Jim and Pam and two telephones, post-Season 3.
10 Ah, still so good, the perfect balance of hot and funny and the warmth that's them. And tell your real life to shove it; you're needed elsewhere. :o)
Author's Response: That's what I keep saying! If only fanfic time was tax deductable or something. Thanks, girl7!
10 Okay, I've read many fics that make me gasp, smile, laugh, even cry -- but I think this is the first one that actually made me blurt right out loud (alone in my house, thank god), "HOLY MOTHER OF GOD." :o)
Terrific, terrific job here -- the banter here is so very them, and it sort of has a lulling effect -- I was just reading along, happy and enjoying it -- then bam! That last little exchange. Wow.
Amazing!
6 A teenage Pam goes to meet up with Roy at his summer job at the Home Depot, and while waiting for him she runs into Jim for the first time.
A response to the summer job challenge. Part 1 of my "Construction of the Heart" series.
10 I'm going to try to give more credible sounding feedback this time around than I did the first time I read this....but seriously -- so.freaking.awesome. You create a totally realistic scenario here, and I absolutely LOVE the way you write Jim & Pam having a connection right from the start.
Just damned good work, as usual!
She was using him as a life raft. 55 words on the perilous relationship of Jim and Pam.
10 Oh wow...this is just amazing. Poetry, really. I'm just speechless.
Author's Response:
Coming from you, girl7, that is high praise indeed. Thank you so much!
--bel
10 First of all: Yaay, you're back! Second of all, a Dwight bobble head and a dundie for you because you had Jim roll his sleeves up and expose the goods! :o)
I really like this - so like Pam to automatically assume the worst, and you capture the awkwardness between them so well. Love it that they got through it. And him whispering, "I'll see you at six"...? HOT.
On to the next chapter!
10 I actually have a little fluttery feeling in my gut right now, along with an enormous smile on my face. Wow. I'm just loving this so much -- first of all, the discomfort level here is right on par with the show: equal parts cringeworthy and absolutey hilarious! I can so see Kelly storming out while still screaming at Ryan, and I could completely hear Michael giving that little speech. Even Kevin's, "I think it does" was spot-on.
And Jim & Pam...love that when he moves to the old desk, you have him say, "I'm back." Lovely allusion to the conversation from Beach Day/The Job. And that last little exchange is so very Jim & Pam -- if we're lucky this season, this is exactly the dynamic we'll see.
But uh, since we won't know for nine more weeks, could you just keep this going? And update way quickly? 'Kay thanks, bye! LOL
Seriously, though -- love this. Such a treat!
3 Pam enters her freshman year at Marywood University. Will she run into Jim? A continuation of "The Shortest Distance Between Two Points is Under Construction"
10 OMG. Roy doing a beer bong? Packer at a frat party? Blonde Ponytail?? This is just awesome. And this:
I am so not giving up my charcoals.
I could so hear Pam saying that!
....And of course, a collective sigh for Knight in Shining Armor Jim.
A first fight and a bowl of make-up spaghetti. (No spoilers.)
10 Oh wow. This was absolutely gorgeous -- and has just everything: the angst (his "It's always been you" killed me), the funny (I could sooo see Michael doing exactly that -- Dwight, too), the real (of course they'd have to slay their own demons at first), and finally, the sexiness (and whoa did you bring it -- against the door? hands over the head? Very nice indeed).
I'm just in awe of the fact that you absolutely never hit a false note -- everything you write is just amazing! So thanks for this one, too.....
Oh wow. This is just lovely -- heartbreaking, really. And I think you're spot-on here; I think Pam probably was haunted by all these things over the course of season three.
Nice work!
10 Whaa...? It's over!? It can't be over! Seriously -- this is awesome; I love the voice here -- just a compelling story she's telling. I got totally sucked in, and now I'm dying for her to keep going! Can you make it AU, have her go to the Scranton branch and report from there? :o)
Love this -- very different and very cool.
It's not over quite yet- she has a lot left to tell us! I just couldn't wait to get part of it posted!
I'm glad you like her voice; I think I've developed a crush on Grace. Heh.
Dinner, and what happened later. Post-Season 3.10 Good god, woman -- how do you do it so consistently? This is just awesome -- love the Kelly and Pam interaction, and the awkwardness in the car is pitch perfect.
Looking forward to more of this!
A collection of brief everyday moments: sleeping, showering, working, eating...(sounds exciting, huh?)
Each part is a mini-one shot (i.e., not a WIP with one ongoing narrative); no spoilers.
10 Okay, my smile is reminiscent of Michael's in BfV as he's saying, "Sex...I had sex...with Jan."
And no, not because I, too, have had sex with Jan, but because this was so delicious and steamy and perfect. Love the Gary Cooper tie-in.
This is about as coherent as I can be, knowing that there are more chapters for me to inhale....
10 Sigh. Enough to bring happy tears to my eyes. While we'll obviously not see moments like THIS on the show this season (or WILL we....?!), I really hope the writers communicate the sense of wonder the two of them will inevitably feel at finally being able to enjoy the simple things that the rest of us tend to take for granted; I think it might just make the agony of season 3 worth it....
Excellent work, as always, my friend!
10 Ahhhh me. I can always count on you to deliver the oh-so-subtle goods -- black boxer briefs (which was sheer psychic channeling on your part -- either that, or you have intimate knowledge of JK's choice in underwear....), heavy locks of hair, damp shoulders....
Amazing. Loving this so much.
10 I'm pretty sure you've set some sort of record here -- I think I've run the gamut of emotions here (beginning with a snort at Hyatt and culminating in serious tears at the love letters).
Sentimental gets an unfairly bad wrap, IMHO; this was absolutely beautiful - the fabric upon which our lives are woven (if we're really lucky).
The callbacks to "The Convention" were really like a hit to the gut, which only made the context here that much sweeter.
Somehow you always take that gem good old G. Daniels has given us and polish it to a sheen that's simply brilliant.
Hats off, seriously.
And uh, yeah, it moved me -- did I mention that?? :o)
10 Wow. I need just a moment. *fans self*
Loved Pam's interior monologue here about not being that girlfriend -- when Mr. Girl7 and I went on our quasi-first date (i.e. drinks after weeks of email flirting, not yet labelling it a date), we had a waitress who was absolutely unreal. I think I wrote her into one of my fics -- she literally, by the end of the evening, climbed in the booth behind ours and ran her magic marker down the side of Mr. Girl7's face as she asked if we'd like a refill. (Seriously -- and he had the deer-in-headlights look, hee.)
Anyway -- love the juxtaposition here between Roy's mean-spirited games and Jim's ever-watchful consideration. And I think Pam's insecurity is completely real -- wouldn't be surprised if that's one of the hurdles we see them cross this season.
But just as he is here, I somehow suspect Jim would do just fine at reassuring her.... ;o)
I've enjoyed every one of these -- looking forward to an update!
I must go re-read that story! Now I remember the marker thing - yikes, sometimes life is stranger than fic, indeed.
And yeah, while I don't think Roy would be intentionally mean, I do think he could be pretty oblivious/dense/infantile (especially in high school!) and net out in the same place. Happy the contrast with Jim was clear and seriously - how could she not be aware of other women checking Jim out...she has to realize he looks just like John Krasinski, after all! Thanks for all your wonderful comments, girl7 - always tickled to get your seal of approval.
Proclamation #1: I've been so ridiculously swamped lately that my fanfic intake has been severely reduced; seriously, John Krasinski could've written a steamy Jim/Pam fic for all I know.
And quite frankly, being this out of the loop sucks. :o)
Second proclamation: My god, you have such a gift for mining the extraordinary in the most mundane moments (which is how life works, if you ask me -- the beauty is in the simple moments, no?).
This entire series has been just a gift (and lucky me -- I've got one chapter left to read!), and this chapter was no exception.
You really captured the dynamic here so well -- that instinctive protectiveness that surfaces in a situation like this (the first time really catching you off guard in its vehemence, I'd say).
But you've at the same time maintained a humor and ethos that's all them (read: pure magic).
You know, my husband was sick with a cold last week, and I mentioned to my best friend that he was a little clingy -- when I was going to disappear to the bedroom to write, he gave me this look and said, "Would you mind staying here with me?"
Like I'd have said no -- oh my god, so adorable. :o)
But when I told my friend this, her reaction was, "Gah, men are such babies when they're sick!"
...And it occurred to me then that, while the vulnerability may be some women's pet peeve, to me it's really endearing -- and you captured that so beautifully here.
Bottom line: You could write one of these vignettes for every day of the year, and they'd never grow old.
And one final thing: Not to toot my own horn or anything (insert requisite TWSS here...which in itself inspires a second TWSS -- my god, this show has corrputed me, LOL): I think I deserve a dundie for taking the time to write out this review while ignoring the fact that there's another chapter waiting for me. I feel like one of those dogs who's trained to balance the bone on his nose.... :o)
(All this nonsensical rambling is meant to convey that your latest is awesome.)
:o)
Well, I'm glad you're back and glad you found this. This one was fun for me to write...really love the idea of Pam equally taking care of Jim (which, IMO, we're seeing a bit this season too - yay!) Maybe Jim being sick is kind of a metaphor for him really letting his guard down with her/allowing himself to be vulnerable - trusting her/their relationship. Plus, you know, it it gave me a reason to think about him shirtless in bed, so there's always that ;-)
You deserve an entire wall of Dundies for your wonderful comments...and trust me, darling, if JK was writing steamy fics, I'd put out an APB and you're on my emergency notification list. Anyhoo - glad this rang true to you, you know I love these mundane moments too. Oh and hope your husband is feeling better. Thanks, you!
Oh my god. Seriously. (I'm sitting here frustrated because that exclamation is cliched and smacks of hyperbole, but honestly...I'm a bit speechless here.)
It's a testament to how gorgeous this final chapter is that when I realized it was to be the last, I didn't feel sad so much as awed at this miraculous finish.
I'm sure I've said it before, as I think it's a characteristic of your writing style, but nonetheless it bears repeating: This reads like poetry. It's lush and flowing and organic and absolutely tangible.
So many beautiful details -- honestly, when I read the first two paragraphs, I made a mental note: Mention in the review the beauty of those first two paragraphs, that they're positively melodic.
...But then I read the next paragraph and found myself making a mental note to add it to my review as well -- and this happened with literally every paragraph in the first section. (And I'm pretty sure the only reason it didn't continue to the second is that I was consciously trying to reign it in, hee.)
In short: This was absolutely perfect -- such a precious glimpse into what "happily ever after" really looks like.
So thank you. :o)
What if Jim had finally been stretched to the breaking point before Casino Night?10 Okay, just wandered on over to MTT to pass a few minutes before I have to leave for my office (mind you, I haven't had time to read ANYTHING lately!), and stumbled across this.
HOLY GOD, woman! I think my concentration is absolutely shot for the day, just so you know. :o)
Seriously, though -- your writing style is just lovely, almost luxurious, if that makes any sense. The Pam as compass metaphor was breathtaking, as are even the subtlest of your turns of phrase -- love your description of Darryl as "calm as a lake," because that's always so true of him.
Anyway, really intriguing, this!
Hear that? Yeah, that's the sound of me exhaling for the first time since re-reading this chapter.
Wow. So intense and so real -- I love this. I'm intrigued by the darker side of things, by the thought that before he transferred, Jim was likely hanging on by a thread.
I should say more -- this chapter is certainly deserving of my saying more -- but I'm sorry; I gotta get to the next one. :o)
This is amazing, by the way!
I've never been so glad to re-read a chapter in my life. ;O)
This was so intense -- raw and honest. I think there's just so much to be explored between these two with regard to the things left unsaid. It's funny, because during season 3, it seemed that a lot of people were either for Jim or for Pam -- and really, I was always for both of them, could see both their points of view. I think that's what's so brilliant about these two characters and what the writers did with them -- they're human, and they're both guilty of being horribly careless, but in different ways. Yet it was all out of fear, and that's understandable.
This chapter was just breathtaking.
Wow. (Again with the not breathing -- a good thing, BTW.)
For the sake of honesty: I didn't like the slap. That said, god knows (as a fellow writer), I've had plenty of people tell me in reviews that they didn't like the way I handled something, and when it comes down to it, we're all entitled to our own opinions...just as we're entitled to write our stories the way we see fit! :o) (Read: That's just my proverbial humble opinion.)
That said: This was breathtaking, yet again, in its honesty; we've never seen them as raw and...bare as they are here. Personally, I think it'd have done them some good to get to this place -- to just saying it all. There's so much hurt between them, and the kinds of things they leave unsaid don't just fade away.
I think Jim's response to her confession here ("What the hell do I do with that?") is pitch perfect.
Wow. Off to the next chapter (and note to self: Take a big breath before you start reading). :o)
So could you add to the list of side effects of your fics (alongside "breathlessness") "blurred vision"? Totally teary-eyed right now.
Again: Fics that explore the dark side of their relationship intrigue me, because I really think it was very much *there*, and I think that if Jim hadn't transferred, it would've bubbled over.
And you know, you were brave to write a sex scene between them (their first time, no less!) this raw and almost brutal. It works (IMO) because I get the sense that its fueled by desperation -- on both their parts. And my god, Jim's reaction afterward -- the apology, the shame -- just heartbreaking. Because I could so see it going down like this, and I could absolutely believe he'd react that way.
The ending was particularly touching, Pam -- for once -- rescuing *him.*
Really a compelling fic here, Ms. Shassafrass. :o)
My god. (I'm frustrated at the way words seem to just escape me as I finish each chapter -- I suppose not breathing'll do that to you.)
All right, maybe it's selfish of me to say, but in the interest of honesty.... It's so gratifying to see someone take Jim this dark; I wrote him as sort of teetering on the edge of this a few times (right down to the very visceral physical response he had -- the barfing, LOL), and I always felt incredibly self-conscious about it.
I think it really works here; god, his shame and regret and fear are all so palpable and heartbreaking. And what an intriguing Pam this is -- and, I suspect, a fairly accurate rendering of her.
Yet again -- should write more, just can't because I know there's another chapter.... :o)
This is really incredible -- thank you!
Oh wow. This was such a treat -- I'm sitting here grinning like an idiot (seriously -- god forbid my husband should wander in here; I must look like a crazed woman).
The "love scene" you write here is absolutely perfect -- love the slow and languid feel you build; your prose flows like poetry at times...melodic and lulling and almost mesmerizing. Love it.
And I love this glimpse of them -- it's almost outrageously idealistic and romantic, yet it seems so incredibly believable. How could it not be like this for the two of them, once the walls are down and nothing's left unsaid anymore?
This has been such a joy to read, and I'm so looking forward to the rest. ...As for this waking up the part of you "that's been asleep for a long, long time" -- I think I know what you mean there, and all I can say is that you should take this newfound awakening and run with it, because you're so talented and so obviously in your element here.
Again I say: Brav-o. :o)