Oh my god, this is just perfect. I started reading and...whoosh! just came back to myself, after having experienced an alien (and yet so very human and wonderful) culture, and the beautiful change and growth in the relationship between John and Rodney. The alien culture is just wonderfully conceived and realized, down to every detail, and the growth in John and Rodney's relationship is so credible. And it's all done with absolutely gorgeous writing. Thank you for this awesome story!