Chapter Text
This modern AU is my extension of the modern AU headcanon where Lenore and Annabel are PhD students in rival research groups at the university of two rival faculties (Physics and Mathematics) that need to share a building because of low funding. Since PhD school is kinda like purgatory on its own so it's quite a fitting setup IMO.
- Lenore's a physicist (specialization: Particle Physics and Programming), while Annabel's a mathematician (specialization: Statistics and Algorithms)
- They met just before the start of the PhD programs while volunteering as counsellors at a summer science camp organized by their university for high school students
- They shared a room and bonded over the excitement of beginning the PhD programs, their academic interests, their love for games etc. But it wasn't long before their relationship evolved into something more and soon after they started dating
- Lenore's style could be described as edgy/rebel but started to dress smarter (like a nice shirt and pants and sometimes a tie too) for the job, while Annabel's is more preppy with floral accents and always wears a small raven-shaped necklace Lenore's got her for their second date
- Since starting dating Annabel, Lenore started incorporating floral motives into her wardrobe as well (like floral patterned shirts, ties, socks etc.)
- Lenore's out and proud but her parents disowned her at the beginning of her studies. Luckily she has some rich grandma/grandpa who could financially support her. Her older brother Theo used to be in the same PhD program but before graduation, he disappeared. (he can be missing, he can be dead - I haven't decided yet)
- Annabel is still in the closet.
- They're both super talented and are soon deemed rising stars in their departments
- In Lenore's team, there are also four other PhD students: Duke, Berenice, Eulalie and Pluto, and they all share the same workroom at the University
- Duke is Lenore's closest friend; their desks are next to each other and they hit the gym together regularly
- Annabel's team consists of other PhD students: Prospero (who came here from Italy) and Will, and annoying secretary Ada who thinks she's better because she's working at university. There's also a postdoc Monty, who no one likes and no one is sure who hired him. The latest addition to the team is a Master's degree student Morella (who did her Bachelor's degree at the Faculty of Physics -and she knows the gang from Lenore's group - but switched for Masters to Mathematics)
- Both of their groups research quantum computing but because of the lack of funding they have to fight with each other for the money and rivalry evolves into people despising each other irl
- The Deans don't want to do anything with that because they find this whole drama entertaining.
- Both girls want to go to the same Institute in Europe for their postdocs so Annabel comes up with a plan to get them both jobs at that Institute that includes them pretending to hate each other
- Everyone knows about the beef of unknown origin between the two most promising PhD candidates
- Lenore is that kind of TA that gives off an "older sibling"/"cool uncle"/"bad boi" vibe, she rides a cool motorbike every day and the students simply adore her! Some even have an obvious crush on her and try to flirt with her but Lenore is awkward and such a simp for Annabel Lee she interprets it as them being nice/buttering her up for a better grade
- Annabel on the other hand is pretty much a "ice queen" of the department she's respected for her work but also people low-key (high-key) fear her. She also (but you didn't hear it from me) tends to go harder on students she knows who tried to hit on her pet. But you can't prove her anything.
- Once a week Lenore has the whole work room for herself and that's when Annabel sneaks out for lunch dates with her gf to talk about each other's day, hold hands and steal a kiss or two
- Both Annabel and Lenore are gamers but of a different kind. Annabel loves every strategy game and streams her gameplay in her free time. She is also an international champion in online chess. She and Lenore often play chess together but Annabel always wins. They make a deal that if Lenore would ever win against Annabel the loser will grant a winner one wish.
- Lenore on the other hand loves tabletop games - especially RPGs. And she DMs a homebrew D&D campaign for the gang + Morella.
- After the first year, the girls moved in together into the small apartment
- Now that Lenore's got her place she hosts most of the D&D sessions for the gang (not to raise any suspicions).
- Before every session, the girls need to clean their apartment of any evidence of their relationship and when the gang comes over Annabel stays in her streaming room playing games/doing some work. Lenore tells her friends that she has this weirdo-roommate that seldom leaves their room and they're better not to be bothered with. All this work, however, goes in vain, when Pluto unexpectedly comes over to Lenore's flat to ask for help with some work before his first conference. To make things worse the girls were expecting the delivery guy to bring them their food that evening. Imagine Pluto's surprise when the person who opened the door was no other but the Ice Queen herself wearing sports shorts and a worn-me-down t-shirt and behind her Lenore was sitting on a sofa.
- After a while girls manage to calm hyperventilating Pluto down, and they ask him to keep it a secret. Pluto wasn't too keen on lying but Annabel managed to persuade him not to tell anyone. He agreed but only if Lenore will come clean to the gang about her and Annabel Lee relationship.
- So before the next session, Lenore finally tells the rest of the gang the truth. There's a feeling of betrayal, some tears and lots of shouting because they (especially Duke) are hurt that Lenore has lied to them.
- There's some drama and silent treatment towards Lenore for a couple of weeks but it made everyone even more miserable so they eventually all reconcile.
- At first, the gang remains sceptic towards Annabel Lee but after some time they welcome her to the group. She occasionally joins them for D&D sessions or board game nights (when everyone fights to be with her in the same team because when Annabel gets competitive, her team always wins no matter the game).