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"Hob Gadling, It was quite difficult to find you. May I buy you a drink?"
Lucifer Morningstar had been sitting in the last row of the classroom for about an hour, listening to the literature professor talking about Shakespeare, as if he had met the playwriter himself. Maybe he had. After all, he was more than 600 years old. Lucifer didn't find this man any more special than other mortals they had seen, except that he had a perhaps charming, carefree smile. A smile in striking contrast to Morpheus's forever serious look.
"Ma'am, have we ever met before?" Gadling had chosen a pub near his school, the pair now sitting beside each other at a curiously empty bar.
Lucifer wore a bright red coat with black pants, business casual by mortal standards.
Gone were their black wings, extravagant robes, and everything that made them look imposing. In Hell, a place where every demon would kill to be the Ruler, Lucifer had kept an unchallengeable image.
In the mortal world, Lucifer had made themself a little more relaxed–look more feminine and younger than in the old workplace. They wore a regal look, and could easily pass as a high profile politician.
"You should hope that you have never met me before." Lucifer sat down and made themself comfortable, "Let me be straightforward. Dream thought you have inspired him. I seek to understand why."
"He really said that? Wait, you call him Dream. You know each other?" Gadling frowned, his expression reflecting curiosity and suspicion.
"Yes, we have known each other for a very long time." They pronounced every word slowly.
"Another immortal then.” Hob relaxed slightly, “Glad to meet you. You two are friends, I assume."
"Not exactly."
They were enemies. At least in Morpheus's eyes, they must be foes of the worst kind. For Lucifer, they had no idea what Dream was. Also an enemy perhaps, but an enemy who had done them a favor.
"Understood. It took him 600 years to admit I am his friend." Gadling nodded to himself, cocking his head. "May I ask for your name? Another Endless?"
"You don't want to know my name, Gadling." The former Ruler of Hell looked straight in his eyes, "Did you know he was imprisoned for 100 years?"
"Yes. And he said his tools were stolen. It took him some effort to get them back."
"Oh? Did he tell you how he got his helmet back?" Lucifer felt a curious, unfamiliar, pang in their heart. On one hand, they hoped Gadling knew nothing, but on the other hand, they were curious about how Dream recounted his trip to Hell.
Hob shrugged and took a drink from his glass, "He kept it very vague. He said he went to a hopeless place. Fought an old friend of his, managed to win, but barely escaped with his life."
"An old friend. Interesting. And he called that place hopeless ? Did he say anything else?"
"No. But I remember his eyes. I never saw anyone that sad before. I have lived 600 years! If I didn't know he had won, I would assume he had lost."
Lucifer remembered that look. When Dream literally rose up from death, made his final move as Hope, his eyes were filled with tears. There was not a hint of excitement or relief. It looked like he had lost something important to him.
"The hopeless place he visited was Hell. This old friend of his was Lucifer Morningstar."
"You can't be serious, Ma'am." Gadling scoffed with amusement and awkwardness at the same time. Then he eyed Lucifer up and down. Realization slowly dawned, and his body tensed in fear. "No. This can't be. You are…"
"Some words had better remain unsaid . Rest assured, I do not hold anything against you, or him." Lucifer smiled at him gracefully, at least trying to look graceful. "He defeated his old friend by finding hope in that hopeless place. I am intrigued. Did you have any idea?"
"Maybe? He said he had learned much after knowing how I suffered for almost eighty years, but still wanted to live."
"So, you are afraid of dying? Fearing the place you will go after passing Sunless Land?"
"No. Er….Your majesty. There is just so much to live for. So many new things to see, experience and learn about. The suffering is not comparable to what I have gained, and there is always something better waiting for me ahead."
Something better waiting for him? Was there something better for Lucifer Morningstar? They could not think of any. They left that miserable place behind, but still didn't have anything to look forward to. From a prisoner to a fugitive. No real improvement. Yet this man…
"Then you defeated me . Morpheus was lucky." They said with an impassive face, even inside they wanted to smash the table if nobody was watching."
"I disagree, Ma'am. Dream was not lucky . He went to that hopeless place to get his stuff back, instead of running away from it. That courage itself is something worthy of admiration. Who he was makes him powerful."
" Powerful ?" Lucifer attempted to refrain from laughing, but the effort was unsuccessful. It came out hard and bitter.
"He deserves more appreciation, I dare to say." Gadling looked at Lucifer stubbornly yet earnestly.
That look reminded them of Dream saying Lucifer was essentially doing the same thing that Samael did, but in a twisted way in a worse environment.
Courageous indeed. And these words were precisely why they left that damn place for good.
"You are right. I might have underappreciated him. My thanks for reminding me."
Gadling now looked visibly afraid. But to their surprise, he spoke, "This world was amazing. I saw so much influence from Dream. You may want to spend some time to have a real taste of it. You probably have not met many interesting people due to your profession."
"You are bold, Hob Gadling. I think I have already learned why he thought you had inspired him. Now pardon me."
Lucifer paid the tab and left without a further word. They could not bear to listen to this anymore. It reminded them too much of Morpheus saying he had been serving humanity since the beginning, but had so little understanding of humans.
They recalled many times his unfinished sentence and his sorrowful expression. "Lightbringer, if you and I have a chance to see more of humanity, it-”
It what? What did the whole thing mean? Dream wished himself to know more about humans for sure. And he thought Lucifer should learn from mortals as well? Or something else?
Since Lucifer had already decided to stay in the human world before Silver City came after them, it would do no harm to meet more humans, as well as to see what influence Dream had on them.
Lucifer Morningstar may be many things, but they are fair. If Morpheus’ strength was underappreciated indeed, then they would want to see it rightly.