Just staring into nothing and thinking about how Joey and Pacey's endings, while absolutely unintended by the Powers That Be at the start, were always the truest when it was with each other.
The fact they had Joey and Pacey's storyline first start with bickering and their issue of kissing each other as if it's not something that could make a full circle some day (it did)
The fact that Pacey always saw Joey first (a woman, beautiful, fun, a GODDESS) and liked her way before Dawson
The fact that no other pair on this show does nicknames like them. From cretin, pervet/prude, to sweetheart, to my love, to last name calling. No one else.
The fact that their ship absolutely works both as a romance-drama and a romcom (even one whole episode of it!) speaks volumes on just how good they look together
The fact that whenever she had fun or stepped out of her comfort zone, it was with a push from Pacey. Remember that party? That carnival? The pool after the review? Dancing on stage? It is way more fun than just sitting around watching movies
The fact that Pacey punching the guy off Joey is a great metaphor of how Pacey was always there for her but overlooked all along
Speaking of being always there, the fact that Pacey and Joey knew each other as long as her and Dawson and we even have evidence of him being there for her unprovoked, too (e.g., the S1 party to let her relax, and driving her to her dad's prison and bribing the officer) but Pacey never mentioned that history to her to convince her of how they go well together
The fact that when Pacey first noticed Joey as beautiful, it was during one of her pissed off, effortless moments (i.e., changing her wet clothes) but when Dawson first noticed her beauty was when she was wearing makeup and getting all dolled up for a beauty pageant
The fact that whenever Drunk Joey shows up is when Pacey was there to make her feel safe
The fact that they made Pacey's first real relationship to be a screwball comedy of sorts that seems so similar to a certain already existing relationship (only this time attainable)
The fact that they showed Pacey and Joey as equals who get each other (S1 bench scene, "tilting at windmills" complex, "I remember everything") compared to Dawson and Joey who always expect more of each other (e.g. "This is not you Dawson", "It's like you don't know me at all")
The fact that Joey was mad Dawson didn't take her interests outside of him seriously when she develops a passion for art in S2, and in S3E16, he encouraged her to repaint the mural but didn't take any actions. But Pacey did. He helped make a blank canvas and he bought her a wall. A WALL. To support and push her to take the next step.
The fact that in S2, Joey vented to Jen about how she's tired of always talking and running things to the ground with Dawson and Pacey mirrors her in S3 when he cuts her off and asks "Aren't you tired of talking? Well I get tired" before kissing her--- insinuating how well they understand each other emotionally
The fact that they accidentally foreshadowed PJo during the fortune teller episode when Pacey refers to himself as "dark tall handsome man" to Andie. Then the next scene, the fortune teller tells Joey "A tall, dark man will come into your life"
The fact that when the Icehouse was burning, Dawson, despite being the bf here, went to save her father, but Pacey saved Joey
The fact that according to Dawson, Joey would never ever admit to needing someone but she did confess to needing someone only twice in the show and both referring to the same person. We had Joey admit to needing Pacey twice: first, to Dawson to beg for his approval and second, to Pacey when saying she doesn't need Bessie as much as she needs him
The fact that the only time DC allowed the audience to see into the gang's thoughts (i.e., Summer Diaries) was DURING THE SAIL OF THE TRUE LOVE SHIP. It's the only time we get to be privvy into Joey's mind about the boy she loves at the time and the experiences during that relationship--- why didn't we even get bonus content during DJo's numerous relapse? Why the extra effort in S3 to S4??
The fact that Joey plainly stated that only Pacey can inspire her to run away for a summer when we all know her to be someone who likes to plan and is afraid of stepping out of her comfort zone.
Even more boggling, the fact that SHE was the one to suggest coming with him. Unlike with every other love interest who outright asked her to join them and she rejected... Pacey didn't even need to ask.
The fact they made Joey lose her virginity to Pacey when we all know how sacred she thinks of sex. If the writers still wanted the Dawson endgame, they should've held that off. After all, it would also send out a nice message that there's nothing wrong with being a virgin
The fact that Joey never had to dress up to impress Pacey when she went with him on major events (i.e., hair down simple clothes in S4 and S6 networking events, low ponytail in senior prom) as opposed to going for wavy curls for her aurora-gazing party date with AJ or putting fancy clothes and hair bun for junior prom with Dawson. As if she consciously knew she still needed to emphasize her beauty for the latter two to appreciate it but with Pacey... she knows
The fact that in a tv show era where love triangles predominantly showcase the men's interests, Pacey repeatedly saying to Joey that it doesn't matter how he feels, it matters how she feels, is a fresh take on how it gives the female lead a sense of agency. S3 to S4 shows the importance of progressing Joey's life outside of love and how Pacey is there to help push it along rather than just being a typical storyline piece for the protagonist (i.e., Dawson's endgame)
On that note, it's the fact that Pacey represents free will and unconditional love compared to Dawson who represents "destined loved" but only when it is based on the right conditions
The fact that Joey's, or anyone in the show for that matter, longest and happiest relationship was with Pacey. The DJo ship that sailed in 7 eps of S2 and 2 eps of S5 could never compare to 2 seasons of PJo. In fact, if they wanted to make DJo endgame, why not make it happen in the last half arc of S5 or throughout S6?
The fact that Dawson and Joey do have history but from S3 onwards, it was more of Pacey and Joey making history (outside of just being a couple, they were seen to hang out more and more--- they had a deeper level of friendship that, dare I say, puts them as best friends than Dawson could ever compete with as they grow up)
The fact that the writers named the boat True Love. TRUE LOVE. And had them literally sailing off into the sunset together, as if the show wasn't aware that this is one of those symbolic romcom movie cliches that just seals the deal for a couple and is even an idiom for happy endings and bright futures
Even more confounding: the fact that they named the episode when PJo first get together as "True Love". What episode title would be the best way to show what they mean to one another than these two simple words?! AS IF THEY WANT US TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE EPISODE WHERE TRUE LOVE COMES THROUGH. As opposed to the episode titles where DJo got together, especially the first time being "Decisions". Insane.
Pacey was right.
One of the few things, if not the only thing, that made complete and total sense was them together.
