1 [Report This]Date: February 21, 2019 06:17 am Title: Chapter 1
Maddddiiii! This is so fantastic. I won’t regurgitate all of NLM’s wise words, but I WILL say you’ve perfectly captured what makes season 9 so painful and lovely and unbearable and hopeful.
It’s so frustrating to see people divide these two because of these struggles into all wrong or all right. You didn’t fall trap to that all; you captured the conflict beautifully while making it clear that it doesn’t have to be a screaming match and that you can struggle with the person you love.
I love that steamy scene (so well written!) but I really love how their interaction was ALL so Pam and Jim. Their moments getting ready for bed where just so lovely! Thank you for this wonderful contribution to the poorly lacking season 9 fic. I can’t wait to see what else you give us! 😃
1 [Report This]Date: February 21, 2019 05:57 am Title: Chapter 1
Madi! I really love this one.
You nailed the struggles and desperation and sadness of season 9’ for these two so well.
I think my favorite moment was when Pam broke down even harder when Jim got in the shower with her because being that close to him made her miss him even more. It’s such a real and powerful moment, and the way you wrote it is absolutely lovely.
And, don’t get me wrong - the whole shower sex scene is a great time, but that last paragraph - specifically the first sentence of it - with him all soft smiles and her gentle nudges... ugh Madi, that’s now became one of my favorite fanfic lines I’ve seen written that I wished I wrote because it’s just so perfectly them.
Great job with this!
1 [Report This]Date: February 21, 2019 05:33 am Title: Chapter 1
Lots of emotional beats here. I get the feeling that this is the evening after that really sweet make-up hug and kiss Jim and Pam had in "Paper Airplanes." That instead of going to Philly that night, Jim came home, and that last conversation on the phone was him telling his partners he needed a break. Yes it was all sweet in the parking lot, but the reality of all the time apart was still there and since he was on the phone so long Pam was naturally scared it things were going to go back to the way they had been. So Pam's admission and Jim's reaction (before the sex) was what solidified Jim's decision to step back from Athlead. I get the feeling that since they do have such a deep bond, even if it was strained, Pam realized that too and thus the shower becomes much more enjoyable as does the rest of the night. So well done for being able to convey all of that.
1 [Report This]Date: February 20, 2019 11:55 pm Title: Chapter 1
Oooh, yes, I really like this. When I read reaction and analysis of Season 9, there’s a tendency to make it “Jim vs Pam” and that’s just not what it’s about at all. They’re both making mistakes, both trying not to burden the other with their problems and as a result keeping things from each other, but both are still trying their best.
This line really gets to the heart of the issue, at least on Pam’s side:
“She knows he’s doing this for them, she wants him to chase his dreams, but it’s so hard to root for someone when you feel like you’re falling apart. When you feel like his dreams are growing bigger than you, when you feel that you’re just simply not enough lately.”
People seem to forget Pam’s always struggled with her confidence, and with all the Athlead stuff from Jim not including her in the decisions to her struggling when he’s gone it’s no surprised we see Pam’s confidence taking a big blow.
But there’s no lack of love, lack of communication obviously, but not love, and the latter half of this shows that (in a very nice way 😉) Great work!