{ The AU meme }

[unrelatedname]

 Ever played out something and then later wondered "What if?" Ever wondered what it'd be like to play your character a different way, but didn't feel like making a full thing dedicated to it? Now's your chance to play it out!

Using RNG you'll roll 1-3 for the level of the change, and 1-6 for the change itself, or if you want, pick your own based on what you wanted to do.


1)  Small Change: The flap of a butterfly's wings can cause tsunami's on the other side of the world.

-1: "A minute too late"- What if you missed something by a minute, or more? You missed the big meeting, the girl, helping that person, all because you were too late, what happens next?
-2: "The nick of time"- Just like the first, only that instead of missing something you got, that if you got something you missed because you were either too late, or just messed up? Congratulations! Let's just hope it's what you really wanted.
-3: "A little too early"- One more, what if you showed up early? It's suppose to be a good thing, is it this time?
-4: "The other choice"- You had two choices, left or right, heads or tails, Coke or Pepsi, now you get to see what would have happened with the other choice.
-5: "Oops!"- You slipped up, and made a mistake. Is it bad, or a blessing in disguise?
-6: Wild card/Pick your own- Thought of a slight change that'd make all the difference, or had one you wanted to play? Here's your chance.

2)  Medium Change: Didn't really see that coming, did you?

-1: Turning point change- That one thing that would have turned things in your favor went against you, and vice versa. How will you handle this critical change?
-2: "A Razor's edge"- That one moment that could have went either way has gone the opposite way of before. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?
-3: Crossroads- You reached a point in your life where you had several choices before you, now's the time to go down another road and see where it leads.
-4: The Road less traveled- "Two roads diverged in the woods, and I took the one less traveled" Will it make all the difference?
-5: Interference- Something blocked you from getting something you were going for. What do you do once the moment is gone?
-6: Wild Card/Pick your own-Thought of a medium change that'd make all the difference, or had one you wanted to play? Here's your chance.

3)  Large Change: Why do all the people here have goatee's?

-1: Good/Evil- Use to be a good guy? Welcome to the dark side, here's your cookie. Former bad guy? Hand over the cookie tray and join the side of good. How will the change of moral compass change you?
-2: A different person- You're now a completely different person, literally. Are you taller? Shorter? A robot? A pony? Powers? No powers? Your call.
-3: The other sex- Rule!63 is in effect. Now how does this effect your relationships with the other?
-4: A change in history- Something that happened in the past now has completely change or is now gone. One domino toppling the rest. Now that you've changed your past, how will it effect your future?
-5: Giving up- You walked away from something important to you? Do you regret it? Are you happy?
-6: Wild Card/Pick your own- Thought of a large change that'd make all the difference, or had one you wanted to play? Here's your chance.

 

Comments

[maxwellsdaemon]

"You said that before. Mulan? Who is that?" Duo felt he'd heard the name somewhere before that but honestly couldn't place it. But he was curious. So he leaned forward and grinned. "I wanna know more."

[pilot05]

"The Ballad of Mulan," she replied, and her smile got a little wistful. "It's an ancient Chinese poem about a woman named Hua Mulan. She disguised herself as a man to take her elderly father's place when her family was ordered to send a male to join the army. She was such a great warrior that when she returned from years fighting the nomadic hordes beyond the northern borders, the Emperor offered her a position of high status in his court, but she refused and returned home to her family. Only then did she reveal to her brothers in arms that she was a woman. She was one of the greatest warriors in Chinese history."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo listened attentively, smiling and seeing several parallels between this Hua Mulan and Wufei. He understood the reference now and agreed with it.

"Did she get forced into marriage as well? Your elders should be grateful for what you've done. You're the greatest Chinese warrior of the modern world. You're a damn hero no matter what your gender." So Duo honestly didn't get where the idea of shacking her up with some random guy came from. Where was the rewards and offerings of a high status or...whatever the modern day equivalent was.

[pilot05]

She blushed darkly at the high praise, even though she knew it was true. "I'm sure she was required to marry, but there's no record of how much sway she had over the match. It's likely she was married to a high ranking official, given her service to the Emperor. Though I suppose if it comes to it, I'll argue the point about getting to choose," but she wouldn't hold her breath.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo nodded slowly. It was a shame they didn't know any high ranking officials who were decent people.

"We'll like I said, if they come after you about that, you know where I am." He flashed a near feral grin. "They won't get near you with me around."

[pilot05]

The only one she knew was Quatre, and that wasn't going to happen for a multitude of reasons. Most of which were Trowa. The rest of which were that she would rather die than see him naked.

"One day, I'm going to take you up on it," she replied lightly.

Little did she know it was today.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"I'll be ready." Duo laughed, already planning their escape. There were a multitude of safe houses they could go to, or he could just fuck off in a shuttle and hide out in the stars until things cooled off. Or those Elders all died and forgot about Wufei. He was sure if he asked, their friends would help too. And wouldn't ask too many questions. But Duo held off on suggesting that for now.

"We're almost there." He sighed, glancing at the console and slowly turned back to face it. "Should prep for reentry."

[pilot05]

She straightened up in her seat, pulling out the reentry checklist and going down the whole thing with him. It was nice, to have the structure, the familiarity. It felt like the world was settling after the upheaval of the last mission.

When they finally touched down and started rolling to a stop, she let out a sigh of relief. "I think I'm going to take a vacation when I crawl out of the paperwork hell that's waiting for me," she decided lightly.

And then she saw it as they taxied to their designated parking area. Three black cars with gold trim instead of silver. She shrank in her seat, swallowing heavily as she watched them get bigger and bigger as they approached. "It's them."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Them?" Duo looked where she did and frowned. He saw the cars and contemplated turning the shuttle to crash right into them.

"Relax." He soothed and gave her a wide grin. "I told you. They won't do a damn thing to you." they'd have to go through him first.

When the shuttle came to a stop Duo unbuckled his harness and climbed out of the pilots seat, but he didn't leave. He waited for Wufei. "C'mon. Stick by me. Okay?"

[pilot05]

"Them," she agreed, grateful that years of training meant her only outward sign of panic was the increase in her breathing rate. She took a deep breath, tried to steady herself as she nodded. "I can fight them off if I have to, but they'll come back." Over and over again.

They would wear her down, eventually. She closed her eyes, thumping her head back against the headrest for a few seconds, gathering up her composure before releasing her harness and getting up to follow him.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"We'll fight them off." He corrected her cheerfully and waited for her to stand before clapping her on the back and laughing. "You're not alone, Wu. Don't forget about me. Those old bastards'll gave to get through me if they wanna get to you."

With that, he hooked his arm around Wufei's shoulders and walked with her through the shuttle. He slapped the release for the hatch door as he passed. Only then did he let go so that he could be the first one out of the shuttle. Shielding Wufei with his own body from what waited for her outside.

[pilot05]

She managed a smile at that. "Thank you," she said softly, walking with him through the shuttle, and leaning on him more than she would've, before he knew her secret. It was far more liberating than she'd expected, and when the hatch opened, she took a deep breath.

And then she followed him down, head held high, face that carefully controlled arrogance from during the war. And from the middle car, the driver emerged, then went to open the rear door for an elderly man who walked out to the tarmac to greet them, in traditional Chinese garb, clearly expecting her to just walk over and surrender.

"Long Meilan," the elder called. "It is a blessing that you are still among us."

[maxwellsdaemon]

It really was an old fart. Duo didn't know what to think about that. Laughing probably wasn't the best idea so he managed to tone it down to a smirk as he moved a step to the side and made sure he was in the old guys way.

"Don't know who you're talking to, Gramps. But there's only Wufei Chang around here. Think you've got the wrong shuttle. Maybe take your shiny cars somewhere else, huh? We've had a hell of a long couple days."

[pilot05]

"That foolish boy has been dead for many years," the elder replied without batting an eye. "We are grateful for your efforts to rescue her, but it is time for the Empress to give up this little game and come home. With her still living, there is hope yet to restore the clan. Come, Meilan."

Wufei came to stand next to Duo, standing straight as a plumb line as she met the elder's gaze. "I have no intention of returning to the estate," she said firmly, but left it at that.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo looked to Wufei and silently mouthed the word 'Empress?' and hoped she realised that after they dealt with these guys, he was probably going to tease her relentlessly about this. He wondered if his bowing game was on point. Or should he curtsy? Did you use Your Majesty for empresses or was that just King's and Queens? Duo was going to have to do a little research!

"My efforts?" Duo asked with a laugh. "I actually rescued her. Didn't see you or any of your people back there helping to save your Empress. Must mean so much to you, huh? Well get in line. You're not having her."

[pilot05]

She shot him a look that said he was going to be playing with fire every time he so much as thought the word empress.

The old man's eyebrows darted upwards at that, gaze shifting between them as he mulled that over before replying. "You will be rewarded for your assistance, but the Empress is not a gem to be handed out as payment for an honorable deed," he huffed. "Meilan, we must go, there is a plane waiting for us," he gestured at the car.

And she nearly stepped forward to follow, all of her resolve crumbling when faced with the duty that had been hammered into her since infancy. Instead, she curled her hands into fists. "I said no."

[maxwellsdaemon]

He was the God of Death. What did he care about a little fire?

Take now for instance.

"Rewarded? Oh, man, you're treading on thin ice, Gramps." He didn't want a fucking reward. He wanted this guy to get back into his car and drive off. And had he asked for Wufei as his reward? He didn't think he had so what had this old bastard naturally gone to that conclusion?

Except...

Duo didn't think, he just reached out and wrapped his hand around one of Wufei's balled fists and pulled her closer to his side. "She's not going with you. She's staying with me."

[pilot05]

Her heart was thundering, but when Duo took her hand, she opened her fist and twined her fingers with his, tipping her chin up in defiance.

The elder hummed softly, looking between them again for a long moment, his face seeming to grow more wrinkled as he did. "Very well," he said softly. "You have six months." And then he turned, shuffling back to the waiting car.

It wasn't until he and his driver were both inside that she let out a long breath. "I probably should have warned you," she said softly, careful not to move her lips as she spoke. "But grabbing my hand like that was as good as a proposal."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo was quiet for a long moment, processing that and picking his way through several choice words he could say. In the end he decided to just go with his first gut reaction and tilted his head to smirk at Wufei.

"Fine with me, Your Majesty."

[pilot05]

She huffed out a laugh, giving her head a little shake as the cars pulled away. It wasn't until they were on the other side of the fencing that she actually relaxed, rubbing her free hand over her face. "Let's go to Headquarters, get the initial debriefing over with. And let Une get the rant out of her system," she sighed heavily, forcing her body to move even though she felt like a bowl of jello... slowly producing a second, far more disgusting bowl of jello.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo didn't let go and he didn't move either.

"I'm serious." It was all he said. The smirk was gone, any sign of humour as gone. He'd been thinking about it on and off since she'd mentioned it and seeing first hand how her people treated her...

He had six months to prove himself worthy enough, he supposed.

[pilot05]

She stopped, looking back at him for a long moment with a carefully guarded expression, taking a moment to think that through before she said anything, to be sure of her own emotions and more importantly to be careful with Duo's.

But in the end, a soft smile lifted on her lips, and she squeezed his hand gently. "Then we'll stop at a jeweler's when we're done at HQ," she replied. "And then we're going to go burn this goddamn binder."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo accepted that with a laugh and finally let go of her hand in favour of stepping up to her side and throwing his arm across her shoulders again.

"A plan worthy of Quatre. Burn the whole damn thing." because she wouldn't be needing them. Restraining Wufei was a damn crime and Duo couldn't take it if she had to back to doing that. She deserved to be free.

[pilot05]

This time she let herself lean on him, blushing as she slid an arm around his hips. The whole situation was surreal, but she felt lighter than she ever had. She finally had a path to freedom, to be who she wanted to be, and do the things that she wanted to do.

And she laughed at the idea of Quatre planning to destroy her binders -- though she was sure if he knew about them, he actually would have done something like that. "I suppose we should break both these bits of news in person. Heero'll be at Headquarters to debrief us, and I think Trowa and Quatre are in Dubai right now," and quite suddenly she realized that her freedom was coming with a small logistical nightmare in the form of a wedding. "And Quatre is not paying for or planning any of it, he always gets carried away."

[maxwellsdaemon]

So much for winning her over in six months, she was already thinking about a wedding. Duo just laughed and nodded along, somehow at ease with the whole thing.

"Sounds good. We can get Heero but... You really wanna fly to Dubai? Video call works just as well." But at the same time... "Though... Suppose it could double as a vacation?"