#dbda AU

[arrow-jsy]

Au where edwin was a repressed gay edwardian poet and then decades later musician charles rolls up using edwins poems in rock ballads and songs

[ro-doodles]

Did someone ask for a role swap AU?

No? Well, take one anyway.

In this AU the agency would be based in the US, maybe New York or Boston, since Crystal and Niko are both from or live in America in the show. Then instead of Port Townsend they would go to a small sea side town in England. Like I mentioned in the Charles blurb, I’m swapping Jenny and the Night Nurse for this au, but I’m not sure what to do with the rest of the characters, so I’m open to suggestions.

More of this au:

Jenny and the Night Nurse

Miscellaneous Doodles

[guardianspirits13]

DBD au where Charles is an art student and Edwin haunts the arts building because his bones are used for still lives and studies there, inspired by my high school art classroom which had a box with human bones on top of the supplies cabinet that nobody knew the origin of.

[idliketobeatree]

it's okay to just admit that you're jealous of me, you're obsessin', just confess it 'cause it's obvious i'm your number one. (or, edwin payne's cunty hot girlypop brat summer)

[alltimefail]

Don't get me wrong I've been loving all the Alive AUs for the boys set in the Edwardian era and in modern day with the girls...

but I would REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE it if someone would write an Alive AU set in Charles' time (1989). Please!!! I promise there is soooo much to explore there!

[read-write-thrive]

fem!payneland is seriously running the show that is my brain rn, like I was going to write a quick flirty one shot to incorporate how perplexed Charlotte would be with Edwina’s undergarments (as inspired by my fanart series, most recent part and links to all the others found here!) but then I somehow managed to rewrite nearly the whole meeting scene with my versions of the characters and now I want to make it a series too……….. something about the ghost yuri is getting to me

if I end up writing any more than what I’ve already done, however, I’ll want to bring Crystal and Niko and all our favorite other characters into the fold as well, so now I’ve got a bigger question for y’all: (and yes I also don’t like the term genderbend but im using it here to denote that they're sex swapped as in not trans about it yk)

[ladykailitha]

Dead Boy Detectives AU

I saw someone sort of do this, but I wanted to take a crack at it too.

We'd have to play fast and loose with the ages on this because certain characters would be older and younger than then their Stranger Things counterparts.

Steve as Edwin and Eddie as Charles. I know, know. Eddie=Edwin... but hear me out.

Steve who has gone through almost as much Hell as El and Will and he's not even technically the main character (could be debated but for ease here, Stranger Things is mainly about Will and El, let's be honest.) So he's Edwin. Yes, Steve isn't known for his book smarts, but eh, it's all guidelines, anyway. But he could totally make a map to get out of hell.

Then you have Eddie who canonically sacrificed himself for someone else, the way Charles dies because he was protecting that Pakistani kid. Plus Eddie could have been at the school because Wayne (a caretaker there) got him a scholarship to get him away from his abusive dad. But because he was a scholarship kid, Wayne couldn't get them to care about what happened to his nephew.

Steve escapes Hell and he sees a shivering Eddie in the attic and reads to him until he dies. Eddie is for Heaven because of the kid, but Eddie makes a split second decision to stay with Steve. For several reasons, to watch over Wayne. To make sure his dad doesn't beat his mom to death. Because this kind boy who had literally escaped Hell, stayed and comforted him.

Now a lot of their personalities are reversed here, but as one of my favorite Youtubers likes to say adaptions are not copy and paste. Steve is the "brawn" with his nail bat. While Eddie is the brain with his magic. Steve would be gay and Eddie the closeted bi disaster (something I've done a couple or three times before).

Flash forward 30 years and they're Dead Boy Detectives. They meet Chrissy who is a psychic on the run from her demon boyfriend Jason (I love the twisting of Jason for this, because wooboy was he a horrible person.) and they help her out. Even when she loses her memories.

They get trapped in a coastal town because Steve pisses off local cat king Billy (because let's face it Dacre Montgomery and Lukas Gage have a lot of the same sex appeal.)

Robin as Niko. (and it's gay, not just sprites).

Hopper as Tragic Mick.

Nancy, the youth seeking witch and her crow Jonathan.

Joyce and Murray as the sprites.

Tommy as Simon, the kid in hell.

[popodoki]

Hey, teacher! Aka my damn motorcycle Catwin AU! Part 2! Cause I'm easily swayed x

In this AU, Edwin is a school teacher, and Thomas owns a really cool motorcycle :'')

I think its pretty clear, but just for the record: I am taking various liberties with characters etc here

I also know nothing about astrology, friends x

Edwin sighs as he looks over the latest batch of exam scores from his class.  High grades from his studious pupils as usual, lower grades from the boys who were almost equally as bright, but didn't put forth the effort. A long-standing issue, one the school board doesn’t seem half as concerned with as he is. Now alone in his classroom, Edwin hears the final bell, the ensuing floor-shaking exodus of students to the open air. He leans back in his seat, vowing to try to come up with some sort of solution to this problem later.   

He packs some essays to read, homework that still need to be graded, into his briefcase, retrieves his coat from the rack in the corner on the way to the door.  He very much needs a nice cup of coffee. 

"Hey, Mister Edwin!" A loud shout echoes from the end of the hallway, and Edwin frowns, to himself, turning to face the student that the other teachers have affectionately likened to a bird.   

"Mr. Finch, I have repeatedly told you to call me Mr. Payne. Not to refer to me by my first name, and especially not within the school grounds." 

The teen has the grace to look apologetic, yet in pure young-spirited fashion, physically shrugs off the comment just a moment later. “I’m sorry Mr. Payne. But I have good news for you!  Check it out!"  The young man pulls a thick book out of his shoulder bag, flips it open to a page, bookmarked with a grey and blue checkered bit of laminated paper, thrusts the turned book and open page at Edwin, near bouncing with anticipation.  Edwin bends his head and glances, inspects the writing, charts and scribbles. It's a large astrology analysis.  On the top of the page, written in bold letters is 'Capricorn'. Below, Edwin skims through a far too large amount of text, even for an avid reader, and regrettably still unwillingly picks up phrases such as ‘You’re in the market for a partnership, and you might be pleasantly surprised, Capricorn.’, ‘Any existing relationship can deepen through dialogue.’ or ‘Saturn favours staying power, so look for a plus-one who’s in it for the long haul.’ Edwin skims faster, rereading the same few sentences to stall, making an estimate of a more natural seeming amount of time to read a prediction of his love life, from an astrology tome held up by a fifteen year old. 

Next to all of this utter tripe, is a note stating 'check star alignment!'   

Edwin can't help but smile, still, at the student’s obvious enthusiasm for the subject.     

"Isn't that great news?" Monty Finch asks him with an answering smile, "Not only does your horoscope predict it, but I did in fact check, of course, and the star alignment today is also very favourable.  Know what that means?" He adds in a conspiring, whispering tone. 

"You have a bit too much free time and need to be assigned more homework?" Edwin asks, with a hint of a smile still on his cheeks and a tilt of his head to accompany his teasing intention.   

The teen starts up his own analysis of the analysis, and Edwin knows if he doesn't put a stop to this conversation, Monty will keep talking, undeterred, for the next 20 minutes.  "Alright, well Mr. Finch, thank you for sharing your inspiring passion for astrology. Enjoy your weekend."  He pats the boy semi-affectionately on the shoulder, and brushes past him with long strides, beating a hasty retreat. 

"Trust in the stars, Mr. Payne!" 

Edwin tosses his brown leather shoulderbag into the passenger's seat of his car, pulls out of the school's parking lot, sighs deeply, rolls the windows down and lets the crisp air fill the car, rustle his hair.   

He passes the Allcott estate on his way into town, glances out the window at it as he passes, though he doesn't know what he expects to find. The outer gates are closed, locked, he can't really see past them, so he shrugs to himself, refocuses on the road.   

Port Townsend is one of the most affluent in the state. The people who live here have money, and they like to show it off. The school Edwin works for is a private, all-boys school that prides itself on how many of its students move on to acclaimed universities and careers pre-planned by either doting or detached parents. The houses are beautiful and scenic, most of the people are shallow and nosy.    

Edwin pulls to a stop when he finds a good parking space, a few blocks away from his favourite coffee shop. It's small, locally owned, and one of Edwin's favourite things to do is order one of their dark roasts, with a scone, that is decidedly nothing at all like a bisquit, and settle in one of the overstuffed chairs by the window while he grades papers.   

When the little bell above the door softly chimes as he walks in, he's happy to see that his favourite barista is behind the counter, studiously arranging the pastries.  "Hi Edwin!"  She chirps, and immediately sets to the task of hand-grinding the beans for his coffee.   

“Hello, Niko, good afternoon.” Edwin smiles at her and looks for a seat, settling in with a cursory glance through the window. The smile falls from his face.   

He's utterly confused, instead, looks around to see if anyone has noticed that this is happening, or if he's just imagining it. A little shake of his head doesn’t clear the vision; the sleek black and brown motorcycle parked next to the curb across from the café. The man sitting on the bench near it in the lightest definition of the word ‘sitting’, limbs spread akimbo across the furniture, head lolled back against the backrest.  

"Quite weird, right?  I gave him a cup of coffee to go, and then he didn’t actually go. He pretty much fell right to sleep on that bench. I don’t think that’s a good position to sleep in.  But, he looked so tired I don't have the heart to disturb him. And nobody has passed that bench, the bike is turned off and parked legally, so I don't think anyone minds. Have you ever seen a bike like that? I like his jacket, so cool!" Niko smiles, retrieves his scone and reaches for a mug just as the coffee finishes brewing. Edwin thanks her, but holds up a hand, silently asking her to wait as he chooses another corner of the coffee shop, making sure he can keep the bench and its occupant in his line of vision, though he can't pin down exactly why.  

Probably just the novelty of it all. Port Townsend was a town steeped in tradition, both in values and a clockwork year-round schedule. The town council kept everything pretty, decent, and calm. If Edwin was completely honest with himself, it was the reason he settled here.   

He's interrupted from his wandering thoughts, when the sound of several high-pitched voices, barely audible over the loud clacking chorus of stiletto heels on well-maintained concrete reaches his ears. 

Oh no. This is going to go really bad, really fast. 

Edwin is out of his seat, ignoring Niko’s questioning little “Edwin?”, and heading for the door before he’s even consciously considered the decision. As soon as he’s greeted by the warm air outside, he’s also greeted by the sight of one Esther Finch, and several members of the Homeowner’s Association. When that calculating gaze locks on Edwin, and stays so, Edwin spares a thought, a quick mental note, that Monty must have been wrong about the star alignment. He does not feel particularly pleasantly surprised, at all.  

[bettykeeldar]

My friend the other day came up with a brilliant crossover, so here you go, dbda Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead!au. I'm not very good at drawing but I'm really happy to show you this cause I think it's an awesome idea, i love these fandoms so muchhh 🙏🙏🙏

P.s. if anyone w better art skills would draw paynland in this au I would literally cry

[ghostthewriter09]

Sports AU

Palasaki au where Niko is a professional figure skater and Crystal is a professional hurdler. Niko doesn’t really run but one day she’s training and runs into Crystal. They become running buddies, then Niko teaches Crystal how to skate. Despite her hard shell, Crystal warms up to Niko very quickly. Crystal is a lot better than Niko expected, at everything. Also Niko makes her own clothing, Niko and Monty are classmates and Charles plays tennis.

[arrow-jsy]

Has anyone dbda au / payneland au where one of them gets trapped in a mirror..... cuz i might

[slips idea into back pocket for deadboy-oween]

[ro-doodles]

Swap au doodles

I’m working on the next character set, but I’m a little more busy with school rn and I’m struggling a bit design wise, so for now have so au doodles.

We have 1/2) alive boys first meeting (+ some sprite effects), 3) Charles annoying Charlotte, 4) Crystal in hell, 5) dead girls first meeting

Main au post here, cat king and Esther coming soon.

[guardianspirits13]

Dead Boy Detectives AU in which everything is the same but Charles was sent overseas to St. Hilarion’s from America. Nothing changes but his accent and the fact that he calls Edwin “bro” and “dude” which Edwin cannot stand.

[soapy-birblover]

Dead Boy Detectives x The Locked Tomb AU

Charles and Edwin have SUCH cavalier-necromancer potential it’s insane!!!!!!!!

My rambles on this AU below:

Edwin - Fifth House necromancer, generalist with slightly more experience in spirit magic and psychometry. Focuses more on the application of necromancy rather than research. Has studied on the Sixth House at some point.

Charles - Fourth House cavalier, offhand is a buckler (small shield. to protect Edwin :D).

They would have met at Koniortos Court on the Fifth, leading to a rare interhouse pairing which was only allowed due to the close association between their houses (I’m not sure if this would work in universe, as a lot of necro cav pairs are pre-determined, but maybe their pairing was some sort of alliance between houses, or maybe they’re low ranking enough that it doesn’t matter). Due to how revenants work in The Locked Tomb, I think our dead boys are gonna have to be alive, as even if Edwin cracked some way to exist as a fully conscious revenant that doesn’t need to attach itself to something/one, who would their clients even be lmao.

But yeah. Their devotion to one another would be insane (like Palamedes and Camilla levels of insane; they know exactly how the other thinks and are able to work together perfectly). If they were sent to the frontlines to fight, their role would more so be helping things run smoothly: detecting lingering revenants, helping suffering soldiers pass on through the River, solving the odd mystery here and there, whatever.

Charles being from Fourth House has.. hehehe... implications. He would most likely have siblings to “compete with” instead of being an only child, so maybe that feeds into his desire to please his father. Soldiers from the Fourth House tend to die young, so perhaps he’s stressed about keeping him and Edwin safe and alive. Also. "Four for fidelity, facing ahead" AHAHHAHAHA the loyalty is baked so hard into this guy. Charles would be a pretty good cavalier, as in this universe he would have actually had training, but his main priority is to protect Edwin, and he can usually do that through distraction and taking the blunt of a blow. As a necro-cav pair they would try to avoid violence, sort of like Pal and Cam.

Other characters:

Crystal - Third House necromancer who received training on the Fifth House due to a natural talent for spirit and soul magic. David was a fellow Third House necromancer (flesh magician) she dated, but then he died somehow (probably in some dumbass way), and now he’s an asshat revenant haunting her and fucking with her mind. If she has a cavalier, she doesn’t remember them.

Niko - Fifth House, neither a necromancer nor cavalier. Literally just chilling. Maybe she’s a romance writer or academic who writes fanfic on the side.

The Cat King - Heir to the House of the Third, Crown Prince of Ida. His cavalier primary is likely extremely skilled but someone he doesn't care all that much about. Powerful animaphilia flesh magician necromancer, and extremely influential within his house. He doesn't have "nine lives" but is instead very good at self regeneration, given some time, of course, as it's strenuous.

Esther - Seventh House necromancer. She attempted Lyctorhood without knowing that’s what it was, but messed it up (this is when she murdered her husband + his lover), so while she lives eternally (unless killed hard enough), her body is in a constant state of decay that she mitigates with injections of thalergy (which she extracts from little girls :3). She relies heavily on Eighth House soul siphoning magic for her methods, so has probably studied there. She’s not technically a Lyctor, but still very powerful, and lays low on her planet because she's content to just be a menace there, and maybe take over one day, if she can be bothered. She didn't absorb that much of her husbands' soul, so permeability is lower than usual, but still leads to some juicy shit whenever she catches herself thinking or doing something that he used to do, because she HATES him man. Also he was just some guy, so Esther doesn't have any cavalier skills, and can't drop into the River.

Monty - Seventh House cavalier. Esther chose to be paired with him when he was born, because she didn't want to be forcefully paired up with some rando who would report her little girl murders. So, you know, homeschooling indoctrination vibes. Esther doesn’t think she needs a cavalier, so he doesn’t do much besides odd jobs for her (kind of like Ortus but instead of writing fanfic poetry he’s into astrology). His offhand is a chain (I think that's customary for Seventh House cavs? also because chain symbolism relates to his relationship with Esther :P).

Jenny - Second House, neither a necromancer nor cavalier. Likely works to prepare food for Cohort soldiers. Received some cavalier training as a child but was never bonded with an adept, but, you know, the Second House wants everyone to be a somewhat competent fighter. Proficient at rapier with dagger offhand, but weapon of choice in a pinch are her butcher blades (two short swords).

Night Nurse - First House, definitely a Lyctor, idk who her cavalier would have been though (hence I don't have a saintly title for her). Originally Sixth House (all that bureaucracy!), or maybe even Eighth House (Mercymorn vibes). Her offhand is a net because she do be trying to catch people.

Okay. Okay now imagine Edwin trying to solve their conflict with Esther in a more civil manner: cavalier duel between Charles and Monty. Bro that’s. That’s delicious. The drama of it. Esther wondering why the duel seems so personal. Monty glancing at Edwin every few seconds. Charles getting ready to beat Monty's ass. Ehehehheherhehe.

[ahyperactivehero]

chapter 2 of my Charles survives the attic AU is up now! sorry it has taken me so long to post!

(I Just) Survived In Your Arms Tonight Chapter 2

Charles Rowland doesn't die in that attic. Surprisingly little changes as a result.

XXX

He didn’t notice when the world went dark. Or when Edwin’s arms around him disappeared as everything faded away. He didn’t notice the sound of one of his teachers coming up the stairs, shoes banging in panic as he searched for Charles.

The only thing he noticed was Edwin’s voice, gently soothing him as he drifted off. “You are going to be alright. Help is here. You are going to be fine, Charles.”

His heart nearly stopped when Edwin’s voice disappeared.

[obsessiveagony2point0]

….I really enjoy drawing Charles with sharp teeth….