She sits on the couch and cries. Until she hears a knock at the door.
1 A good start. Nice buildup, a bit of a rush at the end, but great emotional beats.
Author's Response: Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. I don't really write at all so this is new to me haha
1 Very nice. I like the emotional arc you had them on and it seemed very appropriate to the characters without actually relying too heavily on reference to specific series moments.
Author's Response: Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it, my main goal is always that I not stray too far from the way the characters were originally written, while still giving it my own life! I appreciate your review :)
1 Nice work. I liked Jim's POV, nice work with it. I'm excited to see where this goes, hoping you keep giving us both of their perspectives off and on.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review!!! I think I'll definitely bounce back a forth I really enjoyed writing Jims!
I haven't been reviewing chapter by chapter (sorry) but I have been jelly-beaning until I ran out. Just wanted to say I really truly enjoy this AU. I do hope you move us forward through the plot, as I'm fascinated by the whole set of plots and subplots you've arranged for us. Love what you've done with the P/J/R trio, as well as the company.
Author's Response: Hahahah thank you!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it! New chapter will be up soon!
This was good (I'm not a big MA-rated fic person so I'm not going to comment further on that element) but I did enjoy the work you did on their respective thought processes. A larger point regarding writers' block: sometimes it's helpful to either go look at other characters (what's Roy up to? Darryl? Karen?) or to do a time jump (oh look they're on a plane again) to get yourself out of a rut. Just please don't abandon the fic ;). It's too much fun for that.
Oh god I really hope those are reference pics for the Raptors stuff and not for Helene's question...
I do love Jim making breakfast for Pam in fics. It's so sweet--and you did it quite well. I find your Helene interesting; she feels more based on second-Helene than first-Helene from the series, am I right?
Author's Response: Dead on, I loved beginning show Helene she was just so cute, but I thought this Helene would be a more comical relief. I wish I had a reference pic for Helene, you know study material for the class ;);) thanks!!!
I remain enjoying this. Dang Pam's family is tied up on Jim's money though. I love how she, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be.
Author's Response: I don't think even like Jenna Fischer would ever be tied up just doesn't look like her haha. Thanks!!!!!!
You better keep that promise.
Also, I'm glad you do both POVs, because otherwise some of the power dynamics in a boss-employee relationship might seem a little awkward in this story. As indeed it appears it does for Karen. Having both of them constantly reassuring us how they feel about the other is helpful.
Nice though to see how supportive everyone who isn't drunken Roy is of Pam's work though. I like seeing Pam's art getting some respect!
Author's Response: Don't you worry its coming!!! I figured dropping a cliff hanger I needed to have the next one up fairly quickly so I didn't die. Thanks as always for reviewing :):)
So that happened. This is actually a really good version of shock. Terrifying of course but convincing. I'm glad you'll go back to a fluffier fic but please don't let it be too easy--that devalues and degrades the effect of something like this. Don't lose sight of this having happened when you get happier (but yes, please, you do fluff very well so I'm glad you're going back to it).
Author's Response: I always kind of gotten not that vibe from roy from the show but like you wouldn't have been shocked to hear about it, especially how he was when he wanted to leave the dundies early, kind of grabby. Im so glad you liked it! Thanks for always reviewing :)
Aw, I liked this. Short chapters can be good, especially in terms of showing us their healing.
Glad you're still hanging in with us. That's a lot of life changes, and gigantic ones, in a short space of time (honestly, it is a short space even if it feels long). We'll be delighted to have you back. So glad you have family and therapy for support.
I hope you do have the energy to put a little more of a bow on it, but I'm glad you got here. Good luck with the kid! It's nice to see them back together and back at school.
Aww. I love that Jim can reduce her tension via a comment that normally works to increase it by mentioning his brothers' potential inquisition. Nicely done.
1 Go Pam & Jim! I expect this to be nerve wracking for Pam but not because the Halperts are nasty--just her own thoughts. Though I'm sure I'll enjoy wherever you go with it.
1 This is a delight, though seriously, it's not 1955, someone can marry without asking a dad for permission (not annoyed with you for including it, I think it fits the characters you've drawn, I'm annoyed at your Jim for it). I'm glad they're talking and I hope that we are on the upswing. I want more of Karen & Pam's friendship; the little taste here remains great. And I love that Ryan is still in the Michael Scott Paper Company. Nice work.
Author's Response: Thank you, Comfect! Yeah, I 100% agree with you about the "permission to marry" (I laughed out loud at the 1955 comment!). Ha! I tried to make the situation complex enough so that I didn't get annoyed with Jim, but, yeah, I think I feel some of that Seasons 2/3 frustration with him here. JUST open your mouth and talk to her, dude! More of Karen and Pam to come; I appreciate that you always seem to love those two as BFFs as much as I do. Thank you for this review!
1 "Pam lives in Scranton. I’m moving to Austin. This doesn’t change that." Damn you DC! That better not be the emotion this story leaves us on or I will literally scream here in my living room.
You do a really good job of portraying Jim and Pam here as damaged people trying to get, not back to a place where they weren't damaged, but to a place where they're repaired: where they can be themselves again but not the same selves they used to be. I'm looking forward for the rest of this tale. Wonderful work.
Author's Response:
So what you're saying is, you DON'T want me to end it there? I considered it. Thought I could leave it open to the reader's interpretation what happens next, but when I suggested that there were death and arson threats so I'm going to keep it going. ;) Of course it won't end there! But we have a way to get there.
Hey, guess what the summary of this story SHOULD be: Jim and Pam here as damaged people trying to get, not back to a place where they weren't damaged, but to a place where they're repaired: where they can be themselves again but not the same selves they used to be.
That's exactly what I'm going for and I'm So Very Glad that's working for you here. Thank you for such a great review!
Still very much here for all of this, think you're doing it beautifully. I'm not going to go into paragraph raptures but only because I like to keep these short, so: well done, so glad you're still doing this, liking both Karen and Hannah a lot.
Author's Response: Comfect, your concise words always feels like "paragraph raptures" (I literally laughed out loud when I read this) so thank you for your kind words. Glad you like Karen and Hannah; hope I continue to not make you hate Jim. ;) Seriously, thank you for continuing to support this story; I appreciate it.
D'aw. I loved the "It was a ‘hello, old friend’ hug. Nothing else" because I'm a sucker for (near) title quotes. But also this did a great job of tugging the heartstrings while also giving us more of that wonderful, wonderful Pam-Karen friendship.
Author's Response: Hey, you! Thanks for this, especially your continued support of Pam and Karen's friendship. :)
Oh I like this. Karen PoV was great, but I can totally see it being something you don't want to overdo. The story progression was wonderful, which feels weird to say about a chapter that's mostly flashback, but it was necessary to ground why Karen would feel the complicated mixed up way she does about Jim--and JAM. I'm hoping for some Pam PoV next, paradoxically because I'd like to let our view of Jim stew a little rather than getting his immediate reaction to Karen's meddling. But you do you!
Author's Response: Comfect, thank you! I'm so glad you liked Karen's PoV and how it moved the story along. I always appreciate your reviews!
Resolution and honesty would be nice (are we going to get a "honesty isn't her strong suit" callout?). This fic is killing me but in a very good way. I am not usually a fan of fics in which JAM didn't work out the first time, but this one is highly addictive because of the emotional work you put into it for both of them, both on why they broke up and on why they would each want to find each other again, without invalidating what came before. Also, from your intro: "doing grown-up things"--why is it that grown-up things (in addition to sex) always means completely emotionally screwed up, self-deceiving bullshit? Not blaming you for the accurate description, just saying that "grown-up" so often means, as here, "fundamentally childish."
Author's Response:
Oh, Comfect your reviews always get me thinking long and hard about how I've approached something. I appreciate that so much! I didn't know that Reconnecting Jam wasn't typically your thing so it means that much more that you are so invested in this one. Thank you!!
And, I get what you're saying, but it's a redemption story, friend! There has to be some major deviance to make that work AND to emphasize how self-destructive they both became after losing each other. I'm a sucker for people stumbling a little until they fall face first and then pulling themselves out of it. But that warning was mostly for the people who like Puritan Jam. Cause... this isn't that (as much as I love good fluff with no drama :D). Seriously, your insightful reviews are always so appreciated! And I'm really glad you're back. :)
OK that's very adorable. I am fascinated by the question of how much he actually spent. But I love this story so much, and your writing style as well, so I'm just ding-dang-delighted that you decided to update.
Also I will make a fake account and give you all of its additional jellybeans if you actually write an innocent and pure third date, just to see the metaphorical look on Coley and AG's faces.
1 I mean, I enjoy your writing so I'm here for this, but they're both so broken. It's like you took the two worst versions of each character (as people, not as characters: late-season neglectful Jim and early-season passive Pam) and put them in a room. Not that that last scene doesn't show some strength for Pam, but she's doing what she did with Roy in the flashbacks--and not with Jim, with her parents. Because if she actually stood up for her relationship with her Dad (or just didn't engage, more realistically), she might have the emotional resilience left to actually talk to Jim and not assume and project. She's right about your present-day Jim, though, as far as I can tell: he doesn't seem like he's actually changed at all except in income, and so this is a mistake.
Author's Response:
Oh, Comfect. I can't tell if you hate it or just dislike it a whole lot. ;)
Really, you hit on two Very Important Themes in this story. Can our Seemingly Best Choices break us? and What does it REALLY look when WE think someone has changed or stayed the same? (In other words, does that mean they really did change/stay the same or is that based on what we want to see.)
I did kind of have to bring out their worst, but I think (*hope) it's to get to their best.
I'm interested to hear more about your thoughts on Pam and her Dad. (Family is another semi-relevant theme to this story.) I don't see Pam as the "put her parents in their place" type of character when they disapprove. I also don't see her unwilling to engage with them either though (as her character has developed in this AU). I think she probably stands squarely in the deeply difficult and uncomfortable quagmire of the middleground, likely serving as the unofficial mediator. Difficult spot, especially when it's about her. Keep in mind, it's canon until Casino Night. As painful as S3 was, this Pam (HMOH Pam) didn't experience that same type of growth we had the chance to enjoy.
I hope they both redeem themselves a bit for you when we get to the next chapter. I ALWAYS appreciate your thoughtful insight.
Weeks, months, years after it airs, Toby's still feeling the effects of the documentary. And that's even before he's accused of being the Strangler.1 This is super sad, and really well written (which is ironic given the content, obviously). I can't believe I haven't commented on this before; it's really excellent, and while it isn't JAM it's very good Office fanfic. Thanks for sharing!
1 Aw this is so cute. You capture the sense of an adult making "real life" into a children's story beautifully.
Author's Response: Thank you. It was a lot of fun to write and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jim and Pam, a snowstorm, and a bottle of tequila. Could a Christmas miracle finally force these two to be honest with each other?
Takes place immediately following A Benihana Christmas.
1 Oh that is a nasty little cliffhanger. But I love this story very much. They are fairly in character if we add drunkenness and I like that it is Pam POV.
Author's Response:
Hahaha, I knew the cliffhanger was going to over as well as Phyllis’s homemade oven mitt, but I went ahead with it anyways ;)
Thank you for reading, I’m glad you’re enjoying it so far!
Hahaha, I knew the cliffhanger was going to over as well as Phyllis’s homemade oven mitt, but I went ahead with it anyways ;)
Thank you for reading, I’m glad you’re enjoying it so far!