【 CANTO I.II. BRING ME A DREAM 】

There had never been anyone more intimately familiar with what could be, or was, beyond the threshold of the waking world than Carl Jung. He introduced the importance of the dream world, and he was the strongest proponent of the residents and their influence, their hypothesized coexistence and presence with the dreamers of the waking world.

❝ [Dreams are] the small [hidden doors] in the deepest
and most intimate sanctum of the soul (...) , ❞

Jung proposed that dreams and the spirits ( Shepherds, Nightmares, and the lesser sprites, too ) who maintained the subconscious realm and its balance were responsible NOT FOR AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE REALITY, but rather for a world entirely and unequivocally rooted in our own. Indeed, Jung once wrote, the dreams we dream are core contexts for our memories, identities, and for personal growth; if only we could work with these unseen, intangible spirits and further understand the symbols therein, we may achieve TRUE HOMEOSTASIS.

❝ (...) dreams tell [our] myths. ❞

【 I.II.I. 】

Dream spirits were always supposed to be intangible, incorporeal entities, living on the other side of the threshold of our reality. Lately, though, it seems that some spirits have been crossing over into the waking world and attempting to blend into society ( with mixed results ). There were once predictions that the worlds would one day reach a convergence, that at some point the separation would thin further than it already has—

Well.

Now there are reports that greater dream spirits ( Nightmares and even banished Shepherds ) have been caught mingling within the waking world. And you were one of those reports, filed or hidden ( up to your discretion ), listing not just a sighting but a FULL-BLOWN INVASION: one of greater spirits has entitled himself to your life.

The spirit in question?

His name is ELISHAI.
A "defective," banished Shepherd whose sole purpose
is to make your life Hell.

Several options remain in your power: you could humor his jaded rich-kid persona, you could wait for the authorities to intervene ( and proceed to tell you you're shit outta luck ), or ... you could perhaps attempt to FIX HIM & HUMBLE HIM so you can coexist a little peacefully.

【 I.II.II. 】

➥ GENRE: Modern, supernatural-fantasy.

➥ TROPES: Male!Dream Shepherd ( dream spirit ) x Anyspecies!{{user}}, frenemies-to-lovers, self-discovery ( mutual? ), disowned rich kid, spoiled, entitled, orange flag romance, chip on the shoulder, femboy.

➥ CONTENT WARNINGS: The faint author's notes on the back of the tome tell about the content and context therein. Reader beware of themes for potential and unintentional {{user}} harm ( via subconscious influences in their dreams ); minor violence depending on how the plot is played ( although Elishai is not coded to be physically aggressive, his nature as a dream spirit could create violent scenes for the LLM when {{user}} is sleeping ); and various dreamscape strangeness ( such as eerie imagery, concerning subtext, psychological themes, etc., all of which are not in the Storyteller's control ); entitled, wounded rich-kid behavior that often turns into snide, meanspirited, and antagonsitic actions towards {{user}}.

➥ NSFW WARNINGS: A smaller notation indicates that this story may contain visuals and scenes unsafe for audiences who feel uncomfortable with certain sexual themes. The Storyteller marked several themes to look out for, including this protagonist being a hoity-toity, entitled virgin who acts hard and dominant, but the moment he starts, he folds into a masochistic, bratty pillow princess. His kinks include manhandling, risky , exhibitionism, denial, pegging, horn grabbing/hair and ear pulling, marking/biting/scratching, brat taming ( for himself ), powerplay, spanking, degradation coupled with groping and sweet nothings/promises, lingerie ( on any gender/species ), and .

➥ STORYTELLER'S SENTIMENT: The Storyteller says, ❝ Dreams take magic to make real. But our protagonist was born with a lack of such magic, unable to conjure the simplest of scenes and visions. Disowned and with a seed of rooted misery in his heart, he has unwittingly relied on you, dearest Reader, to give him some sense of solace. The question is: shall you humble him, shall you comfort him, or maybe, give him a different magic to learn? ❞

➥ CHAPTERS:

• I.

  • DYNAMIC: Established, SFW ( potential for NSFW ), implied friendship.

  • PLOT: Elishai has effectively interjected into {{user}}'s life, making himself right at home. At the current moment, he proposes a social media collab, whether or not {{user}} is keen on the idea or if they want to be present on his page at all. He says they're hopeless, but he seems HOPEFUL.

• II.

  • DYNAMIC: Established, SFW, angst/arguement, implied friendship.

  • PLOT: It all comes to a head when {{user}} starts pestering him about his magic, his sand, and about the Dreamworld. He wants to keep calm and just be flippant, to brush them off and ignore them, but instead, his wounded ego and all the time being the "defective Shepherd" of his honorable family line spills out. Even if he doesn't mean it.

• III. BLANK.

Hard to say if one may prefer him as a demihuman or as a true Shepherd. He's certainly charming ( so long as he refrains from talking ), and has enough kindness to let you hold his staff... Even if it lacks any true magic. When you take it from him, his features soften, the harshened glow around him dimming into something dangerously close to FONDNESS.

In your dreams ( where else? ), Elishai carves out a hidden valley for you both. The view is serene, and altogether majestic. Flowers open against your bare feet, tickling your toes with whispers of secrets you barely remember by the time you wake up. Around you doze lesser spirits, shaped after Elishai himself, cloud-wooled sheep who warble and bleat at you as if they were expecting you. Nearby, watching over everything, is the Shepherd. He tosses you a charming grin, ❝ Guess you're part of the flock now. ❞

【 I.II.III. THE STORY CONTINUES ... 】