#gingerSydcarmyFF

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻

My SydCarmy fics MASTERLIST

Carmen Berzatto just stood there in front of her and didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. -Copenhagen He was reduced to a bunch of boneless matter with a heartbeat that only existed because she laid her dark eyes on it. -Après ce, la liberté

At that moment, she realized that her favorite place on Earth was right there, standing 334 feet above the ground, nestled in his chest. -Ponte degli Innamorati

🐻 Slowburn >>> They win a Michelin Star and Carmy confesses his love for Sydney.

🐻 Larrabe >>> Syd moves to her own place, they win a Michelin star and “celebrate”. Luca and Claire also make an appearance here.

🐻 Pasta >>> Carmy & Syd cook together, then eat each other and then there’s this invisible string they discover has always linked them in a sense. Mikey is also mentioned here.

🐻 Heart >>> Carmy goes to therapy to get in touch with his true feelings and Syd tries to deny hers, which explains her ❤️ tattoo.

🐻 Hint >>> Claire reflects on her breakup with Carmy.

🐻 Sunset >>> Carmy must make a choice. Are actions ultimately more important than words?

🐻 Pillow >>> Syd and Carmy open their X files. Not what you think. Now part of a collection alongside "Chef Talk".

🐻 Après >>> Carmy hits rock bottom. Love is an act of mirroring.

🐻 Chef>>> Sydney realizes that Carmy has an uncanny resemblance to a celebrity who features in a steamy CK ad. Claire makes a brief cameo here because "maybe" she always falls for the wrong guy. Now part of a collection alongside "Pillow Talk".

🐻 Madame >>> Sydcarmy is written in the starts but they need a little nudge. Love is in the air but they're fire!

🐻 Stella >>> Stella Bear, the heiress, is here. Now part of a collection alongside "Madame Stardust".

🐻 Shark >>> They get married in secret and honeymoon in Barbados where she starts calling him "Bear".

🐻 Ponte >>> They renew their vows in Italy on their 1st Anniversary. Now part of a collection alongside "Shark Hole".

🐻 Focus>>> Sydney finds out Carmy has been drawing Sistine Chapel-level sketches of her.

🐻 Dreams >>> They have wet dreams about each other simultaneously.

🐻 Tucson >>> Carmy goes to rehab because he almost checks himself out of life permanently and learns to use his words, Syd grows too fond of this new Carmy.

🐻 She's not you >>> Claire was great and scared the shit out of Carmy, but she was no Sydney Adamu.

🐻 Beggin' >>> It's a pseudo-songfic, an experiment, a blurb, a rarity, a little cannoli with mortadella mousse and pistachios that links Carmy, Syd, Donna, and others to this song that I love because I feel it just fits.

🐻 Chococookies >>> Auntie Syd and Uncle Carmy babysit little Bianca and Carmy also babysits Syd when she has a severe case of baby blues 🍪🍪🍪

🐻 Sydney’s secret >>> Carmy holds on to one of Sydney’s most personal items and loses his mind, but turns out Syd had a different take on his “madness”.

🐻 Mother of Victory >>> Donna had to die. Austenianly, of course. Now part of a collection alongside "Chococookies".

🐻 The new Berzattos >>> Syd & Carmy are raising a new family, and now The Bear is gonna be a big brother to this new cub Syd is "cooking". Now part of a collection alongside "Mother of Victory".

🐻 Rain >>> Syd kisses the words right out of Carmy's mouth. Chococookies'prequel. Now part of a collection alongside "Mother of Victory". 🍸🍸

🐻 Last clause >>> Syd and Carmy get a divorce and she gets The Bear. The city of Love might play an important part here. Now part of a collection alongside "Sunset clause".

🐻 Every second counts >>> Victor Emmanuel Berzatto, "The Cub", thanks his parents for having taught him the most valuable lesson of them all. Now part of a collection alongside "Mother of Victory".

🐻 3:10 >>> Carmy pushes himself harder than ever and demands excellence from his crew, they do their best to match his intensity. He does this for Sydney and for Sydney only.

🐻 6 Letters >>> Syd and Carmy say the wrong names in bed when they are fucking their respective partners.

🐻 Play >>> Carmy gets too playful with Syd's braids ;)

🐻 Cupid >>> Syd breaks Cupid's heart 💔.

🐻 More often 🛋>>> Syd falls asleep on Carmy's new leather sofa and wakes up in his bed.

🐻 Unicorn >>> Uncle Carmy & Aunty Syd confess that they could potentially have a whole soccer team of kids if only they'd find the right "partner" to do that with 🦄

🐻 Copenhagen >>> Carmy fucks up big time, as usual, and Syd leaves him but comes back to him over and over, teaches him to speak again, nurses him back to life and Carmy fights her every step of the way because he feels he doesn't deserve her, but ultimately it's her call, not his.

🐻 Blood 🤐 >>> The Bear goes down the classic broke chef-male stripper-awarded chef pipeline and Syd gets a lapdance.

🐻 His pesto 🌱>>> Carmy cooks for Syd and they end up eating each other.

🐻 Letting go >>> Syd is pondering Shapiro's offer. Carmy feels he already lost her and is not about to beg her to stay.

🐻 Bond, Jane Bond 🧨>>> Syd makes a change of regime and Carmy is her Sous. People die in this one.

🐻 The Fairest Creatures Collection >>> Thom Browne offers Carmy and Syd to be the bodies of his new fashion campaign.

🐻 Watermelon Sugar 🍉🍹💕>>> Tina comes up with a love potion based on watermelon and it works wonders on Carmy.

🐻 #Sydcarmychefkiss 🤌💋 >>> Syd and Carmy are judges in a reality show and they have their own fanbase who ships them. Carmy donates part of his profits to charity.

🐻 The Marcusgate 💵💵💵>>> Marcus competes for a million dollars, Carmy finds out Syd has cooked dinner for the pastry Chef and doesn't take it that well.

🐻 Forever 🌟>>> Carmy & Syd get tattoos. Syd is not worried about the competition. 🐻

🐻 The Fix >>> Fixing S3's awful season finale. Carmy shows up a Sydney's apartment and comforts her after her panic attack.

🐻 Sunday morning >>> Syd and Carmy have loooots of morning sex because Syd is insatiable and Carmy ends up cooking breakfast between her legs. 🌅

🐻 Nothingness >>> Carmy finds a letter from Mikey in an old jacket and falls apart, but Syd is there to break his fall. 💔

Remember to Reblog and recommend if you like it and comments are always welcome on AO3 because more often than not I get inspo from them, seeing as I have the best Sydcarmy readers out there!

XOXO

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

This theory is just like my fic LAST CLAUSE

And my meta

i have a theory about the bear & carmy’s artistic talent and no one else (that ive seen!) seems to be talking abt this. gotta get it out there so if it happens i can say i predicted it

carmy is going to leave the restaurant industry. we see time and time again that carmy is not happy in the industry, and maybe never has been. he’s traumatized by the fancy restaurant he worked at. he wanted to work at the beef, but only to be with mikey. he took over the beef because he (felt he) owed it to michael — and because he had the skills — not out of some great love of cooking. he only got to his level of skill out of a self-professed “fuck you” to mikey! carmy’s not happy. “this shit’s not fun for me,” he says to richie. make no mistake — he’s really, really good at it. but he’s not happy. the industry brings out the worst version of him, every single time. the stress of the kitchen turns him into the bear from the 1x01 opening, into his mother.

contrast this with syd and richie, tina, even marcus. even under stress, even with everyone yelling at each other, the kitchen brings out the best in them. they’ve improved their skill levels because they feel they owe it to themselves. richie thrives under the pressure of being a concierge, he’s a new man, he wears suits now. tina is a transformed person because she’s begun to believe in herself (and knows others believe in her). marcus (although thwarted by his own hyper-focus sometimes) delights in the craft of being a pâtissier, creates spectacular, thoughtful dishes — he flourishes.

and sydney. sydney, under stress, opening night, is throwing up in the bushes, like we know carmy did in a job that was Bad for him. but it’s not the stress of the job per se that’s getting to syd, but the pressure she’s put on herself to do well enough that her dad will see the bear as she sees it — her very own place in the industry she loves above all else, a place to practice her beloved craft, to take care of people, to pour everything she has into this one thing. it’s not the job making her physically sick, like it did carmy, it’s the pressure of showing how much she loves the job, of her dad thinking she’s doing well enough to deserve to love and devote herself to it as much as she is. and in the kitchen, under pressure, with carmy locked in the fridge, syd doesn’t panic, doesn’t yell and scream — not really. she collaborates with richie, delegates as necessary, steps up — and leads. she shines.

carmy as a chef is doing what he’s good at, performing the skills he’s cultivated. it might be the only thing he feels he’s good at. it’s all he’s ever really known. but it’s not healthy. it’s killing him. it’s ruining his relationships with everyone important to him. he needs to get out.

i predict that sydney and richie will take over the bear. probably with nat’s help behind the scenes. they love it. it gives them purpose. it makes them thrive.

and carmy… will go to visual arts school. (or simply become an artist. do people still do art school these days? if so… like… he could do worse than SAIC)

i don’t think the show has been dropping all these references to carmy’s artistic talent for no reason. the pants he designed (thom browne’s!), the drawings of claire they mention and then flash during his panic attack, the speculative drawing of the bear he gifts michael in 2x06, and the menu drawings that sydney gushes over. the painting he hates that’s hung in the restaurant? could you do a better one, carm?? in the future, will that get replaced with one of yours, carm??? his artistic talent is lingered on too much to not be indicating something about what carmy really loves. a talent he innately has but doesn’t seem to realize the depth of. what he’d spend his time doing absently before he got caught up in the rat race of the restaurant industry. he talks about art like it’s something he’s compelled to do, like it’s something he loses himself in. a flow state.

carmy can flourish too. it’s just that he’s going to need to go somewhere else to do it.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Sydcarmy Wish 💫🤌💋

(not a fic per se although it looks like it, but it’s literally what I really wish happens after the wedding) #Manifesting

Raspberries

Context: Post-Tiff’s wedding.

Syd drinks too much and since she doesn’t drink often, can’t hold her liquor and so she’s in for a major hangover.

Carmy is now a gent since he almost lost her to The Poacher Shapiro, so he’s behaving like a Golden Retriever and cannot possibly leave such a beautiful damsel in distress like that so he drives her home after the party and also after mentioning multiple times how beautiful she looks in that dress, that is now printed in his brain forever, by the way.

So, they get to her place and he helps her get in because doors are like this indecipherable concept for Syd in her condition, especially the putting the key in the lock part.

And at some point he has to carry her because she falls asleep as soon as they cross her threshold. So they make it to her sofa, she lays there completely knocked out and Carmy who doesn’t wanna leave her alone in case she gets sick and needs someone to hold her hair or something, sits down on the floor, next to her feet, like an obedient dog, leaning his back against the couch and eventually falling asleep too.

Cut to Syd throwing up in the bucket he carefully placed next to her, anticipating the obvious next phase of her hangover. He wakes up to this view of Syd barfing and whimpering and feels for her, holds her braids in place and patiently waits till the vomits subside.

Then helps her up and takes her to the bathroom where she brushes her teeth and repeatedly rinses her mouth with raspberry flavored mouthwash for kids, she has never stopped using since PreK, which Carmy finds adorable.

She catches him smiling and trying to hide it.

Then Carmy helps her to get back to the couch and offers her some tea or his anti-hangover home remedy, which makes her feel nauseous again so he offers her a Tylenol instead and she accepts the pill and from her spot in the couch gives him directions to find the bottle in her nightstand.

Once she pops the pill and drinks a whole glass of water, he places an ice bag in her head and sits down next to her. She then cuddles next to him as if the temperature woulda dropped 10 degrees. He doesn’t know what to do but lets her do as she pleases.

She thanks him. He says “anytime”. She promises him this will not happen again. There’s this tension because they are too close. Too close.

Her head on his shoulder, his hand holding the ice bag in place on top of her head, her cuddle, too close.

She then tells him that she doesn’t need the ice anymore because the Tylenol seems to be kicking in and he obeys. Next thing he knows is that her hand is on his cheek, making him turn to see her, she’s looking at him, zeroing him and he’s nervous and scared and mesmerized by her eyes, entranced.

Carmy kisses her, ever so slightly, almost a butterfly kiss. She smiles against his lips. Now both her hands are cradling his face and he is mirroring her smile too.

Then she’s sick again and runs to the bathroom.

He’s right behind her and watches the whole raspberry mouthwash ritual again, with renewed amusement.

When they come back to the couch, his new favest place on Earth, they sit and she then lays down with her head on his lap. She rolls on her side and cuddles his lap. She loves how comfortable it feels. Carmy gently plays with Syd’s braids, her humming tells him she seems to enjoy this, and after a while when she turns to look at him and innocently ask him why he stopped his ministrations in her hair, he dives in for another kiss. Because of the awkward position they are in, the kiss is also soft and tender, mostly accessory to what his playful hands are doing in her hair.

When Syd feels better she sits up properly next to him, casually leans her side against her sofa and rests her head on her hand, looking at him, like studying his features.

“Is everything OK?”

“Yep, just wondering why haven’t you really really kissed me yet. I mean… clearly you want to. Right? Is it the vomit? Do I reek vomit? I think my breath is OK, it’s raspberry. Don’t you like raspberr-“

She couldn’t finish that sentence because Carmy’s tongue got in the way of hers and tangled up in her mouth, his hands grabbed her face as he French kissed the fuck outta her. Several times.

Syd is breathless.

When Carmy breaks the kiss to let her catch her breath he makes sure she understands how much he loves raspberries.

“I love raspberries, Syd, especially when they taste like you.”

🤌💋

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Sunday morning

"Morning", she whispered in his ear as she cuddled and his eyes fluttered open. Legs tangling as she held him tightly and he groaned before slowly snapping out of his slumber.

"Morning," he said in a hoarse voice that she was getting used to and needed more than coffee first thing in the morning.

She rolled away from him and he brought her back to his chest, where she belonged, her breasts slipping from beneath the covers as her body came to rest against him again.

Skin to skin, covered in sweat and filling the air of the room with moans and dirty talk, they reinvented the meaning of the word chemistry and redefined the concept of passion as an incarnated verb.

The sun shined outside for the mortals that jumped out of bed to jog or walk their dogs that Sunday morning, which looked like any other Sunday morning in May, on this side of the world. Poor fools!

Syd and Carmy were not in the same realm as them. They were on a whole other level in that bed. They were closer to God.

After the fact, only a few minutes passed as they silently rested in each other's arms trying to calm their breathing.

This moment of calm came to an abrupt end when Syd's stomach churned.

They both looked at each other and cracked a laugh.

"Oh, I think you just earned that breakfast, chef, what do you want? Name it, I'll make it for you."

"Hmmmm... anything?"

"Anything."

"Careful Carmy, I'm very hungry..."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning."

Challenge accepted.

He growled, rolling her onto her back and attacking her neck in the spot he now knew drove her wild. He wedged himself between her thighs, his body ready for her instantly once again. She had that effect on him. Sometimes it only took enough time to share a cigarette before he was rock-hard once more and prepared to endure another round. Sometimes not even that long.

She giggled, pulling the sheets over their heads as his mouth descended to her breasts, making its way to her highly responsive and impossibly taut nipples and eliciting sounds from her that drove him to edge faster than any physical touch.

Her nails racked across his back, urging him on, all the while she was encouraging him to fuck her and drawing her knees up against his sides. Her fingers twined in his hair as she pulled his ear to her lips. He responded by sliding his pianist fingers desperately against her slick folds and she stiffened and gasped beneath him.

After that, the passionate haze again.

All of it was rough, sloppy, and quick, thirsty and aching, and it was over when she lifted her hips angling them so he could lose himself in her. Carmy sank down deep inside her calling her name as he choked down against her forehead letting it fly.

Moist rippled around him and a couple more of his erratic thrusts were all it took to push her over the edge. She came hard, arching her back, lifting herself in a brusque shiver, grabbing his shoulders, and biting hard on his flesh there, leaving marks he loved as her whole body trembled against him.

They knew. They always knew the other one was never far behind. They trusted their bodies and were never let down.

Carmy managed to maintain a slow and steady rhythm throughout her violent orgasm for just a moment, long enough, and then he crashed on top of her, crying out her name once again.

He didn't pull out right away. Carmy loved nothing more than to be completely encased in the tight warmth of hers. It was intoxicating.

Syd was still lost in the reverie of having rocked against the man she loved till she could feel him under her skin, throbbing, yearning, and making her whole world collapse into a perfect and breathless instant that seemed to last forever yet never lasted long enough, keeping her coming back for more. And more. And more.

When she could master the art of forming full sentences again, she insisted "I haven't forgotten, Carmy".

"What?"

"Did you really think that I was going to let you ravage my body like that if you didn't cook me breakfast later?"

"Right!"

"Chap, chap! I'm hungry."

"You're insatiable, chef!"

"You feed me too well, chef!"

"What do you say we take a quick shower first and worry about breakfast later?"

"Heard."

The water didn't do a great job of putting out the fire they had lit in the bedroom.

Shortly after, they were in the kitchen, playfully trying to cook breakfast together.

The team-building activity didn't seem to work because Syd was too hungry—a different kind of hungry. She wanted more of what only Carmy could give her.

So Carmy grabbed her with one arm and in one swift motion lifted her up and placed her over the counter. She giggled. And when he kissed her neck her giggles turned into shaky sighs.

From that strategic position between Syd's legs that were wrapped around him to keep him in place, he cooked the most delicious breakfast and they spoonfed each other.

-The kettled hummed.-

In between kisses and bites.

-The kettle hissed.-

As the world raged outside.

-The kettled whistled and the steam swirled upwards mirroring the rising temperature of the bodies to the left.-

Oblivious to the lovers who whispered soft confessions of never-ending lust in each other's ears.

A/N: Seeing as no one else gave a fuck, I did → inspo.

Dividers by @cafekitsune

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Bond, Jane Bond

007007007007007007007007007007007007007007007007

People are gathered at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles watching two ladies, a redhead and a blonde one, perform an act. They are pretending to play a game. The redheaded woman grabs a hidden envelope and cheats. This lady proceeds to read it and announce a category, all the nominees, and then the winner. They both smile and the audience claps.

Meanwhile, Bond is walking up the marble stairs to the top of the theater, overlooking the crowd. Her silky skintight black one-shoulder little black dress was turning heads but more so were her black long legs that went on forever.

Bond gets to a corridor on the top floor, exactly where she wants to be at that time, looks down at a brass doorknob, and sees the reflection of the blue-eyed man in a tuxedo coming at her. Bond spins around faster than the blink of an eye and knocks him down.

He gets up, clearly sore, rubbing his jaw and checking it for fractures.

"What the fuck are you doing, Bond!"

"Oops, sorry! I thought you were, Chris."

"Chris is 6.2!"

"Sorry."

"You're gonna have to pay for this."

"Is that blood?"

"It's a rental Calvin Klein."

2 hours later Mr. Iger was dead. Paramedics were called in but it was too late by the time they arrived.

The cause of death was later determined as arrhythmia and since Iger had a history of arrhythmias and other heart conditions, no foul play was suspected. Bond's alibi was airtight and her plan was executed to perfection with the help of the blue-eyed blond man in the tux with a sore jaw.

007007007007007007007007007007007007007007007007

The old hack knocks Bond to the ground.

She kicks her again, then pulls her by the hair.

"This time, Bond, the pleasure will be all mine."

She laughs like a hyena and crushes Jane's ribs again. Bond struggles, in pain.

Carmy walks in with a gun. Points at the old lady attacking Bond and fires.

1 bullet between the eyes was all it took.

Bond has recovered. She's quick to set the timer and then she runs as fast she can in the opposite direction grabbing Carmy by the arm and taking him with her.

The explosion that follows shortly after erases any traces that both Bond and her "associate" were there.

The explosion was later blamed on a gas leakage. MI6 had to pay good money and collect a few favors in high spheres of power to cover that one up as the Fire Department determined in a matter of hours that gas had nothing to do with the blast.

Bond was cleared. Lived to die another day. So did Carmy who enjoyed this constant back and forth of saving each other's lives. It turned him on.

007007007007007007007007007007007007007007007007

Clothes scattered everywhere, empty glasses, Dom Perignon floating in an ice bucket. It’s the bedroom of the place they’re staying at. Jane is sleeping peacefully on the bed. She's on her stomach, only her black fuck-me heels on.

"Syd?"

Her brown eyes open. Barely above a whisper... "Yes?"

Carmy appears from beside her on the bed, wrapped in the sheets from the waist down. He rolls on top of her and kisses her bare back eliciting a long moan.

"In the hallway, when you punched me - did you mean it?"

They stroke each other’s hair. She smiles...softly as they lock eyes.

"Yes."

Carmy looks at her, he's appalled. Hurt. Not physically this time around, though. Worse.

"Basic rule. Always hit first."

Carmy takes a pillow and playfully smothers her with it. Bond’s laughing...they grin and passionately kiss, and she says she's sorry again. He believes her.

He shouldn't have. She always knew he wasn't Chris. The jab he took had a name and a last name, white porcelain skin, dark hair, blue eyes, and a cleavage that left nothing to the imagination.

"Second rule. I'm Bond for you now, we are on a mission. Forget my name."

"Roger that. But don't hit me again or I will blow your cover, Bond."

"You deserved it." Bond says as she kisses him and bites his lips.

"Sorry."

"Are you? Really?"

"Of course I am. I love you."

"Do you, Carmy?"

"I love you so dearly, Sydney. I want us in each other's lives forever."

007007007007007007THEEND00700700700700700700700

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

I wrote about that here:

Carmy: If Donna Berzatto has truly changed then that means she was always capable of change...

Carmy: But I just wasn't worth changing for...

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Forever

The reporter was so nervous! She could feel how sweatier her hands were getting by the minute and how dry her mouth was. She was going to be the first one in the entire city of Chicago to get an interview with the new Michelin-starred restaurateur in town. She had beaten them all, once again.

When she saw Carmen Berzatto approaching her, she swallowed, hard.

The interview started smoothly, considering her heart was basically beating outside of her chest. She was amazed by how great she could function on autopilot and still remember all the questions she had studied the night before and gone over and over on the way to the restaurant.

He was HOT, she thought in the back of her mind as she tried to remain professional. She had such a crush on Carmy, based on her research, that when she finished booking the interview, she made sure to stop by the salon and get a makeover. Her hair looked like a mane straight out of a L'oreal campaign, and she even wore false eyelashes and her favorite French perfume.

When she confirmed the appointment for the interview and found out that his business partner/CDC wasn't going to be there to join them, she faked disappointment but celebrated on the inside because that meant she could flirt with the sexy chef all she wanted. She didn't care that it was rumored that Carmy Berzatto and his CDC were actually dating. It wasn't confirmed by any of them, so as far as she knew, he was available and she was determined to shamelessly hit on him as soon as she wrapped the interview. They had already swapped phones, so all she had to do now was make sure he knew she was down bad for him, and then wait for him to take the bait.

The golden compound question about how they got the Michelin Star and how he felt about it was mid-questionnaire. She preferred to break the ice by inquiring about him, his personal life, his favorite meals, his funny anecdotes in the kitchen, his trips around the world, and his family, which was a topic she quickly learned he was reluctant to touch so she didn't push it and whenever he stirred the conversation to Sydney she just skillfully changed the subject to avoid her being mentioned or keep her name out of the conversation as much as humanly possible. Sydney Adamu was not a winning chef in her eyes, she was just mere competition at this point, and Carla Redmond was not above treating her like such. She was laser-focused on her prize, to be more precise, on her prize's impossibly blue eyes, not to mention the rest of him.

"So, Carmy, can you tell us, mortals how is it that the Michelin stars happen to those who reach for them?"

"Um... Well, Darla, you make it sound a lot more epic than it actually is, really..."

"Carla, it's Carla, Carmy."

"Oh, sorry, yes, Carla. Well, let me tell you... Um... it's basically a phone call you get. As simple as that, well, scratch that. It's not so simple. I-I- think the logistics in the Michelin headquarters are something along the lines of... Um...so, once each restaurant in consideration has been inspected, the Michelin guide director meets with the um... the worldwide teams for what is called ‘star sessions’, I believe, and that is where the rating of each restaurant is debated. These sessions can last days, often do actually, and um... each restaurant is considered one by one until a unanimous decision is reached. And... the um... The results are then published in a country-specific guide, that's when you get the call."

"Sounds fascinating, Carmy!"

If he had gone over the entire list of colors in the Pantone color system, her answer and gooey eyes would have been the same.

"Before getting to the meat of this interview, the brand new accolade you just got, I'd like to make a quick round-up of all your previous awards: Let's see, you are a James Beard Award winner, right?"

"Um... yes, as it's Sydney, my partner."

"Right, right and you were also the best CDC at the most excellent restaurant in America and at some point not only the CDC of the best restaurant in the world, according to Eater Magazine, but also retained not just one but 3 Michelin Stars in New York? And all of this under the age of 30?"

"Well, yes. It was... Wow! You really did your research, Marla!"

She laughed for a second and then corrected him. Again.

"Carla, it's Carla, Carmy"

"Oh, I'm so sorry! My bad... Um... so, yeah, basically that's it, I was very um... lucky? I guess..."

"You gotta give me more than that, Carmy. I'm sure this must have been really challenging for you, especially at such a young age... Tell me more. How did it feel to get the 3-star call?"

"I… Um… Well, so… The first few seconds I felt like a sort of panic... 'cause I knew I just had to retain them. Is not like I had a choice. I had to retain 'em. Um... And then your brain does this weird thing where it just bypasses any sense of joy because you're just so overwhelmed, so caught up in the turmoil and the pressure, etc... And, um, I don't know... Anyway, I-I had to turn over a really slow table 'cause the, uh, entire United Nations Security Council was coming in, it was just another day in the office for me, I guess."

"So you're telling me you didn't enjoy those first 3 stars? This is like your fourth one, Carmy!"

"No, no, this is my first. Our first star and the only one that matters, actually, Carla."

And just as she was getting excited because he finally got her name right, and was about to dig deeper into his first star, she had to turn around because his face had changed. His eyes sparkled a different shade of blue and his jaw dropped slightly as a smile formed on his face, he looked happy and even hotter. So Carla followed his eyes and could see Sydney making a casual entrance, looking down at her phone, obviously texting. She was completely unaware of the effect her presence was having on the cook Carla was trying to make a move on.

"Syd!" His smile said it all, he didn't need to complete that sentence.

"Oh!" Was all that Carla managed to say. She was not loving it but masked it pretty well.

So the interview continued but with all 4 stars in the spotlight: The Michelin Star, Carmy, Sydney, and Natalie, who Syd made sure to include. Even Richie and the rest of the team made an appearance. After they all had their moment in the sun and thanked her for coming, Carla thanked them for their time and left the premises with a very well-composed tune based on all the instruments of The Bear, but also empty-handed and still very much single and ready to mingle with her nightly schedule fully open. Carmy had not taken the bait, but apparently, he was already taken and he made sure to mention it.

Carla was defeated, but couldn't help but admit that Carmy and Sydney looked perfect together, the chemistry was painfully obvious. As was their mutual love. She felt frustrated, but in spite of herself, she was now rooting for them. They were now her "couple goals". After spending an hour with them, she didn't just want Carmy, even though she knew it was never going to happen, she wanted what Syd and Carmy had.

Her last question for Carmy had been "So is there a memento or some sort of souvenir you got to commemorate this Star forever, seeing as you mentioned that you had already retained 3 before, but this one was the only one that really mattered to you?"

"Yes actually. I-I- um... I got a tattoo, right here, this star is gonna be here forever." He pointed at his heart and looked straight at Sydney. Her eyes smiled in the sweetest way, looking right back at him and Carla felt like such a third wheel that she decided to end the interview right then and there. She didn't even ask Syd if she got a memento or a tattoo too for the same reason.

She could guess she probably did and her intuition wouldn't have failed her. She would have been right on the money on that one. Syd did get a tattoo to commemorate her first Michelin star. It was The Bear logo that Carmy had designed when he first pitched the franchise idea to Michael and it was forever inked in a place south of her back where only her Bear had access to.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

The opposite of nothingness

💔

The opposite of Nothingness

by GingerAppleMartini

Warnings: 18+ MDNI Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Bear (TV 2022) Rating: Mature A/N: Dividers by @the-silver-sparrow & unknown. Relationships: Sydney Adamu/Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto Characters: Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, Sydney Adamu, Michael "Mikey" Berzatto Additional Tags: Suicide, Love, Death, Life, Drug addiction, Addiction.

Summary: After intense, excruciating, pure pain and the spine-splitting exhaustion that comes with it, you feel nothing at all. And I’m not even talking about physical pain, I mean the other kind.

Read it here.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

The Marcusgate

It all started on a lazy Sunday, which was now Carmy's favorite day of the week, and with Syd and Carmy binge-watching Netflix's Blue Ribbon Baking Championship and remembering that Sandra Lee was a regular Bear's customer whenever she was in Chicago, so they pinged Richie to get her number and congratulate her for the show that Sydney was crazy about.

Syd maniacally took notes on all the recipes on the show and came up with variations of each that she planned to run by Marcus the next day. She was overjoyed when one of the bakers used lemon-macerated Concord grapes in his cake, and that excitement was quickly replaced by disappointment when that same baker was the first to leave the competition. And when she saw Sandra Lee in tears over a cheesecake, she knew she had to ask Marcus to add that cheesecake recipe to The Bear's menu as soon as possible, so she asked Carmy to contact Sandra and try to get all the intel.

In time, this led to all four of them starting a Blue Ribbon group chat that included Syd, Carmy, Sandra, and Marcus. They exchanged recipes and talked specifically about logistics to ensure plagiarism wasn't one of the ingredients when Marcus made The Bear's version of those desserts. Not only to avoid any potential legal complications that could affect the restaurant's or Marcus' reputation, but also because both Syd and Carmy knew that plagiarism was the fetish of those who can't, the lowest of crimes that only mediocre criminals commit, and they were way above that, as naturally so was Marcus. They also greeted each other on their respective birthdays and, of course, invited each other to dinner whenever that could be arranged.

One day, over one of those dinners that took place at Casa Sydcarmy, on a Sunday night when Sandra happened to be in town, she pitched an idea to the Michelin Star award-winning chefs: "What do you guys think of joining me as Executive Producers on my next project: Cordon Blue Ribbon?"

"Cordon Blue Ribbon?" Marcus was intrigued.

"You mean the Cordon Bleu version of your show?" Syd quipped.

"Exactly, and only Michelin Star award winner pastry chefs could compete on it and the prize would be a million dollars, instead of just $100K." Sandra's eyes met Marcus and stayed laser-focused on him.

Carmy was still silent and in disbelief when he looked at Marcus with a mix of curiosity and shock on his face, to know what he had to say to that.

"Sounds interesting..." Marcus added as he popped a mini cinnamon churro in his mouth, courtesy of Sandra who knew better than to show up empty-handed to a dinner party thrown by 2 Michelin Star award chefs.

"That's what I told my manager! When she came up with the idea, I was super interested right off the bat. You'll see, I have a 3-year contract with Netflix, and making another Pie Blue Ribbon cooking show wasn't going to cut it. It was more of the same, and innovation is a must in television if you want to stay relevant."

"You should know... having an Emmy under your belt, right?" Syd fangirl had entered the chat.

Sandra laughed and graciously accepted the compliment, meanwhile, Carmy had no idea what the ladies were talking about because he had never watched one of her shows before Syd came into his life, let alone a daytime Emmy award show.

Sandra went on and kept focusing on Marcus.

"So we decided to bring in more award-winning chefs and raise the stakes for this next project. That was the only way we could get the million-dollar prize approved. So... what do you think Marcus? Would you be on board? Would you be interested in competing for a million dollars?"

Marcus looked at Syd and Carmy, like asking for their greenlight and they both smiled and silently agreed.

So it was settled and when the show happened, he was going to be there, front and center. Sandra assured him.

Fast forward 6 months and the pre-production of the contest was being kick-started in Los Angeles.

Syd and Carmy declined the offer Sandra made them to be Associate Executive producers of the show so that Marcus could be a participant and no conflict of interests compromised him. Marcus, in exchange, offered them a cut of the prize if he won and Syd and Carmy agreed to only take credit on social media about being his sponsors and mentors but vehemently declined every penny he offered.

"You owe us nothing, Marcus, this is all you," Syd said.

"What are you talking about? Carmy believed in me when all I knew how to barely make were buns and you pushed me to be better, Sydney, to push myself. I wouldn't have gone to Copenhagen if it weren't for you, guys..."

"But because of your amazing work we also got a Michelin Star, Marcus. That star was a team effort, you're one of us. That's more than enough payback if you ask me." Carmy clarified with a: "Period" tone.

Marcus heard the subtext and was quick to be on the same page "Heard, chef."

Shortly after Marcus was wowing the judges with his creations, all 100% by Marcus Brooks. He took no inspo from the recipes he got from the chat he shared with Sandra, Syd, and Carmy. His only inspiration came from his loved ones, his affections, and people that he had met along the way and that had had a true impact on his life. Including Luca and Michael.

Marcus slayed the competition one killer dessert at a time.

There were 9 rounds and the grand finale. The level of complexity was evergrowing.

Marcus was a serene force of nature on that set.

He bagged the first round with a peach pie served in a sundae dish with a scoop of lemon buttermilk gelato at the base topped with balsamic caramel sauce and a half-moon shaped, fresh peach hand pie. The hand pie was hot, just out of the oven so the contrast between that and the ice cream was what really got the judges. They were amazed by Marcus' talent, from day one and knew he was final-round material from the get-go. There was no doubt about it in their minds because he was not only incredibly skilled but also calm and focused. He didn't falter under pressure.

The second round was also in Marcus' pocket when he served a petite croissant over a brass cooling rack dotted with Pearl sugar and honey filled with a gooey Délice de Bourgogne cheese and finished at the table with black truffle, inspired by Chicago's Kasama. The judges' feedback was amazing. They said it was exquisitely clever to use this as a cheese course. "The technique and execution were exemplary," they assured.

Then it was the turn of the most luxurious and rarest ingredient of them all: Criollo.

For those viewers at home who may have not been too familiar with this ingredient, Sandra gave a brief presentation:

"Criollo is a very rare and precious variety of cacao that was at risk of extinction for many years. It is the cacao of the Mayas and the Aztecs, the cultivation of which has been progressively abandoned owing to its low yield. It is a delicate cacao and makes up just 0.01% of global cacao production. Tonight, our chefs will use it as the primary ingredient to bring us the Wow factor we are looking for and that will earn them immunity in the next round. Let the Criollo games begin!"

With that, Sandra dismissed the participants and allowed them to go to their stations to start working their magic. They only had 50 minutes to make it happen and make it count.

Marcus decided to go with something a little bit different. He crafted his chocolate pyramid with a creamy ball of guava sorbet and a tasty coconut foam. He also crowned it with a thin sugar collar sprinkled with sesame seeds, flecks of red chili, and a little black garlic, providing complementary flavors and a subtle warmth too.

Immunity was his bitch.

For the next round, seeing as he was untouchable he decided to go rogue, he had the liberty to make whatever he wanted so he decided to make what he called: "Dreaming of Lod Chong". The judges were blown away when he served his creation in a small bowl that displayed this square of pandan parfait in a sauce of salted coconut cream. Marcus added specially treated crushed ice as a final flourish, too. Those little ice pieces looked exactly like diamonds. It was an unexpected success, expertly balancing sweet and salty notes. "The ice also added great texture. It was a solid finish.” That was what the judges had to say about it. Again, Marcus blew them away.

He kept advancing to the next rounds till he got to the semi-finals and the judges put the chefs through the wringer like never before.

The assignment was to make the outside of the dessert look like the main ingredient on the inside. The goal was not to sacrifice flavor to achieve uncanny and realistic resemblance, plus never losing sight of creativity and originality.

Most contestants failed the test because they presented obvious desserts that anyone could find in any respected bakery.

But Marcus, Marcus Brooks told a different sweet story with his dessert. And it wasn't even that sweet. It was acid and sweet and perfect.

Mojito Pie.

This was a memorable pie, the judges said. It had a buttery graham cracker crust topped by a very light lime and mint mousse that was dusted in lime powder to resemble an actual lime. This was served with a lime sorbet and spritzed with rum.

"It was adorable to look at and even better to eat," Sandra concluded.

That pie granted him a spot in the final.

Marcus was tense for the first time ever in the competition. He hadn't been that nervous in a long time. It was unlike him to be so high-strung.

Two days later, when the final episode of the show was being shot, Syd and Carmy surprised Marcus and showed up at the studio, along with Chester, for emotional support. The Bear was closed, Marcus was that important to them. The only other time when the restaurant was closed was on the occasion of Ever's funeral service.

Now it was Marcus' turn to be blown away. He was over the moon. And Carmy tried to give him some sort of pep talk but all he managed to say was: "You're already a winner, Marcus, just don't fuck it up and you'll be fine."

Syd dramatically rolled her eyes at Carmy's words and added: "Marcus, don't think about the prize ahead, think about what you've accomplished so far. You got this. And we got you."

Marcus smiled at her kind words and then the little moment Syd and him were having was interrupted by Chester's heavy palm on his back that sounded like a slap but was meant to be supportive and encouraging.

"My man! The million-dollar chef!"

"Not yet, Chester. Not yet!"

"What are you talking about?! That big fat check is yours, Marcus. What show have you been watching? They freaking love you, man. This finale is just paperwork, go get 'em!"

Marcus couldn't help but snort and nod. "Will do, Chest, will do, thanks, man!"

So, when the judges announced it was showtime, Marcus' entire life as a baker flashed before his eyes.

The final assignment was a triple one: They had to come up with a 3 step-sweet menu inspired by their past, present, and future as pastry chefs. And there was a catch: The future had to be a sweet version of a savory dish and look on the outside like its original savory version. They only had 3 hours to complete all 3.

Marcus knew he could pull a trifecta off, but he was afraid that pulling it in only 3 hours was pushing his boundaries as a baker a bit too far.

He went for it anyway.

For the past version of himself as a pastry chef, he decided to make "The Sydney's Donut", which was nothing but a Copenhagen-inspired and elevated version of the donut that Carmy had destroyed like a little bitch. That one was easy but he elevated it by presenting it on an edible marshmallow carved bowl.

Marcus' present at The Bear after winning a Michelin star was far more fancy, so he served the judges a "Turkish Delight, Almond, Manjari, Chocolate, and Rose." This chocolate bar hid a light, creamy chocolate center with a lovely layer of almond panna cotta. Arranged on top were Turkish delights, almonds, crystallized rose petals, and a quenelle of silky smooth almond ice cream. This dessert was currently part of The Bear's menu and it was the most popular choice among its customers with a sophisticated sweet tooth.

For the future, Marcus took inspiration from Syd and Carmy as a whole, and their collective impact on his life. Their love inspired him and so did the invisible string that seemed to connect them long before they met. When Marcus heard the whole story about Sydney's favorite meal and saw the pictures she had taken, he was deeply moved by it because it looked like Carmy had literally put his heart on the plate for her and it was exactly the kind of story that his mom used to love and cherish. So in honor of Syd and Carmy's love story and of his late mom, to whom he was going to dedicate the victory if he took the prize home, Marcus decided to make a fake heart-shaped Paupiette of hamachi with blood orange sauce. For the Paupiette of hamachi, he used molded white chocolate that he wrapped in a fine vanilla crepe and carefully colored with some cinnamon powder for it to look precisely like the original fish. The blood orange sauce was based on its original recipe minus the garlic and the chili flakes and he elegantly topped all that with a thin sweet potato chip sprinkled with sweet chili flakes to replicate the exact aesthetic of the fateful dish that proved to be Sydney's favorite.

The alchemic reaction was epic when the judges tasted that masterpiece. There was no more contest and the other two chefs knew it even before the unanimous verdict was announced.

All 3 of Marcus' works were mindblowing but the Paupiette of hamachi with blood orange sauce was not only flawless, but its appearance was exactly the same as Carmy's dish. There was no way to tell them apart.

To wrap up the award ceremony and his acceptance speech Marcus was asked to say a few words about each dessert on his menu and go over the reason behind each choice. When the time came to explain why he had chosen to make his own version of Paupiette of hamachi with orange sauce he said that Sydney, his mentor, and friend, had confided in him a long time ago that the best meal she had ever had was that dish, by Carmen Berzatto, back in NYC when he was the best CDC in the world and they hadn't even met yet. Marcus went on to mention that Carmy, or "Bear," as he called him, was also his friend and mentor and that without them, he probably wouldn't be there. And that he was forever thankful to both.

Carmy was saucer-eyed, he had no idea that he had made the best meal she had ever had. A dish he instinctively made for her, breaking all the rules and defying his boss' direct orders.

Syd looked at Carmy with that intense yet sweet but never condescending look she reserved for him only and took his hand as she smiled at him and tightened her grip.

Carmy smiled back and then re-directed his attention to Marcus when he elaborated on the background story of his winning dessert when Sandra said: "Wow! That is unbelievable and disarmingly sweet! You're telling me he made the best meal she ever had before they met and now they are husband and wife?!"

"Yes." Marcus smiled and looked at them.

Sandra was beside herself and declared: "That's the most romantic story I ever heard! Did Sydney just tell you one day: 'Oh by the way, Paupiette of Hamachi with blood red orange sauce is my favest and Carmy made it for me before we met in New York when he was the best CDC in the world?' Just like that? Is that a story she just tells everybody to, I don't know, break the ice?"

Marcus was finally loosening up and laughing out loud and he casually said: "No, no, we were having dinner at her place and..."

Carmy didn't hear what Marcus said next, he just looked at Syd as if he had just been shot and was bleeding to death right before her eyes and went: "WAIT, WHAT?!!?"

A/N: This fic was inspired by that Netflix baking show that I just binged entirely in 2 days over the weekend and Marcus' recipes come straight from the Michelin Guide because I can't even make French toast... My meta on the dish is embedded in the first mention of it.

Enjoy! 💋

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Looking for recommendations for sydcarmy fics that pickup after S3 finale. Thanks

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

His pesto

Carmy invites Syd over for the first time, cooks dinner for her, it’s not a date, they are business partners so it’s a business dinner, they are talking numbers that will later run by Sugar. He makes something for her, something super simple like a warm salad with roasted potatoes, pesto and crispy bacon. Grapefruit panna cotta for dessert. Maybe there’s some red wine there, but they don’t have it bc they mean business. They have homemade Sprite instead, which Syd looooves.

She has her salad on the couch while he’s explaining his numbers (that don’t make any sense) on the glass board, waving his fucking Sharpie that fucking works around, as he swears that 87K is the grand total after adding up 67K and 19K.

Syd tries to stay focused on the mess he’s making on the board, to correct him, but can’t bc she’s moaning in pleasure over the pesto. She had been doing it louder every time since he first handed her the plate and she smelled it before having the first bite. Now it’s just getting ridiculous. The sounds she’s making are too loud and they distract Carmy.

He asks her if it’s that good and she says “mmmm better”.

“Want more? There’s more.”

She doubts before declining but tells him she’s this close to licking the plate.

Carmy is trying not to laugh.

“By all means, do it if that’s what you want to. I’m not stopping you.”

“OK, but close your eyes.”

“Alright.”

He does but peeks. She notices and is mortified because he got to see her tongue sticking out and her eager eyes looking at that little pesto leftover that was begging to be licked off that china. She complains and yells at him “YOU’RE CHEATING!!! THAT’S NOT FAIR!!!”

“OK, OK! I’m sorry! I’ll turn around, see? Happy?.”

She’s happy now and licks it clean.

“Done. You don’t have to do the dishes now. You’re welcome.”

Her sheepish smile turns into a full on snort when he tries to hide his smirk and that for some reason he’s super flushed. His dimples blow his cover.

After a few seconds he succumbs to the temptation of laughing his ass off right there in Syd’s face holding a perfectly clean plate in his hand.

They laugh some more, wrap up the preliminary budget, have dessert, she didn’t lick anything this time around, although he did offer to turn around again if she wanted to, and then he shows her out.

They couldn’t sleep that night because all the butterflies in their respective stomachs made it impossible for them to close their eyes without still hearing the other’s laughter in their ears and wishing they could hear it again soon. It wasn’t a wish, it was a need, actually.

Luckily those business dinners became a weekly thing, they rotated apartments. They became more familiar with each other’s laughters and before they knew it they were licking each other.

Pesto is not included on The Bear’s menu because they just cannot keep it professional when they make it. They reserve that sauce for very private events only. Events only the two of them attend.

Carmy wished he woulda invited Syd over for dinner sooner. He coulda saved himself -and her- soooo much heartache.

💚

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Letting go is also an act of love.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

This fic is for those who love to see Carmy suffer #WIP

Published:2024-05-16

Updated:2024-09-07

Words:12,781

Chapters:6/7

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

I think you're gonna enjoy this one → https://archiveofourown.org/works/58457464 @tvgremlin

I know it isn’t going to happen on the show, and I’m sure AO3 has rotted my brain, but I would KILL for some Marcus x Luca scenes (gay!), even if it is subtext. I would kill.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Dear readers,

For those who were paying attention to Copenhagen ;)

That was the ending right there: (calling it Skagen was too obvious).

Skagen is a place in the Danish coast were the two oceans meet. Pic by @Pinterest/ViaVenustas

There won’t be more to it. Not by me anyway. It’s over. Whatever you imagine happened next, is what happened.

Thanks to all of you for reading it and being patient with me. Took me a while to go full circle…

Read more here

XOXO

💋

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

It’s finally a wrap!

Chapters: 7/7 Fandom: The Bear (TV 2022) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Sydney Adamu/Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto Characters: Sydney Adamu, Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto Additional Tags: Separations, Love, TBI, Rehabilitation