Julian and Keiko headcanons because Keiko gets sidelined so much and deserves the world and I wish we got to see them interact more
when they get stumped on their respective projects, they'll do late night work sessions together and bounce their research off each other to see if the other can help them figure out where the problem is. they'll do this in person when theyre both on the station, but also over call if one of them is away, and after the O'Briens move back to Earth
they edit each other's papers (Keiko marvels at Julian's ability to spell out complex chemical compounds with his eyes closed, and somehow use 'their' instead of 'there') (in his defense he wrote that bit at 4 in the morning after going 2 straight days without sleep) (she threatens to sedate him)
Julian sometimes brings back plants from planets they explore in the Gamma Quadrant and gives them to Keiko. sometimes he does it because the plant has medicinal properties and the two of them can do a joint research project, but most of the time he does it just to give her a nice gift
when Miles goes away for particularly dangerous missions, Julian will keep Keiko company and help keep her mind off of it. sometimes she has trouble sleeping because shes so worried, so he'll hang around and start rambling on about whatever he's currently working on until she falls asleep. he jokes he's boring her to sleep, but it actually means a lot to her
they have a weekly tea date. this is their prime gossip time. sometimes Jadzia is invited
when Keiko's mad at Miles she'll rant to Julian about it. Julian learned very quickly that this is not a time where advice is wanted, so he sits back and lets her get it all off her chest, because she really just wants someone to listen and let her blow off some steam
Julian makes a concentrated effort to learn more about plant husbandry and care after the incident where he accidentally killed some of Keiko's prized plants because he actually does feel very bad about it
Julian hovered over Keiko nearly as bad as Miles did when she was pregnant with Kirayoshi (and then he hovered over her even more after the pregnancy transfer, and he wouldnt tell anybody why, but Keiko knew it was because nearly losing her shook him up pretty bad)
when Julian gets outed for being augmented, Keiko goes to him and gives him the tightest, warmest hug he's ever gotten in his entire life
Julian gets invited to girls nights with Keiko and Molly (steady surgeon's hands make him the best one to paint nails) (he pretends to complain but he loves it)
anytime Julian has to go away for a scientific conference of any kind, if he gets to bring someone with him, his first choice is always Keiko
in short: theyre besties they told me so themselves <3
218 notes
·
View notes
The Maw makes much more sense when you think of it as an extension of the lady. She strips the kids out of their individuality and makes them all look like as she transforms them into working drones.
In a way it paralells what she did to herself , doesn't it?
(From my very sane Lady post [×75])
Yes! This is exactly what I think, but most importantly, it goes both ways. The Maw is an extension of her, but the Lady is an extension of the Maw. She's the symbol that rappresents it and everything that comes with it -- for better and for worse. And there is very little "better" to be had in these circumstances, if none at all.
Honestly, even considering the issues she does have, ultimately she's the one that got the most lenient treatment. It depends on points of view of course - I don't know how bearing the generational curse would be an ideal living condition in any other setting - but considering she has a roof over her head, constant feeding and revenue as well as the fame all around the Nowhere (in all instances of visual storytelling in the franchise there is at least one reference to the Maw and/or to her), you can't say she got the short end of the stick. She's a lot better off than even other adults.
So with this in mind, and knowing that she is someone who is able to form these reasonings (I cannot stress enough how peculiar that she's the only one who seems to understand genuinely that something in the outside world is wrong), I suppose that weighing her options and choosing to live on the Maw was ultimately what she thought was the better choice. She wasn't wrong, necessarely. She did survive a long time: but what point is there in surviving if you lose what makes life worth living along the way? If you don't have yourself, why should you keep pressing on?
I think this reasoning is what led her to form this attachment to the Maw, to the point that eventually she died for it even though her primary objective was survival, at some point in the past. Probably.
Mervik confirming that the Maw has existed before her was, at least for me, even a further look into just how futile - and interesting - this mindset of hers is because at the end of the day, the Lady as a person is... disposable. The position isn't, but the individual is. The Maw existed long before her, and it will exist long after if Six decides to stay. It doesn't matter whether or not she sees it as her home because to the institution Maw, she's just another chess piece - as expendable as a pawn in spite of dressing the clothes of the queen, if you will.
Considering this... only adds insult to injury, don't you think? She lost herself to a place that did not care for her at all, in the grand scheme of things. She is to the Maw what children are to her: a parasite. A useful one to keep the system running, but ultimately destined to be eradicated and forgotten. Faceless and nameless. It's like she - the person - was never even there to begin with.
51 notes
·
View notes