"Meow, why oranges?"
A gigantic cat lay sprawled on the ground, licking its paw as it raised its head to ask the pale man beside it.
Before them stood a battered wooden board bearing Deathstroke's message. It said he had gone to buy oranges and would be back soon, telling Dream not to wander off.
A long time had passed since Deathstroke left. Though the one-eyed man had left attendants behind to provide food and drinks for the man and cat, the big cat was clearly getting impatient.
"That is a story, one that does not exist in our universe."
Dream, who answered it, still looked half-asleep. Stars like swirling scraps of white paper filled his pupils, while he held a bowl of ice cream in his hands, occasionally scooping up a mouthful with a little plastic spoon.
Daniel had once been human, an ordinary Gotham resident. If he had not inexplicably inherited the throne of the Dreaming, he should have only just graduated from college.
"Meow, this is so boring. Do we still have to wait for him? Why don't we go have a look around first?"
The cat placed a paw atop its head and idly fiddled with its ears. It was not fat, but its eyes were mere slits, as though they had never opened. Its pale blue and white fur formed patterns like drifting mist.
The pale man swallowed the cream in his mouth and slowly closed his eyes.
"No. This incident is a vortex. It appeared once before, and I allowed it to remain. The result was tragedy. I thought I had made up for everything. I thought that matter had been settled. I thought everyone had forgotten it."
"But you are the one who cannot forget." The cat began washing its face, having nothing