January themed challenge.

[merikuru]

You little rippers! You good things! We are back, let us get stuck in!

January's theme challenge is:

JanuAUry!

This is the month to write anything that has to do with an alternate universe. Throw characters into a parallel timeline? Drastically change an event that shaped the canon of the world? Someone lives or dies in a reality where the opposite ought to have happened? Let's have it. AUs for all!

All fics written for this challenge should be posted as a comment on this entry (a comment with a link to an offsite post is also fine). If your work has spoilers, please add an [S] tag to the comment title. If it has mature content, please add an [MA] tag.

This theme challenge will end on January 31st, 11:59 PM Central Standard Time.

Comments

[S] Commiseration [FE Engage modern AU] [cw: surgery, cancer, parental death]

[sarajayechan]

"I need to get going, okay, Alcryst? I'm glad you're feeling better." Alcryst quietly wrote something down on the notepad their father had given him and turned it around, revealing a sad face and the letters OK. Diamant smiled, patting his little brother's head. "I know, but I need to get home and make dinner," he said. Well, technically sticking last night's leftover red wine chicken in the oven to heat up, but that was the extent of Diamant's cooking skill. "Mom and Dad will be back to see you later, and the nurse said you were very brave when you spent last night by yourself."

Alcryst scribbled something else down and turned the pad hopefully towards Diamant.

"Of course I will. Tomorrow's Saturday, too, and I've got nothing planned," Diamant said. Alcryst smiled a little, and Diamant gave him a hug. "You enjoy your dinner. You're the envy of every kid in town, getting ice cream for all three meals." Alcryst grinned. Technically he was still given soup and mashed potatoes, but ice cream was vital to any kid recovering from a tonsillectomy.

As Diamant left the pediatrics floor, he caught sight of a young blonde girl about Alcryst's age walking towards the stairwell, followed by a tired-looking blonde woman who put a hand on her shoulder and said something Diamant couldn't quite make out.

"I know," the girl said, "but I don't like it. He should be home with us, not here."

"Sweetie, there's nothing we can do about it."

Diamant hurried towards the elevator and hit the button for the main floor. They must be visiting her father or some other relative, he thought. But it was none of his business. The next bus would be leaving for his stop soon and he needed to have dinner ready by the time Mom and Dad got home.


When he went to see Alcryst the next day, that young girl was waiting by herself on the main floor just as her mother rushed in, gently scolding her for running on ahead. The girl sulked even as her mother knelt down and gave her a hug.

But again, it was none of his business. He was here to check on his brother, and when he got to Alcryst's room, Alcryst was happily sitting up in bed with his stuffed dolphin, Mr. Flippers, on his lap. He still couldn't talk, but he seemed better than he had yesterday.

Did you bring the book? Alcryst asked. Diamant held up the dog-eared old copy of Where The Wild Things Are, passed down through his family for generations and Alcryst's go-to comfort book. Opening up to the first page, he began to read.

Around noon, Alcryst dozed off and Diamant's stomach began to growl. He made his way to the hospital cafeteria, and once again saw the girl from earlier staring longingly at the counter.

"Need some help?" he asked. The girl jumped, her very long pigtails flouncing around her waist. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said. The girl nervously pushed her hands into the pockets of her courduroy jumper.

"Mom gave me some money for lunch, but I can't decide," she said. "I don't think I have enough for food and a carton of juice." She took out her little change purse and Diamant mentally counted along with her. She was right, the cup of vegetable soup she was eyeing added to a carton of orange juice was a dollar more than she had.

"How does your mother feel about you taking money from strangers? Because I'd like to help."

"She always tells my brother and me to thank anyone who helps us, and to make sure we do something nice for them in return," the girl said. "And to ask their names."

"Diamant." He smiled. She relaxed, sticking out her free hand.

"Celine," she said. He shook her hand, and gave her the extra dollar. After she picked out her desired lunch, Diamant chose a fish sandwich and a basket of chips before getting a soda from the vending machine. They sat down at a small table in the corner and ate in silence for a few minutes.

"I saw you the other day. And the day before," Celine said once she'd eaten a third of her soup. "Is someone in your family sick?"

"My brother just had his tonsils out," Diamant said.

"Oh." Celine paused. "When's he going home?"

"Tomorrow. He'll have to rest for another week, no school or playing outside or running around, but at least he'll never have a sore throat that bad again." Diamant took a sip of his soda. "I saw you, too, you and your mother. You here to visit your dad, or your grandpa?" Celine's face darkened, and she pushed her hair in front of her eyes.

"My big brother." She pushed her cup away. "But he doesn't get to go home tomorrow. Or the next day. The doctor said it'll be a long time before he can leave." Oh. Diamant put down his half-eaten sandwich, his stomach sinking.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Celine said. "It's the fault of our genetics. Our father died of the same illness when I was little, and now Alfred has it. It's called Hodgkins Lymphoma." She tugged at one of her pigtails, twisting the end. "Alfred kept getting fevers and he was tired all the time. He kept saying it was probably just the flu, or he was working out too hard."

Mom and Dad had been worried when Alcryst's sore throat just wouldn't go away, but they'd never brought up cancer. Sure enough, it was something that could be removed and that Alcryst wouldn't need anyway. Next to the appendix, the tonsils were the most useless organs in the body.

But it could always be worse. Diamant had never personally known anyone with cancer, but he'd spent his primary school years going out on Halloween with a donation box for the Children's Cancer Research Fund. He'd heard many an awful story about a kid his age or younger suffering from leukemia, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, or otther life-threatening diseases.

It could always be worse, and Celine was just a painful reminder of how lucky he was.

"If it helps," he ventured, "hodgkins lymphoma has a high survivability rate compared to other kinds of cancer."

"That's what the doctor says," Celine murmured. "My mother and I have tried so hard to stay positive, and Alfred..." She clenched her napkin in her little fist, eyes full of angry tears. "The big dummy won't stop acting like nothing's wrong! Like this is just...just some little cold he'll get over, and all he talks about is how many laps he's going to run when he's all better."

Diamant reached across the table carefully and patted her shoulder.

"I know what you mean. Sort of." He sighed. "Last year my father had to be rushed to the hospital for gallstones, and after his surgery he acted like he'd never been sick at all. It drove me and my mother crazy," he said. "But I also got where he was coming from."

Celine sniffled, brushing her hair back over her shoulders.

"You do?"

"When I was in first grade, I caught the chicken pox. I felt awful. I was itchy and tired and hot and I couldn't even enjoy getting to stay home from school for a week," Diamant said. "I complained so much my mother started telling me about all the fun I'd get to have when I felt better, then said if I wanted to get better quickly I should stop feeling sorry for myself."

Celine giggled a little.

"When I had the chicken pox in kindergarten, my mother gave me an extra-strong stuffed bear to scratch on."

"Lucky. Mine threatened to put oven mitts on my hands." Diamant smiled. "The point is, thinking about what I'd do when I got better did help. I didn't realize it, but that's why I understood my dad years later. Your brother's just trying to be positive that he'll get well."

Celine took a long sip of her juice through her straw, slurping as she hit the last few drops.

"I guess," she said, "but sometimes I wonder if he even realizes how sick he is."

"I think he does," Diamant said. "But it's better he doesn't let it get him down. I know it's hard for you, and your mother, but a little optimism goes a long way." He gnawed on a chip, and Celine dragged her spoon around her soup cup, sighing a little.

"When Father was sick, Alfred was always smiling and talking about how next year he'd be well enough for the father-son relay races that summer," she said. "But one night I found him outside sitting on a swing and he was crying. He made me promise not to tell anyone, especially Father." She let go of her spoon. "I wonder if he cries when Mother and I aren't there?"

"If he does, it's probably because he doesn't want to worry you more than you already are," Diamant said. "So seeing you and your mother probably makes him happier than you realize." Celine smiled a little, finally pulling her cup back towards her and taking another bite of soup.

"I wish I could stay with him all day, then. Even if it's a chemo day and I have to talk to him through the speaker on his window," she said. "I'm not exactly lonely, I have my friends and they've tried to spend lots of time with me. But it's not the same without Alfred running around the house talking about his muscles."

"But someday, he will be." Diamant smiled. "If he's here he's getting the best treatment possible, and again, what he's got has a high survival rate."

"Right." Celine nodded. "I wish he could meet you, but only family's allowed to visit the oncology floor and they have to scrub up good. I think Alfred would really like you." Diamant laughed.

"I think I'd like him, too. And maybe someday you'd like to meet Alcryst," he said. Celine's smile brightened.

"When he gets better, then. Give me your number so I can call and invite him over."

"Or maybe you'd like to visit us, first. Alcryst is...a little more comfortable on his home turf when he's meeting new people," Diamant said. "One question, though - do you like dogs? Or can you at least tolerate them? Because we have two." Celine nodded.

"I prefer cats, but I've got nothing against dogs." Diamant picked up his sandwich and took a bite.

"Good."

"Diamant?" Celine patted his free hand. "Thank you. I think I feel a little better now that I've talked to you."

Diamant smiled. She was so different from Alcryst, but deep down she reminded Diamant of him in some ways. They'd get along, and he couldn't help considering her a friend himself.

"I'm glad."

[S] roses on midnight sky [FE Engage]

[sarajayechan]

The day after her sixteenth birthday, King Morion arrives at the castle with only his second son and his young niece. The girl seems immediately enthralled by the beauty of Elusia's main hall, but the boy refuses to leave his father's side. Father greets King Morion cordially.

"As per the terms of our agreement," he says. King Morion nods tightly, looking a bit less than pleased.

"I must admit, I was rather surprised when the letter asked for Alcryst," he says. "In fact, I thought you'd be making the journey to Brodia with Ivy." He looks about to say something else before shaking his head. "Nevertheless, an agreement is an agreement." He glances towards Prince Alcryst, who immediately pulls away and bows clumsily before standing as straight as a board.

"Ivy," Father says, "when Prince Alcryst comes of age in five years, he will be your husband. He will live with us in Elusia Castle."

Ivy had always expected she'd be pushed into an arranged marriage someday. She was the firstborn child of the royal family, after all, and nobility were always seeking to make connections with royalty. It was how Father had come to marry her mother.

But she'd expected some overly polished noble kissing her hand and smothering her with flattery, Ivy forcing a smile so as not to make any waves before she excused herself to pray she would get through this. Instead, the one standing before her is quiet and small and still a child in so many ways despite having had his thirteenth birthday a month before.

Their fathers talk, King Morion obviously isn't pleased by any of this even as his tone is even and polite. His niece strikes up a conversation with one of the maids, and Ivy swears she hears the girl offering to buy her a full set of garnet jewelry.

Prince Alcryst continues to stand there, looking towards her but not at her, his hand running up and down his arm, his shoulders rising and falling with each sharp, slow breath.

"Ivy," Father says, "why not show Prince Alcryst the royal library? King Morion tells me he loves to read." Ivy swallows. The library is a good, safe spot free of whispering nobles and nosy servants. Aside from her secret shrine to the Divine Dragon tucked away in her closet, the library is where Ivy feels most comfortable. Maybe Prince Alcryst will relax a bit once they're alone and then she can at least have a conversation with him.

She tentatively holds out her hand, gesturing for him to follow her. After another deep, shaky breath, he does.


"I'm so sorry."

They've just barely sat down, and he's apologizing, bowing his head.

"Pardon?"

"That it's me," he says. "That I've come here to marry you instead of you coming to Brodia to marry my brother."

Ivy has heard the Crown Prince of Brodia is the very paragon of royalty. Strong, charismatic, intelligent, handsome, skilled, one could not ask for a better successor to the throne. Nobles clamor for King Morion and Queen Ruby to consider their daughters as Prince Diamant's bride. All she's ever heard about the second Prince is his name and little else.

"Maybe my father can convince yours to change his mind," Alcryst continues. "Honestly, I'm not sure why he wants me to marry into your family. I don't exactly fit Brodia's mold of strength, but I probably wouldn't fit Elusia's mold of knowledge, either. I love to read and study, but I'm not as smart as Diamant or Citrinne."

She's floored by this flagrant but genuine display of self-deprecation. For a moment, she wonders if King Morion isn't truly as good a father as they say he is and wants to be rid of this boy so he can't shame Brodia's name with his weakness. But she thinks of King Morion's expression upon his arrival, how clearly upset he is with Father for not telling him until now that he'd be handing his youngest son over to a foreign Kingdom.

She thinks of her father keeping her in the dark about this agreement until today, and something clicks. Of course. Brodia and Elusia had been at war until their Kings forged a pact shortly before Prince Diamant's birth, and Father was bound and determined to keep things peaceful.

If one of King Morion's sons is living in Elusuia, he'll think twice about breaking his promise.

He's stopped his ramblings, she heard several I'm sorrys nestled within. He won't even look at her now. From this angle, all she can see is his shiny, dark blue hair.

She's surprised to find herself quite enchanted by it. Ivy has always loathed the dark, but she's always been charmed by the moment before the sky goes completely black, where it's still just blue enough that the stars shine brilliantly against it.

Alcryst's hair reminds her of that.

"Prince Alcryst," she finally says, "will you please look at me?" He does, slowly lifting his head. His red eyes are wide, bright with uncertainty and surprise. Again, she's momentarily spellbound by how they shine, a contrast to the cool deep blue of his hair.

"I'm-"

"Don't apologize," she gently interrupts him. "Our fathers are the ones who arranged this, and it seems my father kept yours in the dark about certain details."

"I'll say. I always thought I'd be the one staying in Brodia," Prince Alcryst murmurs. "I wish I could. I don't...want to leave. My mother and father, Diamant, my retainers, Saphir, my music teacher...I'll have to say goodbye to all of them, I'll probably never see them again unless they're allowed to visit me. Brodia isn't perfect, but it's my home."

For all Brodia's faults, the royal family is clearly very loving and close. She and Father used to be, along with the children of Father's mistresses before Mother drove away all but Hortensia. But she's begun to sense a subtle change to Father, something she can almost put her finger on but doesn't want to believe. He still treats her and Hortensia well, but lately there's no sense of family among them.

And Father expects me to marry you and bring you into this environment. Not to mention the anti-Brodia sentiment that still circulates among people, even though the Kingdoms have been more or less civil to one another for years.

"I know." She sighs. "But I have the sense that Father will not change his mind no matter what yours says. I should be the one to apologize, Prince Alcryst."

"But you didn't know anything about it, either," he says. "Still, I...I can't lay all the blame at your father's feet. It's nothing new, this is how most royal marriages are made, right? My parents are the exception, not the rule."

"Be that as it may, there's nothing either of us can do about it," Ivy says.

"I know." Alcryst folds his hands in his lap, and to her relief he doesn't try to apologize again.

"However," she continues, "dismayed as I am that I was kept in the dark about this until today, I never did object to the idea. I can't say I'm exactly thrilled about it, but I always anticipated worse from an arranged spouse. You're not what I expected, and I mean that in a positive sense." His eyes widen, and he nearly falls out of his seat.

"Really?!"

"You don't put on airs, and you clearly have no interest in licking my father's boots to gain prestige through my hand." She pushes a lock of hair over her shoulder. "As someone who interacts with two-faced liars on a regular basis, it's refreshing to meet someone who's...genuine." She pauses. "Even if he could stand to denigrate himself a bit less." His cheeks turn as red as his eyes, and he tugs nervously on the lapel of his jacket.

"I...don't know what to say to that. Other than I'm sorry to hear you have to put up with people like that," he murmurs. "But why are you telling me this?"

"Because if we're to spend the next five years preparing to spend the rest of our lives together, I want us to be comfortable with each other," she says. "I want to get to know you, Prince Alcryst. I want us to form a genuine connection, to give you a reason to feel comfortable in Elusia."

He turns redder, but the hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

"I...I didn't know what to expect from you," he says quietly. "They said you were quiet and standoffish, avoided people, spent most of your time alone practicing magic. I expected someone a little more...well, not this. Someone who wants to care about a lackluster second Prince like me."

"While I didn't know what to expect," she says. "Let's work on overcoming any perceptions we might have had, though, shall we?" He smiles in earnest, standing up and holding out his hand.

"All right...I'd like that!"

She takes his hand, surprised at how warm it feels through her glove. He really is quite handsome when he smiles, and underneath that self-deprecation she senses a quiet sort of strength.

I will make sure you feel safe in Elusia, Prince Alcryst. No matter what anyone says.