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The goddamn box indeed. It hurts in the best way possible. Do you know you write hurting Jim in such a way that it causes me like physical pain? Because you do.
But also never, ever stop.
That last paragraph...how dare you.

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“He doesn’t know how not to think about her.” I mean same. I think about them both everyday...

“It was the ninety-third time he thought about marrying her.” This fine. Totally fine.

That end note. Girl, please. I live for your angst.

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“recognizes it was okay to need that sense of familiarity that was disguised as security”
The way you’ve summed up Pam’s entire relationship with Roy so succinctly with this.

“emotionally unpacked” I adore how you do this. The physical, tangible way you’ve written this, with her routine of unpacking memorabilia & then reflecting on it all. It really is emotional unpacking & it’s perfect.

Oh. My. God. Pam swapping the handset from their phones will do. me. in.

“a long-distance version of Jinx” This is the best description of them not communicating with one another during the Stamford time. Holy crap. I can’t deal with how good it is.

“Turns and highways are the only logistics standing in her way back to him. In theory.” I love this so very, very much.

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The capital T of time kills me in this. It’s a mood and a half.
“But Time cackles and ironically says, “I can’t.””
I mean c‘ mon, DC. It’s amazing.

“Wailing, sorrowful, cathartic tears are for the shower. Bitter, angry tears are for the car. Sniffling, breathy tears happen in moments like this when her fucking emotions take over at work”
Wow. Uh, it’s rude that you’ve been watching me. This is so damn real.

“He reminds her of a sweet meerkat, softly blinking, harmless.” This is the perfect description. It’s uncanny.
This whole Michael pep talk is everything. The writing is just spectacular & I love him a whole, whole lot because of it. You’ve captured the best parts of him in all the best ways.

(I know I’ve read this before, but I don’t think I’ve actually reviewed it & I’m so ecstatic to see an update so here we are...)

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You: “Next chapter will be a bit more angsty!”

Me, having missed this story when it was first being updated because I am a trash person who abandoned MTT for no good reason at all: “oh, okay, if what has been written already isn’t getting to the higher end of the angst meter then am I fully prepared for what’s next?”

You: *writes this chapter*

God, DC. This whole thing, the exploration of them exploring how they feel, before he tells her and after he leaves and while she’s breaking him? It is so genius and perfect. I love the symmetry in these chapters, how alike they are in their feelings without knowing it. I LOVED the yogurt story and had to go back and reread about her moving her computer because she WANTED TO SEE WHAT CHANGE WAS LIKE. Oh, my god. Murder me.

And I loved that at the beginning she was still processing things with Roy. Even when it’s not right, it’s so so hard to end a relationship like that, and it takes time and effort to unpack how you feel and sort those feelings away. You addressed it so beautifully.

I love this. I hate that I was gone when it was first published and I hate that my first act upon logging back in wasn’t to go and read all of your work (and Coley, and AG, and JB, and all of my other favorites, if you guys could just not be so good and prolific and also if you could pay me money to read all your fic so I didn’t have to waste time with a job, that’d be great ty) but I am so glad I had so much of this one to read today. Excellent work, but no surprise there. Cannot wait to see how you end it.

Oh Jim, there you go still being the lovelorn fool you are. Kind of fun to get some more of the backstory between them. Especially the expired yogurt moment. He's clearly still reeling from everything and from where I sit doing everything he can to distract and deny what he really feels.

Only one chapter left? Really interested to see where this takes us.

Two AWWWWWWWWW moments for me. Switching the phone handsets and "I can't" carved on her tombstone.

Good onya

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This feels very real, and absolutely is a thing that happened - there's no way Jim didn't do a much-needed Pam scrub of his room before that party.

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There are a LOT of great lines here.

The bit about Pam and Roy passing the ring back and forth because it has no emotional value to Pam and no financial value to Roy is just very them.

Pam freezing up during the PPC meeting is lovely.

The reveal that he left the yogurt lid and the dove is heart-breaking, AND makes the use of the medal during The Job that much more meaningful.

And I love her finally reaching the tipping point of starting to move forward again.

I like this one. I think that Jim was optimistic before Casino Night so the time fits.

Author's Response: Thank you, Sprinkles! Yeah, I agree about Jim's still-optimistic spirit here. Next chapter, not so much...

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“This is his, but it’s all about her.” is the most accurate description of Jim that I’ve seen in a long time. So good.

I love this imaginary conversation with Betsy! I mean, you know she has the perfect box just sitting in her closet but I like to think she’d still give him a hard time about asking and this is why he doesn’t. No, not Jim - instead, Jim has the most typical and perfect guy response to needing a box - just go and buy something. Brilliant.

Yes DC, these are exactly the types of things Jim keeps. This boy is PINING and if it was anyone else, I’d be rolling my eyes so hard at him but somehow it just makes me love Jim more?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m worried about all the ways this could turn angsty in the next chapter but that doesn’t mean I want it any less. I’ll keep saying it, this story is SO good. I hate that I have no idea what the end game could possibly be, but I am waiting as patiently as I can to find out!

Author's Response:

Yea! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your kind words and those specific things you liked.  

I know, Jim here is almost a little giddy in his pining for her. I didn't intend for this one to be almost hopeful, but I think it worked for this part of the season. And don't YOU worry; you'll get your one shoe, and an evening in Stamford, and a reason to hate Karen in the next chapter.

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Things that Jim kept that reminded him of Pam? Office Olympic origami doves, his copy of the mix tape he left in the teapot, the teapot card, some random doodle Pam gave him before Casino night, the citronella candle from grilled cheese on the roof. Hopefully there are a few possibilities in there for you.

So I liked how Pam's journey of introspection has come around in this chapter. She's finally okay with just being herself. Not Pam and, just Pam. Fancy New Beesly is ready to make herself known. There still is, and always will be, work to be done. However this is the start of the Pam who's ready to finally tell Roy the truth and who will walk through fire for Jim. Nicely done.

Author's Response: Hey Warrior! Thank you so much for responding, especially given the likelihood of sleep deprivation you are experiencing. I thought of the citronella candle, too! I kind of thought that was a crazy thought, but maybe we're on to something (or we're both crazy!). Thanks for your kind words. I think Pam went through a really terrible year in season three, but, as much I would have loved Jim to run back into her arms, I do like that she went on a bit of a journey alone.