1 [Report This]Date: August 26, 2021 06:11 am Title: The Convict
First, loved you keying on the sight of Karen with the baby and what that must have meant to Pam. And the metaphor of the cracks in the facade she has to rebuild every day and the different types of blows it takes is spot on.
I felt really inside her head in the coffee scene. The impact of Jim being uncomfortable around her and what that meant to her was just visceral and painful. And the ending! That's among my favorite Pam smiles of the series, and I'm glad you did it justice.
Date: November 18, 2020 08:57 am Title: The Convict
Man, this story. I love everything you write more than I could say but this one... this one is special.
"He had only been back a little over a week, and there were a thousand little cracks in the façade she rebuilt every day on her drive to work." My heart really breaks for Pam here.
And here... "Their conversation was brief, but when Karen met her eyes confidently as he walked away, there was an implicit declaration in the language of women, a meaningful statement on the symbolism of a baby...and him." I maybe whispered a "Oh, you bitch" to this sentence (okay, to Karen) and then I laughed at myself for letting myself get so involved in the lives of fictional characters.
"Square footage does not lie, and despite his efforts, eventually, their paths crossed." Jesus. This entire paragraph. They haven't even done anything and I'm beside myself and needing one of them to reach out to the other. And when Pam does, with the whole coffee mug thing? Yeah, it's good.
"and as he turned slowly to smirk triumphantly in her direction, shades of him returned to her, vibrant and elusive. Their secret language, understood only by them, was exchanged once more, and she couldn't stop the smile that spread from somewhere deep in reply." This right here is one of my favorite moments in the entire series and I love seeing it play out in this story.
Listen. Listen. Pam may be the painter, but the way you use these words to tell this story? You're the real artist here.
Author's Response:
I say "Oh you bitch" when reading quite often, or is that just me? ;) I really, really love that you picked up on the baby line. I know that was a deleted scene but Pam's face said it all.
I always adore hearing your thoughts and they mean more to me than you know.
1 [Report This]Date: August 30, 2020 07:45 am Title: The Convict
Hope indeed. Well my secret hope is this beautifully written piece continues soon. I love the atmosphere of it, it's dreamlike intensity. You're very gifted.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for your terribly kind words, Donna!
1 [Report This]Date: August 29, 2020 10:34 pm Title: The Convict
I made a tremendous mistake reading this story after 'Aeternum'...
'in a way he used to only do with her.'
I'm crying.
'a meaningful statement on the symbolism of a baby...and him.'
I'm wailing.
'she knew he heard the words 'I wouldn't let them' as clear as if she had spoken them aloud.'
I need to take a pause now. Okay, I feel slightly better, continue.
'The levity of his comment fell and landed on the cheap linoleum tiles at their feet.'
Nope, the same pain all over again.
But the ending, oh, the ending is heartbreakingly beautiful, and I hate my foreknowledge about the show's events...
Thank you so much for this story! And especially thank you that you published it at the same time with 'Aeternum,' so I can go and reread the last chapter, reminding myself that there are places where Jim and Pam are together and happy...
Author's Response: I'm so glad you could bounce back and forth. I always like to return to the JAM 'happy place' as well. :) Thank you as always, Dernhelm. <3
1 [Report This]Date: August 29, 2020 08:01 pm Title: The Convict
Well, this hurt my soul. Honestly not sure if I can recover from this. I could feel Pam's pain and longing throughout all of this, especially during their awkward moment in the breakroom. And then I was smiling as wide as she was as you described her feelings about Jim's prank on her. I don't know how else to describe this other than beautiful and perfect.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Aly! Sometimes the pain leads to big payoffs. ;)
1 [Report This]Date: August 29, 2020 03:05 pm Title: The Convict
I love how "quiet" this feels and yet how profound. When they have so few interactions, every one takes on new meaning.
I smiling at the description of Andy!
Author's Response: Thank you, Sprinkles, so very much. Yeah, I couldn't think of any other way to describe him, as I am definitely NOT a fan. ;P
1 [Report This]Date: August 29, 2020 02:30 pm Title: The Convict
I mean. This is a work of art. Every phrase paints a picture so beautifully, and you don’t have to rely on a huge word count or wordiness or anything else, you just put words together in this gorgeous and really unique way that just makes my heart ache and sing at the same time. Ugh. Again, how does it feel to be a murderer?
Author's Response:
BT, you have no idea what your words mean to me, so thank you, truly.
Also, sorry about the inadvertent homicide. ;)
1 [Report This]Date: August 29, 2020 01:49 pm Title: The Convict
The image of Pam spilling her pain into her art is so achingly raw and beautiful. You write it so very well.
“even though he sat closer to her than ever before” For some reason that had never really occurred to me before & seeing it spelled out breaks my heart all over again about the distance between them in terms of their friendship in Season 3. I hate it here. But I love you for including this line and hitting me so very hard in the feels.
Bored. Seriously. The way you manage to take the simplest thing, that has been written about time and time again and give us something new and better and even more vivid. I just — This, I’m talking about this: “She would catch herself studying the back of his neck, where the edges of his long brown hair and the top of his collar collided as if all the mysteries of the last few months were written there”
Incredible.
Oh my. The cracks. Yes. Such an apt description.
“More often, days were punctuated by the lack of him, as he actively avoided her” You’re capturing the angst of Season 3 (& making it your own) so very beautifully. It breaks my heart all over again.
“Square footage does not lie” Oh. OH. Oh. What a line.
The whole break room scene is everything. “as they traced invisible markings on her soul” There are no coherent words. It’s just so very perfect.
This whole chapter (fic) is right in that angst sweet spot. It hits all the Season 3 notes in all the best ways.
Author's Response: So, you know that gif reaction on twitter the other day when someone receives a great review? Yeah, that's always me reading yours. Thank you so, so much. <3
1 [Report This]Date: August 29, 2020 01:30 pm Title: The Convict
Beautiful and haunting as always. Great look into her mindset. Now it's her turn to overanalize every move and gesture. To hold on to any piece of connection regardless of how small.
I especially love the end there. That despite everything there's still hope alive. Hold onto that Pam. Great to see an update.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Warrior! :)