#anyway i'm just going to wait for all the sydney gif sets

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Just a matter of timelines

I 💯 believe Storer never envisioned The Bear as a love story per se but romance was rather a closure/ending for his original movie script. My reason to believe this is quite factual: He said The Bear was actually thought of as a movie about dysfunctional characters finding each other -found family- in a dysfunctional (realistic) kitchen. Not a rom-com. I already talked about that here quoting his interview with the Enquirer.

That being said, I also figured by 02x01 that he had been converted (I assumed by Calo, but ultimately doesn’t matter how) and turned into a Sydcarmy shipper. I go over that here. That’s why his constant gaslighting makes me sick! When I found out that Kasama means together in Filipino and that its owners are married IRL, I was soooo ready to sue this guy.

Anyway, my point is that now with S2 under our belts we can read more into S1 than what Storer wrote originally when all he had was the movie script adapted for TV and no guarantee about the show being picked up for a 2nd season, however, the fact that the ending of the movie/S1 was about leaving the door open for a potential romance between Carmy and Syd as Braciole (Storer has a fetish with naming characters and eps) foreshadowed and that threshold was indeed kinda crossed in S2 (aka the most Sydcarmy season so far), especially in ep 02x09,

it’s important to notice the storytelling length pattern here. Meaning: Storer starts in the opposite direction he actually wants to take, which is what most great writers do BTW and it's not uncommon, ofc. So if he wants to dive into Sydcarmy waters by the end of S3, we can expect a full-on Clairmy renaissance in the first half of the season. You guys know how I feel about her and thus how opposed I am to that, but on Storer terms, the fact that we see Claire get her fucking way at first is gonna be actually a good sign for Sydcarmy.

I have my mind set up to have to wait till S4 to get what I want but with all this new info about the pasta decoding and the storytelling patterns Storer is showing, I’m starting to believe in a S3 Sydcarmy breakthrough. 🤞

There is NO DOUBT in my mind about The Bear getting a star this season or some kind of award like the James Beard that is usually what all Michelin star chefs get first, that’s what makes it so important in the big leagues. More about that here and here.

I have also mentioned that the star will bring them together and also break them up because it comes with a price. And Carmy doesn’t want the star, he wants Sydney and to give her what she wants.

She’s the one who wants The Bear to be a Michelin star spot, Carmy just wanted it to be their spot.

He could have been content with just that. So he will get her the star and probably lose her in the process (I bet but wish I was wrong on this one), which leads me to believe that in S4 he will get her back and that’s why I have my $ on the grand finale, not on S3 for Sydcarmy, but if Storer wants to take a U-turn in S3 as now that I saw this I'm starting to kinda infer... I’m all for it, sure! Unfortunately, he chose the love triangle dynamic, which I hate, to do that, but I’ll take it.

If S3 is Sydcarmy territory as opposed to pre-Sydcarmy territory, I’m here for it.

[jandjsalmon]

2023 FFRC - April 🌷

It's finally hammock weather in Western Canada, folks! And we've been enjoying watching the hockey playoffs from the patio entertainment area we set up once the snow melted - well, I don't know if the word "enjoying" should be used when the team we hate most in the world is moving on to the 2nd round - but it's been exciting anyway.

We've also been sick at our house for most of the month but we're finally starting to come out of it. My Bethy still sounds like Miley Cyrus when she talks - but other than some low-key coughs, she's no longer down with a fever, so we're happy about that.

Continuing along - it's rugby season - so that means a lot of driving to away games to cheer on the Spartans (which means a LOT of reading). I've read more this month than I have ever read. I was also really focused on finishing up the 'extreme' tasks at the @fanfic-reading-challenge - and I finished a few days ago. I'll keep going until I've completed all the tasks in the challenge but I can do that over the course of the rest of the year. 🎉

Below the cut are my stats and some fun fic recs for you. Enjoy!

April 2023

So as you can see, this month I read 2.3 million words, cracking over 7 mill total - and read 922 chapters (of various lengths), and 107 full (and sometimes long) stories. I was working on some fandom challenges and let me tell you - it was harder than it looked!

As for my recs for you! Try these - you might enjoy them. 🖤🖤

--*--

Wonderwall by junkpuppet225 (Carmy/OC - M 11/11)

Summary: Carmy meets Mia at a Al-Anon meeting. She’s going through a similar situation and they become friends. Can he get out of his own head long enough to embrace the feelings he’s starting to have for her or will living in his brothers shadow cause him to miss out on a chance at love? Carmy/OC

Why you should read: THE BEAR FANFICTION! I'm not a Carmy/Sydney fangirl and that is what this fandom is saturated with, so I was HAPPY to find that someone wrote a story where Carmy meets a girl at an meeting and they just GET each other. And neither one is a perfect human - she doesn't SAVE him from himself or anything. They just bear each other's burdens and are THERE for eachother. This is just gorgeous.

--*--

Hello, Sunshine by Wonderlandleighleigh (Lenny/Midge - M 20/20)

Summary: It's June of 1962, and to celebrate being a year clean, Lenny rents a little house in Malibu, inviting Midge to join him.

Why you should read: I got back on my nonsense with the season premiere of TMMM and since I got 3 minutes of Lenny and now have to wait like 8 episodes to see him again, I thought I'd reread old favourites. This one is set post S4 sometime in the future - when Lenny has been in rehab and wants to make things right with Midge. It's SO good and captures their characters perfectly and makes me want to sit on the beach with good friends (and a handsome Jewish comic).

--*--

Love in the Time of Quarantine by @melanoradrood (Neville/Pansy - E 5/5)

Summary: a case study on what happens when a bratty sub spends eighteen months in quarantine and gets so desperate she will have sex with the shy boy from boarding school that promises her orgasms. aka muggle panville tinder au during the great panini

Why you should read: FIRSTLY - Neville is one of my most favourite characters in all of Potterdom and I wanted him to be happy almost from the very first moment we met him. Secondly - it's funny. Hot and funny and sweet. I mean, Neville wants to save her dying(dead) plants that happened to be in the back of her tinder pictures. He's a delight. And this fic is also a delight. You should read it!

--*--

The Raven - For the Rare and Radiant Maiden Series by @drollicpixiefanfic (Wenvier - E 3 fics)

Summary: Xavier Thorpe didn’t exactly expect Wednesday to use the cell phone he purchased for her. It was a ridiculous idea, a whim, a fancy. But something had compelled him to try. So, it was with some shock, two weeks into their break from Nevermore, that Xavier’s phone buzzed on his nightstand.

Why you should read: I'm certain I rec'd this before - but now there is a third story that came out this month (and IT IS AMAZING) - so I could just rec that third story, or I could link you to the whole thing and make you reread it (just like I did). Post season 1 - kinky hot but super tender as well. Funny. Just lovely. and I'm never going to complain about a Xavier PoV. He's my fave. Read this one - if you're not into Wenvier yet, make this your first foray. Come ship with me!

--*--

ANYWAY - I'm always looking for new fic recommendations, so if you have any stories you think I'll love (whether you wrote them or your friend wrote them or you came upon them accidentally), please drop me a line or send me a dm. I've found SO many awesome fics through recommendations from others. I'll read almost any pairing and any fandom. Shoot me a link!🖤

(lastly- I'm a little bit in love with this gif of Xavier waving - and I've been purposely flooding my dashboard with Percy for reasons - so the wave might become a theme for my year - have you seen my new tumblr layout? I'm kinda in love with it. SO pretty).

Anyway -👋🏼 Hiya -I'm happy you're here! I hope you have a wonderful May and I'll see you back here in a few weeks! Happy reading! 🖤

[quellmythirst]

Hey, so I had an idea for a Billy Russo x Reader fanfic. Lowkey based off the movie Time Is Up where the reader meets Billy but she’s dating someone else. Billy actually knows the reader’s boyfriend and Billy and the reader become good friends. But the the reader finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her and apparently Billy KNEW that he was cheating so then Billy and her fight, the reader gets in her car and drives away mad and gets in an accident where she loses her memory so she doesn’t remember meeting Billy AT ALL.

Just an idea because I’m watching the movie right now and I literally LOVE your Billy Russo x Reader stories!

Hey! How are you? Yes! So I haven't seen this movie but, I read the plot outline on Wikipedia and hashed it out. I changed somethings, but I hope you like it anyway.

Don't Wait to Long

Pairs: Fem!Reader x Billy Russo, Fem!reader x Steve Rogers.

Words: 2.1kish?

Warnings: Infidelity (Not reader), violence, swearing?

Dating Captain America had a lot of perks, the esteem, the parties and the way he used to look at you. But lately things have been off. He's been going on more missions, staying at the compound later and later. You knew, knew his job was important saving the world and all that shit. But after 3 years, you began to think that you weren't. You felt as though you were no longer a priority in his life, you could even pinpoint the moment he changed. The second they pulled Bucky from that freezer in Wakanda he was a changed man. You were constantly being brushed to the side to make room for this new man in his life. You tried to be understanding, to be patient. He would come around as soon as Bucky got settled you told yourself, but after a year of this you were beginning to have doubts,

Sitting on the couch you stare at your phone, your best friend just a click away. You knew you shouldn't call him, you know how Steve feels about your relationship with Billy. But with an ocean between you its not like he could argue, it would be fine. Billy would come over and reassure you just like he always had, you would drink wine and watch vampire movies and all of your worries would fade away. Taking a sip of your Pinot you click his number.

"Hey Girlie, what's up? Captain underpants leave you all alone again?"

"Don't call him that. But yeh, what are you up to?"

"Just putting on my jacket," he says and you hear the rustle of his scarf.

"You heading out?" you ask, worried that maybe you interrupted him.

"Yep, I'll be over in 20, make up some popcorn," he tells you before disconnecting the call.

Xx

When he arrives you've got the room all set up, blankets draped cross the couch, popcorn bowl sitting in the middle of the table and his favourite whiskey waiting for him.

"How you feeling there Girlie?" he asks, unwrapping his scarf and throwing his jacket over the back of a chair.

"Shit," you sigh pouring yourself another glass of wine,

"Can't believe you let this asshole treat you like this," he says taking a seat beside you and clicking play on What we do in the shadows.

"He's not just some asshole Bill. He's Captain America,"

"Yeh, exactly, he should fucking know better."

"What am I gunna do?" you ask him ,feeling unsure of yourself

"Why don't you go visit him? He's on mission right? I'm sure he'd be happy to see you," Billy says, knowing the opposite is true. He'd tried everything to get you to see what a jerkoff this guy was, maybe if you saw for yourself, what he had learnt by hiring a PI to follow your supposed "Perfect Man," you would finally see clearly.

"But he's in Sydney, I don't have the kind of money for flights," you sigh, Billy didn't need to know about the algorithm you had cooked up in your spare time, to pinpoint where in the world Steve was. It helped you to feel closer to him, knowing exactly where he was in the world. Imagining yourself on the balcony with his arms around you and the look he used to give you, like you where his reason for being.

"I do, how about I come with you?" Billy says, knocking you out of your dream world and you had to admit it was a good idea.

"Really? You'd do that for me?" you say clutching your non existent pearls.

"Do anything for you Girlie, I just want you to be happy," happy with him, he said to himself, pulling you into a tight hug, "wanna go now?"

"Right now?"

"Sure, go pack a bag, I got spare clothes in my car,"

Xx

The flight to Sydney was long, having to change over in Hong Kong was such a pain. But it would be worth it when you got to see Steve again and with Billy's reassuring presence by your side it would be easy to avoid boredom. You knew Steve would be out all day on mission, returning to his hotel room at night. Which he had told you was in the Shangri La on the harbor. The pictures he had sent you were beautiful, looking out over the cruise ships, the iconic harbor bridge and the weird looking opera house. Not to mention, it made his location a lot easier to track.

"What are we gunna do while we wait?" Billy asks, guiding you to the tram that would take you from the airport to the city.

"I always wanted to see the Opera house," you say, looking up on the tram system at which stop would bring you closest. You ride the tram getting off at Circular Quay. The water sparkles beautifully as you take in your surroundings. To the left you see a large park in the distance and an abundance of cafes, the your right you spot the Opera house, your legs dragging you forward towards the building.

"Omg there's so many steps," Billy complains as you reach the top, looking down over the peninsulas at the the picture perfect harbor, the bridge shining bright in the background.

"Take a selfie with me," you smile, leaning your arms over Billy as you pull out your phone snapping a pic of the both of you. "Where to now?" you ask him,

"I think I saw a museum over there, want to go check it out?"

"Yes! lets go!" you take his hand dragging him behind you as you run towards it. Your breath catching in your throat and a slight sheen of sweat on the both of you. You walk through the museum, not even noticing that your sweaty hands where still intertwined. To focused on enjoying all the artwork that had been loaned to the museum. Taking picture upon picture with each other throughout the interactive exhibits. The room of paper flowers was beautiful and you took the most photos in there, astonished that someone had taken the time to install this beautiful piece.

The sun hadn't even begun to set when you hear your tummy grumble, "Billy what time is it?" you ask, rubbing your stomach and staring up at the sky.

"Around 7," he says, as you begin to walk towards the park you had spotted earlier. His hand still in yours.

"7? It sun is still up, and its like 30 degrees still,"

"Yeh, apparently that's normal around here. Want to go find something to eat?"

Heading into the Rocks district on the northern side of the harbour you find The Keel Bar, down a side street. The bar was beautiful, the air full of woody and a distinctly rum flavored smell. You both sat down, enjoying the cool breeze of the evening air, salt water filling your nostrils as you ordered your plates of food to share. The waiter retuned offering you both their specialty rum for the evening. You and Billy sat reminiscing about the day you had spent together, exploring the city and relishing each others company.

When it hit 9 you were a little sloshed, Billy's hand held under your arm to guide you as you tried to walk off the buzz.

"I just need a minute," you say leaning on the near by railing,

"Take all the time you need Girlie, I'm sure that dickweed isn't going anywhere,"

"Why don't you like him?" you ask, "You never liked him,"

"He's got bad vibes ok and the way he treats you. You deserve better,"

"Someone like you?" you raise an eyebrow at him, maybe this was why?

"No, definitely not. I don't deserve you either," he scoffed leaning next to you on the railing.

"Billy," you whisper, your hand snaking up his arm to turn him close to you as your hand reaches his chin, bringing his face down closer to yours, "tell me to stop,"

His eyes dart from yours to your lips, entranced in the lustful was you were staring at him, "I don't want you too, but you have to," he says leaning back and pulling away from you. "Your drunk girlie, maybe its time I got you back to that fuckwit you call a boyfriend."

Xx

You approach the building, checking your phone to see that the algorithm you had crated had calculated the room number and floor of Steve's room with the photos he had given you. "I'll be going then," Billy says reluctantly, gently knocking his fist into your jaw, "have fun girlie. Call me if you need me," he turns heading out of the lobby.

You hear weird noises as you approached Steve's room and think maybe someone else on this floor is celebrating their honeymoon form all the grunting and moaning you can hear. But your ears perk up when you hear a voice you know, a fiery rage fills your lungs, seeping out your eyes in angry tears. You pulling your special swipe card that can hack any door in seconds, slamming the door open.

Your eyes budge wide, taking in the scene before you. Your boyfriend, the man who said he would marry you one day, balls deep in another mans throat. Realization hit you like a ton of bricks, crushing and heavy. This is what Billy had been trying to tell you. "We're over," you whisper, your voice laced with sobs of defeat. You turn away from the scene, racing down the halls towards the elevator. You hear your name being called and suddenly a strong hand seizes your arm.

"Where you going honey? It wasn't what it looked like," Steve lies, a soft pathetic looking smile on his face.

"Really?" you spit back, rage bubbling and boiling in your blood, "because it looked like you were balls deep in James Buchanan Barnes. Remember all those time's you said you guys where just friends Steve? Remember when I asked about him?" your voice shaking, eyes attempting to burn him alive from the inside out.

"What about you and Billy huh? Dude hasn't left you alone for a minute," he shouts his vice grip on your hand bruising as the elevator dings open and Billy is standing inside. He steps out, reaching behind him to pull a gun out and point it at Steve.

"Of course, can't let her go anywhere on her own," Steve growls at Billy.

"Let go of her," he commands in a deep and harsh voice.

"No, she's my girl," Steve tugs you closer to him but you pull away, trying desperately to get free of him.

"Like fuck I am. Go back to Bucky and stop pretending, it's not 1940 anymore Steve! You guys can just be together and leave me the fuck alone!" You scream, your arm aching, your feet kicking into his legs.

"She's got a point Steve," Bucky says, finally exiting the apartment a towel wrapped around his waist, "let her go and come back to bed."

"We're taking about this when I get back to New York," he says sternly to you finally releasing your arm and you run into Billy, his arms wrapping protectively around you.

"We aren't talking about shit ever again Steve Rogers, You're never going to see me again," you say as the lift closes between you.

Xx

Tears fill your eyes as your realization finally hits you, you dumped Captain America. Yeh, because he's a liar and a cheat. You sob into Billy's arms as he walks you towards the hotel he had booked, not quite as fancy as Steve's but nice, it was artsy and fun.

The room is cute decorated in all sorts of colours, various nick knack's around the place and it then you realise there's only one bed.

"Its ok, I'll just sleep on the floor," Billy says, "did it heaps overseas one more night wont kill me,"

"Don't be silly there's heaps of room," you smile for the first time in an hour, feeling a tiny bit more normal and sane than you had in years.

"I don't want to make it weird,"

"Its not weird, we can share a bed and I bet its super comfy," you say feeling a bit better. You yeet yourself onto the bed face first, but its a lot bouncier than you expected and boings you off, your head colliding with the side table, before your whole body hits the floor.

In a flash Billy's is at your side, wiping the blood from your room desperately trying to get you to wake, he almost gives up and calls an ambulance when your eyes flutter open and he lets out a sigh of relief.

"Hey Girlie, you ok?" his voice dripping with sincere concern.

"Who are you?" you ask, rubbing your head where the pain was coming from and looking down to see blood on your fingertips, "Who am I?"

"Y/N, come on now, this isn't' funny. You know me," Billy says sliding his arms under you and placing you on the bed.

"Do I though?" your face turning quizzical as you stare up at the man.

"Yes, now shut up and drink this," he says handing you some ibuprofen and a glass of water, "we better stay up incase you have a concussion."

"Whatever you say stranger," you drink them both down. smiling mischievously at him.

"Do you really not know me?" he says taking your face in his hands, his thumbs stroking along your cheeks and genuine worry in his eyes. Without thinking you push forward locking your lips with his, your tongue diving into his mouth to taste him for the very first time. Your hands moving into his hair to hold his face close, pulling him down until he was completely atop you.

"I could never forget you, but I would like to get to know you in other ways," you winked at him.

"I can think of many ways to keep you up all night," Billy says seductively.

"Cant wait to hear them."

[inglourious-imagines]

Oh Captain, My Captain (Ronald Speirs)

Requested by: @sydney-m

Summary: You and Speirs fooled around a bit but it was just a one-time thing. However, he can't fight his feelings for much longer.

Author's Note: I don't know if this is what you wanted but this idea suddenly strucked me and I had to write it haha. Hope you like it!

Taglist: @alienoresimagines @teenmagazines @meteora-fc @eugenesmorphine @band-of-brothers-cz @real-fans  @not-john-watsons-blog @tealaquinn @ok-roemanov @mrseasycompany @punkgeekchic @wexhappyxfew @hellitwasyoufirstsergeant @rayofshanshine @mavysnavy @easynix @stressedinadress @georgeluzwarmhugs @easy-company-tradition @immrsronaldspeirs @snafus-peckuh @curraheewestandalone @warrior-healer @justamadgirlinabox @happyveday

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.

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"Find what you love and let it kill you." - Bukowski

"The war's over."

Those three words echoed in her head like a prayer and she still quite couldn't catch the real grasp of it. After such long years of fighting and dying it almost seemed surreal for it to end now. Just like that.

Y/N looked at her trembling hands, not really sure about what's wrong with her. She should be happy, so incredibly happy, that it's all finally over. No more fighting, no more killing, no more dying.

Y/N glanced at the officer sitting next to Lewis Nixon as she tried so much not to stare at his tired face. In that exact moment, in that early summer sun, Ronald Speirs looked like the most innocent person in the entire world that she almost forgot what weight he had to carry on his shoulders.

All of them had to.

Harry Welsh smoking a cigarette leaned closer to her, "You really should talk with him. The war's over now. He deserves to know."

Y/N forced herself to look away from the worn out soldier. "I don't know, Harry... I'm- I'm scared." she whispered turning to the paratrooper fully.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, my dear." Welsh tried to reassure her but both of them knew it's just words. Speirs was an unpredictable person and nobody ever knew what possibly can go on in his mind. 

"But even if you are, you've got to tell him. What would you do if he didn't know? Disappear? Run away?" Harry took a drag from his cigarette and Y/N knew he's telling the purest truth. She had to do it even though every single part of her said no.

•••

Y/N's eyes wandered to the bottle of whiskey for the hundredth time in five minutes and she had to hold her hand down so she wouldn't grab it. It was harder, way harder than it should, with all the soldiers around her getting drunk just like the other night.

"How come you don't have a drink, darling?" Speirs crashed on the chair next to her, his cheeks flushed and a bright smile on his face. She'd never - during the entire war - seen him so happy just like in that moment.

"I haven't been feeling well, that's all." Y/N tried to explain, partly to avoid the conversation about alcohol but the more she thought about what she said, the more she realised she actually didn't lie. Not at all.

"What's the matter? You probably should go to bed, Y/N. I can get you some extra blankets. And hot tea. Or coffee, whatever you like." Ron mumbled quickly as some emotion wave through his body. He tried to ignore it but it came back when he looked at the young female soldier next to him.

"I'm okay, it's nothing serious." Y/N laughed patting his shoulder gently. Ron didn't have the slightest idea how he missed her touch. This was beyond his own mind and understanding. After the slight touch they shared, he found himself falling in, craving for her hands, body and soul.

"Do you think we can talk?" the tone of her voice suddenly changed and he was met with a pair of concerned deep Y/E/C eyes.

He nodded faintly, not sure what could go wrong so quickly but he took her cold hand anyway and led her into an empty room.

Y/N walked around the room looking everywhere but at him and Speirs knew right away she's hiding something from him.

"What is it? You're kinda scaring me to be honest." he admitted as he finished his drink putting the glass away.

"No! I swear I'm okay. It's just-... I have to tell you something." 

"Are you sure you're fine? You look a bit pale, the bed might really help." Ron insisted as his posture was evidently concerned, worried and maybe even scared. He had no idea what could be so important that Y/N felt the need to be alone for talking.

The truth was, even he tried his hardest to fight it, Ronald Speirs couldn't stop his mind, soul and heart from wanting her war-stained lips, her tender touch, her quiet whisper, her joinful laugh, her beautiful scarred body. He simply craved every single part of Y/N, the desperate need to have her near him was complicating his life but he was slowly giving in. Y/N was his new hope.

"I truly feel okay, don't worry." Y/N sounded a bit frustrated with the soldier as she couldn't get to the point.

"I'm gonna get you some water at least, right? Just wait a second." Speirs stated as a matter of fact walking towards the door.

And at the moment, when his hand touched the door knob, Y/N knew that if he left the room, she'd never be able to tell him.

"I'm pregnant, Ron!" 

Everything stopped. His arm fell to his body as he immediately freezed on the spot. Speirs expected everything, every single thing in the world, but not this. He slowly turned on his heel looking directly into her scared eyes. Fatigue and worry was basically radiating off of her.

"Are you sure it's mine?" Ronald whispered because he didn't dare to speak out loud. A weird atmosphere was floating in the air as well as plenty of unanswered questions. "Alright, that's a stupid question." he added as he saw the ironic look she sent him.

The room was flooded with silence for a moment - neither of them didn't know what to say. Their emotions were going through a storm, it was difficult to look at the other one without the unconditional love they'd been hiding inside of them since the night in Heagenau.

"I better buy that family house in the States I've wanted to buy for a long time then." Ronald Speirs finally spoke up with an innocent pure smile set on his face. 

A single tear rolled down her cheek. Ron took a few steps toward her. "It has a beautiful garden with lots of flowers of so many kinds. There's even a little house for the dog you've always said you wanted. The view from there is spectacular - woods and hills and mountains."

At this very point, Y/N was crying like a little baby as she hugged the soldier so tight like she never wanted to let him go.

"We made a human." Ron whispered pressing a gentle kiss on her lips that expressed way more than words ever could.