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How do you GET their dialogue down so perfectly? Just the texts from the beginning about where to have dinner are too good.

Pam's Lists? SO GOOD. Number Six? Amazing.

But it's their banter that you give us, gift-wrapped with a red bow on top. And we get so many goodies that I can't wait to hear more about or give us so many clues into their individual history. I know we're going to see more about Katy. But I'm BEGGING for more about that date auction. That Pam bid on. FOR RYAN.

And that "charity" swimsuit calendar. Please. Please. Give us both of those.

And I can't help but love how protective Jim is here even though Pam is entirely annoyed with him.

There is a LOT of information in this chapter but I love where this is taking us. I can't wait for more.

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See. You said you were going to do it. And I watched the music video and I cried and I was prepared. But I wasn’t, really. Cause I knew intellectually that you would do great but I wasn’t prepared EMOTIONALLY for this. Not at all. Here we go...

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Oh! Whew! Geez! That scene in the diner! Heartbreaking but that was so incredibly realistic. Absolute perfection.

I mean, I love when we get Larisa in any story and I am Thrilled what you’ve done with her here. Really great way to draw her character and I look forward to her POV showing up more (hint, hint).

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Oh my god these text messages are SO PERFECT. (Down to the little Gumby in the contact pic.) Here's what makes this story such a delight: It is a real and true AU with these borrowed characters but you able to subtly include important bits of the show (Pam's jealousy over Karen, how she bottles up that emotion instead of just talking to Jim about it) and incorporate that into this World.
When she says that he "has a Karen" who doesn't have AA meetings under her belt I just wanted to come through the screen and hug her. This is so good and I just want more of these two as each other's support system.

Okay, I want this Jam happily ever after, of course, BUT... Karen said exactly what she needed to. I love that you used her in this role and the way she did it was exactly how it needed to be done. It would be easy and false to make everyone "just happy for Jim" without some level of concern. It would also be easy and false to make everyone hateful and judgmental about Jim's relationship with Pam, overly verbose in why it was a "bad idea" without any understanding. You have done neither but made it so real, so warm and genuine. I really hope we see more of Karen in this story. :)

And my heart broke in a million pieces with, "She had been my best friend first."

I can't say for sure, but I feel like you've given us so many clues about where this story is going and not just about Jim's June 10th. Man, this is so good.

I'm blown away by the way you creatively circled us back to Dunder Mifflin while keeping the tone of the show. So well-done while maintaining the AU path.

That interview? Written PERFECTLY. This Jim's inner conflict was so heartbreaking but you somehow gave us Canon Jim who knows how to navigate Michael. How do you DO that?!?!

Jim is in SO much trouble. :)

Agian!! You keep doing it! The teapot. The date and "swaying's not dancing" comment (oh my god, can we talk about your brilliance of spinning that into a still-painful jab but now delivered by Karen?!) It's all so good.

I love seeing how you are healing both of him. Jim's little moment on the bench about wanting something normal was sooooo good.

This little gem is yet another great moment when you keep us 100% in This World while keeping the characterization spot on:
"Not because I probably shouldn’t still be holding her hand but I wanted to keep contact with her somehow. Absolutely not because I wanted the few people in this store to assume that she was taken, that we were a package. Not at all because when she made those goofy noises and they vibrated through my body where we connected, the tingling made me feel alive."

Okay, I'm going to fall down an Imagine Dragons hole now, thanks.

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This fic is SO perfectly and wonderfully imagined that there is no way it is not canon. Because it's just got every element you are SO good at and keeps 100% genuine to the characters and the scenario.
I was holding my breath through every moment of Jim's "honest confession." So much that I was Really Mad at him when you hit us with the reality of that moment. Oof.
In less than 5,000 words you take us on A Whole Journey for Jim and I am clinging to every word and every moment. You filled in every hole we needed from this episode.

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Oh my goodness! This is so wonderful. You have done a great job of capturing the innocent and childlike side of Dwight that I can't help but love. Oh and I love the Dwight and Pam friendship; this is such wonderful groundwork to that. Thank you for this!

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Look.
Your summary was enough to take me back in time. Really. I could SMELL the Japanese Cherry Blossom as I was placing my order from a Delia's catalog (an actual print version) while watching Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone, the ultimate sex goddesses, in an Aerosmith video or two. But here we are. With Jim and Ryan wearing puka shell necklaces and black nail polish and Pam goes through a Daria phase... how DARE you!!!

I don't care how many times I've read this, I CACKLE audibly every time I read this part:
“I’ve lived here for almost forty years now, and I don’t think I’ve ever spent as much time staring at that barn as you seem to be this week.” Celia’s tone is innocent as she raises her own glass of tea to her lips and looks pointedly at her granddaughter. “Unless it’s not the barn you’re so fascinated with.”
“It’s a really pretty barn,” she insists.
“It is,” Celia agrees as her eyes drift back toward the fields. “He always was the best looking of the Halpert boys, you know,” she said casually. “You can’t see it from here, but he’s almost grown into those ears of his. Not that anyone’s looking at his ears when he’s got that a—“

Oh my god. We all deserve a Celia. I'm in love with the way you've written her and I will never ever in any way get over this exchange.

But really it's their very authentic Jam banter and flirting with each other just on the edge of impropriety that makes it feel so real and true to the show. You masterfully weave the characters into This World so cleverly and the backstory is fun and rich without dragging us away from Pam and Jim.

And the two of them? On the porch? Coley. You're killing me.

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I hate you.

That's it.

That's the review.

Oh, I am so excited to see something new from you! But...why did you start out with the cliffhanger? Why am I ALREADY wanting to hurt Roy? Why do I have this terrible, horrible knot in my stomach from that summary description?!?! You’re going to kill us a little but with this, aren’t you?
So glad you’re back and many congrats on the new job. Just give everyone an A and come back to writing more of this.

Author's Response: Thanks, DC! I didn't intend to cliffhanger at the start, it just seemed like an ideal place for a POV change and I like doing those at chapter breaks. Roy's always my fave to make you hurt, so glad to know you're onboard for that. Grades given, so we should see some rapid updates now!

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Welcome to MTT! I am LOVING this entire concept and where this story is going. I laughed out loud SO hard at the Deep Throat reference and Angela being worried it was too soon for Pam to introduce someone else to her cat. Man, you have these characters down! It is a thrill to read.

Author's Response: Yay! So nice you got a laugh--that's the best compliment I could possibly get. Thanks for the review.