9 [Report This]Date: December 07, 2008 07:07 am Title: Same old story
ok, clearly, today is a 'being obsessed with Colette' kind of day. i love this fic, i've made no secret of it. but i re-read this chapter today and totally started crying! (TMI, but, i think i am pre-menstrual, which is causing such emotions? at least, i hope i am, otherwise i'm a complete sap, there's no hope for me, etc). this chapter gives me the same feeling as that scene from the beach that snuck its way into "the job." a stolen moment for jim and pam, twinged with sadness and angst, but yet there's a real promise here of what we know will happen. and even if we didn't know, there's hopefulness and energy piped through this. and the hand holding! sigh.
Author's Response: Being re-read is high praise - sorry to make you cry though, PMS notwithstanding ;-) Glad you got the sense of some hope at the end, along with the bleaker stuff. Man, S3 was a goldmine in terms of fic germination, but it really does take it out of you, lol. Thanks again, Emily!
10 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2008 05:36 pm Title: Same old story
God. I want to give Pam a cuddle but also slap her silly.
Author's Response: Exactly. So frustrating in those days. Thanks again!
9 [Report This]Date: August 14, 2008 09:08 pm Title: Same old story
...shut...up. you are KILLING me with the sweet, exquisite angst. you know, i haven't been round these parts recently, i've been feeling out of love with office fic, but i've think you've brought me back to the homestead. i love your work, you know i do, but you have this great talent and the only description i can think is: gapfiller. which isn't enough to say what you do, but. anyway. you should be on the writing staff and when there's some sort of jim/pam moment, you should write it. it would be beautiful.
Author's Response: Ha! Do me a favor and give Greg Daniels my number, okay? Glad this sad little thing reeled you back a little (and hope you survived the murder attempt!) Thanks so much, Emily!
10 [Report This]Date: August 13, 2008 03:04 pm Title: Same old story
"He’d chuckled back, but immediately looked around to make sure no one had heard them.
Now he regarded no one sitting alone in the dark."
I loved this little bit of phrasing. This is, as usual, beautifully done. Thank you!
Author's Response: Why thank you! No one...so totally the opposite of how he saw/sees her. Glad you're liking this, notatoy!
Date: August 13, 2008 06:10 am Title: Same old story
This chapter vibrates with the tension. It's the whole story behind that look on his face, that softly uttered "Yes" when Karen asks if he still has feelings for Pam. This is so good!
Author's Response: Bingo. That agonized 'yes' was precisely what was in my head as I was writing this. In that week between Karen finding out about Jim's 'crush' and her detecting the subtle frequency between him and Pam (while observing them pull the cell phone prank on Andy,) I always felt there was a blank to fill in - his unresolved feelings bubbling to the surface after being questioned about them in TS, and Karen beginning to clue in, culminating in that conference room 'yes' scene. (I hope my story makes more sense than that last couple of sentences ;-) But if you could feel that 'yes' state of mind here, I'm SO happy. Thank, nqllisi - really loved hearing that.
Date: August 12, 2008 11:23 pm Title: Same old story
It was odd sitting with her in the dark, so close he could sense the vibration in the air when she breathed. It was at once familiar and strange and wrong and right and he didn’t care. All he knew was how soft she looked in her sweater, how unnatural it was not to touch her, that he was made to touch her. He imagined pushing her back against the pillows, feeling what it would be like to cover her body with his own, her mouth with his. He wanted to pretend it was the end of a long evening at her - at their - place and everyone would soon be gone. He’d tell her, let’s clean up in the morning and he’d kiss her and she’d kiss him back and they’d have the whole night ahead of them.
One of the hottest things I've ever read.
Once again, you're amazing. :D I'm sad you're ending it. It's very lovely. I'll be back tomorrow!
Author's Response: Yay for heat without actual touching! (Though, you know...touching is good too ;-) Glad his desire for her came across for you...and many thanks, raspberryjam!
Date: August 12, 2008 07:08 pm Title: Same old story
Just need to massage the final parts a wee bit more
That's what she said???
Oh the wistfulness! It's going to kill me. The thoughts Jim had about just BEING with her and how she was never really his to lose in the first place. Oy moy...I love this. Can't wait to see how this massaged parts come out. :-)
P.S. A little birdy tells me you say that the cure for not writing is to write...so I'm trying. ;-)
Author's Response: Ah, life is a mine field of TWSS's. Smarty pants ;-)
Death by wistfulness - I think you may have discovered a new untimely demise. Glad you're still with me on this and re: what that little birdy said, what can I say? I'm a simple girl, and so goes my advice. But I am THRILLED to hear you're writing something. Thrilled, I tell you! Thanks, Lovefool!!!
10 [Report This]Date: August 12, 2008 06:04 pm Title: Same old story
I adore the way you write Jim and Pam. I can feel them in your words and right now I hurt for both of them.
Author's Response: Aw, sorry about the ouch, jinx. Take one S4 episode per day and you'll feel fine ;-) Thanks so much!
Date: August 12, 2008 04:42 pm Title: Same old story
I think you've kept very true to the characters of Jim and Pam in these chapters. At this point, they were both just too afraid to take a chance, an you've really captured that well.
Author's Response: Thanks jkfan! Happy you think this is true to character!
10 [Report This]Date: August 12, 2008 02:27 pm Title: Same old story
Oh that hurt my heart a little. This especially:
‘S’okay,’ he replied at last, his tone chilly and dismissive. ‘You wouldn’t have much in common with him anyway.’
But I like that it hurts Jim almost as much, and he realizes that the way he treats her at times is painful for her. You write their dialog so well, also. The way they speak with one another is so layered with meaning, but it's not heavy. I'm probably not making sense.
In my last review you wondered why people like this so much, given the angst is tough to deal with right now. I think, because like you said - we know the outcome, but also because this story isn't angst for the sake of angst. The quiet moment that you create between them here feels so real, and you can almost understand how it would be so hard for them to tell the other exactly how they are feeling. Jim's anger makes sense, as does the way Pam withdraws a bit.
Wonderful, as always.
Author's Response: Glad you picked that line, cause I tried it about 10 different ways before I found (what I hoped was) the right tone. And yes - I wanted it to be clear that when he was cold to her, it was painful for him too. But so was the alternative. Actually, I kind of secretly liked those agonizing S3 scenes (like the break room one -'I'm sure you'll find your way back to each other' - ouch!) because no one so actively pushes someone away, and looks so miserable doing it, when they don't still have very deep feelings for that person. (And could that sentence be any more convoluted? ;-) But, glad you think the dialog works - those two don't tend to communicate in long 'heavy' paragraphs, but they still say a lot, so I'm glad that feeling came through for you - and also that this doesn't feel like angst for angst's sake to you. Thanks so much, kells! I appreciate the feedback.
10 [Report This]Date: August 12, 2008 02:18 pm Title: Same old story
This? Killed me. This whole chapter. Wow.. you've done it again, Colette.
Author's Response: Sorry about killing you, but glad you're finding this, uh... effective ;-) Many thanks, flonkerton!
Date: August 12, 2008 01:38 pm Title: Same old story
Really nice work with this story. Your characterizations are very well done and fit nicely within that time frame in Season 3. Thanks for sharing!
Author's Response: Thanks so much ShunUnshun - happy to hear this is working for you!
Date: August 12, 2008 12:11 pm Title: Same old story
Ouch. I really like your characterization of Pam, trying new things, wobbling a bit, and then retreating. Then trying to relate to Jim as her buddy, but that not really working either.
And then Karen's shrill order and simultaneous dissing of Jim's music interrupts the moment. Of course. Nicely done.
Author's Response: Nothing was really working for either of them at that point, was it? So frustrating. But, yes - I saw Pam as equally lost re: how to 'be' around him...trying to stay within the new boundaries she thought he'd drawn (casual/distant friend?) and then when she's initially rebuffed by him here, retreating, but brushing herself off and trying again. I always felt like there was never really a disconnect between them - just longing masquerading as one. But, before this turns into another chapter - thanks so much, Lisa - really love the feedback!
Date: August 12, 2008 12:08 pm Title: Same old story
Congrats on the well-deserved blue ribbon, Colette!
Author's Response: Why thanks, m'am!
10 [Report This]Date: August 12, 2008 11:44 am Title: Same old story
When I write fic, I think in terms of gaps. I don't like to predict, really, and I'm not a fan of AU. I like to flesh out what we already know and pause for a moment on the things that didn't get explored. This is a wonderful, tiny gap that you've stumbled upon here. I'm deeply impressed by it, particularly your characterization of Jim. It's spot-on. I think that this paragraph in particular is one of the best I've read from you - "It was odd sitting with her in the dark, so close he could sense the vibration in the air when she breathed. It was at once familiar and strange and wrong and right and he didn’t care. All he knew was how soft she looked in her sweater, how unnatural it was not to touch her, that he was made to touch her. He imagined pushing her back against the pillows, feeling what it would be like to cover her body with his own, her mouth with his. He wanted to pretend it was the end of a long evening at her - at their - place and everyone would soon be gone. He’d tell her, let’s clean up in the morning and he’d kiss her and she’d kiss him back and they’d have the whole night ahead of them." It's so delicate and touching and just, well, sad. I can't wait for the conclusion.
Author's Response: Yeah, in terms of fanfic, I've never been much of an AU writer myself - I'm much more interested in riffing on what we've seen - as you say, there are so many fertile blanks to fill in. Glad you thought this particular one was fic worthy - I've never been a big complicated plot girl - I tend to be more inspired by small moments like this - and 'delicate' is a lovely compliment. Thanks so much Talkative!
10 [Report This]Date: August 12, 2008 11:18 am Title: Same old story
My heart hurts, Colette. He’d chuckled back, but immediately looked around to make sure no one had heard them...Now he regarded no one sitting alone in the dark. Boy, that just knocks the wind out of me. You have such a way with words.
Author's Response: So sorry about your heart, NanReg! I recommend watching a S4 episode - works very well as a balm ;-) Thanks so much!