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Chapter 13: Quoth the Madness

A/N:
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For a creature who lived for thousands and thousands of years, Dream has zero knowledge of how a date works.

So Ravenna makes it her responsibility to teach him how to go on a proper date with wide explanations and a perfect illustration using her least past dating experience.

Just as they step out of Ravenna's vehicle, Dream's eyes glimmer with recognition at an unfamiliar figure standing in the car park.

"Delirium?"

"UM, HI." Nervously waves the ultimate manic pixie dream girl. She is a petite teen with multi-colored hair that changes colors and styles at a whim, and eclectic, mismatched clothing that shifts in style from moment to moment, with split-colored eyes: one green with silver flecks and the other blue.

Ravenna recognizes her as Delirium. She remembers Dream explaining at length about his youngest sister's abilities and that she was born as Delight but became Delirium as her happiness turned to madness.

"ARE YOU PLEASED TO SEE ME? MAYBE YOU ARE. I LIKE TO SEE YOU," Delirium says with a high-pitched voice to her brother, still with nervousness lingering in her voice.

"Perhaps."

"HUH?"

"Perhaps I am pleased to see you, sister."

"OH. I WAS AFRAID YOU'D PROBABLY BE ALL HORRIBLE TO ME. AND YOU'RE SO SCARY, SO I THOUGHT I'D REALLY TRY TO BE GOOD AND I WAS TRYING SO HARD TO BE GOOD, AND YOU WERE STILL BEING HORRID TO ME, AND I WAS DOING MY BEST, AND NOW I MESSED IT ALL UP, AND NOW YOU'LL SAY NO AND BE HORRIBLE, AND THAT'S ALL A MESS AND IT'S MY FAULT," Delirium says, holding her handkerchief to her nose and sniffing, sadly.

"I... I'm sorry. I've been a little distracted recently. I wasn't angry with you, my sister. If I have behaved badly as your brother, then please, accept my apologies." Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Dream apologizes without displaying much emotion on his face.

"ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME? ARE YOU?" Delirium throws the accusation at her elder brother with slight irritation in her voice now.

Scrunching his eyebrows with a puzzled look, Dream inquires, "Why would I do that?"

"ALL THAT APOLOGIZING. YOU NEVER APOLOGIZED TO ME. YOU JUST ACT LIKE YOU KNOW STUFF I DON'T KNOW THAT MAKES EVERYTHING YOU DO OKAY."

"I see. Well, I have apologized. And I was not making fun of you."

Ravenna coughs to remind them of her presence, gaining the attention of the two siblings out of their rivalry. She gives a look at Dream with crossed arms, waiting for him to introduce Delirium to her.

"My apologies. Allow me to introduce Delirium, my younger sister," Morpheus introduces her to his lover and turns to his sister. "Delirium, this is Ravenna, my-"

"ARE YOU COURTING HER? SHE IS PRETTY." Delirium compliments, causing Ravenna's cheeks to tint pink.

The corner of Dream's mouth turns into a mildly impressed smile before his hand sneaks around Ravenna's back, where she happily leans into his warmth for his satisfaction. "Indeed. She will be my bride soon. If she wishes to be."

"UHH. WELL... YOU KNOW... I NEARLY GOT ME MARRIED. BUT THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. IT NEVER HAPPENED. SO MAYBE THAT WAS MY FAULT. I DON'T KNOW, SHIT HAPPENS. YOU'RE BOTH OKAY. GOOD LUCK." Delirium whimsically rambles.

Ravenna gives her a questioning look, trying to keep up with her speaking. "Thank you?"

Delirium gives her a radiant smile. "IS THERE A WORD FOR FORGETTING THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHEN YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE AT THE SAME TIME YOU REALIZE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN THE NAME OF THAT PERSON YOU'RE INTRODUCING THEM TO AS WELL?"

"No." Dream replies this time.

"Would you like to join us for dinner, Delirium?" Ravenna asks politely of the younger Endless sibling.

"I WOULD LOVE TO!" Delirium eagerly nods and runs toward the restaurant before the couple.

"You do not have to," Morpheus says to his lover as they walk, hand-in-hand.

"I want to. She's your family." Ravenna insists and whispers the next part. "So... She looks a bit of-"

"Complicated?"

She shrugs. "I was going to say weird, but yeah, complicated works too."

When they approach their reserved table and take their seats, Delirium speaks once again.

"UM. DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I CAME HERE?" The youngest Endless sister's question is directed at her brother.

"That can wait until we have eaten, surely?" Dream politely asks.

"OH YES." Delirium agrees just as the waiter comes into view.

"Good morning." The waiter greets them with a smile and turns to the whimsy teenager. "What will you have, ma'am?"

"HAVE YOU GOT ANY LITTLE MILK CHOCOLATE PEOPLE? ABOUT THREE INCHES HIGH? MEN AND WOMEN? I'D LIKE SOME OF THEM FILLED WITH RASPBERRY CREAM."

The waiter scribbles it down in his notepad with his rough handwriting. "Very good, ma'am. And to drink?"

Delirium taps her finger on her cheek for a second as she thinks before answering. "FRESH MANGO JUICE, PLEASE."

The waiter nods and turns to Ravenna. "For you, ma'am?"

"A scouse dish and a glass of red wine, please." She replies, her fingers fiddling with the tablecloth.

"As you will, ma'am," the waiter says with a polite smile before turning his attention to Dream.

"An omelette, a light salad, and a glass of white wine for me," Morpheus states.

Soon after, the food arrives, and the three of them begin digging into their flavorful food, spreading pin-drop silence faster in the warm atmosphere all around.

"LOOK. THESE TWO ARE MAKING LO-OVE... K. I. S. S. I. N. G." Delirium squeaks with her over-excited voice while holding a pair of chocolate figures of a man and a woman together, causing Ravenna to choke on her wine and end up in a series of coughs.

"Stop that." Dream glares at her sister, before he turns to Ravenna, who is now recovering from her disturbed state. His steel blue eyes are filled with concern. "Are you all right, my love?"

Ravenna nods in return with a small smile. "Yeah."

"SORRY... UM. THEY WEREN'T REALLY KISSING. THEY WERE UM. SQUIDGING." Delirium nervously says this time, licking the chocolate off her fingers. Touched by her fingers, the two surviving chocolate people on her plate copulate desperately, losing themselves in a melting frenzy of lust, spending the last of their brief borrowed lives in a spasm of raspberry cream and fear. "IT'S OKAY. I'M FINISHED. MOSTLY. THEY'RE GONE ALL STICKY ANYWAY. AND I DON'T LIKE MANGO JUICE. IT'S YECCHY. KISSING."

The Lord of Dreams and Nightmares pinches the bridge of his nose to cease the frustration and not scold his little sister for her antics. "Is this formal family business, my sister?"

"OH YES. I THINK. I MEAN KIND OF. MOSTLY. MAYBE." Delirium nods with uncertainty, wiping her hands with her handkerchief.

"Now, why don't you tell me why you came here?" Dream says, taking a sip from his wine glass, his bare hand placed on Ravenna's thigh to bring her some comfort.

"I'M LOOKING FOR MY DOGGY. DO YOU REMEMBER MY DOGGY? I GOT HIM ON THE DAY THAT I ATE ALL THE CHERRIES ALL UP. FROM OUR BROTHER." Delirium states, the colors of her clothing switching into a light purple scheme of colors matching her disheveled hair.

"I have not forgotten," Morpheus says flatly.

"WILL YOU HELP ME FIND MY DOGGY? YOU AND ME, WE HAD SUCH A NICE TIME THE LAST TIME WE WENT LOOKING FOR SOMEONE." Delirium requests from her brother with a pleading look.

Dream raises an eyebrow, not recalling such a moment in the past. "Did We?"

"DIDN'T WE?" Delirium shrugs nonchalantly.

"So?" Ravenna asks, joining the conversation.

Delirium turns her head to her brother's lover with a shocked look, "THAT WAS JUST WHAT DESPAIR SAID. SHE SAID 'S0?'"

"You've asked her then?" Dream asks.

"YES. SHE SAID NO. SHE SAID YOU'D SAY NO, TOO."

"And Desire? I take it you asked Desire as well."

"0H YES." Delirium admits. "I WAS IN DESIRE'S THRESHOLD WHEN I REALIZED I LOST MY DOGGY. I MISS HIM. AND HE COULD BE HURT OR SOMETHING."

"I'm sure you were."Morpheus says and empties his wine glass with a less amused look on his face.

"SO WILL YOU COME WITH ME TO LOOK FOR MY DOGGY? PLEASE?" Delirium asks once again.

"Why don't you request the help of Destruction?" Dream asks, not thinking twice about showing his lack of interest.

"I DO NOT WANT TO DISAPPOINT HIM BY LOSING BARNABAS," Delirium sadly sniffs, knowing she is losing the help of her elder brother in finding her dog.

Ravenna takes Dream's hand in hers, gaining his attention. "She is your little sister, Morpheus. Let's help her."

Dream sighs deeply, not liking the idea of spending time with his little sister. This is not how he had planned the day. He had planned to spend it smoothly with Ravenna, hoping to stabilize his place in her heart. But in the end, he agrees. "Only because you insist."

Delirium's eyes sparkle with enthusiasm before she begins her noisy rambling once again. "HAVE YOU EVER SPENT DAYS AND DAYS MAKING UP FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM THAT NO ONE'S EVER EATEN BEFORE? LIKE CHICKEN AND TELEPHONE ICE CREAM?... GREEN MOUSE ICE CREAM WAS THE WORST. I DIDN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL."

Ravenna gives her an odd look before collecting her stuff and leaving cash on the table with a fair tip.

"Sister? Where must we start?" Morpheus asks his sister.

"HERE?" Delirium replies with an uncertain tone in her voice.

"Very good. We are here. Where should we travel now?" Ravenna asks, watching the youngest Endless sibling look back at her with utter confusion.

The three of them are now walking back to the car park while the couple steals kisses once in a while.

"UM. DREAM? DO YOU LIKE ME?" Delirium asks her older brother with hope.

"Yes... I suppose I must do, Delirium. You entertain me, and it distresses me to see you troubled," Dream honestly replies while Ravenna unlocks her car.

"REALLY?"

"Really."

"I WANT TO DRIVE," Delirium requests with excitement.

Ravenna shakes her head, crossing her arms. "Nope. I am not letting a crazy teenager drive my bloody car with us in it. And I definitely have no wish to die soon."

"I THINK YOU'RE NASTY TO ME." Delirium's hands are placed on her hips, an annoyed look on her face.

"Oh, you noticed?"

"I'LL THINK YOU'LL HAVE-"

"Delirium, enough." Dream speaks firmly to his sister before his eyes soften as they settle on his lover. "I will not let any harm come to you. You have my word."

"Fine." Ravenna huffs, knowing she is going to regret this later.

Within the next few minutes, the three begin their road trip in order to find Delirium's lost dog, Barnabas.

"BZUUM. BZUUM. BRRRR. BZUUUUUUM! I'M GOOD AT THIS, AREN'T I? I'M REALLY GOOD. I KNEW I'D BE GOOD AT DRIVING. BZUUM. BZUUM." Delirium drives the car in the manner of a snake, almost crashing into the other vehicles on the road. "DREAM? LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME DRIVING!"

"I see you, Delirium," Dream calmly says, tightening his arms around Ravenna, who is snuggled into his chest, terrified for her life.

"You lot are insane. Insane enough to send me bonkers by the end of your silly trial period!" Ravenna complains for the thousandth time, not daring to open her eyes.

The corner of his mouth turns into a mildly amused smile as he chuckles against her, and she can feel the vibrations from his chest. "Don't you ever stop complaining, my love?"

"Not usually, no." Ravenna mumbles, burying her face further into his chest, inhaling his scent. With the influence of Dream, her eyelids droop as a yawn escapes her lips.

Morpheus places a small kiss on her hair as the woman in his arms falls into a dreamless sleep. The smell of her hair brings him more comfort than she has already given him. He then looks around at the passing buildings and street signs. "Are you certain that we are going the correct way, Delirium?"

"SURE. I THINK... YOU KNOW, IF THIS CAR HAD GREAT BIG RUNNY LEGS LIKE A CENTIPEDE, IT COULD RUN VERY FAST, AND WE'D GET THERE QUICKER. CAN I?" Delirium suggests.

He stares blankly at her from the backseat. "No."

"YOU NEVER LET ME DO ANYTHING!" Delirium whines.

"I let you drive," Dream states just as the other vehicles on the road honk angrily at Delirium's silly attempt at driving.

Delirium blinks, puzzled. "WHY IS THAT CAR MAKING THAT NOISE, WHOO-OOP WHOO-EE-OOP, AND FLASHING ITS LIGHT AT US?"

"I have no idea. Perhaps the driver wishes to talk with you," Dream suggests.

"OH. NEAT. OKAY. LET'S STOP AND SAY HI." Delirium says excitedly and dramatically halts the car, immediately waking the sleeping beauty in Dream's arms.

"Am I dead already?" Ravenna sarcastically mutters, rubbing her eyes and trying to recognize their current location, only to notice a policeman jogging toward their car. "Oh great. We're going to jail."

"You!" The police officer points at the whimsical teenager with a stern expression. "Out of the car, and keep your hands where I can see them."

"YOU MEAN NOT TO MAKE MY HANDS GO TO THE MOON OR ANYWHERE?" Delirium asks.

"I. Am not. In the mood. For jokes. Out!" The glare on the police officer's face deepens as he watches Delirium step out of the vehicle. "I've been trying to get you to pull over for five miles now. You've been driving all over the road, you've driven through every red light. Listen, you better have a good attorney, kid, because your ass is green and glowing. Let's get your driver's license."

"HUH?"

"Have you got a driver's license?"

"I'M A VERY GOOD DRIVER."

"You're the single worst driver I've seen in eight years on highway patrol, lady. And right now, you are in it up to your ears," the police officer says coldly.

Delirium places her hands on her hips with irritation, obviously not happy with his impolite tone. "I THINK YOU'RE NASTY TO ME NOW. I THINK YOU'LL HAVE INVISIBLE INSECTS ALL OVER YOUR LIFE AND EVER AND ALWAYS."

"Listen, kid..." The police officer pauses for a second, before he begins to roughly wipe away something on his back. Then his hair and all over his body. "Jesus! Get off me! Off!"

Ravenna watches the scene in front of her with a horrified look, her face two shades paler than usual. She leans into Dream to whisper her next few words. "Remind me not to mess with your sister ever again."

"Shit! Get it off me! Shit!" The police officer is still lamely struggling to get rid of the invisible insects running all over his body before he saunters back to his vehicle and drives away.

"Was that really entirely necessary?" Dream asks his sister as she hops into the vehicle with a grin on her face.

"I DON'T TELL YOU HOW TO UM. WHAT TO YOU DO. DO IT. YOU KNOW. YOU'VE DONE LOTS WORSE THAN THAT. ANYWAY. LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS." Delirium throws the accusation right at her elder brother with an annoyed look before she sighs with boredom. "I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ANYMORE. LET'S JUST GO PWOOF AND BE THERE."

"I do not think so, sister. We began this journey in the waking world. We shall finish it in the waking world," Dream states, his steel-blue eyes falling on Ravenna, silently begging her to drive.

"I'll drive," Ravenna volunteers, to Morpheus's relief. She switches into the driver's seat while Delirium jumps into the passenger seat. "Where are we going?"

"Delirium will advise you," Dream says.

"ME?" Delirium asks in disbelief, pointing to herself.

"I am sure you will find the experience one of great interest and variety," Dream tells his sister, who nods with great excitement.

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