Confession #71

"Not trying to sound like a Garashir conspiracy theorist, but why do pairings like Garak/Ziyal and Bashir/Ezri seem like they were only created to discourage slash shipping?"

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Jake Sisko/Tora Ziyal, Benjamin Sisko & Jake Sisko, Jake Sisko & Kasidy Yates, Jadzia Dax & Jake Sisko, Julian Bashir & Jake Sisko, Nog & Jake Sisko, Worf & Jake Sisko, Kira Nerys & Jake Sisko, Elim Garak & Jake Sisko, Ezri Dax & Jake Sisko Additional Tags: Canon character deaths, Tragedy, Emotional Hurt/Comfort Summary:

It’s one thing to imagine Jake and Ziyal had gotten together. It’s another to consider just what that could mean if her fate didn’t change.

ezri and ziyal based on this fic i found yesterday :)

ezri/ziyal doesnt get enough love so i guess I'll just do it myself

Against All Odds

Tora Ziyal & Ezri Dax, DS9

For @sapphicstartrek‘s Femslash Week

Ezri/Ziyal - Going to a festival

Happy Holidays @cancennau

Get ready for some unpopular opinions here

#replimatdates

requested by anon

DS9 canon that I refuse to accept

...and will not acknowledge in any future fanfiction I may write:

1.  Anything remotely resembling reciprocation of Ziyal’s romantic attraction to Garak. She has an inappropriate crush; that’s it.

2.  Ziyal’s death. Just... fuck that. I want more of Kira surrogate-parenting her and teaching her life skills like shooting things and beating people up; I want Kira and Garak being uneasy, competitive co-parents but grudgingly bonding over their concern for her, pride in her artistic talent, interest in seeing her learn how to kill people, and of course their loathing for Dukat. I want Ziyal to get over Garak and get into a relationship with Jake, because they’re both sensitive artistic souls with dead mothers and fathers in high places whom they love but in whose footsteps they do not want to follow.

3.  Bashir and Garak ‘drifting apart’ or however you want to explain the fact that they don’t talk to each other for most of seasons 6 and 7. I started reading A Stitch and Time and Andrew Robinson actually does try to explain it by means of (Watsonian) character development, whereas the only explanation I will countenance is the Doylist explanation that the writers and producers were desperately trying to no-homo the gay ship they accidentally wrote. Fuck that noise. As far as I’m concerned, Garashir is canon, and may have unfolded in something like the way I described in this post. Also, Bashir definitely came with Garak to Cardassia Prime after the war to help rebuild. As someone commented on the linked post, it’s out of character for him NOT to go down there and help when there’s a massive humanitarian crisis.

4.  Julian x Ezri. Bad for so many reasons: it felt rushed and forced; they don’t even interact that much, let alone have chemistry; it felt like she was being treated as Jadzia’s leftovers, or a consolation prize for not getting with Jadzia; and ultimately, it was the capstone on a whole campaign of trying to retroactively no-homo the undeniably homo relationship between Bashir and Garak. Plus, Ezri has as much lesbian energy as Kira. You know what? Maybe Ezri should get with Kira after Odo goes back to his home planet.

5.  The whole subplot with the Pagh-wraiths, unless it’s made a lot more comprehensible as sci fi rather than weird mystical/religious fantasy.

6.  Pursuant to 2 and 5: I don’t like the direction they took Dukat’s character in. I liked when he was a little bit morally ambiguous rather than just cartoonishly, world-endingly evil.

If Ziyal doesn’t die, he wouldn’t have a psychotic break. So... what happens instead? One option: Damar still shoots Ziyal, but the good guys arrive quickly enough that Bashir manages to save her (though it’s a serious enough injury that she probably needs rehab for a fair amount of time... which creates opportunities for sweet bonding with Jake). Dukat stays on DS9 when the Dominion evacuates because he thinks Ziyal is going to die, and he’s teetering on the edge of sanity until he finds out that she’ll live.

Things could go in various directions after that. He might stay a prisoner of the Federation and actually stand trial for his crimes during the occupation and the Dominion War; that could provide an opportunity to really examine his role, how much agency he really had, ‘the banality of evil.’ DS9 did Casablanca; this would be their opportunity to do Eichmann in Jerusalem.

Or he might still escape after crashing on a planet with Sisko, but he wouldn’t be hearing voices. Then what? He could still get involved with the ‘Pagh-wraiths,’ but it would be kept clear that they’re wormhole aliens who were exiled for some reason. Why were they exiled? What do they want? It should be something comprehensible, instead of the bizarre good vs. evil “we want to destroy the Celestial Temple and/or Bajor for no good reason” thing. Maybe they want to get more involved in the lives of linear creatures than the ‘Prophets’ do; maybe they do ‘possess’ linear creatures more often to find out what it’s like to be them (though apparently the Prophets weren’t above doing that in the case of Sarah Sisko). Maybe they’re especially interested in the Changelings/Founders, whose multi-perspectival existence is more like theirs than that of most solids/mono-forms. Maybe they want to help the Dominion, or emulate or rival them.

I may add to this list after I finish A Stitch in Time. Obviously a lot of the post-canon events would be different if Bashir is also there, and there wouldn’t be the stuff explaining the distance between Garak and Bashir in season 6 if they’re not only not distant, but publicly a couple (which by that point they should be).

Ok, ok, ok, ok. I am way too focus on this but I really really wanted to list out every Star Trek ship (from TNG, DS9, and VOY cause those are the ones I have seen most of) I could think of and give my opinion on it. Why? Because I don’t wanna do my math test. Lets go down the spiral of hyperfixation and little impulse control. (FYI, this became a long ass post, so read through if you want or don’t lol)

Let’s start from the beginning. 

The Next Generation: (aka gays that all share one smart brain cell) 

Picard x Crusher: Honestly, I like their chemistry, and if it became canon I would be alright with that. No real strong feelings on this ship.

Picard x Q: The epitome of enemies to lovers slow burn in 300k words. The sexual tension is too much to handle, I absolutely adore these two. They probably fucked once and Picard regrets it immeasurably. 

Picard x Riker: Nah, not for me. But you do you dudes.

Riker x Troi: Again, I quite like these two together. Two Bi Icons getting together, I’m here for it. 

Riker x Worf: Eh, Worf isn’t really a fav of mine so that makes me bias against this ship. It cool tho.

Riker x Crusher: *war flashbacks to when Crusher had sex with a Trill worm that was inside currently inside Riker’s body* Haha, fuck no. 

Troi x Crusher: Two queens getting together and tearing down the patriarchy, I stan.

Troi x Tasha: I tend to block out season one of TNG from my mind, but honestly, I like the vibe.

Data x Geordi: My OTP for this show. It should have happened. Rick Berman is a coward. They are just so sweet and they understand each other like no one else. A few of their scenes in this show made me cry. I ship

Data x Tasha: Nah, I don’t vibe. Would have been better as mlm and wlw solidarity. 

Worf x Troi: They had a few cute scenes together in the later seasons, I don’t hate neither super enjoy.

Deep Space Nine: (aka no straights in space)

Sisko x Kasidy: I liked them better in the early seasons. I think the writers low-key forgot about Kasidy until she was convenient plot device. 

Kira x Odo: I preferred it in the first few seasons where Odo had a little crush on Kira and it was kinda adorable. But after their relationship had become canon in the later seasons I was kinda disappointed.

Kira x Jadzia: I am here for this ship, two powerful women ready to take on the world together but also have their own insecurities that come up as the situation arises. Immaculate, I want it.

Dukat x Kira: Fuck no, they are enemies. Idk why the DS9 writers thought it would be a great idea to pair THESE two together. But thank god for Nana Visitor for being such a queen. 

Odo x Quark: Again, another amazing enemies to lovers ship. I love seeing those two on screen together, their chemistry is just *chef’s kiss*.

Miles x Keiko: Miles is like, the token heterosexual on this show. He loves his wife, his kids, and his job.

Bashir x Garak: Fuck yeah, OTP of this show for me gang. It was so heavily implied and it would have been so cool to see, especially in the 90s. But oh well, at least we got the actors writing and performing fanfiction for us.

Bashir x Jadzia: Yeah no, I wouldn’t ship them romantically. And the writers definetly did not favors to Bashir when they make his crush on her a bit creepy in the early seasons. But would be a BROTP for me.

Bashir x Ezri: Hnng, I don’t like. It just feels like Bashir is trying to date the Jadzia he never had and I don’t like it.

Jadzia x Worf: It’s fine, I guess. I don’t really see the chemistry.

Ezri x Jake: I mean, it’s better than Ezri x Bashir, but like, Dax has known Jake over 3 lifetimes and watched him grow up soooo, nah.

Jake x Ziyal: I am a fan. I think these two would have been really cool together especially since they are both artistic people with Jake’s writing and Ziyal’s painting. They could have done some really cool stuff together. Plus, it would make some interesting family reunion moments between Dukat and Sisko hehe.

Jake x Nog: Again, I am a fan. Tol and smol dynamics are what I am here for.

Garak x Ziyal: No

Voyager: (aka gays lost in space)

Janeway x Chakotay: The of the few straight ships I would die for. I am quite disappointed that nothing ever formed between the two because it would have been really cute and oh my god the tension the writers made between the two. I feel baited for this ship, AND IT’S A STRAIGHT SHIP! I’m sorry I have feelings about this. 

Janeway x Seven: Not a top ship of mine but I definitely see the chemistry here and I support it. 

Janeway x Paris: I only bring this up because in like season 1 or 2 they have axolotl children together because the writers were probably high as a kite when they came up with this idea for an episode. But a hard pass. 

Janeway x Coffee: I’m pretty sure this is already canon and I stan. 

Chakotay x Seven: I haven’t completely finished Voyager yet but I heard that this is the endgame for the two and WTF. I don’t see or understand it and it makes me upset, like really upset.

Chakotay x B’elanna: I’m just glad this wasn’t canon. I more just bring it up because I remembered B’elanna had a crush on Chakotay in the early seasons before Tom. And like, I get it because if Chakotay was my commanding officer I’d probably crush too girl. 

B’elanna x Paris: It’s a canon ship that I honestly kinda like. There are some moments where I’m like “oh no” and other where I’m like “YES”. But overall, I enjoy it. I just feel like there is something missing.

Paris x Kim: Fuck yea, I love these two together. Two bros turned lovers I am fucking here for it my dudes. But again, I feel like there is something else missing here.

B’elanna x Paris x Kim: Oh hell yea, I found what was missing. This is my personal OTP of Voyager. In my head I think Kim and B’elanna are just really close friends who do engineering things together. While Paris is in the corner, loving them both, but also setting the Delta Flyer on fire for the third time this week. I haven’t really looked into the Voyager tag (because spoilers) so idk if this is a popular ship. But I think they all have some really fun chemistry and I enjoy it. 

Paris x Delta Flyer: This just came to my head 20 seconds ago as I wrote the last one but I’m pretty sure this one is already canon. 

Kim x Seven: Nah

Seven x The Doctor: Hmm, do I dislike it as much as I do Seven x Chakotay? No, I do not. But do I like it that much? No, no I do not. I ship them as friends.

Tuvok x Nelix: No, not really. Opposites attract is not really my cup of tea all the time.

Nelix x Kes: Oh damn, I almost forgot about Kes. I know this is canon but where did this come from. The writers NEVER EXPLAIN IT! And then they never explain why the later broke up. I just... I just don’t understand. 

I doubt I have covered every ship, these were just the ones that came to me while writing this. Also, these are just my personal opinions please don’t come for my knees.

television/webseries/podcasts/films/etc:  trek     - star trek tos: (aes)         s’chn t’gai spock (aes)         james t. kirk (aes)         leonard ‘bones’ mccoy (aes)         nyota uhura (aes)         montgomery ‘scotty’ scott (aes)         christine chapel (aes)         hikaru sulu (aes)         pavel chekov (aes)         number one         my tos art     - star trek tng: (aes)         jean-luc picard (aes)         q         deanna troi (aes)         worf rozhenko         data soong (aes)         geordi la forge         beverly crusher (aes)         wesley crusher         tasha yar         miles o'brien         keiko o'brien         lwaxana troi         my tng art     - star trek aos: (aes)         jim kirk (aes)         s’chn t’gai spock (aes)         leonard ‘bones’ mccoy         nyota uhura (aes)         cadet red         my aos art     - star trek tas: (aes)     - star trek ds9: (aes)         julian bashir (aes)         elim garak (aes)         odo’ital (aes)         kira nerys (aes)         jadzia dax (aes)         worf (aes)         benjamin sisko (aes)         jake sisko (aes)         nog (aes)         ezri dax (aes)         quark (aes)         dukat (aes)         miles o'brien (aes)         rom (aes)         vic fontaine (aes)         martok         tora ziyal (aes)         kassidy yates         cardassia         my ds9 art     - star trek voy: (aes)         kathryn janeway (aes)         tuvok (aes)         neelix         harry kim         tom paris (aes)         b'elanna torres (aes)         seven (aes)         the emh (aes)         my voy art     - star trek ent: (aes)         jonathan archer (aes)         charles ‘trip’ tucker (aes)         t'pol (aes)         lorian tucker         travis mayweather (aes)         phlox (aes)         hoshi sato (aes)         malcolm reed (aes)         major hayes         my ent art     - star trek ren:         my ren art     - star trek dis: (aes)     - star trek pic: (aes)         jean-luc picard         elnor         my pic art     - star trek snw: (aes)         christopher ‘chris’ pike         s’chn t’gai spock         hemmer         my snw art     - short treks     - mirrorverse     - trek art  quantum leap     - nbc’s quantum leap: (aes)         sam beckett (aes)         albert ‘al’ calavicci (aes)         verbena beeks         tina martinez         irving ‘gooshie’ gushman         ziggy         my ql art - midnight diner - the sopranos (aes)         carmela soprano         christopher moltisanti         silvio dante - x files: (aes)         fox mulder (aes)         dana scully (aes) - twin peaks: (aes)         dale cooper (aes)         laura palmer         audrey horne         lucy moran         andy brennan (aes)         albert rosenfield (aes)         my tp art - columbo: (aes) - what’s my line? - whose line is it anyway? - various cooking shows:        anthony bourdain (aes) - human highway: (aes) - blue velvet: (aes) - jurassic park - the fall - across the universe:         jude         lucy - big eden - twilight zone - killing eve - fleabag - pushing daisies - james bond

11, 12, and 16 if ya haven't done them already?

Send me a number and I’ll tell you my:

11. Top 5 female characters

is it cheating if I put Ezri Dax here again because let’s be real, that’s my brand

I mean I do feel like I should put Tali and Jessica here again but I should also shake things up a little so, Sombra from Overwatch

Sara Lance from Legends of Tomorrow

Korra from Legend of Korra

Elisa from Gargoyles

12. Top 5 LGBTQ+ characters 

Korra and Asami from Legend of Korra, yes they get top spot together

Callie from Grey’s Anatomy because while that show is terrible I loved her character so so much

Sara Lance from Legends of Tomorrow

Jadzia Dax from Star Trek DS9

Vetra Nyx from Mass Effect Andromeda

16. Top 5 purest characters 

Tora Ziyal from DS9 did no wrong and that’s just facts

Finn from Star Wars who is the best

Yuna from Final Fantasy X

Jenni Ognats from Legion of Superheroes

Mike from Deception which I deserved more of

people out here shipping ezri and ziyal... biggest brain in history... i love you