Bonus Round 1: AUs

[referees]

SASO 2017 is over, but this round is perpetually open to new fills (no new prompts).


This popular round is back once again! To begin this year's SASO, we encourage you to let your mind run wild with alternate ideas and settings.


Please read this whole post before commenting to ensure that your team gets the most points possible. (There are changes from last year!)

RULES

• Submit prompts by commenting to this post with an alternate universe idea, along with a ship from one of our nominated fandoms. There's a comment template below for your convenience.
  • Your prompt MUST include some kind of relationship. (This is not the sports anime gen olympics.) Platonic relationships are indicated by an "&" between the names (e.g., Izumi & Sakaeguchi). Non-platonic relationships use "/" (e.g., Izumi/Sakaeguchi). Please don't say "Any pairing," either!
• An AU can be a canon divergence, e.g. "what if [character] was the Team Captain instead of the canon captain character?", or a completely different setting altogether, e.g., pop idol AU, coffee shop AU, superheroes AU, etc.
• Fill prompts by leaving a responding comment to the prompt with your newly-created work.
• Remember to follow the general bonus round rules, outlined here.

FORMAT

Bonus round shenanigans all happen in the comments below. Brand-new works only, please.

Required Work Minimums:

• 400 words (prose)
• 400px by 400px (art)
• 14 lines (poetry)

There is no max work cap.

Format your comment in one of the following ways:

If PROMPTING:	If FILLING:	If FILLING as a TEAM GRANDSTAND participant:
PROMPT: TEAM [YOUR SHIP] Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team you belong to. Any way you format it is fine. Copy/paste/fill out the following form into your comment box. Delete the guidance text that's in parentheses. Make sure you use tags. Here is a BR Template Creator for your convenience if the textarea is confusing. (Please delete all text in parentheses as you go. LEAVE THE HTML ALONE or the bonus round scoring program can't parse your comment. Don't forget a comment subject!) <strong>Ship:</strong> (the ship your prompt is focused on. "&" indicates a platonic relationship, "/" is non-platonic. Format the ship name any way you want, but clarity is more likely to get you fills.) <strong>Fandom:</strong> (what fandom the ship is from) <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (https://sportsanime.dreamwidth.org/1609.html, when applicable; these apply to content *in the prompt itself* and is NOT an implication of what you're looking for in a fill. If your prompt doesn't require tags, write "None" here.) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; can include jokey tumblr-style tags here; may also pull from the "Additional Tags" list from the URL above, if applicable; otherwise, write "None" here.) <strong>Prompt:</strong>	FILL: TEAM [YOUR SHIP], [RATING] Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team you belong to. Any way you format it is fine. Replace RATING with the rating of your fill (G - E) Copy/paste/fill out the following form into your comment box. Delete the guidance text that's in parentheses. Make sure you use tags. Here is a BR Template Creator for your convenience if the textarea is confusing. (Please delete all text in parentheses as you go. LEAVE THE HEADER HTML ALONE or the bonus round scoring program can't parse your comment. Don't forget a comment subject!) <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (https://sportsanime.dreamwidth.org/1609.html, when applicable; otherwise write "None".) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; can include jokey tumblr-style tags here; may also pull from the "Additional Tags" list from the URL above, if applicable; otherwise, write "None" here.) <strong>Word Count:</strong> (if applicable; otherwise write "None") (Place any author/artist's notes BEFORE the asterisks. Leave the asterisks alone or you may not get points!) *** (Place your fill here. You can use HTML after the asterisks. FOR NSFW FILLS, please cross-link these fills and use clear tags. Refer to the body of the post above for more information. To place an image in your comment, use this code: <img src="LINK TO YOUR IMAGE" alt="DESCRIPTION OF YOUR IMAGE"/>. Consider posting only a thumbnail if the image is large. For more info, visit http://referees.dreamwidth.org/5647.html#images ) NSFW FILLS: Please cross-link these fills and tag them clearly. saso_afterhours is open to all NSFW fills. Written/text fills can be hosted on AO3 or saso_afterhours ONLY. Art/visual fills can be hosted anywhere; you may include a small safe-for-work thumbnail of the fill in your comment.	FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND, [RATING] Replace RATING with the rating of your fill (G - E) Copy/paste/fill out the following form into your comment box. Delete the guidance text that's in parentheses. Make sure you use tags. Here is a BR Template Creator for your convenience if the textarea is confusing. (Please delete all text in parentheses as you go. LEAVE THE HEADER HTML ALONE or the bonus round scoring program can't parse your comment. Don't forget a comment subject!) <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (https://sportsanime.dreamwidth.org/1609.html, when applicable; otherwise write "None".) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; can include jokey tumblr-style tags here; may also pull from the "Additional Tags" list from the URL above, if applicable; otherwise, write "None" here.) <strong>Word Count:</strong> (if applicable; otherwise write "None") (Place any author/artist's notes BEFORE the asterisks. Leave the asterisks alone or you may not get points!) *** (Place your fill here. You can use HTML. FOR NSFW FILLS, please cross-link these fills and use clear tags. Refer to the body of the post above for more information. To place an image in your comment, use this code: <img src="LINK TO YOUR IMAGE" alt="DESCRIPTION OF YOUR IMAGE"/>. Consider posting only a thumbnail if the image is large. For more info, visit http://referees.dreamwidth.org/5647.html#images ) NSFW FILLS: Please cross-link these fills and tag them clearly. saso_afterhours is open to all NSFW fills. Written/text fills can be hosted on AO3 or saso_afterhours ONLY. Art/visual fills can be hosted anywhere; you may include a small safe-for-work thumbnail of the fill in your comment.

Posts not using this format will be understood to be unofficial discussion posts, regardless of what they contain. They, like all comments in this community, are subject to the code of conduct.

If you see anyone breaking the code of conduct (e.g., causing drama, being rude) anywhere (not just DW), please contact the mods immediately.

SCORING

These numbers apply to your team as a whole, not each individual teammate. Make as many prompts/fills as you want!

For prompts: 5 points each (maximum of 50 prompt points per team per round)

For fills:
First 4 fills by any member of your team: 20 points each
Fills 5-10: 15 points each
Fills 11-20: 5 points each
Fills 21-50: 2 points each
Fills 51+: 1 point each

All scored content must be created new for this round.

Etc.

If you're hunting through the prompts looking for what to fill, a good trick is to view top-level comments only (see the line of links below this post).

Have a question? Check The FAQ first. If you still need help, feel free to contact the mods. Happy fanworking!

Comments

PROMPT: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU

[nullsleep]

Ship: kuroken
Fandom: Haikyuu!!
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: none

Prompt: Kenma is the Crown Prince of Lucis. Kuroo is the royal steward. (ffxv)

Re: PROMPT: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU

[earlgrey_milktea]

whispers did u have a preference for any other characters?

Re: PROMPT: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU

[nullsleep]

I love everyone so much, it's truly all fine with me.

FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[earlgrey_milktea]

Major Tags: none
Other Tags: angst, ffxv-canonical minor character death, emotional hurt/comfort
Word Count: 917

this fill boarded a one-way train to angstville, i'm sorry, but when i saw your prompt i finger-gunned v hard b/c krkn and ffxv are my jam, so thank u for posting this prompt!!

***

They’re barely a week into their road trip when Hinata brings back the newspaper with an expression Kenma has never seen on his friend before.

“I’m so sorry,” Hinata says, passing the paper to him. Kuroo and Bokuto are drifting over, concerned with the absence of a smile on the usually cheerful boy.

Kenma doesn’t need to ask why. It glares at him, black and white, in big bold letters from the front page.

Insomnia Falls.

Kenma drops the newspaper. Bokuto catches it, but Kuroo already has his hands on Kenma’s shoulder, leading him to the hotel beds before his legs give out. He’s aware of Hinata hovering closeby, wanting to help but not knowing how, and Bokuto, flipping open the paper to scan the details.

“The Empire took over the city,” he says, “Insomnia is under lockdown and civilians warned against crossing the Wall... Airships seen above the Castle, and—” Bokuto breaks off abruptly.

“And what,” Kenma says flatly.

Bokuto exchanges an uneasy glance with Kuroo. “And,” he says shakily, because even though as the Shield to the Crown Prince it was his duty to obey, he still wants to protect him from everything and anything. “Gunshots and fire erupted from the throne room, and the King and—and his men were declared dead.”

Kenma shuts his eyes, hissing softly. For once, Hinata is silent. Bokuto doesn’t try to crack a joke. Beyond the hotel windows, blue ocean and skinny palm trees wave lazily under the afternoon sun. Just moments before, they were planning on where to go next, what kind of photographs to take and send back to their families with the next postcard. Now everything seems cold and grey.

“M-Maybe they’ve got it wrong,” Hinata tries, but Kenma shakes his head.

“He knew,” he says, voice too low. He feels heavy. The bed dips as Kuroo settles down beside him, lifting an arm to brush against Kenma’s back in an attempt to comfort. Any other time, Kenma would lean into the touch, but right now, he doesn’t feel anything. “My father knew. That’s why he sent us away. This trip wasn’t a diplomatic meeting between Accordo and Lucis at all. It was running away.”

“Kenma, you know that’s not—” Kuroo starts, but Kenma turns away.

“He sent me away like a coward. Like I’m useless.”

“Kenma—”

Bokuto coughs nervously. “Um, not that it changes anything but, uh, this also says that the Prince of Lucis is declared dead, too...”

“So, th-that means they could have made a mistake!” Hinata turns his big round eyes on each of them, trying his best to lift the dreary mood. “You’re obviously not dead, Kenma, their info is wrong, so maybe you—your father, and-and Bokuto’s father—”

“They’re dead.” Kenma doesn’t raise his head. His tone doesn’t leave room for argument, and both Bokuto and Hinata flinch backwards. Kenma can’t find enough energy in him to care.

“I think,” Kuroo says, “it’s a good idea to get some food in us first. Then we’ll decide what to do with this... news. Okay?”

Bokuto nods. He tugs Hinata along, saying something about visiting the restaurant downstairs, and then they’re both out the door, leaving only stillness and miserable silence behind. Kuroo runs a hand down Kenma’s back, trailing from the nape of his neck to the bottom of his spine, then drifting back up. It’s a familiar motion, something he used to do when they were kids, hiding from the disapproval of their retainers or after a particularly tiring training session.

“Hey,” Kuroo says. “Still with me?”

Kenma doesn’t reply. right away. He stares out the windows at the blue skies and picturesque view, and hates the world for a while. “Why didn’t he tell me?” he asks, but he doesn’t really want an answer.

“He wanted to save you.”

“But not himself? Or his people?”

“Maybe he couldn’t. Maybe he wanted you to.”

“Me?” Kenma finally turns to look at Kuroo. His eyes are burning and his throat feels itchy, but he glares up at his advisor, his friend. “How can he expect me to save Lucis? I can’t do anything. I can’t warp more than a few times without throwing up, some days I can barely even walk because of this stupid body, I can’t save anybody, let alone a whole kingdom—”

“Kenma,” Kuroo says. He takes hold of Kenma’s hands before they can scratch at his skin. “No one expects you to do this alone, you know? You may be the one chosen by the Crystal, but you’re not alone. You have us.” He leans in until he catches Kenma’s gaze again. “You have me, Kenma.”

The hotel room is quiet save for Kenma’s quivering breaths as he allows himself to fall into Kuroo’s arms. He still feels numb, but with Kuroo’s familiar warmth around him, he finds it just a little easier to breathe. Kenma closes his eyes.

“He didn’t let me say goodbye,” he whispers.

“I know,” Kuroo says, stroking his back again.

“I wanted to show him Hinata’s pictures.”

“I know.”

“... I want to go home, Kuro.”

“... I know, Kenma. I know.”


(When Bokuto and Hinata comes back, arms laden with food, they find their Prince, now King at too young, curled up against his most trusted friend in a fitful sleep. None of them eat much as they try to figure out how to mourn in their own separate ways, but all of them stay. They stay, and wait for their King to wake.)

Re: FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[nullsleep]

oh my god thank you for this, it hadn't even occurred to me to mix up the teams but of course hinata is prompto, and bokuto as the shield, and this soft sad tender supportive kuroken hurts so good. ;w;

Re: FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[earlgrey_milktea]

yeah ok originally i thought of using just nekoma team members as kenma's crownsguards but i was like, hinata is more kenma's bff?? and i wonder at how bokuto as the shield would change the dynamic between shield + prince. but kuroo is kenma's first and most trusted friend in both 'verses and i'm sobbing..... i'm just so weak to these kiddos and the whole stupid angst that is ffxv asdjkf; i'm glad you like it!!

Re: FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[mellifics]

.................................. WOW MEAN. omg this is so good but i'm also so sad why did you do this. but man, you write SUCH a spot-on kenma and i love that we can see exactly how well kuroo knows him in the space of this scene.

and: "You have us." He leans in until he catches Kenma’s gaze again. "You have me, Kenma." [clutches at my chest, wheezes]

Re: FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[earlgrey_milktea]

IDK WHY I CHOSE THIS SCENE OF ALL SCENES but gosh diddly darn, in ffxv they never gave these boys the soft comfort and time to breathe they needed, so watch me try to fix that with every ffxv fic i touch. what's most important to me is their friendship and the knowledge that you don't have to carry the burden alone!!!!! asljdkf; let these boys rest...... both the chocobros and the volleydorks, pls...

Re: FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[b_minor]

can I just say how perfect your choice of hinata and bokuto were to round out the gang? But also ahhh Kuroo keeping Kenma from hurting himself and blaming himself and just ;w;
Also that last line was a gut punch oh man

Re: FILL: team bokuto koutarou/akaashi keiji [G]

[earlgrey_milktea]

i had a tough time deciding who the rest of the gang would be!! but since they're both optimistic people and with unbreakable spirit, i know that they can keep kenma afloat until the very....... bitter end......

i'm glad u like the last line ahaha i hate this game it made me feel too many things and i'm still feeling them, help