Work Text:
Dream needs that second book. If he can gain essentially total power over life and death, then things will be perfect. He can make them perfect.
To wake in the morning will be a blessing he gives each and every one of them. Each breath that fills their lungs will do so because he allows it in. Each beat of their hearts will occur by his will alone. There will be no factions, no countries, no alliances or enemies. Just Dream and his one big family, on his land—in his house—that stretches on forever. That book will make it so much smoother to take back his rightful place as the head of his household and make all of his puppets treat him with the reverence he deserves.
If they spit ungratefulness in his face or try to pass whispers between themselves?
If their fingers twitch too telltale-tight around their swords in his presence?
If they try to claim another “table” or disc as theirs?
He’ll simply make use of his second book to send them away for a bit, to the place beyond the forever of his house.
Because, well. Defiances cannot be uttered without any air to carry it along. There can be no tugging or swinging at the strings without the lifeforce to power it. And some time locked away from his house will surely make them realise how much about it they’ve taken for granted.
He’ll bring them back with his first book after giving them time to reflect—that is, if he thinks it’s worth it to give them another chance on top of however many they’ve already wasted. He’s a gracious god, but not the most patient one. And not all toys will be worth the bother, especially after a while.
The one exception will be Tommy, of course.
Sending Tommy away will definitely be necessary sometimes, but it’ll also be fun. Fun, as Tommy always is. Too fun to do as strictly a correctional measure. And using the second book will be too distant for him; it’s a shame that Dream can’t drag Tommy back with his own two hands, but he can certainly send him away with them.
And he will. And he’ll always bring him back so he can do it again.
And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again.
Because no matter how frustrating Tommy can be sometimes, Dream doesn't think he'll ever truly grow tired of his favourite toy.