"Doctor Bashir! What do you think you are doing?!"
Garak had been always unpredictable, but Julian didn't expect such a reaction. He removed his hands and sat on his place in front of the cardassian. The replimat was crowded, but it never prevented them from creating an imaginary invisible wall that would screen them off from all the others during lunch.
"Nothing special. You do often put your hands on my shoulders, appearing like from nowhere. Why couldn't I do the same at least once?"
It seemed that Garak was close to change his color. Julian took a cup of tarkalian tea and turned back, foretasting another entertaining conversation.
"I am bringing to your notice, doctor, that the difference in anatomical structure between humans and cardassians implies some… distinction in perceptions. To put hands on someone's shoulders on Cardassia is considered to be a very intimate gesture."
"And you do that all the time," said Julian.
"You're not a cardassian."
"Exactly, I'm putting quite human meaning in this gesture. We are just friends, aren't we?"
Garak said nothing.