are DCs "alive"?

has anyone ever asked a DC if they were alive or could see they believed they were alive, what was their answer or what was their reaction when you told them they were just a DC or told them this was a dream. and another thing is has anyone ever “met” their subconscious and talked to them or asked them questions, can you talk about your experiences.

I had a chat with my friend last night in a dream:
“Arto? You died last summer, this has to be a dream.”
“No it’s not. I’m actually alive.” he smiled.
I have chatted with him in a dream before. He always denies being dead. I became lucid in that dream last night and experienced intense fear which stopped me from staying in that dream (woke up).