I'm sorry to be so vulgar, but I have to say this:

Fucking. Amazing. 

This story easily worked its way into my Top 5. It was as close to a perfect story as I could imagine.

I read the Bonus Epilogue as well, and I was afraid it was going to do what so many gay stories do these days, and I was getting worried it was going to tarnish the story's image for me, and then it didn't do it, and something miraculous happened... I was actually disappointed it didn't happen.

I'm being vague to avoid spoilers, but... you actually made me want to see something I normally despise, because it actually felt right for a change. I can't hold it against the story that it didn't do it, as that would just be straight-up hypocritical, but.... I actually wouldn't have been upset this time if it did do it.

As trite and cliche as it is to say, this story made me learn a couple things about myself as well... and I'm not young!

Everything about this story was astonishingly good. The characters, their depth, their histories, how they tied together, their personalities, their humor, their quirks, their flaws, their attitudes.... and not just the characters, but the pacing of the story and its wording*, the visuals, the layout, the progression, the specific amount of detailing that was just perfect...

Ok, I gotta shut up eventually. But I mean every word of what I've said. This story was genuinely beautiful.

I need a Tonraq. I need a Chris. I need a Darryl, a Yuka, a Panuk, a Phillip...

So beautiful.

*Two exceptions: I'm guessing the author had recently discovered the word "mirth" before writing this, as it got used a lot. Not incorrectly, mind you... just more than I'd expect to see it! xD Also, the phrase "screwed up" was used to describe facial features more frequently and more loosely than it probably should've. Neither of these are big deals, just a couple things that stood out to me. :)