Date: January 07, 2022 04:04 pm Title: Bean Counter
*Feeling a little relieved, after all her dream proposal didn’t include morning breath and the glasses she’d just put on,*
This made me chuckle because this is basically exactly how I was proposed to, lol
*However, upon returning an hour later the office seemed much the same except for a decorative sign on the door to the conference room that featured a bright pink 30.
Once again, she flashed Jim a questioning look as they neared his desk.
“I warned you Kevin was involved. Guess the Kelevin doesn’t work when you use it to calculate years.”*
Actually LOLed
*But it was only a fleeting thought, one that vanished as soon as she thought about how immature he still was himself. Having a baby would mean she’d be left to take care of a new tiny infant all by herself while also still attending to a very large child.*
You know, I wonder about this sometimes. It's always weird to me that Jam had an unexpected pregnancy after only a year or so, and it never happened with Roy. I always rationalized it that subconsciously breeding with Roy was something she didn't really want to do, or that they didn't have a lot of sex, but I still am not quite sure. Anyway, I really like the idea that she considered it as a way to lock him in, then talked herself out of it. (Also, that accidents are more likely to happen when you're having a ton of sex as Jam obviously were)
Their conversation about kids was so cute, and the brief mentions of Niagara are great nods to what will come.
Author's Response:
Well isn't that something. I'm sure it was romantic and beautiful and had it been Pam's it would have been too.
Mine while while I was folding laundry.
Planning the party was fun - Kevin and Michael really outdid themselves.
Well I have my thoughts on the unplanned pregnancy too - you will see.
Thanks again for reviews that make me smile and think.
1 [Report This]Date: January 07, 2022 03:47 pm Title: Perfect Presents and Lucky Stars
I'm really enjoying the way you're showing us all the beats of their relationship through the eyes of this waitress, it's such a clever concept!
*When he’d been forced to take the seat with his back to it, he’d subconsciously angled his monitor so the reflection it captured would be the same as the one he’d been staring at since he first started at Dunder Mifflin. *
Okay wow, this never occurred to me and I love this idea.
*When he pulled her name for the office gift exchange, it felt like a sign, a push from Eros, or Cupid or whatever deity was in charge of his romantic destiny to tell her what she truly meant to him. *
Beautiful.
The step stool kiss was the cutest thing ever, omg. It feels familiar like you said but I can't place it.
(I'm not sure if WHMS coined the phrase "out there" but I definitely associate it with that movie and I definitely caught that)
Author's Response:
So nice to hear you are enjoying it. It was fun to see Jam through another set of eyes in my first story so I thought to keep it going. Truth is when I started the first story I meant to keep it going to cover more of them but I wrote it first person and wanted to switch it up. So I closed it out and started a few others and made it a series. This one is part of that series and has taken on a life of its own now.
Anyway - I know he was with Karen but as we know his thoughts (and eyes) were always with Pam.
Yeah, I was also thinking about WHMS when I wrote the line. But isn't it Bruno Kirby's character who says it. Either way yes, I think that may be the movie that coined the phrase.
Thanks as always for the reviews. Loving them.
1 [Report This]Date: January 06, 2022 10:24 pm Title: Losing Points
*It wasn’t like it was the sweater per se. It wasn’t revealing or particularly clingy, sheer or otherwise what might be considered by your average man as provocative attire. But Jim wasn’t your average man, and when it came to Pam, she never knew what might drive him into a sexual tizzy. Just the other day, while at the sink rinsing a dish, she used her stockinged foot to rub at an itch just below the knee of her other leg, and before she knew it Jim was behind her massaging the spot with his hands, and once he removed the stockings, his mouth, taking care of the itch on her leg but creating a much more significant tingling to other parts of her body.*
Yowza. I love this.
*“Well thank you, Beth,” he responded to her but the glimmer in his eye was all for Pam. “I got a really special present this year. It was a long time coming but it was well worth the wait.”*
swoon
Loved Pam's disappointment to everyone's reaction to them coming out, I can totally see her feeling that even though on the outside she would appear not to care. I wonder how she would feel if she knew Michael repeatedly forgets they are dating later in the season lol...
Okay thanks a lot, I was having such a good time and then she mentioned the Dwangela breakup and I got all sad. BUT Kelly and Ryan with the drink in his face TOTALLY MADE UP FOR IT.
Author's Response:
Oh thank you - as you know my steam writing is never all that "descriptive" but I tend to feel hinting at what is to come and letting the imagination take over is a lot more provocative. Thanks for validating.
Had a lot of fun with bringing some other couples into the restaurant. They won't be the last.
THANKS for your reviews! Always love to get them.
1 [Report This]Date: January 06, 2022 10:04 pm Title: Rules of the Game
Okay I love the idea of the game (as you know I have a fondness for this kind of game with Jam) and the friendship they're developing with Beth is really quite cute.
I really loved the story she told them about the older couple. I'm hoping at some point your story will jump far, far into the future and give us that.
The PIVOT! reference made me cackle, as a huge Ross fan (he's underrated!) and that scene being a particular favorite of mine :)
Author's Response:
I wonder if games like this do happen in real life restaurants or only in my crazy head but it either way it was fun for the story.
Really that came about because this chapter coincided with writing Gold, my season 9 fix-it fic and somehow the sentiments leaked over to this one. But hmmmm.
I must have also been binging Friends when i wrote this one too.
Thanks always for reading and reviewing.
1 [Report This]Date: January 03, 2022 10:16 pm Title: Flower Power
*It had been a little over a month since Jim and Pam officially began dating. But unlike a conventional newly-paired couple there was no getting to know each other period. Similarly, they never had to play those silly games counting the days till it was acceptable to call one another again. There was no pretending they had other engagements so to space out the time between dates so neither one of them would seem too eager. Of course, working in the same office made it impossible for them to play at that but they wouldn’t have anyway – not when their years together as best friends had long since given them an intimacy that surpassed what could be attained from going out to dinners, seeing movies together, marathon phone calls or even the physical acts that followed a requisite number of dates.*
This is SO ACCURATE and I just love it. It really does seem like our headcanons align so well. Although I had them wait a week for sex. I thought that was generous, lol.
I learned a new word: mellifluous!
*They found it slightly hard to believe they were getting this much special attention from a waitress they’d only met the one time. But they had spent a bit of time chatting with her at the end of their last visit, explaining how it was their first date but they’d known each other for 4 years. That after having to explain why two grown-ups were still playing jinx.*
This is great because it makes sense why Beth would remember them. It's a very cute way to make her part of their lives. I'll have to go back and read the origin story next.
*“Seems like you two have a crazy history.”
Jim winked at Pam and smiled again at Beth
“Absolutely, we do.”*
SO CUTE. The romance is just lovely. I'm eating this up.
Author's Response:
I loved that because they had been together for years their relationship was already natural and comfortable when they began dating.
I had a lot of fun creating the Beth character and the restaurant in the first story, so I felt an urge to bring them back - I do share most of what is needed to know in this story so it is not necessary to read the origin to appreciate, but if you do - just know it was my first ever fan fic - fun stuff in it but maybe not my best writing.
But I'm pleased you are enjoying the complete fluff here. Be warned there will be a lot of fluff - a little angst to come but a lot of fluff first.
Thanks for the review.
1 [Report This]Date: January 03, 2022 07:23 pm Title: The Morning Tango
Excited to finally start this!
*Jim knew the minute Cece grabbed the phone in his hands, it would suddenly become the most popular toy in the Halpert home. They’d suddenly be in science class learning Cece’s law again – for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Phillip would scream and a fight would ensue between the two and they’d both be in tears just at the time Pam would emerge from the bathroom.*
This rings so true for a parent. These details are great.
*He never knew which Dwight would be running the office today, the friend who would overlook anything Jim did, or the tyrant who from time to time showed up to keep the office on their toes and things running efficiently.*
This is a great line, the timeframe between AARM and the Finale seems ripe for development between Jim/ Dwight. It sounds like exactly how he'd see him.
*But it wasn’t until he was sitting in David’s office that he finally opened his eyes, the glint of the yogurt lid revealing the golden future he had ahead if he would just stop making believe he wasn’t still in love with her.*
swooooon
Author's Response:
I'm thrilled you are !
Writing Daddy Jim is fun - even when the kids are being kids. Especially when the kids are being kids.
I say all along Jim/Dwight had a relationship like brothers, for much of it a lot like the one described with Cece and Phil but always a love between them they didn't like to admit. But during this period I like to think it leaned more towards them getting along - but it still was Dwight.
Thanks for reading and reviewing. (and the catch)
Date: December 06, 2021 03:13 am Title: The Alien
GREAT chapter, Max!
I remember the days of morning sickness, fun, fun, fun. As ever, nailed it. This was so entertaining, and look at you with the hint of the steam - I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you! ;)
Such a great story and you know that Beth needs another follow-up story when this is done!
Author's Response:
Hey lady.
I completely space on responding to this set of reviews.
SO glad you liked it - yeah morning sickness not fun- but at least with Jim they can be funny.
The remedy they discovered was also fun especially after their dry spell - glad you like my steam puffs.
Thanks lady for always hitting me up with a review. Glad you are enjoying Beth. PS I am loaning her out for use in other fics...
Date: December 05, 2021 03:49 pm Title: The Alien
"Glancing first at the clock on the bedside table, she was still unable to make out anything but a neon green blur, but long since had figured out which amorphous shape was a five, versus a six and even a seven. The eights still gave her a bit of trouble." TOO REAL.
"Never in her life had she laughed while simultaneously vomiting, but as she leaned over the bowl she realized there was a first time for everything." TOO CUTE.
I mean, really, this is literally too much fluff to handle. Jim adjusting to what she really needs as opposed to what he thinks his role is during her bouts with morning sickness is terrific, and him being the kind of dad who *immediately* starts talking to the baby constantly is very Jim. And you're mining a lot out of the real unpleasantness of early pregnancy here.
"Jim, in solidarity threw out his cereal and ate only the fruit’s other half, until later when she showered and he scarfed down a bowl out of her sight." I support both halves of this plan entirely.
“Mmm, hearing you say greasy, fried, pig fat, is such a turn on.” Ngl, your tip-toeing into steam is pretty terrific. And their early morning routine is adorable.
“Did I just hear you call our baby’s mother a nympho?” Truth hurts, Beesly. And Pam's imitation of the baby is ADORBS.
Beth is a clever devil here. And I'm glad they told her - Pam could use some perspective from someone other than the melting-down S5/6 Helene at this juncture. She might be outspoken, but I love her speech here... and it feels like it echoes a lot in their dialogue in The Delivery.
YIDDISH SIGHTING.
Author's Response:
First off sorry I spaced on responding to your wonderful review...blame it on the busy season (and that I was swept up in writing another piece).
So I kind of curse the day we saw how bad Pam's eyesight was (what was that season 4) but have learned to work it in and now I actually embrace it. I think this may be my third or fourth time writing a blurry morning - this may also be my favorite. I also found a workaround. he-he
Pam and Jim banter even makes vomiting cute...well thank you, thank you very much (wait wrong story)
Sorry for the fluff overload. Blame some of it on the song.
Man's gotta eat right.
Yeah that's about as far as I'll go steam-wise - sometimes the mind does a better job at painting the picture than the words do anyway.
Beth, she's like a young bubbe even without grandkids (and a member). Gotta have one Jewish character, even if she's OC.
Thanks friend for the review as always.
Date: December 04, 2021 06:18 pm Title: The Alien
Lots of fun with this one. Pam and Jim enjoying a plethora of morning activities was great fun to read. Good job Jim doing your best to help her find something she will tolerate for breakfast. Their banter throughout everything was a delight to read as well.
So Beth got to be the first one to hear the news? That's sweet. So was her reaction to everything. Nice that they're exchanging info. Feels like their relationship has earned the right at this point. They are friends, not just favorite customers/favorite waitress. Nice to see that. Lovely job as always.
Author's Response: So I’m totally slacking. I completely forgot I had reviews to respond to.
Date: October 14, 2021 08:17 am Title: Dry Spell
An absolutely cracking chapter, Lady! Very engrossing and yet another satisfying read! I loved the link to 360T as well.
Author's Response:
Hey Lady,
Glad you were satisfied. TWWS
I aim to please.
You caught that nod. Couldn't help myself. I'M kinda immersed in time travel right now as you know.
Thanks for popping in to review. Catch you in another timeline.
Date: October 12, 2021 08:54 pm Title: Dry Spell
Sorry I'm late on this review. Whenever I read a reference to Jim's nose, I get the giggles and have to go to Offsite Recommendations and reread Primae Noctis where the phrase "potato nose" was coined. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.
Jam turning to jelly is in the same league.
Good onya
Author's Response:
I love how you always wind up on a tangent when reading...in a good way. As I respond I am looking at my Jim funco pop and I don't quite think they got the nose in the right proportion.
Anyway so glad you enjoyed and got the giggles - I did myself when writing - in particular the jelly line.
Thanks for the review- they are like my aphrodisiac - well I guess more like my post-coital smoke (or since I don't my smoke, cuddle - and now I'm off to read It had to Be You -the Harry Met Sally related AU)
Cheers!
Date: October 12, 2021 12:19 pm Title: Dry Spell
I have a funny feeling you might end up finding Hermione's time turner a bit more chaos than it's worth, Pam.
Okay, I *really* enjoyed how much you pulled all the different threads of Season 5 together in this - they end up weirdly separated in canon when they obviously would've still been playing out alongside each other and weighing on them. The new house, the changes in Pam's routine from New York, the new job, Jim's issues with Charles, the wedding planning - they all interact together really well here to produce, well, Cece.
And also always, I love the details you're coming up with for their relationship. The bit about Jim wanting extra pills for his extra nose and Pam teasing him about it just makes the whole thing feel really lived in. (And the idea of Creed marrying them in the parking lot has given me... an idea.) Also, turning them from Jam to jelly made me giggle.
The date - and how it ends up tying into Pam's expectations of men as set by Roy and exceeded/changed by Jim - is adorable. They're totally the couple that will flirt by double entendre right in front of someone they know, especially after it's been that long for them.
I thought you captured this well - how this change is a challenge for them, if not really a Challenge For Them in the sense that they'll face in other moments of their relationship, and how they ended up wrestling it (and each other) to the ground.
Glad to see this one updated! Now... about that time turner...
Author's Response:
So true, but still.
SO I always get such a thrill from your reviews because you always notice and mention the bits that just tickled me when I wrote them and how you see the things I tried to show if not exactly tell. And you have such a poetic way of putting it... they all interact together really well here to produce, well, Cece.
(and how about that- usually it's the reviewer quoting the author and not the other way around but this was just so well said. That and the wrestling.
So I'm curious and anxious to see what your clever head is thinking of for Creed.
Thanks as always for your review and support.
And now that I broke the *dry spell* on updating this ...I can get back to that time turner...
Date: October 11, 2021 08:59 pm Title: Dry Spell
Nice job as always. Getting into the reasons why Pam might lose track of her meds, the pressures of everything going on right then fits well. I've read similar reasonings in other fics, but you did a great job in really fleshing it all out.
Same with Pam's headspace here. Her worries about Jim and his thoughts in regards to their dry spell. Clearly her previous relationship was casting a bit of a shadow there, but Jim being the guy he is, is able to diffuse some of those worries. Also nice that they were trying to get over their dry spell, but life kept happening. Very realistic there.
However finally they're able to break the spell and enjoy a nice afternoon, evening, and quite probably morning too. The double meaning with their conversations with Beth were just delightful. Always fun to see that Beth can kind of see through their ploys, but has the wherewithal to know when is and isn't her place to pry. Probably why she's their favorite server.
Great job.
Author's Response:
Thanks Warrior.
I figured there may be some similar tellings being that soon after is when they find out about the pregnancy but I imagine up until the upheaval that had them both a little frazzled they were being cautious and protected.
I do like to present the realism of life and love. And Roy - yeah he did a number on her - thankfully she fixed that mistake and is with Jim now.
Not a lot of Beth in this one, but she was busy and they were in a rush to get to round two.
Thank you for another encouraging review. Always great to hear.
1 [Report This]Date: July 18, 2021 01:23 pm Title: Fools and Clowns
Ah, very timely with the Alex reference. I have often thought that Jim's range of emotions about her life/friends in NY is not nearly explored enough. From what he overheard of Alex's speech to the whole car turn around and 'I am not that guy and we are not that couple'- So much interesting stuff there.
"Sometimes Jim would recline in the papasan chair she brought from her place and watch her work, plying her with silly questions about her techniques and muses until she would throw him out for asking too many and keeping her from her craft." Okay but I really love this visual of him so thank you.
I really love the mention of the creepy clown, and the Valentine's day lunch with Phyllis and Bob- they were both very clever tie-ins. This was a great chapter! :)
Author's Response:
Had I not responded to this - I thought I did.
I agree - not matter how much he deep down knew she was his there is no way he wasn't affected in some way by her having gone off to explore her art (and herself) in NY. Glad you felt it was apt.
Well I loved writing that scene - there was a very specific vision in my head and glad it translated for you.
That clown, I never really got it until I wrote this chapter and then I understood exactly what it was there for (even if it was never intended by the writers). You gotta love Phyllis.
Thanks so much. Your comments mean the world.
1 [Report This]Date: July 17, 2021 11:26 am Title: Fools and Clowns
I love this story! Thank you for writing it.
Author's Response:
Well thank you for sharing your review and that you love it. It really means a lot to hear from you. I've been having a lot of fun writing it but knowing it is entertaining to others really does make my day.
1 [Report This]Date: July 13, 2021 05:26 pm Title: Fools and Clowns
That was a really nice culmination of clown and green eyed monster. I share the same sentiment about Jim being a little insecure, no matter what how confidant he plays.
I really liked how you presented Alex and Pam's friendship being platonic despite of Alex's unspoken feelings. I liked how they made up, the little tense morning and Phyllis being Phyllis even when she was not around. And Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration being so in character.
Thanks for the update. Your work is great.
Author's Response:
How could he not be a little insecure, aren't we all in some way?
But he waited so long for her, he couldn't help but react as he did.
And I know some people are not fans of Phyllis (and she has her slightly mean moments) but I am a fan.
thanks so much. getting your review was a real joy.
1 [Report This]Date: July 10, 2021 12:37 pm Title: Fools and Clowns
Oh, I enjoyed this!
I liked what you did with Beth, Phyllis and Bob (I have to stop myself typing that as Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.)
I think you captured Jim's insecurities about Pam's friendship with Alex perfectly. And I think Jim would be right to be nervous, he recognises Alex's interest and you captured that beautifully.
There is a lot to love about this chapter, but what I loved most is what you did with them to get rid of the clown painting is totally in character, feels like it would have been canon and even something that might have been in a deleted scene from that episode (if The Office was on HBO, obviously.)
Author's Response:
I'm so glad you did. In case you didn't know that clown shows up again in garage sale episode so there is confirmation it came down. And I love to make up the back stories to those little throwaway things others may not even really think about. It was just a matter of figuring out how to get it down and as the idea came so did the idea to make it a stand-in for some unspoken thing that was still out there following him overhearing Alex.
Phyllis and Bob Vance, Vance Refr. - they are the other clowns the title refers to, and are just a hoot to write. But her heart is just so big too.
Thanks for all your great reviews always and your support.
Date: July 10, 2021 10:53 am Title: Fools and Clowns
The metaphorical use of the clown photo for their forward progress as a couple was pretty cleverly done! I'm a sucker for circularity, and I thought you brought this around well, and dovetailed a couple of storylines together effectively that were mainly disconnected in canon.
It does seem like a call at that particular time would be likelier to produce a bad reaction in Jim, the kind he might be able to keep to himself at other moments. I thought you captured how their fights would go, too... a little dose of past angst, a few clever, snippy comments that ended up getting out of hand.
Interesting seeing Pam wanting to stay connected with Alex, which is something I don't think I've seen pop up in fic... and justified very effectively with their shared background and the lack of art community for Pam. I thought you did well making the point that all declarations of love (or "you should pursue your art no matter what your relationship status with your fiancee") are not created equal, and that Jim's mattered not because he said it but because Pam felt the same way.
I am unabashedly Team Phyllis and pro-Phyllis as shipper on board, so I appreciated the way you used her here. It's very in character - she's had her own live soap opera playing out right in front of her for years, and the only downside is NO ONE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH, so obviously she's going to be eager to go through it with Beth! (Speaking of people who've written Jam fanfiction.)
Also, much rejoicing at the Vances sneaking off to hook up mid-meal. Glad to see they don't just do it in company.
Author's Response: I do enjoy circularity too and love when I can make it work in my fics.
Date: July 09, 2021 10:57 pm Title: Fools and Clowns
I think you brought a lot of realism into this chapter. Clearly Jim has some issues with Alex and yeah as you so excellently wrote here he sees a lot of the past seeming to repeat itself. Pam is engaged. A guy who is not her fiancé is interested in her. That guy keeps calling or trying to make connections. What's to stop history from repeating itself? So their fight about it felt very realistic. It can't be sunshine and rainbows all the time and that was a good way to bring that in.
Though the way he first gets out of the doghouse by literally falling at her feet and her joking about it was a great way to ease off a lot of the tension.
Love that Beth is so over the moon about their engagement. Great visuals there.
The heart-to-heart about everything was just what they needed to patch everything up. Pam finally gets through to him that there's nothing to worry about. He finally gets it too. So the rush to get home felt earned in that regard.
That's how they got the clown painting off the wall? Wickedly delightful there. Loved it.
Author's Response:
I've been wanted to write about a Jam fight for a long time (because like you say it isn't always sunshine and rainbows) and just never seemed to be able to think up a realistic and interesting thing for them to fight about. When I began this chapter it just sorta happened (just as in life). I'm glad you felt it was realistic and how it ended. You can imagine what happened next.
Thanks as always for the read and review.
Date: June 20, 2021 12:36 pm Title: Best Laid Plans of Mice and Salesmen
*sigh* Poor Jim.
I thought the two alternate proposals were very creative, and definitely would have met the context of an ass-kicking within the Gold-verse. Good job building on the world you've built here. (Poor Beth! Missed out on her points!) And it adds some good context to Jim's casual revelation that he and Pam had an honest conversation about delaying the engagement if he swung and missed a few more times after the Goodbye Toby mishap.
I love Jim's sympathy for Dwight here. I knows what it's like to be in those shoes. (And also was amused that Jim is that aware of Dwight's moods that he kind of picked up on *something* of the Dwight-Angela affair). It's always been my personal headcanon that Jim spent a fair amount of time that summer pranking Andy that we didn't see, so I'm happy to get a better sense of his irritation here.
(For the record, I think the click proposal, while not ass-kicking, would have been charming in its way, and I hope Jim used it for another romantic moment. And I *loved* the way the IT guy line came up!)
Author's Response:
Date: June 19, 2021 10:32 pm Title: Best Laid Plans of Mice and Salesmen
“As the sun painted the sky with metallic specs of copper and fire and cast its radiance over the landscape in the distance, he felt something shift within him. He knew before then he was in love but it was in that moment that he could taste eternity with her, know their souls would be tied to each other forevermore.”
Absolutely beautiful, Max. I loved that description but I also love how you filled in the blanks of post- that non-proposal. Absolutely fits with canon and it feels so natural. Poor Beth though, she must have been really thrown!
Author's Response:
You know the reference that was from - and I almost thought I wouldn't be able to describe it differently than I had before - especially within this story, which I felt was a little more lighthearted than the original. I'm really pleased you felt it too.
Yeah, we knew they must have discussed waiting and I had to imagine not only that but Pam must have just about figured it out, that he had been on the verge of asking. But I also felt after that she would be expecting it even more which would lesson the magic and element of surprise. Hard as it might of been for her to tell him to wait - I figured she might.
I really wanted to share the few other ways I thought were fun, if a bit corny, but isn't that Jim? But because this is a canon-complaint story I had to present them as more ways he didn't get to propose.
Poor Beth, I think more than it being about the win she was excited to see her favorite couple get engaged in her presence and as we know now she won't.
Thanks for your review - always makes my day...and your story recommendation - I enjoyed that one too and felt very in tune with that writer.
Date: June 19, 2021 07:43 pm Title: Best Laid Plans of Mice and Salesmen
Freakin' Andy indeed. Gotta feel for Jim here. He's ready, he's had the ring for months only to be stifled at every turn. Of course we know the real proposal more than kicks her ass, but still it would have been fun here too. Beth is very quick on the uptake. Love that about her character. Really good look into Jim's mindset here. He's a prankster yes, but he's also not cruel. So he's not the kind of guy to stomp over Andy or really take a dig at Dwight. Good for you Jim.
Always fun getting an update for this one.
Author's Response:
I really felt for Jim in this part of the series. I was fuming at Andy. But Jim handled it so well and without having to have gone through anger management.
So we know they had discussed it afterwards and got to a place where they thought they should wait - this was me filling in the blanks. Plus coming up with a few other proposal ideas.
In a way it was nice that they could celebrate her getting in to Pratt as it's own thing.
Beth, always fun to include her in her small ways.
Thanks as always for sharing your thoughts.
1 [Report This]Date: June 04, 2021 02:12 am Title: Bean Counter
Awww, look at you go Jim making her birthday feel all sorts of special. I like how he made sure that it started out right the night before and continued with a nice wake up the day of. Even with Jim not on the PPC I'm sure he'd figure out that there would be something that would be off.
Micheal's Micheal-ness seemed full on. You really got his character right. Trying to do something nice, not quite getting it right, but not really figuring out why he didn't. Do I detect shades of Office Ladies tracking all the different plants at reception and thus Angela giving Pam hopefully a nice hearty plant that will stick around a bit longer? Nice touch.
The date at Christopher's, while a bit more brief this time around was nonetheless lovely. The bracelet was all sorts of special too.
Her reflections on starting a family with Jim vs. Roy seemed on par as well. With Roy it was always yet another thing to put off. With Jim it's a near certainty. Especially with her envisioning that scene so clearly in her artist mind eye. Loved that insight into her mind. Great job with this chapter. I loved it.
Author's Response:
1 [Report This]Date: June 02, 2021 01:41 pm Title: Bean Counter
This is probably my favorite thing you’ve written. I love the entire waking up section and the self reflection of a birthday.
“Of course, without her contacts in, he was still a blur, as was the bouquet of pink puffs that sat atop the dresser behind his body. But even out of focus, she could sense the incandescent smile spread across his face and knew it was peonies that filled the room with the delightful scent that brought to mind memories of their first date.”— this was a fantastic paragraph.
The glitter and the wrong year was so cute and you captured the vibe of the office so well.
“Toby and Oscar gave her Dragonfly in Amber, the second of the Outlander series. She didn’t have the heart to tell them she was already in the middle of the fourth book so instead she thanked them graciously and made a mental note to drop by Barnes and Noble later that week to exchange it for The Fiery Cross. “ — I mean, I love this for a multitude of reasons, and not just because I liked FC more than DA.
“You know it wouldn’t be the worst thing, if you were. In fact, it would be pretty amazing.”— I really really love this aspect of Jim’s personality. Like, a lot.
This was really cute and I enjoyed it immensely. It’s a great addition to this already well done series. Love it!
Author's Response:
Thank you - I knew I was getting the warm fuzzies while it came together and wasn't sure if it was just in my head or my mood. Your saying that is sweet and assuring. I can honestly say that it is the influence of all that I read that has changed how I write. So a big thanks to you, among others.
So I really enjoy writing office antics and I was smiling through the whole middle section.
I'm still a ways from FC but something to look forward to. Betcha Jim is reaping the rewards of Oscar's original suggestion and the reading that followed. Not that they needed help in that department but I'm sure he's not complaining right?
Well, me too. I always loved that Jim had babysat Sasha, did so well with Stacy's kid, and of course I wrote about the relationship with his niece and nephew but nothing would compare to a kid of his own and I think he got a little lost in the idea when Beth brought it up.
So glad you enjoyed - it's always music to hear that.
Date: June 01, 2021 08:09 pm Title: Bean Counter
"They’d both been up late last night engaged in a little pre-birthday amusement that had her singing happy birthday and then halleluiah as he did things to her body that made her wish every night was her birthday eve." HA.
Certainly seems sensible that this would be a moment of reflection for Pam, on all sorts of levels - she's at the age, we know what's coming later this year for her, and of course she's finally in a settled place in her personal life. I also think it's a good note that Pam's horizons have opened now - the point she's clearly at with Jim is one she would have killed to be at with Roy, but there's also a lot more she feels capable of doing now.
Ah, poor glitter-covered Pam. And say what you like about Angela, she would not have made these mistakes. Of course, her party also wouldn't have been as much fun. Michael can come through, if you give him enough free mistakes.
HA. I was wondering if the fragrance at the beginning was where that came into it. Nice way to get around it.
Well, I hope folks check out Butterflies... because Jim and Pam are still some time away from finding out the extra significance of that bean...
Author's Response:
True about Angela but come on Angela could never have come up with that party - was she ever a kid?
Amazing how the right partner can change your perspective but also makes you want to better more - for yourself and for them. So many things changed for Pam when she got out of her own way (sure Roy was to blame a little but It was really herself - good for Jim for giving her the little wake -up call she needed more than once)
Yeah so I told you I worked it out without having to have her have a scent she already wore - spelling Night Swept was enough and I could only imagine - wasn't a huge Drakar fan to begin with myself.
I hope so too because I think it makes the gift that much sweeter.
Thanks as always - always tickled to hear from you.