Ah, so good to get another chapter of this. Love reading your stuff, and the other stories you write too :P Keep it up.

This story was exactly what I needed to cheer me up! Well, not quite, but it definitely helped!

A bit short, but amazing none the less! Of course, I expected nothing else from you! ...Huh, I'm trying to work out if I've always been this flattering or if your story really has made me so much happier :D

I've heard about Toodles a few times in stories, but I'm not sure if there is actually a story about that. If not, I highly recommend writing it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd want to read it. Of course, you probably don't have a lot of time for writing, and you have other stories you're already writing, so it doesn't really matter.

Rusty's plans and ideas never cease to amaze me. Of course, it's your genius that comes up with them, so I have to congratulate on another brilliant idea, and therefore, another brilliant story. As soon as I saw the title ideas were going through my head of what trouble the boys could have gotten into in which the title would apply. I can't say I thought of what actually happened.

The lobsters and the sharks sound quite... intriguing. I can agree with Danny's (It was Danny, right?) line about the lobsters. I would definitely prefer sharks. Lobsters just freak me out! Something about their legs is just creepy *shudder* Although, sharks are probably more likely to kill you, if you're bleeding anyway. Hmm, I'm now going to go to bed with images of Danny and Rusty escaping sharks in my head :)

Thank you so much for this story - even if it wasn't actually for me. It really did help improve my mood! :D Of course, it probably won't last. By the end of the week I'll definitely need another great and humorous story to cheer me up...

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I loved this story a lot!

-TaCo

Awesome! Not only do I get a shoutout in an A/N, but I also get the story. I am in a happy place right now. Was fun. And yes one heck of a distraction. Feel bad for Danny . Must have been scary. Thanks again. Maia.

I was about to left kudos when I remembered this wasn't AO3 XD
Anyway, this was funny and cute ;D

Oh, smiling for this. Do remember the mention from way back, and loved when you wrote the fic. Though we still do not know if it is fic of win. *warning look*

Love the conversation fic. Is glorious. And all the way through I'm smiling for the blame and the not-blaming. Though think at the end, Danny is most definitely blaming Rusty. Incidentally, am amused by Danny focusing on the lobsters. Mostly cos am wondering if there is some backstory there that explains the dislike.

Can't help but wonder what use a phone is that you need to keep in the safe? Just btw. Feel Wilson has not thought this through.

And much amusement for Rusty's idea of a good distraction. Suppose it is distracting...but can easily understand Danny not speaking to him after. Can imagine the panic and the fury running through him when he realised he couldn't see Rusty anymore. Good thing the sprinklers were easily accessible, or things could have got much more nasty. Physical fighting is not recommended.

More amusement for "You've got to admit it's a great distraction."

"I'm checking you over for bruises."

Yep. Sure you are, Danny. Can see the exchange of looks.

Also, last lines make me laugh out loud. And this is about my...sixth? Seventh? reread. Thank you so much for fic. *happy*

Do love your take on Linus, you know. And this story is brilliant. The perfect mix of ambition and worry. Also *guilt* because it completely slipped my mind. And I evidently did not read A/N last night. Though I was very tired.

Really love the relationship you write between Linus and his parents. Can see them worrying about him, not wanting to push him into being a thief, but being very proud at the thought that he wants to, Bobby teaching him everything because if Linus knows everything not only will he be successful, he'll be safe. And that's what matters most. And I like the fact that Bobby tells him that they'll always be there when he needs help, even if he doesn't want Linus trading on his name. And really, Bobby knows that Linus wouldn't want to get ahead that way. Linus wants to make his own way and make his parents proud, and he can't do that if all he's going after are the opportunities they give him.

This view of the meeting with Danny made me smile. Like the thought that he was a little bit angry. Like even more the "Daniel "super-cool" Ocean." Such a shame that didn't catch on as a nickname. And as I said previously, I really like the thought that Linus has heard the stories, that Bobby and Molly have been *telling* the stories, but he didn't connect them with Danny's full name, because it's always DannyandRusty. Makes sense to me.

And amusement for Linus' first impressions of everyone else too. Yeah. None of them are anything like Bobby and Molly, are they? Think it's a different way of working altogether. And I love the view of the Linus uneasiness that we see in the film. Is such a major step for him, of course he'd want to think it through. Think he has a real tendency towards over-analysis. And equally, of course the magic snares him. Always will, that's not going to stop anytime over the years.

Happy, happy sigh of having fic. Thank you, mate.

Oooh! Update. First, I am so glad you updated, I missed your writing.
This little story was very nice. It was nice to see Linus' feelings and how he got to where he got. And yes, Linus, some day, Dad will be Linus Caldwell's father.
Cheers!

Awww, this is great. Really well done conveying a lot in little drabbles. Nice job.

I really liked that each had a different feel to them, depending on the character. And hearing Dominic's voice was interesting. Different.

Thanks for sharing.

Maia.

Can't help but wonder if you've *tried* fitting them into a hundred words. You may be underestimating your succinctitude. :)

And talking of which, these are all so wonderful and clever. And see? You don't need to wage war on modifiers in order to keep it under a hundred. Sigh of talentenvy. And every single one of these is perfectly in character and conveys the thoughts and fears that you want to get across, and all the absolutely important relationships - ties - that are linked together in this group.

Can feel Reuben's rage and despair. Cos we could see how hard he'd worked, and the money he must have spent, and then Bank just casually took it all away. And just want to say that this is a brilliant line. "the feelings of fury burst in his chest, overwhelming him and darkness descended." No, I can't tell you why. Yes, that makes this a rather useless piece of feedback. Shut up and let me tell you you're brilliant.

And love Dominic in this piece too. The way he has been worrying all this time. And it's not the same kind of tie, but can clearly see that he doesn't like Reuben being unaccounted for either. And fortunately can't think that Reuben gives him nearly as much cause to worry as others in the fandom. But can see him standing there, gripping the receiver and staying calm. And of course, he knows who he's going to call.

Sigh for Danny being aware of Tess' anxiety. Of course she would be afraid for him. Lots of reasons to be afraid, and I'm glad that she isn't actually asking him to stay. In fact, she offers to come with, and equally, of course Danny doesn't want to risk her in the same danger she sees for him. Not her fight. Further sigh of unhelpful.

Love the Isabel section too, think you've caught her perfectly. And smiling for the silver tie and for the understanding and for the "Take as long as you want" with the different emphasis. Makes me wonder how long that plane had to wait...

Amusement for Saul and Marian section. And the disagreement at Saul not knowing how to be careful intrigues me. Feel there are stories here. Yes, this may be hint. And so pleased she isn't going to let him stay. But have to think that after Annie, not being there is probably one of Saul's biggest regrets.

Don't really have much to say about twins section, other than made me giggle and I can see every second of it, with the off hand gesture and the shoulder sagging and them both waving goodbye.

Linus, and I can hear his voice and of course he's immediately worrying and in the midst of worst case scenarios because that is Linus. And sigh for the "No one he knew had actually died. Well, Mrs Travis, the school librarian, but that was way after he'd graduated." Oh, Linus. Still naive. And his being careful to act grown up in front of Bobby makes me smile. But of course Bobby is worrying, about Linus and about Reuben and imagine that at times like these, he wishes he had a slightly less brilliant cover that would allow him to be away for months at a time.

Like the thought that traffic may just have been so intimidated by Yen that it started moving. That is all. Also like the impatience. Very him.

And Frank, Basher and Livingston meeting and the immediate pleased to see each other that lessenes the tension and anxiety just a little.

And back to Dominic, and like the unquenchable faith, and the idea that there's a network of butlers/PAs/Man Fridays/whatever the hell Dominic is, throughout Vegas that can have all the info and gossip in an instant. But mostly like the stone cold certainty that Danny and Rusty and everyone are here to put things right. And we know they will.

Sigh. In short, mate, under a hundred words even, is brilliant piece of fic.

This one always makes me giggle, ever since you first shared it. And, incidentally, I have to think that even without the drug, when trying to engage in serious conversations, Isabel's first instinct may indeed be to tie Rusty down. Because he doesn't have a great track record. And much, much giggling for the everyone. Really, truly, everyone. Except Linus. And also shudder for the Saul and Reuben. Oh, that's just not *right*

And then, at the other end of the scale, we have the exceedingly awkward. And that does sound like some impressively bad sex they managed to have there. And really, why should it be good? Is you fic, so neither of them have done this with a man before. Apparently not everything comes...oh, let's just leave it there. Was going to say instinctively, but am happy with that as end to sentence...especially when they're working on what seems to have turned out to be professional attraction rather than sexual one.

Much amusement for Rusty being bony, and Danny's weird sex face. And smiling for the end. Friendship and partnership still very much intact. Which is the way it should be.

Still feel this one is so much colder than usual. And not just because of the weather theme which, incidentally, is brilliantly woven through.

Can feel the frozen of Danny in prison. Not showing anything. And always sigh for Danny missing Tess, and feel here there is a more than a hint of the possessive.

And is colder because when Danny is going to look for Rusty, he isn't looking for Rusty because he needs Rusty, it's only because he needs Rusty. Um. Giggling. Perhaps you might be able to read that with the appropriate tone. But more than that, it's Rusty trying to forget about Danny for a while. Because normal verse, that never happens.

But smiling for the better offer and the promise of more and yes, yes, we know it's going to be brilliant.

Love this verse, as well you know. And sigh for the early and the trip to Europe and the together and happy and downtime.

And I love the scene in the tea shop simply because it reminds me again how well you write them and how well they know each other. Danny knows Rusty's expressions, knows everything that this one isn't, and there's no way he can let it go. And slight smile for the “It's nothing” that even pretty early in their relationship, he doesn't get to finish. And of course when Danny sees the boy he knows exactly what it means and what it means to Rusty, and can hear the toneless voice as Rusty discusses the practicalities, and hate it as much as Danny does. And sigh for the “not all of them want to be saved” and thinking of Marvin and how much that hurt Rusty.

Sigh for the essentials. Yeah. Rusty's peace of mind is very much part of Danny's essentials. And sigh for Mark's story, and so glad it had a happy ending. Because can understand Rusty's anger, because it easily couldn't, and Danny was walking in a world that Rusty would never want him anywhere near. But Danny can't do anything less, because (at least as far as Danny's concerned) no one did the same thing for Rusty.

And more sigh for Rusty watching Danny sleep and the wonder and the doubt. And different flavour of sigh for the "It matters to you, Rus, then it matters to me." Because yes. Always, always yes.

In short, love this fic. And whatever did happen to rest of Europe trip?

The genius of you, is that this works so damned well. It flows so smoothly that you don't even notice at first that they're not actually talking. Oh, it's obvious that something's *wrong*, the atmosphere of dread is incredibly clear, but the exact isn't obvious until much later in the story. But I love the little hints to the truth. The fact that Danny is the one ignored, the fact that there was a “last time around” when Danny suggested scissor paper stone, and the “Bastards” that both is and isn't an answer to what Danny is saying.

Sigh for Rusty having spent all this time in that room, looking at the photographs of Danny's murderer. Can feel the empty hate and loneliness. And shiver for the repeated

“blur of fists and vicious and kicks and razor blades and blood and pain.

“ Oh, can feel the *pain*. And writing is just effective as hell.

And Rusty's plan, of course, is so different than the one that Danny imagines. Nielsen is the first resort, not the last, because anyone who isn't mercenary and sly is going to try and talk him out of it, and might just tell him someone. And of course, Rusty cut the wire deliberately. Can see him standing there looking at it and smiling coldly. And antagonising the mark is exactly what Rusty wants. He's got them all back there now but that's not enough, because they still need to know why. And sigh for Danny realising exactly what he's missed. And if Danny is dead, where else would he be but with Rusty? And one last time to not actually say what they mean to each other, and yes, yes Rusty heard him. Of course he did. Or else.

And you know, above all, I love the ending. Much as it makes me cry. Clicking his heels together. There's no place like home and home is with Danny and he's bloody getting back to him.

This made me laugh!

Thank you :)

This was good.

I enjoyed it :)