Best X-Factor story I've read. Best characterisation, best plot flow. Best. I feel like I'm dishonouring it by not going into more detail, but what else is there to say, really?

It's been years since you wrote this story, but I've reread it so many times since I found it through tumblr yesterday, and after sharing it with a friend of mine, there is no way that I can't sit here and not give a review for it. This story is amazing, and beautiful, and perfectly written. I was worried when I began reading because first person POV stories can go downhill really quickly, but it was obvious by the middle of the first chapter that this was going to be completely different. You captured this complicated relationship between an alien who doesn't understand emotions and an ex-mutant who doesn't like to think about them beautifully.

With Layla pushing everything to a head so that it happens NOW, versus being a problem far in the future, and Rahne's pregnancy putting an extra strain into things, this was written so well, from top to bottom. The panic attack really brought it for me, though. That panic attack was what it all being written in first person was for, for me. Being unable to deal with one, but especially with that much lack of understanding was written so well, and I loved the extra bit with Jamie being the one to help Shatterstar calm down during it.

This was a wonderful story all around, and both I and my friend are so glad that I found this story on tumblr. And all the happy fish!

Oh the happy fish! I adore this story. It's so in character, Shatterstar's manner of speaking is so perfect and never forced. It keeps a great pace and it's a great reflection of a couple who love each other but really don't know what they're doing. It's easily one of my favourite fics in this pairing. Thanks for writing!

Amazing story, I really enjoyed :) The part of the Nemo-like fish was exceptional and super cute. I like how you introduced some characters we knew and how you used Layla's manipulative skills to make everything better for Rictor and Shatterstar. I also enjoyed Rictor a lot, though I think he wouldn't mind the whole "gay lifestyle". I think since he talked about his bisexuality with Jamie at a very early stage of the comics - a man he has conflicts with it -, he wouldn't say it's degrading or anything like it. Perhaps before he got involved with Shatterstar or when he was trying to come out of the closet.

The rest, however, was perfect. Great job!

I cannot *believe* this fic has 36 reviews! I have read and re read this thing a million times it's so good! It's wonderful. Magnif, really. It always makes my heart hurt, and then I flail, pathetically.

Thank you for writing this fic! We do need more RicStar fics in this world even though canon is plenty delicious too!
My interpretation is more that Star wants many threesome's though. But I guess learning and passing the skills to their relationship is a fitting interpretation too.
Star is so clueless here QQ Brilliant. I did notice Layla setting Star up and was confused.

I cannot tell you how many times I have read this fic. It's an embarrassing amount.
It's just fantastic and really really well done! It gives me all the feels! All of them! My heart breaks then heals the breaks then OD's on cocaine the breaks and then heals again! best ricstar fic ever.

Oh wow nothing can describe how much I love this story. It's adorable & heart-breaking at the same time! I'm so upset that I've reached the end of the story. I love how this fic is written through Star's point of view. His lack of understanding for human concepts is so adorable & sad at the same time. I hope you would consider writing more RicStar in the future! Thank you for this wonderful, wonderful story!

this was a great story. I would love to see more.

Best X Factor fic that I've ever read!

Oh my god this whole story is absolutely amazing. I just caught up on x-factor for the first time in years and went looking for fic and this just made my day. It's perfect

Wow.

I only just clued into the whole Rictor/Shatterstar relationship thing three days ago. The now-epic X-Factor #45 kiss came up in a random Google search and I promptly did a spit-take on my monitor. It wasn't out of any shock. Unlike the 95% of current readers to this genre I possess ALL of the original 90s X-Force comic books (and subsequent cross-overs) stored in a file cabinet somewhere. I saw first-hand the pair's friendship and read the thinly-implied implications that there may be more behind it. I remember the "Stecky" incident of #43, Rictor leaving the team in #44 (and 'Star's resultant breakdown in Cable #22), and suffered through the perplexing Ben Russell debacle of #61 (thank-you Jeph Loeb). Following that, the pair drifted down to Mexico. I didn't think they were gay, just "best buds", because it was the 90s as seen through the tight-assed Marvel lens and I was admittedly naive. I was never against the concept, but unless something is depicted as canon I don't speculate. To make a long story short: X-Force ended its run, Rictor moved on to other ventures, and Shatterstar seemingly disappeared in the ether that all poorly written characters disappear into. He took part of my soul with him when he was "dropped" (I was utterly rapt with the character) and I eventually quit collecting comics. A decade of no 'Star came and went.

Three days ago, that all changed for me. I was ecstatic to see this pair's return, and in spectacular fashion no less! I've since downloaded all of the X-Factor scans and now I'm chasing after random Shatterstar M-Day appearances and gobbling down all of the fanfiction I can get my red-rimmed eyes on. There's a distressing lack of it. I found "Learning Curve" today, still reeling from the exchange in X-Factor #207 where 'Star expresses to Rictor that he wants an open relationship. You took that idea and ran with it in spectacular fashion. Using 'Star's first person narrative to tell the tale was an absolute masterstroke because it let the reader view poor 'Star's skewed perspective on what should have been typical human conversations. I have so much gratitude and praise to express that blabbering on about the virtues of every chapter would only become repetitious. There were no faults I could find (the complications of Rahne's *cough* birth came after your charming resolution to the story) and I laughed, face-palmed, and teared-up many times.

Happy fish, indeed. Thank you so much for taking the time to write and post this masterpiece.

Omg I love this story! It made me laugh, especially the little random thoughts shatterstar had, and cry.

You made my day with the " I know a guy" line XD

I absolutely loved it! Shatterstar's voice is great in this, and every interaction, between him and Rictor, and all the others, was natural and believeable! You've got the characters down perfectly, and the development was great.

In conclusion: funny, realistic, In character, sexy, hot, heart-wrenching and engaging! Great, GREAT work!

-Jupiter

This is. The absolute best RicStar fic I have ever read. The characterization, 'Star's thought process, the humor - I actually cried reading this. THANK YOU.