Date: December 28, 2007 11:56 am Title: Chapter 1
Whoa. That was so powerful. I think it's a lot of true insight into the character of Ryan, too. And also the phrase "a little sliver of before" is sublime.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! He's actually (imo) one of the most realistically complex characters on the show since, before this season, he didn't really get any character arches, so it's wonderful to hear that I somewhat pulled it off.
10 [Report This]Date: December 21, 2007 11:53 am Title: Chapter 1
Oooh, I like the idea that Ryan's fancy new life is a facade, and that he misses herafter all. You capture loneliness very nicely, here. Sad and stark and raw.
Author's Response: Thanks! I think Ryan really does miss her. A lot. But he won't admit that to himself, because then he'd have to admit that he was in love with her to begin with, and I just don't think he's reached that level of maturity yet.
9 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2007 09:01 pm Title: Chapter 1
oooo. i really like the imagery here, especially the "flowers in cellophane" bit. please continue!
Author's Response: I'm not sure about the continuing part, but thanks for reviewing!
8 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2007 05:53 pm Title: Chapter 1
This was beautiful and sad and so well done.
"If he listens hard enough he can hear himself sighing exasperatedly in the background, a little sliver of before caught in time like flowers in cellophane."
What an awesome line. As was "He wishes he’d gotten a tree now, but it’s Christmas Eve and it’s snowing and it’s too late.
For a lot of things."
Author's Response: Thank you so much!
8 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2007 07:51 am Title: Chapter 1
I am totally in the camp that believes that Ryan has to put forth a lot of effort even to pretend not to love Kelly. You captured that awesomely. I love that he can hear himself getting irritated with her on her cell message. I suck at reviews, but I think this really captures Ryan's self-induced misery. Great job.
Author's Response: You're not so bad :) Ryan has to make himself believe that he is better than her, that he doesn't need her to be loved. He strikes me as the type that needs his ego stroked. Thanks so much for reading!
Date: December 19, 2007 09:54 pm Title: Chapter 1
Oh, Ryan. I can't decide whether to feel sympathetic or vindictive. I love, love this line:
If he listens hard enough he can hear himself sighing exasperatedly in the background, a little sliver of before caught in time like flowers in cellophane.
Author's Response:
Ryan's got that polarizing quality, doesn't he? On the one hand I know that deep down he's emotional ground-meat, but on the other hand he just (especially this season) has closed himself off from a lot of his previously lovable qualities. Only time will tell. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Date: December 19, 2007 07:40 pm Title: Chapter 1
I liked this. I really enjoy fics in which Ryan misses Kelly, because I think that's something we'd be seeing now, if we were getting new eps. In my mind, ol' Kell is like Digger the Dermatophyte. She burrows under your skin to those places you can't reach, and you don't want her to be there, but there she is (though, unlike Digger, you miss her when she's gone. It's an imperfect simile, but we'll go with it).
Well done! --CH
Author's Response: Thanks! I have no doubt that's exactly what we'd be seeing. That's not a bad similie though. It's kind of like being annoyed by the sound of traffic in the city but once you leave, it's just too quiet. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Date: December 19, 2007 06:34 pm Title: Chapter 1
Nice job with this. I could easily visualize this happening. Yeah, Ryan, life at Corporate in the Big Apple ain't all it's cracked up to be, huh, buddy? Your expensive toys and fancy haircuts won't keep you warm on Christmas eve. Too bad he can't let down his guard a little and leave a message. Oh well, he'll learn his lesson eventually, the hard way.
Author's Response: Yep, can't save him while he's down. And that's really what it's all about, the fact that money doesn't make the world go round and pretending it does won't make a lick of difference. Thanks for reading and reviewing!