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
She had spent her whole life trying to put it into words.
1 I find the common theme with most fluff is that it lacks depth & girl your writing always plunges the very depths of my soul. To simply call it fluff just doesn’t seem to do it justice. I’m not sure what the most fitting term would be, but as far as I’m concerned, you are in a genre all of your own (& it’s the best one that there is).
“and struggled to mentally place him back in the neatly contained partition of her mind where she kept him”
I love a Pam that quietly admits to knowing that there was more going on with Jim than she wanted to openly acknowledge.
“the pull of his gravity drew her in against her will”
So. Much. Chemistry. The same chemistry we see on the screen also leaps off the page when you write the words.
“and times when the pains of stretching and growing had become too much”
This is what I genuinely love about Season 9 & this line. Long term relationships take work. You always paint that is such an achingly beautiful way.
“The planet continued on its path around the sun and time pressed forward with heartless disinterest in their fragile breaths between the markers”
This. Honestly this. How is everything you write this profound? And when are you dropping some sort of philosophical poetry book because I would 1000% be here for it.
Author's Response:
Listen. I know I've told you this numerous times but I really, really love your reviews. And *especially* right now, I want to read them again and again so thank you. They truly remind me that someone out there likes what I put out into the universe and that the whole damn thing is worth it.
Thank you as always, JB! <3
We had made a life behind fortified walls, protecting from the depthless sorrow, and containing the glimmer of hope within. What was worth fighting for was buried in our bones, a cry from our souls, and it was louder and clearer every day.
1 Please picture that gif of Michael Scott: it’s happening. Oh my god. It’s happening.
Author's Response: Haha that's perfect. :)
1 We’re one scene in & yes, this is the emotional rollercoaster I signed up for.
From the humor of brilliant one liners like this: “I am...going to pretend to ignore that response,"
To the bittersweet musings on their days, well day really, being marked in Scranton.
And the steady perfection of a moment in a park & then this: “The birds had stopped singing.”
Amazing.
“for safety and something else” oh my god this line just resonates. I love that this is the beginning, but is essentially the thread tying them altogether on the Farm also.
I adore these flashbacks. It’s Pam & Jim before everything they overcome has strengthened them in this whole new way. It’s such great writing to show them as still themselves, true to the show, but also true to the characters that they become in this world.
I am so thrilled to have another story from this universe brightening our lives once again!
Author's Response: I'm SO gald all of these lines landed well. I really wanted to show the contrast of Before and After and how everything can change so quickly and I hope that was shown in this first chapter. :) Thanks Lady!
1 Oh. Okay. So you’ve got best opening line of the year shored up. That’s a given.
““I’m pretty sure that’s swimming” I —
I. Love. Italian. Good.
Dying at their IM banter. It’s so brilliant.
“Are you saying my cardigan isn’t sexy?” Taylor Swift would never.
I am such a fan of this version of Jim, who despite having a crush on engaged Pam, manages to be kind of cool and collected and isn’t asking her to dive into another serious relationship twelve seconds after an engagement.
“Tab D fits into Slot C.” Perfect line is perfect.
“If either of them had been expecting fireworks, there weren’t any” Speak for themselves. Some of us… It’s so much better this way though. Oh yeah, it’s definitely better this way, because now we get this second kiss.
Umm, it was also Ava’s birthday yesterday here so I think that’s good for a second chapter ASAP…
1 It feels important that you know I’m listening to Renegade on repeat as I read this, so that’s where I’m at…
“What would she have said yesterday morning?” I love this line. Totally keeping the normalcy going.
“Okay but can we not make that nickname a thing?” How is this so funny? I want this movie (but like this one specifically. What are the chances of getting Jenna & John to sign on?)
“Better call the whole thing off before we have to get Toby involved.”
“unless involving Toby will help?”
COLEY. The humor. The banter. I’m dying.
“So I should take down my Three Minutes in Heaven with Jim Halpert blog post”
Oh, I adore this. It’s brilliant.
“Would recommend to a friend. Well, not a best friend but like, a casual friend. An acquaintance for sure.”
Brilliant, I tell you. Brilliant.
“Casual Summer Jim.” Will now be referring to this story as Casual Summer Jim and Casual Summer Jim only.
Ugh. I forgot about the leaving thing.
“I think you’re more trouble than you let on.” And that’s why we love wild summer Pam. The very best Pam.
Excuse me quoting your entire story back at you, but it’s just so good and asking me to narrow it down to a favorite line just can’t be done.
"Deep within my gut, I can read his face. We were friends — best friends — at one point in our lives. Unpacking what has changed between us is a monumental task that I’m not entirely prepared to attempt. But despite this rivalry that’s grown between us, I notice the way his features soften, a gentleness makes his eyes and the corners of his mouth dip."
1 I love EVERYTHING about this. That’s it. That’s all the coherency I have to put into a review. I’m so excited to see where this goes.