SO. I have to start by saying that I absolutely LOVE the Van/Stef scenes from Stef's return onward; the way they look at each other and blush, the way Vanyel wants him but doesn't want, Stef's hero-worship slowly but surely turning into seeing Van as a person-- it's very well done, though you falsely say you are terrible at romance. The balcony scene almost killed me, I loved it so much. THAT was fabulous, and such a pleasure to read. I did find the apology in front of Medren afterwards a bit awkward; I'm not sure Van would have confessed his attraction in front of an audience.

The tension between the two of them and their increasingly close friendship is also VERY well paced-- once they find out they're lifebonded, though, I got a bit confused about their relationship-- you had shown their attraction fantastically well and how hard it was for Van to resist him, but then he gets hurt and is bedridden, so it seems as if the physical aspect loses its momentum a bit, and I wasn't sure if they had even consummated their relationship by the end of the fic? I felt like that portion needed some focus, since it was such a big deal to Van earlier on (and that tension, like I said, is SUCH a draw in and so important to keeping Van in character). Are they still in chaste lifebond mode? If not, when did they actually progress to touch?

Anyways, I loved this take on their relationship (you know that's what I really read for) and drunk!Vanyel at parties is a personal favorite of mine.