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Chapter Text

When Hob realized that unlike his friends he hadn't aged a day. It must have been the meeting with that stranger who kissed him. He had to give him immortality with his kiss. And so Hob began to search for the mysterious unknown man or whatever he was. As a soldier and the occasional bandit, he has reached places where others cannot. But no one had ever heard of a stranger in black with a ruby around his neck. Hob definitely didn't want to give up. He vowed to find him and if he didn't, he would get all the answers he wanted from him in a hundred years.

***

"Brother, this is Desire. I stand in my gallery holding your sigil. I want to talk to you."

"But I don't want to talk to you."Howled Dream. Since the day he kissed Robert Gadling during their silly game, Desire had been borders him about five times a day."I have work."

"Then at least tell me how you enjoyed it."

"I'm not talking to you!" Dream slammed the door of his gallery behind him.

***

Hob started a new job. Printing. While printing books, he searched for any information about the mysterious unknown. But nothing. As if he didn't exist. But Hob knew he existed. He talked to him, he received the gift of immortality from him. The kiss was definitely behind it. But how do you find someone you know nothing about?

7 June 1489

Hob walked into the White Horse, he had a lot of questions over the hundred years. He couldn't find an answer to any of them. So he hoped the Stranger would answer them. It didn't take long for the Stranger to appear, his hair slightly longer than a hundred years ago, still dressed in black with a ruby around his neck.

“How did you know that I'd still be here? Who are you? Wizard? Saint? Demon? What creature grants immortality with a kiss? Or have I unwitting made a bargain with a devil?” asked Hob.

"No,"replied the Stranger. Hob groaned to himself, realizing he wasn't going to get any answers from the man or whatever he was.

"Then why aren´t I dead long since? Is this some kind of game? Why are you here?"

"I'm here because I´m interested," replied the Stranger to Hob.

"In me?" Hob asked, surely someone like Hob couldn't care less about someone like the Stranger against him.

"In your experiences,"replied the Stranger. Hob thought.

"You want to know what it's like? I'll tell you what it's like.” The stranger leaned across the table with interest. "It's fucking brilliant. Everything changes."

"How exactly?"

“Chimneys is brilliant! Not having your eyes watering all the time. Not freezing from the holes in the wall. And little cloth pieces for your nose. In the old days we used our sleeves.” The stranger looked bored against Hob. "See the bunch in the corner, playing at Trump and Ruff? We never had them in old days. Playing cards."

"Most impressive. What will you people think of next?!"It came out of his mouth in a completely annoyed tone.

„Something to get rid of fleas, with any luck.“

"So what have you been doing for the last hundred years?'

"Same trade as before," replied Hob. “Soldiering, mainly. A little bandity here and there, if I couldn´t find what you´d exactly call a war... And in the mean time, I´ve been started in a trade.” The stranger looked at him with interest. "It´s called printing. It won´t last. But beats the hell out of rotting to maggots in the ground. Eh?“

"So you still want to live."

"Oh yes," Hob nodded.

"In a hundred years, then."The stranger turned to leave.

“Oh yeah. Wait, you didn't tell me who you are and about the kiss of immortality?!” But the Stranger was already gone.

***

“So what, did you kiss him again?” A pushy voice rang out through the Dream´s Gallery.

"I already told you to leave me alone, dear sibling."

"That´s boring!" Desire moaned. Dream just rolled his eyes and disappeared from the sibling's sight.

Chapter Text

When Hob didn't get answers to his questions, he started searching again. But the answer was as elusive as the Stranger. If his friends hadn't been dead for a long time, he would have thought that it was just a dream that he would wake up at any moment and be back with his buddies, but no. He was here in a much safer England now. When he met Eleanor and his son Robyn was born, Hob completely forgot about his search about the Stranger and the kiss. This was perfect. Hob had a great life.

June 7, 1589

Hob ordered several bottles of wine and food. Now just wait for his Stranger to appear. And then he saw him. Again all in black with a ruby around his neck.

"My friend," Hob called to him, waving. „Sit down. I´ve got in a couple of bottles of wine for us. Already made a start on them.“

"Hello Hob."The Stranger came to him and sat down.

"Hob? Faith, that takes me back some few years. It´s Sir Robert Gadlen now, old Stranger.”

„You have had good fortune, I take it.“

„Good fortune? The gods smile at me, as they smiled on all England, where no man is slave or bondman. Venison pastry?“ He offered towards the Stranger. Stranger had a dismissive look in his eyes. "No? They're good.Let´s see” He bit into one himself. “Last time we spoke I work with Billy Caxton. I made some gold from that. Put it to work in Henry Tudor´s shipyards. I made a small pile. I´ve still got shipping interests.” Hob began to speak. "Went to north for a year or so, came back as my son. Done that twice, now. When fat Henry done for the monasteries I bought my estates. And a healthy gift of gold to the crown saw to my knighthood. And that's not all, here." Hob unwrapped the picture. “Take a look at this. My fair Eleanor and little Robyn. My first son born in two hundred years in this earth, that I´ve to know of, anyway.” Hob noticed that the Stranger was engaged in conversation at the next table.

"Who is he?"The Stranger turned to Hob.

“Will Shaxberd. Acts a bit. Wrote a play.“

"Is he good?"

“No. He´s crap. But the one next to him, the one with broken leg, that's a good dramatist.” The Stranger turned his attention back to the next table. "The Queen herself slept at my house last summer. That was expensive. Can I ask you, something?” Stranger stopped him with a wave of his hand. „Why did you kiss me? Did you really give me immortality with a kiss?“ Stranger rose from his chair.

Really?! A thorn of disappointment and jealousy stung Hob. After all, the Stranger came to him, so why is he dealing with someone else?

"Would you like more lamb, sir?" the innkeeper asked.

“Yes, more lamb. And it can only get better.”

***

The Endless had a family dinner.

"So what was it like?" Desire growled towards Dream.

"Leave me alone!"

"Then answer me," they provoked.

"I ignore you!"

"But I want to know."

Destiny, Despair, and Deliruim watched their progress with a sigh.

"Give him a break at last!" Death struck.

Desire moaned. "You two are so uptight." There was silence for a moment. "Did you kiss him?"

Dream howled."He's married, you moron!!"

"And that's a problem?"

Dream crawled through his portrait without answering.

"You're really exaggerating," Death shook her head.

"At least it's fun."

Chapter Text

Destiny turned its back on Hob. First, Eleanor died in childbirth and with her the child. She was followed shortly after by Robyn, who died in a fight in the pub. It broke Hob so much that he stopped going out. But not enough to ask for death. Hob lost everything, gold, land. And when he finally dared to come out, he was arrested and condemned for witchcraft. They wanted to drown him for witchcraft, he managed to escape at the last moment.

He was looking at himself in the reflection of the window. In such a state, even his Stranger will surely turn away from him. Why should he want to mess with a poor fellow like Hob? The Stranger was somebody and Hob was nothing. Hob had to risk the meeting, nothing worse than that even the last person he had left would turn away from him, could not meet him.

7 June 1689

Hob stood in front White Horse.People passing by looked at him with judgmental looks. He knew he looked awful. He slept wherever he could. He took a breath, the moment of truth was approaching, most likely the Stranger wouldn't even come forward to him if he was already there. Hob stepped inside. Everyone's eyes immediately fell on him. The bouncer grabbed him by the throat.

„Yer fackin´ dungwits gerrahtameway!“

“Get away, you fuddled jug-biter! This tavern´s for gentry and decent folk. You get back to the stews with the rest of the filth!“

"Let him be! He is my guest!'A familiar voice spoke. The Stranger was here. Hob broke free from the man's grip and headed for the table.

"I knew ye´d be here." Hob emptied his cup and stuffed his food into his mouth. "Do you know..." Hob looked up at the Stranger. “How hungry a men can get? If he doesn´t die? But doesn´t eat.” Dream watched Hob with panic in his eyes “I've lost everything,” said Hob. “She died. In childbirth. Eleanor. My son Robyn died in a tavern brawl when he was twenty. I didn´t go out much after that.” Dream looked at him with pity in his eyes. He felt sorry for what Hob had to go through. „They tried to drown me as a witch. I´d lived there for forty years. Overconfident...I got our with my skin.Little more And then it got worse, and worse...and worse. I´ve hated every second of the last eighty years. Every bloody second. You know that?“

"And you still wish to live?!" Dream asked, ready to call his sister. Hob sighed and looked at the Stranger.

“Are you crazy?!” Dream began to panic. "Death is a mug´s game. I got so much to live for.” Dream felt relief wash over him. “Can we order?” Hob asked. “Or else I'll eat the fucking table?” Dream nodded and nodded at the innkeeper.

“Sir, is this man bothering you?” she asked. "Should I tell someone to get him out of here?"

"No,"answered Dream."I want you to bring him whatever he asks for."Hob looked at his Stranger in surprise and then ordered everything the White Horse had to offer."Eat up, Hob Gadling." Dream got up from his chair.

“Are you leaving already?” Hob asked.

"I will be back."Between meals, Hob noticed that his Stranger was talking to the innkeeper and they were agreeing on something together.

"Have you eaten?!" Dream asked.

"Yes," Hob nodded.

"Come with me." Dream led Hob into one of the rooms and closed the door behind them."I'll help you to wash yourself."

"I have nothing to wear. Just this.”

"It's already arranged."Someone knocked, Dream went to open it and returned after a while with a clean shirt and pants.

"I don't know how to thank you."

"You needn't thank me, Hob Gadling."Dream helped Hob wash himself."Get some sleep, you need it!"Hob nodded and closed his eyes. Hob was not haunted by terrifying dreams that night.

***

"You've been there for a long time today," said a raspy voice in Dream's ear. "What nice things did you two do together?"

"Shut up, dear sibling!" Dream rolled his eyes, he really didn't feel like thinking about it, and not at all with Desire.

"Or did he leave you? Doesn't he know what happens to those who leave you?” They continued to purr in Dream's ear. Dream spun around and pinned Desire against the wall of his gallery.

"BE QUIET!"He growled in Desire's face.

"And why should I do that? This is more fun.”

Death knew how Dream would return from Hob and wanted to know how Hob was holding up. What she didn't expect was to find her two younger siblings fighting on the floor of the Dream´s Gallery.

“Damn brats!!!” She moaned and grabbed Dream's waist and pulled him away from Desire.

"Let me on them!"Roared Dream.

"Calm down!" Death held him in her arms.

“And you!” She turned to Desire. "Get out of here!"

When Desire was gone. “Good?!” Death asked as she felt Dream slowly relax in her grip.

"They know nothing! They don´t understand!'

"And you're an idiot!" Death sighed. "You must not allow yourself to be provoked. That's what they want.“

"What are you doing here, anyway?“

"I wanted to ask how Hob was doing."

“He's been on it for the last eighty years, really miserable. That's why I stayed behind, I wanted to give him at least a little relief." Dream told Death about his last encounter with Hob.

***

Even when Hob woke up he knew he would be alone. His Stranger was gone. To his surprise, the innkeepers treated him as an equal. When Hob protested that he had nothing to pay, they just waved him off saying it was taken care of and Hob thought his Stranger was behind it.

Chapter Text

It took some time for Hob to get back on his feet. He started working for shippingand went back to searching for the Stranger and the truth about the kiss he hadn't even thought about lately. When he wasn't sailing, he was searching for libraries. He came across references to gods, various rituals, and at the mention of witchcraft he knocked himself in horror. The attempt to drown him was still fresh, even though it had happened several years ago, he didn't want to go back to that period. And demons and devils. But he remembered well that the Stranger had told him that he was not a devil.

June 7, 1789

“I keep money all over the world. So, as soon as the revolution starts here, I'm disappearing from here," said Hob to Stranger. "And in the meantime, I'm doing shipping. We transport cotton across the ocean. We'll load the negroes there, and the same ship will take them across the Atlantic.” The Stranger looked at Hob with a disapproving look. "What is it?" Hob asked.

"It is a poor thing to enslave another."

"That's it," Hob shrugged.

"I would suggest you find yourself a different line of bussiness, Robert Gadling."

“Are you giving me advice?” Hob asked. “After four hundred years? Where did you go with live as you please?'

"It's your choice. But would you deny the same choice to others?'

"I will consider your advice," Hob replied, seeing that the Stranger was satisfied with the answer. Still, he preferred to change the subject of the conversation. “I saw King Lear yesterday, Mrs. Siddons as Goneril. The idiots given it a happy ending.'

"That will not last,"said the Stranger."The great stories will always return to their original form."Hob smiled.

"That lad. Will Shakespeare, he wrote pretty well after all.” Hob looked at the Stranger. "You did some kind of deal with him, didn´t you?"

"Perhaps."

"What kind of deal? His soul?'

"Nothing so crude."

"So something like me and that kiss?"

"No."

"Four hundred years, now, I´ve meeting you here and there´s so much I still don´t know. Who are you truly? What´s your name? What about that kiss you gave me then? ” The Stranger seemed to take a breath for an answer. Would Hob finally learn the truth?

"I might ask both of you that same question, gentlemen." A woman appeared in their field of vision. "Please, do not trouble yourselves to rise," she said. “These are Mark and Tobias. Smugglers by trade, although, with an eye to their fortunes, they´re only too glad to augment their earnings by slitting throats for hire. If you move they´ll slit yours.” Hob and Stranger exchanged glances. “I found this sewn into a dead man's coat two years ago.” The woman placed a piece of paper on the table.

"Is that meant to be me?" Hob asked, concerned. "Oh, I look terrible. You look worse," he raised his head to his Stranger.

"They tell a tale, in these parts of London, that the devil and the wandering jew meet, once in every century, in a tavern. Well, you have nothing to say?“

"I'm no devil,"answered Dream.

"And I'm not Jewish," added Hob.

"Fie" said the woman. “What manner of creature are you, then?” She looked at them.

"Who wants to know?" Hob may not have known anything about Stranger, but he had an urge to protect him.

“I´m Lady Johanna Constantine. You will follow me, sirs. My coach waits without. I see there is much you both can teach me. So much I can learn. ”

"No. No, I think not,"answered Dream. Lady Constantine stepped back and Mark and Tobias approached Dream and Hob, knives in hand.

"Get up!" Hob didn't wait for anything and neutralized both men, Lady Johanna pointed her knife at him.

"Wait!"He heard Hob speak to the Stranger. He turned and his Stranger blew something in Lady Johanna's face.

"No! Not thou! Thou´rt gone!” She started muttering in fright.

"What did you do to her?" Hob asked.

"She has old ghosts, that I have shown to her." Dream looked up at Hob."You didn't have to come to my defence."

"Clearly," Hob smiled. "But I didn't want to drink here alone in a hundred years." Dream smiled back at him. "I guess you don't feel like finding another pub today."

“She could have told others about us. You are in danger, Robert.“

"But I'm fine," said Hob. "I can't die, remember?"Which is your credit.

"Aye. But they can hurt you or captured you. We have to be careful.“

"So in a hundred years?" Hob asked with a hint of disappointment.

"A hundred years,"answered Dream.

***

With a little help from his Stranger, Hob found himself once again searching for answers. He found books about beings called the Endless. But when he read it, he was even more confused than before. Apparently, Death gave the kisses of life. But she didn't look like his Stranger. And Dream had a connection with the sand. But when Hob looked at his picture, even he didn't resemble with his Stranger. He had a kind of mask on his head with a spine instead of a nose. No relation to the kiss of immortality. Hob was immortal, but that kiss couldn't just be a figment of his imagination. Although even the Stranger acted as if the kiss between them did not exist.

Chapter Text

June 7, 1889

“I see you had a run-in with Lushing Lou,” Hob said, when he saw his Stranger.

“Lushing Lou? Really? Why?'The Stranger asked as he sat down at the table with Hob.

"In here they call her “Hospital“," replied Hob.

"Why Hospital?"

"Because she´s in ´em a great deal, and because she´s sent so many men into them. I don´t know what her real mane is."

"Louise Baldwin. Her father served in the army. Her cousin raped, impregnated and abandoned her when she was a child.“ Hob turned to the Stranger in surprise.

"How do you know this? You knew Lady Johanna, you know Lushing Lou. You know everyone, don't you?'

"I saw her again, you know,"said the Stranger. Hob had to suppress his disappointment, he was within reach of the answers and again nothing.

"Lady Johanna?“

"Indeed,"said the Stranger. "She undertook to fullfill task for me. And succeeded admirably, I might add.“

“That's the only thing you've said in five hundred years.” Stranger sneered. "People are almost always better than you think," Hob shrugged. "Not me. I'm still the same."

"I think perhaps you have changed."

"Maybe I've learned a little from my mistakes, but I keep repeating them." Hob smiled "I think you've changed too."

"How so?" Dream asked.

"I think I know why we still meet here, century after century," said Hob. “It´s not because you want to see whether or not I´m ready to seek death. I don´t think I´ll ever seek death. By now, you know that about me.” Hob paused. "So, I think you´re here for something else.“

"And what might that be?"

"Friendship," said Hob. "I think you're lonely. That´s another reason why you kissed me, isn´t it?"

"You dare..."At that moment, from the Stranger's tone of voice, Hob realized he had overshot.

"No, look I´m not saying..."

"You dare suggest one such as I might need your companionship?!"Hob had to risk it. He couldn't screw it up any more, could he?

"Yes. Yes, I do." Stranger slowly got up from his chair with an expression of utmost annoyance.

"Then I shall take my leave of you and prove you wrong !"Hob took a step closer to him, but the Stranger turned and he left the pub. Hob ran after him into the rain.

“You kiss me first and then get angry when I want to offer you something so small?!” Stranger didn't even turn around. "Tell you what. I´ll be here in a hundred years´ time. If you´re here then, too. It´ll be because we´re friends. No other reason, right?” Stranger disappeared from Hob's sight without turning around. Hob cursed. „Fuck!“

Chapter Text

June 7, 1989

Hob parked the car in front of the pub and went inside. He looked around the premises. Stranger was not there, Hob hoped he would come. Their last meeting ended in disaster, and Hob was hoping he would show up. He had been preparing an apology for a hundred years. A waitress approached his table and wanted to take an empty chair.

"I'm waiting for someone," Hob told her.

"Excuse me, sir." She left again. As time passed and the Stranger still did not appear, Hob began to lose hope that he would ever come.You ruined it, Hob! Why I couldn't just keep my mouth shut?! He got up from his chair and walked over to the bar. "Whiskey, please."

"You'll have to specify," the bartender handed him the drink list. "We have a menu now."

"Which one is the oldest?" Hob asked.

"I have Glen Grand, it is older than your mother."

"I'm older than I look," Hob smiled.Where are you, Stranger? I'm sorry!

"You waiting for someone?" The bartender asked, interrupting Hob's thoughts.

"I think I´ve been stood up," smiled Hob. "We had a fight. Last time we were here," Hob began. „It was my fault. Wish I could say I was drunk at the time, but I was just an idiot.“

"I´ve seen plenty of friends get in fights in pubs," said the barman. "Even more of them laugh about it later.“

"Maybe in another hundred years," smiled Hob. He hoped for it. He hoped that his Stranger would appear, if not now, then in another hundred years. Because Hob will be waiting. And he will wait as long as necessary.

"You´ll have to have found a new pub by then." The barman told him and Hob shook his head. "This place has been sold to make room for new flats.” Hob rattled if the White Horse will be closed up, how his Stranger would find him if he decided to show up. “Pour you another one? While you wait?” asked the bartender Hob.

"Please," Hob nodded.

***

Even through his glass prison he could feel it. That pull. Today was the day he was supposed to meet Hob. He wrapped his arms around his knees and raised his eyes to the ceiling. I'm sorry, Hob Gadling!

***

Hob was now a regular at the White Horse. Hoping his Stranger would show up. And when the White Horse was closed. Hob opened a pub nearby and called it The New Inn. Even though his Stranger probably wants nothing to do with him, Hob didn't give up and kept searching for answers, He wants to know. He spray painted the name of the new pub on the fence around the White Horse and added arrows so Stranger could find it. Hob began teaching history at the university. And in the school library, whenever he had free time, he was going through books about supernatural beings, searching for his Stranger.

***

Hob was sitting on a park bench, idly drawing something.

"Hello Hobsie," Mad Hettie sat down next to him.

"Hello Hettie," he answered her. They had known each other for some time, Hob knew she was immortal like him.

"What's that?" Hettie peered over his shoulder. She smiled sadly when she saw what Hob was drawing.

"He´s gone."

Hob looked at her in surprise. "What?!"

"He's gone," repeated Hettie. Hob looked at his portrait, not knowing that he had drawn his Stranger.

"You know who that is?!" Hob asked in surprise.

"Of course I know," replied Hettie. "And you too."

"He never told me who he is," Hob shook his head.

"Yeah, it sounds like him," Hettie sneered.

"So, who is it?!" Hob asked.

"The Sandman."

“Sandman? The creature that puts small children to sleep? He´s one of the Endless? I read about them.“

"Right," Hettie nodded.

"But that doesn't make sense," Hob scratched his hair. "He...He kissed me and somehow gave me immortality."

"Sandman couldn't gave you immortality," Hettie shook her head. "It's not in his power."

"Then why that kiss?" Hob asked.

"I can't know that. But believe me, your immortality and that kiss have nothing to do with each other.''

So he likes me? Why else would he kiss me? Hob looked sad and Hettie noticed it.

"What happened?" She asked.

“I had a fight with him the last time I saw him.”

"You had a fight with Oneiros?!" Hettie asked in surprise.

"Yes. I did something stupid. I said something terribly stupid."

"And you're still here?!" Hettie looked at Hob in surprise.

"Why?!" Hob didn't understand.

"He must care about you then," Hettie smiled.

"You said he is gone," Hob cut her off as she was about to leave. "What do you mean he's gone?"

"One day he disappeared without a trace."What happened to you, Stranger?!Hob asked himself.Where are you?! „Only Sleeping sickness left.“

Thanks to Hettie, Hob had answers to his questions. But that didn't mean he didn't want to see the Stranger...the Sandman. He had to apologize to him, for the year 1889, and he also wanted to know what it meant, that kiss.But he was gone and Hob had no idea if he would ever see him again.

Chapter Text

2022

After the talk with his sister Dream weaved his way through streets to the familiar place. The moment he saw the ruins of the White Horse, his heart sank. Everything was gone. Hob was gone. Because of his pride, he will never see him again. His eyes drifted to the sign on the fence.The New Inn and the arrows pointed to the right. Dream went there, hoping to find Hob there. He walked into the pub, it was so different against the White Horse, enlightened. Dream looked around the establishment and saw Hob sitting at one of the back tables.

***

Hob was correcting his students' papers when he felt someone's eyes on him. He looked up and smiled. He was standing there. His Stranger.

"You're late!" Hob smiled.

"It seems I owe you an apology," began Dream."I've always heard it´s impolite to keep

one´s friends waiting."Hob smiled as he watched Stranger sit back and smile."So I hope the offer still stands."

"Sure," Hob nodded. "I wanted to apologize for that."

"Do not apologize,"Dream shook his head."I'm the one who should be apologizing. You told the truth and I wasn't ready to face the truth.'

“Can I ask you something?!” Hob asked.

"What will you have?" The waitress approached their table and addressed Dream.

"I'll take what he has,” replied Dream."Ask Hob Gadling."

"You're the Sandman?!"

Stranger across from him nodded."You talked to Hettie." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Yes, how..."

"I saw her a few days ago. She told me that the certain Hob Gadling was looking for me.“

"More like after a few answers."

"Yes," Dream smiled.“I owe you some answers. I am Dream of the Endless, Morpheus, Oneiros, King of dreams and nightmares. As you noted Sandman. But call me what you like.“

"It was nice to call you Stranger. But it's nice to have a name, Dream. And that kiss?“

"In 1389. Me and my siblings were among people at a family meeting. I wasn't too happy about it, our family gatherings end in disaster.” Dream rolled his eyes.“This was no different. My sibling suggested we play a game. I refused, but my sister persuaded me. And then she gave me as a task to kiss whoever was in that tavern.“

"When I asked if it was a game then, you said it wasn't."

“You asked about immortality. And it is not and was not a game. A kiss on the other hand yes,”answered Dream."I refused to kiss anyone. And then we heard you speak. I wondered how anyone could want eternal life. And my sister told me I could find out. That she gives you immortality. And my sibling called after me, so that I don't forget to kiss you."

"So I spent six hundred and thirty years searching for something unrelated."

"Yes," Dream nodded."Which reminds me, my sister greets you."

"Your sister..."

"Death."Hob's eyes widened."Don't worry. She won't come for you. If, you really won't want that.'

"I call her stupid and she gives me immortality?"

"She's really good with humans."

"Not you?"

"Me and humanity have a complicated relationship, you might say." Dream paused and closed his eyes."Especially now."

"What happened?!" Hob asked. Dream shook his head.

"I do not want to talk about it. But believe me, it was not my intention to miss our meeting in 1989.'There was silence at the table.

“So are we meeting in 2089 or 2122?” Hob asked.

"I hear friends meet more often,"answered Dream."So, how does it fit you?"

"I'd love to see you anytime," Hob smiled.

"I'll return then. As soon as I can,"promised Dream.

***

About a week later, Hob saw a familiar face standing outside the university where he taught. "Hello Dream." He walked up to him.

"Hello Hob,"answered Dream.

"I didn't expect to see you so soon," Hob smiled.

"I'd like to talk."

“We can go to The New Inn,” suggested Hob.

"I would require privacy,“ Dream shook his head."There are too many people at The New Inn."

"I have the flat above The New Inn. We can go there.“

"It would be great."

***

Hob unlocked the apartment and let Dream through. "Sit down," Hob motioned to the couch. "I'll make tea."

"Thank you," Dream replied as Hob handed him one of the mugs.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Hob asked.

"As I told you at The New Inn, it was not my intention to miss our meeting in 1989."Dream drank some of his tea, even though he knew it didn't require it. But he needed time."I couldn't come because I was captured."

"What?!" Hob shouted in disbelief. "Who?! I will kill them!'

"I already took care of that."

"Are they dead?!"

"There are fates  much worse than death, Hob Gadling,"Dream shook his head.

“I'm sorry for what happened to you.” Instead of answering, Dream smiled sadly and nodded. "I…um," Hob scratched his hair. “Can I kiss you?” Dream raised an eyebrow. „I already told you the kiss meant nothing. It was just stupid game.“

„I know, but still...Can I?“

"You can kiss me, Hob Gadling." Dream nodded. Hob smiled and kissed Dream. Screw you, sibling! Smirked Dream.