Date: October 08, 2020 10:39 am Title: mad woman
First off, I realize this probably wasn't planned, (or was it) but that this chapter drops just after the Office Ladies discuss "The Negotiation" on the podcast was a bit of timing excellence.
I've always thought that this was the lowest point of the JAM relationship. Pam's alone, Jim is activly pushing her away. They're about as far apart from each other as they get. For you to dive into that for this collection of stories takes a lot of guts.
So what'll it take to dig out of the hole our heroes have found themselves in. Well some liquid courage absolutly helps. Finally they've let their guards down enough to really let the other one have it. They've both had missteps and they're not afraid to bring them up. A tough fight, but one that's long overdue in order to shake things up for them.
Then those emotions lead into phone sex? Whoo boy.
I get why Pam is cold and distant the next day. Big emotions last night, feeling hungover, Dwight starting to get on her nerves. Rough morning. Then the first silver of hope in the form of, "Leave her alone Dwight." Maybe not Jim riding to the rescue on a white stallion there, more like an excitable pony, but at least it's something.
Still there's doubts remaining, so it's Pam's turn to be activily cold. Even bringing up such hit's as "I can't."
Good for Jim for not letting her leave. They've danced around hard conversations to long. Finally Jim grows a set of balls and demands they work things out. Love that.
"Thumbhead," love it.
"The love of my life, who I was pretty sure just wanted to be my friend.”
And there it is. The moment we've all been waiting for. Granted Jim's already said that to Pam once and it backfired. But this time is different. Love Pam's reaction. Stunned silence followed by instant kiss.
That right there is probably the best, "getting over Roy" scene I've ever read. ;)
The using more, and much better, classic lines of "free for dinner tonight?" Bravo.
So they lowest point of their relationship has been mended and while it's not instantly replace by the highest points, they're back on the upward slope and there's no going back. Loved it all.
Date: October 08, 2020 09:10 am Title: mad woman
Ugh, Pam accidentally replaying so much of casino night to Jim and “don’t say that to me”...my heart. Vulnerable Jim gets me every single time and you wrote it so well. Plus, I’m also a sucker for honest, drunk Pam. So combine the two and *chef’s kiss*.
“He stood, the motion pulling their mouths apart. His massive hands spanned her waist and set her atop the desk, scattering the papers bearing her ex-fiancée/boyfriend’s name to the floor.” Okay. Love this.
I also love how after they get ‘er done on Darryl’s desk (super hot btw), there’s a nervous, uncertain energy. It makes so much sense Pam would feel that way, but then you, the genius you are, throw in the line from The Job and it’s perfect.
Date: October 08, 2020 05:45 am Title: mad woman
Awww.
Most of the time, while I was reading, I wanted to hug Pam, make her the biggest cup of tea in the universe, and give her a baseball bat and enough of plates (maybe, even with printed faces on them). Your story made me overly protective of her (not that she needed that, but still). She's the sweetest girl and deserves everything, especially to be mad. And I like her like that so much!
The last paragraph, though... awww. Just pure awww, and I can't add anything more.
Except, maybe, a 'thank you' for your lovely story :)
Date: October 08, 2020 04:50 am Title: mad woman
The premise?! So, so good. I mean, Pam could be angry drunk dialing Jim just about anytime in Season 3 and it could work, but the timing of this is just perfection.
“it would have made her shrink into herself the way she’d been doing all year” My heart. Pam. Oof.
“Fuck you forever.”
“--well you know what, I wish you would.” I —
Is this the most iconic line to ever be written?! I think yes. So much yes.
I’d. Let. You. Oh my god. Dying. Dead. So dead.
“but probably as close as she’d ever get to fucking Jim Halpert” This is so hot and heartbreaking all at once. Your skill.
“The clarity that comes after, well, coming, washed over her.” This is such a great line. When it works, it really works.
“but when she pulled the lever down nothing happened. Of course it wasn’t connected to anything” I literally just watched the episode of Community with Troy & Abed doing this so this made me chuckle. It’s such a powerful image. Poor Pam. Such an act of desperation complete desperation.
“Leave her alone, Dwight.” Oh. Oh. I think my heart just grew five sizes.
Pam’s embarrassment and frustration is just so damn palpable.
This conversation. The half sentences and all the possibilities for miscommunication. My god. I’m on tenterhooks. There’s so much potential for it to all go terribly wrong.
“hoped it—about you and me” THANK GOD. Oh I’m so, so glad Jim pushed past the hurt and said something honest.
And then to end it like that. Damn. BT, you are so, so good at this.
Date: October 08, 2020 01:32 am Title: invisible string
“the way fate wound through their lives, leading them to the inevitable moments where signs and choices collided at the frayed edges” Oh my god this is going to be so good. Honestly. I can’t get over the phrasing of “wound through” because it’s so very in keeping with the song without just shoving lyrics in.
“He nearly choked” Hard same. Get it, Pam.
“you would be the last one he would sacrifice to the natives." Like. This is Jim and Pam smut and yet somehow you’ve perfectly captured Pam & Dwight’s relationship as well as the Jim/Pam/Dwight dynamic.
“Their mouths sank warmly together, tangled tongues and lips” How do you do it?! How is even your smut still so poetic and gorgeous just like literally everything you write?! I am in awe.
Seriously. Seriously. Seriously.
“to see him stuff the discarded article into his pocket” Shut up. This is so good.
“palpable desire written in the way his exposed forearms flexed against the worn wood on either side of her body” Bored. Girl. The way you take the simplest thing and describe it into the most vivid picture will never not blow me away. I love this line. I love this line so damn much.
A. Dentist. Appointment. Holy god.
“the fibers of their past twisting together” This is perfection. Actual perfection.
“She eyed him with an exhale, "With my life but..." Uh, this is the most relatable of any line ever.
THE BOAT. Holy shit.
I’m —
“"It's not as cold as I remember." I... DEAD. So dead.
“her need to drive the apparition haunting the place away” I. LOVE. THIS.
“"I hope so." Oh. Okay. Count me down as dead again.
Bored. This was incredible. It’s such a beautiful song and concept and the way you took it and made it your own/JAM was amazing. I can’t get over the way your mind works because I never would have thought of this idea of making new memories in places of past significance. I am just so, so blown away.
Author's Response: Thank you so very much, Jenna. You know how much I adore you and your reviews. d84;a039;
Date: October 07, 2020 08:07 pm Title: the 1
Ok, let's start with the garden tub. How romantic is that? The scene in the tub was amazing. Sweet, sexy and intimate. I loved that they made out in the elevator, and the scene on the boat. Your words create pictures that have so much depth. You don't just set the scene, you overlay it with emotion and beauty. Honestly I don't even have the right words to describe how great your words are.
I really like this idea for this song. I could imagine a map with all the spots on it and a string with little pins connecting them all.
Author's Response:
Sorry I’m just seeing this! It was under the first chapter but I assume it was meant for mine since you are referencing a garden tub! ;)
Thank you so, so much! I love the idea of stringing the pins together and could totally see Pam doing that. Thank you, friend!
Date: October 07, 2020 02:00 pm Title: invisible string
“His voice began, deep in his chest like a reverberation, the way her connection to him had begun, years ago, as distant, delicate thunder.” This is so beautiful it kind of hurts.
Bored, I’m running out of words to tell you how much I love your writing. You, my friend, are truly gifted. This whole thing was beautiful, and steamy, and romantic, and perfect.
You can’t see me, but I’m sure as heck bowing down right now.
Author's Response: Aww, WW I can’t tell you how much I appreciate hearing that you loved it so much. I was a bit nervous posting this one and hearing that it was well received just absolutely makes my day. Thank you so much!
1 [Report This]Date: October 07, 2020 11:50 am Title: cardigan
Oh my goodness that Peter Pan line is brilliant!
Author's Response: Thank you! I’m proud of that one but credit has to go to TSwift herself for writing the lyric that was my inspiration!
Date: October 07, 2020 10:58 am Title: invisible string
Love this chapter! Going back and reclaiming all the "what could have happened" spots in thier lives. I've read walk down memory lane type fic before but none with this level of emotion, or sexiness.
and of course their banter is turned up to 11. They're daring and bold with each other and not afraid to push in the best of ways. Beautiful chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you, warrior, as always! This was certainly the smuttiest thing I’ve ever written so I’m glad it wasn’t too terrible. ;) Thanks so much!
Date: October 07, 2020 10:51 am Title: invisible string
Again, how do I leave a review that accurately and wholly describes how this made me feel? Like, heartachey true love butterfly feelings, where it swells so much in your chest that it hurts. Every inch of this was perfection. The elevator ride, what he never thinks about, her saying I HOPE SO oh my god. Dying. And then just the thought that they can go back and reclaim these bad days and memories and make them mean something new is just so lovely and I think something that they’d definitely do.
You absolutely knocked this one out of the park, lady. I am absolutely in awe of you.
Author's Response: BT, I love that you picked up on all my favorite parts as well! I am SO glad this didn’t suck too bad because it was certainly out of my norm for sure. Thank you endlessly for your support and encouragement. <3
1 [Report This]Date: October 07, 2020 06:51 am Title: invisible string
Usually, I cry when I feel sad or heartbroken, but now I have teary eyes because this story is so, so sweet! This idea of visiting places with so many unsaid words is amazing, and your realization is outstanding! As usual ;)
I think I like the first part the most (maybe, because it's raining outside and that gives me the Mood), but this line:
'That the simple fact that you exist is the first thing I think of in the morning,' was the one that killed me. So, so beautiful, and I'm here for the tenderness, longing, bittersweet taste of past regrets, and eventual happiness.
Thank you so much!
Author's Response: Aww, I’m glad they were happy tears! And believe me, rain gives me the Mood too. :) I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Dernhelm! Thank you so much!
Date: October 06, 2020 07:29 pm Title: illicit affairs
Right away, I'm not mad that this kicks off with sexy "I'm a runner" Jim. Not mad at all.
"It could have been the beer, or the plans he’d made for his evening before finding them thwarted, or just the fact that he was right in the center sweet spot of a Venn diagram comprised of relaxed and buzzed and intrigued and horny...whatever it was, he spread his legs a little wider and let his eyes linger before dragging them up to her face." This made me laugh. Because even though I kind of already had an inkling of where this was going with the whole Anne thing -- I also really appreciate it when authors make Jim this normal adult man who isn't above checking out another woman. Do I condone cheating? Only in fics.
One of my favorite things about your part in this series is how consistently and beautifully you've woven lines from the songs into the story without it seeming forced or unusual. You just... get it right every single time and I really appreciate those little details.
"“And my car is in the back of the lot. Come find me. I have a lot more things I can tell you, and a few of them are even the truth.”" Sassy Anne is full of sass.
"he sound of a large party leaving the bar brought them back to reality. They were in public, essentially, his hand fisted in her hair and her leg wrapped around him like she was getting ready to climb him like a tree. In his current state he wasn’t too against getting a ticket for public indecency, not with the way the bare skin of her upper thigh and rounded globe of her ass felt beneath his hand. She was so soft, and she really wasn’t wearing anything under her dress, and he’d take her right now against the hood of her car. He brought his mouth back to her neck and gathered her dress around her hips, exposing her to the cool night only for a heartbeat, because he couldn’t stop the way his hips jerked forward. He was as hard as he’d ever been and the thin fabric of his shorts did fuck all to hide it, but that was okay because it mean he could press himself against her hard enough to feel how hot she was for him." I--- look. Perfect paragraph is perfect and I'm still so amazed with the way you write these moments between them.
"Yep. She’ll ruin him, make him a godforsaken mess that he’ll happily clean up over and over. A drug he’ll be addicted to for the rest of his life." This is what I mean about how you weave the song into the story.
So, full disclosure: I was pretty sure I knew where this was going the whole time and I just... your mind. Seriously. You continuously come up with something new and different from everything else we've seen and it's always this perfectly amazing moment that I'm immediately on board with. Jim and Pam role playing? Brilliant. Great. Maybe consider making this a whole series, I wouldn't be mad one bit. That said - even if you had betrayed us and given us Cheating Jim... I still think that weirdly, I would have found a way to support it, and I don't know what that says about me as a person, but I do know that it says you're a brilliant enough writer that I will blindly accept whatever scenario you throw our way.
I'm so sad we only get one more story from you, but I truly, truly cannot wait to see what you come up with next!
Author's Response: Coley. This review is full of such high compliments that I TREASURE. I don’t know how to express my thanks. You are the literal best.
1 [Report This]Date: October 06, 2020 07:10 pm Title: this is me trying
Beach Games is one of my top 3 episodes so already, I'm invested in where this story is going.
"The whiskey burned a hole in her stomach to match the one in her soul, and she let herself pretend it was all okay, that none of this really mattered." Cool, cool, cool. It's fine. Just a hole in *my* stomach over the angst of it all. (god, I love angst.)
"She turned away, brushing her hand briefly over the hood of his car as she passed, making a trail with her fingers as the rain was redirected from its intention; as if touching his possessions could substitute for touching him." Listen, we use the same alphabet - how are your words so much prettier?
There are a lot of things I love - fights/confessions... rainstorms... these two idiots making out... when you combine all 3 together, my brain kind of explodes and I don't know how to handle it.
And while I really, really love this line: ""I don't want you to let me go and this was never over."" the one that I keep thinking about during random moments of my day is this one: "Time stretched and shimmered, and he tasted like shades of sapphire blue and burnt amber, of promises and secrets." That line has been haunting me for 3 days now and I'm not at all mad about it.
Bored. BORED. He kicked the door shut AFTER carrying her inside. This is a Jim I want to see more of. Which is great, because you promptly gave him to us in spades, what with his whole "I want to see it on my bedroom floor" and "Is all of your hair the same color" and "show not tell" and Jesus. Rainsoaked Jim is Super Sexy Jim.
"He was reaching places within her that were long forgotten song lyrics, her body answering his in a way that went beyond words." Again: we use the same alphabet and yet I need you to give a masterclass on how you do this.
"She was not the kind of woman who slept with someone's boyfriend, but as she looked back at Jim's long legs, sinewy and shifting like a contented panther underneath the covers, maybe she was exactly that kind of woman." Same, Pam. Same.
The ending. The. Ending. I love that Jim is still like, the same Jim we know and love who's asking about her feet and worried about her being at a sketchy bar, but now he gets to do even more delightfully naughty things to her while he does the perfect boyfriend thing.
This is me trying not to sound stalkerish about how much I loved this chapter, and probably failing a tiny bit. Oh well!
Author's Response: Oh Coley, I think you know how much it means to me to hear that you loved it. I am forever indebted to you for your endless encouragement, I hope you know that. Thank you! :)
Date: October 06, 2020 01:07 am Title: illicit affairs
First of all: thank you for the image of Jim in a hoodie/workout attire. Bless.
“who’d forced him into an unnecessary phone call (the worst form of torture known to man, in his opinion)”’ Wow. BT. I feel so very seen.
“Anne wanted to play, and he was good at games” Damn. That’s a good line. A really good line.
“You like to look at my tits, Jim?” Okay, okay, okay. I love that you’ve just thrown that in - giving it away without giving away. The skill.
“he was suddenly struck with how this whole thing, the best part of his life, was born out of stolen stares and clandestine meetings behind the reception desk and god, how lucky was he?” OH. MY. GOD.
“And they both knew damn well they would it again, over and over, a million little times.” Oh fuck me. This is brilliant, BT. I’m never going to be able to listen to the song the same way.
Author's Response: Lady, thank you! These words mean so much coming from a favorite. I’m so glad you liked it!
Date: October 05, 2020 07:45 pm Title: illicit affairs
Okay I'll admit it. I cheated on this chapter. I had to scroll ahead. Oh thank you so much for proving me right about "Anne's" identity. Here I am thinking, what the hell are you doing Jim? But then when the truth is revealed all I can think of is, "Yeah! Go get it you two!" You just about nearly wrecked me and then turned it all around to something that was in full context so completly them. A grand culmination of their whole history together. Amazing job to bring that out.
Of course it was all hot as hell too.
Author's Response: Thank you warrior!
1 [Report This]Date: October 05, 2020 04:16 pm Title: the 1
This is so deliciously good! I love the call back to her biting her lip in the office and him needing to cool off, so so good!
Date: October 05, 2020 02:20 pm Title: illicit affairs
Oh BT. This chapter KILLED me in the most delightful of ways. The premise was a fantastic way to use this song. The whole flirting at the bar was just absolutely perfect. I knew it was Pam which made it all the hotter. The le petit mort convo was just so so hot and the "Don't call me baby"...I mean, I'm just-
I love how you laced the lyrics in there flawlessly. The end in the car was just SO good omg.
Ugh, you have put us (just me, actually) to shame, you are so good at this. Teach me your ways, seriously.
Author's Response: The le petit mort bit is one of my favorite parts and I’m so glad you liked it! I like to think Pam learned that from a Cosmo magazine too.
1 [Report This]Date: October 05, 2020 01:33 pm Title: august
im dead. just dead. I love all of this so much. especially that theyre in austin
Date: October 05, 2020 12:51 pm Title: illicit affairs
So, I had the tiniest of inklings halfway through that this is where it might be going, so I committed the cardinal sin and scrolled to the bottom to double check that I didn’t have to hate Jim Halpert. 😂 I HAD TO KNOW. Then I went back and read the whole thing again and holy crap, you’re a genius. I loved it, so much.
Author's Response: I totally understand! I almost put an authors note in that said “it’s not what you think” but I didn’t want to give it away. Thanks for sticking with it, even if you had to scroll!
Date: October 05, 2020 12:26 pm Title: illicit affairs
I had a lot of apprehensions before reading this chapter.
In the middle of the chapter, I was tempted to ditch it, curled into a fetal position, and cry to sleep. But, apparently, I'm a masochist, so I continued reading.
And now I have just one question (and I'm not sure if I asked it at all before): how dare you?
This story ruined me, and I'm grateful to you for that!
And once again — I almost squealed with delight every time I recognized the lyric lines! You weaved them into the text so, so beautifully!
P.S. Fun fact: I used the name Anne when strangers asked my name (and I was too shy to say 'no' or answer something rude)...
Author's Response: Dernhelm I am just obsessed with the idea of you using a fake name! I love it. I want to read a story about that! Thank you so much for sticking with the story and seeing it through! I am so glad you liked it!
1 [Report This]Date: October 05, 2020 11:37 am Title: illicit affairs
Oh, very, very nice! Bravo. That was well-played and extremely hot.
Author's Response: Thank you Sprinkles! I’m glad you liked it!
1 [Report This]Date: October 05, 2020 09:40 am Title: illicit affairs
Um. I don’t quite know how to put into words the perfect genius of this? This was absolutely brilliant. I’m way behind on reviews for Folklore and I intend to get to all of them but this one just couldn’t wait. The twist??? So amazing. The writing? Equally amazing. Mind. Blown.
Author's Response: Stop stop stop, you are too kind! I am so glad you liked it so much!
Date: October 05, 2020 09:13 am Title: illicit affairs
TUNA. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
I'm not sure if there's a specific name for the genre of "hot smut that starts by scaring the crap out of me," so I think you get to invent one now.
I thought you did really well seeding enough clues of what was happening here before the reveal to be fair without telegraphing the twist.
Also, just as I was thinking about what a good choice it was to do this as a role play story as opposed to a "Jim and Pam have an affair in AU" story, you go and hit me with the reminder that they actually DID start as an illicit affair. Damn, homie.
And of course this was paralyzing hot. I'm going to go stand in front of an open fridge for a few hours.
Author's Response: I’ve been thinking about what to name this brand of smut since I first read this review, and I have to say I’m stumped! Thanks for staying on the rollercoaster that this fic put you on, lol! Thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked it!
Date: October 05, 2020 08:25 am Title: august
Thank god for Isabel and her gif-laden text messages.
Do I love that Pam takes 42 photos before finding one she likes well enough to send to Jim? Yes, obviously. Do I love that she sends it to him while he's still technically working? Yes, obviously. Do I love that she's fully prepared to give him a cam-show while he's sitting in the hotel lobby? YES. OBVIOUSLY. Almost as much as I love Pam's "The Uber will be here in 10 minutes but its cool because I only need 5" confidence.
Oof. That's a real rude shutdown though. But it's okay, because I really appreciate Pam's commitment to getting Jim un-excited with the Meredith story. She sounds a tiny bit gleeful and I'm here for that.
"And while she has no doubt that he believes her when, over the years, she has said they can live in their car as long as they’re together, she doesn’t doubt that he feels a very real obligation to the people who work for him." Quick note to just tell you that I really love your grown up Jim and Pam.
The Four Seasons. I see you. Don't think I don't see you.
She. Recreates. The. Third. Photo. Listen, there's nothing trashy about any of this - it's all amazing and fantastic and then there's this part: "She’s not certain he knows he is speaking out loud when he mumbles, “I’m not coming that way,” as he guides her to turn around. Just as quickly, he’s on his knees and roughly pulling her calves so that she inches toward the edge of the bed. He tosses, yes, tosses, her knees over his shoulders and then his mouth is on her again, his tongue and lips doing unspeakable things to her." and oh hi, Caveman Jim works his way into my top 5 versions of Jim.
Ugh, and the ending? As usual, how very fucking dare you.
Date: October 05, 2020 08:02 am Title: my tears ricochet
Well, this version of Isabel is great and I love that she's not putting up with any of Pam's excuses and dragging her to a party.
Listen. Usually I consider myself to be pretty perceptive. I figure out the ends to movies, books, all of that.. pretty quickly. So, to not have ANY idea that this was THAT Marcie until the exact same time Pam figured it out? Your mind, I swear. So sneaky. And I love it a whole lot.
"That’s what she’s doing now. Staying in place so the pain doesn’t get worse. Lesson learned." Oh cool, because I needed a side of tears with my smut reading. It's fine.
You know what's not fine? My heart, in that moment when Jim and Pam see each other and did I hold my breath until they hugged each other? Yes, yes I did.
"She’ll be living with this forever. He can at least live with her scratches in his back for a couple of days." JENNA. How? Why? How are you so good at this?
"She doesn’t have it in herself to finish this with grace.
It’s going to be messy. It’s going to be hell."
I absolutely adore that she stays the night. I love even more that not one person at the Halpert house tried to bother them.
I'm so happy you gave us two smut scenes here, because I really appreciate the contrast between Pam saying goodbye in the first one, and then ultimately, saying hello (and good morning. Damn.) in the second one.
I love this chapter so, so much and I just... you and your metaphors kill me every single time, in the best of ways. Never stop.
Author's Response: Coley! Your reviews give me life. I’m so, so glad you’re not sick of metaphors yet because I can’t seem to write anything without shoving an extended metaphor into it...