{ 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]

She'd always been good at reading body language, but she was still surprised at how quickly she was picking up on the more minute ways Duo spoke to her with it. She inclined her head slightly and offered a small smile. "Just one room will be plenty," she assured, thumb brushing over the back of Duo's hand.

"Alright then, this is you," Quatre came to a stop outside an ornate door, white with gold inlay, and pushed it open for them. Inside it was more browns and reds than the rest of the estate, and clearly had been selected with their comfort in mind. The door may have been ornate, but the interior of the room was more plain and functional. More comfortable for people unused to old European-style homes. "We'll send someone to fetch you for dinner, but there are maps of the house in the desk drawer. You've free reign of the estate, just don't tinker with anything in the garage," which he said while grinning at Duo.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo smiled back, much wider and gave a nod in understanding. She'd made her choice and Duo was more than happy with it. He had, after all, found it very comfortable sleeping beside her. And as they entered the room and Duo saw the interior, and the bed, he had to laugh. The bed was big enough for all four of them. The room itself was almost normal by comparison.

"No promises." Duo grinned back at Quatre.

"We can save that for later in the week." Trowa, arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe, gave a faint smile.

Duo flashed him a thumbs up before he tossed his bag onto the end of the bed and approached with an eye to launching himself onto it. "Guess we'll see you for dinner then!" And then... he flopped right across that plush bed with a happy groan.

[pilot05]

Wufei let out a long sigh, releasing Duo's hand to drag her own through her hair. "Thank you," she said, turning to bow to Trowa and Quatre. "I'll see you at dinner."

With a nod, Quatre turned to head back the way they'd come, glancing up at Trowa as he did. "What do you think about playing some croquet? I think I saw a set in the shed yesterday evening," and his voice faded as he turned the corner.

Wufei took her bag to the dresser, pulling open the first drawer and starting to unpack. "If you toss me your bag, I'll get everything in the dresser for you."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Trowa closed the door behind them, warmly agreeing with Quatres suggestion as they left the two to settle themselves in.

Duo had his arms stretched out to either side, his eyes closed and looked to be trying to relax into the soft mattress. He had to groan a second time when he sat himself up and aimed a smile Wufei's way. "Can't that wait till later?" He asked but he still got up and grabbed his bag to carry it over to help.

[pilot05]

"It can," she replied lightly, "but if we do it now we won't have to worry about it later." She pulled a long stretch of black fabric out of her bag and hung it up in the wardrobe next to the dresser. "Why are there no closets?" she wondered aloud as she hung it up, shaking her head a little. And then she hung a longer red dress next to it, with gold beads embroidered in a dragon pattern.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo chuckled and gave a shrug. "We can ask for another room..." He'd started pulling his things out to shove into drawers but trailed off and stopped what he was doing to watch Wufei.

It didn't take him long before he'd turned and moved in behind Wufei. He slipped his arms around her and dropped his chin onto her shoulder with a smile. "They're beautiful. You're gonna look amazing in them."

[pilot05]

She waved a hand dismissively as she was getting the red dress into the wardrobe. "It's just strange, is all. I suppose it would make moving easier, just leave your clothes in the box and wheel it off."

When his arms came around her, she smiled and leaned back into the embrace with a happy hum. "I'm a little nervous. I've never worn these kinds of dresses before," she admitted. "But I did feel very nice when I tried them on. Being able to look the way I'm meant to is such a relief," she sighed, lifting a hand to settle it on his head, fingers mingling with his braid.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"You'll look stunning." Duo smiled warmly and pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder as fingers delved into his hair.

"We'll have fun tonight and even more fun tomorrow. And no more hiding. You can be who you want to be now." He wondered at what point she'd take on her own name, or if she would officially take on Wufei's instead? It was completely her choice of course, as she found herself she'd work it out. Duo would support her every step of the way.

[pilot05]

She hummed happily, relaxing against him and actively fighting the urge to drift off then and there. "No more hiding," she agreed softly. She stood there for a moment longer before letting out a heavy sigh. "Okay. I'm going to finish, and then you can lull me off to sleep." She pulled away reluctantly, to finish shoving clothes into drawers with far less attention to making sure they were neat and organized than before.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo laughed lightly and let her go to do the same and put his things away. "I thought you'd never ask."

Sleep was the one thing on his mind. Sleep and food, but sleep was the one he needed most right then. Duo did have presence of mind to remember to leave his pyjamas out though and tossed them over onto the bed. Though he didn't know if he'd bother changing. He might kick off his shoes and sprawl out since it was only for a couple hours before dinner.

[pilot05]

She didn't bother changing, she tossed her pajamas into the drawer with everything else, tucked the now-empty bag in the bottom drawer. Then she yanked shoes and socks off, emptied her pockets onto the top of the dresser, and crawled up into the bed with a long, happy sigh. "This bed is way too soft to be healthy. I love it."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo kind of liked how they were on the same wavelength with a lot of things. Though instead of putting his pjs away, he tucked them under his pillow before pulling off his own shoes and socks and climbing onto the bed as well.

"Ive a crazy idea." Duo grinned and rolled to face her. "How bout we get Quatre to gift us a bed like this? Wedding gifts are a thing, right? Don't see why we can't have those gifts be things we can use for our home."

[pilot05]

She hummed happily. "In China the gifts are usually money, but I like the way you think. It's extravagant enough that he'll feel like he's giving us an adequate gift, and I may never have insomnia again," she flashed him a sleepy grin as she shifted onto her side, nuzzling the pillow under her head.

"Pillows, too," she muttered. "Maybe just the name of the person who shops for him, I didn't know beds could feel like this."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"So from the Chinese side we get money. From everyone else they can give us stuff for home. Works out great." Duo had already closed his eyes but opened them a crack at that sleepy voice.

"Most of his beds are like this. Lucky bastard. We'll steal one when we leave... Or at least pillows." Maybe he could get Wufei to shove a few up her dress and pretend that in the week they'd been there she'd gotten heavily pregnant and oh look at that, time to go home! It could work. Maybe. So long as Quatre wasn't one of those people who liked to touch baby bumps.

[pilot05]

She laughed warmly. "That sounds like a perfect plan. We'll have to tell them the date of the wedding, and they might send a few cousins to help with some of the traditions, but I think that's well worth it." She didn't have anything against her extended family -- just the elders, because they wanted to meddle in her life. The rest of her family were mostly just strangers to her.

A hand came up to cover her mouth as she yawned. "Sleep," she decided, and nuzzled her pillow again. "Sleep and come up with a stealthy way to sneak this bed onto a plane," she teased, eyes already drooping.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Leave it to me. I'll find a way..." Though probably not. Not even be had those kinds of skills. But those were thoughts for a future Duo to work out. Right now he wanted sleep. So he shuffled a little closer to Wufei, shoved an arm under the pillow and settled himself down to fall quickly asleep.

[pilot05]

She hummed in agreement, and drifted off alongside him.

And for a while, everything was fine. Until she rolled over in her sleep, and pinned one of her arms beneath her. Her breathing picked up, and her legs started twitching as she slept, until a few moments later she let out a quiet whimper.

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo was usually a light sleeper. But he'd let his guard down and slept deeper than he normally would. The sound of Wufei's distress was enough to filter through to rouse him. He blinked his eyes open, not sure just what it was that had woken him.

Until he heard Wufei's whimper and realised she'd kicked him in her sleep.

"Wufei?" Duo called out to her. He called again, but in the end knew he would have to reach out. So he did, a gentle hand to her shoulder to shake her awake. "Wufei, it's a dream. Wake up. C'mon, Wu. Come back to me."

[pilot05]

She'd squirmed a little after he said her name, grimacing as she turned her face aside. The hand on her shoulder was enough to wake her, and have her recoiling from him as she gasped in a breath and swallowed a scream, rolling up onto her arms and knees -- and thank got the bed was so big, or she would've dumped herself onto the floor.

It took a minute, a few deep breaths, before the shaking subsided enough for her to widen her focus enough to shoot Duo an apologetic glance. "Did I hurt you?" Her voice was rough, almost like she really had screamed.

[maxwellsdaemon]

"No..." Not physically, but his heart ached seeing her like this. He was afraid to move though, just in case. So quietly he opened his arms and waited.

[pilot05]

She relaxed when he replied, lowered to sit on her heels and take a few calming breaths, make sure the nightmare was fully banished before she went to him. Sank into his arms and pressed her face into his neck with another sigh. "I'm okay," she said softly. "Just haven't had a nightmare that vivid in a while."

[maxwellsdaemon]

He waited for her to be ready, aching to go to her but knowing that he couldn't. Not until she was ready. But as soon as she fell into his arms he wrapped her up and held onto her tight. One hand raised to cup the back of her head, stroking her hair slowly.

"What... What set you off?" he asked quietly. Afraid it was something he had said or done. If it was, at least he hoped it was something he could apologise for.

[pilot05]

"Not sure," she admitted softly. "Some of it is talking about it for the first time, I'm sure. I must've pinned one of my arms beneath me, that's..." she cleared her throat. "That's the fastest way to give me a panic attack. Pin me on my back with my arms under me," she hadn't warned him about it yet because the odds of ending up like that even by accident were pretty slim.

Apparently less so when she was asleep.

[maxwellsdaemon]

To go from worry and fear to a cold, burning fury was something of a shock. He didn't have to ask why something like that would trigger a panic attack. Duo could imagine. And he hated it.

His arms tightened and he dropped them back down onto the bed, just holding her cradled to his chest.

"That will never happen again. Ever." He breathed. If he had to he'd have her sleep atop him for the rest of their lives. That way she could never ever end up on her back and pinned.

[pilot05]

She moved with him, relaxing as she settled atop his chest and closed her eyes again. "I know," she replied softly. The only place Treize could get to her was in her nightmares.

But here? In Duo's arms? Her heart rate was almost back to normal already. "Guess I should've insisted on cuddling," but they'd both been so tired, she didn't want to ask anything more of him, and she hadn't even thought about the possibility of nightmares, it had been so long since she'd had one that bad.