Fic: Movie Night (Watchmen)
Aug. 2nd, 2009 05:26 pmTitle: Movie Night
Rating: G/PG
Characters: Rorschach, Dan, Adrian
Warnings: CRACK. Humor, art history, and GEORGE CLOONEY'S NIPPLE SUIT OH GOD MY BRAIN.
Notes: Written to fill this prompt, in which Dan and Rorschach endure Batman and Robin and Adrian presents his own perspective on the infamous costuming. (I am so sorry.)
Disclaimer: I don't own them, which is probably a good thing as they would never do anything except sit around, drink beer and talk about nothing.
As the credits rolled, the three off-duty superheroes settled back onto Dan Dreiberg's sofa, exhaling in unison.
"Well, that was excruciating. Sorry, guys, I guess I picked a dud this time."
"Indeed, Daniel. Cinematic abortion. Batman is a noble avenger, not a bumbling lovestruck fool." Rorschach's inkblots swirled faster. "Not to mention, overt homosexual overtones. Embodies all that is wrong with filthy liberal influence in Hollywood. Hnnk. Should round up and destroy all copies."
"...You know, for once I'm not sure I disagree with you on that last part, Ror, but it might be difficult, even with your level of focus. DVDs are really cheap to mass-produce, after all." Dan closed his eyes and pressed the cold beer bottle to his forehead. "But...yeah. That suit. The nipples. God. What were they thinking?"
"Actually, I thought that was a brilliant move on the part of the costuming team." A third, speculative voice spoke up from the far end of the couch.
Both Nite Owl and Rorschach pivoted, slow motion, to peer at Ozymandias.
"Heh, good one... ...Wait. Adrian, you're serious? Come on."
"It makes valid psychological sense," Adrian protested, rolling his own beer bottle between his hands. "The idealization of the human form is one of the oldest and most pervasive elements in art, after all: you've only to look at the Venus of Hohle Fels for proof. But that's the female equivalent; to stay closer to the topic at hand, consider the resemblance between Batman's suit and an Archaic Greek kouros, or the way a Classical sculptor would have depicted a deity, or hero, or Olympian athlete. Physical perfection not only hints at reproductive fitness, in an instinctual sense, but has long been equated with godliness: the superior being descended to earth. And that same perfect human form, as idealized by the ancients, still figures centrally in our collective unconscious today - any Calvin Klein ad can tell you as much." His eyebrows quirked.
Behind Dan's back, Rorschach was making some remarkably strangled noises, but Dan was too hypnotized by the ongoing trainwreck to look away. Adrian, warming to his subject, set his drink down on the end table (making sure to grab a coaster, which a corner of Dan's distracted brain noted with appreciation) and leaned forward, gesturing with both hands.
"...And in our culture, what are superheroes but our modern-day Olympians, or demigods? Saviors, come down from heaven - or the planet Krypton, as the case may be - or arisen from among us. Heroes who seek to perfect themselves, in order to perfect society as a whole. It's true that they occasionally fail, often because of certain flaws...that's the tragic mythos at work, which is just as powerful and pervasive a force, but I digress." He waved a hand. "Anyway, given the resonance, the adaptation of the nude male torso in this situation simply makes overt the homage that our superhero archetype owes to its ancient antecedents. A brilliant piece of work, even if it was an unconscious choice on the filmmakers' part. That said, I do agree that certain...aspects of Clooney's suit approximate the Hellenistic ideal, as it were, more than the Classical, and not in the positive sense. Regrettable, but amusing nonetheless." He smiled, in cat-that-ate-the-canary fashion.
Dan realized that his mouth was hanging open, and closed it abruptly.
"Sex sells, as they say." Adrian shrugged, then settled back and picked up his beer.
"...Good God." Dan rubbed the back of his neck. "As disturbed as I am to admit it, that actually makes one hell of a lot of sense."
"Ehnnnnk." The sound was even more drawn-out and harsh than usual. Uh-oh; Dan whipped his head around. "Veidt." It came out like a curse. "No words. Cannot think. Need sugar. And caffeine." Rorschach pushed himself to his feet, and stalked towards the kitchen, back rigid in outrage, to get himself another Coca-Cola (the green-bottled version, of course).
Dan sighed, and buried his head in his hands.
Rating: G/PG
Characters: Rorschach, Dan, Adrian
Warnings: CRACK. Humor, art history, and GEORGE CLOONEY'S NIPPLE SUIT OH GOD MY BRAIN.
Notes: Written to fill this prompt, in which Dan and Rorschach endure Batman and Robin and Adrian presents his own perspective on the infamous costuming. (I am so sorry.)
Disclaimer: I don't own them, which is probably a good thing as they would never do anything except sit around, drink beer and talk about nothing.
As the credits rolled, the three off-duty superheroes settled back onto Dan Dreiberg's sofa, exhaling in unison.
"Well, that was excruciating. Sorry, guys, I guess I picked a dud this time."
"Indeed, Daniel. Cinematic abortion. Batman is a noble avenger, not a bumbling lovestruck fool." Rorschach's inkblots swirled faster. "Not to mention, overt homosexual overtones. Embodies all that is wrong with filthy liberal influence in Hollywood. Hnnk. Should round up and destroy all copies."
"...You know, for once I'm not sure I disagree with you on that last part, Ror, but it might be difficult, even with your level of focus. DVDs are really cheap to mass-produce, after all." Dan closed his eyes and pressed the cold beer bottle to his forehead. "But...yeah. That suit. The nipples. God. What were they thinking?"
"Actually, I thought that was a brilliant move on the part of the costuming team." A third, speculative voice spoke up from the far end of the couch.
Both Nite Owl and Rorschach pivoted, slow motion, to peer at Ozymandias.
"Heh, good one... ...Wait. Adrian, you're serious? Come on."
"It makes valid psychological sense," Adrian protested, rolling his own beer bottle between his hands. "The idealization of the human form is one of the oldest and most pervasive elements in art, after all: you've only to look at the Venus of Hohle Fels for proof. But that's the female equivalent; to stay closer to the topic at hand, consider the resemblance between Batman's suit and an Archaic Greek kouros, or the way a Classical sculptor would have depicted a deity, or hero, or Olympian athlete. Physical perfection not only hints at reproductive fitness, in an instinctual sense, but has long been equated with godliness: the superior being descended to earth. And that same perfect human form, as idealized by the ancients, still figures centrally in our collective unconscious today - any Calvin Klein ad can tell you as much." His eyebrows quirked.
Behind Dan's back, Rorschach was making some remarkably strangled noises, but Dan was too hypnotized by the ongoing trainwreck to look away. Adrian, warming to his subject, set his drink down on the end table (making sure to grab a coaster, which a corner of Dan's distracted brain noted with appreciation) and leaned forward, gesturing with both hands.
"...And in our culture, what are superheroes but our modern-day Olympians, or demigods? Saviors, come down from heaven - or the planet Krypton, as the case may be - or arisen from among us. Heroes who seek to perfect themselves, in order to perfect society as a whole. It's true that they occasionally fail, often because of certain flaws...that's the tragic mythos at work, which is just as powerful and pervasive a force, but I digress." He waved a hand. "Anyway, given the resonance, the adaptation of the nude male torso in this situation simply makes overt the homage that our superhero archetype owes to its ancient antecedents. A brilliant piece of work, even if it was an unconscious choice on the filmmakers' part. That said, I do agree that certain...aspects of Clooney's suit approximate the Hellenistic ideal, as it were, more than the Classical, and not in the positive sense. Regrettable, but amusing nonetheless." He smiled, in cat-that-ate-the-canary fashion.
Dan realized that his mouth was hanging open, and closed it abruptly.
"Sex sells, as they say." Adrian shrugged, then settled back and picked up his beer.
"...Good God." Dan rubbed the back of his neck. "As disturbed as I am to admit it, that actually makes one hell of a lot of sense."
"Ehnnnnk." The sound was even more drawn-out and harsh than usual. Uh-oh; Dan whipped his head around. "Veidt." It came out like a curse. "No words. Cannot think. Need sugar. And caffeine." Rorschach pushed himself to his feet, and stalked towards the kitchen, back rigid in outrage, to get himself another Coca-Cola (the green-bottled version, of course).
"Rorschach?" Adrian's tone was bright. "As long as you're up, could you fetch me another beer, please?"
Dan sighed, and buried his head in his hands.
As promised, this is a soundtrack to accompany an ongoing "sword and sorcery" fill for a Watchmen AU prompt. The original story, which you should definitely read, is located here. (Thank you, Anonymous, for titillating my inner geek so effectively.)
I dug deep into my very, very eclectic music library and tried to locate stuff to accompany the story as it is unfolding sequentially; expect updates to the playlist as future chapters are posted. I tried to pick the pieces mostly by "feel", as background music to the events and settings, but a couple of them have appropriate lyrics, too.
So...um...yeah.
Explanations and listing under the Grooveshark widget.
( What is this I don't even )
14. The Garden of Zephirus - Dead Can Dance (Aion)
15. Princess Mononoke Theme Song (Instrumental) - Jo Hisaishi (soundtrack, Princess Mononoke)
(Edited to add a couple songs for Chapters 14 and 15.)
I dug deep into my very, very eclectic music library and tried to locate stuff to accompany the story as it is unfolding sequentially; expect updates to the playlist as future chapters are posted. I tried to pick the pieces mostly by "feel", as background music to the events and settings, but a couple of them have appropriate lyrics, too.
So...um...yeah.
Explanations and listing under the Grooveshark widget.
( What is this I don't even )
14. The Garden of Zephirus - Dead Can Dance (Aion)
15. Princess Mononoke Theme Song (Instrumental) - Jo Hisaishi (soundtrack, Princess Mononoke)
(Edited to add a couple songs for Chapters 14 and 15.)
Solidarity, Part I - a soundtrack
Jul. 8th, 2009 05:40 pmSo, um...this is my attempt at a soundtrack to one of the best Adrian/Dan stories out there, Solidarity by
anactoria. This story has captured my heart and imagination in all kinds of wonderful ways...and this mental soundtrack has been in the works for quite some time, so I thought that perhaps some of you might enjoy it as well. (Disclaimer: these songs are all my choices, except for "Heroes", so don't take any of this as the author's perspective.)
I'm labeling this "Part I" since the story is not yet complete; I expect a "Part II" later on, or a reworking of this to fit the story as a whole.
A million thanks to
anactoria for graciously allowing me to do this. (Many thanks also to
eugenetapdance for helping me break out of my rut artist-wise, and making some really good suggestions.)
( Cut for playlist and lyrics. )
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
I'm labeling this "Part I" since the story is not yet complete; I expect a "Part II" later on, or a reworking of this to fit the story as a whole.
A million thanks to
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
( Cut for playlist and lyrics. )
*NERRD ALERT*
So, my brain told me to make random Egyptian-themed Watchmen fanart. And I did.
( Cut for shameless abuse of hieroglyphs, and link to deviantArt )
So, my brain told me to make random Egyptian-themed Watchmen fanart. And I did.
( Cut for shameless abuse of hieroglyphs, and link to deviantArt )
FIC: Pressure Points (Watchmen)
May. 30th, 2009 02:12 pmTitle: Pressure Points
Rating: G/PG
Characters: Dan, Adrian, Laurie
Warnings: humor, fluff, mild historical geekery, abuse of Eastern mysticism, and Adrian being eeeevil.
Notes: First fic ever (feedback welcome). Inspired by speculation as to what, exactly, Adrian learned in China and India, and this animation by the inestimable Lore Sjoberg. Takes place in 1968; I'm assuming that most of the younger masks know each other's real names at this point (correct me if canon says otherwise).
Disclaimer: I do not own Watchmen. Please, oh beard of Alan Moore, have mercy on me. Also, this fic is not to be used as medical advice. (Dear God.)
( Dan has to admit that his current situation - sitting on his own kitchen floor, being twisted into a remarkable semblance of a pretzel by the World's Smartest Man - was something beyond the standard range of unexpected events. )
Rating: G/PG
Characters: Dan, Adrian, Laurie
Warnings: humor, fluff, mild historical geekery, abuse of Eastern mysticism, and Adrian being eeeevil.
Notes: First fic ever (feedback welcome). Inspired by speculation as to what, exactly, Adrian learned in China and India, and this animation by the inestimable Lore Sjoberg. Takes place in 1968; I'm assuming that most of the younger masks know each other's real names at this point (correct me if canon says otherwise).
Disclaimer: I do not own Watchmen. Please, oh beard of Alan Moore, have mercy on me. Also, this fic is not to be used as medical advice. (Dear God.)
( Dan has to admit that his current situation - sitting on his own kitchen floor, being twisted into a remarkable semblance of a pretzel by the World's Smartest Man - was something beyond the standard range of unexpected events. )
EPIC FANMIX IS EPIC
May. 20th, 2009 09:52 am...So I'm jumping on the fanmix bandwagon with some Tibetan chanting, showtunes, and more Peter Gabriel than you can shake a stick at. (Because you know Adrian Veidt is a total Peter Gabriel fan.) This is a long mix, but I hope you'll bear with me...
An Epic Life, in Seven Chapters
an eclectic Adrian Veidt fanmix
Prologue
Tomorrow Belongs to Me - from Cabaret
The sun on the meadow is summery warm,
The stag in the forest runs free.
But gather together to greet the storm...
Tomorrow belongs to me.
The branch of the linden is leafy and green,
The Rhine gives its gold to the sea.
But somewhere a glory awaits unseen:
Tomorrow belongs...
To me!
Chapter 1 - Beginnings
A young man appraises the flawed shape of the world, and sets out to carve his place within it. Like Alexander, he knows he is destined for greatness-- but the nature of that destiny is yet nothing but a sea of tantalizing possiblities...
The Ocean - U2 (Boy)
A picture in grey, Dorian Gray
Just me, by the sea
And I felt like a star
I thought the world could go far
If they listened to what I said
President - IAMX (The Alternative)
They pull our strings
The animals
They blind, they breed the hate
Under their wing
We're scientists
We swallow what they think
For all you lonely boys
I will be president
In all you sons of men
I can be accident
Most fall in line
They do the dance
And salute the safest thing
Bought with their lives
Cry and socialize
And throw all the beauty away
For all you lonely boys
I will be president
In all you sons of men
I can be accident
Chapter 2 - Awakening
Free from the cocoon of his worldly ties, he sets out on a voyage of self-discovery. His quest culminates in a solitary journey into the desert, from which he returns, transformed and purified, ready to take on a new form -- the phoenix rising from ashes -- and return to the world he left behind.
Padmakara - Choying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts (Selwa)
(instrumental)
Of These, Hope / Lazarus Raised - Peter Gabriel (Passion)
(instrumental)
Chapter 3 - The Birth of Ozymandias
He returns as a conqueror to the city he left, joining the ranks of its new heroes, a cadre of masked adventurers. (The fact that the city does not recognize its conqueror yet is only a minor obstacle.) In the towering skyline, the blinding lights, the street-level cacophony, he sees only how the city can be purified, transformed.
in future years, while recognizing his naivete, he will still remember it fondly.
Oh Jungleland - Simple Minds (Once Upon a Time)
Oh Jungleland
They call you home sweet home
You make me feel so sad, to leave here all alone
But there is a kid called Hope
And he's holding out his hand
He sees the Northern Lights
above this highrise land
Don't look back, never look back
Don't look back, never look back
Oh Jungleland
City of Blinding Lights - U2 (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now
Neon heart, dayglo eyes
A city lit by fireflies
They’re advertising in the skies
For people like us
And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground….
Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Chapter 4 - Disillusionment
The abortive Crimebusters meeting in 1969 brings his dreams to a crashing halt; in the ashes of the map, he sees the ashes of his grand ambitions, at least in their original form. Schoolboy heroics, he now admits, are not enough. There must be another way, something more...
Spiralling - Keane (Perfect Symmetry)
Cos now I only see my dreams, in everything I touch
Feel their cold hands on, everything that I love
Cold like some magnificent skyline
Out of my reach, but always in my eyeline now
We're tumbling down
We're spiralling
Tied up to the ground
We're spiralling
I fashioned you from jewels and stone
I made you in the image of myself
I gave you everything you wanted
So you would never know anything else
But every time I reach for you, you slip through my fingers
Into cold sunlight, laughing at the things that
I had planned, the map of my world gets
Smaller as I sit here, pulling at the loose threads now
When we fall in love
We're just falling
In love with ourselves
We're spiralling
More Than This - Peter Gabriel (Up)
Now we're busy making all our busy plans
On foundations built to last
But nothing fades as fast as the future
And nothing clings like the past, until we can see
More than this
More than this
Much more than this
Way beyond imagination
Much more than this
Beyond the stars
With my head so full
So full of fractured pictures
And I'm all there
Right next to you
So much more than this
There is something else there
When all that you had has all gone
And more than this
I'm alone
Feeling so connected
And I'm all there right next to you
Chapter 5 - The Golden Touch
In 1975, he sheds his skin yet again, revealing himself to the world as a a captain of industry. Ironically, his fame and influence only increase faster. He is called the New Midas, the man with the "golden touch": every new business venture succeeds beyond the critics' wildest expectations. He devotes himself tirelessly to humanitarian efforts, single-mindedly bent on saving the world (that much, at least, hasn't changed, he acknowledges with humor). He is also amused by the reputation he seems to be gaining as a playboy...
The Big Money - Rush
Sometimes pushing people around
Sometimes pulling out the rug
Sometimes pushing all the buttons
Sometimes pulling out the plug
It's the power and the glory
It's a war in paradise
It's a Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice
Big money goes around the world
Big money give and take
Big money done a power of good
Big money make mistakes
Big money got a heavy hand
Big money take control
Big money got a mean streak
Big money got no soul...
Save the Children - Bono (Marvin Gaye)
I just want to ask a question
Who really cares?
To save a world in despair
There'll come a time, when the world won't be singin'
Flowers won't grow, bells won't be ringin'
Who really cares?
Who's willing to try
To save a world
That's destined to die?
After Every Party I Die - IAMX (The Alternative)
You're living but you've got no soul
You captivate but you hold no weight at all
So watch as I start to smile
You're duller than you think you're deep
You aggravate but you always start to speak
So watch as I start to smile
After every party I die
After every party I die
Chapter 6 - The Clock Ticks Down
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold. The unthinkable encroaches more and more on the conversation of daily life. The other unthinkable, the implications of which he cannot afford to stop to feel, moves closer and closer to fruition...
Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Are we living in a land
Where sex and horror are the new Gods?
Yeah
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
Race Against Time - U2 (The Joshua Tree [Bonus Disc])
(instrumental)
Chapter 7 - Culmination
Revenge - Peter Gabriel (Ovo)
(instrumental)
Signal to Noise - Peter Gabriel (Up)
You know the way that things go
When what you fight for starts to fall
And in that fuzzy picture
The writing stands out on the wall
So clearly on the wall
Send out the signals deep and loud
And in this place, can you reassure me
With a touch, a smile - while the cradle's burning
All the while the world is turning to noise
Oh the more that it's surrounding us
The more that it destroys
Turn up the signal
Wipe out the noise
Send out the signals deep and loud
Man I'm losing sound and sight
Of all those who can tell me wrong from right
When all things beautiful and bright
Sink in the night
Yet there's still something in my heart
That can find a way
To make a start
To turn up the signal
Wipe out the noise
Receive and transmit
Epilogue
Prospekt's March/Poppyfields - Coldplay (Viva La Vida)
Smoke is rising from the houses
People burying their dead
I ask somebody what the time is
But time doesn't matter to them yet
People talking without speaking
Trying to take what they can get
I ask you if you remember
Prospekt, how could I forget?
But here I lie
On my own in a separate sky...
All Of Your Children Are Addicts - Hammock (Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow)
(instrumental)