#quark replies

[loquaciousquark]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤️

This week has been hell and now that I'm finally coming to the end of it, I'm going to sit down & enjoy this! Sorry in advance for the length.

My favorite fics vacillate wildly depending on my mood, interest, and the time of year, but right now, I think this is what I've got. In no particular order:

Invicta, Invictus (2016)

Magister AU. Hawke ends up owning Fenris while in Minrathous & they fall in love anyway. This fic was difficult to write for a lot of reasons (a main one just being my fear of not doing justice to the premise and underselling the slavery aspect), and it took nearly a year to finish between the writing itself, the rewriting and additional scenes required from @jadesabre301's beta, and final edits. By the time I started posting I felt confident that I'd written something solid, but despite the otherwise positive response, I did end up receiving a series of extremely angry, lengthy critical comments from someone who basically accused me of perpetuating the glorification of rape, the enslavement of people of color, and the entrenchment of cruelty against victims of sexual assault. (I vividly remember a comparison between Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings.)

This came out of the blue from someone I knew & had otherwise quite respected; it was a blow that shook my confidence to the core, despite several wonderful people reaching out to me at the time, and while I finished posting the fic, I completely stopped writing otherwise. I ended up not writing anything of significance for three full years afterwards. It wasn't until I got extremely drunk on a work trip (after a personal dinner, no colleagues around) and went back to my hotel to jot down the first lines of the Hawke-is-rescued-from-the-Fade fic that I even entertained the idea of picking the hobby back up.

Now, looking back after almost ten years, I've long come to terms with her criticism. I've decided that I disagree with her, that I'm actually still okay with what I wrote, and that I'm proud of the work I did in that fic. I think the premise is good and the examination of the social and political structures is sound, and I think the fic does what it needs to where the relationship strains against the societal boundaries around it. Not to mention I think it has some of my best Fenris characterization I ever managed, and some of my better Hawke jokes. I think the letter exchange at the end is effectively poignant even after all this time (though I do wish I'd written Danarius's actual death a little differently), and I still find the ending as they approach Kirkwall very satisfying. I'll also never turn down a chance to let Varania have a moment or two.

I'm proud of this one, and I'm glad I wrote it.

A Midwinter's Carol; in Prose; Being a Ghost Story of Baldur's Gate (2023)

I think this fic has some of my best technical mimicry I've ever managed. I've always enjoyed a good stylistic parroting, but this was the first time I'd attempted Dickens, and I genuinely think I did a good job. 😂 I've always been fascinated by the mechanics of language, and I had a great time spoofing his oddly frank addresses to the reader and his serpentine asides.

It's quite short—less than 10k—but I think it does exactly what it's supposed to, and I'm genuinely proud of some of the AU elements. @eponymous-rose gave me Christmases Past and Present, so I can't lay claim to those (aside from execution), but the way Future's demand resolves & the Thayan book standing in for the door knocker were all mine, and I still think they're genius, ahaha. (I also fully acknowledge that I owe Jade big time for helping me clarify the final deal Astarion strikes.)

I think the wordplay throughout of what it means to be redeemed is well written, and I'm genuinely pleased with the turn of the mood during the Future sequence. I can tell my love of flippant characters having stark face-to-face encounters with gods is probably a little strong at the end, but Megan Whalen Turner was a formative influence, and I still love it the way it came out here. This is a fic that did exactly what I wanted it to from start to finish, and I love rereading it.

I also think Astarion refusing to participate in the narrative and Tav's modern voice against the Dickensian backdrop are utterly hilarious.

Iron Bound (2023)

This is the most ambitious project I've ever tackled, even considering Invicta above. I knew this would be a long fic, and while I'd daydreamed about scenes from it for nearly a decade, I genuinely didn't know if I had the technical ability to execute it the way I wanted. Once I finally, finally, finally sat down to write it, the words came out like butter, and I wrote almost 70k words in two weeks.

This fic was interesting because it included a love triangle, which is not something I have ever had the slightest interest in reading or writing, but I felt the relationships were strong enough between all three pillars that I wanted to give it a shot. I love Hawke & Fenris, obviously, but the Fenris + Sebastian brotherhood is likewise vitally important to me, and I've always treasured the Sebastian + Hawke friendship as well. Getting to examine all three of them closely here was wonderful from start to finish, and I loved looking at where the lines strained and grew lax as they got to know each other.

Likewise, I've also adored characters who have to face the conflict between love and duty, and this premise let me marinate in every part of the idea. Knowing that I'd be able to give them all happy endings—knowing that they'd be rewarded for doing the right thing—was very pat and yet very satisfying, and I enjoyed every minute of the tension before the resolution.

This fic was in many ways an homage to Patricia McKillip, one of my favorite authors, and also a frank wish-fulfillment exercise for me. This is the one where everyone lives. This is the one where no one suffers for too long. Malcolm, Carver, Bethany, Leandra���even Varania and Sebastian and Anders and the dog. Everyone lives. Everyone is happy and loved and fed and secure and will remain so for the rest of their lives, and I remain thoroughly unapologetic for it.

I do think (despite Jade's attempts to correct it) that there's some marked narrative clumsiness in the back third, and with a little distance I can see ways I could have revised the Danarius confrontation and the series of epilogues to hang together more cleanly. There are also some heavy-handed sequences regarding the broader world politics which I think stand out against what is otherwise fairly mature writing, and I wish I'd threaded those through a bit more deftly.

That said, I'm still immensely proud of this project, and once I finish this post I'm probably going to reread it start to finish. 😂

This Lethal Light Falls Softly (2023)

I was very passionate about the central conceit of this fic, and I think it shows. It's cleanly written with no wasted time—even rereading it now for this post, there's only one exchange I'd still tweak—and I'm very happy with the way I wrote the Tav & Astarion relationship at this stage. They're a wholly different beast to Fenris & Hawke, who are friends for seven years before they finally embark on a real relationship; Tav & Astarion know each other maybe a few weeks before they sleep together for the first time, and even with the most generous possible interpretation I don't think the game can take more than a handful of months. This meant I was writing lovers with new-to-me insecurities, and with Astarion's own basketful of bugaboos on top of that, everything felt fresh and exciting and a little terrifying. I think you can feel that energy in the prose, and I really like it.

Aside from that, I'm very happy with the solution I came up with to Astarion's vampirism. It was hardly inventive, but I did feel it was both practical and lore-friendly, and I felt like its cost (Tav's absence for Astarion, the exhaustion and battle and injuries for Tav) balanced out the number of boons it provided. It also made negating the vampiric effects an active, ongoing choice for Astarion, which I deeply prefer over more permanent solutions like True Resurrection or a god restoring him to mortality.

I also just honestly think it's just fun to read. I like Astarion being snippy and short-tempered while still being overjoyed to see Tav alive. I like Tav confronting the idea that Astarion loves her as much as she loves him and that her silent absence was an active harm to him. I think I did a pretty good job setting the scenery and conveying the appropriate atmosphere where it was important, and I think there are some turns of phrase throughout that came out quite lovely.

I also think ending on the button of him seeing himself in the mirror is hilarious. (Not pictured: Tav having to ask him to put down the hand mirror for literal weeks.)

ah! this grief like cold bells ringing (2020)

This is probably the most difficult fic I've written in terms of headspace. COVID's forced isolation was particularly awful for me, and I didn't know how to handle it except to try to write it out of me. This, like Iron Bound, contained something I never thought I'd write (rape/rape aftermath), but the gravity of the situation and the world at the time seemed to demand something likewise grave, and I ended up feeling like it was an appropriate choice. Hawke has been a tool of many kinds for me over the years, and I remain both glad and weirdly grateful for her resilience.

This was also the first fic where I felt like I didn't shy away from or veil Tevinter's atrocities (a necessary artifact of the premise). While it was hard to write, it wasn't hard to write, and looking back I'm glad I made the choices I did; I think to hamstring the severity of the moment would have broken the story's teeth and dampened the recovery which came after. The instinct to quit flinching away was the right one, and I think the fic is better for it.

I also think this is some of the most effective writing of catharsis I've ever managed. When I'm having a really difficult time and need to read a moment of recovery, the second chapter of this fic is always my first stop. I've actually only reread the first chapter a few times since I posted (usually the pain's not the part I need), but I've reread the second chapter a hundred times or more.

I also do think that the style of the prose—a little flatter and more direct than I usually write—came out well, especially given the subject matter. While I'd prefer never to go back to that emotional place, I'm glad this came out of it.

Honorable Mention:

Lacrimosa (2011). Still one of the oneshots I'm proudest of. I think it's technically proficient and emotionally very effective, and I love the structure of it.

A Detailed Accounting of the Rigorous and Remarkable Struggles Faced by One Fereldan Refugee in the Singularly Capricious City of Kirkwall, as Experienced by the Illustrious Author (2022). While the writing is not the best I've ever managed (it began life as a warm-up exercise, after all), it took ten years to finish, and I'm deeply proud of both finishing it and of the execution of several sections.

Find Me a Wayward Sun (2023). I like the emotional complexity of this fic very much. This was the first place where I felt like I really started to understand the dynamic between Tav & Astarion, especially in the complicated back half of Act Two, and I've gone back to it several times when I need to recapture that feeling of confused selfishness and nascent, uncertain affection.

[hooved]

can't believe someone put quark in a fashion disaster poll. you just don't Get it

[quarks-pussy]

what do you mean you forgive him for being on tbbt???

there is some tea there, gimme

Wh... are you asking me why The Big Bang Theory is bad??

[hosseinis]

For the song/fic ask: any of 42/72/92 and succession/house m.d./ds9 which like idk if you write for those, so pick and choose as you like! (Also not picking a specific ship bc I feel like the song's gotta tell you, you know?)

send me an ask with a ship/fandom + a number from 1 through 100 and i will write a small ficlet (100 words or more) based on the song at that ranking!

#92: This Is Me by Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman)

“I’m curious,” Quark starts, to which Odo replies, “Well, that’s never a good thing.”

“Ha ha,” Quark says without feeling, and leans forward on the bar. Odo’s not drinking anything, of course, but he’s keeping an eye out on a pair of Arcadians near the Dabo table. “It’s more of a question, really.”

“I suppose I don’t have a choice but to hear it.”

“Nope,” Quark says cheerfully, and gestures at Odo’s general figure, to which Odo feels a bit affronted. “Haven’t you ever tried to look like anything else before? Biological, I mean. You’ve turned into a chair more times than I can count, after all. Is it hard for you to do it?”

There's a silence that follows, though for once Odo doesn’t feel insulted, or even annoyed. Instead he has to ponder that for a long moment, one finger tapping against the bartop while he thinks. Of course, there were times before he came aboard Deep Space Nine that he would turn into all sorts of things to entertain others, but usually they were inanimate objects.

“I've been a rat before,” Odo finally says thoughtfully. “That wasn’t very difficult.”

Quark hums.

“That’s it?” He gestures at him again. “I mean, really, Odo. You could look however you want. Some people would kill for that. Don’t you ever want to try and be a different you?”

“...well, no. This is me,” Odo says after a moment, a bit perplexed. “Or at least, this is what I choose to look like.”

“Hm. I suppose it’s the same thing, really,” Quark replies. He's looking at Odo with something unreadable, though his sharp teeth are showing in a way that looks more like a smile than a smirk. Something about it seems… fond, almost. Then the smile turns a bit mischievous, but the fondness remains. “Have you ever tried being a Ferengi?”

Odo gives him a dry look.

“I would rather be a rat," he says flatly.

Quark chortles, making his way around the bar to greet some new guests as they walk in.

“Suit yourself.”

Odo watches him go, feeling oddly like maybe one day he ought to try.

“Bah,” he scoffs after a moment, flustered, and returns his attention to the Arcadians.

[youhavereachedtheendofpie]

You’re so right 🥔

potato is life, potato is love 🤌

[tongowheel]

@guttersniper | continued for beta editor.

corner of his mouth twists into a wry smile — not nearly as annoyed by mutt's comments as he would've been twenty-something years ago. he bites back a retort, only because mutt redirects the conversation. && if that was an intentional tactic, well... quark can't really blame him for that.

the smile widens. "yes we are. && between you && me, i hate leaving her but—" a little shrug ; there's something fond in quark's gaze && his voice, something rare. "odo's finishing up some business at home && then he's leaving her with ravh for the rest of the weekend. little kids && weddings don't mix. but you can come visit any time." he pulls out his holo-pad. "wanna see?"

[polyphonetic]

You are:

[hypertechnica]

number one obscure ds9 character: PEL!!!!!! AGGHHH 2x07 rules of acquisition my beloved

imagine. you fall in love with your business partner but you’re secretly a woman (your entire society is insanely horrendously sexist) and when you are forcibly outed to him, you think that maybe he might understand, that he'd be different, that you could run off somewhere where people wouldn’t care if you didnt fulfill oppressive gender roles, and he replies that he would care.

i would have done something drastic

she should’ve appeared again just to deck quark in the fucking face

[yourlocalmerchgirl]

Your Person

Bobby Goren X neurodivergent F!reader

Summary: Bobby has spent most if his life feeling like he didn't belong, that it wasn't possible for him to connect with someone the way everyone else does, that is until me meets you, his person.

Warnings: Cannon level violence and language. So much fluff, love and acceptance. mentions of Panic, anxiety and death/dying. Minimal use of Y/N. Very little physical description of reader

Authors note: This is story was a labor of love and my love letter to Bobby Goren and the way Vincent D'Onofrio played him. I've never connected with or seen myself represented in a character the way I do with Bobby Goren. I dont think you need to of seen Law and Order: Criminal Intent to enjoy this story.

The midsummer sun shinned down on Bobby’s face as he walked to the coffee shop. The sun feels similar to warmth that spreads throughout his chest whenever he sees you. The smile you always give him. God that smile. It’s different than the smile you give everyone else around you.

He can’t help but smile thinking about the day you met. How flustered and embarrassed you were when you’d run into him causing his coffee to spill everywhere. How he felt something tug In his chest when your big hazel eyes looked into his when you realized it spilled on him. He wanted to wrap his arms around you and tell you it was ok when it was clear you were prepared to be yelled at.

Bobby knew the moment he started falling for you. He tried to fight it at first because it scared the shit out of him. Pretty much resigning to the fact that he’d always be alone. His job was demanding, which was hard for a lot people to deal with. So he had stopped entraining anything that wasn’t serious. He wanted someone to share a life with, someone that would accept him, quarks and all. So he didn’t want to waste what little free time he had with someone who only wanted sex.

As he dips into the cafe the cashier greets him with a tired smile.

“Welcome in, just to let you know we close in 10 minutes”

“No problem, I’ll have a large coffee cream and sugar”

“Oh, Ah is (y/n) in today?”

“Umm I’m going to grab the owner��� she replies eyeing him suspiciously.

Bobby doesn’t blame her, she doesn’t know him, he hasn’t been in, in about a month. She’s doing the safe thing by getting someone.

“Hey, theres this guy out front that I’ve never seen before asking for Y/N”

“Ok, I’ll go up and check it out. Why don’t you start your end of day tasks”

Stacey makes her way to the front to see who’s asking for you. She’s very happy to see it’s Bobby, the one person you’ve really taking a liking too since he started coming in.

“Hey Bobby, sorry about that”

“It’s no problem, I know she was just being safe, doing the right thing”

“She’s here, back in her usual spot doing some ordering on her laptop” Stacey says as she hands him his coffee.

“I wont stay long, I know your trying to close up”

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. She’ll be really happy to see you, but you didn’t hear that from me” Stacey chuckles.

She’ll be happy to see me?

Bobby is rounding the corner into the seating area at the exact moment you happen to look up from your laptop.

The way you light up sends a sea of warmth crashing against his chest. He waves awkwardly and you return the wave.

“Hi” he say unable to contain the smile dancing across his face.

“Bobby! Hi. You’re alright?” The smile creeps across your face.

“What do you mean I’m alright?” He asks tilting his head to the side to watch your expression as he sits.

Fuck. You can feel your skin heating up as you pull your eyes down too your laptop.

He realizes by your reaction that he sounded accusatory when he didn’t mean too.

“I didn’t mean for that to sound that way”

“I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just been a while since I’d seen you in…uh not that I expect you to come in. I know you’re busy. I um just was worried when it had been a while.” At this point youre face is on fire, you’re making an absolute fool of yourself with your word vomit.

She worries about me

“We’ve had several intense cases back to back. We pretty much were working around the clock. Only went home to sleep. Not that I was really sleeping either.” He says studying you intently, trying desperately to figure out if you feel the palpable connection that’s between the two of you.

“I wish I’d know, I would have brought some stuff from the cafe down for you and your partner.”

“That’s really very sweet of you”

“It’s not like you come in everyday, but regularly enough that I just thought something might of happened to you in the line of duty” you say without thinking, almost like you’d forgotten you were talking to him.

Bobby tilts his head trying to look at your face.

“You really were worried about me. I didn’t mean to worry you”

The realization crashing down on you like a brick. Fuck. I really said that out loud.

“I ah. Man I’m saying a lot of things. I’m sorry I’m trying not to be weird. Didn’t really mean to say that out loud” you say dragging your hands down your face as you pull your eyes up to find him already looking at you.

His deep brown eyes are soft, his smile kind as he watches you.

“No it’s not like that. It’s nice to know someone’s worried about me.”

“I’m sure lots of people are worried about you, you’re pretty awesome.”

OH MY GOD. I need to stop talking. What the hell am I doing. This man is not interested in my flattery. Where is literally anyone to cut into this conversation to save me from myself.

Just then as if you materialized her yourself you notice Stacey over Bobby’s shoulder coming towards the two of you.

“Did our girl over here tell you she’s testing out some new recipes for the bakery case? And that she’s knocking it out of park?”

“No she didn’t, she must of forgotten to tell me how much of a badass she is.”

Your face is beat read at that point, meanwhile the both of them are smiling ear to ear talking about you.

“Yea she’s like that, she’s too modest really. I tell her all the time she needs to brag about her pastries more often”

“Man you two are quiet the pair today” you laugh

“Besides, why brag about myself, I’m just an average baker. I’m no Gordon Ramsay”

“I don’t see Gordon Ramsay making apple danishes and apple bread. I bet you could kick his ass” Stacey adds as you all begin to laugh.

Bobby relishes bring included in this moment of banter. Seeing how light and free you are when your wall is completely down and there’s no anxiety in sight.

“I’d love to try them, can I?” Bobby cuts in.

He doesn’t miss the way your face lights up at his comment.

“Sure, I think there’s still some left from my test batch this morning let me go check”

You say before going out back to check.

“Can I ask you something about her?” Bobby asks, his voice soft with a hint of hesitation.

“Of corse you can, though I might not give you a answer”

Bobby can’t help but smile at Stacey’s direct protectiveness of you. He’s happy you have a friend like her.

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

“No she doesn’t” Stacey says arching your eyebrow in curiosity.

“Do you think she’d want to go to dinner with me?”

Stacey looks over her shoulder to see if you were coming before answering.

“I’m going to be real honest for a second. Yes, honestly I think she would love to go to dinner with you. She really enjoys when you come in and truly was worried something had happened to you when you didn’t for a while. But with that being said don’t ask her if you’re not serious about going actually. Don’t ask her just to blow her off or to only get what you want when it’s convenient for you.”

“I get where your coming from”

“I’m not trying to say you’re the type to do that. She just-she has a big heart and people love to take advantage of that. She doesn’t trust or open up easy. At times she has crippling anxiety. So just be patient with her. Your smart and perspective, I’m sure you’ve noticed that her anxiety eases when she sees that you’re here”

Bobby knows exactly what Stacey’s talking about. He picked up on your anxiety immediately, notcing that over time when he’d come in at peak times you’d sometimes be drowning in your anxiety. But he swore you’d look up and connect eyes with you and he’d see your expression soften, your body become less tense. He always thought it was his eyes playing tricks on him, letting himself see what he wanted to see. But Stacey confirming it was real made the fire in his chest burn hotter.

As they can hear you coming back Stacey leans in quickly to Bobby so you don’t hear.

“She finds comfort in you, please don’t take that for granted”

Bobby nods, you’re too close now to respond. He appreciates the serious heart to heart with Stacey.

“Hey sorry it took so long, I think they taste better heated up so I was waiting for the little oven to heat up so I could warm them up for you”

“Well I’ll leave you guys to it, I’ll be in the office for a bit doing payroll. Welcome back Bobby, it was nice to see you” Stacey offers before leaving the two of you alone.

“Thank you, you didn’t have to go through all that trouble for me”

“Oh no it’s no worries, really. Oh I ah should have asked do you need it packed up? You probably need to get back to work.”

“Im actually all done for the day. But I can go, I’m sure you want to go home.” Bobby says as he starts to stand, worried he’s over stayed his welcome.

“Oh ok, here let me pack these up for you”

You’re disappointed, Bobby can tell by your tone. He feels clueless navigating stuff like this sometimes. He never wants to come off as over baring or clingy, he’s been sold so many times that needy guys aren’t attractive.

“It was nice to see you today, hope you like the pastries” you offer unable to tamp down your smile. There was just something about Bobby that drew you too him, that made you feel like there’s this electricity between the two of you.

Bobby’s half way through the doorway when he doubles back. His hearts pounding but he just has to do it.

“Sorry, one more thing. Would you like to go to dinner with me sometime?”

“Like…on a date?” You ask shifting on your feet nervously. It couldn’t be could it?

“Yes, If you’d want that. If not id still like to go as friends.” Bobby wonders if you can see if his heart pounding in is chest because, fuck- he was nervous.

“I’d really like that…to go on a date with you”

A genuine smile rolls so quickly over both of your faces as both of you look at each other in awe.

You go around the counter to get a piece of paper and a pen.

“Here, this is my number just let me know when it works with your schedule and I can make it work with mine”

“Heres mine as well”

The way your fingers graze his when you take his card send electricity shooting through his whole body.

“I’m off the whole week because of all the over time I’ve worked, are you free tomorrow or is that to short notice?”

“No, that works for me I can do that”

Your smile makes Goren feel like he’s the only person in the world.

“Does 5 o’clock work?”

“Works for me”

“Where can I pick you up?”

“You can pick me up here”

“Oh ah I don’t want to rush you, making you get ready here”

“Oh” you let out a little laugh. “I just live upstairs. Stacey and I both do”

“Just ring the buzzer for Apartment 1 next to the graffiti covered door and I’ll come right down”

——————————————————————

The buzzer sounds as you quickly pad across your apartment to the call box.

“Hello”

“Hey it’s Bobby, sorry I’m a little early”

“It’s ok, let me grab my shoes and I’ll be right down”

Bobby fidgets with his hands, rubbing his thumb into the palm of the opposite hand while he waits.

He can’t help the smile that comes at just hearing the door click open and it only grows as you open the door and step out on to the sidewalk. The way the early evening sun hits you makes you look ethereal.

“You look beautiful, I like your dress” Bobby beams.

“Thank you so much, I had to get it when I saw it, but never had a reason to wear it” you smile.

“You look very handsome” you try to turn away but he catches a glimpse of you blushing. Bobby thinks it’s so cute when to get shy like this.

“I really like your suite, it’s a nice color on you” you say reaching over and rubbing the fabric between your index finger and thumb. “It’s soft too” you say with a smile.

Bobby lets out a content hum, the sound makes you painfully aware that you actually did in-fact feel the fabric of his suite coat.

“Oh god I’m sorry” you say pulling your focus to the ground. “I have this bad habit of feeling the texture of things”

“It’s ok, I get it. You’re a tactile person. Please don’t feel bad. I also have a bad habit of touching things. Picking things up and checking them out or playing with them. And most people really don’t like it when you touch their stuff. I try not to but I just can’t help myself.”

“You can feel my dress if you want”

Bobby can’t help but smile at the gesture and the meaning behind it.

His finger tips lightly graze the bare skin of your arm as he takes the fabric of your sleeve between his fingers.

The little giggle that bubbles out of you when the sensation of his touch tickles you leaves him breathless.

To any just passerby this scene unfolding must look awkward. And it is, but it is the must beautiful kind of awkward. The both of you showing vulnerable glimpses of yourselves to one another and being met with nothing but acceptance.

“Do you like Italian food? There’s a great place near here I thought I could take you too, if you’d like”

“I love Italian, that sounds great”

The two of you fall into comfortable small talk as you walk to the restaurant.

The two of you are met with a warm happy welcome when you walk into a quaint restaurant.

“Welcome back, Bobby! Your usual table and meal tonight?” The hostess says with a smile.

He comes here often

“I…ah actually would like table for two tonight” Bobby responds as he turns to smile at you.

“Wonderful, right this way” the waitress beams

“Their food is very good here. The veal parmesan is my favorite but you really can’t go wrong with anything here”

“Can I get anything else to drink besides water for the two of you?”

“I’ll have a glass of red wine please”

“And for you miss?”

“Oh, just water is ok for me”

“I’ll ah I’ll just stick with water too”

“No, no it’s ok, please have the wine”

“Sorry I should have asked if you were ok with alcohol.”

“Really it’s ok. It’s not like that. I just… I’m admittedly very nervous about tonight so if I mix that with alcohol, I’ll just talk your ear off” you laugh.

“I think I’d like that” he smiles. He could listen to you talk all night long.

It’s at this point you’re painfully aware that the restaurant is getting very busy. A huge party arrived taking over one whole side of the tiny space. You’re trying to ignore it, to just focus on the sound of Bobby’s soothing voice. You so badly want tonight to go well, and certainly having a panic attack within the middle of the restaurant would not help in that.

The two of you order dinner, as the loud drone of conversations are crashing together. Your heart starts pounding as all the chatter becomes impossible to sort through. You squirming around in your seat as you try to sooth yourself doesn’t go unnoticed by Bobby. He sees your pulse quickening in the glow of the restaurant, as your eyes squeeze shut. He knows right away you’re having a panic attack without you having to say anything as he springs into action.

Quietly he goes up to the hostess, explaining that you’re not feeling well and asks to pay for dinner and for it to-go.

When he turns back you’re gripping the table so tightly your knuckles are white.

Bobby kneels down next to you,smoothing his hand up and down your back. The way you relax into his touch fills his chest with that familiar warm sensation.

“Why don’t we go” he softly says into your ear.

I really fucking did it now

Letting out a pained sigh you slowly stand. You can’t even bring yourself to look at him as he guides the two of you out of the restaurant, his hand never leaving your lower back.

“Are you ok?” He tilts his head trying to look at your face.

You can feel yourself retreated further and further inward, embarrassed and upset with yourself.

“I should go, I’m sorry I ruined your night. Thank you for taking me out, or atleast trying too”

You turn to walk away but Bobby reaches out for your arm, stopping you in your tracks.

“Please wait. I’ll take you home if you’d like. But you need to know you’d your not ruining my night.”

“That’s very nice of you but…” you start but Bobby cuts you off when he sees tears in your eyes.

“Hey, do you like ice cream? What if we got ice cream and walked around the park?

“Wait you want to continue our date by getting ice cream when we couldn’t even get though dinner”

“I won’t tell if you won’t” Bobby smirks

“Ok” you smile

“Maybe there will be a lot of ducks at the pound” you say smiling up at him as the two of you exit the ice cream parlor.

“You like animals” it’s less of a question and more of making a mental note out loud.

“I do. I love animals. I like them more than most people because all they want is to give and receive unconditional love. They don’t judge you. They’re just there for you.”

“I never thought about it that way, but you’re right. It really is unfair that some of us have to feel that way.”

“It is because I don’t think you ever fully get used to being an acquired for most people. I just wish It hadn’t taken me so long to realize most people were just using me.”

Bobby’s both saddened and surprised by your comment. On one hand it hurts him that you’ve ever had to feel this way, that you’ve had to experience that same kind of loneliness. And on the other hand he’s never had someone pull the thoughts right out of his own head, to be able put to words to what that exact feeling is like.

A thought occurred to Bobby- Would she let me hold her hand. Before he can stop himself hes sliding his hand softly down your fore arm to lace his fingers with yours.

“Is this ok?” Bobby asks bashfully asks as the two of you enter the park.

The way you lock eyes with him when you answer, the way you’re filled with pure happiness radiating off of you makes the breath catch in his throat. He’s never felt this free before with anyone and he’s prepared to make sure you feel that you’ll always feel that way too.

—————————————————————-

That one date turned into the two of you seeing eachother every day that week that Bobby was off.

That week turned into months, 4 months to be exact and as you burst onto the street below, your arms full of bags Bobby cant remember a time he was happier.

“What’s all this?” He laughs as he takes the bags as you two wait for a cab to his place.

“We havnt gotten to see each other in a couple weeks, I though I could cook dinner for us and we could just relax, watch some movies or read.”

“You don’t have to go through all that trouble”

“Well I want too, besides I got a new cookbook with some of the gift cards you gave me for the bookstore. So there’s some stuff I’ve been dying to make.

“ you know.. you didn’t have to do that you know. You didn’t have to send that gift card over”

“I know. But I was upset I couldn’t take you to the book store to get that new book you’ve been excited about. Were you able to get it?”

“Yes! I was able to get the last signed edition they had” you beam up at him, unable to contain your excitement.

“I havnt finished it yet, but it’s so good Bobby! I brought it so you could see it, can I show you?”

“Of course” he smiles as he leans against you, looking on as you show him the book.

“Do you mind if shower quickly?”

“Of course, no rush. I’ll get started on dinner. Take your time, don’t worry about me” you coo, wrapping your arms around his neck as you push yourself up on your tippy toes to kiss him.

As Bobby wipes the steam covered mirror with his towel he can’t help but stare at his own reflection, desperate to see himself the way you see him. Everything about being around you feels like a dream, still In disbelief that a girl like you would choose to spend time with him. That a girl like you who’s so kind, patient and loving wants him in her world.

Bobby knew he wasn’t for everyone, that most people thought he was to weird, obsessive and by the book. He had a short fuse when it came to other peoples bullshit and could be somewhat of a loose cannon but the moment someone made comments about him he would shrink back into himself because deep down he always believed their hateful words.

But when you look at him, your eyes are always filled with a level of love and empathy that he’s never received from anyone before. Bobby knows he’s weird, that there’s a lot about himself and his personality that he can’t help. When it comes to you though he feels free, he never feels out of place or like he doesn’t fit into society when he’s with you.

The sight of you swaying to the music you have on as you cook makes his heart thunder in his chest.

I love this women

“Dance with me for a moment while dinner cooks” Bobby whispers, his breath fanning your neck as he wraps his arms around you nuzzling into you.

“I don’t know how too” you giggle, never getting enough when he’s like this- clingy and playfully romantic.

“It’s ok, follow my lead. I’ll teach you.” Bobby relishes moments like this. He loved teaching you things.

“There, that’s it, just like that” he coos as the two of you glide around the kitchen.

You let out the cutest content hum as you buried your face in his chest. He gradually slows the two of you to a stop as he holds you In the middle of the kitchen.

“What are you thinking about?” He asks kissing the crown of your head.

You tilt your head up to find his deep brown eyes watching you intently.

“I’m thinking about how happy you make me”

Just as he’s about to reply Bobby’s work phone starts ringing. He lets out a gravely growl.

“I’m sorry, that’s work I have to get it”

“It’s ok” you whisper stepping back to busy yourself taking dinner out of the oven. You try to hide the fact that you’re sad, but it’s useless, Bobby knows he can feel it, he knows your micro-expressions like the back of his hand.

“This is Goren” he answers the phone as he steps into the living room.

The rest of the phone call is in a quick hushed tone. You can tell Bobby’s frustrated by the call.

“I-I have to go. I’m really sorry. There’s a huge development in our case and they need me”

“It’s ok. I’ll just put this in the fridge and go too”

“No no. It’s ok please stay. Make yourself at home. I will be back I just don’t know when.”

“O-okay”

This couldn’t have come at a worse time is all Bobby can think as he makes his way to the station. You’re always so good about his schedule but this is the first time he’s had to leave abruptly like that for work and while you were at his place no less. A place you havnt been many times and he knows your probably anxious right now about being there alone.

“What’s the update?”

“The manager of a motel in the Catskills called the tip line saying a father and two children matching Nathan and his kids checked into his motel a couple of hours ago. Chef wants us to go out there and stake it out.”

“Alright let’s head out then”

——————————————————————

“Sorry to have to call you in Bobby” Eames says finally breaking the silence in the back of the stake out van.

“It’s fine, wasn’t trying to be short on the phone” Bobby waves his hand as he’s looking out the window.

“Eames I think I got something” he says handing her the binoculars.

“Over there at the vending machine, I think that’s Lilly, Nathan’s daughter”

“She was pretty glued to you when we were there for questioning drew you that picture, maybe she remembers you. If she does she could get us access to Nathan.”

Eames and Bobby cautiously approach the little girl at the vending machine.

“Hi Lily, do you remember me and my partner Alex? We came to your house a few times.”

“Yes, policeman Bobby. Did you hang my picture up?”

“Of course I did, right next to my desk just like I said.” Bobby says kneeling next to Lily.

“You did! I hope everyone likes it!” Lily’s eyes light up as she scoots closer to Bobby.

“Can you tell us where you dad and brother are?” Eames asks

“They are in the room. Dad and bothers hair is turning blonde but the room is really stinky so I came out here. Dad said mine would change too.”

“He’s bleaching their hair” Bobby says locking eyes with Eames.

“Sweetheart, do you think you could take us to the room, we’d like our hair blonde too.”

“Ok, but could I have some more chips? I’m hungry”

“Yes, let’s get you some more chips” Bobby says pulling a dollar from his pocket and slipping it into the machine and handing the chips to the girl.

“Can you show us the way? we don’t know where to go?”

“Mmhmm” Lily hums happily as her little hand grabs Bobby’s.

Bobby and Eames hang back a moment as Lily enters the room.

“Daddy! My friend are here and they got me some chips!”

Nathan looks up to unexpectedly to find the pair starring back at him, scrambling he draws his gun.

“Hey..hey point your gun at me not my partner.” Bobby’s voice booms

“We’re just here to talk Nathan, we walk to help you.”

“Bull shit you don’t want to help me. You don’t give a shit about me. You just want to take my family away.” Nathan gestures angrily, turning his attention back towards Eames.

“Hey what did I tell you focus on me, not my partner.”

“We do want to help you, and we will. We will make sure that you have access to therapy and meds on the inside.”

“Fuck you man I’m not going away, you’re not putting my kids with strangers” Nathan reaches for Lilly while waving his gun at Bobby.

“Daddy please stop shouting at my friends”

“Shut up, they’re not your friends, they want to take you away from me just like they did with mommy”

“Why don’t you let my partner take the kids to the diner to get some food and you and I will have a talk.”

“Give her your gun and phone, put them on the floor and slid them over to her, no funny business” Nathan motions his gun towards Eames.

Bobby does what he’s told. He knows it’s risky but he needs to get Eames and the kids out of here.

“Lily can you draw me some new pictures to hang up at work?”

“Ok I can do that” she says as she takes Eames and her brother’s hand and they all leave.

“You know she looks up to you, ever since the two of you came poking around the house asking question she’s talked about you guys nonstop. It’s pretty cruel to tell a child you care just to get what you want.”

“I’m not lying. I hung the picture up next to my desk.”

“You’re the one lying to her about us taking her mother away.”

“If you hadn’t of been hanging around asking questions….” Bobby cuts Nathan off mid sentence.

“Nathan. Your embezzling money, stealing from your clients. We’re doing our jobs asking questions.”

“If you didn’t come around asking questions that made my wife suspicious she’d still be alive.”

“Don’t put that on me. You killed your wife not me.” Bobby shouts unable to keep his cool any longer.

“You don’t get it do you? This is a eye for a eye situation”

“So what, you want to hurt me? You want hit me? Go ahead, give me the best you’ve got.” Goren snarls.

Nathan laughs

“Only one of us is leaving this room and it’s not going to be you Bobby”

“You’re really stooping to a new low threatening a detective.”

“It’s not a threat. Your not leaving this room alive”

Bobby’s starting to panic, his heart pounding against his chest as he try’s to figure a way out.

“If you kill me youll never see your kids again, you’ll loose everything.”

“I already lost everything when you forced me to kill my wife. My only choice is to take you out.” Nathan says as he takes a step closer

“And what are you going do when your daughter comes in here and sees you’ve killed her friend.”

“Do not talk about my daughter. She needs to learn that the world is cruel and that not everyone is what they seem” Nathan spits as he digs the gun into Bobby’s chest.

Bobby’s mind races as he try’s to slow his breathing. He knows Nathan wants to see him panicking, he’s desperately trying to ease his mind. In all of his career he’s never felt this close to death, he can’t do that to Eames or to you.

“Hope you told the person you have at home that you love them because you’ll never see them again”

In an instant all Bobby sees is your face, the way you looked into his eyes as he lead you around his kitchen in a dance. Everything about it was so simple and romantic and then you told him how happy he makes you. And then he never got to tell you how happy you make him, how he’s never loved anyone the way he loves you. The idea of never getting to see what life would be like with you makes him see red and he snaps.

“Well come on, do it if you’re going to do it” Bobby Growls. The pain of his thoughts being flooded with moments that would never be with you, hurts worse than death it’s self he’s sure of it.

A rapid secession of bangs rings out from the other side of the door rendering Nathan distracted for a slipt second. Bobby lunges forward grabbing ahold of the gun and kicking his knee trying to knock him down.

He pushes against Bobby causing him to stumble back, he attempts to take a shot at Bobby but when does he pushes hard back into him. The bullet lodges into the wall as Nathan regains his footing holding the gun on Bobby.

Eames bursts through the door in this moment.

“Nathan drop your weapon” she shouts holding her gun on him.

“Your going to have to shoot me or I’m going to shoot your partner”

Nathan lunges torwards Bobby and with out hesitation Eames shoots him in the b chest in self defense.

Bobby sits there in the back of the van, his head in his hands as they make the couple hour drive back to the city.

“Are you alright, Bobby?” Eames asks needing to check on her partner.

“Am I am ok? No I’m not ok. I almost died. Almost never saw her again.” He grits out, frazzled and shaken by the whole ordeal.

“Ugh sorry. I didn’t mean to yell, I’m just shaken up”

“I heard what he said to you. You love her don’t you?”

Bobby nods in response, afraid to say it out loud.

“Does she know?”

“No” Bobby shakes his head with a low voice. He lets out a long breathy sigh as he leans his head back against the wall of the van before closing his eyes.

“I feel loved too” Bobby breaths out into the dark quietness of the van as they pull back into the station garage.

Bobby never talks like this, so Eames knows he’s being genuine and vulnerable with her.

“You go, I’ll go up and do our paperwork before I go home.”

“No it’s ok”

“You’ve had a long night, you deserve some rest. Take a few paid days off. If the captain has an issue with it he can take it up with me”

“Thank you, Eames” Bobby gives her a tight lipped smile before heading to his car.

You’re all he can think about on you his drive home. He’s so distraught and disheveled over tonight’s events. All he wants right now is for you to crowd his senses, to be in your arms with your hands messaging through his hair as you tell him everything going to be alright.

As Bobby pulls up to his places he hope that some luck is on his side, that you’ll still be there but he fears it’s unlikely. After a few minutes he drags himself inside. You left the light on above the sink for him, there’s a note telling him that dinner is in the fridge for him. He takes this as a sign that you’ve left and his shoulders sag a little.

He just stairs at the small plate of food on the counter. His nerves are still through the roof from work but he knows he needs to eat, not really remembering the last time he did. He’s aimlessly pacing around the kitchen picking at the plate of food when he notices warm dim light coming from his bedroom.

Maybe she did stay.

Bobby stops in his tracks at the sight of you sound asleep in his bed with a your book laid across your chest. He can’t help but tear up as he sinks down on the bed next to you, leaning over you to grab your bookmark off the bedside table. As he gently takes the book off your chest and places the bookmark inside he notices your wearing one of his undershirts as a bed shirt.

Softly he lets his body fall onto yours, his head nuzzling into the crook of your neck.

“Mmhmm Bobby” you hum sleepily as you wrap your arms around him tightly, one hand instinctually messaging through his short greying curls.

Bobby lets out a ragged breath as he melts further into you.

“What time is it? I should go and let you get some rest.”

“Please…don’t go. Don’t leave me alone” Bobby chokes out.

“I-I I’m not going anywhere Bobby”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not tonight, not right now. I’m just to-I was just to scared I’d never see you again. I just want to be near you”

“Why don’t we take a shower, that will help sooth you.

Bobby watches you in complete awe of the way you move around the bathroom getting the shower ready, at how caring and loving you are with him. It’s hard for him to believe that all of this is real. That someone like you would truthfully care for him, would want to spend time with him. It’s hard for him to trust people because of his line of work and the life hes had, but opening up to and trusting you was the best decision he ever made.

Taglist: @malindacath @aselys @jupiteress @yesalwayswelles @samfromstardewsgf23 @pixiehex1985 @celticwitchofsorrow @capondi @thatsjustdandy @storywriter12 @namesirrelevant @lzrdonaleash @thegirlthatwillstealurman @modestlyabsurd @cheyanne-chan @darkangelforever333 @gertieisayellowjeep @shuilian @elefrog25-blog @nightsore @dumbasswalkinghere @liviadrusilla44 @musicalwayshelp0193-blog @malevolent-muse @mandy426 @missingfromthephotographs

[loquaciousquark]

you have been my #1 favorite fanfic author of all time for like 7-8 years now for your fenhawke and ive always thought "god i would give anything for quark to write solavellan" but i respected that it wasnt your thing. so imagine the pure unbridled euphoria of checking in on your blog this week to see that he finally got to you. i actually screamed. whatever you come up with i know it is going to absolutely change my life and i am so excited <3

i’m so. sad. i'm SO sad. i was so happy for a decade just being mildly annoyed every time he crossed my dash and now i am having feelings and opinions and i don’t WANT THEM and the only way to get rid of them is to write them out of me, this is why i don’t love fenris or astarion at all anymore obviously

and like, I still don’t love Solas! I still think some things he does and some goals he has are really, really stupid! but this character I created to love him really loves him, and I really love her and want her to be happy even though she lives only inside my head, and that means I need to lay down some structure around her romance to get the shape of it, to build something I can make sense of. I may not love him, but I like him much more than I did, and I certainly understand him better than I did the first time around.

And to be honest, there’s a part of me glad I’m coming to it as late as I have. I don’t think I’ve ever read a single Solavellan fic in my life (I actually had to pause here to check the spelling). I have NO idea what tropes are popular with him or what interpretations are the biggest. I have a lot of opinions on how his personality and identity work in a romance with this particular character I’ve created, but because I’ve been so siloed I have no idea if I’m bucking the grain or not, which is fine by me.

Plus, it helps I’m not going to have ten years to build up a lot of personal headcanons and jossable thoughts before playing the new game. I’m not someone who easily ignores canon when it clashes with my imagination for the major things, so I think this will (hopefully) keep me from major disappointments.

It's kinda funny; earlier today I was going back through my DAI tag and reminding myself of all my impressions from the first time I played the game. Some of them I definitely still stand by; others have completely changed. I even said twice that a Lavellan/Solas romance would be my next playthrough, which was true if ten years late.

But it's things like: apparently the first time through I loved Solas and Sera, both of which certainly were not true going into this replay. (I barely even have a memory of Solas and Priory ever being in the party together, though the historical records say I took him to Adamant.) I apparently had a lot of hopes Gideon Emery would be voicing Fenris. I originally thought Priory was going to romance Bull, which is very ?????? after all this time. (I did still, even then, know Here Lies the Abyss completely broke her as a character, and ten years on I never could fix her for good.)

I really did not expect to change my mind on Solas going into this replay, I guess is the point. I replayed because knowing the story of DAI and Solas, I felt it was a story most personalized to elves and specifically a Solas-romancing Lavellan, and that was the worldstate I wanted to take into the new game. I played it out because that's the kind of person I am (I can't just invent characters wholesale in my head) but I really thought it was going to be a perfunctory playthrough as a stepping stone to a different game and a different PC and (presumably) a different romance. I didn't expect to love this character as much as I do, and even if I don't have ten years to write her out the way I did Hawke, I feel like I still owe it to her & her doomed romance to give her a little time in the spotlight. Lucky girl!

[ensigngareth]

I just heard Quark say "it's all about money, money, money" and then immediately O'Brien and Julian replied with "Abba"

[writingsfromstarfleet]

[Julian Bashir] All This Time

♫ - Always Been You - Shawn Mendez

A/N: Hello! I'm finally back and working on the requests in my inbox! If anyone is still here to read this, please enjoy! I thought I'd start with someone I love, and so this fic was born. Thanks for reading! - Mal <3

When you had joined Starfleet, you were hoping to be stationed on Deep Space Nine. You had gone through the Academy with your friend, Julian, and he had been assigned to the station as the resident doctor. You were so happy for him, this was all he had wanted. You were even more so when you learned that you had been accepted onto the station as a science officer yourself.

"Julian!" you called out, running to him with your PADD in your hand.

"Do I detect good news?" he replied, and when you nodded and tilted your screen to him, he burst into a light scream and picked you up, turning you around in the air. "My gosh, I am so happy for you! For both of us."

That night you both celebrated, perhaps a little too hard, but it was one of the best nights of both of your lives.

The morning of your departure, you took some time to think about your time on Earth, and growing up with Julian.

It was strange, you had watched him go from this quiet, barely academic child to somehow being incredibly gifted and beyond smart enough for his age. It wasn't until you were older that he confided in you that he had been genetically enhanced. It changed your opinion of him none, he was still your Julian. His parents and yours had hoped that maybe you two may have married, as they thought highly of you both. Julian had insisted it wasn't like that, and you had agreed, despite your feeling for it otherwise.

Julian was a great man, he was strong and caring, and he was handsome. You would be a fool to deny it. Over time, more as you grew older, you realised that it was no longer friendship you felt for him. It had been love for so long. You knew he viewed you as a best friend, and you were not about to ruin that; especially not on your final day on Earth.

Now, you were almost three years into being on Deep Space Nine, and the job had yet to get boring. There was always something happening, whether it be a planet in need of saving or stopping another impending war. Sometimes, even Gul Dukat would grace the station with his presence, which gave you all something to laugh at in Quark's that night.

"Is this seat taken?" A cool, familiar voice asked you as you sat at a table in the back of Quarks, sipping on an Antarean brandy. Turning your head, you met the face of Jadzia Dax, someone who had quickly become a close friend of yours.

"Does it look taken?" you replied, a cheeky tone in your voice. Jadzia and yourself always joked, and you were happy to have someone to be that comfortable with. You couldn't lie to yourself that Jadzia was very attractive, and one hell of a flirt. So, half the time, you gave as good as you got.

"How have things been on the station lately?" she asked. Jadzia knew you had been a little stressed that week, as work had piled up high in the science department. You sighed, shaking your head.

As you began to talk to her, you told her everything that had gone wrong that week. In truth, very little had gone right. Still, she sat tentatively and listened to every word. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone staring.

Julian was sat a few tables behind, alone and sipping at a drink. It wasn't often he drank alone, but it had been a tough week for him, too. As well as the workload and a quite the few emergencies, he was dealing with a new wave of emotions that had completely drained him. As of late, Julian had come to realise that he loved you, more than a friend should love another friend. He was certain you didn't feel the same, but the hope he still had that perhaps you would feel the same was still there, however faded.

Julian sighed as he watched you and Jadzia talk. Jadzia was smiling, laughing at your jokes. She even had her arm around you from time to time, and Julian was sure she was closer in proximity to you than when she had originally sat down. Jadzia caught his eye and winked, before going back to your chatter. To say he was jealous was an understatement; if anyone outside looked in, you and Jadzia looked like a couple, and he couldn't help but feel that it should be him.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but he could swear after he had made eye contact with the trill, she was more touchy and giggly with you than at first. Maybe he was imagining it, maybe not. Either way, it made him feel a certain type of way inside. He knew. It was definitely jealousy.

"Well," Jadzia broke the conversation, standing and placing a hand on your shoulder. "I should be off, I have a lot I need to be doing. Thank you for the drink, hopefully we can do this again sometime."

With that, she winked at you and took off, leaving  you chuckling to yourself. Ever the flirt, she was. Jadzia ducked past Julian's table on her way out of the bar, leaning in to his hear and startling him out of staring down his glass.

"If I've made you jealous enough to finally act on your feelings, I would suggest going over there and kissing that Lieutenant now."

Julian's head shot up.

"How did you know how I'm feeling?"

Jadzia simply laughed. "We all know, except them."

Pointing a finger your direction, Jadzia sauntered away and Julian made his decision. Downing the last of his drink, he strolled over to your table and met you with his ever beaming smile.

"Hi," he started, seeming more nervous than he had ever been. "Is this seat taken?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" you asked rhetorically with a giggle. Music to Julian's ears, was your laugh. "Please, sit down. I'm happy to see you."

The god doctor took a seat, and his fingers played idly with his glass. A glass of which he wasn't sure why he was still holding, given it was empty. Still, he pushed it away and turned to you. Julian's intent was to talk to you, to tell you how he felt, but he was stricken for a second looking your way.

In the light of Quark's Bar, or what little of it there was atop the balcony, your face was lit up in the most angelic light. Your eyes sparkled more than usual, and your hair framed your face perfectly. Backed by the windows showing the stars, you were the brightest thing in the room. Never had Julian seen such a picture, and it stirred something inside him. He knew it was now or never, and he feared that if he spoke, he wouldn't be able to convey what he wanted.

Noticing him staring, you raised a brow and waved your hand in front of Julian's face.

"Julian? Is everything-"

Cutting you off, Julian's lips connected with your own as he moved forward, his hand wrapping itself around your waist. Finally, he was kissing you. Without thinking, you closed your eyes and kissed him back, your arms wrapping around his neck. It was lucky you were in the darker part of the bar, the quiet and stifled noises coming from you both would surely have disturbed some.

Pulling back after what had felt like a lifetime, you opened your eyes first and they fell upon Julian's face, his eyes still partially closed and looking dazed. It was a kiss you had waited forever for.

"I-I, um.." Julian struggled to formulate a sentence, and you sat smiling at him, your hand resting on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"Did you mean to do that?" you inquired, hoping that his answer was yes. The doctor nodded, eyes twinkling and sparkling with wonder. Nodding, you leaned in again and quickly pecked his lips. Julian's mind was in overdrive.

"Finally," you whispered, placing your forehead against his own. 

Julian held you, his arms around your waist and his head resting on your shoulder. You ran one hand through his hair, the other holding him tight. This was an action that was not uncommon for you both, but now it felt different. Now it felt right. 

"I have loved you for so long," Julian started, remaining where he was. "I haven't been able to tell you because I haven't had the words, but I was worried you wouldn't feel the same. I see so many people around you who you could choose, and I figured I was just the best friend who got to hear about it all."

"Oh, Juli," you chuckled a little, not unkindly. "You listen to me. I have been aware of who flirts with me, and I will admit there are some rather beautiful people on this station. But, none of them are you. I fell for you heart and soul so long ago that anyone else is secondary. I care not for the advances of anyone else, your heart is all I want."

"My heart is exactly what you have."

Julian glanced up at you, lovesick eyes peering into your own. The night was spent together, doing all of the things you should have been doing and being so engrossed in each other that you had no real bearing for those around you. If you had, you would have noticed Quark on the other side of the bar, handing over a few bars of latinum to a certain smug trill.

"Well I'll be damned," Quark said, shaking his head. "I really thought they would be oblivious for the rest of their lives."

"Never doubt my tactics, Quark," Jadzia replied, chuckling. 

[ensignsimp]

Romantic Solok HCs:

A/N: I do sort of like it when he's rude to me. Hopefully, that's a psychological defect than a weird sexual thing. WHY WAS HE IN ONLY ONE EPISODE? WHY?

Prompt: Romantic Solok HCs

GIF by deepspacedukat

This man has a face you want to slap and kiss all at the same time.

No one knows why he seemed to like you more than anyone else on the station, not even you.

The two of you first met it was during the baseball game.

You had spent most of your time absentmindedly flirting with him as a way to get into his head.

"Hey," You whispered from your catcher's position.

"Are those space pants?"

"Because your butt looks out of this world."

<(¬////¬)> (Apparently, it did, a little too well.)

Who knew he would be a sucker for cheesy Earth pickup lines.

After that, he would return to DS9 for a variety of reasons. (Never to see you.)

No matter how hard you tried to hide around the station, he would somehow always find you.

He would bombard you with questions, (brag) inform you about his latest achievements and upcoming missions, and occasionally point out how you could improve your own work. (Charming)

If you were invited to the T'Kumbra to do repairs, he would constantly follow you around.

At first, you thought it was because you were a human on his ship.

During one of your visits to the T'Kumbra, you were squeezed into a crawl space, and Captain Solok was standing outside.

"Have you thought about transferring off of Deep Space Nine? It seems as if you could do better elsewhere."

You were confused, was that a compliment?

He further elaborates, "You would be able to rank up faster on a starship, possibly to Chief Engineer."

Was he offering to transfer you to his ship?

You quickly finish your work, pull yourself out of the wall, and politely as possible excuse yourself.

You disappear back onto DS9 where you begin to question his sudden strange behavior.

He wasn't able to wait for your answer, but that wasn't the last you heard from him either.

Soon you were getting messages of a rather personal nature from him.

He would send you offers of transfer, as well as Vulcan poetry, books, and even music.

When he did return to DS9 after his latest mission he didn't even bother meeting with Sisko first.

He pinned you at Quark's and demanded to speak with you, privately.

Before you could reply he was dragging you back to the T'Kumbra and into his private quarters.

He then had a complete (Vulcan) meltdown.

"Why have you not answered my request? Do you not understand how rare this opportunity is?" His voice was so calm it was scary.

"I have tried to prove that this ship, that," He paused and swallowed hard, "That I am worthy of your time."

Solok, who believed that Vulcans were superior to their Human counterparts, was trying to convince you, that he was good enough.

You would have thought you were dreaming if it wasn't for the small pinch you gave yourself.

He reached his hand out to you in the Vulcan kiss, hoping you would reciprocate.

When you pressed your fingers to his, you saw his whole face light up green.

"You bring out my most illogical traits, Koh-nar."

[youngpettyqueen]

rewatched Fascination because I needed the comfort (I am sick and miserable) so have something so incredibly stupid

"I mean," Jadzia swirls her drink as she chances a glance over at Kira across the table, "You could've gone for worse."

Kira's eyes snap to her. "Don't." She says, warning. She doesn't hesitate to take a big swig of her drink, looking like she desperately needs it.

Jadzia doesn't blame her. She sips her own drink, glad for Quark's tendency to be heavy-handed with the good stuff. "I'm just saying," She continues, "You could've thrown yourself at your commander who was your protege in another lifetime." She shudders. Even saying it makes her want to crawl out of her skin.

Kira's eye twitches. "Trying to drink to forget here, Jadzia." She replies.

"If anybody should be drinking to forget, it's me," Jadzia sulks, taking another swig, "I won't be able to look Benjamin in the eye for weeks." She's been tempted to request a transfer. But he would never approve it, and that would just add to the mortification, so she's stuck here waiting for the embarrassment to leave her. Which will probably be never, and will continue into her next lifetime, as is her curse.

"That's great," Kira grumbles, "I can never show my face in the infirmary again." She takes another swig.

"Hey, at least yours was mutual," Jadzia points out, "Julian might be-"

"Don't," Kira cuts her off, white-knuckling her glass, "Say his name around me right now. Believe, I've had enough of that man. For the rest of my life." She takes another swig, and this one polishes off her drink.

"He's not that bad, you know," Jadzia says, feeling, strangely, a little defensive, "Sure, he's like a lovesick puppy, but I'm sure if you don't want to bring it up, he'll respect that. I don't think you have to worry about him going around telling everybody." She assures the major.

Kira taps her glass against the table, an anxious tic. "I'm not worried about him running his mouth." She replies tightly.

Jadzia's brow furrows in confusion. "Ok..." She frowns, "I mean, I know you two aren't best friends or anything, but-"

"That's not it either." Kira's interruption is quick, waspish. She puts her glass down in favour of drumming her nails on the table.

Now Jadzia is really confused. "What is it, then?" She asks, "He's not that bad of a kisser, is he?"

Kira's face turns about as red as her hair in the time it takes Jadzia to blink. "I don't want to talk about it." Her voice sounds choked, like she's forcing every word out.

And, suddenly, Jadzia understands perfectly. "Wait," She says, eyes widening in realization as Kira refuses to look at her, "Is he a good kisser?" She sets her drink down.

Kira's silence is damning.

"He is, isn't he?" Jadzia leans forward, all too eager to forget her own embarrassment in favour of hounding her friend, "Julian's a good kisser, and that just drives you-"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Kira exclaims, turning away and looking around, "Quark! What's it take to get another drink around here?" She demands, her cheeks now glowing the shade of Earth apples.

"Keep your earring on, Major, you're not the only one trying to forget!" Comes the reply, which only makes Kira seethe more.

"That good?" Jadzia presses, grinning like a hyena.

Kira whips around to glare at her. "Kiss him yourself if you care so much!" She hisses.

Jadzia rests her chin on her hands, smirking. "Oh, no," She hums, "No, where would be the fun in that? Although..." She tilts her head, the picture of obnoxiousness, "With your face turning that colour, it looks like it could be a lot of fun..." She muses, just to be a pain in the ass.

"I hate you." Kira glowers.

"You really don't." Jadzia purrs.

[crowfootwrites]

Day 22, breeding, goes to Dukat, the man who has NINE children by the end of DS9. 🙄

Kinktober Masterlist

Taglist: @horta-in-charge

Day 22: Breeding Kink - Gul Dukat x Fem!Reader

Warnings: NSFW, MDNI; breeding and talking about it a bunch | Words: ~910 | Song: Such a Whore (Stellular Remix) - JVLA

The Replimat. The Habitat Ring. Quark’s Bar, but that wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. The Klingon restaurant. The Promenade. Sisko’s office.

These were all the places you’d run into Gul Dukat in the last two weeks. Each time, you’d done nothing more than exchange pleasantries. It seemed as though Dukat wanted to speak with you more in depth, but every time you bumped into each other, you were in a hurry or being called away by someone. After a few days of this, you couldn’t help but let your eyes linger over his intimidating form as you moved on, wishing you had time to ask him… something. Anything, really, just to get him to say what was on his mind. You were dying to know if he had the same thing on his mind as you did.

So after two weeks of increasingly familiar greetings and tentative glances, you decided to make your intentions known. And it was though, your decision made, the universe was inclined to pave your way. 

***

The turbolift groaned to a halt at the Promenade’s lower level, and you stepped on, eager to head home after a long shift. As you turned back around, your eyes locked on the now-familiar figure of Dukat striding on to join you before the lift departed.

“Lieutenant,” Dukat greeted, smirking as he turned to stand beside you. 

“Gul Dukat,” you replied as the lift lurched, moving down toward the habitat ring. “It’s good to see you again.” You peeked at him out of the corner of your eye.

“We seem to be running into each other quite a bit,” he teased.

You took a deep breath, trying to remind yourself to be bold and take what you want. “I must say, I’ve been looking forward to our run-ins,” you said, your words coming out in a murmur. In your periphery, you spotted Dukat’s eyebrow ridge raised in surprise. 

The lift shuddered to a stop at your level of the habitat ring before Dukat could formulate a response.

You stepped off, but turned back to face the imposing Cardassian. “I’d love to see more of you,” you admitted, your limbs tingling as your heart raced inside your chest. You took a step backward, away from the lift as Dukat grinned.

“H5-A, chamber 1504.”

You watched as the turbolift proceeded downward again, Dukat shooting you a smug smile just before the lift carried him out of sight.

***

And that was how you’d wound up in your current position - your face buried in the pillows and your ass in the air as Dukat fucked you ravenously, your paired grunts and moans filling the air around you. 

Dukat had shown up late enough that you’d begun wondering if he was actually going to show up, and you’d practically worried a path in your carpet with your pacing. But your anxiety and doubt had been forgotten the moment he entered your quarters and pinned you to the wall like he couldn’t wait another second to feel you against him. 

A particularly harsh thrust pulled a cry from you, his fingers digging into your hips with bruising force. Sweat beaded along your hairline. Your fingers twisted in the sheets of your bed to keep you stable as Dukat bore down over you, groaning his pleasure.

“I can’t imagine… leaving this cunt… empty,” he growled between thrusts. “You’re just begging to be filled.” He planted a hand beside you, leaning forward to drag his lips along your spine. Your back arched at his touch, his Cho’Ch hitting right where you needed it the most. Tears sprang to your eyes at the wave of pleasure threatening to engulf you. 

“Ah, you like that, don’t you, my dear?” he taunted. “The thought of letting me fuck you full of my seed, belonging to me?” You clenched around his length at his teasing, the idea sounding very appealing in your current state. Your satisfied whine was muffled by the pillows. 

Suddenly, Dukat’s arm looped around your midsection, hauling you up against his chest. He buried his face in your neck, one of his hands grasping at your hip like a lifeline while the other came to rest, almost tenderly, on your belly.

“What I wouldn’t give to see a pretty Human like you round with my child,” he muttered, as if to himself. His lips traced the curve of your neck as his hand moved down from your hip, circling your clit with practiced precision. The scales on his chest pressed into your back as he fucked you, his Cho’Ch throbbing against the roiling heat at your core. It pushed you higher, your head tipped back against his shoulder in your ecstasy. Moans poured forth from both of you as you climbed, your climax just out of reach. You could feel Dukat’s desperation in the stuttering of his hips. 

“Perhaps I’ll take you back to Cardassia with me,” he grunted, his words punctuated by his thrusts. “Make you bear my children, keep you bred like a good little Human slut,” he offered, his fingers pressing into the fat of your stomach below your navel. Arousal pooled in your tingling limbs, your legs shaking with the effort of holding yourself up and, as his fingers traced tight circles against your clit, you shuddered as you came, crying out Dukat’s name. It was followed by a sharp hiss from Dukat, who promptly spilled inside you, keeping his word to fill you up.

[enigmatist17]

Odo stared.

The small creature on the floor of the Promenade stared back, the collar adorned with the Starfleet insignia around its neck jingling as it shook its head.

"What are you?"

It continues to stare, before letting out a strange noise and sitting on the floor as if in defiance. Scowling, Odo keeps the...thing within view as he taps on his com badge, running through who to contact before deciding on one.

"Odo to Lieutenant Commander Dax."

"Dax here. How can I help?" She replied within a few seconds, something the security chief always respected.

"There is a strange creature on the Promenade that appears to belong to someone in Starfleet. I would appreciate it if you came down here to help me find its errant owner." He can just about picture the amused smile that would have crossed Dax's face by now, the creature seeming unaffected by the chirping of his badge.

"I'll be down right away." Odo remains in place as he waits, the creature starting to lick its side for a purpose he is unsure of without much regard for the environment around it.

"You are very strange."

"Aw, kitty!" Dax gushed when she caught sight of the small creature, kneeling down when she got close enough within reach. "Hey there little guy!"

"What is a...kitty?" He raised an eyebrow in surprise when the creature sat up suddenly, little teeth flashing when Dax reached out to pet it.

"Cat, it's a pet normally found on Earth or some colonies." Dax pouted as she stood, angling to get a look at the collar. "Spot, what a cute name."

"I'll look through recent arrival records; animals have to be logged before they come aboard the station." Odo huffed, watching Dax suddenly reach down and scoop the cat up off the ground, the creature letting out a very displeased noise. "It does not sound very happy."

"I'm not just going to leave them here, so let's make this quick, hm?"

As expected the cat had indeed been logged with a new arrival, a Lieutenant Barclay having arrived in regards to studying the wormhole. His quarters were one lift ride and a twenty-minute walk from the security station, Odo pressing the door controls as Dax tried to get the cat to play nice.

She had been unsuccessful the entire journey.

"H-Hello?" The man who answered the door seemed the most removed Starfleet officer Odo had ever seen, clearly nervous to find two people outside of his door. While every officer Odo had ever met stood tall and had an air of confidence in their position, this Barclay looked sorely out of place as he slightly hunched over, trying to appear much shorter than he was. He and Dax can see two large boards set up against the far wall covered with equations behind him in the room, data pads and electronics scattered all over every available surface, save the bedstand that appeared to hold a small bed for the cat.

"We found your cat, Lieutenant." Dax held Spot up with a slight grin, hazel eyes going wide in alarm. "He was on the Promenade."

"Spot! I-I've been looking all over for you!" Barclay shot the cat a frown, the cat letting out a small purr when it registered the other officer. "Naughty girl."

"She's a gorgeous cat, shame she's not the friendliest thing." Dax held out Spot towards Barclay, who was able to scoop up the cat with no resistance. "Escape artist too it seems."

"S-Spot does like e-exploring." Barclay gave them an embarrassed smile, Spot nestling into his arm with more of the purring noise she had made a moment ago. "Sorry, she's enjoying the space station, w-we haven't been off-planet enough for her liking."

"Please ensure Spot doesn't make her way free again; we don't need injuries to occur to those living at the station." Odo gave a slight nod, the Starfleet officer looking even more embarrassed as he hissed something to Spot the changeling couldn't catch. "I wouldn't want to find Quark serving a limited item on his menu."

"What?!" Barclay held Spot closer in alarm, his shoulders relaxing a fraction of a centimeter when he heard Dax giggle behind the security officer. "T-That's a joke, right?"

"Goodnight, lieutenant." Clasping his hands behind his back, Odo headed off down the hallway with a smirk, as the human and Trill watched him leave.

"I-Is he always like that?" Spot purred as her human began to pet her, staring daggers at Jadzia, who pouted in return.

"That's Odo in a good mood, if anything I think he's just curious about your cat."

"Spot does have that effect on people." Spot purred once more in response, before wriggling free of his arms and dropping down, disappearing into Barclay's quarters.

"Well, you and Spot have a good rest of your night, lieutenant; it was nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Barclay watched the Trill head off for the evening for a few moments before closing the door, turning to look at the cat now curled up on his bed without a care in the world.

"Y-You're such a pest." With a smile, the engineer gives Spot a small scratch before returning to his work, pausing when he's about to pick up a data pad. "Computer, p-please inform me if Spot leaves these quarters."

"Acknowledged."