IZZIE FIC! MORE IZZIE FIC! YAYAYAYAYAYAY OMG! Excuse my squeeing. She is fast becoming my favourite character and I LOVE how much attention she (and Tom!) are getting in this fest. And this piece doesn't just give them attention, but the careful, loving and masterful characterisation that Show denies them. It fills me with GLEE!!!

*breathes in painfully* Oh man, this is so lovely and exquisitely ouchy. I can't compete with Lil's flailing capslock, but I completely adore how you've drawn out these childhood/adolescence glimpses of a very complex character, giving us small samples of the events and environment that turned her into the person she is. From her obstinate refusal of something that's less than new and perfect in the first piece, to her fierce determination to be the best in the last one, these are gorgeous.

The subtlety of the interactions with Miss Helena are brilliant... so much yummy UST! I love the sparky tension of Touched - the way Izzie challenges it, pushing further, going against the etiquette that's so ingrained in her, and rejoicing in the uncertainty. And then to see it all snatched away in the face of her daring - STABBY HEARTACHE OUCH! (I love it).

And Tom! Lovely, supportive Tom who doubtlessly went through the same drills and admonishments but somehow has a strong enough sense of who he wants to be that they just seem to pearl off him where to her it's this constant rigorous struggle. Their interaction in that last piece is so poignant and lovely - Tom so earnest and supportive, and her so brittle yet formidable and determined. And this decision to be the best, to excel, to make herself noticeable... omg it just kills me, especially in light of current events on the show. These pieces illuminate so much of how she became that person... then and now really just a girl starved for attention, affection, unconditional warmth that doesn't come wrapped in rules and "proper" behaviour... but at the same time so determined not to let that show, to have the upper hand, to be perfect and unhurtable. How did you draw that out so well in such precise, snapshot portraits? It's heartbreaking and lovely.

I also love the detail of the glass slipper and the rather subtle Cinderella parallel, *especially* because Show is trying to force the whole Cinderella theme down our throats so bluntly with Katja, whom it doesn't fit at all in my opinion. Katja has friends, family, success, warmth in her life; yes, she's suffered too but if one wants to talk fairytales, this particular one suits Isabelle so much better, because apart from her brother, she's truly alone. And having thrown herself so fully into the relationship with Ben, risking everything, even these hard-won principles you've built up here, just to be with this guy she thought would be her prince, she's now losing it, just as she lost this tenuous relationship with this woman she had feelings for. That parallel is just gutting.

Mystery Author, thank you so much for writing this! And with illustrations, too! *paws them* I think my favourite is the "Spoiled" one - it has such a simple, stark quality to it that goes really well with the mood of the piece. The rain drops, the clunky schoolgirl bag, and those washed-out trails of red on the ribbons, like blood, but subtle... it looks so abandoned and hopeless I just want to hunt down its owner and give her all the hugs and kisses she missed out on (even though she'd probably shove me the hell off, lol).

Beautiful job!!! <33333333333333333333333