#ml-nolan

Okay, so THIS post by @occudo got me reading a fic by @ml-nolan HERE (explicit)

And then I was listening to the Bad Omens cover of Come Undone (Youtube Link) and thought it was perfect. So I had to draw a thing.

From the Dreamling Rockstar AU fic, Music When You Speak by @ml-nolan

This is the biggest Dreamling spread I have ever cooked in one night and it's all Dream's fault because he ordered this gigantic meal at a restaurant! Here are all the elements I made and it took me a total of 3 hours!

1) Whiskey Barbecue Sauce

2) Cinnamon Whipped Cream

3) Caramelized Onions

4) Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

5) Chicken Patties (with the whiskey sauce glaze)

6) Curly Fries

7) Guacamole

8) Cinnamon Roll Shake

Note to self: Break long meals into two posts next time! Although I'm exhausted, I'm extremely pleased with the results and the burger reminded me of Dean Winchester's line, "I'm gonna need a bigger mouth!"

To be fair, @ml-nolan did tell me that it didn't really have to be three layers of meat. But I already made the patties, so we are going to use all of them! And I used ground chicken because no beef!

In this story, Dream and his siblings are members of the band, The Endless, who stop by at a record store run by Hob called White Horse Records. Because Dream wears the helm or a hood while performing, Hob doesn't recognize him. They later run into each other again and go on an impromptu date. Dream, who hasn't eaten in 15 hours because of the show, orders this meal at the diner.

Without further ado, let's begin!

------

"What can I get you two handsome fellas today?" she says, smiling wide.

Hob gestures across the table, as his stranger seems about ready to jump out of the booth.

"I'll have the triple cow whiskey barbeque burger with the pancetta brussels sprouts, and a soda water, please."

The server turns toward Hob, but before he opens his mouth, his stranger says, "I'm not finished."

He goes on to order the cinnamon roll shake,

a basket of curly fries to share,

and bizarrely, a side of guacamole.

"Where are you going to put that?" Hob asks before he can stop himself. He's not sure whether he means where he's going to apply the guacamole itself, or how all this food is going to fit in the man's birdlike body. Why is it always the skinny guys who eat like professional wrestlers?

"Why do I need to put it on anything?" his stranger volleys back.

Hob blinks, as does the server, who until now has kept an outstanding poker face. "Great point," he turns to the baffled woman and says, "Just a lamb burger for me, please."

The food arrives more quickly than Hob would expect, the man attacks each of his many dishes like he's facing the hangman's noose at dawn. Hob tries not to stare at his mouth as he does, but it's difficult. It shouldn't be, but for some reason this is one of the sexiest things Hob has ever seen (even when he horrifyingly eats the whole ramekin of guacamole with a spoon).

When he finally comes up for air, Hob asks, "How long has it been since you've eaten last, seventy years?"

"Fifteen hours," he answers.

" Fifteen? What have you been doing all this time?" Hob says.

The man shrugs. "I had been busy, and my mind was preoccupied. Sometimes I lose my place and forget basic things like eating."

All of the sudden, Hob is seized with an urge to make sure he never misses a meal again."

-------

Lyrics: When the Party's Over - Billie Eilish (Youtube)

Scene from @ml-nolan 's fic Hiding in Plain Sight (explicit)

...I, um. I have no excuse. I'm sorry ' ^'; I hadn't heard this song in a bit and then it fit and then I had to at least make an attempt. This one absolutely has a specific chapter in mind.

No lyrics version below cut.

13. A song by a performer you’ve seen live

post the last line you wrote or drew and tag other folks to do the same. Tagged by @ml-nolan

“Oh, it’s you.” Robyn didn’t bother hiding his disappointment. He had clearly been expecting his father, not Dream. “I c’n get to sleep without a story. Just turn the nightlight on, please?”  Dream did as he was asked, but instead of leaving after turning all the lights except the star projector night light, he took a breath then perched at the edge of the bed. “...Are you upset with me, Robyn?” “....No…” The answer was quiet and sullen, and Robyn turned over in bed to face the wall, burrowing under the covers.  “...I think you might be. Can we talk about it? I can’t fix it unless I know what’s wrong…”  “I don’t need you to fix anything! Dad and I were ok before you!” The anger seemed sudden and explosive, Robyn sitting up and glaring and Dream, hands balled into fists.  Dream was silent, letting the boy calm down from the outburst. He knew that while Robyn was quick to anger, he also tended to let it go quickly as well. This time, though, he didn’t seem to. Dream was about to speak when he broke the silence again.   “You’re not gonna replace my mom. I don’t care if dad kisses you, I don’t care that we moved in. You’re not her.” Robyn drew his knees up to his chest as he spoke, a protective gesture, and Dream’s heart broke a little. This boy had already lost so much–did he really think that moving forward meant having to lose the right to miss his mother? “No. I’m not your mother. I couldn’t replace her even if I wanted to try.” Dream sighed just a bit. He ached to pull the boy into his arms, but he wasn’t certain that would be welcome at the moment. “I know I can never fill that void–not for you, and not for your father. Eleanor was very special.”

1) it's spectacularly entertaining queer romance, please absolutely read it

But, more importantly,

2) it's patient 0 for spunkelcouchen.

For those who aren't aware, Kick and I are involved in a small, Dreamling focused server. One of the other server members was one of Kick's first editors/betas for the book. And they're the one who really started the spunkelcouchen tag on AO3.

I only realized this when the phrase "a multicolored green couch upholstered with worn corduroy" slapped me in the face, and I immediately went to Kick.

Who hadn't even realized they'd written spunkelcouchen.

16: you can’t understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

HOPE HOB. I'm sorry, I just don't get it. Hob's so special to me because of his completely human and completely dogged perseverance in the face of incredible pain and suffering. Because, in the end, he has a drive to live. Not for any selfless purpose -- for himself. And that's the thing that Dream himself needs to learn.

Also....... I love the moment in Hope in Hell when Dream stands up and says, "I am hope." I feel like the Hope Hob trope kinda takes that element of Dream away and reappropriates it.