Rorschach the verbose

[mustinvestigate]

I’ve been re-reading Watchmen over the last week or so (more and more slowly as I get near the end), and today realised there’s an even more d’awwwwww-inducing Nite Owl / Rorschach moment than the long awkward handshake:

When the two of them break into Veidt’s office and Nite Owl pokes around, finally hacking into the computer, while Rorschach talks…and talks…and talks.

Here’s the full text, from Rorschach noticing the chart on the wall to Dan finally rejoining the conversation:

Global population…nuclear hazard escalation index…environmental decline… Multiple crisis graph, lines converging mid 1990’s.

Optimistic. Crisis arrives decade early unless we get lead on Pyramid Deliveries. Company traceable presumably, but obviously not amateurs: engineered mask killer campaign, maybe third world war into bargain. Very competent. Very careful. Difficult quarry.

Need direct route to people behind pyramid, indication where to start…

Also need motive. Why should corporation wish to kill costume heroes? Controlled by some old enemy perhaps? But then, who has reason for triggering Armageddon? We have so few pointers.

Insanity would seem only motive. Someone wishes to destroy world, removes heroes to prevent their intervention. Someone terminally ill, perhaps…

Huhn. Moloch better suspect than previously apparent. Pity deceased…

…unless plot from beyond grave, prearranged…? No, too fantastic. Egyptian décor coloring logic… Recognise dog headed bust. Anubis, watcher over dead. Whole culture death-fixated, obsessively securing their tombs against intruders…

Didn’t like thought of corpses interfered with. Can’t afford to be so squeamish. Disturbing dead our job. Need to unearth facts concerning murders: Blake’s and Jacobi’s. If that offends Anubis, too bad. Handled watchdogs before.

However, seems inadvisable to confront this enemy’s watchdogs before considering situation carefully. Case is logic-problem. Simply needs application of intelligence.

Must admit, despite personal dislike, Veidt’s absence unfortunate. Allegedly smartest man on earth. Could no doubt have provided some answers.

Need answers quickly. World on verge of apocalypse. Death and War already here. Other horsemen can’t be far behind.

Funny…ancient pharaohs looked forward to end of world: believed cadavers would rise, reclaim hearts from golden jars. Must be currently holding breath in anticipation. Understand now why always mistrusted fascination with relics and dead kings…

…in final analysis, it’s us or them.

Obviously, there’s lots of thematic goodness in there, and there’s got to be something interesting going on while the always visually scintillating hacking goes on in the background, but sheesh, Rorschach! You’re monologue-ing, with rhetorical flourishes!

He’s so comfortable and happy (…for him) to have his bestest buddy working at his side again to share his thoughts with, instead of only his journal, and it’s goddamned adorable.

And it makes me wonder – all the ficcers (including me) write even 1960s Rorschach as Mister Terse. It feels wrong just to let him use a pronoun once in a while. But, based on this, what if he spent every minute of alone time with Nite Owl like this, chattering out every single thought that crossed his mind?

Poor, poor lucky Nite Owl – it would have been like working with a perpetual Raymond Chandler loop! Maybe he spent nearly every pre-Roche patrol gritting his teeth after a few hours and muttering “Shut. Up. Rorschach. Shut. Up. ShutUpShutUpShutUp!” Or giggling like a maniac at rapid-fire literary references.

Someone needs to write this. I don’t know if I’m up to it, but goddamn, someone needs to.

Comments

[tonights.livejournal.com]

You know, I had this SAME thought on my most recent re-read (coupled with a lot of "d'awwww"ing. The literary and historic references! The "handled watchdogs before" crack!)

I'm writing a pre-75 piece now where I'm trying to get him to be talkative around Daniel and it just ... seems so weird. I'll be reading what I just wrote and saying to myself "No, no, no, this is all wrong! Look at him, he's inflecting!"

It's going to be a hard habit to break, I'm afraid.

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

He's so clearly waiting for Daniel to notice how super-clever he is with all his references. And Daniel's just uh huh, honey, busy with the computer right now...

Can't wait to read your pre-Roche Rorschach! It's harder than you expect, tho, isn't he? There's the benefits of slightly better hygiene and less psychosis and (probable) easier luring into the hot gay sex, but...it’s not the same when he isn’t smelly, monosyllabic, and untouchable.

I am so going to take a break from the monstrosity to write something light where early Rorschach (or maybe Walter) is a total chatterbox, and then porning results.

[rezuri.livejournal.com]

"Egyptian décor coloring logic… "

This made me giggle. He's so matter-of-fact.

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

I swear he was just showing off that he knew as much about ancient Egypt as Adrian and was waiting for Daniel to acknowledge it :)

[snake-easing.livejournal.com]

I think this must be the case. Poor un-validated Rorschach... Heh.

Also...

[rezuri.livejournal.com]

Poor, poor lucky Nite Owl – it would have been like working with a perpetual Raymond Chandler loop! Maybe he spent nearly every pre-Roche patrol gritting his teeth after a few hours and muttering “Shut. Up. Rorschach. Shut. Up. ShutUpShutUpShutUp!” Or giggling like a maniac at rapid-fire literary references."

And then feeling terribly about it post-Roche.

Re: Also...

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

And then feeling terribly about it post-Roche.

This also must be fic. *nodnodnod*

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

But, based on this, what if he spent every minute of alone time with Nite Owl like this, chattering out every single thought that crossed his mind?

Oh god, that would be hilarious and really a challenge to write. Poor Dan, especially if he tried to help Rorschach after the Roche case.

[gothic-tampons.livejournal.com]

I am so on this right now. 8D

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

That would be extreeeemely cool :) Can't wait!

[snake-easing.livejournal.com]

I'm a little hesitant to ask, because I don't want it to seem demanding or anything, but... are you planning to continue Imposition at all? No pressure, I'd just like to know.

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

The next chapter of that story seems cursed, between a long spell of writers block and then it being one of the only drafts I didn't have backed up elsewhere when my hard drive was broken by MS's authentication software. I still have plans to finish it...eventually... (sigh)

Any chance you're volunteering to finish it for me? :)

[snake-easing.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, I've never co-wrote with anyone, but I've always wanted to... Do you mean it? (If you're on a roll with it, though, please do continue on your own...)

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

I seem to be on a roll with it (she says tentatively, not wanting the gods of irony to overhear), but it could be fun to try with another story. Or horrible - I've never co-wrote either and might be a nightmare to work with :D Any ideas you're kicking around?

[snake-easing.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! I'll keep it quiet and the gods of irony won't hear. :)

No ideas right now, and lots of deadlines... Look me up later, though, if you want to try it...

[mustinvestigate.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaargh okay I'm working on it again. I'm sure some fresh doom awaits this version, too. It's your fault, you know.

:)

[snake-easing.livejournal.com]

Yes, I accept full responsibility! :)