OMG Lol.

I honestly, sincerely think that you write the best Hephaestion and Alexander in all of fandom. D They're so lovable, so silly, so intelligent, so flawed, so perfect, so human. Your writing style is also amazingly perfect. The dialogue, the storytelling, the depth in your writng. It's absolutely awe-inspiring. I hope one day I can write as well as you do, every character you create I fall in love with...

That was absolutely hysterical, Hephaestion should be drunk more often! lol The last scene was brilliant, Alexander shrieking like a girl is too easy to imagine for some reason. Ha ha.

The whole thing was hilarious and so well written, great fic. :)

*stifles her roars of uproarious laughter* That was amazing! Pure genius! Great, fantastic, brilliant job! :D *succumbs to whoops of laughter*

Hi Moon,

I have been so woefully behind on reading and reviewing other people's stories that I feel like lashing myself twenty times. As always your stories are just wonderful. They are like special chocolates. I have to say that when I read the first few lines of this one, esp. with Hephaisiton and Kraterus sitting together, peacefully, I felt tears come into my eyes. I think it's too early in the morning for me to be reading about Alexander, et al. I'm so glad though I'm begininng my day with something written by you.

elizabeth

Very late R&R on this. My apologies. Always so good seeing a new story from you. This is a hilarious first time tale but also very sad, as Hephaestion makes up for old grudges and enmities with Crateros. It seems that he seeks him out and actually wants to tell him this bold and outspoken tale because he realizes that they will never meet again.

Aristotle's lesson of The Birds and the Bees is so hilarious, it's outcome, too. Poor Hephaestion, the first First Time was not very romantic at all. His private moments in the garden with Marsyas did the thing, though. There is nothing like jealousy to bring out True Love.

I especially like your humorous dialogs, especially the way Crateros and Alexander say "Hephaestion! " when the beautiful chiliarch becomes to brash and outspoken. :)

All the best wishes and many thanks for sharing,

/ NorthernLight

This story is hilarious, one of your best in humor. Seriously, by the time I was done I was literally guffawing. :D

Velvie

I was looking forward to this very much!

So a nice, um...semi-amiable...drink leads these two old rivals to let down their mutual guard a bit, even to admit, however obliquely, that yes, they _have_ envied each other; each one sees in the other strengths - especially strengths that King/Alexander appreciates - that he doesn't have. And from that, they discover more similarities. (I really like that they both hate Alexander always differentiating them by "friend of the King" and "friend of Alexander!")

Not forgetting the "prequels" to thi... if I tried to verbalize how I feel about this Crateros-Hephaestion interaction - I think I could only point and repeat again; such a wonderful exchange, actions and looks conveying what the two could never say to each other, mutual respect and yes, even "care" of a sort ... The gift of the horse being a "friend for an Orestid on a long road" and Crateros' response - "You always were a romantic, Hepahestion ... [interject Hephaestion's strange intense look] ...What?" Oh, *sigh*. Love this sort of stuff! But hopefully from my last comments on Hephaestion Goes Hunting, you can guess at my utter satisfaction at having these two rivals reach a sort of equilibrium. All the more poignant when one remembers that they'll never see each other again... and both will die within several years, Hephaestion first, then after Alexander, the rest of the Companions turning on each other and dividing the empire so recently won...

Well, I know that depressing foresight wasn't a point of this story. :P So much of your usual wonderful character-based humor, a few unexpected touching moments, and a very satisfying conclusion. Thank you, I'm so glad you posted this!

J'adore! I think it is amazing. And...congrats on your work in the zine! I haven't seen it yet, but I'm excited to read it. Hopefully, see more from you soon?

Baliansword

Michelle

very nice story. I love this fic. It is very interesting how you portrayed their first time together and it make me smile happily thinking Alexander gave the proposal to Hephaistion ! Very cute indeed. Love it. Thanks for sharing.

I loved this story - it was so perfect and witty. But how is this chapter 1, suggesting another, it seems to send here?

Hi, Moon,

Another intriguing story, from someone we've all come to expect quality from. The topic in of itself has always been a fascinating one that other fanfic writers never seem to cover. Lots of writers endlessly speculate on the Alexander-Hephaistion-Bagoas triangle, which could never have the complexity and nuance as the Alexander-Hephaistion-Krateros one; largely because Bagoas, at least the way Renault writes him, could never be a fully recognized character as Hephaistion or Krateros. Even the historically speculated Bagoas (son of rich persian noble who just happened to be a eunuch and actually gained real court status later on) would have been more interesting...but no! Okay, enough of my ranting...on to the review itself:

"Hephaestion was silent for a long moment, his head bent. When he raised his eyes once more there was an odd sparkle in them. “Only because if Alexander had made me Regent Olympias would have had me poisoned in a week." - I really like this...good creative use of historical speculation and totally plausible.

Only one constructive criticism...would Krateros really call Hephaistion Amyntoros? I mean, did they have that kind of convention back then?

Oh... OH! Hephaistion ought to be punished for this XD Alexander might do well to ask from that one servant about which story was told, in case the servant is still about

Anyway, loved this! Very, very nice indeed.