Ah, yes! Yes, that's totally it, I had not put those things together, the difference between alternate timelines of that universe and retelling of the Atlantis story in another venue. I read both, and I enjoy reading both, but I mostly write the latter (except where I wrote an extensive series of alternate timelines all in one fic). And you're right - just something that draws them together probably works okay for that, though honestly more sentient!Atlantis characters in complete AUs would be made of AWESOME.

We are very much on the same page about most things, it seems. I have not much to add, except a sort of general *nodnod* kind of thing. :)