Date: June 06, 2021 06:29 am Title: Decision
Oh TD this was amazing just gorgeous and so restorative from the last heartbreaking chapters. Of course it was Michael she called and I don't know why I didn't see that coming and of curse it was Michael who could bring Jim to his senses...in a way a little foreshadowing itself of a "pay it forward" moment we know is coming.
Then there was this ..And suddenly it doesn’t matter who is right, who is wrong. Who deserves what, whose dreams are being put on hold. Something needs to change. Right now, in this moment, there is nothing else but Jim and Pam and an idling taxi and the golden sheen from the setting sun on her hair as she’s about to walk away from him and he cannot leave her like this. Not now. Not today. Not ever again. Uh gorgeous.
All the flashbacks, how perfect each one was and was written (my favorites may have been the making of Cece tied with the wedding vows). Now I still contend that there is still work to be done to restore and repair but with this glimpse of where he is coming from I know if will be done.
Don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful moment on the show but I wanted more. But now I have it through you beautifully written fic. (Btw The lapses and empty spaces left in the show not just here but throughout were what had me seeking out the fan fic and then writing my own so I guess I Should be thankful it was just a :30 sitcom)
Really so well done how you wrote this very tough to write arc. Bravo.
Date: June 06, 2021 05:53 am Title: Decision
Ok I'm not done yet but had to write this now.....Michaels wedding vows. I'm rolling. They are so him. And it's the only time I will say I'm glad that song exists so you could include them here. Well done.
Date: June 05, 2021 06:41 pm Title: Decision
I will preface this all with: you are just such a great writer! I can't believe this is your first fic on the site. I finish each chapter yearning for more!
Now, OOF MICHAEL AND JIM'S CONVO HURT ME!
Of course, Pam would talk to him too, it only makes sense. This is just beautiful! Cannot WAIT for more!
Author's Response: I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it, thanks so much for your kind words and feedback! There will be three more chapters :)
Date: June 05, 2021 06:25 pm Title: Decision
I thought you did really well with this new, more mature Michael. This feels like the guy we see in the finally. Clearly grown up a lot, but still prone to a malaprop here or a rickrolled wedding there. And him making the callback to Booze Cruise happen accidentally was artfully done.
I thought you created a good context for this healing moment in the parking lot - the magic of the umbrella is a tipping point, rather than the scales falling from his eyes about what needs to happen - if anything, he's looking for exactly that kind of sign. And the knowledge that it's been so long since they've touched like this makes it all that much more poignant.
"But this is no band-aid, not this time. And he will wait patiently with his arms around her, as long as it takes, for her to realize that." Ouch.
I can really well visualize that montage of flashbacks.
Wow. It's, like, super dusty in this room right now, anyone notice that?
Date: June 05, 2021 09:34 am Title: Decision
Ugh. UGH.
You had *so* many lines in this chapter that stirred something in me. I mean:
"It’s been awhile since he’s even thought about those things, and he can’t help but notice it’s making him feel better than he has in some time."
and
"seeing Michael’s name has stirred those same happy memories inside him, back when working at Dunder Mifflin was fun. Memories of when Pam was happy."
Beautiful way to begin the callbacks to the romance and pining of the earlier seasons. My heart began to ache for season 2/3 Jim while still being frustrated with season 9 Jim.
I can't even begin to describe how well you did with the hug scene and the flashbacks in the middle, only that you enhanced an already beautiful and poignant moment in the show. Brava.
Date: June 05, 2021 09:20 am Title: Decision
This chapter alone is worth the price of admission. Let's start out with Micheal shall we? I think you really nailed his post Dunder-Mifflin character. In some respects he's still the same kind of guy he was before. However marrying Holly and becoming a father seems to have finally smoothed off a lot of his rough edges. Micheal always said Dunder-Mifflin was his family and it's clear he still feels that way. Yes he has his own real family now too, but he'll always see himself as head of the DM household. Which means having the important talks. That it's Micheal to really and finally get through to Jim I think is perfect. The man who was always in JAM's corner from the start. Great insights there as well as some needed humor from him.
Jim desperatly clinging to Pam as written here is almost heartbreaking. He knows he's choosing her, he throwing out his last Hail Mary but with the damage that's been done he has no idea if it'll work or not.
The montage of memories was great as well. I always kinda figured the flashback we got in the show to their church wedding was Pam's memory. To have Jim's memories was a beautiful counterpoint. Especially with his last memory there of their boat wedding. Their real wedding.
And of course the moment where Pam gets past her deer in the headlights moment and also reaches for him too is just beautiful. The connection they've always shared is still there. It was stressed but it didn't snap. There' still so much for them to be fighting for with each other and at last they're on the the same page about it.
Their first kiss in weeks and the reaffermation of their love just drives home that. Magnificent writing.