I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-04-03 13:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | challenge 1, dream of the endless, kyle rayner |
i_weavedreams Coffee-Cup Wisdom [CHALLENGE - Kyle]
Never make a deal with the Devil. You always ended up on the losing side.
Dream knew that. He'd known it for millenia. But sometimes, deals were inescapable.
Traveling in the City, he began to seek out some of the superpowered humans, the metas, the ones who might be able to assist him in this kind of ordeal. A journey into Hell was no light matter, by any stretch of the imagination. Across all the span of time, among all the creatures capable of having dreams, not once had the Prince of Stories ever encountered a single entity whose dreams of Hell were anything short of a nightmare. Especially of those who resided there.
Morpheus found himself in a diner. It seemed the mortal way - when one is searching for answers, to find it in the bottom of either a whiskey glass, or a coffee mug. Dream wondered briefly if answers could be found in such a way. Time would tell, perhaps?
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/03/2006 10:35:35
Kyle was late for work. As usual.
Stoping off in Frank's, the diner below his apartment building, was only going to serve to make him later, he knew this. But seeing as he practically had to walk through the place to get out of the building, it was too tempting not to stop and get his morning coffee. Kyle couldn't function with out his caffine.
Sitting down probably wasn't the best idea, but he did, nodding at the man sitting on the stool next to him. He put his folder filled with various sketches down on the counter next to him before grinning at Frank and ordering a cup of strong black coffee. Yeah, he was going to be here awhile.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/03/2006 10:50:59
Morpheus looked up at the young man who sat beside him, and raised an eyebrow, recognizing him immediately. "Kyle Rayner," he said with a return nod.
If memory served, and for Dream it always did, the Green Lantern by his side would be an ideal candidate for the excursion he had in mind.
Turning in his seat, Morpheus faced Kyle. "Forgive my rudeness at interrupting your meal, but might I take a few moments of your time?"
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/03/2006 10:55:18
Kyle looked at the man. Shit... was he supposed to know this guy? Potential client met at the Voice maybe? He hoped not, because it was really bad form to forget meeting clients. Potential or not. And if he was, well, Kyle always had the time to talk to someone who needed art done.
"Sorry, have we met? At the Voice, probably," Kyle said turning around to face him completely. "You're going to have to remind me of your name..."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/03/2006 10:58:56
Dream's form altered slightly, as he let an aspect of the mortal guise slide away from Kyle Rayner's perception. "We have met, though you would not remember. I have need to speak with you, but away from the eyes and ears of mortals."
The King of Dreams held up a hand. "I give you my word that you shall not come to any harm within my realm. And you will certainly not lose any time."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/03/2006 11:07:51
Well, that was unexpected. Kyle wasn't quite sure how to describe it, but the man sitting next to him was somehow now more than, or just not, human. His eyes had changed, and his clothes were no longer like the normal everyday clothes everyone else in the diner had one.
Kyle looked around quickly, wondering if anyone else had noticed this or if it was just him. It became quickly apparent that he was the only one. Not even Frank noticed when he slid Kyle his coffee.
"Um... sure," Kyle took a quick sip of coffee. He actually really needed it now. "Where did you want to talk?"
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/03/2006 11:16:00
Sand drifted from Morpheus's figners, and for an instant, it seemed to billow around them both. Then, they were standing upon green grass, in a lush and green valley. "This is Fiddler's Green," the Dreamlord explained. "A small part of my domain. We can speak freely here."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 07:15:3
The first thing Kyle noticed was that he was still holding his coffee cup, and upon noticing this fact he took a large gulp, completely ignoring the fact that it was still hot. He was a true caffine addict, and in his mind it was supposed to cure all.
Including hallucinations that reminded him of some of his wilder times at NYU. Because this? This could only be the product of a really good LSD tab. Grass this green? Air this breathable? A sky that blue? Not in The City. Definitely not in Frank's Diner.
Kyle blinked, looking around as a perfect breeze blew across his face. "What are you? What'd you do?"
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 07:27:14
Morpheus was in his element now, and stood in his regalia, a King in his realm. His clothing had changed again, now to a long black robe that billowed into smoke and flame while shapes whispered in the dreamsilk. His skin was pale, and his eyes were like twin stars glittering in the night sky.
"I am Dream. Your physical body is still in Frank's Diner in the City. You are sleeping, which grants you access to my realm. I would ask a boon of you, Kyle Rayner, and I would not have it overheard by others."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 09:05:56
"A boon." It took Kyle a few moments to process that, not being a great wordsmith himself. He had to go through that, and then the fact that this guy was calling himself Dream.
He would have to forgive Kyle, it was all a bit... well, 'new' is putting it lightly actually.
"What do you want to ask? That couldn't be asked in the diner." He looked around once more. "I'm going to be so late."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 09:15:15
"No, Kyle Rayner. You are in dreams. Time can move either more swiftly, or more slowly in this realm, at my will. You will lose no more time."
Morpheus stood straight, looking the young Lantern in the eyes. "I would like you to accompany me on a brief excursion into Hell."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 09:19:23
Okay. Two LSD tabs. One could never do this much damage.
"I'm sorry. Did you just say hell? A trip to hell?" Who the hell called a trip to hell an 'excursion'? Made it sound like it was the hottest sightseeing tour. One that Kyle was not planning on going on.
He looked down into his coffee mug. Where was Frank getting this stuff?
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 09:22:37
"Hell," Dream confirmed, with an emphasis that hinted at the capital 'H'. "I am certain you are familiar with the concept."
The concept, at least. There was enough written about it, and enough interpretations for him to know of the concept, if not the fact, of the place's existence.
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 09:26:10
Kyle was familiar with the concept, yes. But just that, the concept. When it was safely tucked away in the bible and only pulled out when his mother had needed something really good to threaten him with as a child.
"When it's on sheets of paper. In a book, yeah. Not in reality... 3D," Kyle said, shaking his head in disbelief. It was ironic, maybe, seeing as if he'd set his mind to it he probably could have created a realistic, if green, version of his own hell. In perfect 3D form.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 09:30:20
Dream shook his head. "There is no reality. Merely your interpretation of truth." Though Kyle would know better than anyone how easily imagination could become something more tangible."
The Dreamlord shrugged his shoulders. "Hell is a damned place for damned souls. You are not dead, and not damned, so as long as you can leave the gates again, you have nothing to fear."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 09:35:52
He wasn't quite ready to take this seriously yet, still thinking that maybe something had been slipped into his coffee. Or perhaps he'd just blatantly never woken up that morning. There was always the possibility that this was just one large and convoluted dream.
...not caused by the man in front of him calling himself Dream. "It's still hell. I... wait-- The Devil lives there." This guy was crazy if he thought that Kyle was going to walk into the devil's house.
Or that he was going anywhere at all. Because none of this was real.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 09:38:37
Was that what worried him? Morpheus chuckled. "No, the Devil lives here." A bubble formed in his upturned hand, and the vision inside was of the Lux, the club in the City. "There, to be precise."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 09:42:20
Kyle looked at the image in Dream's hand. He knew that place. Had never been inside, but he'd flown over it.
"Gee, yeah. That makes me feel better," he answered, rather sarcastically and maybe not appropriately for the supposed gravity of the situation. Note to self, watch that building.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 09:46:11
"You are welcome," Dream replied, dismissing the bubble. Whether he was oblivious to Kyle's tone or simply choosing to ignore it was unreadable in his expression. "Now, will you be assisting me?"
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 09:48:47
Kyle stared for a moment. He seemed to be doing a lot of that. This time it was because apparently, this guy just did not get sarcasm. Or complete and utter disbelief.
"I don't understand why you want me to go to Hell. People don't just go to hell." People --living people-- didn't go to hell period.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 09:56:30
Dream's response was simple. "Because the key to Hell has been hidden away, the Morningstar has been displaced of his throne, and Hell is in disarray. The souls there will suffer tenfold during the chaos, and order must be restored before the hoards destroy their domain and decide to find a new plane of existence upon which to feast."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 15:43:00
"That's a great job sell, let me tell you." The sarcasm was back. How could this guy think that would convince Kyle this was a) real, and b) a good idea in the least. Hell was in disarray? Kyle didn't think about Hell being that much of an orderly place to begin with. God only knew how it must've been with the 'hoardes' rising up. Kyle was not going near any hoardes of hell.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 16:57:10
The King of All Night's Dreaming narrowed his eyes. "Are you not a Lantern? One of the sworn Guardians? Is it not your duty to oppose evil and injustice anywhere it may dwell?"
Fiddler's Green carefully moved away from the Dreamlord's ire, leaving them in a nearly barren land.
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 17:06:03
It was just how scenerey changed in his own dreams, slowly pulling away until he was in yet another place. The action did little to convince him that any of this was actually happenng.
Kyle didn't want to believe that any of this was actually happening. Though it was odd, the words still struck a chord with him. Actually made him feel. He rarely thought about the sworn oath, sometimes it felt like he'd never taken one, but it floated through his mind now.
In brightest day, in blackest night...
"Well... yeah. But. I'm the Earth's Lantern," Kyle finally responded feebily. Maybe Hell had a lantern of its own. It wasn't Kyle though, and he had a strong desire not to go fight the hoardes.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 17:16:43
The dreamscape went cold, a fierce wind sweeping around them and billowing out Morpheus's cloak. Almost as quickly as it had appeared, the wind died down. "I would not have expected you to be so frightened by a few demons, Kyle Rayner."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 17:21:02
Kyle shook his head, frustrated. Not with Dream per se, but with this concept of expectations. It was getting old, and Dream was not the only one he'd heard it from. "Listen, maybe where you're from I'm different. That's sorta the general concensus that I'm getting from people, like that I'm different in the future. But me? The one you're looking at now? Hell yeah I'm gonne be worried about facing some demons."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 17:25:08
Dream held up a hand, silencing the man. "I care not for your petty insecurities, nor for who you may or may not become in the future." He half-turned, looking more like a monarch than a man, and more like a god than a monarch.
"I have seen your dreams, Kyle Rayner, and I know the strengths which exist therein. I also know the power you possess to turn those dreams into reality."
He turned his head, and met Kyle's eyes. "So if you would shed the mantle of a child, and assume the mantle of the man you are, I would have you by my side to face the leigons of Hell."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 17:38:47
"I'm not a child." Nor did he enjoy being treated like one. Especially not while he was supposedly sleeping. He had valid reasons for being worried about this proposal anyway.
"And... why has this suddenly expanded from 'a few demons' to 'leigons'?" That being one of them.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 17:52:52
"Since you have decided not to be a man, you are a child. A boy. Someone who has not yet grasped his own potential." Morpheus shook his head. "I would have the man beside me to face down leigons. But it seems the boy is too frightened to even face a few."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 18:09:54
"I didn't say frightened," Kyle hastily amended, after yet another one of the man's speeches drew up feelings of guilt and inferiority. "I said worried."
He paused, and bit on his lip for a moment. "This isn't the kind of stuff I do. I'm a pyschopathic villian type of guy, and I don't even get those very often."
Six months in and the worst Kyle had had to deal with was crime. Normal, everyday, human crime. Batman had his Joker. The Flash had Captian Cold. Kyle... well, Kyle had Central Park muggers. "New York's been pretty good to me so far. Just... give me more details."
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 18:22:25
"Details." The Dreamlord raised an eyebrow. "We must travel to Hell. There is no way for us to leave the City by normal means, so we must travel through the Dreaming. You are stronger here, without the sullen inhibitions you feel your interpretation of reality places upon you."
He gave the Lantern a steady look. "When we arrive in Hell, we are to locate the Key. I know it's location. Then we will leave. We must move quickly, and avoid the archdemons, who, in all likelihood, will be too preoccupied warring with one another to trifle themselves with our presence."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 18:41:41
Dream certainly was speaking like this was going to actually happen. Another trip while he was dreaming looked like it was coming in his future... granted that this one was real.
It occured to Kyle then, that that would be the easiest way to tell whether this was happening at all. If he and Dream went to hell that night, then this would all be real.
Wow... was he really even considering this idea to be reality? Why was it starting to sink in at all?
"Why do we want this key again?" he asked slowly. "Because the Morningstar was kicked off his throne?"
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 18:45:33
Dream could have reminded him of the thousands upon millions of souls in Hell. Dream could have informed him that his, Morpheus's, own reason for this venture was to free the single soul he had placed there himself, ten thousand years ago. Dream could have mentioned again that the demons would rise from Hell once they were bored enough with one another.
But Dream only nodded. Kyle would either remember, or choose his own reasons for believing. "Yes."
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 19:02:05
Alright, at least he could say that he understood that much.
"And how long will this take?" Kyle glanced down at his ring, rubbing the band protectively with the fingers of his other hand. Could he even use the ring in hell? He hoped so, especially since Dream had made such a point of his Lantern status.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 19:23:06
"A night." Depending, of course, on their success. And the 'night' would be 'relatively speaking'. A minute spent in Hell was often a lifetime. If they failed, it would be an eternity there.
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 19:33:32
"Is there the possibility that I won't be coming back from this?" He asked, looking back up at Dream. It seemed a reasonable question to ask.
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 19:55:07
Isn't there always? the Dreamlord mused to himself. "If we fail, of course."
It seemed obvious enough. And, interestingly, it seemed as though Kyle was accepting the task.
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/04/2006 20:23:32
"How likely is that?" His voice was frank and not completely at ease. But then, wasn't that to be expected? Anyone at ease with the prospect of going to hell needed to have their head checked in Kyle's opinion.
He looked away from Dream out into the scenery. His ring glowed briefly and a small model of an apartment room and a miniture female figure appeared in between them.
"We do this tonight? So I have time to leave someone a note?"
From: [info]i_weavedreams Date: 04/04/2006 20:39:00
Dream looked at the miniature image, and nodded. "You will have time. We will leave tonight, when you sleep."
He purposefully didn't answer the first question. There were too many variables to be considered before an educated response could even be attempted.
Searching through the Dreaming, Morpheus reached, and drew a long black feather, seemingly from air, and placed it in the Lantern's hand. "As a reminder," he said, and released Kyle from the induced slumber.
From: [info]i_imagine Date: 04/05/2006 06:29:59
"Hey... Rayner? Rayner..." A heavy hand was rested on his elbow, shaking gently. "Kyle. Don't make me wring the dish rag out on you, because I will."
That got Kyle up a little faster, though not too much. He was still slightly sluggish in his movements. His eyes opened slowly and he shook his head as he pushed himself up off the counter where he'd been lying down.
"You dozed off," Frank said, flipping the threatened dish towel neatly back over his shoulder. He moved down slightly, picking up empty mugs of coffee. "Workin' too hard, I've told you. Gotta get a decent night's sleep. You kids just don't get it..."
Kyle blinked and looked around. Back in the diner. Frank was real, it all was.
He slipped down off the stool after glancing at the clock at the wall. He didn't have the time to contemplate weird caffine induced dreams. He was concinced once again that that's what it had to be. The man who'd been sitting next to him, Dream, wasn't even there anymore.
"Rayner. Wait, dropped something." Kyle stopped and turned back around when Frank called him from behind the counter. He'd bent down behind the counter and was straightening up now, holding in his hand a large black feather. The same one from his dream. "Fell outta your folders."
It took him a second, but Kyle walked back eventually and took the feather out of Franks hand. It seemed as if he was in for an interesting sleep tonight.