The Sandman x Reader - Neil Gaiman (Lucifer x you x Dream)

08: Painting You a Picture, a Picture of You

When you woke, the bed was empty. It was cerulean, and black as pitch with a velvet blanket, just as dark in shade. But you were not sad or had any feelings of emptiness within yourself, no dissappointment. No, only a pleasant sigh left your lips as you stretched and rolled over, enjoying the bouncy texture of the sinking, soft mattress.

A pair of footsteps echoed in the cathedral spiralled palace which at first you assumed belonged to your loving Dream but was unconvinced by the lack of precision in each step, they sounded heavier and more arrogant. Just from the plodding steps could you tell this.
 Then came a voice, booming as if to order for immediate attention. And attention they got as you startled upright, hair aloof and astray in messes atop your crown.

#<Alright, I was wrong. I admit it! Although it pains me to say this, I need your... assistance. I can only take so much but the defilement of the innoccent I cannot excuse and- Wait... Who are you, mortal?># The voice, the man, was arrogant but pleading. Perhaps he was not all bad.

You stared at him, blinked and said nothing. You rose a hand and pawed a simple hello at the man in a fine cream suit and white button down shirt. Dark shades obscured his eyes. You wondered if he were a blindman, it would explain the callous steps he had previously been offending your eardrums with.

Lucienne entered the quarters and informed, "Ah yes, Corinthian, I am glad you returned by yourself. Lord Morpheus may not punish you so severely this time. And this? This must be Ms. L/N. They are here due to Lord Morpheus taking a liking to them, I believe-"

 The Corinthian scoffed and twirled on the spot rather flawlessly, even within the bounds of being quite so brash and swaying in childish vigour. He snarled playfully, #<A liking? Pfft. Defilement of the inoccent, who was I kidding, of course Morpheus would pull this shit->#

  "Oi. Dream boy is a good guy.. Well, not morally. But that's okay, morals get in the way most of the time anyway-" You said, now pondering your own statement. "Wait, now I need to think about what I just said.." Putting a finger up to hush the Corinthian at the bottom of Dream's porcelein staircase.

The Corinthian made indistinguishable sounds of confusion, then going on to chide you for having him quiet when you are but a 'mere mortal with no power over' him. You just shrugged and answered, "You looked pretty overpowered when you actually shut up from my gesture."To which the Corinthian snarled.

#<Where is he?! Where is Morpheus-># Corinthian yelled in question.

Morpheus appeared from the shadows, book in hand and reading glasses on the bridge of his nose.

  "Aw, you look like a lil hamsterrrr~" You cooed making a weird smile and motion of cuddling your arms which had your hands clasped almost religiously to the edge of your left cheek.Dream was of course flatted by your somewhat odd complement but kept that emotion to himself. He reacted by looking at you from just over the clasp of his glasses. You knew it was affectionate - well, as affectionate as he could get in front of others- scratch that, just in general - and you smiled to yourself.<<Rest, darling. I will be with you in a moment.>> Asked Dream of you with a sweet tone. His attention returned to his creation, the Corinthian and said, <<Now, tell me. Why have you dared set foot in my kingdom? You had made it clear you wanted nothing to do with the land of your birth->>#<Birth? You MADE me. I was not born, never have I had the attention and love of a mother, of a FATHER. I am the epitome of parental issues-># "No, that would be Jesus or Satan. Or.. are they the same guy? I'm pretty uneducated on the whole 'bible' shit-" You asked and stated, head popping up over the edge of the mahogony four-post bed again.