Snowflake Challenge #3

[olivermoss]

Challenge #3

In your own space, put some favorite characters into an AU, fuse some favorite canons together, talk about your favorite AU/fusion tropes, or tell us why AU/fusions aren’t your cup of tea. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I don't typically like AUs or fusions. I don't get the appeal of coffee shop AUs or most other popular ones. Adding or subtracting superpowers or paranormal powers tends to undermine the themes of the original canon. They feel like scooping characters out of the context that makes them those characters. Whatever the appeal is, it's lost on me.

However, I did just post on how Leverage and Queer Eye are basically the same show: 5 people swoop in, each with a defined role, fix someone's life, jarring product placement, one has fantastic long hair, etc. Both shows even had highly successful revivals!

Also, I am gathering notes for a Leverage by Gaslight AU. Both the start of the steam travel era and the start of the information age had similar things going on vibe wise. The reach of Grifters flourished. Thieves could city hop. The start of high speed communications with telegraphs meant early hacking. The first known instance of the The Wire Scam was done with mirrors in about that era... It is very much a back burner project right now that I don't start to write until I've got other projects done. I need to finish The Other Train Job and The Love Letter Job fics first, and that will take me a while.

Comments

[muccamukk]

Oh man, I would LOVE a Leverage Gaslamp AU. I hope you get around to it eventually.

[olivermoss]

It's an amazing idea, isn't it? Hardison exploiting all the new tech. Parker all giddy because instead of robbing one city she can rob them all! I have lots of setting/fusiony ideas, but need a plot :)

[muccamukk]

Lots of robber barons, captains of industry and... I suppose it's a bit late for canal schemes, but there must have been something like that... for the team to look after, too.

[olivermoss]

Also adoption scams and card scams.

I kinda want to write them getting together as a team, but don't want to do the same plot-shape as the pilot with them all being scammed. Maybe I could do an established team thing, but I like that energy of them meeting for an AU.

[sparrow2000]

Love the parallel between Leverage and Queer Eye! And that Leverage by Gaslight AU sounds terrific. I do hope you get the chance to write it one of these days because you know it's just whispering to you...*g*

[olivermoss]

Thank you! It is on the back burner, just need to actually complete some other projects first.

[bluedreaming]

These two ideas sound so fabulous! I'm especially endeared by what really early hacking was like; so fascinating!

[olivermoss]

The Wire Scam is old! There is also some early stuff about lenses I know I've seen a documentary on, but need to track down details.

[bluedreaming]

I feel like I learned a bit about it in a documentary a while back but I can’t remember. Hope you can find the details!

[mistressofmuses]

Oooh, Leverage by Gaslight sounds like an AMAZING fic concept!

[olivermoss]

It's really fun to think about. It came out of watching some of the Absolute History videos on Victorian Age railroads and setting them up in the first place. It was a tech boom / switch in formats like the internet age really taking hold. I am just not sure what I want to do story-wise, and I need to get other stuffs done :)

[mistressofmuses]

That WOULD be a really fun time period to write cons and grifts in. I hope you get a chance to work on it, if the interest sticks! (And other things get done smoothly!)

[oracne]

I would read the HECK out of Gaslight Leverage.

[olivermoss]

It's a compelling idea, isn't it?

[oracne]

Exceptionally so.