Lots of insightful comments. I was wondering whether Eric was not being given a bad rap. I mean, he's in a minority of straight people in this story, and he pulls sophomoric pranks, engages in promiscuous immoral sex, is on his way to becoming a drunk. Isn't he going to make the minority of readers who are straight feel bad about themselves?
On a completely different plane, did you notice Vladimir and Dimitri were the first names of the future president and prime minister of Russia? Though the roles are inverted, Vladimir being more of the boss in RL. I really wonder what political statement CJ is making through this story.