I've been writing fanfiction for awhile now. Just recently discovered The Office and figured I'd try my hand at that as well.
At first I thought of having all my stories in the same universe, but then I had some AU ideas. So any stories that occur within a common universe will be in a given series.
Set late(ish) -S3, possibly after Cocktails/The Negotiation (post Pam splitting up with Roy mk.II)
A bit steamy and a bit sweary at points.
1 You're welcome for the surname for Mark. Glad you found it helpful. The fact that both Izzy and Mark had the same idea to get Jim and Pam sobered up is wonderful. A late-night meal and a friendly shoulder to lean on are just the things they need for sure. The fact they know each other is just a bit of icing on the cake. I love how they have Pam and Jim's best interests in mind through all this too. Can't wait to see what happens, though there is still Karen to deal with. Nice job.
Author's Response: Thanks Warrior! A new chapter is up, the Karen fallout will follow in the final chapter, which I hope won't take me 5 months to finish!
1 My condolences for your time of bereavement. Such times are always hard.
Getting into this chapter. I love that Mark and Izzy are in cahoots with each other. They clearly want what's best for their given friend. Sign of a good friendship right there. Always good to get some food and coffee into one's system. Things are usually better without an empty stomach and that get's the point across really well here.
A bit of an awkward moment there when Jim and Pam get into her bedroom. But for once, they're open and honest with each other. I really liked that you said they'd been hiding behind things like pranks or jinxes. They're clearly ready to be out in the open about everything and it seems to pay off with dividends right here. Really also loved the use of canon lines here. Sometimes the words they said on the show are really the best ones so why not put them into a new context. I've got a feeling the Jim's been wanting to let her hair fall around his hands for years. Thus the domino falls and they don't want to do anything to hold back once it does.
Then Mark and Izzy make their escape. Really like that they seem on the verge of getting together too. Great fun for sure.
Can't wait to see how this one wraps up.
1 This was a ton of fun. Jim and Pam being able to just enjoy themselves together. A few references to the past, but good references and memories so even better. Really fun how they skip out on the end of the concert to have some sexy time in the car. Really fun how you make sure it's still realistic but also a good time for both of them. Pam just watching Jim like that on the way home was super cute as well.
Welcome back and thanks for a great read.
1 So this is a different kind of Jim we're seeing. I do have to agree with Larissa a bit here. Seems like yeah Jim is just looking to use women. That he keeps a log about it kinda proves that. But then Pam shows up. Clearly there's something else about her that throws him off. Maybe it's because she just doesn't swoon at him simply because he smiles at her. She's left an impression that's for sure
Typical boorish Roy showing up. Still it was nice to see Pam standing up to him like that. Despite that it feels like this Pam is just recently out on her own for the first time, she does have a bit of fire to her. Good to see.
Should be interesting to see where we.go from here.
1 So that's a really interesting way to start out this chapter. To have them just go for it like that. Then for Pam to throw Jim's notebook back in his face like that afterwards! Wow. Gotta say, he kind of deserves it.
Quite a bit of anguish for Jim there. Trying to figure out how he's going to talk to her, if she wants to talk to him. I will say the fact he doesn't try to hard to follow her speaks well for him. Though his past habits of just bull rushing through things seem to be kind of hard to shake. Telling Pam he's taking her to work rather than asking. No wonder Pam's got trust issues with the guy.
Fortunately she does give him one more chance. He's smart enough to not mess it up either. She doesn't let him off the hook either, which she shouldn't. Him being completely open and honest though seems to be the only way to move forward and it looks like it's working too. That he also gives her the notebook to burn seems big for them too. Nice to think they'll be able to move forward in a much more positive place going forward.
Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat
Author's Response: Thank you very much for all your comments. I must say that your analyses of the chapters make you see your characters in a different way than what you have in your mind. It is very gratifying.
1 So Jim's falling head over heels for her. And it's also getting him to clean up his act a bit. Though his past and the record he kept of it are a big hurdle at this point.
I did like that he stood up to Roy like that. And got some backup too. Really nice to see.
An impromptu first date as well! Clearly they're hitting it off well. Though for Jim to just go in for a kiss when she already has history of a man in her life taking from her rather than asking seems like it's another hurdle. I could very much see that Pam is thinking that she'd just be another name in that book. I wonder how and if they'll be able to overcome it.
1 Tons of sexy fun with this one. Adding in all the Jack Ryan elements, Jim coming home early, a bit of role-playing, lots of great moments. Also shows how well they are together that they can enjoy that side of themselves without any fear or nervousness. Great job as usual.
Author's Response: Ah thank you so much, glad you liked it!
1 This looks like a lot of fun. Pam already starting to find her own way in art. Jim instantly seeing she's good and encouraging her. She's bored with Roy. Looks like we could have room for a lot of fun here. Really looking forward to seeing how this new relationship with Jim pans out. Can't wait to read more.
Author's Response: It was fun to decide on their starting off points in this world, even without too many specifics. Thanks for the review!
So it seems like Pam and Roy are kind of a thing, but he's not around very much and is already starting to blow her off. The fact that Pam's mind is also wandering away from Roy adds to this. If she was in a really good relationship with her guy, why all the thoughts of Jim and sexy chef? Just my take on it.
Anyway, kind of fun to see into her world here. The clandestine artist. The budding friendship with Jim. How she views her friends. I also really like it that she has some close girl friends. Hopefully they'll be able to provide some perspective as everything unfolds.
Author's Response: Yes, it's been fun to paint a picture of their relationship before introducing Roy and interacting with him. We don't get to see much of Pam's friendships in the show so its a great space to explore them here, especially in college at an age where every decision feels so big. Thanks for the review!
Trust your friends and trust your gut Pam! Roy's not worth it. Can't remember you have a date, can't remember your favorite coffee, he's not worth it. Especially when you're hitting it off so well with Jim.
Lots of fun to see some show elements like the jello prank show up too. Clearly she's got Jim on the mind and he's got her on his mind too. Hope that keeps going once she finally realizes that Roy is a dead end.
Author's Response:
I'm yelling pretty much the same at Pam while I write her! But we all know back in college you think you're grown up and know whats best and that you don't need your friends telling you what to do, so Pam needs to get through that phase. I have to give some credit to MrsK for the jello, she got me out of a 'stuck' moment! Thanks for the review :)
I hate how Roy's stringing Pam along like this. Like she's just something for him to use when it's convenient for him. He gets to put in almost zero effort and still gets all the rewards. That really irks me. Is it wrong for me to hope that this lunch date goes bad in someway shape or form for Pam to finally see what a tool Roy is?
Interesting that Pam thinks how nice it is to feel wanted. She gets the same kind of attention from a much nicer source and it even gives her better feelings. Seriously one of her friends needs to just tell it to her straight. Roy is a loser and she's got the potential for something so much more. That she's lying about the intent of her pupil poem and justifying her private one speaks to how her mind is going for sure. Really hoping she sees all this sometime soon.
Author's Response: Definitely a thumbs down for Roy's behaviour here! They are both just taking the easy route with the relationship right now, but no fear, things will soon be addressed between these two. Pam sure has the potential for more, her different art forms are a little source of processing all these ideas and feelings in her young age. Thanks for the review!
I love that Jim and Pam are still hitting it off so well. And that their friends are encouraging things along. Listen to your friends! They know what's good for you! Jim wanting to explore Pam's art and her world of art is amazing. We can tell just how much it means to her to have someone show such genuine interest. I have this mental picture of her just glowing while showing Jim all these parts of her. And not just because of all the blushing. Here's a guy who's found her golden nugget and sees her for it. Not just something in passing to deal with, but a wonderful and unique thing about her that is a large part of what makes her, her. Really looking to see how those feelings develop.
The first hints from Pam's thoughts that she's outlived her relationship with Roy. Yes she's known him, but more and more it's becoming clear that their paths are diverging. Nice to see that she's starting to see that. Still some fear of the unknown of course, but she also is realizing she's not alone which could offset a lot of those fears. Love it. Can't wait for more.
Author's Response: Yes, it's definitely handy that they have friends encouraging them along here! I am glad that came across, how important it was for Pam to have someone who appreciated her art so much - not because they have to because they're family/a friend.
1 Look at Pam being all flustered about everything. It's pretty adorable. The same with her embarrassment about her friends teasing. Granted that feels like something to be embarrassed about, but it's still cute.
Sorry Alex, you're not getting anywhere with her.
And in comes Helene with a bit of inspiration. Should be fun to see where we go from here.
Author's Response: Yes to all of these! I had to slip in that little Alex bit, glad you caught it!
1 100% yes we can stretch that Pam came back to Scranton for a couple days. Messing with Dwight is always fun, especially if they're getting to him think he's time traveling again. I also think it would be easier to get Angela in on this one since she and Dwight are currently on the outs around now. I mean she's engaged to Andy and all.
Dwight gargling urine? Gross. Accurate, but gross. Still it was a lot of fun to see the rest of the prank pan out.
Author's Response:
Ok phew haha!
And yes, so so gross, but Dwight can be! Glad you liked the prank :)
1 Very cute little tender way to wrap this one all up. Lots of fun with it all for sure. The hints of steam. Jim and Pam being vulnerable with each other. Being able to re-do a prank idea. All tons of fun.
Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat
Author's Response: Thanks so much for all of your reviews! Glad you enjoyed this one
Coffee Shop AU one-shot
Jim and Pam meet one fateful day at a local coffee shop, and for Jim, everything changes as they strike up a friendship.
1 First and foremost well done on posting your first story here on MTT. Always great to get a new author in the mix.
This is a great kind of spin on Jim and Pam. That they don't work together but still see each other every weekday is a nice twist. Their instant connection is wonderful. Jim pretty much falling for her so quickly tracks too. I've got a bit of an idea that the feeling is kind of mutual since Pam took so long to bring up Roy. Then the kind of fast forward over the course of the year was fun yet still teetering on the edge of a knife.
Then it happens. Pam's engaged and it seems like there's no Michael with his "engaged ain't married line." So in typical Jim fashion he runs. Oh I feel for him here like that. Lots of big feelings for a one shot for sure. Nice job.
Author's Response: Thank you! I've been stalking the archive for about half a year, so it was super exciting to go ahead and post it. I'm glad the characters feel mostly held together, that was something I really worried about, especially since I haven't seen the whole show. The whole story was a bit of a whirlwind due to page constraints, so I'm happy it translated okay. Thanks so much for interacting!
3 Pam's monotonous days of living in New York with her longtime boyfriend are broken up by the friendship she forms with Jim, who she meets in a coffee shop. This is the story of their friendship, told through a list of what he gave her.
Continuation of Elliptical Orbits, can be read as a standalone
1 So Roy is in typical Roy form. The fact we don't even know what he does for a living seems telling. Almost as if Pam doesn't seem to care anymore either. He's just...there. Stable, maybe. Familiar, yes. But really that's it.
Unlike how things with Jim evolved. How Jim kept track of what she liked. How Jim encouraged her, believed in her, made her feel more than she could be. The build-up to everything feels very much like how things happened in canon. Pam living behind a huge wall of denial and fear of the unknown. A lot of it put in place by Roy. "Don't shake the boat."
But then Jim shakes the boat in a big way. First by his absence, then not replying to her, then the barely there comment he does offer. No wonder she tracks him down.
Then it's Casino Night all over again. The same feelings and emotions building up through the confession, kiss, and them breaking apart. Great job getting all those feelings out in this new setting.
Don't know if you're planning on another follow up, but I'd love to see more. It feels like the Pam in this story is craving someone else to talk to. To give her some perspective. With your writing style I'd love to read it and see how it would all pan out.
Author's Response:
Hello again! Yes! That was one of the main things I wanted to convey. Roy wasn't a horrible person, he was just a horrible boyfriend for Pam in particular. Honestly, I didn't even come up with a job for Roy, it didn't seem necessary, he just exists. I wanted to show how with the proper encouragement and support, Pam could begin to grow past her need for a comfort blanket like Roy. It was also an interesting dynamic, because in this story, they had just gotten engaged, so it wasn't like Pam was getting tired of the engagement, she was excited and planning a wedding, with no idea that they would probably just end up waiting and waiting and waiting.
Pam tracking him down in this story was also very important, because this was all her idea. She could've just let it go, but his friendship became too important to her, so she had to take the first step.
And finally, yes you nailed it. Originally, I had planned to do more with this, to expand it, to let Pam continue to grow and try to figure out what she actually wanted (it was obviously Jim, but it might've taken her a while to get there) but I ended up just in a whirlwind at the end of the year, and it never actually happened. That being said, I am not opposed to another sequel to this story, it'll just have to wait and see if I get a burst of inspiration. I think it would be fun to do another completely different type (first was imagery, this was a list), so we'll see. Thank you for reviewing!! It really does make me super happy. :)
1 Love a little fall JAM. Very cute moment for sure.
Author's Response: Thank you so much!
1 Vivid descriptions to be sure. Jim and Pam getting into the teen years seems very real. Cece's attitude feels very much like a typical teenager trying to find herself a bit.
Then we get to Jim finding her in a seizure. Yeah, I can feel the panic, fear, anxiety, and everything in Jim right there. In that regard I'm glad for that little intro while Cece is in the scanner. Clearly she'll make it through this first episode. But of course who knows what it'll mean for everyone.
I for one am very interested to seeing where we go with this. Hopefully there won't be to much heartache along the way.
Author's Response: Hi there dear friend! Planning to keep it relatively light but a touch of drama. I?m enjoying writing them as teenagers although mine are still in pre school so this is new and uncharted territory! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Well a firm diagnosis is something. Better to know what you're fighting against rather than playing a guessing game.
Though logic and facts probably aren't going to do anything for anyone right now. Somehow I get the feeling that Cece feels alone and also thinks she deserves to be alone. Thus shutting herself away. The docs saying she can't go back to school reinforced that. Now she has to cut her hair. Slowly her identity is being stripped away. The pieces that made her, her pulled back one by one. Makes me wonder how Jim, Pam, and Phil are going to react. Clearly they're still physically there with her, but will they also be there for her in the depths of her feelings? I hope so.
Yeah, lots of big feelings in this chapter for sure. A lot of fear, anxiety, and solitude. It all feels very real.
Author's Response: Thank you so much- I'm really enjoying trying to write the story albeit third person but also from the perspectives of those surrounding Cecelia and what they're experiencing. I think the need for solitude often comes in moments of fear and difficulty and supportive family often don't know what to do with it. Thank you so much for your reviews, they're so thoughtful and insightful and they keep me going!
Well I'll say one thing, from the outside at least Jim is doing everything he can to hold them all together. Literally here. To use those lines of comfort from her earlier childhood felt like a source of comfort.
Though with everything else, the weight seems to be crushing everyone. Phil's gone quiet. Pam thinks she's a failure again. Cece's thought's are really turning dark. And Jim it feels like Jim is trying to duck tape everything together and it's only halfway working.
Feels like a dam is going to burst sometime soon and no one knows what if anything will remain.
Author's Response: I like to think she's heard those things a few times throughout life, like a mantra. Have you heard of the concept of glass children? Phil is definitely teetering on the line of becoming that so easily, it's an impossible task to figure out how to manage in those situations.
I think that dam may burst soon.
1 Well...damn (pun kind of intended). Just the thought of seeing Cece drift off like that I'm sure would be terrifying. Add it on top of every other thing pressing down on them. Barely holding it all together, trying desperately to maintain some semblance of order. They're trying all the right things, and it's still not enough. And what's more is that there really isn't anything they can do. They're lost in a desert with not even a hint of mirage let alone an oasis.
Then Jim breaks. He's put so much on himself that this final crack is what shatters him. Pam of course is right, it's not his fault, but there's no way to get that through him at this stage. What I do love is that even in her fear and pain, Pam is still there for Jim. There's nothing she can say, so she's just there. It's all they can do at this point, just be there and endure.
So like I said...damn. Powerful writing to be sure.
Author's Response: Eric I love your reviews so much, they?re so insightful and you put so much effort into them and as a writer I just have to say THANK YOU! It truly means so much. Writing this story is hard and heavy and at times painful for myself. As a parent as well, going through anything with your children while they?re in pain is so stressful and most of the time you just can?t do anything but sit and wait. The thing I like about Jim & Pam is that I think they?re strong enough as a couple to be able to withstand the storm without breaking but although they won?t break apart, it doesn?t mean there isn?t damage done.
Ok, so, you're just about tearing my heart out here. To start on that sweet tender moment from when Cece was six and then the trip in Dallas where Cece missed the shot, got drunk, and had a seizure. Oof.
Then it's Jim and Pam just sitting in the waiting room, just waiting. Yes they're there together, but that's just about it. Phil's away and there's nothing they can do. Then when the surgeon comes in and says that? I can't even begin to fathom what's going on with them at the moment. I have an idea of what they're about to walk into. Cece laying in a bed with seemingly ungodly amounts of medications, tubes, IV lines, and monitors surrounding her. The one ray of hope is that the surgeon said they got it out. Slim and faint as it may be, it's at least something. There's still a spark, but will anyone have the energy or tenderness to fan that spark back to flame? I really hope so.
Author's Response: Kids, man. It honestly feels like one second they're this tiny person and then a moment later they're making choices that adults should be making. I like writing Cece in a more vulnerable state, especially as a fourteen year old who definitely isn't going to want to share everything with her parents, even if she should be. Thank you again for your amazing reviews, they help the writers block and keep the creativity coming!
1 I don't think there's anything that can prepare a parent to see their child in that state. Pam freezes, Jim tries to be brave, but they're both balancing on the edge of a knife. And then the puff of wind hits and they both topple off the edge. Though it feels like one more ray of light just flickered on in the form of Brittany. Just before Jim and Pam tumble into the abyss she reaches down to catch them. A calm and guiding hand with a flashlight to help them navigate seemingly endless night.
The flashback scene where Cece slams the door in Jim's face helps to round out just where Jim is coming from earlier. Seems like for a while now there have been some regrets floating around. So at her bedside those are really starting to hit hard.
But like I said there are at least two rays of light now rather than just one. Here's hoping a few more shine through soon.
Author's Response: I think a lot of parents seem to think they're at least going to see something familiar after their child goes through a major procedure like that, or any loved one really. It can take such a toll on their body and physical appearance that they really do look unfamiliar and the atmosphere around them doesn't help at all. It's certainly overwhelming and that image often gets burned into your brain for a long time.
A friend of mine mentioned that parents often sift through every memory or interaction they've had with their loved one when their in that state and over analyze and have a lot of regrets so I think Jim's feeling extra hard on himself for even the simplest of parenting moments everyone has had.
Brittany is my little ray of light, I'm excited to introduce her character and hopefully bring some happiness or at least relief to this situation Thank you for your wonderful reviews! .
More rays of light are starting to poke though. Thing is, it seems some of those light rays are also shining on a few things they'd rather keep hidden in the dark. Jim thinking he has to do this all alone or that he's the only one who might feel like this. And of course what Phil knows.
Speaking of Phil, I'm glad we got to see him here. We really get the sense of how he might have been feeling overlooking though this whole ordeal. Everyone is paying so much attention to Cece but since he's fine, he gets overlooked. No wonder he's so scared. Especially if he's been picking up on his parents moods.
But also progress from Cece! I love that it's her brother that she first responds to. That's really adorable. Hopefully such things continue!
Author's Response: I wanted Phil to come into this in a dynamic way, and also show the relationship him and his sister had before all of this happened. It?s easy to get overlooked when you?re the ?easy? kid, and your parents don?t think he needs anything. I wanted Phil to be the one who would get some progress out of her because I think their bond is strong. I also wanted to call back to the iPod moment between Jim and Pam :)