Watchmen fic: Alphabet (Adrian Veidt)
Mar. 9th, 2009 01:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seriousficTitle: Alphabet
Fandom: Watchmen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 741
Characters/Pairings: Adrian Veidt
Timeline: Post-movie, with spoilers.
Summary: Justice comes for all of us.
Veidt aches the next day. Despite his dismissal of Dan, Nite-Owl still had a wonderful right hook. One of his teeth is loose. He prods it with his tongue as he gives a speech on his company’s relief effort. It’s important for him to be associated with the preternatural handling of the disaster, with safety, with hope. As he steps away from the podium, he sees the memorial erected at the edge of the crater.
It’s names. Names enough to wrap around ground zero. The cameras catch his tears as he reads the names of Andrew Aaloone, Karen Aalund, Allen Aamold. He doesn’t even have to fake them.
New York’s senator was killed in the blast. Veidt just has to mention he’s interested and they practically shanghai him. There are accusations of price-gouging, of favoritism. Newspapers reveal that he’s actually been operating at less of a profit than the outfit in LA. His legend grows. In the re-election campaign, he sends out free Ozymandias action figures to his supporters. His win gives landslide a new picture in the dictionary. The only ones who vote against him are those who believe in Rorschach’s journal, and everyone knows they’re insane.
In private moments, between running an international corporation and repairing a shattered state, he commits the names of his sacrifice to memory. He’s just into the Bs now.
***
The mayor of New York is competent and even righteous when he can afford to be. He reflects Veidt’s glory like the moon reflects the sun. They have dinner and the conversation swings to Nixon’s term running down. Neither of them think four more years of the Nixon Doctrine would be anything but a hindrance. Veidt asks what the other man will do when someone else is mayor. And he thinks of Pierre Dupont, and André Dupree, and…
Veidt votes for the repeal of the Keene Act. As does the rest of America. He wears his old costume to the ball welcoming the heroes back. He shakes the hands of the new generation and they look at him with adoring eyes. They want to become him. The thought of them, with their preschool morals and their primary colors, wanting to emulate him… it’s good for a dark chuckle.
Dan and Laurie stay at the opposite end of the room from him. They’ll have children soon. He never expected a thank you.
Vicky Field. Eleven years old.
***
He gets married. She’s a trustworthy woman, ambitious, and they look like the proud parents of a master race when photographed together. After the honeymoon, Veidt announces his campaign for president. They call him and the former mayor of New York the dream team for their handling of the eastern seaboard disaster. Their commercials place Nixon in the reliquary of Cold War foolishness and ask ‘is it time for a change?’
Mary Gaston, Patrick Gassbender…
He is more than a man, more than a hero. He is a messiah. When the electorial map comes out, it is solid purple.
Eddie Jones, Fred Jones, Gina Jones.
He decommissions thousands of warheads on either side of the Iron Curtain. He outlaws whaling. He preserves forests. He puts Big Oil out of business and replaces it with clean blue energy and no one listens to the conspiracy nuts who scream this proves Rorschach right.
Amedeo Malagia, Peggy Malec…
He is reelected. He drops manna on Africa, he fixes social security, he sets up a training program for superheroes.
Stephanie Reynard, 86. Celebrating her birthday.
He writes his memoirs. The Karnak chapter surprises him with its brevity. Was it really so easy? Does he really have that little to say?
In twenty-three hundred years, the time-lock will expire and that chapter will finally be published. He will be seen through the same onus of history as his inspiration, who also wept when he had no more worlds to conquers. Veidt wonders if Alexander ever conquered himself.
Jon Zygmont.
Millions to save billions. It was the only choice. Dan and Laurie saw that, didn’t they? History would see it.
He thinks of calling them, sending a signal through the satellites he’s put in the sky and down to the telephones he’s put in men’s pockets, but he knows they wouldn’t want to talk to him.
“Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair,” Adrian Veidt says to no one but himself.
He puts the gun under his chin and pulls the trigger.
Fandom: Watchmen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 741
Characters/Pairings: Adrian Veidt
Timeline: Post-movie, with spoilers.
Summary: Justice comes for all of us.
Veidt aches the next day. Despite his dismissal of Dan, Nite-Owl still had a wonderful right hook. One of his teeth is loose. He prods it with his tongue as he gives a speech on his company’s relief effort. It’s important for him to be associated with the preternatural handling of the disaster, with safety, with hope. As he steps away from the podium, he sees the memorial erected at the edge of the crater.
It’s names. Names enough to wrap around ground zero. The cameras catch his tears as he reads the names of Andrew Aaloone, Karen Aalund, Allen Aamold. He doesn’t even have to fake them.
New York’s senator was killed in the blast. Veidt just has to mention he’s interested and they practically shanghai him. There are accusations of price-gouging, of favoritism. Newspapers reveal that he’s actually been operating at less of a profit than the outfit in LA. His legend grows. In the re-election campaign, he sends out free Ozymandias action figures to his supporters. His win gives landslide a new picture in the dictionary. The only ones who vote against him are those who believe in Rorschach’s journal, and everyone knows they’re insane.
In private moments, between running an international corporation and repairing a shattered state, he commits the names of his sacrifice to memory. He’s just into the Bs now.
***
The mayor of New York is competent and even righteous when he can afford to be. He reflects Veidt’s glory like the moon reflects the sun. They have dinner and the conversation swings to Nixon’s term running down. Neither of them think four more years of the Nixon Doctrine would be anything but a hindrance. Veidt asks what the other man will do when someone else is mayor. And he thinks of Pierre Dupont, and André Dupree, and…
Veidt votes for the repeal of the Keene Act. As does the rest of America. He wears his old costume to the ball welcoming the heroes back. He shakes the hands of the new generation and they look at him with adoring eyes. They want to become him. The thought of them, with their preschool morals and their primary colors, wanting to emulate him… it’s good for a dark chuckle.
Dan and Laurie stay at the opposite end of the room from him. They’ll have children soon. He never expected a thank you.
Vicky Field. Eleven years old.
***
He gets married. She’s a trustworthy woman, ambitious, and they look like the proud parents of a master race when photographed together. After the honeymoon, Veidt announces his campaign for president. They call him and the former mayor of New York the dream team for their handling of the eastern seaboard disaster. Their commercials place Nixon in the reliquary of Cold War foolishness and ask ‘is it time for a change?’
Mary Gaston, Patrick Gassbender…
He is more than a man, more than a hero. He is a messiah. When the electorial map comes out, it is solid purple.
Eddie Jones, Fred Jones, Gina Jones.
He decommissions thousands of warheads on either side of the Iron Curtain. He outlaws whaling. He preserves forests. He puts Big Oil out of business and replaces it with clean blue energy and no one listens to the conspiracy nuts who scream this proves Rorschach right.
Amedeo Malagia, Peggy Malec…
He is reelected. He drops manna on Africa, he fixes social security, he sets up a training program for superheroes.
Stephanie Reynard, 86. Celebrating her birthday.
He writes his memoirs. The Karnak chapter surprises him with its brevity. Was it really so easy? Does he really have that little to say?
In twenty-three hundred years, the time-lock will expire and that chapter will finally be published. He will be seen through the same onus of history as his inspiration, who also wept when he had no more worlds to conquers. Veidt wonders if Alexander ever conquered himself.
Jon Zygmont.
Millions to save billions. It was the only choice. Dan and Laurie saw that, didn’t they? History would see it.
He thinks of calling them, sending a signal through the satellites he’s put in the sky and down to the telephones he’s put in men’s pockets, but he knows they wouldn’t want to talk to him.
“Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair,” Adrian Veidt says to no one but himself.
He puts the gun under his chin and pulls the trigger.
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no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 06:41 pm (UTC)Oh wow. I just... wow.
First of all, amazingly in character. I could see Adrian doing all of this, from memorizing the names, to continuing his work to improve society, to finally reaching the end of it all. Second of all, this is probably one of the best fanfictions I've ever read.
(I have to say, my favorite touch was the names.)
*adds to mems*
KEEP WRITING! <3
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 06:49 pm (UTC)Random-ness: Did you ever read the poem "The Names" by Billy Collins? It's a poem he wrote on the one year anniversary of 9/11, and I wondered if it had inspired you to write this fic.
Anyway, awesome fic. =)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 07:08 pm (UTC)I also like the idea that Rorschach's journal wasn't widely believed - I always suspected that would be the case.
Really nice work - I've been waiting for the good Veidt fics to start emerging after the movie, and this is the first one I've found.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:20 pm (UTC)Well, I imagine it as a marriage of convenience. He's more about "we look good together on the front page" than "I love her". Hence the detail of her ambition.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:08 pm (UTC)This was absolutely beautiful. I have nothing else to say. Just...beautiful, and I think it suits his character perfectly. Quite tragic. Could be because I'm tired, but I nearly cried.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:11 pm (UTC)...Oh god, he married his secretary didn't he.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:20 pm (UTC)re: Adrian Veidt and Hilary Clinton
Date: 2010-07-24 01:37 am (UTC)Like, dude, Secretary Clinton looks great in blue, her eyes glows unearthly blue when she's wearing blue.
Hmmnmmmmnnn, Rahm has joked once that Clinton was a lesbian, indirectly.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 09:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 10:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 10:58 pm (UTC)Wow...
Date: 2009-03-10 12:19 am (UTC)Adrian always bothered me. He's the "villain" and should be hated for what he did. But after reading the book and watching the movie (twice), I still can't bring myself to hate him. He did the world wrong, but one can't deny he did it good as well.
This is completely believable. :) Amazing job!!
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 12:29 am (UTC)Anyway, I love this. You captured his psychology perfectly and it makes sense to me that this would be how things would play out. I loved the detail on Rorschach's journal and his enemies being treated as conspiracy theorists since that's how I always thought it would be treated. I especially love the moral ambiguity and the sense of how history will view him. It's very Veidt. *mems!*
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 02:39 am (UTC)ETA: Though I do feel the need to nitpick and point out that Karnak doesn't have a c in it.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 03:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 04:21 am (UTC)Dang nabbit. Now I must give it up, I can never write Adrien as good as you.
*goes and sulks*
......
*retrieves pen and begins to sneakily continue writing own fic.*
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 05:27 am (UTC)....PUN NOT INTENDED BUT NOW THAT I NOTICED IT AND LEFT IT THERE I GUESS IT'S OFFICIALLY INTENDED.
I like the mention of "clean blue energy."
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 08:23 am (UTC)I really hope that you write more. &hearts
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 08:25 am (UTC)This is fantastic. That's probably all I can say about it, because there are no other words.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 03:35 pm (UTC)Silliness aside, this is very good. I like the way the names are used to add a sense that time is indeed passing, and Adrian's poisonous success is sickening and very interesting. Well done.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 04:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-11 02:31 am (UTC)That was really, really good. I actually like Adrian better now, having read this. Fantastically well done.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-11 03:52 am (UTC)I felt that was the best comment, since it was my actual response. I gasped and clapped my hands over my face. What! Adrian! Eep! D:
What a powerful and brutal piece of writing. The robotic way he regards his accomplishments, the little touches of humanity he puts with the names of the dead. Wow. Simply gorgeous.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-12 07:37 am (UTC)Depressing and very real and WRITE MORE PLEASE.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-15 05:06 am (UTC)It makes me wish we'd gotten Jon telling him 'Nothing ever ends,' as in the book, but this definitely captures the sentiment -- even in this version where the plan works and he gets everything he wants, he loses himself.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-15 02:51 pm (UTC)It makes me wish we'd gotten Jon telling him 'Nothing ever ends,' as in the book,
Maybe they thought it'd be too redundant with Rorschach's journal being found. Me, I think the movie's conception of Ozymandias is a lot less nuanced than the book's, and thus him expressing doubt to Jon (or glee at his success) wouldn't fit into his "evil genius" characterization like it did into his "utopian 'hero'" characterization.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-15 03:01 pm (UTC)But you're right, the movie characterization is different and I thought in this story you did a nice job of using the movie version while still getting at the nuances in characterization beyond "evil, but fabulous."
no subject
Date: 2009-03-15 11:14 pm (UTC)I did think they had some good ideas in Ozy's characterization. Making him the would-be leader of the Watchmen/Crimebusters (in the comics it was one of the C-list heroes, right?) was, I think, a good way to show his idealism start to twist into Gordian Knot mode without taking up a lot of screentime. I could imagine someone at first seeing it and thinking "ah, so that's why he sold out" and then they see him as the corporate titan he is and then finally comes the reveal of him as the mastermind and it's all very organic.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 10:06 pm (UTC)It's superb.
I was just searching a fic about how he would talk publicly about what happened - this mix of hypocrisy and angst... there is what I looked for at the beginning of the fic, and then, so much more.
The list of people, of course, which makes the fic's title, but also how he really saves the world... and still, this ending...
no subject
Date: 2009-04-11 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-11 04:20 pm (UTC)No, but Adrian probably did. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-13 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-31 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-22 06:05 pm (UTC)You've already gotten so much praise for this that I feel there's very little I can add, but I will say that it was brilliant. Fantastic work.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 06:52 pm (UTC)2300 years is a long time. That's how long it was since Alexander, right? It'd be interesting to know how Adrian will be thought of in 2300 years. Depending, learning the truth could be crushing or it could be a historical curiosity, a bitter and awful little footnote.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-30 05:29 pm (UTC)We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean-favoured and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good Morning!" and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich, yes, richer than a king,
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine -- we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked and waited for the light,
And went without the meat and cursed the bread,
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet in his head.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 02:11 pm (UTC)And ow. Lovely and very true-to-Adrian. He always did insist on carrying burdens that weren't exclusively his to carry.
Thank you.