The fb didn't make me re-evaluate so much as face a truth I really already knew. I've felt this way about my last 3 short fics: I know they're good. I don't care WHO says they're bad, I wouldn't believe them. In fact, I know they're excellent. But all 3 are overly convoluted and focused on wordplay in a way that is at times detrimental to some of what I want to say. It's something I need to work on. But, I'm so glad it worked for you personally, that makes going out on a limb all the more worth it, you know?

I am a very linear writer; I tried very very hard to make this non-linear, but I'm not surprised it ended up rather linear for you (as it does for me, on re-reading).

I'm so glad the Xander death scene worked for you. That was actually a last minute addition. I thought part 5 needed more, and I realized it didn't have any Xander to echo the Xander in the beginning, so I added that in. If I can please a Xander expert on a Xander death scene I'm thrilled beyond the telling of it.

Am also so glad the last lines worked! I first wrote the last section in October, and I cried so hard when I wrote it, but when I went back and re-read it I thought it all seemed a little over-dramatic...but I couldn't bear to part with those last lines.

So glad you liked it, and thanks so much for letting me know, and again for reccing.