Just So Cute - Tumblr Posts
You said that you were taking Sandman fan fiction requests. I hope this one is a good idea: Reader is a preschool teacher who plans to read the Hans Christian Andersen story "Ole Lukoie" to her class, which she mentions to Morpheus since the titular character seems to be a bit similar to him. The day this happens, Morpheus shows up to visit the class to surprise the Reader and answer some of the kids' questions about him.
Storytime
A/N: omg you have NO IDEA how giddy I was to get this request! I work with toddlers and this is TOTALLY the kind of thing I'd do if they were older than 2 or 3 xD my 4 year olds from two years ago would have loved this. Thank you for sending this, hope you enjoy!
Here's a link to the full story of Ole Lukoie
~~Requests for Morpheus and the Doctor (9-13) are open!~~
The floor of my living room looked like a classroom exploded. To be fair, it was kind of true- I was working on my lesson plan for the upcoming week, and all my papers were spread out on the floor around me, my laptop perched on my legs. A mug of black coffee was on the table behind me.
It was almost midnight.
I felt the hairs on my arms stand up along with the rush of air that announced my boyfriend had arrived- as if “boyfriend” could encompass everything that came with being in a relationship with Dream of the Endless.
His eyebrows flew into his hair as he took in the pre-K lesson carnage. “Beloved,” he began slowly, “It is rather late, why are you still working?”
“My lesson plan is due tomorrow for observation. I’m almost done, I just have to get everything organized.” Dream watched me close my laptop and stack the papers in their specific order. No doubt he was ready and waiting to make me rest the minute I zipped up my bag.
I walked back into the living room, where Morpheus immediately pulled me onto the couch next to him. Exhaustion settled over me like a blanket as I curled into his side. “I admire your dedication to your work and your students,” he purred, “But you need rest. I refuse to let you burn yourself out.”
I pouted at him, my mind still whirling with everything I needed to do. “What do you have planned for the little ones?” he asked softly, gently rubbing my back. A smile touched my face.
“We’re learning about different fairytales.” I giggled somewhat nervously as I realized I was about to explain my fairytale lesson to the Prince of Stories. “Do a different one every day for the next two weeks- all the usuals, Goldilocks, Three Little Pigs, Rapunzel…” I giggled again.
“I found one I hadn’t heard of, by Hans Christian Anderson. Ole Lukoie.” It may have been a trick of the light, but I thought I saw a knowing smirk touch Dream’s face. “The main character sounds strangely similar to someone I know- a magical being that controls dreams and helps people fall asleep with sand… You wouldn’t have had anything to do with that, would you?”
A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest. “What ever do you mean, my love?” I gave him a playful smack on his firm chest; the fact that I didn’t break my hand on his immovable form was a sign of just how relaxed he was. “You know exactly what I mean, oh inspirational Dream Lord, he who puts ballads and epics in peoples’ brains.” Morpheus laughed again, this one full and beaming. God he was so beautiful when he laughed.
“And when do you plan to share this tale with your students?”
“Thursday.” I paused, a suspicious little thought taking hold. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” was his almost immediate response. I could see the wheels turning in his mind behind star-dusted eyes. He stared straight ahead for a moment before giving me another mischievous smirk.
“Alright,” I huffed playfully, settling back into his chest with a yawn. “Keep your secrets.” He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead as my eyes fluttered closed.
“Sleep well, beloved.”
~~~
The week passed normally, both in the waking world and the Dreaming, and I had almost forgotten my conversation with Morpheus about fairytales. I was too preoccupied with writing my kids’ report cards and handling the daily chaos. One kid went home with a stomach bug, another was absent with pink eye, they ran wild on the playground, it never ended.
Thursday came, and I woke feeling especially well rested, no doubt Morpheus’ doing. His scent still lingered on my blankets; he must have spent most of the night in the waking. I went through the motions of my morning routine, putting my coffee in a travel mug so I could get to my classroom a little earlier.
My kids started coming in about an hour after I did- time always got away from me when I started prepping and organizing my room. Only a few were home sick, and the rest seemed in good spirits, coughs and runny noses aside.
They played until morning snack, when I usually read a story. All eleven of them sat at the table with a small cup of pretzels, eating and talking loudly to each other. I pulled out a copy of Ole Lukoie I had printed. “Alright my friends!” I called. Eleven pairs of eyes looked up at me, at least for a second before going back to their pretzels. I was about to go into the story when there was a knock on my door. “Oh! I wonder who that is!”
I opened the door to my principal… and my boyfriend, smiling no less. “Hello!” she began with a wave, “This young man said he was visiting your room as a guest reader!” Morpheus stepped into the room and hovered awkwardly by the cubbies.
I choked on my snort of laughter at “young man”; the coughing fit gave me a moment to think of a response. Poor Morpheus looked concerned that I was about to hack up a lung. My principal left with another cheery wave. My kids stared at Morpheus with wide eyes, trying to make him make sense in their four-year-old brains. I took a breath and feel back on the age-old pre-K advice: just roll with it.
I beckoned him to the front of the room and said, “Yes, I forgot to tell you I was bringing in a guest reader today. This, is Mr. Morpheus. Let’s say hello!” He gave them a nod as eleven versions of “Hello Mr. Morpheus” came from pretzel-filled mouths.
I passed him the copy of the story with a beaming, slightly unhinged grin. “Mr. Morpheus is going to read our story today, so let’s show him your best listening ears.” I pulled out one of the tiny plastic chairs and sat with my kids, mirroring their eager anticipation.
Dream looked uncomfortable for only a moment before the Prince of Stories arrived in full glory. He cleared his throat and began to read:
“There is nobody in the world who knows so many stories as Ole-Luk-Oie, or who can relate them so nicely. In the evening, while the children are seated at the table or in their little chairs, he comes up the stairs very softly, for he walks in his socks, then he opens the doors without the slightest noise, and throws a small quantity of very fine dust in their eyes, just enough to prevent them from keeping them open, and so they do not see him.”
His soothing, rumbling voice had them instantly spellbound, hanging on to his every word, pretzels long forgotten. My kids were never this comfortable or well-behaved with guests, but some part of them must have known Morpheus to be the one from their dreams, keeping watch over their sleep.
I was just as entranced, staring at him with a dopey, love-struck smile as he worked his magic. He would occasionally glance up from the page and make eye contact with one or two kids before his gaze landed on me, then returned to the page. He was relaxed, at ease, and dare I say, enjoying himself. His deep blue eyes were practically glittering.
The kids all clapped when he was finished- I have no shame admitting that I did as well. “Right friends, what do we say to Mr. Morpheus for reading us a story?”
“THANK YOOUUU!!”
I laughed and glanced bashfully at Dream as he closed the book. Both corners of his mouth were lifted in a small but genuine smile. I could tell he had that glowing warmth in his chest, the kind that only came from being openly adored by a gaggle of toddlers. He practically glowed under the fluorescent classroom lights, reminding me in that moment that gods and Endless thrived on being shown love and kindness as much as humans did.
I sniffed and got a hold on my emotions that were yelling for me to wrap Dream in my arms and shower him in praise, affection, kisses and adoration. Listening to his voice for ten minutes straight and watching him with the kids I loved like my own had gotten me kind of worked up. “Now then, does anyone have questions for Mr. Morpheus about our story?” A few raised their hands. “Yes, Cody.”
“Mr. Mow-ee-us, guess what! My brother has a sandbox like in the story!” Dream looked perplexed; I stood next to him as backup.
“That’s really cool!” I responded for him. “Sarah, what’s your question?”
“Teacher is Mr. Morbus your boyfriend?”
I froze, feeling his eyes on me. I should have seen this coming. I let out a small sigh. “Yes, Mr. Morpheus is my boyfriend.”
“Are you gonna be married? My mommy’s married-“
I stopped them before that line of inquiry could go any further. “Okay, David you had a question?”
“Do you have a cat? I have two cats at home.”
“No,” Dream began somewhat haltingly. “I do have a raven, a bird. His name is Matthew.”
“That’s a silly name!” one kid shouted. A cup of pretzels clattered to the floor.
“Okay, one more question before recess. Elena?”
“Why do you have a really long coat?”
“Because… I find it comfortable, and it’s part of my job.”
Before another kid could shout a question, there was another knock at the door and Mike, our hall monitor, stuck his head in. “Who’s ready to go outside?” he called with a smile.
“Alright friends, get your coats and go with Mr. Mike, have fun!” A stampede of four-year-olds thundered to the door, some of them shouting goodbye to Morpheus as they left.
Silence descended as the last child left. I took a huge breath and sat on the table, smiling at Dream. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and the gleam in his eye was positively devious. I laughed and said, “You look entirely too pleased with yourself, love.”
Morpheus sat next to me on the table, our shoulders lightly brushing together. His warmth was comforting and helped calm my spike of adrenaline from the transition to recess. He murmured, “Your students are certainly… precocious.” I snorted at his choice of words. “I can see why you love them so much.”
“Yea,” I sighed with an adoring smile. “They drive me up a wall sometimes, but I really do love them.” I gave him a little nudge. “Thank you for coming, the kids really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, listening to you read.” Dream pressed a kiss to my temple and my whole body glowed with warmth.
“It was my pleasure,” he breathed, “And I would be glad to read to you any time you desire.”
“I just may take you up on that.” I heaved myself off the table and started picking up empty cups. “I need to get ready for the afternoon; you can stay if you want, I’ll just be working. But, you know what that’s like.”
Morpheus chuckled and headed to the door. “I would like that very much, but I must return to the Dreaming. I have some work of my own to finish before I see you tonight.”
“Fair enough.” I grabbed his hand and gave him a deep kiss before he could leave. “I love you, see you tonight.”
He took my hand and ghosted his lips over my knuckles, the gesture sending waves of tingles up my arm to my entire body. “Until tonight, my love.”
@warrioroflondonbelow
https://iglovequotes.net/
Just so cute (*ฅ́˘ฅ̀*)
Sunlit Honey: The baked goods are just too cute-! Can I get a cinnabird roll? *offers bits*
