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

Duo just shrugged. "Une will just have to get used to hearing the word no." and he had no problems on throwing it at her as often as he needed to. If she accepted his terms. And if she didnt... If it became apparent that she was going to try and get more out of him than he was willing to give, he'd go elsewhere.

"I've options." Duo smiled and scooted his own chair closer to the table. "It'll work out. But why were you surprised, Quat?"

"Well, not to be indelicate, but... Une's the director," Quatre replied with a little shrug. "I didn't think any of us would be willing to work with a member of Oz so quickly after the war."

There was a subtle uptick in tension in Wufei's shoulders, but she smiled through it. "I suppose that makes sense," she said softly, "but the truth is she protected me from something truly awful when Oz had me prisoner." And she let them draw their own conclusions about what. It was well known enough that she'd been shot after saving Wufei and Duo on the lunar base, and if they chose to think it was death Une had saved Wufei from, that was fine by her.

"She has her reasons. Heero has his. I'm personally not a fan... But if she stays in her lane I can't complain." Duo...wasnt about to explain why Wufei was on friendly terms with Une, it wasn't his place and he didn't think it was anyone else's business.

However... "If she was still crazy Heero would've killed her by now, right?" Duo grinned over at Quatre and gestured toward him with a piece of kebab. "Pretty sure you'd have had your people fall all over the Preventers HQ if you figured for a second there was somethin up. So it's gotta be safe, right?"

Quatre chuckled softly. "There's a reason I got myself on the oversight committee," he agreed with a little nod. "And I don't know that Heero'd kill her, but he'd certainly make sure she wasn't able to cause any more harm."

"I'm not entirely sure Heero knows what his own reasons are, sometimes," Wufei mused, and bit a chunk of lamb off her kebab with a happy hum. It really was good. "But I do think Une is invested in maintaining the peace, or I wouldn't have stuck around long-term."

"And I trust her." Duo jerked a thumb over toward Wufei with a grin. If she said Une was fine he'd believe her. It didn't mean he'd trust Une himself, but he trusted Wufei enough not to rock the boat or make trouble for either of them.

He happily dug into his food then. Praising Rashid and his bbq skills and once again begging for the secrets he possessed. And again being told never in this lifetime. Duo just laughed. He'd keep asking until he was old and grey. One day he'd give him his answers.

The conversation turned towards the food then, when the dips and salad were brought out. She tried to help Duo wrangle the recipe out of Rashid, but didn't have any more luck, even if it did leave her laughing.

By the time they were finished, the evening air had cooled considerably, and Quatre leaned back in his chair with a happy sigh. "What do you think, up to taking a walk out to the night markets? They always seem so magical to me."

"Only if you roll me that way." Duo groaned and patted his stomach. Moving was the last thing on his mind but if the others went he would go too. He'd just waddle his way around and try and burn off some of the calories.

"The night Market is beautiful." Trowa agreed, and be aimed this at Wufei. "I think you'd enjoy it. Amazing foods, desserts and clothes to buy."

"Only if you managed to sneak roller skates into your bag," Wufei teased lightly, and hummed softly when Trowa mentioned desserts. "I am a sucker for sweet things," and she cast a glance at Duo, just a little big smug.

Quatre laughed. "I don't think the vendors would be too happy with the amount of chaos that would cause."

Duo pretended he didn't see the smile nor hear the words and huffed and looked away. He soon started laughing though.

"Fine fine no rolling. I'm here to have fun not cause chaos. So I'm game. Let's go check out this market."

"Didng have to twist your arm much, hm?" Trowa drawled with a chuckle.

"I've been hiding a sweet tooth, and he finds it very amusing," Wufei giggled a little. "Or maybe it's the idea of helping me pick out some new dresses, hmm? Which is it?" she asked, turning to Duo with a little grin.

Quatre smiled that knowing smile of his, watching them both. "I really am happy for you two."

"Little from column A and a little from column B." Duo grinned back. He did find it amusing and he did like the idea of helping Wufei pick out a dress or two. Either way he knew it was going to be an interesting evening.

He looked back to Quatre then and grinned all the wider. "Reminds me. Before we go, we need to have a chat. If you guys can spare us for a few minutes?" Duo asked, already standing up.

"We'll still be here." Trowa was more than used to this and waved them off with a faint smile.

Wufei giggled again, and nodded in agreement when Duo asked for a bit of privacy, instead turning her attention to Trowa and asking after his circus folk.

"Of course," Quatre agreed, getting to his feet and leading Duo inside, to a sitting room near the garden. It was close enough that they'd be easy to find, but not so close as to be easily overheard. "I've copies of all those tabloids in my office, but I can't imagine she wouldn't have expected something like that to happen. Her being a woman does explain a few of the stranger headlines, though."

Duo kept on smiling all the way to that sitting room. Once there he lost the smile and took himself over to sit down in one of the chairs with a sigh.

"Probably not. Tell me the worst, Quat? What're they saying? Anything we can dispute?" None of this was supposed to cause more stress for Wufei. It was supposed to have minimised it. So if there was anything he could actually do to stop any of this he would.

Quatre lifted both brows, leaning against his desk and folding his arms over his chest. "I'm sure there is, but without Wufei's input it's hard to tell. They're calling her an Empress in some of them, they're trying to dig into your past -- don't be surprised if we have to dodge some paparazzi while you're here."

He paused, sizing Duo up again for a long moment. "You do know she'll find out eventually, right? Chinese social media is filled with it, and even if she's not on the networks, we both know Sally is."

"Yeah, those Elders of hers called her an Empress too." He quirked an odd little smile Quatres way. "Feel like I'm in one of those bodice ripper romance books. Royalty slumming it with the stable hand or somethin." He couldn't help laughing but Quatre's next words caused him to sigh and nod. He'd expected them to go digging into his own life. They'd have a time of it. He wasn't a stupid guy. His history was out there but there was also enough false information to muddy the waters. A failsafe he'd put into place years ago.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna keep it from her forever. Tomorrow we can let her know. She deserves at least one day and night being happy and carefree around you guys."

Quatre hummed, nodding along with a serious expression. "Yes, I can see that. It's not like you're a war hero or anything. Just an entirely average space rat with entirely too much hair. You know, if you put some mousse in it, rip your shirt open and convince her to swoon, it'd be a perfect cover shot." He cracked a grin, and nodded when Duo promised to tell her the next day.

Then he lowered his arms, leaning back against the desk and doing his very best 'innocent little brother' act. "So how did you tell her?"

Duo snorted a laugh. Yeah he could see it himself and that made it worse somehow.

"How did I tell her what?" Duo asked, matching that 'innocent' act with one of his own. Quatre was better at it. He just naturally had that look about him.

"Oh, you know," it was a struggle, a real struggle not to roll his eyes right then. "The fact that you're completely head over heels for her. Smitten. Uselessly, disgustingly, undeniably in love. I'm getting cooties, all the way over here."

The innocence was gone and in its place was a sad sort of smile. Duo just shook his head, sighed and leaned back to look up at the ceiling.

"I've not said it. Not in so many words... Think I might've let on I'd liked her even back during the war. But she doesn't live me, Quat. She likes me well enough, but she's told me herself that she doesn't feel the same way for me I feel for her. And it's fine." His eyes fell closed. "It's not gonna stop me from doing this. Even if feelings weren't involved, knowing how long she'd been hiding, what she'd have to do to get those old guys off her back, I kinda have to do this."

Now Duo looked over at Quatre, his expression determined. "You've seen how happy she is now just being her. So we don't tell her, yeah? This is one thing she doesn't need to know. She doesn't need to know I've loved her from the start. She doesn't need to know how much. I'm happy just like this." just being beside her, watching her joy, watching her finally able to spread her wings, was good enough for Duo.

Both his brows went up, but he listened patiently until Duo was done, a little smile playing at his lips. "I can feel how happy she is. It's like sitting next to a sun, and it's even brighter when she looks at you," he replied with a warm chuckle. "It's not my business to tell her what you feel, but Duo... don't assume she thinks of you the same way you think of yourself."

He pushed off the desk, coming over to give one of Duo's feet a kick. "If you start doing something stupid, don't think I'm above flying out there and kicking your butt."

Duo just scowled and lightly kicked back at Quatre's foot.

"Quat. She told me. I'm not assuming. I'm not being an idiot here. If she actually loved me back..." Duo didn't know. He'd be happy. Happier than he ever knew he could be. He smiled softly. "Believe me. I'm not gonna do anything stupid."

"Yes, because she hasn't been repressing herself for years. I'm sure she's very in touch with her emotions," Quatre replied dryly, giving his head a little shake and smiling at Duo. "At any rate, I'm glad you're both happy. I'll bring out the tabloids tomorrow and we can find out how she wants to approach it. Shall we head back?"

Duo didn't argue. How could he. On one hand Quatre was right. But on the other... "I'm not gonna assume. She'll tell me how she feels. If it changes one day, I'll be the happiest guy alive. If not... I can do my best to keep her happy."

He pushed himself to his feet then and smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Quat. Just give us tonight and we can deal with the reporters tomorrow." He threw an arm around Quatre's shoulders. "But tell me. Seriously. Are we crazy for doing this?" he'd like at least one person on his side here.

Quatre hummed as he nodded in agreement. "Can't argue with that," he conceded, sliding his arm around Duo's waist when the arm landed on his shoulders. "Oh, you're absolutely crazy, but I think it's the kind of crazy that makes everyone scratch their heads when it works out perfectly. So, exactly your brand," he grinned.

In the garden, Wufei had been supplied with something fruity in a tall glass with a little umbrella and chunk of pineapple hanging off the rim. She was just taking a first sip, humming in approval as the alcohol hit her tongue. "That was one thing I never understood. Why does the stuff that taste good have to be considered girly? Do you know how fast I could get drunk on this?"

"Good. Just so long as it's the right kinda crazy." Duo nodded, completely serious. If it was on brand for him then it was fine, it made sense. He just didn't want his friends thinking ill of him. Or of them. It could easily be seen as someone being taken advantage of and that just wasn't the case. Or jumping in to something too soon that they would regret. But Duo knew he wasn't going to regret this.

Together he and Quatre left the room and headed back out to the garden in time to catch what Wufei said. Duo had to laugh.

"Because girls are sweet and men are bitter. Or something." With a light pat of Quatre's shoulder, he broke away and returned to his seat beside Wufei. "I never did buy into gendered drinks. Like what you like. I've known women who can drink guys under the table and this one buff Sweeper who loves a cosmopolitan." Duo grinned. "The day someone calls him out on it is a day I wanna be there to see."

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