the au meme.

[gameofsocks]

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!



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.

Comments

[fallensparrow]

There should be a suit you can wear that will protect you from the pressure.

[Genji considers her recommendations, nodding. It makes sense. If they stay too close, it would only make them easier to track down; traveling further would be difficult, but it'd be worth it to remain free. Her smile has him grinning back, a small but bright expression.]

Of course, Doctor. I'll get to work on it as soon as possible.

[And so they prepare. It's slow going, with so many eyes keeping close track of equipment and supplies. They can't afford to take too much at once or risk bringing too much attention down. Even one or two smaller things going missing kicks up brief suspicion before it dies down. Genji saves stealing the pressurization suit for last; it's a high value item thing, and it going missing will cause the biggest uproar. There's investigations, accusations, and it's agonizing to have to wait to escape with everything they need in their hands, but soon enough the heat dies down. The investigations stop, the inspection of the service tunnels ceases. They're ready.

It's getting late in the day, months after their initial discussion of escape, when Genji takes Angela's hand while she's running an experiment and squeezes to get her attention.]

Tonight. We should go tonight.

[It's their best chance. Any longer only increases the risk of their hidden supplies being discovered and their plan being blown apart. With the heightened security now relaxed, they need to move as soon as they possibly can if there's any chance for them to actually get through. But still he waits for her response, leaving it in Angela's hands. What she says goes.]

[cadeuces]

[ Angela had been busy in the meantime, herself. Sneaking back rations to stockpile, gently raiding medical tools and supplies, and by the time all is said and done they both have hefty travel packs set up to near their individual carry limit, weight-wise. Packed as dense and flat as possible so they wouldn't be preyed upon outside by raiders and the like by looking like they had a load. Most things could be recreated or fudged, honestly, like bandages and gauze, but she's crafted filtration systems and snuck in easy to sanitize tools and a few reference books and journals to recreate her lab, her tiny collection of sentimental items, and lastly would be her clothing. Most importantly, her down comforter that had been so carefully preserved from back home.

It would keep them warm at night for many years to come. The investigations had frightened her and left her nervous until Genji would come to her, giving her a soothing hand and a few choice, wise words borne from his advanced AI and years of solitude to develop his own brand of wisdom. She could squeeze his hand as hard as she could and not hurt him, and he soothes her with his presence. Angie had had the idea of smuggling out some of the test subjects in the lab and faked vault openings to create scapegoats, hoping and praying for those souls' safety in the outside world.

At least they hadn't had to suffer further here.

When Genji appears to her once more and takes her hand, however, she has his full attention. The hesitation in her frame is decimated by the hope in her eyes, brows raising almost in disbelief. Finally? It had almost begun to feel like an impossible dream again. She covers his hand with her other one and gives him a squeeze, turning to face him, voice a hushed whisper. ]

Tonight. Yes, of course— oh, Genji!

[ She presses her brow to his and then tips up to kiss his forehead, gestures he's long-since come to know from her as affection. Everything about her perks up, from the slump in her shoulders disappearing to the straightening of her back, color in her cheeks like she's just sucked in a lungful of fresh air and it's rejuvenated her. The excitement sets her heart racing and she can't even imagine what it will smell like outside the vault.

There was a seminar tonight, mandatory attendance. It'd be a skeleton crew on security. It was perfect. ]

I'll get my things. Meet you there.

[ At the air duct entrance they'd planned out in advance, which would lead them into the service tunnels out of the view of security. They'd stashed the suit inside and already scoped out the way, carefully adding weekly cleaning of all ducts and tunnels so they would leave no traces behind. Their route had just been cleaned the day before, with the service tunnels three days before that. Not enough time for any dust to settle and show signs of their passing.

It's hours later when she's packed the last essentials and she shows up at the vent entrance with her small bundle, ready to add to their packs. Her cryosuit is beneath her regular clothing, skintight and dyed to black for use beneath the pressure gear. She'd gotten there without a hitch and she smiles as soon as she sees him, reaching over to lay a hand along his arm. ]

All right then, old friend. After you.

[ She can't exactly pull him up into the vents after her if she went first. ]

[fallensparrow]

[The way Angela brightens up, like the color is coming back into her life, reassures Genji more than anything that this is the right decision. It won't be easy, but they won't be stuck stagnating down here. He takes time before their agreed upon meeting to visit the hiding places of their supplies, carefully collecting and bringing them to the service tunnel to wait with the suit. They needed to move as fast as possible once they got going. Any time wasted was a chance for the others to catch on to what had happened and track them down.

The wait had been a difficult one, but it'd given them time to prepare, time for Genji to observe the surface further and take in what dangers they would encounter once they'd reached it. Raiders, mutated creatures and people, lack of any real safe food or water, Genji took it in and figured out ways to try and get around it. He was, by definition, more physically durable than Angela, but his frame on its own wouldn't stand up long in a full-frontal fight. So he'd taken to finally create mods for himself, makeshift armor plating, thin but an added layer of protection without hindering his movement. Angela would be without defenses until they could find something more proper for her, so Genji had to be as ready to defend her as he could be. He wouldn't let harm come to her.

He's wearing his makeshift armor when she joins him by the agreed-upon vent, nodding to her before he pries the cover from the wall. It's easier to pull himself up and inside, and he reaches for her pack before pulling her in after him. Thankfully the vent is big enough to allow for some ease of movement, and soon enough they're on their way, making their hopefully final crawl through the ducts and to the service tunnels. When they reach the other entrance, Genji doesn't bother with being quiet, kicking the cover out to slide out of the vent and offer Angela a hand down after him.]

Let me know if you need help with the suit. [Otherwise, he'll get to work on collecting and organizing their supplies as quickly as possible, checking one last time on both content and the way it's been packed in order to minimize danger to them once they hit the surface.

Is he nervous? Who wouldn't be nervous in a situation like this?]

[cadeuces]

[ Correction, she would largely be defenseless. But not entirely; not if the couple of guns and larger amounts of ammunition had anything to say about it, and the staff that folded up into the bottom of her pack. It wasn't physical but it was better than nothing. Even an empty gun was a threat on sight. He hefts her up into the vent and helps her back out with care no one would have ever thought their robots were capable of back when they'd first began building them.

What a silly concept now; trying to think of Genji as anything less than a companion was an insult. He is her dear friend and he's taken 200 years to cultivate his personality, his interests, likes and dislikes beyond what she'd programmed into him. He is very much his own person now. His compassion and care for her more than proved that. Once she's on the ground she sets right about shedding her outer layers down to her cryosuit before pulling on the pressure suit and ensuring every seal was thoroughly sealed, from the gloves to the boots to the seal about her neck before the helmet goes on.

By the time she needs his help, he's already packed the last of their items and gathered everything into a tidy pile by their exit tunnel. She offers her back to him for the final zipper and external seal. ]

If you would, please.

[ She is just as nervous. His sensors will pick up on her faint perspiration, the pinch of her brows she can't fully smooth even when she's smiling. Even knowing the lengths she'd gone to in their preemptive cover-up, nothing was 100% certain. Something could still go wrong. The alarm may still go off even if she'd carefully hacked in to disable it for the twenty minute window they'd planned on. A quick glance down shows they still have about three minutes before it'd disable. ]

[fallensparrow]

[Genji wastes no time in moving back to Angela's side, finishes sealing the suit with quick movements. They have little time, even with the generous opening Angela's work has given them; who knows whether it could fail early, or if something was suspected. Nothing could be perfect. They had to move as fast as they could.

Once the suit is sealed and double-checked, Genji is quick to pick up what he can carry - most of their suplies honestly, given the strength of his frame - and take Angela's hand, flashing a quick smile back at her as he moves to lead her through the tunnel.

The pressure is nothing to Genji. He's walked these tunnels plenty of times, his frame built specifically to withstand the environment, and he moves with no issue at all. But he's mindful of Angela. Even with the suit on to allow her to handle the atmosphere, it will likely still affect her, so Genji tries to be as mindful of it as he can with their limited timeframe. Pushing Angela too far would hardly make any of this worth it. More than that, he only recently got her back from cryo. He's nervous and on edge but trying not to let it show.]

We're almost there, [he reassures her, keeping the grip of his hand in hers firm. Soon enough they'll be on the surface; new dangers, but new freedom as well. They can do this.] A little longer now. How are you feeling?