airbelgiumexpress

[tiniestbee]

Drabble/Fic idea based on The Apparition by Sleep Token I will probably never write in the tags 😋👍🏼

[chromatic-lamina]

FAVOURITE FANFIC TROPES TAG GAME

From @chopperisagoat  I’m procrastinating, as per usual and I’m not gonna play nice. Haha. You can fid a good copy here if you want to play for yourself.

1. Slow burn or love at first sight 

Neither? Guess I just like seeing it unfold, but probably slow burn more than love at first sight.

2. Fake dating or secret dating: But the angst better be high.

3. Enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers: Dunno. I really like established relationships :-)

4. There’s only one bed or long distance correspondence

5. Hurt/comfort or amnesia 

6. Fantasy au or royalty au: Neither. Maybe a modern day au

7. Mutual pining or domestic bliss (with y’know, shades of pining and angst and whatever thrown in)

8. Smut or fluff:  Both.

9. Canon compliant or canon divergence

10. Reincarnation or Major Character Death

11. One shot or multi chapter: Both

12. Kid fic or pregnancy fic (Neither are my fave, but probably kid fic first. I’ll read either).

13. Arranged marriage or accidental marriage Unless they’re really well-written

14. High school romances or aged-up romances: Both, depending on the writer.

15. Time travel or isolated together

16. Neighbours or roommates: Both are fine.

17. Sci-fi au or magic au: Neither really, but maybe lean more towards magic.

18. Angst or crack: Both

19. Apocalyptic or mundane: but I like apocalyptic if it’s well done.

20. Linear storyline or nonlinear storyline: Both. Depends on the writer’s skill.

21. Holiday fic or birthday fic

22. Love triangle or miscommunication Neither. Hate both. Haha

If anyone wants to do it, go for it.

[maldito-arbol]

Tag Game

Thanks @theymustnotknow for tagging me in this, I do love me some fanfic tropes

Rules: bold which trope you prefer (or, in some cases, maybe just hate the least!) out of each of the following pairs:

slow burn or love at first sight (It’s not love at first sight, it’s horny at first sight and you know it)

fake dating or secret dating (both are valid)

enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers (im a sucker for people who just really like each other okay)

oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence (does anyone actually write long distance stuff? I’ve literally never seen it before)

hurt/comfort or amnesia

fantasy AU or modern AU

mutual pining or domestic bliss

smut or fluff

canon-compliant or fix-it (by ‘fix it’ I usually mean ‘make it more gay’)

reincarnation or character death (yes hurt me please)

one-shot or multi-chapter (definitely love both)

kid fic or road trip fic

arranged marriage or accidental marriage (neither?? Idk)

high school romance or middle-aged romance (both are valid)

time travel or isolated together

neighbors or roommates (and they were roommates...)

sci-fi AU or magic AU

body swap or genderbend (screw genderbends, just make them trans you cowards)

angst or crack (my writing friends know I like to read and write angst and only angst)

apocalyptic or mundane (we gotta amp up that angst y’know)

Tags: hm. I guess @vidaflxwer @joy-in-gold-shadows @bluelric @cookie-eat-me @spaceoceania @scooby-dooby-draw @littleshitte

Have any of y’all done this one before? If so feel free to ignore this lmao. And if you weren’t tagged and still want to do this then feel free to.

[mariana-oconnor]

@nightwideopen tagged me. Thank you! Although just a quick glance tells me I am going to be super frustrating about this. I added commentary, because apparently I am in that kind of mood and I am procrastinating the Angel!fic which is feeling a bit blah right now.

1. Slowburn or Love at First Sight (BOTH WHY NOT BOTH. First the love at first sight, but the MISUNDERSTANDINGS that lead to 100K of slowburn.)

2. Fake Dating or Secretly Dating (But imagine BOTH AT ONCE, So they’re secretly dating, but then something comes up and they have to fake date, but without letting the people who know they’re fake dating that they’re really dating. THE LAYERS, the HILARITY)

3. Enemies to Lovers or Best Friends to Lovers (I love me some hate!sex people - also would like to mention that with Identity Porn, this too can be BOTH AT ONCE)

4. “Oh no, there’s only one bed” or Long-DIstance Correspondence (I have a weakness for letter!fic or wrong number fic. It can be so well done! *ahem* also when they finally meet, what’s that? there’s only one bed? Such a shame.)

5. Hurt/Comfort or Amnesia (Can it be a guilty pleasure if I have zero guilt over it? I know amnesia doesn’t work that way but it’s Fiction dammit! Again, this could be both at once... just saying)

6. Fantasy AU or Modern AU (I have made no secret of my love of dragons. In fact I am literally writing a fic where Clint and Bucky are both dragonriders Right Now. It’s currently over 20k, not including the chapter I have in a notebook. Also I have an Angel fic and a Selkie fic on the go... but they are both also Modern AUs... so... y’know... you can have both.)

7. Mutual Pining or Domestic Bliss (Not sure I need to comment on this one, except to say that if you’re doing a best friends to lovers they could live together in domestic bliss and still be pining for each other... just saying...)

8. Smut or Fluff (Depends on my mood. I mean I sometimes want to read some seriously fucked up smut, but mostly I’m all about the fluff... but yet again, you can have the best of both worlds, people. The binary nature of this meme is very limiting.)

9. Canon-Compliant/Missing Scenes or Fix-It (I am terrible at writing canon-compliant fic, although I do enjoy reading it. I think I enjoy fix-it fic, more though)

10. Alternate Universe or Future Fic (AU all the way, my dudes, it’s practically all I write.)

11. One-Shot or Multichapter (I mean, I read them all as oneshots anyway unless they’re unfinished, because I have AO3 set to ‘full fic’... I don’t know. A one-shot can be 80k, y’know... but I do tend to go for long fic. And write long fic, but then there are some glorious short fics out there)

12. Kid Fic or Roadtrip Fic (Honestly I’m not much into either of these, but I do like Roadtrip fic occasionally... depends on my mood. But I also like kidfic occasionally.)

13. Reincarnation or Character Death (Never character death. Never. Screw that. I only go into fics that say Major Character Death when I haven’t read the warnings. Nobody dies on my watch.

14. Arranged Marriage or Accidental Marriage (What’s there not to love about two idiots forced into close proximity convinced they’re going to hate it, but unwillingly falling in love with their spouse only to have ANGST that their spouse doesn’t love them back because it was an arranged marriage? Nothing. That’s what. Not to diss Accidental Marriage, that is also good... but there’s a societal tension in Arranged marriage, idk. I just like it)

15. High School Romance or Middle-Aged Romance (I tend to avoid high school fics. Maybe it’s because I’m too old to really relate now, and honestly, I didn’t really relate when I was in secondary school either.)

16. Time Travel or Isolated Together (Time travel is my number one, would kill for, bulletproof kinks.* I love the shenanigans. I love the weirdness. I love the handwavy science, also, two people stuck travelling through time together? Both at once you say? Well... maybe.)

17. Neighbours or Roommates (Tough one. They are both good. There’s more UST to roommates, but neighbours can be a lot of fun)

18. Sci-Fi or Magic AU (give me magic, give me magic, give me magic, give me magic)

19. Bodyswap or Genderbend (I should get back to that fic... I really should)

20. Angst or Crack (I want a happy ending, so sue me.)

21. Apocalyptic or Mundane (I chose this mostly because everything I write ends up having massive stakes. I cannot write mundane. But still Apocalyptic with a happy ending, okay?)

Tagging... uh... uhm... I hate this bit. You? Do you want to do it? Then do it. I command thee.

*No, not that time travel, we do not talk about that time travel. You know what I’m talking about it.

[skye-maxwell]

Tagged by @treya-barton who will now be forced to read my ridiculous answers congrats

Rules: Copy/paste and bold your fic preferences and tag some more people!

———————-

Slow burn or love at first sight?

In general, I like for things to burn. 🔥🔥🔥 Slow burn > fast burn because more suffering. I don’t really believe in love at first sight. 

Fake dating or secretly dating?

I guess I’m not hugely into either, but if they have a good reason for temporarily keeping it a secret, sure. The fun part is when they get found out and the one friend yells, “I KNEW IT!!!” 

Enemies to lovers or friends to lovers?

Under certain circumstances I can go for enemies to friends to lovers, but straight from enemies to lovers seems like probably not a great life choice, lol. Friends to lovers is my jam. 

“Oh no there’s only one bed” or long distance correspondence?

I like when they can smooch. If there’s only one bed, they are close together, and they can smooch. If they are corresponding long distance, they are far apart, and they cannot smooch.

Hurt/comfort or amnesia?

Gimme dat sweet, sweet hurt/comf. I will very rarely write/read hurt without comfort, and I usually prefer the hurt to not be too... hurtful. I go to fic to escape that stuff, y’know? I’ll occasionally daydream about an amnesia situation (where they end up falling back in love ofc), but it’s hard to do well. 

Fantasy au or modern au?

I didn’t really read AUs until relatively recently when my friends wrote some dope ones, and I was like, “Yooo, these are dope.” I generally am into more modern stuff than fantasy. 

Mutual pining or domestic bliss?

DOMESTIC FLUFF GIMME. I like mutual pining too tho. Especially if it becomes a mutual relationship. And then they move in together. And then they have domestic fluff. 

Smut or fluff?

Fluff. Fluff is my world. Fluff is my zone. I’ll read quality smut tho. And quality smut typically has fluff. Because they love each other. 

Canon complement/missing scenes or fix it?

My favorite type of fix-it is “canon wasn’t gay enough.”

Alternate universe or future fic?

I like when you can see a ship years after canon, still happily together and still smoochin’. 

One-shot or multi-chapter?

I write a lot of one-shots. I can’t be trusted with multi-chapters.

Kid fic or road trip fic?

Kids are gross. Except Nanako. But she’s basically a cute, tiny adult. 

Reincarnation or characters death?

I can’t recall ever having read a reincarnation fic? So sure, let’s kill some people.

Arranged marriage or accidental marriage?

How do you accidentally get married? XD Is that like when you wake up with a ring wondering what happened last night? Guess I’ll go with arranged. But they end up actually loving each other. And then they smooch. 

Neighbors or roommates?

Closer proximity. Better for smooching. 

High school romance or middle-aged romance?

Well I mostly write/read Persona fics set during or shortly after canon, and they’re high-schoolers, so...

Time travel or isolated together?

Isolated together, so they have nothing to do except smooch.

Sci-fi or magic au?

Did someone say Hogwarts AU because I am never not for that

Body swap or genderbend?

Freaky Friday, classic

Angst or crack?

Light angst that resolves itself in smooching, please. 

Apocalyptic or Mundane?

I just want them to have a regular ole, mundane, routine smooch session. 

And now to tag some other players:

@updownleftgone

[belphegor1982]

Fic meme

I got tagged by @flo-nelja! Merci :o)

Slowburn or Love at First Sight

Fake Dating or Secretly Dating (I’m currently writing both, and it’s REALLY hard to choose...)

Enemies to Lovers or Best Friends to Lovers (same, REALLY HARD choice)

“Oh no, there’s Only One Bed” or Long Distance Correspondence

Hurt/Comfort or Amnesia

Fantasy AU or Modern AU

Mutual Pining or Domestic Bliss (look, I’m a big sap, okay)

Smut or Fluff (both? both is good)

Canon-Compliant/Missing Scenes or Fix-It (*whines in French* maaaiiiieeeuuuuuuhh c’est duuuuur)

Alternate Universe or Future Fic

One Shot or Multi-chapter

Kid Fic or Road trip Fic

Reincarnation or Character Death (how about “character dies and comes back realising they’re the reincarnation of someone else and shares memories and skills”? :3 sorry, carrying on)

Arranged Marriage or Accidental Marriage (ehhh, I like neither. Literally couldn’t choose.)

High School Romance or Middle-Aged Romance (give me ALL your awkward, set-in-their-ways, “morning cuddles YES but I have to stretch before otherwise my body is gonna be a mess of kinks and not the fun kind” middle-aged lovers.)

Time Travel or Isolated Together (gaaahh... both)

Neighbours or Roommates

Sci Fi AU or Magic AU

Body swap or Gender change

Angst or Crack

Apocalyptic or Mundane

Tagging @thisstableground, @thatsoneginger, @dawntreaderflynne, @chonaku-things, @toooldforthisbutstill, @rose-of-pollux and @radarsteddybear! (y’know, if you want to!)

[jagaimochi]

FIC PREFERENCES:

Rules: Copy/paste and bold your fic preferences.

Tagged by @wanyinchen - I’M SO HAPPY TO BE TAGGED BY THE PERSON WITH THE BEST TAGS. The Best. Your answers also made me laugh because, unsurprisingly, I agreed with a lot of them *snicker*

Slow burn or love at first sight: Tiiiiny preference for slow burn. I also like love at first sight (especially the sort of love at first sight that leads to pining...years and years of pining), but when I think about it, it’s the love at first sight that leads to the slow burn that really gets me so I gotta go with the BURN. 

Fake dating or secret dating: I read a lot of fake dating but my brain is always making up stories (that I inevitably never write down) with secret dating, so it’s a toss up for me! I completely agree with wanyinchen though - MUST HAVE A HAPPY ENDING. Must. 

Enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers: For Xicheng, I literally cannot imagine enemies to lovers unless it’s a crack or a gangster AU...buuuuut, I would still totally read and love either one of those settings haha. 

Oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence: YAAAS, those fics with the long ass correspondence - I mean, I frequently think about the letters Xicheng would exchange. There’s something so beautiful about letters (and longing hnnngh). But I agree that both one-bed and long-dist are goooooood.

Hurt/comfort or amnesia: Yeah again I completely agree with wanyinchen on this. Mmmmmmm hurt/comfort and most of all: THE HAPPY ENDING.

Fantasy AU or modern AU: I like both!! It’s just that I don’t know that much about the fantasy genre (does xianxia count as fantasy already? I hope I haven’t offended anyone by asking that...). Recently, all my imaginings have been modern CEO AU soooooo, I have to go with that one for now ^^;

Mutual pining or domestic bliss: To quote wanyinchen: “BESH, I wanT THAT MUTUAL PININGG!! ITS MY FOOD. aMBROSIA iF YOu WILL” FEED MY SOUL WITH THAT MUTUAL PINING HHNNNGGGH

Smut or fluff: I love both… but yes, fluff is the elixir of life.

Canon-compliant/missing scenes or fix-it: JC/LXC both need a break after their canon stories <3 ;-;

Alternate universe or future fic: THIS FANDOM BE BLESSED WITH AMAZING AUs!!!

One-shot or multichapter: SAME with wanyinchen!! This fandom’s multichapters are really something else (shout out to UOSB), though the one-shots are also amazing and actually allow me to get some sleep instead of binging that 100k fic, which is a bonus for y’know, carrying on with ‘real’ life (sob).

Kid fic or road trip fic: Yes yes yes

Reincarnation or character death: I actually can barely handle reincarnation or character death - my soul is a shrivelled being that canNOT take any pain without a good dose of fluff or at the very minimum a happy ending. Reincarnation provides just the minimum amount of soothing balm for me - but I still spend ages thinking about how that character died in their past life...I am so fragile lol.

Arranged marriage or accidental marriage: ahahahaha both both both but yes happy ending puh-lease! 

High school romance or middle aged romance: I LVOE BOTH buuuut slightly more middle aged romance because dude I am getting there~ (also JC is the ultimate uncle and middle age SUITS him)

Time travel or isolated together: AGAIN, AS ABOVE, I WOULD READ BOTH (and everything in between because I am a major consumer)!! I think it’s important for the characters to spend time together and get to know each other and the potential for soft moments and awkwardness is just my jam <:3

Neighbors or roommates: Hahahahaha, so much potential.

Sci fi AU or magic AU: Ahhhh both really! ALL AUs!!

Body swap or gender-bend: Oooo, actually probably neither of these are my go-to, but if I had to choose it’d be body swap.

Angst or crack: BOTH! 100% BOTH! I love angst (and again, happy ending is a must) but crack taken seriously is also so freeing and makes my heart feel all light and funky. When a fic has both angst and crack, I mean...that is the holy grail (see: Talent Hunt Crew Finds Angry Guy) 

Apocalyptic or mundane: give me all the coffee shop AUs.

I DON’T KNOW WHO TO TAG but if you’re seeing this and you’d like to do it, please do!! This was so much fun and it made me realise I could write a whole fic rec post with my favourite Xicheng fics.... ahh. Speaking of which, @wanyinchen I think about your kid!JC and kid!LWJ AU a lot hahahahaha. Thanks again for tagging me!! I’m not good at making friends on here so thank you thank you :D:D 

[hunny-k]

I DIDN’T SEE THIS UNTIL JUST NOW OOPS

tagged by @fvriva love u binch

Rules: Copy/paste and bold your fic preferences and tag some more people!

1. Slowburn or Love at First Sight

2. Fake Dating or Secretly Dating

3. Enemies to Lovers or Friend to Lovers

4. “Oh no there’s only one bed” or Long Distance Correspondence

5. Hurt/Comfort or Amnesia (and yet both are wonderful)

6. Fantasy AU or Modern AU (if it’s done well y’know)

7. Mutual Pinning or Domestic Bliss (but let them figure it out...pls)

8. Smut or Fluff

9. Canon Compliment/Missing Scene or Fix It (I say this because of FFXV ngl)

10. Alternate Universe or Future Fic

11. One-shot or Multi-Chapter 

12. Kid Fic or Road Trip Fic (road!! trip!!! they are for discovery)

13. Reincarnation or Character Death

14. Arranged Marriage or Accidental Marriage

15. Neighbours or Roommates

16. High School Romance or Middle Aged Romance (it depends on...who)

17. Time Travel or Isolated Together

18. Sci-Fi or Magic AU 

19. Body Swap or Genderbend

20. Angst or Crack

21. Apocalyptic or Mundane

I’m gonna tag uhhh @celestialcherryblossoms and @freckled-dysaniac (y’all don’t have to if you don’t want lmao)

Thanks for tagging me, now I wanna read fanfics

[cee-grice]

This trope or that: embolden your fic/fanfic preferences.

Tagged by @linneaeliam​ @milkyway-writes and @phantom-stargazer! I’ve never done this one, should be fun:D

Slow burn OR love at first sight: A definite answer. I almost never buy love at first sight, and slow burn is my absolute jam, my bread and butter.

Fake dating OR secret dating: Aaah close call, but I’ll go with fake dating, just because it’s so predictable and it’s so lovely in how predictable it is and I love it.

Enemies to lovers OR best friends to lovers: Even though I do love my friends to lovers, I absolute adore enemies to lovers, just because of the drama! The spiciness! The absolute chaos!

Oh no there’s only one bed OR long-distance with correspondence: A classic. And I do love my cliched classics.

Hurt/comfort OR amnesia: Super close one! I love them both, but the additional angst that comes with amnesia took the extra point:’)

Fantasy au OR modern au: I adore both these AUs, but since what I read/watch is already fantasy most of the time, it wouldn’t make sense for an additional AU, now would it?:D

Mutual pining OR domestic bliss: One of my absolutely favorite tropes ever. Especially if both of them are the most oblivious people on the planet. yes. pls.

Smut OR fluff: I gotta be in a very specific mood to read smut, and I’m always in the mood for some fluff:D

Canon compliant with missing scene OR fix-it fic: Usually, if I gotta choose between these two, canon is probably bad enough for me to want a fix-it fic:’))

Alternate universe OR future fic: Again, another one of my favorite ones. I am an absolute slut for some alternate universe shiz.

One-shot OR multi-chapter: If I get invested into a story, I wanna read a lot of it, y’know?

Kid fic OR roadtrip: Roadtrip! Roadtrip! Roadtrip! Especially if it goes awkwardly! With mutually pinning oblivious beans!

Reincarnation OR character death: I hate both of these, so I’ll just choose the one that doesn’t feel cheap...

Arranged marriage OR accidental marriage: Honestly, it just sounds hilarious.

High school romance OR middle-aged romance: Ah, I do love me some sweet sweet school romance... Probably because I myself am fresh out of high school:D

Time travel OR isolated together: Another super close one. I chose time travel purely out of principle and my long-standing love for time travel fics, but I’ve grown to adore situations where characters are isolated together, so!

Neighbours OR roommates: I like the idea of inviting people over, and you can’t invite your roommate over, can you?

Sci-fi au OR magic au: I just love magic :3 And I’m not really a sci-fi fan, soo

Bodyswap OR genderbend: Not really a fan of either, but I guess the former can be pretty hilarious:D 

Angst OR crack: I’d betray everything I stand for if I turned down angst, it’s the absolute Bomb.

Apocalyptic OR mundane: More drama, what can I say:D

Tagging @rumpixel @thoughtbloom @lonelywanderingstars @writing-with-melon @llesbianwrites @whisperinghallwaysofmirrors @raywritesblog if u wanna

[matildashoney]

thank you, again, @waitingfortwilight. you’re giving me much to do, today.

1 - Slow Burn or Love At First Sight (Can I add in LAFS with a hint of Slow Burn?)

2 - Fake Dating or Secretly Dating

3 - Enemies To Lovers or Best Friends To Lovers 

4 - “Oh, no, there’s only one bed” or Long Distance Correspondence

5 - Hurt/Comfort or Amnesia

6 - Fantasy AU or Modern AU

7 - Mutual Pining or Domestic Bliss

8 - Smut or Fluff (Smut with Fluff is ideal)

9 - Canon Compliant/Missing Scenes or Fix-It (I honestly have no idea what this is.)

10 - Alternate Universe or Future Fic

11 - One-Shot or Multi-Chapter (Completely depends on the fic.)

12 - Kid Fic or Road Trip Fic

13 - Reincarnation or Character Death

14 - Arranged Marriage or Accidental Marriage

15 - High School Romance or Middle-Aged Romance

16 - Time Travel or Isolated Together

17 - Neighbours or Roommates

18 - Sci-Fi or Magic AU (Can’t say I’ve written either, or read either, to say.)

19 - Body Swap or Genderbend (I haven’t written or read anything like this.)

20 - Angst or Crack

21 - Apocalyptic or Mundane (I’m anxious enough as it is!)

i tag @niallandharrymakemestrong​​, @tobeso-narrie​​, @deadassharrie​​, @harrysalwaysjackedup​​, and @youcheekylilmonkey​​.

[calamity-bean]

copy/paste and bold your fic preferences

Tagged by @gellavonhamster — thank you!!

slow burn or love at first sight

fake dating or secret dating

enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers (both? both is good)

oh no there’s only one bed or long distance with correspondence

hurt/comfort or amnesia

fantasy au or modern au

mutual pining or domestic bliss

smut or fluff

canon compliant or fix-it fic

alternate universe or future fic

one shot or multi chapter

kid fic or road trip fic

reincarnation or character death (...not really into either)

arranged marriage or accidental marriage

high school romance or middle aged romance

time travel or isolated together (depends on the context)

neighbors or roommates

sci-fi au or magic au

body swap or gender bend

angst or crack

apocalyptic or mundane

Too many where I couldn’t really choose... Let’s be real, some of these options really work best as a combo. Gimme the mutual pining AND THEN the domestic bliss, y’know? Anyway, tagging um... @oxfordlunch, @ifithollers @spunknbite, @thebeautifulsoup, @jeaniefranklins, @mercurygray, only if y’all want to of course!

[addictsitter]

stolen from @lesbianmaxevans

Copy/paste and bold your fic preferences because why not, gotta choose one (near impossible, but go with your first gut instinct), and tag someone because, again, why not.

slow burn or love at first sight

fake dating or secret dating

enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers

oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance with correspondence

hurt/comfort or amnesia

fantasy au or modern au

mutual pining or domestic bliss

smut or fluff

canon compliant (missing scenes) or fix-it fic

alternate universe or future fic

one-shot or multi-chapter

kid fic or roadtrip fic

reincarnation or character death

arranged marriage or accidental marriage

high school romance or middle aged romance

time travel or isolated together

neighbors or roommates

sci-fi au or magic au

bodyswap or genderbend 

angst or crack

apocalyptic or mundane

tagging no one cause i don’t feel like it but, y’know, claim i tagged you if you want

[bronanlynch]

this or that tropes

tagged by @girlfriendsofthegalaxy ty for giving me something to do in this time of working from home while the remote desktop is down for server maintenance  or whatever

Slow Burn or Love at First Sight: the slowest of burns only babey, love at first sight extremely does not vibe w how I experience the world

Fake Dating or Secret Dating: lets you combine pining tropes and also domestic/established relationship tropes which I enjoy of both, also secret dating stresses me out bc oh god what if they get discovered (I’m gay and have lots of anxiety abt. ppl discovering relationships I’m trying to keep quiet. y’know. for reasons)

Enemies to Lovers or Best Friends to Lovers: why not both?? friends to enemies to friends to lovers is Ideal (I love enemies/rivals to friends to lovers but I’m picky abt it)

Oh no, there’s only one bed! or Long Distance with Correspondence: share! that! bed!

Hurt/Comfort or Amnesia: anmesia is extremely Not My Thing and hurt/comfort is the best trope ever invented thank you for coming to my ted talk

Fantasy AU or Modern AU: one of my many true loves is high fantasy nonsense and modern aus tend to bore me unless u keep the sff elements of the original so like. love urban fantasy but if there’s no magic I don’t care

Mutual Pining or Domestic Bliss: if u do fake dating/marriage u get both at once

Smut or Fluff: for writing. for reading it’s neither? plot? drama? angst?

Canon Compliant with Missing Scene or Fix-It Fic: my city now

Alternate Universe or Future Fic: hell yeah love an au

One Shot or Multi-Chapter: I do not have the brains to commit to writing a multi-chapter and I really wish I did but unfortunately,

Kid Fic or Roadtrip: I’ve read like. one (1) kid fic that I enjoyed and roadtrips are a concept that I love as a person bc driving fun

Reincarnation or Character Death: that 25 lives comic changed me as a person. also if I wanted permadeath I would just go back to canon

Arranged Marriage or Accidental Marriage: once again. pining and domesticity at the same time. and like. by arranged marriage I specifically mean like. we gotta get married for Important Political Reasons like. the characters involved are the ones deciding to get married

High School Romance or Middle Aged Romance: how dare u ask if I wanna think abt the concept of high school

Time Travel or Isolated Together: time travel is very stressful, agreed

Neighbors or Roommates: oh my god they were roommates

Sci-Fi AU or Magic AU: [pretentious english major voice] is there really a difference? if you really think abt it?

Bodyswap or Genderbend: bodyswapping stresses me the fuck out and is rarely done well Imo but. I’m trans and have too many opinions abt genderbends to fit here but like. ppl who genderbend one side of a same-sex ship to be a different (cis) gender in order to make it an m/f relationship between 2 cis straight people are cowards and will face my wrath. most other ways of doing genderbends are on thin fucking ice. some ways are probably valid but make me personally uncomfortable so I would prefer not to engage w it

Angst or Crack: angst bc angst w a happy ending is where it’s AT and also. I can’t do crack I have to take things seriously bc I get emotionally invested y’know?

Apocalyptic or Mundane: same answer as why I don’t like modern aus tbh

[whatitis-inside]

Fanfic Asks

Thanks for the tag @lion-from-the-north thank you, and sorry I’m so bad at this that I forgot to reply!

Rules: Copy/paste and bold your fic preferences because why not, gotta choose one (near impossible, but go with your first gut instinct), and tag someone again.

slow burn or love at first sight

fake dating or secret dating - I’m slut for fake dating if anyone needs to know, and y’know write more of those

enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers

oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance with correspondence

hurt/comfort or amnesia

fantasy au or modern au

mutual pining or domestic bliss BOTH sorr, like you can easily combine domestic bliss and pinning!

smut or fluff like how dare you?! asking me to choose between this

canon compliant (missing scenes) or fix-it fic

alternate universe or future fic  

one-shot or multi-chapter sometimes you can find one-shot that is so long you admire the writer that could write it and just post

kid fic or roadtrip fic

reincarnation or character death idk? none I guess

arranged marriage or accidental marriage if I have to choose

high school romance or middle aged romance

time travel or isolated together

neighbours or roommates

sci-fi au or magic au

bodyswap or genderbend

angst or crack I love and adore both so both

apocalyptic or mundane

Tagging @onlyastoryteller @694699 @workslikeacharmie

I hope my answers weren’t boring

[littlemisssquiggles]

RWBY Remarks: ‘Little Cute Boy Ozpin’ AU. What would the story have been like if Ozpin was reincarnated as a 14-year-old boy but was still his own character?

greenfablesinverness replied to your post “AU Where Oscar only went to Mistral cause his uncle Ozpin had written...”

That “Ozpin was originally a de-aged Oscar” actually makes a lot of sense looking back at the beginning of the series. I think this was the original idea, but after Monty died Miles and Kerry felt too uncomfortable since BAM, this is Ruby’s love interest, and it might come off as creepy, so Oscar became a totally knew character entirely.

Squiggles Answers:

Hmm, makes sense. However even if that were true and the original story was for Ozpin to be reincarnated as a teenager after death without Oscar as part of his story, I don’t think the original intention by the CRWBY Writers and the show creator would’ve been to make Ozpin Ruby’s potential love interest. If anything, it makes more sense if the intention was to have Ozpin still be his own character after rebirth and have Ruby gain her love interest as a new character with or without it tying into Ozpin’s story.

As a matter of fact, y’know what? They could have easily done both. Did you know that the CRWBY Writers could have still given us the same Ozpin-reincarnation storyline being intertwined with Oscar’s without having to make them share a body? Let me explain how.

Oz the Kid

Just have Ozpin reincarnate as a young 13-14 year old boy with amnesia to be found in Mistral on the outskirts of the Pine Family farm where he’s discovered by a young Oscar Pine.

Instead of Oscar being inspired by Dorothy Hale from the Wizard of Oz, imagine if… our veteran farm boy was based off of the woodsman who saved Red Riding Hood from the Big Bad Wolf. That could’ve been a nice way to tie Oscar to Ruby’s character which could’ve additionally been used to foreshadow their potential relationship.

Instead of Oscar being Ozpin’s newest form and successor, he could’ve been the old wizard’s young protector. Just as how the woodsman saved Little Red Riding Hood, Oscar could’ve saved a reincarnated young Ozpin and that’s how the two could’ve met. Humour me to rewrite Oscar and Ozpin’s story a wee bit.

Imagine an AU where instead Ozpin’s curse was that he returns as a teenaged boy with no memory of his past self and it was the purpose of the members of his Inner Circle to find and train him back to his former self. This would explain why Qrow had Ozpin’s cane. He was the scout. The proverbial eyes in the sky whose primary responsibility was to search and find the missing Ozpin in the event of reincarnation.

Speaking of Qrow Branwen, what I found odd about V5 is that in the scene where Oscar meets RNJR for the first time after helping a happily drunk Qrow back to their residence in Mistral, Qrow kept muttering that he found Ozpin. As if he had been searching for him since his death. While this provided us with a comical scene and cute introduction into the group finally meeting Oscar, in the context of continuity from V4, it doesn’t really add up.

Back in V4, Qrow was never actually shown searching for Ozpin. He’d been following RNJR since the end of V3. If Qrow had been looking for Oz the entire time during his side of the story for V4 but then later deviates from his duty to Oz after learning that RNJR was being hunted by Tyrian Callows; then that would have made more sense. Not to mention that it would have tied into the joke in V5 a lot cleaner, right?

I know it’s meant to be one of those gags where a character claims to have fulfilled a task that the audience knew they never accomplished. Y’know like that ‘My job here is done’ meme with Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

Nonetheless, that was one nit-pick for me with the writing for V5 because it’s a joke played for laughs that can just as easily double as a small  plot hole. But then again, this is just me.

Back to my AU: in this version of the story, let’s say Oscar is 16-years-old instead of the titular 14. Still young but this time he’s the exact same age as Ruby instead of the two being two years ago---thus killing any potential arguments surrounding the two year age difference.

Oscar’s original background story could still be kept. I do like the concept of Oscar Pine being a 16-year-old farm bred boy who lived in the nowhere of Anima on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Mistral alone with his aunt on their family farm. In my version of the story, Oscar actually has ties to huntsman that he’s fully aware of. His parents were huntsman who once fought bravely for their kingdom but died in the line of duty years prior to the story. This left a young Oscar in the care of his widowed aunt who raised him for another half of his life and who he came to love like a second mother. 

In this AU, Oscar was originally meant to go off to Haven Academy. He had even already excelled at combat school and had passed the entrance exam qualifying him as a student. His aunt was very proud of him when she heard the news as much as he was. Oscar had always wanted to be a huntsman following in his parents’ footsteps to become a hero. However a week before Oscar was meant to depart for Mistral, his aunt suddenly fell very ill. 

Though the neighbourhood doctors did their best to help, in the end, Oscar’s aunt was diagnosed with an illness that rendered her bedridden and too weak to take care of herself. Since she had no one else to look after her, Oscar decided to abandon Haven. 

Though it would mean giving up on his dream, it was a sacrifice the young lad was willing to make for the woman who loved him like he was her own son. Oscar felt morally obligated to look after his aunt even if it meant living the rest of his life taking care of her if he needed too.

Though his aunt was content on having him care for her over a random stranger, that didn’t stop her from feeling remorseful over forcing her own nephew to abandon his own life for hers and the guilt hindered her more than her disease did.

But no matter how many times his aunt used to incline that Oscar move on with his life and not worry about her, the boy would stubbornly ignore her wishes and chose to stay by her side. She needed him and in that moment, Oscar needed to care for her.

Even if it meant spending the rest of his life as a farmhand in Mistral, it was a choice Oscar would willing make for his family because at the end of the day, she was all he had and that was all that mattered to him.

But Oscar’s quite life took another sharp change when, one day, while tending to the farm like he usually did on mornings, he heard a sudden strange noise come from the woods outside the farm. Thinking it might be another one of those occasional small Grimm that liked to wander onto his family property from time to time, Oscar quickly grabbed the axe he had planned on using to chop some wood for his aunt and ran straight towards the outskirts in the direction of the noise.

To Oscar’s surprise, his discovery was not what he was expecting. Wondering the woods alone outside the farm was a young boy. His hair was as silver as starlight and to make the situation more awkward, the boy was also found naked as he was born. The lad couldn’t have been older than fourteen years old though he was rather small and lanky for his age. The minute Oscar called out to the kid; he suddenly keeled over and fainted into Oscar’s arms.

This boy is in fact the reborn Professor Ozpin back as a young boy. However if the story was to be played out like an episode then it would have ended on a cliff-hanger with the audience not knowing the true identity of this young boy who happened to cross Oscar’s path.

The next time the story picks back up, Oscar is forced to care for this young stranger who doesn’t have any recollection of who he is and where he came from.

When Oscar probed the young child with the obvious questions---Where did he come from? How did he end up near his farm? What’s his name?

The only thing Ozpin could tell Oscar, at least the part that made sense to the young farm boy, is that he is Ozpin. Anything else and he would get this pained look on his face as if trying to remember something important. After staying a couple of days on the Pine Family’s farm, young Ozpin eventually regains some of his memories and is able to tell Oscar that he needs to go to Mistral; saying that he has a ‘friend’ over there who could help him.

But his memories come in spasms. One minute he’s an inkling of his old self, remembering important details that he’s able to relate to Oscar. Of course none of it makes sense to Oscar but at least Ozpin is able to tell him. However when Oscar would ask Ozpin to make sense of everything he told him, he would then revert back to the other side. The side of him that was basically a helpless young boy, lost and confused.

Oscar tries to convince Ozpin to stay with him and his aunt on the farm until they could figure out a way to help him get back to where he came from. However, when he’s lucid, Ozpin kept insisting that he needed to leave for to Mistral immediately.

In my AU, Ozpin’s reincarnation suffered some complications.

Let’s say…each time Ozpin reincarnates, in order for the process to work successfully; meaning for him to come back younger but with all of his memories intact, it requires a lot of magic.

Let’s say, Ozpin depleted a lot of his magic during his last stand against Fall Maiden Cinder. As a result, this fight left him with less magic than he needed to reincarnate successfully. So his rebirth was botched.

Despite successfully returning in his adolescent form, his mind and memories became as shattered as a jigsaw puzzle.

Imagine…the Professor Ozpin we all know only with the short term memory akin to Dory from Finding Nemo. Rather than being whole, this new Ozpin is almost like two minds in one. One mind is Ozpin himself---he knows who he is and is quite coherent enough to recount his countless eons of memories.

But on the other mind, he is just a helpless little boy, frightened, confused 200% of the time and needing someone to care for him while also recounting whatever actions his ‘other self’ does---the total opposite of the man we all know Ozpin to be.

And to make matters worse, it doesn’t help that this new younger Ozpin often slips in and out of both personalities. One minute he could be recounting important info that could be helpful to the given scenario and the next minute, he’s like a naive toddler unable to remember anything.

Ozpin has always been portrayed as the man with all the answers. So can you imagine how daunting it would be especially for all the characters who believe in his wisdom like Qrow if the man with all the answers returned as a crippled version of himself unable to help anyone because his mind is too fragmented from his failed rebirth process?

I like this idea because it gives a new perspective of Ozpin while also presenting a new purpose to Oscar Pine.

Y’see in this version of the story, instead of Oscar being Ozpin’s successor and the two being forced to share a body; Oscar would unintentionally be drafted in as a member of Ozpin’s Inner Circle tasked with protecting him during times of reincarnation. Oscar essentially becomes Ozpin’s guardian---his protector as the two journey toward Mistral to rendezvous with one of Ozpin’s allies.

And this time, when Oscar leaves home to go with Ozpin to Mistral where he would also start being trained to become a huntsmen, it’s his choice and something he wanted to do from the start before he met Ozpin.  

If the CRWBY Writers wanted a way to reincarnate Ozpin, have him come back young while still making Oscar his own person, they could have done it like that. But for now, I guess it’ll make for a pretty cool AU.

 As to why Ozpin would reincarnate in Mistral near Oscar’s home of all places, lemme hit you with a solid explanation using some canon evidence. Remember the World of Remnant episode on the Four Maidens? Remember the old wizard who lived like a hermit in the middle of the nowhere?

Though it was never confirmed if the hermit lived in Mistral per say, for the sake of this AU of mine, let’s say whenever Ozpin died he had a tendency to respawn near common areas his past lives once resided in. So let’s say Oscar’s family farm was built over the same property that was once the land of Ozpin’s predecessor---the old hermit wizard and creator of the Four Maidens.

Though it was never confirmed if the hermit lived in Mistral per say, for the sake of this AU of mine, let’s say whenever Ozpin died he had a tendency to respawn near common areas his past lives once resided in. So let’s say Oscar’s family farm was built over the same property that was once the land of Ozpin’s predecessor---the old hermit wizard and creator of the Four Maidens.

That’s sounds like a cool way to tie Oscar to one of Ozpin’s previous lives and it can even work in the canon AU. But for now, let’s leave it like a cool idea.

The Wizard and the Farm Boy

Imagine…in this AU of mine, Ozpin living with Oscar and Auntie Pine for a short time---probably a couple of weeks giving him enough time to regain some of his more important memories while growing close to the Mistralian farm folk a lot better.

Imagine if…during this time, Ozpin shared a small private talk with Auntie Pine. Going to sound heart-wrenching but the concept I had is that in this AU, Ozpin met Oscar around the time his sick aunt was on her last days.

In her final moment, while Oscar was outside tending to the farm as always, Auntie Pine called Ozpin to her bedside and asked him for a small favour to an elderly woman. At that time he was himself and not his other ‘child-like’ persona who had been christened ‘Ozzy’ by Oscar; just so that he could tell the two minds apart. Auntie Pine beckoned Ozpin to help her write a letter. A letter that she wanted him to give to Oscar.

While Ozpin is helping Auntie Pine, at some point, she turns weakly to the old wizard and lets the truth slip to him about her little condition. I imagined their conversation would go something like this:

Auntie Pine: …I’m sure you’ve noticed but I’m not a well woman. In fact, I’m dying. Have been for some time now and that’s the cold, hard truth, plain as day. And…I don’t think I have much time left.

Ozpin: …I’m…sorry. I---Does Oscar…

Auntie Pine: ---No. I’ve been…trying to think of a more…delicate way to break the news to him for months. It’s hard…not to mention exhausting trying to tell the truth to someone who only wants to hear the good version of the truth all the time. He…used to listen to me y’know. But ever since I got sick, I feel like he listens more to my illness than me. Sounds crazy, right? He’s always been the stubborn type. Just like his father. But he’s got a big heart. He’s…a good boy and he’s…going to make an amazing huntsman one day. Probably one of the best this world has ever seen. But he can’t do that so long as I’m here…holding him back. And I’m ready to go. Heavens, I’ve been preparing to go for a very long time. But I’m worried…no…I’m afraid that if I go now, it might…break him. And I don’t want him to break. I saved him from that the first time after his parents died so…the last thing I want is to be the one responsible for him falling apart…

Ozpin: …Ms Pine…

Auntie Pine: ---Call me Emma, please. You don’t have to be so formal.

Ozpin: …Emma, you should…talk to Oscar.

Auntie Pine: …I told you. He won’t listen to me. But he will listen… to you. I know he’ll listen to you. I’ve heard your talks when Oscar thinks I’m just sleeping. *chuckles* For some strange reason, even with all your crazy talk about magic…and maidens…and people coming back to life and going to the city…he listens to you. Ozpin, I know we haven’t known each other for that long…and I know I have no business asking any personal favours of you. But…you seem like a real level headed young man or…old man, whichever one you prefer. Can you aid an old woman with her final request? Promise me that no matter what happens, you won’t let my Oscar fall apart. It’s a lot to ask of a stranger but I like to believe you ended up here with us for a reason…a good reason. One that could change Oscar’s life for the better and give him more than I ever could. So please…I…beg you…please…promise me…

Ozpin: …I…have made more mistakes than any man, woman and child on this planet. I’ve made many promises that I have failed countless of times to uphold. However, in all my lifetimes, this is one promise I swear I’ll do my hardest to keep.

Auntie Pine: *smiling weakly* …You’re a good person Ozpin. I don’t know…what kind of skeletons you have in your closet. But I’ve always prided myself on being a good judge of character. Only a good person would make a promise to a dying woman and shed tears real enough to prove that he’s at least going to try to keep that promise so…thank you…

At this point, Auntie Pine extends a frail finger to touch Ozpin’s cheek as a single tear trailed down his cheek. Ozpin is stunned; not just by the old woman’s gesture but by his own reaction to his emotions. So instead, all he could muster is a silent nod all the while Auntie Pine is beaming at him through a pale face of smiles. Auntie Pine: Tell me…Ozpin…you’ve died before right? Does it…does it get any better…in the afterlife?

Ozpin: …I…I wouldn’t know…but for your sake, I truly hope it does.

Once again, Auntie Pine flashes Ozpin a fragile but contented smile and the old wizard felt his shoulders quake as he finally gave into his own tears.

Auntie Pine: …I think…I think I’m ready to see Oscar now…Can you…can you call him…for me please?

So Auntie Pine passes away after giving her final goodbyes to her beloved nephew. The death, of course, did exactly what Auntie Pine warned Ozpin would happen. It broke Oscar; to the point that he fell into a state of depression. As Oscar once disclosed to Ozpin during his stay, he had no other family. A lot of his past neighbours were either elderly folk who passed away or families who uprooted and moved to the main city. Oscar and his aunt were the only two left from the old neighbourhood. So when it came time for Oscar to bury his aunt, it was to an audience of only Ozpin.

Everyone else was gone. He had no one and for the first time since his parents’ departure, Oscar felt more alone than he ever did in his entire life and the feeling of loneliness devastated him more than the grief.  

At this point, Ozpin had stayed in the Pine residence for a little over two months and he was beginning to turn anxious. He had hoped Qrow would’ve found him by then. However since he didn’t, the old wizard figured something grim must’ve befallen the Branwen man (let’s say this was around the time Qrow had discovered Tyrian Callows was hunting RNJR and had diverted from his search for Oz in order to protect his family and her friends; leading to Qrow getting poisoned and…y’know the rest). This increased Ozpin’s urgency to get to the main kingdom.

Since Qrow hadn’t found him as originally planned, Ozpin had no choice but to journey to Mistral on his own. At least by then, he could rendezvous with the sole Mistral representative in his Inner Circle: Leonardo Lionheart and the two could’ve figured out a way to get in contact with Qrow.

Unfortunately, Ozpin had a problem. Two problems in fact. One, he needed someone to be his guide. Because of his botched rebirth, his memories of how to traverse Mistral were not the best. Not to mention that he wasn’t quite familiar with Oscar’s side of Anima. In this AU, let’s say getting to the train station shown in V4 was a much more perilous trip than what we got for the main series canon.

His only hope was gaining Oscar’s aid in journeying to the nearest train station that would then take them to the Kingdom. This led him to his second problem. Ozpin…did not want to leave Oscar by himself. He couldn’t. Not after the young boy and his family had taken him in the way they did and especially not after what he promised Auntie Pine.

It was then Ozpin made a decision. He was going to take Oscar to Mistral with him. Kill two birds with one stone. That way, Oscar could help him get to the city and Ozpin can keep a watchful eye over the young farm boy. Sounds simple, right?

The only problem was…Oscar refused to go. He just…wanted to remain on the land where his family was buried. Maybe become a hermit left alone to his grievances. It was then when Ozpin saw a connection between himself and Oscar

He was once this same way.

Remember when I said in this AU, Ozpin respawned near the Pine Family Farm because coincidentally the property was the same soil he once lived on alone as a hermit before he met the Maidens?

I like story ideas that in hindsight add up perfectly together. So perhaps this is a nice way to highlight a connection between Oscar and Ozpin for this AU.

I like this idea because I can imagine Ozpin hitting Oscar with the trademark RWBY questions: ‘What’s your favourite fairy tale?’ before telling him the famous The Four Maidens fairy-tale we know of. The twist is that Ozpin would reveal to Oscar that, of course, the fairy tale is true; explaining that the old wizard from the story was him in a past life. Ozpin would admit to Oscar that once upon a time, he too shared his same sentiments of wanting to live alone and isolated from the outside world; believing that a life of solitude was the only purpose left for existence after losing everything he loved.

But it was the kindness of four strangers that ultimately reminded Ozpin of how much more beauty and wonder existed beyond his walls. How his life wasn’t over yet. That he still had a second chance to start anew. Ozpin told Oscar this story in hopes that it would stir him to his senses. Convince him to be his companion on his quest.

It did not unfortunately. Despite his pleas, Oscar still stubbornly refused. This left Ozpin with no choice.

Not wanting to force Oscar to come with him especially in his time of grief, Ozpin solemnly decides to leave him behind and venture on his own. Before leaving, Ozpin gives Oscar the letter Auntie Pine had made him record her final words to Oscar. Of course, Oscar is still acting stubborn and doesn’t even want to read the letter. At this point, Ozpin is out of options and out of time. So he leaves Oscar and begins his own journey.

But as I mentioned earlier, in this AU, Ozpin isn’t familiar with traversing Oscar’s neck of Anima. So even though he left the Pine farm days ago, he eventually got himself lost and ended up wandering aimlessly through the woods for some time. This also led to Ozpin running into the local Grimm inhabiting the area which was a pack of hungry Beowolves. Though Ozpin did his best to combat the ferocious creatures, the old wizard’s luck unfortunately ran out when he reverted to Ozzy in the heat of danger, rendering himself incapable of defend himself further.

To make a long story short, Ozzy is soon rescued by Oscar, much to the child’s surprise. The young farm boy came to Ozzy’s aid wielding a weaponized battle axe which doubled as a Brunswick rifle. I like that as Oscar’s signature weapon in this AU since I talked about it before. Fusing the weapon with fire dust, Oscar torched any oncoming Beowolves attempting to harm Ozzy while sending the others fleeing in a blazing trail of panic.

To make it funny, Ozzy questions Oscar on how he knew where to find him after leaving days ago only for Oscar to respond that since he grew up in the area for most of his life, he knew the woods like the back of his hand so finding Ozpin wasn’t a problem especially since the old wizard had gotten himself lost and had actually been walking in circles for the past few days, much to Ozzy’s embarrassment.

Ozzy then questions Oscar of what made him change his mind about finding him. That’s when Oscar shows Ozpin the letter his aunt had left for him. The teenager apologizes to the old wizard for his behaviour before announcing that he had made up his mind to help him get to Mistral. His Pine pride wouldn’t allow him to allow such a, quote, ‘helpless child’ to wander the dangerous woods all alone even if said child is also a reincarnated 1000+ year old wizard. After all, it was the right thing to do and it’s what Oscar’s Aunt would have wanted him to do.

Despite the initial slip up, Ozpin was more than relieved to have Oscar accompany him. So with that, the two set off towards Mistral together.

 In this AU, part of the story is dedicated to Oscar and Ozpin going through their own journey towards Mistral just like Team RNJR. It isn’t just Ozpin spending time trying to convince Oscar to leave for Mistral before boarding the easy train.

One critique of V4 I’ve seen is the disappointment fans shared about Team RNJR having to make the long journey towards Mistral while all Oscar and Ozpin had to do was hop a train. Never mind that Oscar coincidentally lived within close proximity to a working train station that could instantaneously take him directly to the kingdom citadel.

And never mind that he also coincidentally got through with it despite having no money and needing Hazel Rainart to coincidentally show up at the same train station to help Oscar score a ticket. Yep, all one big coincidinks.

So since this is an AU I’m concocting here, I really like the idea of Ozpin and Oscar going through their own trials and perils on their separate journey to Mistral. They could still hop on a working train and still run into Hazel Rainart along the way for the final part of their Journey to Mistral. I mean RNJR took an airship at the end of their side of the journey which is the next best thing.

But like RNJR, it would’ve been cool to get some travels with Ozpin and Oscar: Fighting more Grimm, giving Oscar more opportunities to show off his capabilities as a huntsmen to protect Ozpin. In this AU, of course.

Not to mention that, since Ozpin wouldn’t have had his signature Oz-cane, I really dig the idea of Oz having to depend solely on utilizing what little magic he had to assist Oscar from time to time.

Referring to the main series now, we’ve never quite seen Ozpin actually perform magic in the canon, have we? We know he’s used his magic before but never actually seen him do it onscreen outside of RWBY Chibi

So imagine how cool it would have been to see a young Ozpin relearning to use his magical powers and this time, we actually get to see him cast spells or whatever the equivalent of performing magic in the RWBY-verse is like. 

I can picture Ozpin or Ozzy casting magic to help him and Oscar get out of tricky situations. Like for example: using magic to conjure up a shield of protection in order to save an overpowered Oscar from a charging Boarbatusk. Y’know like the one he summoned during his clash with Cinder Fall in V3.

Or perhaps using magic to ‘heal’ a serious wound on an injured Oscar by reversing time (like how Rapunzel healed Eugene in Tangled but without the glowing hair and song). Or maybe, just maybe, Ozpin using a wizard mind spell to manipulate someone into handing over a free boarding pass so that he and Oscar could take the train to the city. Those are three ideas.

It’s odd though. Despite Ozpin being confirmed as a legit wizard (a cursed wizard but one nonetheless) and in spite the confirmed existence of magic in Remnant by Ozpin himself, we’ve never actually seen Ozpin perform any feats of magic. Never mind that he used magic to create the Four Maidens and grant the Branwen Twins shapeshifting powers in his past life. Never mind that he did say his magic is finite and dwindling (whether that’s true or not). Still…he’s a wizard! Yes his magic is low but it could be cool to see him do something magical, even if it’s as small as a simple spell.

I don’t expect Ozpin to part the ocean or turn water into wine (although Qrow might enjoy that trick) but…still…it would be cool to see him perform a little something, something magical. Cause y’know…he’s a wizard! My hope is that Oscar is somehow capable of using magic for the main series canon so that we can possibly see some Ozpin magic tricks for V6. Hopefully.

 But for now, I’ll stick with my AU idea.

How would this AU handle the Oscar-Ozpin dynamic?

In this AU of mine, I like the idea of Ozpin and Oscar kinda joint adopting each other in a way. As Ozpin, he decides to take Oscar with him on his journey to Mistral, taking full heed of the promise he made to Auntie Pine that he would ensure the future that her nephew wanted---to become a huntsman; an objective that even Ozpin soon started to believe the boy was strongly capable of as he came to realize Oscar’s potential.

Oscar, in turn, comes to care for Ozpin’s well-being as well and even becomes like his own young protector or Guardian of some kind.

If Oscar was made to be Ozpin’s protector rather than his new vessel as an alternative, then I can definitely see the two sharing a big brother/little brother dynamic. I like the idea of Oscar and Ozpin both being big brothers/proxy dads to one another. One mind provides Oscar (and essentially all the young heroes) with the huntsman training and experience he’s always desired while at the same time, the two build a trusting mentor and apprentice relationship with each other that Ozpin only shares with the closest members of his Inner Circle (such as Glynda and Qrow).

And this dynamic is also transcended into the other side of their relationship where it’s the reverse and Oscar is Ozpin’s caretaker, using his training to protect him when he’s most vulnerable (as Ozzy) while establishing a bond where Oscar actually does look after Ozpin (as Ozzy) despite him being leagues older than him.  

I kind of picture Ozpin and Oscar’s connection in this AU of mine like Kara and Alice from Detroit Become Human.

Originally, both Oscar and Ozpin knew nothing about each other. Only met on coincidence. Yet in some twisted fate, their lives became intertwined and to each other, they suddenly became someone whose well-being they now valued as much as their own and wholeheartedly wanted to help. 

Like I’m imagining both Oz and Oscar both justifying their commitment to helping each other during private talks with Ruby and Qrow. Ozpin is of course talking to Qrow while Oscar is with Ruby.

Oscar to Ruby: 

Oscar: …I don’t think your uncle likes me very much.

Ruby: Don’t be silly. He’s just a little grumpy sometimes…with just you…a lot.  

 Oscar: *laughs* Nice save. Good attempt. But…nah, my aunt trained me well enough to sniff out when someone really doesn’t want me around. And…I think your uncle thinks I shouldn’t be here. I don’t blame him though. He probably thinks I shouldn’t stick around anymore since Oz is back with you guys. Back with his people.

Ruby: You’re his people too. He told us you saved him.

Oscar: I just gave him a place to stay and some food. But…thanks… to both of you for the kind words. I mean, I promised Ozzy I would help him get to the city to meet his friends and I did. I guess…I really have no business sticking around here.

 Ruby: Well…then why are you still here?

 Oscar: …Uhh…I guess… one of the reasons is because of Haven Academy. Lionheart told me that he still has records of my old acceptance letter into the academy. Said…if I still wanted, I can actually become a student here.  It’s a chance for me to finally live my dream of becoming a huntsman which is all I could ever ask for.

But if we’re being honest, the real reason I want to stay is because of Ozzy. Ozpin…needs me. Well…maybe not the version of him that’s a 1000 year old magical wizard guarded by a tall, rugged, mean-faced bird man wielding a giant scythe. Uh…no offense?

 Ruby: *giggles* None taken.

Oscar: But…the part of him that’s just a little kid y’know. When he’s…just a boy---just Ozzy, he reminds me so much of myself before I went to live with my aunt. After my parents died, I was so scared of being alone but my aunt made me feel loved and safe. She stood by me because she knew I needed her. That’s why I want to stay for Ozzy. Ozpin may not need me but Ozzy does and so long as he wants me here, I’ll do everything in my power to protect him.

Ozpin to Qrow

Qrow: Oz, why’d you bring that kid with ya? Who even is this kid? Where’d you even find him?

Ozpin: That kid’s name is Oscar. He’s from Mistral but more outside the kingdom and…he saved my life when you failed to find me, I’m afraid.

Qrow: Well why is he still here? *takes a swig from his flask* Shouldn’t he have gone back to his little house on the prairie now that we’ve met up with Leo?

Ozpin: He’s here because I want him to be here. My reincarnation may have…suffered a few unsettling complications but I wasn’t totally off my rocker when I told you I wanted Oscar to join my Circle. He may be young but within my short time with him, he’s shown me that he has tremendous potential. So with some training and proper guidance, I believe Oscar is destined for greatness.

Besides I…sorta also promised his dead aunt I would look out for him after she died. Can’t break a promise like that now, can I?”

Qrow: *through mid-sip* You did what?

Ozpin: It’s…a long story.

Qrow: Great. So basically you picked up a stray.

Ozpin: A stray with potential. Besides, I took you in once didn’t I? And look how well you turned out.

Qrow quirks a brow at Ozpin while taking another long swig from his flask. At this, Ozpin shook his head and sighed.

Ozpin: …Well…I can’t take full credit for all your quirks.

Qrow: Yeah but at least I grew up already knowing how to fight? What does Farmer Brown know how to do besides swing an axe? Anyone can swing an axe. Heck I can do that blindfolded with both my hands tied behind my back on my worst day. Besides… he’s so…young. He’s younger than I was when I joined the Circle. Ozpin: *amused tone* Why Qrow Branwen, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were a little jealous of Oscar.

Qrow: *almost chokes on his flask* Me? Jealous of that pipsqueak? Oz, I just recovered from my last hangover, please don’t make me vomit. I just don’t like the way he thinks he’s all high and mighty just because he’s the glorified babysitter to your other half.

Ozpin: Oscar isn’t like at all. If anything he’s been the most mature for his age…definitely more mature than certain people I’m looking at right now.

Qrow: *condescending tone* He calls you Ozzy. What is that?

Ozpin: *calmly* It’s just a nickname. A nickname both Ozzy and Ozpin don’t mind.

Qrow: *grumbles* I also don’t like the way he keeps chumming up to Ruby lately.

Ozpin: Really Qrow? He’s 16. She’s 16. They’re allowed to be friends.

Qrow: She’s my niece! Don’t encourage your babysitter to be any kind of ‘friends’ with my niece, capish?

Ozpin: *exasperated*  …Fine. Are there any other complaints you have regarding my ‘babysitter’?

Qrow: Just one. I don’t think this kid’s got the real chops to be a huntsman, let alone someone who’s meant to be a part of your Circle.

Ozpin: Is that right? Well then since we’re both being honest here, I think I have the perfect solution for that. You’re an experienced huntsman Qrow. Previously a teacher at Signal Academy who trained your own niece to be a powerful scythe wielder like yourself. Not to mention you’re one of the few people in this world I would trust with my life.

Qrow: *burps* What’s your point?

Ozpin: You don’t think Oscar’s got what it takes. Then help him. Train him and bring out the best in him; as I did once for you.

In the main series, Qrow is currently Ozpin’s right hand for the Mistral Arc going towards Atlas (since Glynda, his original right hand from the Beacon Trilogy is stuck holding down the fort in Vale with Professor Port and Dr. Oobleck). But what would be cute is if Oscar also unintentionally became Ozpin’s right hand but…more so to young Ozzy, Ozpin’s ‘child-like’ other half in my AU.

I like the idea of both Qrow and Oscar being Ozpin’s right hand men and the two butting heads at first. While Oscar is perfectly okay with the times Ozpin needs to be alone with Qrow since the older huntsman is one of Ozpin’s most trusted.

For this AU, Qrow secretly harbours a bit of jealousy toward Oscar who was only picked as Ozpin’s newest guardian because of the complications of his reincarnation. Whenever Ozpin reverts back to Ozzy, he’s completely intimidated by Qrow and won’t let the Branwen man talk or even be alone with him unless Oscar is present.

In this version of the story, Ozzy is very attached to Oscar. Like a nervous child clinging to their parent.

It’s a different dynamic from the show canon but that’s why I like it as an AU. Plus I really dig the notion of Qrow being tasked to personally train Oscar by Ozpin as he is the newest member of his Circle and his youngest Guardian. I like the parallel of Oscar to Qrow because once upon a time, Qrow was in Oscar’s shoes as the original youngest member of his Circle along with his sister. However, unlike Raven, Ozpin took a greater shine to Qrow due to his loyal nature and provided him with more training and trust; allowing the two to forge a friendship stronger than any relationship Oz had with his remaining Guardians.

I like the idea of Qrow originally being jealous of Oscar only to eventually warm up to him after realizing their commonalities. So in the end, Qrow becomes a surrogate father figure to Oscar and learns to care for him as much as Ozpin did; recognizing his potential as well.

It’s a nice way to have Qrow and Oscar bond through their ties to Ozpin but without Qrow treating Oscar as Ozpin most of the time. As an AU, it can work.

How would this AU handle the RoseGarden relationship/romance?

Well for starters Oscar and Ruby will be the same age of 16 years old in this AU. Oscar would also be his own character. For this AU, I love the idea of Ruby slowly falling in love with Oscar purely for his, quote, ‘big heart’ after observing  his caring nature towards ‘Ozzy’, the childlike persona of Ozpin’s younger form.

Instead of Oscar being based off of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, he’d be based off of the Woodcutter from the Little Red Riding Hood fairy-tale. Though Oscar is Ozpin’s protector who saved Ozpin, his fairy-tale inspiration would share the same origins with Ruby for this AU. That’s the idea I had.

So in conclusion:

This is my first time coming up with an AU idea for RWBY. And for what it’s worth, I really love what I pumped out. It makes me kinda wish things had been done sorta like this in the main series canon. Buuuut... that doesn’t mean I’m not excited to see how the CRWBY Writers will handle developing Oscar and Ozpin’s dynamic in the main series.

They definitely have created a very unique and interesting character in Oscar Pine and his current predicament with Professor Ozpin. So as a proud Pinehead, I’m curious to see how it’s going to be for the following seasons especially with how they plan on balancing development and character growth for both sides of the Man with Two Souls while also showing progress with their relationships; both within Ozpin and Oscar’s ties to each other as well as the other characters they encounter.

But until I get to see more of the planned story for my two favourite characters in RWBY (Oscar and Ozpin), I guess for now I’ll toss out deas for AUs feautring one or two alternate ways the CRWBY could’ve written Ozpin and Oscar’s story; starting with this one. I think my ‘Little Cute Boy Ozpin’ AU is my best and favourite one written down so far.

It definitely puts together some of the best ideas I could think of in the event that the story had been written like that. Besides if it doesn’t work as an AU for RWBY then it would make one hell of an original adventure inspired by RWBY with maybe a few influences from the Wizard of Oz tale.

Wouldn’t mind playing around with a story like that if I ever felt up to the task. But who knows? For now, it’s just a really neat AU idea brought to you by the squiggle meister. Hope you fellow RWBY fam like it.

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~LittleMissSquiggles (2018)