[Hob would not have been surprised if Dream recoiled from his hand. In 1889, the moment he upset his friend, he wanted to reach out to the man and make things right, but Dream was walking away from him before he could get the chance. It was nice to have that chance now. To offer a reassuring touch. The response he actually gets from his friend is more than he hoped for, and it puts a relieved smile on Hob's face as he felt Dream's long, graceful fingers move between his own.
His brow raised as Dream pointed out the lack of a beat in the wrist he was touching. He supposed it made sense. Dream was not human, after all.]
Bother me?
[He smiled, then collected Dream's hand and drew it toward him. The hand is placed against Hob's own chest, over his beating heart.]
That should've stopped beating a long time ago. I don't exactly count myself as normal anymore.
[There was something quite reassuring in the steady thump of Hob's heartbeat. It was strong and measured, steadfast much like the man himself. For a being who craved the unknown, who never tossed in the towel on what came next, Hob was surprisingly balanced in not overlooking his ties to the past. Including Morpheus.
It was a tender moment, one that Morpheus does not take for granted. His fingers smoothed over to rest over Hob's chest, content to leave it there for now and feel the steady rise and fall. He can't resist a bit of teasing however and his brow crinkles in pretend confusion.]
Hm, I know I have good senses, but I didn't expect to hear the poor old thing creaking.
[Giving Hob's chest a pat, his gaze held that glint of teasing in their usual coldness when he finally looked at the man.]
No, it is a very good heartbeat, Hob. And you're right. I don't suppose either of us qualify as humans any longer, at least, not like most of them. Which is likely a good thing.
[After all, the last time he'd gotten close to a mortal things had ended in disaster for so many.]
So tell me then, as one looking to know humanity better. What is it about them you see as likely to get overlooked?
[The teasing made Hob laugh, which vibrated through his chest where Dream's hand was resting. He always figured he'd start showing or feeling some signs of age at this point, but Death's spell was very effective at keeping him in the same form he was six centuries ago.
He liked the feel of Dream's hand on him, so Hob placed his hand over the other's and used his fingers to lazily trace over that hand. Following the curve from his wrist and up and down Dream's elegant fingers.]
Hmm.
[Not an easy question. He looks out over the park at the people, families and couples gathered. How they smiled and interacted with each other, or just got lost in the music.]
I think people have a lot of small, quiet moments that reveal who they are. When they think no one is looking. The mother touching her daughter's hair. Or that man, whispering into his partner's ear. They're not big, flashy displays. They're soft. Private.
[Much like the moment Hob was having with Dream under the tree.]
[The touch was nice. Light and not restraining. It was easy for Morpheus to remain still, his cool hand soaking in the warm of Hob and feeling the rise and fall of his chest. It made Morpheus relax a little, a very unexpected and novel sensation. It was only when Hob began to answer his question that Morpheus drew his gaze away from the hypnotic sight of Hob's exploring fingers. His head cocked inquisitively to the side as he took in what Hob shared, looking to the various sights that were pointed out. In the end, he gave a slow nod as he turned it over in his mind.]
I am used to people bringing such intimacy with them to the Dreaming. I should not be surprised as much value is placed upon such moments in the waking world.
[Hob smiled and chuckled again. He didn't think his words particularly insightful, but he answered the question honestly.]
I'm happy to help.
[It was nice to be of use to Dream after all these years apart. Though he knows Dream's interest in Hob's experiences ended centuries ago. They met simply for companionship after that.]
You talk like you don't know it. Intimacy, I mean.
[Maybe he had overstepped with those words, but Dream speaks about it as though he were merely an observer.]
[He stiffened a little at Hob's observation, walls initially going back up. He didn't bolt this time, though he did withdraw his hand and twine both of his together tightly in his lap. His gaze looked downward, a genuine struggle not to withdraw completely. It was only because it was Hob that he sat and worked through it as best he could. How many minutes had passed he didn't know but eventually he began to speak again. His voice was low and even and he didn't quite meet Hob's gaze just yet.]
I have experienced intimacy.
[None of those times ended well, so he didn't elaborate any further beyond the admittance. It was only then that he looked back to study Hob's face.]
With dreamers though, I do not have the luxury of getting lost in their desires or woes. I should be as much an observer as I can be, connected yet apart, so that I might provide what they need for their fulfillment without letting it all consume me in the process. You merely have your own subconscious to manage. I have that of every being's contained within me. I know intimacy, but I must also know detachment.
[When Morpheus removed his hand, Hob knew he had stuck his foot in his mouth again. He shouldn't have said something so personal. As Morpheus sat looking tense, Hob also got up from his reclined position to sit, afraid the man might try to get up and leave. He's relieved when he's not left alone in the park.
When Dream says he's experienced intimacy, it's not with the sort of fondness one might who had good memories of it, which makes Hob frown.
What the man says does make sense. Hob can only imagine how many of those dreams are something intimate with so many people dreaming all over the world. And he figures some intimate dreams are better than others.]
And.. your fulfillment? Don't you ever want something for yourself?
[He was probably pushing it, but Hob couldn't help but speak his thoughts.]
I have. Yes. I cannot say it has ever ended particularly well in the past.
[Which wasn’t unique to him, Morpheus knew that. Ever so many broken hearts existed in the galaxy. It had existed in the very man who sat here with Morpheus. Hob, too, had suffered loss. Perhaps it was not, or should not, be a surprise that humans were so resilient. Not that anyone, mortal or Endless truly got over the loss of their family. It had been centuries and Morpheus still couldn’t bring himself to grieve with Calliope over Orpheus.
Would he take it back, though? That was the heart of regret, wasn’t it? To wish that something had never transpired. As much as it hurt, if he was honest with himself, he would not take back his time with Nada, Calliope, or the few others whom he had opened his realm and world to beyond his duties.]
You have always been the risk taker, Hob. The man who defied Death on a drunken gamble.
[Perhaps there was something to learn from that so very human trait.]
Wanting for myself does not come easily. My duties have taken such precedence. But… I don’t find myself wanting to depart your presence.
[When Hob lost his own family, it ruined him for nearly a century. That sort of loss was the kind that many do not come back from. Others might have accepted death at that point, but Hob was more resilient than some others. Perhaps they picked someone too strong willed for Death's game, or more likely, Death knew exactly how Hob would handle eternal life and what his life would do to her brother.]
To be fair, I didn't know I was gambling at the time.
[It was also very human to simple stumble through life with a bit of luck. At Morpheus' words, Hob smiles.]
I like being with you, too.
[Maybe those aren't the exact words that came from Dream, but Hob reads between the lines.]
Perhaps not. Still. You did return to meet the extremely strange man who helped grant you eternal life on a whim. I doubt everyone would have returned to the inn, no matter how much they wanted answers.
[Morpheus had wondered that first time around whether Hob would have even shown up. Some might have found it all too terrifying and steered away no matter the potential cost. Others might have had so much hubris to assume they didn’t have to hold up their end of the bargain. Morpheus could admit that back then he probably hadn’t presented the most welcoming of presences. Not that he did these days either, though Hob managed to bring out more smiles in him than just about anyone else.
Such as now, when Hob read between his carefully chosen words.]
You are to be my translator, then? I suppose I can accept it. Within reason. [A small smile softened his words. A ball was kicked near them and he reached out to stop it, gently rolling it back to the children at play.] Let us see then where these new days lead us. I look forward to figuring it out together.
[OOC: Agreed, I'm good wrapping this one up here! I'll tag our other one tomorrow if not tonight. At some point in the future we should definitely also write out Dream showing Hob around the Dreaming.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 02:06 pm (UTC)His brow raised as Dream pointed out the lack of a beat in the wrist he was touching. He supposed it made sense. Dream was not human, after all.]
Bother me?
[He smiled, then collected Dream's hand and drew it toward him. The hand is placed against Hob's own chest, over his beating heart.]
That should've stopped beating a long time ago. I don't exactly count myself as normal anymore.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:12 pm (UTC)It was a tender moment, one that Morpheus does not take for granted. His fingers smoothed over to rest over Hob's chest, content to leave it there for now and feel the steady rise and fall. He can't resist a bit of teasing however and his brow crinkles in pretend confusion.]
Hm, I know I have good senses, but I didn't expect to hear the poor old thing creaking.
[Giving Hob's chest a pat, his gaze held that glint of teasing in their usual coldness when he finally looked at the man.]
No, it is a very good heartbeat, Hob. And you're right. I don't suppose either of us qualify as humans any longer, at least, not like most of them. Which is likely a good thing.
[After all, the last time he'd gotten close to a mortal things had ended in disaster for so many.]
So tell me then, as one looking to know humanity better. What is it about them you see as likely to get overlooked?
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:55 pm (UTC)He liked the feel of Dream's hand on him, so Hob placed his hand over the other's and used his fingers to lazily trace over that hand. Following the curve from his wrist and up and down Dream's elegant fingers.]
Hmm.
[Not an easy question. He looks out over the park at the people, families and couples gathered. How they smiled and interacted with each other, or just got lost in the music.]
I think people have a lot of small, quiet moments that reveal who they are. When they think no one is looking. The mother touching her daughter's hair. Or that man, whispering into his partner's ear. They're not big, flashy displays. They're soft. Private.
[Much like the moment Hob was having with Dream under the tree.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 09:50 pm (UTC)I am used to people bringing such intimacy with them to the Dreaming. I should not be surprised as much value is placed upon such moments in the waking world.
Such as this one.
Thank you, by the way. For what you have shared.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 10:07 pm (UTC)I'm happy to help.
[It was nice to be of use to Dream after all these years apart. Though he knows Dream's interest in Hob's experiences ended centuries ago. They met simply for companionship after that.]
You talk like you don't know it. Intimacy, I mean.
[Maybe he had overstepped with those words, but Dream speaks about it as though he were merely an observer.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 10:46 pm (UTC)I have experienced intimacy.
[None of those times ended well, so he didn't elaborate any further beyond the admittance. It was only then that he looked back to study Hob's face.]
With dreamers though, I do not have the luxury of getting lost in their desires or woes. I should be as much an observer as I can be, connected yet apart, so that I might provide what they need for their fulfillment without letting it all consume me in the process. You merely have your own subconscious to manage. I have that of every being's contained within me. I know intimacy, but I must also know detachment.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 01:39 am (UTC)When Dream says he's experienced intimacy, it's not with the sort of fondness one might who had good memories of it, which makes Hob frown.
What the man says does make sense. Hob can only imagine how many of those dreams are something intimate with so many people dreaming all over the world. And he figures some intimate dreams are better than others.]
And.. your fulfillment? Don't you ever want something for yourself?
[He was probably pushing it, but Hob couldn't help but speak his thoughts.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 12:00 pm (UTC)[Which wasn’t unique to him, Morpheus knew that. Ever so many broken hearts existed in the galaxy. It had existed in the very man who sat here with Morpheus. Hob, too, had suffered loss. Perhaps it was not, or should not, be a surprise that humans were so resilient. Not that anyone, mortal or Endless truly got over the loss of their family. It had been centuries and Morpheus still couldn’t bring himself to grieve with Calliope over Orpheus.
Would he take it back, though? That was the heart of regret, wasn’t it? To wish that something had never transpired. As much as it hurt, if he was honest with himself, he would not take back his time with Nada, Calliope, or the few others whom he had opened his realm and world to beyond his duties.]
You have always been the risk taker, Hob. The man who defied Death on a drunken gamble.
[Perhaps there was something to learn from that so very human trait.]
Wanting for myself does not come easily. My duties have taken such precedence. But… I don’t find myself wanting to depart your presence.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 03:02 pm (UTC)To be fair, I didn't know I was gambling at the time.
[It was also very human to simple stumble through life with a bit of luck. At Morpheus' words, Hob smiles.]
I like being with you, too.
[Maybe those aren't the exact words that came from Dream, but Hob reads between the lines.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 07:45 pm (UTC)[Morpheus had wondered that first time around whether Hob would have even shown up. Some might have found it all too terrifying and steered away no matter the potential cost. Others might have had so much hubris to assume they didn’t have to hold up their end of the bargain. Morpheus could admit that back then he probably hadn’t presented the most welcoming of presences. Not that he did these days either, though Hob managed to bring out more smiles in him than just about anyone else.
Such as now, when Hob read between his carefully chosen words.]
You are to be my translator, then? I suppose I can accept it. Within reason. [A small smile softened his words. A ball was kicked near them and he reached out to stop it, gently rolling it back to the children at play.] Let us see then where these new days lead us. I look forward to figuring it out together.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 10:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-06 11:24 pm (UTC)