"Hey, congratulations on the partnership."

The West Wing 2.01 In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part 1

THE MORTAL DAWN

by EnemyOfInnocence

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I did it. I wrote almost 4k today of chapter 7! It's NOT a light chapter at all. I wrote where my words took me, and it's quite literally a bit depressing actually. But I wrote it. I'm so proud of myself. It's been so long since I could write anything. At all.

Readers of this fanfic: You still here?

Read chapter 7 as early as TOMORROW!

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Catch Up on AO3:

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6

Merry Christmas & happy UDSS @corefenarts !!! I was so excited to see Josh/Sam on your ship list because I’ve been wanting to draw them for years and this was a great excuse <3 So here is them cuddling on a calm spring day!

@untildawn-secretsanta

guys joshdonna is the cutest thing to ever exist but if you look in my eyes and tell me samjosh didn’t happen at SOME point-

you came and got me.

Saw a text post saying this was them and I wholeheartedly agree. JoshSam for life have I mad made it clear how much I love them yet

Weekly Press Briefing #71: October 29th to November 4th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from October 29 - November 4, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing! 

Challenges/Prompts:

There are no open challenges/prompts that we know of this week. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote or know of one we’re missing? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

This Week in Canon:

Welcome back to This Week in Canon, where we revisit moments in The West Wing that occurred on these dates during the show’s run.

Season 1, Episode 6: Mr. Willis of Ohio aired on November 3, 1999.

Season 2, Episode 5: And It’s Surely to Their Credit aired on November 1, 2000.

Season 3, Episode 4: On the Day Before aired on October 31, 2001.

Season 4, Episode 6: Game On aired on October 30, 2002.

Season 5, Episode 5: Constituency of One aired on October 29, 2003.

Season 6, Episode 3: Third-Day Story aired on November 3, 2004.

Season 7, Episode 6: The Al Smith Dinner aired on October 30, 2005.

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from October 29 - November 4:

Allison Janney posted a photo and touching message in memory of Matthew Perry. Amy Landecker posted in memory of Ady Barkan, sharing a photo of herself and Bradely Whitford with Ady and a thoughtful message. 

Bradley Whitord posted a video of himself and Matthew Perry, along with a moving tribute to his late friend. 

Dule Hill posted a video collage of his stay at St. Regis Mexico City with his wife Jazmyn (their first trip in 4 years!).

Josh Malina posted an infographic about a 17-year-old taken hostage by Hamas.

Kim Webster posted a photo of herself and a friend in Halloween costumes. 

Kim Webster posted photos of herself in costume as Jessica Rabbit. 

Marlee Matlin posted a birthday message for Henry Winkler and a photo of herself holding his book. 

Marlee Matlin posted a photo and message in memory of her brother-in-law Dr. Jay Goldstein, who passed away this week. 

Marlee Matlin posted a photo of herself and her “girls” at the National Association of the Deaf Breakthrough Awards. 

Melissa Fitzgerald posted a graphic promoting Dule Hill playing for All Rise on Celebrity Jeopardy on November 2nd. 

Rob Lowe posted a throwback photo of himself as a little kid. 

Donna Moss Daily: October 29 | October 30 | October 31 | November 1 | November 2 | November 3 | November 4

Daily Josh Lyman: October 29 | October 30 | October 31 | November 1 | November 2 | November 3 | November 4

No Context BWhit: October 29 | October 30 | October 31 | November 1 | November 3 | November 4

@twwarchive: October 30 | October 31 

Edits/Artwork:

#thewestwing : wE cHaNgED TiMe zOnEs by @abigailbrtlet [VIDEO EDIT]

Editors’ Choice: 

Sometimes you just need a change. This week, we’re recommending some of our favorite alternate universe fics! There are so many great ones that we had trouble narrowing it down, so be sure to share some you love as well!

darling, so it goes (some things are meant to be) by mikaylawrites | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | “Hey,” Josh says as he approaches his friend, gesturing in the general direction of the stage. “Who is this?” Sam rolls his eyes. “I’m doing well, thank you for asking.” When Josh doesn’t respond, Sam gives him what he wants by responding, “It’s Donna.” “Donna?” “Donna Moss.” The name sounds vaguely familiar, but Josh can’t put his finger on why. “You know, Donna? She and I were on Andy Wyatt’s tour together last fall? She’s the one who said she didn’t believe I could go shot for shot with her at a dive bar after our St. Louis show and ended up having to drag me back to the hotel and put me into bed afterward.” The story of rising country singers Josh Lyman and Donna Moss everybody talks (it started with a whisper) by JessBakesCakes | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress | Being the White House Press Secretary, Josh realizes, is one of the toughest jobs in the administration to begin with. But with her co-workers' propensity for going viral, CJ certainly deserves a raise. (The West Wing, set 20 years later.) Wear the Crown by sam_writes_fics | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress | but some knights are meant to wear the crown. and proving worthy of its power is a noble quest indeed. // royalty/fantasy au yeah, me too by smallandblueandloud | Rated G | C. J. Cregg/Andrea Wyatt/Toby Ziegler | Complete | “Josh, what is it?” He’s got his gaze firmly three inches to the left of her face. “Have you been getting the feeling that something’s going on? Something they’re not telling us?” (or, Toby knows something. CJ and Josh don't. They'll be #19 and 20, eventually.) rewrite an ending or two by jazzjo | Rated G | C.J. Cregg/Andrea Wyatt | Complete|  It didn’t do her well to dwell on the reasons why her mornings were the most peaceful part of her day.  It did her even less good to press on the bruise that was her discomfort at leaving after closing.  or, on a clear day you can see forever, and it's the first clear day in years. i think i missed the gun at the starting line by ansatz for heliotropic | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | "I really wanna win this thing." // After qualifying for the Olympics in 2016, but being unable to compete due to an injury, Donna Moss is back, ready to run, and completely focused on earning a medal for Team Canada. Enter Josh Lyman, reigning Olympic champion with a heart of—you guessed it—gold. Two countries, two sports: one chance to fall in love? Flour Dusted Smiles by JediAnnieScrambler | Rated T | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler | Complete | “Did Sam let you in?” Toby asked, crossing the kitchen. CJ jumped between him and the oven, holding her arms out like a shield, “You can’t look in the oven.” “It’s my oven!” “You weren’t supposed to be here until later!” Butterfly is the Worst Stroke by myrmeraki for dogsbreath | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete | A snapshot of swimmer Sam and his increasingly tired boyfriend. Yeah I headcanon butterfly to be Sam's favorite stroke, yeah it's also *the* worst stroke, this does not conflict.

We will be reblogging this post to add this week's fics shortly!

this is how we self destruct — lilllium.

Sam: Why does everyone assume we are a couple?

Josh, sitting in her lap and playing with her hair: Beats me.

another prompt: samjosh + late nights

it’s in a sleepless haze that josh looks over at sam, and maybe for the first time, truly sees him.

he doesn’t know why now. there’s nothing particularly special about tonight. a deadline they have to meet. a bill that has to be signed. a speech that has to be written. there’s been plenty of nights like these, where the caffeine has long since gone cold and the hours wind on and on. they don’t seem to be any closer to their goal than they were five hours ago, but there’s a comfort here anyway, because while there’s nothing special about tonight, there’s something special about sam.

maybe it’s the light, the new LEDs really playing tricks on josh’s eyes. maybe it’s the fifth (sixth, seventh) cup of coffee. but there’s something there that josh hasn’t seen before.

because an hour ago sam’s laptop died, and yet the guy hasn’t stopped writing. he takes out a pen and paper and keeps at it. surely his hand should be cramping by now, but with each stroke he seems more determined, more incensed, more…. sam.

his hair’s loosened from its careful styling. josh’s fingers twitch. right there. that’s where he’d kiss him, if he could.

weird thoughts. but all centered around him.

sam.

sam. sam, sam, sam.

“hmm?”

the veneer shatters. sam looks up, looks at him, and josh realizes his thoughts have been spoken aloud. and as sam looks at him, josh can’t help but look right back, frozen, pen between his lips.

“wha’sat?”

“you…” sam blinks. confused. eyes bleary. he’s been broken from something sacred, and josh curses himself for doing that to him. “you said…”

“right. i was just -“

“right.”

the two of them sit there, in the glare of new LEDs, in a kitchen that in two hours will have breakfast on display, and stare at each other.

see each other.

“we should really go to bed,” josh finally murmurs. “i - i gotta call holihan in the morning.”

“it is the morning,” sam replies, and there’s a quirk to his lips that makes josh laugh.

“right,” he says again.

neither of them bother moving. josh looks, and sees sam, and he thinks, with that little smile, sam sees him, too.

“sam?” he says. their eyes are already meeting, but there’s a sharpness to that gaze that wasn’t there before. “i’m - i’m really glad you came to new hampshire.”

and sam grins. which josh wishes he never had to stop seeing.

“me, too, josh. me, too.”

My type is her

List of lines that have been running through my mind for days:

Leo: Sam, go home, would you? Sam: No, I'm just going to change my shirt. Leo: You look bad. You're tired, you slept in the office. It's Friday - go home. Sam: Why? Leo: 'Cause I think you're putting too much faith in the magical powers of a new shirt.

LATER

Josh: That a new shirt? Sam: Yeah. Josh: Nice.

I made this short animatic because I feel bad for Joshington✨💀 He deserves better!

Song Used : Love Like You (Cover by Ashe)

used to love info dumping my jossam headcanons back in the day so i'd thought i'd give y'all a new and improved run down of all the new jossam (and some old + reworked) headcanons i've accumulated over the years (a lot were inspired by my love @evildeadgf & those specific hcs pretty much belong to her but we're a TEAM here so!!) let me share the visions with my fellow jossamers again

sam LOVES to thrift. genuinely anything second-hand she loves, and she loves dragging josh along with her to flee markets or a random hole in the wall quirky and kitschy thrift store they'll find wherever they may be travelling. josh never forgets to take photos of all the weird antiques he finds, like the 19th century porcelain dolls with cracks in their faces and the moment sam sees them she will SHRIEK. get it away from her!

josh finds little post-it notes everywhere around their apartment due to sam. she writes up reminders for josh, like what times he needs to take his meds, or that there's leftovers in the fridge for breakfast (when he gets up though, it's lunch time)

when at work, sam never misses the opportunity to take photos of the furry companions that come in since she works with animals. and josh totally gets the message sam is trying to send every time he gets a new photo of a cute dog, cat or rabbit - sam clearly wants a pet for the two in the future, but josh can hardly take care of himself most times let alone a whole animal, which sam understands, but she won't let up so easily!!! she's gonna send cute cats!!!! and he's totally gonna warm up to it some day

they're both very musically inclined, sam can sing and josh can play the guitar, though not many of his friends actually know it about him - he pretty much only jams out with sam whenever he's up to it. even if he's much more a film guy, he's down to listen to sam lull him with her pretty voice any time of the day

speaking of film - they both love it, though in different ways. sam's not too much of a horror person like josh, and she hates the supernatural genre - literally scares the soul out of her body, she can't handle it alone, but with josh there she's calm enough, and comes to love some of his favourite horrors, and of course josh comes to love all the oldies she grew up with that she shows him even if he'd already seen some of them before in passing. whenever josh talks to her about the particulars of how they took a certain angle or shot sam is totally enthralled, she loves to hear him speak about the things he's passionate about

with sam being half italian and vegan simultaneously, she cooks up a lot of family favourite meals with vegan substitutes and always has josh taste test. they never fail to be delicious. sam is THE best cook, josh washington's seal of approval

they 100% geek out on musical theatre together and have totally dressed up to the nines to see phantom of the opera on broadway at least once or twice

they've both been in love with one another for pretty much half of their lives. when they were preteens their first kisses were each other, sam 11 and josh 12 - it was a quick little nervous and flustered peck but nonetheless, the memory never left both of their minds even as they grew older, and josh was barely a lady's man in his teens to early adulthood, too many people found him unapproachable or 'weird' despite his partying nature (which is a whole can of worms in itself imo! escapism at its finest!) he never had a solid or proper relationship with anyone until he finally got with sam. now sam, she tried to date here and there, but it was weird for her, after years and years of crushing on her best friend's brother, she told herself to get over it, face reality (in which she thought he clearly didn't reciprocate her feelings) and find someone who made her happy and who'd she make happy in return, and that of course, was a bust. josh was her only love, and sam was josh's

josh has a polaroid scrapbook of their adventures together, and sam is absolutely in love with it, when he first showed it to her it literally broke her, she couldn't suppress her tears and nor could she hold herself back from throwing herself into his arms

i really could go on and on and on but ahh!!! i love them so much!! they are my babies!!!!

Hello again! Thank you so much for replying to me, no worries at all about taking your time to answer, you should always take care of yourself first especially when life gets crazy. And I'm sorry to hear about the manic episode, hope you're doing better now. I imagine it must be really hard to deal with a disorder :(

Thank you so much for publishing it again, I appreciate it beyond words. I'm really looking forward to reading the whole story, it has a very interesting premise, I loved the first chapter. I'm sure the rest will be wonderful. Thank you once again, have a lovely day <3

No problem! I have put the first two chapters up and will get the rest up as I can! https://archiveofourown.org/works/53818579/chapters/136215298

sure feel some kind of way about the back to back Josh and Sam storylines in Portland Trip and Shibboleth being about gay issues... what was that about.