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Chapter Text

Dreams, something magnificent but also something terrifying. Something that can make sense but also something that can be utter bat shit crazy and doesn’t seem to make any sense. 

Your dreams often were the latter, the most chaotic. Never a concrete story line or anything. One moment you would stand in a hallway, the next you're swimming down to the bottom of an ocean. You're walking through a city, next thing you know you can fly, and when you go around the block, it’s a different street. Everything changes. nothing stays the same.

Now whether that’s your subconscious trying to tell you something about yourself, something to do with understanding, or you just had a weird mind. 

You have to admit, walking down a bridge into a castle was fantastic. There was even a dragon flapping its wings on the middle spire. 

“That’s amazing!” You whisper to yourself as you feel yourself continue to walk towards the castle, and after what felt like a second, you were standing in the middle of the main entrance.

 Oh, how your dreams loved to mess around with the passage of time. They were making everything so trippy.

Because what should have taken minutes to walk through the halls to find a library in a massive castle, but you just walked through one set of doors, and you are transported there.

How magnificent the library was, it seems that there are endless levels and shelves of books. Glass panned windows, and an arched ceiling that seemed to have fluffy white clouds wandered through the air. 

AS you walk past the books, bound in leather, paperback and hardback, you read off the names of the books.

Sedition by Jane Austen, Love's Labor's Won, The Dark Tower by C.S. Lewis, Great Gatsby by Zelda Sayre… 

Your eyes wander about this brown mahogany bookshelf, as you look confused. YOu were no Library, but you did love stories. And these stories were lost, never finished, or the last one had the actual Author’s name.

“What the hell” You swore, your hand instantly reaching for the Jane Austen title. 

“Pardon me Mx. but are you interested in more unpublished novels or literature?” A woman’s voice echoed behind you. 

Turning your head you saw a woman in a three-piece suit, shaved head, elf ears. She peered at you with utmost politeness and a little bit of curiosity

“Um, Hi” You waved politely, but a bit nervous.

“Hello.” She smiled. “Are you interested, in such books?” She pointed out the one that lay in your hands. “We have plenty more, and stories that have never been written down.”

“Oh, I wish this was real,” You sighed. “Any chance you got the little Iliad? Oh, what about anything from the library of Alexandria? House of wisdom? God, I wonder what my mind can come up with.”

“Right this way Mx. “ The Librarian turned and started to walk down a section between the tall shelves. 

AS you follow after, the architecture changes. A more modern library and then as you pass another shelf it has Egyptian pillars with hieroglyphs, with scrolls in the shelves and flickering flames of lamps.

“Alexandrian Literature would be in here, and a few other books will be down the hallway. If you are looking for anything else just ask for me. My name is Lucienne, I am the librarian of the Library of the dreaming.”

“Library of the Dreaming? Wow, what did i eat to Dream of this, hah. Thank you so much!” You cheer smiling before you extend a hand, which Lucienne shakes. She watches as you run off and instantly reach for a scroll. As you unravel the  scrolls, watching as the hairy Greek letters change and shift into something you could actually read.  

“Lucienne?” A voice rings out. Turning your head you watch as a man in all black enter the room, as Lucien was organizing a shelf.

“Right her, my lord. Just helping another Dreamer” She walked over to him, having two books in her arm.

“A dreamer?” The man turned towards you. An unreadable expression upon his face. You wave awkwardly before you go back to reading the scroll.

The sound of your voice is sweet

Full like the taste of date wine

And I, a drunken girl in a tangle of flowers

Live only captive to hear

A love poem, how quaint. It was cute and sweet. 

‘Oh, that one was not lost '' Lucienne said as she noted the scroll in your hand. 

“Lost?” The man asked as you rolled it back up.

“I can put it back, right? I don’t want to mess up the organization.” You noted.

“Yes, you can just place it back there. What do you need Lord Morpheus.”

“You're looking at lost literature ?” HE asked me to take a few steps over.

“Uh, yes. I mean, however, my mind wants to create it in my mind.” Your laugh. You had to admit this was the first time in your dreams that a handsome man that was your type had appeared. Yes, wet cat emo-looking man was a type you appreciated.

“Hmm. Interesting.” His eyes scanned over you, and you felt heat blossom upon your cheeks. “Do you enjoy books?”

“Stories, but books fall under that category.” You smile, as you look fondly at the shelves, peering backward you look back and see the bookshelves you passed. “Always wanted a library for me, guess that's why my dreams are trying to tell me. 

“What are your dreams trying to tell you?” He chuckled at your admissions. He leans a bit forward with dark eyes that seem to drink in every inch of you. 

“I don’t know. Some physiological bullshit? Recreate the type of guy that I am into?” You confess, not using a filter you would have when awake.

The man in front of you seems taken aback, as he flinches away, with wide eyes, taut lips and creased brows. 

“What?” You at first though he sounded offended, but the look upon his face was more of shock.

“Thank you brilliant mind of mine” You sigh fondly. 

“This dream is over” The man, Morpheus, raised his voice as he raises a hand, swiping the air like a cat.

Next thing you know, you are in your bed.  The room is dark, but you can hear the busy city streets outside. You can here the familiar noise of a local drunk singing at the top of his lungs.

“Back to real life then” You mutter to yourself, wrapping your arms around your front as a way to comfort yourself, but you clutched something in your hand.

A scroll.

The Scroll from your dream.

In the palm of your hand.

“What the actual-”

“WOOF!” came from your closed bedroom door. “WOOOF!”

Your eyes swipe back and forth, between the scroll and your bedroom door.

“Damn it, Achilles” You muttered as you pushed yourself off the bed and palace the scroll upon a night table. Exhaustion washing over you. As you open the door, your golden retriever rushes in and basically throws himself onto your bed. "C'mon boy, not tonight.”

Your dog lets lets out a pleading whimper, tilting his head at you. As you let out a deep breath, your realized your dog has won.

 You lay down in your bed as Achilles lays over your stomach and you try to sleep. 

You don't dream for the rest of the night. 

Chapter Text

The next day you took Achilles out for a long walk as you did some errands. Your pupper was weaving in and out of your legs with his rambunctious attitude. You swore your dog had ADHD how he would stare at a flower for a whole minute and then rush away. You love your dog dearly, and you watch on as joy fills your chest.

“Good boy. You a good boy” You babble as he comes back to you with a tennis ball in his mouth. As you kneel down, Scratching his ear, you turn behind you to grab the new bag of treats you had bought with groceries. Laying next to your two woven tote bags, you see a pair of black doc martin boats in the green grass right next to the bags

As you look up, you drop the tennis ball you had taken from your Achilles.

It was him , the man from your dreams. Morpheus. Dressed in black jeans, black shirt, black trench coat, and fluffy feathery hair.

“Hello” he greets, almost glaring down at you, yet you didn’t feel threatened. Just caught off guard.

“Hello” you wave awkwardly, the slobbery tennis ball is still in hand.

“BARK” Achilles greeted. He pads over to the lithe standing man.

“Achilles says hello” you stand up quickly, dropping the tennis ball into a bag as you wipe down the grass and slobber off you. “Uh, so you’re real”

“Yes, I am” He softly nods as the corner of his lips curves slightly upwards. Confirming the dream from the other night was connected somehow to this man. You still had that poem on your nightstand, in Egyptian, Greek, and English. “How are you?”

“Good, I’m good” you mutter, fidgeting with a ring upon your finger, before rubbing the palm of your head and looking him back into those dark eyes. “Uh, why are you here?”

“I wanted to see what you do in the waking.” He admired. “Hello, Achilles”

Achilles had jumped up on Morpheus's left leg, sniffing everywhere his nose could reach. He then circled the tall pale man wagging his tail.

“What is he-“

“Here” you reach down and pull out the freer bag, opening it, you reach for Morpheus's wrist and drop two brown treats into his palm. His face scrunched up in confusion as he just stared at the greets in his hands, and you still gently held his wrist.

“Boss that means you give them to the dog” a voice rings out, Turning your head you see a raven standing on the bench nearby was a raven.

“Did-“

“Yes. My raven just talked,” Morpheus said as he kneeled down and extended a treat, which Achilles gladly ate and gnashed at. as if the talking raven was normal. “Although, he is not supposed to unless absolutely needed in the waking"

“The waking?”

“This realm”

“Like Norse mythology?”

“In a sense. You have those realms, the ones my siblings and I have, and then this one.” He answers so plainly.

“What are you?” This man is obviously not human. There was an air to him, of royalty and otherworldly. He certainly did have the looks for it.

He stops petting Achilles who just rolls over for belly rubs, Morpheus obliges. But he looks you in the eye, a moment of silence and thought.

“What do you think I am?” He breaks the silence, looking up at you with curiosity.

“What?”

“My sister, she has given me some advice to talk with mortals”

Mortals. Mortals.

“Your name is Morpheus, correct?” You ask, a quizzical tone with his name.

“One of the many”

“Are you the Greek god?” That's where you had remembered the name. From stories.

He smiles before he stands up, towering over you. A dark shadow that hides you from the light of the world.

“Some see me as much”

Your mind is racing. You can almost imagine the steam coming out of your ears and nostrils.

In Greek mythology, Morpheus is the god of dreams, son of Hypnos, god of sleep(and brother of Thanatos, death). 

“So… something else?” Your voice is weirdly calm, trying to fit every small puzzle piece of information that this mean gives you.

“Yes”

“So, you are just going to be dark and mysterious? Must be fun when flirting” You mutter the last part, hoping he won't hear it.

But he does, you know because he raises an eyebrow. He also freezes in place.

“ Oh shit” I’m so dead

“I suppose, this is flirting” he states calmly, the unreadable expression fades to a soft smile.

What?

“You are… intriguing to me” he hesitates, as if he’s trying to find the right word. “No mortal should be able to come into my castle, but you did. You found the way to the library, and while any mortal is welcome in that, so few do. So few find their way there, and want to read. You wanted literature never published, only finished in the dreams of the authors.”

“So, Gatsby was written by Zelda? I fucking knew it, the piece of shit” You grumble, trying to brush away the warmth on your cheeks. “So, you found me interesting, and decided to observe me in the waking realm?”

“Yes”

“Woof”  Barked Achilles as he rolled over and then got up, running circles around the man.

“Wow, um well” You stumble over your words but find a voice with; “Achilles, please sit down”

If dogs could roll their eyes, you swore he would.

“Achilles, HEEL” you commanded in a firmer voice.

“WOOF” Your golden retriever immediately sits on his butt, still as a statue staring his chocolate eyes at you. 

“Achilles heel?” The small smile goes just a bit wider.

He gets the pun.

“Yes, it’s a joke that I told my parents. If I ever got a dog, name him Achilles, and train the dog to sit at the command of heel .”

“And a golden retriever as golden as the man’s hair” He mused, reaching out and scratching behind an ear. Achilles whines and tilts his head a bit more, so that Morpheus can scratch just the right spot.

It was a strange afternoon. You ended up talking for two hours with the anthropomorphic concept of Dreams. Talking as if you were old friends, enjoying each other's company under the warm summer sun. You two often trade off the yellow tennis ball watching as your joyful golden companion runs up and down the gleeful green field and hills. Even chasing the talking Raven, named Matthew, around

"Hey, watch buddy" He cawed out as Achilles kept jumping, trying to bite the bird.

To you, this felt like heaven. 

“Can I see you again? Is that possible?” You asked as you watch the man stand up from the grass.

“I would like that” he hums, staring at you with his eyes. Eyes you could see the whole galaxy in.

“Do you have a phone or email or something?” You list off a few things, counting them on your fingers.  

“I shall see you again in your dreams. I can ask Lucienne to bring out more novels if you would like"

"that sounds nice."

"Oh, and she has requested for the poem to be returned."

And then he was gone. You just blinked that he was gone.

Achilles growled , and when you turn your head, you noticed he was looking around for the raven. Who was missing.

"Her boy, get back here" You called out, as you gathered up your tote bags and the leash.

When everything was secured and gathered, you made your way home.

Wondering what your dreams would entail

Chapter Text

When you arrived home and had put everything away, you just sat an your couch for minutes staring at the wall.

Night had fallen and the London streets from your window were dark as night. You looked to the sky and longed to see the stars.

Stupid light pollution

Achilles laid in his sky blue and cloud scattered doggy bed. Resting his head on top of a paw, staring at you with wide chocolate eyes. As if observing you and what you would do.

"So, a god knows about me.

You sit up and go to your book shelve that was right next to your couch. From the various titles and novels, you instantly find the bright yellow book, what your mother had read to you as a child. How on a cold winter's night, she had read to you about Persephone, how you had laid that night, an arm reaching downwards, as if to take the goddess's hand, to console her.

Then your eyes flicker to the blue book with a hand held hammer on the cover. How Odin drank from the mead of poetry. Loki causing pranks. The author had made it humors and stuck to the material.

Your encyclopedia's on gods around the world.

To be fair it was your day job to research such things for various people. namely occultist, magicians, amateurs, college students, grad students, and  honestly anyone hated to do their own research. 

But hey, if you made money, paid the bills, and lived on your own schedule, you were content. Your pile of Amaray cases, of the various video games you played were evidence on its own.

Stories of all forms, Books, Podcasts, video games, shows, movies, ect. They all fascinated you from a young age. How Humanity saw humanity, their issues, their hopes, their dreams.

Dreams

Humming to your self, you made your way to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

Reaching for a bottle you read the label, Melatonin.

"What do you think, Achilles, do I take some now, or wait for night?" You called out to your dog.

No answer.

Walking back, you saw that he was asleep. His furred body falling and raising. his tail wagging.

Probably dreaming of that talking raven.

Thump, thump.  Sounded from your apartment door. Loudly, quick, and desperate.

"___, luv you in there?" Came the voice of Johanna Constantine. A friend and often time a client.

Quickly you let her inside, well really she bursts in and locks the door as soon as you open it. Clutching a wooden box tightly to ehr side.

"Oh good you're here" She signs, out of breath.

"Jo, What's going on? IS that blood?" Your eyes widened as her white wool trench coat is splatted in it.

"Yeah exorcised some demons. Unfortunate the poor saps possessed didn't exactly make it." She ten drops off the wooden box onto kitche table that sat a few feet from teh entrance, a loud THUD rang out. "Got that bad boy though"

"Demons? DEMONS JO?" You scream out in terror. "You brought demons to my doorstep? OR at least led them?"

"Oh relax___, they won't get inside or will at least leave you in the morning. I put wards up when you first moved in. " she shrugged off her white coat and threw it into your laundry basked. (You were lucky to have a apartment with in unit washer and dryers).

"Johanna Constantine" You groan out. "What the hell are they chasing you for? What the hell is in the box?"

"The first blade" She says matter of factually as she stretches her arms, hearing a crack of her bones. "How Cain killed abel."

"Son of a bitch. IS this an episode of supernatural. First I meet the lord of Dreams and now this. Fuck my life" Johanna hears this, as she turns around, back towards you her face dropping at your words.

"You met the sandman?"

"uh-"

"BARK!" Achilles turns to his side, barring his teeth. Eyes still closed. Nightmare.

"oh no, sweetie you can wake up. " Yo brushed passed Jo and rubbed your dogs stomach. Tummy rubs often got him out of nightmares and it worked once again, as your canine companion opens his eyes.

He whines and drives his face into your stomach. His whole body shakes.

"I'm here boy, I'm here" You scratch just behind his ear, his favorite spot, as his tail starts to thump against the floor of the living space.

"___, You fucking met the sandman and didn't tell em?"

"Well, Jo, you didn't tell me that you set up wards around my home with out my knowledge. And to be fair, I didn't know he existed until this afternoon"

"Jesus Christ" She swore rubbing her temples as she paced back and forth beside you.

"Yeah it seems the last couple of days mythical creatures, whom i knew existed but never seen, keep popping up in my life. What a thrill" You sarcastically drawl out. But then you look at Johanna.

You really look at her. The bags under her eyes, the paleness of her face.

"Jo, hun, when was the last time you slept? You look exhausted"

"___, you can stop being concerned-"

"Nightmares?"

"No those bloody stopped, I've been chased by these demons for a few days. Not a moment of rest." she sighs,

"Then take my bed. You're exhausted, and you said you have wards up here." Pointing to your room, you make your way over to her and stared her up and down. "You're safe. YOu can rest."

"___"

"Johanna, you are one of my most dearest friends. I insist" Giving your friend a soft smile, she gives in.

She takes the bed. You took your couch.

Chapter Text

You slept on the couch that night. Your body would be stiff in the morning, but you didn't mind.

As you drifted off, under the window with the sliver street light, your eyes different to the countertop.

The wooden box Johanna had brought with her laid upon it. Layers upon layers made up the box, like a tiered cake. Leather wrapping around it. Keeping the lid tightly place.

as you drifted off to sleep, you thought of Morpheus. 

and when you opened your yes, you saw him, as the sun rays shone through the forest canopy.  Surrounded by oak tress, and golden light. A soft smile upon his lips as he saw you sees your approach on the dirt path.

"You found me" His voice is the soft and airy.

"I found you" You smile as you finally reach him.

His shoulders drops, and his eyes shoot down, at your arms.

"Is that the first blade?" He ask, and in your arm there is the box.

"No, what-" Your shocked. You did not seem to notice the weight of the box. It seemed to get heavier each second you held it. A small

"Why do you have it?" There is unease in his voice. As if he's assessing the situation. assessing you.

"My friend dropped it onto the table," You hiss out, and then with a calmer voice; "it seems we have a mutual friend."

"Who?"

"Johanna Constantine"

His lip tightens into a thin line, as if he swallowed something sour.

"You know her?"

"she's a dear friend, and I work with her when needed." You explain, gripping the box a bit tighter.

"What is your profession then? That seems to collide with that of a magician and occultist?"

"Oh, I'm a Mythologist, I study mythology. stories really." You smile, and then you look back at the box in your arms. "JO brought this to my place. I don't even know why i am holding this."

"Well, you somehow manged to bring a scroll from The Dreaming into the Waking. Now an object from the Waking is in The Dreaming. There have been... incidents of that happening in the past, but" he hesitates as he seems to assess the situation again. "They are few and in between. Scarce."

"But you have seen it right?" You question, your brows furrowing.

"yes. Nothing bad has happened to my realm. Nothing I cannot fix" HE assures you, before gesturing down the dirt path. "Now, would you like a tour of the realm?"

"I would love nothing more" You smile and begin what you believe to be a date.

"So a Mythologist?" He is hesitant with asking. "What is it that you specifically do?"

The stomach does a barrel roll, because everyone asks that question. Especially those who do not believe it to be a "Real Job".

You two were now walking onto a stone bridge, that went over a wide river. Quite beautiful, and reminded you of English cottages.

"Well, I'm more of a freelance. I don't work in any museum, any university, or any really institution. To much trouble, and pretentiousness" You chuckle out.  "I often do research for anyone who hires me. Museums do hire me for translations or when they need a second opion on an image. DO you know how hard it is to deal with people who don't know the differences between Helios and Apollo?"

"They were two very different gods." Morpheus states, is voice had the hint of bitterness in it.

"I take it you met them?"

"I did.  So you are a bit of a historian?" He changes the topic, so there must be bad blood there.

"Yes, but mixed with stories. Like how the story of Eros and Psyche evolved. We got Beauty and the beast as an evolved form, Bluebeard and His wives as another branching of it, and those Fairy smut books, ACOTAR, I think they're called, is based of of Beauty and the beast. " And then you stop yourself. "I'm sorry I'm rambling."

"No" Hurriedly it comes out, "No, I am fascinated on how Mortals tell stories, how they evolve. Stories are important to the Dreaming and to me. To hear one such as yourself talk about it so passionately, it warms my heart. "

"Huh" raising your chin and tapping a finger against it you think. "Dreams and stories are similar."

"One of my titles is the Prince of Stories" He simply says as you to come to a wooden fence. His face tighten a bit. "Hold onto that box very tightly if anyone comes by"

"How many of those do you have? Titles?"

"GOLDIE, FLY HIGHER!" Shouts from an unseen person.

A jumble of noises. Screaming, clattering of metal, the coos and caws of an unknown animal, you think you hear the revving of a chain saw and.... was that barking?

"YOU DOLT, GET THAT DOG!"

DOG?

"And the keepers of Mysteries and Secrets are arguing once again" Dream sighs next to you.

"Who_" and then you're on the ground. A wight on top of you.

Achilles had tackled you to the ground.

He's licking your face and your giggle. His tail thumbing against your knee.

"CAIN STOP!! DON"T HURT THE DOG!" A voice shouts out, and your instantly freeze up. The reeving of the chainsaw coming close.

Oh, the chainsaw was for your dog. Fuck.

You watch as Morpheus takes a step in front of you, blocking whatever or whoever was coming.

"Achilles, get behind me," You ordered, as you get back onto your feet. Leaving the box on the ground, and you raise your fists.

"That will not be necessary" Morpheus gently spoke, looking over his shoulder. So you just stand, nonthreatening.

A man steps onto the path way, throwing the fence gate open. Dressed in a greet vest with match pants. Gelled back hair and... pointed ears.

"Lord Morpheus" The man's face falls, "W-what are? Abel and I were not expecting you," Him arms go slack, like a rag doll, and the chainsaw he was carrying, stops. 

"Cain, I was just taking a walk with ___, I was showing them the realm." His voices rises just a bit. Frustration. "IT seems as though, Achilles, their dog, found his way into your homestead?"

"That beast was chasing Goldie. Jumping up in the air trying to nab his wings off." A harsh and blunt way to talk, but you did know Achilles liked to chase after birds. Worse than a cat.

"I'm so sorry, he often chases after birds and I haven't gotten him to stop. He doesn't actually kill the bids, just nips and-"

cain.. Abel... oh this is just bloody great. The first murderer, first victim.

"Is that my knife?" Cain inquires, point just beside you. "The first blade?"

and there on the ground was the blade. Opened, and a blade made out of a filed down rock. tied to a stick with hemp rope that seemed to begin to fray.

"Oh Cain there you are, please brother do not harm that dog." Another Man stumbles out of the forest, dress in a purple suit. He was  a bit shorter and you instantly connected the dots. Abel, the Shepard.

Wait why did they have pointed ear?

"BARK" Achilles just sits like he was a good boy by your side, like he wasn't

"No, definitely not your knife, nope. No, nihil, non." You leaned down and instantly try to stuff the knife back, which was easy, but now the box felt like it was a dumbbell. "How the hell is this getting heavier."

"Because it was the first weapon. It carries the weight of what followed after with every other weapon" Morpheus states, taking the box from you. "I can carry it instead, It will return when you awake."

"Ah, that knife" Abel hooks a finger under his shirt collar. You can visibly see he was uncomfortable. Taking a couple of side steps away form his brother wielding a chainsaw. "No good comes from that."

Then you see a golden creature fly over. And land on Abel's shoulder.

"WOOF!" And Achilles takes of running towards Abel. And the golden creature flies high up into the air, letting out yelps and caws.

"Down boy! Achilles Heel!" And you're chasing after him once again.

Dream had created a leash, and in the end you trusted the primordial being to hold the box while you relied your dog back.

You apologized to the brothers, and they invited you back for tea if you ever returned… just not with a Achilles.

Which was fine,  Morpheus had mentioned that your dear canine often dreamed of chasing birds, or a kingdom of his own where humans worshiped him.

"I blame myself for that. I've always spoiled him since he was a pup." Smiling guiltily you scratch behind the dog's ear, as he wags his tail.

"Wish Boss spoiled me," Matthew gently landed onto Morpheus shoulder, and then cawed at you.

Surprisingly, your dog did not bark, wood, growl, or jump at the raven.

”Matthew” Dreams low voice drawled out a sense of warning. 

“Right, don’t embarrass you in front of your crush” He squawks out.

"So, do your ravens travel between the realms? Like Huginn and Muninn for Odin?' Wondering allowed you leaned closer to Morpheus, getting a better view of Matthew.

"Hug- huh? And Who? AM I being replaced?" Matthew turned to Morpheus who just stares at you intently.

"Thought and Memory" Both You and Dream speak at the same time.

"Jinx you owe me a soda, or a drink" You mused gleefully at the deity. "An alcoholic drink preferably."

"Oh, do I now?" He quips, a fond expression upon his handsome features, before he leans a bit closer to you. "I could fulfill that debt if you would accompany me to a pub?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Your smile unravels as your eyes widen. A god is asking me out?

"Was this not a date?" He leans back, as his eyes narrow. The sky above seems to darken just a bit, as you notice clouds rolling into view. Although you think nothing of it.

"I- it could be i don't know. but-" The smile returns "I would love to accompany you to a pub for a drink."

"I can take you in a couple days if you would like?" His smile returns to him as well.

"Sure, just let me know when and where. You could tweet" Pointing at Matthew "at me."

His eye brows furrow as Matthew caws out a laugh.

"Oh I get it, boss this one is witty."

"I do not understand that, but it seems are time together her is ending. " HE sighs as he hands over the box with the first blade.

It's lighter than before. as if it was just a college text book.

"Oh, do you have to go?" You mutter.

"yes my dear. IT seems it is" HE says reluctantly.

My dear? It makes your stomach flutter and you can feel the beating in your chest. You were always a sucker for pet names.

"Oh" You softly spoke , as you watched the world around you close in, the green fields, the blue sky, golden sun, and dirt path, all turn into white clouds that quickly envelope you.

"__, luv?" You eyes flutter open at the call of your name.

Johanna is standing above you, shaking your shoulders, terror across her face.

"I'm up, I'm up" Groaning out, you quickly sat up in an attempt to fully awaken.

"Oh thank god you're awake"  She signs of relief as she stares down at you. "I don't know how but you slept with the first blade in your arms"

Looking down you noticed you were clutching the box tightly, as if it was some childhood plushier.

"Yeah I, how do I say this. I don't know how it got into my arms, but I dreamed of it, and pulled it with me to The Dreaming." You confess, not looking your friend in the eyes.

"How the bloody hell did you do that?" Her eyes are wide, and she sits on the couch beside you.

"I honestly have no idea. I brought a scroll here one time. I need to return that to the librarian" You sigh and hand her the box. "What are you going to do with i?"

"Paint some sigils and wards on the box, then throw it into the Thames. No one, human, demon, or other will find it." She states as she stares down at it.

AS you agree and push yourself off the couch, stretching out and hearing the pop of your bones, you stare at the coffee pot. A mischievous idea pops into your head.

"Hey Jo, want a cup of-"

"Luv, I'll throw you into the Thames if you finish that sentence." She  glares dagger worthy of competition to the one in the box.

"Got it. Oh, I've got a date in two days, want to help me prepare?" You smirk as you watch her jaw drop.

Chapter Text

Two days later, the date of your date with the dream lord, you took Achilles out for a walk to the local farmers market.

You intended to get tall dark and dreamy a Bouquet of flowers. (Was that a worthy token of affection for a  god on the first date to a pub? Probably not, but it was a classic).

              “What can I get for such a lovely person?” The owner asked in a flirty tone (Or polite )

“Well, uh, what flowers would you recommend for a first date?” You replied sheepishly.

Your beloved dog kept weaving his wave in and out of your legs, wagging his tail, chasing after stray leaves, and butterflies. (Along with Matthew)

“Ah, young budding blooming love” The man signed, and you swear you saw hearts form in the pupils.

“Blooming Love? No no” You stammer, as you feel the heat rise upon your cheek. A flash of Morpheus with his unruly hair and that soft smile pops into your head before you stare more at the flowers. “I mean, we’re just getting to know each other, but he’s wow- haha, he’s nice”

“Well, darling.” He says, pulling his long fiery hair into a ponytail. A brown leather apron, one often used for a butcher’s, a pocket filled with silver scissors wrapped in a beautiful red ribbon. “What is he like? Flowers have their meaning, what do you want to get across?”

“well, he gives off the vibe of a grumpy wet cat, but when you talk with him he’s kind, he listens to me ramble, and-" You stare down at your dog as he states up at you with big brown eyes. “He likes my dog. The man is the opposite of a golden retriever, but he’s kind. He’s been nothing but kind to me. Respectful”

“Sounds lovely” He states as he turns to the various bins of flowers behind him. “You have hope, you want him to trust you. So” He grabs a bundle “Irises, snowdrops, and daisies”

He holds up the bundle of Blue flowers, white drops flowers, and white flowers with a yellow center. Tied in brown paper, with a black ribbon with a fleck of blue, purple, and silver. Like Stars.

The whole bouquet screamed Morpheus, specifically his eyes.

“Oh they’re beautiful,” You say as you take the bundle into your hands. A bit heavier than you thought it would be, but you noticed, it was twenty flowers in one. “Thank you”

“No problem, it’s my job” He states simply. “Irises for hope, snowdrops for trust. Daisy for purity, or often time first dates. On the house.”

Looking up you swear your jaw dropped. This would cost a bloody fortune, but he was giving it away for free.

“No, I couldn’t. Please let me pay for it”

“Oh please, HE waves his hand as if he was dusting away cobwebs. ‘Just let me know, come back to me and my stand, if this lucky man is happy with this arrangement. He’s quite lucky to meet someone like you”

The heat on your cheeks gets hotter.

“BARK!” Achilles sounded as he rushed over to a nearby tree pulling you with.

“Thank you for the flowers!” That was all you could yell out as your dog pulls you along.

“BARK BARK” HE started to scratch at the tree.

As you looked up you saw a raven.

Matthew

The rave flew down past you and landed on a park bench. Fluttering his wigs, drawing you in with some cawing.

“Matthew” You greet, trying your best to hide the bouquet behind your  back.

“Howdy, uh your excellency?” HE shrugs his wings.

“__ is fine.I’m not royalty. I’m, uh, just me” Cracking a smile as your pupper comes to your side.

Tilting his blond head, he sits at your side surprisingly not going to chase after the Raven of Dream.

“uh is he going to -“

“If he’s not right now you should be good my feathery friend.”

“Oh thank god” if a bird could sigh, this one  did in relief. “I have word from boos.”

“and what has he to say?” Is he canceling the date? Does.. he not like me?

“He wants to meet you at the New Inn” Matthew caws. “A friend of his runs it.”

“A friend of a god?” Your voice is so unsure at that description. Then your remember that you have a date with one.

“Well, the man is immortal. Morpheus met him centuries ago.” Tilting his beak up, craning his eyes to you.

“An..excuse did just  say is a friend is immortal and Runs a bar?”

“A pub to be more exact. Also a history professor” HE tips toes a bit more on the back of the bench, closer to you. “Are those flowers for him?”

“uh.. well” the words stumble as a heat across your cheeks.

“I think he’ll like them. IF that helps your nerves” He flutters up and lands onto your shoulder.

“Thank you” You whispered out. “What time does he expect me?”

“Oh boss will pick you up in a few hours. He sent me so you would know the name, just in case. “

“Are we grabbing a bite to eat there, or…?”

“Oh, he said hob would get some food at the pub for you both. “

“alright” What kind of a name is Hob?

Matthew was right.

The sun was hanging low in the sky around 6;30, when your doorbell of the apartment rang out. As you opened the door. He was here.

He was dressed in his typical black clothing, but his t-shirt had been replaced with a button-up shirt. Top button undone.

“Hello” HE greets, a soft smile upon his face

Breathtakingly beautiful and ethereal.

Holy shit holy shit Your mind goes into lizard mode.

“Hi” You squeak out. And then you remember. “Hang on”

You rush into your room, where you had laid the boutique right next to the scroll from the dreaming library.

“Here these are for you” Your hurried out, extending them out to the man in front of you.

“Thank you” He smiled softly taking them. peering down at them fully observe the hues of color. And… was that a flight hue of pink that dusted his cheeks as he smelled the flowers? “These are lovely.”

“No problem”

“Do you give your dates flowers, is it common?”

“Well, I normally don’t” You dig your shoe into your rug. ‘however, I wanted to make a good, how do put this, good impression with this date. “ I want to make this work

“Ah, so do I” he smirks as he pulls his hand out of his coat pocket, refiling… leather-bound journal. “You mention you translate and research for others. I assumed you take a lot of notes, I hope you will use this for your research. If you want to.”

“Thank you” You take it from his hand and un-tie the leather that kept it close. Flipping through the blank pages, you felt his eyes on you. “Oh that’s awesome, it’s a refillable journal! Oh I’ve always wanted one! Thank you!”

You lung at him, and encircle your arm around him. Giving him a tight hug.

“My pleasure” He states, simply staring down at you. “Now, shall we go to a pub?”

“Sure, you do owe me a drink.”

The pub was a typical English pub with the dark wooden stets and tables. A warm light illuminating the bar counter, where some young college aged adults worked on making  drinks. (Mosley pouting beers and ciders. Some pouring of hard liquor and sodas)>

“”Take a seat and I’ll grab you a drink” Dream simply states as he pulls out a chair for you. And Lays his bouquet down to the side across the table.

“Thank you”

“What do you prefer to drink?”

“Ah, cider. Yeah, cider. Oh, if they have any with berries in it, I’ll take that.”You smile as you watch him nod and walk over to the bar

A man steps past the younger bartenders, a smile gracing his face when Morpheus steps up to the counter. The man extends his hand, which Morpheus takes, and the man then pats the god’s back, laughter sounding out across the surprisingly quiet bar. Morpheus chuckles to, and it is music to your ears. You just stare in awe at the adnois like man who brought you to the pub.

              The man at the bar starts to pour a glass of Guinness for tall dark and handsome. Then he grabs another glass and goes to the cider on tap, one you liked very much and did had berries in the flavoring.

              A pat on the shoulder from the bar master, and Morpheus makes his way over to you.

“I do hope this shall be sufficient.” He states as he slides effortlessly into the chair across from you.

              “Well, it’s a good one, so thank you” You smile as you bring it up to your lips. “S, a Guinness guy?”

              “Hob recommended it” he brings it up to his lisp and his face twists into a look of discomfort. Sputtering it out he goes: “That is not mead.”

              “Want a sip” You offer ver yours.

              He takes the cold glass from your hand and takes a sip. His blinks a few times off into space before taking another.

              “I prefer this much more.” He states

The two of you talk for what seem like hours. You explain your job. Your love of Myths, and the evolution of stories. How one story would become another in a different time.

           Staring into his eyes, the cosmos in them, you are reminded of how you would stare at the night sky, trying to piece together constellations, and then explain the stories of them to anyone who would listen. You do not tell him that tidbit just yet. He has not made a comment on the bouquet.

              Morpheus listens intently, smiling at your rambling, never once interrupting you talk about your passion.

              Then he talks about the dreaming and how he created it, who inhabits it. (Such as Cain and Abel, Lucienne the Librarian, and… a pumpkin head scarecrow.)

              “So, what about Matthew? Your Raven, did you create him?”

              Morpheus shakes his head.

              “No, he was once human” HE sighed out. “He died in his sleep, just like my past ravens. Because of that, he belongs to the dreaming”

              “So, there were others?”

              “Yes” Then he looks at the table. “How long have you had Achilles?”

              “For a few years now, maybe three, four?. Right after I got out of college. “ You smile. “I always wanted a dog, my dad was allergic, but he;s dead. Has been since my childhood. So, since I am on my own now, I decided to get one.:

              “Why him specifically?”

              “I got him as a puppy, and I was in a dark place. I needed a friend, all of them had left. Achilles just brightened my day. Gave me something to look forward to when I had a bad day.Then I met Jo, and well, my job took off with her connections.”

              “So your dog saved you?”

              “In a sense,” You smile softly at the memory of holding that lovable puppy. “He’s my ray of sunshine. If I didn’t love my pun, I would have named him Helios or Apollo”

              “I am grateful for that then” He lays his hand upon yours.

              Maybe it was the lighting of the pub. You had no idea how color theory worked.  How yellowish almost orange was against the back splash of the night outside, but… Morpheus looked so good in the moment. Your heart fluttered rapidly at his sudden touch and… shit.

              A feeling blooms rapidly in you.

              “I am as well.” And I’m grateful for you.

              “At the end of the night, Morpheus escorted you back home through a park. You stare upwards, but are miffed.

              “I wish I could see the stars. Damn light pollution. ”

              “That is one thing that I do not enjoy for the modern world.” Your date agrees staring up into the sky.

              “Well, If I want to stare at the cosmos, I just have to stare deeply into your eyes.” It comes out before you even know what you were saying. But it registers to your mind as soon as you said it.

              You are not usually forthcoming with your flirtations.

              Morpheus’s face freezes. A poker face, as if unsure of how to respond, as if he was unsure of what you had said.

              Then he chuckles stepping away from your side, to in front of you.

              "I would gladly be your window to the cosmos, as I get to look at you.” He states.

              A smile graces your lips, for once you are happy for your big mouth.

              Then you feel his hand on your cheek. His eyes become more intense and he just looks at you.

              “May I kiss you?” his voice is low, just below a whisper.

              You instantly nod your head, as and he connects his lips to you.

              You have to admit. That was the best Damn kiss you ever experienced.