General season three spoilers for The Office. Takes place sometime between Exodus part II and Maelstrom in BSG time.
Beautiful. Truly lovely. And honestly, I could see RDM himself weaving in second chances as a theme in his own storytelling. It fits so perfectly with what we've seen this last season.
Author's Response: I'm almost more invested in seeing Pam become the person we see here- strong, assured, happy even in dire circumstances. I think she has so much potential. But I love Starbuck and can't wait to see what her special destiny really is! Thank you, thank you- for your insightful help and for your wonderful comments!
Member's Choice - “My father died, so I’ll need a few days.” She explained in an unaffected sounding voice that surprised even herself. The three other parties in the room were stunned into silence. Jim spoke first. “Jesus, Pam…” She stood with her back to him and addressed Michael as if Jim had not made a sound…as if Jim did not exist. It was the only way.
This was such an amazing piece of literature. For that is what it was: literature. Don’t ever let anyone use the term “fan fic” as an insult because this was, quite simply, more than that. Honestly, with very few changes you could (and should) submit this for publication in any good short story anthology. I was enthralled the whole way through. I’m finding it difficult to encapsulate my impressions because there were so many broad strokes and fine details that were just spot on. One thing that particularly stood out: the common thread of Jim’s maleness and Pam’s femaleness and how they experience that in each other and in themselves. You’ve created a wonderful story, filled with warmth and pain and different from anything else I’ve read on this site. It was beautiful.
Author's Response: thank you so much. your review gave me chills. I'm so glad you thought so highly of it! It was quite a journey for me and I loved writing it so much.
Oh how can I possibly pick a favorite?! [/whine]
1. That it's so appropriate that Kelly has a soaking tub.
2. That Jan's not a good housekeeper but her smile is like the rising sun.
3. That Dwight won't even say "cats" and instead uses "felines".
4. That Oscar clearly secretly loves the movie recommendations from Kelly.
5. (I already told you this one) That Phyllis is embarassed, even though her husband knows all about her dancing days.
6. That Jim feels guilty about Pam not being involved in the prank. And that Pam made the first move. And that Jim's on his way to break up with Karen. Yay!
Watch the whining, or no more sneak peeks for you! Hee. Thank you so much. I appreciate having you as my best fan!
Wow. That one wasn't just weird, it was intense. I love that Pam was in costume; she is not being herself and she's only just starting to learn how to be herself. Angela is a great device, too, and not just because she's a bit of a cat lady! I really liked this one.
Author's Response: So glad. More to come soon - and it's a little different. I think it's more what you're used to. :) Thank you so much for the review!
Ooh nice! I love that it was a dream that finally gave her the strength to break off the wedding! All sorts of interesting imagery. But who's Steve? Is that the guy that Michael Scott had to fire way back at the beginning of the series? Or just some random dream person?
Author's Response: LOL! Steve is the vending machine guy. Jim mentions him when he plays the prank on Dwight in Booze Cruise. You're not the first person to question me on this. I'm glad you liked it in any event. More to come soon.
That's how I feel about zombies, too. Eep! But it was a lovely shout-out to Tim and Dawn being in Shaun of the Dead!
I love Dream!Jim's list of the reactions of their various co-workers; it was spot on. And it was a very real transition from hot dream to nightmare. Just so sudden and vague. And awwwww, she woke up next to him. Yay!
Thanks belsum!! I can't take credit for the Tim and Dawn shout-out. I've never seen Shaun of the Dead! It was more poking fun of Jenna's real life love of zombies - and Pam's inability to distinguish between 28 Days and 28 Days Later.
But I'm glad you liked it. This was by far my favorite chapter to write.
She had to finish this conversation now that she’d started it. Pam finally speaks up. No spoilers; takes place sometime after Product Recall, season 3.
Gah! I'm so sorry I didn't review this one earlier!
Anyways, you know I loved this piece. It was so Pam to finally loose it after something as inconsequential as inane breakroom pleasanties. I love the idea of Jim's "carefully blank" face. And the parallels to the infamous "I can't" from Casino Night!
Kelly, Pam, and Karen find different meanings in a romantic comedy. Takes place sometime after Women's Appreciation (season three). Spoilers for the movie "My Best Friend's Wedding"
The great thing about this is the subtext between Pam and Karen. Just like at the mall, discussing Michael Scott's and Jan's relationship, the end up at the same place from different directions. I think they truly would be friends if it weren't for that whole pesky Jim thing. Hee!
Author's Response: Yep, but that Jim guy is pretty tall to completely overlook. Thank you so much!!!
A post-Beach Games fic. Some glimpses of what might've happened after the cameras stopped rolling (not that enough didn't happen while they were rolling...).
Spoilers through Beach Games.
Oh lovely! It's so perfect that he'd be proud of her, even if it's completely mortifying for him. Really nice touch.
Author's Response:
I keep saying in these responses that I'd like to believe he was proud of her. Having been there himself (in a way) and knowing her as well as he does, he'd have to realize what a scary thing it was for her to do.
Thanks for reviewing!
Reading this after seeing the finale it's really fun to see how close you were with the characterizations and motivations, even if the exact actions were off. And the ending with them revealing their secret knowledge of Dwight and Angela was so much fun! I can't wait to see how that actually plays out - because you just know the writers are salivating over that particular scene!
Author's Response:
Thanks so much for saying that! I kept getting emails throughout the finale from Starry Dreamer (who beta-d this for me), going, "OMG - are you FREAKING OUT!?!? He asked about her feet!" Hee. I was glad to see that there were some similiarities - happier even to see that the writers gave even more of a happy ending than I did! (And that was a big old TWSS if ever I've written one!)
Thanks for reviewing!
I love the concept of an "honesty bender". That's just what it was! You'd HAVE to cry after that kind of a release. Just to finish the path that kind of emotional clarity takes you on. Really lovely.
Author's Response: ah - thanks, belsum! Sometimes crying doesn't have to be a bad thing, and I just can't see Pam not needing that sort of release after the BIG thing(s) she had just done!! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Ryan Howard didn't always live by the philosophy that in order to attract women you needed to basically ignore them.
This was glorious. I’m giddy with the joy of this piece. It is not the same show that I watch on Thursday nights on NBC. But it’s so GOOD! Everything was so perfect and normal and strangely realistic. I'm stunned and shocked and completely in love with this story.
Author's Response: Thank you so much!! (And for ALL the amazing reviews you've been sending my way the last couple of days <3 <3) This was probably one of my favorite fics to write ever, so I'm glad you liked it :)
Pam cools her feet in the water. Takes place immediately following Beach Games.Beautiful imagery. I love the many interpretations of "cold feet" and how you played with them all. No socks! Yay!
Author's Response: Pam is officially sock-free! Woo! (Thank you!)
Yep, you weren't kidding when you said you were way off. ;-) But then again, who could've ever guessed the direction that Jan was going to go careening off in?!
Still, this was fantastic. You remain the mistress of metaphor. And it was funny! I laughed out loud several times - not sure how to accuse Michael, "officially flapped", "anti-man solidarity", the whole firewalk confusion. Hee! Very nice.
Author's Response: Thank you!! I was trying to be funny...it's a lot harder than the angsty stuff, for me. Or even the fluff. I had to sneak a metaphor in there, of course- it's my M.O. these days. Thanks again!
Inspired by the finale and the seasons that preceeded it. Enough said.
Awww, this really is the best first date ever! And they are gonna be *wrecked* when they finally get to work in the morning. Hee!
I love how you pulled in events from the Booze Cruise. And I would've loved to have seen that dinner with his brother actually happen. What's so enjoyable is the contrast between your impeccable prose and the true dialogue that you put in these characters' mouths. It's a pleasure to read your work.
You are such a magnificent writer! I'm always amazed at how beautiful your prose is and how much it enhances the already enjoyable subject matter. This sentence, "they were shattering the last vestiges of the carefully constructed facade they'd hid behind for such a long time" is the perfect summation of this chapter in a story full of shattering facades. Amazing.
Author's Response: Wow...thank you so much, seriously. Somehow it's always just amazing to hear a reader say he/she found something to be actually good. :o) But honestly - I really appreciate your taking the time to review. Here's to hoping they shatter all the remaining facades next season!
I was completely enchanted by their individual realizations in the restaurant about how things have changed and what their lives were like just a short time ago. It was so beautifully written. And then I came to this sentence: I'm going to marry him. And I nearly started bawling sitting here at work. Gorgeous prose, truly lovely story.
Author's Response: Oh, thank you so much -- I'm glad that line hit you that way (not that I want to make you cry....), because I think that realization really would hit Pam sort of suddenly. Thanks so much for your reviews!
"hearing that woman answer it and not say, 'Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam'"
Oh man, this got to me, too. Great job bringing in so many details from the episode itself. Love that Pam was the one to initiate the next part of the date and the kiss. Looking forward to seeing what's next!
Author's Response: Didn't it, though? Just jarred me (and Jim, too, based on the look he got). THanks so much for reviewing!
Wow. I love the hesitation and the discomfort and the excitement and nervousness. It's very real and in character for them both. I can only hope we get to see this much of their actual date on the show!
Author's Response:
I'm really glad you liked it - as I've written this, I've really tried to envision how it would be for both of them. I think they'd both be (obviously) so excited, but super nervous and anxious as well -- such new terrain to navigate, this.
Thanks so much for reviewing!
Such a powerful ending! I love the constant interplay of their comfort and trust in each other with the unsure tension due to this new development in their lives. It's so real. And I really liked the date oufits you gave them, that they both opted for jeans but it was also something that they wouldn't normally wear to work.
Author's Response:
What a really great, thoughtful review -- I appreciate your taking the time to be so specific. I was really trying to tap into that juxtaposition of comfort with the nerves of a first date. As for the outfits...if I could play dress up with Jim Halpert, well.... Heh. P:o)
Thanks for reviewing!
It's not too late! Yay! I love stories that go behind the cameras. Perfect touch that it was the very cameraman from Casino Night. So cute how he tried to comfort Pam but then turned her over to Jim the very first chance he got! Hee!
Author's Response:
Belsum, I love exploring what happens beyond the cameras too! I'm convinced that there's so much we don't see.... And yeah, I'm a sucker for the idea of Jim comforting a veklpempt (horrid spelling, I know) Pam.
Thanks for the review!
Wow indeed. I'm really enjoying this story. Their banter is so perfect - love the fighting couple dialogue game. And it's fun to have Jim lay it all out on the line like that. I presume it's Pam's turn next...can't wait!
Author's Response:
Thanks so much! You know, I wrote them doing that dialogue game without really thinking about it, then my beta (Starry Dreamer) pointed out the parallels to the Purse Girl episode, LOL. Thanks again for reviewing!
Aw, I like it! It seems very in character for both of them. Karen's preemptive break-up with Jim. Jim really, truly, honestly liking Karen. Karen telling Jim to step up and finally talk to Pam. Totally real. Maybe it'll be a flashback in the season premiere!!
Author's Response: Thanks! I missed your beta-ing skills for this one, but I couldn't wait to post it. I really think Jim likes Karen, but it was never going to be "long term". Thanks again, sweets!
Jim is nervous about their first date. Spoilers through "The Job".Since I can't just quote the entire story as my favorite part (hee!) I'm going to go with Pam changing "into clothes he'd never seen". Such a perfect touch.
Author's Response: Oooh, thank you! I figure Jim will like Pam's new blouse as much as you did...hee.
Hmm....how to put this? At the end of Season 3, Jim asked Pam out on a date. I thought I might go out on a limb and fill in the blanks.... (SERIOUS FLUFF ALERT!)
You already have him, she told herself. He came back from New York because of you. There is nothing to prove tonight. She wished she could believe it.
Ooh what an interesting interpretation! I haven't seen anyone else do this particular twist yet. I like that Pam thought the invite was because of bad news. And the conversation with Jim straightening that out was very lovely. Very realistic that they're going to have to deal with some baggage.
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