Deep Space Nine

[potentiality_26]

So, a fic rec I got earlier this week made me rediscover Bashir/Garak.  I just want to say that as much as I usually love how much variety there is in the different fics for a particular ship, there's something so adorable and comforting about the fact that most of the stories for this couple are more or less the same story.

There are gazillion fics for the pairing that go like this

Post-series Bashir moves to Cardassia to do post-Dominion war relief work. Also he broke up with Ezri (yay!) and is hiding. He gets to know Cardassian language, culture and customs a little better.

Bashir: wait. Garak was flirting with me the whole time, wasn’t he?
Every Cardassian he’s met since he got to the planet: duh.
Every Cardassian he’s met since he got to the planet: it’s a good thing you’ve got your looks.

I’ve read that gazillion and I will happily read a gazillion more. In fact, I’ll probably one day write one of my own.

Then there’s the fic that goes like

Post-“Doctor Bashir, I Presume” Bashir is in trouble with everyone he cares about.

Everyone: you’ve lied to me for as long as I’ve known you.
Bashir: *wibbles*
Garak: you’ve lied to me for as long as I’ve known you.
Garak: come here, you crafty, adorable little human. I have plans for you.
Bashir: …you’re not mad?
Garak: are you kidding? This is the sexiest thing you’ve ever done.  

It amuses me how set in its ways this little ship is.  I mean, I exaggerate in that there are other fics, but I don't actually exaggerate by much.

I rewatched “Past Prologue” too, and damn. I legitimately do not understand how writers wrote this, actors acted it, directors directed it, test audiences watched it and no one said to anyone, “This is the gayest first meeting in the history of ever (and yes that includes Sherlock, TJLC people you have not cornered the market on ‘this apparent UST cannot be accidental’ and it puzzles me that you somehow think you have) and you need to tone it down a bit.” Not only is their first meeting super gay, the scene right after- when Bashir tells the bridge crew (is it the bridge on DS9?) about the incident- clinches it. Because they're just laughing at him, and it’s all

Sisko: you just met the dude you’re going to marry
O’Brien: ew, but yeah. He was hitting on you like it was going out of style.
Bashir: what? No, he’s totally a spy. He wants me for spy reasons not… sexy reasons.
Dax: It's a good thing you've got your looks.   

And I don’t think Kira was there or paying attention, but if she had been it would have been all

Kira: I’ve got my fingers in my ears and I have heard nothing, certainly not to do with Cardassians who may or may not be interested in Starfleet doctors- but seriously, Bashir, he was hitting on you.  
Entire bridge crew: like it was going out of style.

True story, guys.