Oh man, that was rough. The writing is so good, Logan and Jean's inner lives are incredibly in-character. They both hate themselves in such different ways. And you made me hate Rogue, which is awesome, because you had to work hard for that one. Good job. :) It would be interesting to see if a Rogue-POV segment would do anything to redeem her, not that redeeming her was the point here.

Interesting tidbit: when I was reading it, I thought I found a weakness in the story, which is how unguarded Rogue seems in Coping Mechanisms. Compared to the rest, she seems oddly vulnerable. But then I realized why (and it turned into a strength!) -- it's because it's the only time she's sober, right? Makes perfect sense.

Another reviewer mentioned the order -- the order worked well for me, because it created tension and deepened the characterization, but I found it helpful to go back to the present-time stories after reading the two past stories, so that I could pick up and understand the references I missed the first time.

I either missed something about Chicago (which part is it that Jean promises not to tell?) or there was supposed to be another reveal in future installments. Would have loved to understand that part better.

Although jenn starts off her 'Illusions' series with this segment, chronologically, it is 3rd, taking place about a year and a half after the intense, horrific events of "All the Lights of the Soul." Rogue has become a bitter, manipulative alcoholic and junkie, using men and sex with no thought of love. She's almost a burnt-out shell here, and Logan still takes care of her,trying to get her away from the Mansion. It has become clear that the X-Men and Xavier can do nothing for ehr, and have actually exacerbated the situation for both her and Logan. At last, Logan's allowed to take her away for one last shot at salvaging what's left of the person she was, and I just wish we could have a more complete look at this road trip following the final segment, "Coping Mechanisms." With a closing line like "Either Marie comes back, or neither of us do," there's just to much drama still ahead for them to just let this story end with "Coping Mechanisms." She is still an addict, and still need to confront herself and Logan while they are away from the txic influence of the Mansion. I would love to challenge jenn or anyone on these boeards full of talented writers to continue the road trip following this segment and "Coping Mechanisms." These characterizations are just too riveting to let drop like this.

This is chronologically the last segment of the 'Illusions' series, but damn, that last line of Logan's begs for another look at Logan and Marie's road trip of rediscovery. It is still fairly early in this 6-month trip, and Rogue is still really a bitter, manipulative alcoholic and junkie, who hasn't confronted her actions or learned anything about herself or Logan. Doesn't anyone else out there want to sit in on more of this road trip. I really think jenn (or some others of this talented collection of authors) could come up with something more. After all jenn put addict Rogue and cynical Logan through, there really should be something more for them on this trip than just this. Maybe, for once, by the end of the 6-months, they could both come to the conclusion that the x-men and the Mansion are toxic for them, and they mutually decide not to return. Fantastic, dark, heavy story with a riveting turn on the characters, especially the tragic Rogue and Logan.

Oh gods. That was INTENSE O___O

Amazingly well written! I loved the entire thing~ You really made Logan and Rouge pop out of the page and become very realistic and the settings that they were in seemed... God. Wow. That was so wonderful O___O