I have nothing but admiration and utter respect (and awe) for what you've created here. It's nothing short of brilliant.
This final update alone had my eyes tearing up and my heart pounding hard. Where does one start when trying to convey absolute adoration for a work of passion -- and that's what this was...over months you've created and constructed a living, breathing world filled with layered characters who were never black and white but technicolour.
Throughout the journey the idealistic side of me was yearning (against hope) for a happy-type ending, but given the subject matter, given the intensity of emotions rife throughout this fic, I didn't know if it would be possible and prepared myself for the worst. But you've done it -- while still being true to the characters and their own personal journey's, while never losing sight of the larger overarching story, you've written a believable, plausible, hopeful ending for Erik and Charles and for that I'm forever grateful (that's how attached I've become to your story).
In many ways, Erik thinks, he’s as trapped by love as Charles is, because while Charles cannot bear to stay, Erik cannot bear to let him go.
What a beautiful summation of tragic love -- two people who love each other with everything but cannot be together in the way they want...someone (both) is bound to get hurt and it doesn't make their love any less. It reminds us how potent and consuming it is. How much pain our hearts can take, are willing to suffer for the taste of perfection.
The character growth throughout your story is wonderful. Erik in particular is a thing of beauty...to see where he starts and where he ends up. How much do I love that he sorts out a working compromise with Moira, that he does it for Charles and because it's the right thing to do. This is an Erik who is thinking beyond himself. He's changed for the good (and it's something that is re-iterated after the shit hits the fan and Charles is gone and Erik spirals down, trying to convince himself that being alone is better because he has no one to bother or challenge him, to cause problems, when we all know how empty it all is without Charles prodding him, forcing him to think beyond his comfort zone, to be a better leader).
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This final update alone had my eyes tearing up and my heart pounding hard. Where does one start when trying to convey absolute adoration for a work of passion -- and that's what this was...over months you've created and constructed a living, breathing world filled with layered characters who were never black and white but technicolour.
Throughout the journey the idealistic side of me was yearning (against hope) for a happy-type ending, but given the subject matter, given the intensity of emotions rife throughout this fic, I didn't know if it would be possible and prepared myself for the worst. But you've done it -- while still being true to the characters and their own personal journey's, while never losing sight of the larger overarching story, you've written a believable, plausible, hopeful ending for Erik and Charles and for that I'm forever grateful (that's how attached I've become to your story).
In many ways, Erik thinks, he’s as trapped by love as Charles is, because while Charles cannot bear to stay, Erik cannot bear to let him go.
What a beautiful summation of tragic love -- two people who love each other with everything but cannot be together in the way they want...someone (both) is bound to get hurt and it doesn't make their love any less. It reminds us how potent and consuming it is. How much pain our hearts can take, are willing to suffer for the taste of perfection.
The character growth throughout your story is wonderful. Erik in particular is a thing of beauty...to see where he starts and where he ends up. How much do I love that he sorts out a working compromise with Moira, that he does it for Charles and because it's the right thing to do. This is an Erik who is thinking beyond himself. He's changed for the good (and it's something that is re-iterated after the shit hits the fan and Charles is gone and Erik spirals down, trying to convince himself that being alone is better because he has no one to bother or challenge him, to cause problems, when we all know how empty it all is without Charles prodding him, forcing him to think beyond his comfort zone, to be a better leader).