West Wing FF: Chinese Food in the Roosevelt Room (Josh&Will, PG-13)

[black_eyedgirl]

Title: Chinese Food in the Roosevelt Room
Fandom: The West Wing
Characters: Josh and Will, talking about Sam
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Friendship
Length: 1,700 words
Disclaimer: All belongs to Sorkin and Wells.
Spoilers: S1-4, but especially S4
Summary: Josh, who had sent Sam to California with a smile, was the one who had encouraged CJ to leave

Comments

[fluffybkitty]

Finally someone has given me a believable reason as to why Sam didn't come back to the White House after he lost the 47th. Every point Josh made in this makes so much sense. Of course Sam would feel disheartened about losing and he said as much to Donna about wanting to run somewhere and win one day. Makes sense that he lost hope in winning and decided to see what he could do for people from the private sector instead.

It's nice to see Josh and Will interacting too, I always thought there was never enough of that.

Great fic, you've answered many questions.

[black_eyedgirl]

That's really nice to hear :-) I'm still not sure I understand why, if Sorkin needed to write Sam out, he just didn't let him win the election. But that's one reason, sort of - Sam does say that he's doing a lot of good at the law firm. And I don't think you'd bounce straight back from a loss into running again. Although, Will's right too, Sam's not as naive as Josh thinks - it certainly wouldn't have been enough to stop him running again ever.

And yes, when Will was on my options, I thought it would be nice to see him with Josh. Thanks for the feedback, I'm really glad you liked it!

[tyg_nyw]

Oh I loved this. I just LOOOVED this!

“Do you want to get some food and talk about the legislative section, or do you want to repeat the no doubt scurrilous gossip my assistant has been feeding you?”
“I can actually do both at once.”
LOL! So cute :)

“You’re not worried that he’s not going to win this election. You’re worried that if he loses he won’t want to run again.” Yes! I love this little moment of realization--it makes so much sense when you write it...I almost forgive Sam for not coming back :)

Yay! Very well done!

[black_eyedgirl]

:-) Thank you muchly for the lovely feedback.

So cute :)
I'm having a bit of a 'Will is adorable' phase. Cause he is you know. Just not a Sam-replacement.

it makes so much sense when you write it...I almost forgive Sam for not coming back :)
Yay for fanfic overcoming canon. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with this request when I got it, and it kind of turned into my own personal little 'just what happened there?' I think it makes sense of Josh's odd actions anyway - why he was so keen for Sam to go and then so adamant that he wouldn't win when he went to visit. But still, I missed Sam. And in seven fics out of ten I still don't believe he went to be a lawyer again...

Thanks again for the feedback, I'm really glad you enjoyed it!

[bluflamingo]

Despite having hardly seen anything of the seasons after Sam left, this was fatastic! They both sound exactly right, and I love this line: He’ll come back when he’s done, and then you can implement your plans for world domination, because don't we all believe Josh and Sam will one day take over the world (or at leats the White House!)

[black_eyedgirl]

:-) My knowledge of Seasons 5&6 is pretty shaky too actually.
And yeah, Sam & Josh in the White House one day is *destiny*! Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[scrollgirl]

Oh man, I'm so sorry I haven't commented before now! But at least I've finished my own Josh-fic, which will help keep Em from despair ;)

He knew that he was the son of someone in the army (from Donna) and that he could write (from Toby, indirectly, when he didn't send Will on his merry way).
This is just soooo Josh :)

"So he loses." Will answered casually. "He comes back here - I finally get to go to Europe."
Poor guy. He never really makes it there, does he. I loved the running gag of Will suffering in the White House when he could've been in Nice. Nice! (heh, sorry)

"Do you know what it took to get Sam to Washington?" Josh asked. Already thinking back to pouring rain and Sam's bright incredulous smile when he saw Josh at the window. And the conversation before that, when he could not get Sam to leave that job that was destroying him for anything less than perfect.Yes, exactly! Sam couldn't let go of his old life for anything less than perfect, that's just the way Sam is. Like when he writes and he wants to nail it, or the high

[black_eyedgirl]

Hey, don't worry about slower feedback - I owe so much feedback after my LJ break that it's untrue - I'm just glad you liked it!

I'm really glad you put this in. Lately I've been so wrapped up in Sam/Will and the two of them with Toby that I'd forgotten that Josh knows Sam in ways the other two don't.
... kinda reminding myself there as well as you! It felt important that Will isn't just sitting lecturing Josh about his best friend. But yeah, I'm pretty much with you on wondering just went on with Josh/Sam in the later seasons

As much as I'm attached to the idea of Will being CoS to Sam's president, I think Sorkin would agree with your vision of Josh as CoS.
Well, Wells seems to think Josh is Sam's boss... but yes, Sorkin set it up the way I decided to write it. I laugh in the face of canon :-)

Sorkin knew how to mix the ridiculous and the sublime.
*g* He really did. I miss West Wing... (S60 is cool, but not the same, ya know?)

This is deeply, deeply awesome. Seriously, you've got their voices down. I really wish we'd been able to

[izzyntsherandom]

This is great; you really captured their voices. And Sam always makes things better, even when he's not actually present! ^_^

[black_eyedgirl]

:-D He really does. Thanks for the feedback!