#stavro has a thought

[aluminia]

Do you think Metaxenia the worm on the string is bisexual or a lesbian with comphet? Asking for reasons

[sugaroto]

I remember back in August 2008 I was on the beach a few days before my brother, Shawn Mendes, was born on August 8th

[juststavro]

I love you all very much do you know that

[reasonsforhope]

"A study looking at the bearers of artificial hearts found that a subset of them can regenerate heart muscle tissue—the first time such an observation has ever been made.

It may open the door to new ways to treat and perhaps someday cure heart failure, the deadliest non-communicable disease on Earth. The results were published in the journal Circulation.

A team of physician-scientists at the University of Arizona’s Heart Center in Tucson led a collaboration of international experts to investigate whether heart muscles can regenerate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart failure affects nearly 7 million US adults and is responsible for 14% of deaths per year. There is no cure for heart failure, though medications can slow its progression. The only treatment for advanced heart failure, other than a transplant, is a pump replacement through an artificial heart, called a left ventricular assist device, which can help the heart pump blood.

“Skeletal muscle has a significant ability to regenerate after injury. If you’re playing soccer and you tear a muscle, you need to rest it, and it heals,” said Hesham Sadek, director of the University’s Sarver Heart Center.

It was previously thought that when a heart muscle is injured, it could never grow back.

“Irrefutable evidence of heart muscle regeneration has never been shown before in humans,” he said. “This study provided direct evidence.”

The project began with tissue from artificial heart patients provided by colleagues at the University of Utah Health and School of Medicine led by Stavros Drakos, MD, PhD, and a pioneer in left ventricular assist device-mediated recovery.

Teams in Sweden and Germany used their innovative method of carbon dating human heart tissue to track whether these samples contained newly generated cells. The investigators found that patients with artificial hearts regenerated muscle cells at more than six times the rate of healthy hearts.

“This is the strongest evidence we have, so far, that human heart muscle cells can actually regenerate, which really is exciting, because it solidifies the notion that there is an intrinsic capacity of the human heart to regenerate,” Sadek said.

“It also strongly supports the hypothesis that the inability of the heart muscle to ‘rest’ is a major driver of the heart’s lost ability to regenerate shortly after birth. It may be possible to target the molecular pathways involved in cell division to enhance the heart’s ability to regenerate.”

In 2011, Sadek published a paper in Science showing that while heart muscle cells actively divide in utero, they stop dividing shortly after birth to devote their energy to pumping blood through the body nonstop, with no time for breaks.

In 2014, he published evidence of cell division in patients with artificial hearts, hinting that their heart muscle cells might have been regenerating because they were able to rest.

These findings, combined with other research teams’ observations that some artificial heart patients could have their devices removed after experiencing a reversal of symptoms, led him to wonder if the artificial heart provides cardiac muscles the equivalent of bed rest like a person needs when recovering from injury.

“The pump pushes blood into the aorta, bypassing the heart,” he said. “The heart is essentially resting.”

Sadek’s previous studies indicated that this rest might be beneficial for the heart muscle cells, but he needed to design an experiment to determine whether patients with artificial hearts were actually regenerating muscles.

Next, Sadek wants to figure out why only about 25% of patients are “responders” to artificial hearts, meaning that their cardiac muscle regenerates.

“It’s not clear why some patients respond and some don’t, but it’s very clear that the ones who respond have the ability to regenerate heart muscle,” he said. “The exciting part now is to determine how we can make everyone a responder, because if you can, you can essentially cure heart failure.

“The beauty of this is that a mechanical heart is not a therapy we hope to deliver to our patients in the future—these devices are tried and true, and we’ve been using them for years.”"

-via Good News Network, December 31, 2024

[spenglernot]

STORIES TELLING: NED LOWE AND THE DEATH OF POOR REPRESENTATION IN OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH

In history, Ned Lowe was one of the most sadistic and violent pirates in the early 18th century, so he’s an obvious choice for a villain for season 2, episode 6 – Calypso’s Birthday.  What is interesting is what the OFMD writers chose to do with him.

Lowe announces himself to the crew of the Revenge with great fanfare (cannon ball attack) and gets right to the point.

Ed is thoroughly unimpressed.

Cut to Ed and Stede tied up while Ned attempts to set the mood so he can monologue about why he wants to kill Ed.

Ed knows what’s coming. He is going to suffer but he still can’t be arsed to meet Ned with anything but vaguely bored dismissiveness (and Stede is happy to play along).

Up on the deck, Ned prepares the crew for his big, dramatic moment of symphonic torture.

Note that the Revenge crew is tied down, braced by vices and generally unable to protect themselves from imminent torture and possible death, but their spirits are up. They don’t seem terribly fussed.

Then Stede uses his people positive management style to happily orchestrate a worker uprising in Ned’s crew.

Ned’s crew responds instantly; severing their allegiance to Lowe and telling him off.

The crew sails away and talks profit sharing while Ned dully threatens to hunt them down.

Ned is now a prisoner of the Revenge crew and seems entirely disinterested in his own survival.

And Ned sinks to the depths, without struggling at all.

There is a lot going on in this episode: pay and labor equity direct action, gay love engagement bliss, kink humor, Stede being a hero and saving his crew by playing to his strengths, then having to decide whether to kill in cold blood and feel the consequences of that choice. Ed having one more reason to be done with piracy (while being so impressed with and fond of Stede), and then watching his man make a fraught choice and having to deal with the fallout from that. (And, damn, I haven’t even mentioned the passionate sex bit.) Anyway, back to the point.

Now for the the meta part

The Ned Lowe sequences are perfectly in keeping with OFMD’s signature blend of madcap violence, humor, and big emotional gut punches. But something about Ned Lowe just strikes me as off for this show.

Ned is seriously threatening the crews’ lives, so why don’t they take him seriously?

Why does Ned have such a boring, throwaway backstory?

Why is Ned so nonchalant about his own death; like it’s a foregone conclusion?

Why does Ned have a silver violin and silver spurs on his slip-on dress shoes?

Why is Ned sartorially monochromatic?

And then I realized who Ned reminds me of.

This guy,

Earnst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever (1971)

And this guy,

Scar in Disney's The Lion King (1994).

And this guy,

Xerxes, 300 (2006).

And it sure seems like Ned Lowe isn’t just an episodic villain. He is an archetype of the one-dimensional, stereotypical queer-coded villain that has been endemic in film and television throughout history. The OFMD writers have a lot to say about what to do with this kind of character:

Don’t respect him.

Feel free to openly mock him.

Don’t let him take your joy, even though he will hurt you.

He won’t disappear on his own. You have to throw something at him (take action) to make him go away.

Once he’s in the water, he’s content to drown. He’s not into what he’s doing any more than you are.

Oh and, just to be clear,

The LGBTQIA+ community has a very long history of turning shit media into better stories. So, hey, big media, prepare to have your crap characters wrecked (improved).

Now, back to our transformative pirate show with rich, complex queer characters and a multi-layered plot that surprises me every week and makes me feel big feelings - most of all, joy.

Final thought: I do wonder if Ned Lowe is monochromatically silver as a tribute to/poke at, Hollywood and the silver screen.

This meta was written before OFMD season 2 has fully aired. No idea what’s going to happen in the finale (and I’ve generally fled social media to avoid spoilers). I’ll be back, looking at everyone’s fascinating posts after episode 8 airs.

[miwhotep]

Might regret this late night post as my thoughts are a mess - but regarding this new cover for Part 2...

... the back of the chair at Liam's head kinda reminds me of an octopus. And adding to this, in the last chapter, Sherlock mentions that they were after an international criminal organization.

So I immediately thought of the Spectre which is an international criminal organization what tried to rule the world through the shadows and the greatest enemy of the MI6 in the James Bond canon and has an octopus as a symbol.

The word Spectre stands for Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion and the organization was led by a person called Ernst Stavro Blofeld (who supposed to die, but his body was never found and came back later to haunt Bond - and who is even aside the body disappearance is really similar to Milverton in a lot of things, but I don't want to make this about him now).

The weird chair, of course, can mean something else too or even nothing, this is just a theory - but when the other time Liam was sitting on a chair on a cover (for the Final Problem arc), the back design reminded of flames...

...and they set London to fire.

[gemsofgreece]

speaking of greek films, do you have any recommendations? maybe even of the romcom variety? i've only seen zorba

And here's me whose ass still hasn't watched Zorba and even more embarrassingly I kinda thought it was a fully American movie adapting the Greek novel with some Greeks contributing, like actress Irene Papas and the music score by Mikis Theodorakis. It turns out you're right though, the film was directed, written and produced by the Greek filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis but then it was distributed by 20th Century Fox so it was a Greece - USA production.

I don't know if you can speak or are learning Greek though because Zorba was a co-production and it was mostly in English but a fully Greek production is in Greek and most don't get subtitled for international audiences. I will give you some personal recs but I can't guarantee you will find subtitles easily or you will have to do some severe digging. I have made the recs in an older answer so I am linking that post:

I will give a more updated rec list too:

Faves of mine:

From the link above the ones I would advice one to not miss are:

Η Κάλπικη Λίρα (The Counterfeit Coin, 1955). It's not only my favourite Greek movie but it's also in the All Time Top 100 Best Movies of International Cinema list of some very legit major institution that I am forgetting now XD It's a social dramedy with top tier comedians and drama actors co-starring and it's basically four different life stories connected through the same counterfeit coin.

Αχ, αυτή η γυναίκα μου! (Oh, that wife of mine!, 1967) It's a situational comedy. It's hilarious but if you don't know Greek, I don't know how well it translates to a different language. Man desperately wanting a promotion gets in a chaotic situation when his playboy boss first gets outraged and then obsessed with his wife, without knowing her true identity.

 5 λεπτά ακόμα (5 minutes more, 2006) I still think this movie is very underrated. It's a metaphysical philosophical dark dramedy with a great understated score. You can find it on youtube, obviously without English subtitles and with bad quality but hey at least it's on youtube! A morally neutral man with jealousy issues dies and is given five more minutes in the mortal world, which will determine his afterlife.

Το Τανγκό των Χριστουγέννων (Christmas Tango, 2011). Romantic drama. A soldier gets unintentionally entagled in the unrequited / forbidden romance of his mysterious aloof commander. Now this movie has a queer element. It does not have a queer happy end but it has both straight and queer themes and honestly it's a beautiful movie. You can find it on youtube.

Ρεμπέτικο (Rembetiko, 1983). Drama. The tragic life of a female singer of the then underground Rembetiko music scene, the music genre the Greeks of Asia Minor brought along after the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in the first half of the 20th century. Personally, I am not crazy about this movie but this doesn't mean necessarily anything because it gets good reviews in imdb even outside Greece. But I personally recommend it for its INSANE score and songs. These songs have become emblematic in the Greek music scene. The composer, Stavros Xarhakos, makes a cameo in the movie.

I still recommend the other recs in the old list too, especially the comedies. Also, like I have said, you can't go too wrong with Greek comedies of the 50s-60s in general. Since I said that, here's a list of faves and critics' choices of Greek movies from the 50s-70s.

Some other faves not in the old lists:

Το χώμα βάφτηκε κόκκινο (Blood on the Land, 1966). A Greek Western! Who would have thought but it is good! When I say western, I don't mean Cowboys vs Natives of course, but I mean land property disputes, rural, animosity gets out of hand, social class inequality etc etc and it is actually linked to Greek social history of the 20th century. And finally a Greek movie that takes good advantage of the Meteora. The movie was a nominee for best foreign film in the Oscars .

Strella, 2009. This is a strictly 18+ movie. It is a queer movie BUT it is also a very edgy movie, like, it can be perceived as extremely edgy no matter if you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or not. It's not the imagery that makes it edgy but the plot at some point takes a serious left turn. So, only watch if you're into weird cinema territory. I have warned you. Personally I am not into weird cinema but I liked this one. Man gets out of prison after years of incarceration for committing a murder. He befriends and soon gets into a relationship with a trans female sex worker. The protagonist, Mina Orfanou, is actually a trans woman and she was really praised for her performance in this.

Ιφιγένεια (Iphigenia, 1977). Directed by Michael Cacoyannis like Zorbas, this is a movie about the myth of the sacrifice of Iphigenia, Agamemnon's daugher, with an all-Greek cast. It is kind of those theater-to-movie films so don't expect Troy level of production. It has very minimal sets. Also, it's the 70s, the bible and sandal era, so the costumes are really anachronistic and inaccurate but other than that it is a good movie. It was nominated for the Oscar for foreign language film. And it's on youtube with English subtitles.

A few other recs:

Antigone (1961). Even more than Iphigenia, this is almost pure theatre filmed. The acting is theatrical, the staging is theatrical, it's all just theatre really. This is a very loyal adaptation of Euripides' Antigone. The acting is very good.

America America (1963). A movie by Greek American filmmaker Elia Kazan that I haven't watched yet but it is very famous. Biographical historical drama, inspired by Kazan's uncle. The struggles and feats of a Greek of Anatolia, Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey) trying to secure a passage to America in the late 19th - early 20th century. It is an Academy Awards winner.

Πολίτικη Κουζίνα (A Touch of Spice, 2003). The life of a boy and his relationship to his beloved grandfather, who instilled in him the love for cooking and astronomy, as they part ways when the boy and his parents are deported from Turkey after the ongoing tensions started from the incidents of the Istanbul pogrom in 1955, while the grandfather is able to legally stay behind. I wouldn't put this movie in my faves but it is very aesthetically pleasing and has a wonderful score. It is also an introduction to the special historical bond Greeks have with Constantinople / Istanbul and the tragic story of it all.

Έτερος Εγώ (Heteros Ego / The Other Me, 2016). Crime Mystery. This movie is very popular. I think it's overrated but you can judge for yourself. It is on youtube. I personally liked more the TV series that was its continuation (the first two seasons only, because the third was horrible). It is suitable for 17+ audiences. An eccentric criminology professor is summoned to investigate murder cases where the murderer cites quotes by Pythagoras.

Man of God, 2021. If you are a Christian / religious, watch it. I would like this movie more if the director had not forced all the cast to perform in English in order to make an international screening. It takes away from their performance because it is so unnatural and illogical. But otherwise it is an interesting topic and the actors try their best despite that massive handicap. This is the true story of Saint Nektarios of Aegina island and his unfair defamation by the rest of the clergy.

Η Φόνισσα (The Murderess, 2023). Unfortunately this movie does not hold a candle to the original novel of Alexandros Papadiamantis written in 1903 - quite possibly the first feminist literary work written by a man - but it is your next best alternative unless you can read the book or a translation of it. In this case, totally skip the movie and read the book, which is excellent and my favourite Greek novel. But if you watch the movie, just know it took many liberties for the worse. It has good acting and cinematography though. The story explores the life and mind of Frankoyannou, a hardened peasant woman, as more and more female infants and young girls are found murdered in her village, including her own grand-daughter.

Miss Violence, 2013. This movie is incredibly disturbing and I wish I could forget what I saw. If you like disturbing cinema, obviously 18+, watch it. It sickens you to the core though. An ordinary 11 year old girl commits suicide the day her ordinary family celebrates her birthday. Minute by minute we learn more about the family though and minute by minute we realise this is not a regular family AT ALL.

More weirdness. If you actually do like weird cinema, then you can also explore Yorgos Lanthimos' old Greek movies. These are easier to find since Lanthimos is globally famous now. Dogtooth was his Greek movie that was a nominee in the Oscars. But he has a couple more. (By the way, Miss Violence makes Dogtooth seem like a My Little Pony episode.)

More length. Theo Angelopoulos was an acclaimed Greek director, famous for his slow lengthy movies that explore philosophical and other themes. Several movies of his are acclaimed internationally. His most awarded ones are Ο Θίασος (The Travelling Players, 1975), Ταξίδι στα Κύθηρα (Voyage to Cythera, 1984), Το βλέμμα του Οδυσσέα (Ulysses' Gaze, 1995), Μια Αιωνιότητα και μια Μέρα (Eternity and a Day, 1998), Τοπίο στην Ομίχλη (Landscape in the Mist, 1988).

More Kazantzakis. Since you have watched Zorba the Greek, a film based on the novel Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas by Nikos Kazantzakis, perhaps you will be interested in two more movies based on other novels of his, even if they are not purely Greek or Greek productions. The first one is the very famous The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) starring Willem Dafoe, directed by Martin Scorsese. The problem is that this movie is often very misunderstood as edgy / anti-Christian / atheist whereas Kazantzakis' intent with his book was kinda the exact opposite so he probably rolls nonstop in his grave with some readings I have seen being made of the movie, even here on tumblr. Scorcese obviously focused more on the edgy factor than Kazantzakis did, further encouraging such misinterpretations but you could still be able to understand the meaning of Kazantzakis' book through the movie, now that I told you that Kazantzakis was essentially a secular theological / Christian philosopher. The other one is Ο Χριστός Ξανασταυρώνεται (Christ Recrucified / He Who Must Die, 1957). A French / Italian production, also featuring the Greek actress Melina Mercuri. A Greek village in Anatolia in 1920 (Modern day Turkey) stages a Passion Play for Easter. Staging the play leads to them rebelling against their Turkish rulers in a way that mirrors Jesus's story. There is also a Greek TV series adapting the novel in 1975 - 1976, which is closer to the book and gets better reviews and you can watch it in the streaming platform I recommend below.

ERTFLIX. Ertflix is the state TV's OTT platform and it is entirely for free, while also available internationally. It has both desktop and app formats and you can also add it to several TV boxes, Chromecast, Roku etc For the free service that it is, it has an abundance of series, movies and documentaries so I can never stop praising it...! There you can find numerous Greek movies / series / documentaries to watch, plus even more foreign stuff with Greek subtitles if you're learning Greek and need to practice. Plus it has interviews, the invaulable archives of the state TV and so much more. In Greece it is not necessary but for using the platform abroad you will have to register as a user but it is entirely for free. Ertflix I love you. Below is a screenshot with some Greek movies available now:

Scroll to the Greek cinema option (or to the Greek series). The site is built in both Greek and English.

Where you can find ERTFLIX:

The aforementioned TV series based on Kazantzakis' novel.

Upcoming movies of Greek interest:

Maria. The biopic of Maria Callas, rather her last years, starring Angelina Jolie. Is Jolie a good casting choice for Callas? Well, no. People say she does a good job in it however. I don't know about that and I am going to be sceptical because I love Maria Callas and I don't think she can be easily (at all) imitated. I 'll watch it though. From the trailer I see Jolie did a very legit job with Callas' speaking manner and accent, this is hopeful. Part of the movie was filmed in Greece too.

The Return. Starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, this is a retelling of the last part of the Odyssey, once Odysseus has returned to Ithaca and has to reclaim his rule and home from Penelope's suitors. It is a realistic retelling, not featuring the gods, based on the trailer I saw. I had my reservations for this casting but Fiennes looks good as old Odysseus IMO and Binoche is a brunette French, of course she can pass easily as a Greek. They are also both good and serious actors and I am sure they give their best in the movie. The drawback is that it's like we return to the 70s with these poor and anachronistic costumes and sets. And also aside from the protagonists, who would have thought there was so much diversity in Ithaca / s, a REAL, TINY and REMOTE Greek island. Telemachus looks like the blondest of Swedes and then the Ithacians have apparently descent from Scandinavia to Southeast Asia to central Africa. Amazing. Ithaca, the New York of Bronze Age. At least Fiennes (in this) and Binoche do pass as Greeks... What makes the movie a little promising for me is the amazing physique Fiennes achieved for it: the parts half dead old beggar and parts godly warrior king. He nailed it. The scene with the bow, I know already I will get the chills.

From this alone I know Fiennes is doing a terrific job in this. He is always invested very seriously in his movies.

Anyway, one third of the movie is shot in Greece and ERT (the Greek State TV) is actually a co-producer (a rarity with international movies of Greek mythological interest nowadays), so once it's done from movie theaters, it is going to be available for free on ERTFLIX... apparently globally. I so hope this movie does not disappoint me.

A lot of these can be found in links in greek-movies.com but you didn't hear it from me.

[lauriegraham01]

you're still around | natasha romanoff

pairings: natasha romanoff x gn!reader (one instance where it can be interpreted as fem!reader)

summary: "i know better but i still feel you all around." you never envisioned a life spent with natasha, so what do you do now that the aftershocks of her death has uprooted your life?

wc: 2.5k

a/n: I cannot speak of my grief over natasha, so enjoy this instead! + this is me cleaning out my drafts so im sorry if quality is trash </3

You never loved the beach. You never loved the beach until you met her.

Having been assigned on a mission together in Los Angeles, you found yourself on the sand far more times than you cared for.

"Oh, you're being ridiculous it's not that bad."

"I'd rather die."

Even behind her tinted aviators, there was no denying that signature playful glint shinning in her eyes. She loved how you had a flair for the dramatics, always teasing how she's the only one who could ever put up with it.

"Look, it's only for a couple of hours until we make sure that Stavros meets his guys here."

"And not a second more."

Hours slipped away as you two soaked up the sun. You could live in this moment forever. The sound of waves crashing against the shore matched the ferocity of your heart beating in your chest. You were full of love, consumed by it. Yet how could you not.

The way her sun-kissed skin seemed to soak up the sun, how her hair danced in the gentle ocean breeze, and how peaceful she looked as she she slept in the sand.

You feared the inevitable- dreaded it even. Yet lying next to her, unable to look away, you knew it was too late.

Your bond only continued to grow, spending more time both on and off the clock. Using any excuse to be near each other in hopes of learning something new, even though that seemed impossible. Natasha was the first person you felt like you could be completely open and honest with. You were surprised yet relieved when she told you she felt the same way.

Things in those days were still fresh, you both were equally fully of worry and reservation. The fear of ruining an already incredible bond preventing either of you from pursuing something greater. There was a silent understanding of this- despite the circumstance, you and Natasha continued on as you knew best. Pushing each other to be greater, being each others cheerleader, and truly wanting the best for each other after seeing the potential you both possessed.

Each moment shared together played on repeat in your mind until you could see her again. Late nights spent sparring in the gym, pool games at dive bars, and endless romcom movie marathons that only were only respected by Wanda.

The endless messages exchanged during meeting whenever Steve would go on forever. The getaways spent upstate thanks to Natasha swiping the keys to one of Tony's many many cars. The late night spent revealing sins to each others, and the darkest memories and fears that haunted us. The comfort that lasted till morning when you awoke to another sunrise wrapped in each other's arms. Each moment spent with her was truly magical.

You felt yourself falling deeper in love with Natasha with each passing day. You had reached a point where you couldn't remember life without her by your side, and the thought of having to go back to that terrified you both.

"I don't want this to be what splits us." Running your hands over your face, a tired sigh escaped your lips. The stress of the Sokovia Accords had everyone on edge and you and Natasha were no exception.

"I don't see why it has to," Natasha exaggerated. Her patience growing thinner after the countless back and forth and still not seeing eye to eye.

"You know why," you objected sharply. "it's not right, Nat. You know that." Your eyes met her with an unwavering look of defiance. There was no swaying you to change your mind. She always knew you were so stubborn.

"I know," she admitted.

"Then why are you signing?!" Throwing your hands in frustration you don't immediately notice the boom in your voice as you spoke.

It wasn't until Natasha swallowed thickly before averting her gaze towards the ground that you realized your mistake. Your shoulders slump as you let out a tired sigh. You felt that you were at a crossroads, and there was no right answer in which way you moved.

"I want us to stay together, it doesn't matter how," she emphasized, the edge in her voice unmistaken as she enunciated each word. Green eyes looked up at me through silky lashes, behind a determined look I saw the sadness in the mist of green eyes.

In that moment you felt all your fears cement into reality. You knew there was no way both of you could win and your heart broke as you both pledged your allegiance to opposing sides of another mans war.

Looking up at her you saw the same exact heartbreak in her eyes. You reached your breaking point, as the room seemed to close in you bolted out of your seat and aimed for the door. As your hand squeezed the handle, you hesitated- for a brief second. You didn't want to walk out on her, it was the last thing you ever though of doing.

Sparing her a final look, you see the stoic expression on her face. You always knew she was stubborn, but the hardened expression on her face only further proved what you already knew. There was no changing her mind, just as much as there wasn't changing any yours.

"It does to me."

You fought on opposing sides of a pointless war. When the dust settled, there was no morning glory to be found in its aftermath. Just bitter resentment and heartache as the family you've fought beside for years was no more.

Now considered an enemy of the state, you fled the country, not knowing if you would ever come back. By the time Steve had told you how Natasha helped him and Bucky flee, it was already too late. You were thousands of miles away and burned too many bridges that could never be crossed over again.

You thought about writing, but what could you say? Too much was said and done last, you didn't think there was ever coming back from that. You spent the next two years trying to erase the memory of her. Proving quite difficult as you saw her in everything, her love still being the fire that kept you warm even miles away.

You dreamt of a time where you would come face to face with her again. You've rehearsed the apologies you would say and the confessions you would lay bare if you ever were to see her face again. Yet all that flew out of the window as she stood in front of you, finding you amidst the crowded market square.

"Natasha?" Despite her hair now blonde and much shorter, you still could recognize her face in any crowd.

"Just shut up." She said, catching you off guard.

Taken aback, you sighed deeply as you gave her your full attention. Taking in her full appearance, you note her lose tank and green skirt that flowed with the summers breeze. You don't think you've ever seen her in something that colorful. Despite all the changes, she's still Natasha. You still saw the girl you fell in love with all those years ago on that beach.

The crease between her eyebrow reveals how Natasha seemed deep in thought. Hesitant to speak what's on her mind as she darted between your eyes, weighing her options.

"I never wanted to rely on anyone for anything," she began. "I thought that if I could be independent and alone then I could avoid the pain that comes from losing people."

Fidgeting with her fingers and from the bite marks on her lip, you sensed the urgency behind her words.

"I don't wanna live like that anymore," she confessed urgently. As if she could no longer bear having such a brilliant truth hidden for a second longer. "I love you y/n. I think I have for a long time now but I was just too scared to admit it- and I know things are complicated but i'm ready for this. I want this. I want us-" Stopping suddenly, feeling breathless the longer she looked in your eyes. "You. I want you."

"I love you."

Time seemed to slow down in that moment. The sound of thousands of people packed in the Brazilian market faded to nothing as you looked at her, her words echoing in your head. If Nat had felt even an ounce of relief from getting the truth of her chest, her face didn't show it. She had this look on her face, you studied for it moment before you realized what it was- fear.

She thought you would walk away. That you would scoff at her confession, see through her for what she thought she was, flawed.

She couldn't have been farther from truth. Her eyebrows furrowed in mix of shock and confusion when she felt a finger tilting her chin upward. Swallowing thickly, she awaited cruel rejection. However, seeing the adoration behind your eyes, she let herself believe that maybe there was some room for redemption. The corner of her lip curled upwards before the both of broke into breathless laughs, the twinkle in her eyes making your heart soar as it sang Natasha's name.

"I love you too."

After that, you never knew a life without Natasha. Having fought in Wakanda and losing so much during The Blip, you two became each other's anchor.

Never wanting to be away from her again, you moved back to New York. You helped direct the remaining Avengers as missions were still executed and help was needed everywhere. Despite the darkness that the world was wrapped up in, you and Natasha were each other's lighthouse, guiding each other back to shore.

It wasn't until Scott came barging on the compounds door and the the rest of the team got together for the time heist that hope would shine for the first time in a long time.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come instead," you lowly ask as you and the rest of the team prepare for the time heist.

"I'm gonna pretend to not be offended by that." Clint chimed in as he made his way past us.

"Shut up Barty, please!" He throws his hands up in surrender as he's met by your annoyed gaze. You don't miss hearing Bruce chuckle as he typed away on the control panels.

Facing Natasha again, you're met with her amused smile as she looked up at you.

"I promise I'll be fine," she insisted. "Clint's got my back-right Barty?!"

Clint just grunts in acknowledgment.

"Trust me?" Raising her eyebrows as she lifted her open palm toward you.

Taking her hand and turning it over, you placed a chaste kiss onto it.

"Damn right I do," you say, never breaking eye contact.

Not missing the way her cheeks flushed at the sudden gesture you bring her in and capture her lips in a soft kiss. Earning a wolf-whistle from Tony in the process.

As you all stood in a circle on the platform, ready to go back in time in hopes of bringing everyone back, your eyes meet Natasha's again. Heart fluttering as it did everytime you looked at her.

"See you in a minute." Her eyes glimmering as she smiled at you.

Those words replayed in your head in a constant loop for months. You never got to say goodbye, and that's what killed you the most.

You never were good with grief, and having lost so many people because of Thanos, you spiraled into a depression that lasted the better half of a year.

Yet when you were ready to face that grief, it was Yelena who was there for you. She was one of the few people around who understood what it meant to lose Natasha. To have known and loved her so intimately, and have that taken away.

Staring out into the same sea at the same beach where you first fell for your blue-jeaned baby, as comforting hand on your shoulder shakes you from your thoughts. Startled by the sudden presence your eyes look up frantically to meet with Yelena's concerning gaze.

"Hey," her voice soft, "you okay?"

"Hey-um, yeah, i'm fine really." You shake your head furiously as you blink away your tears. Meeting her eyes again, the love and sincerity that poured behind Yelena's eyes was enough to make the damn burst.

"No," you croak as a sob wracks itself out of your body. Engulfing you in her arms, you burrow your head in Yelena's shoulder as grief's uncharted weight washes over you.

"I know what she meant to you. She told me about a month after taking down the Red Room. I never would've taken her for a U-hual lesbian."

A laugh escapes your lips. Looking back on it, things did happen rather quickly. After taking down Dreykov, she felt a new found purpose in life, a need to reconnect with family and loved ones.

"Yeah, well it was a long time coming," you let out softly. You pull out of her arms, wiping away at your dried tears.

"Thank you, Yelena. I know what she meant to you too."

You don't miss the sadness that flickers in Yelena's eyes.

"She meant to look for you earlier. She told me about you while staying at one of Tony's safe house", you sigh reflecting on the confessions said that night. The fire and a shared bottle of whiskey having kept you both warm that night. "She never stopped thinking about you."

"I know," she affirms, voice shaky. "Thank you."

You offer her a soft smile, eyes crinkling as you giver her arm a reassuring squeeze. Yelena then locks arms with you, a sudden peace washing over you like the waves ashore you were watching.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Looking over at her, you note the blonde wisps of hair that moved with the wind.

"Are any of us?" She doubled back with a smirk, earning a chuckle from you.

A brief silence falls over you two. One full of reluctant acceptance as it is with sadness.

"I promised I wouldn't say goodbye." You barely heard her. You almost thought you hadn't from how low she spoke.

Looking back towards the water, if you didn't know any better you'd think she was still around. If you thought about it long enough, you could still make out Natasha's footprints scattered across the sand. Or how graceful she looked dancing in the sand.

You could hear the sweetness of her laughter as not even the call of the seagulls could sing a finer melody.

You can still feel the warmth of her pirate smile, shinning bright as she looked at you from over her shoulder.

As the wind picked up you closed your eyes and let the memories of your sweet summers spent with Natasha flash before you. If you didn't know any better, you'd think she was talking to you now. Through the way the wind echoed her whispers of "I love you."

Opening your eyes, the warmth and love of those memories still sprout inside you, even as your met with the sight of the beach's barren winter. She's still here, always with me.

"Maybe you don't have to."

You know better, but you still feel her all around.

[esters-notepad]

In which Zeus goes to the club and is confronted by a bunch of nerds

Inspired by some recent discussion on @irishironclad's tumblr. Thanks to @catkin-morgs-kookaburralover for coming up with the deciding plot twist!

The Sky-Father, Optimus Maximus, the Hospitable, the Protector of Armies, the Protector of Friendship, he of the Rains, the Storms, the Thunder and Lightning (commonly known as Zeus) yawned and stretched his shoulders. He felt like he had slept for a long time. Years, even. He checked the time, and promptly shot bolt upright. One thousand four hundred years??? That couldn't be right... except it was. At least his follower count was up to a four-digit number again. More than enough to get out of bed and perform some minor miracles. He'd beat that usurping half-godling yet. Zeus snuck a glance at his nagging old battleaxe Hera, but she was still deep in a coma, follower count so low that she was actually slightly transparent. Ha! Nobody loves a party pooper. Time to go out and have some fun with the mortals.

Marina had been dancing for several songs, when she suddenly noticed another dancer following her. He looked like a classical statue with his curly hair, elegant nose and buff body. His colours were perfect too: hair so dark it bordered on violet, skin olive-brown and clear, teeth white as snow. She threw herself into the beat, relishing the experience of having such a beautiful and skilled partner. The people around them even drew back a little, forming a circle for them to show off in. When the song ended, she made a flourishing curtsey, overdone to Gibraltar and back. He returned the favour as a small, ironic bow. Marina looked towards the bar, feeling out of breath. As if he could read her thoughts, he grabbed her elbow and steered towards a quiet corner where one could drink and talk. "That was awesome!" Marina said. "Are you a professional dancer, or something?" The unknown man looked almost affronted. "Certainly not! I employ them! ...or I used to." "You must be older than you look, then." He drunk deep from his wine glass instead of replying. Marina sipped her mojito, slightly uncomfortable with how openly he was looking her over. Sure, she had a good body and she knew it. Yes, she had made an effort to look sexy before coming to the club. But he didn't have to be so crass about it! "Who are you?" he asked abruptly. "Eleni", Marina lied with practised perfection. "And you?" "You can call me Dias." "All right, Dias, it was fun dancing with you." Marina left her half-drunk mojito on the table and went for the dance floor, trying to lose Dias in the crowd. Somehow, he stayed right beside her. The man seemed positively incapable of taking a hint. Marina danced her way back to the bar - not the quiet table of before, but the middle of the main bar, in plain view of everyone - and took out her cellphone. Before she could even pull up her sister's number, there was a small electrical shock to her hand, and the machine died. Marina looked up. Barely an arm's length away stood Dias, smiling cruelly, lightning playing around the fingers of his right hand. "Who are you?" Marina said breathlessly, without expecting an answer.

Stavros moved around nervously on his seat. Something was different tonight, he could feel it. Something was making it difficult to concentrate. Konstantin and Dimitrios seemed distracted, as well. Thomas was reciting their usual evening prayer, but without the usual presence of spirit. At the point where they would normally have segued into the Lord's Prayer, Thomas instead said: "Holy Spirit, please guide us. Holy Spirit, please lead us. Holy Spirit, please show us the way." Outside, Stavros thought. That back alley two blocks away. Something's wrong there. "The back alley behind the club," Konstantin said. Dimitrios stared at him: "You felt it too?" "Me too!" Stavros almost shouted. "We should probably go there," Thomas concluded. "Holy Spirit, keep guiding us. God, keep us safe. Amen. Let's be careful."

The summer night was hot and oppressive, with a hint of upcoming thunder. Stavros hung a little back, content to hide his slight form behind those of his brawnier friends. Neon signs flashed. Taxi cabs cruised the street. People walked by, most in flashier dress than their little boardgames-and-prayer-group, most talking and laughing out loud in the grip of intoxication. The little back alley seemed deserted by comparison. Closed and locked doors, shuttered windows, parked cars, some overflowing garbage bins. Directly behind the club was an unhealthy-looking oak tree, and beneath it they could see a man kneeling over a woman, pushing her down on the ground, lifting his hand as if to rip her dress off. "Stop!" Thomas called, and his voice seemed to echo between the walls of the narrow alley. The assailant didn't let go of his victim, but he twisted around to look at them over his shoulder. Pure beauty, Stavros thought. Pure hate. Pure evil. He immediately scolded himself: no human being is purely evil, just as nobody is purely good except Jesus. But his impression remained. "Get lost," Thomas said. "Leave her alone." The assailant sneered. "And who are you to command me?" he said. "I am Thomas, a servant of the Lord Christ," Thomas said simply. "I am Konstantin, a servant of the Lord Christ," Konstantin repeated. Dimitrios added his voice, and Stavros hurriedly stepped out of the other's shadow to face down this ancient evil would-be rapist. A corner of his mind insisted that he and his friends were being ridiculous, that they should attack the guy or call the police or something, not recite corny lines. Stavros repeated it anyway, and the guy fell back a little, as if he'd been struck. The woman took the opportunity to wiggle out and run away. Stavros didn't blame her. "And by that name you command me to be gone," the man said mockingly. "You said it," Thomas said calmly. "By the name of Jesus Christ, we command you to be gone." "Damn your Lord to Hell, and you with him!" "He's been there," Thomas said. "Now he rules it," Dimitrios added. The man in front of them let out a frustrated scream. Lightning struck the oak tree, and Stavros jumped back in surprise. When he'd recovered, the unknown man had disappeared. "Where did he go?" Stavros asked. "Behind these cars?" Konstantin suggested. "No, he's not here. Strange. He must have gotten away somehow." "Guys, that was wild," Dimitrios said. "We faced down a bad guy, and won. Woo!" "Where did the woman go?" Thomas said. "We should make sure that he doesn't catch her again." "I don't think he can," Konstantin said. "She ran past us towards the street, right? And he could hardly have gotten past us - he must have gone deeper into the alley." "And even if he got past us..." Stavros said. "Even if he did, she had time to get away into a taxi, or a restaurant, or something." "You're probably right," Thomas said. "All right, I know it's late, but how about we all go back to my place anyway? Have some more tea, give proper thanks to God, calm down a little. What do you say?" "Best idea you ever had, man," Dimitrios said. Stavros just smiled.

[nontacitare]

Laura and Esme

I got hooked on General Hospital as a child because a babysitter watched it. The storyline that got me hooked was Leslie lying on the witness stand, because I thought the courtroom witness stand was like Wonder Woman's lasso and you couldn't lie, so I wanted to see how Leslie would overcome that. (Like I said, I was just a child ;-) ) But today I was reminded why Leslie was lying. When Laura was 14 or 15, she was seduced by her mother's adult lover, and eventually snapped and murdered him. She then developed amnesia about what she'd done, and to protect her Leslie falsely admitted to the murder. But...plot twist. Laura got her memory back and pretended to still have amnesia, letting her mother go to prison for a crime she'd committed. Of course, she went on to do great things, even saving the world a few times. But she's never really been the paragon of virtue that traditional soap heroines were supposed to be. This got me to wondering if Laura sees herself in Esme. Laura had been adopted by sketchy parents only to discover her real parentage in adolescence. She was even held prisoner by the father of the man who held Esme prisoner. And then there's the whole young felon who gets away with her crimes and fakes amnesia angle. (Remember, Nicholas is the product of Stavros' rape of Laura.) I've been banging my head against the wall wondering how Laura could be so gullible as to believe Esme's lies. Now I suspect she doesn't. Even her advice today ("Don't think about the past; look to the future") suggests she knows Esme has her memories back. I think she wants to "save" Esme as a symbolic way of saving the young woman she was. Laura believes there's good in Esme because she believes there was good in her. It would also explain why Laura is more supportive of Esme than she is of Spencer. She doesn't identify with Spencer in quite the same way. If my theory is correct, it's pretty twisted, and it's too bad Port Charles doesn't have a psychiatrist who isn't Laura's husband. But it would explain a lot.

[aluminia]

They really weren't lying when they said every time you learn something new you start noticing it around you more often and it makes your life more interesting.

[aluminia]

Thank youuu my brain is very large

New shipname just dropped by my friend @aluminia

ObNOXious purCHASE ✨

And νυχτερινό κυνήγι as their Greek shipname ✨✨

🌙⭐

[cherryjuicegf]

alone + midnight + mistake for the ask game <3

thanks bestie absolutely LOVED these and it turned out to be an essay so under the cut <3

alone: just the right spot actually because loneliness is like a huge theme in the story. katerina has generally felt alone forever and pretends she's completely fine with that and she had no other choice really, she has many ways of being with herself. yet she's social and pleasant and just seeks company everywhere but never actually commits, never actually belongs, she is safe in her aloneness and she doesn't admit it and that's why, even though she craved human connection, she married a man who's away for a year at a time. stavros on the other hand is like. extremely angry. enraged. he is forced to be alone by society, by his mother and after alkis goes to the sea, by his best friend and the love of his life. his one chance at not being alone is snatched from him and he takes it out both on katerina and alkis in very subtle ways. but the thing is he craves company so much he ends up connecting with the woman he's trapping in his revenge narrative so. yeah not rly good at planning. on his own he's very introspective (in the wrong direction nevertheless) and i like to think he inspects himself in the mirror a lot, trying to be on his own who he cannot be outside. but the whole point of his character is his need for love and company which he's deprived of even in the best case scenario of running away so he cannot handle being actually alone. the only thing keeping him is the secret hope that, despite everything he's done, he is not alone.

midnight: katerina absolutely has no restful sleep schedule, miss girl hasn't slept free of anxiety ever in her life. constant anxiety that she's not enough, that her life is slipping away, trying to convince herself that she made the right choice and to a point believing it so that she doesn't hive her mother the satisfaction of running away again in failure. she wakes every morning and haunts the porch of her house to see if stavros will deliver a letter and can't stop questioning her disappointment and her happiness at the same time. and it's the loneliness that connects her with stavros tbh because it's the main reason he stays awake. he stays in bars till morning hoping to merge with the crowd, be invisible. he has the earliest shift as a postman. he lays in bed at night thinking about how empty it feels, how different everything could be and how he can get away. ridden with guilt for deceiving katerina, for even thinking about leaving his mother alone, for being so cowardly to do what he wants, or needs to do to get away. generally not much of a good night's sleep for these two.

mistake: love how all these are interconnected huh. i think katerina hasn't yet realized her marriage is that worst mistake for. well. MANY reasons. she's so loyal and has faith and alkis really did make her feel something extraordinary so she gave no second thought and she's fighting tooth and nail to keep it together now and when she realizes [redacted] happens so she will really never be able to fix it, forever trapped. so like her worst mistake is being desperate for love, and not admiting it made her reckless too. stavros on the other hand has .uh. has made many mistakes. uh. dude is a rocky slope fr. he thinks his worst mistake is opening up to katerina and he tries to take it back desperately but it's too late and she always sees underneath it so their connection is inevitable. so then his worst mistake could be that he is so devoted to alkis but so blinded by his bitterness and anger that he forges this terrible lie to try and get away from him, and keeps it up until everyone gets hurt so idk. maybe his worst mistake is being prone to passion. his worst mistake is loving. oh and no one ever moves on :)

[denimbex1986]

'Ever since he burst onto the scene with his breakthrough role as Moriarty in BBC’s Sherlock, Andrew Scott has thrived as a universally beloved actor who has won admiration for his eccentric villains and his more understated, dramatic roles. While he has become an icon of the small screen, particularly in the realm of British television, Scott has also appeared in some of the biggest and most celebrated movies in recent years.

It is a testament to his versatility that his best projects contain everything from queer comedies to war dramas, thought-provoking thrillers, and even major blockbuster cinematic events. While admirable turns in films like Catherine Called Birdy went mostly unnoticed, these ten titles mark the highlights of Andrew Scott’s sensational career and represent the actor at his very best.

10. 'Handsome Devil' (2016)

Directed by John Butler

A coming-of-age film from Ireland that deftly weaves drama, comedy, and complicated notions of romance together, Handsome Devil marks an underrated highlight in the career of up-and-coming star Nicholas Galitzine. He stars as Conor Masters, the star student of a rugby-obsessed all-boys school who forms a bond with a lonesome new student. Their growing friendship finds support in Adam Scott’s Mr. Sherry, even as he faces hostilities linked to his sexuality.

With overtones of self-discovery and forbidden love, Handsome Devil engages in its core theme of same-sex love in a manner that is universally accessible and powerfully heartfelt. The story is perhaps a tad formulaic at stages, but it overcomes its pitfalls with exceptional and effective performances, brilliant use of music, and a sharp sense of humor that brings a pleasant layer of humanity to what is a dramatic story.

9. 'Spectre' (2015)

Directed by Sam Mendes

Aside from Sean Connery’s era, Daniel Craig’s James Bond films are regarded as the best of any of the 007 actors’ runs in the franchise. Spectre was far from the best Bond movie of Craig’s tenure, but it still excelled as an exciting, action-packed spy blockbuster. It follows 007 as he looks into a sophisticated criminal organization known as Spectre, headed by the elusive mastermind Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz).

Scott is a secondary antagonist, “C," the Director-General of the Joint Security Service, who thwarts MI6’s efforts to stop Spectre while actively striving to end the 00 operatives. Spectre has its flaws, namely a severely underutilized Waltz as Blofeld, but Scott provides some smarmy villainous heft, with his penchant for playing a great bad guy on full display and marking an underrated highlight of a somewhat disjointed film.

8. 'Locke' (2013)

Director: Steven Knight

Operating with a simple and unconventional yet entirely captivating premise, Locke has become something of an underrated cult classic, gambling everything on Tom Hardy’s lead performance and coming up trumps. It follows a construction manager throughout a 90-minute drive, covering the phone calls he makes in that time. The conversations relate to a major upcoming project, issues he’s facing with his family, and the premature labor of a woman he had a one-night stand with seven months prior.

The supporting cast is incredible, featuring Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Tom Holland, and Andrew Scott. They only feature as voices on the phone, with the film intensely focused on Locke’s reactions to the conversations. Scott voices Donal, Locke’s work trainee, who he coaches through the preparation of a pour despite everything else going wrong around him. Locke is a fascinating and absorbing film executed incredibly to be something of a hidden gem of the 2010s.

7. 'Pride' (2014)

Directed by Matthew Warchus

A triumphant mixture of comedy, drama, and true story intrigue that flaunts an urgent weight while remaining uplifting and fun, Pride is one of the most underrated and brilliant comedies of the 2010s. Set in the summer of 1984, it follows a group of gay activists who recognize they face a common political enemy and rally behind the lengthy strike conducted by the National Union of Mineworkers in Wales.

Juxtaposing the mineworkers against the gay rights activists, Pride strikes a clever thematic balance that deftly uses the issues faced by one group to highlight the suffering and angst of the other. Nestled within the film’s impressive ensemble cast, Scott handles a lot of the dramatic impact of the film as Gethin, a homosexual man with a tragic past tied to his coming out. Scott adds a layer of raw realism to an otherwise uplifting story, showing more sides to the situation.

6. 'Black Mirror' (2011 - Present)

Created by Charlie Brooker

Netflix’s hit anthological series Black Mirror has become a global phenomenon. Each episode features a different cast as it explores social and technological anxieties through the lens of a dystopian near-future. The second episode of Season 5, “Smithereens,” sees Andrew Scott star as a rideshare driver who kidnaps an intern at a major social media company to learn more about the system’s internal workings and expose the online entity's true nature.

The episode is loaded with thematic heft, coasted on Andrew Scott’s sensational central performance. Still, “Smithereens” is considered a middling installment of the series, largely because of its singular tone and somewhat formulaic approach. However, Black Mirror is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of the modern era for its insightful and thought-provoking narratives, as well as its ability to lure A-grade talent like Scott on the regular.

5. '1917' (2019)

Directed by Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes’ ambitious and thrilling war drama famously fuses its shots to appear as one continuous take. It follows two soldiers through the hell on earth that was the front lines of WWI. As such, 1917 is a breathtaking technical achievement that features an impressive supporting cast around its two young stars, George McKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, who portray soldiers sent on an urgent mission to warn another battalion that they are walking into a deadly ambush.

Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch were just some of the stars to appear briefly in the film, with Andrew Scott likewise getting a cameo early on as Lieutenant Leslie, the weary soldier who advises the two messengers how to cross no man’s land. 1917 was warmly received by fans and critics alike, and while it perhaps isn’t the most focused showpiece of Scott’s talents, it still gives him enough to impact the story and set the bleak tone of the film.

4. 'All of Us Strangers' (2023)

Directed by Andrew Haigh

One of the best romantic hits of 2023, the magical and powerful All of Us Strangers sees Andrew Scott put in arguably the greatest dramatic performance of his career alongside Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell. He stars as Adam, a lonely screenwriter who forms a relationship with a mysterious neighbor, Harry. Drawn back to his childhood home, Adam stumbles upon his parents, who look the same age they were when they died 30 years prior.

A powerful acting showcase by all involved, All of Us Strangers is a beautiful and overwhelming portrayal of grief that is bold and ambitious in its approach yet remains centered on its driving human emotions. Scott delivers a career-defining performance, embodying a myriad of emotions while remaining detached and elusive. With flourishes of fantasy and the supernatural, All of Us Strangers is a unique and captivating movie that is among the best and most underrated features of 2023.

3. 'Band of Brothers' (2001)

Created by Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks

While he had the briefest of appearances in Saving Private Ryan, Andrew Scott returned with a slightly greater role in Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ next war series, Band of Brothers. One of the greatest miniseries ever made, it tracks the soldiers of Easy Company, an American Airborne division who were on the front lines from the Normandy invasion on D-Day to the very end of the war.

An all-encompassing dive into the horror and humanity of war, Band of Brothers earned high praise for its effective battle sequences, excellent character work, and authenticity to the real experiences of the soldiers. It also features an incredible supporting cast, with Andrew Scott appearing in the second episode, "Day of Days." Other actors who briefly appeared include Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Simon Pegg, and Tom Hardy.

2. 'Fleabag' (2016-2019)

Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Perfectly balanced between authentic, real-life drama and hysterical comedy that is painfully accurate yet completely absurd, Fleabag has become a modern television classic despite its mere 12-episode, two-season run. It follows the titular Fleabag (played by series creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge), an emotionally lost and volatile woman in modern-day London struggling with the recent death of her best friend while combatting family woes and romantic headaches.

The defining relationship of the series comes when Andrew Scott enters Season 2, with his performance as the Priest working flawlessly in conjuncture with Waller-Bridge’s wry wit and skewering, unfiltered comedy. Fleabag remains one of the greatest comedy series of all time, a poignant and powerful drama and a wonderful meditation on the enigmatic nature of love. Many would argue it is the greatest project Scott has ever worked on and stands tall among the best shows ever made.

1. 'Sherlock' (2010 - 2017)

Created by Mark Gatiss & Steven Moffat

Ever since he rose to fame, Andrew Scott has shown an endless versatility that can be applied to everything from quiet and quaint roles to explosive, bombastic characters. Yet, his greatest work remains his breakout performance in the hit BBC series Sherlock. The show was one of the major television sensations of the 2010s, following Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) as they investigate crimes in modern-day London.

While the chemistry between the two leads was flawless and largely defining of the series’ brilliance, few fans would deny that the episodes that feature Andrew Scott’s Moriarty packed an added heft because of the actor’s infectious presence. Completely unpredictable, dangerously psychotic, yet entirely lovable all the same, Andrew Scott’s portrayal of Moriarty helped elevate Sherlock to be one of the greatest television shows of all time, and it remains a brilliant highlight of the actor’s career thus far.'

[bklynmusicnerd]

I heard that Patrick loves the Cassadines, but my thing is, the Cassadine family is borderline none existent right now and have no storylines 😩. Nik is always off, Spencer is off right now, Ace is still a baby, Victor is dead, the show refuses to have Alexis and the Davis girls be centered in a Cassadine story, idk what they doing with Valentin, seems like they dropped the Charlotte story. They need some new blood Cassadines to pop into town. Especially on the YA side. A distant cousin or something😂

Eh, I feel the same way about the state of the Cassadines as I do about the state of YA scene, it's been dire for a while in my eyes, so I'm not as concerned as everyone else. I actually think fixing the Cassadine situation is probably easier than the YA scene. The Cassadines have never really been as numerous as the Quartermaines. They were just larger than life, so it felt that way. Even the 90s revival of the Cassadines was really just Stefan, Alexis and Nik as regulars (and then Helena and Stavros would pop up and cause some trouble).

The biggest thing is making Nik a contract role again. He's the head of the Cassadines. He needs to be firmly regrounded onto the canvas. From there, you eventually reintroduce Spencer once he's back from the "dead". Spencer's "death" should inspire a return back to form for Alexis where she doesn't claim the Cassadine name but she's invested in the wellbeing of her Cassadine family members.

For some reason C&D missed the memo where the whole internal struggle of Alexis is that she hates her family's reputation and what they stand for but she actually loves her Cassadine family members and feels a pull toward being protective of them.

Victor being "dead" was nonsense and I don't even know why they bothered showing a body, but you can easily use Cassadine sci-fi shenanigans and make him the Helena type figure where he pops in to cause trouble and dips out again (I only say this because the show seems committed to Helena's death sticking and I'm assuming that's per CT's wishes).

I'd personally love for them to bring Stefan back from the dead since I always thought his death was bullshit and it'd be interesting to see what he'd think of the type of man Nik has become and how he'd interact with Spencer's chaotic self, but I recognize that's me being greedy. Valentin and Charlotte are the cousins and will always factor in, but I'm guessing that's very structured on the Valentin actor's schedule.

Either way, rebuilding the Cassadines is not this impossible feat that requires all this new blood. It just requires a writer who's invested enough in reestablishing that larger than life mythos of the Cassadines. But Nik absolutely has to be a contract player for this to work, on that, we agree.

[typhos-c-dragon]

andie made another hatchetfield oc, and this time, they're a bastard!

Lysander Stavros, but more often goes by simply "The Performer"

28 years old

Accepts any pronouns, but prefers they/them

Coming from a long line of artists and performers, Lysander has a multitude of artistic talents. Singing, tap dancing, playing the viola, juggling, puppetry/ventriloquism, and an occasional dabbling in painting and stage magic. Lysander's got it all! Problem is, they're also a major perfectionist thanks to the pressure of trying to live up to such a spectacular family legacy, and they've got a bit of a short temper when things don't pan out quite right for them. Not to mention, bearing such an esteemed name as the Stavros' has given them something of an ego. Which- while easily covered up onstage as an undeniably charismatic sense of bravado, makes them rather insufferable to work with.

While able to score quick performing gigs around Hatchetfield with their talents (the Honey Festival was their bread and butter for a while, they even got to host the Honey Queen pageant one year!), their difficult-to-work-with personality made securing any long-term creative work a struggle. Especially without the funds to leave town. But just when they were growing desperate, they happened upon a help wanted flier for Watcher World promising steady work for talented creatives.

When Lysander came to the job interview, they were promised more than steady work. The interviewer told them that they could create and perform for the will of a god, that their work would last for eternity, as would their very life. As long as they agreed to give up everything else, and devote their very existence to serving and entertaining the Watcher with a Thousand Eyes, Bliklotep.

Persuaded by the notion of them and their art lasting forever, Lysander accepted the job, and now works full-time as a performer at Watcher World and a worshipper of Blinky himself.

Ever since signing onto Watcher World's eternal contract, all of Lysander's faults have increased tenfold. They have to be a stern perfectionist, otherwise Blinky will hate their work. Their anger issues have gotten worse because these idiots they work with simply don't understand the vision of their art, and they will not stand for that! And of course, being a god's lapdog will definitely do some shit to one's ego, especially if it's already inflated higher than normal. Even worse, they're also a total suck-up to Blinky, and anyone considered their superior. How much Blinky appreciates their ass-kissing depends on how satisfied he is with their current performance.

Also, once they accepted the job, Blinky basically took their name like in Spirited Away. They're simply called "The Performer" now, and if you approach them and call them Lysander, it'll take them a second to realize you're talking to them. Even they're a little freaked out by that one.

This last one is relevant to me and me alone, but in terms of dreamcasting, Lysander would be played by Jae Hughes. Literally the easiest decision I've ever made in my life, I had this settled the second I thought up the character.