#Pathos Trio

[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)

[supurman]

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

[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!

[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

[datshitrandom]

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Review: For Robots, Is It Love or Just a Hookup? by Jesse Green

"The same applies to the acting, which is daring enough to tell the robot story yet not so extreme as to obscure the human one. Criss, who has sometimes seemed stiff onstage, is especially fine here, delivering a startlingly gestural performance, all tics and glitches, that never obscures the true feeling within. The trap of twee is thus thoroughly avoided. And Shen, making a confident Broadway debut, similarly backfills Claire’s facade of wit and smart-girl impatience with the surprise and pain of newfound affection. Though she also sings, as Criss does, divinely, their singing is never an end in itself; it is how we feel that their story is ours. And when their duets become trios with Duron’s Gil Brentley, we understand just how powerful popular music can be: It has given these robots hearts." [..] "A good question for robots and, as posed by this astonishing musical, maybe the most deeply human one of all."

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Review: Broadway’s Deeply Moving Robot Musical, Starring Darren Criss, Teaches Us How to Be Human by Christian Lewis

"Both Criss and Shen give excellent, very different performances. As an older model, Criss is purposefully more robotic: angled arms, stiff neck, straight spine, minimal facial expressions. His commitment to the physicality is remarkable and impressive — you might only fully appreciate it during curtain call, when he walks and emotes normally. He is the stronger singer of the pair, but his roboticness, though true to character, can make him slightly harder to connect to. (His silent-film star makeup, by Suki Tsujimoto, is also distracting.) Shen, on the other hand, feels practically human, and there’s more pathos to her pained performance, especially in her awareness of her own impending mortality." [...] “Maybe Happy Ending” is an undeniably moving, well-made, adorable musical, and it is a pleasant surprise to see an audience weep at a show about two robots in love. The musical makes the bold claim that maybe we are not that different from robots after all, or that they are not that different from us. Just as robots have much to learn from humans, we in turn can learn from them, especially how to care for each other and for ourselves. It’s crucial to know when you need to charge your battery, but likewise it’s important to be willing to share that charger with someone in need."

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Broadway Review: Darren Criss And Helen J Shen Delight As Lovestruck Androids Dreaming Of Electric Cheek by Greg Evans

"It takes a special type of theatrical talent, one loaded with heart and wit and insight, to imbue something that looks like an Apple MagSafe iPhone Charger with more romantic appeal than a decade’s worth of Valentines Day chocolates, but that’s just what the creators and performers of the delightful musical Maybe Happy Ending have achieved." [...] "Featuring marvelous performances from Darren Criss and Helen J Shen as two obsolete “helperbots” retired to rooms in a sort of well-appointed robot hospice center – think those all-the-rage tiny houses as if designed by Pee-wee Herman – Maybe Happy Ending is set outside Seoul at some point later in this century. It’s a world that seems distant enough to quality for sci-fi, but familiar enough to look like that eye-candy Mid Century Modern furniture catalogue you got in the mail last week."

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Broadway Review: Definitely a Big Hit Starring Darren Criss by Robert Hofler

"Oliver is an older model, so Criss delivers a lot of robotic mannerisms — there’s a distinct jerkiness to his gestures and gait, his speech sometimes emphasizes the wrong syllable. All and all, Oliver is a remarkable achievement and brings to mind Haley Joel Osment’s David in Stephen Spielberg’s “A.I.,” if that boy robot had ever been able to grow up." [...] "More than delivering big, Arden knows how and when to hold back to make the audience a participant. His direction never fails to activate the imagination."

Review: ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Is the Best New Musical on Broadway by Tim Teeman 

"The show begins with Claire requiring a battery recharge, so knocks on the door of neighboring retired robot Oliver. He takes so long opening the door when he does so it is to her frozen, temporarily without-power figure. A nervy, very particular robot himself (whose most intimate relationship is with his houseplant HwaBoon), Oliver doesn’t know what to do. Criss plays him with the coiffed handsomeness of a K-pop star and the stiff gait and easily-rattled manner of C-3PO (he has the added skill of really knowing how to decorate a small studio space)." [...] "Criss erupts with puppyish excitement and panicked worry, while Shen gives Claire a defiant edge that co-exists with a resigned fatalism." [...] "In the end, you are not only rooting for Claire and Oliver, but also for them recognizing the intricately weird routes we take to figure out what and who we love, and what and how we feel as we do so. For a musical about robots, Maybe Happy Ending is a very human show about not just the value of connection, but also the life-saving, heart-expanding importance of us recognizing that value."

Maybe Happy Ending: Beguiling Musical Charmer from Korea by Michael Sommers

"The performances of Darren Criss as the chipper Oliver and Helen J Shen as the clear-eyed Claire are not so utterly adorable as to be cloying, but they are pretty adorable anyway. Dressed by designer Clint Ramos in cute boy-bot duds, Criss’ slightly androgynous looks suit Oliver’s character, whose movement reveals subtly robotic gestures. Making an auspicious Broadway debut, Shen gives her sensible Claire a warm voice and presence. Another newcomer, Dez Duron looks sharp and sounds dreamy as the big band singer. Marcus Choi, Arden Cho, Jim Kaplan and Young Mazino ably depict various people throughout the story." [...] "Lately there’s been audience complaint – if chat boards can be believed – how some recent Broadway musicals blast out hellishly loud, banging music. Maybe Happy Ending is surely the balm for any such feelings, since its sometimes jazz-inflected score is orchestrated gently for mostly strings, keyboard and woodwinds with exceptional grace by the composer."

Darren Criss in a robot rom-com that will fly you to the moon by Naveen Kumar

"Their single-occupancy apartments are the vision of urban loneliness. Flashbacks to the cozy but bleak self-sufficiency of solo pandemic-era isolationare inevitable for some of us when Darren Criss, who plays a model No. 3 named Oliver, sings an ode to the world within his room. (I’m not saying I also sang to my favorite plant, but I’m not saying I didn’t.) Part toy box and part hypermodern studio, Oliver’s is a space for maintenance and introspection. Claire, a more-advanced model No. 5 played by Helen J. Shen, comes knocking because her charger is busted and she needs some juice. (Newer models have advantages, but Oliver is quick to point out sacrifices in durability.) Oliver, who inherited his owner’s appreciation for Duke Ellington and Bill Evans, moves like a graceful marionette; Claire carries herself like a regular girl next door. There’s an offbeat ease to their chemistry, and Criss and Shen are both lovely singers with an unshowy confidence that’s become all-too rare." [...] "The Broadway debut benefits from the swells of self-reflection many of us have waded through in the meantime — about what makes us who we are, why we want to be with each other and how long any of this is really going to last. Whether anyone’s ending turns out happily or not, at least we have the choice to be together."

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ review: Darren Criss shines in one of the best musicals in years by Patrick Ryan

"[...] Criss, on Broadway for a fourth time, is delightful as the eager-to-please Oliver, whose sunny outlook gets clouded by the sobering realities of life. Portraying a fish out of water, one could easily overdo the robot’s wide-eyed wonderment and stiff, mechanical movements. But the “Glee” star is smartly subtle, deftly landing many of the show’s funniest punchlines and sight gags. (In a clever bit of stage magic, Oliver briefly short-circuits and smokes up after nervously downing a cocktail.) " [...] “Maybe Happy Ending” is undoubtedly the most original musical to grace Broadway since 2022’s “Kimberly Akimbo,” another small story with big ideas and even bigger emotions. With gentle humor and pathos, Park and Aronson manage to tap into the most human of questions: Is it still worthwhile to love, knowing that pain and loss are inevitable? "It’s the kind of show that’s hardwired to make you cry. But judging by the resounding sniffles from our audience, there’s nothing artificial about this rare, tender gift of a musical."

MAYBE HAPPY ENDING: A Visionary Ode to Emotion — Review by Juan A. Ramirez

"The story concerns Oliver (Darren Criss) and Claire (Helen J Shen), two “helper-bots” residing in a sort of purgatorial dorm for obsolete technology in near-future Seoul. Oliver is all bright smiles, perfectly gelled hair, and a ‘50s sense of politeness, which gives Criss a chance to play into his own squeaky-clean persona, and wring humanity out of a Kabuki-level performance of surface sheen. (Clint Ramos did costumes; Craig Franklin Miller hair; Suki Tsujimoto makeup.) He’s spent the past decade or so mindlessly amassing stuff he gets delivered, poring over the Jazz Monthly subscription his owner left him, and hoping he’ll one day return for him. " [...] "[...] One becomes aware, throughout its lush 100 minutes, of what a humbly groundbreaking experience is unfolding onstage. This is a very special show; a tender, visionary ode to the space we’re able to create and hold for feeling, and the hope that it may continue."

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Review: Robot Love by Dan Rubins

"[...] Arden deploys a series of theatrical gestures too breathtaking to spoil here. It’s stagecraft that illuminates the musical’s messages about the value of looking up and outward from our devices while simultaneously pointing towards theater’s unique ability to transcend technological bells and whistles in the service of a more natural, unadorned beauty. Criss and Shen, too, turn the slightest of touches into electric connection. Criss, expert at gluing a not-quite-human grin to his face and circling Oliver’s apartment with mechanical grace, lets his rigid, aloof character gradually thaw out. He inherits a century-spanning tradition of musical theater characters, from Marian Paroo to Henry Higgins, slowly shedding their tough exteriors, unleashing a bottled-up potential for passion, though Oliver just happens to be a literal robot. Shen, charmingly kooky off-Broadway in Teeth and The Lonely Few earlier this year, makes an explosive Broadway debut as Claire: Only 24, she has a preternatural gift for marrying the tender and the deadpan. Both do Aronson’s music, which he orchestrates himself with a richness that deliberately belies the HelperBots’s artificialness, full justice." [...] "[...] But a musical made as well as Maybe Happy Ending deserves to be with us for some time to come."

Maybe Happy Ending review: Darren Criss is effortlessly charming in a visually dazzling romance between robots by Shania Russell 

"Shen and Criss share an easy chemistry as Claire and Oliver, a mismatched pair who delight with their charming interactions. As the older model, Oliver is the more robotic of the two, an amusing distinction for which Criss nails the physical comedy. Oliver is gleefully stilted where Claire is natural and relaxed. Together they are playful, his sass matching her snark, his optimism complementing her jaded outlook. Despite the perpetual pep in his step, it's Oliver whose path forward seems unclear, as Claire embraces the potential offered by the time that remains to her. From that push and pull emerges a constant, endearing tension." [...] "Despite Oliver’s earnest nature — familiar territory for the Glee alum — Criss is not the one stealing the show. Charming as Oliver’s pronounced quirks are, his interiority feels as though its held at arms length — especially when compared to Claire, whose fraught emotionality pulls focus courtesy of Shen’s moving performance. Oliver may have his optimism challenged and his nerves tested, but he remains much the same, clinging to life’s simple joys. Alas, charm goes a long way. Criss is often his most compelling when given a character with edge (his stint as the titular East German rocker in Hedwig and the Angry Inch or his Emmy-winning turn in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story) but here he is charming, spirited and wonderfully funny." [...] "[...] There’s nothing robotic about this production: it wears its heart on its sleeve and on charm alone, succeeds"

Review: Maybe Happy Ending With Darren Criss and Helen J Shen, a Balm for Trying Times by David Gordon

"From his stiffly humorous movement (choreographed by Moni Yakim) to the unblinking sincerity in his delivery, Criss is immensely impressive as he captures the discreetly emotional essence of this outdated bot. His tightly coiffed hair (styled by Craig Franklin Miller) and shellacked makeup (Suki Tsujimoto) go a long way in helping him bring us to an uncanny valley that’s legitimately freaky. Shen is effortlessly charming, infusing Claire with a shy humor that makes her utterly lovable. Together, they share such easy chemistry that you find yourself rooting for these two lonely robots to be together forever." [...] "Despite its flaws, Maybe Happy Ending exudes an undeniable charm and warmth, which sets it apart from many other new Broadway musicals these days that go for bombast over emotion. Refreshingly original, this story about two robots who, for a brief moment, meet each other halfway, becomes a poignant celebration of finding connections in an ephemeral world. It’s a comforting reminder that love and friendship, however temporary, make the journey worthwhile."

Maybe Happy Ending. These are the robots you're looking for by Adam Feldman

"In a Broadway landscape dominated by loud adaptations of pre-existing IP, Maybe Happy Ending stands out for both its intimacy and its originality. Arden and his actors approach the material with a delicate touch; they trust the romantic comedy to be charming, which it is, and let the wistfulness emerge naturally. In the faint artificiality of both his movement and his appearance–pale face, neat dark hair, red lips, high-waisted pants—Criss’s Oliver endearingly evokes the silent-film clown Buster Keaton. (He also sometimes suggests a neurodivergent adult.) Shen’s more naturalistic Claire—she’s a Helperbot Five; he’s just a Helpbot Three—has a winsome, Eponine-y combination of pluck, resignation and piercing pop-vocal emotion." [...] "Can a show as strange and special as Maybe Happy Ending find a place for itself on Broadway today? I like to think that maybe it can. But as the show reminds us, everything is ephemeral: “We have a shelf life, you know that,” says Claire. “It’s the way that it has to be.” The fact that this show is casting its firefly glow on Broadway at all feels like a gift. In its gentle robot way, it helps us see ourselves through freshly brushed eyes."

Maybe Happy Ending review: heart-grabbing robot Broadway musical by Adrian Horton

"This refreshingly original musical, first staged in Seoul in 2016 and directed here by Michael Arden (most recently of Broadway’s excellent Parade revival), makes swift work of time and space; sheer layers of digital displays (video design by George Reeve), impressively constructed modular sets (scenic design and additional video design by Dane Laffrey) and Criss’s rote movements succinctly illustrate the patter and (robot) heartbreak of Oliver’s daily routine over 12 years in the Helperbot Yards, waiting for an owner who never comes back." [...] "[...] Criss’s at first overtly physical performance – the startled, staccato movements and jerkiness of a machine – settles along with Clarie’s scorn into beloved familiarity over the course of the show’s 1 hour and 45 minutes. Both robots struggle with their obsolescence and hard drive memories of past humans, and the strange tale kicks into gear once they hit the road as reluctant buddies in a quest for answers." [...] "Which may hit one’s hardened soul – it did mine, a bit – while still pulling some punches. You will likely leave without a song stuck in your head, but with a lump in your throat nonetheless."

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ review: Romantic robot musical is glorious on Broadway — really by Johnny Oleksinski

"The sublime start of “Maybe Happy Ending” is the closest I have ever come to experiencing a Pixar movie on Broadway. Oliver, a lonely robot played by Darren Criss, goes through his usual daily routine — over and over and over again." [...] "This big swing of a musical wouldn’t work without the perfectly tuned performances of Criss and Shen. These roles could easily be twee and irksome — they are anything but. Criss’ Oliver is a smiley mix of J. Pierpont Finch from “How To Succeed” and Pee-Wee Herman with a bit of earnest boy next door. He’s a bucket of bolts with a heart of gold."

When Robots Meet Cute: Maybe Happy Ending by Sara Holdren

"Park and Aronson get a lot of mileage out of the pair trading barbs over their different model types — one of the most genuinely funny bits involves Claire recalling a function by which the Helperbot 3 must respond with “You’re welcome” any time someone says “Thank you” — and it’s all very Threes Are From Mars and Fives Are From Venus. It’s a little easy, but the show’s not trying to be hard, and Shen and Criss are the ones who make it work. Shen especially is a delight to watch, with an open, emotive face full of quicksilver expressions and a tartness that can turn explosive when she needs it to. “You just said it was my turn!” she roars at one point during a shared song in which Oliver keeps blithely noodling over her. It is — another requisite of the genre — #relatable." [...] “Why, love?” croons Gil Brentley from Oliver’s record player. “Why did we bother to try love? … When all things end in good-bye, love, / Why did we dream that this fate would not be ours?” If you find yourself cruising the streamers at night, sipping chamomile tea and searching for Sliding Doors and Sweet November and French Kiss, then Maybe Happy Ending is waiting for you."

[zu-zup]

patho trio from stream!

[einarcor]

[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.

[w98pops]

PATHO × FALLOUT because what stops me from mixing my two favorite things together

main trio + a bunch of my favorite characters

[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.

[practically-an-x-man]

Symbiotic? *big grin*

Ooooh thank you!!

WIP Folder Ask Game

Okay so this is easily one of my oldest fanfic ideas (at least, oldest of the ones I came up with while consciously aware that they were fanfic, lol). The document itself is the first few chapters of the fic, but it's SUPER old and choppy since it's one of the earliest fics I've written.

With that disclaimer... there's the old idea that's in the fic, and the revamped idea that currently just exists in my head. Some things change, others don't.

In either form, it's an Marvel/loosely MCU fic following an OC named Persephone Michaels, who is bonded to a symbiote named Viper. Without Viper, Persephone is in organ failure, but Viper cannot survive in Earth's atmosphere without a host, so they need each other to survive. Viper takes shape as a jewel-green symbiote with darker green scales, as well as infrared vision and venomous fangs (and potentially the ability to spit venom like a spitting cobra). Logically, Viper would probably be some relative or offspring of Venom, with their similar abilities. Without Viper, Percy is a skilled programmer and hacker.

The original idea jumped back and forth between timelines - earlier, when Percy was in the hospital and amused herself by attempting to break into StarkTech and access the video files from Iron Man's suit-cam; and later, after Percy is bonded with Viper and is healthy, functioning as a low-grade vigilante. There are a few different threads I'd explore here, it was going to be a very ambitious fic: one being Tony discovering the break-in and eventually starting to see Percy as a sort of successor, even signing her onto a project to recreate the Vision AI and bring him back to life (this idea was before WandaVision was a thing), another being Percy and Viper discovering the wreckage from the crashed Sakaarian ship from the start of Infinity War and managing to heal a few people who were preserved in the trip through space and just-barely hanging on (including Loki...), an ongoing conflict between Viper and another symbiote OC named Pathogen, another supervillain trio based on Pathos, Ethos, and Logos... there are way too many ideas to list, honestly. Some of these ideas also explore wider Norse mythology and bring in a few more gods and mythic themes (Skadi, Baldur, the myth of Loki being bound with snake's venom dripping into his face, etc.)

The new idea hasn't changed things too much, mainly just added some more dimension to Percy's identity, her relationship with Viper and the other characters, and cleaned up a few of the plot points so it doesn't feel as "fanfic-y" (there's nothing wrong with tropes, but the fic is so old that some of the plot ideas just feel a little trite).

I do still want to write this someday, but I know it'll be a huge project (comparable to A Love Once New, and that one spans 72 chapters and 215,000 words by the end of it) so I'm kinda waiting to have the time and emotional capacity to put it together.

[clove-pinks]

Today for Eighteen-Forties Friday: I purchase and review this goofy-ass Franklin Expedition graphic novel so you don't have to!

The Vanished Northwest Passage Arctic Expedition by Lisa M. Bolt Simons, with illustrations by Eugene Smith, is part of a series called DEADLY EXPEDITIONS with a polar focus; and if I was 11 years old again I would probably love them to death.

From the preview pages alone, I could see that... questionable choices were made, e.g. the portrayal of Jane Franklin as some kind of unaging vampire who is still wearing the dress from her 1816 portrait in 1845.

Franklin's officers are referenced from their daguerreotypes (more or less), and we get a nice Fitzjames and Stanley (the latter with with his authentic 1840s juvenile delinquent haircut), as well as a flashback Crozier as the world's most mature 13-year-old.

Not every officer with a daguerreotype makes an appearance, and I was very annoyed that this book doesn't have any Henry Le Vesconte. We DO, however, get the Beechey Trio of John Hartnell, John Torrington, and William Braine—who inexplicably go on a mission together and wacky hijinks ensue.

That is a cute Torrington, @entwinedmoon! Although I think @radiojamming will agree with me that the real John Hartnell was more handsome.

Oh yes—and their tragic ends. It's implied that they all catch colds and die instantly in these sequential panels which, God help me, made me laugh out loud.

Way to strip all of the pathos and tragedy from their deaths. If only they had changed into dry underwear!

There is a character who looks just like Ian Hart as Thomas Blanky in the AMC Terror TV show, and the cold weather gear worn worn by the crew also resembles the TV show costuming (which was inspired by Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration gear).

There is a brief mention of lead poisoning as a contributing factor to the expedition's demise in one panel, but it's otherwise absent—making this book like the opposite of classic kids' Franklin Expedition book Buried in Ice by Owen Beattie, John Geiger, and Shelley Tanaka, which strongly implies that the whole crew is going bonkers from lead poisoning starting in 1846.

[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.

Taglist:

@a-ofzest

@grippleback-galaxy

@genderfluid-anime-goth

@groovy-lady

@im-making-an-effort

@unending-screaming

@h-l-vlovesvintage

@neenieweenie

@keylimeconstellation

@wormwig

@technikerin23

@ilyatan

@nthdarkqueen

[filmforager]

Anora: Review

Sex, Lies and Videogames

There’s always been a fairytale quality to the films of Sean Baker. Whether it’s the deluded aspirations of a retired pornstar in Red Rocket, or the Disneyland dreams of a young girl in The Florida Project, they feature protagonists whose fantasies are slowly brought down to reality. Playing out as a sort of Pretty Woman without the Hollywoodisms, his dazzling new film Anora offers a dark spin on the Prince Charming archetype, with hilarious and heartbreaking results.

In an entrancing opening sequence improbably scored to Take That’s ‘Greatest Day’, we follow the life of Anora Mikheeva (Mikey Madison), a stripper in New York. Shot to mesmerising effect by cinematographer Drew Daniels, it delves into the ordinary reality of sex work, where exotic dances and vibrant colours are broken up by smoke breaks and frosty early morning commutes.

This routine is disrupted when Anora meets over-excited Russian teen Vanya (played with gawky charm by Mark Eidelshtein) at work, who just happens to be the wealthy son of a tabloid-famous family. After a whirlwind romance where Vanya pays for Anora’s services as a girlfriend (they bond over sex and video games), they spontaneously get married in Vegas after just 2 weeks. But while Anora is lost in feelings of marital bliss, his judgemental family have other ideas.

You might have ideas of where the film is about to go, but writer-director Sean Baker upends these pretty quickly. When Vanya’s family find out that their son has married a sex worker, they send handlers Toros (Karren Karagulian), Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov) to annul the marriage and save the family from ‘disgrace’. But though they look and sound threatening, their bumbling attempts to manage the situation lead to plenty of physical comedy, particularly when Anora gets into a bruising encounter with the trio at Vanya’s mansion home. Baker again profits from working with relatively new faces, with Borisov’s largely silent performance particularly standing out in his heart-warming sympathy for Anora’s ordeal.

Like in his other films, there’s also a great deal of pathos for those on the margins of capitalist society, showing how the rich and powerful look down on sex work. At the heart of this is a wonderful performance from Madison, whose feisty but tender presence holds the film together. After featuring in the Scream series and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Madison really steals the show here, expressively showing how Anora goes from euphoria to heartbreak. Thanks to this performance, you never forget about the person most affected by the chaos.

Featuring a tremendous breakout performance from Madison, Anora is funny, poignant, and Sean Baker’s best film to date.

★★★★