#i don't know why but the way julian said garak when he and garak met and the way jaskier said geralt when geralt got him out of prison...

[fellowmellowo]

I don't know how to explain, but they're the same flavor of bisexual

[dftea]

Trust me - I'm a hologram

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Julian Bashir/Elim Garak Star Trek: Lower Decks - Hologram Julian Bashir/Alternate Universe Elim Garak

‘Thankfully, Julian’s enhanced brain was able to comprehend quantum realities with ease. He was having a harder time accepting that Bashir was married.’

In which a hologram saves the First Splinter timeline.

[read on ao3]

The first time Julian found himself face-to-face with Bashir in a holosuite, he thought it was one of Felix’s hilarious practical jokes.

The holographic Bashir was wearing a fake Starfleet medical uniform, with grey where the teal should be, and was smiling at him with an oddly nervous look in his eyes.

“Not Felix’s best work, honestly,” Julian said, staring down the imposter. “What, are you here to proposition me? Offer me a speech on my undying love for myself?”

Bashir made a face. “Nothing like that, old chum - I’m here to save your universe.”

# # #

Once he accepted Bashir’s explanation, such as it was, Julian found it pretty easy to accept Bashir’s place in his life. Sure, his friends thought he was vain and self-obsessed to have a portable holographic emitter with his own likeness, but he didn’t have many friends anyway.

But after Starfleet Medical, he would become a renowned doctor - famous enough to become the template for a medical hologram! - and important enough to his reality to need specifically protecting by his alternate holographic self.

Thankfully, Julian’s enhanced brain was able to comprehend quantum realities with ease. He was having a harder time accepting that Bashir was married.

“You’re married…as a hologram?”

Bashir shot him a look. “You know I can’t talk about that.”

“You’re wearing a wedding ring! And I checked your data files - the ring code was a later addition to the original source. I wasn’t married when you were designed, but you are married, so–”

“It doesn't always turn out the same in every universe,” Bashir said, with the sing-song quality that implied he had said this many times before.

How many universes had Bashir saved before this one? Was Julian the key in every single one? Well, he would just have to do his duty, that’s all. He owed it to the multiverse.

But first he would find out more about this marriage.

“What isn’t the same?” he asked, innocently.

Bashir looked exasperated. “Sometimes, we’re not there together, and sometimes he’s too…different. I’m not supposed to be telling you this!”

He. Well, that was a surprise. Julian had always pictured marrying a woman, fathering children - but perhaps that was his mother’s dream, not his. Besides, there were many ways to make a family. 

“Starfleet?”

Bashir squirmed. “Sometimes.”

“Human?”

No response. Not Human, then. Julian had always been a bit of a xenophile.

“A doctor?”

“Rarely. My husband is, but I don't know of any others. Look, there isn’t much to worry about in this stretch, so I’ll…leave you to it for now.”

Then he disappeared and didn’t return until the night before finals, murmuring into Julian’s half-sleeping ear that he needed to throw at least one question on the exam.

Neuroanatomy wasn’t his forte, anyway.

# # #

Julian would’ve chosen Starbase Deep Space Nine even without Bashir’s recommendation. It was frontier medicine, a chance to make a difference in the aftermath of a war, a proving ground before he secured his first five-year mission.

Then he met Elim Garak.

After flirting with the gorgeous Cardassian spy - and making an utter tit of himself in the process - he activated Bashir in his quarters.

“Is it him?” he asked.

Bashir rolled his eyes. “Are you going to ask that about every attractive alien man?”

Julian smiled triumphantly. “So you do find him attractive?”

Bashir snorted. “I’m based on you. What do you think?”

After that, Julian gave up asking. Mostly because he didn't really want to know for certain who he might marry in the future - why spoil the surprise?

Also because he had seen that soft look in Bashir’s eyes, beneath the bluster, and was afraid such softness simply wasn’t for him.

# # #

After Luther Sloan captured him, Julian carefully concealed Bashir’s emitter inside Kukalaka and never took it out again.

# # #

“Thirteen years!”

��My love, do forgive me - I couldn’t exactly destroy Kukalaka, could I?”

“It isn't as if you couldn't repair him!”

“I am just a plain and simple surgeon, not a tailor.”

“As you have said, many many times before, you are not just anything!”

Julian was dreaming. How else could he explain hearing Garak arguing with another Julian Bashir?

A memory stirred - another Bashir, in the wrong uniform - no, a later uniform, one Julian couldn’t possibly have known about until–

The memories hit him like a flood, choking him, drowning him, threatening to pull him under like a riptide.

“He’s sinking again!”

His own voice, but not him. Like a recording of an echo of another life.

“Let me try.”

“Oh, I don’t think so.”

Garak. Two Garaks, but that one was definitely his. If only he could open his eyes! If only he could see him again.

If only he hadn’t left Garak behind, to go with–

Another wave of despair, of raw anguished memory, but strong hands held onto his shoulders.

“Julian, my dear, I am right here.”

Julian opened his eyes, and he saw, as if for the first time, Elim Garak.

He tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat, behind his eyes. He loved and hurt so deeply that it was like his chest was cracked open, forbidding him to breathe, to live.

Bashir was speaking. “Elim, we really should be going.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Garak said, while never taking his eyes away from Julian. “You will explain yourselves.”

“Oh, I don’t think we will,” said the other Garak, the one that Bashir called ‘Elim”.

It was so obvious that it hurt, and yet Julian tried to shut it out anyway. All the love and pain of it.

But he couldn’t deny it any longer. Not when she - when Sarina had died, and Garak had stayed.

“It’s all right,” Julian rasped, voice rough from disuse. “I know him, them. They’re here to save the timeline.”

Garak blinked at him. “Saving you will save the timeline?”

“The captain was fuzzy on the details,” Bashir said, brightly. “I’m sure you’ll work it out.”

“Don’t worry about it at all,” Elim put in. “We won’t let them pop the bubble.”

And then the room was quiet, with only Garak’s breathing and his, the tsunami of memory and feeling held back only by the grip Garak had on him.

“You know them,” Garak repeated, carefully neutral.

“He said it doesn't always turn out the same in every universe,” Julian blurted, then wondered why he’d said it. Still making a tit of himself, even after all these years.

“What doesn't?”

“His marriage. Their…their marriage. Sometimes it’s different. Sometimes…”

Sometimes it doesn’t work out at all.

But they were together in this universe, and Garak wasn't “too different”, was he? The resemblance had been uncanny, even just hearing his voice.

“They are married. The Cardassian Starfleet doctor and the hologram of you.” Garak sounded like he might be concussed.

Julian knew the feeling. “Wait…Starfleet?”

His head was spinning, and not just for suddenly finding himself awake to the world for the first time in too long.

“As much as I would like to speculate on how our counterparts came to be married and our solemn responsibility to save the universe,” Garak said,  “I would first like to say: welcome home, my dear. I missed you.”

“I’m not going to let you miss me again,” Julian said, fervently. “Let's get married.”

# # #

“After we restored the equilibrium of the timeline, the rest just…fell into place.”

Boimler regarded his two officers with narrowed eyes.

“You got Bashir and Garak to hook up, didn’t you?”

“It is the most efficient strategy,” Elim said, gravely.

“One might call it a cardinal event.” 

Boimler sighed and ticked another universe off the list.

[wanderingwriter87]

Evil Author Day 2023

Not that evil, actually. This scene was part of a planned midquel to "a comma in the middle of a phrase" but it probably stands on its own.

***

He wore his hair longer and looser now - most people did, but he thought it particularly suited him. The traditional military style with the stiff pomade wasn't practical in a post-war bombardment zone. 

Then again, Julian remembered him that way. Would it be wise to appear different in their first face to face conversation since the end of the war?

After a good deal of deliberation, he elected to tie it back so that it wasn't terribly noticeable, but slung the excess over his shoulder so the doctor could comment on it if he wished to. 

"Garak!" Even over the holovid, the sparkle in his eyes was evident. "You look - oh, you look fantastic. The climate must really be doing wonders for you."

"Hmm," said Garak, eloquently. "And you haven't aged a day, I see."

The boyish smile was back. "You're not a very good liar these days, are you? I know I look like hell."

He really didn't.

"You really don't," Garak said. With a casual motion, he flicked the rest of his hair back behind his shoulder. Just as he'd hoped, Julian's eyes followed the movement like it was the springball at a particularly high-stakes match.

"Your hair!" he enthused, jumping a little in his seat. "Is that -" He cut himself off with a laugh. "I'm sorry, I just remembered how you feel about the word ponytail."

"Try comparing the back of any Cardassian's head to the ass of some - beast of burden, and see how it goes for you."

"Don't get me sidetracked! Your hair!"

"Yes, I know."

"It's long!"

"Surely you've noticed the old styles are coming back into fashion since the war. In the end, it was more politically expedient to blend in than to keep styling it the way I used to."

"Oh, I'm certain that's all you were thinking! It suits you."

"You think so?"

"Very much," Julian murmured. "Do you ever braid it? You know, like Dr. Parmak?"

"I haven't," Garak said. It was close enough to the truth. "It's…unusual to do, except under particular circumstances. It's known to have a sort of spiritual significance. Parmak started doing it to himself years ago as a sort of political statement, and it became a signature look for the dissidents of the time. I don't know how it would come across if I started doing it."

"Well, maybe just in private then," said Julian, leaning in a little closer. "I'm quite good with my hands, you know."

"Are you trying to seduce me into letting you braid my hair?"

"Why, is it working?"

"You are an exceedingly strange man."

"Look, I just like doing it. It's soothing. And I haven't dated anyone with long hair in a while so I -"

He very clearly realized what he'd said and stopped abruptly, eyes widening. He swallowed dryly, and Garak sat there watching him, just letting him suffer. The councilor didn't bother hiding the little smile that tugged at his lips, though. 

"I just mean," Julian said at last, everything coming out in a breathless rush, "I just mean it can be a bit intimate so I wouldn't just go around - but you I have been - well, we've known each other a long time and it's not -"

"Doctor -"

"I know we've been - I know we've always - you know, and I figured, well, you practically begged me to come to Cardassia so -"

"I did not beg!" Garak exclaimed. 

"- and I'm not saying I didn't want to, I really, really do, but I - I always come on too strong. And it always ruins everything."

"Doctor…" No. "Julian…"

That got his attention. His head snapped up, eyes still wild and anxious. 

"Julian, you won't scare me off. Surely you know that by now."

"You say that…"

"And I mean it. When we met, I was numb. It was all just a buzz of white noise and nothing. You were the first thing that felt real. Even after you brought me back to the land of the living, I wanted…I always wanted more. More conversation, more of your time, more of your smiles and prying questions and fits of righteous anger. It was never, ever too much. You were never too much."

The look of raw emotion on Julian's face was almost too much to bear. Garak understood now, he thought, why the doctor had been reluctant to call. The urge to touch him, to soothe him in some way that words couldn't, twisted like a knife in his ribs. 

"Elim," he said, like he was trying out the taste of it. "I…"

"You were right," Garak cut in. "As much as it pains me to say it. This is - too difficult to discuss remotely. We'll come back to it when you arrive planetside."

Julian looked dazed. He nodded. "Okay," he said. "Yes. But I…"

"I know," said Garak firmly. "Please, Julian. Not now."

Annoyance seeped into his expression. "This was your idea, you know."

"Yes, and I really did want to discuss logistics. You're the one who got things off track."

"You flipped your hair at me! What was I supposed to do, not mention it? You'd never forgive me."

"Doctor, please. We need to discuss your accommodations."

"Starfleet's providing a stipend."

"Yes," Garak said, amused. "I'm the one who arranged for it. The money isn't the issue."

"Alright."

"I did attempt to reserve an apartment for you in the high-rise across from the Project, but there must have been some kind of mix-up, because they've filled all the spots again. Thankfully I have space for a guest until things are cleared up. If you don't object, of course - then you could set aside the stipend and use it for other expenses as they come up."

"Some kind of mix-up!" Julian echoed, with a grin. "Garak, you're unbelievable."

"I'm inviting you to be my guest, dear. You could be a little more polite."

"You're asking me to move in with you, is what you're doing. I can't believe I thought I was coming on too strong."

"Doctor, I'm offended."

"How many beds do you have, Garak?"

"...I was going to acquire another."

"You absolutely fucking weren't."

"I was! Just - only if you seemed put off by it."

"Oh my God."

"I didn't think you would be. You've been throwing yourself at me in your postscripts for a week now."

"That is hardly the point!"

"What is your point?"

"I don't know! I suppose that I'm just annoyed with myself for being so anxious about this whole situation when you're just as bad as I am. What an absurd pair we make."

"I'm not certain I appreciate that framing, but you seem to be feeling exceptionally fragile this evening, so I'll allow it."

Julian rolled his eyes. "Oh, thank you. I know you Cardassians are made of sterner stuff, so I'm grateful for the consideration."

[idonotbitemythumbatyou]

Working title is "Baseball on Bajor" and it's a 10-ish year post canon about the survivors of DS9 dealing with becoming religious figures in the new mythology of Bajor.

The warrior of Qo’nos; Exalted to the highest family in his empire, he handpicked the ruler of his people. And thus an empire became a friend to Bajor

The tinkered healer; The prophets whispered that he would need to be more for his task and so at Adigeon he was transformed. His enjoinment to Cardassia made a friend of a foe.

And here are all the times "friend" shows up in chapter 3 of The Seven Year Prologue

Julian always felt like he had done something wrong when Kira wanted to talk to him. They were not as close as he would have liked, and every overture of friendship he’d made so far had been interpreted in the least charitable light possible.

“Garak and I are not really friends. And...” he snorted, “you don’t have to worry about me trusting him.  So while I appreciate your concern, there’s really no need.”

“Everyone knows we’re friends. I don't see the point of keeping this part of it secret.”

But then, that was just the sort of man Miles was. He might struggle with the words, but the love for his friend was never in doubt. At least he was willing to be seen in public with him. Then again, a dark part of Julian wondered why all the people who loved him were so embarrassed to admit it. Maybe it had to do with how apparently "hateable" he was.

and the following self indulgent scene with Dr. Lense is a long bit but it has "friend" in it four times.

“It’s a shame we didn’t meet then. We could have helped each other.”

“So you’re not the cutthroat monster your reputation suggested?”

“No!” Dr. Lense - Elizabeth - laughed. It was an undeniably lovely sight: warm and safe. He wanted to nestle into that laugh and experience it as she did. Or, barring that, close the distance between them to feel that warm safety by proxy. “But I really could have used a friend like you in the academy.” she said.

Until she said it, he hadn’t thought about how much he’d isolated himself in his pursuit of almost-perfection. “I know what you mean,” he said. Their eyes met and for a terrifying moment Julian thought they might kiss.

But she stood up and took another sip of her drink, breaking… whatever that was. “I’m getting engaged, by the way.” she said, pouring herself some water, “I’m going to propose on our next shore leave.”

“Oh! Congratulations!” Julian exclaimed, trying to swirl the energy in the room back to friendly - rather than flirtatious - repartee 

“He’s brilliant. He has the driest humour…" she smiled to herself, no doubt thinking of her soon to be fiancee. "I think you’d like him, actually. He’s Andorian.”

“Is he really?”

“Yes!”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe that you know what an Andorian looks like…”

“He is!” Again, that careless laugh. “Do you…" she tapped the rim of her glass with her fingernail and avoided his eye, "do you have someone?”

“No.” He spoke without hesitation. Because he didn’t, really. 

What else could he say? ‘Yes actually I’ve been sleeping with an older man - a disgraced exiled Cardassian - for almost two years. He lies to me constantly. We have nothing in common but that we like each other and I’m not always entirely convinced of that. He doesn’t seem to care if I live or die. And I think I might have feelings for him. Everything about the relationship is humiliating. And most humiliating of all: I think he has feelings for me but he’s so disgusted by it that he’d rather be alone than acknowledge the connection. He barely wants to acknowledge that we’re–’

“Friends.” Julian said, tipping his glass towards her, “I have no shortage of friends”

This week’s word is…

✨ FRIEND ✨

Find the word in any WIP and share the sentence containing it. Reply, reblog, stick it in the tags, tag us in a new post, or keep it private. All fandoms, all ships, all writers welcome.