Hi, sock puppet here again. Did I tell you you're a marvel? This is stunning.

That was F* HOT! omigoth!
I LOVE THIS STORY I LOVE THE HOT SMEXINESS THE GOTHLICIOUS YAOILICIOUSNESS!

I truly love your writing. It's much more believable than most of the Erik/Raoul on here, and it's so powerful. Definitely a favourite for me =]

Oh lawdy, I've been in slash withdrawl these past few days...I don't know whether this is a livesaver, or is only going to make me want more...Either way, very well done. It's a tricky thing, making E/R plausible, but here, Erik becomes more of an idea than a man, something Raoul's mind instinctively turns to when his marriage gets a little, shall I say...limp? Delicious descriptions, I have to say that at the image of Erik swaggering towards Raoul, his hips pivoting like pistons, I had to stop and get myself a drink of something very VERY cold...that was hotter for me than even the actual sex. Maybe it's just my own preferences, but I would have almost preferred more crackling sexual brutality from Erik...I was getting myself ready for some serious raw unemotional pent-up sexual frustrations released and then...wait...is Erik...UNTYING Raoul from the portcullis?! Well, that's no fun. And now he's caressing his wrists? Who are you and what have you done with Erik? Erik sizzles with such raw, desperate sexuality and deprivation (emotionally and...otherwise), and fangirls eat that up. I'm not saying every fic has to fit this bill, but I felt like the sex in terms of this sort of sexuality was...a bit rushed over, maybe. Feelings and looks are very well-done, but..I felt a need for something more carnal, right after the flesh-swords part...desperate thrustings, exactly how do short pantings sound in an underground lair?, heat, esentially that testosterone-fueled blood/sweat/tears thing. This may just be my disconnected ramblings, but...I'll finish it off with a quick great job, and eternal gratitude for writing this.

You are a SPECTACULAR writer. The very idea of pairing Raoul and the Phantom together seemed ridiculous until I read this story. You described his emotions perfectly and in detail, and you made everything so vivid. The descriptive language, the personification, the alliteration... you added all that in and more and made it sound 100% natural. And shamefully arousing.
Keep writing, you're definitely going to be famous one day! You rock.

You know, ever since I started reading your work, it's captivated me from the very beginning and made my emotions run the gamut and turn upside down in all sorts of different ways.

I thought it was quite significant when you got me turned on to E/M and even a bit of E/G every now and then. I then thought it was a mark of your genius that you made me heartily dislike Erik in PotP. But THIS takes all that to an entirely new level. Because I generally won't read a slash fic even if it threatens me at gunpoint. And liking it is even more of an utter impossibility. Particularly in the case of E/R.
Understand, this is definitely a special case. I've never been a huge slash fan, except when it's used in jest or parody. I usually skirt serious, bona fide slash at all costs if I can help it. And therefore it is yet another testament to your brilliance that not only did I finally give in and read it, but that it did indeed succeed in being so disturbingly sexy that I felt quite uncomfortable! It's uncanny, really.

How you do it is completely beyond me. I bow, as usual, before your preternatural writing abilities.

~Echo

*laughs*
nobody writes good slash these days...

once again, just great! sorry for infiltrating your reviews, but i thought it was time i finally said something

- dark-hearted rose

I enjoyed this.

Wow. That was cool. Awesome take on Raoul's feelings, there. I'm oddly intrigued by Eric and Raoul.

Poor Raoul. Would he really find masturbation so shameful? (In general, not in the context of the more specific premise here.) This is great; a delicate touch, which is impressive in a ALW2004-R/E fic, a combination of elements I never read!

really really good i hope theres more where they accually meet but if not then theres always hopeful thinking anyway i love it and hope there's more

A great piece. Executed without an utterance of the sentimental slop that makes even the most ambitious slash fiction crumble like old cheese. I think most of the people who write slash fiction are afraid of making it emotionally honest. Then again, it seems like most people who write fan fics in general are paralyzed by the idea of having any characters in their hands 'grow up' in any way.

Another beautiful piece... Stefanie, your writing style is magical... I can identify with your characters so well, it's hard to believe that every one of them isn't based on personal experience. Although, that is the mark of a good writer, isn't it? The ability to make yoru readers empathize with your characters even when they cannot possibly sympathize. And you excel at it. This is gorgeous - it's going on my favorites list!

Slash. Good slash. Such a rare commodity these days. :)

I love the vivid metaphors, unexpected, but very fitting.

Breath-taking! I particularly liked the description, "long arc of pleasure's white blood." ~ML