Finished this a few days ago and hadn't had a chance to leave a review until now (in the small chance you are still seeing these).

I really appreciated how you wrapped this one up - with Pam strong in her need to be independent and be with Jim, them coming back to visit with the old couple with the parallel story, and the repeated line of Katy of course with a different answer.

Again, we think very alike as I have some parallels of my own in stories I had written long before I ever read this... including a mention of pivoting (guess we both watch Friends).

Anyway wanted to share with you my enjoyment of this story and if you are out there reading this...maybe consider dropping by with some new stuff. Meantime I'll be sure to check out some of your other stories.

Author's Response: Hi! Yes, I am reading your reviews! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review. I'm so glad people are still finding these and hopefully enjoying them. I don't see myself writing any more for "The Office," but if you go over to fanfiction.net and look me up under this same screen name, you'll find lots of other fandoms I've written for. I'd love for you to check them out. In the meantime, again, very cool that you are reading. 

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I read this once before - before I had registered and thought how beautifully written it was. Reading it again as I review for Dundies I once again am struck by the beauty and realness in it - how some threads sever and some change their hue from time to time (Roy/Angela) but the analogy of the blue to purple to red - for Jim just touched my heart so.

The whole thing was just gorgeous.
Jenna Bennett- as always the stories you create are true gifts.

Bellissimo

Wow- we got here quick. But I guess when you feel something that strong you can't control what you say or do...but with a fiancée at home I'm a little worried at what's to come of this utterance.

But I started at the end - when so much else was conveyed through this chapter...

the section describing his convalescence after his grave injury was haunting, especially in the way he was surrounded by so much death.

Haunting too was the life Pam would be subject to with Roy, and her predicament caused by the era, the war, a careless father, and what I am suspicious was not a random accident (perhaps two). A predicament made worse because of the abusive nature of her betrothed.
But I was glad to see her at least standing up for herself as much as she could and lines like

“I have a confession. I do not particularly like Mr. Anderson,"

and “You forget yourself, sir!" were delightful the former just because it's so honest and his response is perfect and the latter well because it makes me think of a line from a Hamilton song, but seriously both just draw you into the time.

Speaking of which it was interesting to learn that Pam was the one to inherit everything but because of the time, when she would marry it would all become Roys, which brings us full circle to OMG - did Jim just propose when he has a fiancée already.

As usual you've got me enrapt. I can't wait to see what's to come.

Author's Response: Thank you! I love that you picked up on her moments self-assertiveness. One of the things I wanted to shape about her character is that she definitely grows and becomes a more confident version of herself with his support, very similar to the show in that respect. And of course I had to hurry up and get them married, for obvious reasons. ;) Thanks for the review! 

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Where do I even start? I guess at the beginning. This haunting opening reminded me of the incredible sacrifices of any servicemen and their families, how fitting that I'm reading over Memorial Day weekend. Also how the cycles and patterns of these horrors are essentially on an endless loop destined to repeat which I suppose why this Civil war tale reminded me of the nightmares a modern fictional character looking a lot like our James has had. That he now has something to wake to help banish those visions was beautifully described in the next paragraphs.

There was a poetic beauty in how the following was both so familiar and at the same time so unique to this tale.

The whole bit with only truth that reveals the most clever repackaging of the setting the date scene. That was sheer genius. Roy is a terrible person no matter what era he exists in and I knew he had something to do with that fire but maybe not for the reason I thought. Stupid drunk a-hole.

Now the contrast between Pam and Katy with a touch of even penny thrown in perfectly suggests the deepens of what exists between them something beyond attraction of even chemistry. That she stirs his soul because of her proud mouth and how much that lines reminds us of the times. Your use of language and sentiment of the era is remarkably accurate. The line later “it was as if his soul recognized hers, that in some far off distant place and time they had experienced this together.” Was another perfect manifestation through words of that connection.


Again the way you call to mind the familiar but keep it fresh works wonderfully here and at the last line.

How this line just absolutely tickled me.
“He swallowed hard and made a mental note to find the candle maker in the morning and thank them profusely for their poorly made product.”

And you've said it perfectly
"“Beyond willing, he wanted her to want him, not out of obligation but of desire. There were very few things that meant more to a man than the desire of a woman he cared about.”

How I LOVED this chapter.

Author's Response:

Thank you!

The whole - it was as if his soul recognized hers, that in some far off distant place and time they had experienced this together- was a little bit of a prep line for the possibility of another story in another time (Scotland maybe? I mean, Halpert is a Scottish name and his dad wore a kilt at the wedding. lol.) where they would find each other there, the idea that souls can find each other no matter what. I've got to get through this one first though. 

Thanks Max! 

You did well hitting the multiple senses here - the lavender, the bold, serif print, the whisper of the skirts, the sounds of wheels on cobblestone, the voices of familiar characters (excited to see/hear Oscar, Dwight and Mark).

She is my wife in body and name - When James says stuff like this you do envy Pam. (like Larissa later points out- yes I've read ahead before this review).

I appreciated the part about how he really ran the paper. I like this characteristic in James and it highlights his responsibility despite his playful nature, when it mattered or when it was about important things like his family.

The societal and political repercussions of his leaving Katy and marrying a southerner seem worrisome and foreboding for what is ahead (and did I get a slight whiff of Hamilton here).

I love that Eleanore and Pam are forming such a bond and I adore that James plants temple kisses on Pam in the same manner Jim does. To me those always seemed to define the absolute love he felt/feels for her. The fun banter between them in the next scene --he is no boy-- followed by her first I Love You, followed by a locked door - all so perfectly done.

I am so glad he left the sonnet - and has taken to the art form of love letters. Beautiful way to end the chapter.

Author's Response: Thank you! Yes, I think this James is my favorite iteration of Jim and it’s been fun to write him that way. I knew when I was beginning this fic that I wanted to incorporate the sonnet (and of course the fic name) and this felt like the most natural way — his stumbling but sincere attempt to be romantic.  I also wanted to highlight that he never even considered doing so with Katy so just another way she is on a completely different level than her. 

Guess I should have started with this one, (the news that I was unsure I had know before in Elysian).

SO the opening to this chapter with the watch and inscription felt like it was written for me but perfectly ties to Jim's sense of duty to his family and his guilt.

As did the whole Thomas relationship with Vanessa serve as good set-up for Jim's drawing of the will and while she (you) expressed it well it is not something you wish to think about it is such a huge act of love (in those times especially) and weaves perfectly to the news Pam has (which he may have already been suspicious of because he is just so well, Jim, no matter that he goes by James here).

The way you aligned the sharing of the news, especially so and Jim's reaction to the show version...I saw what you did
***He rested his forehead on hers, their breaths mixing in soft communion as he struggled to understand the new emotion settling its place in his soul.*** the same vision as the on the show.

The whole chapter was so beautifully written, shiny like polished silverware and textured like fine linen napkins.

Echoing the others who have said it before - please don't keep us waiting so long for the next update.

Author's Response: Thank you Max! Your reviews are always so wonderful. 

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I feel you - it's powerful and truthful and so well written. What I most love is that while her body has gone home with him, her soul has not, and I'm so glad in your narrative she is unable to ignore what her heart is screaming. So glad she left. I always hated that she went back again. No matter how lonely she was feeling. There is so much truth though here - I even have some of the same real life experiences from the drunken-ex calling to the going back again for another attempt - so I am so moved and lost in your story.

I'm a real newbie here- only discovered The Office while in quarantine and then this site shortly after, and began my own fan-fiction a month or so ago. With not a lot of time to get lost in multi-chapter stories, I've been trying to sample the shorter works of the local legends and hope I don't get too intimidated by the talent I come across. But I am so glad I came to your story, here, even if I feel a little humbled.

There's a part towards the end when she interacts with Roy and then Jim that so resonated with me - it's a feeling, an idea, that I have in my rough draft of a chapter that I've yet to post but will be coming soon in my new fiction. What I love is when I find other reader/writers who have same though process - it reaffirms what I felt watching the show. I will admit it scares me a little too to read too much of others stuff for fear of being unoriginal but I'm hoping that I bring my own spin to things - after all we are all writing for the same characters.

All that to say, I love your style and loved this story. I, if you can't already tell, I tend to be wordy and verbose, but you have a talent in saying it all with such succinctness but with no less emotion. Again beautiful. Can't wait to read more of your stuff.

Author's Response: Thank you for this kind and detailed review, Maxine. Welcome to The Office, MTT and writing - it’s lovely to have you here! 

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Still enjoying this story and this chapter in particular reminded me of my own dad and how he helped me much the same way in my younger years and in a similar situation to Pam. And he always helped me car shop. Dads are awesome (Moms too). The little speed he gave her about his always worrying it rang so true. As a parent myself now, I always do too.

Pam really gets excited about houses (but doesn’t she realize how much more they are to clean, especially when she gets that dog…but seriously I do like the callback to when Jim bought her a house.

Looking forward to more of this.

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What a wonderful slice of life. I could perfectly picture Jim as he stood in the doorway of their room in the morning. I also felt like you captured some of my life as my boys and husband always make me a Mother’s Day breakfast and your description of their day brought me back to Mother’s Days when my kids were that young. Thanks for sparking that memory for me. I’m looking forward to reading more of your Morgan and Jamie series and some of your longer stuff when I have more time and I get through more of my own writing. I really like your style of writing that brings me into the moments so well.

Author's Response: Thanks Maxine! I had a lot of fun writing this quick little story. I'm very glad you enjoyed it and that it sparked some good memories for you. I'm of the opinion that considering all the angst Jim and Pam went through to get to each other, and S9 shennanigans, they deserve nice happy times for the most part moving forwards. 

Also glad you like my writing style. One of my favorite authors once said that when writing, "paint a picture with words." So that's what I try to do. Glad that works for you.

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Came to this one on the heels of reading Quarantine and finding this one a delight too.

Love, love, love the plot concept.
You do a great Michael, and the rest of the ensemble too. however for Jim I envision him leaning more to Adam Sandler fan Jim Carey.

This is going to be fun!

(again, hope you are seeing these)

Author's Response: Thanks! This was fun to write. So glad you liked it.

1

Break my heart why don't you. There was so much to love about this chapter. Everything I thought was about to happen and then you twist. Each time took me by surprise. Their coming together so real, so satisfying. That made the end hurt that much more. (Still loved the chapter, the way you made me see it all through your writing). Nervous about what's next.
Well done.

Author's Response: Yes my hand slipped and I made the end of this chapter really angsty XD It hurt to write but hopefully that makes what comes next more satisfying(don’t be nervous). Thanks so much for reading! 

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Another beautifully written piece that felt like you entered my mind and wrote things I saw or wished for. And did so with words written in ways I could never express so well.

Danny. You nailed it. Him. Her reaction to him. Why it ended before it began. (My yet to be posted features him too and we see him exactly the same way).

I never knew I wanted him to find her until you made it happen. This was perfect.

I was touched by the scene with her and Dwight but this was so right. It had me thinking of another line from the song we discussed.
Never used to get excited to sit here in the silence.
And now it’s all I see. And the whole narrative is different.
Thank you for that. Beautiful. As always.

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Welcome back! I am so sorry for all you have been going through. I was very excited to see you did find your voice through all of this and you gave yourself the present of posting on your birthday. Hope you were able to celebrate in some other ways.

On to the story. So what a surprise this opened to but I really liked it. I wasn't expecting the Dunder Mifflin milieu in this one but I enjoyed how you brought it in. You really did well describing Pam's utter shock when 'He' showed back up in her life.

Enjoyed this line soo much -weird timey-wimey stuff somewhere else?’

SPOILERY COMMENTS
But then you pulled another twist off - when you described Ryan and his bluetooth headset did I think anything of it? No just a good description of his 'type'. I did not see that coming but now it explains why Jim is there. I look forward to seeing what the paper company on paper is all about.

Oh and a little tidbit I noticed that I wonder is it meaningful. Pam and Angelica are friends her (and the name -is that because she is slightly different here?)

Toby interested and sorta hits on her in this world too, well done.

Again I am glad you are writing again and hope to see more of this story.