Roy dies, Dunder-Mifflin goes under, and Pam becomes a drug dealer. An AU that begins in late Season 2.
Inspired by the show "Weeds."
10 GAH! I love this. First, I love The Office. Second, I love Weeds. You've really managed this so well....I love the parallels to Weeds, but it's not an exact replica. I love how Mose takes to bagging the weed - I love the front of the art paintings. I love everything this fic chooses to be.
And Jim as a cop? Wow. Didn't see that coming at all. Though I hope Jim doesn't go the way of Peter.....
More soon, please. I absolutely love this!
I'm really excited to see where you take this. I have to tell you that I live in NJ, but my entire extended family lives in Philly, and I'm only a 15 minute car ride away. My mom grew up in Kensington (it was actually a decent neighborhood at one time). Anyway, it's fun to see a story set in Philly because it holds a special place in my heart. Looking forward to more!
Author's Response: Wow, thank you! I hope I\'m representing Philly all right! From my very reliable source (Wikipedia), it says Kensington is a working-class kind of neighborhood, which is where I really saw Pam coming from and Roy still living in. I hope thats actually the truth... Thanks again!
Jim, Pam, and a series of bedroom conversations.10 oh callisto I am loving this story. I mean, these are real, honest conversations that people who plan on spending their lives together have. You are really good at taking the characters we love and giving them real problems, and then dealing with them in real ways. You have a knack for this, my friend. Just lovely.
Author's Response: Thanks kells! I\'m glad you\'re enjoying it. \'Lovely\' and \'real\' are high compliments in my book. Thanks for the review...I appreciate the feedback. :)
10 That was just beautiful, callisto. I love how they have these intimate conversations without yelling or fighting. They still know that they hurt one another, but they talk it out in a loving way, and so openly. I love your Jim and Pam - their honestly, their sensuality. Just perfect. I'm sad this story is done - you've done a beautiful job, here.
Author's Response: Thank you kells, and thanks for recommending my story on the boards. It\'s a great compliment. I\'m glad you like how I handle them...I\'m sure they must yell and scream sometimes, but somehow I always picture their confrontations being quiet. I was toying with adding one more Jim chapter but I think this is the best way to wrap it up. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the kind words!
10 This hurts, Wendy Blue. It hurts. But in a good way. Sadly, I think it is a very plausible situation you've written about here. I can see Pam getting angry and frustrated with Jim but not really wanting to tell him why. Great job, angst and all!
Author's Response: Thanks! I always want to keep things as realistic as possible, and I'm glad you think I've done that here :)
10 of course I just love this, Talkative. I love how you write Jim and Pam. Your writing is so fluid and descriptive and you really do have a gift. I cannot wait for more!
10 Yay! I'm so happy to see this was updated. It's so nice to see this from Jim's point of view.
Interesting twist with the show airing in real time. I hadn't thought of that, and it puts their relationship in a new perspective, I think.
I love how Jim is so happy that Pam is growing and learning as an artist. He's very selfless here, and I love that quality about him. Looking forward to more!
10 Oh yeah. I love well written smut fics that really capture their love and affection for one another, not just how hot their sex life is. You manage to do it all, so kudos to you! Great job!
Author's Response: Thanks a lot! That\'s what I was trying for, so I\'m happy I succeeded =)
10 ouch. that hurt. But that's okay though because your writing is just beautiful and it flows so perfectly. Great job.
10 Oh Colette - you hit the nail on the head every time, I swear. I love your Jim and Pam - their easy way with one another, the way they are a team in every way, but still have their own identities. Your writing is just lovely, and I cannot wait for more!
Author's Response: Very flattering, kells. Really pleased that they come across as having their own identities - just as I hoped. Thanks so much for such a generous review. More tomorrow, I hope ;-)
10 It's horrible that I am just now reviewing this, Colette. I had read it and loved it, and then real life has been crazy lately and I'm just now getting back to review the stories I've really enjoyed - and this one is certainly one of my favorites.
I can't put my finger on what it is about your writing. You capture the mood and feeling so well. I swear I could smell the restaurant when they went inside and I could practically feel the rain as they got caught in it. Your stories always manage an almost tangible quality. You are truly gifted.
Also, the thought of Jim in a wet shirt? Extra points for THAT, my friend :)
I can't believe you put real life ahead of reviewing my story....horrible, I tell you! ;-)
Incredibly flattering to hear that my fics seem tangible to you. This particular one was really fun to write (a little hometown love) so I'm thrilled that it came alive for you too. (And, frankly, what story doesn't benefit from Jim in a wet shirt? Or out of one, ahem.) Thanks so much, kells - really appreciate your taking the time to review!
10 This is just beautiful, stablergirl. You've really captured their hesitation. After all they've been through you can't just expect everything to be fixed right away. I love how Harold responds to Pam, and I'm so interested in learning more about him. Cannot wait for more. A lovely story, as usual.
I really loved this, bebitched. Really nice imagery and of course the thought of Jim doing manual labor is hot, so - win, win ;)
Oh poor Pam. I'd want to strangle both of them. Because really - no one needs to be that happy in front of other people, lol.
I'm really looking forward to where this goes. Although, Jim does seem super happy - I hope Pam can win him back!
Oh my! Three voices? I can hardly wait for the next chapter!!
Author's Response: Wow, thanks so much, kells8995! Yes, apparently Pam isn\'t the only one who\'s upset with this wedding, huh?!
10 **sigh** I love this. I love stories where Jim and Pam actually, you know - talk to one another and become up front with one another sooner than a whole year after casino night ;) Also, I love the idea of Pam as an art teacher. To me she is very well suited for that. Lovely, as always, bashert.
Author's Response: Yes, can you imagine if they would have just TALKED to one another? I love the idea of Pam as an art teacher too. I think she would be great with the art kids. I\'m so glad you liked it!
Post-The Job. Pam tells us about her week. A companion to "Week's End."10 This was so, so good talkative. You really manage to capture that newness in a relationship. With the awkward conversations that can leave butterflies in your stomach - the dancing around the sex talk, all of it. You are so, so good at this. In my mind, your little universe you've created is exactly how things happened between Pam and Jim that first week. I loved this from start to finish! Great job.
10 It absolutely made my day to see you posted something new. I cannot wait for more :)
Author's Response: Aw, shucks. Thanks, kells.
This will be a series of self-contained chapters (oneshots) exploring various "what ifs" pertaining to episodes spanning seasons one through three. Each chapter will examine how things would've gone differently if either Jim or Pam had responded to a given situation the way that (most) fans had wanted or almost expected them to.
For example, the first chapter focuses on how things would've happened differently if Jim had confessed during those twenty-seven seconds of silence on the booze cruise when we were all holding our breath and hoping he would.
Among the other chapters I have mapped out: What if all the reminders of Jim in "Gay Witch Hunt" had provoked not a small, sad smile from Pam at the end of the episode, but rather, had motivated her to take action -- drive to Stamford to see him for the first time in four months? Or what if Jim had responded to Pam's text in "Diwali" via a post-Jagermeister phone call? What if Jim had walked in on Pam crying at the end of "Back From Vacation"? (...You get the idea.)
Again, though, each chapter will be confined to an episode, so it will essentially be a series of oneshots that are unrelated to each other.
10 Oh I like you, girl7. First, I love the idea of this series of one shots. God, so many times things could have been so, so different with one word, one acknowledgment from either of them.
I love your writing - the way you build the tension, and your imagery is beautiful. In your stories I can always picture every detail because your writing makes it impossible not to.
Awesome job - I cannot wait for more! :)
Summer pre-S5. Jim's in Scranton - Pam's in New York. Just little a set of vignettes - week by week until they're together again.
10 I'm so happy to see new fic from you, xoxoxo. I love your writing. I like seeing how their summer plays out week to week. You've presented a very real and honest portrait of how things could be as they navigate a long distance relationship.
I love the convo between Michael and Pam - it was like you took it right out of an actual episode. I can totally see Michael treating a new receptionist horribly and always calling Pam.
I can't wait for the next four weeks. :)
Thanks kells!! That's very sweet of you to say. In another world - at another time I'd love to explore the other side of Pam being gone - the office side.
I should really write more Michael and Pam oneshots.They're so much fun. :)
Pssst - the next four weeks up for your perusal.
Is there life and love after Jam?10 I think you've really nailed Jim's feelings in regards to his job, here. It's funny because as I read this chapter it all makes sense, but for me it would have been hard to put that into words. You are so good at that though, Wendolf - at getting inside their heads and putting it in such a relatable way (for example, Jim's reasoning for why he never tried to outsell Dwight).
I will say that I feel like the view of his relationship w/ Pam is a bit harsh - as in, him always sticking his neck out, etc. However, I can see where some people would maybe get that perspective, and at the end of the day it's just a difference of opinion and it doesn't detract from the story or make me enjoy it less.
10 oh Wendolf. Wow...just, wow.
First, I realize how hard this was for you to post this story, and I really applaud your efforts. It's not easy to go against the grain, so to speak, and I admire you telling the story you want to tell, regardless of what people want this story to be.
It's interesting, also - to see how an outsider can look at Jim and Pam the way we have seen them, and try to be objective about their feelings for them. I can only imagine how conflicted Emily is - seeing Jim so heartbreakingly in love with Pam, and wanting him to have her love him back, but yet wanting to be with him (did that make sense?). It's not an angle that is often (if ever?) explored, and I really love your take on it.
Regardless of the ending - you've taken great care with the characters here, and I love them both, so I really appreciate that. Of course, like everyone else hope that things don't go down like this in the "real" office universe, but I think I can handle reading a story such as this when such a talented writer is the one handling it.
Great job. I realize that at times you've been bummed about the response you've received, but you should keep your head up because you're a good writer, and even though this story hurts my heart a little bit, it doesn't mean I can't appreciate it for the wonderful job that you're doing.
S3, set between Traveling Salesman and The Return.10 Yay. Happy day. I love the days I log on and you have posted a new story. I actually grabbed my tea and a muffin before I sat down to read...it's like getting a new book :)
Of course I love this. You've described Jim's discomfort, and near fear about being around Pam perfectly. Poor Pam - embarrassed about her gift, and isn't it like a caddy woman to dismiss it so quickly like Karen did? Ugh. I think we've all met/dealt with women like that.
I cannot wait for more. Boy it would be nice to come home to an update after work later ;) Just saying....
Tea and a muffin is high praise! Thanks, kells! Glad you think this feels true to those two at that point.
You know, I'm really pleased, and a bit surprised, that readers seem to be liking this - really wasn't sure if S3 angst was what anyone wanted to read these days. Maybe remembering the misery makes the current situation that much sweeter?
10 Oh that hurt my heart a little. This especially:
‘S’okay,’ he replied at last, his tone chilly and dismissive. ‘You wouldn’t have much in common with him anyway.’
But I like that it hurts Jim almost as much, and he realizes that the way he treats her at times is painful for her. You write their dialog so well, also. The way they speak with one another is so layered with meaning, but it's not heavy. I'm probably not making sense.
In my last review you wondered why people like this so much, given the angst is tough to deal with right now. I think, because like you said - we know the outcome, but also because this story isn't angst for the sake of angst. The quiet moment that you create between them here feels so real, and you can almost understand how it would be so hard for them to tell the other exactly how they are feeling. Jim's anger makes sense, as does the way Pam withdraws a bit.
Wonderful, as always.
10 I love everything this fic chooses to be. It's perfect because you could just drop this moment in between those two episodes and it fits like a glove.
You would think that Karen would have picked up on the big flashing sign that was saying "THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK" but she wanted so badly not to give up. And poor Jim - thinking he needs to do this in order to move on. It's painful to see Jim and Pam so in the dark about each other, but knowing how it all ends up makes it possible to enjoy and appreciate these heartbreaking moments up until then. Thank you for this, Colette - it was just perfect.