Dreamling
Dream of the Endless/Hob Gadling
In 1389 Dream made a man immortal on a whim and met him at the same pub every hundred years afterward — until Hob called it friendship and Dream stormed out for a century, then came back to apologize. The Sandman's episode-six montage minted a juggernaut overnight.
What is Dreamling?
Dreamling is the fan-given name for the romantic pairing of Dream of the Endless and Hob Gadling from The Sandman. With over 9,000 works on Archive of Our Own, it's one of the most popular ships in the fandom.
Why fans love Dreamling
A six-hundred-year standing date between an anthropomorphic concept and humanity's most stubborn optimist; the patience is the point.
Most Popular Dreamling Fanfics
The highest-rated Dreamling stories on AO3, ranked by kudos.
who wants to live forever?
Completeby ranchdiip
“An Endless?” Hob asks, softly, because it feels like a question that needs to be soft.“That’s what we are,” Death responds, trying again for a small smile. “Me and D—”“Don’t,” Hob interrupts, far stronger than he meant to, and Death looks surprised for as long as it takes him to get out, “Don’t, pl
slow burn
Completeby arahir
Morpheus’s expression melts into unreadability. “Would you have come to my rescue again, Hob Gadling?”“Yes. God, yes, I would have. Of course, I would have."Hob learns where his friend has been, and even Dream of the Endless might, on rare occasion, need a hand.ART BY EV | chapter 3 | chapter 4 | ch
moonflower
Completeby Magnolia35
Hob has to do a double take because Dream is crying; big, ugly, hiccuping sobs that wrack his skeletal frame to the point where Dream looks like a leaf in the wind. The raven that’d been following the man the last time they met— Mike or Martin or Matthew or something— pecks at the guys shoes. The s
let me in before the rainy season starts again
Completeby tiltingheartand
“Oh shit,” he says, eyes wide. And then, “oh fuck,” as he’s scooting backwards as quick as he can, “sorry, sorry, I’m sorry,” because what else can you say when you realize, oh, that’s not just a version of your friend that your brain conjured up, that’s your actual friend, the anthropomorphic perso
Into Darkness and Howling (I'll Keep Him From Drowning)
Completeby TinyButFierce
It was beginning to sound like Roderick Burgess had something or someone trapped in his basement.Hob was starting to wonder if he should do something about that.
Right Place, Right Time
Completeby sherwoodfox
Over the centuries, Hob had dreamt plenty of dreams about his friend from the tavern. All good dreams, of course.Very good dreams.Usually not dreams that featured either of them wearing very much clothing.But until the talking bird told him otherwise, he hadn't considered that those dreams might be
what you once wanted
Completeby astrhae
“You know what kept me going, century after century?” Hob is angry enough, desperate enough, that his voice drops low, quiet. “Even when I had nothing?”The music around them crests, waves crashing against the unyielding shores of time –“Chimneys,” Morpheus answers, bland.Oh, what a bastard.---------
We have all the time in the world
Completeby Picture_Yourself
A detailed examination on just what exactly would happen if Dream figured out he actually cared about Hob half a millennium earlier and Hob was a bit more successful in keeping his "friend's" attention. Aka they fuck by 1889.| fanart of chapter 6 | fanart inspired by this fic |
We dream - it is good we are dreaming
Completeby Nekromika
It came sudden. His friends head snapped around, fanthomless eyes staring directly at him. One pale hand reached out and took hold of his arm, fingers as long as spider-legs which dug themselves painfully into his flesh.“Find me.”Hob awoke with sweat sticking to his brow, breath caugh in his lungs,
Afterimage
Completeby ScribeofArda
The anthropomorphic personification of dreaming is sitting on his sofa, staring at a sequin cushion in his lap.His day could be weirder, but Hob isn't quite sure how.
warning sign
Completeby issylra
"He does not wish your friendship, Hob Gadling. He wishes to bed you.""He—" Hob cuts himself off, head tilting slightly like the new information needs just a second to process. Dream wonders when he began to find this kind of confusion more endearing than a test of his patience. In which Dream begi
Inspire in Me, the Desire in Me
Completeby ElloPoppet
It’s the right day, but the year is all wrong, and Dream suspects that there’s something else not quite right even before he finds himself standing in front of the shuttered remains of the White Horse Tavern. Still, he’s chilled in a way he’s not accustomed to feeling, reminiscent of the hopeless, f
For Want of Caution
Completeby mayanpaw
Hob Gadling was not by nature a cautious man but even he knew the value of keeping track of those who would be too… intrigued by his condition. In 1926, a chance conversation in a bar alerts Hob to the fact that Roderick Burgess has captured another immortal, one that sounds eerily similar to his fr
The Long-suffering Journey of Prof. H. Gadling & His Nosy Students
Completeby SrirachaBunny
Finding out that your professor is a human, with ties and an actual life beyond the classroom is always a little jarring for students.For the university students in Professor Hob Gadling's history class? It's practically life changing.Now, if only they could figure out who this mystery man is.
more sky comes and more days
Completeby Chrome
In the aftermath of her imprisonment, Calliope is determined to learn to trust humans again, so she finds a roommate and settles in the mortal world. Meanwhile, her former husband has been on another quest that ended in grief, and he seeks her out for solace.What could possibly go wrong?or, “Hey, Z
Hello (my old heart)
Completeby Nekromika
Dream and Hob finally have their meeting in the New Inn. "The New Inn?" Dream asked, averting his gaze. "It is yours?""Well, yeah." Hob cleared his throat. "Couldn't bring it over my heart to see the old one be torn down, so I...built a new one.""You," Dream began, their arms brushing between their
pie of birds and grief and ocean water
Completeby Chrome
“Yes,” he says. “But—humans, do you have it where you are hungry, and you only remain hungry so long, and then you stop being hungry?” His blue eyes meet Hob’s brown ones, and it feels as though they hold a memory between them of Hob at the old inn, wolfing down food. Do you know how hungry you can
aulon raid
Completeby Moorishflower
The New Inn is as close to a church as Hob can build, a monument to stories, a tribute to dreams. He has a baseball bat, 600 years of fighting experience, and an anthropomorphic representation of dreaming to impress.In other words, no neonazis allowed.
Counting Down The Days
Completeby cup_of_lethe
During their first meeting in the twenty-first century, Dream finally reveals his identity to his old friend.
Do Dare to Dream
Completeby Nekromika
“I couldn’t really help but pop by. And I do have to say, it is so good to finally meet you.” They drawled, lifting a hand adorned with sharp red nails and placing it gently on his arm. “Uhm...” Hob mumbled intelligently. “Excuse me, but who are you?”“Me?" Red lips streched impossibly wider. "You ma
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dreamling mean?
Dreamling is the ship name (portmanteau or nickname) for the pairing of Dream of the Endless and Hob Gadling. It's used by fans to tag and search for fanfiction featuring this relationship.
How many Dreamling fics are on AO3?
There are over 9,000 Dreamling fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own.
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