Who: Jonathon Black & Dream of the Endless What: The two seal a deal they struck Where: The Physical cottage When: December 18th Warnings: None Status: Completed Gdoc
Jonathon had managed to get off work a little early to ensure he’d be home by five thirty. All day long he’d been thinking about the deal he’d made with Dream of the Endless as well as the power he must have to be able to manipulate dreams and talk to others via them. It was strange, but cool. Mostly, he was just thankful that he would be dreaming of his family. He missed them terribly. More than he ever let on.After acquiring money from the band he headed straight home. He didn’t want to be late. Something told him he wouldn’t get a second chance.
The cottage was empty when he returned home. He had yet to tell Quentin about any of this. It wasn’t that he was being secretive, he just wanted to make sure everything went off smoothly before he shared. He made his way to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. It was cold out and snow was still hanging around which he liked. Jonathon had taken his first sip when a knock came upon the door. He sat his mug on the coffee table then walked over and answered the door. “Hi, please come in,” he smiled, stepping back so Dream could enter. “Would you like some coffee or tea?”
Dream had ventured to Jonathon’s cottage the night before to ensure he knew exactly where the two of them were to meet. Being that he could track beings through their dreams, Jonathon was easy to locate even amongst the vastly varied dreamers in Madison Valley. He stood outside, untouched by the cold and snow, and took in the rather cozy looking living quarters with clear, keen eyes. Could he ever be comfortable enough to build a life here like this man? To relinquish his desire to return to the Dreaming?
For a moment he allowed himself to consider it before quickly squashing the notion. No, he would never give up on his quest to return home. Just as he never gave up while imprisoned for a century. Dream would find a way back to his realm, back to Lucienne and the others, and there was nothing in this place that could replace that burning desire, that need in the recesses of his heart.
The desire remained, burning like a wildfire, as he once more found himself standing outside Jonathon’s cottage the next evening. Lights were on inside and Dream made his way to the door, feeling awkward as he rapped on the wood. It was so human in nature that the gesture made him feel off-balance. He only managed to compose himself just as the other man opened the door, greeting him with a smile.
“Hello.” Dream’s face remained impassive as he entered the cottage, gaze sweeping over the room, and taking in the surroundings before returning to his host.
“No, I do not require either at the moment.” Unlike his sister, Dream didn’t often partake in human substance and thus had no actual taste for their cuisine.
He studied the room once more. “Is this where you conduct business then?”
Alright then. Perhaps Dream was the type to get right down to things. He did look…serious, but he wasn’t one to make a snap judgment. Or at least he tried very hard not to. “Please, have a seat.” He gestured to the couch then took a seat himself.
Jonathan laughed softly. “No, this is where I live, but today I am conducting business here. I guess I could conduct business here as I don’t have an office or anything of the sort.” It seemed an odd question to ask to him, but he knew very little about Dream so perhaps it was perfectly normal to him. He reached for an envelope laying on the table and held it out. “This is the money. Five hundred as was agreed upon.” He paused and looked into Dream’s eyes. “When will the dreams begin and will they be every night or occasionally?”
Out of all his siblings, it was accurate to say Dream was the most serious. He didn’t possess much of a sense of humor and he rarely smiled. While the concept of friendship was familiar, he was rarely one to engage in it. He considered this a transaction and was perfectly okay to perform it while standing. However, Jonathon offered him a seat, gesturing to the couch, and Dream, after a second of hesitation, claimed it. His coat billowed around him as he settled on the cushion.
“Oh. I see.” Dream spent most of his time in the Dreaming and most human aspects of life eluded him. Death, his sister, held much more of an understanding for humanity than Dream ever would. This moment was a transaction, but apparently it was turning into a learning experience as well for the Endless.
He picked up an envelope from the table and held it out. Even before he announced it, Dream guessed the money was inside. The Endless reached out, his fingers grazing the paper, but Jonathon paused, his gaze meeting Dream’s once more. The Endless didn’t look away as he asked what the time frame and frequency for the dreams would be.
“Tonight. They can be every night or occasionally. I am willing to be flexible in this instance because you were sincere in your responses to my post.” Normally, Dream was not nearly so “kind,” but Jonathon had been honest and sincere in his apologies for Dream’s situation.
It was hard to tell if Dream was uncomfortable being in his home or if it was simply Madison Valley and being in a new place. Everyone reacted differently to being brought here. Dream seemed very unhappy about it. Not that he blamed him for it, but he recalled he'd shared that he'd been trapped elsewhere for a long time. Why would the "powers that be" keep taking people from their homes, their family and friends and the life they knew? He could see no greater purpose in all of them being there. If he thought about it too much he would get upset and he didn't want that.
Jonathon felt a slight relief when the other sat, but wasn't exactly sure why. There was a part of him that worried the dreams would be granted only now and then as opposed to every night. Then again, would such dreams every night have him missing his family more? That wasn't possible.
At the reply a smile came to his lips and his heart squeezed in his chest. It was the answer he'd hoped for, but would have taken whatever was given. The mere thought of "seeing" his family and interacting with them in any capacity was the best Christmas gift he could receive. "Thank you, Dream. I don't know how you do it, but I am grateful and will never forget your kindness." That's what it was to Jonathon. Yes, he was paying for it, but the other didn't have to agree to the deal or he could even limit it to a single dream. For those reasons he would be forever thankful. "Do you celebrate Christmas where you come from?" The question was off subject and out of the blue, but Jonathon wanted to know.
Unlike his sister, Dream did not easily fit into the human realm and he made very little effort to do so. He preferred the Dreaming and didn’t tend to venture into the human world unless he had no other choice or there was something he desperately wanted. His sister was constantly shifting between her realm and that of the humans so she had a better understanding of them and their behavior. Dream, on the other hand, still struggled with social cues and even humor. He was less uncomfortable and simply more awkward.
Being trapped in this place certainly did not help. It put him on edge. He’d been imprisoned before and it had been a century before his release. Dream couldn’t fathom staying here for that long. Even with his sister by his side, Dream knew he would not be happy here. His heart, his purpose, resided in the Dreaming.
Dream took in the man’s smile, but he did not return it. “You’re welcome. It is simply my purpose,” he replied. It was his purpose and also it was part of a deal, a means to an end, and Dream expected Jonathon to uphold the rest of the bargain when the time came. If the man had not been sincere, Dream would have refused to help him in his desire to see his family again. Maybe. Dream also knew all too well what it was like to be separated from his family and while he didn’t like all of his siblings, he did care for his sister, Death, quite a bit. Perhaps being trapped all those years had softened him some.
Jonathan’s question surprised him, but the only hint of such was a slight widening of his eyes and furrow of his brows. Dream didn’t celebrate Christmas, but the human world in his universe did celebrate it.
“I do not celebrate Christmas, but the human world in my universe does celebrate it,” he answered.
"I'm glad it's your purpose. There are those who would ask for more and expect more. You didn't take more when I'm sure you could have." That was a strong feeling Jonathon had. Dream was a god like being perhaps. There was more to him than met the eye, but he didn't fear him. Or Dream had given him no reason to thus far.
He leaned forward, picked up his coffee and took a long drink. "It's a really fun holiday warm holiday with family and friends. There's so much to see and do. I miss celebrating it with my family. Could you perhaps give me some dreams of us celebrating it?" It wouldn't be the same as being with them, but it was better than nothing.
"Will you excuse me for a moment?" Jonathon stood and went to the kitchen. There were several tins of cookies on the counter that he and Quentin had made. Some to take to work, some for friends and a few extras just in case. He returned to the couch and offered a tin to Dream. "I know you don't celebrate Christmas, but these are homemade Christmas cookies. Iced sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and Snickerdoodles. Think of them as a welcome gift. I'd like you have them." Even a small comfort could help when one was in a new and strange place.
“I could have, but you did not give me reason to.” Dream could have taken far more, but Jonathon had done nothing to warrant him such a reaction from the Endless. He hadn’t imprisoned him. He hadn’t attempted to destroy him or hurt any of the few beings Dream genuinely cared about. For the moment, Jonathon remained on Dream’s good side…as much as Dream had a good side anyway. There were plenty of those that knew Dream had the pretense to be cruel as he could be lenient.
Dream watched as the man retrieved his coffee from the table and took a drink. The Endless would admit he enjoyed the smell of coffee even if he was not one to partake in human drink and food often.
The man spoke up again, describing Christmas, and, despite his lack of celebrating, Dream did know about the holiday. Still, there was something oddly touching about the way the man spoke of it and how he then asked if he could have dreams of him celebrating with his family. He briefly wrestled with the idea of granting such a request. He’d already given this man so much. Still…
That moment with Johanna echoed in the recesses of his mind. How he’d shown mercy to her girlfriend, giving her a beautiful dream as she passed. This man was not nearly in such a dire position and yet, Dream felt for him as he was also trapped here and separated from those he loved. Perhaps a few dreams of such moments would be alright.
“I will grant you a few dreams of you celebrating Christmas with your family,” Dream declared in his quiet, yet deep voice. “But that is all. No more requests.”
Before Dream could respond, Jonathon stood and disappeared into another room in the house. He heard some rustling, but Dream was only so familiar with such sounds as found in a home, even something like moving and shifting around items could be foreign in a sense. He didn’t have much time to ponder where he’d gone before he returned and held out a tin to Dream. Dream could not help, but study it curiously even as the man explained it contained a variety of cookies.
He knew his sister would enjoy them and he did recognize it as a kind gesture. Dream reached out and plucked the tin from Jonathon’s hand. He could smell the cookies, sweet and tantalizing, despite the closed lid.
His gaze shifted back to Jonathon’s face and he nodded. “Thank you. I am sure my sister will enjoy them. She is…partial to human food and drink unlike myself.”
Jonathon did not want to come across like he was trying to take advantage of Dream or as being greedy. That wasn't him. However, he knew asking for a specific dream might seem like it, but he wanted them so much. Maybe that was selfish, but it was the only way to be with his family and the dream realm was better than nothing. He closed his eyes for a moment unsure of how Dream would react to his request. Could he feel him sending quiet vibes of energy to say yes? Was it obvious?
When he answered positively, saying he would grant him some tears rose in Jonathon's eyes. He blinked and looked down, blinking several more times. He let out a shaky breath then raised his head to meet the other's gaze once more. "Thank you so much, Dream. That means so much to me. I would give anything to actually be with them." Jonathon didn't subscribe to the bullshit that "real" men don't cry or show their emotions. That was ridiculous and no way to live life.
"I will make no more dream requests." What he was given was so much more than he'd anticipated.
“"You're welcome," he replied with a warm smile. "Well, perhaps you should give the cookies a try. You may find you like them. If you don't you can spend time with your sister sharing, laughing and all those good things. That's what this time of year is all about, being with those you love and care about."
In another life where Dream had not been held captive for a century, he may have been less inclined to give Jonathon what he requested. However, Dream knew the pain of being separated from your home and those you cared about. As much as Dream claimed to loathe change, deep down he knew there was no going back. He had changed and so had the world he’d come back to.
From the way in which the man blinked away tears, Dream knew he truly appreciated the gesture even before he verbally expressed it. Having lived for as long as he had, Dream had seen more than a few men cry and the gesture did bother nor shock him. He knew humans felt things deeply and while the Endless rarely showed emotion, he did feel them. Expressing such things was…far more difficult.
The Endless nodded. “You’re welcome.” They understood one another then. Dream would be contacting Jonathon at some point to fulfill the rest of the bargain, but for now, there was no need. The money would go a long way in helping him and his sister settle here. “Perhaps,” he replied. Though, the image of laughing with his sister, being with her as she ate the cookies, did lighten his expression. He knew Jonathon’s gift would make her happy. She did enjoy human food. It was a small silver lining for Dream; he wasn’t completely alone here. No, he didn’t care for Desire, but he was grateful to have Death by his side.
“I should go.” Dream plucked the envelope from the table and slipped it into the pocket of his black leather duster. Tin in hand, he stood and started for the door.
How strange Dream was in a way. Not a bad way. Perhaps different was a better word to use. He wanted to speak to him further and inquire if he had magic and where his abilities came from. Now wasn’t the time though, he’d taken up enough of his time. “I do hope she likes them. Send her this way if she does and I will gladly give her more.”
Then as if he read his mind Dream stood and said he should be on his way. It was a little abrupt, but Jonathon quickly stood and walked him to the door. “Thank you again for everything.” He could hardly wait to get to sleep tonight. He paused, then smiled. “Merry Christmas. If you need anything or any help don’t hesitate to contact me. And I don’t just mean in regards to the deal we made. Have a good night.”
Once the door was closed Jonathon took a deep breath and let it out. That had been interesting. Dream seemed like a good ... .guy Now he just needed to let Quentin know about all that had taken place over the last couple of days..