tampered | Log; Ongoing

Around him were the four walls of the trailer that a man once lived in. The tale of a struggle was written on the walls and floor in streaks of blood. Demolished artifacts were testiments of violence. Elle crawled about this wasteland knowing and not knowing where this painful limbo would lead as she groped about. The scattered dead presidents were nothing but strips of paper under her cut riddled hands.

Out. Out. Bitch. Slut. Cunt. Help. Help. Need. Need. Warn. Warn. Cunt. Slut. Bitch.

Elle had no eye to see. It was gone. Taken. Her thoughts scattered by agony. Dream was witnessing a broken woman, lost and defensless. This was exactly the way the California Mountain Snake never wanted to be.

True to her word to the Corinthian, now been rushed more so than ever to the vast black ocean. The rundown, cheap trailor burst open after filling with dark bottomless water. Elle coughed and fought the waves until she was able to floated. Without eyes to see, she merely fell limp in the arms of the wide body of water but in turn was able to watch this strange long illusion from above somehow. She had not personally met the young Dream and hardly spoke to the first. Her trust in his powers was very much like the broken vision of herself in this dream--blind and aprehendsive.

The white robes that adorned his pale limbs never wrinkled, not even when he folded his arms in thought during his observation. An interesting woman, this one, familiar to him via the library, though he couldn't say he knew her. At the same time he knew everything. The Dream King brushed a lock of white aside, a human habit because his black depths for eyes saw everything.

The water did not wet his feet when he walked upon it, and it was certain his toes touched it because they caused ripples in the surface, yet his feet remained dry. He approached the woman and offered his hand to her, flesh cool to the touch, texture like featherlight creme.

Take my hand, if you will, Lady, Dream spoke in that deep voice as old as time, yet still brimming with life from the edge of a newborn solar system.

Elle turned toward his voice, she moved her chapped bloodied lips to speak but only a cough came out. She put her hand out and nearly cried in relief at the touch of a hand. Again, with more incentive she tried to speak. "Th-thank you," her body ached as she rose from the water.

On the flat dark water, a small series of waves disrupted the ripples made by Dream and the assassin. Elle felt the reverberation in her body. Again, as so many nights before. Clouds gathered. He would be coming.

The ripples and reverberations did not faze the Dream King as he raised Elle to her feet. He brushed his other hand across her eyes, to return her sight to her. In this dream, she needn't physical eyes to see out of her bleeding sockets anymore. This was his power. With their hands touched, Dream did what he could to erase the ache in her bones, in her flesh. She would be conscious in this dream, 'lucid' another term for it.

He is coming now, do not fear. This is my realm, he said to her with a single nod.

Sight. She could see. Elle found herself looking into a face she didn't recognize at all. How she was able to see, when she was certain she didn't have an eye was not something she wanted to think long on. She stepped closer to the man she deemed for the time being her guardian.

On the horizon, if this place had a sun from which to come from, a many legged horse ran at top speed. With every gaining mile, Elle couldn't help but breath heavily in fear. This was not a good omen.

The Dream King remained still, solid in his role as her guardian for now. He owed the human woman nothing, but she had befriended the nightmare, she knew the boy, and that made her an important ally. He was also not Morpheus. A hint of compassion spurred his decision to assist her as well, the guilty snake denied her second chance in her sleep. His black eyes looked to her briefly, then back to the horizon as the god came to be. Good omens, bad omens, in this landscape they were merely images.

It has been some time, said the Endless.

The eightlegged horse slowed and his rider dismounted. "Here I was expecting yet again the ever hostile nightmare," the one eyed travelor god approached closer, leading his monsterous steed.

"I don't see why this affair needs to be supervised," Odin's tone was not quite so ready to fling insults and expressions of frustrations.

Elle leaned close to the white clad Dream. She wanted to run. But there was no place to run. She wanted to strike out, how dare she be made to be like this. A look into the deities face changed her gungho resolve.

Don't touch me.

The nightmare will not accompany us tonight, he shook his white head at Odin, aware of the Corinthian's often unpleasant nature. It will however be supervised and mediated through me, the Dream King added, because this dreamer is in my realm, should I assume that your visits are not direct intrusion?

He spoke thoughtfully, polite despite the firmness in his tone. He glanced to Elle Driver again, noting the change in her demeanor. What is it you want with the dreamer, he asked the god.

Odin gruffly sighed. "Long ago, in a place that you, myself and a few others remember I lost an eye." He looked down at the the vast waters around them. "The well is trying up. And soon all of its secrets will be exposed."

Elle remained close to Dream. Profanity on her mind and ready on her tongue but a rare moment of wisdom prevented them from being audible.

"I wish to hide my eye."

I see... And so I surmise you have been doing so with this dreamer, he said to the old god, calm and cool like the age of the place Odin mentioned. What then makes these nightly visits a necessity, the Dream King asked in a most thoughtful manner, you choose to hide your eye in the Dreaming itself? No, that is not the case of this dreamer wears your eye in the waking world... Do you not trust the Dreaming?

"I have my reasons to act in this way. This one fights me at every turn, the maid accepts my gift but refuses to do what small favors I ask for in return." It was clear to Dream that Odin was angry that he had to tell this much. "She accepts the eye but not all the secrets with it."

"I don't want anything from you!" Elle's ragged, furious voice shattered the exchange between the two like a brick through a window.

Odin snorted and gave a rueful smile, "And be blind, warrior maiden? I needn't read your thoughts to know that ranks among your greatest fears."

She is a fierce spirit, yes, the Dream King agreed with Odin's assessment. It is her choice, if she wishes to be blind or be the carrier of your secrets, Odin, the pale one said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. The Norse god's motives were his own, surely, and Elle would not be the first to have her life changed by their intervention, but this dream was within his territory. You are aware that your actions in this particular dreamer's sleep is a direct intrusion upon the Dreaming, he asked calmly.

Elle tilted her head downward toward the dark depths. The water was very still now. Blindness was a supreme weakness. She adapted so much already, compensated as much as humanily possible to regain skill she possessed with one eye. What good was a blind assassin in her world that demanded razor edge precision? Wrapped in her own thoughts--the water started to move with long, lean eels stirred the water, hardly visible in the dark Mimir Well of her subconcious--she didn't notice the change in the demeanor of the One-Eyed God and the Dream King.

"I met the maid while she traveled from her realm blind and simpering. In the brief passing, like a greedy theif she practically took it from my hands. The barriers of the world in which she now stays are thick. I step into the Dreaming as a last resort." Indignity was written in the wrinkles of his mouth.

Hm, yes, and you didn't inform me in advance? We could easily come to a negotiation, said the calm and patient Endless. He stroked his chin again then gestured to the one eyed snake, Lady Elle, is this true?

Dream noticed the change in the water, but this did not faze him, as ruler of the Dreaming. Gods were formidable opponents if they knew when and where to stage their fights. The one in white did not wish to fight Odin, neither did he think the old man was looking for a fight himself.

Odin lifted his hand. "There is no need for negotiation. She needs to accept her fate or I shall take the eye."

Blind and defenseless. Elle trembled and thought of Budd's trailer. That was real, wasn't it? "No!" She ran. She had to. What other way could she get out of this? Logic was failing.

Her memory flickered with Bill's drooping grin, "Ms. Driver you can't accomplish anything acting like a scared horse."

Fuck.

Odin was ready to ride again. Elle was far but not far enough to escape.

There is need for negotiation if you are to be conducting your business in this realm, the Dream King declared in a most cool manner. Elle's sudden flight did not faze him either, though his black gaze drifted her way with a hint of concern. He turned to Odin again, this realm is not yours to manipulate. If you wish to continue your business with this dreamer do negotiate or please find another venue.

Dream raised his hand, manipulating the still waters with his fingers so they would rise to cut off Elle's path. The cool liquid threatened to smother her, smother her awake. She was not safe when asleep, she could protect herself when awake.

Odin looked down at Dream from his horse. "What can be done on your part? She is to accept or not. I will not stay long if she will cooperate." He looked in the direction of the deadly viper.

Elle fell onto her ass. She panted and fought to calm herself. There was a way out somewhere. Angry and scared were not contributing emotions to thought process.

The horse stamped four of its legs, itching to run. "What would be your terms, Dream King if I were to agree to comply?"

The realm in which she lives is protection itself, but if you require an actual agreement I offer you this, Dream nodded once, you are not to disturb Lady Elle's sleep, providing that I grant your eye protection in the Dreaming. This does not guarantee my defense for it, but we will hide it to the best of out ability.

He spoke of himself and the realm in the plural because in essence they were one and the same. The Dreaming was also a vast land full of secrets, mysteries, treasures, dreams, nightmares. One could lose their way in it for all eternity or explore it in one second at the expense of their own sanity. It was a good hiding place as any.

The horse snorted and tossed its head. Odin stared for a long while at Dream. "She is to hold the eye. The secrets shall remain here. The maiden must accept, only then shall I leave her be."

Elle shakily stood on her feet and with eyeless sight at Dream. "What is he talking about?"

Odin laughed. "Ready to surrender?"

Barefooted, the California Mountain Snake slowly walked back to them. "Not to you."

Ahh, so this is the source of your intrusion, Dream said in a particular tone that suggested he was considering... You require her permission, and yet the eye is already within her. Is it that you cannot reclaim the eye against her will and that is the control you seek, Odin?

The Dream King's voice had become a song on the wind, thoughtful and cunning, calm and still very solid at the same time.

You only provoke her by belittling her, old god, he noticed, gaze shifting to Elle again briefly, your power is limited here. I will not allow you to continue intruding upon this dreamer's sleep if you do not see the value in a compromise.

"You speak the right," the old god said with a glare. Lying would not be to anyones benefit now. "The eye cannot be removed without permission of the wearer. It is of my body and of my soul but within her not truly mine."

Elle wasn't sure if this was good news or bad news. "I want you to leave me alone."

Odin set his jaw. "I shall compromise with you, Endless."

Just as he thought, but the pale one wasn't the type to rub his acute conclusion in the face of others. Dream simple nodded to Odin, followed Elle's request. Let it be so. Your eye shall be hidden in the Dreaming in sleep, and within her in the waking world. It is your perogative to come to its defense in waking.

The Norse god had to accept. There was no proper way to do anything else. "And if there is a threat within the Dreaming? What then?"

The blonde assassin slowly smiled, the promise of real sleep closer than she ever thought it would be.

I will inform you appropriately, he nodded to Odin once. As he had said, defending the eye was not his job, but he would hide it for the Norse god, keeper of dreams and worlds, keeper of secrets. He would hide it well.

She is to sleep now, Odin, I trust you will keep to your word.

The one-eyed God nodded and turned his monstrousity of a horse away. "I shall." He glanced toward Elle who smuggly smiled. "Lose it and you shall pay dearly, lady." With a lash of his reins Odin thundered away.

Elle Driver wasn't afraid of his threat. Not by a long shot. She had no desire whatsoever to be blind--again or not she didn't want to think of it. An army of thousands could come at her and still her smile would remain. She was going to get her fought for sleep.

She sighed and looked to the strange man. "Um. I owe you I suppose..."

Dream watched Odin depart on his strange steed, though hardly strange for an Endless being. His arms remain folded across his chest, he appeared thoughtful despite the storming stars in his eyes. Such threats from both wearer and owner. He wondered what circumstances had formed to even bring the Norse god and the one eyed snake together. Hn.

No, you do not, Lady Elle, the Dream King shook his head, sleep now, if you will.

Elle blinked and softly cried out in surprise as she felt the tender skin of the inside of her eyelid roll over the smooth surface of an iris. "I-I just don't know what to say. I'm really not good at this sort of thing but thanks a fucking million."

The water around them lightened and slowly drained like a puddle in sunlight. "If you're a dream...weaver? God? Controller what's with the fuzzy bunny dreams?"

Dreams are unique to each and every dreamer, Lady Elle, he nodded to her then gestured to the draining water, everything is molded according to the mind of that who is dreaming. All dreams and nightmares are tailored this way.

Just as you will dream of the past and of gods you will dream of rabbits and hippogriffs, of pain and suffering and perhaps a toaster eager to chase you down a great hall, the Dream King spoke absolutely serious in this case, for all those things were possibilities in dreams.

"It's a pretty nice feature. Better than the movies," Elle wiggled her toes and felt summer blades of grass. She smiled and welcomed the soft downpour of mint leaves and Bailey's. "Lots of weird shit for lots of weird people. I just...Thanks. Thanks a bunch. You don't have to call me lady."

She stuck out her tongue to catch a few drops and sprigs. "Not bad." What could she say now? There was no way to repay the Dream King for this, it was his duty but Elle couldn't have possibly done this on her own.

It is the least I can do, he said to Elle without explaining why. There was much history between the Norse and himself, his old self, as well as the Corinthian. The Dream King did not believe this was a concern for mortals; the less she knew the less likely Odin could use her as a bargaining chip.

Sleep well, Miss Elle, he heeded her preference for not being called 'lady' I will take my leave now. He nodded to her and began to fade with the breeze that swayed the leaves and grass.

Log; Ongoing

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