I like it- it's very good. But I do wish you'd have made it Paralai :P I'm rather partial to the pairing :P

"to keep information close to them--and closed to others" - this is a nice turn of the word.

It is a great pleasure to read a work which honours its readers by paying attention to punctuation and spelling. All too many at this site seem to consider editing an unnecessary luxury.

Your perception of both Paine and Baralai is interesting if a little too rigorously dictated by canon. I learned nothing new about either of them. The writing is excellent and flows smoothly. If I have a criticism, it is that you seem a bit uncomfortable with permitting your characters to breathe. I do not feel a sense of life inhabiting them. Perhaps it is only this pairing which your afternote suggests was a challenge to you.

Nevertheless, I am glad to have discovered another author to add to my list of 'to be watched'.

Ee! Snowshippy! ^_^

Really good ficcy here. I think you had them almost perfectly in character. *pokes Baralai to get some sleep XD*

... but damnit, now I really want to know what was on that sphere. XD

Hey! That was cool! I just wished that the romance was stronger though. But other than that, this is a great story!

Dagas, this is such an ace fic and I definitely love how you left it open ended instead of having Paine and Baralai hooking up. As you already know, I'm no fan of Paine and Baralai, but I suddenly feel myself sliding in that direction. ^_^

Nice!! You've done a great job portraying Paine's and Baralai's characters and personalities. Oh, what's in that sphere?!?!?! Please write the next chapter!!
Oh, and Happy B-day to your Beta reader... ^_^

Dagas! *hugs* This was so great of you to write!
Aww, I love the Paine/Baralai. It's a pairing that I found intriguing to consider, but one that wasn't really even hinted at in the game, and one that I fear isn't treated with the development and characterization it deserves many times when it does appear. All of which you already know. But! What you don't know is that I consider this fic to be a shining example that Paine/Baralai can most definitely work given the right author, being you ^_^
I loved all the subtle hints in this fic. Every gesture and word is full of implicit meaning. That's something I try to express in my own fics, and you did it so fabulously! Even converstaion that seems idle isn't extraneous.
And I can't believe the amount of references you managed to pack in. Even a mention of chocobos! And, even more importantly (if you can believe I'm saying that), a reference to a particular and highly important character and his upcoming wedding to another highly important character.
And poor Baralai is so cute and so overworked! And Paine feels lost, and...and I loved that whole bit about how they were joined in their loneliness. And also how you went through the other characters and the connections in their lives. The characterizations were wonderful, Dagas!
And I totally loved the ending and its implications. That was fabulous. Wonderful, wonderful fic! Thank you so much!!

I love Paine/Baralia fic's and I really like yours so far, so please continue.