Date: July 18, 2024 06:20 am Title: Closing Time
There are worse versions, indeed... Thanks for updating by the way!
Date: July 18, 2024 06:19 am Title: Closing Time
There are worse versions, indeed... Thanks for updating by the way!
Date: July 17, 2024 09:50 am Title: Person from the Past
Big blast from the past moment here. Jim's number reappearing on her phone. The instant regret that fills her when she realizes who it was that was at the bar. How could she not have everything well up? Yet once more, she ignores all the signs she's seeing. The universe is throwing up sign after sign, red flag after red flag and she ignores or pushes aside every single one. I'll be honest, I'm not sure what it's going to take at this point. She knows she's not happy. She keeps getting signs that this is not how things are supposed to be. Kind of a rough go of things here right now.
Date: July 11, 2024 12:46 pm Title: Lasagna
I'm definitely on the "not enjoying this particular life-partner of Pam's" side. Roy is so nasty in your version🥴. I cannot wait for her to "wake up".
Date: July 11, 2024 12:46 pm Title: Lasagna
I'm definitely on the "not enjoying this particular life-partner of Pam's" side. Roy is so nasty in your version🥴. I cannot wait for her to "wake up".
Author's Response:
Yea, he's pretty awful (but I've read worse versions of him). Still I get it, he sucks here.
Date: July 06, 2024 11:02 am Title: Lasagna
It's clear this Pam wants more out of this life. She wants to feel fulfilled. She wants a husband not a man-child. She wants to spread her wings and see what happens. However, she's scared. Scared of stepping out of her comfort zone. Case in point not speaking her mind about the sauce. By this time, Real Pam would have had no problem saying clearly what she wanted for something like this. Case in point correcting the bartender about her drink order.
She has a huge piece of her life missing and it shows. The things that would cause her to bloom are dismissed as memories.
A small step forward for Roy, but another big step backwards. He abandoned her in the driveway to get the food, now he won't even walk her inside before heading out again. Who knows what's going to happen at the bar. I'm kind of hoping that while she's alone in her/Jim's old house something will kick in.
Author's Response:
As usual you are right on - It's not just being with Roy that has prevented her own growth, it's that she hasn't taken that first step and found her "wings".
Roy is trying though. He's just used to being, well, Roy. This maturity, becoming a dad thing is foreign to him too, he's been coasting so long.
Thanks for always sharing a review.
1 [Report This]Date: July 05, 2024 08:04 pm Title: Closing Time
It has taken me a while to get invested in this fic, but I'm getting there.
At the beginning it was the length of the chapters and is felt very redundant at times, like I felt I was reading the same thing over and over. But now I think with the smaller chapters it's been easier to get invested.
I do think that maybe finding a beta would help, because even though the chapters are smaller it still feel like it goes around and around the same thing over and over again. I don't want to discouraged your writing, I want to know we're this is going and I'm going to keep on reading, I just writing because you ask for feedback.
And speaking of the story, I wish we knew what is Jim is doing in this alternate reality. Is he married, is he happy, does he think of Pam once in a while? Also what happend to real Pam, is she still on the floor of the bathroom, did someone found her, is she on a coma? I just want to know what is going on.
Author's Response:
Hi StopDating,
thank you for your review...glad you are getting more invested. I wish I could tell you what's with Jim but since this is Pam's anti-fantasy and her POV she wouldn't have that info (there will be something to that later too) - quite honestly, I don't even know myself except that "real" Jim is in Austin dealing with getting the house rehabbed and starting a flower garden on the terrace.
I do plan to keep the chapters shorter...I guess makes for an easier read and helps me to too to write/edit in smaller bits.
Thanks again, hope you'll be back even without Jim's status.
Date: June 29, 2024 07:44 pm Title: Flowers and Ice Buckets
I get why Pam is still steamed. She has to lead Roy around like a child and even then gets barely anything more than the barest of bare minimum. Yes he got her food and flowers, but only cleaned up halfway. The flowers were not set out nicely for her. Thing is he's probably thinking he's done some great big gesture and that should tide him over for awhile. The guy just doesn't have it in him to really listen to what's going on with her. I wonder when the next Real Pam artifact will show up and how that will play out.
Date: June 22, 2024 08:01 am Title: Overload
Pam's really going through it right now. What with all the flashbacks and having to deal with Michael in full Michael mode. Good God Roy, can you pull you head out of your ass for even a second? Not that I'm rooting for Roy in anyway, but dude, pay attention! Your pregnant wife is asleep on the way home and your first thought is, what is she going to make for dinner? I really don't like him.
Pam's reactions to Up are also interesting. Clearly real Pam knows this movie in and out. I also find it telling that she knows the movie is about finding and being with one's soul mate, has identified with that in the "past," and the Roy is not that man.
Really looking forward to seeing what it will take for her to get back to where she belongs.
Date: June 16, 2024 01:52 pm Title: Music of the Heart
I was so sure Pam would 'wake up' at the beginning of this chapter... Nevertheless, you're keeping me on the edge of my seat.
1 [Report This]Date: June 15, 2024 02:03 am Title: Closing Time
I tried to put reading this one as long as I could (as I would with and work in progress), but your recent update got my hopes up that you intend to finish it. I very much regret skimming the author's note, I expect not to be surprised where the story's going, but on the other hand, it's exactly the type of a story I love reading. I cannot wait to find out what you got in store for us!
Author's Response:
What a nice surprise to get this review - just as I was working on the next chapter too.
And yes, my intention is to finish it (I will admit its been taking me much longer to write my stories and update these days). I've got the complete story arc fleshed out through to the end in my head but there's a lot of writing to do.
I hope my track record gives me some credit that my intentions are good even if it takes me longer this time around.
As for where it's going, there's the 'obvious' but I think I've slipped in some surprises that I hope will intrigue you.
Thanks for the read and review...and hope you do enjoy.
Date: June 02, 2024 05:38 pm Title: Toxic Couples
A big introspection chapter from Pam here. Roy and her's relationship being described as an timer stings. When it goes off it's bad. Then things calm down but it's only a matter of time before the next blowup. Even with Roy acting nicely, she can't count on it lasting for any real length of time. It's got to be worrying and exhausting. Especially when the other two relationships she's close with are so dysfunctional. Michael and Jan only staying together for the sake of a child. Her own parents just constantly sniping at each other. It's a good look into her mindset for sure.
I'm wondering how exactly all this will further advance our plot. More things for her to think about. It didn't really seem like many Real Pam or Jim moments broke through this time either. Yes she was thinking about the CD, but she also dismissed it. Makes me wonder what it will take for her to break back through to the life she's supposed to have.
Author's Response:
Thanks for taking time to review. So I've got a little "It's a Wonderful Life" theme going on again in this story...Jim being gone results in two toxic relationships still happing that might otherwise had ended...and each impacts Pam. (That film truly is a classic - I seem to use tropes from it a lot- wink, wink).
This was another of those chapters that was getting too long so there is lots more to come regarding the birthday party.
Thanks as always.
1 [Report This]Date: December 30, 2023 03:08 pm Title: Home Sweet Home
Wow. This is brilliant, and quite unsettling, all at the same time.
1 [Report This]Date: December 30, 2023 03:03 pm Title: Closing Time
Nice to have you back posting, Max, very intrigued as to where this takes us!
1 [Report This]Date: December 22, 2023 10:31 am Title: Music of the Heart
I'm really not liking Roy in this world. Mainly because he's still the overgrown teenager I always depicted him as in high school. Just bulldozing through any of Pam's objections, failing to see how he might be the cause of any trouble, gaslighting Pam by saying things like "you were acting all psycho," caring more about a thing than a person, expecting to be forgiven just because. Really can't stand him here.
Some real interesting take away's from Pam's POV though. More and more memories of Jim and also of Real Pam starting to push through. She's getting more clear views about how her life would have been with just a little more courage. Though of course it's growing through trial, especially with that CD and that track list.
Interesting backstory for Steve there. How he eventually grew up, and how Roy didn't. The comparison was quite shocking for sure.
Is is kind of bad that I kind of hope Pam just royally reams Roy out right now? He's let her down so many times he needs to hear it. Maybe she's not quite there yet, but it feels like its coming. Feels like there's progress being made with her for sure.
Date: December 17, 2023 07:13 pm Title: The Crash (into the wall)
I'm finding it partially infuriating and partially interesting watching this Pam give Roy chance after chance after chance. Yes this Roy after the dinner party may have been contrite and that did a lot to settle her down. Roy did have his moments of real emotion in canon. He wasn't all dumb brute, just most of the time. So that kind of fits.
However this alternate Pam also seems to still be looking for ways as to why he's wrong for her. Spying on him at the bar. Looking for the phantom note. Trying to figure out why the Travis CD was there also why The Hunted was also also there.
I get the feeling she knows deep down that there's just something off about her life, but she just can't figure out what it is. However she keeps getting hints as the to the reason. His presence may be subtle, but regardless of everything, she's never forgotten about Jim and what he once meant to her. That glimpse of what she once had, still feels like it means more than anything she's ever had with Roy, with the possible exception of her pregnancy. Still hard to figure this one out, which means I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Roy's still a boorish idiot who doesn't deserve Pam.
Date: December 10, 2023 05:38 pm Title: The Blob on the Ceiling
Pam's mind is really in an odd place. I think that's the best and kindest word I can use too. She's still looking for someone other than Roy to fulfill her need for friendship and validation. Roy clearly isn't giving her either one so she seeks out friendship from Sam. At least she's wise enough to keep things truly platonic this time though. However what's concerning is her idea that the baby will change Roy. That's dangerous thinking to be sure. Roy's had every opportunity to change and hasn't. It kinda feels like someone could just come up and scream in her ear, "actions speak louder than words," and she'd still ignore it. Which is kind of sad to be honest.
There's a few glimmers of hope though. Her remembering a Jim prank from after the Real Jim and Pam got together. The proverbial drawer staying open. They seem small, but I've got a feeling something big is going to start out of something small.
Author's Response:
First off thanks for all your reviews, I appreciate hearing all your thoughts, always. Like you say, Pam is struggling with a lot in this existence and thus the need to compartmentalize (in 360 it was boxes, here it is in drawers) but what happens when they get left opened...we will see...
Date: November 26, 2023 10:12 pm Title: Home Sweet Home
Going into this one I figured it was going to be rough. That thus Pam didn't call off the wedding seemed to have triggered a whole new series of events for sure. That somethings stayed the same but other are drastically different makes sense. The phone call with Jim going cold, Jim coming back then leaving so soon. Ouch. Makes sense but still ouch. One thing that didn't seem to change is Roy. He's the same guy who takes her for granted at every opportunity. Jerk.
But then to find out she and Roy bought the old Halpert home? Holy crap. No wonder she's stressed out. I mean seriously how many skeletons are in her closet? All in all it seems like a continuation of the previous Pam/Roy relationship. Grand plans that either don't come true or take forever.
What is interesting is the things from the real world that seem to be sneaking through. The burn on her hand and Jim's list of what's really important. Really looking forward to seeing if more things like that will make it through as well and what it'll mean for her.
Also heartbreaking to hear of her difficulties in getting pregnant. Feels again that Roy wasn't any help in the whole thing. Regardless of anything having to go through all that multiple times must have been soul crushing.
Feels like things are going to get a bit worse before they ever get better though.
Date: November 17, 2023 06:57 pm Title: Missed Calls
First off, loved the Christopher's reference there. Well done. Needed to cover the really important bit of the review first off.
Oof, Pam's in a way here for sure. Kind of felt like a shifting through to an alternate reality thing there in the bathroom with Roy's voice. And from that brief bit it seems like he hasn't changed. More worried about himself than her. Which of course is in direct contrast to Jim. Multiple calls and voicemails wondering what's going on. Offering to be on the first flight home. Yeah, big difference there. What I also found really interesting was that Alternate Pam was able to throw some snark back at Roy. So that version of her has some moxie to her for sure. Makes me wonder what else is in store for Alternate Pam and what's all going to happen.
The final bit about how she'll miss even the ugly clown picture is telling. Moves are always hard for sure. Transitions are challenging. Especially this one. To move away from all the support systems she's known her entire life to somewhere completely new? Yeah, that's a lot to take in. Transitions have never really been Pam's strong points either. Usually she comes through them stronger than when she started, but the process tends to be hard for her. I'm seeing that here in spades.
Date: November 10, 2023 07:08 am Title: Closing Time
Interesting start.
I always kind of thought Pam was suffering
from depression when she was with Roy,
and I have to say that sometimes Jim didn’t help
matters like with the way he treated her when he came up from Stamford and even when jim started the job in Philly, and blamed Pam for missing the dance recital when Jim made the decision to
miss it.I’m also wondering if it’s not really a
bug that is making Pam sick. 🤔
Author's Response: Thanks for the review,,, gotta agree with that observation...and you could be on to something...stay tuned...
1 [Report This]Date: November 10, 2023 05:48 am Title: Closing Time
First of all, welcome back. Glad to have you posting again. Second a quick little typo I saw there. "Let it Be" as opposed to "Let it Go." I'm sure Else could belt out the Beatles with the best of them though. Also, did you set up a camera in my family van? Frozen and Cars are the two movies we have on repeat in there ever since our copy of How To Train Your Dragon died.
Okay onwards to meat of this. Absolutely a feeling of dread starting to build. Especially with the story description. Waiting to see how it will all start to play out and how Pam will respond is leaving me on pins and needles. So a great set up that's leaving me craving more. Lots of great details woven throughout as well. Looking forward to more as always.
Author's Response:
HUGE BRAIN FART...Thanks for letting me know about Let it Go - hey I'm poet...
There will be lots a stuff woven through this one - Looking forward to hearing what you think... Thanks for your interest and review.