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25-year-old teenager
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TWW fanfic: The Don’t List
Josh/Donna, 9800 words, Rated T. Post s07e19: Transition. One airplane flight and one long conversation that was a long time coming, as Josh and Donna figure out what it is they want from each other.
So many thank yous and my deepest appreciation to @jessbakescakes and @jezunya for beta-reading this for me, your suggestions were the finishing touches this story needed for me to really be happy with it. And a big thank you to @bartletslesbians for cheering me on, and to my sweetheart Jack for reading this entire thing even though he’s never seen a single episode of The West Wing.
Also available on AO3 under the same title and username.
The Don’t List
Be still and listen to me. I don’t know what this is. And you don’t either, which is perfectly fine and understandable. Whatever the build up, it’s all happened amid absurdly heightened emotional circumstances — the election, Leo’s death — there’s been no moment to so much as take a breath, much less figure any of this out. And now this roller coaster’s plunging into the transition, with its time pressure demands, and then the Inauguration, and it’s hit-the-ground-running, and the first hundred days, and before you know it, the midterms and the new Congress, and then we’re running again, and four years becomes eight, and we’ve never had The Talk. And you can lose that look of panic in your eyes, we’re not going to have it now, we don’t ever have to have it. But there’s a window. I’d say four weeks. If we can’t get it together in that time to figure out what we want from each other, then clearly it’s not worth the trouble.
—The West Wing, season 7 episode 19: Transition
Josh waits until the captain has turned off the fasten seat belt sign before launching into his well-crafted opening line. He’s not nervous, exactly, but this seems like a cruising altitude, no-seat-belts-necessary kind of conversation. It’s an excruciating wait, but finally the garbled announcement from the cockpit ends, the little seat belt icon overhead goes ding! and Josh turns to look at Donna, who is at least pretending to be absorbed in the paperback spy thriller she bought in the airport.
“So I hear there’s a window,” he says, in that sort of conversational volume he’s honed over thousands of hours of plane flights, loud enough for Donna to hear above the ambient noise of the plane but not so loud as to invite everyone around them into the conversation.
She glances up at him out of the corner of her eye, her attention still primarily on the novel in her hands. “The window’s all yours, Josh,” she says easily, gaze sliding back to the book. “I’d rather have the aisle seat, because— you know.”
Because her leg still bothers her sometimes, as much as she tries to keep that fact hidden from everyone else. Which he did actually know, which is why he picked seats on the left side of the plane when he booked the tickets and why he took the window seat when he boarded, so that Donna would be able to stretch her right leg out into the aisle whenever she needed. He knew that, he actively thought about it, and he did the kind and caring thing for her, just because it was the kind and caring thing to do, and for half a moment he wants credit for that.
“No, I know, that’s why I— nevermind,” Josh says, quickly pulling himself away from that line of thinking. This no-seat-belts-necessary conversation isn’t about scoring little points with Donna, and he definitely doesn’t want to think about the injury she’s still recovering from, or that lonely flight to Germany when he’d been nearly out of his mind with worry about her. Wrenching his thoughts away from those particular memories, he shakes his head. “No, I meant the— you know, the time window.”
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The two demons currently fighting each other in my head are the josh x donna plot bunny that desperately wants to be a full fic vs the fact that I haven’t watched an episode of the west wing in years and am so worried about getting the characterization wrong
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I understand on a character level why Donna at that point in the story would refer to her work as Josh’s assistant as “grunt-level servitude” but so much of the fandom just accepts that as an accurate description, which it is not, and ironically it’s deeply disrespectful to the people who hold those positions and the work they do.
Some of this is fandom having an oversimplified interpretation and some of it is on the writers because as problematic as it could be at times, Sorkin and the early writers were at least somewhat interested in showing the vital role assistants play in a functioning White House whereas the later writers seem to take the position that Donna is too good to be an assistant. I’m sure the implications about Margaret, Carol, Bonnie, Ginger, Debbie, Cathy, and Mrs. Landingham, who are career assistants are unintentional but they’re uncomfortable and I don’t appreciate them.
(via onekisstotakewithme)
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Anonymous asked:
It would be funny once Sophie is officially dating Benedict, Kate and Anthony are established that they invite Violet onto the podcast to expand their research on being a gentleman or just a Bridgerton man to include the OG Bridgerton Man and how he treated Violet
I think Violet would get so much joy from getting to share Edmund, and their relationship with people that will never get to know him.
I also think she’d get such a kick out of being introduced on the podcast like
“She’s our mother in law, the matriarch of one of the hottest families in Britain apparently: please Welcome Violet.”
Violet would love to talk about being nearly 19 and getting proposed to by a fumbling Edmund because Anthony was already on the way. She would be thriving getting to talk about her not so little boys. Love this for her.
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anon-pls24 asked:
So how quickly into the waltz does mr. ‘love shall have no place in my marriage’ go “oh you know, this could be nice.”
I think Anthony decides to pursue Miss Kate Sharma approximately 47 seconds into the waltz despite the fact that she’s done nothing but needle at him he’s enjoyed her company far more than any other young lady he’s met
There is the slight matter of the fact that he’s a little more… drawn to her than is ideal. Love is, after all, not the desired result of his marriage but surely he can just… decide not to get too close to her no? It can’t be that hard to not fall in love with someone. He’s met plenty of women and not fallen in love with them. So what if she’s one of the most beautiful and intriguing women he’s ever met? Why should that mean any different?
He and Miss Sharma get along well when they’re not tossing barbs at one another. An excellent foundation for marriage. And, he believes, she desires a good match for her sister. Association to him and his family would certainly help that. This is amenable to everyone.
Yes. This will do nicely. And if she looks very much surprised by his coming to call on her the next morning well he’s confident enough for it not to bother him.
“You can join the back of the line, thank you.” Kate said distractedly as he called out her name, stepping past the line of men queued up the stairs. “Miss Edwina will… try to see you all shortly.”
Anthony hurried forward, trying not to jostle his flowers. “And where is the line for a moment of your time?”
He watched her freeze, and then turn slowly towards him. His eyes widening in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
He was starting to feel a little less confident. He lowered his voice, using his body to block them from some of the more curious gentlemen. “I wanted to see you again.”
“You had your dance.”
Anthony felt his mouth drop, “Miss Sharma, I can assure you a single dance is not nearly enough to satisfy me.”
She looked confused and a little startled, “I do not… know what it is you want from me. And whatever it is I haven’t the time.”
Anthony felt his lips quirk. “Are you attending ascot today?”
“We are.”
“And have you a companion?”
“I… Edwina has-“
“I did not ask after your sister. Have you a companion?”
“No.” She was still staring at him, her brow furrowed as though she had no idea what to make of him.
He inclined his head then thrust the bouquet at her. “Miss Sharma I will escort you to Ascot this afternoon. Until then, I will leave you to your morning. Unless you’d like me to handle these gentlemen for you.”
She was looking at the flowers now, a small smile on her face. “I think I can manage them, my Lord.”
“Very well.” Anthony looked at the line for a moment and then Leaned in close. “Is your sister fond of magic?”
She blinked at him, “I’m sorry?”
“Him, at the front. I should give him a miss if she would not like to be constantly finding coins behind her ear.”
And he could have sworn when he walked away, he heard her laugh.
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Anonymous asked:
What flowers did he bring? And what was going through Kate’s head once he left? Also, now we need to see how it all played out at Ascot.
Obviously he brought an extremely extravagant bouquet with him and before Kate knows what’s happening Mary has sidled up to her.
“Beautiful flowers, Darling.”
Kate nodded, feeling a little unsettled. “Yes, very.”
“Shall we have them sent to your room?” Mary waited for Kate to nod slowly and the footman inclined his head as he took them from her. “Lord Bridgerton did not want to stay for tea?”
“He… I- I told him I hadn’t the time.” She had thought it would make her position clear but it hadn’t. He’d remained unbothered. His handsome face completely impassive.
Mary’s brow furrowed, “Do you not like him? I will ask Lady Danbury to speak with his mother if you feel he is being too-“
“He asked to escort me to the races this afternoon.” The thought made something anxious turn in her stomach. “I said yes.”
Mary gave a satisfied noise. “I know this was not your intention in coming here-“
“Mama it doesn’t signify anything at all.”
Mary smiled, “I know this was not your intention but sometimes it happens when we expect it least.”
“He may forget to find me.”
Kate could have sworn she saw her mother roll her eyes, “he will not forget.”
“And he doesn’t even know anything about horses!”
“Then you can teach him.”
“I-“ Kate cleared her throat, “I shan’t hold my breath for him.”
Kate is shocked, quite frankly, to be leaving for ascot only to be met by the Bridgerton carriage pulling into the drive and Lord Bridgerton getting out before the driver had fully stopped.
“Surely you had not forgotten our engagement Miss Sharma.”
Kate blinked at him, “I’m not sure I understand your meaning, my Lord.”
He pointed awkwardly at the carriage. “We had agreed I would escort you.”
Kate blinked, “I cannot travel with you alone.”
Anthony looked affronted, finally and swung open the door to reveal his mother, looking curiously between them. “My mother is here. Your Mother would be welcome. There is plenty of room.”
“I-“ Kate floundered, her eyes fixed on another bouquet of flowers left on the seat.
“Kate, darling.” Mary nudged her forward. “We will see you there.”
“But Edwina-“
“Will be perfectly looked after by me.” Said Lady Danbury who leaned in and whispered in Kate’s ear. “Enjoy yourself a little, girl.”
“Miss Sharma?” Anthony said, holding his hand out.
And finally, she took it.
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grayhello22 asked:
I can only imagine the absolute mess Anthony would be if he’s courting Kate and has to witness her be stung by a bee. Boy was already apoplectic when he was pretending to hate her. I can’t imagine how he’d been when he’s realizing he’s falling in love with her.
Anthony is not well when that moment comes. When they’re out for a walk and suddenly he sees it. He can’t focus on anything Kate is saying any longer. There’s a bee, right there on her chest. Mocking him. Threatening to take the brightness from his life again.
“Don’t move”
Kate froze halfway through a sentence, “Sorry?”
“Don’t. Just please. Please don’t move.” He gripped her arms trying to hold her steady.
“It’s only a bee.” She went to brush it away and let out a gasp of pain.
Everything faded. No. Not her as well. This had to be some sort of cruel joke. He couldn’t breathe he-
“Anthony.” Kate was staring at him as he fought for breath, struggling to remain upright.
“Don’t go. Please just-“
“I’m not going anywhere.” She placed her hand on his chest.
“I can’t- i’m sorry- please don’t-“
She did the very last thing he expected. She grabbed the front of his lapels and tugged him forward until her lips were pressed against his and finally he could breathe again.
He felt her heart beating against his and his body relaxed against her as he pulled her in closer. Her hands moved to his hair and-
“Anthony!” They leapt apart at the sound of his mother’s voice and he turned slowly to find her staring at him in horror. Accompanied by Lady Mary and Lady Danbury.
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Anonymous asked:
Wait a minute... has Kate fainted when Anthony proclaimed that he would make the arrangements for the wedding?
Because knowing Anthony, he would instantly grow anxious and worried. Especially given the fact that she has just been stung by a bee, he would question whether Kate is actually alright.
I can see him carrying her to her bedchamber, refusing to leave her side, insisting on calling for a doctor and holding her hand this whole time.
Kate did faint. Anthony caught her before she hit the ground but he can feel panic swelling in his chest again.
“She was stung by a bee.”
His mother gave him a sad look. “Darling, she was probably just overcome-“
Anthony swept her into his arms, “Call for the Doctor.”
“Anthony-“
“Call for the doctor!”
“This is not quite proper.” Lady Mary said quietly sat on the other side of the bed from him. Kate had stirred and tried to leave the bed but Anthony had insisted she stayed for the doctor, and insisted on staying himself.
“Nonsense, we are to be married.”
“We are not married yet.” Kate said quietly.
Anthony leaned back in his chair. “We will be though and as my future wife I insist on your health being examined.”
Lady Mary was looking between them. “Darling, I’ll not be cross with you but you should tell me before the doctor comes if you have reason to believe that you may be-“
“I’m not pregnant.” Kate looked horror struck and Anthony felt a jolt.
“I assure you Lady Mary my intentions have been honorable.”
“I meant no offense.”
“None has been taken. I will however be staying until you’ve been examined.”
“I don’t need to be examined.” Kate said petulantly.
“Humor me.” He smiled at her, ignoring the way she rolled her eyes at him. Lord, life with her was going to be very amusing.
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Fyodor Dostoevsky, from a letter featured in Letters of Fyodor Michailovitch Dostoevsky to his Family & Friends
(via scuttling)
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Jonathan Bailey at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles (November 16, 2025)
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Jonathan Bailey for Esquire Magazine (2025)
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Problematic Summer Romance headers
- like/reblog if saved © maddiesflame
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I like no one, absolutely no one, but I liked you from the start. I liked you when I didn’t know you, and now that I do know you it’s only gotten worse. Sometimes, often, always, I think about you before falling asleep. Then I dream of you, and when I wake up my head’s still there, stuck on something funny, beautiful, filthy, intelligent that’s all about you. It’s been going on for a while, longer than you think, longer than you can imagine, and I should have told you, but I have this impression, this certainty that you’re half a second from running away, that I should give you enough reasons to stay. Is there anything I can do for you? I’ll take you grocery shopping and fill your fridge when we’re back home. Buy you a new bike and a case of decent reagent and that sludge you drink. Kill the people who made you cry. Is there something you need? Name it. It’s yours. If I have it, it’s yours.
Adam J. Carlsen - The love hypothesis.
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