Thanks very much for taking to time to visit and leave a few lines. I’ve been getting more constructive criticism on FF.net and the update process is much more streamlined and overall more pleasant than on AFF.net. I don’t think I’m going to continue updating on AFF.net, but you can catch the new chapters here as they get finished and the betaed chapters on fanfiction.net.

I’m glad you enjoy the story! People have been getting a little impatient with me, but I just can’t seem to shut up and get to the good bits. It feels like a lot of backstory wants to get written, so I just go with it. The slow pace is what is making a few readers antsy, but I think (at least, I hope!) that taking the time to solidly ground everything before uprooting it makes for a more satisfying read.

I also like to get a little gory at times, but I felt that Sephiroth’s childhood was fucked up enough that I could just suggest a few horrible things and people watching the files — and reading the text — would get a pretty good idea of what it was like growing up under (no pun intended) Hojo.

Chapter 7 is pretty much done now. It needs one final re-reading from me, then it’s off to the betas and up online here on this blog. :)

See, good FF7 fanfic can be hard to find and this one just satisfies me on all accounts: characterization (gods, it’s good to read a character-driven fic for once!), slow build-up, solid background story, and the plot, of course. I also like that you don’t shove descriptions and explanations down the reader’s throat – not that the files on Sephiroth’s childhood wasn’t graphic enough, but many would be tempted to play up the gore which isn’t necessary at all (in a fic like this, anyway; I’m a big fan of gore in some contexts for which I blame the original Living Dead trilogy).

Just wanted you to know you’re being read and enjoyed :)