1 [Report This]Date: October 12, 2018 04:11 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
I’m always hesitant to read stories about these two, but I am so glad I took the time to read this one. I love how Kelly had matured...but not really. Great story about these two.
Date: August 09, 2009 11:00 am Title: He smiles back at himself.
“You owe me,” he whispered later to Emma. In response, she had thrown up a little, and he’d grinned, completely charmed.
HA! perfect!
8 [Report This]Date: June 28, 2008 09:38 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
Lovely portrait of the special bond between a dad and his little girl.
Author's Response: thanks! that's definitely what i was going for - a portrait. plus i love the idea of reformed ryan...
Date: June 17, 2008 08:47 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
Oh, this was so sweet. It's wonderful to see Ryan growing up in this way, and Kelly too - I love the level of comfort in their talk at the graduation, both clearly happy with how things turned out and not letting the past be an issue.
Author's Response: thanks! yes, i do believe it's about growing up - clearly something that's most needed for ryan and kelly. it's about maturity too, something they both got a handle on.
Date: June 15, 2008 09:02 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
Very nice job, Emilys List. And what a great idea to make the fake pregnancy a real one. I like that you didn't have Ryan marry Kelly; it doesn't seem that would work out anyway. Him hanging up on her when she'd bring it up is perfect.
Author's Response: oh, thank you so much! as much as i put on him, i think ryan is ryan and his remodel couldn't be pushed too far. this fic really made me love ryan and kelly (although to be clear, not ryan/kelly). it makes me think they should be the spin off :)
Date: June 15, 2008 08:07 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
Wow. I enjoyed every, single, second of reading this, like eating a cupcake with pink frosting and coconut on top. You can tell I'm hungry, but the metaphor still sticks! Loved it, hun! Like always :D
Author's Response: well aren't you sweet... thank you :)
Date: June 15, 2008 05:25 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
P.S. BTW, I could still kick your but for this continuous loop of Air Supply that's running through my head!
Author's Response: :) whoops.
9 [Report This]Date: June 15, 2008 05:24 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
I hate to admit it, but I almost didn't read this since it's a Ryan story. So glad I did. I really would have been missing out.
I found this to be really moving: He takes her to Central Park, Alice’s Tea Cup, Serendipity, and a ballet at Lincoln Center. She says, “Daddy, I like New York. I like your house.” She has trouble distinguishing the city from his apartment, considering all of the outside parts to he his backyard, and he doesn’t correct her. He takes her to The Little Mermaid and watches her experience a range of emotions. In fact it scares him a little to see her feeling so much. Later, on their way home in a cab, she leans against him and falls asleep. He watches the city go by.
Sorry I ever doubted you, EL (despite your subject matter) ; )
Author's Response:
ha! well you know i don't write a lot of ryan stuff, so your doubt totally makes sense to me. i'm glad you liked that part!
i like too, it was fun to try and paint his love for her in a concrete way.
p.s. your post-afikomen fic is coming! i just need to polish it up a bit.
Date: June 15, 2008 02:28 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
This was so enjoyable! I love that his daughter is like the love of his life, very sweet :) And I particularly liked this line: In response, she had thrown up a little, and he’d grinned, completely charmed.
Author's Response: oh yay! so glad you liked. i don't think ryan is nurturing at all, but i think we've seen the barest flashes that indicate something beautiful about him, that would make him the kind of dude who just really loves his daughter. i do think, though, that he used her a shield, and i bet there were changes in his life that he didn't make b/c of her. anyway, yes, ryan is adorable! in this context :)
Date: June 15, 2008 12:07 pm Title: He smiles back at himself.
Well, this is certainly a new shape for Ryan, but I can't call it unfamiliar because you make me TOTALLY believe this is him. And it all centers around that moment when he picks up his daughter and magically transforms from a mere man into a Father. i've seen that happen, and you captured that moment so beautifully! I like that you didn't change him SO much that he married Kelly. I loved Kelly marrying Darryl and wearing a pin stripe suit (naturally, it would be a couturier knock-off, no?) and Emma sounds like the perfect mix of these two totally dissimilar people. (And Brown University? Heh. Cute.) I liked this story very much. It flowed seamlessly, it completely convinced me, and it left me with a smile (and a tear) on my face. Well done! Thank you for sharing this story.
Author's Response: thank you so much for your review! i'm glad ryan feels believable. there was no way i was going to put ryan in a marriage with kelly, i just don't think it makes sense for this context. but of course, he had to change. ah yes, kelly in a pinstripe suit! once i made that writing decision, the rest of that scene wrote itself (well... not really). it's probably a DKNY suit or maybe club monaco. not on sale though :) yes, emma. i pictured her as kind of athletic, not so much girly, but with aspects of her mom that she wishes weren't there. also, i picture her really dry like ryan. yes, the brown univ shout out. subtle, no? thanks again!
10 [Report This]Date: June 15, 2008 11:47 am Title: He smiles back at himself.
Awesome. Brilliant. I think Ryan has so much potential to be a good guy if he would just get over himself! loved it
Author's Response: thank you so much! although i hate to disagree... i'm not sure if ryan is a good person underneath it all. when i wrote this, it was all about showing ryan's potential to be someone else and also who he could be if he was devoted to something other than himself. i like ryan b/c he's a complicated fella.
Date: June 15, 2008 11:38 am Title: He smiles back at himself.
Should I admit that when I saw the title, I did think of that Air Supply song from back in the day?
No matter - I loved this Emily. You're so good at subtle evocative details. And you actually made me like Ryan here - I'd never have thought of it, but his love for his daughter was so humanizing and believable. This was particularly beautiful: Later, on their way home in a cab, she leans against him and falls asleep. He watches the city go by. Really liked how you rendered his relationship with Kelly over the years too. Just so touching overall. (And perfect for Father's Day, btw.)
Author's Response: thank you, i am so glad you liked it. to be honest, i worry that i softened ryan too much. then again, i had a friend tell me, "men don't really become men until they see their child for the first time." that really stuck with me and i assumed ryan would not be immune to such emotions. i felt like i kind of cleaned him up, you know? even though we didn't know it during DMI, he was headed on a certain path, and had kelly actually been pregnant, i'm sure he would've "course corrected." or at least, that's what i wanted to show. this was great fun to write... even though it was tough to write kelly in her 40s. yeesh! but again, great fun.