Tea! And Jim running to get the tea! 😍 This was perfect. I'm also very glad that he got back before Pam could go down too far down the rabbit hole, ha. Dwight and Izzy are hilarious here (the image of him waving his arms like he's trying to spook a turkey is brilliant), and I love the little reveal that his ancestors maybe might have been on the wrong side of the war...

Author's Response: Dwight should always embarrass himself while mentioning his ancestors without realizing he is: this was how I chose to do that ;)

Haha, I love Pam's reaction to Izzy (I think my particular favourite is paper cuts from Michael's novelty bookmarks, because of course Michael has novelty bookmarks with no books, although being pummelled to death by sugar packets is a close second). But Jim actually answers her! I love, love that his immediate reaction to pick up on Pam's discomfort and for that to be his first concern. Also this description of Jim is so perfect: 'he’s…still, in a way that Jim is rarely still. He’s almost always moving in some way, rocking to the beat of a song only he can hear or moving fluidly between the stations behind the counter since he seems to be the only real employee here and so does all the work.'

Ok I'm also really really glad Pam did say all of that out loud (honesty is definitely a good quality Pam) - onto the next chapter!

Author's Response: Thank you! Making Pam be honest always at this stage requires it to be accidental (this ain't Beach Games Pam) but it's still really vital I think to her growth.

Gah I love Jim and Pam's individual spirals, and the way they're both doubting and secretly hopeful - they really are perfect for each other/on exactly the same wave length without realising it. This line is also very Jim: 'If she doesn’t lead, he’ll just…stay. In stasis. There are worse places to be than across a counter from her—even if she can’t look at him if he sits down at the same table.' And Michael's failure at organising stock cracked me up, hee, that is exactly the sort of thing I could see him confusing.

Author's Response: Thank you! I try to keep them on the same wavelength while having their unique points of view, so I'm really glad that's coming across!

Aww, such a lovely chapter! I might be a prude because I found that... um... isn't it a bit too early for supply closet's thought? but leaving a number on the inside of the cup's sleeve is the cutest thing, and I'm here for all the cute and touching!
Also, it's awesome that Pam decided to change her place into... her place? and I'm very curious about what she is going to do about it.
Thank you!

Author's Response: Having the thoughts and acting on them are quite different! She's definitely nowhere near acting on them. We'll spend some time with redecorator Pam soon :) 

Okay, good to know Izzy has limits. And that those limits do not extend to not roping in Pam's mother. This is a very believable pair of opposites-attract best friends here.

Jim's coffee sleeve trick was very Jim and highly adorable. And after a lot of lightness, I'm glad you brought this back to how this is fitting into the broader arc of our recently unbetrothed graphic designer's life. She's still very much finding herself as she's finding Jim... and that may be problematic down the line.

Author's Response:

Izzy's limits are idiosyncratic, like her taste in men ;)

Thank you! This is ultimately a fluffy fic so don't expect too many problems, but there will be a fair amount of self-discovery along the way!

I attempted to read this while brushing my teeth, which proved problematic given how much of it was genuine laugh-out-loud funny.

Pam's choice of love vs. sudden-onset stomach cancer, the description of Dwight's imitation, Pam accidentally getting Jim to boil himself, the Jim-Dwight banter about capitalism (which makes me deeply sad canon didn't get political), Dwight's failed complaints to the health department, Dwight failing to seduce Isabel with his lion comparison... this was just terrific from beginning to end. Really enjoyable entry.

Author's Response: I'm so glad you enjoyed it, my dear Author of the Month (congrats!). I really appreciate the feedback.

The commentary Jim puts in shows he paid pretty close attention in his classes. The "get your history right," line was just delightful. Banter, academic banter, Pam blushing, tea drinking, this chapter just has it all. I am curious to see who points out the obvious flaw in most of Marxist!Jim's reasonings. Jim is making his living abd producing goods and services for profit for the proletariat. My guess is that it'll be Dwight who somehow raises the issue. Probably by misquoting Marx with some line about the last capatalist will sell the rope with which they're hung.

Besides all that, it's really a lot of fun to see Jim and Pam bond like this. Great work as always.

Author's Response: Thank you very much! I am enjoying geeking out about communism, which was not where I thought this fic would go but I do not regret in the slightest ;)

What a fantastic chapter! And with so much tea in it!!!
But! The tea didn't distract me from noticing things I'd like to comment on with excessive use of exclamation marks too. Like, this quote:
'watching him do things was more interesting than just watching him be pretty,' - I can't stress enough how much I love this line!!!!
Or her desire to paint him — oh, I hope so much she'll have an opportunity to do that!
Also, green tea. I can relate here to her willingness to like something (even if this something doesn't want to cooperate). Also, ouch. I like this little touch with her burnt — sometimes something very desirable might be a little too soon ;)
Thank you so much!! I hope to see soon how she tries other blends too :)

Author's Response:

Thanks so much! We're really leaning into the Bigelow teas right now for some reason I can't really explain, but I'm not going to stop ;)

And I'm really glad you're noticing these little bits! She will probably end up painting him--this story may end up pretty long though, so not sure when! 

Just wonderful. I really like the fact that now that there is tea and confirmation that Jim is more than customer service interested in her, she takes a few moments to really take him in. It's almost like she's seeing him for the first time. That her mind goes right to artistic areas shows the positive impact he has on her. Just by her really looking at him, he's bringing out the best in her. Loved it.

Of course the delightful counterpoint is her almost burning herself with the hot tea. Sorry to say another point for me this time as I'm safely at home along and thus no one around to hear me laugh at your great line. Don't worry I'm sure you'll be able to make up the difference at some point.

So if feels like the start of something big here and I am 100% on board for it. Can't wait for the next update.

Author's Response: Danke schoen! I had a lot of fun with that one--and I guess it's on me for updating at a time I knew you weren't at work ;)

he’d do something stupid like go after her and kiss her, only to get rejected again, and have to face the reality that he was more of a jerk than he wanted to think. I see what you did here - nicely played Casino night reference.

Of course I was also hearing in my head the Sinatra and Sinatra song of the same title 'Something Stupid" so thanks for getting that stuck in there (I guess worse songs could be plaguing me so not all bad).

I'm late on the reading so I already know from notes there will be tea- yeah finally. 

So many moons ago a certain someone I know was wondering if Dwight was going to appear as a German in a WWII fic. Sadly German Dwight did not come to pass. I mean the world needed to see Bomber Dwight demonstrate unarmed combat on himself after all. But I digress. If German Dwight was not to be here on the archive this Dwight being oddly proud of his grandpappy who served in the wehrmacht (hopefully the wehrmacht that is and not other double letter units in service at the time for the Germans) seems to fit the bill. Besides all that Dwight was wonderfully Dwight here. Right in to possibly defend someone being attacked and then offering unsolicited critique on the move.

Loved the line that before Pam could end up in Wonderland, Jim is back. It may not be their own house blend or anything like that, but I get the feeling this gesture will mean a whole lot more.

As for what kind of tea she would like? Well after a look around on the Bigelow website I have an idea. Should Pam offer Jim the choice, he is a barista and thus this is his area of expertise, I would say Jim might want to recommend the Elderberry tea. As you've so wonderfully laid out, Jim pays attention to Pam. He knows what she likes and what she doesn't. Her favorite things for example. Going by the packaging I'd say he'd suggest that. Even better as there doesn't appear to be an expiration date. Also is Pam going to confirm his guess as to her major in college? What with all the almost trips to Wonderland and computer re-starts we still don't have her answer to said question.

Always a treat and looking forward to more as ever.

Author's Response: Oh man, I still wish there had been some way for there to be two Dwights in your fic...but I am glad you like this oddly proud Dwight. And Elderberry would be great, if only CVS carried it ;). Thanks as ever for the thoughtful review.

Awwwwwwwww. Jim!!!!! You old softy. (Although this feels like a solution you could have come to quite some time ago.) Too cute.

Still enjoying the Dwisabel here... poor girl. She's smitten. And the Harry Potter reference was noted.

"How many kilopascals of pressure do you think you were applying?” He poked Pam’s arm. “Well, maybe just pascals.” is fantastic Dwight dialogue.

Author's Response: Thank you! It's not like coffeeshops usually go down the street to another store to buy their stuff...but yes, he probably could have slipped some into an order now that I mention it...