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

[fifimom]

Thank you for writing this. It is very sad but very good.

[jillbee7]

Thanks for reading (and commenting)! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[jillbee7]

Oh wow, thank you! Usually it's me weeping from your ficcy goodness, so it's weird to have it reversed. Thanks so much for reading it!

[brandywine421]

I really liked this, and your choice of 2nd person POV works really well here. So sad - and such a plausible scenario with Seth wanting Ryan to come along and the cops making him have to make a quick exit as well as Ryan undoing his seat belt to find a bag.

So sad.

I'm so glad you decided to play!

[jillbee7]

Ahh, you read my fic! This is amazing; I love yours so I feel sort of honoured. Haha. Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I'm not used to writing in second person, but it just felt right so I thought I'd try it. And thank you for the cake! (I'm starving, now. Mmmmm. They look so good.)

[elzed]

Good use of second person there -makes it all the more effective!

And while I'm not a fan of the injured Ryan stories - this one works so very well with Seth and Ryan...

[jillbee7]

Well, thanks for taking the time to read this one, despite not liking the hurt Ryan stories. I really appreciate that you took the time to read and comment, thanks. =)

[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

[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,

[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

[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