Don't take this the wrong way, but... you should go for that job.
What would have happened if Jim had taken that job in Maryland after all? Season Two angst - spoilers for Halloween through Email Surveillance, then goes AU from there.
9 Sigh...I just really love Jim. I see exactly that kind of creeping boldness you're talking about--isn't he a brilliantly written character? You continue the brilliant writing inside his head, too, so great job.
9 You really have Pam down, too. The way she backs off when something is upsetting her...that's very true to character. Good writing!
I love how you worked in the dialogue from Casino Night. Perfect!
Sigh...wonderful. I'm glad they're connecting. Even if I myself hate talking on the phone...
Actually, I teach at a community college and it IS very realistic that she could have registered there so easily. So...points to you! I love the little sparkle of hope you left us with.
Author's Response: Strider - I am horrible - you left all of these kind reviews and I am just now responding. Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying this and I really appreciate you taking the time to read and review! Thanks again :)
Great beginning! Very poignant and sad, but not without hope. You also have quite a gift for descriptive language. Nice work.
Author's Response: Thank you very, very much for all of your comments! I truly appreciate it! It means a lot to me as a writer and I\'m thrilled to hear that you are enjoying it. :)
Excellent! Ilove emotional Jim...it makes me want to comfort him.. Just one thing...early on, you used the word "except," when I think you meant "accept."
Ooh! What a great turn of events! Your writing is very evocative; I can really feel their pain in this.
Wow... I think you may be a bit harsh on Karen, though. But, you're right, she's nice, but she's not Pam. Can't wait to see what's next.
I didn't know if she was alive or dead, but I hated to see it end. I hope she doesn't lose the image of the painting in her mind.
Author's Response: I purposely wrote it so the reader would not know if she was alive or dead, so I\'m glad that you didn\'t know! ;D She will never lose the image of the painting, but all good things come to an end, and as new memories and perfections slide into her life, the painting will eventually be forgotten. In a good way, of course. \r\nThanks so much!
I loved how he followed her and made sure he was there for her. Kind of feel bad for Karen, though.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the lovely comment!\r\nI feel bad for Karen, too, but I needed to make Jim and Karen\'s relationship look harsh compared to Jim and Pam\'s (so their\'s stood out). She is a good person, but she just isn\'t right for him, like you said in a previous comment. \r\nThanks again! It means a lot to me! :D
Beautifully angsty and emotional! I am so glad they got a second chance to do it right. Thank you for letting them see what was really important.
Is there life and love after Jam?Really intriguing beginning, but I'm still sad they're not together. Still, I can see it going down this way. Your Jim dialogue is especially good.
Author's Response: Thanks, Strider! And thanks for taking the time to review every chapter! That\'s so nice. I\'m glad you\'re giving this story a chance!
Poor Jim. You can't be truly happy with someone else until you're happy with yourself. You write that well in the flashback.
Author's Response: Yep, that\'s the problem with Jim, I think. His feelings for Pam are so tied up with a sort of frustration with who he is/who he wants to be... And sometimes the timing is so off, you know? Anyway, thanks again for reading!
Even if it's Pam-less, I still love Jim, and you are doing his voice really well.
Author's Response: Oh, good. I actually think this story has been hard to write because obviously it\'s from Jim\'s POV and I have to be so introspective and deep ... and I\'m not a guy. Are guys like that? Probably not. So I\'m at least glad it rings true ;-)
I do like EMily, and that prank was hilarious. I also really understand what's going on with Jim and Pam... too bad, but understandable.
Author's Response: I\'m glad the Jim/Pam thing in this story makes sense to you. It doesn\'t to some people, so I like the reassurance that I\'m not the only one who could see things going down this way. Yes, it would be so sad, but ... possible. Thanks for reading!
I would really hate to have my new bf see footage of me with my old bf...I hope Emily doesn't watch the shows. This is a really clever premise.
Author's Response: Yeah, how \'bout that? Can you imagine? Gotta\' give Emily props for not freaking out too much. I know I might if I were her...
I almost wish you'd also written from Pam's point of view, too, but I guess you can't do everything in one story. I think Jim and Emily are nice together, though.
Author's Response: It\'s on my \"to do\" list, Strider ;-) I do hope to do a Pam POV piece that kind of mirrors this one (although not as long, I\'m sure -- this one has truly grown epic...).
That's so heartbreaking, and Pam's right, it's not fair of Jim to place all his happiness on her. I keep telling myself I'm just going to read one more chapter, then I have to read one more...
Author's Response: Glad I\'ve got you hooked! Yeah, I think Jim has put a lot of his eggs in one basket with Pam, and that pressure could be a lot to take, especially for someone like Pam, who has her own doubts and issues. Thanks for reading!
I can see that that might be Jim's point of view, but I don't think he's being fair to Pam. Still, our own secret thoughts don't always care about being fair, so while it's great writing, and very much what Jim might have thought, I want to shake him a little and tell him to be reasonable. So, yeah...good job!
Author's Response: Exactly -- he\'s not being fair. Who is after a break up? He\'s looking at their whole relationship through Jim-tinted glasses, so he\'s definitely not going to be defending Pam too much ... not yet, anyway. So yeah ... I\'m glad you get that. Pam will have her turn (hopefully) soon! ;-)
Poor Emily. What a tough position to be in. And after only a few dates, when she isn't sure where she stands... The flash back was well written, which was part of the reason why it was so painful!
Author's Response: Yep. Emily\'s definitely in a tough spot, too. I mean, imagine meeting this new, great guy and being all hopeful and then all of a sudden you find out he\'s a celebrity with an epic love story past that LOTS of people know about?! And no one really cares about you or wants to like you because you\'re not Pam? Yeah. Poor Emily ;-)
It seems like this new direction of Pam's could have been a good thing for them, because sometimes I ask myself what they would have together if they left D-M. But I like the way you're bringing out the fact that it was nobody's fault, just more a mutual falling apart.
Author's Response: Yep, I think it was totally mutual. That might not be clear in this story (because of the limited POV), but they both have their reasons for letting it end. Thanks, Strider!
I like what you did with season 5. I really hope it' snot like that, though.
Author's Response: Oh, me neither! That would be HORRIBLE! ;-)
Again your insights into the complexities of relationships are very deep and true. And Emily sounds very cool; I love what you had her do for Jim. Very creative.
Author's Response: Thanks, Strider! I think too often we kind of sugar coat romance ... Jim and Pam are \"perfect\" for each other. \"Soul mates\", etc. And all too often, that is not the case. Relationships are sometimes work, and that\'s the truth. So if you have two people with a checkered past and a history of not being honest (with each other or themselves)... well. Let\'s just say, sh*t can happen. ;-) Thanks for reading!
Yay, that was just the right mixture of awkwardness and warmth. Very well done.
Author's Response: Thanks Strider. I\'m glad you liked it!