told me you were going to kill me."

"Did he tell you why?"

Rose doesn't answer. You look at Morpheus sadly. You had hoped to protect her, but he was still going to kill her...

"When a vortex brings down the walls between dreams, she creates a single volatile dream that will collapse in upon itself and take the waking world with it." Your world. Everything and everyone will die."

"Don't believe him, Rosie." The Corianthian says, directly into her ear.

"It's happened before," Morpheus explains. "I failed my duty. An entire universe was lost."

"He can't kill you if you kill him first." The Corianthian takes out his dagger again.

You grab Dream's arm, but he once again doesn't spare you a glance. You didn't want anyone to die.

"Killing me may save your life, but it won't save the lives of those you love."

"I'm trying to keep you alive here." The Corianthian argues.

"I'm trying to keep your world alive," Morpheus argues back.

"You have to choose one of us, Rose." The Corianthian urges her.

"Enough!" She says.

You hold Morpheus's hand tightly in your own, standing as close as possible to him. The dream around you all starts to waver.

"If I'm as powerful as you say I am, then I will find my own way," Rose states. "In the meantime, the walls go back up." She starts shutting away the dreams. "Because I'm not dreaming anymore. Thanks to you two, I'm wide awake."

She wakes up.

You find yourself back in the hall. Morpheus has let go of your hand. You stare at it with longing. His long fingers twitch at his side slightly, yet he spares you not a single glance.

The wound on his hand heals like it was never there.

"If you think I'm going back to the Dreaming with you-" The Corianthian says.

"You're not going back."

You look at Morpheus.

"I brought you into this world to serve humanity. Not to feed upon it."

"Do you know why I do it?" The Corianthian asks. "So I can taste what it's like to be human. And you don't care about humanity. You only care about yourself and your realm and your rules."

"I contain the entire collective unconscious." Morpheus says softly. "Without my rules, it would consume me. Humanity will be consumed."

"Or you might actually feel something. I am not the problem, Dream."

"You're right. This was my fault. Not yours."

You keep your eyes on the dream lord.

"I had so much hope for you." Morpheus tells him softly. "But I crated you poorly then."

You hear the way the Corianthian's breath chokes slightly. He's upset. You feel something twist inside lf you.

"So I must uncreate you now."

You find yourself stepping back as Morpheus raises his hand up to the Nightmare. He starts to burn away.

"I am only sorry I won't be here to see Rose Walker do the same to you." The Corianthian says finally.

A pile of sand sits on the ground and atop it rests a small skull, representing The Corianthian.

You watch as Morpheus kneels down and picks the skull up. He lifts it and holds it high, looking at it. "Next time I make you, you will not be so flawed and petty, little Dream."

He wraps his fingers around the skull and turns to the humans in the room, adressing them.

"And you... who call yourselves 'collectors', until now, you have sustained fantasies in which you are the victims, comforting daydreams in which you are always right. But no more. The dream is over. I have taken it away. For this is my judgement upon you, that you shall know from this moment on exactly how craven and selfish and monstrous you are. That you shall feel the pain of those you have slaughtered."

You look at Morpheus quietly. The way he looks at them. The disdain in his voice. They used his gift for horrible purposes. Your hrlesrt yearns to reach out to him, but you resist. It's not proper. It's not right.

"And the grief of those that mourn them still, and you shall carry that pain and grief and guilt with you until the end of time."

All those people get up and leave. Morpheus watches them go. He doesn't look at you once.

When the hall is empty, you look at him again. You part your lips to say something, but he starts walking away, right past you, without a word.

You follow him.

When you get outside and see everyone getting into their cars, Matthew swoops down and lands next to Lord Morpheus. You keep your distance behind him.

Rose drives past.

"You want me to follow her?" Matthew asks.

"No. When she is awake, she is not a threat. Tonight, when she sleeps, I will find her. And we will end this."

"Dream..." You call him gently, but he doesn't respond.

You return to the Dreaming.

☆☆☆

@missdreamofendless

@kpopgirlbtssvt

@sitkafay

@snowsatsu

@ladyofketterdam

@thoughtsfromlayla

@modest-irish-goddess

@mystic-mara

@dreamingblueberries

@littlemoistcarrot

@simpingdeadcharacters

@bluespecs14

@modest-irish-goddess

@theyluvmimi

[eviesaurusrex]

ɢʀɪᴇꜰ | ʟᴏʀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴘʜᴇᴜꜱ

GIFs not mine!

Lord Morpheus x Deity!Reader (Goddess of Nature and Music)

summary: In the wake of his own capture, his queen was imprisoned too.

word count: 971

warnings: angst, seriously, this is angsty, blood, Morpheus wants to burn the Waking World to ashes

author’s note: My first Morpheus work, and we’re directly starting with something short and angsty xD I’m so unhappy with how this turned out, but I’m pushing myself to upload these types of works anyway because I’m my biggest critic and all that. Plus, I’m shitty at writing pure angst. But we’ll deal with this for now before we’re gonna turn to the fluffy part of writing for this god of a man <3

»part 2? part 2.«

;

His eyes were trained on the woman lying next to him on the solid, cold ground. His hand outstretched, his fingers twitching desperately in order to reach her. Only mere inches parted them, but the existence of the laughable distance was mocking him in its impossibility to overcome. Not in his current state.

Dry lips moved slowly, forming words without letting a single sound escape; the agony too consuming to mutter a single syllable. Morpheus was not even convinced she could hear him if he would succeed in calling her name, trying to nudge her mind back into consciousness with the power of his voice. A helpless sound was the only audible thing escaping his parted lips.

And then, abnormal darkness engulfed him once more.

—

His returning consciousness let him move his hand again, but instead of finally palpating the silk-like skin of his wife underneath his fingertips, the Lord of Dreams touched icy cold glass. Unsteadily, he opened his distinct blue eyes, which once held the entire universe in them, but now only pictured the void of a pitch-black night sky. He felt so heavy, his mind slow, his body not responding the way it was supposed to. The loss of his powers was something he almost missed because his tired eyes suddenly rested on red droplets scattering the dirty stone floor.

With a silent groan, Morpheus pushed himself up on his bare knees, blinking rapidly to sharpen his eyesight in the dimly lit basement. Suddenly, he wished he had not done it as every single ounce of air was pushed out of his lungs as if he had fallen from a high looming tower and crashed onto the ground. He felt as if he would suffocate in a matter of fleeting moments; his eyes trained motionless on the pool of blood surrounding a body he knew better than his own.

YN’s eyes blinked slowly, her chest rose barely perceptible for a human’s eye, the fingertips of her outstretched arm trying to find a hold of this realm. Morpheus knew she made an effort to anchor herself so Death could come and bring her back into the Dreaming before every ounce of life had left her body. But he could feel with every agonizing piece of his soul how life slowly faded out of her bright shining eyes, forever reminding him of Fiddler’s Green and every single vegetation that grew in their realm. His heart ached heavily in his chest, tears blurring his sight, and both hands were pressed onto the glass, trying to push through it to get to her, to protect her just as she obviously had done for him.

“YN.” His voice broke in the middle of her name, unable to speak it out, to taste every syllable of it on his lips, letting it flood his mind to ease a pain he had never experienced, never had suffered before. The salty lakes his eyes had turned into overflowed, and still, he didn’t dare to move his gaze from her, not even as his capturer stepped into her blood. Raging fury and hatred burned his insides as the human closed his hands around her throat and neck to lift her off the ground, pressing her body onto the sphere, facing lover to lover. Her eyes, which tended to change their colors frequently, stared dull and lifeless into his own, and despite her dying state, YN managed to grant him the sight of the attempt of one of her beautiful smiles, which always illuminated his life and the Dreaming, bringing comfort and joy.

“Poor little thing. You see, she tried to save you, and I cannot let that happen. So… Her pitiful death is practically your wrongdoing.” Morpheus almost did not listen to the echoing voice, instead holding the last remnants of her gaze captured in his, salty crystals flowing over both faces, connecting them in their pain and loss though separated by sorcery. Her lips gently moved, only visible to his eyes, and he started to make out her words as her eyes lost the last specks of life and her body went limp. The man only let her drop to the floor, where she landed in her own blood, shedded in her attempts to protect him as they had promised one another on the night of their wedding under the darkest but most ethereal firmament ever seen by the eyes of humans, deities, and endless.

With burning rage in his now flaming blue irises filled with a darkening void that swallowed every other emotion in its wake, the Lord of Dreams slowly stared up at his jailer, his heart only knowing hatred anymore. He wanted to see this world burn, but in particular, he craved to see this human burn—the one who had robbed him of his wife and queen, the love of his existence. He wanted to hear him beg for mercy. He wanted to listen to his piercing screams filled with agony, and he would not even stop when he was certain the man had learned his lesson before ending his life with his own bare hands. Morpheus would relish in the afterglow of his glorious vengeance before turning his gaze to the rest of this degenerated order to end every single life himself.

And maybe, after the last scream had faded, he would be satisfied to finally mourn the only woman he had ever wanted.

His gaze settled back onto her body after their capturer left him with her; tears continuing to cover his skin and drowning his soul in anguish and torment which didn’t leave him—

Not even after a century of imprisonment and her gentle voice wandering through his mind, repeating her last words to him over and over.

I will find you in my next existence, my love.

;

I kinda don’t like it, but hey, it’s my first time writing for my baby, so that’s okay. Hope y’all enjoyed it anyway. As usual: Comments, reblogs, and likes are much appreciated! <3

[roguelov]

Cat’s Cradle

Summary: You were crafted by him, crafted to serve the Dreaming and dreamers of all kinds. You were granted the ability to alter your appearance, to the feline variety, to hide in dreams. You, however, never imagined falling in love with him. But, when he left to take care of a rogue nightmare, only to never return, your heart broke. So, you ran to the Waking and soon met someone new. But, when Dream returns, how will he react to find you missing?

Word Count: ~5.2k

Reader: Fem

Warnings: Some angst (abandonment and heartbreak), fluff, pining

Requested by the magnificent @chainsawsangel

Part 2

A curious question to ponder: do animals dream? And if so, what do they dream of? Do dogs dream of chasing squirrels? Do cats dream of hunting in a jungle? Do snakes dream of being ginormous and slithering about?

And the answer to all of these: yes, yes they do.

Far before humanity was where it was today, animals were the first to flock to the Dreaming. They were the first dreamers. Although their dreams may be plain, or simpler, compared to humans; they were still dreams. They were still precious, still hopeful.

But, as humanity evolved and grew, the Dreaming started to accommodate for humanity more. The Lord of Dreams and Nightmares had to turn his attention to those with far more complex dreams, to those impacting the Waking world with each breath and decision. In order to do so, he created his dreams and nightmares.

He created you.

You were one of the first dreams, and dare say the oldest. However, you were unique compared to the others. Your purpose was to oversee all dreams, and more specifically the dreams of the vast amount of creatures. When Dream could not lend his attention to the dreams, you were there.

In disguise, of course.

Dream not only created you for this single purpose, he also granted you the ability to alter your form. You could change into any feline creature from an average house cat to a vicious cougar.

And so it was for years, centuries. Your days were spent doing your duties and whatever you pleased. It was simpler in those earlier days, easy to seperate yourself from Dream. Creator and creation. However, as years passed those strict lines, those boundaries drawn, shifted.

Under the shade of a tree, in Fiddler’s Green beautiful picturesque forest, Dream lounged in the foliage’s shade. Books, taken from the library for his various researches, surrounded him. He needed a change of space and air to think.

You, on the other hand, were slinked away in the nearby bushes, quietly stalking him.

“Hello, my dream.” Dream’s eyes flickered up, catching yours.

But, Dream always spotted you, always knew when you were around. You walked out on paws while your silted, seemingly glowing amber, eyes stayed locked on to his dazzling oceanic blue. Reaching the edge of the tree’s shade, you calmly sat down in front of him, with your tail curled around you.

“And what can I do for you, (Y/N)?” Dream asked.

It started with your body, it stretched and elongated. Next was the fur, its cotton like texture retracted, leaving only soft skin. Then there were the fine details, from the tail vanishing with a flick, to your ears once pointed rounded out, to fingers growing as claws became dull nails, to your eyes more natural color for a human. It was intriguing to watch how quickly you changed. In a blink of an eye, you stood tall before Dream on two feet. You bowed your head slightly, “Apologies, my lord, for interrupting.”

Dream brushed off your formalities. “There is no need to apologize. Speak, what is it that you need?”

“Only to give my daily report, sir.”

Ah, yes, how could he forget. “Proceed.”

Reports were a necessity to ensure prosperity in the Dreaming. Any one wrong detail, any confusion, would mean possible devastation for a world crafted on such complexities. Luckily, you recounted all the dreams you saw and nothing out of the ordinary, for dreams that is. Dreams were chaos, but the Dreaming controlled such chaos.

“Thank you,” Dream said with a nod of his head.

“Of course.”

Normally, you would leave. But, this time your feet were rooted in place. Your eyes darted around to his stacks of books, then to the empty forest surrounding him. The quiet, hushed breeze blew past your ears, and it carried no other voices. It was Dream and Dream alone. And in this moment for some reason, your heart broke. A tiny fissure, truly, but a fissure which in time would grow.

He is always alone.

“Is there something else?”

Your attention snapped over. Dream’s eyes, typical pale blue, were nearly black for a fleeting moment, blending into the shadows. A midnight sky that twinkled with endless stars and universes. Cold, lonely.

You were not sure how to word it. You appear lonely, my lord. Do you wish to have company?

His pride was a fickle thing. One word could offend him. You, thankfully, knew how to navigate it fairly easily.

“May I stay?” You asked.

If I can help it, I don’t want you to be alone.

Dream cocked his head, curious by your question. He paused, considering it then spoke. “If you wish.”

With a single nod, you leapt into the air, changing back into a small house cat. You swiftly and easily climbed up the tree and splayed across a branch directly above Dream. Your eyes dropped down, catching Dream peering up at you. He quickly looked away and returned to his studies.

That.

That was when the boundaries shifted and soon you became friends. Eons, you grew closer and closer. But, the line was pushed further in the recent centuries.

To be fair, it was never your intention to fall for Dream. You knew of his previous relationships, you knew of the pain that somehow inevitably followed - such devastating heartbreak.

But, you did.

You fell.

No, not a dramatic fall such as one falling from grace. No, not all at once. It wasn’t as poets described as a burning flame that blazed into an uncontrollable, all-consuming fire.

No.

It was unknowing, it was subtle. It was like walking down stairs, just one step at a time. It wasn’t until you reached the bottom and was face to face with him, and reality, that it finally dawned on you what had happened.

His plain pale eyes were now the morning sky guiding you from the chilly night, bringing you hope and awe. With a simple glance, your heart now skipped relentlessly in your chest, sending you into a dizzying state of infatuation. His messy unruly hair now tempted you to run your fingers through it, to have his head on your chest and whisper poetry of your love and playful secrets into his hair. His lips - the prettiest pink like fresh spring flowers - now beckoned you forth to taste, to hear his velvet voice sing your name.

Your heart was completely given over.

You only hoped he would care for it.

“My dear (Y/N), my sweet dream, there you are.”

You, in feline form, laid sprawled in the sun, tucked - hidden from all except him - in the palace’s garden. It was your place of solitude, your place of peace, your place to untangle your thoughts.

A place Lord Morpheus showed you, and his presence rippled throughout here.

You saw his twinkling eyes in the blue sunny sky, or in the dark starry night. You heard his voice on the wind, whispering through the branches and bushes. You smelled him in the flowers, and morning dew. You felt him in the warmth of the sunlight, constant and never changing. He was always with you. You would ever escape him. Your mind could never untangle him from your thoughts. But, like a fool in love, you locked yourself in this beautiful gilded cage, happily tossing away the key.

You peered up at him from your patch. Your heart soared. His eyes, however, flickered with minor confusion. “Where have you been? I have not seen you for days.”

A twinge of guilt rose up.

Your features shifted and grew. Instantly, you were on two feet again, standing before your lord, your friend, and your infatuation. “Apologies,” you dropped your head, “I didn’t mean to cause you any worry.”

He gently, with his thumb and forefinger, tilted your head back up. A small frown tugged on the corners of his lips. “I only worry for you. Please, tell me, what has troubled you?”

A heat flushed over your chest. Eons spent together. You had always been close with him, but now since this startling revelation nothing had been the same. Steeling your emotions, you snipped the wings of those pesky butterflies fluttering inside your chest. You smiled easily. “Nothing to worry you, my lord.”

Please, I told you to forgo such formalities, he thought.

His frown stayed. He searched your eyes for any tells. Seeing none, he sighed, dropping his hand from you. You desperately fought back from chasing after his delicate, comforting touch. “If you say so,” he muttered. “You just seem distracted lately; and dare I say avoiding me.”

You swallowed down your nerves. “Never, my lord.”

“Are you unwell? Perhaps, displeased?”

“Displeased?”

His frown deepened. “With your duties? Your life?”

“What? No, no, never.”

“Then why do I not know what you are thinking of anymore? I prided myself in always knowing what thoughts were behind your clever eyes. But, now? I feel as if I am looking at a stranger.”

You were a stranger.

You were a different person now. You had to hide your truest self. You always spoke freely with Dream. One of the few who did not fear his wraith; the others being Lucienne, Merv, and Jessamy.

You stepped back, pulling away from him.

“Lucienne, I - I don’t know what to do with myself.”

You snuck into the royal library, pulling Lucienne aside to speak with her. You needed to tell her what you had been feeling lately - confide in her. Hopefully, she can shed some light on this developing situation. She was your oldest friend, you trusted her and hid nothing from her.

Lucienne smiled to herself, shaking her head. She peered over the rim of her glasses and cocked her brow. This certainly was amusing for her - as if she didn’t already didn’t deduce your feelings for the king. “I believe you know exactly what you must do.”

I can’t, you vehemently thought. “But what if -“

“I never thought there would be a day you would fear him.”

You huffed. “Fear him? I do not fear -“

“I am only teasing you,” she said, sensing your displaced hostility.

You grumbled, but with Lucienne you could never stay mad at her. Your lips already twitched upward, showing her your anger was more for show and dramatics.

She gently took your hands. “Tell him. You know it is the right thing to do.”

She knew your feelings of Dream before your own realization. She knew you the best. You were always the closest to him, but she noted all the subtle changes in your demeanor. And so, she only waited for this day to happen, for you to come to her with your own revelations. Of course, she would never admit it to you, but her and Mervyn may or may not have placed bets on you.

You glanced down at your hands in hers. “I … I don’t want to lose him.”

“You won’t.”

You wanted to scoff. Dream’s past lovers did not end happily. Heartbreak and ruin seemed to follow him like a leech sucking on any joy he may have.

“It’s not easy, but to say nothing would be worse.” Lucienne squeezed your hands, giving you a douse of courage to act. “Would you truly be happy saying nothing?”

You paused. Would you? You sighed heavily, “No, I don’t think I would.”

“Then tell him.”

You agreed, almost hesitantly. “I will.”

Now, Lucienne’s words tossed around your head, that simple question which cut directly to your core: would you truly be happy saying nothing?

You looked to Dream, meeting his gaze once again. Just as easy as he could read you, you could read him. Confusion and worry plainly written in his dazzling eyes. Taking a deep breath, you started to unveil the truth, “I am truly sorry for making you worry, it was never my intention.”

“And what was your intention?”

You thought about it for a moment, considering the correct word then said, “Self-preservation.”

Dream’s eyebrows knitted together. “How so?”

You took a tentative step forward back towards him. “In a way, you were right that I am a stranger. I have discovered something about myself recently.”

Dream stayed quiet, letting you speak without interruptions - letting you come to him.

“It was scary, and I never expected it would happen, yet here I am.” You stepped closer. Your heart raced frantically in your chest. “I hope you do not hate me for what I am about to say and allow me to stay here in the Dreaming.”

Dream tilted his head. “I have never found myself hating you for any reason, nor do I think such a thing would happen. And I would never banish you from the Dreaming for it is your home, but you do have me slightly more worried now.”

You reached out. You hooked your index finger around his pinkie, slowly drawing him to you. “Centuries, eons, spent together and I have adored every second. I love my life, I love everyone here, and - and … I’ve always loved you, a platonic love. However, it has changed recently.”

Dream’s eyes fell to your finger hooked around his. Slowly, unsure if was hearing you correctly, his hand turned and his fingers threaded in between yours. You didn’t move, you didn’t run.

You let out a shaky breath, relieved but absolutely frightened.

“If I am wrong, tell me.” Dream said as he met your eyes again. “Although I have said you have become a stranger, that was not quite true. It was I who had also changed. But -“

Your heart constricted.

“But, I feel as if I should warn you.” He grabbed both of your hands, ensuring you listened fully to him. “You know of my past for you were always part of it. You know of my relationships and the inevitability which always seems to follow. I am telling you this to ask you now: is this what you want?”

You gazed into his sky blue eyes. Trepidation evident in his eyes. Tears prickled in the corner of his eyes, tears of fear and potential heartache. He tried desperately to hide it, but nothing could be hidden from you. You reached up, cupping his face and carefully brushed away the tears. “If you will have me, then yes.”

“You will always have an out, the door will always be open for you to leave.” He said it, but he did not wish it to be true. He wanted you here, he wanted you by his side for eternity.

“I’m not afraid.”

“You should be.”

“Possibly.” You brought his face closer to yours. “But, would I be happy if I left now without trying? No, I don’t think I would be.”

You kissed him. His lips were like petals, soft and warm; like a fresh spring flower after a terribly rough winter. You exhaled as your heart swelled up in your chest. However, his lips moved slowly, methodically.

Measured and unsure.

Scared.

But, quickly, his restraint melted. He grabbed your waist, flushing your bodies against his. He was feverous. He tilted his head, and parted his mouth. His tongue slipped inside. Oh, all the years he wished to taste you. And now he has. So sweet, so delectable.

You hummed.

Oh, he loved that noise.

He pulled away, and pressed his forehead against yours. Hearing your breathlessness, his heart fluttered. He did this. It was his doing. And now, only he could conjure it, only he could steal your breath. And in turn, so can you. You could steal his attention, take his breath as your own, draw out desires and sinful sounds.

You were his.

And he yours.

Initially, you thought yourself a fool, locking yourself in the gilded cage of blind love.

No.

Morpheus, finding your key to your gilded cage, unlocked it. He guided you out, meeting you halfway. You would not be trapped, confined, to him, but his equal - his partner. And if you still saw yourself bound to a cage, he would step inside locking said door behind. The two of you locked together, either until the universe collapsed or maybe - and unlikely in either of yours’ eyes - until one of you moved on. But, until then, it would be beautiful. Each of you would lead with your heart, each of you would bare your soul, each of you would love each other wholeheartedly.

So, you thought this was it.

You and Dream. And the Dreaming.

Your combined love was limitless. He was the world: the sky with its assortment of colors, the sturdy ground providing its nurture and care, the bottomless oceans with its secrets, and the rising mountains reaching unknown heavens. While you were the important details: the intricate woven web of animals and balance, the imperfections from nature adding to individuality, the innate curiosity and creativity of people and their arts and inventions, and the unbelievable hidden wonders in an expanding world.

You gave life - purpose - to his world.

However, as you each predicted, it did not last. Trouble stirred off in the distance. Your world would soon shatter. A nightmare, one you knew fondly, escaped to the Waking, and Dream must retrieve him before the damage becomes too much. When Dream told you he was going to the Waking, a horrible feeling sunk to the pit of your stomach. You wanted to grab him and hold him close, forbidding him from leaving. You wanted to beg and tell him to forget about the Corinthian. You wanted to lock him away. But, there was nothing you could do. You couldn’t stop him, even if you fell to your knees pleading with tears in your eyes. Although you loved him and all his imperfections, his senses of responsibility and pride knew no bounds. He had to do this. So, you wordlessly watched as he walked away - walked out of your life.

Days passed.

Slowly, painstakingly slow.

You mostly kept busy with your duties, much like all the dreams and nightmares during this period. You all worked as if nothing has changed: overseeing dreams, ensuring order in the chaos, and documenting anything unusual.

Weeks then crawled by.

The first whisper of doubt started: Dream would not return, Dream had abandoned his duties. Yet, as quickly as those whispers started, they were silenced. Dream will come back. Everyone believed he would, and so did you.

How naive.

Months became years.

Fiddler’s Green vanished. He took his greenery - all those lush fields and extravagant flowers - and left to go to the Waking. And not knowing, he also took all your precious memories of Dream with him. Moments under the shade of a tree side by side, moments of strolling along a worn down path, moments of soft unspoken love ripped away like a weed.

“I wish to see the Waking for myself,” Fiddler told you before he left. “I do not know if Dream has abandoned us or not, all I know is I wish to see other worlds, to hear others’ stories. If he does return, then maybe one day I will too.”

You smiled, despite the heartbreak. “And I wish you the best, Fiddler.”

He returned the sorrow filled smile, and kissed your forehead. “Do find me when he comes back. I will miss your presence amongst my trees.”

The next to leave was Gault. She slipped away, like a shadow slinking back into the darkness. She was one to always keep to herself. She didn’t speak to anyone about her leave; she simply left, taking her nightmares with her.

As years passed - decades - the Dreaming started to crumble piece by piece and most left seeking refuge elsewhere or looking for new purpose. Dreams and nightmares gone. While the poor dreamers could not pass into the Dreaming anymore, the doors shut until its lord returned.

If, he returned.

“Our lord will return,” Lucienne said to you.

You were both in the library. You sat on top of a long barren table - one which used to hold multiple dreamers who would read side by side or possibly write out their own stories - while Lucienne stood on the end scanning through her own notes and hand drawn maps. Books were disappearing and she was trying to make note of it all from what books, in what section, and so forth. Even now parts of the library were beginning to be blocked off. She needed to write everything down, she needed to do her duties for the library - for the sake of the Dreaming.

“I’m not so sure,” you muttered. Your gaze was ahead directed on a stained glass window, one of the many in the library. The beautiful mosaic had a notable crack running through the middle and splintered out. A strong wind could blow through, sending shards everywhere.

Lucienne peered up from her work. This was the first time you had ever spoken your doubts out loud. But, she knew you had lost your faith long ago. A frown had permanently etched into your face since Dream left. Your eyes once bright were now awfully dull.

“I believe it.” You lazily looked over, meeting Lucienne’s determined eyes. She continued, “Lord Morpheus will return. He would not abandon us.”

“I fear you are the only one who believes that.”

“Do you truly think Morpheus has left? Do you believe he has left the Dreaming, all his responsibilities- you? You are the closest to him, surely you would have known something if he were to leave indefinitely?”

You dropped your head. “I have known Morpheus for eons, but that does not mean I understand him completely. He withholds many things from me. If it may cause me any distress he will not say, and although I appreciate the concern and sentiment in the end he only closes himself off. The distress unfortunately always comes from him, from his duties, from holding the collective unconsciousness. His pride does not allow him to burden others -“ you sighed -“ no matter how much I used to tell him otherwise.”

Lucienne frowned. “So, you truly don’t know where he may be?”

She assumed you must know something. But, she was terribly wrong.

“No, I do not.” You leaned back on your hands, staring back at the cracked window. “And in a strange way, I hope he doesn’t return.”

Lucienne blinked, stunned. “What? Why?”

“He deserves to rest, Lucienne. If the Dreaming stayed, and if other realms were not affected, then yes I would wish for him to venture off to other worlds, to run from all of this.” You hopped off the table. “I wish I could take away all his responsibilities, all his worries. He always carried so much.”

Lucienne was unsure how to respond, but a question did strike her. “Do you not wish for him to come back? To not come back to you?”

“Of course, I do.” You spun around, facing her. For the first time, Lucienne finally noted your watery eyes. “Of course, I want him back. I miss him dearly, and my heart breaks constantly. But, if he is happy elsewhere, then why am I to deny that for him?”

“You would compromise your own happiness?”

“I would do so much more for him.”

“And what of you? Who looks after you?” Who looks after your happiness, she thought.

“… myself.”

“(Y/N) -“

“I think I will leave to go to the Waking.”

She closed her mouth. Her concerns and questions were now redirected: you were leaving. “The Waking?”

“Yeah,” you crossed your arms over your chest, “and I think you should come with me.”

“Go with you?”

“Yes.”

“But, the Dreaming?”

“I cannot stay here anymore, Lucienne. Like I said, my heart breaks constantly. I cannot stay in our bed any longer, I cannot escape this vast bitter coldness. I have to leave.”

Lucienne frowned. “I understand.”

You walked towards her and grabbed her hands. “Please, you should come with me.”

Lucienne smiled, a beautifully regrettable smile. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

You nodded, trying to hide your pain. You swallowed down the swell of emotions. “I figured.”

Lucienne gently squeezed your hands, reassuring and loving. “Go,” she whispered, as she battled her own emotions.

‘Don’t worry about me’ was the underlying message.

Tears welled up in your eyes. “I will not forget you, Lucienne.”

She laughed, despite tears springing from her own eyes. “I would hope not.”

You smiled as tears slid down your cheeks. You yanked her forward, throwing your arms around her. “Please, I hope you are not angry with me.”

“Never,” she whispered.

“If you ever need me, find me - call for me. I will do whatever you want.”

“I know.”

She didn’t say ‘I will’. She didn’t wish to call upon you, to drag you back here to your misery. She wished for you to prosper, to smile joyfully again.

You needed to live for yourself. No longer were you an ethereal dream aiding the Dreaming, no longer were a loving partner to Morpheus, no longer were you a kind and endearing friend, you were now on your own. You were on a journey of self discovery.

You tightened your arms around her once more, before reluctantly releasing her. Your eyes shone with tears and smiled through the heartache. “I love you, Lucienne, one day we will see each other again for that I am certain.”

“I will await here to see you both return. And I wish you the best, (Y/N).”

Your heart broke. “Goodbye, Lucienne. Please tell those left I wish them the best.”

“I will. Goodbye, (Y/N).”

You left rather quickly, briskly walking away and not daring to look back. You didn’t wish to see Lucienne’s tears, see the now dusty library with cracks in the foundation; you wanted to preserve all the memories, cheerful and happy.

Standing outside the gates of the Dreaming, you stared off across the vast, empty grey beach. You had nothing on you, for there was nothing you could carry. In the distance, a call hummed - a tug of the universe ready to open to other realms. You tentatively glanced over your shoulder. The grandiose gates of the Dreaming were closed, locked behind you. You sighed. Memories of all your life spent in the Dreaming rushed by: memories of your friends, memories of Morpheus. So bittersweet. “May we meet again … hopefully.”

You leapt into the air.

When you landed in the soft sand, you landed on four paws and with a tail that swished back and forth. Without looking back again - knowing you may never leave if you did - you calmly strolled forward, letting the sand swirl around you. It completely clouded your vision. Yet, you kept walking, drifting away from your home to an unknown world. The soft uneven sand under your feet became rigid and sturdy. The dark cloud of sand faded, revealing a bright sunny afternoon filled with countless faces and colorful structures. The once deafening silence, and chill, of the Dreaming replaced by a chorus of chatter and buzz of life. As the last drop of sand vanished, you found yourself in an alleyway in a bustling vibrant city. People passed by, living their lives. While you, an unsuspected dream, was now amongst their population.

Or in their eyes, a simple house cat.

For the first time in years, you were thrilled with the uncertainty and possibilities to come. You had a glimmer of hope fluttering in your empty chest, you had a joyful twinkle slowly returning in your hardened eyes.

It was a fresh start.

But, you were woefully unprepared for what the fates would send your way.

It had been years since your arrival to the Waking. You traveled, walking among the humans as one. You tasted exciting new dishes, learned different languages, visited amazing places, and met interesting people. However, you met people, you did not let them in. No friends, no relationships of any kind. Your heart could not bear it. So, you only watched humans and life from a safe distance, skirting its edges to save your heart from any trouble.

He, on the other hand, disregarded any and all barriers you put up.

“Well, hello, look at you.”

You - in feline form this late morning - perked up from your spot, sunbathing in front of a cafe. The owner, a sweet elderly lady, was always pleased to see you and left treats out occasionally. However, it wasn’t the owner who greeted you, it was a man. A man wore a tweed jacket, black turtleneck, and glasses perched on his nose. He had a kind, gentle face - one found in stories of princes and heroism. His eyes held worldly knowledge and strangely bountiful hope.

The man crouched down in front of you, extending his hand out as a greeting. You wanted to turn your nose away, but something told you not to. Curiosity? Possibly. To ease your burning new curiosity, you accepted his hand and sniffed it: dried ink, old papers, coffee, old cologne, mixed with potential and nostalgia.

He certainly was a strange one.

The man smiled excitedly, elated to see you have accepted him. He slowly scratched the top of your head and soon behind your ears. You unconsciously pushed your head into his hands. So kind, so comforting. A part of you ached deeply over his simple touch.

“Do you have a family? A home, little one?” He asked out loud.

“No, she doesn’t.” The man perked up, looking at the cafe owner. She smiled at the man and you. “She just appeared one day. She comes and goes as she pleases, but she always comes back.”

The man turned his gaze back onto you. A frown tugged on his lips. “So, no home?”

“No home.” The owner confirmed.

The man continued to scratch at your ears. An idea slowly pieced together in his head. “Do … do you think I could take her?”

You flinched, surprised by his offer.

“Well, that’s up to her now, isn't it?” The owner chucked. “You can try, but if she runs off then do not run back here to me to complain.”

The man wasn’t sure why he wished to take this random cat. Possibly to fill a void, fill a space in his vacant apartment. There was a draw he couldn’t quite place or understand. He glanced back down at you, while you stared up with wide eyes. “Would you like that? A home?” He asked with that lovely smile.

Home.

Oh, how you ached for the Dreaming, for Dream. Your wondrous Morpheus.

You had no where, and being free meant no home. And deep down, you craved it. You craved a home, but your only home you ever had was one you could go back to. At least, not now or maybe ever. You needed a new home. And maybe this insane encounter with this stranger could be that. Not permanently, but for just a few years. A few sweet years. You purred. The man smiled bright and wide, taking it as a ‘yes’. With a helping hand - and a warmth you haven’t felt in ages - he delicately scooped you up.

“Let’s get you home,” he whispered.

[two-hands-toward-the-sun]

not to say the same thing ad nauseam but do you ever sit back and think about how important lucienne is to dream. you know how one of the main themes of the sandman is change? specifically dream's personal change? i think lucienne is the character who witnesses that journey to the fullest extent and (at this point in the story) one of the characters most directly impacted by that. dream is a dickhead to her, and then later he apologises to her, something she and fiddler's green and doubtless the other residents of the dreaming thought impossible. and in the last episode, as an even stronger pivot from that scene where he basically tells her to go back to her books, he asks her if she could take care of things in the dreaming while he was occupied. a complete about-face!

lucienne is so important, you guys. to her home, to her people, to the story of the show, to all stories as their steward.