Brandywine's 15 minute challenge

[jillbee7]

This was written for Brandywine421's 15 minute challenge. (I'm sorry, but it took me an hour. I've only reread it a couple of times and it's late, so bear with me.)

Title: Finality
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The O.C. 
Word count: 1556

Comments

[beachtree]

This is so powerful and moving. What makes it resonate all the more is just how familiar the dynamic is from the very outset. I can't even count the number of times that I could envision such a scene playing out, with Ryan engrossed in some productive activity and Seth distracting and badgering him to get his attention until Ryan would know that resistance would be futile. So much of what Ryan ever did that had unpleasant consequences or compromised himself occured because he felt compelled to acquiesce to Seth and obligated to placate, protect and please him. It was his assigned role as one so indebted to the family, and one that often cost him, but was in compliance with his own expendable role and lack of any right to resist.

The countdown format used throughout stands in contrast to the heightening tension and growing guilt. As the clock ticks in one direction, feelings and emotions continue to increase to new levels.

You've captured so much that epitomizes the relationship between Seth and Ryan in the span of a few hours in one night, with particular emphasis on their established roles of which is the caretaker and the responsible, realistic one and which is dependent, irresponsible and naive. And then there's the painful education that only begins in the days, weeks and months afterwards as the clock moves on again.

If, as it's been said, the most important lessons in life are learned with the most lasting pain, then this has to rank among the greatest. Most people grow up as part of a gradual process, but Seth, who was lagging far, far behind on that scale, was catapulted from the cushion of a self-centered childhood to the stark reality of a new adulthood. Sadly, this time it was Ryan paying the highest price yet again.

This is just riveting as you take the reader right into the emotional and dramatic heart step by step. It's such an effective way to sustain the connection and maintain- actually to deepen- the investment. The characterization, especially Seth, is spot on. All of this in fifteen minutes? Amazing!

Thanks!

[jillbee7]

Gad, you're so insightful. Some of the stuff you point out I didn't even purposefully write in there. Haha.

I definitely agree. Although Ryan does seem to legitimately like Seth and appreciate his friendship, he seems to feel that he has some obligation to do anything and everything that Seth wants. A lot of the time it's something completely ridiculous because of Seth's naivety (is that how you spell that?), but Ryan somehow believes that it's his job to follow along while protecting Seth from his own stupid stunts. You said it best here: It was his assigned role as one so indebted to the family, and one that often cost him, but was in compliance with his own expendable role and lack of any right to resist.

Because Seth led such a sheltered childhood, I'm sure he would never have suspected that something this horrific could happen to him. If and when it did, I agree that he would be harshly thrust into a sudden, unexpected adulthood that he wouldn't be prepared to deal with. Sadly enough, I can kind of imagine this happening, especially if Season 1 Seth was involved.

I'm glad you liked the countdown bit. When I originally read the prompts, it didn't occur to me to do that, but it just dawned on me while I was thinking it over. I've never really done anything like that before, or used the second person, so I'm really pleased with the good reception. =)

Honestly, it took me more like an hour. I really tried to speed through it, but it just didn't really work out. A LOT of editing got sacrificed though, so...I hope it wasn't too awful. Haha. Thanks so much for the lengthy comment and for reading. Just out of curiosity, do you write any of your own fics, or are you mainly on beta and reply duty? (You do an amazing job, by the way.)

[beachtree]

What do you mean that you didn't intend to put some of that- and even more- int there? Maybe it was an unconscious sort of decision process. Your mind has a mind of its own... Now that's deep!

'Naivety' is one way to spell the word in question, but the more accepted and common form is naivete. That's the bonus for the day. I do agree that Ryan does seem to recognize the good in Seth and does seem to genuinely like him, no matter how much Seth annoys, frustrates, hounds, badgers, disappoints and even seems to use him. Ryan is one of the most tolerant life forms on the planet due to some indecipherable combination of infinite patience and understanding combined with such a lack of self-worth. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and forgives faults and flaws without judgement while not believing he is entitled to anything- even just being simply human. And he certainly believes he has a designated role to insure he'll be at least allowed to remain in the Cohen household. That means being all things to all people within the home and since Seth is so needy and did campaign so hard for Ryan in the beginning when that need was greatest (before Ryan's presence opened up a new world for Seth and reduced Seth's constant dependence on, interest in and loyalty to Ryan), Ryan would forever feel the need to return that sentiment without fail. That would make for a very unequal relationship and friendship, only partially because Seth has been so sheltered and so socially isolated and inept and also because he's been allowed to become so self-absorbed and selfish. Ryan's experiences make him the ultimate best friend/less-related brother and enabler for Seth.

I guess we both are of one mind that something this tragic is very plausible and could have easily happened, actually with Seth from seasons 1-3 most easily. He seemed somewhat more mature in S4, but the jaded part of me saw that as Josh wanting to attempt to instantly redeem his TV self/alter ego before the end. He had become so unbearable and thoughtless with no attention paid to consequences for his choices or actions or no sense of obligation or responsibility. Talk about the polar opposite of Ryan.

The countdown running contrary to the rising drama and growing tension and the use of the second person really do add to this in such effective ways when it comes to engaging the reader. Very good calls!

More than an hour? Shhhhh. I won't tell. Hee. The end result is certainly worth your effort and time. I hope you feel the same way.

To answer your question, no, I don't write my own fics. I just lurk in the shadows to offer assistance to others with the beta duty and then commenting. Thanks for the compliment!

[jillbee7]

My mind has a mind of its own- now there's an idea! It's a weird thought but I guess it's kind of true- sometimes I write things and I have no idea where they came from. I'm sure it's the same for everybody.

You're definitely right about this most likely happening with Seasons 1-3 Seth. Season 4 Seth seems to grow into himself, to some extent. And ugh, I hadn't thought about that Josh thing, but it sounds really plausible. Wow. I don't really like that idea; I'd rather pretend that Seth just miraculously outgrew his childish ways. I was watching Season 1 the other day, and it's almost shocking to me how Seth actually used to ask Ryan how his life was going and stuff. I just got so used to the constant Seth blabber about himself that I forgot how their friendship started out. It's sad that Ryan tolerates that. You're right- he is one of the most tolerant people I've ever seen. Who else would put up with that? Ryan's comment to Kirsten about his and Seth's friendship (in fourth season when Kirsten's trying out for the job of substitute Seth) sums up their friendship perfectly- "Mostly you talk about yourself and I solve my problems on my own". How true.

[beachtree]

Maybe the "mind/mind" concept has truth to it, or maybe it's waiting for a t-shirt to come along. Just a thought- from my mind's mind...

Josh made enough comments about how, as a "geeky Jewish kid from the East Coast" (Providence, R.I.), he "had issues with the water polo player set and stereotype" when he first arrived in SoCal for school, that he took that and used it, and a number of his other experiences, to create Seth's character. He started with that, then gave Seth the life he always wanted in high school where he the cool friend (one at least) at his beck and call and he got the girl. And since Seth was a TV version of him and "The O.C." was Josh's show to run, it became all about... well, you know by mid S-1. (Of course, by S3, it was all about someone else in an unbelievable way and look how well that worked.) The problem was that Josh or AB, or both made Seth so insufferable that there wasn't time to redeem him by showing any process of maturity or recognition of how hurtful and selfish he'd been. It had to be done in the space of a couple of episodes with "grand gestures," but little indication of growth.

I've been watching S1 too, along with everyone over at the ocitagain community. I've been trying to keep track of firsts (for instance, in "The Goodbye Girl" Ryan uses Kirsten's name to her face directly for the first time- and he will only do so once more at Chrismukkah in S4 I believe, first time with physical contact initiated, first time someone inquired about something), as well as the types of behaviors I noticed lacking in later episodes and seasons. Like you, I've found myself so pleased to find the occasional time when Seth- or anyone- would actually talk to Ryan and LISTEN to him, or at least pause a beat and let him try to get a word in. It doesn't happen often, but at least there's an occasional pretense of feigned interest before moving on to the REAL topic- anything related to Seth in most cases. Ryan's tolerance and lack of self-worth are tailor-made for Seth. I also think that Seth, on some level, knows how obligated Ryan feels to all of the Cohens and how he wouldn't dare cross certain lines.

The scene with the "substitute Seth" was supposed to be funny, but I only thought that worked a little with Sandy. With Kirsten, I wanted to shake the frigid "lady" (still at a good ten feet from Ryan at all times) and tell her to LISTEN to what he was telling her, unless she really did want to be her son in that capacity. Had she been acting as an attuned adult, she should have pursued Ryan's comment with Ryan- and Sandy first and then Seth. What Ryan needed was a friend, not a "sub Seth." Cringe.

Onward!