Concept: Julian attempting to learn Kardassi just so he can spell Garak’s name correctly.
Julian sounding out the letters and trying to work out where the vowels go and how it flows together. Julian carefully tracing the letters on some language learning program that really only has the rudimentary stuff because the Cardassians weren’t too keen on the idea of conquered planets being able to read Kardassi. Julian getting most of it right, except for one letter so, when he proudly displays his work for Garak, it reads: “Elim Garap.” Garak being so charmed with the amount of work that went into this that he doesn’t correct the mistake, but does insist that Julian just write his name as “Elim.” Julian not finding out until years later when they’re both on Cardassia that he’s been spelling Garak’s last name wrong. Garak explaining that he didn’t want to hurt his feelings and that he got it 90% correct, which is very impressive for a non-Cardassian. Julian making Garak write his last name nine billion times until he’s able to get that “k” sound right, despite Garak’s protests that it doesn’t really matter and that “Garak” isn’t his real last name anyway.
