milliways_bar | (no subject)

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It's been a few days since Rorschach's first experience in the bar, and he pauses in the doorway this time, one arm extended to hold the door open.

Behind him, if anyone cares to notice, lies an eerily quiet and somewhat shadier-looking bar than Milliways.

It only takes him a moment to make up his mind, though, and he lets the door swing shut behind him and heads for the Observation Window.

Apparently the bar isn't a dream, and doesn't just exist in Dreiberg's apartment. This means the next logical step is figuring out where it does exist. Hence the solemn window study.

Long story short: There's a short masked man sitting on a table, making the 'thinker' pose at the Observation Window.

He's relatively botherable.

[tiny investigative tags: Rorschach, Ellen (Vault 101 Dweller), Charlie Monroe, Michael, Tommy Shepherd]

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"I've only seen two in use so far," says Ellen, "but most of the traders who sell ammunition have energy cells to fit it, so I guess there must be people willing to buy them." She gives a small smile. "Basic economics."

"Probably a popular concealed weapon, ennk."

Basic...paranoia, maybe.

"Well, that would explain the mercenaries carrying it," Ellen says. "I suppose it's handy to have something like that when you're going someplace that you don't want to tip off your target until you're right on top of them."

"That's not why you carry one?"

"Mine's just for self-defense," says Ellen. "Like the others. I carry it because it's much faster and more responsive than most of my other guns. I'm not hunting anyone in particular- the Capital Wasteland's just a very dangerous place."

Rorschach has never been to a wasteland, unless you count the moral wasteland of New York. But he finds the idea of one somewhat interesting.

"Lots of wildlife, then," he says thoughtfully.

"And all of it mutated, as far as I can tell," says Ellen. "Well- no. The dogs seem all right, I've seen pictures of dogs from before the War. But everything else I've found so far's been mutated like nobody's business."

Hrm. Mutated animals and a war without a name?

"Take it you're not referring to the second World War."

"More like the third, sir," says Ellen. "Although Mr. Brotch- he was our teacher- Mr. Brotch said that technically the Resource Wars were probably the third, considering how much of Europe and Africa and central Asia got involved. I mean what we called the Great War- two hundred years ago, in October of 2077."

Doc Hoff told Ellen when she first met him to please put a rein on her tongue, because spilling all the details to strangers about every little thing would probably get her in trouble one day. She's going to need a few more lessons in that, obviously.

2077. Why does this place have to be so strange?

"That's after my time, I think."

"It might not be your world, sir," says Ellen. "I'm told a lot of people are from other timelines than mine. Who was the first man to walk on the moon, where you come from?"

"Neil Armstrong, technically."

It seems a little pointless, in retrospect, to send a manned spacecraft to the moon and then have Dr. Manhattan poof himself up to visit them with a camera.

Ellen nods. "Where I come from," she says, "it was Richard Wade, on a rocket called Valiant 11, launched by the United States Space Agency. So we're probably from two parallel universes, or something along those lines."

"Hurm."

There is a thoughtful pause; he's filing away information. Parallel universes is something he's sure Dr. Manhattan will know about.

"And even parallel universes have war." It's not really a question, just a depressingly realized statement.

There's a saying in Ellen's universe, one that prompts a sad little smile as she relays it: "War never changes."

"No," Rorschach agrees tiredly. "Nor does humanity."

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