A Coffeeshop AU.
Pamela Beesly, recently unbetrothed graphic designer, stumbles into The Comedy Roasters, a new coffeeshop with a manic owner and an intriguingly attractive barista.
Hee, this was another treat to read. I love the idea that Jim has clearly been showing off her art to Michael after she shared it with him, and I can’t wait to see how this commission turns out with Michael. Especially with the reveal about the Eddie Murphy wall-hanging. My money would 100% be on a long-suffering Jim putting it back up every night. I really like Pam trying to get the Roy comparisons out of her head for her own benefit - but also that it gave us this amazing line: ‘After all, Jim was inevitably going to win those comparisons, or if he didn’t she was going to run screaming into the Lackawanna River and let it pull her into the Susequehanna.’ And I’m continuing to enjoy her attempts to work out how she texts Jim with the miss you/I miss you - it’s a great touch. Also: Kelly! And Riley/Riker/Ryan, lol. Great chapter!
Author's Response: Thank you! Jim definitely, 100% puts that hanging up every night. And probably fantasizes about burning it, but he's too soft on Michael's foibles to actually ever complain out loud instead of by making faces.
I really like Pam realising she’s found someone who likes the authentic version of her here, and the contrast with how she was with Roy. The false consciousness idea (thanks to her communist-inclined new boyfriend, lol) is such a neat way to bring this out - and I like her acknowledgement that it might have been slightly self-perpetuating. Which feels like it could have been true in canon too. Her spilling paint in her eye in the middle of all this excellent introspection is very funny.
And then the flirty texting with Jim was just great, as was Pam enjoying his typos in his speed to reply to her 😍 I’m greatly looking forward to him seeing her big walls….
Author's Response: I am glad you like that :) It'll be a bit until he actually gets there, but mostly because it's taking me longer than I thought to get chapters up...
Awww. I greatly enjoyed the insight into Pam’s dating life with Roy (and the picture in her locker: ouch but also lol, that is very Roy). And then the Andy date, AND the even worse Facebook stalker date - which is hilarious, and something I’ve both experienced and is also my biggest fear when I do my own Facebook stalking. I love it. But Jim being totally fine about her mom calling, and her blurted ‘literally anytime’ is just adorable. And the kiss!! This was lovely.
Author's Response: Yeah...Pam's dating life is something I'm not going to fully flesh out because it's not the focus but I do think it's fun to come up with ways Pam would date outside of canon...
Ahh, this was so adorable. I really enjoyed the deep dive into Jim’s love for Cugino’s, and their entire conversation about the painting (and Jim enjoying how into it she gets) is just lovely. And the Marxist joke and the end and Jim giggling like a schoolgirl! I love the way you write their chemistry with each other. Also, this line:
‘God, he was a total goner for this woman. But then again, he’d been one since she’d first walked into the shop and opened her mouth.’
This is basically everything you’d want from an actual (angst-free) Jam first date 😍 I continue to be very sad that I've used up all my jellybeans.
Author's Response: Thank you very much! No angst for this story: just fluff and silliness (and bad nerdy jokes).
It’s a date!! I really enjoyed Pam actually continuing the conversation (after the rap on the counter 😍), and their inception chat was just lovely and dorky and very them. As was Jim saying she’s lovelier than a handbag. It’s so nice reading a happy Jam that can just enjoy having a crush on each other and starting to date, the giddiness here is very cute. I can’t wait for their first date!
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm really glad you liked that! They get to have a nice date too!
Ah, I really like the little hint here of Katy actually being a pretty savvy saleswoman (also something that doesn't really get explored on the show, but: she does get Dwight to walk away a purse!) Speaking of, their little prank on Dwight is excellent (as is Jim squeezing her hand under the counter), and Dwight's reaction and the 'make room you idiots' is hilarious. This is such a joy to read!
Author's Response: Thank you! I think she's pretty skilled, yeah--even if she is intended to be a Pam foil in canon.
Katy/Pam bonding! I love it. I was always a bit disappointed that Pam seemed like she was on the brink of having an ally in Hot Girl, and then it got ruined by the guys - so I really like that you’ve actually given them a chance to maybe be friends here, it’s such a nice twist. (Also, Kelly accusing Katy of selling knock-offs - lol).
Author's Response: Thank you! The guys ruin everything, don't they ;) why do we even have them ;)?
Haha, this was some truly excellent Dwight and Jim/Pam interaction. I love Dwight’s outrage, Jim and Pam secretly cracking each other up and just going along with each other’s bullshit - and then the NUTBAG at the end, which is just genius. Also, this line:
“Despite that, it was clearly a march, and Pam would have bet it was to Deutschland Uber Alles as well.”
I actually lol’d. Amazing.
Author's Response: Hah. I'm glad you liked it. I always worry I've made Dwight too broad a humor, but then I realize that the show always does me one more (like the Mussolini speech) and I am relieved again.
They kissed!! Several times! This was such an incredibly sweet chapter, and I love Jim's list (WTF Michael and it's not even the purse thing, lol), plus the inclusion of Katy! Which is also an ingenious way to give Jim and Pam some alone time. (Also please let them be happy, this was too adorable not to 😁)
Author's Response: Kisses will continue (not necessarily in all chapters) because this will be a happy fluffy fic and not a sad one. Thank you!
Hehe, I loved the ass jokes! And the final line was a brilliant use of canon. But even more importantly: Jim and Pam! Holding hands! They're just so sweet here, his genuine joy at seeing her and their moment before Michal bursts in is so lovely to read.
Author's Response: Thank you! The sweetness will continue until morale improves.
I love the glimpses into Pam's life with Roy here (his 'compliment' of her sketch, a wrestling match she didn't even get to go to, a gift for him) - such a great/painful look into what she put up with in just a few mementos. Her realising that and throwing them out feels very therapeutic. And this line is so good:
'Yeah, she’d considered whether it was good enough to keep anyway and…no. Roy’s taste had been terrible in everything, except for her.'
But I really like that she is holding onto the stuff from her from life that didn't all revolve around him. Go Pam! Can't wait for the tea fortification...
Author's Response: Thank you! Just FYI, the coffeeshop scenes for the next bit will be a bit lighter in tone and silly.
I am actually *slightly* with Pam's parents here on her hopefully eventually moving out (fancy new Beesley style: bring on Pam 2.0). And being able to paint in the colour she actually wants. I love that her thoughts go straight to telling Jim on the fact that she hasn't painted in a while.
Also: argh again on the almost deleting the texts! I've never been so worried about unknown numbers. Please let them continue swerving these disasters, lol.
Pam's conversation with her mom is very sweet - I'm glad she's happy for her, I really like the way you've written their relationship. And then Jim's texts! 😍
Author's Response: She does need to become FNB. She's working on it! Thanks about the texts: I'm glad that worked for you!
Oh, poor Jim. I love pretty much every moment of Dwight in this (but especially his treatment of the other customers and somehow hearing Jim's phone), and that just 'Dwight' is the final thing on Jim's list of bad things. Although the dairy-free whole milk conundrum also cracked me up. And then Jim getting the tea and getting sad over wanting to mention things to Pam - and his happiness at the end - is so sweet. Also, close one with the archiving the conversation! I just love the way you've written both their sides of this, her agonising and his giddiness just that she's texted (and no sign of thinking the multiple exclamation marks are demented, obviously).
Author's Response: Thank you! I am so glad you like the back and forth. I was a bit worried when I added Jim's POV in this fic that it wouldn't work, so glad the dynamic is functioning still :)
I love (and can relate so much) to Pam's agonising over the texting and the punctuation - I can also totally see her doing this. I think the last line might be my absolute favourite. (Also her eating a ham and cheese!) And I really like the small step in her growth of her starting by redecorating her room, and that sort of emboldening /distracting her enough to throw herself into texting Jim. Greatly looking forward to Jim's reactions!
Author's Response: Texting is hard! I'm glad that you find the character growth, slow as it is, meaningful enough to mention!
Hehe, of course Dwight's call went straight to voicemail (I love Jim's aside about his sheriff's deputy role) - and yeah, it is good to know that even Izzy has limits on the ridiculousness. I really like the moment of Pam realising she wants to claim back/put a stamp on the space that's hers (also Roy in this really does sound awful) - I'm really enjoying her character development.
And Jim giving her his number on the sleeve is just adorable! As is her reaction to it 😍
Author's Response: Thank you! I wanted Pam to grow a lot, so she had to rebuild her cocoon of her self-image, this time literally.
Dwight, and Pam's observations on Dwight, are just fantastic here. The tractor noises/getting taught to beatbox in a sealed room by someone who hates him line made me laugh out loud (I sympathise with Jim's snorting), and Dwight's multiple cals to the health department are just so Dwight (also the fact that they just let him go to voicemail, lol). And of course Dwight is proud of being a capitalist.
I also loved Izzy's line about what male lions do, and Pam clearly loving every second of it. I think Izzy may have deserved that. Also shirtless! Jim, and Pam's disappointment when he covers up again, is excellent. This fic is just so much fun to read!
Author's Response: I'm glad you're enjoying it! It's so much fun to write that I always worry it's only going to please me...
Hehe, I love every bit of Marxist Jim's views on the different teas. This is definitely the kind of conversation I could see them having and cracking up over. Pam's reactions to Jim continue to be excellent (her getting fixated on his tongue, and then just genuinely bursting out laughing at the end is such a great mix of hotness/sweetness). And she made the next move!
Author's Response: Thank you! I had so much fun with the teas, honestly...
1 Hehe, Michael is fantastic in this - I love his genuine enthusiasm once he gets into his spiel, and the image of Jim literally slapping a hand over his mouth is great, as is him knowing without needing to look that Pam does not appreciate Michael’s compliment. And Pam’s butterflies at the end 😍
Author's Response: Thank you! I enjoy having Michael in in bits and drabs; so you'll see more of him for sure. It's his shop after all...
Hehe, this was great, and hilarious - this is such a brilliant read on all the characters. I particularly love the Dwangela in this that Pam so quickly picks up on; Oscar and Pam bonding over books (also Jim having to take Michael out to the back); Michael chasing Toby with a broom (I am v excited about learning more about Jim's party); and the line about Todd Packer. And Jim and Pam's jokes throughout this, and the way knowing all these people helps them bond and brings them closer, is very sweet. Also: the drink choices for each of the characters is perfection.
Author's Response: Thank you! I had a lot of fun figuring out what I might do to bring other people in while still keeping 99% of this fic focused on Jim and Pam alone ;)
I am loving the routine Pam’s fallen into (and the last line about how she’d be happy to keep it up for the rest of her life, which is very sweet and also just so Pam), but yes: I’m also very up for it being disrupted! Her and Jim’s jokes about why they don’t have tea are very cute and funny. And I really like her genuine fondness/sympathy for Michael that goes beyond just Jim: the ‘she’d like him not to hurt himself more than he already has’ line I think just sums up her feelings for him so well. Grenadine and green apple - especially with a milk steamer - also sounds...foul. But those are some very imaginative flavours, lol. And I’m really enjoying the Jim egging her on/her playing along. Basically please just keep writing about them in a coffee shop forever, I love the way you’ve written all of their interactions so much.
Author's Response: Thank you! I really appreciate all of this. The whole concept of a coffeeshop AU to me is that it's pretty expandable, so we'll see how it goes, but it might be pretty long ;)
I loved the glimpse into Jim's backstory here, and the idea of his dad being friends with Michael is genuinely amazing. And then Jim's reflections on Pam are so lovely: I really like the part about how she makes him laugh, I think it's one of my favourite things about their interactions in general. (Also LOL at the Cleveland Steamer and Jim having to stop Michael three times, I did wonder why she didn't have a drink on the board yet...) I feel like this is a good kind of angst/them dancing round each other though, especially when they're actually on the same page with the hoping and not presuming! Again, it's very relatable and very them. I think I'm now out of jellybeans :(
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm flattered you've used your jellybeans already! I don't anticipate using Jim's POV a lot (famous last words) but it seemed time to give a little sense of why he's here and what he's up to...
1 I love this so much. I really like the way you’ve written Pam’s fondness for Michael, and how Jim brings her so much light, and her thought that Jim might be someone she could have those kind of conversations with. And Pam not presuming anything is just very Pam. And I do love some angst, but Jim through Pam’s eyes here is just so sweet that I’m really looking forward to it resolving!
Author's Response: Thank you! It will resolve, but we do have to see Jim's angst first...
1 Hehe, SeinfieldShouldNeverHaveBeenCancelled - amazing. I really enjoyed the Pam getting continually distracted by Jim throughout this, and the little note of her now being able to enjoy her tea without Roy. (Although, feels like a teapot might also help with that). I’m greatly looking forward to seeing how long her resolve on the not jumping into anything will last with Jim around. And am also very intrigued by the beet farm...
Author's Response: Thank you! I do think a teapot might be in her future...
1 This is fantastic! I literally laughed out loud at the free wifi sign, the coffee names are all brilliant, and the idea of Dwight being their one regular customer who brings in his own beet juice supply is hilarious. I also loved the Michael cough from the back room. And the chemistry between Jim and Pam is so good - I really liked the line about Pam wanting to hold onto the conversation with both hands. And Pam comparing him to a pine tree with a messy hair cut, lol. I can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: Thank you! There may be more silliness like the sign and the coffee names, because if I can't experiment with that in a coffeeshop AU where can I? So I'm glad you liked that!
Tea! And Jim running to get the tea! 😍 This was perfect. I'm also very glad that he got back before Pam could go down too far down the rabbit hole, ha. Dwight and Izzy are hilarious here (the image of him waving his arms like he's trying to spook a turkey is brilliant), and I love the little reveal that his ancestors maybe might have been on the wrong side of the war...
Author's Response: Dwight should always embarrass himself while mentioning his ancestors without realizing he is: this was how I chose to do that ;)