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thejusticelounge2014-11-08 08:12 am
bossymarmalade) wrote in thejusticelounge2014-11-08 08:12 am
premonition
kyle:
They’re getting closer.
I can feel it. When something as resinous as the yellow fear entity seeps into your pores, into your body, sometimes I wonder if you can ever wash it out completely. The Yellow Lanterns - or something - is coming to Earth. Coming back. Coming from? I dunno how to explain it, and it’s driving me nuts. Like smelling something you know but you can’t place. I don’t like it.
John’s doing border patrol of the outer perimeter of the sector with ‘Wog, Guy’s on Oa training the newest batch of troops and Hal’s doing some top secret thing that he won’t even tell the rest us.
I know I won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to stop the Yellow Lanterns from creating havoc on Earth again, but.
Maybe that’s what’s freaking me out.
She needs to speak with Arthur. There is much to tell him, information on the suspicious figure at the docks, Oliver’s and Kyle’s intel on the matter and what their plans are from this day forth. But what’s more, she needs to speak with Arthur to find her inner peace. Calm down. Suppress this anger, frustration,energy that has nestled deep within her. Mera wishes to blame her visit to the surface world, but can’t lie to herself. Even when in the familiar surroundings of Atlantis she felt restless lately.
It hasn’t decreased the slightest since her arrival at the Watchtower and has started to make her tense. This lack of control is eerily familiar. The Queen gazes out towards the planet, observing its vast amount of oceans. Blue flashes red. A split second is all it takes and it leaves her heart racing, thundering against her chest. She’s aware of the cold sweat gathered on her brow which she dabs with the back of her hand.
The rage she went through as.. one of them. Mera won’t allow such savagry to take hold of her ever again. She promised Arthur, after all. But he’s not present, not really. How comforting will it be if this eery feeling continues, Mera wonders. Her eyes catch sight of another colour: green. Green Lantern Kyle Rayner. Perfect.
"May I have a word with you, Kyle Rayner?" the Queen asks after approaching the man with a look of determination. "I believe this is a matter I can only properly discuss with you, considering your.. profession."
Kyle is on his way to one of the monitor rooms, having spent a few hours the day before rejiggering it to act, somewhat, like a Yellow Lantern signal radar. It wasn’t complicated - or rather, Kyle fueled it with a lot of willpower in an attempt to force the system just work the way he willed it.
As long as his concentration remained fully and completely in tact, of course.
Lost in his thoughts, Kyle is headed there to try and re-calibrate and fine-tune it some more. Hopefully also locate Cyborg and beg a few favors out of the tech genius to help him with this side-project. He almost doesn’t hear or even see the stately Queen of Atlantis, and is on the verge of side-stepping her a la urban-walking-tactics, until it finally registers in his brain that Mera is, indeed, speaking to him. Directly to him. Asking a question, even.
Kyle slows to a halt, his focus dragging upwards from the ground to meet her clear eyes. He registers it’s Arthur’s wife - so she’s still here, huh? - and gives a professionally acquiescent nod.
"Your highness. Something I can assist you with? Uh…my profession?" Kyle blinks in confusion for a few moment, suddenly wondering if he can find paint and canvas hardy enough to withstand the deep ocean; the Queen must be thinking about some sort of Royal portrait commission…?
His greeting pleases her, his acknowledgement of her status in Atlantis even if having little to no meaning at all here in the Watchtower, pleases her. She will speak well of him to her husband, even if he made it clear the Lanterns are never really easy to get along with. At least Kyle appears to be trying. In return, Mera doesn’t raise her head high and mighty as she would in her home, attempting to speak with him as.. a peer, perhaps.
"You are a Green Lantern, are you not?" She asks at his obvious confusion. Maybe she wasn’t clear enough. Let’s try once more. "You are the most competent person, as a Lantern, to answer my questions about your kind, even if.. a different colour,” Mera elaborates slowly, feeling a tiny bit uneasy to discuss the terrible things she did. Embarrassment and shame surface shortly. She suppresses them, barely, her usually confident eyes wavering.
"I assume there’s no need for me to explain my reference. However, there is a feeling of unease present within me for the last couple of weeks, something I haven’t been able to explain and thus I am hoping you can." The Queen speaks softly, aware of the open, public area although they are alone. She can’t imagine there not being cameras of bugs in a place as this one, the tower is designed by the Batman, after all.
"I’m a Green Lantern," Kyle confirms and then his mind finally connects ‘profession’ with ‘Lantern’ - and the man reddens a bit, feeling foolish for standing here on a space station walking to a woman from the ocean and not gleaning her meaning right from the get-go. He takes hold of his ring on his right middle finger, as if confirming that his ‘profession’ is, indeed, Green Lantern.
Her mention of ‘a different color’ does make his brow raise. During the whole Black Lantern invasion, he had heard that Mera had been dragged into the fray like so many heroes (and villains) of Earth, and that she’d been chosen by, of all Lanterns, the Red Lantern Corps. An interesting choice, and meeting her, Kyle could see how that was possible. Although not so much with the woman standing here before him right now. Unlike her demeanor when they’d last met, the Queen now seemed more…hesitant. Unsure.
Fearful.
A cold shiver runs down Kyle’s spine, and he straightens up instinctively. He doesn’t understand much about Red Lanterns, although after seeing Guy go through that nightmare he does know that, like any spectrum color, once it’s happened to you, it lingers. It’s why Kyle still feels ‘keyed in’ to the Blue Lanterns. And being Parallax has sustained a residue that will never be washed out of him.
So too, Kyle realizes, that Queen Mera of Atlantis might still have some remnants of Red in her. After all, unlike Guy, she didn’t have the benefit of Mogo to cleanse her fully.
The thought is a little more than alarming, but it’s one that Kyle keeps to himself.
For now, he nods over to a quieter alcove, so they can talk. ”Unease,” he prompts, once they’re in the more private spot. He shakes his head, willing to act ignorant, needing to hear her elaborate. ”You’ve been sensing…something?” He looks out into space, then back at her. ”Something external or internal?”
Mera follows Kyle silently, her movements tense and the more secluded area not easing her at all, but she appreciates the gesture. Kyle’s embarrassment goes unnoticed, but his inquiry does not although she takes a moment to contemplate her words. Not because she wishes to be careful, but the words of description simply don’t feel correct at all. She still uses them, for lack of better ones, unconsciously confirming Kyle’s suspicion. “Something, yes. Internal. A feeling, multiple actually, but without proper origin. Frustration, anger, this intense.. need or yearning for.. something.”
The Queen crosses her arms over her chest in order to distance herself from the man she initially called out to. She remembers and recognizes parts of her time as a Red Lantern, knew she never fully returned to normal, but thought to be strong enough to live with the permanent changes. The increase in its persistent presence however, concerns her. Knotting her slim brows, the woman observes Kyle’s face. “Do you believe something external caused the internal issue?”
Kyle frowns, squints, neglecting to answer Mera’s question immediately. He’s trying to think, to wrap his head around the bigger picture before he speaks. Despite her being completely normal (that’s a subjective, League sort of ‘normal’), Kyle does understand that her Red Lantern history - as brief as it was - inevitably must have had an influence on the woman. Does that Lantern connection make Kyle feel some sort of kinship to her? Probably not. Kyle isn’t exactly in the habit of fraternizing with Red Lanterns, other than Guy that one time. But it does add a certain nuance, a layer to the Queen of Atlantis that Kyle feels strongly about.
So, for the best interests of League matters and trust between Earthlings, despite her possibly latent Red Lanterness and his virulent Green Lanterness, Kyle decides to be honest.
"Maybe. Your connection to one of the Lantern Corps might be making you sensitive to…the presence of Lantern, uh, related danger." Kyle frowns harder, another though occurring to him. "Not that this should happen on a regular basis considering you’re not a member of the Red Lantern Corps any longer, which means that…maybe you’re feeling it now, because it’s…it’s become a clear and present danger?”
He swallows hard, knowing his thinking aloud isn’t doing much to assuage her concerns. So he says bluntly, ”Yellow Lanterns. They’ve returned to this sector. They’re close - I can feel it too, for different reasons than you, though. Honestly, I dunno much about how Red Lanterness works, other than the - y’know - red bile puking rage anger rargh fun times - but anyway. The Yellow Lanterns are here and they’re dangerous. Last time they charged in without trying to hide, destroying entire cities without a thought.”
Kyle leans in closer, forgetting he was speaking to a Queen, thinking he was speaking to a colleague - Lantern or otherwise. ”This time they’re using stealth. Something’s happening, Queen Mera. That’s what you’re feeling. Something’s….happening.”
Mera quirks an eyebrow. “Lantern related danger?” she repeats after him, wondering if Kyle is aware of something more, something bigger than he lets on. No, from his speech she can tell he is as puzzled as she is. It’s disappointing and worries her further: if Kyle doesn’t know than who does and what will happen if they resume to ignore it?
The Queen shifts her gaze to the side at his description of Red Lantern behaviour. Shame becomes visible on her face, it is a thing of the past that will continue to haunt her. Her blue orbs glance back at the sound of the Yellow corps and their recent activity on Earth. She watches Kyle lean in, but keeps her position, allowing him in sake of receiving further information. “Something? As unfamiliar as I am with the Yellow Lanterns, I assume their new strategy is unheard of, something to be alarmed by. This restless sensation I have been feeling lately might be caused by their presence? Or does it mean the Red corps is joining them on our planet?” She joins him in thinking aloud, voicing the questions triggered during their brainstorm of unanswered questions.
Kyle watches Mera processing the things he’s saying. He can’t know what she’s thinking - he certainly doesn’t know her well enough to assume - and yet, when she responds, he starts to feel a strange sort of kinship. Maybe he’s just projecting. Maybe it’s just a sort of Lantern-loneliness. He misses his buddies in the GLC, he misses even Carol, who’s been away for a while. There’s Warth, but the Blue Lanterns, for all the comfort Kyle finds in them, operate on a much more esoteric plane of existence.
Sometimes it feels like the early years all over again. Kyle, the Torchbearer, alone and the only Lantern in the universe.
So to have someone to talk to about it, who doesn’t look overly overwhelmed or disinterested of dismissive of ‘Lantern-business’ - someone so willing to engage, even if it’s commiseration from a completely different type of Lantern - it’s oddly comforting.
Yeah. He’s probably hella projecting.
"I doubt it’s the Red Lanterns. No offence but Reds have a tendency to make themselves known, they don’t usually resort to sneaky tactics. It’s all rearghgrahhh and vengeance and brimstone reigned down for the Reds." He doesn’t know why he had to preface this with ‘no offence’. It’s not like Mera was still a Red Lantern, after all. Right? Of course right.
"The strategy’s not so much unheard of as just…heh. More terrifying. I’d rather they came out guns firing." His tone takes on a low, more rhythmic cadence. "Agents of fear skulking around and trying to circumspect one’s attention…slimy things lurking in the shadows, just beyond your reach…frightening things staying just outta your peripheral vision no matter how fast you turn - that’s Yellow Lantern at its finest."
He looks up at Mera, his eyes wide behind his crabmask, the corners of his mouth turned down in agitation. “But for what purpose?” It’s a rhetorical question, but one that needed to be said aloud.
She listens and takes notes, has decided that if she ever wants to learn more of the Red Lantern, the thing, she was, this is right opportunity to do so. This man, albeit as much a stranger to her as Green Arrow, is wise in his experience. His definition of the Yellow Corps and their tactics sound terrifying, like the story Mera was told as a child about the monsters in the depths of the ocean as warning so she’d steer clear from that part of Xebel. To be frightened as a child or as an adult are two different matters however and she knows Kyle’s words aren’t based on superstition or legends.
"You describe the Yellow Lanterns as monsters, have they truly done not one good deed at all? Are all but the white and Green Corps this.. evil?" Mera asks curiously before falling silent and thinking about his question, knowing he doesn’t expect her to answer it and knowing she can’t either. "Perhaps it’s in their nature and they are consumed by it," she opts in a thoughtful mutter, absorbed by the Lantern system and its types. "Isn’t there a way to reason with them?"
Again the Queen surprises Kyle. She wants to talk about Lantern-theory with him?
"I…" Kyle starts, but he has no idea where to begin. He rubs the back of his neck, leaning back to create a bit more professional distance between them as he sorts through Mera’s questions, trying to figure out which one to answer first.
"No no nonono, not all of the Lanterns are evil, not in the least. Blue Lanterns are rare but incredible - they represent hope, you see. And Indigo Lanterns are…well they’re compassion and they’re very, erm, balanced." Or off-balanced. Depending on who you talked to. "Star Sapphires - violet - are love and they used to come off as a bit off-kilter but y’know I always believed that was just misinterpreted." More like misogyny, but Kyle doesn’t want to get into social politics.
"Orange Lanterns are…well they’re greedy but I wouldn’t call ‘em downright evil. Just completely guided by avarice for better or for worse." Usually worse, but Kyle isn’t going to get into that right now. "Hell - I wouldn’t even say the Red Lanterns are all evil.” He smiles a bit at her. ”After all, anger’s sometimes a great motivator for change, wouldn’t you agree Your Highness?”
Kyle sighs and shakes his head. “No, the Yellow Lanterns are the only group who, in my opinion, I would say are purely, truly guaranteed a hundred percent evil. Believe me,” he says, but doesn’t quite elaborate. He isn’t in the habit of telling everyone that Parallax once infested his mind and body.
"There’s no way to reason with them. All we can do is be prepared, minimize any damage, apprehend and imprison. The Green Lantern Corps has special, uh, prisons set up for Yellow Lanterns." Another thing he doesn’t really want to get into, but he hopes he’s adequately put the Queen’s mind at east.
Part of her, a part that’s not truly willing to admit it, feels relieved Kyle mentions not all Red Lanterns are evil to the core. She doesn’t identify with them, but knows she shares a lot of traits that at one point transformed her into one. ”Anger is a great, but dangerous motivator, a two-edged weapon,” she agrees, nodding at his careful smile. The corners of her lips rise ever so slightly, not entirely into a smile, but getting there. She is willing to admit to enjoying this educational tale of Rainbow Lanterns. Tapping a finger to her chin, she looks at Kyle for a long moment, observing him closely. “What makes for a Green Lantern?” She doesn’t know him well enough to make a guess, although she imagines him to be brave at least.
"Are these.. prisons, on Earth or out.. there?” The Queen of Atlantis asks, normally not fascinated by what lies above the water surface, but now that she has visited the Watchtower and has seen their planet, seen the stars and the unedning darkness of theuniverse, she can’t help ut wonder what is beyond it. Turning her head, Mera gazes out of the window, thinking she will often think this view when back with her King.
"Willpower. Green is willpower. Which can, I think, be a lot like anger in the whole double-edged sword kinda way." Kyle muses, scratching his stubbled jawline. He was being a little generous here, trying to make her feel less upset about once being in possession of a Red Lantern ring. But there were instances, like the Alpha Lanterns or even the lost Lanterns. Willpower turned awry due to circumstances….
He shakes his head roughly, to clear out the thoughts upon thoughts and answer Mera’s query. ”Out there. The Green Lantern Corps is based on a planet far away, called Oa. And on Oa, there are - well, there’s a prison system, for detaining Yellow Lanterns.” Kyle watches Mera’s gaze turn out towards the stars. He looks out there, then back at her.
"I asked your husband once, how it felt being out here in space." Kyle smiled. "He looked flatly at me and said that I lived on the same planet; why should it be any different if we come from land or sea? And then he went on to lecture me about how I’ve explored the universe and back; but I still haven’t bothered to explore my own home planet’s ocean depths to its fullest extent.” Despite it all, Kyle can’t help but laugh a bit at the recollection. ”Shut me right up, lemme tell you. Ahh. Good times.”
Mera is mildly surprised. Willpower, she will have to see for herself how true that is in Kyle’s case. There is still a lot she doesn’t know about Lanters in general or their planet Oa, which shounds mysterious by itself. Perhaps it’s a discussion for another time. “The Lantern Corps is more complex than I imagined. It’s admirable how so many components can be part of it and be so.. diverse.” Mera says continuing to look outside, having found a new srt of respect for the Green Lantern.
The Queen does finally smile, a little, gently, at the sound of her husband’s flat stare and accusing words that show his strong devotion for Atlantis. “He’s not wrong. You should visit Atlantis,” she tells Kyle, basically inviting him. “Arthur doesn’t speak of the Leaguers often, but I’m positive he will appreciate your visit. Our nation doesn’t seek seclusion from the land or space even if it appears that way. Arthur is cautious and for good reason, but we can’t turn a blind eye to what happens above the surface. Which is why I have come. Atlantis does wish to help,” Mera explains once more, knowing her presence has risen many eyebrows.
"Ummm…well," Kyle rubs the back of his neck again, tilting his head against his hand. "It’s the Green Lantern Corps. Green. The other Lanterns on the emotional spectrum they…” Kyle waves his hand vaguely around. ”…they do their own stuff, handle their own affairs. The Green Lanterns are guided by Oan Law. The others - including the Red Lanterns - do, uh…whatever they need to do to fulfill their, er, codes. We all try to…uh…do our own thing.”
He wants to say he’s taken aback by her invitation to Atlantis, but he’s kind of not. Maybe it’s a touch of arrogance, but Kyle knows he can be charming if he puts his mind to it. And he honestly respects Arthur so it not surprising that he sought Mera’s respect as well. He also didn’t want to mention that he’d visited Atlantis once before, on Arthur’s say. The League rumor-mill had, back then, placed a lot of emphasis on the roller-coaster ride that was Arthur and Mera’s relationship…maybe they were on rocky terms that time the League - Kyle included - had entered Atlantis.
So instead, he smiles graciously. ”Gracias, thanks, Your Highness. Your help is totally appreciated, believe me. And - I’ll keep you appraised of the Yellow Lantern situation, if you’d like.” Since she seemed so interested in it. He then also added, “..And if you ever wanted to talk more about, uh, your experiences with the Red Lanterns, then…”
They’re getting closer.
I can feel it. When something as resinous as the yellow fear entity seeps into your pores, into your body, sometimes I wonder if you can ever wash it out completely. The Yellow Lanterns - or something - is coming to Earth. Coming back. Coming from? I dunno how to explain it, and it’s driving me nuts. Like smelling something you know but you can’t place. I don’t like it.
John’s doing border patrol of the outer perimeter of the sector with ‘Wog, Guy’s on Oa training the newest batch of troops and Hal’s doing some top secret thing that he won’t even tell the rest us.
I know I won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to stop the Yellow Lanterns from creating havoc on Earth again, but.
Maybe that’s what’s freaking me out.
She needs to speak with Arthur. There is much to tell him, information on the suspicious figure at the docks, Oliver’s and Kyle’s intel on the matter and what their plans are from this day forth. But what’s more, she needs to speak with Arthur to find her inner peace. Calm down. Suppress this anger, frustration,energy that has nestled deep within her. Mera wishes to blame her visit to the surface world, but can’t lie to herself. Even when in the familiar surroundings of Atlantis she felt restless lately.
It hasn’t decreased the slightest since her arrival at the Watchtower and has started to make her tense. This lack of control is eerily familiar. The Queen gazes out towards the planet, observing its vast amount of oceans. Blue flashes red. A split second is all it takes and it leaves her heart racing, thundering against her chest. She’s aware of the cold sweat gathered on her brow which she dabs with the back of her hand.
The rage she went through as.. one of them. Mera won’t allow such savagry to take hold of her ever again. She promised Arthur, after all. But he’s not present, not really. How comforting will it be if this eery feeling continues, Mera wonders. Her eyes catch sight of another colour: green. Green Lantern Kyle Rayner. Perfect.
"May I have a word with you, Kyle Rayner?" the Queen asks after approaching the man with a look of determination. "I believe this is a matter I can only properly discuss with you, considering your.. profession."
Kyle is on his way to one of the monitor rooms, having spent a few hours the day before rejiggering it to act, somewhat, like a Yellow Lantern signal radar. It wasn’t complicated - or rather, Kyle fueled it with a lot of willpower in an attempt to force the system just work the way he willed it.
As long as his concentration remained fully and completely in tact, of course.
Lost in his thoughts, Kyle is headed there to try and re-calibrate and fine-tune it some more. Hopefully also locate Cyborg and beg a few favors out of the tech genius to help him with this side-project. He almost doesn’t hear or even see the stately Queen of Atlantis, and is on the verge of side-stepping her a la urban-walking-tactics, until it finally registers in his brain that Mera is, indeed, speaking to him. Directly to him. Asking a question, even.
Kyle slows to a halt, his focus dragging upwards from the ground to meet her clear eyes. He registers it’s Arthur’s wife - so she’s still here, huh? - and gives a professionally acquiescent nod.
"Your highness. Something I can assist you with? Uh…my profession?" Kyle blinks in confusion for a few moment, suddenly wondering if he can find paint and canvas hardy enough to withstand the deep ocean; the Queen must be thinking about some sort of Royal portrait commission…?
His greeting pleases her, his acknowledgement of her status in Atlantis even if having little to no meaning at all here in the Watchtower, pleases her. She will speak well of him to her husband, even if he made it clear the Lanterns are never really easy to get along with. At least Kyle appears to be trying. In return, Mera doesn’t raise her head high and mighty as she would in her home, attempting to speak with him as.. a peer, perhaps.
"You are a Green Lantern, are you not?" She asks at his obvious confusion. Maybe she wasn’t clear enough. Let’s try once more. "You are the most competent person, as a Lantern, to answer my questions about your kind, even if.. a different colour,” Mera elaborates slowly, feeling a tiny bit uneasy to discuss the terrible things she did. Embarrassment and shame surface shortly. She suppresses them, barely, her usually confident eyes wavering.
"I assume there’s no need for me to explain my reference. However, there is a feeling of unease present within me for the last couple of weeks, something I haven’t been able to explain and thus I am hoping you can." The Queen speaks softly, aware of the open, public area although they are alone. She can’t imagine there not being cameras of bugs in a place as this one, the tower is designed by the Batman, after all.
"I’m a Green Lantern," Kyle confirms and then his mind finally connects ‘profession’ with ‘Lantern’ - and the man reddens a bit, feeling foolish for standing here on a space station walking to a woman from the ocean and not gleaning her meaning right from the get-go. He takes hold of his ring on his right middle finger, as if confirming that his ‘profession’ is, indeed, Green Lantern.
Her mention of ‘a different color’ does make his brow raise. During the whole Black Lantern invasion, he had heard that Mera had been dragged into the fray like so many heroes (and villains) of Earth, and that she’d been chosen by, of all Lanterns, the Red Lantern Corps. An interesting choice, and meeting her, Kyle could see how that was possible. Although not so much with the woman standing here before him right now. Unlike her demeanor when they’d last met, the Queen now seemed more…hesitant. Unsure.
Fearful.
A cold shiver runs down Kyle’s spine, and he straightens up instinctively. He doesn’t understand much about Red Lanterns, although after seeing Guy go through that nightmare he does know that, like any spectrum color, once it’s happened to you, it lingers. It’s why Kyle still feels ‘keyed in’ to the Blue Lanterns. And being Parallax has sustained a residue that will never be washed out of him.
So too, Kyle realizes, that Queen Mera of Atlantis might still have some remnants of Red in her. After all, unlike Guy, she didn’t have the benefit of Mogo to cleanse her fully.
The thought is a little more than alarming, but it’s one that Kyle keeps to himself.
For now, he nods over to a quieter alcove, so they can talk. ”Unease,” he prompts, once they’re in the more private spot. He shakes his head, willing to act ignorant, needing to hear her elaborate. ”You’ve been sensing…something?” He looks out into space, then back at her. ”Something external or internal?”
Mera follows Kyle silently, her movements tense and the more secluded area not easing her at all, but she appreciates the gesture. Kyle’s embarrassment goes unnoticed, but his inquiry does not although she takes a moment to contemplate her words. Not because she wishes to be careful, but the words of description simply don’t feel correct at all. She still uses them, for lack of better ones, unconsciously confirming Kyle’s suspicion. “Something, yes. Internal. A feeling, multiple actually, but without proper origin. Frustration, anger, this intense.. need or yearning for.. something.”
The Queen crosses her arms over her chest in order to distance herself from the man she initially called out to. She remembers and recognizes parts of her time as a Red Lantern, knew she never fully returned to normal, but thought to be strong enough to live with the permanent changes. The increase in its persistent presence however, concerns her. Knotting her slim brows, the woman observes Kyle’s face. “Do you believe something external caused the internal issue?”
Kyle frowns, squints, neglecting to answer Mera’s question immediately. He’s trying to think, to wrap his head around the bigger picture before he speaks. Despite her being completely normal (that’s a subjective, League sort of ‘normal’), Kyle does understand that her Red Lantern history - as brief as it was - inevitably must have had an influence on the woman. Does that Lantern connection make Kyle feel some sort of kinship to her? Probably not. Kyle isn’t exactly in the habit of fraternizing with Red Lanterns, other than Guy that one time. But it does add a certain nuance, a layer to the Queen of Atlantis that Kyle feels strongly about.
So, for the best interests of League matters and trust between Earthlings, despite her possibly latent Red Lanterness and his virulent Green Lanterness, Kyle decides to be honest.
"Maybe. Your connection to one of the Lantern Corps might be making you sensitive to…the presence of Lantern, uh, related danger." Kyle frowns harder, another though occurring to him. "Not that this should happen on a regular basis considering you’re not a member of the Red Lantern Corps any longer, which means that…maybe you’re feeling it now, because it’s…it’s become a clear and present danger?”
He swallows hard, knowing his thinking aloud isn’t doing much to assuage her concerns. So he says bluntly, ”Yellow Lanterns. They’ve returned to this sector. They’re close - I can feel it too, for different reasons than you, though. Honestly, I dunno much about how Red Lanterness works, other than the - y’know - red bile puking rage anger rargh fun times - but anyway. The Yellow Lanterns are here and they’re dangerous. Last time they charged in without trying to hide, destroying entire cities without a thought.”
Kyle leans in closer, forgetting he was speaking to a Queen, thinking he was speaking to a colleague - Lantern or otherwise. ”This time they’re using stealth. Something’s happening, Queen Mera. That’s what you’re feeling. Something’s….happening.”
Mera quirks an eyebrow. “Lantern related danger?” she repeats after him, wondering if Kyle is aware of something more, something bigger than he lets on. No, from his speech she can tell he is as puzzled as she is. It’s disappointing and worries her further: if Kyle doesn’t know than who does and what will happen if they resume to ignore it?
The Queen shifts her gaze to the side at his description of Red Lantern behaviour. Shame becomes visible on her face, it is a thing of the past that will continue to haunt her. Her blue orbs glance back at the sound of the Yellow corps and their recent activity on Earth. She watches Kyle lean in, but keeps her position, allowing him in sake of receiving further information. “Something? As unfamiliar as I am with the Yellow Lanterns, I assume their new strategy is unheard of, something to be alarmed by. This restless sensation I have been feeling lately might be caused by their presence? Or does it mean the Red corps is joining them on our planet?” She joins him in thinking aloud, voicing the questions triggered during their brainstorm of unanswered questions.
Kyle watches Mera processing the things he’s saying. He can’t know what she’s thinking - he certainly doesn’t know her well enough to assume - and yet, when she responds, he starts to feel a strange sort of kinship. Maybe he’s just projecting. Maybe it’s just a sort of Lantern-loneliness. He misses his buddies in the GLC, he misses even Carol, who’s been away for a while. There’s Warth, but the Blue Lanterns, for all the comfort Kyle finds in them, operate on a much more esoteric plane of existence.
Sometimes it feels like the early years all over again. Kyle, the Torchbearer, alone and the only Lantern in the universe.
So to have someone to talk to about it, who doesn’t look overly overwhelmed or disinterested of dismissive of ‘Lantern-business’ - someone so willing to engage, even if it’s commiseration from a completely different type of Lantern - it’s oddly comforting.
Yeah. He’s probably hella projecting.
"I doubt it’s the Red Lanterns. No offence but Reds have a tendency to make themselves known, they don’t usually resort to sneaky tactics. It’s all rearghgrahhh and vengeance and brimstone reigned down for the Reds." He doesn’t know why he had to preface this with ‘no offence’. It’s not like Mera was still a Red Lantern, after all. Right? Of course right.
"The strategy’s not so much unheard of as just…heh. More terrifying. I’d rather they came out guns firing." His tone takes on a low, more rhythmic cadence. "Agents of fear skulking around and trying to circumspect one’s attention…slimy things lurking in the shadows, just beyond your reach…frightening things staying just outta your peripheral vision no matter how fast you turn - that’s Yellow Lantern at its finest."
He looks up at Mera, his eyes wide behind his crabmask, the corners of his mouth turned down in agitation. “But for what purpose?” It’s a rhetorical question, but one that needed to be said aloud.
She listens and takes notes, has decided that if she ever wants to learn more of the Red Lantern, the thing, she was, this is right opportunity to do so. This man, albeit as much a stranger to her as Green Arrow, is wise in his experience. His definition of the Yellow Corps and their tactics sound terrifying, like the story Mera was told as a child about the monsters in the depths of the ocean as warning so she’d steer clear from that part of Xebel. To be frightened as a child or as an adult are two different matters however and she knows Kyle’s words aren’t based on superstition or legends.
"You describe the Yellow Lanterns as monsters, have they truly done not one good deed at all? Are all but the white and Green Corps this.. evil?" Mera asks curiously before falling silent and thinking about his question, knowing he doesn’t expect her to answer it and knowing she can’t either. "Perhaps it’s in their nature and they are consumed by it," she opts in a thoughtful mutter, absorbed by the Lantern system and its types. "Isn’t there a way to reason with them?"
Again the Queen surprises Kyle. She wants to talk about Lantern-theory with him?
"I…" Kyle starts, but he has no idea where to begin. He rubs the back of his neck, leaning back to create a bit more professional distance between them as he sorts through Mera’s questions, trying to figure out which one to answer first.
"No no nonono, not all of the Lanterns are evil, not in the least. Blue Lanterns are rare but incredible - they represent hope, you see. And Indigo Lanterns are…well they’re compassion and they’re very, erm, balanced." Or off-balanced. Depending on who you talked to. "Star Sapphires - violet - are love and they used to come off as a bit off-kilter but y’know I always believed that was just misinterpreted." More like misogyny, but Kyle doesn’t want to get into social politics.
"Orange Lanterns are…well they’re greedy but I wouldn’t call ‘em downright evil. Just completely guided by avarice for better or for worse." Usually worse, but Kyle isn’t going to get into that right now. "Hell - I wouldn’t even say the Red Lanterns are all evil.” He smiles a bit at her. ”After all, anger’s sometimes a great motivator for change, wouldn’t you agree Your Highness?”
Kyle sighs and shakes his head. “No, the Yellow Lanterns are the only group who, in my opinion, I would say are purely, truly guaranteed a hundred percent evil. Believe me,” he says, but doesn’t quite elaborate. He isn’t in the habit of telling everyone that Parallax once infested his mind and body.
"There’s no way to reason with them. All we can do is be prepared, minimize any damage, apprehend and imprison. The Green Lantern Corps has special, uh, prisons set up for Yellow Lanterns." Another thing he doesn’t really want to get into, but he hopes he’s adequately put the Queen’s mind at east.
Part of her, a part that’s not truly willing to admit it, feels relieved Kyle mentions not all Red Lanterns are evil to the core. She doesn’t identify with them, but knows she shares a lot of traits that at one point transformed her into one. ”Anger is a great, but dangerous motivator, a two-edged weapon,” she agrees, nodding at his careful smile. The corners of her lips rise ever so slightly, not entirely into a smile, but getting there. She is willing to admit to enjoying this educational tale of Rainbow Lanterns. Tapping a finger to her chin, she looks at Kyle for a long moment, observing him closely. “What makes for a Green Lantern?” She doesn’t know him well enough to make a guess, although she imagines him to be brave at least.
"Are these.. prisons, on Earth or out.. there?” The Queen of Atlantis asks, normally not fascinated by what lies above the water surface, but now that she has visited the Watchtower and has seen their planet, seen the stars and the unedning darkness of theuniverse, she can’t help ut wonder what is beyond it. Turning her head, Mera gazes out of the window, thinking she will often think this view when back with her King.
"Willpower. Green is willpower. Which can, I think, be a lot like anger in the whole double-edged sword kinda way." Kyle muses, scratching his stubbled jawline. He was being a little generous here, trying to make her feel less upset about once being in possession of a Red Lantern ring. But there were instances, like the Alpha Lanterns or even the lost Lanterns. Willpower turned awry due to circumstances….
He shakes his head roughly, to clear out the thoughts upon thoughts and answer Mera’s query. ”Out there. The Green Lantern Corps is based on a planet far away, called Oa. And on Oa, there are - well, there’s a prison system, for detaining Yellow Lanterns.” Kyle watches Mera’s gaze turn out towards the stars. He looks out there, then back at her.
"I asked your husband once, how it felt being out here in space." Kyle smiled. "He looked flatly at me and said that I lived on the same planet; why should it be any different if we come from land or sea? And then he went on to lecture me about how I’ve explored the universe and back; but I still haven’t bothered to explore my own home planet’s ocean depths to its fullest extent.” Despite it all, Kyle can’t help but laugh a bit at the recollection. ”Shut me right up, lemme tell you. Ahh. Good times.”
Mera is mildly surprised. Willpower, she will have to see for herself how true that is in Kyle’s case. There is still a lot she doesn’t know about Lanters in general or their planet Oa, which shounds mysterious by itself. Perhaps it’s a discussion for another time. “The Lantern Corps is more complex than I imagined. It’s admirable how so many components can be part of it and be so.. diverse.” Mera says continuing to look outside, having found a new srt of respect for the Green Lantern.
The Queen does finally smile, a little, gently, at the sound of her husband’s flat stare and accusing words that show his strong devotion for Atlantis. “He’s not wrong. You should visit Atlantis,” she tells Kyle, basically inviting him. “Arthur doesn’t speak of the Leaguers often, but I’m positive he will appreciate your visit. Our nation doesn’t seek seclusion from the land or space even if it appears that way. Arthur is cautious and for good reason, but we can’t turn a blind eye to what happens above the surface. Which is why I have come. Atlantis does wish to help,” Mera explains once more, knowing her presence has risen many eyebrows.
"Ummm…well," Kyle rubs the back of his neck again, tilting his head against his hand. "It’s the Green Lantern Corps. Green. The other Lanterns on the emotional spectrum they…” Kyle waves his hand vaguely around. ”…they do their own stuff, handle their own affairs. The Green Lanterns are guided by Oan Law. The others - including the Red Lanterns - do, uh…whatever they need to do to fulfill their, er, codes. We all try to…uh…do our own thing.”
He wants to say he’s taken aback by her invitation to Atlantis, but he’s kind of not. Maybe it’s a touch of arrogance, but Kyle knows he can be charming if he puts his mind to it. And he honestly respects Arthur so it not surprising that he sought Mera’s respect as well. He also didn’t want to mention that he’d visited Atlantis once before, on Arthur’s say. The League rumor-mill had, back then, placed a lot of emphasis on the roller-coaster ride that was Arthur and Mera’s relationship…maybe they were on rocky terms that time the League - Kyle included - had entered Atlantis.
So instead, he smiles graciously. ”Gracias, thanks, Your Highness. Your help is totally appreciated, believe me. And - I’ll keep you appraised of the Yellow Lantern situation, if you’d like.” Since she seemed so interested in it. He then also added, “..And if you ever wanted to talk more about, uh, your experiences with the Red Lanterns, then…”