Apologies for the delay! I appreciate your patience and for not eyelashing me despite the fact it's been a few days. I'd also like to thank you guys for handing in despite the lack of reminders and for communicating me with every week. It's awesome and honestly, you guys are the best. 

I did decide to do public notes this task just so there was an understanding of where you stood quality-wise and what my thought-process might have been when deciding byes. Honestly, there were a lot of fantastic entries and as such, I've elected to include reaction gifs to truly drive home what I was feeling as I read every entry.  

I hope you enjoy them! 

NOTES

Lana Lopatin 

I'm going to be honest, I'm not usually into writing that's more abstract but you're definitely the exception here. Your ability to craft stories is incredible and you write such a compelling narrative I just can't get enough of it or peel my eyes away for a single a second. There was so much emotion in every sentence, and your tone had this consistent air of despair that it was done in a way that I didn't feel melodramatic or too on the nose. Your character development and storytelling really hit their climax with this entry and the planning throughout the tasks deserves to be applauded as some of the greater moments within your entry wouldn't have hit as well otherwise. The only thing negative I might have to say is that in terms of grammar, this entry was less pristine in comparison to previous entries (some sentences were very awkward to read), and I did think the trapped in a container bit was more of an afterthought or last-minute addition to meet the task requirements. That aside though, it was a job well done.  

~

Akane

This entry left me shook for a number of reasons: the description was gorgeous, the tone was flawless, and your entry had an atmosphere. The way you managed to convey an air of melancholy and nostalgia throughout that was skillful and made for an entry that truly had emotion. Akane gaining her freedom was a moment(tm) and a well-deserved one at that. There was a sense of completeness that I thoroughly enjoyed and I truly felt the peak of her development as a reader. However, that said, I do wish there was a bit more subtlety in Akane's characterization and I did find Akane's interaction with the sickly woman to be awkward and a bit random but not too the point that it took me out. Nevertheless, a great entry. 

~

Aaron de Monte

I felt this entry was abusive--just kidding. This entry was a testament to your ability to write not only anguish but also realism. Which, on that note, I loved that you kept Aaron in a daze and utilized his incoherence, taking full advantage of it rather than doing the alternative. It not only created this sense of urgency in a subtle way that wasn't explicit, but it also allowed for me to truly experience this entry, not just read it. However, that being said, I will say that while the pacing was done well, it did lack expansion and it read quite short.  But those things aside, it was still a great entry. 

~

Eros

First thing's first, I am wounded. Second, I think this is one of your best entries that I've had the privilege to read throughout this competition. You gave me not just a story but so much more. You did a brilliant job at pushing Eros where he needed to be in his character development and I really got to see who he is beyond being an android which is something I thoroughly enjoyed. I think your action scene where he was fighting the sickly individual was stunning and your ability to write body language is something to be envious of as you have this comprehension of human movement that I don't think a lot of people have. Eros' moment of defying his programming was a well-deserved moment and though you didn't really follow the task I had in mind, I thought your creativity compensated plenty. However, on that note, I do think the dialogue could've been handled better as it was unrealistic at times and the interaction between Eros and the sickly individual was a little theatrical for my tastes but never to the point that I lost enjoyment. Additionally, your entry was also very late and it read as such grammatically. In spite of that though, I'd like you to please pat yourself on the back because this was still a great entry regardless. 

~

Libertine

There was a strange paradox taking place when I read this entry as it ended happy (as happy as it was going to be, at least) but it still brought cathartic tears to my eyes? Which, I do want to, first of all, applaud you for your handling of the emotions throughout this entry and also the way you handled every interaction as they were like a breath of fresh air in the realism. Your entry looked very short upon first glance but it didn't read short in the slightest. No sentence went to waste and it was very pristine in ways I didn't expect. Your grasp on emotion through nothing but interactions and a few lines is astounding and your development of Carmen and Libertine's relationship is something that really comes out here despite the incoherence of one. Honestly, I'd probably die for Libertine and Carmen's bond at this point. That said, I don't have much criticism to give besides there was a lack of consistency in pacing, and Libertine suddenly coming out of his daze was unrealistic--nitpicks at best. 

~

Justin Barber

And I'm like why did you do this to me? You come in with this tornado of anxiety and urgency that was not only done skillfully but became part of my experience throughout my reading. Your sentences pack a punch and your pacing is incredible in what it accomplishes on an emotional level. Justin's thought process was clear and vivid in ways I can't begin to articulate and your description was equally so. The subtlety you presented throughout your entry hit like a truck and it certainly was a mind trip that was worth the read. On that note, however, I would've liked to see a little more expansion on why Justin needs to get to Monica and their relationship as a whole, and also there were a few paragraphs that did read awkward but not to the point that they were distracting. That aside, it was still a great entry and one I would definitely read again. 

~ 

VOTING

This was a tough round, and I almost considered giving no byes at all because I had a hard time deciding but obviously that wasn't an objective... solution. Nevertheless, I did manage to make a decision but I'd like to express that y'all really peaked and I couldn't be more impressed if I tried. Everyone here deserves a pat on the back so please just give yourself that. 

Anyway, moving onto byes. I'm not going to try to build up suspense as this is quite a lengthy page in itself and there needs to be quick access to who's up for votes without anyone having to speed scroll. That said, the two saved from elimination in order of byes given are listed as the following: 

Libertine 

and 

Lana Lopatin 

Congratulations to those two, moving onto finals! But that also means the following characters will be facing elimination: 

Akane 

Aaron de Monte

Eros

Justin Barber 

Vote for the TWO characters you would like to see move onto the finale. As always, votes will be accepted via PM, and any votes containing more or less than the number listed will be ignored. As a reminder, you may vote for yourself. Only two characters will make it through voting. 

Voting closes Wednesday, July 1st at 6pm PDT. 

Good luck and see you at the finale!