Wife, mother (of children, not dragons, generally). Hopeless romantic, massive JAM shipper.
Also present on FanFiction.Net under the same name, where I wrote a fair number of stories for Bones, which for over ten years was the TV love of my life. Until now.
I’m still fairly new to The (US) Office, but as a Brit, I was really into the UK version and wasn’t too sure about this upstart US reboot, even with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s input. I’d seen a few episodes over the years, knew vaguely about the Jim/Pam storyline and that there was chemistry, but not really clicked on how good it was, and as for the rest, the little I’d seen? Well, Craig Robinson is Doug Judy in B99 to me, Rashida Jones - Ann Perkins in Parks and Rec; and I didn’t even know that Ellie Kemper and Ed Helms had been in it for several seasons, let alone James Spader and CATHERINE TATE?! Then I binge-watched it all the way through early in UK lockdown in Spring 2020 and suddenly it all clicked, and I fell hard for JAM. Really hard.
I’ve now watched some episodes several times, but I’m following via the Office Ladies podcast, so I’m really getting into the detail of the show itself as well as the love story.
In real life I have my own Jim (although his name isn’t Jim and he doesn’t work in paper, but he is lovely), two teenagers, a naughty Beagle and a cheeky Jack Russell. I work in the IT Industry.
This is a teeny tiny plot bunny that has barely any plot at all.
It just came into my mind after I saw a gif of this scene (S3E8, The Merger). Enjoy.
1 If only! This was great, so much feeling encapsulated in just 400-odd words. Loved this!
‘He’s not going to use her for a story. He’d known within seconds of seeing her sneak to that garden door like a lifeline, within seconds of slipping out after her, that he wasn’t going to do that.’
Wow. I am gripped. And every chapter seems to be getting more cliff-hangery. This is absolutely awesome.
Author's Response:
Ah, thank you so much!! That’s so amazing to hear - I’m really glad you’re enjoying it :)
OMG this is a triumph. And I love that you are going to have a wrap-up chapter.
That sheriff though - grrrrrrrrr. I wanted to slap him! Does remind us of the period the story is set in. And go Oscar! I love that he had a part to play in this turning out the right way.
Author's Response:
Thank you so much! And haha yes - so I knew I wanted an actual competent police officer in there, and then realised I hadn't used Oscar's character at all, so...
The sheriff *might* be a character you also know (and also one that was pretty sexist, even in today's time).
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
Ooooh this was so cool! I love that Danny has finally got his comeuppance, but guessing we're not out of the woods with Robert (and evil henchman Frank) just yet...
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it :) And Robert and Frank's fates are coming up in the next chapter...
Reading each of these chapters is like drinking a fine wine - the more you read, the more you want. There is so much actual story going on here and yet you still manage to cram in so much JAM goodness. I am savouring every word.
Author's Response: Ahaha thank you so much - that's so kind! :) I'm so thrilled you're enjoying it (also, my aim for this story was to have slightly more JAM goodness and less JAM angst, so I'm glad that's worked). Thanks so much!
So let me just say that this chapter is a tour de force of tasteful sexual activity between 2 consenting adults interspersed with actual plot. But happily heavy on the sexual activity. And more than that (see what I did there) this is a totally believable way that 1960s Jim and Pam would have got it on with the sexytiemz.
More viscerally than that though, I actually cheered when I saw you were not pulling any punches on the Jim and Pam love scene, I love that they FINALLY did it and you have them together.
As ever, this story is a delight to read and review and it just keeps getting better and better. It took me a few chapters to get invested in the characters as the time era was different, but it didn’t take me long to become gripped with the plot and it’s one of my very favourite stories. I really do care about Robert and Danny (he is such an enabler) getting their comeuppance!
Finally, with you on “genitals” - not a sexy word.
Author's Response:
Thank you so much! Haha, I'm always a bit nervous about writing the sexytiemz as I'm definitely not a good smut writer - I think I've established that tasteful/vague and/or awkward are my go-tos - so I'm relieved you thought this worked! But yeah, I did think it was about time in this fic. There's only so many times they can be interrupted.
And ah thank you, that's really lovely to hear! I'm sort of with you on not always being sure about different time eras - but I *think* I've basically got round it here by, um, not making it all that different from now (except they don't have mobile phones).
And it's really not!
Thanks so much for the review :)
Oh, and I would give you more jellybeans but I've run out (who decided there should be a limit, goddamnit?!)
(and I'm with Merria on the cliffhanger. WE NEED DETAILS.)
I'm done now.
Author's Response:
Haha, thanks very much! (Also agreed on the jellybeans, I always forget how many I've used and am very sad when the little message pops up...)
Details are on the way, I promise :D
Thank you so much for reviewing!
1 Well done on moving house, glad it’s at least out of lockdown now!
Awesome (and pleasantly long) chapter, sets things up for some big revelations in the next instalment, I sense?
Author's Response:
Thanks so much! (And yes haha, I am blithely ignoring news on the Indian variant/possibility of a 3rd lockdown...)
There are some revelations in the next chapter 😃 thanks so much for reading and taking the time to review!
Basscop, are you a fellow Brit? This was fab BTW, finally they are alone together for a cuddle! And the truth is out about Danny! Loving it!
Author's Response:
Haha, I am! Hope you also got (/will soon get) the joy of huddling in a pub garden in a group of 6 at slight freezing temperatures 😁
And thanks so much! Yeah, I thought it was about time...thank you so much for reading and taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it!
1 Oooooooh. Subterfuge! Investigative journalism! Epic romance (clearly this is a JAM story, after all) and as always, supremely well written.
Well ya got me hooked already, darnit!
Author's Response: Thank you so much, I'm so glad to hear that haha! I do like some subterfuge and investigative journalism....thanks so much for reviewing :)
1 Very behind with reviews but just wanted to show appreciation of how much I am loving this story.
Author's Response: Ah, thank you so much! That's so great to hear, I'm really glad you're enjoying it: really appreciate you leaving a review! :)
I have to add how awesome Once's review of Chapter 1 is, with the hair. That review needs framing (and straighteners)
Author's Response: LOL. I agree, that review is incredible.
This chapter - so good.
My absolute favourite paragraph that stood out to me on both times I read through it this morning (once when I should have been working, it was that good) and stands the test of Pam and Jim in any era:
"She knows she’s always been more cautious than him. When they were kids, he was always the one pushing her to take risks, to take a chance, to come out of her shell. She wanted to do those things, when she was around him. She’d wanted to, in a way that she never had with Danny, because with Jim she’d always felt like she had a safe place to land. He’d never judge her if she failed or made a fool of herself. He’d help her get up again, if she fell. She’d always used to know that without question."
I think that sums up how much he cares about her and how much he respects her. It made me actually say "awwww" out loud. Such a lovely sentiment about the fact Pam recognises that in Jim. Lovely writing.
Author's Response: Ah, thank you so much! I'm so thrilled to hear you liked that paragraph: it is also one of the things that I really love about their relationship.
An exploration of what might have happened if our favorite couple lived in the age of the dating app.
Set in early Season 3, if Season 3 happened to take place in 2017.
1 Noooooooooo! You can’t stop! Soooooo good! Post the next one, post the next one!
1 This was in the random story on my MTT home page tonight. It’s been in my favourites for a long time and I’ve read it multiple times. It was lovely having it come up tonight and I took the opportunity to read it again, it’s a lovely story.
What if Jim didn’t forget his umbrella?
An alternate look at season 9.
1 Catching up with reviews - love love love this chapter, so much heart in this with Pam's description of why she fell in love with Jim and why she still loves him.
Author's Response: Thank you as always. The journals entries were some of the harder bits to write so I’m so please you enjoyed them. So nice to hear your thoughts as they work through it all.
1 So... this was everything I hoped it would be. I love how you popped the dialogue from the Finale in there - in this context it also works so well. As ever, you nailed the characterisations, I can hear their voices in my head as they speak.
It was just lovely and heart warming to be honest, even in the darker moments - as I said in an earlier review, one can feel all the love between them and that never goes away. All the good JAM things in this story and reflecting on the whole thing, I think you built it to a perfect crescendo. Brava!
Author's Response:
I'm so glad you enjoyed the ending and felt they still were themselves as they came to this alternate resolution.
I'm so glad what came out through the while story, even through their difficulties was their love, but also the effort they needed to put in to get to this place of understanding.
Thanks for your many reviews (which are like Gold).
1 Yes!!!!!!! I love that Pam called David! This story is so beautifully written, Max, I don't mind you dragging it out at all ;)
Author's Response:
We need more David in the fics. I think David is a underappreciated, underutilized fic character - the man had unending patience with Michael, Andy and all the shenanigans that went on over the years -kind of surprised he drew the line at Jan (but she may have proved to be batsh*t in the end)...I thought about giving him some lines but decided this was not the place and leave it to readers to imagine that kind man's convo with Pam.
I thank you for the reviews and jelly beans and for joining me on this journey. It always makes the it so much more satisfying to share when you know others are along for the ride and your words and ideas are being appreciated and felt by others.
So jelly beans back to you.
Who, not whom, sorry. *facepalms*
Author's Response: You crack me up - but I also cringe when I typo in a review since you cannot go back and edit them.
1 Where to even start with this, so many great things.
You’ve captured a moment where two people whom love each other very much are just in different places, and how that can cause a fracture that can sometimes become something much greater and lead to a breakdown in a marriage.
I love (in a creative writing capacity, hate for JAM to be feeling sad) that you’ve shown their tiredness and resignation at the situation, too - especially Pam’s.
You know I love detail and I love the little details you’ve inserted in here, *especially* the yogurt lids!
And just the quality of the writing. Top, top notch, I really want to read more of this and how it unravels and resolves. Wonderful!
Author's Response:
Where to start with my response - thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means so much that you enjoyed this - even though they are sad - and you still can appreciate the story being told. As you know I usually write much fluffier fics so this departure had me a bit apprehensive.
I'm all about those yogurt lids! Funny thing is I abhor yogurt! Yuck - only way I eat it is when frozen (the kind that has so much sugar it's really ice cream and no longer anything even remotely like yogurt - like not the Pinkberry kind (did you have Pinkberry there?)
You say resolves as if you are sure...wink. It's not a long one 2-3 more chapters and they are mostly written so you'll see soon enough.
Thank you for the praise and support.
Cheers!
1 Honoured to get a mention (thank you!) but I did nothing really! I really love how you’re writing this.
Love hurts sometimes. You are so realistic in how this is playing out. The imagery and allusions are spot on, and again, we can feel the pain, but also the hope of two people who really love each other but have disconnected. And that happens in adult relationships sometimes, even the best ones.
Communication is an evolving process and you are really showing how they are trying to make that journey to attempt to reconnect. Sometimes it’s successful and sometimes not. But what I love most about this (I’m so naughty starting sentences with ‘but’ and ‘and’!) is the love they have for each each other is shining out like a beacon. And I LOVED that you really examined Pam’s character traits. They are so well considered. Jim seems to recognise that but he also recognises his own needs and right now there is a clash of goals. And this is what makes it all such a balancing act.
I say this as someone who has been (happily) with my husband for over two decades - anyone who says relationships / marriage is easy all the time, is lying. One has to work at it, sometimes there is miscommunication, or no communication, a lot of it is about understanding the other person, what drives them and their character traits so you bring out the best in each other, for each other. One doesn’t always get it right but it’s about thinking before acting and understanding motives (usually good motives in healthy relationships, just the execution can be poor.)
I think for the most of what we saw play out on screen over 6 seasons of their being together, they managed that (and I believe it was a lesson they took with them to Austin) but in this period for them they did lose their way with each other because they stopped communicating.
Gosh, that turned into a critique of marriage counselling!
This wasn’t tough to read at all because that’s what I took from this chapter. It is beautiful and hopeful. I hope we get a happy ending!
Author's Response:
First off - It helps more than you know to have an opinion when certain lines are giving you pause so yes a mention is warranted.
I think we long time marrieds can really appreciate what was happening between them during season 9 and what it takes in a marriage to keep it strong sometimes. Life is always rosy and love as powerful as it is won't fix all the problems that can arise, especially when communication breaks down (and we know these two have a tendency to go inward sometimes). I have a feeling you will love the next chapter based on the things you've said here and I can't wait to get your reaction to that one.
I'm so glad it's coming across that no matter how hard the problems are now, it is not from lack of love for each other. If anything it is the opposite. It's that deep love they have for each other that is actually making it so much harder. Kinda what Brian had said about his and Alyssa - when they stopped fighting they realized they no longer cared.
I'm really chuffed (hope I'm using this right) to get such praise from you for this one. Knowing that readers (no matter how many or few) are resonating with what I write is so uplifting. So thanks so so much for being so present for this one.
A Coffeeshop AU.
Pamela Beesly, recently unbetrothed graphic designer, stumbles into The Comedy Roasters, a new coffeeshop with a manic owner and an intriguingly attractive barista.
1 This was great. But: STOP BEING A COWARD, JIM! Grrrrr.
Author's Response: I mean, it's Jim, early season Jim. Don't worry, there will, eventually, be movement.
Run out of jelly beans, still enjoying this though 👍🏼
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you're still reading with me!
There’s something unnerving about the sun still being out, something that makes it all seem a little more serious. Something about seeing the dust in the corner, the sources of shadows, the scuffs on the floor all illumined by the warm light streaming through the windows.
It’s less like magic.
It’s more like real life.
Giving you a nudge on this, it was so good!
Giving you a nudge on this, it was so good!