Truth and Measure (and Above All Things) parallel reread time:
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.
I’m gonna cut this one off here so we can have a fresh post for the moving in together conversation.
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