this was a really good story!!

It's creepy and sad and sweet and romantic, did I mention creepy? I'm not 100% as to why but a living doll is kindgof creepy.

Aww =D

Omg that ws so sweet and beautiful, I actually cried. That song that wrote together, and the way Bill comes alive, only as night, only for Tom, it's so romantic, but also so sad. I absolutely love this.

aw that was beautiful :) i really enjoyed reading that!

That was breathtaking bby, perfect.

This was so amazing. I want more.

damn...this story is really different and unique...i fucking love it!!!

Oh wow. O_O I'm in awe! I would never have thought an automaton story would be interesting, but this is fascinating and really touching! The automatons you linked to are incredible -- I had no idea people could make them already then. I really like the idea of Bill as one (er, strange as that may sound), and the image in your banner is perfect!

The slow build of the story is great: I like all the details, Bill being so light and Tom smiling at him despite his exhaustion. I love the moment when Tom shields Bill from Gordon. The writing is just marvellous, Tom's explanation of Simone's books and Bill having a soul interrupted by their act and completed at the end of the story. The way the story unravels is enchanting, magical -- very fitting for this kind of a story, a theatre fic!

I especially like the way you describe Simone here: her and Gordon being so used to performing together they move "like clockwork," and showmanship being in her blood, the way she tells Tom and Bill to break a leg. I can so see her as a great performer!

Bill as a doll is eerie! I like the description of his eyes flicking up, his smile widening, and his head turning towards Tom. And most of all I love how Tom relates to him, how focused he is on him, and how clearly Bill is more than a doll or a machine to him. All the little touches like telling Bill not to mind Gordon and kissing his forehead delight me; Tom finding Bill's singing soothing, and understanding all the words; Tom praising Bill's singing after and having eyes only for Bill -- that line works so well because you've already shown how focused Tom is on Bill. And it makes me so happy!

The way you've used RL details is amazing -- Bill's kicks, hee, and the audience loving the lyrics that tell about their bond. Yes, we do love those. *g* Oh, and Tom stroking Bill's arm with his thumb! It's a reference to that one VMAs picture, isn't it?

You've really captured the magic of the theatre, by the way. Gordon's speech of twins, "one made of flesh and blood, one made of wood and metal," is as wondrous to me as it is to the audience in the fic! It's such an alluring, puzzling concept.

I like the description of how fragile Bill is. It's intriguing to read such a short description of what happened earlier, and only Tom's reaction tells us what it felt like: "Tom never leaves Bill alone backstage anymore, not even for a second." Aww. I wonder if it was scary; at least it seems he was upset by it.

The meeting with the Madgeburgs (the name made me smile) is interesting -- on one hand I feel as fascinated as they do, but on the other hand it makes me feel conflicted to have them scrutinise and comment on Bill's looks like that. You show so well how differently Gordon and Tom take it! I like that Gordon sees Bill so differently from Tom and also Simone. It's lovely that Simone understands Bill more! I love the conversation she has with Gordon at the end, and how she says they're all mad, hee.

Oh, the description of how Tom got the other key and the rest of their night together is simply amazing! All of your details are just so good! I love that Tom knew that Bill would be good at tying up his hair even before Bill could talk and move on his own. I love that Tom picks up the hair tie quickly so it won't get dusty -- Tom's preference for neatness and hygiene always makes me giggle. I love that Bill offers Tom his cheek, expecting Tom to kiss it; it speaks volumes of what their relationship is like and what Bill is like! And I love, of course, that Tom is suddenly shy when he says that the shows with Bill are good, even though they're so close; I always love it when Tom is shy and awed by Bill's beauty!

Bill's story is lovely. I was amazed by how they really are twins, similar from the beginning, and made and born on the same day. And Bill knowing Tom was his. *_* That's so perfect. This is one of my absolute favourites, too, that they're so close and they've been together always, and they talk about being each other's and kiss each other so innocently and lovingly. (And hopefully in the future not so innocently. *g*)

You describe them being together so marvellously, Bill's playful ending of the story, (almost) yawning one after the other and falling asleep holding each other. This is such a wonderful, magical, sweet story!

That has to be one of the sweetest oneshots I've ever read, if not the sweetest. God, that was adorable. I just don't even have words for how adorable it was.

Really great job :)