sweetestsurrender | { The AU meme }

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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

"Good solution." Duo smiled. "My usual trick is just to change before I leave a site, but that could work too." Not that he liked to trek filth into his home. Honestly he did like being tidy and liked his home to be the same way. However, Wufei's thinking was bang on the money. There was no way she would get away with hiding injuries on his watch.

"You'll have to get used to tellin me about when that happens then. I won't tattle on you to Heero or your boss, but I won't be happy if hide something like that from me." And as for his own, since he'd already asked Wufei to be honest he knew he had to be the same. "Sucked for a few days, kept rolling and lying on my arm. Nothin wakes you up quicker than putting your entire weight on a bullet wound! But it's getting better. I've a wider range of motion in it now." And to prove it he lifted his arm and rolled his shoulder. It still hurt some, but his pain tolerance was high enough that it didn't bother him.

She nodded in agreement, smiling right along with him and humming in approval as he showed off the range of motion. "Sally is a little over-protective sometimes, but I suppose I've given her reason to be. Sometimes I don't notice injuries in what she considers to be a reasonable amount of time," she shook her head a little, knowing Duo would be able to understand that, at least. "It can take quite a while for me to shed the mission mindset," and actually worry about the signals her body was trying to send her about little things like thirst, hunger, injuries. "I once made it all the way home with a stab wound before I noticed, and ever since..." she shrugged again.

Of course, it probably had more to do with her deciding to stitch it up herself rather than go see a doctor, but that was a minor detail.

He most definitely knew how that was. The wound in his arm was proof of that. He'd had no idea he'd been shot until they'd reached the safe house, after all.

"No, I get it. Just when you realise, don't hide it. And especially if the hurt isn't one you can see..." Duo trailed off them and smiled wider as he looked away to Debbie approaching again, this time she carried a tray with food.

Duo's usual was the house special. Steak and ale pot pie. The plate was laden with veggies and a small stack of very thickly cut fries and a gravy boat each. The gravy was, in Duo's opinion, one of the best things about this meal. He waited for Debbie to set out the food, thanked her and waited for her to leave again before he turned his grin to Wufei. "Hope you don't mind me ordering for you? It's literally the best thing on the menu."

Well if that didn't land like a pike in the chest, Wufei didn't know what would. She dropped her gaze as he looked away, pulling her hand free of Duo's so she could stuff both fists in her lap and hope that nails biting into palm would be enough to keep her face blank.

She had never been more grateful for an interruption in her life when she realized Debbie was coming with their food. She plastered on a warm smile, thanking her warmly for the food and giving herself a moment to take it all in.

"Not at all," she replied lightly. "I figured you must've had a good reason when you did," since he was about as far from controlling as you could get. "It looks delicious."

Unfortunately Debbie being there had stopped him from being able to say anything, but he couldn't help the glance at his hand that had hastily been dropped. Slowly he pulled the hand back and instead wrapped it around his glass. Duo wasn't entirely sure what he had some, but something had subtly changed.

"I hope you like it..." Duo spoke quietly, eyes on Wufei. Just waiting. Maybe he was wrong? Maybe he was imagining things?

She glanced up, still with that forced smile. "It's not a topic for dinner," she said softly, picking up a fork and breaking through the top of the pot pie to give the thing a taste. "But there are certainly a few invisible wounds I'm still dealing with," she was sure they all did, but hers... well. He'd find out soon enough.

She focused herself on the food, on Duo and the moments they had right here and now. Before everything would change, all over again.

Duo wasn't sure how to take that. Part of him wanted to call Debbie over and ask for their food to go so he could take Wufei back home and talk with her. But another part knew not to push. She'd explain things in her own time. And him getting upset and hurt over it was ridiculous. So he nodded. While her smile might have been forced, his was gentle and understanding.

"Got it. Just enjoy the meal, Wu. Maybe if you play your cards right ill order dessert too." his smile widened more then. "Debbie makes a killer death by chocolate cake."

She nodded, and even managed a laugh at the comment on dessert, and when she took her first bite, her smile warmed and became genuine. "Mmmh, this is amazing," she said brightly, and managed to set aside her worries for the moment and just focus on the amazing food in front of her.

And good luck getting much conversation, because she'd worked up an appetite with all that sparring. There would be scarcely a scrap left when she was done demolishing it.

Duo was happy with the silence, honestly. Especially when it was silence borne of hunger. Wufei enjoying her food made him very happy and very glad he'd made the right choice, and that she'd trusted him enough to let him order for her.

He was quiet too, for the most part. He ate and after a while he decided to tell her a story. The Tale of the Ficus. It had been his attempt at cultivating life. He figured if he could keep a plant alive then maybe he could get a goldfish and work up to a dog or something? As it so happened he had a habit of killing off any plant he bought. To the point that even the garden center near his home had began calling him the God of Death, but for a whole other reason!

She only paused in eating to laugh at his story, shaking her head when he finished it. "Then you'll be pleased to know the two in my living room are plastic, though if I were in town often enough and actually had a house with a yard, I might try my hand at gardening," she mused. "Our colony used hydroponics for all of our food, so I received quite a bit of training in it," as her clan's leader, she and Wufei would've been responsible for managing or delegating management of every system on the colony, so while he'd been sent off to boarding school for training in politics and history and Confucianism, she had learned the systems and science required to keep the colony from falling out of the sky. At least until Dekim Barton gave the cue.

"You know," she said, scooping the last of the gravy from her dish. "There's a pretty good chance if any kind of engineering disaster takes place, we'll be dispatched to help handle it together. Keeping the peace is, apparently, more than just kicking bad guys in the throat. Or so Une keeps telling me."

"But kicking bad guys in the throat was the best part." Duo joked. Well not entirely. He wasn't usually like the others and had specialised in stealth and demolitions. Still he'd enjoyed the occasional throat punch when he'd had the chance.

"You think we would, huh? Wouldn't she send you and your partner? Unless you mean me as part of a team of fixer monkeys to order around?" he was teasing now, his smile playful.

She grinned wickedly. "Technically Heero's my partner, but I've heard that you have a very personal understanding of just why he's not trusted with that sort of mission. No telling what he'd salvage parts from. I, on the other hand, can be trusted not to destroy one system to get another working."

"..." Duo had forgotten. But that memory had him dropping his head into his hands and groaning. Because yes, now he did remember. And yes, he still held a grudge. He still held a grudge against Relena for picking Heero, the guy who was trying to kill her over him, the guy who was saving her! Who the hell did that? Ignored their saviour in favour of running to help their potential murderer? That way madness lay!

"That asshole cost me time and money fixing what he did. Bastard hurt my Deathscythe! Nope, no, no way can he be trusted!"

She laughed warmly, leaning back in her seat and settling an arm over her stomach. "Exactly. So she sends me, along with some of the fixer monkeys, to do whatever the colony engineers tell us. Assuming they didn't punch their ticket in the initial accident. When that happens, I usually take command."

She sighed happily, eyeing her empty plate. "I don't think I have room for that cake today. We'll just have to come back another time so I can try it."

It made sense when she put it like that. Honestly he would have thought Heero would have grown out of that habit being a Preventer and all and having all those resources at his disposal...

"Y'know, never did get an apology for that..." He mumbled, a gloomy expression on his face. One that changed quickly when Wufei spoke again. He was able to laugh then. "No way. We'll get it to go and have it later. Next time we'll be trying her carrot cake."

"Alright then," she replied with a chuckle. "And you should tell him you're still sore about it. He's gotten better at keeping friends these last few years, and apologizing has been a big part of that." She knew why now, too, but it wasn't her information to share, so she didn't.

"Just so long as you'll bring me back. That pie was too good."

Duo waved her off with a light laugh. "Nah, no use dredging up the past for an apology." Besides, were they even friends? He'd never really been close to Heero, even when he'd tried to be. There were only so many times a guy could get pushed back before he gave up.

"We'll come back." He promised with a warm smile. "Sooner rather than later, then I can avoid getting hit by Debbie again!" Maybe. She had a fondness for hugging him and then hitting him, or the other way around. She was an odd one, but he adored her regardless.

"Well, suit yourself. He's not who I believed he was, during the war," Wufei shrugged with an easy smile.

"Well, I should hope so. She keeps smacking sense into you, I might start having a problem with her," she teased warmly, and glanced across the room, to see if she might be able to catch Debbie's eye and convince her to come over. As much as she wasn't looking forward to the conversation they'd have when they got home, delaying the inevitable wasn't exactly her style.

"Because you know him better than me." Duo said gently. "We weren't close. It'd be kinda weird just rokcing up to the guy and demanding an apology for somethin that happened a lifetime ago." Even if it still irritated him. He doubted Heero had given it a second thought, even when he was doing it!

Duo was laughing at that, an easy, warm laugh. And Debbie? She'd been chatting with one of he regulars when she'd glanced over hearing laughter, only to see Wufei looking at her. She smiled big and bright, made her excuses and approached their table. "How'd you cuties like the meal?" What was the point in asking? They'd near licked the plates clean! She was overjoyed by it. "Can I get you anything else? How about some delicious red velvet cake?"

"You assume that sort of thing would bother him," she said with a chuckle. "But if you don't want to bring it up, I'll keep my nose out of it. If you ever want a wing-woman for making nice with him," she shrugged.

"Delightful," Wufei replied warmly. "But I heard something about a death by chocolate cake... do you think you could box one up to go for us? I'm all out of room at the moment but I don't want to miss trying it." She was a lot better with people than she'd been during the war, and it helped that Duo had her so relaxed.

"I'll think about it." He wasn't going to dismiss it out of hand, but he shut up once Debbie showed up and just grinned up at her.

"You've been talking about my cakes?" She looked at Duo with that same wide smile. Laughed when he nodded and was happy to agree to the request. "Then two slices of death by chocolate coming up. I'll bring them right over, sweetie." This time her smile was aimed at Wufei before she trotted off.

"You've made her day. She's real proud of those cakes. I remember when she first started making them. They were awful, but she never gave up. Kept practicing and now... Well you'll see just how good they are."

"Thank you," Wufei replied warmly, watching her go before turning her attention back to Duo. "Hard work often pays off. I hope I wake up hungry in the middle of the night. Nothing better than cake at two am. Which I suppose gives away that I still have nightmares sometimes, but it's gotten down to just once or twice a month and I don't thrash anymore."

"I think nightmares'll be with us for a while..." Duo replied carefully. He had his fair share too. And he had a feeling he had the share of others on top of that. Sometimes he went without sleep for days before finally crashing. It didn't happen nearly as often as it used to, but maybe that was a bad habit he should have mentioned...?

"But it's good they're not as often for you, Wu." He smiled then, wide and genuine. "Maybe you'll have even less now you've nothing to hide anymore?"

She nodded in agreement, letting out a long sigh. "One of my conditions of employment is regular therapy, and as much as I hate it, it has been helpful. But yes, I think it's likely I'll have fewer now." Tonight, though, she'd be surprised if she didn't wake up swallowing a scream.

She sighed heavily at the thought, and forced a smile. "Well. Probably going to have one tonight, but it's a price worth paying."

"Wu..." Duo tried, he was going to reach out, but before he could Debbie was back again. All smiles and happily delivering her cakes. They were nearly wrapped and placed in a paper bag for them to take home with them.

"Now you two don't be strangers, y'hear?" she wagged a finger at Duo in warning and then turned to Wufei. "I expect you to knock some more sense into the boy! Teach him that leaving his friends behind is bad." she pouted, but there was a teasing light in her eyes. "Now you two go on home and have a great rest of the night!" she winked, playful and laughingly walked away before Duo had the chance to splutter and tell her off.

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