Today is my one-year ffnet anniversary. So I decided this was the perfect time to post my next chapter fic! (It's been forever, I know.)
This is loosely based on the movie Down with Love, starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. I highly recommend seeing the movie, though it's not a prerequisite for reading this story. So I hope you enjoy my Daseyfied version, and if you have a chance, check out the flick.
This is technically a future fic, but it takes place in the next couple of years. So I guess it's AU in that respect. Just pretend Derek and Casey graduated around 2000 or something.
Another note: I did some research on publishing and television production, but this is not meant to be realistic. The characters' jobs are really just plot devices. You'll see. Also, the movie takes place in the 1960s, so I've tried my best to modernize the story. Please don't take any offense at Casey's book – it's meant to be over-the-top.
Last thing, I promise: This fic is dedicated to the amazing Allie - Thanks for the inspiration!
--Brandi
Disclaimer: I don't own Life with Derek or Down with Love. Scratch that…I do own them both in DVD form. But not their plots, I suppose.
Chapter 1: Casey Writes a Book
With a population of about 8.3 million, New York City is home to some very important people.
There's Cat, a young writer with a wicked sense of humor,
Dennis McDonald, a big-shot lawyer living the high life in Soho,
Emily Davis, an accomplished publisher at Banner House,
Derek Venturi, producer at Know Studios; he runs one of the highest rated late-night talk shows in the country, hosted by…
Sheldon Shlepper, who's been known to do anything for a laugh,
Blair Waldorf, Upper East Side debutante and queen bee,
and who could forget Carrie Bradshaw, columnist at the New York Star and avid shoe collector.
The only people important to our story, however, are Emily, Derek, and Sheldon.
Oh, wait, there's one more.
She's a recent transplant. Originally from London, Ontario, Miss Casey McDonald moved to the city just last week, in the hopes of getting her book published. It helps that she knows Emily Davis quite well; they've been best friends for years.
And it is here, in Emily's office at Banner House, that our story begins…
DwL=LwD
Emily chewed on the tip of her fingernail as her assistant held up two possible book covers. "I don't know, what do you think, Case?"
Casey scanned both options. "The one on the left is a little…colorful," she admitted, and Emily nodded.
"I think you're right. Simple is best. That one," she pointed to the right-hand cover, which featured a simple pink heart, broken in half, underneath the title: Down with Love by Casey McDonald. The assistant scurried off to the printer.
"This is too exciting," Casey practically squealed, as she reclined in her chair in Emily's spacious office.
Emily nodded. "I know. Just think, next week, every girl in America is going to have her nose in your book."
"I don't know about that. But we definitely have to start an aggressive ad campaign."
"Already on it, Case. I called in a favor to Know Studios to do a piece on the book."
Casey sat up abruptly, almost spilling the celebratory champagne she was currently sipping. "Know?" she spluttered. "As in, Derek's production company?"
Emily shrugged. "Yeah. So?"
"You know how I feel about that man."
"Puh-lease, Casey, you haven't spoken to him in almost ten years. You probably won't even have to talk to him directly. I'll handle everything."
"Promise me I won't have to see him." Casey shuddered at the thought of it. "I wish things were different, Em, I really do. But the damage is done."
"It's never too late to reconcile, you know. You are family, after all." Emily stole a sideways glance at her friend. She knew there was no convincing Casey of anything, especially this. But it was always worth a try.
"We are not family, and you know it. Just because we were forced to live together for a few years in high school does not make us related."
"Haven't you been back home for Christmas?"
"Well, yes, but we always make sure we visit on different days. I've managed to avoid laying eyes on him for almost a decade, and I most certainly don't want to start now."
"Suit yourself. I have a meeting with him on Thursday. You can just stay home."
"Yes, I believe I will." She tossed her hair. "He doesn't deserve another second's thought. Let's talk about something else."
"Like, how amazing your book is?" Emily smiled slyly at her friend. She was so excited to be the one to give Casey her start. The girl was sure to start a revolution.
Casey, ever tactful, shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't call it 'amazing,' but it will certainly ruffle some feathers."
"That's the point, Casey," Emily reminded her. "Any book that tells women they should be conducting themselves like men is bound to make an impact, and quickly."
Casey shrugged. "I'm just lucky Mr. Banner agreed to publish it. How'd you pitch it to him, anyway?"
"I have my ways," Emily said suggestively, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Please tell me you didn't sleep with him," Casey groaned, only half-kidding. She'd only met Emily's boss once, but he had been quite the charmer.
Emily feigned indignation. "God, no, what do you take me for?"
Casey grinned. "I'm going to choose not to answer that."
"Good, then I'm going to choose not to tell you that I might have bribed him with black market cigars."
"Uh-huh. I didn't hear that," Casey giggled, and then quickly turned serious. "It's so great that we're hanging out again, Em. I missed seeing you every day."
"Tell me about it. I'm so psyched that you moved to New York. I missed you, too!" She held up her champagne glass and clinked it against Casey's. "To our friendship! And your inevitable fame!" she toasted.
"To fame and friends," Casey echoed with a grin. She could definitely deal with that.
DwL=LwD
"They want to write the what?" Casey said, not sure she'd heard Emily correctly. They were back in her office the next morning, still busy with preparing the book for publication. Normally an author wouldn't be quite so involved in the process, but Casey was lucky enough to have a friend on the inside.
"The blurb on the back cover. You know, to tell readers what the book is about. Come on, Casey, get with the program. You read more books than anyone I know. Even me, and it's my job."
Casey got a panicked look in her eye. "But I can barely sum it up aloud. How am I going to write one paragraph on such an intricate thesis?"
Emily bit her bottom lip. "We'll figure it out." She hated to admit it, but Casey's masterpiece wasn't really something you could sum up in a blurb. And whatever they wrote on the back cover, it was going to alienate practically half the population.
After several hours spent hunched over Emily's desk, they finally had something ready to send to the printer.
Why is it socially acceptable for men to sleep with as many people as possible, and when girls do it, they're labeled whores? Why are movies that contain full-frontal male nudity given an R rating, and movies with full-frontal female nudity given merely a PG-13? Why are men allowed to flaunt their sexuality by going shirtless in public, while women are forced to keep themselves covered, or risk being seen as slutty? Why are single men given upbeat labels such as 'swinger' or 'bachelor,' while single women are reduced to 'spinsters'?
The answer is simple: the modern woman, though she has gained great strides toward equality, is just not considered completely equal in society. That's where this book comes in.
Sociology expert Casey McDonald is about to take you on a whirlwind journey…you'll discover how you, the modern woman, can achieve that equality. Why shouldn't you sleep around (responsibly, of course) without fear of being stigmatized? And being a bachelorette is perfectly normal. With the divorce rate exponentially increasing, who needs monogamy? Marriage is an antiquated institution, anyway. Let's abolish all gender roles. We've known for a long time that women and men can do the same jobs. Women should be able to express their sexuality in the same way, as well. For example, women should be able to objectify men just as freely as men objectify women.
If you want to learn how you, too, can become a completely fulfilled modern woman who doesn't need a man to complete her, this is the book for you.
Emily wiped her brow and sat back in her recliner. "That's it, Case. We're ready. I've sent out some copies so you'll be reviewed in all the major women's magazines: Ladies' Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Elle…"
"Wow, that's great." Casey beamed at her friend.
"Oh, it gets better. There are going to be print ads papering the city first thing tomorrow. And there's Derek's piece, of course, which will air the day the book comes out."
Casey made a face at that, but said nothing. She wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. "I just hope I don't get any death threats. It doesn't paint men in the best light…" She paled at the thought.
Emily grinned. "Relax. You know that guys are going to hate the book. But women are going to start a revolution when they get a hold of it!"
"I really hope you're right," Casey agreed, and Emily leaned over to give her a hug.
"I hope I am, too."