the alternate universe meme.

[luft]

The Alternate Universe Meme

How To Play
1. Post with Your Character, name and canon in the subject line.
2. Feel free to mention which AUs you’re willing or not willing to play in the body of the comment.
3. Tag by rolling for an Alternate Universe setting using rng.
4. Or Tag by picking whatever AU you’d like to play in most.
5. Have fun!

Alternate Universes
i - All Human: In an All Human AU, characters who are canonically vampires, werewolves or superheroes, are now humans, with corresponding changes to their backstories.

ii - Apocalypse: A portmanteau of "apocalypse fic", apocafic is fiction set during or after some sort of apocalypse, or end of the world. Some canons carry a built-in apocalypse against which the protagonists are fighting: in apocafic, they lose. For example, apocafic in Stargate and X-Files is usually set after the alien occupation; Supernatural apocafic is set on a demon-controlled Earth.

iii - Band: An alternate universe in which the characters are members in, or form a band. Often, the instruments they plan and their roles in the band are analogous to their canon identities. For example, Tony Stark might be cast as the fame-hungry lead singer who is also a musical genius, or River Tam might be a classically trained pianist who, after a terrible experience at Julliard, writes songs for Mal Reynold's grunge rock band, Serenity.

iv - Circus: Circus AUs are a popular trope in fanfic and sometimes fanart. Using a circus as a setting means introducing the characters to each other in a close-knit community. That can help break down barriers between them and make them bond together against the outside world which may not understand them as well as the other characters do. It also brings a sense of adventure and the idea that this world may have different rules and everything is possible. A circus can also be a good place for characters to go undercover and meet the love of their lives.

v - Coffee Shop: The Barista AU (or coffeeshop AU, or the closely related bakery AU) is a popular fanfiction trope in LiveJournal fandoms. In most cases, one half of the main pairing is the barista and the other is or becomes their favorite customer; in some stories the whole cast works at a coffee shop. This trope is especially popular in fandoms where one character is very attached to coffee, either in canon or in fanon, or is frequently stressed.

vi - College/High School: College Fic is a popular genre of fanfic (less often a genre of fanart) that places characters together in college or another secondary institution such as the Starfleet Academy in Star Trek fic (then called "Academy Fic"). This can be canon stories, for example backstory if characters have or could have met during college, or College AUs, similar to High School AUs. In science fiction, historical or fantasy fandoms the present day College AU is a popular subgenre of the Modern AU that puts fantastic or historical characters in more mundane everyday settings.

vii - Cop/Detective: An alternate universe in which the characters are cast as cops or investigators of some kind. Often, the canon villain is also cast as the villain in the story. This might be set in modern times, or in a noir-like environment, complete with gangsters and femme fatales.

viii - Daemons: His Dark Materials is a fantasy trilogy by Philip Pullman. The trilogy consists of The Golden Compass (1995; published in the UK as Northern Lights), The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). There are currently two companion novellas: Lyra's Oxford (2003) and Once Upon A Time In The North (2008). A movie adaptation of the first book was released in theatres in late 2007. Humans have their souls living outside their body in the form of an animal companion. Males have female souls and females have male souls. The animals often correspond to the character’s personality.

ix - Fantasy: An alternate universe populated with fantastical characters like elves, dwarves, unicorns, sorcerers, and dragons. Canon characters might be cast as analogous races (e.g. Clint Barton or Katniss Everdeen as elf archers) or they might be humans in a fantastical setting. Characters also might be able to secretly shape-shift into another form, like a dragon, and therefore is related closely to were/vampire/supernatural AUs.

x - Historical: A historical AU is a fanwork which moves characters into a different historical period than their canon setting. Typically this involves taking "contemporary" characters (from the late 20th Century or 21st Century) and putting them in an earlier historical period (such as the 19th Century or before). Popular settings for historical AUs include: Pirates, America's Old West, Britain's Regency period, Ancient Rome, a vague facsimile of medieval England such as Robin Hood, and many others.

xi - Hooker/Porn/Stripper: Hookerfic is a type of fanfic where one or more of the characters is a sex worker. There are many different types of hookerfic, ranging from more realistic depictions to the more common Pretty Woman-type fantasy of a hooker with a heart of gold, rescued from life on the streets by a client. Sex work of all kinds is portrayed—brothels, escorts, street prostitution, "call-girls" as well as strippers and go-go boys.

xii - Magic: Magic AUs are alternate universe fanworks that incorporate magic in fandoms where there is no magic present in canon. (Or in some cases, fanworks that make a canon with magic more magical.) They differ from Elf AUs in that there may be magic without any elves showing up, and are opposites of All Human and Mundane AUs.

xiii - Neighbors/Roomates: An alternate universe where the canon characters live next-door to one another, or in the same apartment building or complex, or in the same apartment. Often, this is also an all-human AU, if the canon characters are powered in some way. The forced proximity is usually used to create romantic tension between characters.

xiv - Space/Sci-Fi: A space AU is an alternate universe where a source set on Earth is transported into space; works are often referred to as "[Fandom] in SPAAAAAAAAACE!" The trope can be a form of crackfic, but often includes surprisingly serious reinterpretations of the most earthbound of sources, particularly historical fiction written or set before space exploration. Cyberpunk trappings such as robots, cyborgs and AIs are often included.

xv - Steampunk: Steampunk was originally a term for a sub-genre of speculative fiction that imitated 19th Century "scientific romances" like the work of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Later, the term was applied to a general aesthetic involving styles that would be "futuristic" from the perspective of the 19th Century. Steampunk appears in fanworks as both a genre and an aesthetic. There are some fandoms for which the canon is steampunk(-ish), e.g. The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, but more often it is found as steampunk alternate universe.

xvi - Western: The Western is a genre of fiction set in the later half of the 19th century in the Western part of North America, especially the United States, but also Canada and Mexico. Sometimes also included in the genre are stories about Western-type characters and plots in other settings, e.g. "Space Westerns" (in science fiction settings) and Contemporary Westerns (set in the western part of contemporary North America).

xvii - Were/Vamp/Supernatural: A reversal of the All-Human, in these fics characters who are normally human are now supernatural creatures of some kind the most common being werewolves or vampires.

Comments

[phonetical]

[Each scream of the guy's name (this one happens to be Eric; Go Eric) strikes Nyota in the back of her teeth in the same way fingernails against a chalkboard does. She too wonders how Gaila can be at that volume constantly and not be the least bit hoarse in the morning. But those are questions Nyota will never ask, much less wonder about beyond irritated passing. She presses her back against a wall, directly across from her door, and slides down to the ground for a seat. She sets the pillow under her for comfort because boy, this is going to be a long night.

She's lost in her thoughts of breaking leases and not getting her half of the security fee, legs pulled up to her chest and her arms draped around them, when the the snap of a lock being turned catches her attention. Glancing up at her neighbor, she takes in the sight of him--all sleep rumpled and possibly cranky--and wonders if he's going to blame her for this.

He doesn't, but he does ask her a question she can answer.]

No.

[No need to shy away from the truth. It's obvious what's wrong.]

[dow]

[ A brow arches neatly, a degree of amused sympathy buried beneath his sleep-worn exterior. Padding over on bare-feet, he pauses beside her and glances to the door. ]

Fascinating.

[ That the people inside aren't being murdered, yes. He finds his attention drawn inexorably back to the woman in a neat pile on the floor and has no idea quite what to do. He's fairly certain he's seen her coming and going from the building before tonight, similarly a resident. ]

Are they refusing to answer the door? I was about to try for myself.

[phonetical]

[Fascinating? What kind of reply is that? There's nothing fascinating about being run out of your own apartment in the middle of the night, especially when you have to work in the morning. Nyota can't find in her to agree.]

Don't bother. [Nyota frowns, shifting on her makeshift seat.] She's not going to answer. And I know this because I live there and I already banged on her bedroom door and nothing happened.

[dow]

I see. [ Not really. Well, sort of, who wants to be locked in an apartment with howling all night? There's some common sense in having left albeit not in sitting on a cold floor. ] Perhaps if we called for animal control, a suitable tranquilizer could be issued to rectify the situation.

[ The wryest of wry, deadpan jokes. No, but could they call? Hm. ]

[phonetical]

[It's two in the morning. Her options were limited. Very limited. It was here or be trapped in her bedroom.]

Easy. That's my roommate you're talking about. [But Nyota's smirking, not offended in the least. For all honesty, Gaila is doing a great impression of a howler monkey right now.] I'm sorry if she woke you up.

[dow]

She has been stifling my ability to gain a full night's rest for three nights since I moved in a week ago. I am aware, however, that this is not your fault and accept your apology.

[ Sparing a final moment of assessment, he steps back. ]

May I offer you my couch until morning? Remaining out here may only prove dangerous and unnecessary.

[phonetical]

[Three nights for him, over a year for her. She wins this battle of complaints. Maybe that's why the previous resident of his apartment moved out. Nyota is pretty sure they were only there for a handful of months.

But his couch? It's a nice offer, but there's two things wrong with it: she doesn't know him and she would still be able hear Gaila from there. Not happening.]

Thanks, but no thanks. I'm fine out here. Nothing dangerous is going to get me.

[dow]

The statistical probability of an incident occurring in the hallway at such an hour is twice as high and you may fall ill in the cold. [ Needling the point, he can't help but insist. ] If they do indeed intend to persist until dawn, you are welcome to remain in my apartment while I walk to a nearby garage to buy ear-buds for our use.

I cannot in good conscience leave you out here, miss.

[phonetical]

[The guy seems relatively harmless, or at least that's what her intuition is telling her, and she knows where he lives. There's only a few feet between her and safety, just in case, and he's right, the hallway is chilly. She's still not convinced of the probability of an incident happening is that high, though.]

Fine.

[She sighs and rises to her barefeet because she's tired and on the verge of being cranky and her mother always told her to accept a gentleman's chivalry. Well, maybe she didn't actually say that, but her mother would have definitely told her to get the hell out of the hallway dressed like that.]

I'm Nyota, by the way. The banshee in there is Gaila.

[dow]

Spock S'chn T'gai. I teach at the nearby academy if you wish to check my credentials, I realize this is more than unorthodox. It is regrettable we could not meet under better circumstances.

[ Gesturing back to his door, he leads the way inside. His apartment is very minimal, muted creams and greys everywhere on neat furniture. Taking his cell phone off the side, he offers it to Nyota. ]

Leaving your roommate a message pertaining to your whereabouts would be advisable. That way she will know where to come looking for you in the morning, if you are concerned for your safety.

[ A gentleman indeed, with soft-spoken logic pouring out of his rumpled and tired exterior. Her comfort becomes his priority with easy, well-mannered grace. ]

[phonetical]

[Wow, that's a mouthful of a name that Uhura catches easily enough and probably could recite it back to him with ease. Her knack for foreign languages has always worked out in her favor and tonight is no exception.]

No one is going to do a background check at two AM.

[She's chuckling because it was nice to offer the opportunity, but she'd be better off checking his wallet for identification. Leaving a message is a great idea and she does happen to have her cell phone in the pocket of her pajamas pants. One quick text message shot off (including a capslocked YOU ARE STILL TOO LOUD, GAILA) and the phone goes back to where it was.]

There. That's done, thought she's never going to hear her phone going off. Or the fire alarm. Or anything important other than herself.

[She loves Gaila, she really does. She just hates some of her bad habits.]

[dow]

[ Attending to the couch while Nyota texts her abysmal roommate, he folds it out and sets to finding some extra sheets. It's large enough for Spock to use if he ever needs to, her petite frame should find it more than adequate. ]

Does she have no responsibilities to see to come morning?

[ Assuming this Gaila will be passed out from so much insane exertion. ]

[phonetical]

Yeah, actually, we have class tomorrow, which means I'm going to have to drag her out of there if this guy spends the night.

[And right then at that moment, there's a sharp shriek and the nothing but a dull thump, over and over again. Nyota sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. She knows exactly what this shift in sound means. They're in that stage where they're slowing down, but nowhere near finished.]

And I have to work tomorrow too.

[dow]

[ Opening his mouth to reply, he's cut off by the noise banging away next door. Spock looks more than a little mystified at what they could possibly be doing, blinking for a moment before averting his eyes to the couch. ]

Perhaps you might inform her that she is living next to someone who may have to grade her thesis. I would hope that the disturbances she creates do not put undue influence on my perception of how she has performed academically.

[ Spock can be congenial, but he isn't about to bend over backwards for someone without the common decency of not having sex at the volume of fireworks going off. If that doesn't get Gaila to shut up, he'll have to report her to the landlord no matter how pleasant Nyota is.

Couch made up, he nods to give her leave to use it as he pulls on his boots and coat. ]

I will be activating the security lock until my return, this is merely a precaution. [ Having a stranger in his home and all, she might open the door for people to take his stuff. He suspects she won't but it's better to be safe than sorry ... and it's 2AM. ] You are welcome to find something to eat in the kitchen, if the disturbances have woken you up too much.

[phonetical]

[Another sigh and she's squeezing her nose even harder. Just their luck. Or Gaila's anyway. She doesn't want her friend to fail just because she has no concept of inside voices during sex.]

Yeah, I'll let her know that in the morning. I'm really sorry. I'm usually used to it. [No, she's not, but it's a good excuse in case he ends up being one of her instructors in the next semester or two.] And I'm fine. Not hungry or anything.

[She's just here until the Eric leaves and Gaila falls asleep long enough that Nyota can climb at into the apartment without having to hear any unwanted juicy details.]

[dow]

You need not continue to apologize, Nyota. [ And setting the alarm, he steps out. ] I will be prompt.

[ 'Prompt' as in taking a twenty minute walk at a quickened pace through the brisk, unpleasantly chilly streets in his quest to find them ear-buds. Nyota can enjoy his apartment in the meantime, along with the black cat that meows as it wanders out of the study where the warm lamp is still on over his work. At least she has company. ]

[phonetical]

[Said black cat winds its way between Nyota's ankles as she forgoes the couch and begins looking around the apartment in an attempt to kill time. She doesn't touch anything that looks fragile or important, in the beginning at least. Her curiosity pulls her into the study and that's where Spock'll find her on his return, cat cradled in her arms, thumbing through sheets of paper filled with math formulas and science theories yet to be explained.

She's so engrossed in deciphering and working out the math problems, she doesn't even realize that it's suddenly become silent next door.]

[dow]

[ He pauses in the hallway upon his return, glaring at Gaila's front door. The silence is just as grating after all he's gone through (it's now closing in on 3AM, for goodness sake) and he lets himself into his apartment feeling it wouldn't be foolish to pull an all-nighter.

Unexpected as the sight of Nyota near his personal affects is, he waits there for a moment in the doorway of his study before speaking. ]

I see Enterprise has taken a liking to you.

[phonetical]

[Nyota jumps at the sound of his voice, jolting the cat in her arms who, to its credit, doesn't seem fazed by the human suddenly moving. In fact, the cat lolls its head back just enough to glance over at Spock before rolling up again, purring loudly. It has found a sweet spot and it's not leaving it anytime soon.

She, on the other hand, sits up straight and then stands, moving away from his desk.]

I'm sorry for looking at your stuff. [A beat and then she's smiling.] You named your cat Enterprise?

[dow]

[ A measure of chagrin sinks in as he moves over to absently stroke black fur. ]

She was named by a friend of mine. Jim insisted on picking it when I was hesitant to decide and it has since stuck. [ Useless ear-buds are placed on the table. ] Given the lateness of the hour, Nyota, you are welcome to stay, although I must finish grading.

[phonetical]

[She looks down at the cat and with no shame, presses her face to it, breathing deeply of that cat smell.]

It fits. She's beautiful.

[He mentions grades and Nyota glances down at the ear-buds and then back to his work. She's fully awake now and there's no sense in going back next door when the guy might still be there. They might go for another round or two and Nyota will just end up back here. The least she could do to thank Spock for his kindness is to offer her intelligence.]

Can I help?

[dow]

[ He shakes his head not ungratefully, just too professional to let someone color his perception of what he should be doing. ]

Thank you, but no. I will finish shortly and would prefer to complete the assignment alone. [ Perhaps she can stop Enterprise from roaming wherever she pleases, that would count for something. ] What time shall I wake you?

[phonetical]

[And she understands completely. Not every offer has a requirement that it should be accepted. Hopefully, he won't mind her taking his cat into the living room with her.]

Don't worry about it. I'll just set my phone's alarm and get myself up.

[dow]

[ Catnapper! No, he doesn't mind. Leaving the door to his study open a crack, he gets back to work.

His routine is a regular one. Waking up at 0600, showering, grooming, getting his affects in order for the day and dressing accordingly. By 0730 he's usually up and about, ready to leave, but after staying up until 0530 grading it's not in his bed that Spock falls asleep. He is only human, after all, and out like a light upon folded arms over a cleared desk. He isn't accustomed to staying up until all hours, certainly not jogging down dark streets to convenience stores and then all the way back just to keep his mind active with unfinished papers.

Three alarms come and go, and he's still there at 1045, hunched up in his hoodie like a schoolboy over homework. ]

[phonetical]

[Nyota doesn't sleep through her alarm, but hers is set for 1100. It hasn't gone off yet, but a four legged replacement climbing all over her wakes her up enough to hear faint blaring of a clock. It's not coming from next door, but from another room. A few second of sleep fog has her confused of where she is, but that's quickly remedied once she notices Enterprise lying across from her, grooming herself.

The alarm keeps up its shrill cry and Nyota follows it into the study where she finds Spock, head down on his desk. This isn't good.]

Spock? [She shakes his shoulder gently, not wanting to startle him out of his sleep.] Spock. Spock, wake up. Your alarm's going off.