Michael decides to take his sales dream team on a little trip and pulls Pam along for the ride. Spoilers through Cocktails.I love this, and you know that, but but but it's just...so yes and wonderful and tying my stomach up in knots. I can feel Pam here, just...her conflicted everything and unable to give anyone what they really want b/c she's not sure what SHE wants yet. Or needs.
And RYAN. Oh GOD. Calling in the middle of the night, he's not Jim but does he really need to be? And they've got that effortless thing together, it's ineffable...but at the same time Pam has to find out whatever she needs to with Jim and herself.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh stop owning my soul, STORY.
Yeah, I know I normally leave a novel long review, but this chapter has me more like this: adkjflasdkjflaksdfjlkasdj asdlfkjasdlkfjlaksdjf asdfkjalkdglajfsd. Due to it's perfection. It gets better every time I read it. So...
asdfkjaslkdfjlaksdjfkasdjkasfj'
I adore you. <3
Okay, so I have had 3 days to digest this, and I am STILL alkdfjlasdkjfasdkfjsdf about it. Hardest thing to beta in the universe, my friend. I had so many hot flashes I could have sworn it was 30 years in the future and I was starting menopause.
Okay. Let's begin with Mr. Jim and his "Pam is easy but I still WANT her" ness. Holy hell. The jealousy is hot, but you know what is hotter? RYAN. Drunkish, stubbly, blue eyes devouring her Ryan. Oh, and devouring her with his mouth. And his hands. dalkdfladkfjkdf....
And, yes, Ryan knows what's going on and it seeeems like he doesn't care. But it's not just "getting some". Because...come on. Maaaaybe it starts out like that, but...he's staring into her eyes and "You can say his name" BREAKS MY HEART and then she says RYAN and and and he GRINS and KISSES her.
Oh, and can I say that just when I thought you already wrote hot Ryan humming...you wrote...THAT. And can I just say that all of this together, comprehensively? Not twisted. It's real and clumsy and jealous (heee) and I could not love you more for it. You make me fangirl!
In the game of life, you are a shark. And not a Nazi.
Before I start this, I would like to apologize for the fact that I leave ridiculously long comments on here. And now that I've said that...
Ok, in-control Pam turning Ryan on? Amazing. Especially in light of the fact that Jim is all caveman about the whole thing...I love all the little bits that add up and are just YES Ryan and Pam right this very minute Jim who?
Oh, and your Angela voice in this? Wins first place for all of time forever. It's perfect and you've captured that ineffable dynamic between her and Pam and I love the parallels of the Dwight/Angela and it is killing me. (Heeee and the evolution debate is AMAZING.)
Oh, and also: sloppy drunk hot Ryan is just so...stupendous.
Things with Roy had been convenient, yes, but never exactly easy in any respects except for the bedroom. And things with Jim... did she even have something with Jim? Could she call it that? Whatever it was, it wasn't easy and, for the past year or so, practically nothing had actually made sense to her.
That part you added made me so very happy. Just...perfect.
Plus, DO NOT BE NERVOUS. Trust me, I would have told you if the explicitness was bad and it was the opposite of that. I don't throw around terms like "one of the best I've ever read" lightly. You are a genius and I will hold your hand electronically when you post your gloriously sexy next chapter. So there.
(p.s. Not to rush you, but please, feel free to work on the next next chapter and send it along. Or else I may die. And no one wants that. :))
Hee, I love love love your reviews, they make my day! So please don't worry about them being long ;) Jim who? Indeed. I'm so glad you said that about the Angela voice because I was nervous about that bit especially (she's hard to write without going over the top--and you do it so well!) Oh, and I'm trying not to be nervous about the next chapter and you're comments on it totally saved me from becoming a nervous wreck! I'm working on the next chapter which should hopefully be chock full of adorable ;)
PS. 69Con and I decided that maybe we need to invent a fake University (Benjamin Joseph U.?) and invite BJ to come do stand-up, and then when he shows up we just, you know... lock the door. Its a flawless plan! Hahah.
Yes! I've always wanted to win at life! Nazis are rubbish, though. Sharks-brilliant. Aaaaanyway...
You are converting the masses and I could not love you more for it. It's because you are SO GOOD at capturing the wavering emotions of Pam, and how maaaaybe Ryan is a little something more, but then Jim shows up but then Ryan attacks her with his mouth or holds her hand or says Michael instead of Jim and she's back to thinking hmmm. Oh, and I adore the relief and disappointment line, because it perfectly illustrates that. And also, you are rendering me speechless with the HOTNESS. Oh, and Ebony and Ivory made me snort, just a little bit. And Puppy Love! Eeeeee.
And its not Roy’s callused fingers that are on her skin, or Jim’s chapped lips on hers, and she isn’t lost in that drunken, lonely haze that she was in with that guy from Ryan’s business school. His lips are soft in the way that Jim’s couldn’t be, and his eyes are blue in the way that Roy’s just weren’t.
I know that I already told you I wanted to have babies with that part, but reading it again makes me want to have TWINS. For realsies. It's so...gah. With the gahness. And drunken Dwight WINS and he has his arm around Angela and it made me sigh and of course she would be jealous and it's killing me.
So, next chapter, mmmmmkay?
Sharks could've found Anne Frank so fast! Haha. Yeah, no one else has caught it yet I don't think so you are the reigning champ ;) Maybe in the next chapter Dwight and Angela could debate the theory of creationism... "So, he did all of that, in the dark! Light wasn't even invented, its not like he went on holiday and thought 'yeah we could use some of this on Earth.'"
Seriously, you are the best and so so helpful to me on this story, especially with the little ensemble touches and just making me feel better about having Ryan and Pam make out like crazy. Oh, and that grief counseling scene?? One of my all time favorites! I LOVE the look on Ryan's face when he realizes what Pam is doing. I totally watched that today for more inspiration ;) I'm working on the next chapter and maybe possibly will have it to you soon??
Ohhhh I was so excited to get into work today and see that you updated already! As always, so so so good. (If you didn't already notice from my email full of love, heee.) This is so...perfect. And hot and hilarious all at once. The Angela reveal had me giggling everywhere, the stuff you added was perfection, and the movie and the hand holding but not! And the epic love and Ryan and Pam and Pam letting Karen in on the inside jokes and and and Ryan with the AWESOME Australia zinger and...
You know, this story really makes me think, especially in light of Jenna Fischer's comments about Jim and Pam maybe not being the right ones for each other, but being the ones that help each other be able to find that right one. It seems to fit, you know? Because, yeah, at the end of the day of course the ideal would be Jim and Pam happy together, but maybe not right now. This whole Ryan flirtation seems to click, and while I know that it's a story, it just seems to work b/c you've kept the characters SO in character and I could really see this as a viable option. So, Ryan as dark horse!!
And I promise, my unhealthy love for BJ Novak is in no way influencing my opinion. :) I can't wait for the next chapter. Oh, YOU.
Hee, I love you! Seriously all the stuff I added to that Angela scene was totally thanks to you, and I think it really made it better ;) I totally agree that I'm not sure Jim and Pam are completely right for each other.. at least not yet. I think they both have a lot of growing up to do and I'm glad that Greg Daniels has taken the time to really portray that rather then just please the masses and throw them together. If anything ever ever happened with Pam and Ryan on the show? I would literally die of happiness. It would be that good.
Oh, and my love for BJ is totally not an influence either... yeah... sure... hehehe. Actually today I finally saw his interview on Leno that I hadn't seen before and I am officially in love. He is just... sigh. Wonderful. Okay I'll stop now, really I should.
I should have the next chapter to you sometime this afternoon?? Its giving me just a teensy bit of trouble :)
10 This time, however, his eyes flutter open and catch hers, the depth of their blue resonating somewhere in her chest. She remembers suddenly what Karen was saying about the panties and immediately recoils her hand.
Uhhhhh you WIN. AT EVERYTHING. This is just...so perfect, with the comfort Pam feels with Ryan, and he in his boxers with the upturned collar polo shirt and his BLUE EYES and his delicious sarcasm and I ADORE the Pam/Ryan dynamic because it could (and should) TOTALLY HAPPEN. And this is totally Stamford/ABC Karen and YES YES YES and please send me the next chapter right away pretty pretty please.
So, yeah, I liked this. :)
You know what, this got better on another read through. :) That being said, keep going with where you are going...I know that you have promised a Jam ending, but don't change up the Ryan/Pam middle due to what anyone says. (Not that you will, but...)
Also, regarding the "cheating" issue. Yeah, Ryan may cheat. It's not an OOC thing for him to do. I daresay that if it was Jim being flirty with Pam while still with Karen, there wouldn't be all these "cheating" reviews. It's just a feeling I have...
So, do what you do how you want to do it, I say. Oh, and I'll work on the next chapter and send it to you tonight. :)
Yeah, I'm reviewing again in response to you response. :)
Ignore the stones! I will throw flowers and pillows to cushion you! So...write Ryan/Pam. :) You know it's what you want....don't give in to the masses...
Oh, and if you ever need an extra beta, let me know. And I'm not just saying that so I can get a sneak peek of upcoming chapters. Filled with Ryan and Pam upcoming chapters...
You know what would be a delicious reward for me personally? Ryan and Pam ending up together. Which reminds me that I am way behind on reviewing your stuff.
So, you know, think about it. ;) This is good so far, I can't wait to see where it goes. Yay for you!
Ok, first of all...RICKY GERVAIS? I adore that man...he's my weird little british boyfriend. And his stand-up is some of the best stuff ever ever ever.
I'm thinking the t-shirts will be blue. For obvious (and very hot) reasons. And yes, we really should make them. For realsies.
And now on to the good stuff...good Lord. Everything you added was perfect perfect perfect and I love you.
She grips his shoulders more tightly, her fingers digging into him like she needs to hold on to him just to help her stay afloat. She’s not sure why she does it, but it helps somehow and his arms clasp tighter around her waist. She feels safe and sure for the first time in months. Maybe even years.
STOP KILLING ME WITH YOUR WORDS. Once again, this is just...yes and Pam and Ryan and of course that's how she would feel after all of the previous events and he is this life raft on what would have been the most awkward and depressing weekend ever for her.
And the closet! The closet! Jim is an ass, and so...immature and conflicted and she's found maybe that she doesn't need to rely on everything he says and does and maybe, just maybe, she can be her own person and then be with the person that she wants to.
Oh, and also: please feel free to send me the next chapter at any time. :)
You rock so hard, it's uncalculable.
Hee, yes! Ricky Gervais!! I am freaking out excited! And then I realized... OMFG, what if some of the Office cast comes out for this event?? (And by Office cast, I of course mean BJ!) Maybe I should wear the t-shirt just in case... Oh yes, they should definitely be blue, and maybe include this picture ! Hahaha.
I'm so glad you liked the things I added! I definitely like the idea of Ryan being like her life raft since she's been floating along so aimlessly these past few months just waiting for Jim to come around. And Jim in the closet just still can't get it right! I so want Pam to be her own person and not have her entire happiness depend on Jim.
You are the greatest ever and I am working on the next chapter, but I may email you to bounce some plot ideas around if that's alright ;)
Sometimes Ryan and Kelly talk about babies. Okay... a lot of times. 10 Gee, I wonder why you picture Ryan as Jewish....;)
This is wonderful and hilarious and this made me laugh for nine years:
“Yeah? Well you didn’t have to say ‘maybe we’re making one of those’ like that. I thought we already talked about saying stuff like that.”
Ahahahaha. I love you. That is all.
Ha, I hope you plan on updating this every day to keep me entertained. All of the Pam and Roy connection and ease wrt each other is making me so sad right now, and for some reason I'm imagining Roy with a beard just because that's how I roll. Maybe because it's the beard of sadness? Either way, it's that bittersweet feeling that I always get about those two. :(
Author's Response:
Heh, I was totally going to update every other day and then I woke up super-impatient. We'll see if I manage to exercise any self-restraint in the future.
Maybe it's 'cause bearded Roy is hottt? And is the Sympathetic Roy? Maybe it's for the same reason that I keep accidentally imagining Jim in his s3 chair in s2 fic now? MYSTERIES.
10 So I read this at work, grinning like an idiot, and when my phone rang I answered it "unhhhhhh". You are my favorite forever, I can't remember the last time I read a Jim/Pam story that made me all weird and twirly. <33333333
10 Oh, that awkward first meet up after the break-up, fighting against familiarity and wanting to cry...and then there's still Jim, and it's just all SO GOOD. <3<3<3<3<3<3<3
10 GOOD LORD. Here I am, playing catch up, and thank God that I waited to read this until you had the next chapter up. Pam's memory of Roy in her dorm bed and wanting him to stay forever was just...perfect Pam (and SO something someone her age can relate with) and broke my heart, and then the next part with the thinking about Jim broke it further. And the END. Okay, I'm not going to babble any further and am going to read the next chapter.
10 Why is this the best day ever? This, oh my goodness this. I can't articulate just how amazing this is, it's impossible. (It's ineffable, hahaha?)
<3<3<3<3<3 Stop being amazing with perfect voices and details that make my stomach hurt.*
(*Do not actually stop.)
10 !!!!!! This made my DAY (sad? No, not sad.) You should, uh, post another chapter later today just because. Gah. Everything is so subtle and perfect - I had to reread the part about his glove compartment 3 times before it hit me what that card was, good Jesus. And all of the reactions (Ryan, haha) and poor Toby getting yelled at all of the time, and Kelly being Kelly.
Okay, and this:
"No," she says, and after a moment he reaches over and rests his hand on her foot without looking at her while he changes the channel.
I don't know, it hit me as a perfect little sentence that explains the Roy/Pam dynamic. I love you, have I told you that lately?
You updated! Never find your self-restraint, okay? For me. Things sure did happen, and I'm just loving this, from the little Drug Testing details (why the whole can of Coke cold in her lap made me tear up a little is beyond me, but I guess I'm just a mess), to Creed and the Hawaii/Mexico debate and oh, everything. <3<3<3
Author's Response: Yeah, I only made it like three hours later than yesterday. :( But yaaay, you liked it, thanks! And oh, man, I'm pretty sure the can of Coke on the show DESTROYED MY ABILITY to function as a human being for several months, so it's a powerful soda?
So I was drinking some Dr. Pepper when I noticed that you had posted and it was like something the Dr. ordered! Haha. I'm loving this so far - it seems like lots of JAMmy goodness is on the way!
(Also, the voices are spot on as per usual and every detail is wonderful; it's like watching those episodes all over again. Plus, I can't wait to see where the whole unionizing aspect of it goes. You=Win.)
Heeeeee, I heart you. And now I'm craving Dr. Pepper, dammit.
THANKS, DUDE!! It's practically like I wrote something with a plot, but that would just be crazy talk.
The Dunder Mifflin employees attend Andy's Here Comes Treble reunion concert. Meanwhile, Michael attempts to find a replacement when the lease on his Sebring runs out.
General spoilers, through episode 4.03 ("Launch Party"). Set between "Launch Party" and "Money" (episode 4.04).
10 Oh, I really like this so far! Your Michael talking head was PERFECT, just absolutely spot-on. I also love how you had Pam mention her art show as the actual reasoning behind convincing Jim to go. :) I can't wait to read more!
Watching the documentary as a favor for Ryan, Toby learned that almost everyone at Dunder Mifflin could probably sue Michael for something and win big. And he learned a few other very important lessons as well.10 Oh, this is so so well done, I can't even begin to articulate how good it is. It's such a fantastic and creative premise to begin with, and your Toby was SO spot on. I love all of the little details you picked up on, like Toby and Darryl being friends and having a playdate with their daughters, omg. And the Toby/Jim confrontation was EXCELLENT. As was the Kelly and Toby friendship. Everything, really. Hopeful Toby at the end killed me dead. Wonderful! I can't wait to read more from you. :)
