probably spoilers or somethin but the modern AU ask made me wonder how taushin and angel's relationship would be like if they encountered each other in today's age. would they couple into a D/s relationship and/or something more? instead of angel running away and getting hauled back, would the equivalent be that they break things off and work things out in a co dependent cycle? if you cant say due to spoilers,, can you say what their favorite date activity would be?
I LOVE THE TYPE OF QUESTIONS THAT MAKE ME THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. Not really spoilers, so I can hypothesize on it!
I hate AUs when I'm looking for fanfiction because a setting is as much of a character's makeup as everything else, so either people entirely change characters into their own OCs in an AU, or they don't change them at all and it feels like the AU is useless. Either way, you're going to get different characters than you signed up for. Angel and Taushin in modern day would have to be as unconventional as possible without losing the reader's suspension of disbelief. It's tough with them for sure!
Angel has specific trauma that would be pretty ridiculous in a modern setting, so I'd have to modify a lot of what his character is built on for him to make sense in reality. Some things would be less harsh about his behaviors, like acting too animalistic, but him being semi-verbal would have to stand. I think I would rework his history to revolve around growing up in a group home with Khoi as his older brother figure. I'd give him a speech impediment and have Khoi be the one to protect him from bullying, but Angel would learn to stay as quiet as possible. Once adults, Angel and Khoi would live together, and Angel wouldn't be cut out for having jobs, so Khoi would work to support them both.
On Taushin's side, I'd have his trauma remain pretty much the same, just eliminating the obvious (royalty and murder that wouldn't fly in modern day). Again, I won't specify anything that will spoil his real trauma, but let's say he runs away from home early and learns to be a loner. He's cold, expressionless, and has a reputation for being callous.
I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR THE ENTIRE SETUP BUT I HAVE TO INVEST 100% IN THESE THINGS OR ELSE I'LL BLOW UP. YOU UNDERSTAND.
Taushin wouldn't adhere to BDSM rules, so he'd just get into coercive and emotionally-complicated sadism roles with his casual partners. He'd learn he hates everyone who tries to get close to him and only likes hearing them in pain. Minx would be one of these partners LMAO.
On the other end, Angel would accumulate lots of experience with abusive people simply by being a walking target. He agrees to anything if Khoi isn't there to help him, is severely codependent, and rolls with any and all punches.
I think the only way I can think of them meeting in a TaushAngel enough way is Angel getting invited out (by one of Khoi's work friends who likes him) to a queer party with BDSM themes, and Taushin is also invited through some connection. Taushin is more of a lurker so he'd be aura farming with a drink in hand (as he does) and subs are flocking to him because they think he's playing a role in the BDSM theme. His coldness only encourages them, and Angel sees him from afar, thinking he must be known in the community.
Unbeknownst to him, Taushin would also have spotted him, since Angel is his type and seems shy.
Taushin would bring him a drink and only be more interested when he realizes that Angel doesn't speak hardly at all, and he's wearing earplugs to dampen the volume of the party. They would watch a little BDSM scene going on where all the subs are taking turns and he'd tell Angel he should go up, too. Angel would, somehow not as shy as he seems.
From there, they'd get into a toxic relationship that Khoi would try to encourage Angel to leave, which would lead to the Taushin/Khoi rivalry... I'm eliminating most of the other characters because we'd be here all day.
Instead of running away, Angel would probably ghost Taushin, actually! It would provoke him to come to Angel's place and get angry, which would lead to an unconventional type of punishment play or something.
Their favorite date activity would have to be attending BDSM dungeons (which Angel would introduce Taushin to, not vice versa, being the more kink-educated one) to watch scenes. I could imagine Minx being there and Taushin never getting involved, only making Angel go around and get things done to him.
As far as spending time alone together, once they soften towards each other I can see Angel wanting to lay his head in Taushin's lap while he does something else. Work or watching a film, etc., and going completely nonverbal.
Thanks so much for the ask! I took it way too seriously, but I hope it was fun!
