Yeah. This feels like the canon version of what happened. Everything's less sharp in the morning, they both make some vague apologies and move forward without dealing with anything, Pam covers for her moment of wondering, she and Jim have a smaller moment, and Casino Night gets one day closer.

Also, I like the idea that Roy is genuinely amused by the story of Pam's Chili's ban. Makes me feel better about her sticking with him for so long.

"In a way it’s not surprising, you think, since no one really notices you much here. “Hey, Beesly, how’s it going? Feeling better?”" Yep.

#2

I think the is the perfect description of what canonically happened after the dundies. I love that Pam's question she asks him is sincere and vulnerable. It creates a sweet moment within canon, where she avoids talking about the kiss but still has a connecting moment with Jim.

GIRL. You killed this whole thing and I absolutely loved reading it. I know it took you longer than you wanted and some of it wasn't easy for you, but it paid off in a big way. It was fantastic.

1

*Clothes you’ve had since high school, clothes you bought for your job at Dunder Mifflin, one bridesmaids dress… and that’s about it. So much for that activity.* Does that bridesmaid dress happen to be sort of a .. periwinkle?

*You never knew how nice it would be to just be on the phone with Jim. You’d had a similar thought before, sitting next to him in meetings or looking across the bullpen to make eye contact with him. You didn’t think it would translate outside Dunder Mifflin and the shared experiences of your unique workplace. But you could stay on the phone with him for the rest of the day. Just existing at the same time. Breathing, listening, waiting.* Write this fic. But also I love this.

*It reminds you a little too much of Roy, and it’s stupid, but you decide to ask Jim if he can turn it off.* I love this subtle little test she does, like she's comparing how Jim reacts vs how Roy might. Almost giving her more validation in her decision.

*Jim is coming over tonight for dinner and a movie. You finish cleaning and sprawl out on your new couch, tapping your fingers on your stomach to settle the butterflies that have inevitably developed. But it’s okay. You kind of like them now that they’re not forbidden.* LOVE.

UGH. I loved this chapter. And I'm loving how these endings are positive and fluffy but still open-ended. It's perfect!

1

*“Wait,” you say, taking a small step in front of the door. “Um, can I ask you your opinion on… something kind of personal?”

He rolls his eyes and sighs heavily. “You don’t look fat.”* HAHAHA

*But you can’t move on from the head-on collision between your favorite relationship and your strongest relationship. You can only hold your breath as you watch it unfold.* Oooof this is brilliant.

*But you don’t. You find Roy and hand him the soda to indicate a reason for your being down here, because, you know, being his fianc?e isn’t enough for that.* WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD AT THIS

*“Will you say, ‘Go get ‘em, tiger?’”

He pauses just enough to grin from ear to ear. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”* Ughhhhhhh TPB.


I love me some confident, determined Pam and she definitely gives off that vibe here and I am here for it. I loveeeee this. Going back for more!! So good.

1

“In case I need them in a survival situation.” Now I want to know exactly what survival situation would require battery-operated calculators, because I'm sure Dwight's got a specific one in mind.

"“This is highly classified,” he says in a low voice. “But I have strong suspicions that Michael’s hecklers from last night were planted spies from a rival paper company.”" Oh, Dwight. NEver change. And you were like... on the way to being at least not actively horrifying, and you blew it.

"In your hurry, you don’t look where you’re going, and suddenly you find your face smack in the middle of Jim’s button-down shirt. With Jim inside it." LOL.

(For the record, I too have always wondered and may or may not have a fic in progress that will never get finished about how Pam managed to kiss Jim in front of like 30 people and no one ever followed up on it.)

"As unintentionally insightful as Dwight can be, you refuse to believe that men and women always want different things from a relationship, even though you know there’s some truth to that. Just look at you and Roy." Accidentally Helpful Dwight is the best Dwight.

Ugh. Roy. The combination of the Chili's disaster with the hockey game disaster... you are not a smart man.

"You did think Roy had changed. Because you always think he will." OUCH. Very interesting psychological take on Pam. And realizing that's her rationalization and it's just not working anymore does seem to be the sort of thing that might push an early Season 2 Pam over the edge. Fancy New Beesly arrives early!

#1

1

"Wow. Drunk Pam is clearly still in charge here. You would never have said that sober, but you don’t think you’ll necessarily regret it." THIS. LINE. TPB. Wow, I love it.

I love the Dwight and Pam dynamic here too!

Oh wow, TPB wrote an emotional breakup?! Le gasp! It was written very well though, I loved it! And this CHESS GAME?! Beautiful!

I loved this ending here!!

1

OUCH. We clearly crushed Jim's fragile beating heart a little here. I mean, the wondering was probably torturous, but this casts a shadow over the whole thing.

“Oh, come on. No one deserves that.” Dwight. Dwight deserves that.

"You had a few of Roy’s nachos, but then he got mad and said you should have ordered your own appetizer." On the one hand, Roy sucks. On the other hand, order your own damn food, lady.

"Even the first time the two of you had lunch together, which was like two days after you met, he insisted on paying. You don’t think he had even met Roy yet." DAMMIT PAM.

"You realize that you’ve been getting into the habit of just apologizing when things get tense between you and Roy, hoping that an I’m sorry will smooth things out. It’s always easy to find something you could have done or said differently, and this situation is certainly no exception." Oooooof. This is... very Pam.

"You know that if this were any other situation, all it would take is a ten-minute conversation with Jim, and you would know exactly what to do." Your guardian angel is weeping, BEGGING you to take the hint.

Pam turning to Dwight can't possibly be a *good* idea. But it seems like it could be an extremely *entertaining* idea, and also like Pam would much rather do that than talk to Jim. So...

#1

1

Ah, here we are in canon. The question though is, do we stay canon, or diverge? Hmmmmmm.........

1

A CYOA. FOR THE NIGHT OF THE DUNDIES. That's either brilliant or decisively evil. Only time will tell.

"You kissed someone other than your fianc?, in a bold move that could have ruined your safest relationship." Oh, Pam. This should not be your safest relationship.

"He doesn’t need to know that your first dabbling in bathroom graffiti was originally about him" GO ON.

1

FINALLY, she is here and being shared with the world!

I'm so excited for this adventure, you have NO idea, TPB!!