New fic: In Exaltation

[politic_x]

DWP fanfic: In Exaltation
by Politic X
Pairing: Miranda / Andrea
Rating: M
Status: Completed
Word count: 7,440
Disclaimer: The Devil Wears Prada is not owned by me; I'm not making money.
Archive: Ask first
Posted to my website and fanfiction.net.
Summary: Miranda and Andrea spend Sunday at the office. A shift in power occurs.

Thanks to my beta:

Comments

[politic_x]

Oh, chilly. I'm glad you felt it worth the wait. You know your little thing on your site - that disclaimer that says the characters shall live happily ever after, in the end? I was sure that's what I'd always write with Mirandy, having no desire to write or dwell on unhappy things. Funny how I think that's still the case and my readers don't... Only The River Ouse stands out in my mind as a negative ending.

Exaltation sat on my hard drive for months, ready to be extended, for Andy to come back the next day and do whatever she was going to do. And each time I pushed it forward, what had thus far happened lost impact. So I chopped it short, letting Miranda jump off her pedestal and readers decide her fate.

Unfortunately, I didn't count on my readers thinking the worst. :) They, like you, are focused on Miranda's preparations, and overlooking my - obviously far too subtle - hints that Andy's adoration is more than skin deep:

::Andy warns Miranda that her coffee is hot; we know that she warns her repeatedly despite Miranda's scornful comment, despite Miranda obviously knowing this fact by now. But by choosing to warn her, Andy opens herself up to Miranda's scorn, in order to protect her. ::When Miranda freaks out and slaps Andy - hard enough to create a knot on the girl's face - Andy tells Miranda she will always protect her. ::After the slap, Andy returns to Miranda, asking for help in getting out of Thakoon's dress because she doesn't want to rip it. She could indeed rip it in revenge if she chooses. ::Throughout the story, Andy speaks words of adoration and performs acts of reverence on Miranda, despite neither being reciprocated.

So I obviously need to work on balancing the weight of my words. I wanted people to feel Miranda's panic, but, among other things, also to feel rather hopeful that Andy will come back in supplication. Indeed, I imagine Andy coming back the next morning and doing her job, and Miranda being a total bitch toward her. I think Miranda, being the fallen god in this story, will become almost evil.

Thank you for your detailed comment... it helps drive home the fact that the story didn't achieve what I had hoped.

Laura