( closed )

[imaginate]

Characters: Kyle & various.
Date: Nowish.
Location: Earth, Metal, and Wood Sector.
Situation: Various.
Warnings/Rating: Mind control related trauma, discussion of mass murder.

Comments

[imaginate]

Outer space...? [Seriously where else would he go.]

[backwordscompatible]

[That is not an answer, Kyle.]

[imaginate]

Well - Oa, but I don't think you even know where that is.

[backwordscompatible]

My guess? In Outer Space.

[See? She can do it, too.]

[imaginate]

It's in Sector Zero. Centre of the universe. Earth is in sector 2814.

[A for effort?]

[backwordscompatible]

[She'll take it]

And Oa didn't have enough Lanterns of its own that it had to take some of ours?

[imaginate]

We're not supposed to play favourites with our homeworld -- [then his shoulders sink, and he shoves his hands into his pockets.] Spit it out. Where are you going with this?

[backwordscompatible]

Honestly, I'm not even sure myself.

I'm just trying to understand why the rules seem so different in your world. Have they always been like this, or did something change to make it this way?

[imaginate]

You're going to have to elaborate on 'rules' and 'differences'. I don't know that much about your world, remember?

[backwordscompatible]

[Fair enough. She thought back to the announcement he and Soranik had made over the Network. Attempting to zero in on what about it had seemed so off.]

The other Lantern...Doctor Natu...she called you two different names over the Network. You didn't seem to like either one of them.

And it's not that I don't believe you both outed yourselves willingly, but...well, I still can't help wonder why.

[imaginate]

I told you, people only call me Torchbearer when they want to show respect, or deride me. Her reason was neither, and I don't like that. [He shrugs.] And I guess I'm not used to people referring to me by the new rank, yet. [He was used to being called 'Kyle' or 'Ion'; it was still jarring to hear 'Honour Guard'.

He runs a hand through his hair. The truth was he'd hated seeing kedan and others afraid of his power during the zombie invasion. That had struck a deep chord.] My first duty is to the Corps. And really, only one other has a secret ID; we're pretty much busted if or when more Lanterns show up. I'd rather people knew on my terms, and... it's freeing. To not have to pretend any more.

[backwordscompatible]

Then what was she trying to do?

[If not show respect or a lack thereof...what other middle ground could there be?]

Yeah, you've said that before. But you don't seem too thrilled about it.

[imaginate]

[Distance him from Other Kyle, he suspected.] I don't think I want to know.

[Beat, and wearily:] I would rather make a gesture of co-operation wherever possible. We might not have a treaty with the Emperor, but bringing us here is asking for help, in a way, and if we're staying, then people should not - and will not - be afraid of us.

[backwordscompatible]

[Thoughts of Soranik take a backseat to that last sentence of his. Her shoulders slump, if only because she had heard the sentiment--albeit in different circumstances--before.]

Is that what you're worried about? The locals being afraid of us? [She automatically equates 'us' with foreigners in general, not just Lanterns.]

[imaginate]

It is against my code to instill fear in anyone who does not deserve it. [Flat, and uncompromising.]

[backwordscompatible]

I'm not really sure you could help how somebody feels, Kyle. None of us actually want anybody to be scared of us, and look what's already happened.

[Some of the metahumans--or whatever they call themselves in their world--are starting to hesitate about using their own powers at all.]

[imaginate]

[His fist clenches, tight.] I don't you think you understand just how much that's anathema to a Lantern. It's against everything - everything we stand for. There isn't much I wouldn't do to alleviate that.

[backwordscompatible]

[It's only because this was the how many consecutive times now she's seen him like this that her first instinct was to no longer snap back.]

And what I'm trying to tell you is that you're blaming yourself for things beyond your control; if someone choses to feel a certain way, what can you really do about it?

[Maybe a not-so-subtle jab at the notion that she was the one who actually did have the power--theoretically--to do something about it. As did others. Power Kyle had made it explicitly clear about regarding his own personal feelings, which is why she would never otherwise entertain the thought in his presence.]

Is there anything I can do to help?

[imaginate]

[She sounds so much like Damian that it helps let the tension go. Again, he's doing this, trying to set things right when he wasn't even sure there was something off in the first place. This was the wrong attitude, he knew it intellectually but it just hadn't sunk in because like a fool he'd run away from the facts.

He doesn't have his head on straight, which means it's time to step back, and try to look at the situation from outside. She's right.] Sorry. [He rolls his shoulder, trying to relax.] I hate it when they're afraid. I wouldn't use my power hurt anyone like that. [Except Amon Sur. Except Grayven. Except Terry's attackers. Except Jack Chance.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Please don't tell her she sounds like Damian. Ever.]

I know you wouldn't. Only rocks, right?

[imaginate]

And anyone who hurts you. [He is entirely serious.]

[backwordscompatible]

You might have to take a number on that one.

[So is she.]

[imaginate]

Not if I get there first. [And he's smiling again, despite the topic.]

[backwordscompatible]

I guess I could leave something for you to kick around a little, if that'll really make you feel better.

[No, really, this is an awful topic to be bonding over.]

[imaginate]

[no best topic.]

In that case maybe I should go last. The ring is pretty thorough.