Date: November 29, 2007 03:26 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
I absolutely love this story, especially this chapter!!!
Date: November 29, 2007 01:38 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
This is absolutely wonderful. You've delved inside their minds with such accuracy. I kept thinking, "yes, that's exactly what Pam/Jim probably thought" while I was reading. The resulting behavior was so painful for us to watch but you've helped explain where the behavior may have come from. This is great:
She thinks of all the gifts she’s got stored away to give. Her favorite is sitting in the drawer to her left and she’s decided today is the day to give it to him. She’s decided that every day for the past week. She thinks gaining confidence will be her New Year’s resolution. She’s decided that every year for the past ten. She hates irony.
Please keep up the excellent work.
Author's Response: Wow. Thank you so much. I'm new to this fandom, I only got into the show a few months ago and this is honestly the first fic for this pairing I've ever written. Obviously I'm hyper aware that I don't really know the characters inside out so I'm terrified of going out of character because I know how easy that is in new fandoms. It really made my day to read that you find this accurate. Thanks for reading!
Date: November 29, 2007 12:47 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
maybe I'm just hormonal lately, but the HOPE that these two were experiencing-- and we all know those hopes were dashed so many times!! It's just killing me- and you've captured that so well. I do not cry over fanfic, but you've struck that hope chord with me so many times in this story... it's kind of making me nausous. In a good way!
Author's Response: Wow, thanks so much. For what it's worth, I apologize for tugging on your heart strings but at least I can promise (with 100% certainty) a happy ending :)rnThanks for reading!
Date: November 29, 2007 11:39 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
please continue, i just read all the chapters and i'm really enjoying all the angst and whatnot.
10 [Report This]Date: November 29, 2007 09:14 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
Loved it! Keep going :) The teapot/CIA plot was a great comparison.
Author's Response: Thank you! Don't worry, I will! Writing this is like therapy for the s3 angst :) I'm glad you liked the comparison, I'd never really noticed it until I sat down to write this chapter and looked at both Christmas eps together.
10 [Report This]Date: November 29, 2007 08:21 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
that was a great chapter! :-)
Date: November 29, 2007 07:18 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
Really great work, again. I have thoroughly enjoyed your wonderful retelling of these classic JAM moments. Very well done, very enjoyable read.
10 [Report This]Date: November 29, 2007 06:20 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
It's a great story, and this chapter in particular. Such melancholy but with a touch of hope. Sigh.
Date: November 29, 2007 03:15 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
I'm so happy to see an update and so glad you decided to do this episode! There were so many emotions boiling underneath what we actually saw in this ep, and you captured them all so beautifully! I just loved this:
She thinks it’d be better than the teapot if he’d just stand here and smile at her sometimes.
I never really thought about the parallel between their two gifts, but wow, you wrote that so well.
10 [Report This]Date: November 29, 2007 01:58 am Title: A Benihana Christmas
How could anyone forget this story!? I love this particular style - it took me awhile to acclimate myself to the 'hellos' and 'goodbyes' - once I sat down and really read between the lines, I felt heartbroken and anguished and anxious for JAM all at once. Can't wait for more installments!!
Author's Response: Thanks so much. I'm glad people are responding to the style because honestly I don't even really know what it is. I'd had a million ideas to dive into JAM fanfic but I could never seem to start and when I finally did, this came out.rn
Date: November 28, 2007 11:47 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
I love it. You stay so true to their voices .. more please!
Date: November 28, 2007 10:23 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
So heartbreaking, yet promising because the love is still there lurking for both of them. Thank goodness they found it. You did an amazing job putting the feelings behind their actions into words. Bravo.
Now, what I would really like is to read about Jim and Pam's Christmas THIS YEAR. That would be a happy Christmas.
Author's Response: What I'd really like to SEE is Jim and Pam's Christmas this year. But I guess fic will have to do!rnThanks so much for reading. I'm glad you found the hope in this chap because it's definitely what I've been looking to find in all these dark s3 moments. It's getting harder though, I'm positively dreading The Negotiation...rnrn
Date: November 28, 2007 08:58 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
Wow, this was really good. Don't feel nervous at all! So many interesting insights and well-written sentences. I'd quote them all here but there'd be too many. Seriously, great work. Looking forward to more!
Author's Response: Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I'm new to the Office fandom so I'll really glad you think I've gotten some good insights down.
10 [Report This]Date: November 28, 2007 08:56 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
Great chapter! I especially like that Jim realizes the parallel between the level of effort in the two Christmas gifts. I hadn't even thought about that.
Next soon?
Author's Response: Thank you :) I honestly hadn't thought of that parallel until I sat down to write this chapter. rnrnNext soon indeed, it's almost finals time so I should be uber busy with studying... which means I'll probably be writing this! Thanks for reading
Date: November 28, 2007 08:46 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
Oh happiness! A new chapter!
Love the parallels and the differences, and for how you found the tiny little morsels of hope in A Benihana Christmas.
out of nowhere, he picks the teapot (yay!!!)
He vaguely wonders why it’s Michael who always seems to be the one to draw the truth out of him without even trying. That is like the little secret of the relationship between Jim & Michael. It's like Michael is this savant, or maybe that when Jim thinks he's helping out Michael, he's really helping himself.
You have inspired me to get moving on the December calendar, too! I'm feeling better about including screencaps from S3 Xmas now that you've shown these moments in a whole new light. Thanks!!!
Author's Response: It really is the secret of Jim/Michael. I love their little moments.rnI didn't know what you meant about the calendar (and shame on me for that) so with a little stalking (ok so I clicked on your profile and then your LJ) I found them and WOW. They're seriously amazing. I can't wait to see Decembers and I'm glad I inspired you a bit.
Date: November 19, 2007 01:53 pm Title: The Merger
I am very sad now. But in a good, bittersweet at-least-I-know-it-ends-eventually way. This especially got to me: He's too hot with his shirt sleeves buttoned. He wants his old desk back. He's craving jelly beans. He's craving grape soda. He's craving her. He thinks, hopes, dreams, wishes.
But at least there are blue skies ahead!
Author's Response: Definitely, at least we all know it ends well :)rnThanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave a review!
9 [Report This]Date: November 19, 2007 06:27 am Title: The Merger
Such a good chapter. It made me sad, but it also made me think, gave me a different perspective. "He gives her a chance to say she wishes he wasn't. He thinks he'll break things off with Karen when they haven't even started if she just looks upset for a second or two. He wishes he was stronger than that. He knows he's not." I guess, like most people, when I saw this scene play out, it didn't occur to me that Jim might be wanting Pam to give him a reason to not pursue Karen. Ah, these two, so repressed...
Author's Response: Thank you for your comments. I struggle with what's going on in Jim's head in that scene and even now I'm not certain but I'm glad my interpretation gave you a new way of looking at it. And yes, repressed is definitely the word for these two!
8 [Report This]Date: November 18, 2007 07:27 pm Title: The Merger
Another wonderful chapter. It brought back all the angst and heartbreak of the episode and was so well written. I'm really enjoying this even as it's killing me to read it.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, it really means a lot that you left a review for each individual chapter. I'm glad you're enjoying this as I'm having a blast with it. It's depressing but knowing how it ends certainly makes it easier :)
10 [Report This]Date: November 18, 2007 07:22 pm Title: The Merger
This is just so lovely and insightful. I can wait for more during your hiatus because I know that the wait will be worth it.
Author's Response: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I'm glad you think this will be worth coming back too and I promise it will only be taking a short break :)
Date: November 18, 2007 07:16 pm Title: The Initiation
I loved both of their POV's here but was sad that they both felt optimistic after the phone call and yet we know how that will go.
8 [Report This]Date: November 18, 2007 07:09 pm Title: Casino Night
Where have I been that I haven't seen this before? This was an awesome first chapter in your first Office fic! I didn't see anything quirky about your style at all - it was one of the many things I enjoyed. And the last two lines were beautifuly heartbreaking.
Author's Response: Thank you :) I'm glad you liked the style since I've gotten quite fond of it now. Originally I had so many ideas for this fandom but I couldn't seem to start anything. When I did this came out and I'm so glad people have enjoyed it.
Date: November 18, 2007 05:19 pm Title: The Merger
So many things to love about this chapter. I started to copy my favorite lines, but it was nearly the whole thing. The writing is just gorgeous, fluid and poetic, with no wasted words, and I could feel their emotions so vividly.
Seriously, no Benihana Christmas, with the prank Jim rejected and then gave in to? Jim watching her hug Roy, Pam watch him hug Karen? Lotsa potential there, shootingstars. Just sayin! :)
Author's Response: Thank you so much :) I'm so glad you're enjoying this Sweetpea. And thanks for the suggestion of Benihana Christmas, that's definitely the ep I'm considering having a chap about. I'll have to borrow my friend's DVD and re-watch. Thanks for reading :)
Date: November 18, 2007 04:41 pm Title: The Initiation
I like your use of "Hello/Goodbye". I would love you even more if you somehow worked "Hello, Goodbye" by the Beatles into this :).
Date: November 14, 2007 11:04 am Title: The Initiation
*Of course* that's why he calls her Beesley. Sigh.
Are you sure you're new at this?
Date: November 13, 2007 09:21 pm Title: The Initiation
so i had to come back and tell you that this is amazing!
so spot on and well written!
my favorite part?
She won't think of when she tripped decorating, spilt paint all down herself and ended up sat on the cold tile floor, crying because it could have been hilarious and it just wasn't.
Author's Response: THANK YOU :) I'm glad you enjoyed and I'm glad you picked out that bit. It's probably my favourite part of that chap too, in fact I had that line before I had most of the chapter.