Icon from a picrew by grgikau. Call me Tir or Julian. 37. He/They. Queer. Twitter: @tirlaeyn. ao3: tirlaeyn. 18+ Only. Star Trek. Sandman. IwtV. OMFD. Definitionless in this Strict Atmosphere.
beverlycrushed: 13 and I know its not really a character but: Deep Space Nine Station
Just put some obvious credit/a link to me if you mean your blog background/header/etc. If you mean your phone or your laptop or something, yeah, do whatever, haha.
Two identical infants lay in the cradle. “One you bore, the other is a Changeling. Choose wisely,” the Fae’s voice echoed from the shadows. “I’m taking both my children,” the mother said defiantly.
Once upon a time there was a peasant woman who was unhappy
because she had no children. She was happy in all other things – her husband
was kind and loving, and they owned their farm and had food and money enough. But
she longed for children.
She went to church and prayed for a child every Sunday, but
no child came. She went to every midwife and wise woman for miles around, and
followed all their advice, but no child came.
So at last, though she knew of the dangers, she drew her brown
woolen shawl over her head and on Midsummer’s Eve she went out to the forest,
to a certain clearing, and dropped a copper penny and a lock of her hair into
the old well there, and she wished for a child.
“You know,” a voice said behind her, a low and cunning voice,
a voice that had a coax and a wheedle and a sly laugh all mixed up in it
together, “that there will be a price to pay later.”
She did not turn to look at the creature. She knew better. “I
know it,” she said, still staring into the well. “And I also know that I may
set conditions.”
“That is true,” the creature said, after a moment, and there
was less laugh in its voice now. It wasn’t pleased that she knew that. “What
condition do you set? A boy child? A lucky one?”
“That the child will come to no harm,” she said, lifting her
head to stare into the woods. “Whether I succeed in paying your price, or
passing your test, or not, the child will not suffer. It will not die, or be
hurt, or cursed with ill luck or any other thing. No harm of any kind.”
“Ahhhhh.” The sound was long and low, between a sigh and a
hum. “Yes. That is a fair condition. Whatever price there is, whatever test
there is, it will be for you and you alone.” A long, slender hand extended into
her sight, almost human save for the skin, as pale a green as a new leaf. The
hand held a pear, ripe and sweet, though the pears were nowhere ripe yet. “Eat
this,” the voice said, and she trembled with the effort of keeping her eyes
straight ahead. “All of it, on your way home. Before you enter your own gate,
plant the core of it beside the gate, where the ground is soft and rich. You
will have what you ask for.”
I’m sorry, all I see is Julian looking after some baby Cardassians who decided that he is their dad now, and keep escaping their cot for warm cuddles.
Ask and yee shall recieve.
–
Julian had given up on keeping the Cardassian infants in the incubated crate that O'Brien had designed for them. Garak had approved of it and assured Julian that it was perfectly normal in this modern day and age to use a similar device for premature children even on Cardassia, but it seemed the babies didn’t care about that. Instead of being woken up in the middle of the night by one of them jumping on his chest, Julian surrendered to the fact that he would now be cuddling what were, essentially, small lizards every night.
“Now this is something right out of a romance novel.” Garak chuckled, causing Julian to jump awake.
“What?” Julian said, rubbing his eyes as the babies readjusted themselves now that he was in a different position.
“Single fathers come with a family, which is what’s most important on Cardassia.” Garak explained. “And the man almost only gets to keep his children if his wife dies, so there’s no issue of disgraceful divorce. Seeing a single young man being so doting to his children would have half of Cardassia swooning.”
“That…” Julian shook his head, processing everything. “That’s not what I was asking.”
“Then what was, doctor?”
“What are you doing in my quarters!?” Julian huffed. One of the infants hissed at Garak when Julian showed annoyance toward him, the babies had grown rather protective of Julian. Julian gave each of the three a soothing pat on the head so they’d calm down. Garak’s smile only grew wider.
“I wanted to see if you needed anything.” Garak said innocently. “And if it was unnecessary, I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Then why did you?” Grumbled Julian.
“I’ll admit, when I saw you snuggling your children, I couldn’t help but comment aloud.” Garak sighed. Julian rolled his eyes but then looked at the babies that had now moved to his lap.
“Were you ever this small?” Julian smiled.
“Those three were born prematurely, doctor.” Garak answered. “A full term pregnancy produces much larger children.” Garak sat down on the bed and looked at the babies. “I’m actually surprised they survived at all.”
“You and me both.” Julian exhaled. “It didn’t look like they would at first.” Julian frowned and looked sad. “I just wish I could have done something for Nakeli.” Garak placed his hand gently on Julian’s.
“Their mother knew she had no chance.” Garak soothed. “Saving her children is more than anything else you could have given her.” Garak looked thoughtful again. “Are you going to do something about their tails when they’re a bit older?”
“I was actually meaning to ask you about that.” Julian said. “We don’t know much about Cardassian infants.” Julian picked one of the children up with a smile. “Did you have your tail removed or does it fall off?”
“I wasn’t born with one.” Garak said, obviously amused. “We evolved past them long ago. We only have them in the womb, but after five months, it should be gone.”
“And all exceptions have surgery?” Julian asked.
“The government provides it.” Garak nodded.
“Is it normal for babies to be born bald?” Julian was smiling as the baby in his hands gave him a lick on the cheek.
“It’s rather common. Hair will grow in time.” Garak reassured. “I must admit, I’m a bit out of my depth here though.”
“So you weren’t ever a nanny?” Julian laughed. Garak shook his head. “Want to try?”
“I could try to help you watch over the little ones.” Garak nodded. “Especially since you’ll need to return to work soon enough.”
“I warn you, if they ever spend the night, they will demand to sleep with you.” Julian grinned.
“Well, they’re drawn to your mammalian heat.” Garak waved a hand. “It’s probably as close to the womb as they can get.”
“The incubator is warmer.” Julian frowned. “And yet they insist on coming into my bed.”
“Who wouldn’t, given the option?” Garak said with a sly smile. Julian blinked, not sure what to say and Garak quickly changed the subject. “What are their names by the way?”
“I…” Julian blushed. “I haven’t actually named them.”
“Oh?” Garak said in surprise. “Don’t you think you should?”
“Well, I want to give them Cardassian names,” Julian explained, “but when we locate Nakeli’s husband, it should really be his decision.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.” Garak nodded. “But it would hardly hurt to give them something temporary to keep them straight.”
“Well, why don’t you name them?” Julian suggested. “You’re really more qualified than I am.” Garak looked like he might protest but Julian pushed the baby he was holding into Garak’s hands. “Come on, start with this one. What’s her name?” Garak looked into the eyes of the infant for some time before he softly whispered:
I’m very new to using colored pencils (or even color at all, I usually draw with graphite) but here is a drawing I did during online class today. Tbh my only motivation for improving at art is so that I can draw Star Trek characters better.
old marrieds garak and julian be like “my dear doctor bashir :) is the cardassian heat getting to you today? your poor delicate terran body. let me get you a glass of rokassa juice :)” and julian’s like “you must be going senile :) you know i fucking hate that shit :)” and garak’s like “YOU must be going senile :) of course i remember you don’t like it but don’t YOU remember that it is great for dehydration” and julian’s like “whatever. it disgusts me. YOU disgust me” and garak just gets him a glass of space gatorade and turns on the fan and says with all the love in his heart “and you disgust me my dear” and they’re just like. so happy and in love lol
“Well, Riaski, I’m glad someone is enjoying this wretched heat.”
Riaski, the newest addition to the Garak Bashir household, was purring contentedly atop the maroon settee, laying on her side next to her human, soaking up the sun.
Julian had lived on Cardassia Prime for many years, and had done so happily. But every year, in the height of summer, he sweats like a pig, drinks gallons of water each day, and rethinks all of the major decisions of his life.
“You know you mock me, darling girl? You lie there, in all your glory, boasting your tolerance, no, adoration, for this awful, horrible weather, and it pains me. It truly does.”
“Julian,” Garak called from the garden. “Are you berating the cat again?”
He made his way up the deck and through the sliding glass door.
“Well?” He teased, looking at Julian expectantly.
“No!” Julian scoffed. “Of course not! Who do you think I am?”
“I think that you are a man who is flirting with heat exhaustion, and you’re taking it out on our dear Madame Garak Bashir. Please, Julian, drink some rokassa juice, go lie down with the fan on, leave her be.”
His words were kind, but his tone and facial expressions were that of a cat who had caught a considerable canary. Garak lived for summer. Because of the time he spent on Deep Space Nine, he never took the heat for granted. Plus, he got to care for his husband, while teasing him mercilessly - two of his favorite activities.
“Oh, my dear Mister Garak, it breaks my heart to see that you’re going senile.”
“Whatever do you mean, my dear Doctor?”
“The fact that you would even think to mention rokassa juice in my presence leads me to believe that you are losing your precious marbles.”
“Ha!” Garak laughed. “A bold assertion. It only proves that it is not my, but your, mental capacity that is withering. Were you not delirious due to dehydration, you would recall that rokassa juice is rich with electrolytes, and a tried and true ally to those in dire need of refreshment.”
Julian glared at him.
“Well you - I - hm. You know what, while I am not actually dehydrated, I am tired. Too tired to argue, in fact. Just know, rokassa juice disgusts me. You disgust me.”
Garak smiled, and walked over to the replicator. He retrieved a glass of coconut water, set it on the table beside the settee, and pressed a kiss to his husband’s cheek.
“And you disgust me,” he said, with all of the love in his heart.
Julian leaned his head against the back of the settee, looking up at his husband fondly.
