Title:  Alice
Fandom:  Weiss Kreuz
Pairing:  Schuldich/Ken as the main couple, and background couples Aya/Omi, Crawford/Yohji, & Nagi/Farfarello - but in the mirror world only
Categories:  AU, angst, romance
Length:  Epic [~94,500 words]
Warnings:  mentions of self-harm, violence, characters are OOC (understandably, but still)


Author on LJ:  mami_san
Website:  Patterns of Blood

Author's Summary:  Through the looking glass and into the fire: Ken wakes up to find out his life could have been different. Only how much better is it, and will it be worth the past he knows to live in this future?

Review:  This story is an excellent example of the genre in which characters suddenly find themselves in a "mirror" world, where everything and/or everyone they know seems to be different.  Here, Canon-Ken falls through an actual mirror -- or does he? let the resolution of the story tell you -- and wakes up in a world where neither Schwarz nor Weiss operate as assassins.  Instead, both groups mix together as friends, with mundane jobs, who have met each other during their professional lives and grown close.  While psychic powers still exist, that seems to be the only element of this mirror world that separates it from yours and mine.  Ken is, understandably, delighted at the apparent peacefulness of the mirror world, but appalled that he seems to be Schuldig's boyfriend.

I especially like the parts of this story that break from the conventions of this genre.  First, Ken makes a complete fool of himself when he first sees Schwarz in his kitchen, which is perfectly accurate characterization and quite a bit different from the typical levelheaded world-hopper characterization these fics portray; as a plus, his freak-out is important later when he wants to reveal the truth to his skeptical friends.  Second, Ken doesn't manage to keep his secret for more than a few hours from Schuldig, unlike stories that would have readers believe that a lover doesn't notice drastic changes in personality or memory in their loved one... and Schuldig believes him because of the very valid reason that, duh, he's psychic and can tell the difference between his Ken and this Ken.  Third, while it's obvious that Ken doesn't know something very important about other-Ken, the eventual revelation was a shock to the reader as well as to Ken, and was beautifully set up.  Finally, the resolution of the story was utterly satisfying, and I would've recommended this fic on the strength of that alone.

I also like many of the small details of this story.  The alternate careers for the Weiss and Schwarz men seem to suit them.  Schwarz in particular receive excellent focus and characterization, since it was necessary to humanize them in Ken's eyes, and they come across as very likeable (and in two cases, tragic) figures.  Also, it's great to see a conscious and vivacious Aya-chan.

Alice  {link to first part; following chapter linked at bottom of each chapter}