Kabuki Run

I read the first half of David Mack’s graphic novel Metamorphosis (Kabuki Volume 5) before going to sleep and my dream basically picks up where the story left off, with me playing the role of Kabuki. David makes an appearance as “The Artist,” who seems to have some kind of special powers (in the dream and waking life ^_^). If you haven’t read Kabuki, I would definitely recommend checking it out. I have all of the graphic novels, if anyone needs to borrow one to get started. ((^_^))

[04-25-2010]

I’m wearing my mask and I’m running, alone, through an open field. The moon is bright enough to light my way, but also bright enough to be seen if anyone is looking. I have a feeling that others are searching for me, but I’m not yet being pursued. Akemi provided directions to a specific building where I am to meet her. I pass through a thinly wooded area that opens into a dark alley. According to Akemi’s description, this is the place.

I duck inside through a back exit that has been left unlocked, as promised. The room appears to be a storage area in the back of an art gallery or studio; Art supplies are piled on tables across the room, and lockers line the far wall. The only light is in the corner, over a ramp that runs along the left hand wall, leading up to doors to another part of the building. Akemi steps out of the shadows. My heart leaps knowing that she is safe. Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around her. She returns my embrace for a moment, and then steps back to examine me. She removes my mask, and for several seconds, we just stare at each other without speaking. She hands me my mask and turns away. Handing me a change of clothes from an open locker, she says “The Artist is here. We must wait on him. He will know what happens next.” My stomach does a flip as soon as she mentions The Artist. I’ve met him once before and know that he is a powerful man; there’s no question that he will be able to help us.

As we’re changing into new clothes, a few teenage girls walk in through the back door, giggling to each other. I turn away and replace my face. The first girl says “Oh, are you here for autographs too?” Akemi replies, “Yes, I think he will be out soon.” The girls line up on the ramp, clutching comic books and prints of The Artist’s work. Akemi and I walk to the edge of the ramp, so as not to appear suspicious, and the last girl in the group says “I love your mask,” to which I take a step back into the shadows and mumble “Thanks.” After a few awkward minutes, the door at the top of the ramp finally opens and we hear a man’s voice say “Oh! Well, hello!” and the teenage girls squeal with delight.

Akemi and I stay against the wall of the ramp, out of sight, so the other girls will not see The Artist recognize us. He stands with them at the top of the ramp for several minutes, providing autographs and patient answers to all of the girls’ questions. As we stand in silence, we find ourselves gazing at each other again. For a moment, it seems that she is about to kiss me (although she’d be kissing my mask), then the girls come bouncing back down the ramp, giggling again and bidding farewell to The Artist.

Once they have left the building, we step out of the shadows. The Artist’s face instantly lights up when he sees us, “Akemi! Christy! It’s so wonderful to see you both again!” [Apparently, under Kabuki’s mask, I am myself instead of Ukiko.] I’m speechless for a moment, and Akemi tells him that we need his help. He steps closer and lifts a finger to his lips. I feel a surge of energy being near him again, and for a moment, I’m tempted to reach out and hug him [without asking this time ~_^], but I resist. He whispers, “We can’t talk here. Meet me in the lobby.” Akemi obviously knows where he is referring to; she nods, takes my hand, and leads me back out the door into the alley.

I’m apparently in such a daze that I am completely oblivious to where we are going, or how we get there. Before I know it, we’re at a small, but classy, hotel. A group of people are gathered in the lobby (which is set up as part lounge and part ballroom), as if they are waiting for something. When we enter the room, they greet us kindly and ask if we’re there for the dance. We nod and notice The Artist sitting across the room, chatting casually with others. He gives us an inconspicuous half-nod. It seems to be an unspoken rule that we can only speak with The Artist individually, on the dance floor, so we settle in to wait for the dance to begin. Akemi and I have an odd discussion about not being dressed properly for the occasion and decide to fold our shirts up halfway, which somehow still leaves us with full length shirts. Something is said about a problem with the music, and just as I’m wondering if I’m really going to get to dance with The Artist, I wake up.

AFP Lost & Found

Occasionally, I have dreams where I am not myself. Usually, I just happen to be a different person, but no one in particular. In this case, however, I play the role of singer & songwriter Amanda Palmer. Her boyfriend, Neil Gaiman (legendary comic book artist), makes a guest “appearance” as well. I guess you could say that this is one of those “moral behind the story” dreams. Although the dream itself is from a first person perspective, I prefer to narrate from third person, just because I don’t feel right saying “I” when referring to Amanda Palmer. ((^_^))

[04-04-2010]

Amanda is traveling alone by bus, casually chatting with the other passengers. Everyone is all smiles, taking turns amusing each other in various ways. After a while, she finds herself gazing out of the window peacefully and dozes off. When she wakes up, she has missed her stop by miles and apparently is in the next state. She rushes off at the next stop, realizing after the bus pulls off that she has forgotten her jacket, phone, and watch. It’s beginning to get dark, so she heads down the street, determined to find a pay phone and call for someone to pick her up.

Several shady “hoodlum” characters are hanging out in the alley way, and one comments on the skirt she is wearing, “Hey, are those pleats?” Instead of being a lewd remark, he seems to be generally interested. Amanda stops to talk with them and it turns out that they’re actually just kind old men. She explains that she has lost her cell phone, but she needs to call for transportation, and one of the men lets her borrow a cell phone. While quite grateful, she suddenly cannot remember any phone numbers. She finds a list of “work numbers” in her pocket [which is actually in MY pocket right now], and calls Don (a guy I work with) to see if he can give her Neil’s number. He doesn’t have the number, but he says he will find it and call her back. After a few minutes, he returns her call with Neil’s phone number. Amanda calls Neil, who apparently is in the town she was supposed to be traveling to, and he is swiftly off to her rescue.