1 [Report This]Date: December 30, 2021 12:19 pm Title: Chapter 1
The fact that Jim has never seen the Wizard of Oz saddens me, but fits this story SO WELL!
Aly, I loved this! It was so cute and fluffy and aaaaah!
Great job!
1 [Report This]Date: December 29, 2021 07:19 pm Title: Chapter 1
This was so adorable.
“You’re Pam! The Pam!” I loved this more than I probably should have.
I loved the Allison character and course Larissa. They were perfect.
And oh my God that kiss was magical. Fantastic job with this. Happy Holidays! ;)
1 [Report This]Date: December 23, 2021 08:34 am Title: Chapter 1
Me! This was for me! I have been waiting to read the secret santa submissions until I put in my own, so I was so excited that the first one I read was mine and that it was from you! You did an amazing job. My recipe was random enough that I forgot most of it and had to have NLM send it to me again a few days ago, lol! So the fact that you took these random things that had no cohesion whatsoever and turned it into a lovely little Christmas party forbidden kiss is just perfect. I loved it! Some of my favorite parts:
He clears his throat, but his voice still comes out a little shaky when he says, “You good?” (I died)
“Roy is great. He’s a good friend with good intentions and all that cheesy crap, but maybe that’s just what he’s supposed to be. A friend.” (i like her a LOT and this is great advice. if only someone had said this to Pam in the show)
“There’s still time to turn around. We can go back to your place, watch a bad Hallmark movie, or just go to your room and not watch a bad Hallmark movie.” (I would also like a sequel to this story, based on this line and this line only, thank you)
1 [Report This]Date: December 22, 2021 10:39 am Title: Chapter 1
I loved this! A Jim and Pam that get together pre-series, without all the angst (ok, with less of the angst / hurt feelings) is such a brilliant idea. I really enjoyed how organically you worked in them having a mutual friend that they didn’t know about, and my heart was beating along with Pam’s once I realised Jim might be about to show up - this was so great. Also, lol at him watching The Grinch on mute by himself (and in fact, most of Larissa’s comments about him). And them sneaking off to play board games together is so perfect. I love the way you’ve written Pam’s slow-burning reactions to him as she gets more and more drawn in, and the hand-holding in the dark, and Pam kissing him…just gorgeous.
And then this line:
He grins, “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear that.”
In fact, that entire exchange, and the way you’ve remixed canon lines but made it that bit less angsty because they don’t have all of season 2 behind them, is so perfect. And then the flash forward to a year later with the same party is an amazing ending. This was so lovely!
1 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2021 08:36 pm Title: Chapter 1
*“Unbelievable. You’re not one of those people who think Twizzlers are better than Red Vines too, are you?”
“Twizzlers are so much better.”
“No, Jim, seriously? You’re joking.”
He leans forward and spins the spinner, “I take candy very seriously.”*
Jim clearly does NOT take candy very seriously, ugh
This was so cute. I love the way you weaved bits of CN into the narrative and gave Pam some real agency. Also you made me want cinnamon rolls so mission accomplished! Nice work!
1 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2021 08:01 pm Title: Chapter 1
The familiarity of this exchange with Roy at the beginning is painful. Clearly isn't the first time they're doing it, probably won't be the last.
I appreciate you working in some subtle bits in her arrival at Alli's party - the way everyone can kind of see Pam's unhappiness with Roy, but none of it mattered until she met Jim, the way Alli's life is getting bigger and hers is staying exactly as it was.
I always love these Pam and Jim's social circles accidentally collide stories and a good interfering Larissa. Who immediately starts selling him out. Their dynamic seems very appropriately older brother-little sister here.
This is just such a cute evening for them, and I think it really works - how they're able to finally connect like this when they're freed of their usual daily routines, and of Roy, and even of having to look at each other, that it just makes it easier to make that leap.
Very enjoyable, and a fun and natural working in of the recipe too!
1 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2021 07:06 pm Title: Chapter 1
So this is super cute. Roy is in form with his wanting to play poker rather than be with Pam. Especially with that line that this was the third week in a row of, "this is the last game."
Loved Allison. Seems like Kelly light which is a ton of fun. The social butterfly who is only leaning over the top rather than plunging over like our dear Miss Kapoor. Great feeling from here.
Jim is Larissa's DD? Perfect. And Larissa almost spilling the beans with her "The Pam?" line. You can just tell Jim has been pouring his heart out to her with a line like that.
Jim and Pam sneaking away from the party is so in form for them. In canon they do quite a bit. Jim's BBQ in his bedroom. Grilled cheese on the roof during the Launch Party. Board games and Reese's here. Perfect.
Then that bit where they kiss in the dark and then the lights come up? How wonderfully Hallmark of you. Then Jim finds a little more courage and has his little speech there before Pam dissapears upstairs. Well done Jim in not running away.
More reason to love Allison. She's a great voice of reason for Pam here. Feels like Pam needed a friend like her. Someone to lay things out for her with little BS. Then Pam finds her courage and we start down the happy ending path. Hooray!
The epiloge at the end was just the frosting on the gingerbread house. Especially the line about heading back to Pam's room and not watching a Hallmark movie. Wonderful. And they go sneak off again. Just glorious.
Great job with this one. Absolutley loved it.
Date: December 20, 2021 05:48 pm Title: Chapter 1
This was such fun to read, almost instant gratification! Jim going to a party he really doesn't want to because his sister and friend want him there is nicely juxtaposed with Roy doing what he wants, letting Pam go alone. Really sweet story, you write them so well!
1 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2021 03:07 pm Title: Chapter 1
WOW this was so good! I want a Reese’s tree (or pumpkin) and a game night with Jim right now. You wrote their kiss *so* well. Ugh. I wanted to melt.
1 [Report This]Date: December 20, 2021 01:44 pm Title: Chapter 1
Okay, I want to be friends with Allison and Larissa. And I want to hang out with them in the game room.
I loved this so much!! I love how excited she is to see him and how that grows into realizing she probably wants more.
"She grabs his free hand and pulls him through the crowd toward the front of the house. She reaches up to the top of the door frame, grabbing the key. She unlocks the door and quickly ushers Jim inside, closing the door once they’re both in.
But, this year, she locks the door too."
Ugh, yes. This was the perfect ending!!