10 [Report This]Date: June 26, 2007 05:57 pm Title: 'Til Death
Wow!! That was great! I loved how Pam was waiting for Jim after he broke up with Karen.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm surprised you came back to read this old story, but I really enjoyed writing it. Thanks again!
Date: March 02, 2007 08:20 am Title: 'Til Death
Oh man. Pam was in the car during the final confrontation. Ouch. But "I already told her I couldn't go" is the line that launched a thousand squees!
Nice work on this one. You done yourself proud.
Author's Response: Thank you! I am proud, mostly because it is by far the longest piece I've done. I'm glad you liked the ending. Squee, indeed!
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 08:37 pm Title: 'Til Death
wow. sooo beautifully written. it was heartbreaking, and sweet, and normally i love the fluff, but i'm glad it's not oozing everywhere here because it works so well. just plain beautiful!
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm a fan of fluff, too, but this relationship (and this show) doesn't always stick to that. I'm glad you liked it!
Date: February 27, 2007 01:59 pm Title: 'Til Death
The woman he loved. Yup...if only it were that simple.
I was so relieved when Pam finally spilled to him at the end...she said exactly what she should say (hear that you ogre, Greg Daniels?) And what a perfect character detail that Karen would use battle terminology - neutral territory - for their relationship...I don't think the Call to Duty metaphor when we met her was any accident! Really well done!!!
Author's Response: Thank you, ma'am. Yeah, I let them off easy. It's hard writing so much for one story! :) Karen's character is still a cypher to me, but I thought that felt right. She's not exactly the opposite of Pam- they're both very tenacious. Karen fights, though, while Pam just holds on. I'm with you, I'm ready to hear Pam just SAY IT!
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 09:14 am Title: 'Til Death
I swear, this just made me want to stand up and applaud! First of all, their conversation was so spot on - again, spare dialogue, but such a heavy subtext. Second, when she took his hand, I held my breath and didn't let it out until she finally just told him what she was feeling.
And this? "a half smile that promised healing and felt like home" - Just gorgeous.
You rock!
Author's Response: I'm glad you are breathing again. The ending was a little quick, I thought, but I needed to wrap this up so I could move on to other things. It was looming over me. YOU rock- best comments ever. Thank you, thank you!
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 09:10 am Title: The shift
Ahhh! I'm actually nervous right now - butterflies, I swear.
First, I wish that all the people who really dislike Pam for not making a move could read this, because yes -- of course she thinks Karen's right for Jim! And I love the way you juxtaposed that realization with her awareness that Jim knew Roy was wrong for her. I've never seen this illustrated so clearly before. (G. Daniels could take a page from your book - no pun intended.)
Loved the way you wrote the break up - I felt suspenseful right along with Pam; it was really an effective technique to leave the audience in the same position as Pam, relegated to just watching and waiting, but unable to actually hear what was happening.
Two lines in this nearly killed me:
"She licked her lips nervously and stepped toward the future." (EEEEEEE!)
"He now knew that sometimes the only truth is what he'd said to Karen (what Pam had said to him):
I can't."
Amen - because ultimately, that's what it will all come down to for Jim, isn't it?
Another brilliant chapter - I'm so excited about reading the next one -----
Author's Response:
I've written one too many Karen/Jim breakup scenes. I decided to let myself off the hook for this one and just let them take care of it without me. :)
Pam said it herself- she thinks Jim and Karen are "great together". She's wrong, of course, but I can totally see why she thinks it. Poor Pam. *sigh* Thank you, again, some more...
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 09:05 am Title: Back to work
Note to self: Do not read lis's stuff while eating lunch; it poses a choking hazard. :o)
I gasped out loud twice while reading this - the first time when Jim appeared in the office (oh my god), and the second at her telling him, "Roy's not the one I'm in love with." WOW. I could really see her saying something like that on the show - so understated, yet such a huge acknowledgement.
Amazing.
Author's Response:
Oooh, be careful! I couldn't stand to lose one of my best reviewers! :)
This chapter was hard to write. I got him into the office and then had no idea what they should say to each other. It was too early for any "I love you's" but they had to say something. I'm glad it worked for you.
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 09:01 am Title: Another afternoon
My god. It is so hard to find quotes to mention in my reviews of your stuff, because literally, at almost every other line, I'll think, Yes, I'll quote that one - beautiful... Then the next line will blow me away as well.
That said, this? "He would not, of course, tell her that this was because the thought of Pam in Roy’s arms had broken him to the point where he had no strength to pursue anything but the next breath. Again."
....So gut-wrenching. And then you take it up a notch even more with this:
"She was beautiful. She was perfect, in fact, and Jim closed his eyes for a second to wonder why, in the name of all that was holy, he couldn’t just love her. "Jim, seriously, are you all right?"
He opened his eyes and nodded. He decided, for the thousandth time, to try to be whomever she wanted. Maybe the new guy would be able to love her the way the old Jim had loved Pam."
Wow. You really hit on the essence of what makes the situation in its current state (which is TEMPORARY, I'm telling myself) so tragic, and that is the possibility that all of Jim's feelings for Pam could possibly just go to waste. And that would be almost unbearable.
Another lovely chapter!
Author's Response:
Wouldn't it be just awful? After all that love, all that devotion, all of Jim's pain, all the growth from Pam, everything...that it could come to nothing? Be too little, too late? I actually thought that's where I was going with this story, but I couldn't do it. I can't do it.
I'm just basking in the love from you, here, by the way. :)
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 08:55 am Title: Two beds
Okay, I may have already reviewed this once before (I've been so behind on reviewing and reading - too, too little time), but it bears noting again: This chapter was just so...sad - just left me feeling very blue for Pam and for Jim. As usual, you capture the nuances here with such simple, effective prose:
"she'd given in with no resistance when he invited her "home." Being with him was comfortable- he knew what she liked, all the ways to touch her that she hadn't been touched since she had left him." You know, I think it's really easy to forget how much this would be a factor in her falling back into things again.
"She loved him with the sentimental, childish love of a schoolgirl, and with the fond devotion of..well, a sister (they had grown up together, in many ways). There was no passion, no maturity, no room for growth in their love. He wanted her to come back to him the way she had been, and she couldn't. She wasn't."
Yes. It's too easy to think that, because of her feelings for Jim, she'd just have little in the way of emotion for Roy, but you articulate it beautifully here.
"It was the first real lie he'd told her. He'd evaded, exaggerated, made light of, omitted, and hedged, but he hadn't lied until now."
Guh. I'm one of the few (I think) who isn't totally disgusted with Jim right now, and it's because of what you expressed here - he's just caught in such a nightmare, trying to do the right thing and move on, knowing that it'll be damned near impossible to do so.
So in short - yes, loved this. On to the next chapter --
Author's Response:
I don't know how to even start to respond to your comments- they're so thoughtful and detailed. I really appreciate you taking the time to articulate all of this. I'm thrilled that you reacted so strongly and so positively! This is the longest story I've done by far...I feel I owe you a debt! LOL
I totally get where they are both coming from right now. No disgust, just a lot of pity for all four of them (less now for Roy after the bar-trashing, but still...).
Thank you again...
Date: February 27, 2007 06:43 am Title: 'Til Death
*happy sigh* thats all.
Author's Response: I am seriously in need of some happily ever after! Thank you!
10 [Report This]Date: February 27, 2007 06:26 am Title: 'Til Death
awesome, nqllisi - just awesome!!!! I've been so totally bummed out by negative!Jim lately, and this gave me some hope! thanks so much!!
Author's Response: I think I made it a little too easy for them, but I can't take any more of this! Thank you!!
Date: February 15, 2007 10:47 am Title: The shift
Holy crap, lis, you've totally been struck by The Muse on this story. Such beautiful symmetry. Love anxious Pam. And Jim turning the hurtful words around and forgiving her for saying them all at the same time. I sure hope we're getting close to "I can"!
Author's Response: Thank you, sweetie. Poor anxious Pam. Confidence just isn't in her DNA, is it? I think she'll really blossom in that way (in all ways) when she and Jim finally hit "I can" (or, even better, "I do!").
10 [Report This]Date: February 14, 2007 04:28 pm Title: The shift
ooh, good for Pam for going to him - but what's next!!!
such good stuff!
Author's Response: One more chapter, methinks. Thanks, moxie!
Date: February 14, 2007 03:36 pm Title: The shift
this has to continue!!!!
Author's Response: Oh, I'll definitely finish! :)
Date: February 09, 2007 04:25 pm Title: Back to work
That anecdote about the boob fruit is so real. And I love the detail about having to actually work since the merger.
You've clearly got the knack for prediction on this story. Let's hope that something like this talk happens after last night's ep!
Author's Response: I think "show Jim" is pissed instead of hurt (well, both, but it is manifesting as anger), so I'm not sure it will roll this way. The boob fruit (good name!) took me a long time to come up with- a triple whammy that would make Pam miss Jim, clearly show the difference between how Roy relates to her and how Jim does, and let Roy make a total ass of himself. I'm so glad it worked for you!
Date: February 09, 2007 12:51 pm Title: Back to work
I meant what I said on TWoP. This hit way too close to home for me before the fact. Now that I've seen what I've seen - this story makes it easier to take.
So thank you. :)
Author's Response: It's rough going for us Jam 'shippers right now, but I think there's hope. Honestly, I do. I'm glad my angst-fest is helping somewhat. I still think my "Not easy but simple" story might come true, too- where Karen finally just says that enough is enough. You're welcome- and thank you so much (for here and for the kind words on TWoP!).
Date: February 09, 2007 11:00 am Title: Back to work
This chapter was beautiful-everything felt so right. Jim & Pam's conversation, always circling right around the things that they really want to ask each other, and Jim's saying Roy wasn't good enough. And Karen!
Oh, my heart hurts for all of them. Well done with this chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you! Yes, they do circle, don't they? I feel bad for all of them, too. I'll make it better soon (for some of them, at least).
10 [Report This]Date: February 09, 2007 06:02 am Title: Back to work
ack! She says "Roy's not the one I'm in love with" - and he doesn't go after that???? Are you trying to make me crazy? (I know, too late!) That was sooo good - continue, please!
Author's Response:
You've caught me. I am actually sitting here hatching plans to drive you slowly insane. :) I think they're both sooo afraid and hurt and tired right now, that it won't be easy to bounce back. I have an idea how my story should end, but I'm sure TPTB will knock all our socks off when they finally give our our happily ever after! (Thanks, baby!)
Date: February 09, 2007 03:54 am Title: Back to work
ok, i had read this a few days ago and now here i am re-reading what now seems to be, not fan fic, but fan reality. are you actually a writer for the show? ha!
AGH!!!!!! PAM!!!! WHY????
ok, that said, why did i NOT see this coming and yet am SO not surprised? Oh Pam - we love you, and we understand but we still want to slap some sense into you. I was kind of depressed by it, and angry, and ready to throw things at the TV. and then i realized maybe this is it - this is what really needed to happen to collectively remove both Pam and Jim's heads from their asses. maybe?
I love your story. And now let's just hope the rest of it comes true...at least as far as you've gone so far. keep going!
Author's Response: That's pretty much exactly how I'm feeling (except that, I guess I did see it coming!). If I were a writer for the show, she'd have ditched Roy after "I'm in love with you" and be having Jim's babies right now. Somehow, I think it is better the way we're getting it- won't it be sweet when it finally happens? Thank you for the encouragement!!
Date: February 08, 2007 10:09 pm Title: Back to work
This is so good. You've been frighteningly accurate so far (do you get advanced copies of the scripts? Jeez!) and I'm really interested to see what you think will happen next!
Author's Response: Hee. I won't even read episode descriptions, not to mention advanced scripts! Thank you so much.
Date: February 08, 2007 10:06 pm Title: Back to work
Great chapter. I so want this to happen in the upcoming episode. Sigh.
Author's Response: Well, apparently I'm somewhat good at predicting the future (I swear I was completely unspoiled except for the title of the episode), so maybe it will come true! Thank you!
8 [Report This]Date: February 08, 2007 07:43 pm Title: The reception
Oh I wish Jim would say something like that to Pam. Argh! Good job!
Author's Response: Thank you! Yeah, these two just need to talk!
Date: February 08, 2007 04:19 pm Title: Back to work
that seems like something roy would say. definitly something michael and dwight would do. i can't imagne pam'sfruit looking like boobs. mine, yeah. i can. actually, more bouncy balls than boobs even. but whatever.
karen is right, something has shifted. well, it was there all along, but now, more than ever :)
Author's Response:
Thank you- yeah, Roy's a little clueless. :)
9 [Report This]Date: February 08, 2007 03:25 pm Title: Back to work
i love that you had Pam be truthful about what went on with Roy. I also love that the first time they actually talk since may isn't a declaration of love with a happily ever after ending. I can't wait to read the rest of this story!
Author's Response: Thank you so much. It won't be happily-ever-after, but it will be good, don't you think?
Date: February 07, 2007 09:59 am Title: Another afternoon
Wow. This is an incredibly powerful chapter. Very astute observation that Jim is being slowly forced into a different shape--and only partially against his will. I hate to say it but Karen deserves more.
Poor Pam.
Author's Response:
Of course she does- none of them will really be happy until they're all being honest, and she's not being honest with herself if she thinks there's really a future here.
Thank you, as usual. :)