Food for Thought

[whiskerslily]

So, I've been lately thinking about our favorite boys in 1965-1974 (pre-Roche case)...  this was the nostalgic point in the graphic novel, when Dan was fit/handsome and Rorschach was sane/articulate. And a lot of interesting questions came to mind ...I'm curious as to what you guys think.

1. When Nite Owl and Rorschach team up-- why would they team

Comments

[foxypope]

1. I think Rorschach would slowly ebb himself into being Dan's partner. They were pretty much working on the same case together, so they probably realized "Hey, you're a masked vigilante after the mob, I'm a masked vigilante after the mob--may as well, aye?"--but if Dan had Archie by then, then Ror probably would've wanted that advantage.

But I mostly think Ror started it because Dan's a sane human being and would probably think Ror was weird and initially wouldn't want to work with him, but if Ror just fixed himself into being his partner then Dan would tolerate it/be okay with it because of how much more skilled Ror is with hand-to-hand combat and all that. I think only after seeing how well they work as a team would Dan want to be shown the ropes of being a vigilante.

2. I think Ror would only consider Dan's higher education/economic status like he considers Dan being fat in the GN. It's a sign of decadence and his liberal wealth, but I don't think it detracts any respect he has for Dan. He would just take note of it, store it in the back of his mind, and would probably only bring it up if Dan was doing something he didn't like and pin the explanation as to why on that--and it would all mostly be inward unless Dan said/did something to make him say it out loud.

So in a way, he wouldn't be envious (because in his mind he's the best of everyone), but he would use it against his character. And yet I don't think that would make him dislike Daniel any less because he's Nite Owl and he kind of automatically puts him on a higher tier than the rest (and he's his partner and only friend, of course).

3. I don't think they talk about their personal life. At all. Ror would get uncomfortable with it. Plus we're talking about **way** different daddy/mommy issues, here. If Ror was a different person, he would laugh in Dan's face about Dan's daddy issues. "Boohoo, you're daddy didn't support you. I NEVER KNEW MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER WAS A WHORE." I think Dan would sympathize more with Rorschach on that issue more than he would feel a connection with him (because, fuck, who doesn't have some daddy/mommy issue? Dan's is normal, Ror's is not.).

4. Practical use. I think it's a mixture of Dan probably not having as much use for it or having a spare one, then his inner mother-hen calling out to him and telling him that Ror could use it best. Ror would probably see it as a tool before he saw it as a token of friendship, because it's something he uses as Rorschach while on the job--and I don't think he likes to blur the lines between sentimentality and practicality.

[foxypope]

And just on the topic of the grappling gun: Why does everyone seem to think Rorschach would initially reject it? I'm just curious. I always see him stealing beans/sugar cubes/etc. from Dan's cupboard, and I was under the impression that as Walter he was pretty much a panhandler. So would it have to do with an ego thing ("Don't need a grappling hook! Can handle self fine.") or because he's embarrassed by Dan giving him something (as opposed to Rorschach just taking it)?

Because obviously in my perspective I see it as Rorschach looking it as a thing of convenience ("Hurm? Can use this."--a new tool for improvisation!). Of course, maybe he does see it as a token of friendship; I'd certainly like to think of it that way, but I'm thinking the canon would say otherwise if it were made it at all concrete.

[elendar]

I loved the thoughts from you in the above comment.

If there ever was a thought of sentimentality in Rorschach, it would probably be pushed away or is that too harsh? Still, the grappling gun might have been seen as a gesture of caring. At least, that he has the tools to do his job and perhaps being practical is as much a sign of caring for Ror.

[sandoz_iscariot]

Yeah, I think it's the difference between giving and taking. Rorschach obviously has no problem pilfering food and the like (and I wouldn't be surprised if he walked off with some things from Dan's workshop). But even if Dan gave the grappling gun as a purely professional gesture and not a friendly one, I think Rorschach's pride would act up ("Don't need help or charity," etc.) even as his practical side told him he needed it.

[scarlet_carsons]

Yes, this. I mean, Rorschach refused a snow suit from Daniel. In Antarctica.