#berencel au of the day

[barbitone]

Ridiculous Berencel AU of the Day

Sugar Daddy AU

Ancel and Berenger meet on a sugar baby site. Berenger has hang-ups about people trying to get with him for his money and this way at least it's honest, if still not exactly ideal.

Ancel lives in a different city, so mostly Berenger just sends him money and gifts and once a week they video chat over dinner because Berenger is lonely and sad. Sometimes Ancel video calls him while he's shopping with Berenger's money, and shows off all the stuff he bought, and asks what he likes. And Berenger always just smiles at him and says "whatever makes you happy."

Sometimes he visits Ancel's city for work and they meet up. But Berenger just wants to do stupid tourist shit and like. Go on hikes and to the museum and to dinner, and refuses to touch Ancel aside from like, offering his arm while they're walking somewhere. Maybe sometimes he has Ancel be his plus one to various work events he hates. He probably pays to fly out Ancel first class to- wherever. Maybe they go to other countries. It's always ridiculously luxurious and painfully chaste, even when they have to sleep in the same bed for Appearances.

At face value, this SHOULD be the perfect arrangement for Ancel. Except he falls in love, of course, and suddenly Berenger's prudishness is driving him crazy. And he's pretty sure Berenger likes him likes him, but then he just WON'T and ugh.

Maybe occasionally people assume (correctly) that Ancel is, essentially, hired for the role- but Ancel always shuts them down. Because if they're pretending to ACTUALLY be together, then Ancel can convince Berenger to make out with him, in public at least, for Appearances.

For reasons of being an immature petty bastard, Ancel decides to drive him away, because fuck him. So he starts raising his rates, basically daring Berenger to dump him. Except Berenger just agrees to it every time and how rich IS HE this is getting INSANE.

And it's so so much money. He doesn't need to keep his other clients, it's so much money. And he doesn't like his other clients anyway so he just dumps them all. And there's so much money, and all he has to do is just talk to Berenger once a week and he's BORED so he gets... a hobby that turns into a real job? Like? What? He'd never planned on getting a real job, but he's always been kind of into designing jewelry and he has to fill the time SOMEHOW.

And it TAKES OFF and he's kind of amazing at it actually? And suddenly he has his own money coming in, and he doesn't even need Berenger anymore, except he likes Berenger. He likes their video chats over dinner, and being Berenger's plus one, and the only thing wrong with it is he wants MORE.

And then at some point it's been like an EGREGIOUS amount of time. It's been like 2 years of this, and Ancel realizes he hasn't slept with anyone in that time, and the only person he wants is Berenger.

And then Berenger comes to town again, and they have dinner, and at the end of dinner Ancel dumps him. Insert the "we both know this isn't working" conversation in reverse. Berenger is, of course, devastated. Right up until Ancel invites him back to his place, smirking. Or maybe Ancel straight up proposes to him, because he is so done waiting by now.

And then they bang. A lot, probably. Bottom Berenger? Perhaps they were switches.

[dancyon]

Capri Recs Part 2

Here's part two of the capri masterpost rec list. Took me days to complete it. Part 1 is here

Enjoy.

Completed

>50k

One the Other by Ruby_Wednesday (Auguste lives AU where Damen takes Laurent to Ios as his charge)

Along For the Ride by idratherhaveyou (Modern College AU, Laurent hitchhikes a ride from Damen and his friends to go save Nicaise)

Wicked Game by onekingdomonce (Laurent amnesia AU canon time)

Star Power by TurtleTotem (Singer Damen and actor Laurent pretend to date to fix their public image)

When the sun is on again by thickenmyblood (Auguste lives at Marlas AU. Bittersweet fic)

The Same Moon by onekingdomonce (Prison AU where they're all assholes)

Wine and Flowers by magisterpavus (The regent sells Damen and Laurent into slavery)

Sun and Spear, Peach and Petal by SteeleStingray (Game of Thrones AU)

A Traitor's Choice by blackgoliath (Aimeric makes a different choice)

Black Light Red by Entity_Sylvir, goldendraeconis (Dark Noir, a killer is on the loose)

20k-50k

Now Again a Beloved Son by ofsevenseas (In which Marlas evolved differently)

Courts, Crowns, and A Little Game of Chess by waywardwriter (The fix where Damen courts Laurent the way he deserves)

Slow It Down by orphan_account (Laurent finds a sugar daddy to be free of his uncle. Spoiler alert, it's Damen)

Beg my broken heart to beat by VeretianStarburst (In which Laurent visits his brother in jail and that's how he meets Damen)

Thrown for a Loop by Just_Another_Day (Ice Skating AU)

Beyond the Pale by marrieddorks (College AU)

Between Cat Acrobatics by fakexpearls (In which Damen's cat loves the neighbor's balcony)

Catch and Release by barbitone (In which there's a fine line between law and crime. Modern AU berencel)

marble, salt, and prophecies by Graysworks (Damen amnesia AU right after KR. Laurent and Nikandros are trying their best, ok?)

On one's knees by thickenmyblood (This is Kastor/Laurent canon time.)

10k-20k

Detours From the Road to Ruin by Just_Another_Day (omegaverse canon time)

Nikandros Doesn’t Get Paid Enough For This by dragonmage27 (In which Lamen are more innocent than Nikandros thinks)

they're angry, they're sorry, they're worried (you don't care) by Anonymous (In which trusting someone with your whole self is hard. But Laurent is trying. Post canon)

Water of Life by deripmaver (I hate you derip. extremely graphic and traumatic birth, y'all have been warned)

Under The Shade of Trees by nuttinonice (Laurent is still trying his best. He really is)

According to plan by Poteto (Nikandros is also trying hard. His friends don't make his job easy)

Deliverance by EmergencyBroadcastSystem, SEABlRD (Priest Nikandros, Angel Damen and Demon Laurent)

The Best Contract at Court by barbitone (Ancel really does not know what's up. Also Auguste is very straight)

Homeward Bound by Seek_The_Mist (Post canon celebration)

The Stars Go Waltzing Out In Blue And Red by Holly_Golightly (Lazar POV of canon time)

5k-10k

What A Feeling To Be A King Beside You by beautifulmagick (omegaverse post canon)

Four things that didn't happen to Laurent, and one that could have changed everything by st_aurafina (What it says on the tin)

A wreath of laurel by Kirianna_May (Dryad Laurent AU)

after me, the flood by vicariously kingly (pelted) (In which they reincarnate. Again. And again. And again)

Moonsea by Tyranno (In which Damen doesn't survive the whipping. This is a ghost story)

False Cognates by scarlet-kingsnake (high_spring_tide) (Cultural collision. Vere and Akielos are very different)

The Finest Thing (Whatever It Is One Loves) by booksnchocolate (In which Laurent tries to do the wooing.)

Where flowers bloom by emaline (Hanahaki disease AU)

eyes like sinking ships by Veraison (Nikandros will be there for the Prince of Vere. He'll do it for Damen)

Out of my league by Anonymous (Football AU)

2k-5k

Whirlwind by shoulderpadutopia (Nikandros helps Laurent get a pet)

A Party of Our Own by DisraeliGears (Nikandros and Laurent bond over not liking parties)

No End of War by Just_Another_Day (Zombie AU)

Lovefool by Kittendiamore (Laurent is an actor Damen hires and brings to a family party)

Marks of a Life Well-Lived by Jinxed_Ink (In which Nicaise is very much alive and thriving)

Before the Veil by Jaydee_Faire (Post canon. Medical issues)

Into You by bowtieowl (Damen is Torveld and Laurent's bodyguard. And then just Laurent's)

The Sun Goes Down Every Night by Kittendiamore (Damen is with Jokaste. He is also with Laurent. This is harder than it should be)

Kidnapped by Josselin (Laurent and their son get kidnapped. Damen has to find them.)

Paraskínia by SEABlRD (Wing fic. There is absolutely nothing nice about this story. Read at own risk)

<2k

In The Veretian Style by IAmANonnieMouse (Nikandros teaches Laurent how to wrestle)

united we stand, divided we fall by baekhyun (baruna) (Ghost Auguste hunts Damen until he doesn't)

A Dozen Marriage Proposals by mfingenius (In which Damen mistakes Laurent for a pet, and Auguste is a big brother)

How Laurent accidentally got himself into a relationship by mfingenius (What it says on the tin)

Meet the 'Boyfriend' by Just_Another_Day (Laurent has a foolproof plan to make Aleron accept Damen. He'll bring Lazar home first.)

ships passing in the night by ciin (Soulmate AU)

Snakebite by Jaydee_Faire (Medical horror post KR. Kastor's blade was poisoned and Laurent has no one left but Damen in the world)

Laurent's one-year secret relationship by mfingenius (In which Auguste has a little brother who is growing up)

dinner until you wrestle it up by baekhyun (baruna) (Laurent wants to meet Damen's family)

Stubborn by JustDrinkTea (Soft Summer Palace fic)

WIP

Sleeping Beauty by Pepperweb (Coma patient Laurent and Damen was his nurse)

The storm who leaves no trace. by Mechanical_Candle (Magic AU)

Written In Runes by Nayona (Magic and science and fighters. Futuristic AU)

The Cast Iron Prince's Romantic Way to Happiness by Anielka (In which Laurent suddenly finds himself the character his favorite book)

words like oil, tongue as a sword by kapteeni (Undercover abolitionist Laurent meets undercover slave owner Damen)

The Freedom of Falling by LadyKyrin (Pacific Rim AU)

with luck, it might even snow for us by marrieddorks (Christmas time chateau in the mountains fic)

Oracle at Delfeur by elesary (Laurent goes bake in time to Marlas and changes everything)

Concordia by Ccainao3 (post olympics AU. not as cute as it sounds)

sanguinary poultice, love charm by Lapin (Laurent and Damen meet in completely different circumstances)

[magpiefngrl]

one line, any fic

The lovely @wolfpants tagged me in this game, which sounds so much fun! Thank you! <3

Pick any 10 fics, scroll somewhere to the mid point, pick a line, and share it! Then tag 10 people.

I've chosen six drarry fics and four featuring other ships and then scrolled to the middle, closed my eyes and pointed at the screen lol

I. Young and beautiful (drarry, E, 3k, WWI AU)

‘I’d like to dream about you.’

II. 'But if he wins?' (Berencel, E, ~1k)

He threw his garments on the floor as he spoke, and laid back, naked and gloriously aroused on the bed, his hair fanned on the sheets.

III. Through the Looking Glass and What Draco Found There (drarry, E, 17k)

Draco had to have a talk with himself. If he kept this thinking up, he was in real danger of becoming sentimental.  

IV. Sometimes a man needs (drarry, E, 5.5k, Flower shop AU)

Malfoy’s presence in the living room made the space look shabbier than before; perhaps it was the crisp suit, way more formal than anything worn inside these walls, or Malfoy’s colouring under Neville’s too-bright lamp.

V. eros melter of limbs (pynchisky, E, 12k)

Now, if you were to be an inside observer – hidden in Ronan’s mind and thoughts and heart – then you’d see that nothing was the same as before.

VI. 9 ½ Days (drarry, E, 69.6k)

His heartbeat thudded against Draco’s, a small symphony of life, while the night whispered around them.

VII. dirtynumbangelboy (drarry, E, 39.4k)

They’ve held hands before, it shouldn’t be a big deal, but this feels different; alone, in Draco’s flat, just the two of them.

VIII. secret desires (wangxian, E, 2.5k)

A fever spreads on his skin, electricity travels up his spine, as he watches Lan Zhan watching him.

IX. Cornflower and Marigold (Francis/Will Scott, M, 1.5k)

He searched the other man’s expression for a hint of a corresponding sentiment, finding nothing more than a malicious indifference.

X. The Boy Who Died (drarry, E, 26.8k)

‘Show-off.’ But Draco’s eyes shone with pure joy, the biggest grin transforming his flushed face, and Harry’s heart trilled.

Tagging:

@shealwaysreads @lettersbyelise @hogwartsfirebolt @blamebrampton @phd-mama

[laurent-ofvere]

Have you written any berencel fics? Or have you thought to? I'm dying to read one of your fics with them, au, post canon whatever

i wrote them sparingly throughout my bang fic, its not a main pairing but its definitely hinted and sprinkled in there, thats the closest ive come to writing them.

and this made me :’) im so touched you want my take on them oh my god, im in a prompt/ficlet mood these days (except for the homewrecker au which was supposed to be short and is getting very out of hand) but after that i might re read pet and give them a try. 

[carpemermaidtales]

WIP Meme

The Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous

Oh boy, thanks for the tag @gracie137blogs​ now we get to delve into the WIP Folder of Doom™️ hahahaha I do actually tend to name my files with something descriptive because I have somewhat of an archiving habit from my day job, so I don’t think any of these will be toooo wild. Long AF list, so under a cut to save your dash ;)

Drarry

A Fragile Web - wand bond hogwarts 8th year repair - Ah, an aging wip with 20k that’s going no where. Good to see you again, old friend. Looking mighty fine with that thick coating of dust you’re sporting. New Year’s Promises - Another aging wip that’s nearly all written that I can’t seem to finish arg! Maybe this year will be the year?? Who knows, all I know is that I keep meaning to finish it so I can release it sometime between Dec-March every year I attempt to get it done. *sweats loudly* Post War WWW - This was going to be my HD Big Bang project until I had to drop because of my work schedule. I had some really fun stuff planned with it, especially Draco working with tinkering with magical objects and charms spells. Snapchat Sexting - Ohhhhh I need to finish this!!! Dang I started this in like Feb and forgot all about it, but it’s the usual whacky concept of tech comes to the wizarding world as a vehicle for Drarry to sext via social media hahaha. Harry is very Shook™️ in this little fic. Accidental Marriage Bond - Oh nooo they’re accidentally married and bound magically oh noooooo. Kidfic Adoption Partners - Probably my fave of my wips that I haven’t had much time to work on, the idea is that drarry are very close business partners that are mistaken for partner-partners when draco decides he wants to adopt. Grimmauld Place is Sick??? - Idk what to call this one hahaha, but it’s basically your run of the mill oh no Harry isn’t sure what’s up with GP and Draco Malfoy is His Only Hope at Finding Answers.

Victuuri

Banquet AU Canon Diverge - Omg this was my big project at the beginning of the year that I put on pause after almost 30k because it’s only 3 chapters in and it’s already so big. Basically just a big YOI canon divergence after the banquet and clothes sharing and social media. Yuuri wears Victor’s Olympic RU jacket and I get a little emosh every time I think about it :’))))

Klance

Our Hearts Ablaze - a/b/o in space - Just your basic oh no I thought I was one class and turns out I’m another but no worries because your pal has your back and will help you out through this Trying Time. Amnesia Lance - Back around season 2 I had this wip idea where Lance gets hit during battle or whacks his head somehow and wakes up with amnesia and thinks team voltron kidnapped him. FWB Klance - Probably what it says on the tin tbh Waxplay Klance - Hnnggg my candle-moment fic. Just needs one scene to be complete, note to self please go back and finish this. Let Me Take a Bite Out of You - lovebug/fakedating/soulmate/garrison au - A wip I started and even posted ch 1 of last year because I’m a monster and every time I get a comment from a reader hoping the next chapter is coming I cower under a blanket. It’s not abandoned, though, I swear. I just need to untangle the plot and write the damn thing. It’s a biiiig epic with conspiracy, a race against time, and everything ending up just as it should when the series timeline starts.

CaPri

Jaimeric Modern Fake Dating AU - Holy shit this story is massive. It was plotted out with @goldentruth813​ and @gracie137blogs​ months back when we were crying together about Jaimeric and Aimeric and how we needed a story where he lived, so this is our version of that.

Berenger Character Study - I read Pet and then Berencel took over my life. This is just a short Berenger POV character study of the events in Pet.

Zutara Accidental Bond Post War - A maaaassive outline for a story picking up right where the Agni Kai with Azula ends and the events of that fight cause a spirit bond to manifest in Katara and Zuko so that they’re tied together and can hear each other’s heartbeat. In the midst of putting the Fire Nation back together they have to embark on a journey to the spirit world to find out what happened to them and if they can undo it. Haikyuu!! Oisuga - Fake Dating - Oh no >:)))) Suga’s parents >:)))) want to set him up with marriage interviews >:)))) and he makes up a fake boyf >:)))) and Oikawa over hears and thinks the description fits him well enough >:)))) so he slides in and pretends to be the fake boyf >:)))) and now they’re invited to a weekend family reunion at Suga’s family onsen in Miyagi >:)))) Oisuga Week - Starbursts - Need to finish up these last 2 chapters but this is a wip that started for a ship week in august that’s been post-as-i-go, essentially Oh no, and they were roommates with looootttsss of pining. HQSS - Haikyuu!! secret santa exchange fic that’s nearly done, can’t talk much about it but it’s cute and for a very fun ship <3 Kurosuga - FWB - A future fic plot from a convo on an hq writing server about Kuroo and Suga being friends with benefits while falling in love with each other the whole time, so a big pining, bittersweet sexy fic dealing with hiding emotions and soaking up as much physical intimacy as they can get away with because their touches speak so much louder than their words. Original 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Soooo I’m kinda....doing a thing.... 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Matchmaking Ghost - This is the wip I did the 7-7-7 meme with. If you enjoyed Phoenix Repair Services then you might like this one, it’s a pretty similar concept of house repair going totally wrong with a handyman from the protag’s past to fix the mess, only now there’s a ghost involved in the mix haha! Also it’s tentatively set in Boston because haunted New England houses are a Vibe™️. It’s got a persnickety ghost and a snarky protag who refers to himself as “””emotionally efficient””” because he’s the picture of good mental health 😹 😹 There are 12 other wips that have gathered in this folder but I’ll save the deets for later, this one is the most fleshed out at this point.

Sooo that’s me and my writing folder right now hahaha, someone send a shovel so I can dig myself out, yeah?

Tagging: If you want to play, you’re tagged!

[nikanndros]

A BERENCEL AU WHERE THEY FIND OUT LAURENT WON

Everything that could be done, has been done. Ancel has spent the last months befriending townspeople and preparing blackmail against various nobles. He’s bribed, flattered, and straight up threatened people to prepare for this. This moment - the morning when the riders will come with news of Prince Laurent’s execution, of their new king the former regent.

“We should get up,” Berenger says, but he makes no motion to move. Ancel made him promise that he would be in charge of what could be their last few hours together.

He desperately hopes it won’t be. When the Regent King comes for traitors, Ancel hopes he’s curried enough good favour for Berenger that he’ll be excused. Maybe he’ll lose his lands, but that’s a small price to pay to keep his life. It’s funny how priorities can change, Ancel thinks.

“No,” he says, and: “Kiss me.”

Berenger does. Kissing Berenger is dangerous because he makes the action feel something like love.

-

The riders still haven’t arrived by mid-morning. Surely, Laurent is long dead by now - his head hung upon the gates at Ios.

They go to the stables. Berenger watches with somber affection while Ancel braids his horse’s - Ruby’s - mane. Ruby and he had found a new affinity for each other when Ancel had realised all the lovely ribbons that he could decorate her with. Now when they go out for rides, Ancel and his horse are both beautifully adorned.

Ancel finishes the braid and then, because he has to do this, he turns away from his lover. It’s too vulnerable to say what he wants to say and also been seen.

“Berenger,” he says.

“It’s okay,” Berenger says, forever patient and steady and kind. “You have to go. I know.”

Ancel takes a breath. He hates all these emotions that Berenger has slowly brought to life inside him. Sometimes he longs for the days that he could coldly move from bed to bed - what’s the difference when you’re still getting fucked? - but that’s also a lie, because now that he’s had this, he can’t go back.

“I will survive this,” he says. “No matter what it takes, I’ve always done whatever I could to live. We might have to seperate. I’ll have to go be someone else’s pet.”

“I know,” Berenger says again.

“I want you to know that...that if I could choose, if I had the luxury of choice - it would be you, every time.”

There’s a long pause. “Will you look at me?”

“I can’t. Not until I say it,” he says. “I haven’t said it before, you know? Not even pretending to masters. I don’t think anyone has said it to me, either.” His mother maybe, he likes to believe she cared for him before she died or gave him away or whatever it was that happened to leave him alone in the world.

“Ancel.” He sounds pained.

It’s better to just say it, he thinks. “I love you.”

Hands press onto his shoulders, and Ancel immediately surrenders. He closes his eyes and falls back into a broad chest, lets Berenger support his weight.

“I always thought it was a fairytale fabrication, or a joke,” Ancel whispers, “when people would talk of love. Or maybe it was something reserved for people higher born than me. And then I met you.”

Berenger’s arms tighten around him. “I wasn’t prepared for you,” Berenger replies. “I wish we could stay here, like this, forever.” He presses a kiss into Ancel’s hair. “You have my heart; you are my heart.”

They stay like that, leaning in, chest to back, for an endless amount of time. Then, they fall away from each other to leave the stables. Ancel regrets not trying to kiss him one last time: they won’t be able to express affection before witnesses now that they’re at the end of their journey. Ancel wishes they could clasp hands, at least. It’s odd to feel starved of a touch that was his only moments ago.

They get to the front of Berenger’s estate just in time to spot the rider in the distance. It’s late enough that it must have been quite a trial. They watch the messenger get closer and closer, turning from a sunlit blur into an actual person with discernible features.

Ancel looks down, shocked, when Berenger takes his hand, their fingers interlocking. When he finally moves his eyes back to the rider, he sees what his lover must have seen. The rider is wearing blue.

[beautifulduckweed]

Eyyy, less than three days left to leave a prompt! Join us in our MADNESS. I’ve proposed a Nicaise Lives AU, a modern fake dating Berencel AU, and a drag queen Laurent AU, and I’m sure y’all can come up with even better prompts.

Prompting:

Prompting for Captive Prince Fest is NOW OPEN! 

You may submit as many prompts as you want. You do not have to be creating a work for the fest in order to post a prompt—but by prompting you are playing a key role in participating with the fest and helping inspire new creations for the fandom. Anyone can prompt!

You can either prompt anonymously or include your name with the prompt.

Prompt format will be as follows: 

Prompter name: 

Prompt:

Special Requests/Squicks: (this is where you list any extra prompt details, or squicks you may have. Please be aware that the person claiming your prompt is not required to adhere to these)

Unless specified otherwise, we will assume all prompts are open to all ratings.

You can find the prompting form here. (The form will open at 1pm GMT)

See the prompts here.

Prompting closes 14th July 2022 at 10pm GMT (what time is that for me?).

We are so excited to see what prompts you come up with! ❤️ your mods @shealwaysreads @nayona96 @laurents-peach @beautifulduckweed @captaindamianos

Click here for all the details on the fest!

[ID: A graphic with a photograph of autumn leaves on grass with one persimmon fruit nestled amongst them. Photo followed by text reading: Seasons of Capri. Prompting is open! /End ID]

[ao3feed-captiveprince]

He doesn't seem the type to pay

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2FwPquf

by womanroaring

Post-Pet post-canon modern au where Damen is confused by Ancel and Berenger's relationship.

Nothing raunchy (I'm not good at it); only rated T for mention of sex.

For my friend lisaamd on tumblr, who was squealing at me over Pet, kept sending me funny ideas, and was disappointed there wasn't more fanwork already (even though it's literally been days).

Words: 852, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Captive Prince - C. S. Pacat

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Nikandros (Captive Prince), Damen (Captive Prince), Laurent (Captive Prince), Berenger (Captive Prince), Ancel (Captive Prince)

Relationships: Ancel/Berenger (Captive Prince), Damen/Laurent (Captive Prince)

Additional Tags: Berencel, Modern Era

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2FwPquf

[barbitone]

Berencel AU of the day

Another dance AU? Ancel is a professional tango dancer. His partner, Lazar, gets injured a few weeks before an important competition. He knows a guy though, who can be Ancel's partner. In comes Berenger with his boring jacket.

Which is ridiculous, obviously, because tango is supposed to be sexy, and there is literally NOTHING sexy about Berenger. Except then they dance together, and it turns out there is a lot sexy about Berenger, actually. But only while they're dancing.

The rest of the time he might as well be a potato. He eats unbuttered toast. He brushes his teeth after every meal. He sets his alarm clock for six in the morning and does stretches for an hour, and then goes running for an hour, even on the weekend. Ancel witnesses this first hand, because they share a hotel room as they travel around to competitions. It makes no sense that this stupid dork in a brown jacket is the best tango partner he's ever had.

Meanwhile Berenger is secretly vibrating out of his skin with lust. Eventually Ancel catches on but Berenger refuses to DO anything about it because it's bad luck to start an affair during the dance season, and also for some reason I think maybe he really needs the prize money. Maybe he's embroiled in some regent-related legal battle and his accounts are frozen. Maybe there is some other scandal just under the surface.

Desperate pining and futile flirting ensues. Maybe one night there was one bed.

[barbitone]

Ridiculous Berencel AU of the Day

Therapy AU

Hear me out-

To set the scene, Ancel and Laurent are roommates. They met in school at some point, and now they live together because Laurent covers rent and Ancel cooks and cleans, and reminds Laurent to eat and drink because he's in graduate school and terrible at taking care of himself.

Ancel is working some appropriately low-paying job. Stripping, maybe, but I always have him stripping so maybe this time he's... a dog groomer or something. Maybe he's had to do a lot of different jobs, because he has terrible taste in men and keeps hooking up with coworkers, and when things go south he bails.

And then there's another dramatic break up, another string of shady hookups, and Laurent has to pick up a drunk and crying Ancel at a bar and he's had ENOUGH.

He tells Ancel he has to go to therapy or he has to start paying rent. But it's ok, he knows A Guy. And he will pay for it too, and Ancel better get in line.

Enter Berenger. He is boring and stuffy and lame and wears ugly reading glasses. His receptionist (Parsins) is old and clearly Dissaproves of Ancel's outfits.

But free rent is on the line, so Ancel goes.

He absolutely does NOT engage in therapy (which is important because I know nothing about therapy and do NOT want to try to write it) he just uses it as an excuse to bitch and describe his sexual escapades in great detail to try to get Berenger to blush. Berenger tries to get him to open up for real, to no avail.

Featuring scenes such as:

Ancel runs into Berenger outside of therapy constantly. He runs into him in the grocery store. He runs into him at a bar, where he realizes that Berenger is hot, actually, when he's not wearing his ugly brown suit. He pretends he's Berenger's boyfriend in front of Berenger's friends (Vaskian ladies, for this one) and Berenger can't deny it because... therapy means he can't out Ancel as his client in front of people and he has to play along instead

Ancel doubles down on talking about sex, because now he wants to seduce Berenger for The Challenge

Berenger resists stoically, because this isn't how it's done!

Maybe Berenger accidentally brings his ridiculously anxious horse dog to the grooming place Ancel works without realizing it, and sees Ancel being sweet on her (Ruby?) and her being sweet on him, the way she NEVER is with strangers, and starts to fall a little in love

Ancel complains, petulantly and at length, that some ASSHOLE parked a motorcycle in his favorite spot and he accidentally backed into it and scratched his bumper, and he didn't leave a note and he hopes birds shit all over the bike now that it's lying on the grass under a tree. Berenger gets a pinched look and says "...you knocked over my bike?" It is awkward. They go look at the damage. Ancel offers to pay awkwardly but Berenger refuses. I cannot emphasize enough how AWKWARD it is. Modern AU Berenger is always motorcycle Berenger now, sorry not sorry

Laurent invites his brother and his brother's best friend to dinner. Auguste shows up with Berenger. Berenger is incredibly uncomfortable. Ancel is also uncomfortable. Laurent is a smug asshole. This is what he's wanted all along.

Laurent never thought Ancel needed therapy, he thought Ancel just needed a decent boyfriend, and he's tired of all of Auguste's stories about trying and failing to set Berenger up. Auguste has been trying to get him with someone Appropriate but clearly Berenger is a freak and needs someone wildly Inappropriate, like Ancel

Laurent has been pulling the strings all along, using Ancel and Berenger like action figures trying to get them to Kiss

At their next session, Berenger fires Ancel as a client because clearly this is just Not Appropriate

He asks him out for dinner afterwards

Happily Ever After

[barbitone]

Berencel Au of the day:

Vampires

...that's it. That's all I got

[barbitone]

I absolutely love the way you write berencel I love their dynamic and your portrayals of them are so *chef’s kiss* I can’t stop thinking about them. like what if ancel has never seen a thunderstorm before and gets nervous. what if they go to the beach together and it’s ancel’s first time. what if they went shopping together in walmart or something at midnight. THEY!

Thank you so much!!! I love their dynamic too, obvs <3

Your first two ideas are absolutely lovely, but for some reason the walmart at midnight thing really hooked me lol!

I'm picturing a modern AU, where Berenger is staying with Auguste and his wife to help out with their new baby and gets sent on a midnight diaper run to Walmart, where he meets Ancel in the middle of some sort of massive life crisis. I imagine this being the first time Berenger has ever stepped into a walmart, and somehow he ends up taking Ancel home lol

[barbitone]

Ridiculous Berencel AU of the day

Ancel is a college student living with a shitty boyfriend. Berenger is a professor (Literature? Ancient History? Idk which one speaks to me more tbh)

Due to a mix-up with his scholarship (which covers tuition but not room and board), Ancel is forced to register late for classes and gets stuck with the worst class of all- Berenger’s 8am lecture class. This is an Issue because to make ends meet Ancel works nights at the strip club downtown so he keeps either missing class or falling asleep during it.

This is a double issue, because if his grades slip he could lose his scholarship. So of course he tries to seduce Berenger into giving him an A, which 100% does NOT work.

Eventually they end up talking and Berenger finds out the real issue, at which point he offers Ancel the spare room in his house so he can afford to quit his job and leave his shitty boyfriend. Ancel, of course, takes this as a sex-trade thing but alas! He is once again wrong! After a fight with his boyfriend he finally leaves and shows up to Berenger’s house, probably dramatically in the middle of the night. Maybe it’s raining too, because fuck it. In a fun twist, he’s not the only one living at Berenger’s house. There is also Laurent (student at the university, who’s staying with Berenger because Berenger is Auguste’s BFF), Nicaise (highschool student, basically Laurent and Auguste’s adopted brother at this point), and Alphonse (Berenger’s grade-school aged nephew, who’s staying with Berenger while his mom is away on an extended work trip). It is in fact because of Alphonse that Berenger only offers morning classes in the first place, he needs to be done with class and office hours by the time Alphonse gets back from school.

Featuring such scenes as:

Berenger, obnoxious morning person, wakes everyone up at 7am but they grudgingly put up with it because he always makes the best breakfast.

Ancel catches Damianos sneaking out of Laurent’s bedroom and blackmails Laurent about it for forever (Berenger has a no funny business in the house rule, but Damen is living in a frat house with like 4 roommates so his place is not an option)

Ancel and Nicaise becoming friends and wreaking havoc

Ancel being a horrible influence on Alphonse but like, in a fun way

Ancel and Berenger talking about classwork over dinner and Ancel proving that he actually DID do the readings, thank you very much, and he has a perfectly good grasp of the material

Something dramatic, probably. Maybe Ancel’s shitty ex shows up in a huff and Berenger shuts that shit down like a bamf

Ancel making a show of doing yoga in tiny shorts in the back yard so Berenger can see him from his office

Lots of PINING as Ancel slowly realizes that Berenger is legitimately a good person and also is kind of handsome, but nothing happens because that would be Very Inappropriate

Other Standard College Shenanigans: drugs and parties, someone gets too drunk and has to get rescued, skinny dipping, late night study sessions

Through some convoluted circumstance, Berenger gets drunk and lets Ancel kiss him, only to be wracked with guilt for eternity

Ultimately, Ancel graduates and gets a job, at which point they can finally be together T_T

[barbitone]

Ridiculous Berencel AU of the day:

Berenger is the director of a ballet company and Ancel is a newcomer who sets about trying to seduce him so he’ll get the lead role. Berenger is, of course, very resistant to this. Ancel- who’s used to the system of trading sex for roles, is absolutely out of his mind with confusion and frustration.

The casting sheet is put up. Ancel got the lead role (because he is actually very talented and hardworking and his audition was, while not technically perfect, beautifully poignant and heartfelt). He is now EVEN MORE confused.

Featuring such scenes as:

Berenger watching longingly as Ancel practices alone, late into the night, too focused on the task to realize Berenger is there and desperately in love with him.

Long nights of Berenger, a retired dancer himself, helping Ancel with the choreography. Aka yes they dance together alone in the intimately lit studio and it is VERY UST. Cue Berenger sensually putting his hands all over Ancel’s body to adjust his posture and positioning. Also- everyone’s always in very tight leotards

At some point Ancel hurts himself and Berenger ices his ankle and brings him tea.

Maybe Ancel’s shitty ex shows up- the director of his previous company- and sidles up to Berenger during rehearsal and makes insinuating comments about how he made Ancel perform sexual favors to get roles and then Berenger punches him in the face. After which Ancel bails him out of jail.

Ancel tries to kiss Berenger, who doesn’t let it happen and they have a big fight and Ancel throws a fit and storms off. Berenger later gets a late-night drunken phone call- Ancel went out to a bar and he’s pretty sure someone drugged his drink and Berenger drops everything to rush out and rescue him. Berenger takes him back to his apartment and Ancel confesses to wanting him and being frustrated that Berenger doesn’t want him back

Berenger, sure that Ancel won’t remember in the morning, confesses that he wants Ancel too, and has ever since the beginning

Ancel does, in fact, remember in the morning

The culmination of everything- Ancel is a triumph at opening night, at which point Berenger gives him flowers and Ancel throws his arm around Berenger’s neck and kisses him for the first time ever, in front of everybody-

Nicaise is not amused. Parsins, the conductor of the orchestra and Berenger’s old friend aka childhood babysitter, is also very much not amused. He and Nicaise share a look, rolling their eyes

Berenger literally picks Ancel up and carries him off and then they bone in Berenger’s office

[barbitone]

Ridiculous Berencel AU of the day

Ancel is Berenger’s pool boy.

That’s it, guys. That’s all I got.

[barbitone]

Ridiculous Berencel AU of the day

Berenger is a lonely touch-starved workaholic, working as a lawyer for Laurent and/or Auguste’s firm. Laurent’s secretary (Nicaise) sets him up with high-end escort Ancel.

At first Berenger goes along with this, but ultimately Ancel shows up to his place and they have a glass of wine or something and Berenger realizes he really can’t go through with this, so he pays Ancel all his money (plus generous tip) and politely asks him to leave.

At first Ancel is like “sweet” but as he’s about to walk out to the door he looks back to see Berenger standing on his balcony, looking all sad and lonesome, so he stays instead. They spend the night watching shitty movies and drinking wine and playing video games (which Berenger keeps for when his niece and nephews visit). Maybe Ancel gives Berenger a (platonic) massage. He was in training to be a physical therapist when he had to drop out because of Circumstances (he was living with a boyfriend who started slapping him around, so Ancel stole a bunch of his shit and set his place on fire because I LOVE arsonist!Ancel it is Too Good)

This becomes a regular thing- Berenger paying Ancel to basically hang out with him. Berenger takes Ancel to gallery openings and galas, and Ancel takes Berenger to clubs and bars and out shopping (where Berenger drops big $$$ buying Ancel all sorts of shit on top of his regular rate)

Eventually they fall in love for reals (obviously). Maybe Ancel calls Berenger from jail one night. One of his clients was trying to break a hard boundary and Ancel fought back and it escalated, and now Berenger is the only person Ancel has to call to bail him out.

If you wanna take it to a quarantine place, then maybe Ancel loses his apartment right before the pandemic and Berenger offers to let him stay at his penthouse. Berenger is working from home, Ancel is camming from the spare bedroom. Fluff ensues. 

Eventually they get married T_T