[ He knows what happened to Dream. What happened to himself six hundred years ago. And heard he was in another place he doesn't remember. Is there anything he's missing? Other than knowing anything about Vanessa, but it's clear Dream isn't going to fill him in on any details about her life and neither is she. ]
[ That gets a raised brow and an amused look from Hob, along with a smile. Oh? Is Dream dying to talk about himself after six hundred years of listening to Hob do all the talking? Maybe he's just ready to be more open, at least, to an extent. ]
If I am permitted, alright. I guess I want to know what it is you do between one-hundred year visits.
[ ready to be open would be more accurate, or perhaps that he learned to enjoy the more intimate knowledge that Hob had of him? even he's not sure beyond desiring more time with him. ]
Put simply, I rule over my realm. It is called the Dreaming.
[ More time with him is something Hob has always wanted but could never dare to ask. It's a pity he doesn't remember how much time they shared in another realm. It would have been like a dream for him. ]
It is the world where people go to dream, where they find respite from the Waking World that leaves them wanting and weary. When dreamers sleep and enter my realm, they find freedom and adventure to face their fears and fantasies in the dreams and nightmares that I create. That is my purpose and my function, and I control all within the Dreaming, lest the nightmares and dreams consume and destroy the dreamers.
Any mind may create dreams of their own, as well, but they are also of my dominion. And yes, the good and the bad, though this is a false dichotomy. Each dream has a purpose for the dreamer, to inspire or to frighten, to provide a reprieve or simply a place to exist uninhibited my their waking thoughts. Some dreams hold no other meaning than to be.
[ there's a hint of a smile then, of faint amusement. ]
As for your own dreams, I admit that I did know of your dreams after our initial meeting, but I then withheld from seeking out your dreaming mind in favor of allowing you to tell of your time when we next met.
[ It's a little difficult to understand, but maybe it's because he's not supposed to understand how such things work. Dream makes them but he also does not. They serve a purpose and yet some do not. But it's also right for dreams to be mysterious things just like the one who rules them.
The smile on Dream's face makes Hob's heart beat faster, his face flushing with embarrassment. ]
Which dreams were those, exactly?
[ Dream did leave quite an impression the first time they met. He was both mysterious and beautiful. Later on, though, he became the stuff of Hob's nightmares when Hob thought he might have inadvertently lost his soul. ]
[ And if that is the case, Hob's dreams are probably pretty bland by comparison. Most humans probably have the same sort of dreams, anyway. The same fears and desires run through them all. ]
Are people not predictable? Boring, even, to someone like you?
I mean, things happened of course, but nothing as strange as this. Time passes. The world changes. But all of that is to be expected. Meeting you again at the Inn was the most unexpected thing to happen before all this.
[ But he was pleased with that. Another thought, or rather, a question occurs to him. ]
So, if you are Morpheus, are the old stories about you true? The myths, I mean.
Well, it's said you have many siblings. I guess that's true of at least one, but Death is not generally mentioned, so maybe they're not quite so accurate.
That is indeed one divergence from the common myth. Many such stories have threads of the Truth, but it is rare that all threads are gathered into one truthful whole.
I have six siblings, seven Endless in our family. Destiny is the oldest of us and my eldest brother, followed by Death. My other siblings are then younger than I. Despair and Desire are younger twins that came before Delirium, our youngest sister.
[ curiously, he seems to have forgotten to mention the seventh ... ]
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[ he takes another tiny sip of tea before setting the cup back down. ]
Though I was uncertain if you asked all that you wished to know of me. The arrival of lady Vanessa rather changed the dynamic of the evening.
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I think I did. I found out a lot.
[ He knows what happened to Dream. What happened to himself six hundred years ago. And heard he was in another place he doesn't remember. Is there anything he's missing? Other than knowing anything about Vanessa, but it's clear Dream isn't going to fill him in on any details about her life and neither is she. ]
I left a letter for her expressing my thanks.
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[ Dream himself appreciates it since he dislikes the devices. ]
Though I admit that I thought you would ask more of me.
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If I am permitted, alright. I guess I want to know what it is you do between one-hundred year visits.
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Put simply, I rule over my realm. It is called the Dreaming.
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Tell me more about it.
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[ Hob is left at a loss for words. Dream orchastrates all of that? ]
You create all dreams? The good and the bad? Does that mean you know what everyone's dreamt about? Even me?
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[ there's a hint of a smile then, of faint amusement. ]
As for your own dreams, I admit that I did know of your dreams after our initial meeting, but I then withheld from seeking out your dreaming mind in favor of allowing you to tell of your time when we next met.
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The smile on Dream's face makes Hob's heart beat faster, his face flushing with embarrassment. ]
Which dreams were those, exactly?
[ Dream did leave quite an impression the first time they met. He was both mysterious and beautiful. Later on, though, he became the stuff of Hob's nightmares when Hob thought he might have inadvertently lost his soul. ]
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Only the ones from before the day we met. Ease your heart, Hob, for I maintained your privacy.
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[ An amused smile follows. ]
It must be very tempting, though, to see into other's dreams. I'm not sure I'd have your will power.
[ Hob is far too curious to be the king of any realm. ]
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[ And if that is the case, Hob's dreams are probably pretty bland by comparison. Most humans probably have the same sort of dreams, anyway. The same fears and desires run through them all. ]
Are people not predictable? Boring, even, to someone like you?
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[ his head tips towards Hob. ]
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I have been more surprised by things in the last week than I have in the last century.
[ Not all of them good, but surprises, despite it all. ]
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[ Though Dream probably already surmised that much. ]
And hearing about the City.
[ He doesn't remember the city, so Vanessa was more of a surprise since he met her. ]
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[ But he was pleased with that. Another thought, or rather, a question occurs to him. ]
So, if you are Morpheus, are the old stories about you true? The myths, I mean.
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Largely so, though there are many versions told across the ages. Have you one in mind?
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Have you any other family?
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I have six siblings, seven Endless in our family. Destiny is the oldest of us and my eldest brother, followed by Death. My other siblings are then younger than I. Despair and Desire are younger twins that came before Delirium, our youngest sister.
[ curiously, he seems to have forgotten to mention the seventh ... ]
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That's five. There are six?
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Destruction, the Prodigal who abandoned his duties, is my younger and our middle brother. He is much like our elder sister in disposition.
[ his tone remains light, but there's something clipped about it. family drama, perhaps? ]
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