That was utterly sweet. ^_^ I always love portrayals of the Apprentices as being as capable of fun and humour as anyone else-- science isn't always dour. And don't worry about the touch of angst; I thought it fit in perfectly well and worked nicely as a framing device. (Of course, I also pretty much automatically like any variation on the theme of Vexen having regrets and missing the past if it's not horribly written, which this definitely isn't. Because it's... sad in a quiet poignant way that I don't mind at all.)

I love the descriptions of Hollow Bastion of the present-- I've also always seen it as an intrinsically cold place-- contrasted against Radiant Garden of the past, too. Really, really nice!

(Also, trebuchet, ahaha. He so WOULD steal one.)