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.
"Ahh, networking," Gerard gives a little nod, saying the word like it's a particularly difficult task. It is for him - he always flounders when he starts caring whether someone likes him, never sure what to do with himself. It's easier if he starts off not caring, then he can become familiar with someone before he starts wondering what he's supposed to do with his hands or what to say.
Gerard finishes off his tea, getting up to put the mug into the sink before returning to the kitchen island. He gives it a considering look before deciding to plant himself on Bashir's lap instead of the chair he previously occupied.
"Tim from Haven helped navigate the introductions and bring me up to speed on how business works." As opposed to the other Tim that was dressed as a pirate and chased him up a fire escape. He looks as if he's about to say something else, but then Gerard is moving towards him.
...and is in his lap. Bashir cocks his head to one side, pleased and a little surprised. He rests his hands on the other man's hips, to help steady him. "Well, hello."
Gerard welcomed the hands on his hips, even if they hadn't been just to steady him. He puts an arm around Bashir's shoulders, arguably to keep balance. You can't prove it's not.
"Hello," he replies with a grin. "Tim - the younger one, right?"
"That's the one." Even if he could prove it, there's no reason for him to argue against the practice. Bashir genuinely loves having the weight of someone else on his lap and he looks unfairly pleased with this state of affairs.
Gerard likes being pinned down by his partners as well as sitting in their lap, so - he's a bit relieved to see Bashir seems happy about him being there too.
"We can keep talking about networking and science if you'd like. I like listening to you talk about things you're passionate about," Gerard points out, perfectly innocent.
Bashir is too cautious about his strength to regularly risk pinning anyone, but he's been slowly making inroads. Crais likes being manhandled, and it's satisfying in its own way.
"There are other things I'm interested in." Or so sayeth the wise beings(?) behind the Sub and Dom Finder posts. "And I'd like to listen to you talk about what you like, too."
"I can talk about metal bands for a while if you'd like," Gerard offered with a small wry grin. "... Or about how I like being held down and being railed until I'm a crying wreck from it."
"Let's start with the second choice and then, if I get bored, we can graduate onto music, hmm?" Bashir smiles and presses down with his thumbs against Gerard's hips. It's not meant to hurt, but the push should be strong enough that he can feel it no matter how thick his scar tissue is.
Gerard's laugh was a breathless thing, edging off into a pleased sigh when Julian pressed down on his hip hard enough to feel it. How much Gerard had to argue with people that no really, go harder due to his stupid high tolerance for pain as well as inability to feel much through his scars... the idea of spending time with someone who at least knew how hard to push was appealing.
"Well, like I said - I overthink a lot, and I hate it. Being pushed to my limits or even past them so I can't think of anything at all except for what I'm feeling right then, it's wonderful," he explained, hand coming up to touch lightly at the back of Bashir's neck, to brush up against the short hairs at the base of his skull. "Of course, the parts that aren't scarred are very sensitive, but I like it to be too much. Anything that takes me out of my head.
"Too much is just enough, then?" Bashir leans his head forward, just far enough that he grants Gerard as much access to the back of his neck as he'd like.
"That sounds like something I'd like to see. I don't know that I'm, ah, that I'm the right person to get you there, but I'm happy to try, to talk about it, to watch, if that's what you like." He shifts in the chair, just to help keep Gerard settled over his lap and so that he can turn his head, just slightly and nip at his jawline.
Gerard continues to play with Julian's hair. It's short enough to not be able to do much with it, but Gerry still enjoys running his fingers through the thick inky black strands. He's jealous of the color, it's beautiful.
He lets out a pleased hum at the nip to his jaw, breath catching at the hint of teeth.
"I trust you," he says with a grin, "If it doesn't work out, oh well, but no point in being afraid to try?"
Julian makes a small, contented sound as his hair is played with. He looks up at Gerard and smiles bright and content. "Let's try then, shall we?"
"Will you tell me more about what you've done in the past and liked and what you'd prefer to avoid?" He leans in and there's another quick kiss that has just a hint of teeth to it. "And, of course, you can ask me anything you like. I want to be honest and fair, to do right by you and your trust in me."
"I've liked being tied up," which is funny in a way, because for here that's so vanilla. "Haven't tried breathplay, but I'm interested. I've liked being pinned in place while my Dominant found out just how many orgasms he could wring from me before I was crying from being so over-sensitive from it and had to beg him to stop... I liked how he was sweet and gentle with me after that, too."
How Eames made him promise that if he was doing anything painful with anyone else and didn't get aftercare from them, that he come right home and get it from Eames. It made Gerard's heart ache to think of that.
He took a bracing breath, tried to pull his mind away from that to not be a complete moodkill by failing into maudlin ennui.
"Spanking, enjoyed that, though I have to goad people into going hard enough for me to really feel it. I'm not into anything public beyond me sucking someone's dick, I don't think it's hard to understand why I don't like taking my clothes off around a lot of people."
Listening carefully, Julian focuses all his attention on Gerard. He smiles when he mentions that someone was gentle with him, and feels that's how it should be. Rationally, he can understand how some people might enjoy humiliation, but it's far from his own preferences.
"I've done the second two on your list and would be happy to try them again. I tend not to do much in public, and while I'm certainly not opposed to spanking or other impact play, it can be a difficult line for me to tread." With one hand still on his hip, he begins to stroke up and down Gerard's back. "While about as unattractive as can be, I should mention that I spent some length of time in a prison camp. So, there may be certain things that I will not do, or I may need to safeword out for my own health."
Gerard arches his back into the stroke along his spine, like a cat being petted, just enjoying the sensation of it. There's a line of tattoos along it that gives him the full sensation of touch there, and he's always found the act comforting. Probably because it only ever came from lovers. At Julian's confession of his own past injuries, Gerard brought both hands up to Julian's jaw and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth.
"Of course. Whatever you need, alright? I think it goes without saying that while I'm not opposed to temperature play I'm not a fan of bringing fire into it," he said with a wry grin. "Also... uh, you probably have a hard no for it anyway given you are a doctor, but medical roleplay is one of the fastest moodkillers I have."
He hadn't even realized it until the city threw it at him and it was like a bucket of ice water straight to the face.
"I like to keep my personal and professional life as separate as possible." Even in terms of posture and tone, there is a notable difference between the two. He smiles into the kiss and steals one (or two) of his own.
"Checking in with my partner is something I need, and in those cases, I default to stoplights unless you'd prefer something else."
Gerard has never thought a whole lot on the concept of safe words before he got here, 'stop' had always been good enough. That said what he does understand easily is making his partner comfortable, and he's getting used to the idea of them in general.
"That sounds just fine to me, though - go over what those are so I don't find out the hard way that space stoplights are different?" He joked, and another kiss just for luck sounded perfect. Gerard was particularly fond of kissing, and a thorough kiss had him melting into his partner with bliss.
Bashir is going to get through his proper, safety speech just as soon as he stops kissing Gerard. Honest. He will, he has plans here, but kissing is lovely and he hasn't done nearly enough of it lately. Nice, almost lazy touches, and always keeping them in as much bodily contact as possible.
"Green is good, everything is fine and lovely, you'd like more. Yellow or amber means to slow down, or that you're getting close to a point where you're uncomfortable. And red is a full stop. Back away. And other than for first aid reasons, I won't touch you without permission."
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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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Gerard finishes off his tea, getting up to put the mug into the sink before returning to the kitchen island. He gives it a considering look before deciding to plant himself on Bashir's lap instead of the chair he previously occupied.
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...and is in his lap. Bashir cocks his head to one side, pleased and a little surprised. He rests his hands on the other man's hips, to help steady him. "Well, hello."
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"Hello," he replies with a grin. "Tim - the younger one, right?"
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"I take it that we're switching topics, hmm?"
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"We can keep talking about networking and science if you'd like. I like listening to you talk about things you're passionate about," Gerard points out, perfectly innocent.
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"There are other things I'm interested in." Or so sayeth the wise beings(?) behind the Sub and Dom Finder posts. "And I'd like to listen to you talk about what you like, too."
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You know, options.
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"Well, like I said - I overthink a lot, and I hate it. Being pushed to my limits or even past them so I can't think of anything at all except for what I'm feeling right then, it's wonderful," he explained, hand coming up to touch lightly at the back of Bashir's neck, to brush up against the short hairs at the base of his skull. "Of course, the parts that aren't scarred are very sensitive, but I like it to be too much. Anything that takes me out of my head.
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"That sounds like something I'd like to see. I don't know that I'm, ah, that I'm the right person to get you there, but I'm happy to try, to talk about it, to watch, if that's what you like." He shifts in the chair, just to help keep Gerard settled over his lap and so that he can turn his head, just slightly and nip at his jawline.
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He lets out a pleased hum at the nip to his jaw, breath catching at the hint of teeth.
"I trust you," he says with a grin, "If it doesn't work out, oh well, but no point in being afraid to try?"
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"Will you tell me more about what you've done in the past and liked and what you'd prefer to avoid?" He leans in and there's another quick kiss that has just a hint of teeth to it. "And, of course, you can ask me anything you like. I want to be honest and fair, to do right by you and your trust in me."
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How Eames made him promise that if he was doing anything painful with anyone else and didn't get aftercare from them, that he come right home and get it from Eames. It made Gerard's heart ache to think of that.
He took a bracing breath, tried to pull his mind away from that to not be a complete moodkill by failing into maudlin ennui.
"Spanking, enjoyed that, though I have to goad people into going hard enough for me to really feel it. I'm not into anything public beyond me sucking someone's dick, I don't think it's hard to understand why I don't like taking my clothes off around a lot of people."
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"I've done the second two on your list and would be happy to try them again. I tend not to do much in public, and while I'm certainly not opposed to spanking or other impact play, it can be a difficult line for me to tread." With one hand still on his hip, he begins to stroke up and down Gerard's back. "While about as unattractive as can be, I should mention that I spent some length of time in a prison camp. So, there may be certain things that I will not do, or I may need to safeword out for my own health."
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"Of course. Whatever you need, alright? I think it goes without saying that while I'm not opposed to temperature play I'm not a fan of bringing fire into it," he said with a wry grin. "Also... uh, you probably have a hard no for it anyway given you are a doctor, but medical roleplay is one of the fastest moodkillers I have."
He hadn't even realized it until the city threw it at him and it was like a bucket of ice water straight to the face.
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"Checking in with my partner is something I need, and in those cases, I default to stoplights unless you'd prefer something else."
...maybe one more kiss. Just for luck.
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"That sounds just fine to me, though - go over what those are so I don't find out the hard way that space stoplights are different?" He joked, and another kiss just for luck sounded perfect. Gerard was particularly fond of kissing, and a thorough kiss had him melting into his partner with bliss.
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"Green is good, everything is fine and lovely, you'd like more. Yellow or amber means to slow down, or that you're getting close to a point where you're uncomfortable. And red is a full stop. Back away. And other than for first aid reasons, I won't touch you without permission."
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