Survival alternate universe (AU) fics are a cornerstone of Les Mis fandom: full or partial Ami survival, post-Seine Valjean and Javert, reincarnation AUs, and AUs bridging the Old Man and Ami sides of fandom by including the larger cast. Two writers of multi-chapter survival AUs will discuss the opportunities and challenges of writing beyond the barricade: What opportunities do the characters have for new interactions and growth—and how do they deal with trauma and loss? How do historical events influence your choices—what do the characters do politically after 1832? What are the logistics of survival—for the characters, and for the author, picking who lives and who dies? And what does it do to the themes of Les Mis if more characters get to live and, maybe, finally, be happy!