weird, but wonderful. i wasnt sure how you were going to do this but you did it very well. i liked it. nice job!!

*flutter claps* I love how it tied up so nicely. Magical, I'm so enchanted. I love the fairy tale element. The magic and witches. It was so satisfying and had all sorts of proper fairy tale trademarks. I'm so inspired to write my own fairy tale! Thank you so much for writing this!

Okay, first off - I can't believe I missed this story and a whole month has passed before I noticed it! *shakes head*

Secondly...I am out of words. Really, I don't even know where to begin because it overwhelmed me in so many ways. It would seem that I would be unsurprised by your great writing, but once again, it blew me away in another yet different way, into another wonderful eventful AU with such beautiful twins.

I can't say that I was attracted to the image which had inspired you for this story (a great thumbs up for that - for seeing the potential beauty, it's marvelous), so I didn't know what to expect. I had thoughts that maybe it would be Bill who would end up with that enormous tail, but then I let go of my assumptions and just started reading what was on your mind.

And it was beautiful. The setting - once again, and the use of language which fits those times - I haven't seen any other author who would delve into their universe so deep that they would even have a certain language use, it's fabulous.

I loved how it unraveled as "another fairytale", yet it felt so real and exciting and adventurous and romantic.

Simone visiting that special woman who, obviously, was so much more powerful than otherordinary witches, but so strict and unforgiving at the same time - at least to Simone. Though, of course, it was slightly Simone's fault that she hadn't acted according to the woman's words. And yet, I can't blame her either because she almost was deceived by those pairs of fruits. It's a sad twist of irony, setting the plot.

Which turned out so amazingly. I loved the birth of the boys and how instantly they had this deep bond between each other, not wanting to let go and holding each other possessively and comfortingly. And it's so cruel of Jorg to separate his sons.

The image of Tom spending all of his childhood in a kind of dungeon truly made my heart break again and again. You hadn't written much about Tom, only how Bill interacted with him through that door, but I couldn't get rid of those frighteningly lonely images of him spending all of his time locked away from human's eye for something he was not at fault. Imagining him spending time in solitude and only rare sparks of interaction with others is truly sad. The mentions of Bill leaving his precious little possessions - whether it was toys or a blanket or sweets - made me smile with sadness - indeed, at Bill's naivety about that door, and the way Tom must have felt receiving those little things and not being able to receive something he needed most.

Jorg made me rage again when it turned out that he was starving his son to death, obviously forgetting that both twins were bound and if something happened to one, the other one would die too. I loved the mention how Bill calmed down when he felt that Tom was fed and death of starvation wasn't looming over him.

The time when the little twins finally met each other was amazing. How Tom was so shy and insecure about how he looked - this little bit seriously made me weep a little. And how at first Bill didn't even notice any of Tom's abnormalities, just taking in his face and hair at first, getting to know him visually and how he lunged at him not caring, not being bothered at all. Of course he would be not, because Tom is his brother, his twin, his other rightful half. *sighs*

And then, Tom's character. Surprisingly so, but it was fascinating to read about his appearance and all the little notions of his tail and scales - being a part of him, so bizarre and alien and yet so....him, so natural. When I imagine the two of them sitting together, Bill almost curled in Tom's tail - it is a very interesting and very intense image in my head. Tom, the "monster" and Bill the "lamb", tucked so safely against him. It is lovely, and heartwarming and comforting and just how it should be. Honestly, even if Tom didn't manage to turn into human, I would never ever mind him being in his 'snake' skin with Bill for the rest of their lifes. Because it's Tom.

....LOL I loved Tom and Bill's little opposition games against all those brides and I laughed when Bill compared Ann Kathrin's stupidity to Kendra's - lmao. Pure win!

And of course I can't blame Bill for having such evil thoughts *chuckles* It's his Tomi after all, and those female puppets - maybe they would mean something to Tom eventually, - but it still sounds and feels so wrong. Not that Tom, after spending eighteen years locked in the catacombs would want all the girls, but it simply doesn't feel right. I am afraid I may sound possessive when I put things like that because naturally, Tom would want to feel all the things regular humans do, but....Bill sees Tom's true beauty behind all the appearance. Bill's view is unbiased. Or maybe exactly biased because Bill is Tom's twin and simply doesn't see bad things in him because he already is bound to Tom. Who knows - I can never answer that question everytime I ask myself about it. But it's obvious their love is far stronger than any contracts Jorg could ever sign. This is what matters.

And finally, the culmination. You know, I never expected that witch woman to help Bill like that, but then again - why she should not? It definitely is not Bill or Tom's fault for how they are, for how one of them turned out to look like, and what feelings they have for each other. I am so, so happy she helped them, obviously knowing to what it would lead. Truth be told, I was confused about her words of how Bill should make things because I had several versions (none of which turned out to be real lol) about what Bill could do with the directions he had been given. At one point I thought he and Tom would simply run away (well, snake away, too), but then I had this idea that Bill might simply turn into a serpent as well (it's stupid, I know I know!!!) and thus never get married because Jorg wouldn't want that. But of course the more I read the more it became obvious that an unbelievable thing would happen - Tom becoming a real human.

But before that - the wedding. Oh my god, you truly have no idea, but my dream came true ;_; *sniffs a little* Tom and Bill marrying each other is probably my most, most, most favorite fantasy about them (next to the fantasy of Bill carrying Tom's baby, though >_> ), - I always love imagining them having a ceremony - either a private one if it's real life twins, either something beautiful like this in the AU world. Of course, I tend to fantasize about their RL secret wedding because I don't think of many AUs on my own, but hell........at this point I didn't even care whether it was AU or not, because it happened. Finally someone wrote this. And it was beautiful. So so so special. Precious. Loving. Them being bound not only through their blood and cells, but officially, showing the whole world that they belong to each other till death would do them apart - and they would still be together, even after that. They are one, always.

I loved the scene of Tom helping Bill get dressed, and I loved that he regarded Bill not as his bride to be, but also as his brother. It warmed my heart to know that it would never disappear from their minds - that they are twins, whoso love is so strong that they wed each other. I can't get over it, and I'm not sure if I ever will (during the presence in the fandom), because it undoubtedly is a special image, a special thought.

The whole ceremony was beautiful, and then their first wedding night. All the skin shedding - for some reason I found it very symbolic. Not only did it mean that Tom was becoming a human, but that both twins shed all their 'everything' to be united in so many special ways.

The bathing....was beautiful. Tom's submission made me tense, to be honest (because I highly dislike bottoming Tom and topping Bill), but then it unravelled beautifully - indeed telling Bill that Tom would be so vulnerable and submissive only to Bill. I felt grateful for the fact that Bill knew he would be the one taking Tom inside him and not the other way - because truly, this feels like how it should be, at least to me. Tom taking and having Bill, being his protector and caring lover. So is Bill, of course, but he welcomes Tom, as if back to their core when they were one.

The very ending of the story was quite amusing, when their parents literally walked in on them, I really have no idea how they would react in real life, but in this story it was shown perfectly. And the twins' behavior was perfect too - they didn't shy away from what they had done, - they only insisted on this beautiful fact that from then on, they would be together forever. Just how it should be, always. No matter whether in an AU world or Real Life.

Because they are so right for each other. Soulmates.

Gosh....I am so sorry for this rambling. But I wanted to express everything what I felt throughout this story. Because I can only imagine how long it must have taken you to write this beauty, I will not lie when I say that each chapter took me exactly one hour to read and to enjoy the scenes - really. And in return, I can offer only my impressions of this beautiful story, which no doubt has become one of my very favorites because it has everything - the beauty inside the 'beast', the beauty of Tom and Bill's relationship, their first night and fears and joy, and marriage. omg I still can't believe I got to read this.

Thank you for this great adventure, another great tale of the of the two persona who were born and who are so right for each other.

Wow, Jorg didn't blow up the way I thought he would, how'd that happen? Still, totally amazing story, perfect ending.

This is amazing.

I'm going to require you to write all sorts of TH mythology/folktale fics, so you know. I don't remember ever hearing of this story before, so of course I Googled before I sat to read. ;) I was so curious how you were going to retell it and this was just fabulous. You do such a great job at world building without bogging anything down without tons of tedious exposition, y'know? You have a great balance, and then of course the sexy times were well worth the buildup. ;) Keep it up, lovely, you're amazing. <3

Wow...just...WOW (but it's a good wow)
:)

Loved the subtle way that you created an AU. Just with a few key concept phrases and titles you managed to imply an entire world and culture, never having to go into any great detail.

The wyrm idea was really weird, but somehow you kept it from being gross. The removal of layers magic at the end was similarly weird/sexy and the milk bath part was hot. The sex scene was sexy of course, but also sweet and intimate, portraying the built up tension, anticipation, joy, and love.

A really great tale, effectively told in two very long chapters. I loved it!

Perfect, amazing story! It read exactly as a fairytale, and I'm just blown away at the detail. From the characters to the setting to the emotions, everything was written so clearly. This was one of the most engaging stories I've read in awhile. Just brilliant!

Gah! Wonderful story and a wonderful Xmas gift for fyredancer. :D