I read this story a while ago and recently came back to it because I'm in the middle of a DS9 rewatch. The way you write Garak is very good and you have great control over his voice, not just in this fic but in all your Garak fics. I will say though there seems to be a broken tag somewhere as this story is all in italics, which makes it a little hard to read.

amazing, amazing fic. your portrayal of Garak is a masterpiece. and even Ezri, who just annoyed me to no end (even without taking into account the awesomeness that was Jadzia) makes sense here.

wonderful work.

Wow. You DID fix Afterimage, and here I had thought it beyond repair. Magnificent work. And your Garak was lovely as always.

Plus I wasn't sorry Ezri didn't get killed, and if that's not an accomplishment, I don't know what is.

I like that you dealt with the whole bullshittyness of the S7 Cardassians whining about killing other Cardassians, too. That always bugged me in the show- after 6 seasons of ruthless pragmatism suddenly they care about collateral damage, just so Kira can look like a hardass and they can look incompetent? But now we have an explanation- Garak was lying. So you've actually fixed not just Afterimage, but the whole final arc. Bravo.

Excellent characterization of Garak, but I have a lot of trouble with the idea of a preofessional counselor who engages in self-injury. In fact, even as you've written her, Ezri doesn't have any of the characteristics of self-injurers.

Damned good. You've nailed the characters involved down solidly and gave them a good story in which to interact. 9/10

I just read all your Garak fics (while I'm supposed to be working and on a deadline, but I just couldn't stop...). Congratualtions on some of the best characterised, most tightly plotted fanfic I've seen. I was always drawn by the character and I'm really glad to see you've done him justice. Thanks.

You seem to have an incredibly complex understanding of both Garak and Dax, yet manage to bring their stories across with haunting simplicity...keep it up. Wonderful.

Well no one could accuse you of making Garak "go soft" as many fanfic writers like to do.

You have truly portrayed Garak as a man who is influenced by NOTHING other than a very clear set of rules he has set for himself in his Cardassian childhood and early manhood. And yet this doesn't simplify him at all in your writing. it actually makes him that much more complex and mysterious but without being vague.

Because he lies so much it's hard to know where that character stands and yet you have such a profound understanding of him, it wonder if you're Andrew Robinson using a pen name. ;-)

But whether you are or you aren't-excellent story. I couldn't tear myself away from it-or any of your other stories posted here on

Please keep up the good work.

Ah, now I know who you are! (I'm silly - foiled by a new username!) This one I've read before. Excellent.

Still prefer Jadzia. Rather don't like Ezri at all actually, but this fic was wonderful (and well writen). :)

Excellent. One of the best DS9 fics I've ever read. :) I look forward to reading more of your work.