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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.

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By the time Jesse returned, Hanzo was curled, catlike, fast asleep. He was a massive heap of blue scales and gold fur, but his head was tucked out of sight.

He also was seemingly immune to the noise Tjorbjorn was making as the dwarf busied himself dumping sand from the nearby beach into a tarp-lined box against the wall near the bathtub, which was full of water again. Tjorbjorn looked up as Jesse came in. "Should let him sleep... He was trying to keep his eyes open a long time and finally gave up."

"Yeah, yeah, except he'll be pissed when he wakes up and finds out I didn't tell him right away." Jesse would wake the dragon, fearless as usual. He figured if the beast was going to kill him they would've done it sooner. He certainly annoyed Hanzo more often than not.

He went up to Hanzo and nudged his head around his whiskers. "Come on, big guy, time to get up. Got news for ya."

Hanzo stirred with an annoyed grumble, lifting his massive head from where he'd tucked it under a coil of his body. He yawned hugely, jaws spreading far enough that he could have snapped Jesse up with hardly a thought at all, then blinked his eyes open and closed his mouth.

He was still tired, but now it was more the exhaustion of just waking up after a hard exertion instead of just play exhaustion. He blinked first at Jesse, then Torbjorn, then looked back to Jesse, expression shifting from tired to something more like 'this had better be good'.

"Don't get grumpy with me, fella. I got news about Genji." He had faced down many a grumpy stare of Hanzo's and wasn't bothered by it at all. It rolled off of him like water. "He's stable. Angela's got to replace some things and upgrade a few others but your brother ain't gonna die. You can relax. Maybe those beasts of yours will settle down and let you go back to yourself so you can sit with him now."

Jesse sort of hoped that would work. Hanzo should be inside with Genji. Zenyatta would stay with Genji. Master checking on his pupil but there was nothing quite like family. He figured that'd be where Hanzo wanted to be. "Tell 'em they can relax. Ain't nothin' comin' for Genji now."

Hanzo huffed and leaned back on an arm, staring down Jesse for a few moments. His 'beasts' were already settled. They were sleeping, like he should have been still. He turned to look at the sand box then stood and crossed to it. Torbjorn backed away as Hanzo moved in then dropped back down in front of the sand box.

Delicately, he started to write in the sand. Instead of something Jesse could read, like English, which was hard to form, he wrote in Japanese. The characters were easier to write, even if it meant they would have to translate it.

I know he is safe, he wrote, but I am stuck like this until I change back. I do not know how long it will take. I would like to speak with Genji as soon as he is conscious.

Jesse didn't read Japanese beyond the basics. Hanzo's writing was much beyond his knowledge. Luckily, there was Athena who helpfully translated for them all. That made some sort of sense but he felt bad for Hanzo being stuck like this, unable to talk to them and unable to be with his brother.

"Alright," Jesse said with a heavy sigh. "I'll go let him know. You need anythin' give a hollar."

He reached up and patted his neck, "I'm gonna get some sleep. I'll see ya in the mornin'."

Hanzo bobbed his head, then reached out to swipe his paw over the sand, erasing the characters. THen he wrote again, Thank you for checking on him for me, McCree. And thank you, Torbjorn for this sandbox. Then he rose and moved back to where he had been sleeping, away from the work space and spilled sand.

He settled down into a coiled heap again and turned his head to rest his chin on his back before closing his eyes to return to sleep.

"I'll see you in the morin'," Jesse said again when Hanzo settled down again. Goddamn, he was an impressive beast. He couldn't deny that and handsome too. What a damn pretty sight.

He shook his head at himself and went off to his room. After taking off his gear he threw himself into bed and was out in minutes. It never took much time for him to sleep and tonight he was exhausted. Jesse slept deep and slept hard. It would be hours past sunrise before he managed to get out of bed.

A shower later he went out to check on Hanzo again.

Hanzo, by that time, was up and awake again, pacing back and forth along the length of the hangar, occasionally stepping outside. Genji was supposedly conscious and was supposed to at least be wheeled out here so they could talk, but it was taking a long time.

Hanzo nearly pounced on Jesse as soon as he emerged, growling in frustration. He reached out with one paw and tried to push Jesse to the sand box where a new message was written, then growled again and scooped Jesse up. Cradling him in the cage of his wickedly sharp talons, Hanzo hopped on three legs to the box then deposited Jesse rather unceremoniously, before letting out another frustrated noise.

The dragons were awake and aware, for once stirred by him, and were frustrated that Genji hadn't emerged either.

The message in the box was rather messy but a still legible Genji is supposed to be coming out but he has not yet. Something is wrong There was no punctuation, so it was impossible to tell if Hanzo was asking if something was wrong, or if he was sure of it.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Jesse was surprised at being pounced on instantly. He didn't fight Hanzo's pushing him around because those claws could so very easily cut into him. He remembered clearly what Hanzo did to those Talon agents. He didn't want to be fillet.

Athena translated for him and he almost rolled his eyes. Hanzo was always like this when things didn't operate on his schedule.

"I'll go check for ya, but I imagine they're fine," he said, rubbing a hand over Hanzo's scales to try and reassure him. "Just give me a few minutes. I'll look for ya. Paranoid dragon."

Jesse turned right back the way he came and went straight for the infirmary to figure out what was taking so long. It wasn't nice to leave a worried dragon waiting.

Sure enough, there was little to worry about. Genji was conscious and was being eased into a wheelchair when Jesse came in. His faceplate was missing, and he was down both legs and his right arm, but he still managed to smile as best as he could at Jesse. "Cowboy!" He said, and it was clear that he was drugged. He hadn't called Jesse 'Cowboy' in years, since before he'd left Overwatch to go to Nepal.

Angela heaved a sigh. "Will you take him?" She asked, looking up at Jesse. She was the utter picture of professionalism, even if a few more hairs were out of her ponytail than usual. "He is still painful, but I think Hanzo got Athena to message me five or six times in the middle of the night asking after him. I have too much work to do, and he has too much healing to do, so no going crazy, alright?"

"Howdy, Ninja," Jesse returned with a bright, easy smile. Definitely drugged. Hanzo had worried for nothing. He saluted Angela and gave her a wink. "I'll look after the Shimada brothers for ya. Don't ya worry none. They'll be fine."

After Genji was settled down Jesse took control of the wheelchair and pushed him out to the hangar where Hanzo still looked mighty agitated. Dragons were such temperamental creatures apparently.

"Here you go, Hanzo, one brother as requested." He put Genji next to the sandbox so the brothers could talk. At least Genji could read Hanzo's writing without any translation needed. Jesse settled down to watch the two of them to make sure Genji didn't exhaust himself and slowed his healing.

Hanzo went still when Jesse returned, but then Genji was with him, being pushed along in a wheelchair. And he was conscious.

He dropped down as soon as Genji stopped, pushing his head forward to sniff deeply. Genji smelled like disinfectant, whatever painkillers he was on, metal, and the weird oil-blood smell that came out when Genji was injured.

Genji reached out with his only hand to touch Hanzo's snout. Hanzo let out a quiet breath, the tension in his shoulders going out and he closed his eyes. When Genji spoke, it was in Japanese, and his voice was calm and quiet. There was a lime green glow around his fingertips, like the hide of his dragon, but it didn't manifest fully.

It was a very touching moment between the brothers. Jesse felt like he was intruding a little bit. To keep himself from feeling like he was interrupting he dig out a cigarillo and light up. At least he wouldn't get a lecture of Angela until he brought Genji back in.

The sight did make him smile though. He still felt like the dragon being able to see Genji was awake and fine would help get him back into human form. Jesse hoped so. As useful as a dragon was for Overwatch it wasn't really convenient to support him. Poor fella couldn't even talk.

His body language was certainly expressive enough in the meantime.

Genji was silent for a few moments, then he spoke again, like he was having a one-sided conversation. Which he rather was.

Then Genji turned his head to look at Jesse. "He is hungry. And he says thank you for helping me." Hanzo's eyes opened again, and this time they were dark but calm, none of the frustration present anymore. "Also, we are not sure when he will turn back. It may be some time." Hanzo shifted a little, not dislodging the hand on his muzzle, but turned so he could lay more fully on his side, his body stretched out comfortably.

"What does he eat? And if you say a full cow, my friend, I've got bad news for ya because I can't get that," he said with a little chuckle and blew a smoke ring in the air. "But I'll see what I can do. It's ain't no problem to help a friend. Both of ya save the gratitude."

Jesse climbed to his feet, cigarillo hanging out of the corner of his mouth. He was good at talking with it in. Genji should be used to hearing him like this to pick up on the words.

"What do ya need, partner?"

"A cow," Genji said, but there was a grin in his tone. He hadn't paused, so Hanzo hadn't actually told him anything, and sure enough Hanzo let out a quiet grumble. "No... fish would be fine. Cooked, or raw." Genji scooted forward as best as he could and Hanzo moved his head to put his nose basically in Genji's lap. "Also, something to do. Did you manage to recover Storm Bow?"

"Fish. Alright. I'll see what I can do." Jesse ran his hand through his hair, wondering if he could find enough fish to satisfy Hanzo's giant form. That would be quite a large haul of fish. Someone would have an idea of where he could get that much.

He nodded. "Jack grabbed Storm Bow. It's inside. I can put it in your room if you want?" He spoke directly to Hanzo instead of Genji. It felt rude to ignore him just because he was in dragon form and couldn't talk to him directly. There were some manners left in Jesse.

Hanzo nodded and Genji said, "Thank you." Then Genji sat back. For a moment, the green light clung to Hanzo and then it broke away, forming the vague shape of a dragon before retreating back into Genji's metal hand.

Hanzo stood with a concerned-sounding rumble, but Genji waved him off. "Angela has me on some very strong painkillers... It's fine. I'm alright, I promise." Still, he allowed Hanzo to push his nose under his hand again, then smiled - it was a weird thing, since his lower jaw was mostly fixed and also metal, but he did smile. "I'm sure she doesn't want me away for too long."

"You want me to take ya back, Genji?" Jesse stepped towards him, a little concerned that the brothers seemed to be talking about Genji's health. If Genji didn't feel good he would definitely take him back to the hospital. The last thing Jesse wanted to be was on Angela's bad side. She was scary when she was mad.

He'd have to keep Hanzo distracted throughout the day he imagined. He was looking worried again.

"No... Not right now, anyways. Perhaps after I fall asleep you can take me back." Genji waved off Jesse's concern, returning his attention Hanzo. He reached out to stroke back his brother's whiskers, until Hanzo closed his eyes with a sigh of relief. "His dragons are content," he told Jesse. "They are the ones that forced him into this, to protect us, but they are not able to change him back to how he was. How he should be. This has happened before. Once, it took just a few days, another time nearly a month."

"Incredible power, itty bitty living space?" Jesse was probably quoting the holovid wrong but hey, he figured it got the point across. "Look, you two keep talkin' as long as you want. I'll go get to work on that fish."

Jesse patted Genji gently on the shoulder and ruffled Hanzo's whiskers. He left the brothers to talk while he went off to get fish. They had fish in the watchpoint but it was cuts of salmon and small bits. He didn't think that was enough to satisfy Hanzo but he stole all the fish he could find. He had it all on a baking tray when he went out again.

"Alright, I got what I could. Ain't much. If you want more fish you might do better goin' down to the water and fishin' for yourself." He put it at Hanzo's feet so the guy could pick what he wanted from the random collection.

Hanzo perked up when Jesse came back with a tray, but his ears flipped back again when he saw what was on it. HE grumbled, but bent his head to lick up what was on the tray, swallowing it down in a single bite.

Genji smiled again, then said, "Perhaps you can convince one of the team to go to the market and buy you some fish," he told Hanzo. He looked up at Jesse. "Maybe something for the kids to do." He was referring, of course, to Hana and Lucio, and possibly also Lena - not that any of them were kids, but they were the youngest of Overwatch in two cases, and a never-aging young adult in the last.

Hanzo rumbled his approval at the idea of more food.

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