I love that Isabel and Mark, after all these years, are still the ones who have to push Jim and Pam towards each other.

And I’m not too surprised that Pam’s father has gotten another girlfriend. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t tell them about her and about selling the house and moving, of course, but I can sympathize a little with him. You either go all in or go out.

Which leads us, as always, back to Jim and Pam (and Karen). I’m a little annoyed - again - at Karen’s total apathy towards Pam’s situation. She just got fired and she probably would’ve been evicted if she didn’t find a new place to move. Yet there’s no sympathy? Also, it annoys me so much that she didn’t even try to hide that she thinks Pam is just a token for Jim and that she can use her to make Jim happy instead of actually talking to Jim. In the end, I think it was more wanting to be with Jim and Mark’s advice that pushed Pam to apply for the job, but Karen’s manipulation still irks me to no end.

BlindManCassidy

I totally thought that Mark and Isabel were going to end up together, but I don’t mind that they didn’t, long as they stay friends.

Thank god Jim finally stood up to Ryan! He really is a conniving little shit, and I’m glad he and Pam are broken up.

Of course Jim’s going to miss Scranton, too, and I find it interesting that you had Phyllis turn down the transfer for Bob. Maybe it’s finally going to make Jim realize that Stamford isn’t what he wants; it’s Pam that he wants.

Finally, I feel bad for Pam, of course - she just lost her job! But I think it’ll be good for her to find a different job, without someone as sensitive as Henri as her boss. And obviously Jim’s going to want to stay a little longer to help her find a job, so now there’s more direct JAM scenes.

And I have no jellybeans left to submit:(.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thank you! :) I'm glad you're ok about Mark and Isabel haha, and yes: they have definitely stayed friends. 

Agreed on Pam finding a better job away from Henri, she can definitely do better. Jim is...getting there. 

Thank so much for reviewing (and for leaving jellybeans!)   

1

Definitely not was I was expecting. Like - Jim took Pam’s virginity? *That* was what happened in college?

If your intent was to confuse me, then I must say you have succeeded. Does Karen know about this? How did she and Jim get back together if she did? Did Jim and Pam acknowledge that they love each other?

Through my confusion, I appreciate how you put Danny Cordray into the story. I never saw him as a very terrible person - I don’t think that it was terrible of him to stop seeing Pam if he didn’t think they would get along - but now I’ll never look at him the same. Of course he was using her for sex. *God*.

And of course Karen would spin this into being Pam’s fault. I suppose that she is the reason this story irks me so much - her and Ryan - because I’ve met them. Manipulative, self-absorbed, arrogant people like them exist. I’ve known them and I’ve loved them. It just sucks that people are like this, but it’s a good thing that you’ve acknowledged this in the story.

As of right now, I’m really worried about Jim leaving for Stamford. I know he and Pam will end up together, but when? How? And will they get revenge on Karen and Ryan because I sure as hell would want to if I was in their place?

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thanks very much for reviewing! 

And yes - sorry for the confusion haha. I promise there will be answers coming...and more about what happened in college.

Agreed on Danny in the show - my thinking was that he'd probably be a bit more only-after-one-thing in college. Although I didn't mean for him to come across as hugely sneaky about that (unlike Ryan).

I also know people like Karen and Ryan, and am having a surprising amount of fun writing them (even if I do feel bad for the slight character assassination of Karen from the show). They will not be coming out as winners in the end though, I promise. 

Thanks so much for sticking with it!   

1

The angst is making me feel horrible. Which means that this story is very well written, because I don’t feel emotion very often.

...you are planning to get them together, right?

Author's Response: Haha, thanks so much! (And sorry). And let's just say, I would not have been able to get through season 3 of The Office if I hadn't had a sneaky look ahead and to make sure they did end up together...  

1

“He wished he could send it back, but sandwich it between “I” and “you” and let her know how she truly deserved to be treated...and holy crap she had turned him into such a hopeless sap”
I cannot tell you how much I relate to this sentence. A hopeless sap is exactly what I am right now - I mean, head over heels, and it’s captured so perfectly in this story. I love the office, specifically the first few seasons, because it’s so real. Jim’s story is so real. And I love how you’ve portrayed his love for Pam and her oblivion to what he feels for her. I can only hope they end up together soon - my stone heart is not a fan of angst.

BlindManCassidy

1

This is such an office story. I could easily see this being written into the office as an extra episode or something of that sorts. I can’t imagine how invasive and hostile it is to be a celebrity, even a well-liked one, because everyone wants to know everything about you.

And of course Jim would give her a gift like this, just to remind her how much he loves her despite everything they went through. My stone-cold heart is a little warmer after reading this.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response: That's a perfectly lovely thing to say, because I was definitely working hard to preserve the tone of canon here. And yeah, it must be absolutely crushing to lose your privacy like that, and of course it's ramped up to 11 for Pam here because it's very specifically her story being told and she did not really choose to tell it. I am very glad to be of service to your stone-cold heart! Thanks for taking the time to read and review.

“ She let his words and the soft tone of his voice roll over her and then there was a ladder in her pit of despair and when she glanced skyward there was light on the horizon where before there had only been swirling, thunderous clouds”
I love the symbolism, friend. Of course there’s light on the horizon if Jim will always be there for her. Isn’t that true of all of us? If we always have someone waiting for us when we call, is there not light on the horizon?

And I swear, if Dwight set this all up for her, I’m going to cry. This is so sweet.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response: Thank you BlindManCassidy! 

1

Aw, this is so cute. I can imagine that the both of them want nothing more than to make up for the time they’ve lost, and I can also imagine how they’ve both been counting down the time since they were last together. I’m excited to see where you take this story!

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I love to add depth to the relationship we know as JAM - I imagine there is so much we don't get to see - fun stuff and lots of talks where they share their past, present and future.

For this set-up it was all about showing both of those things with a little nod to what's to come.

Thanks again and Happy 2021!  

1

Don’t apologize. It’s realistic. I’ve been there. Nice to see yourself represented in a character you love.

I’ve been reading these for a while, and I’ve been trying to figure out what the connection is between the elements. What is it? Or what do you imagine the connection to be?

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response: Thank you for your review! I'm sorry that you have a similar experience... 
To be honest, there is no particular connection between pieces. I just write something that suits the general theme (the elements), but different stories don't connect between each other. I try to alternate the mood (one day mostly sad/angsty, another mostly happy/fluffy/more positive than the previous day), and sometimes two stories in a row slightly complement each other, but that's all. 

1

Aw, this was really cute! Would’ve killed me if they put it in the show (not the sex, of course). I can sympathize with Jim on worrying about being rejected, so you have your guard up, but that backfired on him badly. If Pam just wanted someone to sleep with, she could’ve gone to any bar that ever existed.

Still, I’m glad they ended up together, and that he and Karen broke up when he admitted that he had feelings for Pam; I never understood that bit in the show. If my girlfriend had admitted she *still* had feelings for a different girl, my trust issues would take over and we would break up immediately.

Overall, I liked this story a lot. And I love your username.

BlindManCassidy

What a great ending.

Honestly, I’m glad Jim didn’t propose. Even though they’re great together, I think that they need to spend some time living together before they jump into marriage.

I’m glad Pam got the job! That’s huge for her, seeing as Danny was controlling and didn’t believe in her having a job since many women were looked down on in that time period for having jobs. Good for her.

Well done, as always.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! I’m so pleased you like the ending - and yeah, I was sort of going with the idea that people proposed sooner back then, but I’m with you on that maybe being a bit sooner than is comfortable…so I did want to go to with the job thing instead!

Thank you so much for reading, and as ever for all your lovely reviews throughout this: they’ve been so great to read, and I really appreciate it :) 

Wow.

I have never been more satisfied in my life than to see how deer in headlights Danny was. I’m really interested to see how he tries to worm his way out of this one, especially when he realizes that Jim and Karen have it all on record. It must have been so satisfying for Pam to finally get the answers she wanted, to finally confront this man who’s ruined her family.

Although, I can imagine that it’s a little bit sad, too, letting go of something that she’d had for so long and fully understanding just how bad of a person she almost married.

Question; what did he mean when he said that he never let Robert get to Pam?

Anyways, well done. Well done.

Author's Response:

Ah, thank you so much! That Danny scene was actually deeply satisfying to write, so I'm so pleased you enjoyed it :) And yeah, I think still not easy for Pam even if there must be some satisfaction there. The next chapter hopefully answers your question a bit too...

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to review!  

Good to see you back! I liked this chapter a lot. It’s so easy for me to imagine Pam being comforting to Jim, and I’m glad you incorporated that with the whole plane situation.

It’s sweet to see that Jim, in his heart of hearts, does want to marry Pam. And I’m not surprised that she’s a little nervous that he said that - it’s a big step, especially since Danny still thinks they’re engaged - but I hope she’ll come to realize the same.

Anyways, it’s great to see you back. Good luck with your applications!

BlindManCassidy