This was lovely!

Carlotta is definitely my favorite character in Phantom, but she doesn't get many fics. Therefore, your story made me very happy. =]

~Mirei

I was a bit surprised by how much I liked this. You made Carlotta and Piangi three dimensional. She wasn't just the vain, silly diva she was a real person as was he.
Of course it did make his upcoming death; which was the one moment in the film where I'd felt sorry for Carlotta as she sobbed over his body, that much sadder.

Absolutely lovely. From start to finish this story proved to be magnificent.

To begin with, the setting contains so much detail. It's obvious you put alot of thought and effort into describing the room, the bathroom, their clothes, physical appearance, everything. Very nice.

The characters are perfect. I like the backstory you give both of them, it makes me better appreciate the way they are in the movie. I especially have a different appreciation for Carlotta, who has always been my favorite character, but here you make her more than the spoiled diva everyone believes her to be. She's very honest and relatable in this story and I have to commend you on that. The dialogue flowed naturally and remained true to the way these two speak. Everything about this is natural to human beings, such as Carlotta not wanting to eat because she's worried about her weight, Carlotta's opinion on everyone, and the scene where Piangi remembers Carlotta's story about her ankle. That on its own is a powerful moment.

Their interaction is perfectly staged. I can see all of this happening in my mind. This story really captures the love they have for one another. I especially have to compliment the final scene, it's so sweet.

Again, everything about this story is outstanding. You are a talented writer. I look forward to reading more stories from you.

Oh, this was a lovely surprise. Thank you for writing an entertaining and intelligent story, with an unusual pairing. ~ml

This was trully a lovely flicet. I loved how you portrayed them, you did and excellent job!

Ciao!

People with a penchant for Pavarotti will appreciate this portrayal of the portly Piangi as the pleasant paramour of the peppery Carlotta. Orsino, as she calls Piangi, is a Gentle Ben of a man who uses his considerable masculine intuition (a quality too rarely depicted) to affectionately "handle a woman" (to quote Camelot). He knows from moment to moment whether to exorcise or propitiate Carlotta's demons in order to bring out the best in her.

Though their personalities are like fire and water, Carlotta and Piangi share the struggle to rise from their provincial poverty and foreign backgrounds. The story touches on the social tensions they confront, and how they use their considerable resourcefulness and earthy humor to make their way in the milieu of the Paris Opera.

"The Diva and the Bear" (dare I call it "Ursa Major and the Star?") ties in well with the 2004 movie scene where the Phantom (as Red Death) threatens Carlotta and Piangi with a sword. Given the lovely relationship these two have in this story, no wonder the Phantom persecutes them--he's understandably jealous of the mature sensuality of these established lovers.

The novelty of this story is in the sensual portrayal of the fleshy pair. Bravo for alternative body types! And in a further departure for the fanfiction norm, the love scene culminates, not in the torrid predictable way, but in a warm snuggle.

If I must mention a fault or two, it's that the physical descriptions are a bit overdone towards the end, and that the story is a mite short on plot. Then again, since this story claims to be fluff, one can hardly complain. On the contrary, I find "The Diva and the Bear" to be, like Piangi and Carlotta, surprisingly and delightfully substantial.

Oh Stef, this is lovely! So sweet, so different. Yet another argument against the way 2004!Carlotta is played as someone who could never have gotten to her position. This is a valuable look at another side, because none of these people are villains. We spend so much time excusing and exonerating and explaining the Phantom that we lose sight of the fact that any conflict has multiple motives and agendas. Thanks for this. I'm glad Piangi and Carlotta have each other.

I lav eet! Lav eet, lav eet, lav eet! I'm thrilled that there are more of us out there that write about Carlotta and Piangi! Thank you so much for such a wonderful story!

~Carlotta from Phansonline

I'm not usually a fluff fan except when it comes to my pet pairings, but this was very nice. I particularly liked the backstories and the leisurely tone of the narrative. You give Carlotta's feisty vulgarity a solid grounding in her childhood struggle against poverty, which works very well, especially in forming a connection with Ubaldo. Like I mentioned in your blog, I've always thought Carlotta would be hungry for revenge against the Phantom by the time Don Juan rolled around, and I particularly enjoyed her outburst in his address.

Cuteness galore. I love a good bit o' fluff once in a while.

The fact that it was Carlotta and Piangi made it an interesting and refreshing read, as usual when stories flow from your pen (er...keyboard.)

The most earth-jarring thing is that Carlotta isn't unlikable at all in this story. She's painted as a perfectly normal and even slightly sympathy-inspiring person rather as the hateful, spoiled, larger-than-life prima donna which constitutes how we usually think of her. And Piangi, instead of an annoying fat little nuisance, is the same. A likable, everyday man with hopes and fears and love.

Lovely and gloriously original writing, as always.

Cheers,
~Echo

Hey, just thought I'd review on this board too! Great story, love fluff, good job. Peace out.

WONDERFUL story! Please write more like this!

I clicked on this out of curiosity (don't see enough Carlotta-based fics, and Piangi can come along too. ^__^)
Wonderful job! They're so cute together.
And if Carlotta's bathtub has been claimed, can I have her bath towels? They sound lovely. ;)

How interesting! I've never read a romance fic about Piangi and Carlotta. You've really given the characters depth here, made them come alive. A neat glimpse into the private lives of two relatively minor characters.

Oh, this is absolutely delightful! Thank you for making Carlotta and Piangi real characters instead of the cartoonish buffoons seen so often in fics. The backstories make them seem like actual people. And the flirtatious play in the tub was charming. It made me smile. (Also, I want Carlotta's bathtub!)