Super late to this party...
I’ve loved The Office for a few years now & have dabbled in fic for other fandoms. Deep in another rewatch, I thought there’s got to be some amazing fic out there for arguably one of the greatest shows of all time & here I am - potentially attempting to devour the MTT archive in its entirety?
If I manage to stop reading for long enough, I may attempt to add a few ideas of my own. Time will tell.
Edit May 19: Understandably, I've fallen head over heels with this archive and all that it offers. I've started a Fic Rec Friday thread on Twitter, where I enthuse about the many stories that have brought me joy. So, I'm just putting it out there if you'd like to stop by and have a look. I'm also super open if you have any suggestions that you think should be added/are must reads...
My The Office dedicated Twitter: @chilibabies
You can also find me: @standardcatlady
Sequel to Pam 6.0
Pam broke up with Roy after his comments in S01E06 – Hot Girl, and after a summer of simmering tensions Jim and Pam have finally admitted their feelings for each other.
I wondered how you were going to change things up here - bringing Nikita in for Kevin is such a lovely touch!
“P B N J,” Well, that’s a bit perfect.
“Great, so we’re going to pay him off,” Oh, that made me laugh.
It’s nice that Pam got the internship! It really speeds up the timeline on her doing something with her art here. Episode by episode the little things stay mostly the same, but boy does this all change the big things in a very big way. I’m glad you’ve included this!
Author's Response:
Well, she's an emotional support dog - and cute! I have to shoehorn her in at every opportunity ;)
You have no idea how long I've been holding onto the PBnJ moment... just like Kevin had 'gaycation' stored up the moment after Oscar left, hah.
I'm glad you got some form of my mental image there with the bribery scene - I wasn't sure how people were going to read that one because obviously I the author thought it was funny... anyhow, glad it landed for you.
Yeah! We'll see how this changes things on the homefront in some of the final chapters of the arc too, so stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by Jenna, great as always to hear from you!
“What if he wasn’t enough for her and her artistic aspirations?” It’s almost like you’re giving us a role reversed Athlead storyline (without some of the miscommunication) here. I’m hoping it’ll play out without as much angst as Season 9!
This does all feel bittersweet under the knowledge that their lives are about to change somewhat significantly.
The jinx! Dwight! It’s all so very lovely. Their “interview” was a whole lot of fun.
Author's Response:
Well, you know me Jenna, I'm all about flipping things around. You should also know that I'm all about cranking the fluff up to 11, so have no fear, season 9 angst is nowhere in sight.
It is bittersweet, as growing can be sometimes and I'm glad it came across for you. Jim and Pam are going from seeing each other almost constantly to 3 states apart weekend visits, quite a shift. Thrown into that after their first week married they'll be right back to it for another 4 weeks or so.
Happy to hear you liked the twist on the jinx, it was a lot of fun to write so glad you enjoyed it too!
Thanks for stopping by, see you next time!
Wow, this has got to be just about the least tension-y version of Casino Night of all time! Very sweet as always!
Author's Response:
I'm glad I could fill a gap there for you. Happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your kind words!
1 Look, I haven’t seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I know that’s basically unforgivable. I do like the song, does that count for something? Would I help if I said this chapter made me want to watch the movie?
I’m intrigued to see where you go with this! (& obviously I have no idea what to expect). I like this confident Pam and man of few words Jim.
Author's Response: I can find it in my heart to forgive you, and the fact that you like the song makes it a whole lot easier. It definitely helps, I hope to nudge you towards watching it!
Thank you so much!
1 From summary alone this is 110% in the running to be my new favorite thing.
This cloud metaphor? You know I love a good metaphor. This is perfect, so perfect.
I am feeling all sorts of emotional over a can of grape soda so there’s that. They’re too cute. This whole loaded conversation is just wonderful. The double meaning flirting, ugh, my heart. And then there’s Dwight and I literally laughed out loud. Bless.
Could Karen... not?
Pam’s pacing, and the phone throwing. So damn relatable. Also, the mantra. So good. Exactly the right mood for the moment.
I am here for rage Pam. HERE.
This whole argument is so damn good. I kind of love that they’re getting all this shit out of the way before getting to the actual date.
Look. I got too caught up in the story to keep up a running commentary and that should tell you enough about how much I love it.
That last line. Seriously. How was this whole thing so brilliant?!
Author's Response: Jenna! Thank you so much! I am so glad that had so many parts you enjoyed. I had so fun writing this one and your review means SO much!
1 Oh this is just lovely! I love everything Jim pictures when asked about his future.
“I turn around to the bustling streets of New York City and walk away from the past 6 months to ask out my future to a date.” This line is so great - a perfect way to wrap up Jim’s time with Karen.
Poor Pam. You write her sorrow about losing Jim to New York and Karen so well.
“But before they burst out of my beating heart that he can certainly hear, I respond with a “yes”. The imagery in this line is great. I always love a different take on their thoughts in this iconic scene and I feel like you did them justice.
The ending was super sweet. A truly lovely start to your first fic. Thanks for sharing it with us. Welcome to MTT!
Author's Response: Thank you very much for all the feedback. I am very happy to join MTT. One of the reasons I believe Season 3 is such a well written season is how Jenna Fischer portrays Pam. The looks of longing and sadness make it so powerful, and I really wanted to include that in this fic. Thanks for the feedback on that.
1 I’m with Pam. It’s basically impossible to choose an outfit when the stakes are high.
I like her bouncing thoughts here. Very real pre-date jitters.
I love that you have Jim with rolled up sleeves. Nice touch. I like that they’re basically going through the same thought processes as they prepare for the date.
As a couple of others have commented, there’s a lot to be said for breaking up your chunks of text a little. Whenever a new person speaks, it should be on the next line. This really adds a great deal of clarity to any piece of writing.
A very sweet setup for their date. It was nice to have Jim present Pam with options and let her make the final call. A diner feels very them.
1 The date was lovely! I’m glad they had some light moments, but also talked things out. I hope you continue to write here on MTT too!
"I need to get out of this dress."
"I need to get out of this dress."
1 Oh boy, I loved that ending. Seriously, delightful. This whole thing was absolutely lovely and yes I will pause the episode every time to come back and read this because I’m pretty sure it’s canon now.
Author's Response: Ha! I love that :) Thank you!
1 This is a very fun setup! Just the right amount of Season 3 angst at the corners. Loads of Michael being delightfully Michael. Plus, a perfect sprinkle of Kelly’s enthusiasm. Looking forward to seeing where you take this!
Author's Response: Thanks so much for the vote of confidence! I hope I don't disappoint.
1 Oh my goodness! More please! We’re just getting to the really good stuff... I’m so sad this chapter is over!
I loved it, so many great moments. But Jim increasingly getting frustrated with Packer’s creepy advances on Pam well and truly takes the cake!
Author's Response: Thank you! Your wish is my command--just posted ch. 3. So glad you liked this one.
1 This was great! So much to love! Farewell Karen. All the bidding was a whole lot of fun. Very, very nice conversation (and more) to end things. I’m looking forward to seeing how you wrap up these loose ends!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! I'm so glad you liked this chapter. My conclusion is up now--hope you check it out soon.
1 This was a lovely ending. Steamy topped off with just the right amount of sweet. I feel for Toby, but at the same time I don’t feel for Toby because he’s so very... Toby...
Author's Response: Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed my conclusion. Poor Toby. :(
The Jam Fam gets a new game in their household.
A family-friendly one shot about the most popular game on the market, Animal Crossing
1 None of this made any sense to me, apart from the Jim and Pam of it! I love that Pam got them back outside at the end!
Author's Response: That may have been my favorite part too!! Thanks for reading!
1 Your story note/disclaimer is one of my favorites!
This is so, so lovely! My heart. I love anything that has them sorting things out a whole lot quicker in Season 3. The raw emotion here is well done. I like that they figure it out before Karen really has a chance to be a thing.
"But her heart broke that night, too. She lost her partner in crime, her best friend, and the man she loves because she was too scared to screw everything up. "
Jim finds Pam crying in the hallway instead of Dwight, he tries to figure out what's wrong but she doesn't want him to know that he's the problem.
1 Oh I loved this so very much! You took all the best moments from Season 3 and threaded them together to make it work so much sooner here. The “it‘s a date,” and the beach games speech were beautiful repurposed.
I’m so glad you ended it with a moment of happiness. This episode is angsty enough in reality, I need a good positive spin.
1 This was sweet, although a little melancholy. I feel for Jim, seemingly trapped in a never-ending cycle of loving Pam but not being able to tell her. Pam too seems trapped. I’m really curious to see how this plays out, particularly the conversation with Jim’s sister you mention in the summary.
Pam and Roy’s interaction is just plain miserable. Neither of them sound happy in their relationship at all.
Jim’s point of view is super sad also. I kind of feel for Katy here, Jim seems pretty conscious of the fact he’s basically using her because he can’t have what he actually wants (Pam).
You’re certainly setting up the angst of the backstory nicely here.
She’s trying to be honest, isn’t she? So, in all honesty, she wants him to fail the interview.1 Welcome back! It’s lovely to see something new from you! Diving straight into the angst here. I can really see it playing out this way. This feels very at the end of her rope Pam. The real punch to the gut was the Dwight mention. Ugh. I love a good nod to their friendship. I hope there’s more to come!
Author's Response: Thanks a lot for your review!
I am a big fan of Pam and Dwight's friendship and in the correspondent episode they really connect.
There is more to come. 4 or 5 chapters in total, almost completely written :)
I hope you enjoy them.
1 “she means the statue, not the accountant.” Oh, this is such a great line. I love a little sarcasm and humor with my Pam.
“and moves tubs around, looking for a flavour that matches her current spirits, until her hand feels numb” Ugh. This is such a mood. I love the imagery here to bring that miserable tone out.
Wow, a throwback to the fabric softener scene. It’s fine. I’m fine. My heart isn’t cracking in two or anything.
Oh yes! What a revelation. What a way to end. Looking forward to the next chapter!
Author's Response:
Thanks so much! You are a wonderful reviewer.
I've done the ice cream thing once or twice, not on purpose but yeah... it's a mood.
Again, thanks a lot! I hope you like the rest.
1 No one has time for maps when they’re making bold, spur of the moment decisions. Stopping to print maps just allows time for second guessing...
“she even matches a car’s speed for some miles, and pretends they are in this together” I adore this. I can picture it so very clearly.
“If she had some doubts at first, now they seem to have grown to occupy all the available space in her small car.” This is exactly what I feared with the whole stopping for maps this. Any pausing is the possibility for a loss of momentum...
“She doesn't come up with an answer but uses extra deodorant just in case.” I love this. Your writing here has just the right amount of clever humor mixed in with the painful uncertainty that Pam is wading through.
I kind of love Grave having Pam’s back here, and her understanding of all things Michael.
Author's Response:
Well... I LOVE road tripping, especially in the US. So, this is a bit about my own experiences with maps (nobody needs them) and pausing for coffee. And tagging strangers' cars when I feel lonely.
I wasn't sure at first about needing Grace's help, but she couldn't do it on her own. Plus, yeah, I allowed me to throw that line about Michael :)
Against, thanks very much for your reviews!
1 Oooh, I wasn’t expecting this chapter to play out the way it did at all. I like that Pam’s whole thing essentially became her yogurt lid note. Somehow it’s similar to canon and completely different all at the same time. It’s amazing what that one change of not adding the note in at the time of copying the sales reports makes. I hope it prompts Jim to rethink things like it does so effectively in canon...
Author's Response:
Thanks very much, Jenna!
Indeed, it's more or less the same lines, in a more dramatic scenario.
And well... Jim wouldn't be Jim if he didn't take all of this into consideration, right? :)
1 I like this description of Pam’s day. Making the most of her moment in New York and feeling kind of blank about the Jim thing. It’s almost as if she’s done something and by doing something there’s no regret eating her up. I imagine there would have been had she remained in Scranton...
Oh, and there’s Jim. Perfect. We’ve taken a slightly different way to get there, but I love that this wraps up with “it’s a date” also. I feel like this Pam was even more considered in her actions and it’s great the payoff is equally wonderful as canon.
Author's Response:
Thanks very much for your review! I wanted to keep those lines, because they are just wonderful.
And yeah, the museum part was Pam a little bit defeated, but kind of moving on. I think that's more or less the vibe she gives during the talking head right before Jim asks her out.
Thanks again!
“What was the point of secrets anymore, for three years he had kept this inside hoping it would fade but could only feel it getting stronger. Pam would reject him, Jim knew that, but at least he could say he was honest.” An alternate take on Casino Night.
1 I’m so excited to see you posting this one, NLM! The teaser in chat was more than enough to have me super invested.
“Maybe a year ago Jim would have let Pam’s “friendship” interpretation slide but not tonight.” Yes! This is the Jim we needed in the parking lot. Pam’s friendship plea was most definitely a cop out. They both know there’s more to it than that...
“Sometime between ‘Hello I’m Pam’ and ‘I’ll let Michael know you’re here’” Why is this the sweetest?! I love the idea of it essentially being love at first sight for Jim.
“The cameras aren’t here now,” Oh damn. That’s a brazen invitation if ever I’ve heard one.
“he hardly noticed her slipping off her ring and setting it on his desk” Ugh. Pam. All I can think of is that moment in Gilmore Girls when Lorelai confronts Rory about sleeping with Dean and she was all, “he took the ring off” and how very much that did not make it okay.
Oh Jim. We all know Pam doesn’t respond too well to being put on the spot. Their conversation at the end is pure angst. Pam needing time to process and Jim being unwilling to give the time is so very in the vein of Casino Night.
I hope part 2 has a little more sunshine! Looking forward to it!
Author's Response: I didn’t consciously intend to invoke Dean from GG XD But yes, Pam taking off her ring certainly doesn’t excuse either of them! I know the end was angst turned up to eleven, but I was very much trying to channel CN and how Pam’s not ready to give the answer Jim wants and Jim’s too impatient to wait. Here hoping the working it out in Chap 2 ;-)
1 “She didn’t get the band past her first knuckle before the feeling that it wasn’t right washed over her” This is such a powerful visual. I really like that it’s here in this moment, trying to put the ring back on that’s a moment of clarity for Pam.
Why is the Pam and Danny interaction so funny? The image of Pam giving her backstory as Isabel’s, only to pan to her living her best life out on the dance floor. It’s hilarious.
“So? Are you doing something else that day?” It’s official. I love Isabel.
Oh. It’s a “hi” “hey” It’s fine. I’m fine. We’re all fine here.
I love the significance of June 10th finding new meaning here. The smutty fluff definitely makes up for the angsty endpoint of the last chapter!
Author's Response:
Responding to this way later but just wanted to say the Pam/Danny/Isabel bit was also my favorite part, well one of them ;-).
And if one has an opportunity to include a “Hi” “Hey” one must take it, it is JAMfic code. Thanks so much for reading!