And also, I dig the little Igloo-based references you've stuck in. Aida! Steinkamp/Ozturk family dinners! Strippercop! I'M ON A HORSE! AHAHAHAHAHA, I ALMOST DIED AT THAT, I HONESTLY DID. OH MY GOD.

Alsoalso, POINTS for the Johnny Wier reference. Just 'cause. And 'sword' innuendos on ice? *love* And the fangirling of the audience when Norman kissed Andre? Priceless and oddly touching.

Finally, I love that this piece gives closure to the RoMarc storyline, but only to the extent that anyone ever really gets closure. It'd be silly to consider Show's resolution as "closure", and this story has the perfect amount of leftover 'what ifs'. There's still something between Marc and Roman - they're always going to be more-than-friends, even if that 'more' isn't necessarily romantic. They know each other well, and connect on a very deep level that kind of transcends friendship even without romance or sex.

It also gives a bit of closure to the JeRo thing. It's anoyed me that Show never really acknowledged the fact that Jenny and Roman have known each other for a good decade and a half, and were best friends for most of that. Roman seeing Jenny in Isabelle, and especially the connection between Jenny in Eltara, was a lovely touch, so poignant.

And I have no idea how you did it, but Tom/Marc works. IT WORKS. THEY'RE ADORABLE. THEY SHOULDN'T BE ADORABLE. BUT THEY ARE.

AND OH MAN THE END. THE END WAS JUST AWESOME. SO HOPEFUL AND SWEET AND YET SO WELL-FITTED TO THE REST OF THE STORY. The metaphor of the dragon and the parallel of The Eskimo Kiss of 299; Marc, Tom and Isabelle laughing together; refrences to leaving Essen... I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE THIS STORY. FOREVER.

(Also, the sex. MROW. Poor ceramic stovetop; although I'm honestly surprised it's survived un-defiled for this long.)