FF: She’s Not You
Jul. 9th, 2007 02:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quaggyTitle: She’s Not You
Author: Quaggy
Category: Character Study
Rating: G
Notes: I don’t think Amy and Mandy are the same person, so why would they have the some outlook? This fic is set mid season 3. Thank you togatsbyfan and caz963 for the beta and a great big thank you to edgeriffic for helping me save this fic when I was ready to put it permanently on ice!
You wait for her at that little café you both like, a couple blocks from the White House . You don’t like to darken the door of your former place of employment any more than you have to. You know what they think of you. Bitch. Troublemaker. Traitor. Coward. Maybe you deserve it. You were the only staff member to take off after Rossyln, running as fast and as far away as you could manage. You think you might deserve some scorn for that.
But you never deserved the way the office gossips tore you to shreds on a personal level. The way they tell it, you’ve spent the better part of your career as the woman scorned, trying to get back at Josh Lyman and torture his oh-so-innocent and pretty little assistant… whether out of jealousy because of the way they just seemed to “fit’ or because she was young, blond and gorgeous, you were never sure.
Of course, you muse as Donna breezes through the door, they don’t realize what a devious mind that innocent little assistant has when she applies herself. It’s one of the reasons you liked her right from the start. Anyone who could make not only Josh Lyman do her bidding, but Toby Ziegler as well was someone you’ll always want to count among your friends. And wouldn't that shock those gossips?
You haven’t really kept in touch since you left town. An occasional e-mail here and there. You were supposed to get together last time you were in town, but she suddenly cancelled. You had no idea what the reason was until the President announced a few weeks later that he has MS. You were worried about what this would mean for everyone’s future, but Donna looks relatively relaxed and happy so things must be going well.
“Did you have any trouble getting away?” you ask, as you both peruse the menu.
“Nope. Quiet day. And Josh cancelled his lunch with Amy to cover the office so I wouldn’t have to race back.”
“That was nice of him,” you observe dryly.
“Actually, I think he did it for his own sake. She’s been harassing him about the Child Health Care bill.”
“Isn’t that a little premature?”
“That never stopped Amy.”
“So… Do we like this new girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
“You sound unsure.”
“I just thought… She’s not you. I always thought that when Josh started dating someone seriously, it would be the same. I’d have a co-conspirator again. Someone to laugh with over the dumb things. Someone to help me get revenge when Josh becomes too overbearing. But it’s not like that. I mean, she’s friendly enough, but... I guess I was foolish to think I could get that camaraderie back.”
“We had fun,” you grin.
“We had Josh quaking in his boots!” she snickers.
“And then when CJ got involved…” you trail off, laughing too hard to continue, and the two of you are off reminiscing. You talk about office gossip and Donna’s new boyfriend. He’s an environmental lawyer with Sacks and Perkins. He probably doesn’t deserve her, but Josh is letting him live, so you will too. You share stories from the private sector and she tells you about LemonLyman.com and those behind the scenes details about the Stackhouse Filibuster that you miss out on by being a private citizen. You can’t believe how much your friend has grown in her job since you’ve been gone. Before you know it, it’s time for her to go, leaving you to your thoughts and a half-drunk cup of coffee.
Amy is a fool for not trying to befriend Donna. With a boyfriend as mule-headed and exasperating as Josh, it helps to have someone who understands and can offer advice. There are so many reasons to be friends with Donna, but you think that alone would be reason enough. You suppose that Amy might feel threatened by Josh and Donna’s close relationship. They seemed to be able to read each other’s minds from the moment Donna volunteered, which could be uncomfortable for Josh’s significant other. But even back when you were Josh’s significant other, you never worried about your boyfriend’s gorgeous blond assistant, because you knew that you had Donna’s loyalty. Of course, you’re not standing in their way anymore. Quite the opposite, in fact. Because loyalty is a funny thing. In order for it to work, it has to go both ways....
When you’re loyal to your friends, you want what’s best for them. You want Donna to be with someone who will make her happy. Who can see past her sweet, innocent façade and know that there is an intelligent, capable woman underneath. Someone who will treat her with respect. And now, your loyalty to Donna (and Josh too, if you’re honest with yourself) has you hoping that some day, you'll dance at their wedding.
Author: Quaggy
Category: Character Study
Rating: G
Notes: I don’t think Amy and Mandy are the same person, so why would they have the some outlook? This fic is set mid season 3. Thank you to
gatsbyfan and caz963 for the beta and a great big thank you to edgeriffic for helping me save this fic when I was ready to put it permanently on ice! You wait for her at that little café you both like, a couple blocks from the White House . You don’t like to darken the door of your former place of employment any more than you have to. You know what they think of you. Bitch. Troublemaker. Traitor. Coward. Maybe you deserve it. You were the only staff member to take off after Rossyln, running as fast and as far away as you could manage. You think you might deserve some scorn for that.
But you never deserved the way the office gossips tore you to shreds on a personal level. The way they tell it, you’ve spent the better part of your career as the woman scorned, trying to get back at Josh Lyman and torture his oh-so-innocent and pretty little assistant… whether out of jealousy because of the way they just seemed to “fit’ or because she was young, blond and gorgeous, you were never sure.
Of course, you muse as Donna breezes through the door, they don’t realize what a devious mind that innocent little assistant has when she applies herself. It’s one of the reasons you liked her right from the start. Anyone who could make not only Josh Lyman do her bidding, but Toby Ziegler as well was someone you’ll always want to count among your friends. And wouldn't that shock those gossips?
You haven’t really kept in touch since you left town. An occasional e-mail here and there. You were supposed to get together last time you were in town, but she suddenly cancelled. You had no idea what the reason was until the President announced a few weeks later that he has MS. You were worried about what this would mean for everyone’s future, but Donna looks relatively relaxed and happy so things must be going well.
“Did you have any trouble getting away?” you ask, as you both peruse the menu.
“Nope. Quiet day. And Josh cancelled his lunch with Amy to cover the office so I wouldn’t have to race back.”
“That was nice of him,” you observe dryly.
“Actually, I think he did it for his own sake. She’s been harassing him about the Child Health Care bill.”
“Isn’t that a little premature?”
“That never stopped Amy.”
“So… Do we like this new girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
“You sound unsure.”
“I just thought… She’s not you. I always thought that when Josh started dating someone seriously, it would be the same. I’d have a co-conspirator again. Someone to laugh with over the dumb things. Someone to help me get revenge when Josh becomes too overbearing. But it’s not like that. I mean, she’s friendly enough, but... I guess I was foolish to think I could get that camaraderie back.”
“We had fun,” you grin.
“We had Josh quaking in his boots!” she snickers.
“And then when CJ got involved…” you trail off, laughing too hard to continue, and the two of you are off reminiscing. You talk about office gossip and Donna’s new boyfriend. He’s an environmental lawyer with Sacks and Perkins. He probably doesn’t deserve her, but Josh is letting him live, so you will too. You share stories from the private sector and she tells you about LemonLyman.com and those behind the scenes details about the Stackhouse Filibuster that you miss out on by being a private citizen. You can’t believe how much your friend has grown in her job since you’ve been gone. Before you know it, it’s time for her to go, leaving you to your thoughts and a half-drunk cup of coffee.
Amy is a fool for not trying to befriend Donna. With a boyfriend as mule-headed and exasperating as Josh, it helps to have someone who understands and can offer advice. There are so many reasons to be friends with Donna, but you think that alone would be reason enough. You suppose that Amy might feel threatened by Josh and Donna’s close relationship. They seemed to be able to read each other’s minds from the moment Donna volunteered, which could be uncomfortable for Josh’s significant other. But even back when you were Josh’s significant other, you never worried about your boyfriend’s gorgeous blond assistant, because you knew that you had Donna’s loyalty. Of course, you’re not standing in their way anymore. Quite the opposite, in fact. Because loyalty is a funny thing. In order for it to work, it has to go both ways....
When you’re loyal to your friends, you want what’s best for them. You want Donna to be with someone who will make her happy. Who can see past her sweet, innocent façade and know that there is an intelligent, capable woman underneath. Someone who will treat her with respect. And now, your loyalty to Donna (and Josh too, if you’re honest with yourself) has you hoping that some day, you'll dance at their wedding.
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interesting
Date: 2007-07-09 09:30 pm (UTC)The loyalty thing is funny though. We got used to WW loyalty being the uber loyalty to the group, to the family, which Mandy clearly didn't have--with the leaving and the coming back and the memo and wanting to work for the Republican congressman. And yet, here Mandy's loyalty is different. She's loyal to Donna and loyal to Josh. Not the group just them, or really her. You made a complicated character in a short story. Nice.
Re: interesting
Date: 2007-07-11 02:20 am (UTC)We got used to WW loyalty being the uber loyalty to the group, to the family, which Mandy clearly didn't have
That, I think, was the only thing that Amy and Mandy have in common, other than Josh. But Mandy didn't have her own agenda like Amy. She just didn't live and breathe politics the way that her collegues did, so I guess it would make sense that she would be the first to leave.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 09:37 pm (UTC)Good story. I like Donna and Mandy ganging up on Josh. Very cute.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 02:41 am (UTC)I was going to include a line about how insted of ganging up with Amy, Donna ganged up with Josh (clips that made the cutting room floor shows that Tahiti in his apartment was Donna's idea), but it's didn't work itself naturally into the conversation because it's also a sign about how close Josh and Donna had grown. Mandy as an outside observer might notice something like that, but I don't think Donna would.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 12:11 am (UTC)While I never saw Mandy and Donna as particularly hostile towards one another, I certainly never imagined them as close friends. I'm quite curious about what inspired you to portray them in this way!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 03:37 am (UTC)And partly it was because I'm a bit contrary when I write fic. I try to take a different perspective as much as I possibly can and if it means ignoring fannon, so much the better. (Cannon, of course, is sacrosanct, unless I'm deliberatly wiritng an AU.)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 03:41 am (UTC)I love when people don't automatically make Josh's girlfriends into uber-bitches.
I honestly don't know why people do this. Neither Mandy or Amy are so one-demensional. Like everyone else on the show, they are very complex characters.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 03:53 am (UTC)You know my favorite Amy moment? In Privateers (ok that's not the exact title of the episode but it's close enough) when she's talking to Abby and they have the exchange about how Abby used to babysit her. LOVED IT! And it's so easy to miss. It gives a whole new meaning to the idea of everyone in politics knowing everyone and what not.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 02:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 08:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 03:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 10:08 pm (UTC)Loves it. Wraps it with a bow and puts in pocket for dreary D.C. days....
no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 11:06 am (UTC)Loved!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-12 09:59 pm (UTC)A lovely read (as usual)! I love how easily you seem to take a 'type-cast' character like Mandy or Amy, and really craft them into much more three-dimensional characters. And of course, it's always nice when you can bring a little J/D into it in the process! *g*
no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 02:50 am (UTC)And I will ALWAYS be trying to bring a least a little J/D intp the process! ;-P
Re: Hey!!!!
Date: 2007-07-17 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 09:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-04 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-05 10:50 pm (UTC)No one seems to like Mandy! I liked Mandy! I didn't like Amy b/c all the things about Josh that might have annoyed me were it not for the dimples and charisma, she had in SPADES. Except for, you know, the dimples and charisma. I did try to like her, tried to see her as someone besides "not Donna", but she just annoyed me. And she was *mean* - either that, or oblivious. I might lean towards a healthy dollop of oblivious.
But this, with Mandy and Donna being friends and the bit about loyalty working both ways...it's perfect. And it's the only time I have seen Mandy written, in the context of Josh and Donna, as anything but the Spawn of Satan or Minion Thereof With Outlandish Requirements Of Our Boy Josh And Zero Tolerance For His Loveable Personality Due To Lack of Soul. And that's delightful to me. Thank you thank you.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 01:54 am (UTC)Actually, I think Mandy would have been a great character if someone other than Moira Kelly was playing her. Not that I have anything against Moira Kelly, because I like her, but Mandy is a tough character. She needed to be played by someone with a lot of charm and charisma. Moira's Mandy was nothing but abrasive which made her difficult to like.