I was really impressed with this, particularly with the last scene with Mist comforting Ralf. It was very touching and wrapped up the story really well. The bits of humour throughout were a nice touch too. That last scene, though, is what left the strongest impression. Really great!

I love everything about this story. The characterization, the plot, the neat little twist...everything.

You really kept me guessing from the beginning until the very end. I felt the middle was a bit slow moving as well, but it's still well worth reading. The humor combined with the suspense was just brilliant.

I have to admit the ending lines were my favorite:

“Mist, I l–”

“It’s going to be okay.”

Now what was Rolf going to say? ;)

I really enjoyed this. It was surprisingly funny at times (love the wyvern-whelps-in-your-sock-drawer line) and really carries across the personalities of the characters you focused on.

Poor Rolf...

This is why I love the emblem awards. If it weren't for them, I don't think I ever would have found this, and that would have been a tragedy. For me, that is.

What can I say though that hasn't been said? This is amazing? Everyone was in character? You managed to keep me guessing until the end? I just don't know. I think this is one of my favorite 'three brothers' fics, and for good reason. It has a great title, and a better story. I mean, the suspense started in the summary for goodness sake. What's more, you pulled the wool over my eyes for half the fic, I didn't even consider the idea that perhaps Rolf wasn't a crazy sociopath. That's how convincing Boyd and Oscar's POV was.

That, along with your writing style, made this a formidable story. Your style is engrossing, for the most part it propelled me through the fic, making me wish it was longer when I got to the end. There were a few times when the wording got messy, but they were far and few between. I really should have known that Rolf was angry with the count because of it was too high, but like I said before, it didn't cross my mind until right about here, "“Done it before,” Boyd replied. “Do it again,” Oscar added."

And the ending, I have to talk about this. I saw some people didn't like it as much as the beginning, which was spectacular, but I'm not going to go there. Whether or not it was better wasn't what grabbed me, it was Mist's implication that his tears could erase the lives he'd taken. Of course, Rolf wasn't going to let himself off the hook at that, but I still loved the idea. It really caught me offguard. This was a joy to read, thank you for writing, and posting this.

Twilight Rurouni

Great story!

Keep up the great work!

Wow, this was amazing. The concept of the story was very intriguing; how indeed DOES a young boy react when he is forced to kill? You managed to keep the suspense up right until the very end, too. At the beginning, I was so scared that Rolf might turn out to be a psychotic killer! I especially enjoyed how you portrayed Boyd. Most people write him as being much more brash and unthoughtful. The interaction between the brothers (especially Boyd and Oscar) turned out nicely, as well.

The only thing that I have to complain about is the fact that you never really tied up how Boyd and Oscar reacted to the discovery of the truth. I mean, you did kind of show how Boyd felt, but I kind of felt like you just dropped that part of the story near the end (not that the ending wasn't great). Either way, it was a great story, and I really enjoyed reading it!

Amazing. Simply amazing.

You are a fantastic writer, I could find NOTHING to complain about in that story.

:) I shall continue to lavish you with praise.

:Lavish, lavish.:

a very good and very surprising and original take on Rolf. Loved it - and the Boyd/Oscar banter was great too!

Intriguing! This is very well written, and a very interesting idea. I enjoyed reading this immensely.

Your characterization is brilliant. I loved seeing the interactions of the brothers-the three of them have always been entertaining, especially when it comes to the Boyd and Rolf interactions. And your take on Rolf is very nice, too-duty, but not always an easy one.

Your writing style is fantastic too-easy to read, and detailed, and best of all, you actually have a grasp of the English language. Fantastic. I can't tell you how many good ideas have been ruined by poor writing skills, but this is excellent. And the subtle humor and irony in your style is amusing and interesting, too-perfect.

The twist at the end was great, too. I love the way that you lead the reader on to believe Boyd and Oscar's suspicions until the very end...nice job.

Fantastic. This is definitely going on my favorites list. A very good one-shot overall!

~Velkyn Karma

I do like the style of description near the end. In particular, the line "he looked over the tallied mass in front of him, like a child’s scrawled image of a graveyard" was lovely.

I like the concept and the twist, but the mood feels inconsistent. I agree and yet disagree with Meelu - I think the Boyd/Rolf perspective split was fine, but it's the sudden shift from suspenseful to vaguely comedic to mournful that breaks it for me. The middle is a bit long, but not terribly so.

Boyd seems more suspicious that I'd think at first, but his dive into guilt near the end make sit all good. Poor little Rolf. Oscar's nicely in character, as are the rest. Tanith's single line is wonderfully funny and accurate all at once.

I do like it. Not as much as your humor, but this does leave an impact nonetheless.

Powerful vignette! The characterization and descriptives are clear and strong enough to make knowledge of the ...game?... unnecessary. And great lines... "Welcome to the new Rolf order"... I am SO remembering that one. And good twist at the end. Coulda gotten really sappy and/or corny, but handled very skillfully; poignant but not overdone, telling without hitting anyone over the head with sap. Off to read more now...

Excellent! Everyone, including me, invisions Rolf as a kind and cute little boy, but here you captured what Rolf got along with his training from Shinon! Bravo, my friend. Bravo.

Nice job. Everyone's nicely in-character and you've got some pretty decent skill in writing.

This was amazing! Finally, someone that wrote a story about Rolf's otherside! I really liked it. What's better is that you really captured all the characters down to a margined. Your writing style is really good too. I was impressed.

Summary rather misleading. Rolf was angry and upset that the count was so high.

Boyd 'being held at scowlpoint' that funny. The ending was sweet, especially what Mist did with Rolf's tear, a nice metaphor