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crack_van2006-05-10 02:46 pm
lakester.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2006-05-10 02:46 pm
Entry tags:
Detonations from the minor leagues by Laurelin Vernét (PG)
Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: None - Hoynes gen
Author on LJ:
Author's website:
Why this must be read: Because the Bartlet White House always problems with their Vice Presidents - usually stemming from the fact that the Vice President wasn't Jed Bartlet. In particular, the relationship between VP John Hoynes - consummate politician - and the White House often seemed adversarial.
This fic takes that theme - and turns the viewpoint to that of Hoynes' staffers and other minor personnel. Set in the wake of the MS revelations it watches the White House circling the wagons and the party running to Hoynes. Whilst it is sympathetic to Hoynes and what we see of Leo, Toby and the President is distanced and detached, both are certainly in line with their characters at this time.
It's a neat outside take that shows how different things can look from where you stand. And Ginger's last line hits you because you don't, and because they do.
Nancy remembered the last time the Vice President had come in like this "Did the President have a minute?" and the way he stood with his head bowed, gazing into nothing. But today the President didn't have a minute, didn't want to have a minute, didn't pause then say, "Yeah, okay" and she had said, "No, I'm sorry, sir." She couldn't even remember what excuse she gave him; what she did remember clearly was the antipathy on Leo McGarry's face when she said Hoynes had asked to speak to the President.
She stared at her hands spread out flat on her desk and wished that Mrs. Landingham were here. There would be trouble, as Margaret would say, but Mrs. Landingham would have known what to do. Perhaps she should pass the task to Leo in exchange for the face he'd made.
The Vice President had stood in the same way this time, looking down at the floor with his hands clasped behind his back. He didn't look into the Oval Office to see that the President wasn't on the phone or in an important meeting. When she said the President wasn't available, Hoynes looked up and under the narrow glare his guise of humble foot soldier vanished. He met her eyes and Nancy knew he could tell she was lying. He gave a tense, fuse-lit gunpowder smile and with a shrug, thanked her for her time.
Detonations from the minor leagues
Pairing: None - Hoynes gen
Author on LJ:
Author's website:
Why this must be read: Because the Bartlet White House always problems with their Vice Presidents - usually stemming from the fact that the Vice President wasn't Jed Bartlet. In particular, the relationship between VP John Hoynes - consummate politician - and the White House often seemed adversarial.
This fic takes that theme - and turns the viewpoint to that of Hoynes' staffers and other minor personnel. Set in the wake of the MS revelations it watches the White House circling the wagons and the party running to Hoynes. Whilst it is sympathetic to Hoynes and what we see of Leo, Toby and the President is distanced and detached, both are certainly in line with their characters at this time.
It's a neat outside take that shows how different things can look from where you stand. And Ginger's last line hits you because you don't, and because they do.
Nancy remembered the last time the Vice President had come in like this "Did the President have a minute?" and the way he stood with his head bowed, gazing into nothing. But today the President didn't have a minute, didn't want to have a minute, didn't pause then say, "Yeah, okay" and she had said, "No, I'm sorry, sir." She couldn't even remember what excuse she gave him; what she did remember clearly was the antipathy on Leo McGarry's face when she said Hoynes had asked to speak to the President.
She stared at her hands spread out flat on her desk and wished that Mrs. Landingham were here. There would be trouble, as Margaret would say, but Mrs. Landingham would have known what to do. Perhaps she should pass the task to Leo in exchange for the face he'd made.
The Vice President had stood in the same way this time, looking down at the floor with his hands clasped behind his back. He didn't look into the Oval Office to see that the President wasn't on the phone or in an important meeting. When she said the President wasn't available, Hoynes looked up and under the narrow glare his guise of humble foot soldier vanished. He met her eyes and Nancy knew he could tell she was lying. He gave a tense, fuse-lit gunpowder smile and with a shrug, thanked her for her time.
Detonations from the minor leagues