#mhmhmhm

Costume Bond: The Dreaming Dead

What if, during Dream a Little Dream of Me, White Lily Cookie failed?

What if she reached into dream after dream, called her friends’ names until her voice broke, and still could not pull them free? One by one, they sank deeper into the lives their hearts wanted most, while far above them, in the City of Wizards, the Ultimate Cookie drew closer to Moonlight Cookie, closer to the World of Dreams, closer to the Shards of Freedom sleeping just within reach.

With the city collapsing around her and Moonlight Cookie’s strength nearly spent, White Lily is given a final choice.

She can take what remains of Moonlight Cookie’s power as a Guardian of Dreams, becoming the last shield between the Ultimate Cookie and every sleeping soul she can still reach. She can protect her friends inside their dreams, preserve the dreamers scattered throughout Earthbread, and seal the City of Wizards behind a barrier strong enough to keep Unity from breaking through.

Or she can refuse, and allow the Ultimate Cookie into the heart of the city.

If it consumes Moonlight Cookie’s power, it will not merely claim the World of Dreams. It will devour the Shards of Freedom, destabilize the already fragile timeline, and tear open paths into other realities, spreading Unity beyond the boundaries of their world.

White Lily accepts.

She takes the burden into herself, knowing exactly what it means. She will protect her friends, and every dreamer she can find, but she will never wake again. Her journey to find the Ancient Heroes will end unfinished. Her body will remain in the waking world, silent and still, while her mind becomes the keeper of a city that was never meant to be hers.

In the waking world, the Shards of Freedom rise around the City of Wizards, forming a radiant barrier of red light and fractured hope. The Ultimate Cookie is kept out. Moonlight Cookie fades away, her power no longer keeping her alive. The World of Dreams survives.

But even this cannot save them from the inevitable.

Even the power of Soul Jams was never meant to sustain life forever, not alone, and certainly not five lives caught between waking and sleep. White Lily and her friends remain untouched within the barrier, dreaming their happiest endings, safe from Unity, safe from grief, safe from the war they could no longer win.

Their bodies will crumble in time.

Their dreams will not.

He won't tell Kyle what happened. All Kyle knows is that Johnny had gone out alone to a pub he's a regular at. Was probably planning to take a nice lass or lad home for the night. Instead he was here. And Kyle's too afraid he'll run off if he asks why.

So, Kyle makes Johnny sit on the couch and finish his tea. There's plenty of extra space, and him and Johnny have shared a bed before—if the Scot needs it. Kyle readies the bathroom, clean towel, fresh clothes, and Johnny favorite soaps of his.

The patter of rain beginning to come down outside. The sun long set. It's a pleasant night, all things considered. And Kyle has a lot to consider.

Johnny's stayed over plenty, but to show up like this? Anxious, hands shaking despite his best efforts to hide it behind a smile. It's unsettling. Whatever happened tonight, Kyle knows now, at least, Johnny is safe. And they can face it in the morning.

The bathroom door opens and then there's Johnny. Standing just inside the room. Softer now. Kyle's oversized clothes just the right fit across his shoulders.

"Better?" Kyle keeps his voice light, gentle.

Johnny just shrugs. Kyle pats the couch beside him and Johnny goes. He practically collapses into the couch and then further into Kyle's side. Burying his face into Kyle's shoulder as Kyle's arms come up around him.

"I've got you, Johnny." Kyle whispers, hand coming up to hold the back of Johnny's head. "You're alright."

Kyle feels the shudder in Johnny's breath against his chest. Johnny's hands ball into fists in Kyle's clothes.

my type is and always has been emos i miss my emo ex gf, daddy tony 💔💔 - 🪽

OHHHH he's the prettiest what do I have to do to merit a bf like him 😩 (I say, fully knowing I have commitment issues) 😩

with more fyolai art :)))

@n1kolyaaa @gods-only-rat

Aka cheering is now my watermark for any fyolai art

Uh I did take the pose from a reference thingy so it's under the cut