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I can’t wait to see what happens!!! On the edge of my seat to have Pam win over the manwhore and make him domesticated. Maybe? 😊

Please don't apologize, we all know there's a real life outside of MTT, and having one is something to be proud of. Especially if you're going to come back with an update like this.?

Kelly sniffing Jim is hilarious and very Kelly, in all timelines, as is her completely ignoring the end of Romeo and Juliet because Leo and Claire Danes looked good in?it. I love her little look down in shame - she knows she's done wrong, she just can't help herself.

"I think you're a kind, generous, thoughtful, and loving person who's had some bad luck in the love department. You're a real gentleman and any girl would be lucky to have you."
"Aww, thanks Kel."
"And you're really hot. Like really, really hot." THIS IS SO KELLY.

"And if it were like any other day, Michael would kick her out in one minute and say?"12:15 gonna have me some sardine"?even though he never brought sardines for lunch." Yep, that's our Michael.

Jim's POV on his potential future with Pam is adorable. Oooof, though - him watching someone else fulfill his canon role as "turner of all bad things into good" hurts to think about.

Also, congrats on your Dundies nominations!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! I’m so shocked by the Dundies nomination but really thankful for all the support and reviews! 

Kelly was so much fun to write, she may actually be my favorite to write because I can go as absurd as I want to with her. She’s probably like my female version of Michael.

 It’s been fun writing Jim in this light. I really hope I can bring this story to justice.

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On the edge of my seat for an update. I love this story!

YAY! Very happy to see this one return! Even if it is with Pam/Danny fluff. She deserves to be pretty right by someone, even if it's not Jim... and especially someone who finds her fundamental awkwardness and goofball energy as charming as it is.

Oooof. He's setting himself up for some trouble unintentionally though. Poor Danny. He keeps comparing himself to Jim and falling just... a little... short. And it's such an interesting contrast to canon, where Jim is "competing" for Pam's affections with someone who's so blatantly WRONG for her on paper. Seeing him up against someone who checks so many of Pam's boxes is a fun twist.

Oh, this conversation in the apartment stings. Poor Jim. He's trying so hard.

Also, Michael trying to use the eggplant emoji in an entirely appropriate way was a fun detail.

Will be holding you to your solemn and unbreakable pledge of weekly updates...

Personally, I love the flashback, especially the way you put the button on it to bring it back to the Danny date.

I know it's not the heart of the bad date, but Pam being so surprised by how nicely Roy is treating her at the beginning and suspecting he's screwed up is just ooooof. Like... come on, Pam. It's time. This is not "trying."

(Love Kelly's New Year's resolution. SO Kelly, always down to be a rom com heroine. And her self-identification with Cher is perfect.)

You also put Roy's weird, very high school combination of jealousy and envy and loathing of Jim to good use here... Roy so badly wants to impress Jim that he ends up being wildly insensitive to Pam. He's got a lot of growing up to do. What a tool. (And speaking of tools, I appreciate you including both Jim going to support Kevin's band *and* Jim completely forgetting where Nelly works, or at least how to pronounce it, in the same exchange. He has potential, that dirtbag Jim, and not just if he thinks you're cute.)

Oh my gosh. This is SO MUCH WORSE THAN THE HOCKEY GAME. Like, there at least Kenny was there in the first place. And he came back for her in canon. Dear lorde. What a baboon. AND HE FORGOT HER NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SO COMPLETELY HE THOUGHT HE CAME UP WITH IT HIMSELF. Dead man walking.

Ohh Jim, what you said to Kelly is almost certain to come back and bite you in the ass. We'll be sure to buckle up for that one. The banter he and Pam share though was great fun to read. Lots of emotional undertones even without that kiss. Feels like things are about to get a lot more complicated that's for sure.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

I'm honestly looking forward to see Cathy and Jim interacting after she inevitably finds out about the lie.

One of my challenges right now is how to keep this Jim and Pam banter afloat since they're not really in a relationship so I can't add too much love stuff. So I'm really glad that you're still enjoying them.

Let's see where the ride takes us. 

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Love this chapter (though I'd like to knock Jim & Pam's heads together so they wake up). There is enough of sweet caring Jim mixed in with slutty Jim to keep me from disliking him. The date with Kelly was hilarious, Jim is probably going to hate himself for the Cathy comments. Kelly WILL talk and adding Cathy back into the mix will be another layer for Pam & Jim to get through if they are ever going to be together. The banter in Pam & Jim's messages is so we'll done.

Very excited to see what happens next, especially after the kiss. I have the feeling these two are headed for some choppy waters, but I'm hopeful they figure it all out.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! 

I'm really happy that you don't dislike slutty Jim. He really has a heart of gold despite his... activities. Oh, Kelly will definitely talk. We'll just have to see how big of an impact the news will have.

With their banter, glad you liked it because admittedly, one of the hardest things I've come to realize in writing is imagining a conversation happening in my head. Especially anticipating how two people would react to each other. 

Look, it's a guilty pleasure, but I really do enjoy the heck out of watching Ryan fall on his ass here... and his total inability to acknowledge how bad he is at this makes that much better. It's the sort of comeuppance I always wanted for him. And naturally he immediately goes in for the low blows. Very much the guy we know. The bastard. (I also love Ryan and Cathy as the Dark Jim and Pam, in the way that Ryan and Kelly were the Toxic Jim and Pam.)

Jim's air guitar solo was beautiful and I'd like to see that filmed. I also love the image of Michael having to police both the Jim-Ryan and Dwight-Danny fights while Kelly and Cathy pull Jim into their drama - feels very much like canon-style humor.

Michael's idea of a win-win-win is apparently catastrophically silly in all universes. But I love Jim and Pam's IM banter, and the growing little signs of jealousy with Pam. I continue to think it was a good choice to make Danny seem like a viable option here... adds some tension to the whole situation.

Looking forward to seeing how the various dates go!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! In canon, I've hated Ryan from the moment he gave Jim a formal warning out of pettiness so it just feels awesome to write him in the most awful way possible. Combine him with Crazy Cathy and you really got yourself a match made in hell.

Jim doing an air guitar solo kind of reminded me of Barney Stinson, I just feel like this Jim would find him to be a really cool guy. Then the ensuing fights, I almost wish I wrote I dialogue for it but I didn't want to end up with a 10k word chapter.

Pam and Danny, oh man, I almost regret making him so nice, to be honest, knowing the inevitable (??) outcome.

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This chapter was engrossing and fun to read. Sometimes the journey to the destination is 75% of the fun.

You really brought out the characters' personalities and interactions well.
Ryan having no idea how inept and insulting he is at sales and then landing low blow after low blow on Jim, manwhore though he may be.
Dwight being the one having a complaint filed on him instead of him doing the formal complaint on someone else was a refreshing change.
I really liked the three negotiating the detente though I wanted to bash Michael for not defending his two best salesmen, but I often feel like bashing him. When left to his own devices, Michael will choose the worst possible solution to any given situation.
Nice way to slip in Crazy!Cathy. Just a reminder of her character.

There were three other characters in this chapter -- Snap, Crackle, and Pop. This posting was full to the rim with them. I'd give you a bowl of Rice Krispies if I could. A jelly bean will have to stand in.

Good onya

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! And thank you for the Rice Krispies haha

To be honest, I was really scared adding this chapter because it wasn't in my original outline but I ended up having so much fun writing it. I was just in that mindset of making all of these people (outside of Pam and Danny... and Jim to an extent but he is inherently a douche in this story) be as ridiculously awful as possible.

Ryan was definitely the worst of the bunch. He just wanted to get Jim riled up to the point where he was genuinely hurt by his comments. He was a literal high school bully here. I mean if he can make someone like Dwight, who literally locked someone in a coffin, turn out to be a more decent human being then that's saying something.

 With Michael, although yes, it was a terrible decision from his end (I mean obviously Jim would be upset), he just wants everyone to get along which was always his downfall.

Cathy is literally just a crazy ex-girlfriend through and through. I don't think I'll be able to find a way to redeem her by the time I finish this.

Hehe, your ability to write Cathy as truly awful in this is both amazing and very funny. I feel like she gets worse every chapter. The unhelpful tie fixing, and her gritted teeth when Jim tells her he hopes she’s happy with Ryan, is brilliant. And then Pam *actually* fixing his tie, and finding an excuse to touch his beard…I love it. I just love their every interaction in this, and the way you write their banter and teasing, and Pam slowly grudgingly noticing things (/falling for) him. (Also, Angela getting annoyed about the PPC for a party Jim just made up is so, so Angela). This was great!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!!

I like how Cathy feels like she's perfect for Jim but manages to screw everything up and she still thinks she's awesome.

With Jim and Pam, they have to know they're full on flirting, right? Who knows what these two are thinking?

Thank you for the Angela part! I spent so long thinking about what would get Angela pissed at both of them. I'm glad you liked it! 

HA! You did a really good job mixing in canon references here, especially in this opening conversation with Cathy. Who is the WORST. Ugh. Obviously she's the kind of person who doesn't know the difference between Pizza by Alfredo and Alfredo's Pizza Cafe. So in character.

Some very enjoyable Jim and Pam banter here - and Jim and Pam fast-on-their-feet teamwork. Those crazy kids do work well together, don't they...

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

I like challenging myself in making Cathy as annoying as possible.

With Jim and Pam, yeah they're so quick with their shenanigans. I wonder if they'll be as quick as realizing their feelings for each other. *shrugs* 

Hehe, I love that the Dwight 'idiot' ringtone is Jim's alarm, this was such a great (and funny) way to use it. Pam's little post-its for Jim, her making him breakfast, and his minor freak-out & second-guessing over the heart she left him was all so adorable. I think I've said this before, but I just love the way you write them in this fic so much. I also really like the brief insight into Jim's feelings for Pam here, and his denial (classic), but also that some of that is driven by how much he values their friendship, which feels very pure. His entire phone call with Michael is just brilliant. Also, I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I love every single one of your chapter titles - this one might be one my favourites, especially with the reveal of where soup snakes came from.

And then Kelly and Jim!! (Cathy with Ryan is also excellent, they feel like...a well-deserved pair?) I love that Jim agrees to the date just for Pam, and that hint of her disappointment - can't wait to see how the date turns out!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

I was wondering if I was going too deep into Jim's head and if there are feelings there, but I stuck with it because it really is a Jim and Pam story after all. And yeah, they are friends (well, Pam was in denial of this here), much like in canon so I think he cares about her so much because of that. 

Thank you for acknowledging my titles hehe. I get so amused whenever I get to the part where I have to think about what to call this chapter. And with soup snakes, I knew writing this chapter that I had to include it because I just love the term so much.

Kelly and Jim was 100% a last minute addition (which is making life harder for me since I now have to include their date in the story but pains of writing I guess haha), and it really shows the lengths Jim would go to for Pam. I mean this is Kelly we're talking about. Cathy/Ryan, definitely a match made in hell. We'll see how long that lasts.