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.
My poor Julian, the way his eyes shut down when his parents arrive cuz that lil backstabber doctor engineer dude invited them. That “zest for life,” as he put it, goes straight into the garbage.
*grabs julian bashir by the shoulders after watching doctor bashir, i presume* listen to me you wonderful, beautiful, innocent child your parents had no right to do that to you and it’s noble of you to forgive them but also not at all necessary. regardless of their intentions or their feelings toward you their decision to genetically alter you and risk ruining your life at age seven just because you were autistic, or even just a bit slower than the other kids in your class, was a horrible, heartless one even if they didn’t realize it and the fact that even 25 years later they still won’t admit they did wrong and won’t even apologize is a telltale sign of emotional abuse, and so is your mother pulling the “for your own good” and “because we love you” cards when you’re clearly very upset with their decision. just because your father went to prison for two years in a low-security penal colony so you could stay in starfleet doesn’t mean you have to forgive him. he did not go to prison for you, he went for your career, your legacy, and by extension his legacy. he didn’t care a dime for your wellbeing and you have to realize that. he talked you into a starfleet career at an early age even though you wanted to play tennis and he knew it, and you are under no obligation to ever talk to him or your mother again. you were just a kid. you were right and you should say it.
I’m thinking about how delighted to meet Bashirs parents Captain Sisko was, because family means everything to him and because he incredibly proud of his crew. Sisko clearly automatically thinks of family in a positive light, and presumed that bashir would have a good relationship with his parents, and be glad that theyre there to visit. He was so excited to learn more about Bashir’s childhood, and his parents lives, and what he did before he was on DS9. It must have been so shocking and disappointing to him that a parent would not accept their child, and would alter them to fit their own expectations rather than loving the person they are. Sisko had expectations and ambitions for Jake, of course, but ultimately when Jake went against those expectations, Sisko accepted him wholeheartedly. I dont think that theres anything that Jake could do or be that would make Sisko want to change him, bc fundamentally, thats not the kind of man Sisko is.
I imagine that after all the revelations from that ep, that evening he talked to Jake and told him that he loved him, and was so so proud of him, and would accept him no matter what. And I think that knowing what Bashir went through, Sisko would be all the more proud of him, as his captain and as his friend.
Sisko, quietly, to himself, watching Julian shortly after his parents leave the station: I’m your father now.
