Redefining Expectations-Insomnia Sequel

Chapter 3: The Real Dream

"Now I see that C hasn't accepted my proposal yet...Fate's probably holding them back which means more discussions with them...And I have to ask Mom for help regarding that new guy Will...Hmmm...Now that tinge of doubt and dejection that I felt makes sense...Feels strange to be jealous of myself...Welcome, Error. I hope you can find satisfaction here."He says, walking closer.

I didn't know where to begin with the questions that sprang to my mind. What did any of that mean?

"WhAt aRe yOu tAlKinG aBoUt?"

"Oh, just work stuff here. It gets so busy here trying to achieve the best results to protect you all. Now a new entity named Will has joined us and he's quite nice...I've been helping him adjust and he seems set to resist Fate as well...Gets so busy that there's a disconnect with my other half. Whatever you've done or told that half is stuff I'm aware of, I only know the feelings they cause. That and how many times you all squeeze the dolls I sent you. Each of them have a matching doll that echoes the message when one of you squeezes them."He says, gesturing around the room filled with papers and dolls of our loved ones.

I glance around as I process his words. Will...A new guy with that name...I wonder what Will represents or will be in charge of. And given what he said, there really is a disconnect between the two halves of his soul.

"Brother doesn't squeeze his anymore and neither does Palette so they must be satisfied. Swap and Nightmare squeeze it every now and then so I must be doing well but you...you've squeezed it constantly. You must be really dissatisfied there, even with....my other half there. He must've recognized that and sent you here to be satisfied. We know not all of you have been completely pleased or accepting of his presence there. Brother says that some of you have been dismissive of his explanations and don't recognize him as Dream. It's alright, I'm sure that this whole situation is hard to understand or accept. Most duties here don't even recognize my other half as anything other than a temporary solution."He says, taking his seat behind a desk.

I gaze up at him and he laughs as he can obviously see my confusion.

"You and a few others don't believe half of what he says, do you? Too busy thinking he's cute and clueless? Obscuro knows the truth. I'm just surprised my other half sent you here first as I can tell he, er, I am getting tired of being treated like a kid. Nightmare can be really annoying apparently when he's acting like an older brother. He doesn't seem to completely understand that my past self wasn't sent down to you...well, not in the way he thinks. I may look like my childhood self there but that doesn't mean I am. It's not like I was turned into my childhood self with the memories of everything else. I'm sure I'll be seeing Nightmare soon to correct him on that if he keeps that up."

Oookayy, I'm guilty of that...But can he blame me? He DOES look cute.

"WhErE iS yOuR bEd? WoN'T it bE cOmfiEr tO dIsCuSs tHiS tHeRe? AnD y0u cAn't pOsSiBlY bE maD aT m3 f0r thiNkInG tHaT y0u aR3 cUt3! ThAT iS aLl oN yOu!"I say, crossing my arms.

"I don't have a bed, Error. I don't need sleep here. At least not this part of me. Although I do appreciate the affectionate accusations."He says, gently stroking my head with a finger.

"WhAt aRe yOu tAlKinG aBoUt? Of cOuRsE yOu nEeD sLeEp!"

"No, not this part of me. Perhaps the part of me that has been watching you and caring for you, but not me. There's a reason my tapestry has two sides."

"WhAt?"

"You didn't know? I'm sure Destiny showed Nightmare the tapestries and he would've shown it off...Destiny said Nightmare took pictures...Perhaps he isn't in denial but clueless. Perhaps I should show you...Then these jolts of jealousy that I sense from my other half can end."