#and frankly i think we need to start pulling ''it's actually xenophobic to make me work all day'' at this point

[mishkakagehishka]

no fr i worry abt globalization too. like i 100% actually admire and respect the cultures who value taking it easy and relaxing a little more. the US is basically my own personal hell ^^; i have a very low desire to work and just enjoy doing what i love and spending time with people i love, not slaving away to some corporate overlord that doesn't care about my life. i'd love to skip and get coffee with friends, or relax a little more rather than worrying about grades and constantly go-go-going all the time. but alas.

that's just my take, though ^^; (plus i just hate how everything gets made for americans... even being one i always feel kinda sad when cultures adapt to the us, rather than the us adapting to others... there's so much to be learned from other cultures! but you lose so much when everyone starts catering to the americans...)

Yeah, there's good things to take from America (like, okay okay, i shit on the US a lot, but like looking at the past and how it really was seen as a place of opportunity because you could start from zero and still make it - it's no longer a thing, but when it was it was inspiring, or i think we specifically mentioned "fighting for your rights" and "activism" as "good sides of westernisation" while studying it in high school), but the protestant work ethic.... is not it.

And maybe my own people take it too far in the other direction, i know we're stereotyped as excruciatingly lazy even in the north of the same country, but i just believe there's no reason to... put your entire soul into your career. Sure, if your work brings you joy you can allocate your hobby-time to your job-time, but... friends, family, entertainment, art are all things that need their own time. Imo "job" should be pretty low on your priorities (again, unless it brings you joy on par with a hobby. Like, if i manage to find work as a translator, i'll treat that job like my world, but that's bc it'd be on par with a hobby). I think we also use "work to live, don't live to work" to explain it. But we live in such a world :( it's hard, you need money to live, but you have to work so much now that you don't have the time to live anymore.

#i love that we're always waxing poetic about random subjects and philosophising lmao #but right stereotypes. northern europeans and western europeans see southern europeans as lazy #like really lazy. it's a Thing. spend 10min in the /europe sub and you'll see it #spend 10 minutes in the /croatia sub and you'll see two threads talking about how lazy dalmatians are #''the souther you go the lazier the people'' #i'm pretty sure even northern italians will say southern italians are lazy and useless #but the thing is that the souther you go the hotter it gets #and the hotter it gets... the less sense it makes to work all day #in the north you work in the day and sleep in the night #in the south you can't do that without getting heatstroke. you work before and after sunrise and you sleep at night but also during the day #hence the birth of the siesta (or fjaka as we call it in my dialect) #it started as just our programming but. it bled into our culture #we can survive without having to work 24/7 #look at how hot it is - you can't do anything even if you wanted to #so why not take a break? why not sit down and just talk with your friends? why not just enjoy life for a minute? #and i like that and i don't wanna see that part of our culture destroyed #sure i don't help the stereotypes - i got the weirdest looks when i said i treat my absences like vacation time #(bc it's not like if i'm not absent i get 6 allowed absences next term - it's always 3 so i might as well use them) #but like. it's important!!!!! if i do nothing but work i'll go insane!!!!!!!! #and frankly i think we need to start pulling ''it's actually xenophobic to make me work all day'' at this point #you need to do it to. say your Dalmatian friend adopted you into the culture. it is now your Korka-given right to take a break from 3-5pm #preferably used to nap but you can also just hang out #all this to say there was a graffiti here that said ''THIS IS NOT AMERICA'' and i think of it everytime people try to adopt the US work #ethics like. we don't need that!!! this is not america!!!!!!! don't do that!!!!!!!!!!

[a-flickering-soul]

Are we just going to ignore that the flashback after the credits of Goncharov 1973 implied that Katja and Sofia came from the same orphanage before Katja was adopted into a wealthy family? And no "Sofia is literally what Katja could've been." is not the point I'm trying to make here. I’m sorry but if you ship Katja/Sofia, please realize that it’s incest. Bad and wrong! You are shipping two (probably) foster sisters together, one if them being adopted and the other not knowing doesn't stop the fact they are sisters. I don't care if they aren't biologically related. It's fucking weird. It's also weird how people ship any girls that interact together, just because two gals don't hate each other's guts and they interact somewhat positively doesn’t mean they are in love with each other or want to fuck. Also in some cultures it's normal to kiss each other platonically on the mouth! If you ship Sofia/Katja you are actually xenophobic and acephobic and ableist! If you want positive gay rep goncharov x andrej is RIGHT THERE!

Okay, there's a lot here. Let's unpack all of. this. together, right now.

First off, your argument that Katja/Sofia is pseudo-incest because they came from the same orphanage is so far beyond false equivalencies that it's nonsensical entirely. If you think simply because two children are raised close to each other, their relationship is incest, you are so far beyond "out of touch" that you're on the moon. For god's sake, wait till you learn about schools.

Second off, it is hilarious that you are telling ME that it's weird people ship any girls that look at each other for longer than a second because first off, I did my fucking time as a femslash shipper (AND closeted lesbian, might I add) in the 2010s media landscape. It is my god-given right to sexualize looks between women. Second off, you reducing Katja and Sofia's dynamic to "girls that interact together and don't hate each other's guts" you are so WRONG worstie you are so incredibly wrong because like....when Sofia tells Katja "I know you as intimately as my blood knows the curves of my heart"? Whe Katja lied to Goncharov about having a lighter on her but she pulled one out of her pocket for Sofia? I literally have to laugh. If a man and a woman did this, it would be read as romantic from the start. Just because it's two women doesn't make it any less romantic, and frankly it says a lot about you immediately desexualizing and de-eroticizing the very homoerotic interactions between two women than it does about me.

Finally. FINALLY. The absolutely hilarious statement you made that "If you want positive gay rep goncharov x andrej is RIGHT THERE!" POSITIVE GAY REP GONCHAROV/ANDREJ? THE TWO MEN THAT SWORE A BLOOD OATH TO DIE TOGETHER? THE TWO MEN THAT HAD A WHOLE ANCHOVY SCENE? THESE TWO MORALLY GRAY ASSHOLES OF GUYS?? Ohhhh yeah. Yeah. If that's the ship you're calling your sweet little sunshine babies or whatever the fuck, just watch Teletubbies or something, because clearly you aren't equipped with the critical thinking skills OR sexy, sexy sulci you need to understand Katja/Sofia. I rest my fucking case.

#usually i try to be pretty polite when i answer crit asks but man. man. what's it like being so wrong. have to laugh. #goncharov #unreality #answered #anonymous #WONDERFUL job anon i literally got mad answering this that's how good this ask was

[ladyofthewrittenword]

Arguing w/ the Uninformed: The Saga

Just had a very illuminating conversation, though I hesitate to call it that, with my future mother-in-law about... wait for it... A BUMPER STICKER!! Side note: We live in very small-town Ohio and this is deep in Trump territory. Back to the main plot: Now, we’re driving back to the house after she’s picked me up from work and we’re stopped at a red light when I notice, that displayed very prominently on the bumper of this beat up Chevy in front of us, is a bumper sticker that reads: “Hilary for Prison 2016″ on an American flag backdrop. Hee haw, so clever! But the entire time, I’m internally screaming because, knowing my MIL’s political leanings as I do, I really don’t want her to notice the sticker too and go off on a tangent/rant (which, I guess is just what I’m doing here.... Go, figure!). I’ve had a long day of work, and I hate her and want to spend as little time listening to her speak as possible because frankly, her voice is a like a cheese grater on my eardrums. Still with me? Good! Because it gets better! (Or depending on how you look at it, much much worse....)

Now, this must be the longest light in the history of red lights, but she inevitably notices the bumper sticker, proceeds to read it aloud for the class, snort with laughter, and elbow me in what I can only assume she perceives to be a playful manner. On the one hand, she had started to drive again and my body was like, “EYES ON THE ROAD!” and on the other, my brain was screaming, “Don’t touch me, beyotch, ew.” But, as I knew was unavoidable... the rant begins. (She actually stopped to take a deep breath for this too!) 

MIL, so pleased with herself: “Isn’t that so funny?” ** Snort chortle **

Me, tired, petty AF, and ready to be done with this convo or wherever it’s leading: “It’s been three years. Let it GO.”

MIL: “The Dems still haven’t let the Mueller investigation go...”

Me: “Uh, yeah, because Trump’s whole administration is filled with crooks and criminals. There’s no statute of limitation on treason....”

**awkward silence while the troglodyte formulates her next retort**

MIL: “Hilary broke the law too.”

Me: “When?”

MIL: “All those emails... What was in them, huh? All this about Trump’s taxes, but what about the emails?!” Meanwhile her voice is getting higher one octave at a time and more shrill the more aggravated she gets. “Oh, I wish Pelosi would just drop dead of a heart attack already and let the man get on with it...”

Me: “Well, someone needs to stop the dictator-in-the-making.”

MIL: “The only thing he’s guilty of is listening to people who lead him astray...”

Me: (fed absolutely TF up to here with her nonsensical, hateful BS) “He’s a terrible human being who has no right to be the leader of anything.”

MIL: “Why?” (smugly thinking she’s going to catch me unawares)

Me: “For starters, he’s openly xenophobic, homophobic, racist, and sexist regularly, he separates and locks up immigrant children from their parents in what essentially amounts to ice boxes to die of exposure, the unchecked nepotism with his unqualified kids, and don’t even get me started on the wall!”

MIL: “He’s only doing what Obama and Bush Jr. did before him. The only difference is that now people are bitching about it.”

Me: “What do you mean?”

MIL: “Chelsea Clinton and her parents’ NPO.”

Me: “Do you mean Chelsea Clinton who went to school, studied and interned with her parents, both of whom, despite their personal flaws, are some of the greatest political thinkers this century... What is Ivanka doing? Is she Secretary of Handbags? Trump and his children can’t even form cohesive sentences without insulting someone or stuttering that they don’t know!”

MIL: “Trump’s kids all went to school too.”

Me: “Yeah, maybe for business but that has little to do with politics. And we’ve seen what kind of business people they all are... They’re all unqualified and lack any kind of diplomacy abroad. Being able to communicate with other world leaders without insulting them or making a fool of yourself and your nation should be the very least a President is capable of.”

MIL: “Name one world leader or country he’s offended!”

Me: (Forgive me, I’m SHITE at remembering names!) “Germany, England, and France for starters. All historically our allies for the last half-century, at least... He won’t talk about Climate Change, he’s devastated the EPA and National Parks, and he’s plunged us into a national debt in the trillions all while cozying up to some of the world’s most infamous dictators and tyrants... North Korea, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.”

MIL: “The French have never been our allies! All they’ve done is mooch off of our resources...”

Me: “The helped us defeat the British and win the right to declare ourselves an independent nation. So, even if you were right about them being mooches... I think they’ve earned the right.” We’ve pulled up into the driveway at this point and she’s put the car in park to try and stare me down. But I am unwavering because I know my facts and she’s a foot wart at this point...

MIL: “The French helped us kick out the British?” 

She’s incredulous and honestly, so am I because she is exactly the kind of person that I fear most being the child of immigrants, being bisexual, being Latina and multilingual, not being religious, and on top of all that... being so outspoken about all these things. But those people who chant “Build the Wall”, “Speak English, this is America”, or “Go Home” are just like her in the way that they claim with such certainty that this is their country, but don’t know the first thing about its history. And that is both sad and frightening... 

But on the other hand.... 

#BitchesGetShitDONE!!

[ameerawritesstuff]

I can't decide! 51 through 54 struck me h a r d. If you wanted to do any of them that would be amazing. 51: “ I want to take care of you. ” 52: “ Can we cuddle? ” 53: “ It’s lonely here without you. ” 54: “ I can’t stand the thought of loosing you. ”

I DID THEM ALL BECAUSE YES

51 “I Want To Take Care of You”

“I want to take care of you.” When Garak said that, Julian was sure he was joking. “Therefore, I volunteered for the job.”

“What job?” Julian asked in tired confusion. He had just woken up to Garak in his quarters (again) and now the Cardassian was going on about taking care of him?

“The Senior Staff of this station has reached the consensus that you need to take a break from work.” Garak said happily. “I said I would be happy to ensure you rest.”

“You’re joking.” Julian laughed. When Garak’s face didn’t change, Julian’s eyes grew wide. “You’re serious?!”

“Yes, doctor.” Garak smiled.

“You’re telling me Commander Sisko asked you to…” Julian shook his head. “I don’t even know what to call this.”

“It was really Commander Dax and Chief O’Brien who felt there was a need.” Garak admitted. “And, again, no one asked me. I volunteered.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Julian frowned.

“You were imprisoned for a month, replaced by a changeling, and then had your most closely-guarded secret revealed to the world.” Garak challenged. “Not to mention, your father was just sent to prison. You’ve been advised to take some time off, but you haven’t.”

“So now you’re going to ensure I do nothing productive?” Julian groaned.

“I’m going to ensure that you actually relax for once.” Garak said as he moved to the side of Julian’s bed. “Now, what can I do for you.”

“I don’t suppose you can simply leave me alone?” Julian sighed. “But, honestly, Garak, this is unnecessary.”

“Humor me then.” Garak smiled and he sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’ll admit that this is for my own good as well as yours.” Julian looked at Garak in confusion and the Cardassian looked regretful. “I should have taken care of you earlier, so I’m trying to make up for how greatly I’ve failed you.”

“You saved us all from the prison camp.” Julian said. “It’s not your fault that you didn’t know about the changeling. You came when I needed you and you saved me.” He tried to soothe Garak with a warm smile, but Garak simply looked away.

“It’s not just that.” Garak whispered. “I should have stopped Zimmerman.” Garak gave Julian a pained expression. “I should have protected you.”

“You didn’t know I needed protecting.” Julian chuckled, not really understanding.

“But I should have.” Garak said. “You are very dear to me, and yet I have failed you again and again.” Julian found himself placing his hand on top of Garak’s.

“Garak, you have never failed me.” Julian said firmly. “You say I’m dear to you, that’s all I’ve wanted.” Garak looked deep into Julian’s eyes and Julian could feel the two of them closing the gap between them. It was slow and subtle, but Julian felt the electricity in the air before a kiss.

“Well, I can still take care of you now.” Garak said quickly as he stood up, stopping their lips from every touching. “Wait right here and I’ll prepare breakfast for you.” Julian was left alone in bed, blinking in confusion as he wondered what just happened?

52 “Can We Cuddle?”

“Can we cuddle?” Julian asked as if he was more desperate than he was. “To huddle for warmth, I mean.” He was only a bit chilly himself, nothing too uncomfortable, but he knew Garak must be freezing and was too prideful to ask.

“That would probably be prudent.” Garak nodded stiffly, clearly trying to keep himself from shivering. Julian walked over to the cot in their crashed runabout and motioned for Garak to lie down first.

“Don’t fight me on this,” Julian began once he was lying on top of Garak. “But I’m going to ask you to take off the survival jacket.” Garak gave Julian a horrified look. “Just so we can both use it as a blanket! It will keep us both warmer that way in the long run.” Garak frowned but awkwardly moved himself out of the jacket and then quickly draped it over the two of them.

“That’s better.” Julian smiled as he lay his head on Garak’s chest. “Are you tired? We can try to go to sleep if you’d like.”

“There is no way I will be able to sleep when it’s this c-c-cold.” Garak looked angry at himself for letting his teeth chatter.

“Good, because I’m wide awake myself.” Julian smiled, trying his best to make Garak feel better. “You know, I never got to tell you my thoughts on He Falters.” It had been a Cardassian play that Garak had recommended to Julian a little while ago, but they hadn’t had the chance to discuss it.

“A cautionary tale.” Garak nodded.

“A tragedy.” Julian clarified. “Dronar is ultimately punished for sacrificing so much for his wife.” Garak let out the long suffering sigh he always let out when he was about to correct Julian. Julian rather liked feeling it from Garak’s chest.

“Dronar is punished for lying.” Garak shook his head. “He should have reported his wife as insane when she first started to go mad.”

“She would have been disowned by her father!” Julian argued. “Her father’s approval meant everything to her.”

“So you viewed his defense of her as sentimental…” Garak chuckled. “My dear, he only wants to keep the connection to his father-in-law due to the man’s status.”

“That was an element.” Julian conceded. “But by the end when Dronar is arrested, he would have been released if he’d revealed her madness necessitating him stealing the medicine.”

“It still would have been stealing.” Garak scoffed.

“No room for compassion in the Cardassian heart?” Julian smirked.

“None.” Garak said stoically.

“That means you’re not cuddling with me now because I asked.” Julian challenged. “If you’re truly self-serving, you just admitted that you’re doing this for your own benefit.”

“It’s no secret that I’m cold.” Garak scowled. “And since we can’t be rescued until after the storm passes, I’m doing my best to survive.”

“But it was my suggestion.” Julian countered with a smirk. “You were too proud to ask despite having the greater need. So if everything you do is without compassion, that means you had a selfish motivation for remaining cold as well.” Julian sighed and clicked his tongue. “Now, what could that reason be?”

“Don’t forget that we Cardassians are also naturally xenophobic.” Garak said with amusement. “Perhaps the idea of letting a Human be so close to me is just too repulsive.”

“Even though my being Human means I’m a better heat source?”

“While the heat is lovely, there’s still a certain mammalian stench that…” Garak inhaled deeply and shook his head. “Frankly, is unmistakable.”

“Unmistakable doesn’t mean unpleasant.” Julian grinned. He then noticed he could hear how fast Garak’s heartbeat was as he lay there on his chest. He glanced at Garak’s face and saw that his scales had changed color ever so slightly to a pale blue. Julian blinked in surprise and then smirked. “Garak… are you aroused right now?”

“Really, doctor!” Garak said as if he were horribly offended. Still, he didn’t deny it.

“You are, aren’t you!” Julian accused with laughter.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Garak said, looking a bit miffed.

“Garak, it’s alright.” Julian said softly as he raised his hand to Garak’s cheek. Garak’s eyes were wide with surprise as Julian pulled him into a kiss. “We have to do something to pass the time, right?” Julian purred.

“Hmm?” Garak’s eyes had slipped closed and his scales had flushed a dark shade almost like charcoal.

“After all, you said you couldn’t sleep.” Julian continued as he moved his hand down Garak’s chest.

“I suppose we might as well.” Garak breathed as he moved his own hand down Julian’s back. The frigid air of the shuttle was all but forgotten.

53 “It’s Lonely Here Without You”

My Dear Garak,

It’s lonely here without you. Without everyone. I was lonely before Ezri left, to tell the truth, but it solidified how much I was using her to fill the void.

Nerys and I get drinks and reminisce about old times at Quark’s. It ends up making me more depressed somehow. I’ve been trying to spend more time with Jake as well; I can’t imagine the pain he’s going through. Kassidy is great for him, and I think her pregnancy gives him a nice distraction that makes him feel closer to his father, but it’s clear he’s hurting.

I’m not trying to burden you with my woes, you certainly have enough of your own as you rebuild. I’m just trying to say that you’re missed and if you ever have reason to visit, well, I’d be more than delighted to see you.

Miles actually was here last week for a few days. He said it was to help his replacement get used to this “Cardie Bastard” but I think he secretly missed DS9. We played darts and a few holoprograms but it actually didn’t feel like enough.

What I’m trying to say is that I miss you, Garak. I would even if everyone else was still here. I hardly go to the replimat anymore since it feels wrong to eat there without you. How pathetic is that? I’ve turned one of the most generic parts of the station into “our place.” I even reread The Never-Ending Sacrifice, I’ve been thinking about you so much. I still find it to be one of the most tedious things I’ve ever read, but I enjoyed imagining your criticisms of my thoughts.

I don’t know what I’m trying to say exactly. Please write back?

Always,

Julian Bashir

54 “I Can’t Stand The Thought of Losing You”

“I can’t stand the thought of losing you.” Julian smiled as he stroked Garak’s hair. “Now that we’re finally together, I don’t ever want to leave this bed.”

“Fear of losing you is what motivated this in the first place.” Garak smiled back. “When the Defiant went off to find the Founders… it seemed as if you wouldn’t come back at first.”

“But I did.” Julian reminded and then lay a soft kiss on Garak’s cheek. “And you were here to greet me.” Julian bit his lip. “And the Founders are willing to negotiate, so everything worked out.”

“You really think it’s going to be that easy?” Garak frowned. “I don’t trust those violet eyed tyrants and you shouldn’t either.”

“I never said I trusted them.” Julian protested. “I just don’t want a war and it seems like they don’t either.”

“And how much are you willing to sacrifice in order to prevent a war?” Garak pressed.

“Do we have to talk about this?” Julian whined. “We’re finally together and all you want to talk about is our impending doom?”

“I never said ‘impending doom’.” Garak countered. “But it’s interesting that you did.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Julian sighed. “But I do know, without a doubt, that we’ll face whatever it is together and I’m not going to leave your side.” They kissed after he made that promise. A promise Julian would have kept even after Garak lay their lifeless on the floor, if Commander Sisko hadn’t pulled him away.

When Julian woke up from the simulation, all he could think about was Garak.

#star trek ds9 #Garak/Bashir #garak x bashir #garashir #prompted writing #fanfic #fanfiction #fic