I've been writing fanfiction for awhile now. Just recently discovered The Office and figured I'd try my hand at that as well.
At first I thought of having all my stories in the same universe, but then I had some AU ideas. So any stories that occur within a common universe will be in a given series.
'He thought that one day when things were finally right between them, he would tell her about this evening, and the painting, and the sun in her hair. But this day hadn’t come yet.'
Set before the seasons (and in AU).
Love this chapter! Pam's getting herself more under control here and it's lovely to see. I really like that despite what her art teacher wants, she's also still drawing what she wants. Great to see that bit of spunk to her. After all, an interest like that should be about what brings her joy not what someone else demands. Great way to show her accomplishing that.
Speaking of things Pam wants, her inviting Jim to the lunch date was another great way to show that. She's not scared to go after what she wants now and I love that Jim's there for her. Even more because she's had this plan in place to surprise him. He's been a major catalyst for her change and it's adorable to see her recognize that and bring him into everything. Especially with the image on the postcards.
Then of course we get into one of the best romantic tropes and I'm all sorts of here for it. Kissing in the rain along with Casino Night lines but in this new context. *chef's kiss*
Their relationship has been increasing well up to know. To have this scene feels appropriate. They're both in a good place to take these next steps and it's wonderful to envision.
Though of course I'm VERY curious to read what she wrote on that postcard. Can't wait for the next update.
Author's Response: Thank you, Warrior! Somehow, this chapter was hard to write, and I appreciate your kind words so much. And the update is almost here!
Lovely way to wrap this all up. Jim getting antsy and fidgiting to get out of the office as quickly as possible. Dwight secretly keeping tabs on him. Pam moving on with her art. Just lots of fun all around.
I love the insights you've given us to how they're doing now. A much better version of both of the from how they started. Full of life and energy. Reinforcing each other in their shared life. The postcards are great too.
A bit of inspiration from Pam's teapot letter there in not letting us know what was on the first postcard? Very in feeling with the show.
Great job bringing them to this point.
Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat
Author's Response:
Thank you for your lovely review, Warrior! I'm glad that this worked out well.
And I decided to keep the message in secret - it was meant to be read just by Jim after all :)
A rare moment between Jim and Pam.
My response to the 55 word challenge.
1 Very cute. Sometimes it's what's not said or written that leaves the biggest impact. Just a lovely little moment here and it's very sweet.
Author's Response: Thank you!
Great job getting into Angela's head here. How she views her relationship with Dwight and Andy of course. Nice little tidbits about some of her other co-workers as well. Seemed very fitting for her as well as for Dwight.
1 You'd think the whole, "turn it off and then turn it back on again," thing would be a little more intuitive at this point right? Still it's an elegant if simple solution. Nice to have another quick look into this world.
Author's Response:
Simple solutions for simple problems is the motto I live by. It's going to send an email to Robert? Can't send email if it's dead. From a technical standpoint on this episode I did ask myself why they didn't just turn it off, but I guess for plot's sake some things have to be overlooked.
Glad you liked the look, just don't lean over the pit too far or you fall in!
An AU version of Season 3's "Beach Games." What if Karen wasn't there for beach day? What would that mean for Pam and Jim? A little romance with a touch of mild angst.
1 Oh I like this. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what happens here with Karen out of the picture. I really like that Jim is the one to start putting out feelers of their old friendship towards Pam. It feels a lot like he's trying to repair the rift between them. Even still there's just a hint of heartbreak to have the reader remember they're not quite there yet.
However the sight of Pam in a bikini and a day at the beach might just change his mind a bit. Really looking forward to seeing how this one goes.
Author's Response: Yep, you are so good at intuiting where I'm taking things! Recovering their old friendship will be the main focus here, but love of course is very tangled up in it too. And you're totally right about Jim seeing Pam in a bikini--that's definitely going to be a game changer. Thanks so much for the awesome review! Just posted chapter 2...
1 Oh Pam wins the match, no question of it. Jim's in need of a bit of a butt kicking and who better to give it to him than Pam.
Really interesting to see all of Jim's thoughts here. Clearly he's still in love with Pam. However those feelings are covered over by all the scars of Casino Night and onwards. Still it looks like there's some progress that's been made. I'm sure the sight of Pam in that biknini and Jim's ensuing thoughts did much to help that. More steps in the right direction that's for sure. Can't wait to see where we go next from here.
Author's Response: Pam eh? Good choice :) Thanks for reading and for the great review. I just posted ch. 3.
1 The sumo match was great fun. I love how you had Pam win and at the same time have them end up laying down next to each other. Makes complete sense Jim might be more than taken aback by all that.
I loved how things have changed up with this AU. To have Jim watch Pam's coal walk was a great image. As was him scooping her up and getting her into the water. His mental armor about Pam seemed to have been cracking all day, but with the coal walk and him picking her up, the armor is stripped. Which is great because he's now ready to hear her confession and we get them kissing like that.
Wonderful way to bring that all out. There's still unresolved issues of course, but like you had Pam say, she's willing to wait. Just a great job with this chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you! Yeah, when I was writing this, I really thought about how different Jim might have been with Pam without Karen there watching. I hope he would have been this way. I can't wait for you to read chapter 4--now posted :)
1 Pausing in my reading of this to say I LOVE the Star Wars jokes. Classic Jim to confuse Dwight like that. Even better with a sci-fi theme since I'm sure Dwight thinks himself the office paragon on such issues. Great fun. On with the rest of the chapter.
Nice to see them still being honest with each other. Also trusting each other. Pam trusting him enough to show the hurt she felt when he mentioned New York and Jim for being honest enough to tell her that's not the way his life is going now. It sets the stage nicely for the lovely banter in the rest of the chapter.
I also appreciate the fact that as much as they don't want to, they're going to wait to really start their relationship till Jim breaks it off with Karen. Yeah it's not going to be fun, but better to get that over and done with sooner rather than later.
As per usual, great job.
Author's Response: Thanks! I was going for a "Who's on First" vibe with the Jim and Dwight and Andy Star Wars stuff. Glad you enjoyed it, and as always, I appreciate all your kind words.
1 I can very easily see Jim and Pam ramping up their normal banter to phone sex very quickly. They've had years of practice and now after the day at the beach and all day Saturday on the phone, I'm sure there's a lot of air that got cleared. So it makes sense their conversations would progress like that.
Interesting choice with Karen. It avoids a lot of the normal Jim and Karen break-up heartache. They're both guilty of playing with each other's emotions, but they're being a lot more mature about it here. I liked it. It also sets the scene to allow Jim and Pam to be completely together so that's nice to think about too.
Author's Response: Thank you! Glad you liked my different take of Jim and Karen's break up. I hope it seemed realistic.
I can understand why there might be some initial hesitation, but then again with the phone conversations and all their history, just jumping right into the deep end like that works too. Vivid and descriptive both physically and mentally. They're clearly well in tune now and that's brought out nicely.
Fun little bit of humor there with then note.
Author's Response: Glad you liked where I took this chapter. Thanks so much!
Very cute way to wrap this up. Always fun to see Jim and Pam just being in love with each other.
Great job throughout all of this. It's been fun to read and watch progress.
Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat
Author's Response: As always, so excited to hear what you think. Thanks for the great review.
AU from “Negotiations”; Roy isn’t in the mood for closure. Pam suffers the consequences and rises from the ashes, while Jim tries to find his way back to her.
Wow, so that's one helluva start. Throw the book at Roy Pam. Guys that behave like that deserve to rot in jail for the rest of their lives.
Pam giving up on Jim though is a hard line to read. I mean I get it in the context of this story. So, the question now is how will Jim react? Very interested to find out. Great way to hook in a reader that's for sure.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!!! First review ever here, so it means a lot. Jim's reaction will come soon :)
Holy crap! And I thought the last chapter was a gut punch. To have Pam there to experience it all over, especially with Jim there! Wow! That's...intense.
I have absolutely no idea where this one is going to go from here. Yeah, just wow.
Author's Response: First Jam story, so I'm not 100% sure either. Thanks for reading!
1 No not overdone angst here. Especially considering she had to watch the video of the attack. I'm sure there's still a lot of fear, doubt, anxiety, anger, shame, and every other kind of feeling flooding through here.
It does make me wonder what's going to happen with her. The story description says she rises like a phoenix. That can mean any number of things.
All that being said, her internal thoughts through everything here are very real and haunting.
Oof, that was a heavy chapter to be sure. Especially how you used those lines from A.A.R.M. that Jim uses to say how strong his relationship with Pam is. The new context here gives it quite a bit more depth.
I fear that it's too little to late for Jim right now. Or at least it feels like that. Part of me is thinking that as long as Jim is in his relationship with Karen, Pam is still going to give him that cold shoulder. He's trying, but without removing that last hurdle, I fear it'll all be for naught.
Jim's clearly going through a huge emotional time right now too. No where near what Pam's gone through, to be fair. I do hope that somewhere, someway Pam realizes that he's trying. That he screwed up and the Jim she deserves is still there.
Great writing to bring all that out.
Nice to see an update. It's still a little heartbreaking to see Pam pushing Jim away. At the same time, I get why she would. She needs this for herself right now. She needs to show herself she can stand on her own two feet. So in that regard it's nice to see her starting that journey.
I do wonder what Jim will make of this news? Hope to see an update soon.
Oh Jim. Double hit for you too. It seems he's really realizing the effect his actions had on Pam. His leaving and coming back with Karen. Now of course because he was so distant, when Pam really needs him she is the one to cut things off. You really painted a good picture of just Jim being numb to everything right now. Such as Karen saying she's not willing to go down without a fight, but since he's not putting in the same effort, I doubt that will last long.
Powerful if sad chapter this time around.
Oof Pam. I mean I get what she's doing. I really do. But is buring bridges really the way to go? I mean it's not like she's got any other clear alternative. Still it does hurt a bit. However she's also really setting off on her own right now. Still in the very early stages and not everyone seems to have caught up with even that little bit of progress.
Should be interesting to see where this goes from here.
Why are you so good at writing stories that are just a kick to the chest? Oh Pam, I know you're struggling, I get it. Uugh. Great writing even if it tears at the heart.
Very interesting premise there. I can easily see that Pam would snap like that and disappear. Especially after all the heartache she went through in S3. Also makes sense she'd try to be a newer type person like that in California, even if it breaks my JAM loving heart a bit.
Good on Jim to try and reach out to her and also to keep trying to reach out to her.
The next few chapters could be very interesting as well.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot! Also I'm a really big fan of a lot of your fics :)
Interesting perspective from Jim there at the start. The realization that the office is now just a dull place to work without Pam seems very big here. Nice that he got the gumption to start after Pam.
Pam though feels kind of all over the place here. After she recovers first she's angry, she's shocked, then all of a sudden smiling and flirty. Just seems like an abrupt shift.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad that Jim is there and they're in the same place again. However considering all the deep feelings it seems a little rushed that Pam would go through all those emotions so quickly.
Still looking forward to what comes next though.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot!! You're right! I'll take all of this into consideration!
Oh Dwight was easy enough to spot. Nice little bit in there with him.
Very interesting story you've got set up here. Really looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
With that welcome to MTT! Always glad to see a new author post their first story.
Author's Response: Thank you for the warm welcome! Yeah I thought Dwight would be easy to spot, perhaps he’ll make some more appearances
1 Very cute. Nice to get some info on what Jim's doing. The sports marketing internship seems to fit well. Lots of good introspection on his part as well. I really like that he and Pam hit it off so well. It's also sweet that she remembered him too. Looking forward to seeing how their coffee date turns out.
Author's Response: Thank you! I’d imagined them to be a bit younger in this AU, so Jim being an intern for something he’s actually interested in seemed to appeal to me, especially since Pam was following her dream too.
Uug, that stings. Here I am hoping that Pam's single and she and Jim can just be happy. Though there is a big difference between boyfriend and fiance so that's good.
Anyway, up until the friend-zoning, it was all really sweet. Clearly there are sparks between the two of them. So in that regard that does feel very much like canon. I'm curious to see how they'll continue any form of relationship without being together in an office all day every day.
Great writing. Really looking forward to where we go from here.
Author's Response: Yeah it’s much much easier to separate from a boyfriend rather than a fiancée, which is important because I didn’t want this story to be too heavy. Thank you!