Rainy Season - Morpheus x Reader

[Spoilers for Brief Lives I guess?]

[MASTERLIST] | [Sandman-inspired playlist]

SUMMARY: Fed up with Dream's stubborn and at times childish attitude, you leave Dreaming. But when Morpheus's sorrow makes itself known, Matthew has to fetch you before the kingdom completely floods.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 1.7k

It’s a tumultuous morning in the Dreaming. Even if none of the dreams and nightmares are privy to the ongoing feud, they know something is wrong. It’s as though the air in the kingdom, the marrow of their bones, turned bitter last night. Their skin is crawling but the sun is shining as it did yesterday. They birds chirp the same song they had throughout centuries. And yet, against their better judgment, something is terribly out of place.

To be honest, you don’t even remember how all of this started but the damage is already done.

A frustrated scream ripples through your chest, "The world doesn't revolve around you!" You're fuming. There's only so much patience one person can hold and recently, Morpheus had proven himself exceptional at trying to reach its limit until he, unfortunately, succeeded today. "For someone who's supposed to know every thought ever entertained, you sure can not look past the tip of your own nose."

Rainy Season - sneak peek

[Brief Lives spoilers I guess?]

Repetitive tapping on the window diverts your attention from the dishes you were washing. Seeing the black bird sitting on the outside windowsill, you quickly wipe your hands against the dishrag and jog to open the window.

"Matthew?" you ask in surprise.

He wastes no time pleading his case. "You gotta go back to him. Everything's gone to shit."

You furrow your eyebrows. Leaning against the wall, you cross your arms on your chest. "What do you mean?"

The raven hops closer to you. "It's been pouring nonstop since you left. He's just standing there, soaking wet and he won't talk to anyone."

"How bad is it?"

"How bad?!" Matthew screeches. "The House of Mysteries is so flooded, Abel is fishing."

It sounds like 'bad' is nothing more than an elegant euphemism. A weird sting appears in your chest - did your departure really mean that much to him?

"I'm assuming that's not a usual feature."

"Yeah," he answers sarcastically.

Matthew glares at you in anticipation. Perplexed, you rub your arm without thinking much about it. Right, it's the mature and responsible thing to do but at the same time, why do you have to be the one to cave in every time you two fall out?

The raven cocks his head. Something about the look in his eyes changes as though his frustration has faded away or grown into desperation if not powerlessness.

"Alright, let's go," you say with a sigh. "But no promises. I still have pride and self-respect and he's still a stubborn..." you take a deep breath, "nevermind. Let's just go."

Returning customer - Morpheus x Witch!Reader

Continuation to [Welcome to Moon Siren Horticulture!]

SUMMARY: That strange, brooding customer is back and, just as you wished, no children or curses are involved. Your new neighbours make themselves known.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 1.4k

“Sir, unless you provide me with proper documents, I can’t sell you a Liverstone. That’s the law,” you explain slowly. There is hardly a simpler way to get your point across. Nevertheless, the man seems to miss it entirely. In turn, his lack of understanding makes you miss the bright ringing of the doorbell as someone has just walked into the store.

“Come on, lady.” Here comes another pitiful shot at haggling. “Do I look like a maniac? I’m not going to do anything stupid or illegal with it.” Interesting that he would suggest such a course of events when you haven’t even pointed to a suspicion of this kind. People often say that it is the thief who is most afraid of being robbed. Perhaps folk wisdom isn’t always wrong.

[2K Followers 'Clue' Special]

Imagine Dream and Desire having a competition over who can make you part of their kingdom. - Part 2

[Part 1]

1100 words left.

You're about to read through the 'method' part of the article, when someone sits across from you. A rosy, sweet and spicy aroma hits your nostrils. Surprised and slightly annoyed at the disturbance, you look up.

It's strange. They're strange but not in the wrong way. Blond hair, red suit, heavy jewellery - they look out of place in a small cafe filled with university students drinking vegan chai lattes while swearing at engineering software. The stranger smiles and you doubt you’ve ever seen a more show-stopping person. There’s something unordinary about their features: they’re neither male nor female and yet both of them at the same time; the person across from you has the potential to be whatever you want to be.

[2K Followers 'Clue' Special]

You can only guess what Morpheus had in mind when he said he had something to show you because he sure is silent during the hike through the forest, walking a few meters ahead of you. Despite two silver moons hanging high in the sky, it's hard to see the crowns of the pine trees making up the forest. Their black needles simply merge with the starry sky, yearning to become one with the pink and green faraway nebula.

The only reason you were yet to trip over your own feet was the strange species of flowers that grew as a ground cover. They resembled foxglove but at the same time nothing like the flowers you had seen back home. First and foremost, the flora of this queer forest was glowing. The tiny purple 'lanterns' lit the way between the pine trees.

Looking at Morpheus's back, you can't help but get the impression that he's looking for something. What exactly he's after, you can't even begin to guess. Moreover, it's not like he had given you even the smallest of hints before making you hike through this strange woodland realm.

Suddenly, he stops walking. Leaning down, he seems to be plucking something from inside of the bell-shaped violet flowers. You crane your neck to see what got him so interested but the solution to this mystery is soon presented to you:

Morpheus turns around. There's a round, glowing crystal in his hands. It reminds you of a garnet. At first, he doesn't say anything. He reaches for your palm, putting the gem in your hand and closing your fingers around it. The crystal feels pleasantly toasty to the touch.

His dark eyes bore into yours. The purple reflections of the glowing flowers dance across his irises and for a moment you wonder whether he has ever looked more wondrous than now. "Whatever darkness dares to look at you, may you always tread in light, my love," Morpheus says in a firm tone.

Gently pulling your hands towards his face, he places a warm kiss across your knuckles.

You can't quite put a finger on it but you have a feeling it's more of an oath rather than a wish.

Imagine Dream and Desire having a competition over who can make you part of their kingdom.

[Part 2]

[2K Followers 'Clue' Special]

It's 11 AM and your Americano is still hot. You stare at the open Word document. It's just an essay like the thousand others you've written so far. But the page is completely empty no matter what you keep telling yourself. There are still at least 1500 words you need to register.

Focusing on the somewhat vague essay question you had been given, you fail to notice two strangers standing across the street from the cafe you're sitting in. One of them looks like he has just woken up while the other seems to be dressed for an occasion far more formal and exquisite than gossiping on the curb. Pedestrians pass them by without ever paying attention.

Unwanted Guests: Diminuendo | Morpheus x Reader

[WARNING: description of torture, kidnapping, spoilers for 'Season of Mists']

{'Unwanted Guests' -> Dream's guests seem suspiciously interested in his wife.}

{'Unwanted Guests: Crescendo' -> The night takes a different turn when Azazel reveals mortifying leverage.}

SUMMARY: The responsibility for Hell is now in the Angels' hands but Dream's torment continues. Now that he can not give Azazel what he wants, Morpheus must find another way to get you back. The simplest plans, I hear, are usually the best.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 1.1k

From Old English, 'nightmare' is derived from the words 'night' and 'mare'. In German and Slavic mythology, a mare is an evil creature that sits on people's chests while they sleep, giving them terrifying dreams as well as suffocating them. Accentuating the importance of nighttime, one might argue that a nightmare is not, in fact, an abstract term for an unpleasant dream but rather a creature of darkness feeding off the sleeper's fear. Such an interpretation poses another fascinating question: where does the nightmare go when people are awake?

Morpheus and thief!Reader

I've been thinking about this concept more than I care to admit. Full fic is on its way.

"So, you do that often?" you ask casually.

Shining the light of the torch around the spacious hall, you realize Foxtrot wasn't boasting when he called this place his 'private museum'. It was very English of him, actually: a palace filled with stolen goods that he claims are his. Inside countless showcases are truly remarkable items known to most people as imaginary artefacts from fairytales: weaponry, chests, manuscripts, jewellery... Wait, is that part of Excalibur?

"Open doors?" he asks in a confused tone.

You shine the torch in Dream's direction. His pasty skin is nearly glowing in its yellow light. Humans would squint their eyes or shield their faces but not him - he just stares blankly at you, hands in pockets of his coat as if he didn't just break into a private collection of a famed thief. Maybe he felt better telling himself that he was only taking back what belonged to him. "Break into girls' apartments," you spit out.

"I did not break in."

"Oh, I'm sorry, trespass into girls' apartments."

Dream, however, is unmoved by your irate tone. Casually strolling through the majestic hall of marble and glass, he walks past you. Surprisingly, he's not even looking at the magical wonders gathered in Foxtrot's 'museum'. "I make a polite guest to polite hosts."

Jogging up to him, you continue the subject of his apparent lack of understanding of privacy. "Still, you could have knocked."

He looks at you out of the corner of his eye. Dream is significantly taller than you, making his glance look more patronizing than it really is. "Would you have opened the door for me?"

"No."

The march through endless corridors filled with stolen artefacts continues in silence. If Foxtrot still has the pouch, he's displayed it somewhere prominent where it would be in the centre of attention. Once people see it, he'll forever be remembered as the madman who dared to break the one rule thieves have and stole from the Endless. Surely, Foxtrot will conveniently forget to mention your dirty work.

Your blood is boiling. That treacherous posh bastard.

"Unwanted Guests" - Morpheus x Reader

[Spoilers for "Season of Mists"]

[MASTERLIST] | [Sandman-inspired playlist]

SUMMARY: Having received the key to Hell from Lucifer, Morpheus is visited by various emissaries from strange, faraway lands. More than the unwanted guests, Dream of the Endless is angered by their interest in his wife.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 3.1k

Looking out of one of the tall windows in the palace, you noticed that the ground was strangely far away. Shaking your head, you knew exactly what had gotten Morpheus in such a sour mood but, honestly, you never expected this bizarre course of events to affect him that much. Most of the time, when he said he wanted to be alone, it didn’t include you - the queen of Dreaming was always welcome by the king’s side. It was those rare occasions when he made a show of his desire for isolation that even your presence was hardly wanted. In no way was that insulting to you as it seemed quite natural to you to require true solitude once in a while. Despite that, there was another pressing matter that prompted you to disturb Morpheus’s much-needed peace - guests.

"Train of thoughts" - Morpheus x Reader

A/N: made the trip back to my hometown today (5-hour train ride yikes) so here's what I've been thinking about. Choo choo.

[MASTERLIST] | [Sandman-inspired playlist]

The sound of the train speeding along the tracks is loud enough to muffle the conversations of the passengers. For people gathered in one place for long hours on end, they appear to be completely disinterested and uninvolved in each others’ lives. It’s quite funny, actually - that people silently agree to ignore the presence of their bedfellows. Whether they like it or not, in a poetically lonely way they are now parts of strangers’ stories.

The train is passing a village, the sound of its travel undoubtedly heard by the citizens of the settlement of brick houses, cattle and fields as far as the eye can see. The noise of the train wakes up a three-month-old baby in one of the cottages. His mother hasn’t slept in long weeks. On the other hand, the passengers are also aware of the country life unfolding before them. Little Kate stares at the cows in the field with her nose slammed against the window. She’s seeing them for the first time in her life. For that imperceptible moment, as long as the brick houses are in sight, the strangers of the two worlds are companions in each others' lives.

Welcome to Moon Siren Horticulture! - Morpheus x Witch!Reader

[MASTERLIST] | [Sandman-inspired playlist]

SUMMARY: Running a plant shop known among deities and occultists just can not be a simple job. One day, the strangest client shows up looking for a remedy for a curse.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 1.5k

Dirty hands, strong smells that gave you a perpetual migraine, cuts from thorns all over your hands - running a horticulture store was a physically demanding job that became only more challenging when one considered a clientele of occultists, deities and pure madmen. The other side of the coin was the curious and hardly practical methods of payment you so often received like phoenix feathers, dragon scales, mermaid tears or sasquatch fur (you were never quite convinced about the authenticity of that one). Despite having no use for them, you had kept the strange artefacts patrons of the store had given you. It seemed like the more responsible thing to do rather than abandon them in the middle of nowhere for regular people to find.

Morpheus as "shaper of forms"

So, Morpheus is perceived as different shapes/creatures/entities depending on the context and the dreamer, right? If so, is every messed-up beast you see in your dreams just Morpheus hanging out? If yes, please consider this:

This unending sea of trees feels suffocating. In a strange and thoroughly disturbing way, it's darker than any forest you have ever seen. Black pines tower over each soul that dares to walk among them. The greyish sky seems endless, and so does the faraway horizon littered with twisted, thick shrubbery. Something about this place makes your stomach churn and throat tighten. The sky, the woods, the stillness befitting only death… it feels wrong. The whole forest is wrong. Jet black pine needles dance in the air, although no wind is blowing. Their shuffling is like an evil giggle of malice that has to live among those mahogany trees. You notice their peaks could well pierce clouds if the grey firmament had any. No matter where your curious eyes wander, it seems as if something hides from you right when you are about to see it; an old evil that has already lived in these woods before the human race was distinguishable from apes.