#and now my brain chemistry is irrevocably changed

[stormte]

I uh

I finally watched the 3rd movie

He’s overtaken my brain again

[antisoucials]

you know the way that in every rivals to lovers lestappen fic they start by addressing each other as “leclerc/verstappen” but as soon as they’re in a relationship they call each other “charlie/maxy”

[feathercreates]

the Viktor talking to Sky storyboards have irrevocably changed my brain chemistry so you know I had to make it real guys based on the below Viktor smile that we were all denied in the final episode cut

no I will not be taking further comments this smile is canon now

[unclewaynemunson]

Water was wet. Nights were dark. And Steve Harrington was straight. Those were all facts. Sure, Steve could see what made a man attractive, but that merely meant he wasn't blind, not that he wasn't straight. He loved girls. He loved holding delicate hands, he loved feeling soft curves underneath his fingers, he loved the taste of lipgloss on his lips, legs sticking out of skirts, the sound of high-pitched giggling, elegant feet in high heels...

So yeah, even if he saw what made a man attractive, he was still straight. Even if he could, hypothetically, see himself being attracted to some abstract man in some abstract scenario, he was still straight. He loved girls, so who cared if every now and then, he would turn his head to stare at a strong pair of male arms or a particularly well-shaped male bum? Who cared if, by high exception, he could lose himself in some fantasies of doing certain things with a guy instead of a girl? He loved girls. He would fall in love with a girl, and she with him, and they would get married and have kids, and he would be perfectly happy with that. So he was straight. It was a fact.

Or, well, it was a fact until it wasn't. Until the most mundane afternoon possible happened. Until he was sitting on the steps in front of the Munsons' trailer, with Eddie beside him and a sixpack placed between the two of them. It was one of those early spring days, when birds chirped louder and the sun made all the colors pop out just a little bit more and life was good.

Their beer wasn't cooled properly. Their snacks were very mediocre. They weren't talking about anything remarkable. And yet, they were only one moment away from Steve's whole sense of identity changing irrevocably. They were headed right towards a moment he would remember for the rest of his life.

Maybe deep down, he knew that he had been falling for a while, but he was an expert at ignoring inconvenient things. He had been able to call it friendship, or fascination, or even annoyance when he needed to get creative. So later, whenever someone would ask him when he fell in love with Eddie, he would always go back to this particular moment.

Eddie laughed about some lame joke Steve made and took another sip of his beer. And Steve's senses zeroed in on him like he had just unlocked some higher plane of existence. He noticed everything like he had never done before. The movement of his adam's apple when he swallowed, the curve of his neck, the way his curls cascaded over his shoulders looking as soft as sheep's wool... And, when he tilted his head back and looked at Steve again, the color of his eyes when the sun hit them just right: brown as rosewood and dark chocolate and acorns. As a small piece of autumn undefeated by this early spring day.

He felt an overwhelming urge to clash his lips against Eddie's right there, to feel stubble instead of lipgloss and wrap his arms around someone who was made of sharp edges instead of soft curves, to hold a big hand adorned with rings that were anything but delicate, to hear deep laughter instead of high-pitched giggles, maybe even a low moan against his ear...

It was in that moment that he understood what it really meant to be straight – and that it wasn't what he was.

He understood that it didn't matter how much he loved girls. It didn't exempt him from loving boys, and he couldn't choose who he'd fall in love with like he thought he could. He loved this boy right in front of him, the one who was currently talking a mile a minute and didn't notice a thing about the current drastic renovation of Steve's entire brain chemistry. And if he allowed himself to keep falling, he might just end up loving boys just as much as he loved girls.

---

(idc how overdone the eddie-being-steve's-bi-revelation trope is, you can pry it from my cold dead hands. Here's yet another version of it and yes i will project my own experience on steve, no one can stop me)

[barrenclan]

That.....that ended both not how I expected and at the same time...yeah, of course that's what happened, of course thats how it ended. Of course deepdark just. leaves. It doesn't make sense, not to us, not to the cats, not as outsiders, but defiance doesn't make sense to anyone but deepdark. Thats how its always been. It's a whim, but everything defiance does is a whim of his.

Deepdark won. He didn't even have to kill anyone else. He won, so absolutely that there was no point in doing anything else to Barren. He won over Longest-Claws, he won over the cats. And he knows that. Everyone knew that the moment he stepped into the camp. Really, maybe the moment rainhaze came back.

BarrenClan survived with, all things considered, next to no casualties, but...

It's still a tragedy. The tragedy of living. The tragedy of dying while you're still standing, of reaching the edge and teetering there and falling back away from it but you already know. You've seen it. You've been there. You know where the line is, how shallow and narrow and crimson it is, how indiscriminate and cruel and callous and nothing like falling asleep it is. And then you live with that.

You're alive, but... you're not, anymore.

Of course, this was how it was going to end. Death would have been too easy. Dying is easy. Living is harder.

anyway this story has permanently altered my brain chemistry in irrevocable ways and its torn my heart out of my chest and presented it still-beating on a platter and I hope you're proud of yourself (positive and affectionate and loving and life-changing)

I described PATFW as "bittersweet tragedy" more than a year ago, but I'm not entirely sure I'd call it a tragedy anymore... mostly because I don't think I define tragedies the same way other people do. But it's definitely still a story with a great deal of tragedy in it.

Now that we're past "The Death of BarrenClan", I can finally say this is what the story has been exploring all along: how do you keep living after you escape death, not by any action of your own, but through pure random chance? What does the world look like for you after that? How do you heal, live, love? Can you?

[my-insanity-is-an-artform]

Woe, Crack Baby Shitten au be upon thee.

(@bamsara 's little doodle of Nari being dubbed Cult Babysitter and holding a little lamb irrevocably changed my brain chemistry. So of course, I'm now making it everyone else's problem with the headcanon that Narinder is good with children of all ages.)

A couple of months before Lamb gets captured, they meet another lamb or a very small flock that have to split up very quickly after meeting since there's more chance of the lamb species surviving if they aren't all together. In the meeting, Lamb agrees to try continue the lamb species and gets pregnant via *magic* or afab.

Of course, all of the lambs are captured and killed with Lamb being the last, still a few months away from giving birth.

But then they are chosen and resurrected by The One Who Waits.

Fun fact: a fetus can survive for a few minutes after the death of the carrier. (Also this is a world with magic and gods in it. Logic means nothing to me.)

Lamb starts their cult, crusades across the lands and meets all sorts of allies and enemies. All while quietly mourning their entire species and the child that never would be.

Right up until they go into labour.

The baby is lamb through and through with soft wool, wide eyes, tiny cloven hooves and floppy ears.

But the influence of the crown is blazingly obvious since the baby's wool is jet black and they have three red eyes.

I can't tell which would be funnier. Lamb giving birth in The Lonely Shack or while they are physically in The Gateway just post-beating Leshy. Like they were in active labour right throughout fighting Leshy and had no idea. Either way, it's Shocked Pikachu .jpeg all around. (My fucking KINGDOM for a doodle of this.)

Various dot point shenanigans under the cut

There are two ways to go about this. But either way, Baby is not staying in the Cult. Too dangerous, especially if word gets to the Bishops about there being another lamb. So Lamb can and will speed-run this shit. So it takes them about 4-6 years to fully defeat the Bishops.

Baby stays with Ratau:

Lamb goes and yells at TOWW. They are panicking because they have no idea how to raise a probably-half-god baby.

Narinder has no idea what happened right up until Lamb comes in screaming about him being a Baby Daddy and child support.

Ratau is Grandpa now. This is his fate. He embraces the Grandpa life.

Baby learns how to play knucklebones before they can speak.

Shrumy tries to wager with Lamb/Ratau for the whole Baby. Once and only Once.

Baby's first word is dice. Or die.

Baby worships TOWW, but they are a Baby and don't really comprehend worship so the small shrine gets a lot of flowers, neat rocks and some drawings. Narinder always gives a lot of gold for them. And No, it's not favouritism. Shut up.

Baby knows curses. This is concerning for everyone except Baby.

Baby gets a little TOWW doll. It's their favourite, it goes everywhere with them and washing it is a nightmare for everyone involved.

Baby is jokingly referred to as TOWW's most Devoted Follower because of the doll.

↑ this action will have consequences.

When Baby is not so baby, they make stuff out of their wool for TOWW and for his disciples. Or asks their parent to help them make stuff.

Cue Lamb awkwardly giving the three some very wonky scarves or hats.

Baal loves it.

Aym refuses to take his off. Ever.

Narinder is actually upset cause his doesn't fit. He's too big. He had to wear it like a little ring.

Or Baby stays/is brought to the Gateway ala Aym and Baal situation:

If Lamb gives birth in the Gateway, everyone is getting a free midwifery education and free trauma. The cats want a refund.

Ya know when a baby instinctively clasps their little hand around a finger and it's like a crime to pull away? That but with Narinder's big ass claw that Baby can only barely cling to.

Aym cries the first time he holds Baby.

Baal straight-up refuses to give Baby back for a good hour.

Lamb visits at least once a day.

Lamb also brings baby things since a baby will do what a baby will do.

Depending on how old Aym and Baal were when they were gifted, Narinder is either learning all of this for the first time or is reminded of how challenging baby care can be.

Narinder purrs = a zonked Baby.

Baby's first word is Vessel.

Baby is taught to fight. Lamb doesn't like it but accepts it.

Baby has a little lamb doll. It is only due to the fact the afterlife doesn't have dirt that they avoid the nightmare of trying to wash it.

Baby is jokingly referred to as TOWW's most Devoted Follower since they refuse to be parted with him for long.

↑ this action will have consequences.

Lamb teaches Baby about being a lamb and if Aym and Baal join in, well who are they to deny their child's only friends/guardians this?

Narinder and Lamb figure out how to get Baby to teleport to the Living World and Baby gets to visit Grandpa Ratau.

Post-game shenanigans.

Narinder: Give me back my crown. Lamb: Ok. Sure. Narinder: I will now sacrifice my most devoted follower (the Lamb) for my freedom. Lamb: *Kill Bill sirens*

Lamb somehow doesn't kill Aym and Baal and instead kidnaps them via Indoctrination Circle out of spite/ reluctance to hurt them.

Narinder feels betrayed that the Lamb would refuse like this and kidnap his acolytes. He was going to resurrect them! He can't fully commit to raising a child while being the God of Death.

Lamb feels betrayed that Narinder would want to kill their child. After all they've been through together! After the way they saw him treat Baby with such gentleness and now he wants to kill them?!

This comes out in the very final moments right before Lamb goes to give the final blow.

Narinder: You are a vengeful false idol and a traitor! Lamb: At least I'm not a monster who wanted to kill my own child! Narinder: Wait. What.

This devolves into a massive argument with divorced-couple vibes.

Narinder is insulted and a bit hurt they thought he would kill his own child.

Lamb is hurt that Narinder would just demand their sacrifice without even talking to them about the whole situation.

Either way the lesson learned is Narinder needs to be more blunt and Lamb needs to not jump to conclusions.

So they are left with a newly usurped Narinder and a newly crowned Lamb. Oops.

Baby is with Ratau when all of this is going down.

Baby is happy their family is all together properly. Baby is Not Happy about this whole cult thing demanding attention from Their Baba.

The Cult is baffled by the sight of their leader with both a baby and a Spouse? Bitterly Divorced Ex? Estranged Co-parent?! What ever it is, most of them have elected not to touch the whole situation with a 10ft barge pole.

Baby learns what the word Father is and how that word refers to Narinder.

Baby calls Narinder Father/Papa/Daddy. Instant KO.

Narinder somehow gains a small hoard of children that like to follow him. Baby Does Not Approve.

Baby also Does Not Approve of this newly formed rift between their parents.

Cue Parent Trap level of Shenanigans.

Aym and Baal are recruited.

The Hoard of Children are recruited. Baby now Slightly Approves.

Narinder and Lamb have an Actual Conversation after the 18th time they get locked in the confessional together.

This of course evolves into Narilamb.

Bishops are saved from purgatory.

Despite all attempts otherwise, Baby is introduced to them.

Shocked Pikachu .jpeg x4

Maybe after a few more years, not-so-baby Baby wants a sibling.

This got so much longer than I thought but yes. Shitten Shenanigans: Accidental Child Acquisition flavoured.

[look2the-starrs]

I just know the new Hunger Games movie won't be it🥲

Don't get me wrong I'm beyond excited for the new book. I have faith that Suzanne Collins— the woman she is— will write a story so gripping, undeniably tragic and beyond critical of our current global politics that it will irrevocably change my brain chemistry.

But I have no faith in Hollywood to stay true to the heart of her next story.

We've seen this recently with TBOSBAS. The book was gritty, gruelling, stripped back from all the glam of the first Hunger Games. But the movie took away the worst of it. Now all I see of the movie is fan edits of Tom Blythe and the costumes Hunter Schaefer wears as if that is what we are meant to take away. And obviously this is no hate to the actors.

This is hate to a movie that will completely trivialise the heart of the next Hunger Games book. A book we know to be about propaganda and the lies our governments sell us so they can continue to commit atrocities on a global scale.

I was thinking about sscene in Mockingjay where the Capital bombed a hospital and how, when I was 12 and first read that, my brain thought "God that's awful". That would never happen.

But it happens today. It's happening right now. 34 of Palestine 36 hospitals have been reduced to piles of ruble and bodies.

Make no mistake. This new book will be about the censorship of the truth, about the governments in the west that we live under, that aid and are complicit in crimes across the world.

It will be about the USA, Israel and Palestine, about the UK's hand in the genocide in Congo and Sudan.

But you don't even have to have half a brain to know that the movie, that Hollywood, will never go there.

[woebegonepod]

I have spent the last few weeks binge-listening to your show, and whilst there is a lot of it that will stick with me, Troy's "Am I ******?" speech from ep 156 has irrevocably changed my brain chemistry.

Thank you, but also - how do I live this changed life now?

hold on ill change it again sometime soon

[fbfh]

dad!ricky bowen hcs

wc: 1.7k

warnings: afab/pregnant reader, ricky is a good dad, ricky x therapy, ricky has mild white guy with a guitar syndome, mildly questionable but still cute baby names, TOOTH ROTTING FLUFF AND LOVESICK RICKY ("op that isn't an au")

a/n: I have been sturggling!!! the good news is I'm going to see barbie movie tomorrow which will be fun. I had a fashion crisis then realized I can just. go as weird barbie. I feel her in my soul.

tags @yesv01 @magcon7280 @hopefullhearts @thatawkwardlittlefangirl  @sunshineangel-reads @strawberry-cake1 @afidiofobia @aliyahsutherland @pikzel @demirunner @brinaslittlefreak @girlfriendwhoseawitch @2manyobsessions @almostjollypizza  @mystic-writings  @babiesimagines @fictionalcomforts  @lizziebitch33 @urmum-xoxo @lubsana @cowboylikekelsey @legramilis @if-only-i-was-fictional @mrscarolscaramoucheplease @isaentremundos

Oh boy oh my god

If you thought this boy couldn't love you anymore than he already does???

You thought Ricky Munch McSimp Bowen couldn’t get anymore irrevocably in love with you and hopelessly utterly devoted to your very existence???

You think he’s bad now?????????

Just wait till you get pregnant 

His entire world changes

And all his priorities shift to you

And that little bump growing on your belly

If he doesn’t baby trap you

Which let’s be real, there’s a pretty decent chance he would try to baby trap you if he gets back in his Toxic Ricky Era

Aka best era

But that’s a story for another time

Let’s assume that it actually was an accident

That the condom really did break or you really did forget to take your birth control

So this is just as much of a surprise to Ricky as it is to you

He’s reeling at first

He has no idea what to do, he can barely process this

It’s not that he doesn’t want kids, it’s just that you’re both still so young, he’s never really thought about it too much before

Let me rephrase that

He’s never practically considered it before

Sure he’s had plenty of hazy starry eyed daydreams about you two being parents together

Of how cute and sweet you would be all pregnant with his baby

Of how clingy and affectionate you’d get with a ring on your finger and a baby in your belly, how you’d sound calling him your husband

But now, actually standing there in the bathroom looking at all the tests with the little positive lines

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t freaking out a little

Not in a bad way

It’s just a lot to process

Then he hears you on the phone in the other room with your mom or sister or best friend as you break the news to them

“Yeah… yeah, Ricky’s the dad.” 

Ricky’s the dad

He freezes in his tracks

He feels like he’s just been wacked cartoonishly over the head as your words ring in his ears

He’s the dad

Of the baby

Of your baby

He walks out of the bathroom looking for you while you wrap up your conversation

He keeps staring at your stomach

He knows it’s probably too early but he still hopes you’re showing

As soon as you’re off the phone you’re a little surprised and a lot relieved and comforted to see him pull you in for the tightest most meaningful hug of your life

He kisses your cheek and cradles your head and holds you so tight

And god you were doing your best to hold it together but you’re already so hormonal and he’s holding you so reassuringly

You can’t not cry

And he gets a little misty too

He makes sure you know from that moment that this is going to be the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you both

The first ultrasound changes his brain chemistry

He looks on that screen at the fuzzy image of your baby and GOD he never wants to look away

He will be making it his wallpaper and getting wallet sized pictures

By the time your baby is born Mike has tons of ultrasound pictures hanging on his fridge 

He’s constantly taking pictures of you bc he thinks you look beautiful all the time

And you look unfathomably beautiful carrying his baby

“Ricky, if you post me anymore often you’ll have to start a spam account…”

You’re joking but he thinks that’s actually a good idea

You’re barely able to talk him out of becoming a daddy vlogger

I could go into heavy detail about how supportive he is during your pregnancy

And how motherfucking DOWN he is to be a dad

And I will (at some point. If y’all want future dad!ricky x pregnant!reader and/or ricky being an amazing dad/husband especially during new born days lmk. I have ideas.)

But I’ve gotten sidetracked with that enough for today

Bc after your baby is born and Ricky is holding you in the hospital while you hold your newborn baby

Your precious little bundle of joy

In that moment you become parents

And he watches you care for your baby

You heal his mommy issues

God watching you be a mom

Be a loving patient kind mom 

Who always makes time for your baby and makes sure they feel loved

Who would never ever ever even think about leaving them

Suffice it to say he’s really glad he’s already in therapy

Because watching you be a mom, even becoming a parent himself has really made him realize how horrible his mom was

And it’s made him so much closer with his dad

Picking out names was a bit of a process

You end up settling on Sonny, short for Sondheim for your first born son

Then when your second comes along, a little girl

You see Ricky playing guitar for you and Sonny and your baby bump one night when you notice the name on the side of his guitar

“What brand is that?” You ask sleepily

“What, my guitar?” Ricky smiles, watching you play with your son’s soft curly hair that looks just like his dad’s

“It’s an Epiphone.” 

You can’t get the name out of your head after that

When you pitch it as a baby name to Ricky, he loves it

Like he can’t think of a more perfect name

So two years after Sonny is born, you welcome Pippa into your family

And now you have a daddy’s boy AND a daddy’s girl on your hands

Half the time, anyway

The other half they’re die hard mommy’s kids

Usually you can swap, one of you taking each kid

And that system works pretty well

Ricky has like

Deeply, chemically bonded to you

He is so excited for extracurriculars and hobbies

He’s so fucking ready for basketball and little league and skateboarding and guitar lessons

And all the ballet recitals and gymnastics and soccer and cheer tryouts 

And of course theatre

Oh my god when Big Red found out y’all were pregnant?????

You could hear the entire Redonovich family screaming and celebrating across the entire state

So obviously Uncle Red is over all the time

Aka uncle pizza guy

He knows not to show up to your place without pizza

Or at least some cinnamon twists or salt lake slices stickers

He was highkey scared that your kids wouldn’t like him

But he is literally their favorite uncle

For Red’s first birthday after your oldest is born, you give him a shirt that says “official bisexual pizza uncle”

He wears it all the fucking time

He loves it and wants a million more

And of course

All kids birthday parties are at Salt Lake Slices 

Because fuck chuck e cheese 

If you even propose throwing a party somewhere else???

Expect a tantrum

Even when your kids get older and want to start celebrating elsewhere, Salt Lake Slices will always be an integral part of all birthday traditions

Every birthday plan has a silent (and then we go to Slices after) attached to it

Pool party aka pool party + slices

Laser tag (then slices), trampoline park (then slices), six flags (then slices)

Grandpa Mike is over a lot too and he couldn't be prouder 

He keeps every single memorabilia 

He still has your oldest’s first ultrasound picture on his fridge

And he has a bookshelf that’s filling up with boxes of craft projects and photos and drawings

He’s proud of you and proud of your grandkids

And he’s especially proud of Ricky

The kid has had his ups and downs, but Mike really can’t believe the amazing man his son has grown into

And Miss Jenn aka fairy godmother

The literal godmother of your children

Is equally obsessed with them

She’s still directing shows at East High as well as at a local community theatre

“My theatre family… my children… I am beyond honored to announce our first official theatre baby.” 

She will hold up your baby in front of both casts and sing a slow, soulful, emotional rendition of the circle of life from broadway lion king

It’s a canon event you can’t interfere

Ricky is so relieved that Pippa is still too little for school by the time Sonny is getting ready to start pre-k 

He can’t imagine having both his babies out of the house all day at the same time

“So every couple years we’ll just… have a new one?” 

He’s barely joking

Their first sleep away camp at camp shalow lake crushes you both

It’s so hard but you’re so proud and so excited for them

Besides 

Uncle EJ aka uncle rocketman aka uncle stinkyman has them in good hands

Ricky called him stinkyman once and your kids LOST it

He's running the camp now btw

So yeah every kid under 10 now refers to EJ with his new camp nickname

Stinkyman

Ricky promises to talk to the kids and tell them not to call him that

As soon as EJ leaves you’re like “Are you actually-”

“Yeah no I’m not gonna discourage that.” 

God you can’t get enough of him

Ricky either works at a skate shop downtown or a music store these days

If yall are still doing shows you absolutely take the kiddos to rehearsal with you

You spend most of rehearsals hyping each other up to your babies

“Look, daddy’s about to say something really funny.”

“Isn’t mommy’s singing and dancing so pretty?”

 Your kids basically have free rein at the threatre

They’re the unofficial mascots and get playbill mentions for shows they’re not even in

They make up new good luck rituals for every show

And all of them work

God Ricky just loves you so much

He loves you and your kids

And his dad and miss Jenn and his friends

He loves every bedtime story and post cry hug and scraped knee bandaid request

He loves all of it

And he loves doing it with you

[valyrfia]

i'm so compelled by your steve and tony thesis on the tags under this post https://www.tumblr.com/valyrfia/761331351932829696/exactly-if-i-wanted-best-friends-i-would-be-into?source=share that i (after having spent my teenage years reading stucky) want to try it out. do you have any fic recs to get me started?

Oh boy anon I haven't read stevetony since 2020, but it's such a formative ship to me that a few fics still stand out in my mind. If you're interested I'll leave them and comments on the impressions they left on me below the cut.

Quick disclaimer that Marvel is often treated as a multiverse to differentiate between comics and movie canon. The main comics canon is 616, and the movies are just the MCU. There are other comics canons and multiverses, but 616 is the main one you need to get your head around for a lot of these comics-related fics. The MCU is vaguely based off of 616, but the most important aspect to wrap your head around if you want to delve into fic and don't want to read the comics is that Civil War in 616 ended with Steve almost killing Tony, not able to bring himself to do it and surrendering, Steve getting shot on the way to his trial and dying, Tony becoming director of SHIELD and becoming severely depressed over Steve's death, and then via other plot happenings having to delete his memory INCLUDING the fact that Steve died, and Steve resurrecting via sci-fi shenanigans. This arc along with The Confession and The Oath are what mainly fuel stevetony.

Okay, now that the primer is out of the way without further ado here are some fics I read in my teenage years that irrevocably changed my brain chemistry with regard to how I choose to ship anything ever.

When I Think (Oh It Terrifies Me) by celli - 8k, E

Look, some mornings you wake up and little green men are invading New York City; some mornings you wake up and you can hear Captain America's voice in your head. Tony has been an Avenger long enough that he saves his freakout for important things.

This is the first fic I ever bookmarked on ao3. It's short and snappy and fun and serves as a great little primer, especially since it's MCU!

almeno tu nell'universo by silkspectred - 114k, E

Tony drives off. Well, he wants to. But he can’t. Because. Steve Rogers is in front of his car. Steve fucking Rogers. Is in front of Tony’s fucking car.

Complete change of pace from the one above, but still MCU–this is Steve and Tony locked up together in the Italian countryside after the events of Civil War where Italy herself is as much a character as anything. I had the absolute privilege of reading this as it was released chapter by chapter and just remember it being breathtaking.

The Last Love Song of Anthony E. Stark by jibrailis - 42k, M

After contracting an Asgardian virus, Tony starts forgetting things. And people. And Steve.

All I remember of this is that it was the first fic I ever properly sobbed my little heart out to. I would recommend a thousand times over, I remember the settings and character work especially being really well done. It's also MCU!

wear it like a message by starvels (dinosaur) - 10k, E

Steve and Tony have some negotiations about how to wear rings and dog tags on your person when you’re a superhero badass wearing skin tight body armor. Also, they kiss a lot.

There's a common trope in stevetony that is vaguely described by 'peak battle couple', and I think that's definitely one that you would enjoy especially if you come from a Lestappen background. It's 616, but I seem to remember there's not a lot of actual plot knowledge required.

America Isn't Chicken by Dr_Amuly - 130k, E

After a Civil War, death, rebirth, a takeover by Osborn, brain deletion, and the fall of Asgard, Steve and Tony might just be starting to get back on solid ground with one another. Things aren't perfect, not yet, but they can be in the same room as each other without resorting to violence, and they've even managed to share a smile or two. Seems like the perfect time, then, for Tony to try and fuck it all up with a stupid game of gay chicken. Meanwhile, as if he didn't have enough to worry about, Tony realizes some kind of supervillainous trouble is brewing when increasingly advanced armors start popping up all over Manhattan, looking strangely reminiscent of his tech. On the other side of the world, Steve gets news that Zola is on the move in Russia, with some sort of nefarious plan at work. Which will ruin them first? Will it be this unknown armored villain who is after Tony's tech? Or will it be Zola unleashing his mysterious plan on the world? Or will Steve and Tony prove to be their own worst enemies, destroying the tentative truce they managed to forge with their own stubbornness?

Don't be intimidated by the length of this, or by the fact that it's 616. Amuly was long a famous author of the fandom because they have a real gift for crafting excellent, engaging, and accessible novel-length fics. I would actually say this is the perfect primer for getting to grips with the world and universe of 616 while also being a hot and hilarious fic.

Belief Space by magicasen - 59k, M

The Time Gem appears not when it is wanted, but when it is needed. Steve learns this the hard way. (Or: an Infinity #6 AU where Thane refuses his birthright and the Avengers are doomed - until the Time Gem shows up within Captain America's grasp.)

I would definitely caution that you need to be pretty familiar with 616 canon to enjoy this one, but I gained all my knowledge through fics and context clues so once you've established that return here. THIS is my favourite fic of all time. I can't NOT recommend it. That is all.

[laineystein]

I have a bit of a weird question. I know people sometimes use your honesty as an excuse to ask you weird questions and I'm sorry to be adding to that, but I also love that you've created an environment where nothing is off limits 🥰 What does it feel like to want to have kids? 😅 My girlfriend is open to kids but would be equally fine not having them. We might not be able to anyway (age difference-related reasons in addition to us being gay and living in different countries at the moment), but I've been trying to figure out where I fall on the matter. Some aspects of it sound good to me, but I don't think I have that built-in desire to care for another person and have someone else depend on me the way children do on their parents. I would love to hear the perspective of someone who definitely wanted kids. Thank you!

Not a weird question! Your journey is not mine - I always knew I wanted kids and that was something that was ingrained in me since I was little; it is a mitzvah for me as a woman to get married and have children. I know what my family and my siblings mean to me and I wanted to create that for myself and share that same love with a child of my own. I can’t really explain it beyond that; I just always knew I wanted a family.

And this is just my opinion but if you’re unsure if you want kids, you likely don’t want kids. At least not now. A child is the biggest commitment you can make - I’d argue even bigger than marriage because messing it up doesn’t irrevocably alter a human’s brain chemistry and overall life. Even those that are all-in on being a parent have times where it is unbearably difficult. In my opinion you really have to truly want kids with everything in you. The great part is, if that changes tomorrow and you suddenly have the want to bring a child into the world and/or adopt you can. Just because you may not be sold on the idea today doesn’t mean that always needs to be your decision. Don’t let societal pressure lead you into thinking you have to be a parent. It’s fine if you don’t! It’s also fine if you don’t right now and suddenly do next year. Your worth isn’t defined by your attitude on becoming a parent. I’m sure you’re contributing to the world in other ways and I hope the things you do instead of having children (if that’s the path you ultimately decide on) are just as fulfilling.

(That felt like a lot of rambling so I hope it made sense 🙃)

[aleisters]

hey yeah sorry. yeah. sorry. every now and then i remember that the magicians irrevocably changed my brain chemistry and then broke my heart and like, y'know. i. ug.h.

[aaronexplainsitall]

i'm never gonna be normal about is it over now? something about that song has irrevocably altered my brain chemistry. it's changed the way i view the world. i am a different person now. every time i listen to it i get a knot in my stomach. it is a masterpiece.

[shitouttabuck]

❤️‍🩹 <- me fixing up your heart (after i broke it teehee 🤭)

hi i need you to know i made my cup of tea but i was so bodied by what you wrote i just sat on my bed in silence for an hour and my tea has gone cold

how do i hate thee? let me count the ways

"What are you doing here?" Eddie asks, and Buck realises it might be the first time Eddie's ever asked him that, the first time he's ever needed a reason to be on the Diaz doorstep at eight PM on a Friday. — what is wrong with you. jesus fucking christ

one lipstick-marked with that pretty pink shade that haunts Buck's nights — can’t wait to join him in being haunted cheers!

"Know what?" Buck pleads, desperate enough that he'd fall to his knees if he thought it would get him anywhere. — i have nothing to say here actually just that i hate you

"Just two buddies playing hold 'em, huh?" Eddie's voice is a rasp now, like he's dragged the question over grindstone. — you are dragging ME back and forth over grindstone my skin is RAW i am BLEEDING ABOUT IT

"Eddie, you were willing to die," he says desperately. "Not for me. With me."

"Well." Eddie shrugs, swallows, keeps his eyes fixed on next door's dying rose bed. "I didn't get to make that choice last time." — i have never in my life. never. known anguish like this. i am typing this so calmly. but that is because something inside me lay down and died when i read the words “i didn’t get to make that choice last time”. irrevocably changed the structure of my brain, of my heart. changed for the worse mind you because now i know that this is a thought eddie diaz has had, a thought eddie diaz keeps having. i’m not ever recovering from that KO that’s it for me

(if your brain chemistry remains normal and functioning because you haven’t yet read this, let’s change that ❤️ join me in hell)

[scalierpepper]

Just wanted to let you know that your tlt animatic has irrevocably changed my brain chemistry. I've rewatched it several times now and keep finding new wonderful things. It's so masterfully done! The way you matched it to the music! The little animated movement touches! The camera angles! The lighting! How it's FULLY COLOURED???????? We are so spoiled. I paused to admire all the images between the GtN and HtN sections and they are all BANGERS. The way you timed that to the music??? The line about the sword as Gideon lets go of hers??? Transcendent. I LOVE how you draw the characters, I feel like that's just canon how they look. Gideon's grin. Harrow's little bird bone face. I've literally straight up cried more than once at the part where the River takes Gideon. I'm just wildly grateful you put all this time into a project like this because it's so beautiful and took so much time and skill and ahhh. I have saved it to show to any of my friends I can convince to read the series. Thank you again so much for making it I am forever in your debt.

OK NOW IM CRYING thank you so much T__T

[stormyoceans]

what the actual fuck i'm so fucking mad you got that message in your inbox, you're like the most loving most positive person here always enjoying your interests in such a nice way like that personally angered me you don't deserve that at all. that was written only to piss you off please don't let them, your love for vice versa and jimmysea is honestly the cutest most endearing thing and it makes me genuinely happy seeing you talk about it so excitedly every day. their episodes were soooo good imho so cute so them! i've missed them a lot and i'll be rewatching FOR SURE! what were your fave 3 moments? if you can choose! fuck that anon and the other ones that might be the same person. love you monica keep loving them as hard as you do <3

ANON YOU'RE MAKING ME TEAR UP THIS IS SO SWEET 😭😭 idk if i deserve all these nice words but please know that i deeply appreciate them and that they mean a lot to me!!!! thank you so so much for this 🥺💜

honestly i LOVED the our skyy episodes like i know im terribly biased, but out of all the ones we got until now i think the plot for vice versa felt the most organic and coherent to the characters and their journey. once again everyone involved in the show put so much care and attention into it, and jimmysea have such a natural easy chemistry to them, they sell the lovesick fools who have been married for five years SO WELL. IDK IF I CAN PICK ONLY 3 FAVORITE MOMENTS BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL SO GOOD BUT LET ME TRY:

1) the beach scene. IRREVOCABLY CHANGED ME MY LIFE MY PERSPECTIVE THE FOUNDATION OF MY PERSONHOOD THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF MY BRAIN AND THE ENTIRE MAKE UP OF MY BEING ON AN INTRINSIC MOLECULAR LEVEL. AGAIN. i haven't even begun to process A QUARTER of the insane amount of parallels they managed to pack in just 3 minutes of screentime and how, by doing that, they were able to show just how far puentalay have come in their journey: from strangers to lovers, from a one sided drunk kiss to a passionate yet tender mutual kiss, from a mouthed 'i like your name' to a mouthed 'i love you', from talay's life ending in the ocean to the ocean being the witness of his love, that same love he once thought was just an annoying distraction in the way to achieve his dreams and that now has become an essential color in the palette of his life..... literally made me experience every single emotion present on the spectrum of human consciousness, im gonna need a 2 weeks long vacation in a controlled environment to decompress and recover from the sheer high romance and the whole entire everything of it all

also not to toot my own horn but i love being correct and never losing:

2) both the birthday conversation and the drawing one. SORRY I KNOW IM CHEATING BUT I JUST CAN'T CHOOSE BETWEEN THESE TWO MOMENTS. WHEN I SAY PUENTALAY INVENTED COMMUNICATION UNDERSTANDING CARE LOVE SUPPORT!!!!!!!! im not mentally stable enough to be coherent about this but like.. one of the reasons i adore puentalay is that since the beginning they have always been willing to try to understand each other. no relationship comes without misunderstandings or conflicts, they're always bound to happen from time to time because we're all different and we all react to things in different ways, but what matters the most is the way you can come together after that to face the issue and make it better. i feel like people often have this idealized vision of love where everything must be perfect and passionate and all-consuming, but i believe love is actively choosing to share your life with someone every day as you help each other navigate through it and enjoy the quiet moments together, and i think these two conversations show that puen and talay have this kind of love, a love that will last forever because whatever happens being together is the most important thing for them

3) puentalay and jigsaw sleeping in the same bed. LITERALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU EXCEPT THAT I PERSONALLY DON'T EVEN WANT KIDS BUT SEEING PUEN AND TALAY BEING SO TENDER WITH JIGSAW AND REARRANGING THEIR LIFE TO MAKE SPACE FOR HIM HAD ME LYING IN THE DIRT SOBBING FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO CLIMB DOWN FROM THE SUGAR HIGH THIS SCENE GAVE ME WITH ITS SWEETNESS. it also reminded me a little of the scene in episode 6 when talay admits everything he has missed about puen: talay has always been more rational and reserved with his emotions compared to puen, but it's in quiet moments like these that you can see how deeply his feelings actually run. both puen and talay have so much love to give and one day, when they will be ready, they're gonna have a kid of their own and expand their family, and this knowledge is gonna MAKE ME DIE HAPPY AND IN PEACE