I love this version of Penny, and this line alone was worth the price of admission: "If this was what Socrates was like, Pam could understand why the Athenians gave him hemlock."

Author's Response: Thanks! I think between this and the Platonic ideal of a website line earlier you can see my college Moral Reasoning course content coming through more than I'd realized before...

"If this was what Socrates was like, Pam could understand why the Athenians gave him hemlock." Great line. That you reference one of the most well known philosophers during this section great. Adding in Pam's sense of sarcasm to it, also great. I really liked how you had Penny as Pam's sounding board here. It makes for a wonderful dynamic in their sisterhood. Also we have a double confirmation now from the sisters. First when Larissa told Pam that Jim's hers. Also now here with Penny not only being seen as cold toward Roy, but encouraging Pam's feelings towards Jim.

I also liked the use of Pam's line from the Beach Day speech there as well. That speech is a big moment for Pam. In canon it took her a while to get there. Here it's taken time too but she's come to a lot of the same conclusions. Roy's not right for her and there is something better out there for her.

Oh what else did I like about this chapter? Oh yeah! The conversation she has with Jim. The tension on his end is still there. As far as he knows, she's still fully committed to Roy. That he gets quiet when she starts probing deeper than the safe waters of friendship makes sense. Jim has no idea she's had the revelations she's had. I did like that he is honest with her in telling her he's in love, but it makes complete sense that he still can't bring himself to tell her who he's in love with. After all he's still probably beating himself up for taking back the teapot card at this point.

In this case, to keep using my fire starting analogy, it feels like she's not so much using the flint and steel here. Rather she's resetting the kindling and tinder. I'm not sure how much she's really aware that's happening, but it's there. In order to have a good campfire, one needs a good base from which to build said fire. Pam seems to have cleared away the old dead fire that wasn't going anywhere that was her relationship with Roy. Now it seems she's built up or is almost done building a base for a romantic relationship with Jim. Maybe a few more adjustments with how she holds the flint and steel and that fire will catch.

Great chapter.

Author's Response: Wow, thanks for the even-more-in-depth-than-usual response! I appreciate hearing about each of these things, they help confirm that I'm on the right track here and that the story is communicating what I want it to. To borrow a phrase from Churchill (and thus the setting of your current AU) "this is, perhaps, the end of the beginning": Pam has an idea now of what she wants, but now she has to put it in practice.

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Can't wait to see what happens next! :) Love this story!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! That's wonderful to hear.