#i love the ds9 polycule

[hollis-art]

girls trip!!

[trektown]

Star Wars fans are so homophobic meanwhile Star Trek fans are finding new and interesting ways for these characters to fuck nasty

[dustykneed]

not a SINGLE day goes by where i don't think about that post with the photo of andrew's death grip on alex's waist. you know the one

(i have, regrettably, once again, lost the damn post. if anyone has any clue as to its whereabouts i would be much obliged if you could drop the link lol. but at the very least i had the presence of mind to download the photo so here yall go xDD:

[youngpettyqueen]

Julian and Keiko headcanons because Keiko gets sidelined so much and deserves the world and I wish we got to see them interact more

when they get stumped on their respective projects, they'll do late night work sessions together and bounce their research off each other to see if the other can help them figure out where the problem is. they'll do this in person when theyre both on the station, but also over call if one of them is away, and after the O'Briens move back to Earth

they edit each other's papers (Keiko marvels at Julian's ability to spell out complex chemical compounds with his eyes closed, and somehow use 'their' instead of 'there') (in his defense he wrote that bit at 4 in the morning after going 2 straight days without sleep) (she threatens to sedate him)

Julian sometimes brings back plants from planets they explore in the Gamma Quadrant and gives them to Keiko. sometimes he does it because the plant has medicinal properties and the two of them can do a joint research project, but most of the time he does it just to give her a nice gift

when Miles goes away for particularly dangerous missions, Julian will keep Keiko company and help keep her mind off of it. sometimes she has trouble sleeping because shes so worried, so he'll hang around and start rambling on about whatever he's currently working on until she falls asleep. he jokes he's boring her to sleep, but it actually means a lot to her

they have a weekly tea date. this is their prime gossip time. sometimes Jadzia is invited

when Keiko's mad at Miles she'll rant to Julian about it. Julian learned very quickly that this is not a time where advice is wanted, so he sits back and lets her get it all off her chest, because she really just wants someone to listen and let her blow off some steam

Julian makes a concentrated effort to learn more about plant husbandry and care after the incident where he accidentally killed some of Keiko's prized plants because he actually does feel very bad about it

Julian hovered over Keiko nearly as bad as Miles did when she was pregnant with Kirayoshi (and then he hovered over her even more after the pregnancy transfer, and he wouldnt tell anybody why, but Keiko knew it was because nearly losing her shook him up pretty bad)

when Julian gets outed for being augmented, Keiko goes to him and gives him the tightest, warmest hug he's ever gotten in his entire life

Julian gets invited to girls nights with Keiko and Molly (steady surgeon's hands make him the best one to paint nails) (he pretends to complain but he loves it)

anytime Julian has to go away for a scientific conference of any kind, if he gets to bring someone with him, his first choice is always Keiko

in short: theyre besties they told me so themselves <3

[randomaj]

My take on the DS9 polycule

@dearreaders-things ( if you wanted to see what I meant ), also @pyrotechnicallyabee ( this is what I want to immerse you in )

[quarks-pussy]

Monogamy works hard but Keiko O'Brien works harder

[spongynova]

I finally have some time to watch DS9, and oh boy did I miss this polycule ✨

[walkingstackofbooks]

Deep Space Shipping

I've seen many of these, but here's my attempt at mapping the DS9 polycule! ;)

All of these ships have 25+ fics on AO3 (aside from Kira/Miles, but the Keiko/Kira/Miles tag makes up for that :P) I love this fandom and this silly queer space station so damn much ❤❤

And man, some of the triads/quads/and more that come out of this are 👌👌

[smallblueandloud]

me thinking "damn, i'm bummed that i couldn't slip in some more obvious references to the DS9 polycule in today's fic" has gotten me started on thinking about a DS9 modern au (in its most polyamorous form, of course) and now i'm--

what's the best way to have all of these people know each other?? like i think modern military fundamentally Does Not Work for them (and is also not what i want to write for them). i know deep dish nine exists but restauranting doesn't super apply to me either.

honestly i'm leaning towards just having them know each other in disconnected ways (so like, jadzia and sisko know each other through curzon, but sisko met kira at work, julian is new at jadzia's job, miles and keiko live next door to julian..... for example). but that also sounds overly elaborate and doesn't really explain how they ALL know each other?

do people have thoughts on DS9 modern aus?

[bookq36artemis]

These idiots were in a polycule and didn’t even know it.

[lonelymoonrambles]

I just finished season 4 of ds9 and here are my thoughts as a first time viewer:

- starting the season off strong with some Garashir flirting in the medbay 😏

- love to see Worf, but where's Alexander?

- and where the hell is KEIKO

- cool can't wait to ugly cry every time I think about 'The Visitor'

- omg did Julian and miles break up? :(

- they got back together, thanks Keiko :)

- let Jadzia bang her ex-wife!!! LEAVE HER ALONE! GET A JOB!

- Our Man Bashir is just Julian and Garak on a date, having a normal fun good time as boyfriends

- Quark is really out here just trying to get Odo's attention huh

- I am once again asking: if Dukat evil, why sexy!!!?!

- Kira's line to Dukat : "why is that when you smile I wanna leave the room" is so real

- KEIKO'S BACK

- Keiko really said, "you don't need to break up with Julian just cause I'm back, Miles 🙄" our poly matchmaking queen

- Fashion Spotlight: Whatever the hell Quark's been wearing all season 🌈

- Jake. Please. Date someone your own age, I am begging you.

- Benjamin. Stop letting older alien women near your teenage son!

- crazy mirror Julian can still get it, but a little less cause of the haircut

- Ah Weyoun, I've heard so much about you and idk I'm not sold yet pal 🧐

- the Jem'hadar are still serving 💅 they're so sassy and for what

- ommmggg kira joining the polycule as a surrogate / Keiko's girlfriend

- so Quark's just openly pining for Odo now huh

- Miles suggesting Julian move in...DO IT! KEIKO WILL LET YOU! COMPLETE THE POLYCULE!

Ds9 is still holding the title of my fave star trek franchise (sorry tos I love you forever) let's go season 5!

[dustykneed]

queer friend groups meeting up for brunch (but make it ds9)

fun fact i have a version of this where julian is butt (buck) naked because i thought itd be funny to adhere to the meme and only give him a hat and boots. sadly i realized i could not release that particular rendition on tumblr. boo.....

[youngpettyqueen]

it is so funny to see other people who go with the O'Briens polycule thing but its clearly just an excuse for them to sideline Keiko and ignore her and ship Julian/Miles without guilt. like you ship this polycule cause of misogyny. I ship this polycule because I am blessed with divine visions. we are not the same

[fiftysevenacademics]

2024 in the rearview mirror

This was a difficult year for me, not in any particular way but in many small ways that all added up. Due to being stuck at home for most of the year, I watched an ungodly amount of television.

Cdramas and danmei came to my rescue as escape pods. It started with The Untamed popping up in my Netflix recommendations and I remembered I’d been meaning to watch it, so I started that either at the end of last December or early January and things spiraled out of control from there. So here is my “Best of List.”

Chinese shows or movies I watched or partially watched:

The Untamed (four times)

Handsome Siblings

The Longest Promise (couldn’t finish because it’s awful)

The Double

Sunshine on my Mind (it’s pretty good but I haven’t finished it yet)

Snowfall

Meet You at the Blossom

Word of Honor

Fangs of Fortune

My Journey to You

The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity

Kill Me Love Me

Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

Hidden Blade

Danmei

The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi or MDZS- read it twice)

Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (SVSSS)

Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Ci Guan Fu or TGCF- still in progress)

English-language shows of note. (I watch a lot of American and British shows but only these stand out)

We Are Lady Parts

Superstore

Baby Reindeer

The Tourist

Doctor Who

The Brothers Sun

This Fool

Fantasmas

Interior Chinatown

Best of 2024

Best show: Fangs of Fortune (One of the best TV shows I’ve EVER seen and one of only 3 that had me sobbing like a baby at the finale.)

Best M/F pair: Xue Fangfei and Xiao Heng (The Double). A het ship so good it almost made me genuinely miss men. Almost.

Best mortal M/M pair: Wangxian (MDZS; The Untamed)

Best immortal M/M pair: Yuanyi (Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen- Fangs of Fortune) I couldn’t choose between these two pairs and I love them both intensely in different ways so I cheated and broke it down into two categories.

Best F/F pair: Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing (Fangs of Fortune)

Best polycule: The Fangs of Fortune crew

Most fun ship: Bingqiu (Luo Binghe x Shen Qinqiu SVSSS)

Most delicious toxic couple: Jin Xiaobao and Zongzheng Huaien (Meet You at the Blossom)

Character I feel closest to: Jiang Cheng (MDZS; The Untamed)

Character that makes me feel rabidly feral: Zhao Yuanzhou (Fangs of Fortune)

Most valuable player (fictional): Luo Binghe (SVSSS) Always there when I need him.

Most valuable player (real): Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Most fun: Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (SVSSS); We Are Lady Parts

Funniest show: Superstore; Interior Chinatown

Most angst: Fangs of Fortune

Most beautiful: Fangs of Fortune

Best developed characters: MDZS

Best female characters: We Are Lady Parts; My Journey to You; The Double

Hottest female character: Ayesha (We Are Lady Parts)

Best adaptation of a novel: The Untamed

Best fandom: SVSSS; Fangs of Fortune

Best (only?) happy ending: Handsome Siblings

Best reveal that I saw coming that made me cry anyway: Wen Yuan-Lan Sizhui

Best villain: Li Lun (Fangs of Fortune)

Most fuckable character: Xue Yang-Untamed version (I’d pounce on it without even thinking twice.); Wen Kexing (Word of Honor) (I’d change gender if I had to.)

Poorest little meow-meow: Jin Guangyao

Goodest boy: Fairy

Simultaneously the most fun and the biggest letdown: Doctor Who (It always is LOL.)

Only cdrama where the the logical effect of tea on insomnia is considered: My Journey to You

Queerest: Fangs of Fortune

Best acting in a torture scene: Wang Yibo in Hidden Blade (Not that I seek these things out, It’s just in the movie and his performance was really really good.)

Most highly specific kinks: Snowfall

Director whose work I want to follow: Guo Jingming

Show I broke up with: Star Trek Discovery

Show I didn't want to watch but ended up liking: Star Trek Lower Decks

Best action: The Brothers Sun

Weirdest: Fantasmas

Biggest disappointment: Chevalier

Best nostalgia trip: Rewatching all of Star Trek TOS, STTNG, DS9, and on to Voyager with my wife, who had never seen them.

Character I like much better now than I did 30 years ago: Quark.

Dislike that has held up over time: Bajoran religion; Neelix and his wife (can't stand them).

[searchingforserendipity25]

ambassador troi's flu causing the latent miles/julian best-bros-in-love-w-their-friendship situation to turn into full on make out, and therefore a watershed moment not just for them but also for keiko and miles and their marriage...

specifically at a time when questions of loyalty and open affections and distance and mutual trust are SO powerful for them, when they're redefining their relationship already.

i loved their part of the episode, it's such an interesting, imperfect exploration of what a marriage can be like (as seen in an utopian setting with 90s glasses), when both people are devoted to their professional passions and to themselves and their child, and also have different interests, routines and living arrangements.

and, also: i want to see more about keiko's bajoran guy friend she has deep heart to hearts with. in general there is not enough about keiko, about bajoran civilians, about her side of things.

what i'm saying is: we could have had a ds9 polycule as early as season 3. in my heart this is what happened.

[azazelsazaleas]

I have a theory that Lower Decks is more of a spiritual successor to DS9 than to TNG:

- Deconstructs Star Trek while also absolutely loving Star Trek

- The main characters are a bunch of misfits, not the unironic elite aspirational best-of-the-best (still hypercompetent though)(this is also true for voyager)

- The main characters constitute one big polycule