10

Swedge, this is a wonderfully horrifying premise for a story, and while Lindsey Fünke and the members of H.O.O.P. might be against it, I personally applaud you for tackling it. 

Seriously, though, this is hilarious, and I'll be following this one for sure.  

Mel, I've been so far behind with this story, and for that I apologize. I'm playing catch-up right now, though.

First of all, let me just say that this chapter needs to be printed out in large type and distributed to every single person who ever has written or who ever wants to write Office fic as THE best portrayal of Roy. Period. End of story. No more calls; we have a winner. 

I'm serious here. I look back at my very early stories and am ashamed of the way I wrote Roy back then. I saw him as one dimensional, as a drunk, as a borderline abusive lout. (I've since changed my thinking on Roy, and hope I've done right by him with my later stories.) I kept nodding in agreement as I read Roy's interview and thinking "THIS is what people need to understand about him!" 

In short, this story reminds me why I like reading and writing fic in the first place, so thank you for that. It's seriously one of the few stories I'm even keeping up with these days, so it's like a life preserver, keeping me afloat. :)

Aaaaaaaand here's the Pamifesto. :)

Whew. This was... amazing. Does that sound cliche enough? I feel like I need to get a thesaurus out so I can come up with some superlatives other than "amazing," "excellent," or "wonderful." Because as much as I mean those things, I'm not sure they really convey just how amazing, excellent, and wonderful I really think this is. If that last chapter with Roy was full of me nodding and pumping my fist in the air like Dwight in the presence of firemen, this chapter was me quietly reading Pam like it was the first time I'd ever read her. 

I love that Pam has an aversion now to being interviewed on film; I can see that as being a very natural outgrowth of having gone through the filming process in the first place. And I love that she chastises the audience for thinking they know her just because they've seen her on TV. That rang so true simply because it is true. And is it weird that after reading that, there's a part of me that doesn't want to know what happened in the hotel room? Like it's too personal for me to know about? Like... it's nobody's business but [theirs]? 

You keep blowing me away with this story, Mel. 

Sorry I'm a little late in getting back to this, but I'm here now! :D

Have I mentioned how much I love this story of yours? You've tackled the idea of Jim and Pam dealing with the realities of being documented before--and done a great job, I might add--but this particular one is really resonating with me. I think it's the format that I like so much; the way you've couched their story inside the context of a grad student's thesis and the "formal" documents and transcripts that seem so sterile and make such a nice counterpoint to the richness of Jim and Pam's actual lives.

I have to say that this chapter in particular made me laugh. I've always liked the idea of Jim and Pam giving each other lists of words to work into their vocabulary throughout the day (in fact, Wendy Blue and I dabbled ever so briefly in this idea in a story we co-wrote once), because it's just the sort of thing they'd do to alleviate boredom and keep their spirits high. 

You're doing such a great job with all this, and I can't wait to see where it's all headed!  

Two updates in such rapid succession? You're spoiling us, Mel! (Not to mention making the rest of us (read: ME) who aren't as fast on the keyboard as you are look bad. :D

I know I've said this before, and I'll probably say it again, so just get used to it, but this story is seriously kicking my butt with how awesome it is. I love the foreshadowing that's going on here in the interview, and the hint that something really bad is looming on the horizon for our heroes. I also love the way you tied the opening interview to the second half of the story with Anna and Pam talking behind the scenes of the radio program. Now, far be it from be to be greedy, because you've outdone yourself today, but... I'm dying to know what happens on the Dr. Stephanie show! (Rule of thumb: never trust a "Dr." who goes by their first name. :P) 

Whew. You knocked me off my feet with this chapter, Mel. But in a good way. I had this knot in my stomach the whole time I was reading this, because I could see it so vividly in my mind. And it reminded me of the tension when Roy tried to attack Jim on the show. Good times. ;)

And yet, you haven't shown Roy as the beer-swilling oaf that so many others do. He's a regular guy, full of faults and weaknesses, but then, so is Jim. And it's nice that you're painting each of them with the same brush. Roy is no more an evil ass than Jim is a saint. They're just two guys who happen to have the same woman in common.

Excellent job, as always! 

Who'd have thought that something as simple as a travel itinerary would be such a compelling read? Well, those of us who are fans of you and your work aren't surprised. I've thought that you were one of those authors who could write a laundry list and we'd find it worth reading, and here you've gone and proved me right! :D

I love Jim's little "Eric Carmen" moment there on the plane, stuck way in the back. You've given us some killer introspection, as well as some heart-stomping angst here. And I love it all.

I think you should know that I cannot get enough of this story, Mel. It's become an addiction for me. And trust me when I say that I do not want to find a cure. :D

Excellent, as always! 

First of all, Mel, it's fantastic to see you back writing again!! (Seems I've been saying that a lot lately to some of my favorite authors...)

Second, I can honestly say that I've missed this story something fierce, and you did not disappoint, as usual. I enjoyed the peek into the world of the camera crew here, especially the thought that the producers were basically turning them into paparazzi. It reminds me of something said in one of the early DVD commentaries, when Jenna (I think) said that she felt like the camera crew had their own agenda with the people in the office, and that they weren't there to "protect" the people they were filming. I thought that the idea of the crew getting bonuses for capturing Jim and Pam in interesting moments definitely fit that sentiment. 

I know I use the word "excellent" pretty much every time I leave you a review, but I can't help it. It's such a completely appropriate word for what I'm reading here. And, it applies in spades to that last scene there on the beach. (duhn duhn duhhnnnn... :P)

Also, I really want an In-N-Out burger right now, so, thanks for that. :D

10

I, for one, LOVE that we don't know for sure what happened in the hotel room. And I know I say this about pretty much every one of your chapters, but this one might be my favorite. :P Seriously, I really prefer that there's more of the technical/transcript side of things this time around than the narrative/introspective side. It adds to the tension; it allows my imagination to run wild; and it is powerful without being melodramatic. 

And, on the transcript side of things, I am amazed at how tense and exciting it was to read those conversations! It's such a unique way of visualizing the action, and really, I can't imagine anything else working quite as well.

I'm SO glad you're back with this story. It's one of the few that I'm still following these days. :D

10

I loved the 'ol switcheroo that you pulled with this chapter. It's not often that I'm surprised by things I read in fanfic, but you managed to pull the rug out from under me this time. Very sneaky stuff going on here. :D

You continue to amaze and astound with your careful and sensitive writing, and as always, your attention to detail is what really brings this all home. For instance, using the phrase "casino benefit" instead of the sacred "casino night," or being able to track Karen (Phillips!) short career from bit parts on soaps and in slasher films, continue to bring this story into a world all it's own. It's as if you've been granted access to a true parallel universe where these events really played out, and we're now just lucky enough to see them. 

And is it bad if I sorta wish that your version of events is how it really played out in our universe? :D

Keep up the good work, Mel. I'm on board with this thing for the duration.

TLK, I applaud you for having the unabashed courage to take different routes with fic and giving us glimpses into the lives of the other characters whose names don't rhyme with "Shmim" and "Spam." (Please, no Python jokes...)

And I'm one of those people who didn't even realize there WAS a Marjorie for the longest time.

"I just want to say good luck. We're all counting on you." - Airplane. :D 

10

*ahem*

Ha.

Ha ha ha.

HAHAHAHAHAAHAAAHAAHAAsnickersmorthahhahaHAHAHaA!

*Mose reads again*

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAA!!!

*ahem*

Yeah, this was really funny. :D 

10

"by court order" made me laugh out loud (which is dangerous, because it's early here, and I'm supposed to be making breakfast for my wife who isn't awake yet. :D). 

I love this little flight of fancy here. So many emotions running around, the laughter, the joy, the anxiety... the eventual clarity. It's a really nice mix of them all.

And you managed to get Jim's mindset correct with regard to his proposing. I was in the same boat when I popped the question to Mrs. Mose. We both knew it was going to happen, and we both knew what her answer would be. But still, it was a transcendent moment, a moment when my entire universe stopped and stood still for those few eternally long seconds that last in between heartbeats and laze about in between breaths until she said "yes." :D

After that, it really was easy. I'd have married her the next day as well, if I could have. (As it turned out, it was less than four months later, so, not bad.)

Great work!