{ 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

[pilot05]

Her toes might have curled in her shoes when he said it correctly, and it certainly drew a flush to her cheeks. "Exactly," she agreed warmly. It was true enough that his accent was heavy, but other than that it was flawless. "I'll have to teach you a few more phrases, you're picking it up quickly," she grinned.

[maxwellsdaemon]

He looked so damn happy he'd gotten it right that he had to say it again, laughing after. He'd get better with repetition after all.

"I'd really like that. If you'd teach me more." He couldn't stop grinning. There was just something exciting about learning something new, and even better when that new thing was something connected to Wufei. "You're a good teacher."

[pilot05]

She grinned in reply. "I'll teach you the fondest nicknames and the most vulgar insults," she promised with a giggle of her own. "And the subtle mispronunciations you can use to confuse Heero."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Oh hell yes, teach me all of that!" All of it. Everything. He laughed and tried imagining the look on Heero's face if he rocked up chatting in chinese to him. He ended up laughing to himself and giving Wufei a gentle hug. "Teach me everything. I'm a quick study." He wanted to make her proud.

[pilot05]

"All of it?" she laughed. "You want to learn the whole language?" she lifted her brows. "I know you don't do anything halfway, but you're throwing yourself into the deep end," she warned him, but she was laughing as she did.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Sure, why the hell not? Not like we don't have the time. Probably won't be fluent but I'm open to a challenge." He'd learn those fun little words and phrases as promised, but being able to actually converse in chinese might be good for him. Especially if they ever did visit china. And especially if they ever ended up meeting with the elders. He'd want to know what they were talking about.

[pilot05]

"Alright, then," she replied with an easy grin. "I'll teach you Mandarin," she promised. "And I'll start with the number five. Wu," because it was a funny little coincidence that the first half of her name happened to be the same number as her home cluster.

[maxwellsdaemon]

He raised a brow, he hadn't known that. Though it really was funny. "My name means two." He grinned. "Because Solo was one. I was a kid, it made sense at the time." But he'd remember that. Wu was five. Now he just needed to learn the rest of the numbers. And he was very happy to learn. All he had to do was try and be good and not just sit there listening to Wufei talking and actually concentrate.

[pilot05]

She frowned a little at that, casting her gaze towards the ceiling as she thought it all over. "Oh, that's weird," she decided. "We've all got a number association in our names that matches our cluster," and there was something about it that made her a little uneasy, though she wasn't quite sure why. "I know Trowa and Heero took their names right before coming to earth, but it still seems..." she didn't have a word for it.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Okay that's kinda weird..." Duo looked a little uncomfortable as well. There were coincidences and then there was whatever was happening now. But at the same home he could imagine it wss deliberate. Symbolism or some shit.

"Best not think about it. That way leads to conspiracy theories and madness."

[pilot05]

"Would anyone really be surprised if any of us went mad?" She asked lightly, giving her head a little shake. She knew they'd all had their fair share of brushes with insanity, especially under the sway of the zero system. "You want a conspiracy theory, just look into the Khushrenada family tree," she added dryly. "Practically all of Romefeller was part of that bastard's family. And yes, that includes Dorothy."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Think it was touch and go for all of us, some several times. It's a wonder we're so well adjusted and sane right now!" Duo couldn't help turning it into a bit of a joke in an attempt to keep things light. But Wufei had other intentions and Duo had to laugh. "That's because they're a bunch of inbred bastards."

[pilot05]

She hummed in agreement. "They do say being a child soldier is terrible for the mental health, but I do think my therapist would disagree about how well adjusted and sane I am," she snorted softly. "Of course, the poor soul only found out I'm a woman this week," right along with everyone else.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Seem pretty sane to me. Even hiding who you are was for a reason. A damn good reason. I think of it like witness protection." The therapist could go suck it. Considering the shit they'd all been through, the things they'd done, Duo was amazed any of them could even pretend to be productive members of society.

[pilot05]

She laughed softly, settling herself against him again, getting comfortable and letting out a soft hum. "Yes, but you've yet to deal with me when I've got a significant injury. She threatened me with five point restraints, then had to talk me down from the panic attack it gave me," she replied lightly. "At least you know where the landmines are buried."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"I think I can handle it." When she settled again, Duo wrapped his arms about her more securely. "Think I can handle you." They were all damaged in lots of different ways, but he was sure that together they could do a lot to help each other heal.

[pilot05]

"I think that's the least of our worries," she agreed. "And the things that we do have to worry about, we'll figure out as they come." There was so much certainty in having him there, even the things that terrified her once weren't quite so intimidating, knowing he'd be there to face it with her.

And for the rest of the flight, she was calm and relaxed, right up until the attendant came by, letting them know to get ready for landing. She pulled herself out of his lap and lowered into her own seat to buckle in. "I'm a lot less drunk than I expected to be," she said, flashing him a sheepish little grin. "Probably for the best," especially when dealing with Quatre.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo was very happy to keep Wufei in his lap for the rest of the flight. Even if one of his legs had fallen asleep, he wasn't going to complain. He did, however, almost dose off. He was just so comfortable and relaxed...

It was a disappointment when Wufei finally had to leave him. Reluctantly he let her go but gave a chuckled once she sat down. "Sorry, you can blame me for that. Maybe Quat'll be a bro and break out the fancy stuff?"

[pilot05]

"I think I will blame you," she teased. "Being all comfortable and easing my nerves so I didn't even think about going up to the bar," she grinned, and reached out to slide her hand into his without even thinking about it. "I'm sure he'll want to celebrate, we can ask him for something nice and strong." But she'd be surprised if she ended up drunk anyway.

Snuggling up with Duo was a much more pleasant way to relax and unwind. And it was something she could do now, just about whenever she wanted. "This trip is going to be much more enjoyable than I'd anticipated," she decided lightly.

[maxwellsdaemon]

His hand was taken and Duo easily linked his fingers through hers and grinned over at her. He didn't mind being blamed if it was for that reason. It made him very happy to know she'd been comfortable enough to ease her nerves.

"Hah, nice and strong it is. Might not even have to ask." He chuckled, softly rubbing the back of Wufei's hand as he turned his head to look out the window to his right. "And we're going down. Almost time for the fun to start."

[pilot05]

She hummed in agreement, crossing her legs at the ankle as she relaxed in her seat, settling into a position that let her see out the window with him, and watched as the ground got closer and closer, until they landed with a gentle little bump.

Then there were the arrival announcements about connecting flights and staying in your seat until the plane was parked, the local time and weather as they taxied to the terminal. She kept her hand in his the whole time, until they were cleared to get their things and leave, hopping out of her seat to hand him his bag and pull her own over her shoulder. "Well, here we go."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Everything went smoothly. Wufei's predictions had fallen through and Duo was glad for that. It was all well and good preparing for the worst case scenarios, but tempting fate was a risky business.

Once they were free to do so, Duo unbuckled himself and stood. Just in time to be handed his bag. He grinned, took it and waited for Wufei to get herself ready before he nodded. "Now or never." His smile widened and he followed the trickle of people down through the plane to the exit. It was only when he was out did he retrieve his phone to shoot off a quick text to Quatre to let him know they were there and make sure the car was waiting for them.

[pilot05]

The text that came back included a location pin, of exactly where the car was parked. Wufei had Duo's hand again, weaving through the airport to the exits which were, of course, near the chaos of baggage claim. Which was when she realized another perk to first class -- if you had no checked luggage, there was no wait and baggage claim wasn't crowded yet. So it was easy to lead him out into the hot desert air.

"Did he say where the car is?" she asked, because while there was a limo section, it happened to be host to dozens of near-identical black cars, most of them long enough to be Quatre's.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo didn't even realise Wufei had his hand. It was becoming so natural now that it just happened and that was okay. All he could really do was grin broadly and let Wufei drag his ass all the way through the airport until they were outside.

He blinked and lifted his hand with his phone up, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun. "Ah, too bright. What? Oh yeah, he did. Kind of." Hand lowered he looked at his phone and then the seat of cars, and then it was his turn to drag Wufei along as he navigated with his phone until he found the one with the pin. "This should be it. I hope. If not we're gonna piss someone off." He laughed and went to open the door, but not before knocking on the window, just to check.

[pilot05]

She was happy to let him lead, weaving through the cars behind him. It was a good distraction from her nerves rearing their ugly head again.

And then they were at a car, knocking, and opening the door. And there were Trowa and Quatre, both of them obviously in good moods, with Quatre beaming like the sun itself. "Did you have a good flight?" he asked brightly, and it was obvious on his face the second he clocked that Wufei looked a great deal less like Wufei than he had been expecting.