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shadowtruths

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From:

shadowtruths

If he's only asked me, then I'm not certain what it is. I shall send Matthew to ask what it entails. If it is a family dinner... we'll see. [He's busy, and not terribly enthused at the prospect of a family gathering. It's an obligation though, and he finds it hard to resist obligations.]

You never heard about the ship? I suppose Destiny never spoke on it. He does keep his own counsel.

A ship from the Dreaming sailed into his garden once, while I was... detained... elsewhere. He was not anticipating it, and you know how he hates imaginary things within his realm. It annoyed him enough to summon me to fetch it back.

From:

jovial

[ By the Night and all of Creation, why is her elder brother like This. Don't pull a Neil Gaiman "wait and see" schtick— ]

Huh. Guess we really just gotta wait for that Moment, huh.

[ He what. Destiny doesn't usually do rescues. ]

You were detained and he got you out, because there was a ship from your realm in his garden. When was this?

[ brb sending an angry voice mail to her older brother—j/k. But yeah, she asks, because why didn't Destiny told her about it? Yeah, she had to be on overtime, but also she had to guide an aspect of her little brother some time ago. And that was jarring. ]

From:

shadowtruths

I could wait and see if it's important enough for him to come to my realm, but I think it makes him even more uncomfortable than me being in his. All the what if's rather than there are's.

I don't know that I would quite put it as him getting me out. Yes, though. He summoned me. [Not all of him had left that darkness, he'd felt that quite keenly. From a practical standpoint though he'd managed to collect his ship and return to the Dreaming, and that was sufficient for him. That practicality, that adherence to tucking one's shoulder to the wheel and carrying on, that he does share in common with Destiny.] Oh, this was a very long time ago. What I hold dear in memory is knowing our elder brother can be surprised. It's good for him, I think. To keep such things in mind. [Far better to focus on that aspect of the situation than on the one he lost.]

From:

jovial

Dream.

[ Her fingers on the screen of her phone pause. She's good at a lot of things, she thinks. Passable at some others. Words, though. Words and poetry and songs and stories, that's Dream. When she was less of a frigid bitch and more like her current self, she always enjoyed walking to the Sunless Lands with the people her little brother has touched: all creatives, just like him, storytellers in a thousand different ways and mediums.

Sometimes, she kinda wished she was just as good at words as he is. ]

Saying it was a long time ago doesn't really mean a thing when it comes to us. I know I haven't really asked it yet, since I'm so used to finding you in the mortal realm whenever you're not like, entirely okay, and I just stare you down to get you to talk. But I'm asking it right now, hopefully, with this little mortal invention. What happened back then?

[ There's more to the story. ]

From:

shadowtruths

[Only Death, and sometimes Lucienne, can make him feel like he has to explain himself. As though he’s been caught, centuries late, for something he should not have let happen. Or perhaps he’s projecting his own feelings regarding the matter that had happened so long ago. Certainly he would have done things quite differently, in retrospect.]

My mishandling of a past vortex nearly ended all creation as we know it. I was investigating the matter to try and prevent a prevailing madness amongst the stars, when I found myself kicked into a black hole for my attempts. … I visited our parents, and Mother Night ensured I did not escape the black hole, until Destiny intervened. The dream ship that found its way to his garden, and those upon it, helped to ensure reality was not all lost. The dreamers dreamt of something more, something beyond such an ill fate, and they changed the galaxy for the better. [It’s a skewed retelling of the story that feels entirely true from his perspective. He gives himself no credit for saving the universe and 100% of the blame for all the trouble caused in the first place, and he clearly cares only about the damage done to others and not at all that an aspect of himself died in flames or that his parents couldn’t care less what happened to him. Or that, weakened as he had been, had been what let Burgess easily capture him.]

There. You asked.

[He knows it was a monumental screw up, and it's why he wanted to do so much better when Rose came around. Debatable if he did do better, but he had tried. At least he hadn't killed entire worlds this time?]

Edited Date: 2022-10-17 07:30 pm (UTC)

From:

jovial

[ That explained the sudden intense workload from back then. And she remembers the previous vortex. She told him, after all, that he had authority and permission. And even the vortex herself had asked for death. She remembers this.

This also feels like she needs to be there with her instead of texting back.

In fact, she doesn't reply. Instead she finishes her work for the day, stands in her gallery, and cradles Dream's sigil: a shadow of the helm he made from the bones of old gods who dared to invade his realm. She remembers him asking for help at the time. She didn't come.

(She was a bitch, then. She isn't, now.) ]

Dream, I stand in my gallery, and hold your sigil. Can I come through, to your realm?

[ Normally, she can go in and out without all the bells and whistles and rules and laws. His palace staff both fear and respect her, but those closest to her brother have also shown their joy and gratitude to her (normally for pulling said brother out of his moods). ]

From:

shadowtruths

[There isn’t a reply, and that doesn’t bode well. Why this is all important to bring up now he can’t figure out, and he turns it over in his mind as he goes about his business. He can feel the pull of her calling to him much later, though how much time has passed since they spoke he isn’t certain. He’s been buried in work. It takes a few minutes for him to make it to the gallery, a half-finished dream with him. He studies her through the portrait, then nods.]

Very well. You may enter.

[He takes a step back, arms folded and eyebrow already raised inquisitively.]

Is there a problem?

From:

jovial

[ And with his permission, she comes through. There's a dream that's currently in progress behind him and she smiles at it? them? And when she looks to her younger, taller brother, she gives him a hug.

Both arms around him. ]

You're an idiot. [ She chokes out. She might cry in a little bit, if she lets go.

She might have been busy then, but she loves her brother. In all his aspects and facets. She loves him even as, just a little bit before he had set an old wrong to rights, she took an aspect of him in another universe that died by the mad star. She told Destiny this, she knows. Maybe, for once, Destiny summoning Dream from the Darkness their mother put him through, was a kindness.

Lots of what-ifs and maybes run in her head. He'll tell her they don't matter now— heck, he might have said something similar before. One time it had been I didn't want to worry you. She always worries, for him, and each of her siblings. But none of them made her worry as much as Dream did... does. Delirium feared her, in her own way, which was fair. And the twins didn't have a lot of things they needed a big sister for. Destruction left. Destiny keeps to himself until he has read that he requires their presence.

So, she was the closest to Dream. ]

You're a silly idiot.

From:

shadowtruths

[Dream knows certain things he can expect from Death, but that doesn't mean she's incapable of surprising him. He doesn't anticipate the hug and is momentarily startled by it. Slowly after the initial shock wears off he slid his arms around her to hug her back. He can hear the emotion in her tone in the few words she says.]

What do I owe the pleasure of being called that this time? [Or perhaps a better question is...] Seeing me like that must have been difficult for you. [When she'd taken an aspect of him to the Sunless Lands.]

From:

jovial

What do you think.

[ She sounds muffled, her face right at his chest. Sucks to be the oldest sister and shorter than her two younger brothers. ]

You're, [ sniffs ] an idiot. [ +1 sniffs ] I'm sorry you had to go through all of that.

[ She's not quite openly crying but she holds him a little tighter and a little bit longer. It's a little embarrassing but at least they're in his gallery and not... well, at least no one from his staff will see. ]

From:

shadowtruths

It is the least I deserved for my folly. The other lives lost due to my actions tell me that much. ... that I hurt you tells me as much.

[It pains him to see her like this. Not that she's displaying emotion, although she's much better at that than he is. It's rather knowing that he's the cause of it that makes him ache where a heart might have been. If anyone else had made Death cry, would he not be out for their blood, too? He doesn't consider himself an exception. He holds her tighter, more tightly than he would most, for a long moment.

There's a moment's pause, then he offers quietly.]

Would you care to sit? I've been standing quite awhile myself.

From:

jovial

I'm hurt because you, you— [ her third sniffle. Then she looks up at his him. Her mascara's ruined, and she can feel it going down her cheeks, mixed with her tears. ] You're so you.

[ +4 sniffs. She lets him go, taking a bright blue handkerchief from her jacket pocket and wiping her face with it. She wheezes out a small, quiet giggle when the handkerchief is mostly stained black. ] I ruined my makeup.

[ She folds the handkerchief and puts it back into a pocket in her jacket. ]

Yeah, sitting... would be nice. I've been on my feet the whole day.

From:

shadowtruths

[Reaching down with his fingers, Dream gently tries to help brush away the mascara. It only ends up smudged on his fingers and more so on her face. A touch sheepishly he says] I suppose you can tell I never helped anyone with their makeup.

It's been awhile since I've seen you without any makeup, anyway.

[There is nothing in his gallery save for small pyres of fire and the sigils along the walls. Dream waves his hand and the dream he is working on disappears, and is replaced with a modern sofa long enough for them to sit comfortably upon. There are pillows tucked into the corners. All in black, of course. He gestures for Death to sit and he sits beside her, his posture still.]

I know I made a mistake with that vortex. I perhaps course corrected too much with Rose, though thankfully, that did not end as poorly.

From:

jovial

[ the laugh that bubbles out from her is fond and fleeting. ]

Nah, you'd probably smudge it on the first try. [ The image of her little brother sitting down with her trying to do her makeup is silly and a touch sad. ]

... Mm, sometimes I go out with makeup on and sometimes I don't. [ she flops on the conjured sofa and reaches down to take off her boots. ] That's what Unity told me. I'm glad it happened rather peacefully.

[ boots off, she brings up her legs to the sofa and hugs them. ]

Still. You aren't catching a break, aren't you, little brother?

From:

shadowtruths

Yes, Unity. She didn't care for me very much, I can only imagine the colorful depiction she painted for you of what transpired.

[After a beat, Dream reaches down and slides off his shoes and socks. Barefoot is often how he goes about his castle, anyway. It's habit to look more put together for outsiders, but Death isn't really an outsider, is she? He folds one long leg under him and turns so he can face her better, tucking one pillow onto his lap. Fingers lightly play with the pillow's seam, a perfectly straight line with nary a hole in sight.]

When do we ever take a break, sister? It is always all or nothing.

There's a play called La Morte in Vacanza by Alberto Casella. Death Takes a Holiday. Can you imagine?

From:

jovial

She thought you were cute, if a little bit of a ditz.

[ She says that with fondness. Because she agrees and she's not biased at all.

At the mention of the play title, the smile on her face grows a little bigger. ]

Funny you mention that, because I kinda do.

[ Once, every century, just like how her brother and Hob Gadling meet. ]

That was how I met Hazel and Sexton.

From:

shadowtruths

I was under a bit of pressure at the time.

[Not that he cares about being called a ditz by a mortal. Except maybe it smarts a little.]

Oh?

[He raises a curious eyebrow at her admittance.]

It sounds as though there are more details to this story to share, then.

From:

jovial

[ She pokes his knee. ]

That hurt, didn't it? It's fine. You know it's not bad.

[ She settles more into the couch, no longer hugging her legs. ]

So, I don't know if I ever told you this. I probably haven't. Anyway, every century, I'm human.

[ And she hears how that sounds and she snorts, waves a hand as if waving something away. ] Mortal. Once every century, I'm mortal for a day. I was in New York, went out for a walk, and heard a guy yell from a dump site because a fridge fell on him. That was Sexton.

Edited Date: 2022-10-24 07:12 pm (UTC)

From:

shadowtruths

I am always fine.

[It might be a skewed definition of fine in his mind, but he stubbornly adheres to thinking he always fits it no matter what. He still exists after all, surely that is the same thing.]

I had some awareness of a different aspect of yourself turning up now and then in parts it should not have been, but not the details as to why. [Now it made some sense, if she came to collect herself once a century.]

Is this part of your quest to understand the beings that you come to collect?

From:

jovial

You say that. [ Like, an unhealthy amount. She pokes his knee again, a little bit rougher, to make—heh—a point. ] It's alright to say you're not okay, did you know?

[ The humans even made a show around the very idea. She was charmed by it. ]

Well, yeah. And, remember a long time ago, even before this world, somebody really told me I was a bitch? She dared me to see what it was like, be mortal for a day, and picking myself up after all that.

[ It was revelatory, and well, it helped. And it continues to do so. She reckons she'll do this until it's Closing Time for the universe. She's fair (maybe 99% of the time, and the other 1% was for the brief times she couldn't even comprehend the certain viciousness and cruelty that a great many sentient beings carried within them until she comes to them at the end of their lives) after all. ]

Got into a spot of trouble, though. Mad Hettie pulled Sexton and I through, though.

From:

shadowtruths

The last time I said I wasn't, you threw a loaf of bread at me. [Ever the younger sibling, at this second poke he frowns a little and rubs his knee where she's touched it.]

Is that why you've turned a blind eye to Mad Hettie? Because she helped you out?

[There's a moment's pause then, before he cautiously asks another question.]

There are those outside Mad Hettie and Hob who have evaded your realm, through your permission and otherwise. What makes you decide which ones to leave be and which ones to gather regardless?

From:

jovial

Because you're an idiot. [ Fondly. Very fondly. In fact, she pats the knee she poked with as much gentleness as she musters. ] Because sometimes you can be so stubborn and proud that you shut us away. I know everyone else are bad at showing or saying they care about you, about each of us, but we do.

[ Not their parents though. She's made her peace with that, that their parents are just too distant and too eldritch and inhuman to even remotely care about anyone else but themselves and each other. So, all seven siblings have each other, in various ways. Destiny is sometimes too much like their Father, exactly his function and purpose, and second to Dream in enacting his responsibilities. But Destiny cares, in his own ways. Destruction cares, and she understands why he left. He cares too much and then he packed his gallery, his sigil, and any of his things. The twins care, in their own little ways (even if Desire can be rather callous and cruel; Despair, awful and depressing). And Delirium cares, but Delirium is herself, and sometimes she's there, sometimes she's not.

Anyway! ]

Oh, no. Mad Hettie... I suppose, she asked. As a favor. [ she shrugs. The old lady in the 18th century telling her that Death ain't some bonny young lass, dressed entirely in black. ] Hob Gadling, you already know about that. Um, who else. You remember Madame Xanadu? Or well, that's what she goes by nowadays. She read her cards. The final one she pulled was really funny. Figured she could go on for a little bit longer, but I said, "You're not going to be as young as you used to look." [ Another shrug. ] She seemed to be fine with that, and you know us, we got all the time.

[ But has she answered his question... ]

You know, I think it's because I'm a little too nice. Maybe.

From:

shadowtruths

I would not risk my family's welfare to clean up my own mistakes. [Hypocritical, yes, because he's willing to help them in turn to a point if they ask. Still, he can't help but not want them to go through what he has, nor be put in danger for the mistakes he's made since.]

You are very nice. Nicer than I am, at least. [A small beat.] No. Those individuals aren't who I meant, but no matter.

From:

jovial

[ She rolls her eyes but also she knew he'd say that. ]

I can't speak for everyone but I know I would get you help. [ She knows Mad Hettie and dear ol' Henrietta knows people. ] And I could have, if you had called me. [ She reckons Destiny could have made the smallest of changes, like a drop of water hitting the binding circle. Small, insignificant changes to the eyes of many, but big enough for a chance. ]

But, it's happened. [ She sort of deflates onto the pillows behind her. ] A lot of things have happened and everyone's made their choices.

[ She swats a stray lock of hair getting into her eye. ] You're nice, too, though you'll disagree with that. [ She lifts her head from the pillows. ] Who do you mean? Have you ran into Charles Rowland?

From:

shadowtruths

Everyone has, yes. I suppose we shall see where those choices take us.

No, I have not run into Charles outside of his dreams. [Ghosts don't sleep per say, but just like the damned in hell the dream in their own way of something better. Ghosts of that nature aren't Dream's concern, outside of servicing those dreams. The only ghost of late that caused problems for him was Hector Hall, given what happened with Lyta in the Dreaming.]

I knew someone. A witch. She's lived for centuries on time borrowed through magic and backdoor deals.