(Untitled)

[philippa_]

Title: Colours of Pain caused by a Comic Book part 2.
Author: Philippa
Beta: erynnbeth
Disclaimer: I do not own anything

I have a beta for this chapter (erynnbeth) Thank you so much. You have been such a great help. It turns out I am really bad at deciding where commas go and I am amazed at your patience with going through and spotting them all

Comments

[beachtree]

Very compelling emotions and captivating, riveting descriptions. It's amazing that a certain someone can be observent of so many details in such amazing clarity when he's terrified and riddled with guilt, isn't it? Who knew Seth could be so perceptive. I'm not much for Seth introspection, but it's our only way to have any insights into the context of the story and into Ryan's condition, so you make it both essential and engaging.

Again, you've really heightened the tensions with the false sense of security and the limbo cliffhanger. So much is left hanging with a fearsome uncertainty and is left unspoken. You leave so many opportunities for speculation based on subtle nuances and silent communication along with the lack of confirmation. Then again, no medical staff would release information to a patient until other family members had arrived.

As long as you keep this hurt and COMFORT- and you so know what I mean- I'm on board! Per our previous chats, you seem to be following that treacherous path with so many physical and emotional elements woven into one in various phases. I hope you continue to succeed to incorporate the other characters, their reactions, interactions and dynamics as the focus shifts and I really hope you give us some answers about Ryan without setting up yet another sheer cliff of a cliffhanger. This segue is an effective transition to what could be more familial introspection and connectivity and a more active presence with Ryan again. Maybe?

Thanks for the gripping, twisting and wrenching- I think!

[philippa_]

Thank you for your thoughts. Yes I have warped Seth slightly from the selfich little urchin we see on screen to a brothery Seth. Although going through an experience like this because of his selfish ways would probably change his view on things. At least that is the direction I'm aiming in.

I like cliff hangers, there is just something about them which make them really fun to write.

Well as I've mentioned in the past I do love the comfort but it will be a bumpy ride for our Ryan. Sandy and Kirsten will be in the next chapter and at the moment i am planning for Ryan's condition to be revealed then when they arrive. I'm happy that you are reading this and willing to give me all your thoughts.

[beachtree]

Urchin? Sea urchin in this watery set story?

Nothing in Ryan's life is easy- ever. Nothing ever comes without tremendous struggle, especially compared to everyone else. That's why he takes nothing for granted and has learned to be so determined and focused. This would be no different! I guess we'll have to see just how rough a road with how many peaks and valleys and twists and obstacles you map out. We'll also have to see just how invested the Cohens are and how aware of emotions, bonds, dynamics and feelings they are as of now and will be.

Thanks again!

[philippa_]

Haha I didn't make the connection about that till you pointed it out.

I know what you mean about Ryan's life never being easy. One thing that annoys or anoyed me about the show was that they blowed past many story lines that could have made amazing angst filled story lines. For example in "The my two dads" how Kirsten was adamant that Ryan was to see his father even though she knew the past Ryan had had with him. Also in the "Dawn patrol" where once again it was Kirsten who was adamant that Ryan was to visit his mother despite her abandoning him. Then of course there was the Kirsten drinking plot line and Trey getting shot at the same time and Kirsten not even talking these two things through with Ryan or even Sandy taling them through with him. I get so annoyed when things like these happen and Ryan has things in his past that he now has to overcome but they get completely brushed to the side by the Cohens.

Yes so anyway sorry about the babble, I'm going to make sure there are alot of family moments where the Cohens actually deal with things with Ryan. Oh dear that kind of gives things away a little bit oops... if Ryan survives I mean. :D

[beachtree]

Sorry, I couldn't resist the sea creature/cretin analogy. It was too easy!

Don't even get me started on what TPTB turned a blind eye, glossed over or just chose to ignore. It makes it that much more incomprehensible that they would go to the trouble to create such compelling, layered characters only to fail to develop them or to explore so much of what they introduced just in the first few episodes. That should have been setting the table for the real feast to come, but it never did. Any time they'd even tease with us by bringing Dawn or Treywreck into the fray or introducing Sandy's family, they'd take another hundred steps back. So much was left unaddressed just when Dawn left and it all went spiraling downhill from there.

By the end of S2, I was hoping against hope that S3 would start with the first half dozen episodes devoted to examining the havoc Kirsten had wrought and just how much she'd damaged her relationships, especially with Ryan. He got the double whammy with being hurt and betrayed in ways that cut to the core by both Kirsten and Trey. Both hurt him emotionally- and deeply, Kirsten put him at risk physically, and Trey openly tried to kill him in multiple ways. That much varied trauma demanded some real attention. So what happened? Sandy told him he had to "forget about this thing with his brother" after said brother betrayed him yet again with his lies and then left. Kirsten never said a word about her drinking to Ryan or what she had done when she lashed out at him so cruelly.

Sandy outright brushed Ryan off repeatedly when Ryan was so lost and screaming for help in many ways and that lasted the entire third season, which ended with Ryan existing in his own orbit with no guidance, support or even any acknowledgement of the tremendous achievement of his graduation from either guardian. Through all of that, Kirsten not only avoided him more than ever, she actually pushed him towards Dawn when he was most insecure again and vulnerable and would have interpreted that as the Cohens possibly wanting him to go back to Dawn after his eighteenth birthday. The timing couldn't have been worse and the distance and communication gap between Ryan and the Cohens couldn't have been wider. And Kirsten never even bothered to find out any details about Dawn. All she really knew was what she had seen and heard herself when Dawn walked away and left Ryan. And she never seemed to think about the harm this could cause Ryan either time or what he'd have to cope with again even with a best case scenario. Then, when she did it again with Frank and again never even considered protecting Ryan or giving him some control or choices as she pushed... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

How many angst-laden and very natural, necessary stories were overlooked? Yeah, how much time do you have?! The list is long and the show could have been riveting had those been written.

That's my digression and mega-babble. Sorry! And Ryan had BETTER live! Hee.

Thanks!