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There is SO much that I love about this story especially the part that takes me down memory lane. Because, Princess Bride is perfection and, to this day, Mr. Cupcake knows that he can say "As you wish" and I'm a puddle. :)
But I distinctly remember the Halloween that my boyfriend and four of our guy friends dressed as the Spice Girls. That was also when I discovered Purple Passion and the right way to apply eyeliner.
And as a former theater major I couldn't geek out more to Jim BEING the Phantom for Halloween. :)
I love how you wrote Larissa in this story. "I called dibs on the one who wore pants" is an amazing line. :)

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I've made NO secret that this story got my Halloween mojo back in action, but I waited to review until I could do a second read-through. I have a whole bag of Snickers and a bottle of Cab so it's going to be lengthy. ;)
Can we start with that first line? Because THAT is the mark of a real adult relationship. Especially later when Pam follows it up with 'I love you a decent amount, but I really love Halloween.'

Putting Mark and Penny together is pretty genius. So is Jim as Johnny from Dirty Dancing.

Programming Paused while I digest him telling her 'leave it' and her loving his thing for her wearing his shirts during sexy times...

Ugh and the whole premise of this with their teasing is wonderfully topped off with their stupid habit of underestimating the others' willpower. It's like they didn't even watch seasons 1-3!! Seriously, you captured these beautiful idiots perfectly.

Author's Response: Let's just pretend that your Present Day Jim and Pam were the future my Jim and Pam were trying to get to :) 

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Okay, this? Was adorable and the absolute fluff I needed. From the apple picking (I love how Penny and Jim were like, no ladders. ever) and the little foursome with the hard-cider and the scary movies.

But seriously, all of that with him checking the doors was the best. Really, the best. (And not just because I do the exact same thing to my husband, but it IS fun to be scared!)

Okay, and I see what you did there with Magenta so I dig it. :)

Author's Response: Listen, chances are good we'd all be dead right now if we didn't have boyfriends/husbands who checked for monsters. That's just how life works.

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Of course she's singing Fiona Apple. Because I'm a few years younger than Pam and that Criminal video taught our generation 42% of what we needed to know about seduction.

Jim's right; she is a tease. And he's soooo into it. That theme of witchcraft has me cracking me up.

Casually, "when did you decide you're trying to kill me?" **cackling because THAT is 100% a casual Jim comment**

The candy debate is AMAZING. I'm picturing it similar to the Hillary Swank "hotness" debate but with Sexy Pam and candy so it's about 1000x better (and I love that Hilary debate so that's saying a lot). Thank you for forever associating Cher and Snickers and, YES, Kelly would absolutely be all about the Starburst and Skittles. I mean, that little call out was perfect.

Again, I am loving Jim's little catalog of her candy-quirks. Can we agree she eats sour patch kids when in a creative funk? Oh, wait, maybe that's me transferring?? ;)

One of my forever favorite lines in this WHOLE fandom is Jim, in reference to Toby preferring candy corn, "Who hurt you?" There's so much there that I love.

Creed, Oscar, and Ryan are characterized so perfectly. I mean, PERFECTLY.

And now we come to the piece de resistance: The whole thigh-high, shoes on, and, oh look, Jim and I both blacked out for a few seconds because aye aye aye.

Okay, and I am in love with her being so impatient at the front door when they get to his place. There is something so sweet about her almost losing it while trying to play cool.

Author's Response: Good eye - I was definitely thinking of the Hilary Swank debate while writing that scene, but also, we debated candy in my office for four days straight and we still don't have a solid conclusion. And yes, sour patch kids are for sure her go-to when she's hit a wall. 

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Oh my! Sabotage, Ensnare, Wait. I feel like this is exactly how Dwight would think. You characterized him wonderfully.

I like that you had him present at the end. I think Dwight is a secretive JAM fan and I ADORE the Jim, Pam, Dwight friendship. :)

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Remember those powerful, haunting stories we heard as kids about two lovers with a surprise scary ending (the lady with the black ribbon necklace, the man with a hook)? This reminded me of that in a far more sophisticated and eloquent way, but one that will stick with me every time I watch that episode. I will always get this little chill when Pam makes that off-handed comment about blowing her brains out.
Is it weird that the ending was this lovely, bittersweet moment for me? I love how you creatively brought them back together, even though it was still really sad.
A really wonderful "scary" Halloween story and so glad to see something from you.

Author's Response: Ooh, I loved those stories. I’m thrilled that you felt I captured some of that vibe. I can’t think of anything better than someone being reminded of one of these fics of mine when watching the show— thank you for that (and sorry if it sours that scene at all!). I appreciate your kind comment, thank you!

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First of all, welcome out of retirement! So nice to see something new from you! Second, this is just wonderful. I really like Toby (and in those moments I don’t, I really don’t!) but I know that’s because usually I feel bad for him. You’ve humanized him in a realistic way in this story. I loved the bit where Sasha speculates about WHO he should have dated. And you nailed Meredith’s voice in those messages! I love how the end brought it back to Pam, but with a clear and understood tone that it’s about support and friendship. Great story!

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I really struggled to get through this chapter if I'm being honest. It was a tough one. Because every paragraph I was squealing or making a note for a future conversation or rolling on the floor. But, you know, I'm completely chill about this whole thing.

I felt Amanda needing that nap. And Pam with the kids and the turkeys was so wonderful. Betsy certainly can give as good as she gets.

I died when Jim and Gerald had that conversation about proposing. I DIED. That made me struggle with this chapter, too. I had to die and be resurrected but it was SO wonderful. It was tender and not overdone and I love it and I'm going to die again thinking about it.

The minute the Halpert Boys started asking if Betsy said "cat nap" I knew where you were going and I LOVE it. But Tom's "Touchdown" (and every single uninhibited moment that lead up to it) was absolutely 100% fantastic. And then Vanessa's innocent "there aren't bases in football" was genuine and wonderful and can you write my memoir?

I knew what was coming with Larissa's jerky boyfriend, but somehow I was surprised. That "scene straight out of the Godfather" was ominous and wonderful and I got a little chill.

Oh my god can "Night" please please please get here?

Author's Response:

I just wish I could tell if you liked this story or not. 

Your comments seriously made my night. I struggled with posting this for so many reasons but I did it anyways, and it is SUCH a relief to know it didn’t bomb with you.

Night is coming... hahaha that sounds a lot more ominous than it should, but it’s coming soon! 

But for reals, thank you for being so supportive of this story! If the Pam’s pies remain unscathed, it’ll all be for you!  

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First fanfic ever?! Woohoo and congrats. Once you start writing down those ideas it becomes kind of addictive like crack...or breadsticks...or scrapbooking.

Okay, from the first line I was sold because I believe that is 100% accurate about Pam. When Pam and Michael had that conference room stare down when he was dating Helene, Pam squared up that chin in a way that just screamed someone who can have a temper. (Well, that, and later when she slapped him...)

I like how the gloves are off, everyone's reaction, and Toby's soft interruption! Can't wait to see where you take this story!

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Oooooh! I love love love love the whole serendipitous, by-chance tactic. It is really one of my favorite techniques and I love how you played it out here.

You write anxious and embarrassed Pam very well. What a sweet visual of these two holding hands in a coffee shop the day after she told him (which he deserved) how he made her so tired. That is sometimes how love goes, especially with these two idiots.

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Your first fanfic? You jest.

I mean from the giddiness when they were thinking about the date until they were practically undressing each other with their eyes, it was all so good.

Sure, you two. No sleeping together tonight. Okay. It's going to end at the doorstep with a goodnight kiss on the cheek. Right. Sure thing. Let's see how that works out for you two...

Author's Response: Omg I think I love you! Thank you, thank you for all the reviews. I love getting your thoughts on each chapter. 

Ugh. I do love the suspense. And what a way to end it. Sprinkles, this is so great.

Author's Response: You're not allowed to read more until you give us a new chapter of Old Heart. :-) Pretty please. I love that story. 

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Sooo...idgaf that I got a sneak peek of this because I have Feelings about this chapter all over again.
To begin, jerks to leave Pam like that. J-E-R-K-S.
"Old times; it was such a stupid phrase..." That whole paragraph and sentiment GOT me again. Deep. (And that's not the eggnog talking.)
Ha! I love that Agian had the exact comment I did about vodka: Same, girl, same. Yet, here I sit with a fresh bottle of Tito's so...

Jesus. Karen buttoning his coat like the control-freak I love her to be (and, yes, overestimating how it might be taken) is a perfect contrast to who Jim is. So great.

The beauty of this chapter is how you write Pam's discomfort (during that kiss) in a way that I feel like I'm experiencing it. It is perfectly Pam. Really. Exactly how she would react and I felt so damn uncomfortable with her. Really beautifully written scene.

Author's Response:

You have no idea how much I love that you guys are all like “vodka is the devil but I’m gonna keep drinking it” because that means it’s not just me.