Ficlet: Opposites
Title: Opposites
Fandom: DWP
Words: 409 words
Notes: Andrea Sachs and Miranda Priestly
A/N: Written for the prompt meme for dragonwine
Everything in the world is in her eyes, if you know how to look. Looking was the key, paying attention was the method, and quite possibly, love was the reason. Andy couldn't quite pinpoint where the balance had tipped from fear into something closer to admiration, yet she knew that her patience would eventually be returned. She knew it would be; not in Paris, when she had seen another side of Miranda Priestly -- looking defeated and then victorious at least in one aspect of her life, but back in New York City, where she did not get the full weight of Miranda's vengeance. It was that momentary show of mercy (no matter how unexpected) that spoke more loudly than any number of explanations and apologies from either of them.
It seemed that they were more opposite than similar -- but that was purely on the surface. A naked comparison of the public knowledge would have yielded the following: two women on the career ladder -- one at the pinnacle of her industry, while the other had barely made a mark. Each tethered to the other by the slender thread of having worked together - the latter for the former, and even though Paris was never mentioned, it remained a turning point. Others might have noted their connection through fashion -- one ruling the industry fist in velvet glove, while the other started out with the barest of interest - she learned quickly that Gabbana had two 'b's and one 'n'. One chose the visual but knew her words could and did cut deeply; the other would always start from words but learned that too often, a picture was worth more than even pages of words.
Very few would ever be privy to all or any that was beyond the surface. The dry sense of humour that suggested a lot more amusement at the world than was ever said. The twinkle in the eyes that marked a successful effort at gaining the upper hand (and keeping it so). There was that sense of competitiveness that emerged at the strangest times -- the missing Scrabble tile was the lone witness.
More importantly, there was the sense of pleasure each took in the other's company. Each had seen the other through stress and scandal (more Miranda than Andy), but could move beyond the selfishness that seemed to guide their actions and reach for acceptance much faster than others would expect to ever happen.
Fandom: DWP
Words: 409 words
Notes: Andrea Sachs and Miranda Priestly
A/N: Written for the prompt meme for dragonwine
Everything in the world is in her eyes, if you know how to look. Looking was the key, paying attention was the method, and quite possibly, love was the reason. Andy couldn't quite pinpoint where the balance had tipped from fear into something closer to admiration, yet she knew that her patience would eventually be returned. She knew it would be; not in Paris, when she had seen another side of Miranda Priestly -- looking defeated and then victorious at least in one aspect of her life, but back in New York City, where she did not get the full weight of Miranda's vengeance. It was that momentary show of mercy (no matter how unexpected) that spoke more loudly than any number of explanations and apologies from either of them.
It seemed that they were more opposite than similar -- but that was purely on the surface. A naked comparison of the public knowledge would have yielded the following: two women on the career ladder -- one at the pinnacle of her industry, while the other had barely made a mark. Each tethered to the other by the slender thread of having worked together - the latter for the former, and even though Paris was never mentioned, it remained a turning point. Others might have noted their connection through fashion -- one ruling the industry fist in velvet glove, while the other started out with the barest of interest - she learned quickly that Gabbana had two 'b's and one 'n'. One chose the visual but knew her words could and did cut deeply; the other would always start from words but learned that too often, a picture was worth more than even pages of words.
Very few would ever be privy to all or any that was beyond the surface. The dry sense of humour that suggested a lot more amusement at the world than was ever said. The twinkle in the eyes that marked a successful effort at gaining the upper hand (and keeping it so). There was that sense of competitiveness that emerged at the strangest times -- the missing Scrabble tile was the lone witness.
More importantly, there was the sense of pleasure each took in the other's company. Each had seen the other through stress and scandal (more Miranda than Andy), but could move beyond the selfishness that seemed to guide their actions and reach for acceptance much faster than others would expect to ever happen.