Chapter Text
Thanks for stopping by! If you want to view the update schedule or to read the disclaimers for the fic, they are included below. If you don't care, skip directly to Chapter 3 in the menu, and have fun! (Chapter 2 is some bonus art, but contains minor spoilers.)
INDEX:
#1# - Update Schedule
#2# - Notes
#3# - Disclaimers \ Content Warnings
Eight years after the Dominion War, Dr. Bashir--rather afflicted, unfortunately--is en route to Cardassia Prime. Meanwhile, Garak has re-established himself as a politician of note, and his methods may be a point of contention. Further still, Kira reflects on her role keeping the "family" together, Ezri ponders conventional Federation ethics, Miles ruminates on lessons hard-learned, Keiko is actually present, and the shadow of Enabran Tain looms over a world in recovery.
This fic features angst and some early suicidal ideation, but is not an "angsty" fic taken on the whole. People are getting through stuff.
Note: This fic is endgame Garak/Bashir essentially without qualification, no break-ups etc., but it DOES take a while to get there.
#1# - UPDATE SCHEDULE:
Watch user "kaelio" on Tumblr for the most up-to-date information and some artwork.
A list of chapter upload dates was here until I realized AO3 generates that automatically, also I've been doing it a while so the credibility of the schedule is a little better established.
#2# - RELATION TO CANON
- I have limited knowledge of beta canon material and the fic will likely run afoul of it in countless glaring ways.
- I read A Stitch in Time a few years ago, and will make periodic references to its content. It exists, in its format as a piece of written correspondence to Bashir, in this text. That doesn't mean Garak was telling the truth. Aaaand I fully intend to ignore any aspect of it that is personally inconvenient for me. It is absolutely NOT NECESSARY to have read it for this fic to make sense and remain coherent.
- And honestly, I'll change anything else I find personally inconvenient. However, my intention is to be roughly alpha-canon compliant. There will be references to other Star Trek series also, primarily TNG for obvious reasons. (As of Chapter 11, there are references to TOS, TNG, Voyager, and god help me there will be a TAS reference if it's the last thing I do! [As of Chapter 52, there is now a reference to TAS! We did it!] [As of Chapter 77, a genuinely robust TAS reference!])
#3# - DISCLAIMERS
- A CHARACTER EXPRESSING A POLITICAL OPINION SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TO MEAN I, THE AUTHOR, AGREE WITH OR AM INTENDING TO PROMOTE THAT OPINION. Characters have highly varied political opinions because I think that's accurate to their characterization and it's something I wanted to write about.
- Feel free to inform me of any technical missteps. I personally am not that invested in things like ships, travel times, and that particular dimension of Star Trek. If that's something you're into, and you have recommendations for me, please send them along and I'll integrate them as well as possible. Thanks!
- This fic will NOT contain pornographic content. If I did choose to write explicit content, it would be in a parallel upload so as to keep this fic accessible.
- There may be references to upsetting violent or sexual content; I can't make any assurances either way at this time. If this occurs, warnings will be available that will help you bypass it. I don't expect anything in this fic to warrant a higher rating than the primary material.
- Some persons have asked to use ideas presented in this fic in their own works. Go for it! You can use anything I have presented here for your own purposes, including characterizations for only-barely-alpha-canon persons (including Asha and Parmak). Same is true of plants and animals. A link or shout-out is always appreciated, but not mandatory.