"Then let's get started, hmm? I brought along some supplies and I can show you how to use them." Bashir gently squeezes Gerard's elbow before putting away his tricorder and taking two things out of his bag - a tube and a box.
"The first thing we're going to do is settle you into a routine." He picks up the tube, uncaps it and squeezes some of a clear, cool gel into one hand. Gesturing towards Gerard to pass him back his arm, he smooths the gel on, working it into the spots where the scarring is thickest. "This is a silicone-based product that you can put on once a day, usually in the morning, after you shower. What I'm trying to do here is 'break up' the tightest parts of the scar, because those tend towards being the most discoloured."
Gerard hadn't expected Julian to show up with an actual action plan to start right now, just a consultation and maybe an 'I'll see what I can do', and the way his eyes widen a bit shows how surprised he is by having something to try right now. He holds out an arm to Julian when gestured to do so, watching carefully to see of there's any kind of special technique to rubbing it in or of it's just like lotion.
"How much of it do you have? I don't exactly have a small area to cover," he comments, though he's already mentally prioritizing what to try for first and what to leave for later.
It works pretty much like lotion, but the way he works it in is more reminiscent of a massage than anything else. Yes, they want the goo to act as a barrier and trick the scarring into thinking it's just regular skin again, but they also need to break up the old, collagen fibres. "Right now, one bottle, but it's mostly made from silicon and, ah, I have an in with a company that manufactures a lot of silicon-based material."
"I'd say that it's a good idea to pick a place on your body, and just start with one general area. That way you'll be able to know if this is working - magic scarring may be different." He rubs in the last of the gel and then opens the box. "These are silicon sheets. They're thin and if you wash them after wearing, you can put them on for up to two weeks per sheet. They're best when you're not planning to move around for a while."
"In theory, you should see a change in two weeks."
The 'silicon-based materials' comment gets a laugh and a small head shake from him. Alright, that sounds reasonable. It isn't like Duplicity has a shortage of that kind of thing, and it makes him feel a little better about potentially needing so much.
"- Two weeks? Seriously? That fast?"
Bashir night be the one making comments about 'magic', but that sounds pretty magic as far as Gerard is concerned.
"Ideally, some change within that time, yes. Not a complete change, but if it's going to work, you should start to see something." He slips the gel sheet back into the box, closes it up and leaves it for Gerard. "And you don't owe me anything. This is what I do."
Fully automated luxury space communism has left an impact on Bashir's views of what is and isn't owed. "When you need more supplies, let me know. I'm still working with the factory to get a formula for the sheets that's a little better than the current one, but it's likely going to be hot pink or leopard print."
It is difficult to name the precise emotion that's crossing Gerard's face, and honestly even he couldn't say what it is. The possibility, the generosity, they're completely overwhelming to him right now and he doesn't know what to do with himself about it. He brings a hand up to rub his face before restlessly carding his fingers through his hair, staring down at the box and the tube Julian has just given to him like it isn't something Gerard has spent half a year getting his hopes up over only to have them crash back down again.
It might not work this time. It probably won't work this time. He'll keep telling himself that to try to keep from hurting again until he can see a change. It's still the trying though - and if it does work, hot pink or leopard print - or hot pink leopard print! - is a small aesthetic price to pay for them. He would still cover himself neck to foot with them if they work and happily so.
"... thank you," is all he manages at first when he does find his words again, voice thick with emotion and near tears. He pulls his shirt back on quickly, feeling overwhelmingly vulnerable and needing some kind of armor against that even if it's just a thin layer of cotton.
"You're very welcome. And, should anything happen to me, I've also written out instructions and left them in the box." People disappear, Bashir knows that it's a risk, and he's made sure to plan ahead. "It's also for your reference, so you know what it all is and why it's meant to work."
As Gerard gets himself dressed and works through his emotions, Bashir moves to give him some space. He returns to his seat and his tea, happy to let the moment rest for as long as it needs.
Gerard gives a stiff nod at Julian's instructions - that had been the problem the last few times, people had been willing to help and all of them had vanished before anything could come of it.
He worries what this will mean for Julian. He feels cursed this way, sometimes.
It takes him a few minutes to compose himself, sipping his tea, looking at the box and wondering at what the future would hold. If only Eames were here to see the progress.
He had to move the subject on before he started blubbering. Fuck.
Even if Julian does vanish into the ether, at least Gerard will have supplies and instructions on how to use them. It might not be much, but he'll have a prescription and plan of care written down that can be shown to other doctors.
The tea is good and there's no need to hurry; Julian is content to let Gerard have as long as he needs to compose himself. Then comes the other question they'd planned to talk about. "Ah, apparently."
"Crais has made a couple of comments about it, I tended to disagree, but those charming advertisements seem to have taken his side in the matter." Putting the mug down on the counter in front of him, he moves it a quarter turn and then picks it back up. "From a theoretical perspective, I've knowledge. And from a medical perspective, I've had to patch up my share of play gone awry. But, practical? I don't know."
"They do find the exact things we're insecure about that way," Gerard says with a wince about the Dom/Sub finders. The only bright-ish spot is almost everyone gets hit by them, so you know you aren't alone in suffering. He watches Julian fuss with his mug, on that note, feeling slightly better to no longer be the only one a little shy and vulnerable, here.
"I've definitely done far more kinky shit here than I ever did back home. Not that really, not yet, uh. But. I have a stupid high pain tolerance along with the scar tissue areas being a little numb, so... I guess I've always been kind of interested?"
"I've certainly had more sex here then I'd bothered with in a long time." Just faintly, up over his cheekbones and at the base of his throat, there's just a hint of a blush. "I'm, hmm, I'm still not used to talking about my sex life, not quite so frankly."
"Previously, I've tended towards more of an interest in what my partner prefers -- which I still very much like, of course -- but, I'm still working out what I like." Help, Gerard. He's not too sure what he wants to say here, and it's tripping him up. "And, my previous partners have tended towards the less kinky, by most human standards, that is."
"Oh, my previous Dominant was all over that whole 'it's about what you like not what I like' - which was fine except I ended up with a complex for like a month worried he was only doing things because I enjoyed them before I got him to talk about what he liked," Gerard said with a small grin. Bashir blushing is cute, alright, he has to tease a little.
"That's part of why I'm trying to explore this, so I can talk about what I like." Bashir wrinkles up his nose and mulls it over. He's thought about this before, but he's still not confident with his answers. Not enough data. "I have choked my partner. Or rather, participated in some careful breathplay. I, ah, I like being able to push, to be safe, but to ..."
To work with his partner to find their limits and brush up against them? Something like that.
"I've also helped a partner find out how many times they can reach orgasm in an afternoon, to evening." He's not naming names, but given that he's said Crais is the one who calls him a sadist, that might be an easy guess. "Beyond that, I generally enjoy performing oral sex. Which doesn't really factor into this, I suppose."
"Back home I used to be able to embarrass people by talking about how much I loved sucking dick, now it's just common place," Gerard agreed. Still, he did know of men back home who pointedly weren't into doing that, so it was still good to know? Still, he thought over what Bashir told him about what he enjoyed, and was glad that the man had found some things at least.
"So, you're curious, and it comes out even in bed, huh? I guess doing that kind of shit with a doctor is as safe as you can get with it."
"I've only ever done it once on a man, and it was here. I asked someone if they'd allow me, and I glad to say he agreed and I really quite enjoyed it." Time to sip that tea and be somewhat relieved that he's not alone in his appreciation of a nice cock.
"Sex is enjoyable. I don't often or regularly reach orgasm, but it's not just about that. Not for me, at any rate." Julian doesn't like being unsure when he speaks, so he's choosing his words carefully here. "I live in my head. I know that, and I've been told that I ought to, that because of that, I'm 'meant' to be inclined to give up control to others, but I think that's nonsense. For me, at any rate."
Gerard once more misses Eames, so badly He's pretty sure he and Julian would have quite a lot to talk about, they seem to have a lot of the same views on these things and Gerard wishes he could express them with even half the clarity that Eames did. Resting his chin on his palm, he watches Bashir over the edge of his own mug.
"Nah - that's only if you don't like it there. I overthink a lot, too - and I hate it. Giving up control and getting out of my own thoughts is a bloody blessing," before Duplicity, Gerard considered himself a pretty even middle-of-the-road switch, and while he can flip it if he needs to he's found that he's quite a bit more submissive than he ever realized. It's a little embarrassing to admit most of the time, but since they're sharing about personal journeys and all...
"I wasn't going to call you out on clearly seeming to enjoy being in control, but..."
"But I do." Julian shrugs, a little sheepish, but slowly coming around to accepting how he enjoys it. Even when it wasn't something overly sexual, like when he's asked Alfred to read to him, it felt good. It was surprisingly soothing. "And, I like that there's an expectation or at least room to have very frank, very clear discussion beforehand."
"I used to see a woman, Leeta, and that was what I really liked about our relationship. She made sense." He smiles, thinking back to the time they had together and it was good. "Before being a dabo girl, she used to be a sex worker, and I learned a lot from her."
Er, he means about how to negotiate consent, not anything particularly salacious.
And there's that blush again. This time, a little deeper, but there's a glint to his eye that suggests while he might be a little embarrassed, he has no problem talking about the subject.
"You know full well that's not what I meant, but if you must know, she gave me some advice about a few other species." If you're having cross-species sex, you need clear communication and to do your research. "For her own, men have a series of penile ridges that are much appreciated."
Gerard gives a delighted laugh as Julian rises to the occasion, so to speak.
"Hell, so many humans or 'looks exactly like a human most of the time' here - you must be downright bored," he points out. Not that nonhuman sex is a thing in Gerard's world - there are things that aren't human, but sex isn't on the docket for them. Generally speaking, they're only interested in fear or murder.
"It's not boring, it's just unusual." Bashir misses some of the variety of Starfleet and the wormhole, but he's been keeping himself entertained by trying to understand fundamental rules of magic. Not as much luck there as he'd like, but he has time.
"And it does make being a doctor a little easier. I'm mostly working with the non-humans at the hospital, but that there are fewer of them and many are similar enough to humans that there's fewer concerns about biological incompatibility." After he says it, he realizes that it might not be a common enough topic to instantly make sense. "Suffice to say, some species are violently allergic to parts of other species."
While Gerard hadn't considered that possibility with sentient species before, it makes sense. People were allergic to animals all the time, and some animals to other animals - and all of them came from the same planet. Why wouldn't some aliens produce something similar enough to animal dander to set off a cat allergy, or human skin cells potentially send something into anaphylactic shock if breathed in?
"I'd hate to be the poor bastard that has to find a way to meet quota and breaks out into a rash if he gets skin contact with human or human-like sweat," Gerard says with a grimace at that. Okay, maybe there's something to the mostly humans and near humans being brought in, if only for physical compatibility reasons.
"And issues other than allergies. Aenar are highly acidic, Elaysians are so full of tannins that - have you ever had an unripe persimmon? It's rather like that, or so I've heard."
"There are ways around it, but they all take time and often equipment I don't have here. I've been angling to try and get better access to something that would allow me to run genetic compatibility studies - there are more than enough mixed-species couples here that might want to have children." At least among the local people there are. "As it stands, there's too much uncertainty for my liking."
Funny how a conversation that was supposed to be about some potential kink negotiation had become listening to Bashir talk about the science of biological compatibility. Though he would hardly call himself 'science minded', Gerard did have a keen curiosity and a love of learning, so he genuinely was interested in hearing Bashir's thoughts on something he cared about.
"Can anyone make the equipment you need? There's plenty of engineer types here."
"Part of the problem is the tolerances needed. The machining work is quite precise and, frankly, that's the hardest part. If I was in my own time, I could cobble something together but here? Unlikely." He wraps his hands around his mug. "That doesn't mean it's impossible, just that it's going to take time."
"...and a good working relationship with people who are familiar with making technology to my specifications." Remember that he's making space dildos? There's a reason for it and it's not just for warm lube fountains and hyposprays.
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"The first thing we're going to do is settle you into a routine." He picks up the tube, uncaps it and squeezes some of a clear, cool gel into one hand. Gesturing towards Gerard to pass him back his arm, he smooths the gel on, working it into the spots where the scarring is thickest. "This is a silicone-based product that you can put on once a day, usually in the morning, after you shower. What I'm trying to do here is 'break up' the tightest parts of the scar, because those tend towards being the most discoloured."
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"How much of it do you have? I don't exactly have a small area to cover," he comments, though he's already mentally prioritizing what to try for first and what to leave for later.
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"I'd say that it's a good idea to pick a place on your body, and just start with one general area. That way you'll be able to know if this is working - magic scarring may be different." He rubs in the last of the gel and then opens the box. "These are silicon sheets. They're thin and if you wash them after wearing, you can put them on for up to two weeks per sheet. They're best when you're not planning to move around for a while."
"In theory, you should see a change in two weeks."
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"- Two weeks? Seriously? That fast?"
Bashir night be the one making comments about 'magic', but that sounds pretty magic as far as Gerard is concerned.
"What do I owe you for this?"
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Fully automated luxury space communism has left an impact on Bashir's views of what is and isn't owed. "When you need more supplies, let me know. I'm still working with the factory to get a formula for the sheets that's a little better than the current one, but it's likely going to be hot pink or leopard print."
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It might not work this time. It probably won't work this time. He'll keep telling himself that to try to keep from hurting again until he can see a change. It's still the trying though - and if it does work, hot pink or leopard print - or hot pink leopard print! - is a small aesthetic price to pay for them. He would still cover himself neck to foot with them if they work and happily so.
"... thank you," is all he manages at first when he does find his words again, voice thick with emotion and near tears. He pulls his shirt back on quickly, feeling overwhelmingly vulnerable and needing some kind of armor against that even if it's just a thin layer of cotton.
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As Gerard gets himself dressed and works through his emotions, Bashir moves to give him some space. He returns to his seat and his tea, happy to let the moment rest for as long as it needs.
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He worries what this will mean for Julian. He feels cursed this way, sometimes.
It takes him a few minutes to compose himself, sipping his tea, looking at the box and wondering at what the future would hold. If only Eames were here to see the progress.
He had to move the subject on before he started blubbering. Fuck.
"So, sadism, right?"
That would have to do.
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The tea is good and there's no need to hurry; Julian is content to let Gerard have as long as he needs to compose himself. Then comes the other question they'd planned to talk about. "Ah, apparently."
"Crais has made a couple of comments about it, I tended to disagree, but those charming advertisements seem to have taken his side in the matter." Putting the mug down on the counter in front of him, he moves it a quarter turn and then picks it back up. "From a theoretical perspective, I've knowledge. And from a medical perspective, I've had to patch up my share of play gone awry. But, practical? I don't know."
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"I've definitely done far more kinky shit here than I ever did back home. Not that really, not yet, uh. But. I have a stupid high pain tolerance along with the scar tissue areas being a little numb, so... I guess I've always been kind of interested?"
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"Previously, I've tended towards more of an interest in what my partner prefers -- which I still very much like, of course -- but, I'm still working out what I like." Help, Gerard. He's not too sure what he wants to say here, and it's tripping him up. "And, my previous partners have tended towards the less kinky, by most human standards, that is."
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"What have you done that you enjoyed?"
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To work with his partner to find their limits and brush up against them? Something like that.
"I've also helped a partner find out how many times they can reach orgasm in an afternoon, to evening." He's not naming names, but given that he's said Crais is the one who calls him a sadist, that might be an easy guess. "Beyond that, I generally enjoy performing oral sex. Which doesn't really factor into this, I suppose."
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"So, you're curious, and it comes out even in bed, huh? I guess doing that kind of shit with a doctor is as safe as you can get with it."
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"Sex is enjoyable. I don't often or regularly reach orgasm, but it's not just about that. Not for me, at any rate." Julian doesn't like being unsure when he speaks, so he's choosing his words carefully here. "I live in my head. I know that, and I've been told that I ought to, that because of that, I'm 'meant' to be inclined to give up control to others, but I think that's nonsense. For me, at any rate."
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"Nah - that's only if you don't like it there. I overthink a lot, too - and I hate it. Giving up control and getting out of my own thoughts is a bloody blessing," before Duplicity, Gerard considered himself a pretty even middle-of-the-road switch, and while he can flip it if he needs to he's found that he's quite a bit more submissive than he ever realized. It's a little embarrassing to admit most of the time, but since they're sharing about personal journeys and all...
"I wasn't going to call you out on clearly seeming to enjoy being in control, but..."
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"I used to see a woman, Leeta, and that was what I really liked about our relationship. She made sense." He smiles, thinking back to the time they had together and it was good. "Before being a dabo girl, she used to be a sex worker, and I learned a lot from her."
Er, he means about how to negotiate consent, not anything particularly salacious.
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"Oh, did you? I thought you said you were new to sucking cock, or was that only in practice?" He teases.
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"You know full well that's not what I meant, but if you must know, she gave me some advice about a few other species." If you're having cross-species sex, you need clear communication and to do your research. "For her own, men have a series of penile ridges that are much appreciated."
Yes, that's actually canon.
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"Hell, so many humans or 'looks exactly like a human most of the time' here - you must be downright bored," he points out. Not that nonhuman sex is a thing in Gerard's world - there are things that aren't human, but sex isn't on the docket for them. Generally speaking, they're only interested in fear or murder.
Not that he hasn't been curious.
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"And it does make being a doctor a little easier. I'm mostly working with the non-humans at the hospital, but that there are fewer of them and many are similar enough to humans that there's fewer concerns about biological incompatibility." After he says it, he realizes that it might not be a common enough topic to instantly make sense. "Suffice to say, some species are violently allergic to parts of other species."
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"I'd hate to be the poor bastard that has to find a way to meet quota and breaks out into a rash if he gets skin contact with human or human-like sweat," Gerard says with a grimace at that. Okay, maybe there's something to the mostly humans and near humans being brought in, if only for physical compatibility reasons.
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"There are ways around it, but they all take time and often equipment I don't have here. I've been angling to try and get better access to something that would allow me to run genetic compatibility studies - there are more than enough mixed-species couples here that might want to have children." At least among the local people there are. "As it stands, there's too much uncertainty for my liking."
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"Can anyone make the equipment you need? There's plenty of engineer types here."
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"...and a good working relationship with people who are familiar with making technology to my specifications." Remember that he's making space dildos? There's a reason for it and it's not just for warm lube fountains and hyposprays.
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