And Rorschach ignores the interruption, because it’s important that Daniel understands the implications of what he’s suggesting. “Can resist more… persuasion.”

Daniel hmms around a thin screwdriver pursed at the corner of his mouth, reaching to unclip the jeweler’s stone from his glasses. “Yeah, that right there? That’s bullshit, and I think you know it. If we were talking brainwashing like in stupid late night sci-fi movies, maybe.” The last drop of solder goes into place, and he hisses through his teeth when he accidentally catches the side of his finger on the iron. Winds a thin coil of wire carefully with one hand, sucking briefly on the injured finger. “But if they’re using drugs to pull this off – and there’s a good chance they are – then we’d be pretty equally screwed, buddy.”

Under the mask, Rorschach grimaces. Tries to imagine himself forcing some vile, malicious chemical out of his system by sheer force of will, but has to concede to reality in the end; physiology is what it is.