So I debated for a while over which one of your stories I'd leave this review on, since they're all deserving of it. I've been kind of lurking in your fics for a while now, even before I officially got an account on this site, and you have some of the best Loki-and-Thor fan fiction I've ever seen. Your characterizations of not only them, but everyone in their “universe”—Frigga, Odin, all of the Warriors Three, etc.—is so spot-on and well-written. The relationships between the characters is by far the most in-depth I’ve seen—like Loki and Odin’s interactions in this specific fic? Perfect. I love how multi-faceted you manage to make all of their conversations, and how much it HURTS. I’m pretty sure I cried when I read this fic the first time, and everything about it is so beautiful that I keep coming back.

Frigga and Loki, too, are done so delicately in your other fics that I immediately fell in love with them all over again. You write them all with such care, it really just feels like a love letter to their characters. And your writing itself never fails to make me FEEL. It’s so poetic, no matter the story, and it just… I can’t even really describe it. Your writing style just hits me differently, in general, and it’s stories like these on this site that always inspire me to keep writing.

I also live for your Loki lines—though, of course, that's probably just me being biased. :P Your Loki and Thor banter is so good that I’m seriously considering just accepting it as canon. Loki sass is always fun, but you get the more poignant moments right too. Sometimes it’s just the little things, too—like the moments you didn’t know were in-character until you read them, but once you have they seem so obviously perfect. Loki propping his feet up on the wall as he and Thor just talk in The Things I Miss, The Thing I Don’t, or their entire interaction when Thor visits Loki in his cell in Hiatus are particular favorites. Makes me remember why I love fan fiction.

I’m probably referencing too many fics at this point anyways, since this is beginning to feel a little like a novel review, lol. I'm posting this review here, though, because this fic is one that’s so angsty but in such a beautiful, bittersweet way, between everyone involved. The passing of time from Thor’s perspective is a nice touch, as is the ocean from Loki’s and the description of it (and the way he continues to watch Thor). I binged the entire thing in one night and still haven’t stopped being hurt by it, or loving it.

Anyway, here’s all this in one big mega-review that I probably should have just PM-ed you with. I hope you’re doing alright, though I understand that sometimes life is simply just more of a priority than writing fan fiction—I should know. :3

Thank you for writing the little treats that you do :)

Why’d you have to go and make me cry? ;~;

This is so sweet and subdued and PERFECT. I LOVE the way neither of them addresses all the pain their separation caused them. They just see each other, discuss the WEATHER, and move on. Like it's been a WEEKEND, not a FEW THOUSAND YEARS. That's how our boys do things. lol.

Okay, so the first part - I wanted to shout at Thor to wake up and pay attention. The fact that he thought he wouldn't see Loki in Valhalla was wrenching, but it was even WORSE knowing that Loki was THERE. That was exquisitely done. And after that, having Loki stop, and just watch as Thor wakes up. Isn't that how it is, though? The fact that he'd be afraid of meeting Thor again makes sense. It's perfect - just psychology-wise - it's what we do.

And then they were together again. Just the way that fell together...it's flawless.

I don't know that Loki's side of the fic had much hope of being anything other than angsty, to be honest. He tends toward brooding and insecurity just by nature. Couple that with the fact that he's separated from his best friend, and the fact that NOTHING IS HAPPENING and you've got a cocktail for exactly what we got. Far as I understand him, Loki uses humor/chaos as coping mechanisms. Neither of those seem to be in ready supply. What he's left with instead is a lot of time. Time is the LAST thing he needed. Long-story-short, I think you did great ;)

Personally, I think you should post the fully-written scenes as 'deleted scenes' from this one. Maybe as a companion to this fic, rather than extra chapters. But that's me being greedy ;) I think your writing is phenomenal, and I have to admit I'm super curious what that more comic-side of this fic might have looked like. Don't feel pressured by me AT ALL.

This story is amazing. It had the special quality of being tragic, without ending in tragedy. It is a beautiful, cathartic story. You, my friend, are a Master.

My God, this is beautiful. So, so damn beautiful.

Much as I love stars, I also love storms, so the idea of an always clear sky sounds awful to me. I don't THINK it's just Loki's narration that makes it feel like too much ;) But that storm rolling in...you've rendered me speechless.

I loved the introduction of this chapter, with the little girl wanting to visit the ocean. I love every word of this fic. 'The last Prince of Asgard'. It's got such a magnificent, melancholy sort of feeling to it. And that memory where he said 'this is not what I damn well meant' got me emotional. I'm not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry, but there it is. I also really like how he doesn't need to sleep, or even breathe anymore, and how it sounds like it's something one gets used to. It makes sense. Babies have to learn to live, why shouldn't the newly dead have to learn the same thing?

I really, really hope there's a Thor/Loki reunion coming up next chapter. I don't know that I've ever been so invested in anything in my life.

Afterlife fics are hit-and-miss. This is amazing. Loki's grief is almost as painful to watch as Thor's was. It's not quite so bad - and I think that's due to Frigga and Odin. I love that they're BOTH looking out for him. I specifically loved that Odin sent Frigga to see him that one time, rather than the other way around. It's really wonderful to see Loki and Odin repairing their relationship.

That moment when he promised he wouldn't try to get Thor killed was so sad. The way he pointed out that he'd tried that when they were alive was crazy, because it highlighted just how much about him had changed - or at least become more clear. I love that he thought to wade deeper and go back. I truly believe that Loki would think to leave Heaven if it meant he could be with Thor again. The way he dropped the idea was just so HIM that it was heartbreaking.

The little reminiscent lines add a profound depth to the rest of it. The line about Odin's hands being free and about the library providing what he wants are the two I'm thinking of, but I feel like there were more that I'm just not remembering now. I mean, his jealousy of the Snap reversal? Ouch.

That last line too. Damn. That was powerful.

Only two more chapters. I'm excited.

I've heard rumors about the likelihood of Thor's surviving A4, and, honestly, if Loki's not there to survive with him, much as I love him...I like my Asgardian Royal Families whole.

I love the dreamy after-world sense here. There's no huge outbursts or emotions. It all just feels dreamy and soft and somewhere between peaceful and longing.

I don't remember if I said something about this in a review before or not, but either way - An author I love once said that he believed that the dead experience the grief of parting just like those they leave behind. I thought it was poetic and sad, but it's more real to see it depicted the way you have. It's nice to see the three of them alone together, rebuilding their relationship. There's no drama between Odin and Loki - and I didn't expect to love that.

Loki's thanking them for changing his sentence was a hugely powerful moment. Damn. And Odin's response was beautiful.

I'm glad they have a way to look in on Thor. I understand why they didn't tell him, but Frigga's right. That doesn't make his disappointment hurt less.

This is less painful than the first half was to read, but no less beautiful. I really want to see them all reunited!

Oh my God...Frigga was afraid they wouldn't even be able to see him in Hel...That's awful to think about. I like how solid this chapter feels. Solid, but dreamy at the same time. I'm not sure entirely what I'm trying to express. It reads like a dream, but like a very real dream. It's very subdued, and quiet. Peaceful. Very different from the chapters before it.

At first I thought it was a little odd that you hadn't put these chapters in, back to back with Thor's. But in retrospect, this is way better. The way you've lined it up, we could still wonder along with Thor is Loki was coming back.

And can I just point out the absolute poetry of his first interaction with Frigga being his taking her hand, when that was the last thing he tried to do with her when they were both still alive? It's beautiful. And I love that Odin doesn't start out with any kind of speech or embrace or question. It's just 'hey. let me show you the place.' Like nothing ever happened. It's perfect.

Now they just need Thor. Then they can all be happy again and we can put all the little pieces of my heart back where they belong.

'Approximately 2500 years back'?

That is such a long, LONG time...

I never thought about the idea of ageing like this. It's powerful and so sad. I hate the idea that Thor could never be really happy without Loki. I mean, I love that they love each other, I just hate that they have to be separated. It's specifically poignant in the image of the broken mirror, and Thor still seeing Loki in it, as he was before he died. It's terrible, thinking of all those years Thor had to exist, alone. I can't imagine how alone he has to feel. Thor is such a happy, personable character, and to have to exist for decades - centuries - like this is awful.

I don't know why I let you do this to me. Not a chapter goes by that I don't tear up. I'm loving every wrenching, terrible minute of it.

Is Thor really dead now? Has it finally been enough? I don't want him to be dead, even though I know he won't be happy, ever, without his brother. God, i hope his brother is there in whatever afterlife Thor comes into. I hope they're all there, but, God, if Loki's not there...

Damn. I'm not - entirely - sure why I let you do this to me. I was going to try and break this chapter down to my favorite moments, but I think I'd be re-writing the chapter, AND doing it a grave injustice in the process, so I won't. I can count on one hand the number of books/stories that have made me cry. This is one of them. I love it so much though. It is so sad, and perfect, and rending. The pacing is flawless. As soon as you think you're over one of the memories, here comes another one.

I will say, however, that I thought the cafe scene was specifically well done. I appreciated Bruce's pitch-perfect characterization, and just - him, as a character. I love that he was willing to approach Thor like that, and offer that kind of consideration. It made it worse that Thor still didn't want to talk about it.

And the last paragraph too! Thor's so alone.

Flawless, heartbreaking and flawless. I commend you.

The tiny little segments here are short and haunting. They give the impression that Thor's stumbling, which seems apt, considering.

I love the snatches of dialogue from both this, and other movies. The way you recounted them is brief, which makes it worse, actually. It feels numb. The one that hit hardest - for me anyway - was the cut-off quote from the 'Thor' deleted scene. I've never seen it snapped in two like that, and it was shocking, somehow, to know how it ended, but not SEE it ended. Masterful move, there. A close second would be Selvig's line. It's funny, in the context of the movie, but not to Thor - you highlighted that nicely.

God, Thor's grief is killing me. I love our boys. I just want them both to be happy ;(

You're right. This IS going to kill us.

Omg, thank you so much for writing this story! All the feelings! I've been distraught since Infinity War, but this really helped. Thanks for sharing the love!

Why are you doing this to me?! The feelings! I've never cried so hard at a fanfic before! -sniff sniff- -regain conposure- -lose it again- Waaaa! Must keep reading!

Simplmente brillante!
Me encantó tu escritura, la descripción de sentimintos y personajes.
Realmente sufri por ambos, Loki y Thor, esto me ayuda a reconciliarme com IW.
Siga escribiendo, felicidades!

I'm...kinda speechless. Which may come as a shock after a chapter that's all of eleven words long.

(yes, i counted them.)

I remember you using really short chapters to your advantage in the past. The technique works. I love the way you use it.

I'm curious now how many reviews there are that are longer than the chapters they praise. lol.

Amazing, as always. I want to be mad, because you're breaking my heart, but I'm loving it the process too much for that.