#Man I've put a lot of thought into Damar even though he's so boring lol

[icykalisartblog]

You know the Cardassian girl in Beta canon that Damar was with, right? The one that was in an accident that rendered her unable to have children? How often do you think Damar thinks about her, and how does he tell Weyoun about her?

I didn’t actually know about any of this but apparently the character’s name is Veja Ketan.

So, in my fics what I’ve gone with is that Damar and Niala (his wife) were matched due to a state program. Not based on personality, but instead on job, rank, fertility, etc.. A character like Damar has seen all the ways the State has corrupted older Cardassian values like family (whereas Garak wouldn’t know and only had his idealized concept of Cardassian life for so long). However, unlike many arranged Cardassian couples, Damar and Niala just couldn’t make things work for a variety of reasons, one of which being that despite Damar’s position he really doesn’t live up to the aggressive military archetype a man like Dukat does. Niala ended up having their son attend a boarding school and she and Damar divorced. 

I do think Damar wants a family and in his earlier days wanted to do what was mandated by the State, so I could see something like what happened with Ketan in beta canon occurring. If it did, it would just be yet another event Damar would feel horribly guilty about, but I don’t know how deep the relationship would have been? I headcanon Damar as never having been in mutual love before. I think he’d be open to discussing this is Weyoun asked or brought it up, since Weyoun knows all about Damar’s life history from Dominion intelligence reports. I picture something like this: 

“Your duty to the State demanding that you seek an arranged marriage has been completed. You're free to court whoever you like. The Dominion is open to your romantic happiness.”

“It has been, yes,” Damar said. “How fortunate for me. Is it open to yours?”

“I don't see why it wouldn't be... as long as my love for the Founders takes precedence, I should be permitted to experience a romantic relationship.” Something about Weyoun’s wide-eyed, stressed stare suggested to Damar that this was something he had thought about often, yet pointedly not asked the Founder about.