1 [Report This]Date: August 26, 2021 10:33 am Title: Self-fulfilling prophecy
I thought you captured that half-real, half-otherworldly dreamy feeling really well here. It seemed like the sort of weird that might realistically manifest in the mind of a pre-Casino Night Pam Beesly. AND it was really sweet. Jim giving up the mustache without hesitation, Pam recognizing that kissing him is a big moment even when she knows it's not real... lovely. Roy being more upset about losing his breakfast than the kiss definitely feels like the sort of thought that Pam wouldn't allow herself to wallow in consciously but is definitely lurking just under the surface.
Oh, and the next morning works really well. Pam still sort of lingering in her dream-state and trying to process it all, and Jim observing her doing it... I can really see this scene playing out. Well described.
1 [Report This]Date: July 11, 2021 08:00 pm Title: Chase
Oh this is not where I expected this to be in Canon so now I'm doubly intrigued!
1 [Report This]Date: July 11, 2021 07:59 pm Title: Chase
Oh dearie dear. You don't half hit hard do you? I'm intrigued.
1 [Report This]Date: July 08, 2021 02:39 pm Title: Chase
I really enjoyed this flashback, and the moment at the end is so lovely. Dwight potentially knowing about the pranks from watching the documentary is such a good angle on that idea (as is Jim’s mom loving the updates from her cousin, haha, I thought that was a great touch). The plot thickens: so it seems like everything was all ok as of two weeks ago…? Can’t wait for the next chapter!
Date: July 06, 2021 08:19 pm Title: Chase
Going back to an easier time before nasty notes start showing up. My ideas of who sent the note are now all up in the air what with the doc airing as they go like this. Could be just about anyone. Other than that, Jim and Pam are all sorts of cute here. Looking forward to more as always.
1 [Report This]Date: July 06, 2021 12:04 pm Title: Chase
Hmmmm. There's a *real* interesting question. Who *would* watch the show if it was simultaneously broadcast? Feels like Dwight is a definite yes - and would probably find some way to sell more beets because of it.
Also makes a lot of sense that they might not cotton to this right away. They do upset a fair number of people in their day-to-day lives who are prone to leaving passive-aggressive responses.
And I love this bit at the end. Glad we're getting a little bit of fluff before we dive full into the angst, and this feels a lot like how the post-Company Picnic summer would have gone.
1 [Report This]Date: July 05, 2021 05:58 am Title: Chase
What's going on here? I mean for a set-up chapter it's amazing. I have several suspicions of who might have sent those notes, but nothing concreate. First off who sends not one but at least three? By now Jim and Pam have been together for over a year so why now? Gahhh! I want to know all the answers now! Fantasitc set-up as I said.
Author's Response: Thank you, Warrior! Well, this story is based on the weird dream I had, so that's why it happens at this moment (but I also have a more logical explanation of what's going on and why not, and it all will be explained in the following chapters).
1 [Report This]Date: July 04, 2021 06:31 am Title: Chase
This is such an intriguing beginning! I love the little notes of Jim caring for Pam, and him knowing that she's lying - and then the note feels very ominous. Can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'd like to try to write little chapters, so maybe I'll manage to update more frequent than I usually do :)
1 [Report This]Date: July 03, 2021 11:33 am Title: Chase
Eeeeep I'm really glad you posted this one! This remains a deeply intriguing concept to me, and very realistic in an atmosphere where the documentary really takes off. And I love the twist of this being something Jim and Pam aren't really on the same page on - true to their communication issues, and it feels like the sort of thing they wouldn't want to worry each other about.
VERY much want to see where this goes.
Author's Response: Thank you!! I hope it remains interesting to you, and I'm always happy when I manage to keep things realistic (so realistic as the dream-based material could even be, he-he).
1 [Report This]Date: July 03, 2021 04:09 am Title: Chase
oooh - ominous - although my first thought is Angela - something tells me in this case I am not correct. Hoping the end notes are tongue and cheek and there will be more soon.
Author's Response:
1 [Report This]Date: June 13, 2021 09:38 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
"God, why had Jim of all people given it to her? It would have been much better if someone like Phyllis or Toby had presented this teapot to her; someone nice enough to keep warm feelings to the giver, but without that sort of connection that would make her put special meanings into this item of the tea-set. But it was Jim who had made that beautiful present, and she couldn’t separate her love, regrets, and everything that she’d lost and never had from the teapot that sat so innocently on her table."
You know, it never really occurred to me what happened to the teapot during S3. I know we see it in later seasons, but what a great jumping point for angst to have this be such a constant source of trauma for Pam. I really like what you did with it!
Author's Response: Thank you, tinydundie! I'm glad you liked this story :)
1 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2020 03:50 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
I really like this. It feels like a really accurate glimpse of what was going on in Pam's head at this point in Season 3 - the push and pull between wanting to move on and not wanting to let go with the undercurrent of regret at how the decisions she's made have led her here. This sort of wrestling with herself is very Pam.
And I like the choice to have her be influenced on multiple levels by her interactions with Karen during Benihana Christmas.
Happy anniversary!
Author's Response:
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad that I could turn my odd dream into something that you enjoyed :)
1 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2020 03:50 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
I really like this. It feels like a really accurate glimpse of what was going on in Pam's head at this point in Season 3 - the push and pull between wanting to move on and not wanting to let go with the undercurrent of regret at how the decisions she's made have led her here. This sort of wrestling with herself is very Pam.
And I like the choice to have her be influenced on multiple levels by her interactions with Karen during Benihana Christmas.
Happy anniversary!
1 [Report This]Date: October 07, 2020 12:55 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
This is lovely! I really like the way you've depicted Pam struggling to find the resolve to wield her hammer - I really felt the suspense!
Jim's awkwardness when he arrived worked beautifully too.
And I laughed at Pam picturing her new existence in Alasksa :0)
Thank you!
Author's Response: Thank you so much for your sweet review, Sam! I'm glad you liked this story!
1 [Report This]Date: August 28, 2020 01:32 am Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
This was really great. I enjoyed it a lot. Wish there was more, maybe from Jim's pov.
Author's Response: Thank you, Donna, I'm glad you like it!
1 [Report This]Date: August 23, 2020 07:24 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
Yay! This was beautifully done. I loved that I couldn't tell until the end if she would smash the teapot or not. Also, opening the door holding a hammer was a very nice touch.
Thanks very much for writing it!
Author's Response: Thank you, Kuri! That was a challenge to write, but I'm glad that worked out well :)
1 [Report This]Date: August 22, 2020 06:59 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
I really like this idea of Karen being super pragmatic & enjoying Christmas, but not really being swept away by the magic of it all.
Oh. The connection with what Karen has said to Pam and with Jim rejecting her gift. Oof. That hurts. Poor Pam.
“She placed them around the teapot like moons around a planet” This is such a beautiful image. It’s so, so heartbreaking that it all loses meaning without Jim.
“She’d burn it later.” Damn.
I don’t even have the words to describe how haunting it is for Pam to consider breaking the teapot. I love the comparison to an alcoholic returning to the bottle and I can understand why she feels that breaking it is the right thing to do. Even so, it hurts. It hurts so bad.
Much like Pam, I love that teapot and everything it stands for.
Oh boy. Talk about a misunderstanding. Karen has put this whole taking gifts back thing into her head and now Jim has shown up asking for a gift and she assumes the worst.
She’s so brave. I love that she gives him such a strong no.
‘It means everything,’ YES. So good.
Pam telling him he can’t. Oh my god. So brave.
‘Well… I’m trying to turn ‘can’t’ into ‘can’, I guess,’ Is this my new favorite line of anything ever? I think so.
I’m so, so glad the teapot remains intact!
Author's Response:
Oh, Jenna, thank you so much for such an amazing review! I'm glad you liked the story, and I truly appreciate your feedback. I have the same feelings for the teapot as you, and breaking it would be... too much.
I'm a weak woman, I guess :)
1 [Report This]Date: August 22, 2020 06:19 pm Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
That was a rollercoaster, I really thought you'd do it! I was morbidly curious if you were going to make Jim watch after Pam's outburst, but thank goodness you presented us with a balm instead. I felt like Pam's jumping to the conclusion that he was there to take the teapot back was a bit of a jump, but in the end it worked so it didn't detract from the rest of the story. This was really well done, thank you for sharing!
Author's Response:
Thank you, DG! And sorry for the rollercoaster (to be honest, it was a rollercoaster for me as well; I cried a few times writing it).
Thank you for reading and reviewing :)
1 [Report This]Date: August 22, 2020 11:52 am Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
I really like this. Are you planning any followup (like, does Jim figure out what's in the pillowcase)? Not that you need followup (this is lovely) but I thought I'd ask. I like stories where Pam gets the thoughts out, and where Jim comes after her, and I loved both elements here.
Author's Response:
Thank you, Comfect! I was worried that this story had almost the same concept as my previous finished story, and I'm really glad you liked it! I think there wouldn't be any follow-ups (it was just detailed retelling of a dream after all), but I think Jim wouldn't know what was under the pillow; Pam would try to say Jim goodbye and return all of her mementos to their place :)
1 [Report This]Date: August 22, 2020 09:22 am Title: A Teapot Full of Hope
Wow, this was fantastic! You took that idea and make it something really great. All of Pam's conflicting emotions as she comes home. How she can imagine breaking the teapot but then can imagine the aftermath. Her thinking she'd burn the picture, uugh that one hit the heart hard.
Then all of a sudden for Jim to show up and they're still not on the same page about everything. So she's thrown into even more chaos. Nice Beatles referrence there too by the way.
I love that Jim just follows her inside and is so gentle. Clearly he's still pretty cautious around her especially as she's breaking down. Then of course as the real reasons for everything become clear, he's still just there for her.
And the little spark of hope that was left in the teapot seemed to land right in Jim's heart to get it beating again for Pam. That he's ready to make one of his big Jim moments and break up with Karen right there and then show that. Of course Pam is so lovely right there. Kind caring soul she is, she doesn't want to ruin Christmas for anyone. Loved that.
Great piece. Lots of big emotions, and of course the best part, the teapot stays intact and helps bring Jim and Pam together. Loved it.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Warrior! Your review brought a huge smile to my face, and I'm delighted that you enjoyed this story!
1 [Report This]Date: April 21, 2020 10:26 pm Title: Self-fulfilling prophecy
This was so interesting and unique! I don’t think I’ve read a lot like it. You did a great job with some wonderful imagery and descriptions. It’s not hard to imagine that season 1 and 2 Pam might very well have had dreams like this. Great job!
1 [Report This]Date: April 11, 2020 06:45 pm Title: Self-fulfilling prophecy
Dreams are hard to retell, so I imagine they are difficult to write! I like this take on Pam discovering her feelings for Jim through her dreams and being bold enough to act on it. I also wouldn't mind another chapter or two if you'd consider it! :)
Thanks for writing!
Author's Response: Thank you for your lovely comment! If I figure out what to do with them, I'll add some chapters (or, rather, a connected story).
1 [Report This]Date: April 11, 2020 03:23 pm Title: Self-fulfilling prophecy
Interesting to say the least. Gives Pam quite a bit to think about that's for sure. Some questions remain though. Why Pam and Roy drove separately. Obviously hey had a fight about things. Is Pam thinking more about leaving Roy now?
You wrote Pam being flustered very well. Seems like everything was spinning out of control until she hugged Jim there. Then maybe something calmed down. Jim is now befuddled that's for sure.
Works good a one-shot but I wouldn't mind seeing another chapter to see how everything ties off.
Author's Response:
Thank you, warrior, for your great review - as usual!
Answering the question - Pam and Roy had a fight... over the broken toast oven (and I totally failed with an explanation of this moment in the story; I should probably add a line or two to point at this).
And, as much as I want to set Pam and Jim together as soon as it's possible, I doubt that first-season Pam could leave Roy after one dream (even such a meaningful one). But, if I figure out how to organize her escape, I'll definitely add some chapter(s) or a connected story.
1 [Report This]Date: April 11, 2020 03:05 pm Title: Self-fulfilling prophecy
I love the idea/psychology of a self-fulfilling prophecy and this was such a cool way to explore that! It was great how you set up that Pam has these dreams before jumping into this particular dream. I love how her subconscious wants to get away from Roy, if that doesn’t tell her everything about that relationship...
“ Despite the winter and her half-naked condition, it was his voice and his warm hands on the bare skin of her knee and forearm that made her shiver.” This line was SO good. I love that it’s Jim that she has the reaction from, and that she’s aware that it’s Jim.
“he seriously suspected his ribcage would be bruised inside” I loved the imagery of this line, what a vivid way to describe a racing heart!
Author's Response:
Thank you, Jenna! To be honest, I had doubts, if this story was worthy of being published or not... and your review is the best way to get rid of the doubts :) I'm so glad you liked it!
1 [Report This]Date: April 11, 2020 01:35 pm Title: Self-fulfilling prophecy
What a wonderful little story, if only they had realized this was a sign. Pams description of a hug from Jim is adorable and your writing here captures the two so perfectly.
Author's Response: Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed this story :)