⟪ ...oh. okay. that went well. as well as you’d expect for someone with the social skills of a house cat. where did he go wrong. all of his dreamers are stripped bare the second they enter his realm. it’s a necessity for dreams to come alive, for nightmares to thrive and help them overcome unspeakable fears. it just doesn’t occur to him — not right away, at least — that most people might not appreciate being watched while the key to their subconscious is on display; while the most intimate fragments of their imagination run wild. it’s just a given for the lord of the dreaming, the natural order of things, nothing to stew over, but then matthew gets a little agitated on his shoulder and dream can practically hear him think.
and it’s loaded with judgment.
daisy has been utterly perceived, and dream can’t apologize for simply being. he should let her go. figure it out on her own, come face-to-face with her inner demons even, should constantine fail to exorcize the place. he might have, once upon a time. without a care in the world. it’s what he liked to tell himself, anyway, and even matthew seems to know better; he nudges him with one of his wings, a loud croak in his ear.
oh, for the love of— ⟫
You need not fear me. ⟪ he speaks a little louder, frustration draining from his voice as the brief half-roll of his eyes — that matthew knowingly provoked — dissolves. hands in pockets, he waits for her to turn back, hopes that she will, standing as non-threatening as he possibly can. the urge to shield her within the confines of his coat is a hard one to resist, and the truth of it hardens the line of his jaw; he exhales long and deep through his nose, bothered by the contradictory sensations in his chest. ⟫ Or yourself. ⟪ whatever her vulnerabilities, they aren’t his to judge — though he does wish to understand them. he doesn’t move closer, but he leans down, just a little, his tone firm but gentle. ⟫ I have seen your nightmares, yes. But I could ensure that they do not trouble you anymore. ⟪ he swallows, voice dropping raspier. ⟫ If you wish me to.
[ Fearing herself is as natural to Daisy as breathing. It's written in her DNA, her first brush with her Inhuman heritage being drenched with terror. She might accept and embrace who she is now, but that dark shadow of what if always haunts the corners of her mind, lurking in the memory of a broken Earth. Never mind that they stopped the loop; she will always be afraid of what could happen if the wrong person gains control of her or her power.
But that fear doesn't control her. She reminds herself of that as she does indeed stop and turn back to the strange man who might be anything but. That fear keeps her grounded but it does not dictate her life — and neither will he. ]
Look, whoever you are. I don't have time for whatever this is. [ Strength returns to her as she speaks, the panic previously roiling inside her slowly settling like ash coating everything a dark shade of grey. There's little more than an arm's length between them, but it's enough to let her think properly. To focus on what is important. ]
People could be dying right now. I have to help them. [ And then she takes a step closer to him, bridging the gap between them so she can pitch her voice low, this conversation between the two of them and not the rest of the world. ] That's who I am, not whoever you saw in my nightmares.
[ Not the weak, broken woman crying as yet another loved one died. As another home was taken from her. As another friend betrayed her. As she failed to save a life. No, she is so much more than that. ]
⟪ whatever this is, she says, borderline defiant, and though the flicker of displeasure in dream’s eyes is brief, the warning comes free of pretense. how dare she. there’s a billion other souls he could be guiding, and yet he chooses to help her. but that’s entirely on him, and somewhere in the far back of his mind, he’s vaguely aware of that. she spurns him with the aplomb of a thousand stars, and dream is a vagrant wandering between annoyance and beguilement.
she’s not wrong. at least not entirely. her resolve is — among other things — beyond inspiring, all up in his face and unafraid, but then something she says instantly has him frowning, a curious tilt of his head. ⟫ You would forsake half of what you are, simply because it does not please you? ⟪ dreamers tend to readily discard their dream-selves, often out of shame, but the dreaming is just as substantial as the waking world, with its strengths and its weaknesses. she is both a force of nature and vulnerable, just like he is. but it’s not a question. it’s more of a quiet observation, and when he feels her breath on his face, he realizes with a start that he’s drifted too close, leaning back to resume a less overbearing position. ⟫
Far be it from me to keep you from your purpose, but know this: there will be nightmares walking this earth tonight, demons in disguise in search of prey. ⟪ shaped by hellish hands, most likely, and dream is not their master. whatever lucifer is playing at doesn’t bode well, and daisy is a beacon they wouldn’t want to overlook.
dream draws a breath to speak again, one last attempt to warn her. ⟫ The Morningstar will assuredly find you, should they wish to.
[ Forsaking half of herself is nothing. Daisy Johnson has remade herself time and again, reforging herself into who she needs to be in order to survive. The core of her might remain the same, that broken women who has always just wanted to belong, but she can change the person shown to the world as easily as changing clothes. Who she needs to be tonight is the strong hero the world requires her to be, and she won't let anything stand in the way of that.
But he might have just tried to throw a wrench into that plan.
It takes a moment for the dots to connect, the pieces of this puzzle so completely out of her realm of experience that the picture refuses to form for her. But demons? The way he says it hints at it not being a metaphor for something, and when he says Morningstar...
Daisy's relationship with religion is a complicated one. Does she believe in God? Not exactly, though she would like to believe that if there is some great entity out there, it's more loving than vengeful. But she remembers some of the broader strokes of those terrible lessons droned at them again and again, with talks of fallen angels and the creatures doing their bidding. A few years ago, she would have dismissed the idea of any of it being real as crazy, even with things like aliens being proven real, but after meeting the literal Spirit of Vengeance, she can't be so dismissive anymore. ]
Demons. [ She repeats the word as if she can't believe it, but there's a seriousness in her expression that says she's fully grasping what he's implying. ] And Lucifer. The actual Devil. Just walking around.
[ In search of prey, he'd said. It's crazy. It's absolutely batshit insane. But he was in her dreams and has a talking bird, so apparently, it's a night for crazy. She shakes her head, leaning closer to him to bridge the space he'd created. Anger wraps around her words, her voice as taut as a steel rope. ] And you were just expecting me to stay out of it? You might have spied on my dreams, but you don't know a damn thing about me if you thought I was capable of that.
⟪ honestly, he doesn’t know what he was expecting. not this, her stubborn streak rivaling his own, her convictions a series of quick stabs in his chest that he doesn’t dare name. is it awe. is it exasperation. who knows. not him, except he probably does, somewhere in the depths of his many denials. it’s not anger, at least — she possesses enough of it for the both of them, and dream finds himself a little dumbstruck. it’s not unpleasant. it should absolutely be, but it’s not, and while he senses matthew tensing up on his shoulder, a faint hint of amusement begins its slow creep into the subtleties of his face, laced with surprisingly well-contained impatience.
he does enjoy a challenge. ⟫
Perhaps not. ⟪ he knows some things. he might have overestimated his ability to sway her though, but then again, the main reason of his presence here is to remedy his deficient knowledge. it’s not just her nightmares he wants to decipher. it’s her, and he wants enough to allow her victory.
he should be dwarfing her. he isn’t, her vehemence prompting him to bow into her space once more, testing her boundaries. she has no issues defying his own, and dream meets her gaze unflinching, a very hazy trace of gentle interest. he may not know as much about her as he wishes he did… ⟫ But I am trying to. ⟪ and she’s making it so damn difficult. his chest rises and falls with a sigh too long, debating his next choice of words. demanding, as he’s so used to — and it usually works — probably won’t have any effect on her, so… ⟫
Allow me to come with you. ⟪ that’s a pretty decent compromise, yeah? ⟫
[ She expects him to argue. It seems his style, given the stubborn insistence he's displayed in this conversation thus far. But instead, he takes the tempestuous wind out of her sails with that quiet request.
But I am trying to. Why? Who is he that he's so interested in her? Sure, there are plenty of people in the world interested in what goes on in her head, but they're from rival spy agencies, or mad scientists wanting a peek at what makes her tick. They aren't strangers with untold power who swoop in out of nowhere to try and protect her. (She understands that part least of all.) ]
Okay. [ It slips out before she can have second thoughts, and while she knows she should step back, start walking, get her head back in the game — she stays right where she is, so close that she would barely have to move to touch him. And she wants to touch him, a magnetic force pulling her toward him, but she can't, not even to prove to herself that he isn't just some strange figment of her imagination. ]
⟪ oh. so there's merit in asking nicely, apparently. it's worth taking notes — or allowing matthew to take them for him anyway, cawing in approval and then muttering to himself: "see, that wasn't so hard". whether it's meant for daisy or dream is a mystery, but dream shoots him a sidelong glance nonetheless, tight-lipped as the raven takes off and flies towards the church.
his gaze follows, clouds of smoke billowing above. sirens blare still — he's loath to bring her anywhere near the fire, but she would go with or without his approval, with or without him. might as well surrender, if only for the sake of his own captivation; her trust has yet to be gained, and he's adamant on earning it.
it's a bit distracting, the way she looks at him, like she can't decide whether she wants him closer or farther away. it might have left a satisfying tang on his tongue under different circumstances, but he finds himself rather mesmerized by her splendor as he returns his attention to her, silently studying her face and the rich brown of her eyes. he could easily get lost in there, but the wave of apprehension that crashes over him breaks the spell; however different, it feels a little like déjà-vu, and it's highly dangerous territory for dream of the endless.
his gaze drifts down, a fan of long lashes sweeping across his cheeks. beyond the uneasy growth in his chest, there's an imbalance here that needs rectifying; he knows a lot more about her than she does about him. ⟫
Any question you might have, I will answer. ⟪ reluctantly he steps back, half-turned towards the fire; to start, an offering. ⟫ You may call me Dream.
[ She heard that, bird, and she's going to choose to believe it wasn't meant for her.
Does she want him closer or farther away? It's impossible for her to decide, that strange magnetism of his tugging at her in a way that's intriguing and infuriating. How is he doing this? Is this effect on her intentional, or is it just something that happens with him? Does he even realize it's happening?
Relief crashes over her when he moves back, even as her hands want to grab hold and pull him back. That's ridiculous, she chides herself, stuffing her hands forcefully into her coat pockets to keep them under control. Even then, the urge is there to step fully into his orbit, to embrace whatever strange ethereal aura is wrapped around him.
The thread connecting them threatens to unravel when he says his name, a brief and sudden laugh bursting out of her like a shot. She shoots him an apologetic look as she takes a step toward the fire, then another and another until she's properly heading to her destination. ]
Sorry, it's just really on the nose. [ Which is kind of hilarious, to be honest. But he's offered her an olive branch and she intends to take it. Might as well start with the obvious. ] What are you, exactly?
[ Because she's pretty damn well certain he's not human. ]
⟪ it’s the nature of dreams to be enticing, attainable and still just a little out of reach, leaving you aching for more. the dreaming is where hopes and desires awaken — no matter how spitefully his sibling might protest — and it’s where they rise and fall, challenged, conquered, or shattered. dream is all of that and more, though his own interests are carefully curtailed, however deeply he craves connections, and bonds, and intimacy.
you’d probably have better luck convincing the moon to release the tides than convincing dream of the endless to let go of whoever manages to grab his attention.
even if they burst out laughing at his expense.
it’s much preferable to her anger — however thrilling it might have been — and the sound lodges itself where his stomach churns fluttery, causing his legs to move of their own volition. he chases it down quietly, walking alongside her in unhurried strides and keeping his gaze steady on her. no, he’s not human. but then again, neither is she — not completely. ⟫
Your kind has given me many names over the millennia. ⟪ because simply stating that he is an endless probably wouldn’t mean much to her. ⟫ Oneiros. Prince of Stories. Sandman. ⟪ morpheus, too, but he keeps this one undisclosed for now, perhaps the closest to his heart. ⟫ All sentient beings, mortals and immortals alike, enter my realm the moment they close their eyes, expand and re-shape the many worlds I create for them. ⟪ he leans slightly closer, a brief nod to help drive the notion home. ⟫ I am Dream. ⟪ not just a dream, but the embodiment of everything it’s made of. ⟫ Dream of the Endless.
[ Millennia. That's the word that sticks in her mind, burrowing in deep and taking root with all its many implications. She doesn't recognize the first two monikers and only knows the third from an old song, but if he really has existed for millennia...
It makes sense now, that indescribable thing she's been feeling from him. The undefinable something that has been beyond words, an otherness that is both welcoming and offputting. Her steps falter for a moment as she processes what it all means, as she weighs whether she believes him and quickly decides yes, she does. With her entire being, she believes what he's saying. ]
Cool. That's cool. [ Good job, Johnson. There's an ethereal entity walking down the street with you toward literal demons and that's the only thing that comes out of your mouth? But as she chides herself, her overactive mind races to the next logical step, and she looks over at him apprehensively. ] But I'm just a person, so why are you here?
[ Why is he here with her? Trying to protect her? ]
⟪ just. as if gods and a multitude of entities didn’t exist solely because people believe in them. just a person, with her incredible inner strength, her resilience, her accomplishments and her kindness. dream stops, looking at her like he’s misheard somehow, and then like he’s never heard anything so dumbfounding before. is she not aware of the many powers she possesses? of her vast influence on mankind? just a person… ⟫
And yet without you, without dreamers, my purpose would cease to be. ⟪ so how’s that, daisy johnson. you’ve more or less brought this being to life billions of years ago and continue to foster the entire collective unconscious with your hopes, and your fears, and your passions. you’re essentially behind his very existence, and dream smiles in spite of himself, vaguely incredulous. ⟫
You are much more than just a person… ⟪ you have the attention of an endless, for one, but. dream’s smile drops as quickly as it appeared, and his frown deepens, unamused this time. ⟫ …but tonight, you are a beacon for darker forces. ⟪ remember the nightmares he mentioned he sort of spied on? ⟫ Demons have paraded as nightmares recently, inspired by yours, mimicking and feeding on your fears. ⟪ not hers personally, not yet. but it’ll be a feast for them if they do find her. ⟫ Lucifer has desired my demise for a long time… ⟪ to conquer earth, too, and the dreaming. for all dream knows, the lightbringer could be trying to harm dreamers in order to ultimately harm him.
he glances down, somewhere in the space between them. ⟫ …and you and I are intrinsically connected. ⟪ her and all dreamers; hurt one hurt all of them. ⟫
[ There's something in the way he responds that reminds her of Coulson, the man who believes everyone is important, who could inspire anyone to strive toward a better version of themselves. To Phil Coulson, no one is just a person, and it was one of the things they'd first bonded over. There are no unimportant people, no acceptable losses, no one who wouldn't be missed by someone else.
But as much as she believes it of other people, she has always struggled to believe it of herself. After twenty-five years of feeling unwanted and like she would never belong anywhere, the instinct to think of herself as less is bone-deep. So it's a damn good thing he steers the conversation back to the most important topic, though she hates seeing his smile fall like that.
(When she is less overwhelmed by everything suddenly coming at her, she'll process that and recognize there's far more to her reaction to his fallen smile.) ]
Great, because my life isn't complicated enough already. [ She grumbles, only realizing after a moment how he might interpret what she's said. Holding out a hand as if to physically stop those thoughts from forming in his mind, she quickly clarifies, the words practically tumbling over each other. ] Not the you and I being connected part. You seem nice enough, a bit pushy, but I can deal with that. But the whole demons being inspired by my nightmares thing? That's... bad.
[ She looks up at him, her hand still held in that space between them. ] What do I do? How do I stop them?
⟪ nice enough and a bit pushy. well then. he’s been called worse things before — if he looks mildly offended for a moment, it doesn’t last. she’s not completely wrong… and coulson is, without a doubt, a much less authoritarian being. dream does care. feels, too, entirely too much at times, which can and has jeopardized people and worlds alike before. there’s a fine line he can’t afford to cross, if only for the sake of his dreamers, of the universe. but dream isn’t selfless, and sacrifices for the greater good are still, unfortunately, sacrifices.
daisy stands there waving her metaphorical white flag, and dream notes, distantly, that his fists have loosened in his pockets, his shoulders sloping back into their barely-there slouch. it doesn’t taste like victory. it tastes like tentative hope, though he won’t dare explore that thought, a warm little thing behind his sternum. there are other matters that require his full attention, and yes. it is bad. maybe worse than he’s already surmised.
she can’t stop demons or lucifer the same way she’s used to shielding her world from human or supernatural assaults, and the faint apologetic glint in his eyes says as much. ⟫
There is nothing you or I can do at present. Not until we fully understand their intent. ⟪ not until he has just cause to retaliate, if necessary. ⟫ An associate of mine is disposing of them as speak, but there will be more, perhaps too many to contain. ⟪ he breathes in, not quite defiant in the way he looks at her but absolutely expecting her to rebuff him again. ⟫ Though you do not wish to hear it… caution is advised.
Understood. [ With a sharp nod, she turns and continues walking, her steps quick and purposeful. There's nothing she can do against the apparently very real demons swanning around the city? Fine. She doesn't like it and probably won't accept it for long, but for now, fine. But just because she can't do anything about the demons, that doesn't mean there's nothing she can do at all. ]
I was called in to help with the evacuation, so that's what I'm going to do. And if I can stop the entire city going up in flames, I will. [ She's in full agent mode now, professionally stuffing her fear and worry deep down into the darkness where they belong. ] I know you would probably prefer I just stay out of it altogether, but protecting the people of this planet is my job.
[ It's more than a job, of course. It's her reason for being. It was once believed that every Inhuman had a purpose, a reason they were given their specific gift, and Daisy fully embraces the idea that her reason is the protection of others in a time when so many need it. No one is going to keep her from that — not even someone like Dream. ]
⟪ her sang-froid is delectable. understood, she says, a small relief, but she won’t back down from a challenge if it means honoring the meaning of her purpose, and dream is swayed in ways he doesn’t dare analyze.
so he throws it back at her, admitting defeat with a somewhat resigned nod. ⟫ Understood. ⟪ because he does, honestly. even as she strides away, the street stretching like a chasm between them; he does, standing immobile on the sidewalk and watching her as she disappears into the crowd, a sliver of worry anchoring his gaze.
he, too, has a job to do.
his cloak billows like a swath of twilight as he vanishes, swirls of golden sand around him. back near the church, the air is thick with the scent of brimstone and whispered prayers; constantine is nearly done, if the dozen bodies lying still on the ground are any indication. but one of them is still writhing. the grass beneath has been completely charred, and the demon cackles as dream approaches, holding his gaze despite the visible agony that twists its limbs. ⟫
Demon. ⟪ a snarl carves into dream’s face, looming over the creature. ⟫ Your numbers are ever growing in the Waking World. You will tell me why. ⟪ in lieu of an answer, the demon spits, gurgles through broken laughter, one last breath as it expires in a series of quick, horrible convulsions. goddamn it, constantine. why does she always do this. dream’s lips press into a thin line, and constantine merely shrugs; he can tell it’s the only apology he’s gonna get.
all of them had a job to do. only dream has sort of miserably failed.
she offers him coffee. there’s a dimly lit dinner nearby, and dream accepts the invitation for the sole reason that he’s not yet seen whether daisy has come out unscathed. but he doesn’t drink coffee. there’s a cup of cooling tea in front of him, untouched; he’s a lot more used to london’s cuppa, even if he’s yet to sip his beverage.
any chance your nightmares might have thrown in with the demons? constantine asks at some point, rather bluntly too. wouldn’t be the first time they went astray. he doesn’t like that she has a point, but the circumstances back then were wildly different. so he faintly shakes his head, lips pursed weary; no. his grip on his realm is as firm and powerful as ever, his presence steadfast; they have no reason to stray. she seems vaguely satisfied with his answer, but there’s no time to argue; she has a plane to catch, and dream soon finds himself alone at his table, staring unfocused through the window beside him.
until the door creaks open and daisy finally steps inside. he straightens up slowly, his gaze immediately finding her; the subtle wave of relief that hits him might have cracked his otherwise inscrutable mask. ⟫
[ In the few minutes it takes Daisy to get to where the action is, SHIELD has taken control of the relief efforts. The agents on the ground have no idea what is causing the unnatural fires, but she's a senior enough agent with more than enough credibility to be believed when she says someone else is taking care of that part of the problem and their focus should be on saving lives.
So that's what they do. As time stretches past, the agents work with the local fire department to evacuate everyone in a five-block radius. The fires might be behaving more normally now for who knows what reason, but they're still burning too hot and moving too fast.
It takes the better part of two hours for the situation to get under control, by which point Daisy has had to enter three burning buildings and take out another four, using her powers much more than she should without her suit. She hardly notices the pain, though, and only acknowledges the damage when one of the med techs asks if she needs anything.
The smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air as she walks across town, and she's sure she reeks of it as well. A streak of soot mars her cheek, and there's enough ash in her hair to turn the dark blonde into grey. She should just go home, shower, and change, but she's utterly exhausted and in desperate need of a cup of coffee. So to the diner, she goes, her appearance giving the older waitress at the counter only a moment of pause.
Your usual, hon? ]
Yeah. Thanks, Bev. [ Turning to head to her usual table, Daisy freezes at the sight of Dream there staring back at her. There's a cup in front of him, two actually, and there's something to his expression that twists in her chest. Her mouth opens as if to say something, but she only moves closer, crossing the space between them to slip into the seat across from him.
Gesturing to the abandoned coffee cup, she asks without judgment: ] Your associate?
⟪ meanwhile, dream appears immaculate as ever; unburnt, unsooted, and unexhausted. minus the hair, perhaps, which is in a perpetual state of disarray, shaped by the whims of the wind. that’s the culprit tonight, at least, and daisy… well. she’s a mess, honestly, and dream’s eyes move up and down in cursory flicks as she sits across from him, drifting lower still the moment she mentions his associate. nice guess, but dream doesn’t answer. constantine is a whole other conversation they can have once he’s made sure that daisy is still in one piece beneath that unbreakable veneer.
don’t mind the silence as he stares into the empty cup, as if pondering how to formulate what he wants to say. now that the whole ordeal is over — for now, anyway — and that daisy is still standing, he should be returning to the dreaming. he doesn’t. he glances up from the mug instead, returning his attention to her without a single tilt of his head. ⟫
You look weary. ⟪ she looked tired before, but it’s drastically worsened since last he saw her, a couple of hours ago. ⟫ Are you hurt? ⟪ physically or otherwise, and his tone suggests that it’s more than just a perfunctory question. ⟫
[ If most anyone else looked at her like that, she would probably be annoyed by it. Coulson would get a pass, of course, but even Simmons' concern would be shrugged off in her current state. There's something about Dream, though. Instead of irritation, she feels endearment toward the man (can he technically be called that?) who seems genuinely concerned about her.
It feels nice to have someone worry about Daisy the person and not Daisy the superhero who has to keep saving them all. Seems like that doesn't happen very often these days. ]
I'll be fine. [ It's her usual answer, but it's true this time, and spoken with intent. Reaching into the pocket of her leather jacket, she pulls out a little white bottle. ] These will help.
[ Giving it a shake to let him hear the pills rattling inside, she pops the cap and puts the bottle to her lips. A few tablets hit her tongue and she swallows them dry before closing the bottle and shoving it back in her pocket. ]
⟪ it’s a good thing that dream doesn’t need saving then. or does he. she is no superhero in his eyes. she’s human, and no, not just, like she believes herself to be. the uniqueness of human beings both fascinates and frustrates him, a beautifully wrapped cluster of so much potential that is, unfortunately, too often wasted. perfect imperfections, the lot of them, and daisy stands out for reasons he knows and ignores, the urge to untangle everything that makes her her simmering beneath his skin. it’s been a while since he felt that kind of warmth, but where his heart’s learnt to beat irregular, he won’t allow it to bloom. it’s nothing conscious, at least for the moment. it’s just there, underneath all of his reservations, his doubts, his yearnings, shielded by a hefty dose of caution. he’s been burnt too many times, and a scalded cat will always fear cold water.
sometimes, dream of the endless is a little too human for his own good.
the white bottle doesn’t ring any bell; drugs, most likely. he acknowledges her response with a nod, watching her swallow as the woman named bev comes with daisy’s order. he waits until she’s gone to speak again, one palm flat against the hard surface of the table, the other lightly curled around his still-full cup. ⟫
Humanity shall rest peacefully tonight. ⟪ which includes her, no nightmares involved. a little frown appears between his brows, forcing him to amend: ⟫ Perhaps until a fully identifiable threat reveals itself to me. ⟪ but not too long. nightmares do serve a purpose, and he can’t keep them at bay forever.
his gaze falls to the empty cup of coffee, remembering daisy’s question. ⟫ My associate has a keen interest in the occult, and she has served me well. As did her ancestor. I’ve no doubt that she will successfully elucidate this matter. ⟪ hopefully before it's too late. ⟫
[ Even if he did know more about human medicine, he wouldn't recognize the pills she's just taken. They're a SHIELD specialty designed to help bones heal faster, and she's taken hundreds of them since receiving her power. For most missions, she wears the gauntlets that help protect her arms from damage, but for the times when she isn't able to properly suit up, she's more than happy to rely on a little pharmacological assistance.
Bev deposits the omelet in front of Daisy along with a fresh mug that she fills nearly to the brim. The other woman has seen the SHIELD agent come in at all hours of the night and knows just how she likes her coffee: black and steaming hot.
Yet even though she prefers taking her semi-crappy diner coffee black, she still reaches over to the little container of sugar packets at the side of the table, plucking three out with an easy motion that goes into unwrapping her roll of silverware. The sugar packets are lined up along the edge of the table before she grabs fork and knife to dig into her meal. ]
Not sure how I'll put even half of this into a report without sounding insane or causing a panic, but I'll figure it out tomorrow. [ She's already been ordered to take the day off. Chewing her bite of omelet, she swallows and then sighs heavily. ]
God, it'd be nice to actually sleep for once. [ It's said mostly to herself, tone implying doubt that it'll happen, before she drink a gulp of coffee, trying to fight off the exhaustion that's already trying to make her feel sick. All she needs is some caffeine and she'll be just fine. ]
⟪ three packets of sugar. three. left obsolete along the edge of the table, almost like it’s nothing more than a mechanical gesture without real intent. dream watches her silent as she eats and drinks, briefly observing his own “meal” before deciding that he isn’t thirsty. he doesn’t need sustenance. most of what he eats or drinks is made of dream stuff, and even then, it’s nothing necessary. daisy savors her food with worn enthusiasm, and dream just sort of stares — anothing thing that fascinates him.
but despite what he just assured, she seems to doubt. ⟫
You will. ⟪ sleep, that is. there’s no trace of impatience in his voice, a raspy promise, a note of hazy fondness and mild satisfaction. if she looks up and peers long enough, she’ll see the vague shape of twin stars in his eyes, the beginning of galaxies swirling bright and glimmering.
his hand glides across the table, his gaze following suit; one sugar packet pinched between the tip of his fingers, dream studies its captive content with unfocused interest. ⟫
I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that you had met your fair share of oddities. ⟪ he peeks up, curiosity in the arch of his brow. has she not written beyond bizarre reports before? ⟫
[ He sounds so certain, she almost believes him. Daisy honestly can't remember a time when her nights haven't been plagued by nightmares. Of course, her childhood fears and torments were very different things than what she suffers from now, but they'd been no less traumatic. The idea of being able to sleep through a night and get actual rest... It sounds a bit like a dream itself, to be honest.
She realizes after a few bites of food that he's watching her so intently in a way that should be disconcerting — but she doesn't actually mind it. He doesn't feel like he's watching her for a weakness; rather, he's studying her as if trying to solve a puzzle out of interest. Her eyes lift from her plate to meet his, and what she sees there is. Well. It's definitely not in her imagination.
Holy shit.
Her attention is pulled away from those mesmerizing eyes when she catches movement at the corner of her vision. His elegant fingers pick up one of the sugar packets she'd purposefully placed along the edge of the table and she tenses, her fingers gripping the fork tight as she forces her breathing to remain steady.
It's just a stupid sugar packet. It doesn't need to mean anything. And yet she can't keep the echo of distress off her face as she watches his hand. ]
Could you put it back, please?
[ He can't possibly understand how much it takes for her to make that quiet, strained request. She's willingly baring her vulnerability to him, allowing him to see the weakness he'd unknowingly uncovered, and it hurts in a way she could never hope to explain. ]
⟪ the odd thing is, dream usually keeps his hands to himself. touch is complicated, and holding the entire collective unconscious at his core more or less forces him to remain implacable. he isn’t, truly. his capacity to feel is as potent as the wildest figment of any dream, its terrible depths and its fantasies, and that is exactly why he can’t afford to let his emotions bubble to the surface, a threat not only to himself but to all dreamers. it’s the reason why he usually appears so collected despite his struggles, so distant, lest he be consumed. and it’s an every day fight.
for some reason, he allowed his guard to lower here, reaching out for something of hers. there was no need to touch, and he’s paying the price of his distraction — she is, anyway, pale anguish twisting her expression, her voice strained under the assault of unknown troubles.
dream withdraws immediately, always gentle in the way he moves, gestures ethereal. and he searches her gaze for an answer he doesn’t find. he struck a nerve, that much is certain, but why. two hours ago she had no qualms about getting all up in his space, and dream catching one corner of the sugar packet between his fingers has visibly upset her. ⟫
My apologies. ⟪ there’s an ugly thing here, underneath her brave façade, something she battles every second of her waking life. dream doesn’t pry, knowing all too well what it’s like to be prodded when you feel uncomfortable. what’s more, she’s already been defensive once before, and clearly he’s stepped where he doesn’t belong. his mouth thins, pursed pensive. the chair scrapes the floor as he prepares to rise, a vague shadow of regret in his gaze. ⟫
I bid you farewell— ⟪ and then he stops, his lips holding the shape of his last word as he finally thinks to ask — considerate for the first time tonight, maybe. ⟫ You have many names. What do you wish to be called?
[ No. What did she just do? She allowed him to see a part of her she always keeps buried deep, showing the world a mask instead of the fragile girl inside, and look where it's gotten her. He's leaving, just like everyone always does when she doesn't meet their expectations, and it's breaking something inside her that she's had to repair so many times before.
Cold floods through her as she watches his chest instead of his face, trying so hard to keep her expression blank when some part of her wants to break apart right there in this place she's come to think of as safe. She doesn't want to speak, she might not be able to keep her voice steady, but he asks her a question that is so important that she can't let it go unanswered. ]
Daisy. [ It's whispered like a vow, or perhaps a plea, and then she looks down at the tabletop where his hand had been just a few moments ago. ]
I'm sorry, I didn't mean— [ The apology rushes out of her and she has to bite it off, forcing herself to remember they only just met. If he leaves now and she never sees him again, she'll be fine. She's always fine when someone leaves. ] Call me Daisy.
⟪ softly spoken, each syllable deliberately articulated like he was just given the key to a treasure she’s long hidden from the world. he knows of its significance, of what it must mean to her — or he thinks he does, but he has already assumed a number of things he probably shouldn’t have, so. still, the name pleasantly rolls off the tongue, and dream thanks her silently, a nod wreathed in subtle reverence. ⟫
You need not apologize. ⟪ none of this — whatever this is — is her fault. he misread her, plain and simple. he didn’t think, and her previous statement from a few hours ago rings even heavier now. ⟫
You claim that I do not know you… ⟪ if he vaguely agreed earlier, he fully accepts her verdict now; the ghost of a smile touches his lips, though it’s more tentative than anything else, barely there — maybe even a trifle timid. ⟫ …and I fear you may be right. ⟪ despite his reluctance to admit his failure, there’s intent in the way he speaks, in the unspoken promise that he still means, genuinely, to remedy it. that he’s willing to learn. he doesn’t mean to leave out of disappointment — or forever for that matter. he’s just wary of himself now, and the boundaries he overstepped. ⟫
But the threat is contained, for now. And I must return to the Dreaming.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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⟪ ...oh. okay. that went well. as well as you’d expect for someone with the social skills of a house cat. where did he go wrong. all of his dreamers are stripped bare the second they enter his realm. it’s a necessity for dreams to come alive, for nightmares to thrive and help them overcome unspeakable fears. it just doesn’t occur to him — not right away, at least — that most people might not appreciate being watched while the key to their subconscious is on display; while the most intimate fragments of their imagination run wild. it’s just a given for the lord of the dreaming, the natural order of things, nothing to stew over, but then matthew gets a little agitated on his shoulder and dream can practically hear him think.
and it’s loaded with judgment.
daisy has been utterly perceived, and dream can’t apologize for simply being. he should let her go. figure it out on her own, come face-to-face with her inner demons even, should constantine fail to exorcize the place. he might have, once upon a time. without a care in the world. it’s what he liked to tell himself, anyway, and even matthew seems to know better; he nudges him with one of his wings, a loud croak in his ear.
oh, for the love of— ⟫
You need not fear me. ⟪ he speaks a little louder, frustration draining from his voice as the brief half-roll of his eyes — that matthew knowingly provoked — dissolves. hands in pockets, he waits for her to turn back, hopes that she will, standing as non-threatening as he possibly can. the urge to shield her within the confines of his coat is a hard one to resist, and the truth of it hardens the line of his jaw; he exhales long and deep through his nose, bothered by the contradictory sensations in his chest. ⟫ Or yourself. ⟪ whatever her vulnerabilities, they aren’t his to judge — though he does wish to understand them. he doesn’t move closer, but he leans down, just a little, his tone firm but gentle. ⟫ I have seen your nightmares, yes. But I could ensure that they do not trouble you anymore. ⟪ he swallows, voice dropping raspier. ⟫ If you wish me to.
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But that fear doesn't control her. She reminds herself of that as she does indeed stop and turn back to the strange man who might be anything but. That fear keeps her grounded but it does not dictate her life — and neither will he. ]
Look, whoever you are. I don't have time for whatever this is. [ Strength returns to her as she speaks, the panic previously roiling inside her slowly settling like ash coating everything a dark shade of grey. There's little more than an arm's length between them, but it's enough to let her think properly. To focus on what is important. ]
People could be dying right now. I have to help them. [ And then she takes a step closer to him, bridging the gap between them so she can pitch her voice low, this conversation between the two of them and not the rest of the world. ] That's who I am, not whoever you saw in my nightmares.
[ Not the weak, broken woman crying as yet another loved one died. As another home was taken from her. As another friend betrayed her. As she failed to save a life. No, she is so much more than that. ]
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⟪ whatever this is, she says, borderline defiant, and though the flicker of displeasure in dream’s eyes is brief, the warning comes free of pretense. how dare she. there’s a billion other souls he could be guiding, and yet he chooses to help her. but that’s entirely on him, and somewhere in the far back of his mind, he’s vaguely aware of that. she spurns him with the aplomb of a thousand stars, and dream is a vagrant wandering between annoyance and beguilement.
she’s not wrong. at least not entirely. her resolve is — among other things — beyond inspiring, all up in his face and unafraid, but then something she says instantly has him frowning, a curious tilt of his head. ⟫ You would forsake half of what you are, simply because it does not please you? ⟪ dreamers tend to readily discard their dream-selves, often out of shame, but the dreaming is just as substantial as the waking world, with its strengths and its weaknesses. she is both a force of nature and vulnerable, just like he is. but it’s not a question. it’s more of a quiet observation, and when he feels her breath on his face, he realizes with a start that he’s drifted too close, leaning back to resume a less overbearing position. ⟫
Far be it from me to keep you from your purpose, but know this: there will be nightmares walking this earth tonight, demons in disguise in search of prey. ⟪ shaped by hellish hands, most likely, and dream is not their master. whatever lucifer is playing at doesn’t bode well, and daisy is a beacon they wouldn’t want to overlook.
dream draws a breath to speak again, one last attempt to warn her. ⟫ The Morningstar will assuredly find you, should they wish to.
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But he might have just tried to throw a wrench into that plan.
It takes a moment for the dots to connect, the pieces of this puzzle so completely out of her realm of experience that the picture refuses to form for her. But demons? The way he says it hints at it not being a metaphor for something, and when he says Morningstar...
Daisy's relationship with religion is a complicated one. Does she believe in God? Not exactly, though she would like to believe that if there is some great entity out there, it's more loving than vengeful. But she remembers some of the broader strokes of those terrible lessons droned at them again and again, with talks of fallen angels and the creatures doing their bidding. A few years ago, she would have dismissed the idea of any of it being real as crazy, even with things like aliens being proven real, but after meeting the literal Spirit of Vengeance, she can't be so dismissive anymore. ]
Demons. [ She repeats the word as if she can't believe it, but there's a seriousness in her expression that says she's fully grasping what he's implying. ] And Lucifer. The actual Devil. Just walking around.
[ In search of prey, he'd said. It's crazy. It's absolutely batshit insane. But he was in her dreams and has a talking bird, so apparently, it's a night for crazy. She shakes her head, leaning closer to him to bridge the space he'd created. Anger wraps around her words, her voice as taut as a steel rope. ] And you were just expecting me to stay out of it? You might have spied on my dreams, but you don't know a damn thing about me if you thought I was capable of that.
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⟪ honestly, he doesn’t know what he was expecting. not this, her stubborn streak rivaling his own, her convictions a series of quick stabs in his chest that he doesn’t dare name. is it awe. is it exasperation. who knows. not him, except he probably does, somewhere in the depths of his many denials. it’s not anger, at least — she possesses enough of it for the both of them, and dream finds himself a little dumbstruck. it’s not unpleasant. it should absolutely be, but it’s not, and while he senses matthew tensing up on his shoulder, a faint hint of amusement begins its slow creep into the subtleties of his face, laced with surprisingly well-contained impatience.
he does enjoy a challenge. ⟫
Perhaps not. ⟪ he knows some things. he might have overestimated his ability to sway her though, but then again, the main reason of his presence here is to remedy his deficient knowledge. it’s not just her nightmares he wants to decipher. it’s her, and he wants enough to allow her victory.
he should be dwarfing her. he isn’t, her vehemence prompting him to bow into her space once more, testing her boundaries. she has no issues defying his own, and dream meets her gaze unflinching, a very hazy trace of gentle interest. he may not know as much about her as he wishes he did… ⟫ But I am trying to. ⟪ and she’s making it so damn difficult. his chest rises and falls with a sigh too long, debating his next choice of words. demanding, as he’s so used to — and it usually works — probably won’t have any effect on her, so… ⟫
Allow me to come with you. ⟪ that’s a pretty decent compromise, yeah? ⟫
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But I am trying to. Why? Who is he that he's so interested in her? Sure, there are plenty of people in the world interested in what goes on in her head, but they're from rival spy agencies, or mad scientists wanting a peek at what makes her tick. They aren't strangers with untold power who swoop in out of nowhere to try and protect her. (She understands that part least of all.) ]
Okay. [ It slips out before she can have second thoughts, and while she knows she should step back, start walking, get her head back in the game — she stays right where she is, so close that she would barely have to move to touch him. And she wants to touch him, a magnetic force pulling her toward him, but she can't, not even to prove to herself that he isn't just some strange figment of her imagination. ]
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⟪ oh. so there's merit in asking nicely, apparently. it's worth taking notes — or allowing matthew to take them for him anyway, cawing in approval and then muttering to himself: "see, that wasn't so hard". whether it's meant for daisy or dream is a mystery, but dream shoots him a sidelong glance nonetheless, tight-lipped as the raven takes off and flies towards the church.
his gaze follows, clouds of smoke billowing above. sirens blare still — he's loath to bring her anywhere near the fire, but she would go with or without his approval, with or without him. might as well surrender, if only for the sake of his own captivation; her trust has yet to be gained, and he's adamant on earning it.
it's a bit distracting, the way she looks at him, like she can't decide whether she wants him closer or farther away. it might have left a satisfying tang on his tongue under different circumstances, but he finds himself rather mesmerized by her splendor as he returns his attention to her, silently studying her face and the rich brown of her eyes. he could easily get lost in there, but the wave of apprehension that crashes over him breaks the spell; however different, it feels a little like déjà-vu, and it's highly dangerous territory for dream of the endless.
his gaze drifts down, a fan of long lashes sweeping across his cheeks. beyond the uneasy growth in his chest, there's an imbalance here that needs rectifying; he knows a lot more about her than she does about him. ⟫
Any question you might have, I will answer. ⟪ reluctantly he steps back, half-turned towards the fire; to start, an offering. ⟫ You may call me Dream.
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Does she want him closer or farther away? It's impossible for her to decide, that strange magnetism of his tugging at her in a way that's intriguing and infuriating. How is he doing this? Is this effect on her intentional, or is it just something that happens with him? Does he even realize it's happening?
Relief crashes over her when he moves back, even as her hands want to grab hold and pull him back. That's ridiculous, she chides herself, stuffing her hands forcefully into her coat pockets to keep them under control. Even then, the urge is there to step fully into his orbit, to embrace whatever strange ethereal aura is wrapped around him.
The thread connecting them threatens to unravel when he says his name, a brief and sudden laugh bursting out of her like a shot. She shoots him an apologetic look as she takes a step toward the fire, then another and another until she's properly heading to her destination. ]
Sorry, it's just really on the nose. [ Which is kind of hilarious, to be honest. But he's offered her an olive branch and she intends to take it. Might as well start with the obvious. ] What are you, exactly?
[ Because she's pretty damn well certain he's not human. ]
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⟪ it’s the nature of dreams to be enticing, attainable and still just a little out of reach, leaving you aching for more. the dreaming is where hopes and desires awaken — no matter how spitefully his sibling might protest — and it’s where they rise and fall, challenged, conquered, or shattered. dream is all of that and more, though his own interests are carefully curtailed, however deeply he craves connections, and bonds, and intimacy.
you’d probably have better luck convincing the moon to release the tides than convincing dream of the endless to let go of whoever manages to grab his attention.
even if they burst out laughing at his expense.
it’s much preferable to her anger — however thrilling it might have been — and the sound lodges itself where his stomach churns fluttery, causing his legs to move of their own volition. he chases it down quietly, walking alongside her in unhurried strides and keeping his gaze steady on her. no, he’s not human. but then again, neither is she — not completely. ⟫
Your kind has given me many names over the millennia. ⟪ because simply stating that he is an endless probably wouldn’t mean much to her. ⟫ Oneiros. Prince of Stories. Sandman. ⟪ morpheus, too, but he keeps this one undisclosed for now, perhaps the closest to his heart. ⟫ All sentient beings, mortals and immortals alike, enter my realm the moment they close their eyes, expand and re-shape the many worlds I create for them. ⟪ he leans slightly closer, a brief nod to help drive the notion home. ⟫ I am Dream. ⟪ not just a dream, but the embodiment of everything it’s made of. ⟫ Dream of the Endless.
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It makes sense now, that indescribable thing she's been feeling from him. The undefinable something that has been beyond words, an otherness that is both welcoming and offputting. Her steps falter for a moment as she processes what it all means, as she weighs whether she believes him and quickly decides yes, she does. With her entire being, she believes what he's saying. ]
Cool. That's cool. [ Good job, Johnson. There's an ethereal entity walking down the street with you toward literal demons and that's the only thing that comes out of your mouth? But as she chides herself, her overactive mind races to the next logical step, and she looks over at him apprehensively. ] But I'm just a person, so why are you here?
[ Why is he here with her? Trying to protect her? ]
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⟪ just. as if gods and a multitude of entities didn’t exist solely because people believe in them. just a person, with her incredible inner strength, her resilience, her accomplishments and her kindness. dream stops, looking at her like he’s misheard somehow, and then like he’s never heard anything so dumbfounding before. is she not aware of the many powers she possesses? of her vast influence on mankind? just a person… ⟫
And yet without you, without dreamers, my purpose would cease to be. ⟪ so how’s that, daisy johnson. you’ve more or less brought this being to life billions of years ago and continue to foster the entire collective unconscious with your hopes, and your fears, and your passions. you’re essentially behind his very existence, and dream smiles in spite of himself, vaguely incredulous. ⟫
You are much more than just a person… ⟪ you have the attention of an endless, for one, but. dream’s smile drops as quickly as it appeared, and his frown deepens, unamused this time. ⟫ …but tonight, you are a beacon for darker forces. ⟪ remember the nightmares he mentioned he sort of spied on? ⟫ Demons have paraded as nightmares recently, inspired by yours, mimicking and feeding on your fears. ⟪ not hers personally, not yet. but it’ll be a feast for them if they do find her. ⟫ Lucifer has desired my demise for a long time… ⟪ to conquer earth, too, and the dreaming. for all dream knows, the lightbringer could be trying to harm dreamers in order to ultimately harm him.
he glances down, somewhere in the space between them. ⟫ …and you and I are intrinsically connected. ⟪ her and all dreamers; hurt one hurt all of them. ⟫
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But as much as she believes it of other people, she has always struggled to believe it of herself. After twenty-five years of feeling unwanted and like she would never belong anywhere, the instinct to think of herself as less is bone-deep. So it's a damn good thing he steers the conversation back to the most important topic, though she hates seeing his smile fall like that.
(When she is less overwhelmed by everything suddenly coming at her, she'll process that and recognize there's far more to her reaction to his fallen smile.) ]
Great, because my life isn't complicated enough already. [ She grumbles, only realizing after a moment how he might interpret what she's said. Holding out a hand as if to physically stop those thoughts from forming in his mind, she quickly clarifies, the words practically tumbling over each other. ] Not the you and I being connected part. You seem nice enough, a bit pushy, but I can deal with that. But the whole demons being inspired by my nightmares thing? That's... bad.
[ She looks up at him, her hand still held in that space between them. ] What do I do? How do I stop them?
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⟪ nice enough and a bit pushy. well then. he’s been called worse things before — if he looks mildly offended for a moment, it doesn’t last. she’s not completely wrong… and coulson is, without a doubt, a much less authoritarian being. dream does care. feels, too, entirely too much at times, which can and has jeopardized people and worlds alike before. there’s a fine line he can’t afford to cross, if only for the sake of his dreamers, of the universe. but dream isn’t selfless, and sacrifices for the greater good are still, unfortunately, sacrifices.
daisy stands there waving her metaphorical white flag, and dream notes, distantly, that his fists have loosened in his pockets, his shoulders sloping back into their barely-there slouch. it doesn’t taste like victory. it tastes like tentative hope, though he won’t dare explore that thought, a warm little thing behind his sternum. there are other matters that require his full attention, and yes. it is bad. maybe worse than he’s already surmised.
she can’t stop demons or lucifer the same way she’s used to shielding her world from human or supernatural assaults, and the faint apologetic glint in his eyes says as much. ⟫
There is nothing you or I can do at present. Not until we fully understand their intent. ⟪ not until he has just cause to retaliate, if necessary. ⟫ An associate of mine is disposing of them as speak, but there will be more, perhaps too many to contain. ⟪ he breathes in, not quite defiant in the way he looks at her but absolutely expecting her to rebuff him again. ⟫ Though you do not wish to hear it… caution is advised.
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I was called in to help with the evacuation, so that's what I'm going to do. And if I can stop the entire city going up in flames, I will. [ She's in full agent mode now, professionally stuffing her fear and worry deep down into the darkness where they belong. ] I know you would probably prefer I just stay out of it altogether, but protecting the people of this planet is my job.
[ It's more than a job, of course. It's her reason for being. It was once believed that every Inhuman had a purpose, a reason they were given their specific gift, and Daisy fully embraces the idea that her reason is the protection of others in a time when so many need it. No one is going to keep her from that — not even someone like Dream. ]
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⟪ her sang-froid is delectable. understood, she says, a small relief, but she won’t back down from a challenge if it means honoring the meaning of her purpose, and dream is swayed in ways he doesn’t dare analyze.
so he throws it back at her, admitting defeat with a somewhat resigned nod. ⟫ Understood. ⟪ because he does, honestly. even as she strides away, the street stretching like a chasm between them; he does, standing immobile on the sidewalk and watching her as she disappears into the crowd, a sliver of worry anchoring his gaze.
he, too, has a job to do.
his cloak billows like a swath of twilight as he vanishes, swirls of golden sand around him. back near the church, the air is thick with the scent of brimstone and whispered prayers; constantine is nearly done, if the dozen bodies lying still on the ground are any indication. but one of them is still writhing. the grass beneath has been completely charred, and the demon cackles as dream approaches, holding his gaze despite the visible agony that twists its limbs. ⟫
Demon. ⟪ a snarl carves into dream’s face, looming over the creature. ⟫ Your numbers are ever growing in the Waking World. You will tell me why. ⟪ in lieu of an answer, the demon spits, gurgles through broken laughter, one last breath as it expires in a series of quick, horrible convulsions. goddamn it, constantine. why does she always do this. dream’s lips press into a thin line, and constantine merely shrugs; he can tell it’s the only apology he’s gonna get.
all of them had a job to do. only dream has sort of miserably failed.
she offers him coffee. there’s a dimly lit dinner nearby, and dream accepts the invitation for the sole reason that he’s not yet seen whether daisy has come out unscathed. but he doesn’t drink coffee. there’s a cup of cooling tea in front of him, untouched; he’s a lot more used to london’s cuppa, even if he’s yet to sip his beverage.
any chance your nightmares might have thrown in with the demons? constantine asks at some point, rather bluntly too. wouldn’t be the first time they went astray. he doesn’t like that she has a point, but the circumstances back then were wildly different. so he faintly shakes his head, lips pursed weary; no. his grip on his realm is as firm and powerful as ever, his presence steadfast; they have no reason to stray. she seems vaguely satisfied with his answer, but there’s no time to argue; she has a plane to catch, and dream soon finds himself alone at his table, staring unfocused through the window beside him.
until the door creaks open and daisy finally steps inside. he straightens up slowly, his gaze immediately finding her; the subtle wave of relief that hits him might have cracked his otherwise inscrutable mask. ⟫
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So that's what they do. As time stretches past, the agents work with the local fire department to evacuate everyone in a five-block radius. The fires might be behaving more normally now for who knows what reason, but they're still burning too hot and moving too fast.
It takes the better part of two hours for the situation to get under control, by which point Daisy has had to enter three burning buildings and take out another four, using her powers much more than she should without her suit. She hardly notices the pain, though, and only acknowledges the damage when one of the med techs asks if she needs anything.
The smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air as she walks across town, and she's sure she reeks of it as well. A streak of soot mars her cheek, and there's enough ash in her hair to turn the dark blonde into grey. She should just go home, shower, and change, but she's utterly exhausted and in desperate need of a cup of coffee. So to the diner, she goes, her appearance giving the older waitress at the counter only a moment of pause.
Your usual, hon? ]
Yeah. Thanks, Bev. [ Turning to head to her usual table, Daisy freezes at the sight of Dream there staring back at her. There's a cup in front of him, two actually, and there's something to his expression that twists in her chest. Her mouth opens as if to say something, but she only moves closer, crossing the space between them to slip into the seat across from him.
Gesturing to the abandoned coffee cup, she asks without judgment: ] Your associate?
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⟪ meanwhile, dream appears immaculate as ever; unburnt, unsooted, and unexhausted. minus the hair, perhaps, which is in a perpetual state of disarray, shaped by the whims of the wind. that’s the culprit tonight, at least, and daisy… well. she’s a mess, honestly, and dream’s eyes move up and down in cursory flicks as she sits across from him, drifting lower still the moment she mentions his associate. nice guess, but dream doesn’t answer. constantine is a whole other conversation they can have once he’s made sure that daisy is still in one piece beneath that unbreakable veneer.
don’t mind the silence as he stares into the empty cup, as if pondering how to formulate what he wants to say. now that the whole ordeal is over — for now, anyway — and that daisy is still standing, he should be returning to the dreaming. he doesn’t. he glances up from the mug instead, returning his attention to her without a single tilt of his head. ⟫
You look weary. ⟪ she looked tired before, but it’s drastically worsened since last he saw her, a couple of hours ago. ⟫ Are you hurt? ⟪ physically or otherwise, and his tone suggests that it’s more than just a perfunctory question. ⟫
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It feels nice to have someone worry about Daisy the person and not Daisy the superhero who has to keep saving them all. Seems like that doesn't happen very often these days. ]
I'll be fine. [ It's her usual answer, but it's true this time, and spoken with intent. Reaching into the pocket of her leather jacket, she pulls out a little white bottle. ] These will help.
[ Giving it a shake to let him hear the pills rattling inside, she pops the cap and puts the bottle to her lips. A few tablets hit her tongue and she swallows them dry before closing the bottle and shoving it back in her pocket. ]
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⟪ it’s a good thing that dream doesn’t need saving then. or does he. she is no superhero in his eyes. she’s human, and no, not just, like she believes herself to be. the uniqueness of human beings both fascinates and frustrates him, a beautifully wrapped cluster of so much potential that is, unfortunately, too often wasted. perfect imperfections, the lot of them, and daisy stands out for reasons he knows and ignores, the urge to untangle everything that makes her her simmering beneath his skin. it’s been a while since he felt that kind of warmth, but where his heart’s learnt to beat irregular, he won’t allow it to bloom. it’s nothing conscious, at least for the moment. it’s just there, underneath all of his reservations, his doubts, his yearnings, shielded by a hefty dose of caution. he’s been burnt too many times, and a scalded cat will always fear cold water.
sometimes, dream of the endless is a little too human for his own good.
the white bottle doesn’t ring any bell; drugs, most likely. he acknowledges her response with a nod, watching her swallow as the woman named bev comes with daisy’s order. he waits until she’s gone to speak again, one palm flat against the hard surface of the table, the other lightly curled around his still-full cup. ⟫
Humanity shall rest peacefully tonight. ⟪ which includes her, no nightmares involved. a little frown appears between his brows, forcing him to amend: ⟫ Perhaps until a fully identifiable threat reveals itself to me. ⟪ but not too long. nightmares do serve a purpose, and he can’t keep them at bay forever.
his gaze falls to the empty cup of coffee, remembering daisy’s question. ⟫ My associate has a keen interest in the occult, and she has served me well. As did her ancestor. I’ve no doubt that she will successfully elucidate this matter. ⟪ hopefully before it's too late. ⟫
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Bev deposits the omelet in front of Daisy along with a fresh mug that she fills nearly to the brim. The other woman has seen the SHIELD agent come in at all hours of the night and knows just how she likes her coffee: black and steaming hot.
Yet even though she prefers taking her semi-crappy diner coffee black, she still reaches over to the little container of sugar packets at the side of the table, plucking three out with an easy motion that goes into unwrapping her roll of silverware. The sugar packets are lined up along the edge of the table before she grabs fork and knife to dig into her meal. ]
Not sure how I'll put even half of this into a report without sounding insane or causing a panic, but I'll figure it out tomorrow. [ She's already been ordered to take the day off. Chewing her bite of omelet, she swallows and then sighs heavily. ]
God, it'd be nice to actually sleep for once. [ It's said mostly to herself, tone implying doubt that it'll happen, before she drink a gulp of coffee, trying to fight off the exhaustion that's already trying to make her feel sick. All she needs is some caffeine and she'll be just fine. ]
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⟪ three packets of sugar. three. left obsolete along the edge of the table, almost like it’s nothing more than a mechanical gesture without real intent. dream watches her silent as she eats and drinks, briefly observing his own “meal” before deciding that he isn’t thirsty. he doesn’t need sustenance. most of what he eats or drinks is made of dream stuff, and even then, it’s nothing necessary. daisy savors her food with worn enthusiasm, and dream just sort of stares — anothing thing that fascinates him.
but despite what he just assured, she seems to doubt. ⟫
You will. ⟪ sleep, that is. there’s no trace of impatience in his voice, a raspy promise, a note of hazy fondness and mild satisfaction. if she looks up and peers long enough, she’ll see the vague shape of twin stars in his eyes, the beginning of galaxies swirling bright and glimmering.
his hand glides across the table, his gaze following suit; one sugar packet pinched between the tip of his fingers, dream studies its captive content with unfocused interest. ⟫
I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that you had met your fair share of oddities. ⟪ he peeks up, curiosity in the arch of his brow. has she not written beyond bizarre reports before? ⟫
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She realizes after a few bites of food that he's watching her so intently in a way that should be disconcerting — but she doesn't actually mind it. He doesn't feel like he's watching her for a weakness; rather, he's studying her as if trying to solve a puzzle out of interest. Her eyes lift from her plate to meet his, and what she sees there is. Well. It's definitely not in her imagination.
Holy shit.
Her attention is pulled away from those mesmerizing eyes when she catches movement at the corner of her vision. His elegant fingers pick up one of the sugar packets she'd purposefully placed along the edge of the table and she tenses, her fingers gripping the fork tight as she forces her breathing to remain steady.
It's just a stupid sugar packet. It doesn't need to mean anything. And yet she can't keep the echo of distress off her face as she watches his hand. ]
Could you put it back, please?
[ He can't possibly understand how much it takes for her to make that quiet, strained request. She's willingly baring her vulnerability to him, allowing him to see the weakness he'd unknowingly uncovered, and it hurts in a way she could never hope to explain. ]
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⟪ the odd thing is, dream usually keeps his hands to himself. touch is complicated, and holding the entire collective unconscious at his core more or less forces him to remain implacable. he isn’t, truly. his capacity to feel is as potent as the wildest figment of any dream, its terrible depths and its fantasies, and that is exactly why he can’t afford to let his emotions bubble to the surface, a threat not only to himself but to all dreamers. it’s the reason why he usually appears so collected despite his struggles, so distant, lest he be consumed. and it’s an every day fight.
for some reason, he allowed his guard to lower here, reaching out for something of hers. there was no need to touch, and he’s paying the price of his distraction — she is, anyway, pale anguish twisting her expression, her voice strained under the assault of unknown troubles.
dream withdraws immediately, always gentle in the way he moves, gestures ethereal. and he searches her gaze for an answer he doesn’t find. he struck a nerve, that much is certain, but why. two hours ago she had no qualms about getting all up in his space, and dream catching one corner of the sugar packet between his fingers has visibly upset her. ⟫
My apologies. ⟪ there’s an ugly thing here, underneath her brave façade, something she battles every second of her waking life. dream doesn’t pry, knowing all too well what it’s like to be prodded when you feel uncomfortable. what’s more, she’s already been defensive once before, and clearly he’s stepped where he doesn’t belong. his mouth thins, pursed pensive. the chair scrapes the floor as he prepares to rise, a vague shadow of regret in his gaze. ⟫
I bid you farewell— ⟪ and then he stops, his lips holding the shape of his last word as he finally thinks to ask — considerate for the first time tonight, maybe. ⟫ You have many names. What do you wish to be called?
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Cold floods through her as she watches his chest instead of his face, trying so hard to keep her expression blank when some part of her wants to break apart right there in this place she's come to think of as safe. She doesn't want to speak, she might not be able to keep her voice steady, but he asks her a question that is so important that she can't let it go unanswered. ]
Daisy. [ It's whispered like a vow, or perhaps a plea, and then she looks down at the tabletop where his hand had been just a few moments ago. ]
I'm sorry, I didn't mean— [ The apology rushes out of her and she has to bite it off, forcing herself to remember they only just met. If he leaves now and she never sees him again, she'll be fine. She's always fine when someone leaves. ] Call me Daisy.
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⟪ softly spoken, each syllable deliberately articulated like he was just given the key to a treasure she’s long hidden from the world. he knows of its significance, of what it must mean to her — or he thinks he does, but he has already assumed a number of things he probably shouldn’t have, so. still, the name pleasantly rolls off the tongue, and dream thanks her silently, a nod wreathed in subtle reverence. ⟫
You need not apologize. ⟪ none of this — whatever this is — is her fault. he misread her, plain and simple. he didn’t think, and her previous statement from a few hours ago rings even heavier now. ⟫
You claim that I do not know you… ⟪ if he vaguely agreed earlier, he fully accepts her verdict now; the ghost of a smile touches his lips, though it’s more tentative than anything else, barely there — maybe even a trifle timid. ⟫ …and I fear you may be right. ⟪ despite his reluctance to admit his failure, there’s intent in the way he speaks, in the unspoken promise that he still means, genuinely, to remedy it. that he’s willing to learn. he doesn’t mean to leave out of disappointment — or forever for that matter. he’s just wary of himself now, and the boundaries he overstepped. ⟫
But the threat is contained, for now. And I must return to the Dreaming.
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