Can’t expect the world to be your Raggedy Andy.

[hackthis_archive]

I was telling foreversmitten that I’ve actually given this some thought (which never happens) and I believe the reason that people are gravitating more to writing Seth instead of Ryan is because of Ryan’s passiveness. It’s hard to create an idea of how someone should be written when it’s so clear that they take all their cues from the people around them. Ryan behaves the way he thinks people want him to. He is a walking attempt to be ‘all things to all people’ and I’m quite anxiously looking for the day when he says ‘Fuck the lot of you. This is who I am.’

Although perhaps not in those words. (It’d be hot if he did though, just saying.)

Like Play-doh


When Ryan was very small his favorite toy was Play-doh; it was mallable and portable, and he could take it anywhere anytime. He could play with it under Trey’s bed when his parents fought, or in the car while his mom drove around trying to find some place for them to sleep at night.

Eventually Ryan outgrew Play-doh or perhaps it was taken away. He doesn’t really remember; Ryan’s very good at blocking out certain things. Whatever the case, Ryan moved on to other toys, and then he grew older and the toys vanished, period.

Ryan hasn’t seen or touched Play-doh in ages, but he’s fascinated when a commercial for it airs late one night as he’s watching cartoons on his bed in the pool house.

It’s not the bright colors or the falsely happy children that intrigue him, but the memory of the way the Play-doh just did anything Ryan wanted. The way it just sucked in random flakes of potato chips or cat hair or whatever was on the surface Ryan was using.

In a way Ryan is a lot like Play-doh.

He can’t quite think of Seth like Play-doh: he’s just too resilient, and Marissa is too fragile, but Ryan is mallable and portable. He goes where he needs to, when he needs to, and he tries to be whatever anyone wants, when they want.

He takes it as it comes, and most time it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

The thing Ryan remembers about Play-doh though, is that if you leave it out for too long it dries out and then it breaks.

One day Ryan might break and then where will he be? Who will he be? What will happen then?

When Play-doh dried out when Ryan was small, he just threw it away. He wonders if the Cohens will throw him away if he becomes someone that doesn't fit.

-end-


Edited to noteThe amazingness that is obsessedmuch has updated Dysfunctional for me. Mad love!

Comments

[supergrover24.livejournal.com]

Your comment about Ryan as too passive to write well is very true. Mar and I also discussed this a bit the other day.

But this little snippet of what he could be like, with Play-doh as the metaphor is heartbreaking.

I wonder if we get more Seth fic because not only is he easy to write, but because he's almost guaranteed to make the reader happy?

[serialkarma.livejournal.com]

Okay, I read this twice, just now. The first time hurt. The second time hurt a *lot more*.

poor baby. This is why he's the woobiest woobie of them all.

[starlitefaerie.livejournal.com]

very thoughtful. lovely.

[pennyproud.livejournal.com]

That drabble was all kinds of gorgeous even as it kind of breaks my heart. *loves*

Re: Ryan-- he's awfully quiet. Unlike Seth, we don't know a whole lot about him because he never says anything. I tried typing out a Ryan POV fic and found that I had to construct his entire personality almost whole. That can be both daunting and exhausting for a writer. Maybe people are just lazy?

Also I think it's far easier to identify with Seth than Ryan for most people (especially given the fact that Seth is a big ole out-and-proud fangeek) so I've seen him Mary-Sue'ed a lot recently. :)

[quinnponders.livejournal.com]

That was...well there really aren't words lovely enough to describe what that was. I've read it several times already and each time it left me stunned. Beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Rarely does a drabble leave you with that much emotion especially when one is currently nursing a hangover.

I was wondering about the Seth v. Ryan fic out there myself. I think writing a good Ryan is hard because he knows the importance of words, uses them sparingly, and carries more pain than most will ever know. Most people seem to just be focusing on the happy babbling Seth because it's easier (even though there is far more to Seth IMO). You write Ryan beautifully though.

~Q

[jfc013.livejournal.com]

Can I just give the boy a big hug NOW??? Sweet, and so SAD! Thanks for posting this!

[luluminion.livejournal.com]

Wonderful, malleable, portable Ryan. Everything you wrote rings so true. Ryan is just the picture of an abuse survivor--fit in, be flexible, don't give too much away or it'll be taken away.

Luckily, Seth has a lot of pent-up love and affection and trust to give. :)

[barely-bean.livejournal.com]

Eventually Ryan outgrew Play-doh or perhaps it was taken away. He doesn’t really remember; Ryan’s very good at blocking out certain things. Whatever the case, Ryan moved on to other toys, and then he grew older and the toys vanished, period

*hugs Ryan*

I still cling to Ryan pov. I don't know, I just feel comfortable in his head. Seth's busy and I adore him, and I can't keep up with him.