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crack_van2006-07-12 01:05 am
queenbookwench.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2006-07-12 01:05 am
Entry tags:
Rough Magic by Jackie Thomas (PG-13?)
Fandom: The West Wing
Pairing: Josh/Sam
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Wayfinding
Why this must be read: Jackie Thomas is a classic "old-but-good" author in West Wing fandom. A couple of her stories have been widely recced, but I was pleased to discover that she has quite a few others that are also good, but less widely known. In fact, I had a difficult time choosing which one to rec. I chose "Rough Magic" because of its nifty and rather unusual premise--imagine a spy novel plot intertwined with the characters and situations of The West Wing--not to mention a truly innovative take on the question of "what happened to Mandy?" Although there are occasionally missteps of language and tone, I think this story is well worth reading. At the beginning of the story, Sam Seaborn has been missing for over six months, leaving behind only an ambiguously-worded note that many interpret as a suicide note. Josh, however, has never believed this, and while he's in London, he received a mysteriously worded message asking him to go to a particular location. Sound melodramatic? Maybe, but it's a fun, wild ride, and how can you not enjoy the spin boys as less-than-totally-competent spies?
Here's a taste, from a conversation between Josh and FBI agent Mike Caspar:
“Josh, hi.”
“Hey Mike, what’s up?”
“Can we meet? Not at the White House.”
“Now? Do you want me to come to your office?”
“No, look its got to be somewhere private.”
Josh paused. “Are you all right, you sound a bit…?”
“I’ve found something. I have to talk to you.”
“About Mandy?”
“About Mandy but also about Sam Seaborn.”
Josh looked at the notebook in his hand. The scribble of Sam’s handwriting across the page.
“Sam? Is there a connection?” There was a long pause when Mike didn’t reply. “Don’t go quiet on me, Mike.”
“Sorry, I don’t mean to…can we just…?”
“Okay, come over to my apartment.”
“No. Sorry, I’ll explain when I see you, but not your place.”
“You’re not going to have us meet in an underground parking lot are you? Because you know…only if I get to be Robert Redford.”
“All right, you know that coffee shop on Connecticut…next to the cinema?”
“Yeah, I know it.”
“How about in an hour?”
“I’ll be there. Hey Mike, do the words Rough Magic mean anything to you.”
“Christ,” said Mike, sounding even more agitated. “Don’t say that to anyone else, do you understand?”
Rough Magic
Pairing: Josh/Sam
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Wayfinding
Why this must be read: Jackie Thomas is a classic "old-but-good" author in West Wing fandom. A couple of her stories have been widely recced, but I was pleased to discover that she has quite a few others that are also good, but less widely known. In fact, I had a difficult time choosing which one to rec. I chose "Rough Magic" because of its nifty and rather unusual premise--imagine a spy novel plot intertwined with the characters and situations of The West Wing--not to mention a truly innovative take on the question of "what happened to Mandy?" Although there are occasionally missteps of language and tone, I think this story is well worth reading. At the beginning of the story, Sam Seaborn has been missing for over six months, leaving behind only an ambiguously-worded note that many interpret as a suicide note. Josh, however, has never believed this, and while he's in London, he received a mysteriously worded message asking him to go to a particular location. Sound melodramatic? Maybe, but it's a fun, wild ride, and how can you not enjoy the spin boys as less-than-totally-competent spies?
Here's a taste, from a conversation between Josh and FBI agent Mike Caspar:
“Josh, hi.”
“Hey Mike, what’s up?”
“Can we meet? Not at the White House.”
“Now? Do you want me to come to your office?”
“No, look its got to be somewhere private.”
Josh paused. “Are you all right, you sound a bit…?”
“I’ve found something. I have to talk to you.”
“About Mandy?”
“About Mandy but also about Sam Seaborn.”
Josh looked at the notebook in his hand. The scribble of Sam’s handwriting across the page.
“Sam? Is there a connection?” There was a long pause when Mike didn’t reply. “Don’t go quiet on me, Mike.”
“Sorry, I don’t mean to…can we just…?”
“Okay, come over to my apartment.”
“No. Sorry, I’ll explain when I see you, but not your place.”
“You’re not going to have us meet in an underground parking lot are you? Because you know…only if I get to be Robert Redford.”
“All right, you know that coffee shop on Connecticut…next to the cinema?”
“Yeah, I know it.”
“How about in an hour?”
“I’ll be there. Hey Mike, do the words Rough Magic mean anything to you.”
“Christ,” said Mike, sounding even more agitated. “Don’t say that to anyone else, do you understand?”
Rough Magic