if you can, if you can

by ironcharlie

Summary:

"So are you a Survivor superfan?" He asks—be normal Frank, be normal—walking toward some rocks at the far end of the beach.

"Huge," Mel says with a wide smile. "What about you?"

"Me, not really," Frank admits. "I watched a few seasons here and there," —one season, if he's honest— "and I auditioned just for fun," —he hadn't even known that Theo had sent in that stupid video— "and now here I am."

"Here you are," Mel echoes and Frank finds himself a little lost in the melody of her voice. It's lower than maybe he would expect, but the flow of it is an easy rhythm, a pleasing melody.

Entrancing.

"Here we are." Finds it necessary to add on, and the smile that blooms on Mel's face tells him he's said the right thing.

Fuck.

 

Or, the Survivor AU.

Notes:

This is largely based on the og survivor showmance, Boston Rob and Amber in Season 8 (2004) (who met on the show and have been married for 20 years with 4 kids), and the really lovely Eva/Joe (platonic) relationship from Season 48 (2025).

All of this is written and will come out weekly, and if you're curious, the specific Survivor references will be listed in the End notes of each chapter!

If you've never watched Survivor before and have no idea how it works, be not afraid, I will explain it to you! Come on in, this is about soulmates finding each other and they just happen to be playing Survivor.

Thanks to Jen, my love, who beta’d this whole damn thing having only watched one season of Survivor ever. You’re a real one and I adore you <3

Chapter 1: The Marooning

[A conch horn sounds.]

[A clean shaven man answers a video call. A producer speaks off camera.]

"So I have a question."

"Yes, sir."

"How does it feel to be on season 49 of Survivor?"

[The man slowly smiles and covers his face with his hands.]

"F*ck. Are you kidding me?"

[More video calls play.]

"Congratulations, you made it on season 49."

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god."

"No way, hell yes!"

"Get the f*ck outta here."

"Oh my god, this is happening."

[Three boats speed toward an island.]

[The clean shaven man gives an interview. Frank. Lagi tribe.]

"I'm a fire fighter. And the adrenaline running into a fire or a burning building is crazy, it's a life or death situation. You really have to be on point and use that adrenaline to your advantage. That's what I'm going to do out here—rely on my gut instinct and use the adrenaline to steer me in the right direction."

[Samira. Scientist. Vula tribe.]

"What's a girl from South Jersey doing out here in Fiji? I have no idea, but I'm so excited. It's the unknown, I don't know what's going to happen and that's thrilling! But I do know that I can do this. I was made for this."

[Mel. Medical professional. Lagi tribe.]

"I used to watch Survivor with my parents, and now I'm here, on the beach. This is Fiji, there's the ocean, there's sand."

[Mel picks up sand from beneath her and lets it fall from her hands. She winces and then wipes her hands on her shorts.]

"I'm going to meet Jeff Probst! I'm just so happy to be here."

[Someone strikes a flint. Jeff Probst narrates.]

"These 18 strangers will be abandoned in the islands of Fiji. They must learn to adapt or they'll be voted out. In the end, only one will remain to claim the million dollar prize."

[At the shore, Jeff stands on a large rock in the water.]

"Who will have what it takes to outwit, outplay, and outlast all the rest? This is Survivor 49."

[Audio description prepared by CBS, Paramount, and Toyota.]