It's probably been 5 years since I last read this all the way through. And, as an individual, I've grown from who I was then. I see this story with different eyes. I still love it. I probably love it more now because I feel like I can resonate with Mystique's own growth into who she needs to become. I still want to know what happens. I will ship XMFC Mystique and Azazel until the day I DIE but I need someone to retcon that BS from X2 where Mystique basically blows off Kurt, as though he's nothing to her. THEY can't give us Kurt in one movie and then give us Azazel and not have shown us how one and one gives us two. It's MFing BS. And then to kill Azazel off? Do not get me started.

Anyway, I know this isn't your primary fandom anymore. That's okay. But if you ever come back to this pairing or decide to finish FATE, I'll be here. And I might have a few more chapter for "A Perfect Palette" floating around somewhere.

I love azazel I think that they (azazel and Raven) SHOULD have a kid together (they already did)

This is my favourite X-Men fanfiction of all time, you are so talented! I couldn't stop reading, I read everything in a day! I absolutely love the way you portrait Emma, specially in the last few chapters. It's amazing how I can see the XMFC Raven and at the same time the bad ass Mystique from the original trilogy. By the way Erik's uncle living in Ireland was a great way to explain Fassbender's weird accent in the movie. I love him, don't get me wrong, but I was confused because his character was supposed to me German! Azazel and Mystique's relationship developed in a wonderful way, I thought it was very natural and amazing. You are so good! Please never stop writing! I don't know why I haven't come across you sooner! I'm going to start reading FATE immediately, and I can already predict it is going to break my heart! I adore the way you make Cherik so subtle, it was great :,)
Also, Janos story was so interesting and detailed! I was wondering if some part of it was canon? Like from the comics? Either way, it is my headcanon from now on. It's funny I always imagined Angel to be very headstrong, just like you portrayed her! Some people in the fandom think she was useless, but I don't agree, she deserves a complex story as well. Oh my god I already typed so much! Sorry if I bothered you, but this is too good! I love your work, I'm going to read everything! Thank you so much for this fic!

I feel anxious when Inread last sentence and it said Emma was dead. Emma is one of my favorite character and I don't ever think she's die.

Your fanfiction is very very great ;D I love it!

Awwwwwwww Mystique kissed Emma and I am just askdncjcdxkjddjdkdsm I love thos scene so much. I ship azazelxmystique but when she kissed Emma I think this scene is cute like Mystique wanted to soothe Emma.

I agree with you(and raven), Janos is cute when he smile. Where did you get his information from? comic? cause in the movie it wasn't have as much as his story as this chapter. And in this fiction ehat is the relationship of Charles and Erik, are they love each other like couple or just bromance?

PS.I like your fiction , it is great! and the pairing too , AzazelxRaven and AngelxJanos , its hard to find their fiction.

Simply incredible. You captured the character's flaws perfectly and poured so much life into each of them, this really kept the reader hooked. I loved the story but I'm slightly disappointed that Raven didn't see Charles at the end. The ending itself, however, was really fitting in my opinion. You did a GREAT job on this. Thank you for sharing it with us and I can't wait to read Fate. :)

This story is incredible. The characters are so real and well-developed that Marvel should read this and base their characters around it. It's THAT good. Azazel was portrayed in a way that just makes me love him more, but it's kind of odd and creepy, how your story mirrors my own thoughts as to the way he really is. A truly terriifying, cold and calculated killer, and yet Azazel is not evil, he just sees things differently. How you portray him also as naive as a child sometimes is so fitting. I think First Class did well with this character, I like this Russian version of him SO much better than the comic version.
But ALL of the characters are so expertly written here, I myself love to write characters with many layers and deep emotions, to try and make them seem true to life. You have achieved that. You have also written a deeply satisfying story about Kurt's origins, and given us more about it than we could have ever hoped for. This story had me gripped from beginning to end, and I can't wait to start the next one, Fate. Bravo!

It's taken me so long to review this because I wanted to go back and reread the entire story.

This is truly one of the most amazing character studies I have ever read...in any fandom. You've found a way to bridge the 2 movie versions of Mystique that will, no doubt, become seamless once the other 2 stories are finished. Not only do you show us the beginning evolution of Mystique, but we also get to see further insight into the motivations of the other members of the Brotherhood.

I know a lot of fans probably want Mystique/Azazel sexin' most of the time and while we did get around to their first time (so effin' classy, btw) I think Mystique's relationship with Emma was the one that really took me by surprise. Emma Frost is a character that I've honestly never really cared for. And I was a HUGE Gen X fan back in the day. She was all right then...but I always suspected her of having some alterior motive for wanting to help the kids.

Anyway, your version of Emma really helped me to understand her more...at least, the movie version of her. She never wavered in her convictions and, honestly, that is so freaking rare nowadays. I kinda think that Emma is you in this story. She knows what's right and fork you if you think she's wrong, cuz she ain't.

I dunno...I feel like I'm rambling and I was hoping to be able to leave a somewhat coherent review. Not sure I did or not. Fave story 5ever.

this was amazing I'm excited to start the next book :)

Wow, how did I miss this!? I've been off tumblr for awhile so I guess it passed by. What an achievement! How do you feel? Why am I writing these things here? XD (I'll send you an email soon as I can.)

That was, I have to say, the best possible ending to this story you could have written. You did a really good job tying off this segment while leaving room open for the next one. That last line - the last two lines, really - Jesus, like a punch to the feels. It's all really subtle and gorgeous and oh, Emma. Jesus Christ, Emma.

You are an amazing writer. You really are. If I could get half of the... the coldness and simplicity, the... god, what do you even call that? (I hate the term 'literary' so I'm not even going there. But it's kind of what I mean. Capturing the human (er, mutant) condition so exquisitely.) These characters are real, flawed, beautiful, people in your hands. Not caricatures, not just 'comic book' people. You clearly put so much effort into differentiating the way these people react to each other, to themselves, and to the difficulties of their environment so that each is a unique person whose motivations push and rub against each other. They're in an impossible situation and the way they cope with that, even thrive despite it, is stunning.

Marvel should take fucking notes, man. THIS is how you write mutants (and really, any oppressed group, I think, though I say that with hesitation and out of deep respect for struggle). Well done, and congratulations on finishing the first part. I am heartily excited for the second. :)

I have been following this story since the beginning, and I can honestly say it was one of the best takes on Mystique I have read so far. Please keep writing and updating, I can't wait to read more!

A bit of me wanted to know more about Emma, but you're one of those writers who understood that some times, some things need not to be explained. I feel like this fic has been the first journey of Mystique becoming the one we would eventually knew. I love how everything's so...professional in this fic. I like how Erik did not turn into a misunderstood woobie but is instead inscrutable with a kindness that belies the ruthlessness that is waiting to be unleashed.

I also liked how amoral, in a way, Azazel is. How even though everyone (with the exception of Emma) had told them a lot, you still remind me to take everything with a grain of salt. You did not take the safe route but kept us guessing and showed a remarkable astuteness in character judgement. You took the characters of the movie and imbued them with a sort of...humanity I rarely see in fics. I enjoyed this character study and I simply can't wait for the next chapter of this story.

This story is so great! I really liked it. I wish we would've gotten more family moments in with Azazel, Mystique, and Kurt. I'm excited but sad to read your next stories because I know that the happiness will only go downhill as Mystique becomes the person she is today. If it was up to me, everything would be happy! :) anyways, can't wait for the next story, thanks!

(Refreshes site) I'm curious now to what happened to Emma. I like how despite all the fluffy feelings, Mystique still knew that it was just not going to end. I was extremely sad when I realised that this fic is going to end but I knew that a sequel is just around the corner. Mystique's journey from a frightened mutant to a proud fighter has been one of exquisiteness but there's more and I can't wait to see how you'd spin her story next.