ABC of DWP Challenge A-E
It's past midnight somewhere, right? Okay, so I still have an hour and ten minutes to go, but I'll be without internet all day tomorrow, so... forgive me? :D
None of these have titles. They're mostly Mirandy, though you'll come across the occasional Emily/Serena somewhere down the line. And somehow I managed to cut these down to under the 250 word mark, though just barely... they all wanted to be at least 500 words and had to be cut down quite a bit to fit the challenge rules.
Many, many thanks to my beta, amelie_n, for being wonderful and dealing with my procrastinating self. :D
Title: Bedtime
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Mirandy
Prompt: Antique
Word Count: 248
Summary: A response to the ABC Challenge.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
The first time Andrea saw it was when she woke up lying close to the edge of the bed. Miranda was pressing soft kisses against the back of her neck. She looked down to see, among the pillows that had been cast aside the night before, a brown bear, who stared up at her with button eyes. He looked soft, but wore a serious expression, as old teddy bears usually do.
"Miranda," she murmured sleepily, picking it up, "why do you have a stuffed bear on your bed?"
"It was my grandmother's," she answered curtly, trying to take it away so she could continue what she'd been doing. When Andrea instead curled protectively around it, she sighed in frustration. "It was hers when she was young, then my mother's, and then mine, though they probably regret giving it to me now. It would have gone to my first daughter, but...."
"But you can't have just one of anything with twins," Andrea finished for her, grinning. "How did it survive three girls and still end up looking brand new?"
"It wasn't made to be played with," Miranda scoffed, frowning. "It's very rare--an original Mitchom. Supposedly one of the first." Her frown deepened as Andrea looked at the bear, her expression sad. "What?"
"It just seems... lonely. Toys want to be played with. To be loved."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Toys don't want anything, Andrea."
Andrea just shrugged and kissed the bear's nose. In spite of herself, Miranda smiled.
Title: For the Love of One's Children
Rating: PG
Pairing: Hints of Mirandy
Prompt: Bereft
Word Count: 238
Summary:"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them." ~ Richard Evans
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Their words won't stop echoing through her head.
"You're never home."
"It's like you don't even care about us."
And, of course, the most hurtful part of all: "We want to go live with Dad."
She's never denied her daughters anything, and so she let them go. She wants them to be happy.
The writing on the page before her blurs and twists, and she tosses her book aside. Mascara smears across her skin as she wipes at her eyes, and she can't bring herself to care.
She hears the front door open, and before she can stop herself, what hope she has left brings her to her feet and into the hall. Maybe they've changed their minds.
But it's not them. It's Andrea, who meets her eyes with a knowing expression as she offers her The Book.
"Miranda, is there--" Andrea starts to say, pity in her voice that should make Miranda angry, but only makes her heart ache a bit more. Those words throw her back to Paris, to being left. Twice.
Stephen never returned, but Andrea did, and so maybe Caroline and Cassidy will as well. Maybe one day they'll understand. Maybe they'll forgive her. Maybe....
Turning on her heel, she quickly goes upstairs. She half-listens for the sound of Andrea leaving, but it doesn't come. Instead, after a silent moment that seems to last an eternity, she hears hesitant footsteps on the stairs.
Title: Emily Hates Lazy Models
Rating: PG
Pairing: none
Prompt: Clavicle
Word Count: 245
Summary: Essentially, a game of "Not It!" in the Runway offices.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Nigel stared at Emily like she'd just told him the world was ending.
"She can't not be there. Miranda specifically requested her."
"Yes, well, I tried to tell her agent that, but apparently she's in the hospital and can't be bothered to uphold her commitments for the next month or so."
"Emily, she broke her clavicle," Andrea said exasperatedly. "You don't just get up and go back to the runway after that."
"She doesn't have to stroll down a catwalk, for God's sake, just put on an evening gown and stand there!" Emily squeaked. "Oh no, who's going to tell Miranda?"
"That's your job," Nigel said, pointing at Andrea, who gave him an incredulous look as he walked away. She couldn't think of anything she wanted less than to tell Miranda that the first model she'd been even close to excited about in years wasn't going to show up at the photo shoot scheduled to start in four hours.
She looked to Emily, but there was no pity to be found there. "You tell her. I have to deal with rescheduling the shoot. Or cancelling it. Whatever Miranda wants."
"You won't know what Miranda wants until someone tells her," Andrea pointed out, not moving to get up. Emily looked up from her computer to respond, but then froze, her face going pale. Turning her head slowly, Andrea saw Miranda watching her from the open doorway of her office, her lips pursed menacingly.
"Tells me what?"
Title: What Music Means
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mirandy
Prompt: Discordant
Word Count: 244
Summary: Miranda is singing. Andrea isn't sure if she should laugh or cry.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Since they ran into each other at a benefit dinner, Andrea has learned so many things.
She's learned that Miranda hates to be teased, and doesn't like sad movies because they make her melancholy for the rest of the day.
She's learned that Miranda has the most beautiful laugh in the world.
She's learned that Miranda is allergic to cats.
Also, she's learned that Miranda sings in the shower. Very badly.
~
Andy's wincing before she's even fully awake. It takes her a moment to identify the noise, and when she does, she has to bury her face in the pillow to keep herself from laughing. The awful singing is coming from the bathroom, and more specifically, from Miranda.
Pushing herself out of bed, she pulls on a robe and leaves the room, intent on getting some coffee. She runs into the twins in the hall and her heart stops for a second. They were so upset about the relationship when they found out the night before. They're not supposed to be up yet, not supposed to know she spent the night.
They don't say anything, though, or even look angry. They just stop outside the bedroom door, their eyes growing wide.
"She's singing," Cassidy says.
"Yeah," Caroline answers softly. "She's... she's happy."
Both girls turn to look at Andy standing a few feet away, watching them nervously. And they smile.
Flooded with hope, Andy decides maybe Miranda's singing isn't so bad after all.
Title: Of the Magical Sort
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mirandy
Prompt: Enchant
Word Count: 221
Summary: What happens when an author tries to write in both DWP and Harry Potter fandoms at the same time.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Sarah was tired of being treated like an idiot.
She knew that it wasn't really anything personal--Miranda always treated all of her assistants like idiots, even Emily. But still, it was frustrating.
And so when her roommate, Penny, offered help of the magical sort, she accepted.
Penny claimed to be a witch. Sarah thought she was probably crazy, but she didn't really have any other ideas. After spending a few days locked away in her bedroom, Penny presented her with a small bottle filled with clear liquid and a pocket-sized mirror.
"Put it in her coffee, and for twenty-four hours she'll be enchanted. Everything she wants will appear in the mirror. You'll look like you're on top of things all the time, and she can't be nasty to you then, right?"
And, amazingly, it worked. She got more coffee, and picked up Hermes scarves, and summoned Nigel all before Miranda had the chance to do more than think of those things. But between and around and behind these images were others--warm brown eyes; soft lips forming a gentle smile; a woman with dark hair, walking away.
Sarah didn't know who the woman in the mirror was, but it was obvious that she was what Miranda wanted most--the one thing Sarah couldn't possibly get for her.
Or could she?
None of these have titles. They're mostly Mirandy, though you'll come across the occasional Emily/Serena somewhere down the line. And somehow I managed to cut these down to under the 250 word mark, though just barely... they all wanted to be at least 500 words and had to be cut down quite a bit to fit the challenge rules.
Many, many thanks to my beta, amelie_n, for being wonderful and dealing with my procrastinating self. :D
Title: Bedtime
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Mirandy
Prompt: Antique
Word Count: 248
Summary: A response to the ABC Challenge.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
The first time Andrea saw it was when she woke up lying close to the edge of the bed. Miranda was pressing soft kisses against the back of her neck. She looked down to see, among the pillows that had been cast aside the night before, a brown bear, who stared up at her with button eyes. He looked soft, but wore a serious expression, as old teddy bears usually do.
"Miranda," she murmured sleepily, picking it up, "why do you have a stuffed bear on your bed?"
"It was my grandmother's," she answered curtly, trying to take it away so she could continue what she'd been doing. When Andrea instead curled protectively around it, she sighed in frustration. "It was hers when she was young, then my mother's, and then mine, though they probably regret giving it to me now. It would have gone to my first daughter, but...."
"But you can't have just one of anything with twins," Andrea finished for her, grinning. "How did it survive three girls and still end up looking brand new?"
"It wasn't made to be played with," Miranda scoffed, frowning. "It's very rare--an original Mitchom. Supposedly one of the first." Her frown deepened as Andrea looked at the bear, her expression sad. "What?"
"It just seems... lonely. Toys want to be played with. To be loved."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Toys don't want anything, Andrea."
Andrea just shrugged and kissed the bear's nose. In spite of herself, Miranda smiled.
Title: For the Love of One's Children
Rating: PG
Pairing: Hints of Mirandy
Prompt: Bereft
Word Count: 238
Summary:"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them." ~ Richard Evans
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Their words won't stop echoing through her head.
"You're never home."
"It's like you don't even care about us."
And, of course, the most hurtful part of all: "We want to go live with Dad."
She's never denied her daughters anything, and so she let them go. She wants them to be happy.
The writing on the page before her blurs and twists, and she tosses her book aside. Mascara smears across her skin as she wipes at her eyes, and she can't bring herself to care.
She hears the front door open, and before she can stop herself, what hope she has left brings her to her feet and into the hall. Maybe they've changed their minds.
But it's not them. It's Andrea, who meets her eyes with a knowing expression as she offers her The Book.
"Miranda, is there--" Andrea starts to say, pity in her voice that should make Miranda angry, but only makes her heart ache a bit more. Those words throw her back to Paris, to being left. Twice.
Stephen never returned, but Andrea did, and so maybe Caroline and Cassidy will as well. Maybe one day they'll understand. Maybe they'll forgive her. Maybe....
Turning on her heel, she quickly goes upstairs. She half-listens for the sound of Andrea leaving, but it doesn't come. Instead, after a silent moment that seems to last an eternity, she hears hesitant footsteps on the stairs.
Title: Emily Hates Lazy Models
Rating: PG
Pairing: none
Prompt: Clavicle
Word Count: 245
Summary: Essentially, a game of "Not It!" in the Runway offices.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Nigel stared at Emily like she'd just told him the world was ending.
"She can't not be there. Miranda specifically requested her."
"Yes, well, I tried to tell her agent that, but apparently she's in the hospital and can't be bothered to uphold her commitments for the next month or so."
"Emily, she broke her clavicle," Andrea said exasperatedly. "You don't just get up and go back to the runway after that."
"She doesn't have to stroll down a catwalk, for God's sake, just put on an evening gown and stand there!" Emily squeaked. "Oh no, who's going to tell Miranda?"
"That's your job," Nigel said, pointing at Andrea, who gave him an incredulous look as he walked away. She couldn't think of anything she wanted less than to tell Miranda that the first model she'd been even close to excited about in years wasn't going to show up at the photo shoot scheduled to start in four hours.
She looked to Emily, but there was no pity to be found there. "You tell her. I have to deal with rescheduling the shoot. Or cancelling it. Whatever Miranda wants."
"You won't know what Miranda wants until someone tells her," Andrea pointed out, not moving to get up. Emily looked up from her computer to respond, but then froze, her face going pale. Turning her head slowly, Andrea saw Miranda watching her from the open doorway of her office, her lips pursed menacingly.
"Tells me what?"
Title: What Music Means
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mirandy
Prompt: Discordant
Word Count: 244
Summary: Miranda is singing. Andrea isn't sure if she should laugh or cry.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Since they ran into each other at a benefit dinner, Andrea has learned so many things.
She's learned that Miranda hates to be teased, and doesn't like sad movies because they make her melancholy for the rest of the day.
She's learned that Miranda has the most beautiful laugh in the world.
She's learned that Miranda is allergic to cats.
Also, she's learned that Miranda sings in the shower. Very badly.
~
Andy's wincing before she's even fully awake. It takes her a moment to identify the noise, and when she does, she has to bury her face in the pillow to keep herself from laughing. The awful singing is coming from the bathroom, and more specifically, from Miranda.
Pushing herself out of bed, she pulls on a robe and leaves the room, intent on getting some coffee. She runs into the twins in the hall and her heart stops for a second. They were so upset about the relationship when they found out the night before. They're not supposed to be up yet, not supposed to know she spent the night.
They don't say anything, though, or even look angry. They just stop outside the bedroom door, their eyes growing wide.
"She's singing," Cassidy says.
"Yeah," Caroline answers softly. "She's... she's happy."
Both girls turn to look at Andy standing a few feet away, watching them nervously. And they smile.
Flooded with hope, Andy decides maybe Miranda's singing isn't so bad after all.
Title: Of the Magical Sort
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mirandy
Prompt: Enchant
Word Count: 221
Summary: What happens when an author tries to write in both DWP and Harry Potter fandoms at the same time.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. :)
Sarah was tired of being treated like an idiot.
She knew that it wasn't really anything personal--Miranda always treated all of her assistants like idiots, even Emily. But still, it was frustrating.
And so when her roommate, Penny, offered help of the magical sort, she accepted.
Penny claimed to be a witch. Sarah thought she was probably crazy, but she didn't really have any other ideas. After spending a few days locked away in her bedroom, Penny presented her with a small bottle filled with clear liquid and a pocket-sized mirror.
"Put it in her coffee, and for twenty-four hours she'll be enchanted. Everything she wants will appear in the mirror. You'll look like you're on top of things all the time, and she can't be nasty to you then, right?"
And, amazingly, it worked. She got more coffee, and picked up Hermes scarves, and summoned Nigel all before Miranda had the chance to do more than think of those things. But between and around and behind these images were others--warm brown eyes; soft lips forming a gentle smile; a woman with dark hair, walking away.
Sarah didn't know who the woman in the mirror was, but it was obvious that she was what Miranda wanted most--the one thing Sarah couldn't possibly get for her.
Or could she?