10

If I'm being really honest, I rarely, if ever, think and/or care about Ryan or Toby. They're just those peripheral characters that get lost in the background with the occasional moment where you laugh at how tragic they are (or in the case of Ryan, how much of an idiot they are) but reading this, and many of your other Toby things - made me think. Like really think about these fictional people. And it was strange because you wrote them so perfectly and so vividly that I could hear their voices perfectly. And that made it all the more tragic.

I think the show writes them more as charicatures, designed to be laughed at superficially, but you've really created characters and in reading this, I was able to connect them to reality. I've met people as jerk-y and arrogant as Ryan, I've met people as overwhelming but genuinely enthusastic and honest as Kelly, and sadly I've met people as pitiful as Toby. I have a mixed relationship with Toby because at times I really feel for the guy but other times, he just bugs me and creeps me out. Fortunately, you're encouraging the former and you've painted such a painful and pathetic image of a man whose life is just a constant pattern of loneliness and disappointment. And that's why the final image of the kite getting tangled up is so beautifully fitting. Nevermind Andy and Erin - Somebody get Toby a proper girlfriend STAT!

What I'm basically saying, in a really roundabout way, is that you've brought these people to life. It's really refreshing to read something so different and thanks to you, I now have a lot more time for Toby.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for reviewing! And for giving me stars. I love the stars. I know what you mean - and agree - about several of the supporting characters becoming caricatures. Ryan was much more likable and Toby was much less pathetic in earlier seasons and I try to remember that. Especially with Toby who I love the way most of you kids love Jim. So I'm glad that you felt that I fleshed him out and made him more sympathetic to you (I personally find him more depressed and lonely than creepy but I know I'm in the minority!). And I totally and completely agree about getting Toby a girlfriend - one who will completely appreciate him. I'm partial to shipping him with Kelly but would love the guy to have someone, anyone.

At first I almost didn't want to read this, because lordy lord how I hate Ryan (which I might have mentioned once or twice of fifty time in various places...) whereas Toby I like. So, I didn't want to see Toby waste himself on being a really good friend to Ryan, nor do I have time for stories that give Ryan a way too easy redemption, completely changing who he is with just one little thing. But I should have known you wouldn't take an easy route like that.

This is interesting to read, because it's so strictly from Ryan's POV that you end up wondering what's going on in Toby's head trough all this. Does he really like Ryan and consider him a friend, or is he just really so lonely that even selfish and phony company is better than none at all? Could be either way, I guess. Or most likely somewhere in between.

The ending is heart-breaking, IMHO. Cut-wrenching, even. Honestly. I'm just sitting here, feeling so sorry for poor Toby and very angry at Howard. It just captures the potential depressing aspects of the holiday season almost too perfectly.

BUT, you also bring the funny. "'I think you’re a little gay!' before stomping off." Maybe Nan and I are both secretly twelve, but that tickled my funny bone as well.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing despite your Ryan-hatred. I personally don't know if I hate Ryan (other than the way he treats Kelly which I hate), because he's so over-the-top to me (and, at the risk of alienating the few people who read my fic, I hate Jim so much more). But I've always thought that Ryan had a bit of a soft spot for Toby, at least compared to the utter contempt he has for everyone else. There have been little moments here and there between the two of them that I find intriguing. I mean Ryan put at least a little effort in getting Toby a gift which is something I don't think he'd do for anyone else and I don't think anyone else (with the exception of perhaps Oscar or maybe, maybe Kelly) would do something like that for Toby. And the way I see it, I think that Toby does on some level like Ryan, but what you said about him being lonely plays a big part too. I was watching some deleted scenes recently on the DVDs and Toby had one where he says no one talks to him or goes to see him in the annex so I think that might be why he may reach out to Ryan who does talk to him. I could go on and on about my Toby theories, but I'll say again glad you enjoyed this and the ending.