The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

Twenty

"Daniel is named Daniel!" He chased after the platinum-coated fox.

"I see him, now and then," Morpheus said.

"He's grown now," Maeve said in her soft voice. She lifted a bit of pink ribbon and tied it about the tail of the white fox in her lap. "This Daniel looks grown, but he is young."

Her fox ran away.

Maeve reached a hand toward Daniel. "Come rest your head in my lap, Daniel."

"Daniel is not hungry," he laughed.

"Maeve," Morpheus sighed, "He doesn't need a nurse."

"Perhaps just some tea," Dream said, even as he appeared before them in his usual pale robes. He carried a tray, which he set between Maeve and Morpheus on what now served as picnic blanket.

"Sar Jibril," Maeve greeted the Angel.

"Grandfather-uncle," Morpheus said.

"Queen Maeve. Morpheus. River." Dream looked across the orchard, "Come, Daniel." Dream then vocalized from his throat to call the foxes. He gestured toward Morpheus to pour the tea, while he passed around the snacks.

Morpheus lifted the large, white ceramic teapot and poured into the various vessels.

A lemonbar was set before Morpheus, a cupcake topped with flowers before Maeve, three tea biscuits for Daniel, barbeque avocado sushi rolls for River, riceballs for the foxes, and white chocolate truffles for Dream.

Morpheus saw Dream nod to him, and understood it as permission - or maybe a test - to assign the teacups. The painted, clay bowls seemed to best fit the foxes; they didn't even have thumbs to hold handled cups. The #1 Mom mug was tricky, but Morpheus decided this was Daniel's, because he was the only one who could not - even theoretically - be a mother. Maeve still sighed when she saw it didn't come to her. The thimble was for River. Of the remaining three, one was glass, one was painted with dancing muses, and the last was plain white. Morpheus was uncertain who should receive which. Finally, he passed the muses teacup to Maeve, and handed Dream the glass cup.

"I heard someone say once that there was one muse for one dream," Morpheus said, "Is that true?" He took a small bite of lemon bar.

Daniel began singing, voice high and thin, "...I'll be there as soon as I can, but I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life I had before...."

Dream patted Daniel on the shoulder. "We were in favor of formal systems for inspiration when we were Maeve's father," Dream said. It was curious use of the royal we, but Morpheus understood Jibril was speaking of Raphael and himself collectively being - or having been, or to be - Regent of Dream.

"I do not believe this is law, only the most common circumstance," Maeve said.

River spoke up, "It's from Xanadu."

Morpheus looked down at River; he had never mentioned this. But, then, Morpheus had not specifically asked River about muses.

"Yes," Dream agreed, "A movie. One of Absinthe's favorites.

"Oh!" Morpheus had that sense of dawning realization, "it's a dance movie."

"Among other things," Dream said, with a soft laugh.

"There was something else I wanted to talk to you about."

Dream gave a nod, then sipped tea.

"Actually, it's something Daniel told me once- Oh, did you know your cherries are in The Empty World?"