Date: December 22, 2017 03:55 pm Title: "Halloween"
I thought it was very clear.
Pam was as usual wearing the blinders provided by her ring and of course the issue of being inside the situation leaving her incapable of really seeing what was going on.
It’s great to read her outsiders opinion on Scranton’s situation with NC though. I think you are writing her very fair. Of course she may be a bit bias ;)
Author's Response: Yeah, she's got an interesting perspective, doesn't she? I'm glad it's coming through for you the way it is for me when I write it!
Date: December 22, 2017 10:53 am Title: "Halloween"
I was about to comment on how I loved the parallels but you had already done that in your end note ;) Can’t wait to see more!
Author's Response: Great minds think alike ;)
Date: December 22, 2017 09:34 am Title: "Halloween"
First, let me say I LOVE this story and look forward reading each new chapter. Their dialogue is very sweet and their voices are TRUE!
HOWEVER
as of several chapters ago, I just could no longer believe that they didn't know their true identities. For a little while I figured that Jim knew, but Pam was still clueless, but as of this chapter, I am convinced that they both know. At first, that was very distracting and frustrating to me. But now I just think they're both lapsing into denial because they're both afraid of revealing the truth . . . that it will pop this safe bubble they've created.
So that's my theory and I'm stickin' to it! :) Keep 'em coming!
Author's Response:
I can totally see that! I'm working on the assumption that the denial (after what is three/ten years in their lives, not a month as we're seeing it) is so deep that this will all eventually click into place but it hasn't yet. Like, Jim feels the walls closing in around him because "it's happening again" not because he realizes they're the same. But yes, it does require quite deep denial, from whichever angle...I may play around with what happens if I come over to your theory. Certainly you'll see Pam and Jim work through it when they do find out (which is soon, though not yet).
And thanks so much for reading.
1 [Report This]Date: December 21, 2017 10:08 pm Title: "Halloween"
I like the end of 24, seems like Pam is totally projecting!
And the story is really immersive too, checking up on this story everyday, it feels like I'm living vicariously through these chats. :)
Also, just a thought, it would be really cool to see the timestamps on the IMs... but that would look too cluttered. Maybe at the end, this story could be adapted into images like NobleLandMermaid's Expressions in Emoticons, but with timestamps included? It would be sweet to see the hesitant pauses each of them take even in sending short messages. :D
Author's Response:
I was hoping that would be the effect of the posting schedule; I'm glad to know it's working for you.
I would totally love to put timestamps on these, but I do think that in the simple graphical format here it would be just added clutter. But maybe as you say after it's all over...because you're right, there are definitely some pauses in here that aren't otherwise marked. If I wasn't very committed in-story to this being over AOL/AIM, I'd use the Gchat system, where only pauses longer than a minute or so are explicitly marked. But that would be immersion-breaking for me.
Thanks for reading!
Date: December 21, 2017 08:43 am Title: "The Fire"
Argh, I’ve been a bad reader/reviewer. Christmas is kicking my butt!
I really liked how you focused these last two chapters on Pam and connected them the way you did. That whole jealousy thing was brilliant, probably my favorite part of the story so far.
I wish I had jellybeans to give this chapter!
Author's Response: I appreciate the kind words. I certainly don't think of you as a bad reader/reviewer; I always appreciate hearing whatever you have to say. I'm glad the emphasis on Pam is working for you. I think she has the furthest to go at the start of the story, so I want to make sure she gets there in time.
Date: December 18, 2017 01:54 pm Title: "The Dundies"
Yes!! I love drunk characters! Especially writing like they would actually text—it’s definitely more authentic that way. I was sure that Jim would’ve caught onto the TWSS, but I guess he’s more oblivious than we think ;)
Author's Response: I think he thinks that Michael's not as alone as he is. I mean, it's a bad joke, Michael can't be the only one, right (spoiler: he is)?
Date: December 18, 2017 08:00 am Title: "The Dundies"
Lol.. oh jim, you are going to feel like such an idiot!
Author's Response: He's not the only one...
Date: December 18, 2017 07:57 am Title: Hiatus
Looks like our ideas for that summer match up fairly well. This chapter felt just right.
It was nice to have them a little happier and playful in this chat. Quite the contrast to their inner thoughts and even much of their previous chats.
Off to the Dundies!
Author's Response:
I try not to always hit the angst button, even if its right there. These guys have got to be happy sometime, right?*
* Offer does not apply to "the Dundies."
Date: December 17, 2017 08:17 pm Title: Pamerica Online
I suppose this is the firs time story that I’ve been yelled at for leaving too many jellybeans ;)
While I’m constantly yelling at Pam and Jim to realize that they’ve known each other for years, I also actually kind of love the torture of them being so close but so far. Love it! Can’t wait for more!
Author's Response: I'm flattered :). And I feel like yelling at them in the real series, so I feel that way even more in this--and I'm the one writing it! I do promise a happy ending though, I'm a definite JAM shipper. This will not be one of those bittersweet ones where the length of not realizing it overwhelms them into silence.
Date: December 17, 2017 05:20 pm Title: Pamerica Online
OK so I think I finally guessed when will the reveal (probably) be :p There was a clue in this chapter that I noticed.
This story is getting even better, I'm hooked!
Author's Response: I'm glad you think it's getting better! I do strive for improvement ;). And there's definitely clues throughout, though I might also be strewing clues I don't even realize I'm planting...so I don't promise all clues are to the correct resolution.
Date: December 17, 2017 03:20 pm Title: "Hot Girl"
Oh man, what a way to finally tell Scranton about the fiancé status, ouch.
My thoughts on the time between Hot Girl and The Dundies is that it was pretty much just more of the same, the only difference being Jim in a relationship that is basically a tiny step above casual. I was trying to think about things mentioned in the show that you could use, like learning to drive stick, but that would probably give too much away. And I couldn’t really come up with anything else.
I have complete faith in you and your excellent writing and story telling to decide what is right for this story. :D
And, yeah, I think I’ll keep my thoughts about how they find out quiet. Just in case I’m actually correct I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone.
Author's Response:
Yeah, I don't think Pam is really thinking how that's going to feel for Scranton, more just embarrassed she got mad at Roy for something she's been doing herself and anxious to fix it as quickly as possible. But it would clearly hurt Jim.
Thank you for your faith! I'm interested to know what you think of what I did with the hiatus--kinda setting up for my Dundies too, but stands alone. I also couldn't think of particular canon points to use so I sidestepped.
And once the reveal happens you'll have to let me know if you guessed right. I think you usually do :).
1 [Report This]Date: December 17, 2017 08:58 am Title: Pamerica Online
Fantastic story, I love the 'when will they find out' tension. You are the best for posting updates so frequently.
Author's Response: Thanks! I'm glad the tension feels like a positive and not a negative! I'll try to keep up the posting pace, it helps me actually get the story written ;).
Date: December 14, 2017 12:19 pm Title: "The Alliance"
Ahhh... I am biting my tongue so hard right now. I’ve got some suspicions and you’ve pretty much confirmed half of them in your review replies.
Anyway, it’s really quite hilarious to see how much they talk to each other about the situations they go through together at work and yet can’t see themselves being described by the other.
The thought of it being Jim or Pam on the other side of the computer is just so absurd it seems to never cross their mind. And Pam seems to really relish the anonymity. Jim probably not so much. Poor guy.
Author's Response:
Yeah, I know it can be really hard to imagine you actually know a person online (it turned out that one of the people who ran a website I frequented back in the day was also in my freshman class at college, but neither of us believed it at first) so I'm giving them pretty wide latitude of assuming they're just parallels and not the same. Poor Jim, though, since he thinks he's 0/2 instead of 0/1 in getting awesome women to date him...
And I'd be fascinated to know your suspicions, but feel free to keep them to yourself if you prefer to stay unspoiled whether or not they are true.
1 [Report This]Date: December 13, 2017 03:14 pm Title: "Health Care"
Everytime I see there's an update, it brightens my day, and everytime I finish reading the new chapter I get sad. Your fic became kind of a drug! I'm so excited for the 'big reveal' even though I guess we're gonna have to be patient :p
Also, question: Scranton knows that Morgan makes art, but does Jim know that Pam does too?
Author's Response: Thanks, it helps motivate me to write to hear this. I'm curious if you can guess when it's going to happen. And this most recent update should answer your question :).
1 [Report This]Date: December 13, 2017 09:40 am Title: "Health Care"
I love this story, and anxiously await every update! Super looking forward to Jim and Pam finally realizing that they have been in contact/in love with each other all this time.
Author's Response: Thanks, this is really good to hear. I promise, I have a specific plan for when they will find out (I'd actually be curious if you can guess it).
Date: December 13, 2017 03:52 am Title: "Diversity Day"
Oh my god, they’re so oblivious it’s adorable! I love how you can have them talking about one another without even realizing it. Can’t wait to see more!
Author's Response: They will remain oblivious for some time yet; I'm glad it worked for you to have them bring each other up. It felt wrong to me to have them avoid mentioning their other friend (but realistic enough that they hadn't done so yet, given that each of them avoids details out of habit). We may get a little less obliviousness and a little more talking about other topics (like the art) going forward.
Date: December 11, 2017 07:55 pm Title: "Pilot"
Yay! I’m so excited to finally get into the series!
I’m inclined to say let your frustrations seep with Diversity Day... my curiosity is peeked.
Author's Response: I'd be interested to know what you thought of "Diversity Day"--you can see my frustrations in both of them but mostly Jim there. Thanks for reading!
Date: December 11, 2017 04:24 pm Title: "Pilot"
They're both so oblivious! I love it. Definitely going to enjoy seeing the "after-office-hours" moments!
Author's Response: :) And they're only going to get more so! Glad you love it.
Date: December 09, 2017 05:58 pm Title: Pamerica Online
Oh man, what an awesome story. Very well written. Have to feel bad for Jim for clinging onto his ‘online girlfriend that’s never going to happen’ for such a long time, but it’s really cool to see how their online relationship and real life relationship are overlapping.
Author's Response: We're going to see some more of Jim's perspective on dating both in the Cugino's chapter and when we finally get to Hot Girl. I don't think it's quite as sad as it might seem (though yeah, I feel for the guy). I promise I'll make it worth his (and hopefully your) while.
Date: December 09, 2017 05:22 pm Title: Meeting Dwight
Yay! I’m anticipating complicated overlapping IMing but I’m excited they’ve finally met as Jim and Pam.
Author's Response: So am I! To both. Yeah, this is going to get complicated very fast. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it plausible!
1 [Report This]Date: December 08, 2017 03:57 pm Title: Pam's First Day
Still loving the online meetings! I can’t wait to see when our Morgan and Scranton will finally figure out who they really are ;)
Author's Response: Thanks! And I promise more actual online meeting content soon (as opposed to summary)!
Date: December 08, 2017 09:20 am Title: Pam's First Day
I hadn’t really thought too deeply about it before, but this added layer to their relationship, that they don’t even know about, makes this story so much more heartbreaking than what actually happened. All those years, all those clues that they’ll have overlooked once they begin working together, all those missed opportunities. But, I’m getting ahead of the story! I’m really excited to find out how they’re going to find out. Will one of them start to be curious or will it be one head smacking moment for them...
Author's Response: Yes, there's a reason for the angst tag here ;). Just as in the You've Got Mail (etc) series, I think the poignancy comes (assuming it comes at all in my story) precisely from that deepened sense of missed opportunity, but on the positive side it gives a real sense of ongoing future potential at the same time. Much less risk when you've known each other for decades...in at least some sense.
Date: December 07, 2017 03:06 pm Title: Marywood
I love the little tidbits about how Pam ends up at Dunder Mifflin—it’s an interesting take that we never really got to see. I wonder, now that they’re older, will “mom stuff” become obsolete? Can’t wait to read more!
Author's Response: I always enjoy speculating about those gaps in the narrative before the show. I think you're right about the term mom-stuff, but I do think they'll keep not talking about it; it's not like Jim's going to suddenly want to hear all about Roy! And conveniently for me that means I can string them along a little further...
1 [Report This]Date: December 06, 2017 03:53 pm Title: First Fight
Love love love where this is going. Are Jim and Pam going to meet IRL prior to working together? I think it'd be interesting for them to find out later. Or at some point in the future when they're both single have them arrange a blind date online only to find out they already know each other.
Author's Response: I'm not planning on it, no; I have a specific time when I think it makes sense for this to unravel, and it's in the series (so no meeting beforehand). But there will be the You've Got Mail-esque setting up of a date, for sure.
1 [Report This]Date: December 06, 2017 11:29 am Title: First Fight
oh wow, I had figured they’d somehow lose touch after awhile and then start at DM. But this way is going to be so much more interesting. So excited!
Author's Response: I'm glad you find this more interesting. I agree! My Pam and Jim are going to feel really dumb when they find out, but it will be worth it.