Yeah, Fantine is definitely the hardest -- so much of her storyline is about the oppression of women, not only the prostitution, but also the way society punishes unwed mothers while letting the fathers off the hook. :-/ (There's also the social aspect, of course, since it's poor women who are encouraged to be sexually/romantically available to men and end up risking everything while the men risk nothing, moving on to marry someone "respectable". Ugh, Tholomyès needs to join the Thénardiers in douchebag hell. ><) I think I'd just keep her character female in a genderswap AU, otherwise it would just feel forced.
I'd have to reread the fic to say for certain, but IIRC I couldn't really believe in the premise (but MsM fic generally strains credulity for me to beging with). On the other hand, it could be an AU as you say, perhaps even in a slightly alternate history -- though I think that would need more worldbuilding than what is realistic for a one-shot.
Ha, yeah, it wouldn't take much for Valjean to get sent to the laundry. :-( I'm not sure to what extent she'd be intimidating in strength, though... Canon Valjean has years of treeclimbing/pruning and then hard labour behind him in addition to the natural benefits of being male when it comes to muscle mass, after all, and while female!Valjean would also have to do hard physical work (like poor people in general would have to) she might not end up as crazy strong, at least not when compared to men who'd presumably be doing the same or heavier work. I like that female!Valjean's super strength would be another way to highlight sexism, though -- and now I'm thinking of how in canon it's something that is seen as positive but also connected to his background and as such potentially dangerous for him, like when he confirms Javert's suspicions by lifting the cart. (Javert seems to reluctantly lust over admire the strength, though, even if it's just from a shallow "typical convict brawn" POV.)
Not going to lie, Sister Obedience's repressed lesbian lust is a main reason why I like this idea. /o\ I did have some kind of plan as to why and how they'd leave the convent (Valjean would save someone by revealing her identity and then flee as per canon; they all end up in Dublin where the Amis are simultaneously fighting for Irish independence and women's suffrage, complete with glorious female!Enjolras and mouthy-but-pining drinker Girltaire... I need to see if I can find my notes again.)
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I'd have to reread the fic to say for certain, but IIRC I couldn't really believe in the premise (but MsM fic generally strains credulity for me to beging with). On the other hand, it could be an AU as you say, perhaps even in a slightly alternate history -- though I think that would need more worldbuilding than what is realistic for a one-shot.
Ha, yeah, it wouldn't take much for Valjean to get sent to the laundry. :-( I'm not sure to what extent she'd be intimidating in strength, though... Canon Valjean has years of treeclimbing/pruning and then hard labour behind him in addition to the natural benefits of being male when it comes to muscle mass, after all, and while female!Valjean would also have to do hard physical work (like poor people in general would have to) she might not end up as crazy strong, at least not when compared to men who'd presumably be doing the same or heavier work. I like that female!Valjean's super strength would be another way to highlight sexism, though -- and now I'm thinking of how in canon it's something that is seen as positive but also connected to his background and as such potentially dangerous for him, like when he confirms Javert's suspicions by lifting the cart. (Javert seems to reluctantly
lust overadmire the strength, though, even if it's just from a shallow "typical convict brawn" POV.)Not going to lie, Sister Obedience's repressed lesbian lust is a main reason why I like this idea. /o\ I did have some kind of plan as to why and how they'd leave the convent (Valjean would save someone by revealing her identity and then flee as per canon; they all end up in Dublin where the Amis are simultaneously fighting for Irish independence and women's suffrage, complete with glorious female!Enjolras and mouthy-but-pining drinker Girltaire... I need to see if I can find my notes again.)