#Pathos Trio

[jgthirlwell]

playlist 11.30.24

Zeal and Ardor Greif (Redacted) Aksumi Fleeting Future + Lines (Tonal Union) Anna Thorvaldsdottir Aerial / ARCHORA - AI Ō N / AEQUA (Sono Luminus) Patrick Shiroshi Glass House (Otherly Love) Diamond Version CI (Raster-Noton) Pathos Trio When Dark Sounds Collide : New Music For Percussion and Piano (New Focus) Marco Beltrami Venom : Let There be Carnage OST (Sony Classical) Kee Avil Spine (Constellation) Music of Irwin Bazelon (CRI American Masters) Oneira Clocks In Motion - Music of Jennifer Bellor (Aerocade Music) Vacuum Tree Head Thirteen (Pest Colors Music) Tim Berne’s Snakeoil You’ve Been Watching Me (ECM) Nik Bärtsch Ronin Awase (ECM) Alan Sparhawk White Roses, My God (Sub Pop) English Teacher This could be Texas (Universal Island) Monolake Studio (Bandcamp) Nancy Sinatra You Go-go Girl (Varese Sarabande) Los Angeles Percussion Quartet R ū pa - khandha / Beyond (Sono Luminus) Blectum From Blechdom Halloween 2024 - Live at Chillits! (Bandcamp) Magdalena Bay Imaginal Disk (Mom + Pop)

[supurman]

im a simple man. i see the trinity comfort eachother, i cry.

[triglycercule]

guys..... this is gonna sound SO stupid,,,, i'm gonna sound like an absolute IDIOT. but this makes me think of the murder time trio

its supposed to be ways to have effective speeches or whatever but it reminds me of the trio so much 😭😭😭 its literally them,,,, hello,,,,,, mtt is this you

[indigo-constellation]

For the ask game, just to get the obvious out of the way, and because I'm genuinely curious. The Three Pathologic protagonists

ah my beloveds, purple for clara, green for temy, and red for danko I love these three dolls so much they've taken over my life so all three of them have a bingo

[elanorpam]

it's been way too long since i last did wildly self-indulgent fanart, so of course i did it for an SVSSS AU that doesn't even have any actual fanfiction written of it yet. but what can i say! it's a compelling scenario! Just check the original post for details!

here's a workplace doodle for his mess of an outfit, too:

Xin Mo is floating behind his back, wrapped in talismans. the collars are meant to be vaguely inspired on a flower bud.

Some notes i came up with for this version, copied straight from a month-old discord convo:

he may have protagonist halo now, but he's for sure not a stallion protagonist. he literally exchanged fates with his favorite person in the world in order to spare them a hellish trial-- that's romantic as fuck!! damn!! this is old CLAMP shoujo and no mistake!!

binghe may no longer be the protag, but he's still a half-heavenly demon. power-wise, heavenly demons can't be topped, and all the remaining heavenly demons are accounted for. so, SQQ can't be a heavenly demon, even in part.

HOWEVER, as a protagonist, there's a factor more important than power! it's the CHUUNI FACTOR. what's more CHUUNI™️ than being part demon?

one option is being part demon and part angel.

how would that even fucking work??????? IDK man, you can either pull from chinese folklore for fairies or heavenly beings or spirits, or you can blame Airplane and go "he accidentally implied the existence of christian elements by means of importing unexamined anime tropes"

Shen Jiu conveniently has a big fat blank on his parentage. We as fans can and have put whatever the hell we wanted there.

SQQ would jump into the abyss still under the impression SJ was a shallow villain. If his trip through the abyss involves recovering SJ's memories somehow, that sure would be fun times, huh?

so he awakens a mysterious ancestry and survives the abyss and takes Xin Mo, but he probably takes longer than Binghe did due to being squishier.

but Xin Mo isn't ACTUALLY his! so he papers it over with sealing talismans, and to battle the temptation to wield it he takes to wearing these longass sleeves. they're probably covered in talismans as well.

guessing Xiu Ya stayed behind to be mooned over by the clown trio in Cang Qiong. let's go full sparkle-sue here and say he's now fighting almost entirely via musical cultivation. i like swan-necked konghou harps so let's go with that, it'll look dope.

why is he barefoot? why WOULDN'T he be, is the question. fragile!! suffering!! dainty!! he's a shrinking flower, tormented by the weight of the One Sword To Rule Them All!!

also for extra pathos, his constant mental struggle against Xin Mo means he can't spare energy to front. it takes constant focus! he's still a bit in his delusional shit, but even when he's going "oh no, binghe is only latched throat-deep onto my dick because he's a good boy who's concerned about me and the danger i could pose by losing control" he'd probably… well, he'd probably say that out loud to anyone who asked. he's in a half-trance, mentally battling the crazy-making sword. lying is too much work.

Wouldn’t resisting Xin Mo’s influence be the mental and spiritual equivalent to training under 400x gravity or something? his wife-beam is going to be off the charts when he puts it down.

also also: who the hell dressed him like that? fucking shang qinghua, of course, after SQQ showed up in the northern palace to punish MBJ for hurting binghe in the conference. did the system explain shit to SQH? on the one hand, extremely funny if it updates him on the role change out of nowhere mid-alliance. on the other hand, extremely funny if he only finds out because Binghe is crying safely in Qing Jing while the scum villain apparently jumped into the abyss.

Here's another link to the original AU post! I've had it open on a tab all this time just so i could point to it when I was done, so make sure to check it out!

[leeafgreen]

｡𖦹°‧⭑.ᐟ THE RHETORIC TRIO: DAMON, DIANA & DESMOND

that Damon & Diana represent logos and pathos respectively has been well established at this point, but Desmond representing ethos is a subtler point that i would like to propose to complete the triangle! i alluded to it in my essay on Desmond & Eloise, and will write a more fleshed out essay on this in the future, but the crux of it is how invested Desmond’s character is in asserting what his values are and using that as a defence. similarly to Diana’s pathos affecting Damon, we see Desmond’s ethos affecting him both in his FTEs & certain routes in the trial 𖤐.ᐟ

[surrealismhorror]

Pathologic ita bag! Definitely my most niche bag but I'm really glad so many people made patho charms that I could fill a full bag of it ^w^

Charms are from;

Mittsushi - tickets

Dubukcowboy (gumroad) - wood & transparent 

Princefizz - theather & chibis

Dt75artblog - nina

Yimmygee - trio

[foreststepp]

hi hey hello just another bunch of sketches

inquisitor Karminsky and captain Longin

my hc about smiles of some patho characters

fem! Mark (Marta) Immortell (both versions)

trio of healers but they are “devil may cry” characters

[zu-zup]

patho trio from stream!

[einarcor]

[jgthirlwell]

playlist 09.30.23

Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo Phantasmagoria in Blue (Mute) Saddam Webcam Excès de beurre & Ruine morale (Dur et Doux) Various Outlier Festival 2022: New Electronic Music From Aotearoa (Audio Foundation) Austin Wulliman The News From Utopia (Bright Shiny Things) Thelonius Monk Brilliant Corners (Riverside) Samuel Adams Current (Other Minds) Loraine James Gentle Confrontation (Hyperdub) Pathos Trio When Dark Sounds Collide: New Music for Percussion and Piano (New Focus) Various Country Funk (Light in the Attic) John Luther Adams Darkness and Scattered Light (Cold Blue) Catherine Christer Hennix Solo for Tamburium (Blank Forms) Rachel Fannan Bjork Impersonations (Instagram) Tony Cohen Half Deaf, Completely Mad (book)

[dissovledgirl]

okay so re-reading scp takes DAY 2/3 IDK

number one i re read, case hate red.

bro. you have no idea how much this tale means to me. as a classical musician myself, the pure horror of people that you put your trust in(especially as a soloist???) turning into demonic monsters and ripping your body apart??? idk?? like bro wtf😭 also poor guy just wants his wife back anyways like at first i thought it was some crazy panic attack type thing bc i’ve definitely had things like that before performing gosh it was so nicely written UGH (also like there are slugs in his eyes…..)

(ALSO!! I WANT TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT HE IS PLAYING SHOSTAKOVICH. shostakovich isn’t like mozart and beethoven. his music is extremely dissonant and hard to listen to(note wise) and like for me personally it’s a sense of impending doom(even his waltz: https://open.spotify.com/track/0pjCsB0XNSyqM9UazlTODC?si=MUyjuJ7dRjq4as5kEdvScw , is in a minor key and isn’t very happy dancey it’s like IDK. and this one obvi https://open.spotify.com/wrapped/share/share-a1ac487ed18b4f6295de7a2e8ae910e9?si=wT4w91aaQQ-qHgxgPl3n_Q&track-id=1zwNC4HIvgQQ6nga0ygjIg like is so hard to play and listen to it just makes you uncomfortable and that’s just his style) so basically what i’m trying to say is i don’t KNOW if qntm was trying to use this as a symbol, all i’m saying is that if tinad wasnt a book, it was a movie, and shostakovichs shit was playing in the back???? ain’t no way i’d think this is a happy scene of some guy achieving his dreams and play the violin(especially in the context of what happened before)

sorry the classical musician in me IS COMING OUT

number two: portraits of your father

THIS ONE. GOD. i mean what the hell. like this kid has a pretty fucked up life ( as does any kid with a dad working at the foundation.. cough alison.. cough meri) and that’s sad in itself. BUT THE WHOLE GHING. KONDRAKI LAYING ON THE FLOOR. SAYING LIKE YOU ARE GONNA HAVE A GOOD FUTURE, AND IM GLAD JAMES LOVES YOU ANS WHAT. and the periodic flashbacks to draven’s childhood ugh:( he really loved his dad. also i love draven and talloran together idk who came up with that but ily

NUMBER 3!: Mann with the Plann, or the Dog Gone Days of Summer & New Tricks (or: Youth Culture Killed My Dog)

first of all. i love kain pathos crow. he’s really funny dude i love him. (yesterday does NOT exist guys!) (gears being the vet is also so funny)

i think it’s really interesting how kain and clef just accept the fact that they are gonna listen to the foundation whether they want to or not(they don’t want to) and its also so exciting seeing kain being like let’s fucking go olympia!! anywyas love that guy

okay so for the mann tale which was redirected from there, bro😭. i love mann and lament and its actually so iconic that kain mann and lament are a trio i love that.

that last one was a good lighthearted one to make up for the gut wrenching ones before it

[danilsbeetlecollection]

two tiny WIP panels from my patho theatre AU - the serving cunt trio (andrey, maria and danil) are instagram stalking artemy.

[moonjunio]

Time to expand on my ElfQuest heart circle post ❤️⭕️

A lot of fans only read the Original Quest (books 1-4) and may not know how deep the relationships between these 5 (count em, five) lovemates truly runs.

Cutter, as the MC, is the glue that binds the whole - or so you might think at first glance (more on that soon). But who is “first” when it comes to Cutter’s heart?

Book 1 revolves around the meeting of two tribes, resulting in the Recognition between Leetah and Cutter - so this pairing might be paramount in your mind.

But the first love shown in the entire saga is actually Redlance and Cutter. This is the moment that showed readers very early on that this story was going to be very different than the usual fantasy fare of the 70s. This warrior is well rounded, and one of his greatest strengths is loving and caring for others.

Redlance’s lifemate is Nightfall (my favorite character, if I’m only allowed one!) I think it was in one of the short stories or novelizations - when Nightfall and Cutter were very young, they were so close that many of the Wolfriders thought they would become lifemates. If Cutter had a first crush, Nightfall would likely count. The trio remains very close right from the start of ElfQuest.

But did I save the best for last? Cutter and Skywise are, for me, the heart of the entire tale. In terms of personality and emotional connection, they are avatars for the creators - Wendy and Richard Pini. No surprise, then, that their love story has (arguably) the most depth and pathos over the 40+ years that it took to write and illustrate ElfQuest.

In one story, Skywise knew Cutter’s soul name from birth - which is normally only revealed psychically to the parents. So, Skywise is also chronologically the first in Cutter’s heart. But they’re too young or simply disinclined to call it what it is at first, so it’s “brothers in all but blood” if they have to put it into words.

Yes this will be a series of posts - next, I focus on one couple or throuple at a time, as they each have their own special relationships.

[amaraangelicus]

Fic authors self rec! Thank you @there-must-be-a-lock!

1) Thawing the Ice

WinterHawk

Rated: M

I really like the slow buildup and how self aware Clint is. How protective they come to be of each other. And I love the Spy Trio together.

2) Bad Bad Angel

Angel & Harry Potter

Rated: G

I love the interplay between the characters, how one person's unimaginable horror is literally the best thing that Harry can ever remember happening. The juxtaposition between what the light side think is happening and what really is.

3) Moy Soldat

Winter Soldier & Harry Potter

Rated: T

This world had been so fun, and I love weaving together all the hcs about Bucky being good with kids before the war because of his sisters, and being used to train Hydra agents, and the trope of what if someone else raised little Harry.

4) Flowers on my Grave

Jason Todd & Batfam

Rated: T

This one honestly started as a vent for a bad seasonal allergy attack. I was feeling bad and really enjoying putting as much pathos as possible into the story. It's very emotive and I love it.

5) Soldat

WinterBones

Rated: E

Unlike #3, this one is not sweet, cute, or wholesome, despite the similarity of name. This one is dark, gritty, and physically painful to read at times. It's a classic Stockholm syndrome, and Rumlow is well aware of and takes advantage of it.

[anonymousewrites]

Logos and Pathos (Book 3) Chapter Nineteen

TOS! Spock x Empath! Reader

Chapter Nineteen: Arrogant Lord

Summary: Spock, Kirk, and (Y/N) go to a hospital for the mentally ill but find that the patients have taken over.

            Captain’s Log: The Enterprise is orbiting Elba II, a planet with a poisonous atmosphere where the Federation maintains a psychiatric hospital for the few remaining criminally insane in the galaxy. We are bringing a revolutionary new medicine to them—a medicine which the Federation hopes will eliminate the more harmful mental illnesses that have never had treatment before. I am transporting down with Mr. Spock and Mx. (L/N), and we’re delivering the medicine to Dr. Donald Cory, the governor of the colony.

            The trio materialized in front of the government, and Kirk smiled, stepping out.

            “Donald, good to see you,” said Kirk, extending a hand.

            “Governor,” said Spock.

            (Y/N) smiled in greeting. Cory’s emotions were bright and nearly searingly warm. It was an almost aggressive positivity.

            “You don’t know what a treat this is for me,” said Cory. “It’s been too long since I’ve had company, Jim.” He clicked a button. “The force field’s bac in place now.” He smiled jovially. “That means you three are trapped here, and I’m not accepting any excuses for your not dining with me.”

            “We’d be delighted,” said Kirk.

            “Governor, you indicated one additional inmate since our last visit, making a total of fifteen,” said Spock formally. “Is that correct?” At the same time, he handed over a cannister.

            “It is,” said Cory, taking the cannister. “The rehabilitation program isn’t progressing too well, and I have my doubts about the effectiveness of this medicine, too.”

            “Why, Donald, are you becoming such a pessimist?” joked Kirk.

            Cory laughed, but something shot slightly through his emotions before the happiness, and (Y/N) blinked at the fluctuation before brushing it aside since it was common for emotions to shift like waves all the time.

            “I’m afraid I have,” said Cory.

            “A total of fifteen incurable out of billions is not what I would call an excessive figure,” said Spock.

            “Who is the new patient?” asked (Y/N).

            “Garth,” said Cory. He pressed a button, and a photo of a man in a dark uniform appeared on a screen. “Garth of Izar, a former starship captain.”

            “When I was a cadet, at the Academy, his exploits were required reading,” said Kirk.

            “I remember that, too,” agreed (Y/N).

            “He was one of my heroes,” murmured Kirk. “I’d like to see him, Donald.”

            “Of course,” said Cory. “Follow me.”

            He headed into the hall, and Kirk, Spock, and (Y/N) went with him. He took them into a protected hall and put up another force field after they passed through. As they drew closer to the rooms of the patients, (Y/N) frowned as erratic emotions of joy, anger, and sadness hit them. They kept changing, pricking at their skin aggressively, and (Y/N) rubbed their arms.

            “You’re making a mistake,” called a woman with green skin from within a cell.

            “Uh, these officers are pressed for the moment, Marta,” said Cory.

            “There’s nothing the matter with me,” insisted Marta, sighing dramatically. “Can’t you see just by looking at me? Can’t you tell just by listening? I’m rational.”

            “What is it you want to tell us?” asked Kirk.

            Marta glanced at Cory. “I can’t tell you in front of him.”

            “You’re afraid to talk in front of Governor Cory?” said Kirk in confusion.

            “He isn’t really Governor Cory,” whispered Marta. “That’s just it.”

            Cory just laughed, and (Y/N) was surprised that not a bit of him was worried about that statement or concerned about his patient at all. “She’s been saying that for several days now. Our medical staff can’t figure out why.” He turned away and continued on through the hall. They passed by a few men of different alien species, all staring at them silently as they passed. “Here’s Garth,” said Cory when they arrived at the final cell. “He’s been unusually disturbed, and we’ve had to impose additional restraint.”

            The trio peered in, and their eyes widened. The man inside the cell looked exactly like Governor Cory, except haggard and suspended near the wall.

            “Cory?” said Kirk in horror and confusion. (Y/N) took a step back from the Cory that had guided them there as his emotions turned to joy upon seeing the other Cory in pain.

            “Yes, Jim. I’m Cory,” said the poor man inside the cell. “He tricked you.”

            The other Cory laughed wildly, and his body morphed into that of Garth. He leaned behind himself and clicked a button on his controller. The force fields of all the other rooms opened, and the other patients came out to stand beside Garth.

            “You said you wanted to see me, Captain,” said Garth. He pulled out a phaser. “Well, here I am.” He fired his phaser twice, and (Y/N)’s consciousness left them.

l

            (Y/N)’s eyes opened to Spock kneeling beside them.

            “Are you alright, T’hy’la?” he asked as they sat up.

            “Yeah,” said (Y/N), nodding. “How much time is passed?”

            “A typical stun setting keeps people unconscious for half an hour,” said Spock.

            “Then whatever Garth wants with us, he’s probably started his plan,” said (Y/N), furrowing their brow. “It’s the Enterprise he wants, right?”

            Spock nodded. “He might have escaped his room and gained control of the station, but he cannot leave without a ship.”

            “Then he’s unlucky that he found us,” said (Y/N). “Kirk will never let him get to the Enterprise.”

            “You may say that now, but things can change,” said Garth, stepping in front of the room they were locked into.

            (Y/N) and Spock stood and faced him, remaining expressionless as they faced him.

            “Now, as I said earlier, you all are invited to dinner,” said Garth, smiling pleasantly but (Y/N) was all-too-aware of the aggression of all of his emotions. He was a threat for a reason.

            (Y/N) and Spock exchanged looks.

            “But I must insist that you come,” said Garth. He wasn’t given them a chance to argue.

            Marta stepped out beside him and held the phaser so that Spock and (Y/N) didn’t try to run. They were led back to where Kirk was held.

            “Why can’t I blow off just one of his ears?” said Marta.

            “Stop that, Marta,” said Garth. “Mr. Spock will think we’re lacking in hostility. And we don’t want to make a scene in front of Mx. (L/N), do we?”

            (Y/N) nearly sighed out loud but resigned themself to raising an eyebrow since they were not a fan of the emotions Garth had while looking at them.

            “Come, Captain, it is time for dinner,” said Garth.

            Kirk narrowed his eyes, but seeing his friends in danger meant that he had no choice. “How are you, Spock, (L/N)?” he asked.

            “Very well, indeed. Thank you, Captain,” said Spock tensely.

            “I’ve done better,” said (Y/N) with a bright smile.

            “Isn’t Governor Cory joining us?” asked Kirk, looking at Garth harshly.

            “No, the Governor doesn’t seem to be on the guest list,” said Garth.

            “An oversight?” said Kirk coldly, annoyed.

            “An intentional one,” said Garth. “Uh, the Governor’s fasting.”

            “In that case, we must decline with thanks,” said Kirk.

            Garth’s eyes narrowed, and his aggression grew into sharp anger.

            “Don’t be a fool, Jim,” called Cory. “Go along with him.”

            “Good advice, Governor,” said Garth. “Well, Captain? You’ll find we set a handsome table, and the entertainment is most enjoyable.” Garth smirked at Spock and (Y/N). “I hope everyone will find it enjoyable.”

            Kirk stared coldly. “You’re very persuasive,” he sat, tone flat.

            “Yes, I am. I certainly am,” said Garth.

l

            The patients of the hospital laughed as two did the wheelbarrow and ran across the floor in the center of the semicircle of tables. Kirk, Spock, and (Y/N) sat beside one another and had to watch as the patients all enjoyed themselves and got to flaunt that they had the power in the situation. On their part, (Y/N) wasn’t enjoying the violent changes in emotions the patients displayed, swerving for searing joy to stabbing anger at a moment’s notice.

            The performance ended, and Garth and Marta clapped. Garth kept staring at (Y/N), but they kept their gaze steadily on the “show” and the food in front of them since they didn’t need to see his eyes to know what he was feeling. Marta got up and ran over to their table. She leaned over in front of (Y/N) and held up a grape to them.

            (Y/N) could feel Marta’s jealousy and leaned back as Garth’s flared as well. They didn’t want any part of any relationship drama between Garth and Marta.

            “Get your hands off of (Y/N), you treacherous thing!” shouted Garth, and Spock reached for (Y/N)’s knee protectively as Garth’s anger flared.

            Marta cackled and ran back to Garth. “Jealous!” she cried, grinning wildly.

            Of both of us, which makes this so much more complicated and dangerous with a man like Garth, thought (Y/N), touching Spock’s hand in thanks for his support.

            “Nonsense! I am above such things!” declared Garth pompously. “The Lieutenant is annoyed by your attentions, that’s all.”

            Marta scoffed and draped herself over (Y/N). “Am I annoying you, darling?”

            “I don’t need anyone’s attention,” said (Y/N) curtly, pushing Marta back.

            Marta huffed and stepped back, and Garth sneered at her. (Y/N) suspected they were going to get a headache from all of the negative emotions vying for control.

            “Treacherous thing,” hissed Garth. “I could have you beaten death.”

            “No, you won’t!” chirped Marta, already in high spirits again. “Because I am the most beautiful woman on this planet!”

            “You’re the only woman on this planet, you stupid cow,” snapped Garth.

            “Well, I’m the most beautiful woman in this galaxy!” cried Marta.

            “You’re repulsive!” shouted Garth.

            Spock, Kirk, and (Y/N) looked at one another in exhaustion. Not only was (Y/N) getting flirted with (which was the norm but frustrating) but they were also dealing with people with no sense or logic in their actions. They acted purely out of emotion, and that was dangerous.

            “I’m beautiful!” declared Marta. “And I’m intelligent, too! I write poetry, and I paint marvelous pictures, and I am wonderful dancer!”

            “Lies! All lies!” said Garth. “You are the greatest liar I have ever met! Let me hear one poem you’ve written.”

            “If you like!” Marta took a position in the center of the room.

            As she walked, Spock spoke under his breath. “If there was a diversion, I might be able to find the control room and open the force field.”

            “All we need is a few seconds because Scotty has alerted the security detail,” murmured Kirk.

            “It wouldn’t be hard to get them fighting amongst themselves,” whispered (Y/N).

            “Officers! Courtesy for the performer,” said Garth, gesturing to Marta.

            Marta cleared her throat and began her poem. “Shall I compare thee to a summer day?”

            (Y/N) and Spock exchanged a judgmental-couple look. That was Shakespeare.

            “Thou art more lovely and more temperate,” said Marta. She narrowed her eyes and continued. “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer’s lease hath all too—”

            “You wrote that?” said Garth harshly.

            “Yesterday, as a matter of fact,” said Marta, holding her chin high.

            “It was written by an Earthman named Shakespeare a long time ago,” snapped Garth.

            “Which does not alter the fact that I wrote it again yesterday!” shouted Marta in return. She turned towards the Starfleet officers and batted her eyelashes. “I think it’s one of my best poems, don’t you?”

            Upon seeing her make eye-contact with (Y/N), Garth narrowed his eyes. “I may kill you with my bare hands!” Marta squealed and jumped away from him. Garth cleared his throat and composed himself. He leaned on the table of Spock, (Y/N), and Kirk. “Actually, she is a superb dancer.” Seizing upon a chance to impress the group, he said, “Marta, won’t you dance for our guests?” He narrowed his eyes when she didn’t move. “That was not a request.”

            Marta stepped back into the center of the room, and music began to play, and Marta began to move to it expertly. She had masterful control of her body as she danced, and Garth carefully kept an eye on the reactions of the Starfleet officers to monitor whether or not they were enjoying.

            “Marvelous, isn’t she, Captain?” said Garth, proud to show off.

            We need to appease him, thought (Y/N).

            “Yes, uh…incredible,” said Kirk.

            “What is your reaction, Mr. Spock?” asked Garth.

            “I find it mildly interesting and somewhat nostalgic if I understand the use of that word,” said Spock. In fact, he would much prefer to see (Y/N) dance since Celians had traditional dances and he knew (Y/N) was quite talented.

            “ ‘Nostalgic?’ ” remarked Garth.

            “Yes. It is somewhat reminiscent of the dances that Vulcan children do in nursery school,” said Spock.

            “And you, Mx. (L/N)?” said Garth.

            “I agree with Spock, nostalgic,” said (Y/N), intentionally keeping their words neutral.

            “Ah, yes, Celians dance during celebrations,” said Garth. He gestured to the open floor. “Perhaps you’d like to give us a demonstration?”

            “I haven’t practiced,” said (Y/N) simply, a cold smile on their face.

            “I’m sure you’d be extraordinary nonetheless,” said Garth.

            “That’s flattering, but I still won’t be dancing,” said (Y/N). They weren’t being a show for Garth’s enjoyment.

            Garth gritted his teeth in frustration, but he was attempting to seem rational and civilized instead of temperamental, so he just turned back to Marta as she finished her routine and clapped.

            “You’ll find I am very magnanimous to my friends if they show they are my friends,” said Garth, prowling around the trio. He rested his hands on Kirk and (Y/N)’s shoulders. “But I am merciless to my enemies.” He chuckled. “But I want you three to be my friends!”

            Spock raised an eyebrow. “On what, precisely, is our friendship to be based?” Certainly not on you making my T’hy’la uncomfortable. That was unforgivable in Spock’s book.

            “Well, upon the firmest of foundations, Mr. Spock—enlightened self-interest,” said Garth.

            “Whose self-interest?” said (Y/N) pointedly.

            Garth chuckled. “Why, all of ours! For instance, Captain Kirk is second only to me as a military commander, but he could be so much more.”

            “I am an explorer,” said Kirk.

            “So was I,” said Garth. “I have charted more new worlds than any man in history.”

            “And tried to destroy Antos IV,” said Spock. “Why?”

            “Well, I could say because they were actively hostile to the Federation,” sighed Garth.

            “But that would be a lie,” said (Y/N) levelly.

            “Agreed,” chuckled Garth. “Actually, they were quite harmless, and they made me whole when I was maimed and dying. And in my gratitude, I offered them a galaxy. They rejected me, and I condemned them to death.”

            “How could you, a Starfleet captain, believe that a Federation crew would blindly obey your order to destroy the entire Antos race—a people famous for their benevolence and peaceful pursuits?” questioned Spock.

            “That was my only miscalculation,” said Garth bitterly. “I had changed. I had risen upon this decadent weakness which still has you in its command, by the way, Captain. My crew had not, and I couldn’t sway them. But my new crew—the men in this room—will obey my orders without question. My friends, you have eyes, and you cannot see. Galaxies surround us! Limitless vistas…and yet the Federation would have us grub away like some ants on some somewhat larger than usual anthill. But I am not an insect. I am master of the universe, and I must claim my domain.”

            “The Federation does not need militants,” said (Y/N). “We have peace missions, not battles.”

            “Peace missions,” sneered Garth. “Politicians and weaklings!”

            “Humanitarians and good people,” corrected (Y/N) firmly, refusing to cower to Garth’s red-hot anger. “And peace has won against war across the galaxy. It is not weak.”

            “Yes,” said Kirk, sitting straight beside (Y/N). “The dream of peace those ‘weaklings’ had spread across the stars and brought people like us together. (L/N) and I are friends, Spock and I brother, Spock and (L/N) close. Peace brought us that.”

            Garth narrowed his eyes and looked at the group united against him. “I can see Kirk and (L/N) feel strongly about the bonds between you all. Mr. Spock, do you consider Captain Kirk and yourself brothers? Are you and (L/N) close?”

            “Captain Kirk speaks figuratively and emotionally at times. However, what he says is logical, and I do, in fact, agree with it,” said Spock.

            (Y/N) smiled to themself.

            Garth laughed at the three before screaming, his emotions taking a sharp turn for the negative. “Blind! Truly blind! Captain Kirk is your commanding officer, and you are his subordinate, and (L/N) is just a colleague! That is all!” In his sad, lonely life, he refused to see that others had good, healthy, loving connections in their lives.

            Garth cleared his throat and continued. “(L/N), Mr. Spock, you are both talented and capable in your own rights. In my fleet, you will surely have a starship to command.”

            “Please forgive, but where, exactly, is your fleet?” said Spock curtly.

            “Out there—waiting for me,” said Garth. “They will flock to my cause, and for good reason.” He threw up a hand. “Limitless power, limitless wealth, and solar systems ruled by the elite! We are that elite, and we must take what is rightfully ours from the decadent weaklings that now hold it.”

            “Captain Garth,” said (Y/N).

            “Lord Garth,” he said harshly.

            (Y/N) just continued as if they hadn’t heard. “This attempt to take over the galaxy is just a copy of what you did before. That ended in disaster. This will, too.”

            “It will not!” cried Garth.

            “Logically, it is likely,” said Spock.

            “Remove them!” shouted Garth, erratic flashes of anger and sadness circling around him.

            Two patients grabbed Spock and (Y/N) and pulled them up from their chairs.

            (Y/N) just smiled at Garth. “The truth doesn’t bend to your will, ‘Lord’ Garth.” And then they were dragged from the room.

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