This is a Karen focused stream of conscious/pov on all things developing in Scranton... contains mild spoilers through The Convict. Since it is Karen centered right now it is mostly Jim/Karen focused, but clearly Pam is there too and will likely play a larger role in the future.
Excellent. I love the background you've given Karen- the traveling, the smoking, the desire for friends, all of it.
Author's Response: Thank you so much!! For some reason I just really identify with Karen and I want to make her more real. I'm glad you felt I succeeded! Thanks for the review.
Author's Response: Thank you so much!! For some reason I just really identify with Karen and I want to make her more real. I'm glad you felt I succeeded! Thanks for the review.
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Jim found himself thinking that if this were Pam, she would be satisfied, or at least act satisfied with that reaction, and would try to move the conversation on. He could tell by Karen’s narrowed eyes she wouldn’t let him off so easy."
I really like this line. In a lot of fics, Jim compares Karen to Pam and Karen always ends up inferior, somehow, but I like how you've highlighted this aspect of Karen's personality- her directness -that actually gives Karen an advantage over Pam. Great story, overall.
A few things I usually don't like in Office fics: Smut. Slash. Jim with anyone other than Pam.
And, yet, I *loved* this. It really felt like Jim's voice, throughout the entire story. And even though there hasn't been any Roy/Jim or Angela/Jim on the show, those relationships seemed to really make sense, given what we know about the characters and their personalities. Overall, a really original fic and a really well-written, interesting one, too. Great job!
Obviously a response to the Sleepless in Scranton challange, no one responded and I felt bad, so here's my attempt.
It's 3am, what is going on in the lives of our favorite Dunder Mifflinites?
Maybe the heartburn isn't anything more than heartache.
He closes his eyes and prays that he doesn't die alone.
Oh man. Those two lines *killed* me. Poor Toby.
He had installed a mirror on the back of the door so that he can check him self out while he pees.
So weird, so Andy. Lovin' this story so far.
So what if Jim likes to snuggle. She can learn to live with it.
Awesome.
I love the "who what why" theme. Great start.
Again, love the theme- the 'yes' idea goes so well with how Karen is so direct about her feelings for Jim, and Jim hedges everything with her but is definitive about his feelings for Pam. You've summed up the complexities of the s3 relationship really nicely.
Sometimes Jim hears about how people do crazy things when they've got nothing left to lose, but he's never been that kind of person.
Set during Conflict Resolution.
I know I've read this before, but I'm not sure if I've reviewed. This is just so excellent, though, that it warrants multiple reviews. I love how you've highlighted one of the major flaws in Jim- as much as he claims to dislike working at D-M, and as much as he cares for Pam, he never (at least until the end of s2) did anything about it. Also loved how you touched on a negative of Jim's feelings for Pam- the way they make him feel like he has to hold everything in, and the way he's not sure who he is without them. Overall, this fic is beyond awesome for really exploring a lot of facets of Jim's personality and relationships with Pam and Dwight that I don't often read in fics. Kudos on an excellent story- definitely a favorite.
Series about the aftermath of Casino Night and the developments of Season 3. Episode related from alternating points of view. Excuse the stream of consciousness... Spoilers through most recent episode.
He wouldn't fall down again.
(Whether he wanted to or not.)
Not unless she fell first.
Favorite part, although it was hard to choose b/c every chapter has been so well-written and insightful. I love this.
It's awful that I can't remember which chapter that is... as someone pointed out, I need to name them something besides Jim and Pam... ;)
Glad you're enjoying, though! And thanks for reading.
I *love* Karen, and I *love* this fic for taking all the bits and pieces we know about her character and weaving them into such a complex, moving story. Awesome job.
Now that he's with Jan, there's so much Michael's learned about love. He feels obligated to spread the word. Set sometime Season 3-ish but not specific.
I love how you write Jim/Pam interactions. They're just so sweet and perfectly in-character.
Author's Response: Thank you Rowena! I certainly do try and it's so nice to know you think I've succeeded!!!
Karen POV on her exboyfriend, relationship with Jim, Jim/Pam, etc. Spoilers through Cocktails and speculation thereafter. Kind of AU.
Excellent. Loved the Karen backstory, and how's she's not a bitch about the Jim/Pam thing- she's way too classy for that. Great job.
"In an instant, Kevin and Toby came out of no where to close ranks between Roy and Pam. “I think you should, um, leave, um before, you know, I have to write you up.” Toby got out shakily, while Kevin clumsily held up his fists to protect Pam."
Aww...I love this. It shows how, despite everyone but Michael's protests to the contrary, the office people really are a bit like a family.
Karen= awesome. Seriously, if/when the shit hits the fan on the show, I can totally imagine her saying something like this to Jim- brutally honest and totally true. Great job.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review, seriously reviews are like Pam's jelly beans (or something). I really am glad that you like the conversation. I'll admit, I let Karen say some of the things I've been wanting to say to Jim - but he doesn't seem to hear me when I scream at the TV......hmmmm.......
Yup, it’s a post-Cocktails fic! With a bit of a twist. Karen does a bad thing, and Jim is about to suffer the consequences…I *love* this. Everyone's so in character, despite the fact that they're in this incredibly tense situation that we've never seen on the show. And, yet, I can imagine it going down *exactly* like this b/c the voices are perfect. And the mix of drama and unleashed emotions ("She was your fiancée, you fucking moron!” Jim snarls. “Not that you ever remembered it then either.”) and humor ("JET SKIS!") is just like on the show. I've read a lot of post-Cocktails fics, but this is definitely one of my favorites.
“When you told her you had feelings, how did you say it?” she continues.
“Karen—” Jim starts.
“I’m pretty sure you didn’t say ‘Karen’ that night. It would have been awkward. You didn’t even know me yet,” Karen says.
Heh! Karen's such a great mixture of feisty, honest, and vulnerable here- just like in the show. I love how she forces Jim to see the shitty ways he's been treating her- it's not enough for her to realize it, but he has to as well. I'd love for something similar to happen on the show.
Another great chapter- can't wait for the next one!
I love SnarkyPissed!Jim! And how Karen is still kind of composed throughout it all, b/c she's tough. I love this whole story, really.
“Of course. Because you always need an answer right away, don’t you Jim?”
That line elicited an actual, "Hell yeah!" from me. This is *exactly* what needs to happen on the show- Pam and Jim have to yell at each other and get all of their issues out there. Great line, great character analysis of Pam (the way she pushes things aside and reverts to practical mode), great Jim voice at the end, great everything. This fic, ftw!
Something has changed. Takes place between Email Surveillance and Christmas Party. You say you don't write Jim/Pam often, which seems odd b/c you write them so damn well! Seriously, their voices are just *perfect* in this- I can imagine something exactly like this happening on the show and being what pushes Jim to write that card. Excellent job.
Author's Response: Ohhh, thank you so much! I don't write Jim and Pam too much, I always feel like there are so many other fics out there covering them, so I stick with other characters. :) But maybe I'll start writing them more.
Pam's discovered the world of internet chat rooms. Jim can't resist the chance to be near her in cyberspace. Spoilers up to Cocktails. Umm...NO. You're not allowed to leave a cliffhanger like that. It's just wrong, wrong, wrong.
That being said...love this story.
I caved and wrote a post-Cocktail fic that can be best described by Jim's Talking Head from Season 2 Ep 6:
Fight! Fight! Fight! FIGHT!
I feel like I already used up my yearly 'awesome' quote in the past 2 chapters' reviews, but, oh hell, I'll say it again: AWESOME. I love the fact that Angela's been in a fight before, and it was one that she instigated. Pam's list is just adorable. And the last line...ahhh. So Angela, so perfect.
Author's Response: That's alright, awesome is one of the most awesome words, hehe (channeling my inner Kelly here), I'm glad you liked the ending!
Oh, awesomeness. I love the Bridget Jones stuff- both the actual reference and the idea of a really bad fight between Roy and Jim, b/c in real life it wouldn't be all cool moves and cutting insults. And Michael intervening only after Ryan's been hit= so perfectly in character. This part, though, conjured up my favorite image and one that will have me laughing for the next few days whenever I think of it:
Jim managed to pull off one of Roy’s shoes and started beating him over the head with it.
Hehe! Can't wait to read the next chapter.
Magic camp! Hehe.
Author's Response: magicmagicmagic
Once upon a time, Prince Charming plucked you out of shy teenage obscurity, and you expected to live happily ever after.
OH WOW. I don't think I've ever been so moved by such a short story. Write more, please. Lotsandlotsandlots more.
Author's Response: Oh, thanks Rowena! I'm so pleased you had an emotional reaction to what I wrote- that's just exactly the best kind of compliment. Oh, and I've got like 35 other stories posted to this site, so it's unlikely I'll stop writing now! ;)
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