ashcat		2006-02-14	id # 15824
What a unique change of perspective on Eiri. It is rare to see him before meeting Shuichi (but well after Kitizaiwa). I think you did a great job of showing his interspection of how empty his life was, and how he dealt with it and why he was a womanizer etc. :)

may		2006-02-14	id # 15846
*tear* I WISH I WAS THAT GOOD OF A WRITER! go aja go aja your on it your on it. hurah!

bakayarona		2006-02-15	id # 15858
It's great to see a prequel to the canon from Eiri's point of view - what he was like prior to the pink tribble invasion. This is tragically sad; what a tragic half-life to be living! Just moving through the days without anything to really look forward to emotionally and purposely keeping himself cut off from the world - the sad fact is a lot of people live exactly like this for real. I like the fact the woman was smart about the encounter and quickly figured out where she stood with Eiri. Been there, done that! This works very well and seamlessly blends into the rest of your universe.

DC	gotsit	2006-02-15	id # 15883
Oooo. I like the hollow, empty feel of Yuki in this. I honestly see him like this before the manga. Great job with characterization and conveying the reptative, empty feeling of his life before the bundle of pink joy. :) Enjoyed it!

Despina		2006-02-15	id # 15884
Poor, empty and cynical Eiri. This is exactly how I think of him pre-Shuichi. I, like bakayarona, appreciate that you gave the woman enough sense to realize what she was dealing with. I’ve known a few throwaway people over the course of my lifetime and they are very sad to see. Very nice, as always Aja! Despina

Tenth		2006-02-16	id # 15904
Great work, Aja. One of my favorite Gravi fics! I liked that you made Tokyo humid! Enough of this "cool night air"-- as someone who's been to Tokyo, it's hot and humid as hell in the summer. Good detail. He found he didn't like being with himself. The very emptiness of his own routines annoyed him. Wonderfully IC, very realistic and well-worded. At the time, he had written more without social distractions but it didn't make him happy. The work was too introspective and arrogant. His fans ate it up, though. So so sadly true. At a time in my life when I was an angry misanthrope and wanted nothing to do with anyone was also when I got hit on more than ever. Another very-true-to-life, but sad detail. Great for the mood of this piece. I like Yuki's success, yet self-loathing. This is definitely something I feel is true to his character and to reality. The fact that he'd rather suffer through life than consider suicide is my perspective on him, too. His feelings of worthlessness and wallowing in equally worthless women/beer is reflected well and gives the entire piece a clear, undeniable mood. Your dialogue is always very solid. Yuki's short responses were realistic. Everything the characters say sounds natural and I could picture them saying it. For the reasons Yuki considers (hard to kick her out, etc.) I'd imagine he'd take most of his women to hotels rather than his apartment. Especially since discreet hotels for just this purpose are very common in Tokyo. I thought it would have been even more powerful if the woman never had a name (from Yuki's POV he doesn't know what it is because he doesn't care) Both of these are just tiny stylistic suggestions. A splendid, satisfying read.

Achan		2006-02-17	id # 15941
Terrific reflection of Pre-Shuichi Yuki. Love it!

Aries		2006-02-19	id # 15981
Wow its a prequel of Yuki's life before shuichi. Wow that was really sad. It like he looking for something and he dosen't know what that thing (Shuichi) is. Very well done! I'll be looking for more of your work in the future; I almost live of of it. ~Aries

PatoSan		2006-04-08	id # 17957
I really enjoyed this little look on Eiri's past life. As usual, it was totally IC, very believable and greatly written. I loved the comparison between women and beer that run through the fic and its melancholic touch. The woman's response to Yuki's coldness was also refreshing and she didn't come across as a Mary Sue at all (not that I thought she would, it being you writing after all). Just great, really.