Date: December 16, 2008 08:36 pm Title: acceptance
Gah. The truth comes out. This was beautiful, and hardly sappy. I'm so glad you didn't leave it in the no-man's land! And selfishly speaking, I really needed this tonight, so thankyouthankyouthankyou.
This was a great read, from beginning to end. I love discovering all the little ways they would have figured it out without things like season finales and sweeps and summer breaks getting in the way. And I don't know why exactly, but it's somehow all the more satisfying when there's a journey across an ocean of angst to finally get to that happy place. You paced this perfectly, with just the right amount of each. And you didn't make us wait too long in between parts, so bonus gift!
Fantastic work, as always callisto. You continue to prove why you are one of my favorite writers on this board.
Author's Response: Blanca, thank you. I always love hearing from you! I am still feeling a little guilty (?) for doing the 'easy thing' and going with the happy ending, but hey, it's the holidays. :) I'm happy you liked it, and I have to agree that there's something satisfying about reliving and exploring the angst knowing there's hope on the other side. Thanks for coming along with me on this one. :)
10 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2008 08:08 pm Title: acceptance
WOW this was awesome. i usually don't read things in the past because i don't like seeing Pam & Jim not together, i like reading smut too, who doesn't???
but WOW!!!
this was so good, this is how the actual show should have played out, it would have been so much better. I always get so giddy reading waiting for them to end the angst and they did!!!
i could relate and feel the pain of Jim while he had no much regret for what he did.
You Need to finish the story and see how Pam tells Roy and how Jim Buys a ticket for Pam to go to Australia with her, that would be a good way to end it.
it was so good btw. keep up the good work!! :)
Author's Response: Thanks Jerky Jerk Face! (Nice username, btw.) I've had this inexplicable desire to relive the angst and rewrite it with a happier ending, so, this story. But I'm sorry to say, that's where it ends. Glad you enjoyed it though! :)
Date: December 16, 2008 07:13 pm Title: acceptance
Aww that's so cute. I love her coming to see him and then the call late at night. I can't wait to see what's next.
Author's Response: Glad you liked it. But I'm afraid that's where it ends. This was just a short little exploration of how things might have gone differently...from here, it's all up to the imagination. :)
Date: December 16, 2008 07:09 pm Title: acceptance
This was wonderful :) You always write so eloquently. Just so you know, it's Aqua Teen, not Team :)
Author's Response: Gah! I knew that, I really did. It's fixed, and thank you. Thanks for the compliments LuxTenebrae, I appreciate it. :)
10 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2008 06:48 pm Title: acceptance
callisto, I am just so full of love right now! For you, for this story, for the Ghost of Christmas present, for breakast for dinner...for the fact that my girls, callisto and Talkative inspire each other. Life is good (it's the little things) :) This was such a satisying read. It really was. My heart was hammering along with Jim's. Mark, you fucking cheapskate, can’t you ever buy the coated stuff? Too funny! I'd say pretty much everyone is familiar with that disgusting feeling.This paragraph broke my heart: "I wasn’t always like this. I used to be happy..." I could just picture Future!Jim sitting in the stairwell with Dwight in Money. I love that, even in his confused, drunken, miserable state of mind, Jim still notices and appreciates the differences in Pam's appearance.
A surge of wild hope bloomed up in my chest, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my face neutral. I've always loved the phrase "wild hope." There's just something about it. Random, I know, but I just had to mention that. It conjures up a very specific feeling, so perfect here.
I, for one, am thrilled that you let them work it out. It allowed me to enjoy the angst that much more.
Happy--that's me. Awesome--that's you.
Author's Response: Hello miss Nan! Good to hear from you. 'It's the most wonderful time of the year...' So I couldn't leave it in a dark place. (Besides, the way Talkative did it is just untouchable in its awesomeness.) I'm glad you liked the bit about the aspirin (I assumed it's a universal experience) and the part where he's remembering he used to be happy. Jim just hurts me all through S2. As for the bit about 'wild hope'-- I don't know where I first read it but it's also a phrase I have always loved, so funny you should mention that! Anyway, glad you liked it, thanks, as always, for your enthusiastic and glowing feedback, and...Merry Christmas! :D
8 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2008 06:09 pm Title: impending doom
I really liked this, but if I have one slight criticism is I feel Pam choosing Jim was a bit rushed. I mean the time between CN and Dwight's Speech isn't that long, so I guess I can still see Pam reacting the same way, ie not making a decision that same night. JMO. Still thought the fic was excellent though :)
Author's Response: I appreciate your honesty, Noodles, and I actually agree. I knew a more realistic ending would not be as happy as the one I wrote. The only justification I can offer is that I wanted to do a (brief) exploration of the possibilities had they decided to be honest with each other sooner than they did on the show. I'm glad you were able to enjoy it though! Thanks for the review. :)
Date: December 16, 2008 05:03 pm Title: acceptance
Jesus, Mark go to bed! and stay in there forever! Every story, it never fails, that dude seems to wander out at the most inappropriate times ;) Not too sappy for me. Thanks for such quick updates!
Author's Response: Ah, yes. Poor Mark, doomed to always be a plot device. Glad you liked it though! :)
Date: December 16, 2008 04:57 pm Title: acceptance
I can't dry swallow pills at all. Not even the teeny tiny ones. But heck, it took me 15 years before I could even pretend to swallow pills at all, so, I guess its to be expected.
File that under "stuff I didn't need to know, nor did I care to know, about EmilyHalpert"
It was Pam. :)
She said yes.
Author's Response: I suppose I could have added that it was Pam, but less is more, right? Oh, and EH, I was counting on the fact that NO ONE can dry-swallow cheap uncoated aspirin. :) Thanks for reading!
Date: December 16, 2008 04:49 pm Title: impasse
PAM! He does have feelings for you, but *sputters incomprehensibly* No wonder it took these two so long to hook up, they clearly have issues communicating!
Author's Response: Yeah, they just make you want to slap some sense into them, don't they? :O)
Date: December 16, 2008 04:42 pm Title: impending doom
"It would take over half my savings to spend a single week there."
And that is why I haven't gone (yet). Not having to run away from any wedding, so keeping my savings seems like a good idea.
Pam, how can you not know! He can't watch you get married, he just can't. Yes it is because Roy is wrong for you. Because of what that means. You are spending your life with someone who is wrong for you just because Mr Wrong had the dumb luck to meet you first!
Author's Response: Yeah, Australia is expensive. Just getting there is expensive. Isn't it fun to relive the days where they haven't learned how to tell the truth yet? (Is 'fun' the right word?) :)
Date: December 16, 2008 04:12 pm Title: acceptance
this was really cute.
I usually don't read first-person fics, but I liked this one (:
Author's Response: Glad you gave it a chance, since first-person is pretty much all I do. Thanks for reading! :)
Date: December 16, 2008 04:03 pm Title: impending doom
wow
Author's Response: Thanks!
Date: December 16, 2008 03:54 pm Title: acceptance
hmmm I like this whole Pam showing up at Jim's thing. But on the contrary, I don't know if I like the fact that Pam has to be like absolutely sure that Jim is in love with her before she has the balls to break it off with Roy. The fact is she is clearly in love with Jim, and that enough should be enough to realize that she can't be with Roy. But then again Pam (at least the old Pam) is kind of cowardly and insecure like that so maybe it's realistic. Plus I guess it's obviously harder to leave a fiance that you've been with for 10 years. I didn't find it sappy at all though. You're Jim and Pam are very much in character :)
Author's Response: Well, I've always wondered if Pam would ever let herself know that she was really in love with Jim. It's possible to convince yourself it's just friendship, especially if you've been in a relationship for 10 years. But I'm glad you didn't find it sappy, and even if it didn't all ring true, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your honesty, I really appreciate it, and thanks for reading. :)
Date: December 16, 2008 03:47 pm Title: acceptance
love love love. I wish you were continuing, but at the same time, I like where you're ending it. The first two chapters had me incredibly frustrated but this third one gave me shivers. It was perfect.
Author's Response: Thanks flonkerton! I know, those first two chapters irritated me too, but I wanted to try to be true to the 'oh for God's sake say something' thing they had going on at that time. Glad you enjoyed it, and I think it's safer to stop while ahead. :)
Date: December 14, 2008 11:48 pm Title: impasse
Oh, wow. Another phone call and we're still dancing around the real issues. And no, it wasn't just you. I definitely wanted to smack some sense into those two back then (in fact, I still do when I watch old episodes).
This was a really interesting look into Pam's psyche. I always like to read different ideas of what she could have been thinking. Jim was always so transparent, but Pam was much harder to read. Of course she got the hint, but it's also a pretty big leap of faith to take without absolute confirmation. And Jim has definitely been sending mixed signals. Confusion and miscommunication, they make such great fodder for angst.
I am encouraged at the setup you've established here, with Roy away for the night. I can't wait for that breakthrough you promised! I'm hooked.
Author's Response: Blanca! My review responses are slacking. I also have a tough time trying to understand Pam during this time, but she gets so little love in the midst of all the Jim-sympathy that I thought she deserved to be explored a little, tell her side of things. Jim wasn't exactly forthcoming, either. I'm remembering CN and how that very morning he's helping her look at bands for the wedding! Gah! Speak up! Anyway, thanks for the review. You're awesome. :)
10 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2008 09:23 pm Title: impasse
hello, kindred spirit!
yes, i am sad enough to have a video playlist of all the episodes where major JAM moments happen, and in many of them i feel the need to shake one or both of them. in season 2, it's mostly pam. in season 3, it's mostly jim. please keep writing!
Author's Response: Well, the bad times are over now. Makes them interesting to relive, though. Thanks for reading! :)
Date: December 14, 2008 07:30 pm Title: impasse
I'm enjoying this story. "difficult to grasp" indeed :)
Author's Response: Pam's head is hard to get into, so I hope my take was realistic. Thanks for reading!
10 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2008 07:28 pm Title: impasse
That was beautiful and so heartbreaking! I hope you continue with this!! :) I'm glad we get to see fluffy Jam on the TV show, but it's nice to have some angst sometimes too!!
Author's Response: Yeah, it's weird that I miss the angst a little. Probably knowing there's a happy ending makes it worthwhile to relive the dark days. Thanks for reading!
8 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2008 02:43 pm Title: impasse
I think you've caught Pam's state of mind perfectly. It's clear from her thoughts that she doesn't realize she doesn't love Roy anymore. "I couldn’t just throw my life away for a maybe" Obviously if she truly wanted to be with Roy it didn't need to matter what Jim felt about her.
Looking forward to more :)
Author's Response: Pam is such an enigma during that whole period; I always found it hard to believe she truly didn't know Jim had feelings for her. I'm glad my thoughts about her state of mind rang true. Thanks for the feedback! :O)
Date: December 14, 2008 01:42 pm Title: impending doom
I like this a lot...I definitely want to shake them---hopefully they say what needs to be said soon :)
Author's Response: Yeah, they are a frustrating duo those first few seasons! Thanks for reading. :)
Date: December 14, 2008 01:36 pm Title: impasse
Great concept with this story. I love it when authors delve into missed opportunities from season 2! You've got the tone and angst just right. I have my fingers crossed for a happy ending.
Author's Response: I have something like six of these--so many missed opportunities! Ah, the angst! Glad you feel the tone is right; that's important to me. Thanks for reading, and, well... we'll see. :)
10 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2008 11:46 am Title: impasse
I REALLY want to shake Jim and Pam and tell them to say something... but you're the one who controls that in this fic. After lots of debate, I decided that I'm not gonna shake you, but I'm gonna beg you to make them speak or say something!! (And also the sooner the better!)
This is a great story... I can't wait to hear more! :)
Author's Response: Well, I can't let them figure it out too quickly, that would ruin the fun. (Is fun the right word?) :) There will definitely be a turn toward the direct soon enough. Thanks for the feedback! :)
Date: December 14, 2008 11:39 am Title: impasse
Yes there were so many times that you just want to yell "Say something! Please!" And this story is one of those times. I love how well you've written them and it's truly thsoe moments when you're so frustrated and cannot believe that one of them won't just say something! I love it though. It's the perfect amount of angst, underlying feelings and confusion that they had in s2. I cannot wait for more! Hopefully, it comes soon....
twss? :) Anyways great job!
Author's Response: Thanks for sticking with me! This is not going to be very long, just a chapter or two more, so actual speaking and confrontation is imminent. But they wouldn't be them if they didn't hem and haw and dance around the subject a while, so... thanks for reading! I appreciate the feedback. :)
9 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2008 10:52 am Title: impasse
Loving this as per usual with your fics! Can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: Hi JitC! Glad you're liking it. It's none too happy, but neither was S2, eh? More to come soon. :)
10 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2008 10:32 am Title: impasse
Holy Hannah! This is just so good, callisto (as I was sure it would be)! So happy to see you posted a second chap. Anyway, I read these chaps with my heart in my throat and a knot in my stomach. “You kissed me once.” His voice was soft. “Do you remember?” Kill me dead, why don't you?! While I am so very thrilled to read JAM fluff, you have me thinking that I really do like a little angst, especially when it's as well written as this. It makes things interesting, doesn't it? Very much looking forward to what's next.
Author's Response: Hello there Nan! What is it that makes us miss the angst? The knowledge that there is a happy ending? Whatever it is, I've discovered I like writing it almost as much as the happy fun stuff. And since I don't have any new ideas, I thought I'd dust this off and see if anybody wanted to read it. Thanks for the review-- as always, you make me want to keep going. :)