I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-03-05 10:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | dream of the endless, malcolm reynolds |
i_misbehave Open to Dream
It had taken a helluva long time to find his way back to the part of Serenity he'd landed with his ship. Chalking it up to his sour mood, and the bizarre collection of characters he'd come across, he finally found the one wing, and half a cargo bay that he was looking for. It was dark by then, and Mal was frowning. Not a single comm office in the whole damn place. Of all the rotten luck.
Scarf drawn around his neck against the cold (nothing too bad, he'd slept through snow before so this would be easy), he drew his long, battered, and proudly brown coat more tightly around himself, and sat down on the grating, setting his back against the slightly curving section of hull. A long breath drawn and released, misting before his face. Settling in for what he meant to be a few hours, there was'nt much more Mal could do wandering around a strange city in the dark.. except get his fool self lost.. he had to wait until morning.
"You know," he commented wrly to no one in particular, "One of these days my lucky streak is gonna peter out, and someone else is gonna run into these kinda problems..."
But he and his always got the bad breaks. S'what makes them special.
Brown eyes closed, and arms crossed for warmth against his chest, hands tucked under the arms, Mal did his damndest to doze off.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/05/2006 20:53:42
The King of Dreams had taken to watching the shores of the Dreaming. From that, the cusp between waking and sleep, he could look into the minds of mortals, stir their most recent of memories, and learn more about this Citty and how they had come to be here. So far, he had learned much of how the City seemed to function, but little more than he had already divined from the strong undercurrent of dreaming that carried from the City itself.
Still, it wasn't often that he heard himself being discussed in another's dreams. Morpheus frowned, and summoned one of his servants to him, requesting that the mortal be brought to the palace.
--------------
Lucien prodded the sleeping man with the toe of his shoe. Gently enough that the man wouldn't wake up completely, but firmly enough that his consciousness would be able to acknowledge the Dreaming. He then frowned at the bit of sand collected at the tip of his otherwise immaculatly polished black shoes and brushed away the grains.
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/06/2006 11:23:31
The inner eyes cracked open, as Mal was stirred into semi-consciousness.. "Hruh?" was his initial commentary. The lean solider's mind was such that even in his dreams, there were traces of reality. For example, the stretch that he gave as brown eyes noted, "Those are some fancy shoes you got there."
A bit bleary eyed for a moment, but clarity coming quickly thereafter, the captain drew himself to his feet, habitually dusting off his coat as he waited for this stranger to explain his presence. It escaped Mal's immediate notice that the rain and fog had given way to a dry and sunny day.. low lying scrub brush dotting the landscape that had no place in the real world.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/06/2006 11:38:03
Lucien looked down at his shoes. "Why yes, thank you. They are."
The librarian waited until the newcomer had stood before clearing his throat in a manner that suggested he was about to say something important. "The Lord Shaper will see you now," he said, with all the regalia that should have accompanied the announcement. Following that pronouncement, however, the man's voice took on a much more civil tone and continued. "At least, that's what he said. I don't recall you making an appointment, and it's not something I'd forget."
He gestured with one hand for the man to follow, and began walking through the sand. In the distance, though it seemed to be drawing closer as they walked, was a large and impressive palace, all silver and ivory.
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/06/2006 12:02:08
"Mighty shiny hat he must wear, to have a fancy name like that," Mal commented dryly. As for forgetting an appointment, the wry spacer drawled, "Oh, don;t you worry. It's not the sort of thing I'd do. Makin' appointments, that is.
Whatever the ridiculous title this fella had, it seemed to Mal's sensabilities that he was finally going to be meeting with someone higher up on the totem pole.
That was good.
Usually.
As they drew nearer the palace, Mal's brows climbed a bit. "Now that's a helluva thing."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/06/2006 12:21:44
Lucien looked a bit relieved. "Oh, good. I was afraid I'd forgotten. Do you realize when the last time I'd misplaced a book was? The constellations weren't in their current shapes, and that's saying something."
The man didn't say anything about Mal's remark, but the corners of his lips lifted in a smile of pride. He led the displaced captain to the palace, and up the steps, where massive shapes stood at either side of the doors, one a Griffin, the other a Gargoyle.
The Griffin sniffed at the librarian and his guest. Lucien waved a hand irritably at it. "Sod off. You know why we're here."
The Griffin tossed his head indignantly and looked at Mal before stepping to the side and allowing the pair to pass. "Lord Morpheus is waiting."
"'Course he is," the librarian muttered. "He told me he'd be waiting. Bloody birdbrain, trying to tell me what goes on. I remember when his grandfather hatched."
The halls were long and dark, the torches igniting as they approached and then extinguishing after they passed.
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/06/2006 12:35:33
"Well, the stars only sit still as long as you do," Mal returned with an easy amusement. The twitchy little fella was wearing on him less and less.
The fact that they just passed a snarling.. rock thing, and a giant mish mash of wierd animals crammed into one form did'nt throw Mal quite as much as it normally would.
"Well," he answered the librarian's complaint with a shrug, "Most folk like to feel important. However true it is or it ain;t they like to think it."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/06/2006 13:25:55
"Isn't that the truth," Lucien answered dryly.
It seemed like they covered a lot more ground than passed under their feet, but then the manservant paused at a massive double door and glanced back at Mal. "Here is the Hall of Dreams. Lord Morpheus is waiting inside." His voice lowered. "He happens to be one of those important ones. Whether the rest of us think so or not, it's true."
The librarian smiled encouragingly. "If he was the one who called the appointment, you're in good hands. He doesn't take kindly to being summoned. The last chap who tried that got booted so fast I think he felt it for a week." Lucien touched the door, and it swung open to the throne room.
It was a large marble hall, with tall windows, stretching floor to ceiling. Outside one window was a beach, while the next showed a forest, the next a snow-covered landscape, a planet of red sandy dunes, each view was wildly different. In the center of the room was a high-backed throne, where Morpheus was seated.
"Captain Reynolds," he said, nodding his head in greeting. "You were looking for me?"
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/06/2006 14:42:19
"Well. then I'm lucky I'm such a polished and gentrified sort, ain't I?" Mal returned with a brief, wry grin to Lucien before the door swung open.
They can do the damndest things with holograms these days.
"Captain Reynolds," he said, nodding his head in greeting. "You were looking for me?"
"Was I?" Mal ahh'd quickly. Mental gears turn quickly and he 'oh's as thoughts strike home. "Would you happen to be Delly's brother then?"
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/06/2006 17:34:59
"Delly?" The King of Dreams looked amused. "Yes," he said. "Delirium is my younger sister."
He moved off the throne, the trails of his long robe slipping around him like smoke. "I could hear my name called in your dreams, but I could not see the source that spoke it. Who was it that you made such a deal with? And what, if I might be so bold as to ask, was the promised price?"
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 00:18:09
"Right, could you.. maybe not keep on about hearin' your name in my dreams? Just seems a mite- off."
Anyways, Mal brought himself back to the point. "Well, it were'nt so much a deal, as it was me gettin' a bit worried at the notion of your sister wanderin' arounf by her lonesome. There was this one fella wanted me to track you down, sayin' some bit or another about 'unfinished business' he wanted to be discussin'.. Some nancy pretty boy called Lucy." Yeah, go figure: Lucifer had rubbed Mal the wrong way.
Hands settled easily on Mal's hips as the lean solider rambled on. "Said he'd figure a way to put me in contact with my crew, but I got the suspicion he were'nt too concerned 'bout making good on it."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 03:57:53
The pale king smiled. "I am Dream, Captain Reynolds. Not to know what happens in your dreams is to deny the very fabric of my being."
As the captain explained, Dream listened, the traces of amusement falling from his lips at the mention of the man's name. When Mal was finished, the Dreamlord sighed heavily. Lucifer. Unfinished business with Lucifer. That didn't bode well for even the Endless.
"The Morningstar keeps his word, Captain. Of that you can be certain. But I would advise you to look to the very letter of your accord with him."
Lucifer had made a promise when Dream had visited Hell to regain his helm. The Morningstar had then promised to destroy Dream. It looked like the High Lord of Hell was making good on that promise.
"I thank you for watching over my sister for a time. For that, I will aid you in this." Dream touched his fingers to his forehead. The air in front of Mal shimmered, and two shapes appeared. "Another of your crew has found themselves in this City, Captain. Perhaps two may fare better than one."
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 10:21:44
Mal had a dozen answers to the Dream lord's advice. He tended to make a habit of looking to the letter of the law in every deal he made.. Not generally the trusting sort, is Malcolm Reynolds. Did he actually make a deal with this Morningstar fella? What the hell kinda name is 'Lucy Morningstar' anyway? Is this Morpeus fella's sister always like that?
All of it went like smoke on a stiff breeze when he was shown "Inara." She'd hit her head, coming down. Wearing that wrap she put on whever the heating coils were busted, and Serenity got too cold. A few long heartbeats later he'd notice some orange girl as well.
In another moment or two he'd start to realize what this meant: that the ship did'nt break apart in upper atmosphere. He could find the others, any just maybe salvage this lousy situation.
The feeling that stirred in him upon seeing Inara's face..
Were he another man, he might call it 'hope'.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 10:40:14
The Dreamlord watched the change come over the man's face, his own unchanged. Any emotion was far buried, to the point where Morpheus remained undisturbed by it.
His mind was considering the options. Lucifer Morningstar? In this City? What could he be planning? And the thought that somehow Delirium was mixed into all this as well worried him. The youngest of the Endless was often a source of exasperation and mild annoyance for him, but she remained his kin, and it was impossible for him to forget that.
"If there is nothing else, Captain, I will leave you to your waking. You will find your crew member soon, I am certain." Dream had to prepare himself to meet with the Morningstar. And whatever would come out of that meeting.
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 10:57:30
"Right," Mal muttered, dragging himself back to focus on the funny looking guy in whose House he was standing. "I can show myself out, thanks.." He noted with a nod in parting. He backed up a step before turning around and striding back the way he'd come.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 11:08:19
"That might prove more difficult than you realize," Morpheus stated before Mal could reach the doors. "The castle twists and turns, and I will not be here to keep it steady."
Lucien had returned to his duties in the library, and so Dream glanced towards the throne, where a large black bird was perched. "Matthew, if you would be so kind?"
The raven ruffled his feathers. "Figures you let the bird do it."
"Come now, Matthew. The halls know you. They will let you pass easily."
"Flattery'll get you anywhere, boss." The bird's tone was sarcastic, but he took to wing and perched just over the doors, looking down at Mal. "So. I can perch on your shoulder, or you can keep up with me flying. Which way works for you?"
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 11:22:43
"Huh," Mal commented wordlessly to Dream's statement, and the bird's inquiry. Ain't the strangest thing he's seen since falling asleep. "Ain't right to make a body walk when it has wings," the captain answered dryly. "You go on and fly. I'll keep up."
If he had a hat, he'd tip it to Morpheus, but lacking one, he settles for another look back over his shoulder, and a nod.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 11:29:16
The King of Dreams nodded in return, and the double doors closed behind the captain and the raven as they moved back into the hallway.
With the inherent magic of the halls, the floor moved under Mal's feet quickly enough to allow the captain to keep up with Matthew at a modest jog.
"Keeping up with me, not pissin' off the boss. Even spent some time with the family?" The raven seemed impressed. "Must be doin' alright. For a mortal."
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 11:42:11
"Yeah, this must be my lucky day," Mal muttered in reply.
He'd lost his wings, he'd lost his crew.
He was stuck on a bizarre rock, without contacts, or resources; and only a madman would bet on his chances of getting out this mess in good shape..
But he'd been in worse spots before.
And he'd impressed a bird, which must matter for something.
He grinned a bit despite himself, "I'm just fulla suprises."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 11:51:46
Matthew would have grinned back, if his beak had allowed for that kind of movement. "So you're a captain? I'm Matthew. The raven. Not a raven — the raven. That's one of the weird things about the Dreaming — it's a kind of one-raven-at-a-time sort of place."
The main doors were visible up ahead. Matthew dropped a bit lower, and flew easily outside.
And narrowly avoided a swipe from the Griffin's talons. "Hey!" he yelled, the cry turning into an indignant squak. "I'm flyin' here!"
The Gargoyle sniggered, and the bird cursed at him.
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 11:57:31
"Malcolm Reynolds. The Captain," he added with a bit of wry self indulgence.
"Careful," Mal warned good naturedly to the stoney wingey-horned thing at the door as it took a swipe at his guide. A thumb indicated the way back over his shoulder, "Your boss is already pissed.."
Okay, so it was a lie. But when a body is bored enough to take a swing at a bird just for flying by, a body is probably bored enough to let a groundless worry really bother them.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 12:05:48
And what an appropriate comment it was. The Gargoyle shifted nervously, and knocked a stony hand towards the Griffin. The eagle-headed creature squaked on his own, and then hissed at his attacker before settling back to his perch with as much of a pout as he could manage.
"Idiots," the bird muttered, and settled onto Mal's shoulder to settle his ruffled feathers. "I'm guessing you started off at the Shores. So you want the easy way back, or the faster-and-not-quite-painless method?"
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 12:13:58
"I generally take the easy way, given the choice." He meant it when he said it, but on reflection.. "Well, alright no, I really don;t tend to take the easy way, but this time I will." Wait, if Inara really is wandering that lousy port..
Mal sighed, and hung his head a bit, "On second thought, you go ahead and make this as quick as you can."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 03/07/2006 12:17:47
Matthew moved his wings in a manner that suggested he would have shrugged, if he had shoulders capable. He missed being a man sometimes. But the flying made up for it.
"If you're sure," he said, and nodded to the Griffin. Then he took off from Mal's shoulder, as the beast smacked the captain with one massive wing, knocking him clear down the steps and back into the sand.
From: [info]i_misbehave Date: 03/07/2006 12:24:33
There was water in his eye.
Mal started a bit and winced as his neck had stiffened up in the time he'd been dozing against the bulkhead. It was'nt a proper rain, but there was just enough water coming down from the grey sky to drip in Mal's eye and wake him up.
"If that was'nt the damndest thing.." he muttered blearily, stretching and scowling as he worked the stiffness out of his neck.
Well, the sky was grey, not black. Meant it was morning. Also meant he had work to do.
Like finding out whether the creepy guys and Ravens that lived in his head were full of hot air when they said he'd find his crew- Alright, so there was only one Raven, and only one Creepy guy, but still..
"Helluva way to start the day," the captain muttered.