Dinner for Three

If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be?

By:SodakArtist

There are countless fictional characters I could invite to dinner, but if I only had two empty chairs at the table, they’d belong to Gandalf and Morpheus.

Now, before dinner even started, I think I’d already know how the evening was going to unfold.

Morpheus would arrive first. Calm. Focused. Always observing. He’d probably scan the room before taking his seat, as if expecting Agents to burst through the walls at any moment. Even sitting at the table, he’d look like he was preparing for a battle instead of a meal.

A few moments later, Gandalf would stroll in. Staff in one hand, a grin hidden beneath that long gray beard, already looking like he knew something the rest of us didn’t. He’d greet everyone warmly, crack a joke without forcing it, and somehow make the whole room feel lighter simply because he walked through the door.

I’d probably laugh and say, “Morpheus… relax. No one’s trying to overthrow reality tonight. We’re just having dinner.”

Morpheus would answer with that familiar serious expression.

“One should never assume peace simply because the room is quiet.”Without missing a beat, Gandalf would chuckle.”

My dear friend, if you spend your whole life preparing for war, you’ll miss the beauty of the feast.”

That would be the beginning.

As the food arrived, the conversation would become something no restaurant could ever charge enough for.

I’d ask Gandalf where wisdom comes from. Is it age? Experience? Failure? Or is it simply paying attention to the lessons life quietly offers?

Then I’d look at Morpheus.”

What if the greatest prison isn’t a machine… but certainty?”

He’d smile ever so slightly before answering with another question instead of an answer.”

How do you know your own beliefs weren’t handed to you?”

That’s what I admire about him. He doesn’t force ideas onto people. He invites them to examine their own minds.

Being an artist, I’d eventually steer the conversation toward creativity.”

Do artists create something entirely new… or do we uncover pieces of something that’s always existed?”

Gandalf would probably say imagination is one of humanity’s greatest gifts because it allows us to see what isn’t visible yet.

Morpheus might argue that creativity is what happens when someone stops accepting the limitations they’ve been taught.

And somewhere in the middle, I’d probably realize they were both right.

As the evening continued, though, something else would happen.

Gandalf and I would slowly start wearing Morpheus down—not with arguments, but with laughter.

I’d tell stories from my life. The awkward moments.

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The crazy ideas that somehow turned into paintings, books, and projects. Gandalf would pile onto the stories with his own dry humor, occasionally teasing both of us just enough to keep the conversation light.

At first, Morpheus would simply watch.

Then one corner of his mouth would twitch.

Eventually, he’d let out a small laugh.

Not the polite kind.

A genuine one.

By the end of dinner, I imagine the man who spends his life carrying the weight of humanity’s freedom would actually be enjoying himself.

For just one evening, there would be no prophecy to fulfill. No wars to fight. No chosen one to find.

Just three people sharing food, ideas, and laughter.

I think Gandalf would know exactly what he was doing the entire time. Wisdom isn’t only found in serious conversations. Sometimes it’s found in reminding someone that life is also meant to be enjoyed.

As we stepped outside after dinner, we’d stand beneath the stars in comfortable silence.

No one would need to say much.

The conversation had already done its work.

And as we’d all head our separate ways, I’d smile knowing that while Gandalf had reminded me to appreciate the journey, and Morpheus had reminded me to question the path, together they’d also reminded me of something just as important.

Even the wisest minds need a reason to laugh.

Now that’s a dinner reservation I’d never cancel.