Another story telling the aftermath of "Cocktails".
I really like the way you're treating the aftermath of this whole Roy thing and the way you're retaining the relationship dynamics and characterizations that we've seen. Love that you had Jim & Pam leave nothing resolved at the end of their insanely passive-agressive conversation and that you followed with true, in-character Jim/Karen. Both dynamics held just the right amount of feeling, passion, and holding back.
I'm excited to see how you resolve it all :)
Gah, I really like where this is going so far. Jim's angry, hurt and lashing out and Pam still can't find the courage to say what she needs to say. Really liked this:
"She can never give him an answer now, and he knows it. She can never fix what she started, even with all the time in the world."
Over a year after Casino Night, Jim is really happy with Karen. But when Pam finally confesses her feelings to Jim, is it too late for them?
Love that you're exploring this possibility, because it really does seem like it's getting to the point where it could be too little too late when Pam does finally work up the courage to talk to Jim.
Particularly liked this:
"It seems foolish, now, that he'd been so caught up in someone else at one time, someone not brave enough to tell him how she felt, someone too timid to go after her own dreams and desires. He can't believe that he'd almost lost out on this - on being loved wholly and without fear."
Author's Response: Thanks for letting me know what you liked about it!!
Sometimes Ryan and Kelly talk about babies. Okay... a lot of times. How is this so perfect?? It's so ridiculously in-character that I read the whole thing with Kelly & Ryan voices in my head, which usually doesn't happen automatically. And I was giggling at pretty much everything.
Adored this--for the story and for a story that doesn't involve Jim/Pam :)
Author's Response: Thank you!! I'm so glad that you could hear their voices, I always worry about going over the top with Kelly so that is awesome to hear!
I love that you're exploring Jim feeling a lack of trust and wariness with Pam at this point. It's not something you see too often in fic, but I think it's what he has to be feeling at this point. He's going to be incredibly reluctant to trust/believe Pam--and I think you're capturing that well here.
Warning- happy Jim/Karen fluff ahead.
A/U- if the merger never happened. One year after Casino Night.
Awwww, it makes me both excited and sad to read happy Jim/Karen. I really think they could (can?) work this way. Love how cozy and domestic this felt.
Love to see a scenario where Jim does end up loving Karen, because it's getting more and more likely as time goes on.
And I thought Karen was so great here--her relief that Jim said he loved her before she gave him her news was so real.
Oh man, I am so intrigued by this. Really love how you're writing everyone. They're all so in character, and poor confused, neurotic, sometimes-(un)intentional-asshole Jim is really entertaining.
A post-Beach Games fic. Some glimpses of what might've happened after the cameras stopped rolling (not that enough didn't happen while they were rolling...).
Spoilers through Beach Games.
I think you got Jim so right here - he's got to be feeling a strange mix of fury, confusion, and pride for Pam - not sure whether he's happy that he didn't "misinterperet" but furious that she let him believe that for a full year and then sets things straight exactly as he feels he's really moving on.
And really love that you caught the absolutely adorable Jim/Karen in this episode. So many people cheapen their relationship in fics, but I think they do have a good relationship - not love yet, but it could get there with time - and I think you hit the nail on the head with that.
Author's Response:
Wow - what a great review. I love it when reviews make me sort of re-evaluate what I've written - because honestly, even though I'd mentioned that he ought to be livid, I hadn't really thought about the fact that yes, he probably would be angry that she'd waited a full YEAR to be honest with him. Wow.
I've never been a Karen hater (though, as I emailed to Starry Dreamer earlier, when Karen was looking at Pam with that "Oh really?" look, it was the closest I've ever come to wanting to smack her - even though I had to concede that in her position, I'd have had the same expression). But I do think the writers have done a good job this season of painting some believable moments between Jim and Karen - a sweetness and a genuine attraction. I do believe JK and RJ have a great chemistry - just not the same chemistry that he has with JF.
I've been in the minority (from what I read on the web, anyway) that has always believed this season was geared toward bringing Pam and Jim together, so maybe that contributed to my sympathy for Karen. Never saw their relationship as contrived (though I do think she'd have left him after the "yes" heard round the world), but always believed that when it all came down to the truth, he would find himself at Pam's feet again.
Sigh.
Thank you so much for the review - well, for ALL the reviews, actually!
GAH, I love that you wrote this. Really love that you wrote this, because I think you have a really good handle on what Jim is going to be feeling. He isn't going to be all "YAY PAM LOVES ME." He's going to be horribly confused as to what her feelings are and incredibly angry that she let him believe he misinterpreted things for a full year. Not to mention that she called him out in from of all his co-workers/underlings. I think it's a definite possibility that this pushes Jim further towards Karen, and I thought you wrote the end really sweetly betewen them. Bravo for writing non Jim/Pam :)
I loved this the first time I read it, and enjoyed it again after seeing it posted here. I still think it's one of the best (maybe the best?) immediate post-Casino Night stories out there. Something about that scene with Jim, Mark & Mark's GF feels so real and heartfelt - hurty in the best way possible.
Author's Response:
Aw, thank you. I wrote this not long after Verve, so his fiancee in that should be the one in here. At least, that was the image in my mind.
OH, it both hurts and feels really good to see happy, cute, sexy Jim/Karen so close to their breakup.
Love the dynamic you captured here - I really think they were so close to being happy til that last note from Pam - and this very well could have been their last night together before both of them (well, more Karen than Jim) got blind-sided the next day.
Oh, and HOT. Always nice to see non-Jim/Pam hot fic :)
Jim's life for years revolved around wanting something he could not have. What happens when Jim finally gets everything he ever wanted? Takes place the Monday after "The Job." Jim is with Pam. Karen returns to Scranton.
10 I have a really absurd level of love for this - it's one of the first real looks we've gotten in fic, not only of Karen's side of things, but that Jim gets her side and cares about her, which feels so real.
Love the way you wrote Karen and Jim, and Jim's slow realization that he has a blind spot when it comes to Pam and her actions.
I'm so intrigued to see where you take it. It's a messy situation, and I'm excited to see a story where things aren't all wrapped up in a pretty little bow.
Author's Response: Thanks very much for the comments. I'll be disappointed if the real show drives the happy bus right over Karen's grave, so I figured I'd try to bring a little balance. (If you're the same yippee as the TWOP poster, then you were already a favorite of mine)
17 Our favorite Dunder Mifflin women find out some big news.This chapter just broke my heart. Her back and forth, the crazy thoughts about just wanting Jim back mixed with her realizations that he might never love her back felt so right and real and hurty.
Really enjoyed this - Pam's thoughts about the summer and Snapple felt spot on. It felt perfectly hurty. I'm looking forward to learning what happened! I kind of love Jim/Pam breakup stories, so thanks for writing one ;)
Author's Response: "Perfectly hurty" is what I was going for so thank you! :) Glad you felt Pam was in character, she's one of my favorites to write. Thanks for reading!
10 Gah, I continue to love this. Honestly, it's one of the first post-Season 3 stories that I get excited about seeing updated.
I think the emotions, communication styles, and issues are spot-on for the characters - love that it looks like Pam's having communication issues and Jim is insecure about their relationship and maybe pushing it a bit too fast. That seems so real for these two - it's not like their vast issues are going to disappear overnight, and I love that you're exploring that.
Ugh, this felt so real and painful - I could totally envision both versions.
Author's Response: sorry it\'s painful, but, good! thanks for your feedback.
MEMBER'S CHOICE - Katy and Jim are still dating during Jim’s “Email Surveillance” BBQ. When Pam sees them together it lights a fire under her.Love the premise! It's great to have a new take on Jim's BBQ, and your characters felt spot-on.