( the au meme. )

[sockies]

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.

xviii - choose your own: self-explanatory! choose your own option.

( taken from here. )

Comments

[beunbroken]

[She sits, glancing over her shoulder every few moments. When the glass hits the table, she reaches for it, but doesn't drink. She'd rather some tea, but the very gesture of holding on to a glass is enough, for now.]

He- I think- I think he was a member of the Vox, [She manages to get out.]

Apocalypse

[dr_quinzel]

This barren bit of canyon right here belonged to Harley Quinn, and wasn't nobody going to take it from her. Nevermind that Joker had betrayed her and left her to die. She didn't need him. She didn't need any guy! She had her guns, and she had her canyon. And it was a good canyon. There was a little curl of rock where she could sit for ambushes, and a valuable clean-water spring that emerged in a cave near where she slept at night. As far as scraping out a living in this harsh desert of a world went, Harley thought she was doing okay.

Hearing footsteps echoing along the floor of the canyon, Harley grabbed her guns and swung over the ledge, dropping to land in front of the stranger and spinning her guns recklessly. "Hiya, babydoll. Give me everything you got."

Harley wants to be pirates. SPACE pirates.

[dr_quinzel]

Harley needed a ride out of this station, and fast. Trying to blend in with the crowd or to disappear into shadows despite the visibility of her black and red harlequin get-up, she kept a sharp eye out for station security, heart pounding with knowledge that she was going to get spotted.

There was an open cargo bay at the end of the hall, and she bolted for it, pausing in a shadow until the men loading had turned away, and then sneaking through the crates in order to tuck herself into the hold behind a tall stack of boxes. With any luck, this ship wouldn't notice the stowaway until she was well away from this station and the deal that had gone wrong after she'd been betrayed and abandoned.

Sticking with the actor thing because I do what I want

[onlyawarrior]

[Thor had always wanted to be an actor. Theater, TV, movies... he loved to put on a show and receive the admiration and love of his audience.

Unfortunately, half of the people around town seemed to have the same desire, and auditions were difficult to come by, never mind finding actual work. So, like many others before him, Thor took on a low wage job at a shop to make ends meet while he continually tried to find auditions and break through to the career he truly wished to pursue.

Thor always took as many hours as he could at the coffee shop. He had to pay rent at his apartment, food to buy, and other necessities to keep himself well-groomed and in shape. So while serving coffee and desserts wasn't thrilling by any means, it got him by and that was what he needed now.

Lately, he had noticed that the writer who tended to stop by in the evenings wasn't coming by as often. A shame too, since discussing his stories was one of the highlights of Thor's shift; it gave him something to think about other than coffee, and allowed him to be in someone's company that he happened to enjoy when work and monetary constraints more or less ate up his social life otherwise.

He also noticed that Loki wasn't buying his usual drink lately. Thor wondered about that, and, as he noticed Loki wander into the shop and find his usual seat, he began brewing his old favorite at the usual size. No one else was around, so no one would notice if he gave a little extra.]

Loki! [He calls from behind the counter while working on the coffee.] I was starting to think you were tiring of this place!

Wayward liberal arts majors unite. *fistbump* And I just figured Thor would enjoy bugging him, so.

[jotunblooded]

[Loki's usual seat was in a corner by the window, under a heating vent. He looked up with a start when Thor called out to him, surprised even though he knew he shouldn't have been by now. Thor always seemed to be in a good mood, and at this time of night, Loki was usually the only one around for him to use it on. Loki had just found himself even more distracted than usual as of late. Certainly too much to notice Thor busily at work behind the counter when there was no one else around to serve.]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, does it not?

[He set up his laptop and pulled out his wallet. Loki's usual favorite was the local espresso, thick enough to float sugar and with a couple of flavor shots worked in. It warmed him up like nothing else when his hands got cold and kept his mind hard at work without making him jittery. Ordinary coffee didn't compare.

But he pulled out his wallet anyway and went up to the counter. It was a nightly writing ritual as much as anything else.] Besides, I do hate to disappoint a fan.

vi! college! cw for mentions of abuse

[wisper]

[ One thing rings true in Finn's head when he sneaks around the back of the girls' dorm, 12:30 at night, shivering a little, arms and lower lip sore: he really doesn't have any friends. Two, maybe. One, he can't go to, because despite being his "friend" he'll probably start yelling about Findlay Forsyth secretly being in love with him - which is so much the opposite of true - and make him sleep on the bathroom floor, and the other... he feels like he'd be imposing. They're in some of the same classes, they talk easily, but it's not like they know intimate details about each other's life. Not enough to bring this to her at this hour. But he has nowhere else to go, and he's not going back to his dorm. Not until his brother's visit is over.

[ Findlay stands in the dark, listening to the muffled sounds of people living beyond the walls of the dorm, until he can't take the chill any longer. Then he pulls out his phone - pointedly ignoring the texts from Ian - and pulls up Glen's text screen, faltering even longer before sending her a text. At least he's fairly certain she'll still be awake. ]

it isn't too late for a visit is it

Re: Cecil Palmer | WTNV | OtA

[mountainofevidence]

((A bit of a late tag, but would you interested in Historical?))

v. literally the most normal

[varmint]

[He saw him around, and that was the extent of Elijah's observations surrounding the man who sat adjacent to the display window. He would just see him...around. And this was the state of things for a while, until he was back on his shift and immediately knew, instantaneously felt that he was here somewhere within the vicinity. This was the kind of thing he was teased about, occasionally.

Regardless of what the man had come in for, he'd have to deal with Elijah now...who was straining to peer over his shoulder while balancing a tray filled with muffins- straining to perhaps read the book the man had brought in, out of some nosy justification that he must know what he was reading, and why.

And if the man hadn't noticed by now (how could he not), he certainly would after that muffin lands on his lap.] Ah...that isn't your muffin.

[meredith, this is elijah] Oh, I- sorry...!!

slams into this

[za_rodina]

[They have to fight to prove they can drift, loud enough to garner attention and prove they're serious about this, but not loud enough to be labeled disorderly. It's something that nearly goes against the very core of the both of them, has Ivan bristling and barely keeping down the irritated growl that rises and settles beneath his teeth as they're dismissed the first and second and third time.

But eventually, eventually they finally manage to prove themselves, or bother the higher ups enough to get a chance. He doesn't care, not really, because Jack is by his side, and they're grinning, teeth bared and eyes wild and it's like adrenaline is sipping slow through his veins, the heady roar of victory at their fingertips. They haven't had the pons settled upon them in one of the drift simulators yet -- because nobody quite thinks they're ready for a conn pod, not when they're so radical a team -- but Ivan knows it'll go perfectly. He already considers Jack his co-pilot, and how could he not? So now, they settle into the simulator, waiting for the Drift to build about them like waves of blue and chaotic silence.]

Ready? [A low rumble, Ivan's violet gaze flicking over and settling upon Jack's face. He reaches out and nudges at one shoulder, nerves and excitement building in the pit of his stomach.]

this is so my jam

[selfemployed]

[ Glen's a night owl, always had been. Careful scheduling and a bit of innocent flirting with her adviser meant that she had no classes scheduled before noon, and she used that to her advantage. She'd spent the night partying into the wee hours of the morning -- not to get drunk, just to make connections -- and even after all that she still has a bit of time to study for her anatomy and physiology exam. It works, she has a system.

Usually other people aren't up this late unless they're blowing chunks in a communal toilet. Usually anyone up this late doesn't bother to text her unless it's a misguided attempt at a post-party hook-up. She glances at her vibrating phone with some trepidation, hoping it's not a sext, before sighing and unlocking it.

Oh. It's Finn. And not a sext, either.

At least... probably not. It does read a little vague. Best to clarify. ]

Definitely not. To what do I owe the pleasure? Need me to come down and get the door?

NOW WITH A NEW USERNAME LMAO to avoid junk mail folders \o/

[amounts]

( Her poison? Uhh… )

I'm not picky.

( Read: she's big on booze and smoking and knows pretty much jack shit about anything else. So. Might as well sound super cool and edgy until later on when she's so messed up that she doesn't even remember how embarrassing she is one hundred percent of the time. )

<3333

[hacker_republic]

[Lisbeth is silent and completely unmoving before she replies.]

For a day.

[She hated pet names too. It seemed sickeningly sweet and demeaning most of the time, especially when women used it. However, she told herself the Detective wasn't like that. She had her trust and could see that in her eyes. Maybe it was a bad thing.]

I have photos of the suspects in the folder there. There's three men and a woman.

YOU DID NOT HAVE TO!

[ospreyed]

[Eponine raises an eyebrow.] Well I've got all sorts of shit. Just say the word, and I can get it. [Seriously. she had connections to all sorts of fun stuff. Cocaine, heroin, LSD, whatever it was you wanted, she could get it.]

HAHA well it kept happening to everyone sooo <3

[amounts]

( Oh. Oh. This has the potential to be really good. Leave it to J to scream in the face of a (beautiful???) stranger who apparently deals drugs. God, she loves this city so fucking much.

She'll try to contain her giddiness for now. Key word: try. )

Um. Um.

( She tries to think of the worst thing imaginable and it's spilling out of her lips before she knows it: ) Heroin. Ecstasy. Something stronger than booze.

[ospreyed]

[Oh, mysterious stranger girl, you are totally in for a treat.]

You seriously want heroin? You don't look like the type. But I can get it for ya. But... It'll cost you. Coke would be easier, truth be told. Not as addictive.

[amounts]

( J wrinkles her nose in displeasure. Hmph. )

I didn't realize heroin had a type. ( But now she feels, for some ungodly reason, that she has something to prove. She'll laugh in the face of addiction, ha freaking ha. ) I'm not fucking around here. I have money. I'm not scared.

( Money that her bitch of a mom leant her before she skipped town. But it's money. Who even cares what she does with it? )

[ospreyed]

[Eponine just smirks.]

My kind of girl. Let's go to your place. You give me the cash, and then I'll be back inside of ten minutes with the goods.

[amounts]

( Her apartment is the last place she wants to go right now, what with some of Tunny's abandoned shit like his stupid beanie hat on the dresser and everything still sitting there as a painful reminder that he left. But. There's no turning back now. Even if - spoilers, she's actually a little terrified, her heart racing in her chest - but it's a good kind of scared. )

Yeah. Okay. Perfect. ( J tosses in a coy little smile over her shoulder for good measure before flinging the front door back open and beginning the traipse through the stairwell to the fourth floor. 4E –- that's the one, and she hurriedly unlocks the door as her fingers twitch anxiously at her side. It's a fairly unspectacular apartment, hardly furnished, but its shining feature simply has to be the large mattress on the hardwood floor serving as a bed. ) Well, here we are.

[blackmagus]

[No one escapes the pet names and the nicknames, which come as a free impulse from Fortescue. Not even the ones who get surly about it. Especially the surly ones. People in the precinct had learned that one quickly.]

Well, you're in one piece, anyway.

[Clearly that means her trust in Miss Salander's competence isn't misplaced. She glances through the photos.]

We've questioned two of them. One has an alibi, but it's not a very good one. This will sink it completely, I think. Nice work.

levi | attack on titan | ota

[castigating]

[Fem AU available by request.]

Pssst, this is my Spain account.

[apasionado]

[ Gently... puts this here with a ?????? Anything in specific you want to do???? ]

[bottlearum]

[ Jack, too, wears a plasma sword on his hip. He's gained a pretty impressive reputation of his own, if he does say so himself. Born a pirate, raised by a pirate, loves being a pirate. Despite this, he'd only really began making a name for himself about twenty years ago -- when he'd obtained his ship, The Black Pearl.

He's become quite notorious for being unknown and questionable -- but in a much different way than Harlock, himself. While Harlock is surrounded by shadows and mystery, Jack is surrounded by words and perplexity, for he tells a different version of each story every time he tells it. Even with all the information this future age has managed to obtained, no one is completely certain which version, if any, is the most accurate of Jack's tales.

However, Jack's sword is not the only weapon he has on himself. He also wears a gun , tucked into a sash worn around his waist and, while he has great skill with a sword, he has greater skill with a gun. He makes no effort to hide either, even as he catches the eye of the other pirate. He grins, raising his bottle of rum in greeting, before sweeping the same arm towards his empty table in a grand gesture; an invitation. ]

[mindsets]

[it's a little weird having a new neighbor arrive in beacon hills. most of the time, stiles would find out about it after seeing them at school, or by bumping into them at the store, or gas station, or anything other than having new people move in to the house next to him.

he had just made his way outside, fiddling with his phone, going through the array of messages that scott had sent him, telling him dude, i can't make it. something came up which bothered him to no end because now all stiles wants is to know just what came up. he shoots scott another text before shoving his phone into his pocket.

and then he hears a voice. stiles jerks his head towards veronica, eyes widening just slightly before he shifts himself to look around, to make sure she's actually addressing him. he points to himself, brows shooting up.]

Uh-?

[he gives her a nervous lopsided grin.]

Oh - oh, yeah - well, the moving trucks kind of gave me a hint, you know?

[he clears his throat, taking a few steps in her direction.]

I'm Stiles.

[he's not exactly lying about the moving trucks, because they definitely gave him a hint, but he'd done some research, maybe spied on them only, like, a little and checked up on their history. can't have serial killers moving in next door, right?]

Alma Karma | D.Gray-man | OTA

[mayonnaised]

(may respond with a different journal that has better icons depending on the prompt. bitty!Alma is also available to be AU'd.)

[spacecaptain]

[ An invitation? Sparrow won an apprehensive stare from the mysterious outlaw.

While Harlock honestly doesn't keep up with faces all too well, he certainly recognizes Captain Sparrow from some the wanted posters in town. Not many pirates could successfully make a name for themselves around these parts, but Sparrow manages to do just that. The Black Pearl is probably just as famous as his Arcadia, if not a little more so.

Mentally debating whether or not he should take Sparrow up on his offer, Harlock finally came to a decision. He takes the wine bottle from the bartender and makes his way towards the pirate's table. ]

Want company?

[He asks before placing the wine bottle down. All eyes were on the unlikely pair once Harlock takes a seat by Sparrow.]