sweetestsurrender | { The AU meme }

Current Music: Hand of Sorrow - Within Temptation

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{ The AU meme }

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The last challenger was a woman a little smaller than Wufei, also Chinese but with a much rounder face. They traded taunts in their native tongue before they bowed, and the bout began. The fight was a little more formal than the others, both the women clearly highly trained in similar styles. And both of them were talking, trading taunts as much as blows, all of it in Chinese, until the second woman caught Wufei glancing at Duo, asked if he was Wufei’s boyfriend. Of course she replied that he was her fiancé and that little reveal was apparently enough to give Wufei the upper hand, deftly sweeping the other woman’s legs out from under her.

Wufei helped the woman up with a laugh, exchanging a few more niceties in Chinese before Wufei grabbed her towel and trotted over to Heero and Duo. “I just have to wash up and change, then I’ll be ready to go,” she was just a little breathless but clearly in a very good mood. Either she'd sorted out what was bothering her, or she just really enjoyed fighting -- or both.

Edited (I can english, I swear.) 2022-01-26 18:44 (UTC)

He just plain shut up after that and ignored the man beside him, focusing instead on what was going on on the gym floor. He could see the two women were talking but couldn't hear it, couldn't even read their lips, so assumed it was in a language he didn't know. But when Wufei looked over at him, Duo was actually surprised. Surprised enough to smile at being noticed, though he didn't make a scene. He did nothing he thought might distract her.

When it was all over he slowly eased himself up, dropping his legs from the bleachers in front of him so he wasn't lunching around like a bit stray cat. Then smiled again when Wufei approached.

"Alright. I'll meet you out front?" he offered, figuring everyone will be dispersing now that the fun was over.

"Yeah," Wufei agreed, tugging the band out of her hair and running the towel over her neck. "I'll be right out," she flashed him a smile, and trotted off towards the locker rooms -- and had to catch herself from almost going into the men's one by accident.

Once they were alone again, Heero closed his laptop and started packing it up. "She's happier," he said as he did, glancing up at Duo. "I thought I was imagining it at first, because I see her differently now, but people have stopped hiding when she heads to the break room." Which was, apparently, one of the ways he measured her moods. Or at least the intensity of her glares.

Duo's smile softened some then and he nodded once more, head turning to watch her go.

He near jumped out of his skin when Heero spoke. He'd almost forgotten he was there.

"You think?" Duo would have to take his word for it. It seemed Heero knew her moods far better than he did so what would Duo know really? "Glad she's happy then. Hopefully my choice of bar doesn't disappoint so she can stay happy." He laughed, then shoved his hands in his pockets and with a brief nod to Heero he headed back out of the gym to hang around for Wufei.

Heero nodded, pulling his bag onto his shoulder. "You could probably take her to a dumpster and she'd still be happy. It's weird," but it was a good thing, and he was even smiling a little as he headed back into the office, probably to put in a few more hours of work before going home, himself.

It was only fifteen minutes before she met him out front, in a pair of actual, honest-to-god jeans, in a cut that hugged her curves almost aggressively. Her shirt was a dark blue tee, under a black leather jacket, hair back in the ponytail and shedding drops of water as she approached. "Duo," she greeted him warmly, extending a hand to him. "Are we taking my bike again? I returned your helmet to the motor pool, but we should buy you one of your own, anyway. Get them set up with a comm system, while we're at it." It was hard to hear each other over the roar of the engine, after all.

"Actually, I brought my car..." Which he now realised was a pretty dumb idea because now one of them would have to leave their vehicle behind. Duo gave her a sheepish smile as he pushed away from the wall he'd been leaning against and moved toward her. "But you look good. Told you jeans'd suit you."

"I'm a little surprised you have one, I figured you'd just rent them when you're down here," she replied with an easy smile. "And thanks, I figured I might as well get some clothes that fit properly, now that I've got nothing to hide. They're more comfortable than I expected, with how tight they are," she rubbed her free hand down one of her thighs, and the fabric hardly wrinkled as she did. She'd gotten herself a whole new wardrobe over the week, things that would accentuate rather than hide the shape of her body. "How was your week?"

"It kept me distracted when I was getting used to not tinkering on Deathscythe." Duo explained with a lopsided grin. Those first few months, that first year in fact, had been tough. Howard had gotten him a truck to work on and he'd happily let that be his therapy for a long while.

"Heh it's good you don't have to hide now. But me? I've been good. Sorted everything out. Got my things in storage. Just gotta find a place around here to rent." He'd started moving as he talked, walking Wufei across the car park to his truck.

The truck was, of course, black. A big, heavyduty, black truck that looked like a lot of love and care had gone into its design.

“Ah, that makes perfect sense,” she chuckled warmly. “I channeled that into aggression on the job, mostly, but I’ve always liked to work through things by hitting people,” she flashed him a grin as they approached the truck.

She hesitated a moment when he mentioned looking for a place. “Is it an apartment for until we figure things out and decide where to live together? Or should I help you look with the intention of moving in at some point?” She didn’t want to overstep, and if he wanted to maintain his own space, she wasn’t going to try to crowd him.

"I always felt more at home fixing things. When I wasn't workin with Howard and the Sweepers I'd keep myself busy as a mechanic." usually with Howard's boys still but he'd help out wherever he was needed. And where the money was.

Duo hesitated himself then. He'd been trying not to overstep too. Desperate not to assume anything. And yet he still had made an assumption.

"I uh..." Duo fished his keys out of his pocket before sighing. Realising he was being an idiot flashed her a crooked smile. "Guess I figured while you were thinking things though I'd stay in my own place, but close enough if you needed me. If I was wrong then I hold my hands up. I've not gotta a place yet, I was kinda hoping it'd be something we could talk about today. Get on the same page, that kinda thing? "

Wufei chuckled at his grin, nodding in agreement. “That seems the most sensible option,” she agreed when he suggested talking things over. “Though if one of us drinks too much it might be better tabled until morning. I’ve done considerable thinking over the week and some of what we need to discuss is a bit too sensitive to be talking over while drunk. Though I suppose I wouldn’t really know… I’ve always been too nervous about being found out to actually drink more than a few sips.”

"Then how about..." Duo started as he approached the passenger side door and opened it for Wufei. "... We don't get wasted and just have a nice dinner and a few drinks and just... talk and relax?" he offered. "Or... we could raincheck that, grab some take out and head back to your place?" Duo said it so easily, he really didn't mind which of these choices they ended up doing since he would be doing them with Wufei. That had been the goal from the start. No pressure. Just a nice evening spent with a friend. Though now things had changed some and instead of a friend it was a fiance.

Duo moved around the other side of the truck to climb into the drivers seat, laughing as he did. "Both have their pros and cons. But I gotta say I kinda wanna know what you've been thinking this last week."

She hummed in agreement as he opened the door for her, bobbing her head in agreement. "Let's go to your bar, get some dinner and tuck ourselves into a corner to talk," she suggested, before pulling herself up into the truck, dropping into the passenger seat.

She closed the door and waited for him to get in before she continued. "There are plenty of things to talk about that won't ruin your appetite, after all," and they could save the heavier discussion for later. It wasn't something she wanted to discuss in public anyway, so maybe this time they could get all the way through the meal. She offered him an apologetic smile as she buckled herself in. "So what are all the bells and whistles?" She asked as she gave the dashboard a pat.

Wufei might have looked apologetic but Duo just looked guilty. He knew damn well and good he hadn't handled their last interaction well at all and could admit now that he'd probably run away from it with the excuse of having things to do. He really did have things he needed to do, but they could have waited. It was a point of contention for him that he'd let himself get overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry." He sighed after having buckled himself in and placed his hands on the wheel. "It'll probably happen again though. So you're right, probably best to save the heavy stuff for when we're not eating." Otherwise he might just very well starve to death. Her next question cause him to laugh. "I've cup holders!" And he pointed to them in a dramatic way then waited for her to be impressed.

She let her gaze linger on his profile for a moment, shrugging her shoulders. "It's alright, we just need to learn to navigate that kind of conversation together, and taking some space for yourself is probably the best way to handle it. I'm not very good at de-escalation, so it gives us both time to cool off before revisiting it," Wufei replied, and laughed at the comment on the cupholders. "Yes, very nice ones, I bet they'd hold one liter bottles. Here I thought you'd do something a little more extravagant, like making sure she can break the speed of sound."

He hadn't actually wanted to leave but had known it was for the best. At least it gave them the time and space to think things over so that they could come back like this. But for the moment it was easier to talk cupholders. So he grinned and raised a brow.

"You better not be mocking my cup holders, Chang!" And then he put the key into the ignition and started the truck up. It was only when the car had power that the actual bells and whistles could be seen. From the fancy HUD on the windscreen in front of him to the dash full of tech all flashing to life. Duo laughed as he eased out of his parking spot and headed for the exit. "I might have gotten more than just cup holders..."

She gave an appreciative hum as the HUD lit up, a grin spreading on her face. "They're very nice cup holders, but this... If I ever downgrade to a car, you're going to have free reign to tinker to your hearts content," she laughed, relaxing into the seat as Duo drove off. She asked him about the changes, even though tinkering wasn't really her thing, she liked hearing about what he'd done, watching him show off a little. And if his hand went to the center console, well, she might just take that as an invitation to grab it.

"If you think this is good you should see my other rides." Did she really think that all he had was this truck? He was a tinkerer. He had a hotrod in the works, he had a 'bike of his own as well as his own little ship at Howards yard. It's just that he didn't really focus on any one thing, but maybe it was time to change that?

He was happy to chat about all the things he'd added, or taken away, from the truck. How long it had taken, some misadventures getting the parts he'd wanted. And without him even realising it was happening, his hand was within Wufei's. It was only when he'd stopped talking to laugh that he'd looked down to find they were holding hands. And... he didn't mind that one little bit. So he didn't mention it, just smiled and carried on driving.

It was less than an hours drive to the bar which was a hop, skip and a jump from a shipyard. The place was large, weathered and surprisingly homely. Outside was a wide array of vehicles, big and small, though most in a state of disrepair. As it happened, your typical pilot didn't always care about their ground vehicles as much as their ships. Duo liked all of his equally though.

He pulled into a spot and cut the engine. "You ready?"

Wufei was happy to focus on Duo's tinkering, talking about the truck, the other rides, enjoying the conversation almost enough to forget about what she was so worried about talking over with Duo.

And when they pulled into the parking lot, she looked around as he cut the engine and hummed in agreement, finally pulling her hand away so she could get out. "Absolutely," she agreed, unbothered by the junkers as she dropped out of the truck and closed the door behind her, coming around to meet Duo and extending her hand to him once again. "Just so long as the music here isn't called Jizz." She might have done some catching up on pop culture in the last few years.

Duo took the hand before he burst out laughing. "Nah, no... uhh the music here tends to come from an old jukebox or not at all and the tv's on playing sports or news." And given the time of day it would probably be sports on low for the regulars with maybe hints of music when anyone thought to put coins in the machine.

He was still chucking as he walked hand-in-hand with Wufei up to the door. He pushed it open and they walked in together. After a brief wave and a cheerful hello to the guy tending bar, Duo lead Wufei toward a table, only to be stopped by a young woman who all but threw herself at Duo. She wore a waitress uniform, her long, dark hair was pulled up high in a pony-tail. Big, blue eyes flashed with a strange mix of anger and joy on seeing Duo.

"Maxwell, you bastard! Where've you been?!" After she'd hugged with enough force to near pull him off of his feet, she let go and promptly smacked him upside the head. And then pouted. "You promised!"

Duo was a little dazed but recovered quickly enough and was able to laugh and reach out with his free hand to lightly take hers. "Debbie. Sweet, Debbie. I've been busy." Then he grinned, he hoped Wufei wouldn't mind, because really he didn't have much of an excuse other than he tended to lose track of time. "I'd like you to meet Wufei. My fiancé."

Debbie had the good grace to blush, eyes widening as she looked from Duo to the pretty girl at his side and then back again... And Duo earned himself another smack upside the head.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? How could you keep her a secret from us?" And then she gave a bright smile. "She's cute. How did you bag this cad, sweetie? Please tell me it had something to do with beating him up until he said yes? He's forever breaking my heart." She said with a dramatic sigh. Duo just rolled his eyes and gave Wufei's hand a gentle tug.

"I'm gonna grab the usual place. Let Cian know I'll be having the usual for two, and two of your finest beers, Debbie!" Once she got talking it was hard to stop her, but easy enough to distract her with her actual job.

Wufei grinned, following him inside and towards the table. It took all her self-control to keep herself from lashing out when Debbie came at Duo, but when she lifted him right off his feet, she couldn't help laughing. She wasn't all that surprised that this was the sort of bar Duo frequented.

When she was introduced, Wufei gave Debbie a shallow bow, and laughed as she smacked Duo again. "You know, I don't think I ever have fought him. I'm sure he could teach me a thing or two about improvisation, but as for how we ended up together... he impressed me with some very big explosions," and she dropped a very suggestive little wink as she followed Duo's tug.

"I like her, Maxwell! You better keep her!" Debbie called over as she went to carry out his order, laughing all the way.

"That's the plan!" Duo called back, but rolled his eyes as he came to the table he normally took when he came to the bar. It was just out of the way of most everything else, a quiet corner, facing the door, and away from the excitement of the tv on the other side of the bar.

There were others there but other than curious looks they hadn't paid much attention to anything that happened and Duo didn't pay them a lick of attention either.

The inside of the bar was as worn and homely as the outside. The bar itself was well stocked. As promised there was a jukebox off in a corner that was, thankfully quiet. In the same corner were two pool tables and on the wall two darts boards. But where Duo had sat it was a bit warmer in terms of comfort levels. The tables and chairs were all wooden, the chairs themselves were comfortable. There were even coasters on the tables. So fancy! Duo didn't come for fancy though. He liked the food, the drink and he liked the people.

When he sat he grinned over at Wufei and apologised.

"Sorry about that. Debbie can be... She's got a heart of gold though. Swear she thinks she's my mom sometimes." And sometimes he'd actually appreciated that. Like right now. He was kind of happy that Wufei had played along with him and had even teased back with Debbie.

Wufei smiled, following Duo to the little corner table and sliding into the seat opposite him. "She seems very fond of you, and you of her, letting her lift you up like that," she smiled easily, leaning onto the table.

"This place seems nice. Unpretentious," a lot like Duo. She understood immediately why he liked it, and she was glad she'd taken Duo's advice on how to dress. She felt like she belonged, too, in the same way she did when she stepped into a dojo.

She offered her hand to his again, smiling easily. "So, why don't we start with some lighter subjects. How did you like my bed? Shall we keep it, or go shopping for a new one?" She knew some people would have thought buying a new bed was a matter of course, but she also knew Duo was probably the least wasteful person she knew.

Duo pulled an unhappy face. The fact Debbie was a few inches shorter than him and was still insisted on pulling him off of his feet like that was maddening. But he could see it was amusing from Wufei's point of view and had to smile. He even reached over when the hand was offered and took hers within his.

"She's a sweetheart. And yeah. This place is...relaxing I guess." he'd felt an affinity to the place since the first time he'd discovered it. He didn't come back as often as he could these days, but he did try.

His brows rose at Wufei's choice of 'lighter subject' matter, but smiled anyway.

"Your beds fine. No need to get rid of it if there's nothing wrong with it." The nap he'd had on it wss comfortable enough. Comfortable to the point he'd slept for longer than he'd actually intended. So he found no fault in the bed at all.

Wufei nodded, letting her gaze wander the place again. "I agree," she said warmly.

And nodded again, smiling warmly. "You did seem to sleep rather well in it. But what about where I was napping?" And didn't she just look a little too smug?

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