#But Hob didn't even know his name let alone who he bloody was

[unlikely-gravestones]

Currently thinking about The New Inn and how Hob literally made Dream his own little corner of the waking world to come back to. This man literally bought a pub next door to The White Horse so that when His Stranger deigned it fit to see him again (because of course Hob didn't know he was imprisoned), he wouldn't have to look far from where they'd always met. He literally wrote instructions on the barrier of The White Horse directing him to the place he bought SPECIFICALLY for this, specifically for when Dream showed up.

And I hesitate to call it a home in Dreams regard, but I absolutely do believe Hob lives in a modest flat above the Inn. Part of this is because it makes financial sense- why buy a house elsewhere and have the extra cost of that + travel (home -> brief stop at the pub -> work -> pub for the rest of the day, waiting for Dream -> home). But also, living there means that when His Stranger shows up (because Hob knows he will, he wouldn't have bought a whole pub for the man if he thought he wouldn't), Hob will be the first to know. If he lives there, it doesn't matter if Dream comes knocking at 3 am, Hob will be there to open the doors for him. He asks his bartenders, daily, if someone unusual had come in - pale, hair as dark as night, beautiful as the sun is bright - and at this point they answer him before he even asks. Even if His Stranger was waiting until their next centennial meeting in 2089, just on the off chance that he wasn't...Hob would be the first to know of his arrival.

So anyway, while I wouldn't refer to the inn as Dreams home (yet...) I would call it Hob's, and he built it with His Stranger in mind. And I don't even think Hob would realise the gravity of this after Dream escapes from his imprisonment. Dream returned to his realm and found it partially deserted- his subjects had left in his absence (save for a key few), he returned and found his family had continued as usual (or as usual as the endless are) without him, the waking world only felt his absence because of the consequences it brought (people not waking up, etc).

Yet there is Hob Gadling and his inn.

There is a place, built specifically for when Dream returned to him. A small corner in the waking world where someone- no not just someone but Hob- had built him a pub, a resting place, with the intention of waiting for him. Hob had carved out this little place, so close to The White Horse, with the intention of making it easy for Dream to find, to come back. After so many people leaving him, or moving on, or just plain not knowing he was even gone in the first place- to come back and find a pub, dedicated to him and his companionship with Hob Gadling...thats gotta do something to you man.

So anyway, yeah. Thinking about how Dream feels when he meets up with Hob, after a century of imprisonment, to find that despite their last meeting...Hob had waited for him. And not only that, but he had built an Inn for him- had made a safe place in the waking world, anticipating his return. Hob had never lost faith in him, and Dream would never turn his back on that again.

#Anyway can y'all tell I'm having big thoughts on this #And yes Hob wasn't the only person waiting but he was the only human waiting #Lucienne waited in the dreaming and of course we know death missed dream also #But Hob didn't even know his name let alone who he bloody was #But he STILL built a whole Inn for that man #Still waited for him in the only way he could #In the waking world #And he's literally created this small life to share with Dream #Gggg I am FERAL about it friends #This was much longer than I expected to do but y'all ate up my analysis posts so #Eat this up too #Sandman #the sandman spoilers #dream of the endless #hob gadling #dreamling #hob x dream #morpheus #netflix the sandman

[wizardofgoodfortune]

Gonna go ahead and ask you #58 on your Spotify wrapped while I'm thinking about it

#58 on my top songs is mirrorball by taylor swift! this is definitely one of my fav songs from her, if not The Favorite; a vivid music video plays out in my head every time i listen to it. here's my favorite part from it, which can definitely lend itself to particular dreamling scenarios... like 1989.

And they called off the circus, burned the disco down When they sent home the horses and the rodeo clowns I'm still on that tightrope I'm still trying everything to get you laughing at me I'm still a believer but I don't know why I've never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try I'm still on that trapeze I'm still trying everything to keep you looking at me

---

When his stranger didn't show up in 1989, Hob spent the whole day waiting for him. The whole night, too. He heard the last call but stayed long after, until the bartender—Ian was his name, Hob learned at one point—had to kick him out so they could lock up. To Ian's credit, he did it with his most apologetic face.

"Sorry, Hob," Ian said as he locked up the front door of the tavern. "Feel free to come back 'round tomorrow. Promise the place'll still be here by then."

Hob, who was hovering listlessly beside him, gave him a smile. "You'll regret you said that."

Ian laughed. "I'll never regret having more regulars. God knows we need it."

Hob frowned. Right. He nearly forgot about that.

"Need a lift?" Ian offered, fishing out a different set of keys from inside his pockets. "You've drunk quite a lot."

"I'm fine, I just need to—" Hob took a deep breath, "—I need to walk it off."

Ian narrowed his eyes. "Sure? I better not read about you in the papers tomorrow."

Hob snorted. "Trust me, you won't."

With that, Hob stood in front of the tavern and watched Ian drive off, until the old man rounded a corner and disappeared.

Now that he was alone, Hob slumped down on the damp ground and leaned against the front door. They've probably replaced this door more times than he could count, along with the rest of the tavern. Century after century, Hob saw less and less of what used to be here 600 years ago: the chairs, the tables, the mugs, the godawful drinks. The closest thing to permanence this tavern had was its name, and, up until tonight, his stranger. And soon, it wouldn't even have itself.

Hob reached into his coat pocket and took out his lighter and a carton of cigarettes. As he watched London's everchanging skyline glitter above the Thames, he lit a cigarette, the orange of it glowing in the dark. He sat there, waiting, waiting, waiting. He was good at that, at waiting. All you had to have for waiting was time, and Hob had it in abundance. So he waited until the sun rose, until the streets came alive with cars and people, until Ian came back to open up.

"Oi, what happened to walking it off?!" Ian exclaimed, standing over Hob, shielding him from the noon sun. "Bloody hell. C'mon now. Up you go."

Hob let himself be corralled into the tavern's small office and be sat at the small couch that was probably meant for interviews and terminations. He drank the water and aspirin placed in front of him, and he wore the spare shirt lent to him, but he left Ian's questions unanswered.

"Y'know," Hob started as soon as Ian came back in from the bar, "I reckon I could do a good job running a tavern."

"You should be asleep," Ian said accusatorily.

Maybe he should've been. But instead, Hob was sitting upright, wide awake. "I've been in countless taverns, just like this," he continued, "and I reckon I could make a great one. It would be so great that people from all over the world would come to eat and drink there, and say, 'Hey look, it's Hob's tavern, the greatest one around!' And d'you know what the best part about it would be?"

Ian sighed and leaned on his desk. "What?"

"It would be so great that they'd never close it down. They wouldn't be able to. Everyone would rally around it, even the council. And it'd be there for, for centuries. No, millennia. No, forever."

Ian shook his head, smiling. "A beautiful dream."

"A dream?" Hob scrunched his eyebrows. "You don't believe me?"

"Hob, this tavern has been here for centuries. That's a pretty good run, I'd say. Before that, it might've been something else, like a house, or a barn, or something. And before that, it was probably an empty plot of land, or maybe it was full of trees. Maybe bloody dinosaurs lived and died here. Or maybe it was underwater, I dunno. But I'm getting away from the point," Ian said, scratching his scraggly beard. "The point is: things change. That's life."

Suddenly, Hob was reminded of that night a hundred years ago, how his stranger detested the implication that he changed, that he grew to be lonely, lonely enough to seek out companionship. Hob's companionship. Obviously he detested the implication enough to not show up yesterday. But maybe, just maybe, his stranger will show up again today or the next day, just to prove a point, just to say he didn't need him to be his friend, and to say goodbye for the last time. Surely his stranger's not cruel enough to not show up at all, right?

"I, I know, but I can't let this place change, at least not yet," Hob said. His desperation must've plain on his face from the way Ian smiled sadly at him.

"And why's that?"

"My friend and I," Hob paused, thinking about what to say, "this place is important to us."

"You can always find another place."

"He won't," Hob said, voice breaking, "he won't be able to find me."

"How sure are you that he won't?"

Hob put his head into his hands. "I'm sure."

"You don't have his number?"

Hob shook his head.

Ian sighed. "Well, like I said last night, you'll need a lot of money to—"

"I have the money," Hob blurted out.

"What's that?"

"I," Hob repeated, raising his head in realization, "I have the money."

Ian only looked at him.

"I can, I can keep this place alive until he comes back."

Ian regarded him wordlessly for a few more seconds, then said, "I appreciate the thought, I do, but I reckon you can just establish a new one and it'll be less expensive. You can always, I dunno, put up some signs. 'This way to the new tavern' or something. Then when your friend comes around, they'll just read your sign and go to the new tavern."

Hob stared at Ian, mouth hanging open. Then he laughed, feeling a sleep-deprived lightness in his chest. He stood up and held Ian by his shoulders, still smiling. "Ian, you're a genius."

Ian chuckled heartily. "I try."

"And you're a hired genius."

"Pardon?"

"I'll need a bartender for the new tavern," Hob said, grinning.

Ian scoffed in disbelief, but he was smiling. "And what'll you name it?"

Hob thought for a second, then settled on: "The New Tavern."

Ian chortled. "You need sleep. Dearly."

---

send me a number and i'll write something based on the corresponding song in my spotify wrapped!

#dreamling #* #*my fic #warning i did not proofread this so uh... sorry in advance. i just realized it's 3:46 am and i probs need to go sleep #btw the bartender doesn't actually have a name so i used his actor's name LMFAOOO #thank you for sending in a number even before i reblogged the post TJ!!! #AND for finding the post in the first place!!! i hope this is a good enough offering in return for the beautiful folktale you wrote #EVERYONE GO TO TJ'S BLOG AND FIND THAT FOLKTALE IT'S A WORK OF ART!!!! #this could be more but i reminded myself that i'm doing this For Fun (tm) and not for it to be structurally good #because that can get real stressful real quick... #(pointedly looking away from my sad dads au which is 60k words and counting...)

[charliedawn]

You can write where the reader is a daughter of desire with a human that he had a brief affair with, but she never had contact with her father, let alone knows who he is, and then one day she meets the dream and they fall in love

Author : "You know when I said ANGST. GUESS WHO'S BACK ?! AH ! YUP. MORE ANGST. ENJOY."

Morpheus was sitting on his throne and watching over his realm, thinking of Hob's words all those years ago.

"Friendship. You seek companionship.."

Preposterous. He had thought at the time..But now that he was alone in his throne room with only his dreams to keep him company, he felt foolish for even having denied the accusation.

"Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus."

He frowned as he heard his name being said three times in one of the dreams. He waited and then, it happened again.

"Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus."

He found that the voice was coming from a young woman's dream and felt compelled to answer her call.

Just to satisfy his curiosity.

He appeared behind you as you were about to call him again and you froze at the apparition in your mirror.

Well...That was unexpected.

"I...didn't actually think it would work."

You laughed awkwardly and Dream tilted his head to the side, wondering what had pushed you to do something you didn't even believed in.

"You called. Here I am."

He announced simply and suddenly, a heavy silence settled between the both of you.

You had called his name—and yet—you looked as clueless as him as to the reason of his presence.

"Well ? Why did you call me ?", he finally asked and you blinked several times before rubbing the back of your neck nervously.

"Weeeelllll...It's kinda embarrassing really. I found your name in some old dusty book and I thought it worked like Bloody Mary or Beetlejuice. You just have to say their name three time and poof. They appear. But, I also thought it was only a myth. That you wouldn't actually show up. Morpheus, is it ?"

His jaw twitched in annoyance. You had summoned him. To prove that some childish fairytale was true. Without true purpose. And, you weren't even sure of his name.

Clearly. It was a waste of time.

He turned around to leave, but was surprised when he felt fingers wrap around his wrist to stop him.

He eyed you sideways and you shivered as Morpheus' eyes seemed to be searching for a reason to send you to the abyss.

However, he waited. He didn't make a move to pursue his desire to leave and you thanked him for that.

You retrieved your hand and gulped, gathered your courage to tell him exactly why you had summoned him.

You had a whole speech prepared, a real request fit for a king..But, all that escaped your mind the moment you opened your mouth..

"Please. Be my friend !", you burst out instead and wanted to slap yourself so hard..But, Dream didn't laugh at your wish.

He merely pondered on the possibility.

Friendship ? Well, that was a surprising and convenient wish..

"Ah. So, this was what all that was about..You wish for a friend, dreamer.", he gathered and you nodded sheepishly, anxious of his answer.

An answer that didn't make itself wait.

"Alright. I will keep you company in your dreams, dreamer..", he accepted and you smiled widely.

"But do understand that friendship comes at a price.", he added and studied your features, searching for any sign you would back down.

But, you didn't.

"The lord of the Dreaming as a dreaming buddy ?", you mused and chuckled, "What could possibly go wrong ?"

A few years later :

You were sitting side by side in the green fields of the Dreaming, silently enjoying each other's company until Morpheus unexpectedly broke it.

"I want you to be my wife.."

You opened your eyes wide and coughed, saliva caught in your throat at the surprising announcement.

"Wait..What ?! Really ?!"

He smiled knowingly at you and nodded.

"Yes. I have given it enough thought and intend to ask for my siblings' approval tomorrow during our daily meeting.."

You felt honored, but also a little skeptical.

"Morpheus..I am human. And, I have no title whatsoever..Do you really think they would let you marry me ?"

Morpheus frowned a little, staring at the flying wales coloring the sky with pastel colors above your heads..Yes. They would.

"They are my siblings. They care for me. They wouldn't keep me away from my happiness..", he reasoned.

Your cheeks dusted pink at the notion that you were Morpheus' happiness and you leaned forward for a kiss, which he gladly indulged.

You didn't think things could get any better..

Or, worse.

At the meeting of the Endless :

Morpheus stood up to speak, prepared to share his decision with his siblings when Destiny cut him off.

"We know what you are going to say, Morpheus."

Morpheus felt tension rising among his siblings that wouldn't met his gaze..Something felt off. If they already knew, why weren't they happy for him ? Why did they all seem so uneasy ? His eyes finally met Death's for an explanation who sighed before finally offering him an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry. You can't marry her, dear brother."

Morpheus' eyes wet with tears as he seeked to understand the reason behind this unanimous refusal—this betrayal.

"I..I don't understand. W..Why ?"

Death didn't offer an answer, she looked away and bit her lower lip, not able to stand her brother's saddened expression.

But, another sibling graciously took the responsibility to tell him.

"Because she is my daughter."

Morpheus stilled for a moment—wishing he hadn't heard it, or he could have mistaken the voice for anyone else's than Desire's.

"What ?"

He turned towards him slowly and Desire giggled—delighted to see him lose his composure.

"You heard me. You can't marry her..because she is my daughter. Which makes you her darling uncle. Oof. Hurts doesn't it ?", Desire taunted him and his eyes creased a little at the extensive length of his amused grin..

Morpheus was devastated, and he loved every single second of it.

"I thought you capable of many things..But, incest ? Tut-tut..Bad Morpheus. That is reaching a new low in your already disastrous love life.."

Morpheus drowned out the rest of Desire's gloating, his breathing short and uneasy as years of courtship and companionship turned into thin dust in the wind.

You were Desire's daughter. You were his niece.

He had longed for someone to share his burden and understand his feelings..He had found you, among all other human beings in the universe..He should have known. It couldn't have been a coincidence.

"You..", he finally glared at Desire with so much loathing, Desire's smile itself faltered for a second. "You did this ! You tricked me !"

Desire laughed. He dared laugh..straight to his face.

Morpheus intended to wipe that self-sufficient smile off his face when Desire explained the reason for his hilarity.

"As much as I would love to get all the merit. I regret to say that I had no idea of her existence until a few days ago when Destiny came to me. The poor girl surely doesn't even know who she is herself. You have to understand Morpheus that I—as Desire—have had my fair share of lovers, and as human contraceptions do not exactly work with otherworldly beings..I do tend to leave unwanted trails. But, it's funny that you would fall in love with one !"

Morpheus couldn't stay—he couldn't hear another thing coming out of Desire's mouth.

He left.

Only to be faced with the difficult task of telling you..

In his throne room :

Morpheus had barricaded himself in the throne room, launched himself into work in order not to have any time for you..

You didn't dare ask how his meeting had went, knowing very well that his sudden distance and change in behavior had something to do with it..

He would stay locked up in his throne room and only come out when he was sure you were asleep.

"Morpheus ! I implore you ! Talk to me !", you shouted and pounded at the door.

He looked up at the door of his throne room and his expression softened as he imagined your worried expression and deep concern..He was ashamed.

He had let Desire toy with his feelings, and he was now completely submerged by them.

He couldn't tell you. He couldn't let you suffer through the same pain..

He slowly casted his gaze downwards, ignoring your pleas and knocks.

He had to forget you..

That night :

Morpheus thought you were asleep and as usual, walked past your bedroom to get to another one, away from you..But, he was surprised when your door suddenly opened wide and he was pulled inside.

"GOT YOU !", you shouted victoriously, "Now..Are you going to going to tell me what's going on, or should I just dig into that beautiful head of yours for answers ?"

You were joking of course—hoping to crack Morpheus' stoic expression—but Morpheus didn't want to laugh. He glared at you and you immediately released him..Okay. Not good.

"Hey. It's okay if you don't wanna tell me. I just..I just wanted to see you. I was worried about you.", you confessed and Morpheus' expression softened..

He knew you were. However, he had no choice but to keep you away.

How could he possibly tell you that you would never be together—no matter how much he wanted to ? That his siblings would oppose the marriage with all their might, especially Desire..

His jaw tightened at the thought of that sleazy malicious brother of his..

You could see he was tensed and sighed before patting the spot beside you in the bed.

"Come on. Get in."

He frowned suspiciously at the bed and shook his head, but you didn't leave him a choice as you pulled him along with you.

"COME ON ! You need the sleep and I have missed your grumpy face in the morning !"

He let out a small huff at you clear taunting, but let it slide.

It was true he needed the sleep.

He gracefully laid down beside you and you smiled at him.

"Goodnight, Sandman."

He restrained the playful eyeroll at the familiar nickname and you chuckled knowingly.

You then yawned and closed your eyes. It didn't take long for you to fall asleep next to him and he waited until you were sound asleep before gently tucking a wild lock/curl/strand of your hair behind your ear.

"If I could have you..All my wishes would come true.", he whispered lovingly and closed his eyes, letting a tear roll down his cheek at the painful knowledge that he would never be satisfied.

However, he then felt soft lips on his and opened his eyes wide to find you kissing him.

His eyes widened slightly and he tried to pull away, but couldn't. It wasn't fair.

He wanted to give in and kiss you back, but pushed you away instead and wiped his lips with his sleeve—an expression of disgust darkening his face.

He could see the clear hurt and confusion in your eyes, but instead of reassuring you and tell you everything—he bolted out of the room and closed the door shut behind him.

He leaned back on it and broke into tears.

You heard him and knelt next to the door, putting your hand against the flat surface to reach for Morpheus.

"Please. I do not understand. Talk to me, my love.", you pleaded.

'Of course..Of course you didn't understand', he bitterly thought. 'And it only made the situation all the more miserable, as he had to carry the burden of knowing wherever he went..There was no escape.'

"You will leave..Tomorrow..", he said and your heart stopped..What ?

"Please, Morpheus..Tell me. Give me a reason at least..You owe me as much.", you countered.

Suddenly, the door was opened wide and you stumbled forward onto his chest.

You smiled—hoping that Dream would finally see reason and not chase you away—but one look at his dark and stormy eyes and you knew..You knew whatever he would say next wouldn't be what you wanted.

"I DO NOT OWE YOU ANYTHING ! I DO NOT LOVE YOU ANYMORE ! NOW, LEAVE THIS INSTANT !", he boomed authoratively and your eyes widened at the hatred in his gaze and the harshness of his words. Why ? You didn't understand..

He raised his hand and you already knew what he was about to do, but still held onto him desperately as sand rose all around you.

"NO ! DON'T YOU DARE ! LET ME STAY WITH YOU, MORPHEUS ! I LOVE Y...!"

You disappeared before you could finish that sentence and Morpheus closed his eyes, letting out a shaky sigh.

"I love you too.."

A few years later :

Morpheus still felt the heavy weight of your absence all around him, in everything he touched, in everything he created..There was a miss.

He didn't hear Desire enter until he was right beside him and Morpheus' hands still as he waited for Desire to state the reason of his unwelcomed presence.

"That human you loved so much ? She is married now. She has children. She moved on and made quite the life for herself..Pity. You aren't a part of it."

Morpheus' eyes became glassy with tears at the news and Desire giggled at his misery.

He suddenly leaned forward to stare deep into Morpheus' eyes and seemed to be seeking something in there. When he found it, his grin only grew wider.

"My goodness..I thought I was talking to Despair for a second ! You have the same misery and pain in your gaze. Light up, buttercup ! Life is beautiful and full of random humans to fall for ! You'll find another one ! It's not like Y/N was special or anything..Boring even, if you ask me.."

That was the last drop as Morpheus suddenly took Desire by the collar to pin him to the nearest wall and spat furiously.

"YOU DO NOT GET TO SPEAK HER NAME ! SHE WAS THE MOST KIND AND GENTLE SOUL I HAVE EVER KNOWN ! AND THE ONLY MISTAKE SHE EVERY COMMITTED ?! IT WAS TO FALL FOR ME ! I MOURN HER EVERYDAY ! AND I CURSE THE FACT THAT SHE HAD TO BE THE DAUGHTER OF SUCH A JEALOUS AND PITIFULLY RESENTFUL BEING SUCH AS YOURSELF !"

Desire was left stunned for a few seconds in front of his brother's outburst, but his smile was quick to reappear on his face.

"Poor Morpheus..I really got under your skin this time, didn't I ?"

Morpheus shook his head and let go of him, knowing that no good would come from giving in to his anger and playing that little mind game of his.

"Leave."

It was an order. One that Desire was all-too-happy to follow as he skipped joyously to the exit, but stopped just before stepping outside to give one last side glance at Morpheus.

"You know..It was never my desire to be the way I am..As it was never yours to become the lord of the Dreaming. It is in my nature. It is simply what I am."

Morpheus didn't answer. He knew deep down that Desire was right, but it didn't make it any easier..

"Did you really have to give me love and so cruelly take it away from me ?", he finally asked and raised his eyes to meet Desire's.

Desire smiled sadly as he shrugged, the small affection he used to hold for his brother showing in his next words.

"Oh honey..My name is Desire. Not Love."

Morpheus closed his eyes at the cruel reality and Desire left, only leaving sorrow behind in his wake..

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #morpheus x reader #sandman x reader #dream of the endless #dream x reader