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* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Cole]], who is presumed dead after a HeroicSacrifice but is revealed at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale'' to be alive and mostly well. Also [[spoiler: Root, Carter, Reese]] and pretty much any good-aligned character who wasn't spared in canon.
to:
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Cole]], who is presumed dead after a HeroicSacrifice but who is revealed at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale'' to be alive and mostly well. Also [[spoiler: Root, Carter, Reese]] and pretty much any good-aligned character who wasn't spared in canon.
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* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: Root]] is revealed to be a princess at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''. A bit of a subversion in that her royal status is somewhat secondary to her status as an internationally infamous assassin.
to:
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: Root]] is revealed to be a princess at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''. A bit of a subversion Slightly downplayed in that her royal status is somewhat secondary to her status as an internationally infamous assassin.
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* TheKingslayer: Root has assassinated a number of people, but she's most infamous for killing the previous king of Thornhill. [[spoiler: She didn't, at least not intentionally. He died of shock upon seeing her, apparently thinking she was the vengeful spirit of her dead mother.]]
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* BloodMagic: Root uses some after Control tortures her, killing all of Control's guards instantly and letting her make good her escape. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
to:
* BloodMagic: Root uses some after Control tortures her, killing all of Control's guards instantly and letting her make good her escape. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
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* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They [[spoiler: get engaged]] shortly after fighting a dragon together, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
to:
* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They [[spoiler: get engaged]] shortly after bond in the course of fighting a dragon together, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
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* BadassGay: Root and Shaw, who are just as queer as in canon and arguably even more badass.
to:
* BadassGay: Root and Shaw, who Shaw are just as queer as in canon and arguably even more badass.
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* BadassBookworm: Root, who is often surrounded by books, and who is Root. Shaw gets her a book as a present at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''.
to:
* BadassBookworm: Root, who is often surrounded by books, books and who is Root. Shaw gets her a book as a present at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''.
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* LoopholeAbuse: The reward for killing Samaritan is 50,000 gold, the hand of a princess in marriage, and an additional favor of the person's choice. Shaw plans to ask for the favor of not having to marry any princesses, leaving her with just the gold. Fate has other ideas.
to:
* LoopholeAbuse: The reward for killing Samaritan is 50,000 gold, the hand of a princess in marriage, and an additional favor of the person's choice. Shaw plans to ask for the favor of not having to marry any princesses, leaving her with just the gold. Fate has other ideas.Things don't go according to plan.
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* NobleWolf: Bear.
to:
* NobleWolf: Bear.Bear is one of these in this universe instead of the HeroicDog that he is in canon.
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* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Cole]], who is presumed dead after a HeroicSacrifice but is revealed at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale'' to be alive and mostly well. Also [[spoiler: Carter, Reese]] and pretty much any good-aligned character who wasn't spared in canon.
to:
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Cole]], who is presumed dead after a HeroicSacrifice but is revealed at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale'' to be alive and mostly well. Also [[spoiler: Root, Carter, Reese]] and pretty much any good-aligned character who wasn't spared in canon.
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Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: Root]] is revealed to be a princess at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''. A bit of a subversion in that her royal status is somewhat secondary to her status as an internationally famous assassin.
to:
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: Root]] is revealed to be a princess at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''. A bit of a subversion in that her royal status is somewhat secondary to her status as an internationally famous infamous assassin.
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* OurSpiritsAreDifferent: The series' equivalent of the Machine is the spirit of an ancient, nameless dragon. She doesn't seem to have any visible form, tangible or otherwise, but She speaks to Root telepathically and can [[DemonicPossession take control of her body]] if necessary.
to:
* OurSpiritsAreDifferent: The series' equivalent of the Machine is the spirit of an ancient, nameless a long-dead dragon. She doesn't seem to have any visible form, tangible or otherwise, but She speaks to Root telepathically and can [[DemonicPossession take control of her body]] if necessary.
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* DragonsPreferPrincesses: The dragon spirit who watches over the Thornhill royal family is far more attached to [[spoiler: Princess Root]] than anyone else. She's never even spoken to her uncle, King Harold.
to:
* DragonsPreferPrincesses: The dragon spirit who watches over the Thornhill royal family is far more attached to [[spoiler: Princess Root]] than anyone else. She's never even spoken to her uncle, King Harold.
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Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* BloodMagic: Root uses some after Control tortures her, killing all of Control's guards instantly. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
to:
* BloodMagic: Root uses some after Control tortures her, killing all of Control's guards instantly.instantly and letting her make good her escape. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
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Changed line(s) 1,4 (click to see context) from:
When King Harold of Thornhill issues a call for adventurers to slay the dragon Samaritan, former guild assassin Shaw and her partner Cole set off in quest of profit and glory (but mainly profit). Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman named Veronica who claims she wants to help. Then again, she also claims that the spirit of a long-dead dragon talks to her inside her head.
Basically, it's [[Series/PersonOfInterest Root and Shaw]] in a StandardFantasySetting.
Basically, it's [[Series/PersonOfInterest Root and Shaw]] in a StandardFantasySetting.
to:
When King Harold of Thornhill issues a call for adventurers to slay the dragon Samaritan, former guild assassin Shaw and her partner Cole set off in quest of profit and glory (but mainly profit). Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman named Veronica who claims she wants to help. Then again, she also claims that the spirit of a long-dead dragon talks to her inside her head.
head. Thus begins a journey that will change their lives forever...
Basically, it's [[Series/PersonOfInterest Root and Shaw]] in aStandardFantasySetting.
StandardFantasySetting.
Basically, it's [[Series/PersonOfInterest Root and Shaw]] in a
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* [[{{Druid}} Druids]]: The Tree People clan, who collect relics, worship the old gods, and don't like others interferring in their business.
to:
* [[{{Druid}} Druids]]: The Tree People clan, who collect relics, worship the old gods, and don't like others interferring interfering in their business.
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Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
When King Harold of Thornhill issues a call for adventurers to slay the dragon Samaritan, former guild assassin Shaw and her partner Cole set off in quest of profit and glory (but mainly profit). Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman named Veronica who claims she wants to help. She also claims that the spirit of a long-dead dragon talks to her inside her head.
to:
When King Harold of Thornhill issues a call for adventurers to slay the dragon Samaritan, former guild assassin Shaw and her partner Cole set off in quest of profit and glory (but mainly profit). Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman named Veronica who claims she wants to help. She Then again, she also claims that the spirit of a long-dead dragon talks to her inside her head.
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* RedBaron: After the events of ''The Catalyst's Tale'', Shaw earns the nicknames [[spoiler: Dragon Slayer]] and The Champion of Thornhill. The respect these titles earn her works to her benefit in subsequent stories.
to:
* RedBaron: After the events of ''The Catalyst's Tale'', Shaw earns the nicknames [[spoiler: Dragon Slayer]] and The Champion of Thornhill. The respect these titles earn her works to serves her benefit well in subsequent stories.
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Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
* OurSpiritsAreDifferent: The series' equivalent of the Machine is the spirit of a long-dead dragon. She doesn't seem to have any visible form, but She speaks to Root telepathically and can [[DemonicPossession take control of her body]] if necessary.
to:
* OurSpiritsAreDifferent: The series' equivalent of the Machine is the spirit of a long-dead an ancient, nameless dragon. She doesn't seem to have any visible form, tangible or otherwise, but She speaks to Root telepathically and can [[DemonicPossession take control of her body]] if necessary.
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Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
Written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/nerdgirlwalking/pseuds/nerdgirlwalking nerdgirlwalking]], the series currently consists of four parts and can be found [[http://archiveofourown.org/series/435979 here]].
to:
Written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/nerdgirlwalking/pseuds/nerdgirlwalking org/users/nerdgirlwalking nerdgirlwalking]], the series currently consists of four parts and can be found [[http://archiveofourown.org/series/435979 here]].
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Changed line(s) 36 (click to see context) from:
* LoopholeAbuse: The reward for killing Samaritan is 50,000 gold, the hand of a princess in marriage, and an additional favor of the person's choice. Shaw plans to ask for the favor of not having to marry any princesses, leaving her with just the gold. Events turn out differently.
to:
* LoopholeAbuse: The reward for killing Samaritan is 50,000 gold, the hand of a princess in marriage, and an additional favor of the person's choice. Shaw plans to ask for the favor of not having to marry any princesses, leaving her with just the gold. Events turn out differently.Fate has other ideas.
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* DragonsPreferPrincesses: The dragon spirit who watches over the Thornhill royal family is far more attached to Princess Root than anyone else. She's never even spoken to King Harold.
to:
* DragonsPreferPrincesses: The dragon spirit who watches over the Thornhill royal family is far more attached to [[spoiler: Princess Root Root]] than anyone else. She's never even spoken to her uncle, King Harold.
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* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They [[spoiler: get engaged]] shortly after fighting a dragon, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
to:
* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They [[spoiler: get engaged]] shortly after fighting a dragon, dragon together, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
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* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They get engaged shortly after fighting a dragon, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
to:
* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They [[spoiler: get engaged engaged]] shortly after fighting a dragon, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
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* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. Shaw accepts the quest for the "massive amounts of gold" part of the offer and would rather dispense with the princesses altogether. [[spoiler: The princess in question turns out to be Root, and the two do get engaged. Three years later, they're living together...and still engaged.]].
to:
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. Shaw accepts the quest for the "massive amounts of gold" part of the offer and would rather dispense with the princesses altogether. [[spoiler: The princess in question turns out to be Root, and the two do get engaged. Three years later, they're living together...and still engaged.]].]]
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Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. Shaw accepts the quest for the "massive amounts of gold" part of the offer and would rather dispense with the princesses altogether. Then the princess in question turns out to be [[spoiler: [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal Root]]]].
to:
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. Shaw accepts the quest for the "massive amounts of gold" part of the offer and would rather dispense with the princesses altogether. Then the [[spoiler: The princess in question turns out to be [[spoiler: [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal Root]]]].Root, and the two do get engaged. Three years later, they're living together...and still engaged.]].
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Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. The princess in question turns out to be [[spoiler: [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal Root]]]].
to:
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. The Shaw accepts the quest for the "massive amounts of gold" part of the offer and would rather dispense with the princesses altogether. Then the princess in question turns out to be [[spoiler: [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal Root]]]].
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* BloodMagic: Root's god teaches her some blood magic so she can kill Control's men and free herself from imprisonment. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
to:
* BloodMagic: Root's god teaches her Root uses some blood magic so she can kill after Control tortures her, killing all of Control's men and free herself from imprisonment.guards instantly. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
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* IntimateHealing: When Root wakes up after Control's interrogation, she's amazed to find herself being cuddled by Shaw in a hot spring. Shaw explains that [[BlatantLies she's merely sharing body heat.]]
to:
* IntimateHealing: When Root wakes up after Control's interrogation, torture, she's amazed to find herself being cuddled by Shaw in a hot spring. Shaw explains that [[BlatantLies she's merely sharing body heat.]]
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* ForbiddenFruit: Subverted. Root warns Shaw and Cole not to eat any of the food in the Goblin Market, and despite not fully trusting her, they heed her advice. Nothing bad happens to them.
to:
* ForbiddenFruit: Subverted. Subverted when Root warns Shaw and Cole not to eat any of the food in the Goblin Market, and despite Market. Despite not fully trusting her, they heed her advice. Nothing advice, and nothing bad happens to them.
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Added DiffLines:
When King Harold of Thornhill issues a call for adventurers to slay the dragon Samaritan, former guild assassin Shaw and her partner Cole set off in quest of profit and glory (but mainly profit). Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman named Veronica who claims she wants to help. She also claims that the spirit of a long-dead dragon talks to her inside her head.
Basically, it's [[Series/PersonOfInterest Root and Shaw]] in a StandardFantasySetting.
Written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/nerdgirlwalking/pseuds/nerdgirlwalking nerdgirlwalking]], the series currently consists of four parts and can be found [[http://archiveofourown.org/series/435979 here]].
----
!!''Catalyst Verse'' contains examples of:
* AlchemyIsMagic: Since computers aren't a thing that exists in this universe, Root's main hobby is alchemy rather than hacking. She spends a lot of time in her lab brewing strange and powerful potions, most notably a type of grenade that's like a bottled-up lightning storm.
* AlternateUniverseFic
* BadassBookworm: Root, who is often surrounded by books, and who is Root. Shaw gets her a book as a present at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''.
* BadassGay: Root and Shaw, who are just as queer as in canon and arguably even more badass.
* BadassPrincess: [[spoiler: Root]].
* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They get engaged shortly after fighting a dragon, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
* [[spoiler: BearsAreBadNews]]: The reason a bunch of villagers have gone missing in ''The Demon of Turing'' turns out to be [[spoiler: large, demonic bears]].
* BelligerentSexualTension: Omnipresent between Root and Shaw in ''The Catalyst's Tale'', channeling "Mors Praematura". Lampshaded by Cole when talking to others about them:
-->'''Cole:''' You’ll get used to the whole close talking, violent flirtation thing.
* [[DemonicPossession Benevolent Dragon Possession]]. With Root severely weakened by torture, her dragon god takes control of her body in order to walk her to a place of safety and healing. When Shaw arrives, She has a conversation with her before departing.
* BigBad: King Greer, even moreso than Samaritan.
* BloodMagic: Root's god teaches her some blood magic so she can kill Control's men and free herself from imprisonment. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Control gives Root the same treatment she gave her in "Aletheia". Except there aren't any scalpels in this universe, so she uses a regular knife instead, [[FridgeLogic which results in Root having a jagged scar instead of a clean, straight one]].
* CrazyPrepared: Root and Shaw each keep knives stashed in their bed, and the two of them have a pre-arranged plan for what to do if a team of assassins breaks into their house and tries to kill them. Their preparedness serves them well in ''The Princess and the Assassin''.
* DragonsPreferPrincesses: The dragon spirit who watches over the Thornhill royal family is far more attached to Princess Root than anyone else. She's never even spoken to King Harold.
* [[{{Druid}} Druids]]: The Tree People clan, who collect relics, worship the old gods, and don't like others interferring in their business.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: [[spoiler: Root]] and Gen are both nieces of King Harold and thus princesses.
* FlirtingUnderFire: To be expected with Root and Shaw. Lampshaded in ''The Princess and the Assassin'':
-->'''Gen:''' Are you two seriously flirting while people are trying to kill us?
-->'''Root:''' Flirting while in mortal peril is the basis of our entire relationship.
* ForbiddenFruit: Subverted. Root warns Shaw and Cole not to eat any of the food in the Goblin Market, and despite not fully trusting her, they heed her advice. Nothing bad happens to them.
* FullFrontalAssault: In ''The Princess and the Assassin'', Shaw is set upon by a team of assassins while in bed and has to fight a couple of them before getting the chance to get dressed. When Root finds out about this, she's less annoyed about the assassination attempt than about how the assassins got to see Shaw in the nude. Shaw points out her SkewedPriorities.
* IntimateHealing: When Root wakes up after Control's interrogation, she's amazed to find herself being cuddled by Shaw in a hot spring. Shaw explains that [[BlatantLies she's merely sharing body heat.]]
* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: After Root is taken by Control, Shaw inflicts this on one of men who attacked them, including [[MutilationInterrogation cutting off one of his hands]].
* TheLadysFavour: Root invokes this during a jousting tournament, tying a piece of cloth around Shaw's wrist. Said cloth turns out to be Root's underwear. Shaw appreciates [[GoingCommando the ramifications of this gesture]] more than the gesture itself.
* LastNameBasis: Shaw and Cole, despite having known each other for most of their lives - mostly because Shaw has never told Cole or anyone else what her first name is. (Root knows what it is, though, because god told her, and she doesn't hesitate to use it.) [[note]]It's still Sameen, in case you were wondering.[[/note]]
* LoopholeAbuse: The reward for killing Samaritan is 50,000 gold, the hand of a princess in marriage, and an additional favor of the person's choice. Shaw plans to ask for the favor of not having to marry any princesses, leaving her with just the gold. Events turn out differently.
* TheNameless: The ancient dragon spirit who speaks to Root - the story's equivalent of the Machine - doesn't seem to have a name. Root and Shaw call her "God" or "your god" or "She". A history book calls her "the elder dragon".
* NighInvulnerability: Shaw starts showing signs of this in ''The Princess and the Assassin'', walking barefoot through snow without getting frostbitten and painlessly grabbing a glowing-hot iron with her bare hand. Presumably some form of divine protection is at play; the leader of the Tree People describes her as "marked".
* NobleWolf: Bear.
* TheNounAndTheNoun: The title of part 4, ''The Princess and the Assassin'', referring to [[spoiler: Root]] and Shaw, respectively, although neither description is how people in-universe generally know them; most would describe them as "The Assassin and the [[spoiler: Dragon Slayer]]".
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Dragons are stand-ins for the artificial superintelligences of canon. They are few in number but ancient and powerful; even their ashes can be used to fuel magic.
* OurSpiritsAreDifferent: The series' equivalent of the Machine is the spirit of a long-dead dragon. She doesn't seem to have any visible form, but She speaks to Root telepathically and can [[DemonicPossession take control of her body]] if necessary.
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: Root]] is revealed to be a princess at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''. A bit of a subversion in that her royal status is somewhat secondary to her status as an internationally famous assassin.
* RedBaron: After the events of ''The Catalyst's Tale'', Shaw earns the nicknames [[spoiler: Dragon Slayer]] and The Champion of Thornhill. The respect these titles earn her works to her benefit in subsequent stories.
* RelatedInTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Root]] is Harold's niece, and Gen is her sister.
* SeriesFic
* SexIsViolence: Shaw challenges Root to some sparring in order to test her combat proficiency. When Cole comes across them an hour later, they're lying on top of each other and breathing heavily. Awkwardness ensues.
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Despite having lived with Root for years and been engaged to her for just as long, Shaw opts for the word "friend" when talking to the leader of the Tree People about her. The leader of the Tree People goes along with this until the end of their conversation, when she [[EveryoneCanSeeIt casually substitutes the word "lover" instead]].
* ShoutOut:
** Root is a regular at the [[Literature/GoblinMarket Goblin Market]], where her friend Daizo has a store. One of the author's notes acknowledges "crib[bing] a bit from Christina Rossetti."
** Root performs a [[Franchise/TheMatrix Neo]]-style limbo dodge to avoid Samaritan's tail. This is the exact moment Shaw decides to sleep with her.
** Root remarks in ''The Demon of Turing'' that she [[Series/TheATeam loves it when a plan comes together.]]
** Root describes God's voice as being like "a blade of grass caught in the wind on a sunny afternoon.” Shaw later misquotes her and calls it "her [[Film/{{Serenity}} leaf on the wind]] voice."
* SlashFic
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Cole]], who is presumed dead after a HeroicSacrifice but is revealed at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale'' to be alive and mostly well. Also [[spoiler: Carter, Reese]] and pretty much any good-aligned character who wasn't spared in canon.
* SpiritAdvisor: The dragon spirit who talks to Root telepathically. No one else can communicate with Her except via Root ([[DemonicPossession directly]] or indirectly).
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. The princess in question turns out to be [[spoiler: [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal Root]]]].
* TheTourney: ''The Champion of Thornhill'' revolves around one of these.
Basically, it's [[Series/PersonOfInterest Root and Shaw]] in a StandardFantasySetting.
Written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/nerdgirlwalking/pseuds/nerdgirlwalking nerdgirlwalking]], the series currently consists of four parts and can be found [[http://archiveofourown.org/series/435979 here]].
----
!!''Catalyst Verse'' contains examples of:
* AlchemyIsMagic: Since computers aren't a thing that exists in this universe, Root's main hobby is alchemy rather than hacking. She spends a lot of time in her lab brewing strange and powerful potions, most notably a type of grenade that's like a bottled-up lightning storm.
* AlternateUniverseFic
* BadassBookworm: Root, who is often surrounded by books, and who is Root. Shaw gets her a book as a present at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''.
* BadassGay: Root and Shaw, who are just as queer as in canon and arguably even more badass.
* BadassPrincess: [[spoiler: Root]].
* BattleCouple: Root and Shaw. They get engaged shortly after fighting a dragon, and their bedroom contains a selection of knives, swords, and alchemical grenades, none of which are there for show.
* [[spoiler: BearsAreBadNews]]: The reason a bunch of villagers have gone missing in ''The Demon of Turing'' turns out to be [[spoiler: large, demonic bears]].
* BelligerentSexualTension: Omnipresent between Root and Shaw in ''The Catalyst's Tale'', channeling "Mors Praematura". Lampshaded by Cole when talking to others about them:
-->'''Cole:''' You’ll get used to the whole close talking, violent flirtation thing.
* [[DemonicPossession Benevolent Dragon Possession]]. With Root severely weakened by torture, her dragon god takes control of her body in order to walk her to a place of safety and healing. When Shaw arrives, She has a conversation with her before departing.
* BigBad: King Greer, even moreso than Samaritan.
* BloodMagic: Root's god teaches her some blood magic so she can kill Control's men and free herself from imprisonment. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Ironically]], the blood she uses is that which dripped from her ear during Control's stapedectomy.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Control gives Root the same treatment she gave her in "Aletheia". Except there aren't any scalpels in this universe, so she uses a regular knife instead, [[FridgeLogic which results in Root having a jagged scar instead of a clean, straight one]].
* CrazyPrepared: Root and Shaw each keep knives stashed in their bed, and the two of them have a pre-arranged plan for what to do if a team of assassins breaks into their house and tries to kill them. Their preparedness serves them well in ''The Princess and the Assassin''.
* DragonsPreferPrincesses: The dragon spirit who watches over the Thornhill royal family is far more attached to Princess Root than anyone else. She's never even spoken to King Harold.
* [[{{Druid}} Druids]]: The Tree People clan, who collect relics, worship the old gods, and don't like others interferring in their business.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: [[spoiler: Root]] and Gen are both nieces of King Harold and thus princesses.
* FlirtingUnderFire: To be expected with Root and Shaw. Lampshaded in ''The Princess and the Assassin'':
-->'''Gen:''' Are you two seriously flirting while people are trying to kill us?
-->'''Root:''' Flirting while in mortal peril is the basis of our entire relationship.
* ForbiddenFruit: Subverted. Root warns Shaw and Cole not to eat any of the food in the Goblin Market, and despite not fully trusting her, they heed her advice. Nothing bad happens to them.
* FullFrontalAssault: In ''The Princess and the Assassin'', Shaw is set upon by a team of assassins while in bed and has to fight a couple of them before getting the chance to get dressed. When Root finds out about this, she's less annoyed about the assassination attempt than about how the assassins got to see Shaw in the nude. Shaw points out her SkewedPriorities.
* IntimateHealing: When Root wakes up after Control's interrogation, she's amazed to find herself being cuddled by Shaw in a hot spring. Shaw explains that [[BlatantLies she's merely sharing body heat.]]
* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: After Root is taken by Control, Shaw inflicts this on one of men who attacked them, including [[MutilationInterrogation cutting off one of his hands]].
* TheLadysFavour: Root invokes this during a jousting tournament, tying a piece of cloth around Shaw's wrist. Said cloth turns out to be Root's underwear. Shaw appreciates [[GoingCommando the ramifications of this gesture]] more than the gesture itself.
* LastNameBasis: Shaw and Cole, despite having known each other for most of their lives - mostly because Shaw has never told Cole or anyone else what her first name is. (Root knows what it is, though, because god told her, and she doesn't hesitate to use it.) [[note]]It's still Sameen, in case you were wondering.[[/note]]
* LoopholeAbuse: The reward for killing Samaritan is 50,000 gold, the hand of a princess in marriage, and an additional favor of the person's choice. Shaw plans to ask for the favor of not having to marry any princesses, leaving her with just the gold. Events turn out differently.
* TheNameless: The ancient dragon spirit who speaks to Root - the story's equivalent of the Machine - doesn't seem to have a name. Root and Shaw call her "God" or "your god" or "She". A history book calls her "the elder dragon".
* NighInvulnerability: Shaw starts showing signs of this in ''The Princess and the Assassin'', walking barefoot through snow without getting frostbitten and painlessly grabbing a glowing-hot iron with her bare hand. Presumably some form of divine protection is at play; the leader of the Tree People describes her as "marked".
* NobleWolf: Bear.
* TheNounAndTheNoun: The title of part 4, ''The Princess and the Assassin'', referring to [[spoiler: Root]] and Shaw, respectively, although neither description is how people in-universe generally know them; most would describe them as "The Assassin and the [[spoiler: Dragon Slayer]]".
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Dragons are stand-ins for the artificial superintelligences of canon. They are few in number but ancient and powerful; even their ashes can be used to fuel magic.
* OurSpiritsAreDifferent: The series' equivalent of the Machine is the spirit of a long-dead dragon. She doesn't seem to have any visible form, but She speaks to Root telepathically and can [[DemonicPossession take control of her body]] if necessary.
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: Root]] is revealed to be a princess at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale''. A bit of a subversion in that her royal status is somewhat secondary to her status as an internationally famous assassin.
* RedBaron: After the events of ''The Catalyst's Tale'', Shaw earns the nicknames [[spoiler: Dragon Slayer]] and The Champion of Thornhill. The respect these titles earn her works to her benefit in subsequent stories.
* RelatedInTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Root]] is Harold's niece, and Gen is her sister.
* SeriesFic
* SexIsViolence: Shaw challenges Root to some sparring in order to test her combat proficiency. When Cole comes across them an hour later, they're lying on top of each other and breathing heavily. Awkwardness ensues.
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Despite having lived with Root for years and been engaged to her for just as long, Shaw opts for the word "friend" when talking to the leader of the Tree People about her. The leader of the Tree People goes along with this until the end of their conversation, when she [[EveryoneCanSeeIt casually substitutes the word "lover" instead]].
* ShoutOut:
** Root is a regular at the [[Literature/GoblinMarket Goblin Market]], where her friend Daizo has a store. One of the author's notes acknowledges "crib[bing] a bit from Christina Rossetti."
** Root performs a [[Franchise/TheMatrix Neo]]-style limbo dodge to avoid Samaritan's tail. This is the exact moment Shaw decides to sleep with her.
** Root remarks in ''The Demon of Turing'' that she [[Series/TheATeam loves it when a plan comes together.]]
** Root describes God's voice as being like "a blade of grass caught in the wind on a sunny afternoon.” Shaw later misquotes her and calls it "her [[Film/{{Serenity}} leaf on the wind]] voice."
* SlashFic
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Cole]], who is presumed dead after a HeroicSacrifice but is revealed at the end of ''The Catalyst's Tale'' to be alive and mostly well. Also [[spoiler: Carter, Reese]] and pretty much any good-aligned character who wasn't spared in canon.
* SpiritAdvisor: The dragon spirit who talks to Root telepathically. No one else can communicate with Her except via Root ([[DemonicPossession directly]] or indirectly).
* StandardHeroReward: Part of the reward on offer for killing Samaritan. The princess in question turns out to be [[spoiler: [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal Root]]]].
* TheTourney: ''The Champion of Thornhill'' revolves around one of these.
