Nothing but NOTHING beats reincarnation/immortal modern AU fe3h visiting a museum/art gallery for me.
Edelgard look alike on her cell phone in front of a portrait of Emperor Edelgard, looking around for her step brother Dimitri. A tour guide stopping in front of an Ignatz Victor original to deliver a lecture about it's recovery to a Lorenz wearing expensive sunglasses. Yuri and Byleth smirking as they pass a glass case containing a "replica" of the Sword of the Creator, which a Linhardt is taking notes on and a Felix look alike is pretending not to oggle.
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This isn't well fleshed out but if Ashe runs a bakery, I think he'd let Hubert take over decorating things for Halloween. SPOOKY desserts! Full of disguised vegetables of course. Lysithea may or may not feel like its all a prank.
This is 100x funnier to me if Hubert doesn't even work there. He's just Some Guy Ashe Knows and, since Ashe is the most likeable person on the planet, Hubert does this every year without fail and he does it for free.
Hubert decorates the bakery inside and out and sits with Ashe to plan out what special desserts to have available: Chocolate croissants that have spider legs (chocolate shavings) sticking out. Carrot tarts with pumpkin faces drawn on in balsamic glaze. Zucchini bread with flicks of green dye to make it look moldy (Lysithea's LEAST favorite because 1, vegetables and 2, MOLD IN A BAKERY??). Sugar cookies in the shape of bloodshot eyeballs. The works.
Ashe always tries to pay Hubert. Hubert always refuses. Ashe sends him home with a cinnamon coffee cake anyway. Hubert never refuses that, because no one can.
Oh my god you like hades? Okay Dimitri and Dedue as Achilles and Patroclus and then Byleth (or Shez if you like?) as Zag
(YES Hades. I've always love myths and such but Hades is just getting me more invested than usual)
The giant pink Butterfly Ball showed no signs of wear, and the number of Exalted Warriors popping up around it-- alongside the incessant butterflies of course-- worried Byleth immensely, especially since he was sitting as uncomfortably low number of health points.
Byleth had been saving this particular trick for a certain champion at the end of Elysium but, at this rate, heâd see the House before he saw the doors of the stadium, so he held out a small stuffed lion and called out, âSirs!â
âBy your side, lad,â came a familiar voice-- and the shade of Dimitri ran at the Butterfly Ball, lance in hand, with the shade of Dedue close behind.
Cafe AU where all the houses are different rival cafes on or around the same college campus?
Jeralt Voice: "Garreg Mach University, said to be protected by a revered mascot, has existed since time immemorial. Three cafes now control the campus.
In the south lies a cafe long held by a more than one-hundred-year-old dynasty of drama majors-- the Espresso Empire.
Beyond its borders, to the north by the library, is the home of the Kingdom of Beans cafe, ruled by business majors and its concentrations.
To the east, a league of undeclared students that heed no faculty or Greek life runs what is called the Big Mug Alliance cafe.
Once consumed by a tempest of warring prices and turmoil, Garreg Mach University and these three mighty powers now exist in relative harmony."
I spent. Way too much time on this
The Ashen Wolves do delivery service for the three cafes and Yuri keeps track of pay vs time/expenses to make sure his people are being paid fairly. When Byleth saves managers Edelgard, Claude, and Dimitri from getting mugged on the way back form a supply run, they all beg for Byleth to join one of their cafes. As security. Definitely not as eye candy.Â
Since Dimitri and Byleth have also 'returned from the dead', Felix is getting a little numb to this. Just narrows his eyes suspiciously and says, somewhere between rage and tentative optimism, "Glenn. How could you possibly be alive?"
Gwen holds back a flinch because she hasn't been called that name in almost 10 years. But this is her brother, this is Felix, and she owes him a hundred apologies so she's going to move on. "It's a long story, Fe. First things first; what are all of you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?!"
Ingrid is near tears, Sylvain is shifting from foot to foot in case Felix does something he might regret, and Dimitri is finally paying attention now that he's heard Gwen's voice.
Gwen simply replies, âI was looking for Dimitri,â which is apparently the wrong thing to say, because Felixâs expression darkens and he puts a hand to the sword on his belt (Itâs always the Boar. His family has always been about Dimitri and never Felix). Sylvain moves to stand between them. Ashe, Mercedes, and Annette have taken three steps back and are watching with wide eyes.Â
Itâs Byleth who speaks first. Theyâre the model of puzzlement and give a little wave to get the groupâs attention. âUh, how do you all know Gwen? What am I missing?â
Felix balks. âA lot, apparently. This is Glenn.â
âNo? Her name is Gwen. She was part of my fatherâs mercenaries before we went to Garreg Mach.â Byleth looks to Gwen. âI wondered where you went. I havenât seen you sinceââ
âRemire.â Dimitri speaks for the first time. Voice low and eye wide. He looks so run down that Gwen wants to order him a bed, like she used to on days he pushed himself too hard training. Dimitri goes on, âI thought I saw you. I assumed you were a ghost. But if youâre⊠then whoâŠâ He trials off, hand to his head, mumbling too quietly for any to hear.Â
Byleth takes a cautious step closerâ but Dimitri shrinks away with a sudden scoff. âIt matters not. The dead must have their revenge.â And he leaves without a backward glance.Â
Leaves the most awkward room on the planet.
Felix is quick to follow. This is too much for one night. Thatâs definitely the Boar, and with the Sword of the Creator that can be no one other than the Professor. But he highly doubts thatâs really Glenn. Gwen. Whatever. Mercedes follows Felix out, worried and wanting to keep an eye on him, and Annette follows her.Â
Which leaves Gwen alone with Bylethâ still confusedâ Sylvain, Ingrid, Gilbert, and this freckled kid with a bow on his back who looks so close to passing out from exhaustion itâs not even funny.
Itâs Gilbert who finally asks how Gwen is still alive, to which Gwen gives the barest explanation (got wounded, healed, didnât want to go home) and then mutters something about securing the area before leaving the room.Â
Byleth follows and, after some prodding, Gwen reveals the whole story. About disagreeing with the treatment of Duscur, being so ashamed of her Kingdom that she abandoned everyone and changed her name, leaving Jeraltâs mercenaries so she wouldnât have to be at Garreg Mach (âbut why didnât you just say goodbye to me? We were in the middle of learning that one technique.â âI panicked Iâm sorry.â), and wandering nearly aimlessly until Dimitriâs supposed death.
âBut enough about me,â Gwen says, aiming a sudden glare at Byleth. âWhere the hell have you been for 5 years?â To which Byleth responds that itâs time for bed.
The whole next week is A Lot. Mercedes and Annette are excited to meet Gwen. âFelix talked about you all the time!â Mercedes says with a grin Gwen canât help but return. âLet me make us some tea and we can have a girlâs chat.â
Ashe wants to know Gwenâs favorite books and they have a great conversation about knightâs tales. Gilbert seems to be avoiding Gwen which is just fine by her. Dimitri looks panicked whenever Gwen is near so she gives him spaceâ which is easier to do when she realizes Felix is sticking around the cathedral anyway. Byleth acts as if nothing has happened, and even badgers Gwen about going through forms she had been teaching them before Remire.Â
Itâs Sylvain, Ingrid, and Felix that make Gwen feel as if she shouldn't be here. Maybe staying away for the rest of her days would have been best. Or aiding from the sidelines instead of making herself known. She had forsaken her duty to Dimitri all those years agoâ no need to take up the torch again now. Not with Gilbert, Felix, and Byleth by his side.Â
Ingrid finds her one night and demands to know what in the world Gwen was thinking. Ingrid --who used to be Gwenâs shadow and not even come up to her elbow, who kept up in the training yard better than even Dimitri most days-- is now yelling at Gwen with nine years worth of grief. Why did Gwen stay away for so long? Would she have come back at all if Dimitri had truly been killed? Why go back on her oaths to protect the royal family, marry Ingrid, and uphold the ideals of knighthood?Â
âWhen you died, I didnât leave my room for anything. Not even to work in the stables. I barely ate. I just wanted everything back to how it was and now you turn up like this!â And here Ingrid waves at Gwen as a whole and cries, âWhat happened to Glenn?!â
Gwen thought these topics would be two separate conversations but it turns out one has a lot to do with the other.
Itâs another week before Sylvain, who up until this point has tried to act normal whenever Gwen is around, corners Gwen and smiles all coldly and says, âIngrid tells me you two finally had some time to talk. Thatâs good. Now keep going.â The smile fades. âItâs past time you faced your brother. You know Felix is too bullheaded to come to you himself.â And Gwen takes a second to wonder where the gangly teenager with bruises from Miklan and easy jokes went.
That day, Gwen looks for Felix and eventually finds him in the training grounds. She tries to start whatâs possibly the worst conversation of her life when Felix tosses Gwen a practice sword and launches at her. Though taken aback, Gwen wins that fight. And the next one. And the one after that.Â
After Gwen wins the fourth match, Felix is left kneeling in the dirt, gasping for breath, tears drying on his face, sword loose in his grip. He looks up at Gwen and says, âSo it really is you.â
A hundred mushy things leap to Gwenâs mind at once. From confessing how much she missed Felix and used to fantasize about coming home on his birthday, to apologizing on bended knee and begging to know how to fix all this.
Instead what Gwen does is snort, reach out a hand, and say, âAs if anyone would willingly pretend to be your sister.âÂ
Felix laughs. He laughs and takes her hand and Gwen pulls him up into a tight hug.
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Okay okay so Iâm a coffee shop AU Ashe would totally be like, the best barista ever. Dedue and Mercedes may be the best bakers in the shop, but no one can make latte art like him. Hapi enjoys coming in and asking him to make a different pattern every day. If ever heâs not sure how to make one, the two of them sit down after his shift ends and learn together.
Ashe in a cafe just Makes Sense. Always a hit.
Latte art!! Ashe would be so humble too. Like heâll praise Dedue and Mercedesâ baking up and down but if the customer compliments his art, he gets all red and tells them Hapi came up with the design.
Hapi has sketch books filled with ideas and is always surprised when Ashe can pull them off effortlessly even though she has complete confidence in him. Dedue has twice had to remind Ashe that he canât give out so many free drinks just to practice his art. Mercedes is constantly showing Ashe the photos customers post on social media of the latte art they receive (cue Ashe turning red again).
My personal issue with Role Swap AUs is that they totally consume me. Each idea sparks a train of thought that can only be expressed properly via multi chapter fic and I absolutely Do Not have time for that.
So instead of trying to write out my Magic Bros Annette & Hubert Roleswap AU for Hubert rarepair week, I'm gonna rant at you all and thank you for your patience lmao
In 1178, frustrated by how close Hubert still is with Edelgard even after the Insurrection, Lord Vestra sends his son to the Royal School of Sorcery in Fhirdiad. Hubert pitches a fit but, ultimately, is forced to go. He promises Edelgard to learn as much as he can so he can be of more use to her when he returns.
While there, Hubert grows a kinship with Mercedes. Sheâs only a year or so older than he is but she constantly checks on him since itâs clear (to Mercedes) that coming here was not Hubertâs choice. Mercedes talks about her mother and missing her brother. Hubert talks about his father and missing Edelgard.
Having Mercedesâ guidance improves Hubertâs faith skill, and in turn Mercedesâ reason magic improves. They swap scary stories in between study sessions-- they have a few in common since Mercedes grew up in the Empire but thereâs still variations to exchange or new Kingdom-based ones to discover.Â
Early in the school year, Lorenz tries to strike a connection with Hubert (someone close to the next leader of the Empire is a good friend to have for a future duke). But that goes about as well as youâd expect.
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In 1177, Annetteâs father abandons his family, leaving his wife and daughter in his brotherâs care. Annette doesnât take this well, often striking out on her own to find him only to have her uncleâs guards bring her back. Finally, the new Baron Dominic orders Annette sent away so she can clear her mind. Move on. She likes music, her mother says, maybe she could go to Enbarr? They have a famous opera house there.Â
In 1178, Annette is sent to Enbarr to stay with a friend of her uncleâs. There she is indeed distracted by Dorotheaâs performances. Walking around the city one day, she trips over a barrel and knocks the contents of a fruit stall onto a passerby. Flustered, red as her hair, Annette helps the young woman to her feet. Sheâs horrified to learn that this is none other than Princess Edelgard herself. Edelgard merely smiles and thanks Annette-- that little accident pulled her from sorrowful thoughts. By the way, what song were you singing just now? It was almost familiar.Â
The two are fast friends. Edelgard adores having an upbeat friend around and Annette is starting to actually feel happy again. Edelgard talks about Hubert and hints at her siblings a fair amount. Annette vents about her father and admits she misses her mother.Â
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Even with the western rebellion in the Kingdom, the year passes uneventfully. Hubert and Mercedes graduate and itâs time to say goodbye. Both plan to meet again at Garreg Mach so itâs not so sad, really. Hubertâs just mildly pissed that Mercedes has to go back to her adoptive father who wants to marry her off for her Crest. Heâll be telling Lady Edelgard all about that-- another potential supporter for their world without Crests.Â
His carriage passes Annetteâs.
Annette has thrived in Edelgardâs company and has convinced her to go to the opera a few times since their meeting. They too part knowing theyâll see each other at Garreg Mach but Edelgard isnât looking forward to being alone again. Hubert is due back soon, if all goes well, but what if school has changed him? What if he wants to pursue academics and quit as her retainer, as Lord Vestra clearly intended?
Edelgard neednât worry. Hubert goes to her before he sees his father, lays out all the textbooks heâs spent a year learning from, and sits her down to talk about how Crest corrupted the north is.Â
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In 1180, the Officerâs Academy opens its doors to the next class of students. Mercedes is quick to pull Hubert into a hug he is Not ready for but enjoys nonetheless. Annette is already talking Edelgardâs ear off but stops when she sees Hubert like â:D! Is that him??â just as Mercedes gives a curtsy to Edelgard and says, âItâs wonderful to finally meet you!â. Â
This forms an interesting study group. Edelgard makes her case about the Crest system to Mercedes. Hubert instructs Annette on dark magic-- though she seems to have a knack for it already? (one day he just Gives her all his old textbooks because sheâs eating through the material so fast). Mercedes makes treats that Annette appreciates more than Hubert ever did. Hubert and Mercedes collectively snub Lorenz. Annette tells Edelgard embarrassing Dimitri stories that spark memories in Edelgard...Â
And all four work out who Gilbert is and when he comes around during Verdant Rain Moon they donât let him leave without explaining himself to Annette. Gilbert would protest but the Princess of the Empire flanked by two strong mages standing just behind his determined daughter is something hard to ignore.
--
In terms of the plot, I donât think this role swap changes much. Just a different point of connection for Annette and Mercedes, Hubert gets two magic buddies, and Edelgard gets more music in her life as well as more support. That line with Annette making Edelgard remember Dimitri could turn into something if one lets it but, for the purposes of me getting this idea down, Iâm not going to go into it. Fun to think about though :3
And if youâre interested in Hubert rarepair fun, the week starts Jan 22! You can find all the prompts and info @HubertRarepair on twitter!
How do you think Flayn would do in a cafe? Would she ever find an outlet for her glorious special interest in fish? We have a piroshka bakery near us what hath fish-shaped fish and potato pastries, perhaps she would make those.
I think Flayn would be fantastic in a cafe/bakery setting! What a good thought! Even if she didn't bake well at first, she would soak up lessons like a sponge and radiant positivity that customers and employees would be helpless against.
AND FLAYN WOULD LOVE PIROSHKA!
Fish filled with yummy fish!!! I wanted to try some so bad after looking them up.
(She'd also like Taiyaki, but maybe that's my love of red bean talking XD)
Flayn would be wonderful to have at a cafe/bakery. I need to write her in cafe AUs more often, she'd be a great addition. And next time you go to that piroshka bakery, have one for me!!
