#indiscretion

[cary-elwes]

[filmjunky-99]

s t a r t r e k d e e p s p a c e n i n e created by rick berman, michael piller Tora Ziyal [indiscretion, s4ep5]

'The Cardassian prisoners, they told me this would happen. That you'd never let me go home. But I didn't believe them... I used to dream about you coming to save me. It's what kept me alive... If I can't be with you, then I'd rather die.' - ziyal [to dukat]

[stopthatbluecat]

Evidence that Dukat could never take the strap

He was obsessed with both Kira and Sisko but he could NEVER handle them carnally

[sshbpodcast]

Character Spotlight: Gul Dukat

By Ames

Last week we expanded our spotlight series to include villains, and like our focus character Kai Winn, this week’s villain is so compelling he deserves his own post. It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Dukat (both my favorite Cardassian and my favorite DS9 villain), but what is it about him that’s just so entrancing? Is it the swaggering charisma he exudes? Is it all the justifications he makes for his clearly villainous actions? Clearly it’s the mile-long neck, right? Well A Star to Steer Her By is going to get to the bottom of how such a bad man makes such a great character.

Did Dukat do nothing wrong? Of course not; he’s a monster, after all. But as a character, he gets so much right, and his performance by Marc Alaimo is so devoted that, every so often, you let your guard slip and root for the guy. He has the sheer audacity to pull off some of the schemes we’ve highlighted below, so scroll on down, listen to us whispering in your ear on this week’s podcast (jump to 1:15:10), and swagger up the place.

[Images © CBS/Paramount]

Favorite moments

Won’t someone please think of the children? One of the most impressive things about Cardassians is their ability to scheme for the long term. And Dukat is particularly skilled at scheming. His war orphans plot in “Cardassians” to undermine Gul Pa’dar sat dormant for eight years before it emerged! How many other schemes is he sitting on, waiting for them to hatch into something nefarious?

I spent the last few years building up an immunity to mind melds When Sarkonna tries to mind meld Dukat to extract information, she learns the hard way that Dukat’s mental discipline somehow surpasses hers. And she’s a freakin’ Vulcan! And then Dukat spends the rest of the scene in “The Maquis” sassing at his Maquis captors about how terrible they are at handling their prisoners and how the Cardassians are so much better at it.

Attention Bajoran workers It is downright badass for Dukat to beam in during “Civil Defense” and snark at the crew in Ops about how naive they were to set off the counterinsurgency program… all while standing in front of a ball shooting lasers! We also see more layers of trademark Cardassian scheming when even Dukat’s program is supplanted by yet another directive from Central Command!

I thought the Obsidian Order didn’t have any ships I find it amusing that, while normal Romulans acquiesce to the Tal Shiar in “Face of the Enemy,” the Cardassian Central Command and the Obsidian Order seem to loathe each other. In “Defiant,” Dukat has teamed up with Sisko to get the Defiant back from Tom Riker, and he manages to gleefully expose the Obsidian Order’s illegal ship-building plans on the way!

Cue the fireworks! Cardassians are nothing if not petty. When the Siskos have proven it possible for Bajoran lightships to have traveled to Cardassian space in “Explorers,” Dukat is there to congratulate them. Turns out the Cardassians have beaten Sisko the punch by “discovering” wreckage of a Bajoran lightship right before Sisko arrived. Coincidence? I think not.

You’re my number one dad, give or take Okay, so Dukat was fully planning on killing Ziyal in “Indiscretion,” and it’s the lowest bar for a man to not murder his progeny, but he manages to clear it! Leaving his bastard daughter alive ends up ruining his position and his marriage, but Dukat can’t bring himself to harm his daughter when he finally confronts her. And damn does he look good in a Breen uniform.

The first Klingon Bird-of-Prey ever to be captured by Cardassia Marauding Dukat may be my favorite Dukat. Sure, he lost his status after the news about Ziyal spread, but in “Return to Grace,” he just goes with it! He uses his dinky little freighter the Groumall to actually capture a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, which is all kinds of impressive. And he even has a good rapport with Kira this episode, trying to tempt her over to the privateer life.

Remember to rate your Uber driver While Sisko, Odo, and O’Brien are dressing up like Klingons to infiltrate the Order of the Bat’leth ceremony in “Apocalypse Rising,” Dukat is flying around with his stolen Klingon Bird-of-Prey. He’s even magnanimous enough to bring our DS9 friends to the ceremony, likely as an excuse to show off his spoils and how damn great he looks in a Klingon baldric.

The enemy of my enemy, twice removed If there’s a theme to many of these favorite Dukat moments, it’s the sheer audacity he displays. If nothing else, he always picks the ballsiest moves, which makes for the most entertaining developments. And it’s nothing short of audacious when he reveals that he has allied Cardassia with the Dominion in “By Inferno’s Light” while the DS9 crew picks their jaws up off the deck.

A graveyard the likes of which the galaxy had never seen! Just everything about “Waltz” is spellbinding, which is a testament to Dukat’s character because a majority of the episode is watching him go slowly (and then quickly) absolutely insane. He reveals to Sisko with relish how he believes he was right in how he treated the Bajorans and how he deplores that they never so much as said “thank you.” Ingrates.

Yo Momma jokes, Bajoran edition Is it contrived that “Wrongs Darker than Death or Night” establishes that Gul Dukat took Kira’s mom as a comfort woman during the Occupation? Yeah, a little. And I’ve already given both Sisko and Kira guff for their actions this episode. But you’ve got to appreciate the gall of Dukat, ringing Kira in the middle of the night to drop this bombshell on her for no damn reason.

How do you fight a god? Dukat turns a new leaf when he gets really into Bajoran religion. And sure, all his leaves are evil, but this one is still new! In “Tears of the Prophets” he lets himself get possessed by Kosst Amojen so he could take on the Prophets, and subsequently hit the Bajoran people where it hurts: right in the religion. Sadly it results in Jadzia’s death, but Dukat was just that committed.

Don’t drink the Kool-Aid Another “Oh the audacity” moment from Dukat comes in “Covenant” when he establishes the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. Rather successfully too, I might add! He’s got a decent and devoted little cult going, so brainwashed that they don’t bat an eye when he knocks up [at least] one woman, and even convinces them to go full Jonestown to cover his ass.

A little more than a neck lift If other Cardassians thought it was audacious to jump feet first into bed with the Dominion in “By Inferno’s Light” or watch a Pah-wraith possess him for reasons in “Tears of the Prophets,” imagine how Damar feels when he finds Dukat has gotten cosmetic surgery to try to infiltrate the Bajorans’ ranks in “Penumbra.” This guy. Always upping the ante, he is.

I’m just a simple man of the land By the top of the next episode, “‘Til Death Do Us Part,” Dukat has weaseled his way into the good graces of Kai Winn. And an episode after that in “Strange Bedfellows,” he’s weaseled into her bed. We covered all this in the Winn Adami spotlight, but Dukat’s skill at deception and persuasion are rivaled by none. He plays Winn like a fiddle and she loves it!

Feel our love: the love of the Pah-wraiths Okay, the Prophet stuff at the end of the series treads too far into fantasy for me, but what’s perfectly on the nose is both Dukat’s and Winn’s characterization. Dukat so seamlessly plays Winn into the hands of the Pah-wraiths by “Strange Bedfellows” that it is a work of art. And he gets her to read from the Book of the Kosst Amojen in “The Changing Face of Evil,” sealing their fates and bringing the whole series toward its conclusion. Praise be!

—

What a truly audacious journey! That’s everyone from Deep Space Nine I felt like covering in these spotlights, so next week we start revisiting some of our friends from Voyager! Boy, are we missing them during our watchthrough of Enterprise, for which I hope you’re humoring us by following along on SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. Summon the Pah-wraiths with us over on Facebook and Twitter, and see what schemes transpire!

[howifeltabouthim]

How could he have been so inconceivably foolish? He saw it all now, the vile indiscretion, the betrayal. Why had he not seen it earlier?

Iris Murdoch, from A Fairly Honourable Defeat

[hitchell-mope]

I hate Dukat

[quotablefanfiction]

“The explanation of all this confusion… it’s rather complicated.” Heero crossed his arms and ground the words out as if he were under OZ interrogation. “We- …well…” A braided head nuzzled against his shoulder. “Heero and I have been going at it like bunnies for six months now!” “…Okay, maybe it wasn’t that complicated.” Heero cast a look of resignation at Duo who was beaming like a flashlight.

Heero and Duo disclosing their relatiobship to the other pilots (chp. 10)

Indiscretion by Maldoror_Chant (AO3) Gundam Wing – Teen – Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton/Quatre Raberba Winner #War-Time #Alternate Universe #Yaoi #Lemon #Misunderstandings #Timeline What Timeline #Humor #Fluff

Duo and Heero have kept their relationship a secret. But when the others notice something odd, this causes a lot of confusion. After all no one is seriously going to believe that those two are an item! Several misunderstandings ensue…

Part 6 of the Whispers Arc (rough order: Whispers (AO3), One Percent (AO3), Two Percent (AO3), Three Percent (AO3), Whispers (Redux) (AO3), Indiscretion (AO3))

Note: This is a restricted story and requires an AO3 account in order to read.

[callmeanxietygirl]

[46ten]

AH, not the model of discretion

In this indiscreet letter to Robert Morris, dated 13Aug1782, the first footnote on Founders states: 

The version of this letter printed in JCHW, I, 293, and HCLW, IX, 269 is incomplete. Except for a draft (Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress) of the last few paragraphs of the letter, H retained no copy of it. The receiver’s copy remained in the possession of the descendants of Robert Morris who refused to allow publication of the sections dealing with New York politicians. For a history of the letter see The Magazine of History, XXIII (July–December, 1916), 158–69. The letter was sold in January, 1917, by S. V. Henkels in Philadelphia. It was presumably purchased by Allan McLane Hamilton, H’s grandson, for it now is with the miscellaneous documents in the Hamilton papers which he gave to the Library of Congress.

Morris had asked Hamilton for this information, and AH actually provided it, committing these thoughts to paper. 

I promised you in former letters to give you a full view of the situation and temper of this state: I now sit down to execute that task.

... The temper of the state [NY], which I shall now describe, may be considered under two heads, that of the rulers and that of the people.

...There is no man in the government who has a decided influence in it. The present governor [George Clinton] has declined in popularity, partly from a defect of qualifications for his station and partly from causes that do him honor—the vigorous execution of some necessary laws that bore hard upon the people, and severity of discipline among the militia. He is, I believe, a man of integrity and passes with his particular friends for a statesman; it is certain that without being destitute of understanding, his passions are much warmer, than his judgment is enlightened. The preservation of his place is an object to his private fortune as well as to his ambition; and we are not to be surprised, if instead of taking a lead in measures that contradict a prevailing prejudice, however he may be convinced of their utility, he either flatters it or temporises; especially when a new election approaches.

The next character of a most uniform influence is General Schuyler. He has more weight in the Legislature than the Governor; but not so much as not to be exposed to the mortification of seeing important measures patronised by him frequently miscarry. Your knowlege of him and my connection prevent my enlarging. I shall only add that he hazards his popularity in support of what you wish and what the public safety demands.

.. Mr. Scot [John Morin Scot] you also know. He has his little objects and his little party. Nature gave him genius; but habit has impaired it. He never had judgment; he now has scarcely plausibility; his influence is just extensive enough to embarrass measures he does not like; and his only aim seems to be by violent professions of popular principles to acquire a popularity which has hitherto coyly eluded his persuit. His views as a statesman are warped; his principles as a man are said to be not the purest.

and on and on he goes, ending this section of the letter with

I have now touched upon the principal public characters among us; there are others who have their little circles of influence; some of whom deserve more others much less. I have contented myself with outlines, because Mr. G Morris will be able to give you much more satisfactory portraits. What I have done is only in compliance with your request.

Always good to include that EH thought her husband perhaps had a character too frank and independent for a democratic people. 

[cary-elwes]

[filmjunky-99]

s t a r t r e k d e e p s p a c e n i n e created by rick berman, michael piller [indiscretion, s4ep5]

'It's her.' - kira

'My daughter.' - dukat

[elizastjude]

Strange things pop in my head sometimes.

I have led a life full of less than the best moral choices. I believe, now, most of the choices I made were due to my constant struggle within myself. I was always seeking approval, seeking attention that I felt I was lacking somewhere else. I would desire to be wanted, even if it was only for reasons that were less than truth and devotion.

To say that I have been "the other woman" once would be a lie. In fact, I made that choice more than I care to admit. At times, I was the one that was less than honest. Again, that choice was made far more than it ever should have.

I remember the first time another man's lips kissed me when I was involved in a relationship. We were young, high school in fact. I recall the entire situation and the overwhelming guilt I felt, and it truly was just a kiss.

I could not allow much time to pass at all before I needed to confess my indiscretions with my boyfriend at the time. I couldn't bare the feeling i felt in my entire body.

I recall his hurt, his anger, the questions and the repercussions.

You would think I would have learned by that painful experience.

Instead I have spent more of my lifetime being dishonest and unfaithful. I learned how to deal with any guilt, I learned how to hide my affairs and how to lie.

I'm not proud of any of this, please don't misunderstand. I can tell you that I experienced the ways of more men than I should ever speak of. These men never loved me, nor had any thoughts of taking time to learn or love what was inside my soul. I was used, abused and taken advantage of time and again.

I will not try to pretend that I have not done the same. I have learned how to use sex to get things in life I've needed as well.

Perhaps, all of those horrible things were why I was hurt by the one man I loved more than I ever have in my life. I believed that once.

Perhaps my less than honorable ways play a big part in my struggle now to find love and happiness.

Karma can be an evil bitch.

I know that I want to live the rest of my life making better choices, but the fear that I don't deserve happiness lives strong inside of me.

[stopthatbluecat]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rating: General Audiences Relationships: Julian Bashir & Tora Ziyal Additional Tags: Episode: s04e05 Indiscretion, Ziyal's post-prison camp checkup, Hurt/Comfort, First Meetings Summary:

Kira brings a reluctant Ziyal to Julian for a checkup.

[tastywordgasms]

👀📚ᑕᗝᐯᗴᖇ ᖇᗴᐯᗴᗩᒪ📚👀 Indiscretion by Vi Keeland is ℛ𝑒𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔 January 13, 2025! ᑭᖇᗴ-ᗝᖇᗪᗴᖇ ᑭᗩᑭᗴᖇᗷᗩᑕK ᑎᗝW! ᗝᖇ GᗴT ᑎᗝTꭵFꭵᗴᗪ Wℍᗴᑎ ᒪꭵᐯᗴ! @vi_keeland

    Title: Indiscretion Author: Vi Keeland   Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative Photographer: Mark Mendez Model: Jeffrey Wiegers   Release Date: January 13, 2025   BLURB He’s her boss. She’s his greatest temptation.   The first time I met Dawson Reed, we wound up in bed. The problem was, neither of us knew the other were there. When I woke up…

[hitchell-mope]

Idiot.

[quotablefanfiction]

“They were so angry with you. Then it all went away. What happened?” “You fired your gun, babe.” “…If that was all it took I think I would be much better at human relations than I am…”

Heero and Duo discuss argument resolution tactics (chp. 11)

Indiscretion by Maldoror_Chant (AO3) Gundam Wing – Teen – Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton/Quatre Raberba Winner #War-Time #Alternate Universe #Yaoi #Lemon #Misunderstandings #Timeline What Timeline #Humor #Fluff

Duo and Heero have kept their relationship a secret. But when the others notice something odd, this causes a lot of confusion. After all no one is seriously going to believe that those two are an item! Several misunderstandings ensue…

Part 6 of the Whispers Arc (rough order: Whispers (AO3), One Percent (AO3), Two Percent (AO3), Three Percent (AO3), Whispers (Redux) (AO3), Indiscretion (AO3))

Note: This is a restricted story and requires an AO3 account in order to read.