#parallel reread

Which is WILD. I actually love the fics where Miranda just decides “MINE” and scoops Andy up (Andy is, of course, always willing and eager to be scooped up).

I choose to believe Vivian has the same reaction coming down the stairs that night, even though a nightmare about the twins obviously wasn’t what woke her up. In both the fic and the novel Andy/Jules wakes up to Miranda/Vivian looking totally stunned (possibly at the younger woman’s audacity at sitting in a chair, lol).

It’s called “The Lie” because in both works Andy/Jules asks how long the other woman has had romantic feelings (“since the first time I stayed in London with you?”) and Miranda/Vivian replies “no!” and that she doesn’t know when the feelings began.

I want to say Miranda confesses at the end of the fic but Vivian never does. But I don’t remember, so don’t quote me on that.

We open the fic with Miranda telling Andy that she got a reporter fired for interviewing one of the twins’ teachers. She’ll probably forego finding out who the teacher is because the girls like their teachers. They don’t get to talk much that week and can’t really get together over the weekend but they can go out to brunch on Sunday. I think how Miranda describes why it’s “safe” to have brunch is sort of sweet:

I know it’s not much but just that everyone knows that Miranda is “fond of” Andy is sweet, to me. And then Miranda saying she’d like to see Andy—awww.

Andy has a bit of panic because Miranda is late to brunch. She remembers what Stephen was saying when she went up the stairs. But it turns out Miranda is only five minutes late. Andy has to adjust to being in public with Miranda but they have a pretty nice brunch and manage to discreetly flirt a bit. It’s a good scene but I feel for Andy once Miranda leaves:

But overall both Jules and Andy are moping around because they miss their girlfriends, and Simon and Nigel call them on it (this is where the book opens). They have similar conversations about standing up for themselves and not being a doormat. We get Andy thinking about her resolve to prove that she can get ahead in her career and keep her integrity, which we don’t get with Jules.

Then Miranda and Vivian call to say they won’t be able to meet at all on Sunday. They ask about Friday instead (it’s tougher on Jules here since she’s Vivian’s second pick…her Friday engagement got cancelled. Miranda just has an opening for no particular reason). Andy and Jules have a concert to go to with Nigel and Simon but they offer to cancel and see their girlfriends instead. Miranda and Vivian tell them to go to the concert and make connections, that this period of not seeing each other won’t be for too much longer.

And then the younger women ask “how often have you said that before?” Oops. Andy reflects that she’s still scared of Miranda:

We don’t get that from Jules. The conversations are pretty similar. Andy and Jules say they’re not the ex-husband and say there’s got to be room for compromise. They point out that they used to see each other once a week and say “I don’t think that’s too much to ask for. Do you?”. Vivian replies with “of course not” but Miranda says “Maybe I do.”

Now, both immediately follow up by saying they would see the younger woman every day if they could (which is so sweet but neither even seems to notice that in the moment), so I don’t know if Miranda threw that in just to be a massive bitch or if it’s some sort of editing error.

Then Miranda and Vivian say they don’t have a choice right now and their girlfriends pounce. I think it’s more impactful in the fic because of the weight of the Paris car ride:

Jules just says that you always have a choice and Vivian always owns her decisions. Really there are several minor changes here that show Vivian and Jules both being more mature and, I guess, “softer” to each other and in general. A sudden hitch in Vivian’s voice, Jules wishing they could have this conversation reasonably and tenderly, there are just some good edits and additions from the fic to the book. And of course Andy brings up the girls a bit, which Jules obviously doesn’t. Miranda and Vivian both cry, and Andy and Jules both feel terrible. Jules asks for once a week, while Andy:

Poor Andy. We get another couple illustrative examples of Jules and Vivian’s relative maturity when they say “you know how to ‘heal’ me because God knows I must be broken somewhere” and Jules says she’s literally never said or thought that while Andy replies “yeah, broken in the head.” Vivian and Jules are a lot healthier (but I still adore Miranda and Andy).

We get a little bit more from Andy right before Miranda hangs up on her:

While from Jules it’s just:

They call back and leave three voicemails, which are basically the same (real mature, maybe you’re the one who just turned 25/26; I haven’t been calm since the day I met you; we are not breaking up). I actually really dig the second one. They’re all extremely similar, although in the last one:

Jules omits the “I love you,” and I’m not sure why. I think it’s important and I also don’t think it’s a bad thing or a weak thing to say “I love you” even when you’re angry with your partner.

They get back from London Fashion Week. Andy kisses Miranda gently on the mouth every night and Jules kisses Vivian either on the cheek or the hand.

Jules gets dinner and conversation. They talk about sex, and why it’s important, and whether Vivian has had good sex. She has, particularly with one guy from college (this, I think, contrasts with Miranda’s being “attracted to men, as far as [she’s] attracted to anyone” in “The Lie”). Vivian says she doesn’t see the appeal of women and Jules notes:

Poor Andy has to stand up for herself to get her kiss on the first night back:

But Miranda gets easier to convince:

Both younger women note that their girlfriends are pretty much feigning “reluctance” at this point and after a few nights point out that “you absolutely don’t have to let me kiss you.” Which results in Miranda kissing Andy back for the first time, and Jules getting her first kiss on the cheek (which prompts the “fucking well dying for her mouth” line we got from Andy’s POV back at the 5:30 am relationship talk).

Jules decides to give Vivian and nudge by showing off her legs at work, which after work leads to their first kiss and a makeout session in the den. It’s a great scene, and ends up with the “wanna unwrap it?” and “you think I can only approach from the front?” lines that don’t appear in the fic until a little later.

Poor Andy’s makeout session in the den gets interrupted by Caroline (Little Miss “Sensitive” 2007) calling out from the hall, which results in Miranda shoving Andy across the couch. They later have a chat about what Andy’s role will be with the twins and the new baby. Nothing really gets resolved, but it echoes conversations Vivian and Jules have elsewhere.

There’s a tiny change in this scene (which is not really the same scene, beyond “they make out in the den”) that I think is really illustrative of the changes from Miranda to Vivian. Basically the younger woman isn’t sure where to sit (a chair, or next to her girlfriend on the couch). Vivian pats the seat next to her, while Miranda is completely oblivious that her girlfriend/assistant is nervous about how close she’s supposed to sit. I didn’t even notice this until my second read through for this parallel reread project, but I think it shows how much effort the author went through to turn the fic into an original novel.

Anyway, Andy does some thinking about her career and how her parents will take the news of her relationship. Jules talks to her parents on the phone (though she does not tell them about her relationship) and also thinks a bit about the future.

The night before the ultrasound scene is very similar in both works. Miranda and Vivian share that they had an abortion at 18. There’s the bit about how now she’s got the job and the money and the house and “you got the girl too?” And then the older woman initiates the kiss on the lips for the first time, there’s the “they might not be having sex but they were definitely fucking each other right now” line. It’s noted that they’ve been doing it since before London, and in the fic, since before Paris. Also apparently Miranda missed Andy in the Chanel boots in the movie but is very interested once she mentions them here in the fic. They make out a bit and then Andy and Jules go home, having given the older women something else to think about than the impending ultrasound.

The novel opens with a scene that’s not in the fic. Jules and Vivian are interviewing a nanny together (Vivian’s five months pregnant). The nanny assumes Jules is Vivian’s assistant and Jules doesn’t correct her. Vivian tells Jules that good domestic help can be trusted to be discreet and that she’s not interested in living a lie.

Then our girls go to work at their new jobs. The offices aren’t quite set up, and Andy scores her first (only?) win: the Distinguish offices are just about as nice as Runway’s whereas Jules’s new office is a bit of a hole. Oh well.

They both get the computers and coffee makers set up, but we get more time with Andy, who meets Smarmy Brad, who low key hits on her. So far he’s not in the book. Andy notes that it takes “her best combination of being a sweet person and being Miranda” to get tech support to cooperate.

Ellie calls Andy a couple of times in a panic, and once Miranda grabs the phone and tells Andy she might have to fire her, leading to the “you and Irv can start a club!” fight. It’s not a big one and they talk that night about ideas Andy has for her writing projects.

There’s a similar new-office scene with Nigel/Simon where they admit to being friends with Miranda/Vivian. We get Nigel/Simon doing his best impression of the real boss. Nigel talks a bit about being discreetly gay. This part is skipped the book, which makes sense since the approach to coming out is very different. Jules and Vivian have already started talking about it with the nanny, and at the very end of the first book.

Then we have the attempt at phone sex scene. In the fic it starts with Miranda saying she told the twins that Andy got fired (“Caroline, of course, was sure it had to be my fault somehow.”) but when Andy double checks that she’s still coming to Sunday dinner Miranda tells her to grow a backbone, of course the girls like her.

Then it turns into basically the same scene where Andy and Jules try to initiate phone sex and talk about doing/being done to. Subtle difference at the very end of the scene:

In the fic it’s just “Miranda” instead of the highlighted bit. All through the first part of the novel we get Jules reflecting that she’s in love and wondering if Vivian feels the same way. I’m not seeing that with Andy in the fic. So here I think the book does a good job of setting up the big confrontation between them about how the older woman feels and why she can’t say it.

Then we have the birthday dinner and Andy and Jules’s presents. The fic has a good scene with the twins (their presents are theater tickets for Andy to take them to musicals).

Andy gets basically a whole new wardrobe courtesy of Ellie and Miranda’s name being dropped. Jules gets a bag, boots, and perfume. There’s a whole thing with the perfume about how it shows Vivian knows her quite intimately to be able to pick that out:

Then we have the New Year’s Eve dress sex scene, which is basically the same (and a great scene). There’s one notable difference. Jules asks what Vivian thinks about when she touches herself:

Which I think really illustrates the beauty of the parallel reread, because look at what Andy got:

It’s a good thing Andy loves Miranda. The sex scene is basically the same. Afterward there’s a bit about Andy not being sure what casual caresses are allowed (not the hair). They both talk a bit about Nigel and Simon but it’s a longer chat in Andy and Miranda’s case and it segues into a talk about how they’re going to handle discretion. She asks if And wants to come out of the closet and she says no. Then we get this:

Which, I’m such a sucker for Miranda touching Andy’s face. I think this counts as sweet reassurance coming from Miranda. Anyway the baby kicks, which puts us back in line with the novel. We get another illustrative difference in a very minor change: Andy hovers her hand over Miranda’s belly until Miranda says “For God’s sake, of course you can,” while Jules asks and Vivian places her hand on her belly. But it’s a sweet and playful scene for Andy and Miranda, honestly. Then Miranda sends her out for fruit, while Jules and Vivian google what kicks are supposed to feel like, since it’s only the second time it’s happened to Vivian.

The book opens with Jules interviewing Monique Leung over zoom. In the interview , she says that “it’s not looking good” for Vivian vs Mark Tavio (Irv Ravitz). Vivian says everything is going to be ok and to trust her. Also she scheduled her c-section, and we get a little glimpse of Vivian being both reasonable and vulnerable:

I’m pretty sure Miranda takes it for granted that Andy will be there.

At this point in both works they watch To Catch a Thief (the girls are there too in the fic so the scene is a bit different). Also it’s funny because Andy rents a DVD from “the movie store” (presumably Blockbuster) while Jules browses Netflix.

In the scene right after the movie we get some small changes that I think are mostly Vivian being softer and the relationship being healthier:

There’s no suggestion of Jules being in the doghouse (is this even a saying anymore? Does this translate for people in their 20s?):

Then Miranda and Vivian say “I love you very much.” Awwww. Andy says “yeah?” like a moron, while Jules says it like a dummy. They both wrinkle their nose and ask “are you crying?” but Miranda also says “Oh, for God’s sake” while handing Andy the tissues. After the younger women return the “I love you” we get Andy having the world’s lowest standards:

And Jules having a teasing but loving girlfriend:

I actually kind of wonder how much of this was a difference in expression between Miranda and Vivian and how much is in the interpretation by Andy and Jules. Honestly it’s probably 90% Miranda is actually a bitch. Way earlier, I don’t think I quoted it, we get Miranda/Vivian giving a “don’t be an idiot” look and Andy/Jules wondering if it had always been that affectionate. Andy thinks no, it hadn’t. It’s when she pins on the brooch in London.

Anyway, then Miranda warns Andy that Cassidy is suspicious and then both pairs head off to have sex. Jules and Vivian go to the bedroom while Andy and Miranda go to the study (I guess for plausible deniability in case a twin knocks on the door).

Andy takes Cassidy to the theater and on the subway ride home (lol at the twins riding the subway with Andy as a novelty). Cassidy tells her that she saw her kissing her mom. I like the scenes with the twins, and this is a good one.

The last day of fashion week, Miranda and Andy go to work as usual. They’re a little awkward around each other and Simon accuses them both of being happier than usual. Miranda slips and asks Andy if she’s ready to go, then has to be extra snappish to make up for this approximation of basic politeness (I love Miranda).

At the after-party Miranda touches Andy in new but unobtrusive ways (guiding hand on elbow or back) but then gets increasingly nervous on the drive home. Andy reflects for the first time that it’s “kind of weird” to be “together” with Miranda while working for her, but doesn’t want to quit her job because a) nobody can take care of her like Andy can, and b) when would they see each other?

Miranda attempts to flee to the safety of her room as soon as they reach the house. Andy does not let her get away with this and basically demands a goodnight kiss. This whole scene is great. Not in a way that you would ever want to happen to you (Miranda is her sneering and snide self and Andy feels really unattractive and unwanted for a bit), but as a scene in a fic, it’s definitely chef’s kiss. Speaking of kisses:

Andy goes to bed thinking she’s got this in the bag.

Jules on the other hand uses her day off to make a list of things to talk about. They talk a bit when Vivian gets home. Vivian wants Jules to quit her job but ultimately lets Jules make the decision. Jules’s motivations are somewhat like Andy’s except that she actually loves fashion and wants to stay in the field, so Du Jour is the best place for her to be anyway.

I just can’t get over how freaking romantic and lovely Vivian is here. She tells Jules she likes talking to her. She holds Jules’s hands. She pictures fashion week clothes on Jules (and tells her about it!). She says:

Jules gives Vivian a foot rub and says she reserves the right to look sexy and kisses her hand. And!

The differences here really exemplify what Roslyn Sinclair said in her blog post about the differences between the fic and the book: Vivian is less of an asshole, Jules is less of a doormat, and they’re both more aware of the issues surrounding the boss/employee situation.

Jules and Andy both get the “try not to take what I say in anger too much to heart” line about the evening’s fight. Andy muses that that’s as much of an apology as she’ll get and that she’s going to have to settle for a lot of things in the relationship. Jules does not have this reflection, and gets an additional “I said I didn’t need you. I lied.” Which isn’t exactly an apology but might be better than one in the circumstances.

Andy and Miranda don’t mention the boss/employee thing during their 5:30 am chat. The closest we get is that they’ll be discreet. Vivian and Jules have a really good chat about it where Vivian pretty much explicitly says she’s seen abuse occur and refuses to exploit Julia. At this point she’s still clinging to heterosexuality, but with, uh, indifferent success.

Overall Vivian really manages to sell the relationship a lot better than Miranda does. Poor Andy basically gets “things won’t be much different but now we know we care about each other. You’re young so you think sex is important but trust me, we don’t need it.” And she takes it! Admittedly she’s planning on changing Miranda’s mind about sex, but still. She agrees to Miranda’s “cockamamie idea” despite her misgivings because she doesn’t want Miranda to change her mind.

Jules gets the promise of dinners and lunches and picking Vivian’s brain about topics they’re both interested in. Vivian tells her outright that Jules is smart and good company (and a good writer) and she wants to spend a lot of time with her. Then Jules asks for a day to think about it and Vivian gives her the day off work (the last day of fashion week so it’s a big deal).

Also I do love asshole!Miranda calling Andy an idiot during this declaration of…whatever.

And then during London fashion week after the fight and Andy goes to the theater with Christian: