A Mingling of Magics

The more I see (from the sidelines) of what Miraculous Ladybug has turned into over 10 years/6 seasons, the more I'm glad Danny Phantom ended after Season 3.

Spoilers under cut for Young Sherlock and BBC Merlin

In the National Treasure universe, some of the Founding Fathers are confirmed to be freemasons who were a part of hiding the Templar Treasure. Of those featured in the Hamilton musical, Washington and Lafayette were freemasons in real life, and Washington in the film was involved in the conspiracy. But then, Charles Carroll, not a mason in real life, also knew the secret in the film.

So, based on their characterizations in the musical, do we think Hamilton was also involved, considering his closeness to Washington? Or not, because the man seemingly couldn't keep a secret to save his life? What about Burr, Jefferson, or Madison?

Also keep in mind: The Templar Treasure was in the film buried in New York. In fact, it was buried under the church where the real Hamilton and Eliza are buried. Coincidence?

A number of people have compared this recent superhero workplace dramedy game to Ted Lasso in terms of feel good vibes.

Here's my proposition for a Dispatch AU with the Ted Lasso characters, and the game and show characters don't have to be 1:1 perfect matches, but:

- Ted as Mecha Mustache: Doesn't have powers, but inherited a mech suit from his father that he has piloted since his father's death when he was a teenager. When the suit is damaged beyond repair by a mysterious new villain, a lost Ted is recruited by Superhero Dispatch Network to mentor a group of Phoenix Program supers known as Greyhound/Richmond Team, in exchange for the resources to repair the suit. Of course, the fact that he doesn't have powers makes people suspicious whether he is fit to lead a super team. (Not sure if Ted's son and wife would be involved in this AU, but perhaps he justifies leaving Henry in part because he wants to be able to pass the suit down to Henry, should he choose to be a hero.)

- Rebecca as Blonde Blazer: One of the faces of SDN, Blonde Blazer is the whole package: Super strength, flight, and light beam powers. But she has a vulnerable side she hides from most people. She also recently broke up with another prominent hero, Manchester (Rupert), who is not as picture perfect as the SDN ads make him seem. Don't know if Rebecca is trying to sabotage Richmond here as in the show, since Blonde Blazer is a total good guy, but sooo many people suspected her character was secretly evil until late in play through .

- Beard: Ted's friend and engineer, part gearhead part scientist, who he takes along to SDN. A former thief as a teen, he was caught by Ted, but given a second chance and set straight by the Phoenix Program. Also has some minor telekinesis, helpful for carrying heavy mechanical parts. Similar to Royd from the game, with a dash of Chase/Track Star.

- Roy Kent as Track Star: A fading hero whose super speed is also causing him to age faster. It was caught in time before he did serious damage to his body and lifespan, but now, forced to take it slower, he struggles to keep up in the field the way he used to. Later becomes a dispatcher alongside Ted. Like Track Star in the game, he likes to use the word "fuck" a lot.

- Nate as Invisiboy: This is sort of a fusion between the game's Invisigal and Waterboy. A rookie hero added to Richmond Team for his earnestness and potential, his power is to turn invisible, but only when he holds his breath. His loyalties aren't always as clear as his powers though, and Nate feels insecure since some consider his powers to be "villain powers".

- Jamie Tartt as Flambae: A cocky former villain now part of Phoenix Program with fire powers and flight. He thinks he's all that, and does have the most successful saves of anyone of Team Richmond. Of course, that might be because he insists on doing everything by himself and refuses to work as a team. He does, however, have a soft spot for kids.

- Keeley Jones as Prism: A performer with a social media following who also happens to have light construct powers. She's had some minor misdemeanors, which got her landed in Phoenix Program, but she's eager to do good now... she just doesn't always know how to do that. Has synergy with Flambae.

- Higgins: Dispatcher with super hearing, he's Blazer's assistant. Super helpful. But always in the background.

- Rupert as Manchester: An alien hero with super strength, speed, intelligence, and flight, he's incredibly charming, another face of SDN. His behavior off the job, however, is highly questionable. (Fusion of Phenomaman and Shroud from the game).

The rest of the Richmond players don't have clear parallels to game characters, so they could have unique hero personas and powers.

Thoughts? How would you translate Ted Lasso characters to a world where superheroes and villains are so commonplace, it's a job?

Just a short list of many AUs I've enjoyed over the years

Wingfics:

Pulchrae Alis (Beautiful Wings): A White Collar Wingfic with some great worldbuilding, and some nice illustrations to go with the story. Really emphasizes Peter and Neal's platonic bond. Link

Infinitely Stranger: A BBC Sherlock magic au/creature fic, and one of the quirkier ones, using some deep cuts into folklore. https://archiveofourown.org/works/691226/chapters/1270149

Angel With a Shotgun: A Critical Role Vox Machina AU which retells the Briarwood Arc with one little twist... Percy's not as human as he always thought. And yes, wings are involved. https://archiveofourown.org/works/33177010/chapters/82367731

It Sings In Your Voice: Essentially another Vox Machina Percy is an aasimar AU. I just think it's neat. https://archiveofourown.org/works/8561767

Magic or Superpower AUs (In universes without them):

You grow like ivy around me: Hamilton Modern with Magic AU/College AU. Aaron Burr has a crush on Alex Hamilton. His magic causes this to manifest in unusual ways. https://archiveofourown.org/works/7741633 a crown of maple leaves, a crown of flowers: Essentially Hamilton's perspective on the above. https://archiveofourown.org/works/7758136/chapters/17690959

Changing Tides: Sanders Sides Merfolk/Selkie AU. Young teen Virgil is found, nearly drowned, by a pod of diverse merpeople, who end up saving him in more ways than one. https://archiveofourown.org/works/24429820/chapters/58941814

shy daydreams and stardust: Anne with an E Magic AU. Magical realism and Anne/Gilbert fluff. Anne and Gilbert discover they have a shared secret and decide to help each other out. https://archiveofourown.org/works/15501489/chapters/35985648

The Bookkeeper: Sanders Sides Magic AU. This one surprised me with how deep it became near the end. A beautiful meditation on what gives life meaning. Logan is a bookshop owner with magic, but has neglected his gifts and the books his grandfather collected as an adult in favor or studying nihilism. Patton, one of his best customers, stumbles upon his secret and helps him reconnect to that side of him. https://archiveofourown.org/works/32798791/chapters/81381838

if you ever did believe: The Ted Lasso Season 1- Practical Magic fusion you didn't know you needed. Rebecca and Sassy are witches whose lovers are cursed to turn on them and betray them. The witches themselves are cursed to respond with heartbreak or revenge. Rebecca has chosen revenge... but Ted Lasso might change all that. https://archiveofourown.org/works/33974254/chapters/84494317

Fourth Floor: Avengers/Captain America, Modern with (More) Magic AU. Steve is struggling to get through wizard college in New York City, but needs a place to stay. Sam tells him his apartment building has a vacancy. He finds the building has a lot of quirks, misfits, and one grumpy but attractive cook. But all is not as it seems, not even Steve himself. I love the inventive changes to the Avengers' canon powers and backstories to make them more magical yet grounded in this version of New York. https://archiveofourown.org/works/11843493

Tadashi's Guide to the Other Side: Big Hero 6 Magic/Paranormal AU. Tadashi wakes up after his death as an Oni (Japanese spirit) with fire powers and sets about trying to protect his brother and friends during the events of the first film while they can't see or hear him. Callaghan in this version is a vengeful spirit, so tech isn't enough to stop him. https://archiveofourown.org/series/237522

Misc. Canon Divergences:

The Normal One: Superman & Lois canon divergence series where Jonathan Kent, in Season 1, discovers he has his own set of powers vastly different from his father's or brother's. The series is made of 100 fics written over nearly 4 years, with its own set of original characters who are pretty fun to follow alongside the canon characters. https://archiveofourown.org/series/2369875

The Schneiders of Stars Hollow: A Gilmore Girls/ Marvelous Mrs. Maisel crossover proposing that perhaps Midge and Lenny managed to make a happy ending for themselves and survive into the 90s/early 2000s. https://archiveofourown.org/works/38856480

Born of Magic: Merlin canon divergence/ Arthur has magic AU fic, where what if, after Arthur recovered from the Questing Beast incident at the end of Series 1, he discovered he was born of magic and has unique abilities that come from that. I think what I really like is Arthur's magic is not the magic of a sorcerer, but the magic of a king, so he has abilities quite different from Merlin's. They also manage to form a stronger bond sooner, which is nice. https://archiveofourown.org/works/4927207

Garden or Graveyard: BBC Merlin Arthur has magic AU. Again, love it when Arthur is such fics isn't just another sorcerer but has something unique to offer, and this one also emphasizes his intelligence. https://archiveofourown.org/works/21847510