OOM: Into the dreaming

[awesome_lilly]

It's been a while.

Lilly hasn't consciously avoided the woods. It's just that, well, for a while there was nothing back here, and then with the sceptre she found other ways to get between worlds.

But now, after talking to Coop, she's been reminded that there's a world here, and it has a Lord, and she hasn't spoken to him in some time.

Lilly passes the Caribbean inlet with a single longing look and heads straight into the woods, walking until that spot where everything blurs, for a second, and she's not in the woods anymore.

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[awesome_lilly]

Lilly glances back the way she came in.

"Yeah, I saw. It's nice, having this back."

A long time ago, it was the only way she could leave the bar without becoming a bloodied echo of herself.

"You roll the welcome mat back out for anyone in particular, or did you miss all of us at Bar tracking mud and angst through your nice clean dreams?"

[the_shaper]

"You of all should know, Lilly, that dreams are rarely nice or clean."

But he seems unbothered.

"It came to my attention that the connection between the Dreaming and Milliways had been severed. I thought it fitting to reestablish that connection."

[awesome_lilly]

Possibly he could detect her sarcasm. Dream has met Lilly before, after all.

She frowns at him.

"You didn't know? That the connection had been cut?"

That surprises her a little. To be fair, the Dreaming is kiiinda big. But that also means-

"So you'd given up stopping by for a drink, then."

[the_shaper]

"There were other needs more pressing."

This is, technically speaking, true.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly does not doubt it. Not outwardly, at least.

"You've been busy, huh?"

Hopefully not with nightmares getting loose or anything.

[the_shaper]

"It is part of my function."

Lilly should know this by now.

(Although he is starting to get suspicious.)

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly has another shot of tequila. Always a good idea!

"I thought it might have been the breakup, too."

She eyes him.

"Are you okay, with all that? Because breakups suck, and I'm totally willing to watch every trashy tv show anyone's ever dreamed up while eating ice cream with you if Lucien and Matthew aren't."

Other possibilities include sitting and brooding silently together, but Lilly opened with her strengths.

[the_shaper]

The temperature in the clearing has dropped ten degrees.

Dream is silent.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly sighs.

"Fine. I get it. You're a classy anthropomorphic personification.


Downton Abbey it is."

[the_shaper]

Downton Abbey is not really an improvement, Lilly.

"All stories," he says, "are my province. Your trash and your class make no difference to me."

[awesome_lilly]

Not really, no. But it has Maggie Smith!

"Got it. You're good on stories."

She spins the knife idly.

"But- does it make a difference? Having someone here or not, I mean? Seriously."

[the_shaper]

That question makes no sense whatsoever. "It is still over, Lilly." He's speaking pretty coldly, to go along with the temperature. "What difference could it possibly make?"

[awesome_lilly]

The thing about tequila, it keeps you warm. (Also stupid.)

"None, I guess." Lilly shrugs. "There are people who like to talk about these things. It helps them."

She glances across the table.

"I'll cross you off that list."

(Not that stupid, though.)

[the_shaper]

"That would be wise."

Dream seems to be staring at the path that leads out of the clearing. He also does not seem pleased.

[awesome_lilly]

"I'm known for my wisdom."

There is a pause. You could call it awkward.

If you enjoyed understatement.

"You know that's actually true? Granted, it's only true in this one planet where they hadn't figured out how to ferment alcohol yet, but they totally think I'm a genius there now. I have a feast-day!"

It's a hell of a feast, too.

[the_shaper]

"They worship you?"

Dream actually seems interested in this.

(Good job, Lilly.)

[awesome_lilly]

"Finally, right?"

There's a tiny hint of self-mockery there, if you listen closely enough.

"I mean, it's not organized or anything, but everyone there regards Our Lilly of the Champagne Fountain as totally worshipful."

[the_shaper]

"If that is the case, then organization may be a matter of time," Dream observes.

[awesome_lilly]

"You think?"

Lilly brightens at the thought.

"So I could go back in a few years and they'd still be doing it? Awesome."

Of course, a few years after that there would probably be factions, and then a bitter war over the acceptability of pink champagne despite the Sacred Cocktail Napkin clearly stating 'yes way rose!' in the drunken slant of their goddess.

[the_shaper]

"And what will you do with what is generated?"

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly blinks at him.

"Drink it?"

They're talking about champagne, right?

[the_shaper]

"Worship generates power, Lilly. Were you not aware?"

It's entirely possible she wasn't.

[awesome_lilly]

"Uh."

That'd be a no.

"Kind of? But don't you have to like, actually have power first?"

Like one of those 'spend money to make money' things. Lilly's good at those!

[the_shaper]

Dream raises his eyebrows.

"It would not be the first time that veneration of the dead resulted in a fundamental change of that sort."

[awesome_lilly]

"...oh," Lilly manages, after a minute of staring ahead at nothing in particular.

"Well. That'll be... interesting."

Oh god, how will she even be able to tell? Is there a rash that breaks out when you get worshipped, like with chicken pox? Or do you just suddenly develop halos and look good in white? BUT SHE ALREADY LOOKS GOOD IN WHITE OH GOD IT'S STARTING MAINTAIN YOUR COOL YOU MIGHT BE A GOD NOW.

"You know, if it happens."

[the_shaper]

"If it happens," Dream agrees. "It may not."

[awesome_lilly]

Right.

"Right."

On the bright side, maybe there's a clubhouse!

"So. Um.


More tequila?"

This sounds like a GOOD IDEA to her.

[the_shaper]

"If you like," Dream says, lifting the bottle to pour, like a good host.