A Stitch in Time.  Is Garak saying Cardassians have better memories than humans, like Julian? or is it that they have a different conception of time, so the result is similar to Julian w/ his memory?  Also– “and so do you” followed by “to a human this would be chaotic, unbearable”– poor Julian. (via cardassians)

Valentine’s Day Application

@livesinthesubtext

Name: Julian Bashir Age: 30 Do you like to cuddle?: yes Can we make-out?: yes A night in or dinner out?: A night in could be a nice change of pace I think.  Ice cream or chocolate covered strawberries?: I would say ice cream but I don’t think it would agree with you.  What makes you a good Valentine?: My buoyant personality.  Would you cook for me?: I doubt you would want me to. Would you let me cook for you?: If you liked. 

Garak, despite lacking the code to the Doctor's quarters, has somehow managed to gain entry. Perhaps it will fuel their conversation on another night. Touching nothing not pertaining to or required for the preparation of the meal, Garak has set the table for dinner. When the door opens, he's there to greet the proper occupant. "I do hope you'll forgive the intrusion, Doctor. I thought perhaps you'd prefer to dine in this evening."

Chance Meeting

It wasn’t hard to make out the silhouette of Garak, he was the only Cardassian about usually, and overall the Doctor had basically studied his body from many different angles during the time they had spent together already. Catching up with the tailors pace, Julian placed one hand on his pals shoulder, greeting: “Hi Garak, where are you heading to?”, he shot him a smile and withdrew his hand after a moment.

@livesinthesubtext

Garak's unhurried stride continues unaltered and the hand momentarily at his shoulder doesn't seem to surprise him in the least. He glances sidelong just in time to spy Bashir's smile. "Ah, Doctor," he announces, his tone delighted. "I was just returning to the shop. Would you care to joing me?"

Emergency Commision

Julian came into Garak’s shop a tattered shirt in hand. “Hello Garak, I was wondering if you might be able to help me get a replacement for this.” He waved the ragged remains of his uniform turtleneck. 

Garak perks up immediately and greets his favorite customer with a smile, slinging his tape measure around his neck. The project he’s currently working on can wait.

“Certainly, Doctor! Might I inquire into its most savage demise?”

“I was down on Bajor gathering data for my T-cell research and, well I accidentally stumbled onto a razorcat and her litter on the way to the house of one of my subjects,” Julian blushed as he recounted the incident. 

Garak’s expression grows serious, concerned for his friend’s welfare. “I do hope the tunic was the only casualty.”

“Just a few minor lacerations. A quick run over with a dermal regenerator was all I needed,” Julian shrugged with a smile. 

Garak takes the tattered shirt off the Doctor’s hands, holding it up to take a closer look. From the number of slashes evident, he has a difficult time reconciling the statement. “A ‘few’, Doctor? Please tell me you didn’t attempt to treat yourself.”

“I’m fine Garak!” Julian chuckled, “I only did the ones I could reach myself anyway.” 

He throws the remains of the tunic over his arm, his gaze still intently upon the Doctor. The material is a loss. He’s relieved the same cannot be said for his friend. “Tell me. Was the subsequent information you gathered of any use?”

Julian stared back just as intently. “Well I didn’t gather anything that would lead to a break through. But I collected my data points and that is all thats important.”

"Then I congratulate you on surviving your latest medical adventure."

Emergency Commision

Julian came into Garak’s shop a tattered shirt in hand. “Hello Garak, I was wondering if you might be able to help me get a replacement for this.” He waved the ragged remains of his uniform turtleneck. 

Garak perks up immediately and greets his favorite customer with a smile, slinging his tape measure around his neck. The project he’s currently working on can wait.

“Certainly, Doctor! Might I inquire into its most savage demise?”

“I was down on Bajor gathering data for my T-cell research and, well I accidentally stumbled onto a razorcat and her litter on the way to the house of one of my subjects,” Julian blushed as he recounted the incident. 

Garak’s expression grows serious, concerned for his friend’s welfare. “I do hope the tunic was the only casualty.”

“Just a few minor lacerations. A quick run over with a dermal regenerator was all I needed,” Julian shrugged with a smile. 

Garak takes the tattered shirt off the Doctor’s hands, holding it up to take a closer look. From the number of slashes evident, he has a difficult time reconciling the statement. “A ‘few’, Doctor? Please tell me you didn’t attempt to treat yourself.”

“I’m fine Garak!” Julian chuckled, “I only did the ones I could reach myself anyway.” 

He throws the remains of the tunic over his arm, his gaze still intently upon the Doctor. The material is a loss. He's relieved the same cannot be said for his friend. "Tell me. Was the subsequent information you gathered of any use?"

We Cardassians are a proud people.

Emergency Commision

Julian came into Garak’s shop a tattered shirt in hand. “Hello Garak, I was wondering if you might be able to help me get a replacement for this.” He waved the ragged remains of his uniform turtleneck. 

Garak perks up immediately and greets his favorite customer with a smile, slinging his tape measure around his neck. The project he’s currently working on can wait.

“Certainly, Doctor! Might I inquire into its most savage demise?”

“I was down on Bajor gathering data for my T-cell research and, well I accidentally stumbled onto a razorcat and her litter on the way to the house of one of my subjects,” Julian blushed as he recounted the incident. 

Garak’s expression grows serious, concerned for his friend’s welfare. “I do hope the tunic was the only casualty.”

“Just a few minor lacerations. A quick run over with a dermal regenerator was all I needed,” Julian shrugged with a smile. 

Garak takes the tattered shirt off the Doctor's hands, holding it up to take a closer look. From the number of slashes evident, he has a difficult time reconciling the statement. "A 'few', Doctor? Please tell me you didn't attempt to treat yourself."

Emergency Commision

Julian came into Garak’s shop a tattered shirt in hand. “Hello Garak, I was wondering if you might be able to help me get a replacement for this.” He waved the ragged remains of his uniform turtleneck. 

Garak perks up immediately and greets his favorite customer with a smile, slinging his tape measure around his neck. The project he’s currently working on can wait.

“Certainly, Doctor! Might I inquire into its most savage demise?”

“I was down on Bajor gathering data for my T-cell research and, well I accidentally stumbled onto a razorcat and her litter on the way to the house of one of my subjects,” Julian blushed as he recounted the incident. 

Garak's expression grows serious, concerned for his friend's welfare. "I do hope the tunic was the only casualty."

Emergency Commision

Julian came into Garak’s shop a tattered shirt in hand. “Hello Garak, I was wondering if you might be able to help me get a replacement for this.” He waved the ragged remains of his uniform turtleneck. 

Garak perks up immediately and greets his favorite customer with a smile, slinging his tape measure around his neck. The project he's currently working on can wait.

"Certainly, Doctor! Might I inquire into its most savage demise?"

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

“I have but one request.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Julian tilted his head in curiosity as he stole a bite from Garak’s plate. 

“When you do finally plan my demise, allow me a simple pleasure. I would very much like to see it coming.” Garak’s tone is serious but a smile still graces his face.

Julian narrowly avoiding the choking on the bite he was chewing. “I-I’m sorry?” 

“Would you care for the remainder of my plate? I would hate to see them go to waste.” He slide his uneaten meal toward the doctor, hopeful he would accept the gesture.

Julian nodded. He took a bite as proof, chewing it slowly as he rolled the comment around in his mind. The first step was just parsing out whether or not it was a joke.

Garak rarely gave him enough time to fully contemplate the prospect. This afternoon was no exception. “Any further recommendations? I find myself with lovely companionship but distinctly lacking in lunch.”

Julian tapped his fingers against the table as he tried to make the wave of possibilities in his mind a more manageable queue. “I’m not really sure… Frankly I have enough trouble picking out my own lunch,” he added with a laugh. 

“Then perhaps you will indulge me, Doctor,” Garak suggested. He left the table once again and returned with two new meals, steaming hot and piled high with Cardassian vegetables.

“I would be overjoyed to introduce you to something new. Surely anything is better than-” He made a rude gesture toward the brussel sprouts.

“Um…” Julian shifted the food on the plate with his fork, sniffing as surreptitiously as he could. “I… I won’t make any guarantee I’ll like any of this.”

Garak smiled. “Wise, my dear doctor. Those who utter guarantees often find themselves unpleasantly surprised.”

Julian gave a brief smile to show he had heard as he sorted through the chaos on his plate with his fork. Nope… that one had seed slurry in the center… and that one looked a bit slimy… Eventually he selected a starchy looking slice of what he guessed had been a root. 

“Here goes…” he smiled nervously. Julian took a bite and was relieved to not initially feel a deep urge to spit it out. It was actually fairly pleasant. Julian gave an appreciative nod. 

Garak watched him intently as he selected and then chewed. He delighted in the doctor's expression as it morphed. "There. A suitable replacement for those vile orbs."

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

“I have but one request.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Julian tilted his head in curiosity as he stole a bite from Garak’s plate. 

“When you do finally plan my demise, allow me a simple pleasure. I would very much like to see it coming.” Garak’s tone is serious but a smile still graces his face.

Julian narrowly avoiding the choking on the bite he was chewing. “I-I’m sorry?” 

“Would you care for the remainder of my plate? I would hate to see them go to waste.” He slide his uneaten meal toward the doctor, hopeful he would accept the gesture.

Julian nodded. He took a bite as proof, chewing it slowly as he rolled the comment around in his mind. The first step was just parsing out whether or not it was a joke.

Garak rarely gave him enough time to fully contemplate the prospect. This afternoon was no exception. “Any further recommendations? I find myself with lovely companionship but distinctly lacking in lunch.”

Julian tapped his fingers against the table as he tried to make the wave of possibilities in his mind a more manageable queue. “I’m not really sure… Frankly I have enough trouble picking out my own lunch,” he added with a laugh. 

“Then perhaps you will indulge me, Doctor,” Garak suggested. He left the table once again and returned with two new meals, steaming hot and piled high with Cardassian vegetables.

“I would be overjoyed to introduce you to something new. Surely anything is better than-” He made a rude gesture toward the brussel sprouts.

“Um…” Julian shifted the food on the plate with his fork, sniffing as surreptitiously as he could. “I… I won’t make any guarantee I’ll like any of this.”

Garak smiled. "Wise, my dear doctor. Those who utter guarantees often find themselves unpleasantly surprised."

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

“I have but one request.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Julian tilted his head in curiosity as he stole a bite from Garak’s plate. 

“When you do finally plan my demise, allow me a simple pleasure. I would very much like to see it coming.” Garak’s tone is serious but a smile still graces his face.

Julian narrowly avoiding the choking on the bite he was chewing. “I-I’m sorry?” 

“Would you care for the remainder of my plate? I would hate to see them go to waste.” He slide his uneaten meal toward the doctor, hopeful he would accept the gesture.

Julian nodded. He took a bite as proof, chewing it slowly as he rolled the comment around in his mind. The first step was just parsing out whether or not it was a joke.

Garak rarely gave him enough time to fully contemplate the prospect. This afternoon was no exception. “Any further recommendations? I find myself with lovely companionship but distinctly lacking in lunch.”

Julian tapped his fingers against the table as he tried to make the wave of possibilities in his mind a more manageable queue. “I’m not really sure… Frankly I have enough trouble picking out my own lunch,” he added with a laugh. 

"Then perhaps you will indulge me, Doctor," Garak suggested. He left the table once again and returned with two new meals, steaming hot and piled high with Cardassian vegetables.

"I would be overjoyed to introduce you to something new. Surely anything is better than-" He made a rude gesture toward the brussel sprouts.

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

“I have but one request.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Julian tilted his head in curiosity as he stole a bite from Garak’s plate. 

“When you do finally plan my demise, allow me a simple pleasure. I would very much like to see it coming.” Garak’s tone is serious but a smile still graces his face.

Julian narrowly avoiding the choking on the bite he was chewing. “I-I’m sorry?” 

“Would you care for the remainder of my plate? I would hate to see them go to waste.” He slide his uneaten meal toward the doctor, hopeful he would accept the gesture.

Julian nodded. He took a bite as proof, chewing it slowly as he rolled the comment around in his mind. The first step was just parsing out whether or not it was a joke.

Garak rarely gave him enough time to fully contemplate the prospect. This afternoon was no exception. "Any further recommendations? I find myself with lovely companionship but distinctly lacking in lunch."

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

“I have but one request.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Julian tilted his head in curiosity as he stole a bite from Garak’s plate. 

“When you do finally plan my demise, allow me a simple pleasure. I would very much like to see it coming.” Garak’s tone is serious but a smile still graces his face.

Julian narrowly avoiding the choking on the bite he was chewing. “I-I’m sorry?” 

"Would you care for the remainder of my plate? I would hate to see them go to waste." He slide his uneaten meal toward the doctor, hopeful he would accept the gesture.

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

“I have but one request.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Julian tilted his head in curiosity as he stole a bite from Garak’s plate. 

"When you do finally plan my demise, allow me a simple pleasure. I would very much like to see it coming." Garak's tone is serious but a smile still graces his face.

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

“It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods,” he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.

Julian grinned from ear to ear, only just suppressing the urge to bounce happily in his seat. “I promise to try harder next time.” 

"I have but one request."

A Late Lunch

“I do hope you’ll forgive my tardiness, Doctor,” Garak declared, taking a seat across from Bashir at the table. “I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a silk merchant.”

Julian set aside the fork he had been using to pick at his food. “Not at all Garak! I hope it hasn’t put you in too foul a mood.” 

“On the contrary! We were able to agree upon a most reasonable price toward the end,” he reported. “My bargaining techniques were not to his liking however. He proceeded to cast aspersions upon my entire lineage.”

“Your entire lineage?” Julian chuckled, “That sounds like quite an undertaking. Or did he just say “your entire lineage”?”  

“‘All the filthy and lowly lizard people who came before you’ I believe were his exact words. Quite an imaginative individual, I must say. He tried to convince me the increased price of his merchandise was due to greater overhead.” His eyes traveled his surrounding before leaning over the table to whisper, as if sharing some great secret. “I have it on very good authority that the dabo tables have been anything but kind.”

“Greater overhead?” Julian took a few bites. His brow furrowed ever so slightly at the change in subject. “I think the dabo tables are only very rarely kind.” 

“Bad decisions are all part of business, Doctor. But I had no desire to foot the bill, so to speak. His wife happens to be a regular customary. I may have implied his activities and bad luck could easily come to her attention should he insist upon overcharging me.”

Blackmail? Or just ‘part of business’?

Julian smiled around his fork. “I imagine he was quite reasonable after that?” He had caught up again and he could only imagine how much Garak had frightened the poor merchant. 

“Quite reasonable,” he echoed with a self-satisfied smile. “He even went so far as to offer me a discount on furture orders. How very generous of him.”

“Extremely generous,” Julian agreed suppressing a grin. 

Garak took advantage of the natural lull in the conversation to switch topics. He gestured to his companion’s plate. “Tell me, Doctor. I’m interested in trying something new today. Would you recommend it?”

“Oh well um,” Julian glanced down at his plate, “Well, I quite like it I suppose. Though I know brussels sprouts have a fair bit of infamy surrounding them.” 

“An infamous food,” he proclaimed, delighted. “How could I not try it after such an interesting description?”

A quick trip to the replicator later, he reseated himself at the table with a similar plate. The aroma wafted up under his nose. “I do hope they taste better than they smell.”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I make no promises nor did I ever make endorsements.” Julian really had no idea if Garak would like it. He loved them but he knew full well he was in the minority. 

Garak speared a half, placed it in his mouth, and nearly gagged. “‘Infamy’ hardly begins to cover it, Doctor. ‘Poisonous’ would be far more appropriate.”

Julian did his best to suppress a fit of giggles. “I did warn you!” he reminded him. 

"It was inevitable that you would try to kill me, Doctor. I never suspected you would be so straightforward about your methods," he mercilessly teased with a glint in his eye.