And Sure In Language Strange She Said... by scarlet_carsons (NC-17)

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

Fandom: WATCHMEN
Pairing: Rorschach/63!Adrian
Length: ~1800
Author on LJ: scarlet_carsons
Author Website: Author's fic on LJ
Why this must be read: Another rule63!fic, and one that I love because it does exactly what I want from this kind of story -- keeps a canon character recognisably him/herself, without ignoring the ways in which being a different gender would impact upon that person's life experience. 'Adi' Veidt is still a ruthless, self-assured, terrifying, not-entirely-hateable genius, but the author uses little details of scene and expression to show how her self-presentation has had to be different in order for her to gain the same level of success. Plus, it's brilliantly uncomfortable, and her interaction with Rorschach rings very true.

One entire wall of the office is occupied by a glass cabinet full of dolls: a legion of plastic Adi Veidts, all dressed differently (explorer, fashion model, actress, athlete, etc.), all with the same smile. Rorschach is watched by at least a hundred unblinking blue eyes.

The real Adi Veidt sits at her desk, immaculate.

In person, she's not imposingly beautiful, like some of the photographers make her out to be. She's pretty and unthreatening, a Disney princess who rescued herself: bobbed blonde hair, light makeup, fresh-faced, girl-next-door. The heavy kohl eyeliner and Art Deco severity that helped to make her famous belongs solely to her adventuring alter-ego, Cleopatra, a persona that is safely tucked away in a closet whenever Adi doesn't need to scare people. She smiles at Rorschach, despite the polite hostility that he has always shown towards her. Between Adi and her dolls, there's an awful lot of smiling going on inside the room.

"The Comedian was murdered," Rorschach tells her, to wipe the smile off her face.


And Sure In Language Strange She Said...