Alabaster Orchestra
is a cancelled Bleach Alternate Universe Fic by Caesar Coffin.
They called him their savior, but it is a title he soon cannot stand to have. The world he knew disappeared in pain, leaving in its place a future that is at best uncertain. Ichigo, waist deep in the blood of Quincy and Shinigami, knows that this is the conflict that may end up killing him. But then again death might just be what he's looking for...
Alabaster Orchestra provides examples of:
- Affably Evil:
- Bazz-B has no problem flirting with or poking fun at his enemies in the midst of battle.
- The Emperor holds a civilized discourse with Aizen.
- Aizen as well, reciprocating the Emperor's respect even as he politely declines the offer to join the Vandenreich in exchange for his freedom. He even politely offers condolences to the Emperor when he senses Driscoll's death.
- Mask quickly befriends Ichigo and offers him support after he joins the Empire.
- The elderly and bespectacled Stern Ritter gives Ichigo a supportive nod during his induction into the Stern Ritter.
- Alternate Universe Fic: Apart from the obvious divergence in events from canon, many Vandenreich characters have their personalities subtly altered from their canon selves.
- Bio-Augmentation: Played with; Ichigo undergoes a special operation that implicitly removed his Shinigami heritage and enhanced his Quincy heritage.
- Blatant Lies: It has yet to be elaborated upon, but in the story the Soul Society is apparently built on this, with concepts like 'the balance of souls' all simply to keep power within the hands of the Soul King.
- Blood Knight: Bambietta at the beginning, though her burgeoning relationship with Ichigo has stopped her canon hobby of killing rank-and-file troops on a whim.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Askin Nakk Le Vaar finds pursuing fleeing enemies not worth his time, and allows them to get away. Those who stand and fight though quickly get killed without unnecessary maiming or suffering.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Bambietta gets pissed when Candice flirts with Ichigo.
- Deal with the Devil: Uryuu agrees to join the Vandenreich in exchange for guaranteeing the lives of his friends.
- Death by Adaptation: Shunsui is killed as a result of the distraction caused by Yamamoto's death.
- Despair Event Horizon: Ichigo is driven to this by the truth of his mother's death, the destruction of his Shinigami powers, and mental torture from Gremmy.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Bazz-B's fight with Hitsugaya is briefly interrupted when he notices Matsumoto's boobs.
- Evil Mentor: Played with by the Emperor counseling Ichigo over his mental turmoil in the aftermath of his joining the Stern Ritter. Played with because it's clear that the Emperor clearly cares for Ichigo as a descendant and a strong warrior and doesn't simply see him as another pawn like he would have in canon.
- Ignored Confession: A dying Renji mistakes Bambietta for Rukia and confesses. It doesn't end well.
- Irony: Ichigo is briefly imprisoned by the Quincy in the same way Aizen is by the Soul Society.
- Fate Worse than Death: Aizen predicts this for Ichigo if he remains with the Shinigami.
- Grey-and-Grey Morality: The Vandenreich and the Soul Society are both presented as this.
- Heel–Face Turn:
- Ichigo willingly joins the Vandenreich after he recognizes the futility of further opposition, and even expresses gratitude for Yhwach's honesty and not hiding the truth from him like the Soul Society would probably have done.
- He later proves his loyalty to the Emperor and the Empire when he rejects Uryuu's offer of an alliance with the aim of avenging their mothers' deaths, calling the latter out and even launching a failed attack. The Emperor sees this as a sign that Ichigo is ready to begin his training and to gain a place among the Stern Ritter.
- When Ichigo joins the Stern Ritter, he is confronted by Zangetsu in what's left of his Inner World, who then tries to kill him. Ichigo fights and kills Zangetsu, causing the final destruction of the Inner World and with it the last of his Shinigami powers.
- I Did What I Had to Do: The Emperor presents this as his and the Quincy's mind-set regarding their war with the Shinigami. He even goes so far as to admit that he doesn't mind being overthrown by a worthy successor, because then that person will simply carry on his and their people's burden of opposing the Soul King.
- Let Them Die Happy: Renji survives Cang Du's onslaught and confesses his love to who he thinks is Rukia...unfortunately for him it's actually Bambietta, and she swiftly puts him out of his misery.
- Mercy Kill: The Emperor considers doing this to Ichigo after Aizen predicts his fate at the Soul King's hands if he remains with the Shinigami. However...
- Mind Rape: The Emperor has Ichigo undergo this from Gremmy to strip away his recklessness and immaturity to get at the Quincy mentality deep inside him.
- Thicker Than Water: Despite the danger of what might happen should Ichigo fall into the Soul King's hands and his own 'taint' from his Shinigami lineage, Ichigo is spared by the Emperor because he is still one of his descendants.
- Unstoppable Rage: Ichigo's reaction to the Emperor revealing it was he who indirectly killed his mother as a result of 'Holy Selection'.
- Villainous Valor: Renji's willingness to die in place of his defeated and helpless captain earning Cang Du's respect and prompting him to actually spare Byakuya in exchange for Cang Du killing Renji instead.
- Wicked Cultured:
- As Nodt has no problem discussing the nature of fear with Rukia during their battle.
- The Emperor sees Aizen as this, believing that he would have made a great actor and that conversation with him is worth the risk of actually getting manipulated."If not being manipulated by him, conversation could be quite beneficial to a person...in another life the man could have been a magnificent actor."
- Worthy Opponent: Rukia manages to survive and impress As Nodt. When she's at Mask's mercy, the other Stern Ritter tells Mask to let her go, as As wants to fight and speak with Rukia again in the future.
