Wow. There’s a whole lot to break down here.

First of all, I think it’s kind of funny that Jim was purposefully trying to rile Danny. The guy isn’t likeable in the least, but damn it if he isn’t good at keeping his temper in check.

So it seems that both Angela and Dwight are on the same page, even if they don’t know it. And Jim and Pam are still on edge - although I do find it amusing that Pam did try to flirt with Jim and chose to put on lipstick (that Angela stole, how unholy!). But I think this line sums it up perfectly- “ And he thinks that - more than the lipstick, more than the hair tosses, more even than the second button on her dress that he doesn’t think she’s realised has opened - is what gets him.” It was the laugh that he’s attracted to - not Pam’s beauty, although that helps - which I think sums up his character. He loves her for her, which Danny doesn’t. He doesn’t seem to care much about her at all.

Which brings us to that dramatic close where Jim explains that he is not in fact trying to seduce her. He instead reveals that he was only there for her and questions her happiness with Danny directly, which, to me, was very bold. I mean, he’s been back for only a few days.

And it’s not like Pam even defends her fiancé or says that she is happy; it’s clear that she's not. She gets snippy instead, which doesn’t turn him off in the slightest. So she does exactly what she did in Casino Night; she turns Jim away in favor of someone she’s been with for so long.

I feel for Pam - I really do. I know people who have stayed in relationships they’re unhappy in because a big part of it is how long they’ve been in that relationship. But the scene in Casino Night and its well-written mirror here infuriate me; he is right in front of her and she just won’t take that leap.

Anyways, I’m glad it’s out in the open now. I’m sure it will be even more awkward between them and especially Danny. I’m a little nervous for her to reveal to Danny that she likes Jim. Will he be mad, or will he use that to his advantage to make Jim write about him in a good light?

Out of jellybeans,

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! And yes haha, I think Jim is succeeding at riling himself far more than he's succeeding with Danny. 

I'm really glad you enjoyed Pam and Angela's attempts at flirting, it was really fun to write. And yes! on the Jim loving her for her. That is basically what I love about them.  

Jim is a bit bolder here, lol. But I guess he is also going off the back of knowing Pam so well from before. Pam's inability to make the leap is definitely frustrating...although I will say that I'm not planning to make her take *quite* as long to get there as with Casino Night. Not planning to, anyway :D  Also, I think you've got a pretty good read on Danny here... 

Thanks so much for reviewing, and for your previous jeallybeans! :)  

This chapter was quite a bit calmer than the rest, which I can actually appreciate. There's been quite a bit of turmoil lately and a smooth filler chapter is the perfect way to offset it.

I think that’s it definitely important to flush out both the Angela/Dwight and Jim/Pam relationships, especially the latter. Although Angela and Dwight are entertaining - and god, they seem to be sleeping together every time they get a chance - Jim and Pam’s relationship is the focus of this story. I feel happy for Pam that she’s finally got someone who’s willing to drop everything just to call her, even if it’s just about a nightmare. After all, we can see now just how miserable she was about her engagement, even if she hadn’t recognized it herself.

It’s pretty clear that tempers are beginning to rise. Angela’s snappiness with Robert seems like it’s about to hit a peak, especially since Dwight is also upset with him.

I am a little confused about the conversation between Jim and Danny at the end. Was Danny upset about the article? Did Dwight write him out to be awful? And why would he want to keep Pam away from Robert?

Anyways, I hope all went well with moving. I hope you like your new home better than Pam likes hers.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response: Thanks so much! And yeah, I did feel like they needed a bit of a break after all the drama lol. I’m really glad you enjoyed the Dwight/Angela and Jim/Pam - but yes, it was always going to focus on them more (much as I do also love Dwangela). 

All the hookups! Yes!!

So first off, we’ve learned that Pam no longer wants to wear the wedding ring. No doubt is she too embarrased and angry to be linked to Danny anymore, and Jim seems happy that she isn’t.

Then we find out that Angela and Dwight have slept together. I always loved their relationship because it’s so weird and complex and perfect; and Angela was clearly happier when she and Dwight were on good terms. I think this could have influenced Dwight’s claims to support Pam, and it’s a nice mention of Schrute Farms. Like I mentioned before, I’d be hell-bent on getting revenge if it was my house torn down, especially by my SO. I think it’s sweet of Dwight to be so completely loyal to this and be able to put himself in Pam’s place - and I think it’s adorable how proud of him Angela is.

We see Pam getting lost in the moment on the drive. She knows it’s not supposed to be fun, but she must be seeing how her life could be if she and Jim were married, like he says when they’re getting lemonade.

And then the bombshell is dropped, that the accident that killed people was not William’s fault. It was Robert California carrying through a plan to gain the land while creating a scapegoat out of Pam’s father, ruining his life.

But however heartbreaking this is, we finally see our Jim and Pam moment at the square dancing. JIM KISSES PAM!!! (Can’t do italics here, sorry!) I was terrified she was going to reject him, but she didn’t, and I can see why. She’s just aching with relief that someone cares about her - and, like she mentions later, Danny’s deceit on top of his constant dismissal of her gives her a good and final reason to end it with him and pursue who she really wants. I just hope she gets it. She deserves it, and so does he. So do Dwight and Angela.

I hope you're planning on tearing Danny and Robert apart, and I want to see Angela and Dwight participate. It’s time to destroy these bastards.

BlindManCassidt

Author's Response:

Haha, thank you! Yeah, I thought it was time for some hookups. And yes, same on Dwight and Angela! I also always enjoyed Dwight and Pam's brief stint into getting revenge on Frank the warehouse guy on the show, so I was thinking of that here...

I figured I'd done enough chapters of Pam rejecting Jim, lol. And I don't think she feels any loyalty to Danny any more, unlike she did with Roy on the show. I can confirm Dwight and Angela have destruction in mind...

Thanks so much for reviewing! :)   

Soo... I went on a bit of a hiatus and missed two chapters of this story. It’s currently 10:36 and I’m exhausted, so this review will be more general and cover both chapters 10 and 11.

I’m glad we finally got to understand what happened with Dwight. He’s always been a little weird in terms of confidence, especially when it comes to Jim, who is constantly undermining him. In a way, I can understand why he got so upset. This is such a big story.

It’s good to see him and Angela bonding well, and it was adorable how flustered he got when Jim brought her up( super adorable that both men are falling HARD for the women they were supposed to be seducing) and when he tried to compliment her when he was with Pam. The subtle awkwardness suits him and Angela.

And we’re finally seeing a mutual - affection, I guess?- being acknowledged between Jim and Pam. Even if they can’t act on it, it’s good to know that they do care about each other in a special way. This was especially prevalent when Pam recognized his fear of heights (and oh my GOD, when he reached for her because he thought she was falling) and got both of them down without him having to admit it and THEN managed to cheer him up afterwards.

There were just so many scenes of them comforting each other that it gave me hope for their future. Pam literally said (thought) that she didn’t want to marry Danny, and she almost told Jim. Jesus, I’ve never felt so awful for a character. How terrible it must be to just feel stuck, to never have someone on your side, and the one person who is on your side can’t be with you. Jenna Fischer said this about the scene in Boys and Girls where Pam and Jim get into their first fight, and it rings so true here. It just pierced this stone heart.

I am ready for these two to get together. And I am ready for the Californias to be torn apart, and I am ready for Pam to destroy her engagement to Danny.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Haha oh no I'm sorry, thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback anyway though! :D 

And yeah, I am a big Dwight and Angela fan, so I'm really gad you enjoyed that - and that was my initial plan when I first started writing this lol, that Dwight and Jim would go in with the idea of seducing them and...end up getting seduced, basically.  

Yes! That Boys and Girls scene and what she said is just heart-breaking. I just think that would be so awful.  

And ha, things might be getting torn apart by Jim and Pam very soon...  

Thanks so much for reviewing :)  

I’m... confused. A little.

So, Dwight is furious with Jim... why, exactly? I get that he thinks Jim is cutting him out of the story - or maybe it’s just because it’s happened before - but what is leading him to believe this? Is it because Jim doesn’t like his strategy of trying to seduce the women?

Anyways, I’ve got to address the house scene. We’ve all seen Boys and Girls - at least, I hope - so the terrace made me think that Pam would actually like the house. But it’s not about the terrace really, is it? It’s just a representation of a life she could’ve had. I mean, a house itself is one thing, but a home is different.

I hated Robert in this chapter. He should have never questioned Angela, but it’s only because he’s trying to hide something about Berry Farms - which is William’s land. And then his remark about *training* Pam - god, I hate him.

And I really hated Danny in this chapter. All he does in invalidate Pam’s suspicions and treat her like an idiot - she knows something is up.

I felt really bad for Jim; first, because Dwight snapping has made him question everything. I’ve never thought Jim was a bad person, in this fanfic or in the actual show. He got stuck making a lot of tough decisions and a lot of them were choosing between the known and the unknown. So it kinda sucks to see him questioning his morals; especially when he is deciding whether or not to go through with the story. I think it shows a lot of growth, because initially he’d wanted to write the story to ruin Danny, but now he knows it’ll ruin Pam too.

Which brings us back to the house, where Danny casually explains every bit of his and Pam’s history to Jim without once consulting her; again, he treats her like a trophy rather than a person.

And we all know that Pam had to break down eventually; damn it if it didn’t hurt, though. I think Jim handled the situation really well, despite his claims that he wasn’t handling her at all. He’s not trying to pacify her, he’s just listening. That has to feel good, after all those years of being stuck beside Danny.

Which is why I think, in the end, it was smart of Jim to not do the story. Like I mentioned earlier, it would only hurt her. It’s not worth it, even if it would ruin Danny. And DAMN THAT TAXI DRIVER!

Luckily, I knew their goodbye wouldn’t be a final one. Pam’s got some investigating of her own to do, and I can’t wait to see what she finds. Just... less heartache, please? Please?

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thanks so much! And haha, sorry for the confusion on Dwight - so it was mainly meant to be because Jim now doesn't seem to want to do the story, which makes no sense to Dwight (since he doesn't know about Jim's feelings for Pam) - so he's interpreted it as Jim trying to do something sneaky/cutting him out. There's a bit of Dwight paranoia/Dwight not understanding human interactions very well that's not helping.  

And yes - it is definitely the difference between a house and a home that Pam's missing.

I'm glad I'm generating a steady stream of hatred for Danny and Robert, lol.  

That was also definitely the difference I was trying to go for with Jim and Danny - ie Jim actually just listens to her - so I'm really glad that came across! (And hehe, sorry for the taxi driver).

I *think* there should be a bit less heartache from here on out?

Thank you so much for reviewing, I always really enjoy reading your feedback! :)  

1

Progress, Basscop69. We’re making progress.

So, obviously we have to start with the fact that Jim is so utterly embarrassed about his appearance and about the fact that he only cares what Pam and his mother think. Like - what? Was he trying to be subtle when he put her on the same level as his mom?

I can’t say I’m surprised as Cathy’s attraction to Jim, although I am surprised that she’d flirt so openly with Danny right in front of her fiancé - and Danny’s not exactly shutting her down.

I love how you’ve written the Angela and Dwight pairing. Both Jim and Dwight don’t seem to like Cathy, but Dwight just completely rejects her in favor of his work interview (and seducing Angela.) And I find it very interesting that the two of them shared the idea of seducing their counterparts in hope of finding out their intentions, while Jim and Pam are clearly uncomfortable.

I’m glad to see barriers being broken, even if Pam does lay down some ground rules. I didn’t think Jim would make her cry, but as I’ve stated several times before, Jim is her mirror. She’s not where she wants to be; furthermore, no one has ever asked if she’s where she wants to be. No one has ever cared.

So the two of them no longer hate each other, and they’re going to dinner, but I feel that Pam’s seduction techniques are eventually going to get thrown back in her face because she was being a hypocrite, and then Danny’s going to probably try to ruin Jim’s career. I hate seeing a hurt Pam, but there’s something about Jim that guts me. Maybe because I too have been in love with a best friend who’s with someone else.

Brilliant chapter as always,

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! And yes haha, there is some progress. Slowly. On the mom thing, I actually didn't think about in from that angle: my thinking was more that Pam wasn't like the girls in Austin in finding anything wrong with his appearance (but then I thought, surely Betsy wouldn't have done either. But mainly just because she's his mom so of course she wouldn't).

I'm really glad you're enjoying the Dwight and Angela pairing! They are a lot of fun to write. And yeah, I quite liked the idea of them both thinking seducing their counterparts would be a good plan lol. It felt quite Dwight/Angela, but not very Jim or Pam. 

So I will say wait and see on Pam's seduction techniques...

And agreed on Jim :( Thanks so much for reviewing!  

1

So I think I’m starting to understand why Jim hated Danny so much.

On a more serious note, I’m starting to understand why Pam is so unhappy and why she’s lashing out. Danny obviously doesn’t love her, and talking with Jim gave her a glimpse of what life could be if she was with a man who actually loved her rather than a man who saw her more as a trophy than a wife. So it’s not surprising that she doesn’t want to see Jim if he’s holding up a mirror to her and making her think about her life choices.

I might sound awful for saying this, but I hope Danny cheats on her with Cathy. Even with as little as we know about her so far, I think she’d make a better wife for him than Pam; Pam has already said she isn’t the type of girl who will want to be planning parties constantly and quitting her job.

Now obviously, Danny doesn’t think much of Jim; which is problematic time and time again for Pam’s boyfriends. At least, he doesn’t think much of Jim in terms of his ability to steal his girl; he definitely sees him as a threat when it comes to the Californias, which is why he’s mocking him and trying to make him look stupid.

I must admit, I was surprised that Angela was so civil to Pam. Perhaps she’s also feeling the effects of her partner-to-be, which is why she wants to investigate. And of course, Pam will join her, because she wants to use it as an excuse to spend time with Jim (or stalking him).

Also, will we ever find out about the accident? Is that why Jim and Pam drifted apart? Is that why he left? Is this going to be like what happened in college(minus the sex, because they were, like, thirteen in this story)?

Well done as always.

Running out of jellybeans,
BlindManCassidy

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! And yes haha, I think I may have done a slight character assassination on Danny...but they didn't develop him that much on the show, so I figure I've got free rein. And yep, Angela bonding with Pam may be directly linked to their respective feelings for Dwight and Jim :D

More will be revealed about the accident! But I will say that it's not directly linked to why Jim and Pam drifted apart - I didn't mean for there to be any big mystery there, he just moved to Austin when they were still relatively young, and they fell out of touch. (With maybe a bit of teenage angst about Roy etc via the letters in between). But I wasn't planning to give them an epic love story/extreme drama at thirteen, lol. I'm saving that for now...

Thanks so much, as always, for your lovely feedback :)   

1

Oh dear. I fear that I already know what might lie in store for poor Pam and Jim.

I had committed myself to not looking at your stories for a while, since I was writing my own. Then you published the first chapter of the men’s perspectives on Pam, and I was hooked. Same with the women on Jim.

And now, it appears that I’m hooked on this. But - you can’t blame me! Jim and Pam as childhood best friends who are reunited when Pam is engaged? 60s? Journalist Jim? I mean - what am I supposed to do?

If it is not apparent already, I enjoyed the first chapter. It is a nice introduction to the new versions of Jim and Pam, and I am intrigued already and interested to see how they are expanded further.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response: Haha, thank you so much! I'm so thrilled to hear that you're interested in this, and that you enjoyed the other stuff on perspectives on Jim and Pam :) And excited that you're writing your own stories, looking forward to reading them! (And yeah, I do also feel like it's a sign of my JAM obsession that I was mainly watching Mad Men thinking, Jim and Pam in the 60s would be fun...) Thanks so much for reviewing! 

1

It’s great to see this story continued. I was always curious as to how the whole story began - or at least, what caused the whole world to collapse.

Will you be adding flashbacks continuously throughout the story? I’d also be curious to see how Dwight died.

Regardless, I’m glad Virtus is continuing, and I can’t wait to read more. This story had me hooked from the beginning.

BlindManCassidy

Author's Response: Thank you! Yes, there will be flashbacks that fill in more of the backstory and tie into things/decisions in the present. Thanks for commenting!