1 [Report This]Date: June 23, 2023 12:40 am Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
Ahhhh! I don't even know where to start. I just loved this fic, okay? I loved loved loved it! Of course, no matter what universe they are in, Jim and Pam are going to take the long road because of course they are. It doesn't matter how perfect they are for each other or that everyone around them can see it, they always have to torture themselves and each other before getting together.
This was just the perfect combination of Jim and Pam being Jim and Pam, many great references to canon and a bunch of little cameos (Dwight and Angela! Jan! Andy and Katy!) I absolutely love that you gave Pam a healthy and fun group of friends, and the fact you added Karen in there was just the cherry on top because I like Karen and have no doubt they could have been good friends if canon hadn't happened. I wish we had gotten to know a bit more about Jim's life, but I understand this was from Pam's POV and I did love learning a bit about hers, so it was all good.
Sorry I couldn't leave a better comment, and thank you so much for writing and sharing this wonderful story with us!
Date: April 23, 2023 04:52 pm Title: 2. I Can't Keep Denying Every Minute I Think of You
Hey, remember when you wrote this story and decided to make Karen so much of an absolute delight that I had no choice but to become a fan?
I've lost count of how many times I've re-read this story. The entire thing is just so, so good. But this specific chapter? Out of the tens of thousands of words I've read that you've written - this chapter is some of my absolute favorites. I really just wanted to make sure you knew that.
From Pam kicking Roy out (he still drinks Natty Light and it still makes me laugh), to Pam and Isabel and Karen watching GG:AYITL(and drinking old fashioneds, how dare you), to "I hear you and it's my birthday" to Katy's sticky lip gloss blow jobs... I could go on, but I won't; I'll just tell you again how amazing it all is.
For whatever reason, the part that made me the happiest on this read through was when Karen group texted Pam the morning after her birthday and started it with "Hey Boozer." So simple but so great.
Whatever. You made me love Karen. It's fine.
But also hey, remember when they ruined the friendship? They ruined it real good.
1 [Report This]Date: June 13, 2021 07:51 am Title: 5. Baby, You and I Got History
This was the chapter I was anticipating reading....how I enjoy the way you weave your stories tying together traits or the characters and stories from the show into a your world which somehow has a tone that remarkably feels both different and the same simultaneously.
The whole bit with Ryan and Kelly and Michael and Jan and the perfect icing, Dwangela - As if I don’t know what Dwight means when he stops by weekly to check on Angela’s pipes. ‘You know these old houses,’ he always uses as an excuse. But I know for a fact he’s never checked my pipes. Ew. - that line was brilliant.
These two idiots is right - oh how you nailed the way it went down - from the heat of the moment (I'm thinking of an Aisa song now, thank you) to the awkward afterwards, Pam's vulnerability hangover (love that expression), the trying to get back the easy flow only to talk about runs and shopping trips. The way you've repurposed the lines and swapped positions, with Jim not having a commitment he's tied to, but instead what seems a Peter Pan attitude from her vantage point(and haven't we all had an experience with that type at some point in our life) and that she thinks he values the friendship to much to have just a one-nighter with her, but in reality is just their classic miscommunication.
The adorable scenario you created to find their sort of resolution (at least the naturalness of their friendship is back) - a fun bit that seems very much in Jim, Pam and Dwight's essence.
That mantra of Pam's - We're Friends. We'll always be friends, perfectly repurposed here.
If you can't tell I really love this story.
1 [Report This]Date: June 11, 2021 08:36 pm Title: 2. I Can't Keep Denying Every Minute I Think of You
Dusting off my bookshelf I came across this - truth be told been meaning to read it for a bit now and glad I finally did. I'm just so tickled by it so far. I have this image of the house in my head (my vision the model is a bit like one I lived into in college that also had multiple units. And the comfort between the housemates (despite separate quarters) brings me back to apartment building living (there's always an Angela too isn't there?)
But the thing that I'm giddy over is the naturalness of the story that brings in so many of the fun scenes we recognize all while giving us a Pam with season 6 or so sass - so good to see it early on, a friend in Karen(and once again a likable Karen - why does she always seem to get written so unlivable) and little bits that are so relatable. The hair headache, Black Swan level jealousy,,thin walls and silly drunk dialogue (all of which was adorable, the parts borrowed from dundies and those from I assume real life. But don't we all blurt when we are drunk?
Oh and Cathy IS the worst.
Date: October 19, 2020 12:16 am Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
"It’s not as sexually provocative as it is just a need to keep touching each other. I don’t think we’ve stopped touching in one way or another since we held our little confessional at my front door nine hours ago." is amazing. So of course you follow it up with "I'm not worried about YOU" not being quiet. Rude.
"such a powerful orgasm he was certain that I broke his brain." Poor Andy.
This version of the teapot is great, and I love this coming back around to the fortune.
I was struck by the BDE section, actually - I always sort of associated an element of BDE as being charisma that comes from an otherwise inexplicable place. Like I wouldn't have thought of Idris Elba having it because you would assume just by looking at him that he has reason to be confident. I kinda think of Pete Davidson as the ultimate in BDE - it's the explanation for why people are drawn in and don't really know why. Am I just... you know, wrong about this? Out of step with the young people, with their Tiktoks and their Cardi Vitamin B and whatever?
Date: October 18, 2020 11:49 pm Title: 6. We Can't Deny Our Chemistry
FYI, Jim's speech about how he doesn't want to be just some guy she fucks around with is not making me want the multi-chapter version of the college AU from Folklore any less.
Date: October 18, 2020 11:46 pm Title: 3. I've Got Only Good Intentions
"Sometimes we fantasize about elaborate vacations that always seem to include the other without planning an actual vacation together. Sometimes we dissect about our jobs, or rather our dream jobs, and imagine moving to places like Philadelphia or New York City, our conversation seamlessly transplanting both of us. Neither one of us pointing out the probability of the other being left here in Scranton; it’s just talk." These lines have really stuck with me.
Date: October 18, 2020 11:44 pm Title: 5. Baby, You and I Got History
"In retrospect, that should have been an indicator that Jim and I enjoy playing with fire way too much." is a great description of them in fic and in canon.
Also. Ugh. SAY SOMETHING YOU DOPES.
Date: October 18, 2020 11:41 pm Title: 4. Only Brave in the Moonlight
Okay, again, a great remix of canon. And also OUCH. The fact that you flipped the Casino Night script is kinda fascinating to me - we don't see many fics with Pam thinking of herself as the primary pine-r.
Date: October 18, 2020 11:37 pm Title: 2. I Can't Keep Denying Every Minute I Think of You
So this is not my first run through this story, so a couple things I will note here that are more full-story reviews: I love the way you've repurposed the ensemble to populate their world here. And I love the way you've repurposed canon (the lawn chairs and the candle, Jim recognizing she doesn't feel bad about that, the carpet).
I love the line about Pam wanting to channel her inner Black Swan, plus the appearance of Loud Drunk Pam, the way Jim and Pam are semi-inadvertently driving off each other's suitors... the near hook-up...
I liked this a lot, is what I think I'm saying.
1 [Report This]Date: October 18, 2020 11:30 pm Title: 1. Your Body's Looking Good Tonight
Oh, man. This is just fabulous flirtatious friends banter. AND HE HAS PIZZA AND BEER JUST FOR HER. *Kelly voice* What's taking you so long?
Date: August 24, 2020 08:34 am Title: 3. I've Got Only Good Intentions
I absolutely loved this story. So sweet.
1 [Report This]Date: August 07, 2020 11:12 pm Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
Idk why it has taken me so long to read this. It was published during my absence from MTT and last chat Coley said “go read this” and now here I am and I have a lot to say but mostly
How dare you make me feel all those mushy feelings like this
1 [Report This]Date: March 30, 2020 07:42 pm Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
This. Was. Adorable.
Who knew I needed a story about Jim and Pam being sexually frustrated neighbors until now? This is for sure one of the best, if not the best, AU stories I've read. Great job, I loved it.
Date: January 04, 2020 10:34 am Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
I've loved this story! It's emotional and funny, and the premise is great. I really like what you've done with Jim and Pam. Thank you!
1 [Report This]Date: March 14, 2019 08:17 pm Title: 1. Your Body's Looking Good Tonight
That Idris Elba nod in the last chapter had me rolling! Such a perfect reference. This story had everything: mutual pining, angst, wit, chemistry, and a whole lot of passion. Ahhhh I love it!
Author's Response: Thanks so much CD! But I wasn’t wrong about Idris Elba, was I?? 😂 Thanks for taking the time to read and review. I appreciate your kind words!
Date: March 13, 2019 04:51 pm Title: 1. Your Body's Looking Good Tonight
I loved every chapter of this! The supporting characters were great. Of course Kelly would be all about BDE! Thank you for this gem of a story.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Sprinkles! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Those supporting characters were so much fun to write and I’m so glad you liked where they fit in the story. Thank you for taking the time to read and review.
Date: March 12, 2019 06:34 pm Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
Okay, long past time to write this review. Great way to wrap this up. After all the will-they-won't-they roller coaster ride, it's great to see that once they do figure things out they're just about inseparable. There were just so many great moments throughout this chapter. Pam on the phone with both Jan and Karen, the brunch with her co-workers, and of course all the hijinks she and Jim got into. I always like reading the moment when Jim and Pam finally get together and this one didn't disappoint in any way.
There's only one small thing that's troubling me. While Jim and Pam getting together here was wonderful to read, through the wild weekend they had I can't help but take my hat off to that poor bowl of ice cream. There is sat until it melted away into ice cream soup in its bowl. May we all long remember the noble frozen treat that sacrificed itself so nobly that our favorite pair of idiots would finally get together.
Author's Response: Thanks for this kind review, W4! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate your kind words. While I’m never one to sacrifice ice cream, it had to happen for the cause, man. 😂
1 [Report This]Date: March 09, 2019 08:07 am Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
After reading the summary for some reason this one told me to wait until it was complete to read all at once and I am so glad I didn’t torture myself by waiting between updates. I kept checking which chapter I was on because I didn’t want this to end, and then in the last chapter I kept checking the side scroller to see how much I had left of this to enjoy. I REALLY didn’t want this one to end. (Except I wish I had never read that part about crazy!cathy. Brain bleach please! I really thought he was just saying that to get a rise out of Pam and later was going to say he never slept with her, just couldn’t get her to leave...ew!)
Aside from the really enjoyable and believable way you wrote Jim and Pam in this universe I especially enjoy a story where karen is written in the way I feel she truly fits best… typical role of best friend with an actual personality. Thank you for that, I loved Karen and her role here.
Author's Response: Oh man, BoY thanks so much for this review. I really appreciate it. I have to say, giving Karen an “actual personality” (GREAT way of putting it!) is one of my favorite things to do in an AU. I’m so glad you liked that. Also, I am so glad to hear you needed a brain bleach after that Cathy scenario. 😂😂 I spent a day contemplating which direction to take the Jim/Cathy thing and the Pam/Danny thing. Ultimately I think (I hope?) it worked, but I think Pam probably wants a bit of a brain bleach from that as well. 🙂 Thank you again for taking the time to read this and review it.
Date: March 09, 2019 04:35 am Title: 2. I Can't Keep Denying Every Minute I Think of You
The first time I read this I hadn't watched the Cathy episodes yet. Now I have. Ugh! Cathy is THE worst!
Author's Response: I know, right?? Cathy is TERRIBLE.
1 [Report This]Date: March 08, 2019 08:36 pm Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
Chief Nagger reporting for duty. Buckle up.
“I get it now, and I’m sorry. So, so sorry.”
GIRL.
This STARTS at 100 mph and I am ALIVE for it ALL.
“It’s 7. I’m usually up for almost two hours by now.”
Honestly, you nail all of the teacher stuff right on the forehead, including the alarms, the teasing about summers off, long conference nights (I SEE YOU).
I love that they have to keep touching each other and “my subconscious can’t fathom letting him go” and her feeling this desperate need to not be away from him when he leaves the room for like 5 seconds and she’s giddy over debating cereals with him and “how my skin smells like his soap because that’s happens when you shower with your boyfriend at his place” and it’s all just to keep touching each other for the sake of being close. It’s that “we’ve wasted too much time” in a brand new way in a brand new setting and it still hurts so good.
ALSO. DC. HOW HAVE YOU WRITTEN AN ENTIRE CHAPTER FULL OF MODEST SMUT WITHOUT ME HEARING ABOUT IT. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.
But in all reality, I know you’re hiding behind your fingers, but those parts were all done so well and so poetic, and it fit right in with your writing style of Pam, and also Jim went down on Pam while she was on the phone with Jan and I am NEVER getting over that because W H A T OMG
Also, Gabe as the role of creepy maintenance man is honestly so much better than the role he actually had on the show and it’s perfect.
“My neighbor is off today and he’ll take care of me.”
“Mm-hmm.”
AHHH. WHAT. DC. U SLY DOG.
“I momentarily wonder if Katy would like a plant, maybe a peace lily.”
DC. STOP. OMG. I’m going to send YOU a peace lily, this is SO GOOD.
You used “shamelessly rode into oblivion” in a fanfic and I was proud of you earlier but now I have a shit eating grin on my face LOVE IT
I love the whole Angela exchange. She’s just as “in the wrong” and I love that Pam catches her.
And here we have old Jim poking through in the little collection of Pam on his countertop. Karen giving him the picture is just so special (have I mentioned how much I love BFF Karen? “Because he’s it for you” UGH), and the little admission of when he knew he loved her and when he knew he would tell her one day is so sweet.
And then there’s the fact that SHE kept the mini golf pencil, and ALSO the FORTUNE UGHH SO GOOD
Uhh, JIM STILL DOES LAUNDRY AT HIS PARENTS, ADD ME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WILL GIVE HIM RELENTLESS SHIT FOR IT YESSSSS
I see u, Peaky Blinders. Important question: Do they hate Grace as much as I do?
“We all left our significant others at home because I want to hear Pam talk about finally having sex with Jim.” I feel like this is a peg at us leaving our husbands to talk fanfic LOL
The entire BDE bit had me in stitches. The fact that it had to be explained? GENIUS.
Can I also just say—and this might be weird—but I’m so glad that you just alluded to the fact that they talked, and didn’t give us the typical run of the mill awkward talk. I love just seeing them together, affirming that they love each other.
Girl. I am so enthralled by your writing. You have this way of being free and easy and so poetic with your characters, and they are SO in character but also in your world, and I am just so glad that you bless us with your wonderful talent. Can’t WAIT to hear more from you!
“Hear with your ears but listen with your heart.”
Author's Response:
Agh! Thank you so much for this lovely review! Really, it just warms my heart. I’m so glad you enjoyed some of my favorite moments too because this one was so much fun to write.
Ha! Yes, that brunch scene DID feel familiar, didn’t it??
No joke, I considered a whole anti-Grace conversation but, for the life of me, you and Mr Cupcake are the only people I know who don’t like her so I’m keeping Pam and Jim in Team Grace with me. 😂😂😂
It took all I had not to run to you and Coley about my modest smut. If you need me I’m hiding under my Protestant-issued-blanket-of-shame.
1 [Report This]Date: March 08, 2019 03:21 pm Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
*puts Ruin the Friendship on repeat and hits play* Let's do this.
Sigh.
I just.
What? How? Just.. how did you do this so perfectly from start to finish? (How DO cameras work?)
I mean, we start out with a bang. Literally. But also, with Pam thinking of apology flowers for Katy and I just love this more than you'll ever know.
And they wake up, and they're, you know, naked, but they're still them and the banter is on point and oh, early morning Jim is a new instant favorite what with the voice and the shenanigans during important work phone calls.
I don't even know what to say about this phone call with Jan because it's all brilliant. Gabe is a creepy maintenance guy. Jan is making it all about her. Pam is distracted. Have I told you how good you are at repurposing characters into better versions of themselves? And did I wake my neighbors up at midnight when I was first reading this and cackling loudly at the idea of sending Katy a peace lily? Yes, yes I did.
Oh hey, I lied. 4AM Jim is my new favorite. *shrugs*
"Tender lovemaking and feverish fucking." Yes please. But again, how are you so good at writing such beautiful phrases? "White dresses and shared vacations and family holidays." ITS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
"There’s an emptiness that hangs in the room in his absence, leaving me uncertain about how to reconcile that now-desperate need for him to be right here. I drop my face against the pillow he used, inhaling the scent he’s left in my bed sheets. My mind floats to minutes ago, his head pressed back against this pillow, his neck vulnerable and exposed, my name falling desperately and rhythmically from his lips." Jesus. This is so good I remember this feeling and you describe it so perfectly.
Karen's utterances on the phone of "oh my fucking god" and "jesus fucking christ." It's fine. Karen is me and it's cool. And I love so hard that Pam wants to have just this weekend for her and Jim before sharing it with everyone else. Again, it's what they deserve. Oh! And Jim has the same weekend plans and I'm melting because they're so cute and this is the best.
"“With the number of times our Lord and Savior had his name taken in vain, one would have thought you two were having a spiritual revival rather than indulging in sins of the flesh. Your moral turpitude and disregard for the rules is the type of deviant behavior that leads to complete and utter anarchy. I will not have the downfall of society on my shoulders so that you two can treat Dwi — Mr. Schrute’s property like some 1970s swingers’ love nest.”" I mean - this is just brilliant. Seriously, your Angela is on point and its amazing and you just always have to keep writing things.
Hey, let's talk about what happens in Jim's kitchen. Let's talk about how the night before, he cleaned his kitchen and brought out his Pam things to amp himself up to confront her with pizza and I am fangirling so hard over this entire scenario that it's almost like I'm too obsessed with these people from a tv show.
The sketch. The picture. The fortune slip. I can't. There isn't anything I can say that actually tells you how good all of this is because it's perfect and sweet, and "this is when I realized everyone else knew I was in love with you except for you," and damn, it is DUSTY in here because my eyes are super watery right now.
I kind of wish I was a part of this brunch scene, because well, brunch is great but this friend group is even better and it's such a perfect end-cap to the story. I know we aren't obsessing over Jim's BDE or anything of the sort, but like, he has it and Idris Elba has it and Kanye doesn't and I forever love you for this description of it and I'm stealing it to use in my everyday conversations.
You had to do it, didn't you? You had to add another scene in which Karen is the best best friend a girl could have and she's all supportive and great and "He's it for you" and I'm CRYING AGAIN because Karen is so happy for them but she's still going to tease Jim over Call of Duty and his ears and whatever...you win. Team Karen.
That last line made me cry a third time. DC, they did it. They finally did it. THEY RUINED THE FRIENDSHIP and it's perfect and beautiful and lovely and I'm running out of adjectives but like, you know this is now my favorite thing you've ever written, right? Because it is. And I'm so, so sad that's it done.
Would you believe me if I said I have another birthday coming up next month and would like another fic from you for it? Because I'm willing to do that - age another year right away - if that's what it takes.
Okay. So, I'm going to get a little over-dramatic and serious for a minute. I just need to you to know that I am so proud of you for writing this story. I know there were a few parts that forced you out of your comfort zone (hi, this entire last chapter? Girl, I hate to break it to you but guess what? You can write smut. You can write glorious, fantastic, GOOD smut and well, now that I know this, I can't ever not remind you of it.) And just - you took these two idiots and their dumb friends and you spun this magical and beautiful story start to finish and it's so good, and I've read it too many times and I'm going to keep reading it and begging for sequels and prequels, and that's your warning on that.
What I'm trying to say is that I really, really hope you loved writing it as much as I loved reading it. Because it's a whole lot.
Author's Response:
See, just, I mean this review warms my heart so much. Thank you for that. I love hearing your favorite moments (so many of them were my favorite writing moments) and I just had So Much Fun writing it. And, you know, it was all for you so that means even more. 😂
But also: 4AM Jim is Definitely my fave too, I’m so glad you understand Pam’s Katy-guilt, and thank you thank you thank you for that little fortune slip nudge. It made ALL the difference to this ending.
Date: March 08, 2019 06:21 am Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
Such a perfect ending! I would've been happy with the ways things ended during the last chapter, and then you cooked this up and is the thing I didn't know was missing in my life.
Thanks so much for writing it.
Also, I'm in love with your Karen. She's going to be my headcanon from now on. And I can see, even just looking at the series, how she and Pam could be BFFs.
Anyway, I'm off to read the whole thing again because... well, because.
Tell me where do you want that whiskey shipped (was it bourbon?). You're great at writing smutt!
Author's Response: Oh, man, K3 that review is just the sweetest. And you're going to read the whole thing again... well, that means so much. Thank you! I really like the whole strong female friendship as part of romance stories so, yeah, AU is good for that because I completely agree that Pam and Karen could have been good friends on the show. Thank you so much for following this story and your kind words of encouragement along the way. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Date: March 08, 2019 06:20 am Title: 7. What's Taken Us All This Time?
Oh this was exactly the beautiful resolution I was hoping for. I'd usually have something more specific and constructive to say but why bother? I loved it so much.
Author's Response: Aw, Comfect thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate you being a big supporter of this story from the beginning.
1 [Report This]Date: February 28, 2019 08:27 pm Title: 1. Your Body's Looking Good Tonight
I keep watching for one more chapter of this gem. ;-)
Author's Response: Thanks, Sprinkles! I’m working on the last chapter now. I hope you’ll enjoy how it wraps up.