AU writing meme
9 Feb 2016 02:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thisbluespiritI have a lot of things I should be writing (and also being careful about not writing too much, self) but, what the hell, I have finished my epic Runaway Tales/Unconventional Courtship rough draft (the wretched thing is 20,000 words long) and I did manage to type up the ending of that TARDIS/Sapphire/Silver/Steel WIP, so, totally ignoring my ficathon and leftover ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandom_stocking things, here goes:
Give me a character/pairing and I will write snippets of ten different alternate universes for it. One line, ten lines, a ficlet if you're lucky.
Wild West
Coffee Shop
Shapeshifters
Pirates
. . . In SPACE!!
Born Another Gender
Schoolfic
Police/Firefighters
Urban Fantasy
Regency
We'll see what happens. (If my brain collapses and what happens is no words at all, I apologise in advance.) Also, I altered the meme. I thought if I came up with one AU for 'harem' it'd be a miracle, let alone doing it several times over. And I'm never totally sure what Cyberpunk means.)
fandom_stocking things, here goes:Give me a character/pairing and I will write snippets of ten different alternate universes for it. One line, ten lines, a ficlet if you're lucky.
Wild West
Coffee Shop
Shapeshifters
Pirates
. . . In SPACE!!
Born Another Gender
Schoolfic
Police/Firefighters
Urban Fantasy
Regency
We'll see what happens. (If my brain collapses and what happens is no words at all, I apologise in advance.) Also, I altered the meme. I thought if I came up with one AU for 'harem' it'd be a miracle, let alone doing it several times over. And I'm never totally sure what Cyberpunk means.)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 02:20 pm (UTC)Liz Shaw
Date: 9 Feb 2016 05:57 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
Liz had been determined to become a doctor, but despite battling her way to a degree, she had not been allowed to be formally awarded it. At least out here, they didn’t care much who was the sawbones as long as they didn’t kill too many of their patients – and there were plenty of patients to practice on, especially with Sheriff Lethbridge-Stewart around.
Coffee Shop
“I think I’ve got it this time,” said Liz as she frowned over her notes in the search of the formula for a perfect espresso. “Now, Benton, try this…”
Shapeshifters
She called it a curse and kept herself in the lab for hours trying to work out how to undo the effects of the bite, but somehow, racing out on four legs in the moonlight, there was a part of her that revelled in the freedom.
Pirates
“Don’t worry, Captain,” said Liz to her latest captive. “I won’t hurt you. At least, not as long as you hand over your cargo right now!”
Born Another Gender
David Shaw, his tutors said, had a brilliant mind and did well enough, but he seemed to lack the drive needed to propel him to the heights he was capable of – a need to prove himself, perhaps.
Schoolfic
Liz scrunched up another of the mean, anonymous letters and threw it into the fire. Sarah Jane caught it.
“Evidence,” she said, when Liz looked at her. “We might need it.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would hate me,” she said. “What did I do?”
Jo sighed. “Well, maybe if you came last in something just once in a while, it might help,” she offered and then shrugged at their looks. “It works for me.”
Police/Firefighters
“Look, Dr Shaw, I assure you I didn’t murder that man and if you’re the brilliant forensics expert you claim and not a numbskull like DI Stewart here, you’ll soon realise it!”
Liz gave the prisoner a sharp look, raising an eyebrow at his eccentric clothing – but on the other hand, there was something very odd about that dead body…
Urban Fantasy
“Fairies?” said Liz, not even bothering to hide her laughter. “And is this why you’ve summoned me here from Cambridge, Brigadier? You must be mad!”
“Not just fairies, Miss Shaw – UNIT has been set up to deal with vampires, werewolves, leprechauns –”
“What,” she said, in scornful disbelief, “not little green men?”
Regency
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart was, Miss Elizabeth Shaw decided, the most infuriating, patronising man she had ever met. Unfortunately, he also seemed to be the only gentleman in the district who wasn’t completely terrified of her reputation as a bluestocking…
Re: Liz Shaw
Date: 9 Feb 2016 11:34 pm (UTC)Re: Liz Shaw
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:21 am (UTC)RE: Liz Shaw
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:51 pm (UTC)Re: Liz Shaw
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:57 pm (UTC)I'm not sure whether that's better or worse, really... :lol:
RE: Re: Liz Shaw
Date: 11 Feb 2016 06:22 pm (UTC)Unless it's a space western type thing, of course, but they're a breed of their own!
Re: Liz Shaw
Date: 10 Feb 2016 10:15 pm (UTC)Re: Liz Shaw
Date: 11 Feb 2016 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 02:38 pm (UTC)Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 9 Feb 2016 06:10 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
The Sheriff opened his mouth to object to the shooting and then took one look at the Devil’s face and decided that discretion was the better part of valour and it wasn’t as if the dead man hadn’t been the worst kind of villain anyhow.
Coffee Shop
Avon raised his eyebrow fractionally on hearing shouts coming from the coffee shop. It seemed, he thought, that Justin and Léonie had been making a mess of the business again and he regretfully bestirred himself to go and deal with the inevitable ensuing confusion of orders.
Shapeshifters
One should, Avon reflected rather belatedly, perhaps be more careful about the strays one picked up. . .
Pirates
“But we were after a treasure map!” said Léonie. “Gold, enfin! Not – what is this? Crates and crates of it!”
“Burgundy,” said Avon. “Rupert does have a nose for it. And I must admit, it would have been a crime to let the sea water ruin it.”
Born Another Gender
The Earl of Tenbury had been far too persistent. Justine Alastair had been forced to take measures.
“’Pon rep,” said Rupert, who’d run into the room on hearing the loud report. “The fellow was as rich as they come! Couldn’t you wed him first and shot him after?”
Justine gave a shudder. The man had clammy hands and was far too fond of onions. “I fear not. Come, Rupert, you must help me dispose of the body.”
Schoolfic
Devil Alastair, Terror of the Sixth, pushed aside the last of the Forth Form bullies to lend a hand to the scruffy and battered First Former lying in the mud of the school field. “Up with you, and cease that snivelling. What is your name?”
“Leon,” said the new boy.
Police/Firefighters
Detective Inspector Alastair waited until he had heard the sound of gunshots die down and then gave the nod to the waiting Sergeant Davenant. “Since the villains have now ceased obliging us by killing each other – time to round up the survivors!”
Urban Fantasy
“When will you learn?” Avon said to Rupert, leading him out of the strangely sunny glade. “Such flowers in bloom in January, leaves on the trees – clear markers of the uncanny. One must keep a watch for these things and take precautions – bring protective charms – or iron perhaps,” he added, somehow skewering a fairy who had not been their before with his blade. He withdrew it and glanced at his brother. “However, steel will do.”
Regency
(I know TOS is technically not Regency, but it is Heyer, so it does seem a bit redundant!)
RE: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 9 Feb 2016 07:01 pm (UTC)I did look at the last one and wonder if you would have to do a modern AU! But it's an interesting question what difference that 50 years would make...
Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 9 Feb 2016 08:45 pm (UTC)It is an interesting question, because obviously there's quite a shift in manners, but I thought it'd still work out as basically the same story, just a little more polished and polite. And, ha, I didn't think of reversing it with a modern AU - I cut and run while the going was good!
(Oh, and, damn, I wrote Justin where I obv. meant rupert in the Coffee Shop one. Grr.)
Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 9 Feb 2016 11:59 pm (UTC)Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:22 am (UTC)Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:28 am (UTC)Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:49 am (UTC)Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 10 Feb 2016 10:06 am (UTC)Re: Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
Date: 10 Feb 2016 12:59 pm (UTC)*points to icon* This is Servalan. She rules the galaxy and wears a dress with a silver lizard fastening to go with this hat.
no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 03:08 pm (UTC)Adam/Georgie
Date: 10 Feb 2016 09:26 am (UTC)***
Wild West
“As for your behaviour, Miss Jones, I scarcely know where to begin. That outfit is barely decent – and no gently bred female should try to handle a firearm. And certainly not,” he added, “one who literally cannot hit a barn door at ten paces!”
Georgie, currently dressed as a dancing girl and locked up in the sheriff’s cell, looked up at him. “Oh, but, Mr Adamant, I thought that rotten outlaw was going to kill you!”
Coffee Shop
“Whoops, sorry,” said the blonde waitress as she spilt coffee all over Adam’s latest acquisition for his library – a rare first edition of Portrait of a Lady, something that took him back to a time more his own, even if it was written by an American. “Still, at least it wasn’t new.”
Shapeshifters
“I’m sorry about biting you,” said Georgie, the next morning. “But, well, it seemed like the only way out. Lucky it was a full moon, I suppose.”
Adam would have glared at her, but he was too busy averting his eyes. Lucky was not the word he would have used. “Miss Jones!” he said faintly. “Please try to cover yourself!”
“What with?” said Georgie, surveying the forest around them. “Leaves, like Adam and Eve? Anyway, it’s not as if you’ve got any clothes, either.” She didn’t sound, somehow, as if she was averting her eyes at all.
“Which is why I am remaining behind this shrub until the situation can be rectified!”
Pirates
“Psst,” said Georgie the cabin boy. “Whatever you do, don’t trust Lady Francis. She’s a pirate!”
“Nonsense,” Adam said. “She is a very charming lady and, moreover, pirates are male not female.”
Sometime later, having been rendered unconscious and tied to the mast by the perfidious lady, he had to admit that Georgie had a point.
. . . In SPACE!! (I did it…. by cheating!)
“Really, Georgina,” said Adam. “A respectable lady in a position of power like Space Commander Servalan is hardly going to turn out to be a power crazed villainess! I can’t imagine what you were thinking.”
Born Another Gender
“Wow,” said George Jones, watching Adelaide Adamant’s prowess with a sword. “I didn’t think Victorian ladies could be so groovy!”
Schoolfic
Adam waited for Georgie outside the school gate and didn’t say anything about her being in detention again for the third time this month. Georgie wished she could explain, but she knew from experience that he only got annoyed if she told him awful Louise was and why she deserved to be shut in the supply cupboard and have her hair pulled. Boys were stupid, Georgie decided. They always liked the wrong people.
Police/Firefighters
It should have been difficult, suddenly answering to a defrosted Edwardian Inspector, WPC Jones thought, but on the other hand, Inspector Adamant didn’t whistle at her, grope her, swear at her, pinch her bum, or allow any of the rest of the men to do those things, either, which made a change. She just wished he’d stop telling her that the police force was no place for a nicely brought up young lady.
Urban Fantasy
“Don’t tell me,” said Simms. “Mr Adamant is away with the fairies again.”
Georgie gave him a tragic look. “Worse than that – it’s the Fairy Queen we’re up against this time.”
“Oh, dear,” said Simms. “Oh, dear, oh dear, oh dear.”
Regency
Here, have a repeat snippet from the Regency WIP I’m supposedly writing for them: “I believe the new housekeeper – if I may call her that – is in league with the free traders, sir.”
Adam looked up from the paper. “Oh, come now, Simms! She may not be particularly suitable for her current position, but I’m sure a delicately nurtured female would never –”
“Would you care to see the cellar, sir?” asked Simms in his most ominous tones.
Re: Adam/Georgie
Date: 10 Feb 2016 03:43 pm (UTC)Poor Adamant, I fear he would be doomed even if he could tell Servalan was evil!
I am imagining the shippiness comes a few chapter later;)
Re: Adam/Georgie
Date: 10 Feb 2016 08:44 pm (UTC)Re: Adam/Georgie
Date: 10 Feb 2016 10:11 pm (UTC)Re: Adam/Georgie
Date: 11 Feb 2016 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 03:22 pm (UTC)As for a character, please do Leela.
no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 05:59 pm (UTC)And, yay, leela! She should be fun.
no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 08:48 pm (UTC)Leela
Date: 20 Feb 2016 09:02 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
“Savage,” said Doc Smith after their show was over, “how many times do I need to tell you not to throw the knives at the audience?”
“That man was going to shoot you!”
“Oh, well, that’s all right, then.”
Coffee Shop
“You will drink that cappuccino the Doctor made for you,” said Leela with a dangerous light in her eye, “or I will tip it over your head!”
“But it’s –” began the Castellan.
“It is exactly what you asked for,” said Leela firmly. “If you have now changed your mind that is your fault and not the Doctor’s and you may not have your money back!”
Shapeshifters
“You know,” said Smith to the wolf beside him, “I always get the feeling you enjoy this far too much.” He could have sworn the wolf grinned.
Pirates
“Avast there!” said Leela, Terror of the Ocean Waves, her cutlass at the throat of the captain of the ship she’d boarded. “You will give me your cargo and any treasure or I shall kill you!”
“I don’t have any,” said Andred. “You can check if you like. Er… sorry?”
Leela paused before making a quick recovery. “Very well, then,” she said, giving him a smile. “I shall take you!”
. . . In SPACE!!
Leela knew the ways of the warrior: she knew how to track wild creatures, which plants were helpful and which harmful, and how to fight, whether with her own hands or a knife. She did not like these metal boxes of ships, but, she thought as she settled into the seat, she was a warrior and if she must fight a war this way, she would do it well.
“You fought bravely,” she told her opponent as she fired the final shot towards them. “Die well, as you have lived.”
Schoolfic
“I do not like this school of yours,” said Leela to Sarah Jane, who was the only other pupil still talking to her. “The rules are silly and I have no wish to go to Coventry!”
Police/Firefighters
“This,” said Leela, brandishing her truncheon in disgust, “is a blunt weapon. Surely your guards have better arms than this?”
“Why?” Inspector Smith asked. “Not scared, are you?”
Leela made no further complaint.
Urban Fantasy
“You know what you must do,” said Leela, raising her head. “I have been bitten. It is over. You must destroy me before it is too late.”
Dr Smith shook his head. “Not so fast, my girl,” he said. “Nothing that a bit of fairy dust can’t cure – if we can get some in time...”
Regency
“My guardian, Doctor Smith, has explained to me that I have to be married to become a proper lady,” said Leela. “So I have decided I will marry you. If you wish,” she added, suddenly less certain. “You do like me, don’t you?”
Captain Andred didn’t have the heart to disagree.
Re: Leela
Date: 21 Feb 2016 10:43 pm (UTC)Re: Leela
Date: 22 Feb 2016 09:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 04:34 pm (UTC)or
Harry & Ruth
Ruth/Harry
Date: 18 Feb 2016 06:45 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
“Should I shoot him again, Harry?”
“Yes, why not? Always best to be sure about these things…”
Coffee Shop
He came in, as he did every Saturday morning (one black coffee and the Times crossword). She smiled at him, flustered by talk of the weather while she counted out his change – and wrote a cryptic clue on his receipt. He left his paper behind, the answer pencilled into the crossword, and she grinned: it was a date.
Shapeshifters
“Ruth, I know,” said Harry, in the privacy of his office. “It wasn’t all that hard to work out.”
Ruth closed her eyes and finally admitted her darkest secret: “All right, it’s true – I am the mole!”
Pirates
The fearsome Pirate Nancy* liked to think no ship on the four seas was safe from her. Captain Harry Pearce of His Majesty’s Navy liked to think otherwise. (He was wrong.)
*Because when (any) Ruth is a pirate, her name is Nancy, of course. ;-)
. . . In SPACE!!
It was a common joke amongst the crew of the SS Thames House that Captain Pearce was in love with the ship’s computer interface. It was only Technician Wynn-Jones who suspected it might not be a joke after all.
Born Another Gender
Harriet Pearce had always been obstinate and career-minded, fighting her way through years of prejudice both in the WRAC and later in Five. She was, she felt, a damn fine officer (despite being too often passed over for promotion) and so she would remain. This was more than could be said for the current ‘specialist’ she’d been lumbered with – an Oxford professor who was the only one familiar with the archaic language the latest terrorist used.
“You know, I always wanted to be a spy,” said Rupert Evershed, happily. “James Bond and all that.”
God, thought Harriet. It was going to be a long few days.
Schoolfic
“Mr Pearce,” said the librarian running after the Head of English. “I wanted a word with you – it’s about those books going missing from the library. I think I’ve solved the mystery!”
“Ah, yes,” said Harry Pearce. “Pupils again, I expect.”
Miss Evershed ushered him into the library. “No, no. Well, yes, obviously, but I’ve narrowed it down to two and I thought you could help me –”
“Why not?” said Harry.
Police/Firefighters
“Sir, wait,” Ruth said, the phone still in her hand.
Curious, Harry Pearce turned to face the receptionist.
“I’ve been mapping our calls – and I’m sure there’s a pattern to these fires,” said Ruth. “They aren’t random arson attacks – it’s the opening move in somebody’s strategy. It might sound odd, but you have to believe me.”
Strangely, he did.
Urban Fantasy
“Ruth,” said Harry, striding into the grid. “What is it this morning? Dirty bombs in Whitehall or demonic activity in Whitechapel?”
She passed him a file. “Neither. A rogue magician in Hounslow, but don’t worry, we’ve set Ros onto him.”
“Well, tell her not to bare her fangs this time…”
Regency
Society had long since given up Miss Evershed as a hopeless spinster. She was far too awkward and bookish to appeal to the gentlemen. Sir Harry Pearce had heard, however, that unlikely as it seemed, she possessed a keen mind with a knack for languages and codes – and he had a message recovered from a French agent to be deciphered. Whitehall had need of her services, and he was the man to ask her for them.
Re: Ruth/Harry
Date: 18 Feb 2016 06:53 pm (UTC)(And I can't disagree with you re Ten/Martha + coffee shop!)
Re: Ruth/Harry
Date: 18 Feb 2016 08:37 pm (UTC)I totally want the Urban Fantasy one to be a thing, too. Spooks + magic creatures. What could go wrong? :lol:
Re: Ruth/Harry
Date: 19 Feb 2016 06:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 29 Feb 2016 01:23 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
The idea to hold up the bank had been great in theory, Doc Smith thought, holed up in the Sheriff’s cell with Rose. How else were they supposed to get the money to ransom Mickey? It just might have gone better if they’d checked whether either of could shoot straight first...
Coffee Shop
“Wasn’t my idea to open up a café,” said the Doctor, sticking his feet up on the desk in the back. “I’m strictly tricky technical repairs and sorting trouble, me. Cleaning out the cappuccino machine – that’s your territory.”
Rose threw the wet cloth at him.
Shapeshifters
“You’re a were-what?” said Rose.
“You heard. Knew you’d laugh.”
“A were-terrier?” said Rose. She was laughing. She hadn’t stopped for a while. “Should I get you a collar and a lead? No, wait – how about a cute little coat?”
Pirates
“But why can’t I have a parrot?” said Rose. “You’ve got an eye patch and a wooden leg, after all. Fair’s fair, and I wouldn’t look half as daft as you do in that get-up.”
. . . In SPACE!!
“You’re never expecting me to go with you in that,” said Rose, as they arrived at Doctor Smith’s battered and outdated ship. “Are you sure you can even get it off the planet?”
“Well,” he said, holding out his hand, “you can stay if you like, but since the whole planet’s likely to blow any minute –”
Born Another Gender
Rob Tyler was fed up enough working in the department store, without the crazy lady turning up brandishing (thankfully plastic) body parts.
Schoolfic
“I don’t see why you can only hang out with me in secret suddenly,” Smith said. “Come on, Rose, this is silly.”
She shook her head, refusing to be moved. She could put up with all sorts of things to keep her best friend, but being labelled Big Ears and Noddy every time they were together was just too much for a ten year old to bear.
Police/Firefighters
“And I think,” said Inspector John Smith, “that this ought to be a lesson to you in why we don’t muck about with handcuffs.”
“Look, Mick– Sergeant Smith said he had the key!” said Det. Constable Tyler. “It was only meant to be a laugh.”
“Very funny, then, I don’t think. How’m I going to look, tagging you along after me everywhere, like this?”
Urban Fantasy
“Look,” said Rose, “you’re supposed to be an expert in weird, right?”
“Something like that,” agreed Dr. Smith. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Where I work – stuff’s been going missing – people, too. And I swear I saw something the other day, down in the basement.”
“Like what?”
“Don’t laugh, okay – a fairy.” Rose paused and then mimed. “With, you know, sparkly wings and everything.” She caught the look on his face. “Is that bad?”
“The worst,” said Smith. “Sparkles are never a good sign. . .”
Regency
“You’re never the new butler,” said Rose. “Besides, that’s no excuse for breaking in!”
John Smith turned. “I am; I’m an excellent butler, who merely happens to be prowling round Lady Constance’s manor in the middle of the night for very good reasons. What’s your excuse?”
“I’m the chambermaid. I work here, unlike some people!”
“Fine, I confess. I’m a Bow Street Runner and your employers – well, let’s just say they don’t always keep to the straight and narrow. Now, how about you help me out with my investigations instead of obstructing them?”
no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 08:30 pm (UTC)AU Meme - Jamie & Zoe
Date: 7 Apr 2016 04:47 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
“You should have let me finish calculating the perfect angle for the shot,” Zoe said, busy dressing Jamie’s wound. “That way you would have hit the target first time.”
“There wasn’t time for all your wee sums – we’d have been dead!”
Coffee Shop
Zoe had not been all that keen on having the coffee shop attached to the library, but it had grown on her lately. Aside from the fact that she liked the way they did hot chocolate with cream and tiny marshmallows in, it was good to widen one’s experience, and certainly chatting to that waiter was definitely a new experience. She just wasn’t sure why he looked quite so alarmed when she kept lending him books. How else was he going to learn anything else in return?
Shapeshifters
“There must have been something in the tea at the Institute,” said Zoe, afterwards. At least, it was the only thing she could think of to explain why she and Jamie had been spending the last couple of night flying about and trying not to swoop down on mice and other small animals. “Which means they’re up to something – and we need to stop them!”
Pirates
“There,” said Zoe, “see, I said the treasure was right here. Come on, Jamie, do hurry up and finish digging!”
. . . In SPACE!!
“Crewman McCrimmon,” said Zoe Heriot, “what have you done to the computer?”
“Well, you remember how you said I should learn to play chess in my free time and keep out of trouble in future?”
“Yes, but I don’t see –”
“Aye, well, that’s what I was trying to get yon wee box to do for me – teach me. It seemed to get itself in a bit of a tangle over it.”
Zoe thought about that. “Oh,” she said. “Well, I’ll have to teach you, then.” After all, she was always saying she was cleverer than the computer, so it was about time she proved it.
Born Another Gender
If she’d been a boy, she’d have got to fight, thought Jamesina McCrimmon. She felt that would have to be much better than being left behind, waiting for word of what had happened, even if Kirsty seemed shocked at her friend’s ideas.
Schoolfic
“Honestly, Jamie,” said Zoe. “You really should try not to get in so many fights. Our house is going to lose all its merit marks if you carry on like this.”
Jamie decided that it wasn’t the moment to point out that she was usually the one who started the fights by annoying people, or else that’d definitely start a fight here and now – and he was hoping she’d let him come home with her for tea.
Police/Firefighters
“I don’t understand,” said Zoe, after their commanding officer had finished lecturing them on their many errors in the case. “Logically, it had to be Mr Arbuthnot. We went over everything!”
“Aye, I know, but we must have missed something,” said Jamie. “Least we caught the right person in the end, even if it was by mistake.”
Zoe had a worryingly determined light in her eye. “Yes, but we must work out exactly where we went wrong – we don’t want it to happen again!”
Urban Fantasy
“What seems to be the problem?” asked Zoe from across the desk as their latest client arrived in the officers of Heriot & McCrimmon Investigations.
“It’s a little bit odd…”
“Don’t worry. Odd is what we’re here for – isn’t it, Jamie?”
“Aye. You can say that again!”
Regency
“You’re not supposed to speak to me, miss,” said Jamie the groom. “You’ll be getting us both into trouble.”
Zoe sighed. “Yes, but everyone else is so dull. I’m tired of being a proper little lady all the time – I think I ought to learn something of the real world. I’m sure you could teach me.”
Jamie felt sure that would definitely get him into trouble…
Re: AU Meme - Jamie & Zoe
Date: 8 Apr 2016 10:36 pm (UTC)And someone really needs to dig up that Regency thing with Frazer and Wendy, if it still exists.
Re: AU Meme - Jamie & Zoe
Date: 9 Apr 2016 11:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Feb 2016 11:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2 Mar 2016 06:34 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
“Really,” said Evelyn, “that is the last time I’m going to break you out of jail because you had to stop and admire your Wanted poster!”
Doc Smith shuffled in some embarrassment, but only said, “Well, even you must admit it was a particularly good likeness.”
Coffee Shop
John Smith looked back at the stream of impatient customers at the counter and began to feel a twinge of alarm. In such dire straits as these, customers could begin to get nasty.
“Evelyn,” he called, “can you hurry up in there? We’ve almost run out of chocolate cake!”
Shapeshifters
“I can’t explain it at all,” said the giant, rainbow-coloured penguin. “Unless I’ve been spending too much time with Frobisher and something’s rubbed off…”
“I wish something would rub off! I need sunglasses. Honestly, Doctor, I can’t possibly take you anywhere looking like that. It’s even worse than usual!”
Pirates
Evelyn could take to some aspects of the life of a pirate, she thought, but she was going to have to renounce her life of crime next time they came ashore. There was only so much a body could take of the captain’s dreadful singing.
. . . In SPACE!!
“I think,” said Dr Smith, surveying the inevitable results, “that’s probably the last time we should experiment with making chocolate cake during an asteroid storm.”
Evelyn reached for a cloth. “Oh, I don’t know. It might have been all right if the things hadn’t wound up playing havoc with the artificial gravity.”
Born Another Gender
Eminent historian Professor Evelyn Smythe listened to the strange woman’s unlikely tale with growing incredulity. “I don’t believe a word of it, young lady!”
Schoolfic
“I don’t know,” said Evelyn, “if you’re just going to sit there sulking every time you don’t come top in something, I’m going to find someone else to play with!”
Police/Firefighters
“Smith,” said Inspector Smythe, eyeing her Sergeant’s outfit with considerable disfavour, “I said we were to go in undercover! I didn’t say you were to wear something visible at a fifty mile radius!”
Det. Sergeant Smith looked down at his yellow trousers and patchwork coat. “Well, you must admit, it definitely isn’t uniform, ma’am – as requested.”
“If you weren’t so good at your job the rest of the time, I’d fire you.”
Urban Fantasy
“So,” said Dr Smythe, “do I have this right? You claim that someone has laid a terrible enchantment on the Tower of London and you need me to sneak you in during the night so that you can reverse the spell?”
“That would be extremely helpful, yes. I promise I’d be considerably grateful. Eternally, even.”
Evelyn sighed. “Dr Smith, I am a respected historian specialising in the Tudor period, not the Queen!”
“Well, all right. Just help me break in, then.”
“You know, you can still be executed for treason…”
Regency
There was one lady who had been attending closely during his lecture (and her being there at was rather unconventional, of course, but Smith wasn’t opposed to female learning, at least not in theory). Now, as it finished, she marched up to him with a decided air about her and said, in a way that suddenly made him tremble in his shoes, “Young man, that was all very interesting, but I have some questions about your conclusions…”
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Date: 2 Mar 2016 08:16 pm (UTC)(I tried reading some of these in Evelyn's voice)
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Date: 5 Mar 2016 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 10 Feb 2016 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Mar 2016 09:46 am (UTC):-)
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Date: 10 Feb 2016 01:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Feb 2016 09:08 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
Sheriff Alleyn had been asked many a time what someone like him was doing in a place like this (or words to that effect), but he felt it was irrelevant to the fact that he was doing his job. After all, for a small town, it did seem to attract an unaccountable number of improbable crimes and someone had to deal with them…
Coffee Shop
She came in every other Wednesday, mostly to share a coffee with her friend, sometimes to sketch. She was an artist. Sometimes she still had charcoal smudges on her cheek. He had noticed – but how to approach her was the question. It was, he decided, all terribly awkward. One couldn’t – one simply couldn’t – resort to the old cliché of spilling her drink.
The problem was solved in the most unwelcome way possible, however, on the day one of the customers fell to the floor on drinking their coffee – poisoned!
Shapeshifters
“Well,” said Fox, mopping his brow midway through his explanation of how his name was, in fact, literal, “it’s inconvenient at times, but on the other hand it can be invaluable for picking up odd bits of information.” He paused. “I’d have thought you’d have been a bit more surprised, sir.”
Alleyn gave a small smile and raised an eyebrow. “Well, it does explain a great deal. Besides, you’re not the only one. There are more of us about than you might think.”
Pirates
Captain Alleyn of His Majesty’s Navy turned as his First Mate, Fox, came hurrying up to him.
“Pirates,” he said, slightly out of breath, “no doubt about it now, I’m afraid, sir.”
Alleyn nodded. “I see. Then ready the men – they will find they have made a mistake in tangling with us.”
. . . In SPACE!!
Detective Inspector Alleyn of the Intergalactic Police Force entered the cabin of the luxury space liner only to find that the murderer had claimed another victim. And how was the question, when the door had been locked and there was no sign of an obvious murder weapon in the room? And yet people did not stab themselves in the back by means unknown when committing suicide, not even if one switched off the artificial gravity. Alleyn sighed slightly. He had hoped for a quiet cruise this time around, but it was not to be.
Born Another Gender
Rose Alleyn had been expected to finish her debutante season with a suitable marriage if possible, not shock the world by unnecessarily joining the Women’s Police Force. And what for, one wondered: it wasn’t even proper police work…
Schoolfic
“I had you pegged for head boy for sure,” said Fox.
Rory looked at him and grinned, as he shook his head. “No, not me. Never quite the thing, old boy. Staff Prefect is more than enough for me.”
“Preparation for the diplomatic service, maybe?”
“Who knows?”
Urban Fantasy
“Sit down and tell me again,” said Inspector Alleyn. “As the corpse has unfortunately vanished, I trust your artist’s eye for detail will be of use. The victim had been bitten, you say?”
Troy nodded. “Badly. I – I think more like that of a vampire than a wolf or changeling. Neater.” She was shaken. She had heard people talk about these sorts of creatures, of course, but it was another matter to encounter one – and so violently. She hoped this Inspector knew his lore, although she disliked the inevitable end result – hunting down and killing anything so nearly-human, even if it had drained all the blood out of her artist’s model.
Regency
Alleyn had not expected his work for the Foreign Office to lead him into such complications: the network of French spies seemed to come uncomfortably close to the charming Miss Troy…
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Date: 3 Mar 2016 01:02 am (UTC)These are all so promising. Rose Alleyn will make the Women's Force proper police work through sheer implacability. If you can't do a job, what can you do? And what kind of animal does Alleyn shapeshift into?
It is a bit hard to picture poor Rory as a fireman, poor thing. Or a beat cop, though now I want to read all about Beat Cop Alleyn and his struggles.
Alleyn sighed slightly. He had hoped for a quiet cruise this time around, but it was not to be.
Oh, Alleyn. Even in space, MURDER NEVER GOES ON VACATION. Maybe especially in space.
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Date: 5 Mar 2016 06:12 pm (UTC)Murder is everywhere, no matter what the AU. *nods*
I'm glad you enjoyed them!
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Date: 10 Feb 2016 03:12 am (UTC)Cyberpunk... my idea of that is 'sci-fi noir', if that makes sense? Bleak futuristic societies with the protagonists often being rebels against the system. Wiki has a whole article, of course! a quick read-through offered Blade Runner and The Matrix as examples.
(Also... meme sheep says baa!)
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Date: 10 Feb 2016 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Feb 2016 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 13 Apr 2016 03:49 pm (UTC)Wild West
“You see?” said Hilda Annersley. “A stern word or two seems to have been enough to deter those ruffians after all.”
Nell Wilson nodded wisely and neglected to mention the pistol in her drawer with which she had forcibly underlined those words. Always humour the sheriff was a good rule for the sheriff’s deputy.
Coffee Shop
“I don’t know how it is,” said Hilda, “but someone seems to have muddled up the sugar and the salt again this morning. I can’t think what we’re going to give the customers. These cakes are all quite inedible!”
“Hmm,” Nell said, “maybe if we have a whip round from the staff to buy some in they’ll be more careful in future?”
Shapeshifters
Hilda always wondered how it had happened – this ability to shift-shape into something four-legged and swift. The only thing she could imagine was that it was somehow due to her deep unhappiness at home since the death of her mother. That was reason enough for any young girl with such a restricted life to want to flee. Nell was the only other one of her kind she’d met, and when she asked her, Nell became unusually thoughtful and said something about the death of her sister.
“But at least,” she added, taking her friend’s hand, “it brought us together.”
Pirates
As pirate ships went, it wasn’t a bad one, Nell thought, and she’d rather have the dread Captain Annersley alongside her in a fight rather than anyone else she knew, but she wished the Captain would stop making people walk the plank for saying ‘Can I?’ rather than ‘May I?’ Good crew members were hard to find.
. . . In SPACE!!
“I don’t know what made Lady Russell think of running a school on this space station,” said Nell Wilson, collapsing into the nearest chair in Hilda Annersley’s office, “but there are times when I have to question the wisdom of it, to say the least.”
Hilda shook her head. “Poor Nell! What is it this time? I hope Elizabeth Arnett and Betty Wynne-Davies haven’t been meddling with the air supply settings again?”
Born Another Gender
“It’s always the same,” said the head, Mr Annersley, to his deputy Mr Wilson. “Middles!”
Schoolfic
“Oh, Nell,” said Hilda, catching sight of her friend in the corridor outside the headmistress’s office, looking slightly singed. “Oh, dear. What did you do this time?”
Police/Firefighters
Det. Inspector Wilson rechecked her report closely before handing it into Superintendent Annersley – not only was Supt. Annersley one of the best detectives on the force and a devil for the details, but she was also a demon on spelling, grammar and good plain English in written reports.
Urban Fantasy
“Oh, and there’s a message from Lady Russell,” said Nell. “She thinks that it really is about time we started to teach the Seniors protective magics again – counter spells and wards, that type of thing.”
Hilda nodded. Naturally, they didn’t want Chalet girls growing up to be weak, spineless creatures who didn’t know what to do when confronted with malevolent Folk from the Other Realms. “Well, that’s more your area, Nell – I’ll leave it up to you to decide.”
Regency
It had long been the dream of Miss Hilda Annersley not to marry, but to found her own school, but it was not an easy venture for a single lady to embark on alone. Her meeting with Miss Helena Wilson who had long harboured similar ambitions, was indeed, a happy one.
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Date: 21 Apr 2016 04:12 pm (UTC)Trust Nell to have a secret gun in the wild west, and interesting that we both see Nell as the more likely magic user (I sent her to Hogwarts once). LOL (as in, I literally burst out laughing) at Dread Captain Annersley making people walk the plank for poor grammar! She would, she so would. I want to hug them both in the shapeshifter. And schoolgirl Nell being slightly singed - did she share Evvy's "talent" for lab accidents? I always thought she had a soft spot for her ;)
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Date: 21 Apr 2016 04:18 pm (UTC)How does a science teacher learn but through accidents?? ;-)
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Date: 22 Apr 2016 11:14 pm (UTC)That is their canon backstory, yes, and it makes me want to hug them when it comes up in the books too!
How indeed? ;)
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Date: 10 Feb 2016 05:38 am (UTC)Hmmm...
River Song. Or Romana.
Hey - River Song and Romana (I or II, I'm not picky)
*HUGS*
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Date: 17 Apr 2016 01:31 pm (UTC)It went overlong for an LJ comment, so I'll just link you to AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6579157
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Date: 19 Apr 2016 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 10 Feb 2016 07:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 10 Feb 2016 01:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 21 Feb 2016 10:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Apr 2016 01:40 pm (UTC)***
Wild West
“So,” said Sheriff Smith, “what exactly were you thinking, trying to break into the Mayor’s house? You must have known you’d get spotted, especially with a darn fool plan like that.”
The dastardly outlaw known only as The Master* shrugged. “One does get so bored on occasions.”
“Anyone would think you liked being arrested.”
“Perish the notion, my dear sheriff.”
*When he wasn’t travelling the West incognito as the Mystical Magister, the greatest Mesmerist in the World, that was.
Coffee Shop
“Poisoned?” said the proprietor to the customer returning the fatal latte. “Oh, dear no, not the work of the management, I assure you. We favour the more personal touch.” He waved a hand at the shelf full of oddly lifelike dolls behind him. “It must have been one of the regulars. Not my affair at all, I’m afraid. I suggest you contact the police. Chief Inspector Smith will no doubt be very interested to hear of it.”
Shapeshifters
It was, the Master had discovered, exceedingly useful to able to imitate anyone else’s form he chose. It was merely a minor and temporary set-back that the ability was proving difficult to control as fully he would wish.
Pirates
“Captain Smith,” said the dread pirate known only as The Master, his cutlass at the naval captain’s throat. “You may have thwarted my plans again, but you will not escape me now!”
His great rival backed away. “My dear fellow, if you wouldn’t follow me about the seven seas, I wouldn’t be able to keep on thwarting you, you know. Oh, well done, Joe!” he said to his (oddly girlish) cabin boy as the plucky youngster hit the master over the head with part of a broken plank. “That ought to keep Admiral Lethbridge-Stewart happy.”
. . . In SPACE!!
The shadowy figure eyed Masters with interest. “And what do you want?” he asked, solidifying back into a more wholly human form again.
“That,” said Masters, “is a very good question indeed…”
Schoolfic
“So, Smith, what’s your excuse this time?”
“It wasn’t me, sir!”
“Oh, who was it then?”
Masters, standing to one side of them, looked only more innocent than ever.
Police/Firefighters
There was no better way to run a crime ring, Chief Superintendent Magister felt, than from being positioned right inside the law. Corruption and abuse of power was a wonderful thing – in the right hands, of course.
Urban Fantasy
“So, your unholinesss, how was it that you decided to become a Dark Lord? Was it your ambition from childhood or did it just sort of come over you one day? Apparently, that happens a lot.”
The Dark Lord of the Two Realms raised an eyebrow at his interviewer. “Well, I found it a more amusing occupation than losing at chess. Although lately I begin to feel the challenge has gone out of it. I might need to turn to … other interests.”
“Oh?” said the interviewer, suddenly looking a little less confident.
“Possibly magical experimentation on suitably, ah, willing volunteers. How might you feel about that, Miss Smith?”
Regency
There was, Miss Austen felt, something strange about that new vicar. She would have to write to her friend Miss Oswald about it.
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Date: 17 Apr 2016 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Apr 2016 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 21 Apr 2016 12:06 pm (UTC)