Previously titled 'Punching Bag'. Hollstein AU where everyone's human and a certain relationship goes on a three year hiatus after a member of said relationship "disappears". Also, Carmilla's an artist with anger issues and a motorcycle and Laura's dealing with a lot of shit. There's a lot of feelings. Also, only the titles are in French. (For the sake of this story, Silas is a small town in the middle of nowhere in the Northeastern United States.) You can also find this on fanfiction.net and AO3. The majority of this fic is unedited. All edited chapters will be marked as *edited*. reculer pour mieux sauter /rəkuːˌleɪ pʊə mjəː səʊˈteɪ/ noun Withdrawing in order to improve one's chances of subsequent progress or success; making use of a withdrawal or setback in such a way as to advance further. origin Early 17th century; earliest use found in Dudley Carleton (1574-1632), diplomat and letter writer. From French reculer pour mieux sauter, lit. 'to draw back in order to leap better' from reculer + pour for, in order to + mieux better + sauter to leap.

In high school, Laura is stuck between her crush on Danny and her possibly, probably, maybe crush on Carmilla, who infuriates her and bothers her to no end. Then after three years of finally leaving her alone, Laura is in college and has had time to think, but apparently not enough, and Carmilla comes back with big news and Laura has to decide if her probable , most likely crush has turned into something more, or just her caring.

Soulmate AU, where everyone has the number of hours, minutes and seconds until they meet their soulmate tattooed on their arm. Carmilla had thought of Ell as her temporary escape, a freedom from the life she was leading. But Carmilla didn't need an escape anymore - she needed a home. Laura had always been curious about the idea of her soulmate, like everyone had. But instead of just searching for a sense of completeness, Laura wanted adventure. Carmilla and Laura may get what they want, but it might just tear their worlds apart. Work title taken from Runaway // AURORA.