#talaxian

[feral-ferengi]

Guyss, i drew Neelix! 🦁🌼

The progress took me forever, but he was so much fun to draw!! I adore him, he's my fav guy on Voyager 💛💛💛 the crew would be nothing without their delta quadrant space tomcat

[baylardian-1]

i feel like Neelix post-Parturition and Elogium would FLIP over janeway having three lil babies heheeeeeehhhhhh

and he's yknow Morale Officer so trying to help kathryn out while she's moping about everything post-Threshold. :) but he'd especially the babies since he'd gotten his hopes up for one in Elogium.

i just be thinking about chakotay and neelix frantically trying to figure out how to take care of three babies at once lol.

[tribblesoup]

Neelix

[scuzbrains]

Sometimes you just need to draw Neelix as a silly little dog

[valhahazred]

Some slightly more alien Delta Quadrant folks for Voyager to bump into.

[smilesobrien]

problem: want to try a mild talaxian redesign but i really like neelix’s canon look

solution: what if neelix is just really busted by the standards of his species?

as to Why neelix is busted: it’s a combination of stress, not being exposed to the talaxian sun, & poor living conditions. to expand:

-as with humans, chronic stress in talaxians contributes to hair loss. whisker length is also affected, but unlike the rest of the mane, whisker loss typically doesn’t happen until the affected talaxian is near the verge of death.

-talaxians require the particular radiation emitted by their sun to synthesize skin pigments. as the pigments accumulate under the skin over their lifetimes, it takes an extremely long time for them to shrink and fade. neelix is an unusually extreme case, but even he isn’t remotely close to complete pigment loss. it doesn't do him any harm, he just looks kinda bad.

-the effects of dehydration aren’t visible in this image, but it does contribute to his general ill health

-he lives in the bin. like they literally found him scavenging for space junk and that’s just not a good lifestyle for anyone.

-this one is a little out there. but i think talaxians are normally pretty large BUT when times are lean they can engage Manlet Mode and shrink their bodies... it's a slow process, much like a human dieting, but unlike humans talaxians can shrink as much as 3 feet. their heads tend to remain the same size though because shrinking your brain is errm... generally agreed to be Bad.

[crowfootwrites]

Warm Welcome

Day 2 from @creativepromptsforwriting's December Prompt List! I have this fanfic plot bunny of Neelix and a baker falling in love. I'm not in a place to write that whole thing right now, but this felt cute and on-topic, so.

December 2: Baking (Neelix x GN!Reader)

Also, I've written this so that the reader-insert character is Banean, a feathered humanoid species that looks like this:

Warnings: none; not beta'd we die like men. | Words: ~975

As you settled yourself in your new quarters, you found you couldn’t keep your mind off the awful business with Tolen and Lidell Ren. It had opened your eyes to just how cruel the Banean penal system had become as fear and suspicion towards the Numiri grew on your homeworld. Even your lifelong friend Kray had fallen victim to his own distrust, using his power as Minister of Science to deliver a cruel punishment to an innocent man. Kray hadn’t known that Lieutenant Paris was innocent at the time, but that hardly made you feel better. The constant tension and cynicism swallowing Banea whole felt foreign to you, antithetical to everything you were raised to believe in – compassion, exploration, goodwill, trust. You found that you barely recognized your homeworld anymore. 

And so it was time to go. You’d approached Lieutenant Paris and Commander Tuvok before their departure, requesting an audience with the captain. You’d asked her about the prospect of joining Voyager and, as you’d assured her of your ability and desire to learn and become a useful member of their crew, she’d agreed. 

The chime sounded at your door. 

“Come in!” You rose from where you were unpacking the few personal effects you’d brought with you.

The door slid open, revealing a smiling Ensign Kim. 

“Welcome aboard,” he offered. “The captain has asked me to give you a tour and introduce you to some of the crew. Is now a good time?”

You nodded eagerly, ready to try making some friends. 

The ensign towed you around the ship, presenting various departments, decks, and friendly faces in uniform. You made small talk in the corridors and, if you weren’t mistaken, Ensign Kim appeared to be trying to flirt with you. Biting back a grin, you did your best to steer the conversations back to more neutral topics.

As you approached what your companion had identified as the mess hall, a delectable scent wafted through the corridor, stopping you in your tracks.

Following your nose, the ensign allowed you to lead as you entered the mess, revealing a stocky Talaxian male frantically stirring pots and flipping something in flaming pans. 

His eyes and smile widened as he noticed you. He scurried around the corner out of the kitchen to grasp your hand eagerly in his. “You must be our new Banean crew member! Welcome aboard!” He shook your hand firmly, glancing between you and Ensign Kim. “I’m Neelix, I’m the cook here on Voyager – lots of mouths to feed here!”

A burst of flame erupted around one of the pans in the kitchen and with a yelp, Neelix hurried back to it. Grinning amusedly, you followed after him. The heat of multiple cooking sources going at once pressed down on you and you fluttered the feathers around your face to combat it. 

“It smells incredible in here,” you exclaimed, a swell of warm spice and baking bread rolling over you. 

“Thank you!” Neelix replied, whirling around the kitchen confidently, somehow managing multiple pots and pans over the fire, packed chopping boards, and a crammed oven. 

“We have replicators on Voyager,” he continued, stirring a pot that was perilously close to boiling over. “But they’re something of an energy drain, so usage has been rationed, and I run the kitchen to make sure the crew is fed without depleting energy reserves!”

“Seems like a big job,” you commented, your fingers itching to help as Neelix flitted between chopping and flipping and stirring. 

“Oh, completely!” His response sounded cheerful. “But I enjoy it, and it’s my way of contributing to th-” 

“Your bread’s about to burn,” you interjected, wincing as you did. “I apologize,” you added as you made your way toward the oven, grabbing an oven mitt before yanking several loaves out and placing the pans on an overhead rack to cool. 

“I didn’t mean to interrupt, but it was just a few seconds from being too overdone, and I-.” You shook your head, suddenly self-conscious, and backed away.

“I’m sorry, I overstepped. This is your domain, I-I only meant to help.” You lingered near the entrance to the kitchen, your hands wide and open in surrender. Glancing over your shoulder, you noticed Ensign Kim was nowhere to be found.

Neelix watched you with wide, kind eyes, not appearing angry in the slightest.

“No, no! I appreciate your help!” He sounded earnest, which soothed some of your embarrassment. “If I may ask… how did you know it was about to burn? You only just arrived.”

You shrugged awkwardly. “By the smell… I used to do a lot of baking on Banea.”

You watched as Neelix’s whole face lit up, his jovial smile erasing the remainder of your uncertainty. He picked up his ladle and resumed stirring the bubbling pot. “You know, I could certainly use a hand in here, if that was something you’d like to do,” he suggested gently. “And aside from birthday cakes, I’m not much of a baker, myself.”

He fixed you with a knowing stare. “I happen to know the crew would appreciate someone to… temper some of my own creations.” He set the ladle back down and wiped his hands on his gaudy apron. “And they would certainly never turn down consistent desserts.”

He held his hand out toward you again, waiting with an eager smile. 

Your confidence bolstered somewhat, you slid your hand into his. “I’d love to help.”

“Wonderful!” After a vigorous handshake, he launched into a monologue about the evening’s dinner and you found yourself good-naturedly cutting in. 

“Back on Banea, I made this pipfruit and roasted leola root cake with parra creme sauce-”

“Leola root? Oh, I’ve always said that leola root is one of the most versatile vegetables in this quadrant. There's no better source of vitamins or minerals!” Neelix raved as he coaxed you back into the kitchen.

[worldcatlas]

VOY: Caretaker (Part 2)

The Star Trek universe is a long road, so to keep things moving along home, I’ve decided to no longer split up 2-part episodes and films. This is the first of three posts that will wrap up Caretaker, Emissary, and ST: The Motion Picture. 

Part two of Voyager’s pilot episode brings new excitement, new troubles, and new characters.

Are all Talaxians this… eccentric?

When we first meet Neelix, he’s scraping out a living as a junk trader, clad in a fur coat that appears to be made up of several different alien mammals, over a confusingly-patchwork shirt (or harness? Or space lederhosen??) with metallic gold accents. It’s an appropriately mottled look for his line of work, although it definitely looks like it smells weird.

Is that me or you, Mr. Vulcan?

However, we don’t get to spend much time with this outfit, as Janeway invites the Talaxian aboard, and Neelix is quick to take advantage of Voyager’s facilities – including the replicator. After asking Tuvok if it will make him a Starfleet uniform (“it most certainly will not”), we beam down to the Ocampan planet below to see that Neelix has chosen a suit made of old bus station upholstery. 

At first, I thought this outfit was both too beige and too chaotic, but the more I look, the more I like it. It actually kind of works with his Talaxian mohawk and spots, and I love that the fabric is just as garish and patchwork-looking as his “junk collector” outfit.. Also, the overwhelming impression of beige may just be due to this planet’s extremely yellow lens filter atmosphere.

The colour palette is “waiting room neutral”.

The structure of the outfit is interesting, too. Chunky piping across the midsection creates some nice, futuristic asymmetry, and I love that it continues down the one sleeve in rings. Neelix goes on to knock it out of the park with a matching teal shirt (you can just see the collar peeking out above) and shoes.

This is a man who knows how to coordinate.

Next, it’s time for another new species in the Delta Quadrant: the Kazon! As we get a wide shot of the group of Kazon Ogla, we can immediately see a lot of cream and ochre tones, cut off sleeves, and a single hairstyle that everybody has to share.

And no girls allowed.

It’s actually an incredible number of unique-but-coordinated costumes. You immediately get the impression that these guys are a rowdy bunch who aren’t afraid to get their asymmetrical skirts dirty proving who has the most testosterone. As well, everybody looks great in warm earth tones.

I guess it’s not hard to shop when every single member of your species is an autumn.

Somebody needs to tell them all the belts and gloves are a bit much though.

We just like to feel secure, okay?

Kes also makes her debut in this scene, but she’s basically wearing a dirty potato sack, so we’ll skip ahead. Like her lover Neelix, she’s quick to accept the Voyager crew’s hospitality, and replicates a new set of duds the moment she’s on board. Interestingly, she opts for a very Kazon colour palette.

Now who’s asymmetrical??

It’s a killer look – layered, colourful, a little bit alien, but also cute. The one-shoulder bodycon tunic is sexy, but the neckline and legs are very modestly covered. Kes is basically Twiggy as a telepathic space elf. As a child watching Star Trek in the 90s, I remember noticing Jennifer Lien’s costumes as Kes more than anything else in the show, and I still aspire to this aesthetic.

I only noticed how gay I was later.

There’s also a lot of variation in textures here, between the crinkled summer cotton and contrasting velveteen, which we’ll soon see is the style of the Ocampa. What? Oh right! Our people are still missing! Back down to the planet we go. 

The underground Ocampa lean toward earth tones – although, would they call them that? – befitting their simple, horticultural lifestyle. Like Kes, their outfits are layered and multi-textured.

The Caretaker provides everything we need. Linen, tweed, corduroy…

Unless you’re a bad guy, in which case you wear grey, unflattering robes and a scarf (poorly).

The Ocampan equivalent of sweats and a gym tee.

We also get a really good look at Chakotay’s Maquis outfit in this scene, which will sadly soon be replaced by a Starfleet uniform for good. It’s a shame, as it looks like someone spent a lot of time working on that leather vest, with its hand-stitched details and tailored fit.

Do you think he brought the holster from home?

Speaking of Maquis drip, B’Elanna has some INSANE boots that we only get to see for a split second as she swings her legs off a bio-bed in sick bay. The whole outfit is absolutely deadly, but I would do anything to see these boots show up in more episodes.

Surely we can make a uniform exception?

With all the loose ends neatly wrapped up, it’s time for the Voyager crew (and new additions) to start the long trek home. But before we can warp away, Neelix and Kes run to tell Janeway something very important – that they’ve replicated more new clothes.

The bridge is basically a common area, right?

Kes sports an olive green tunic with slashed shoulders that allow the poofy sleeves of a shirt underneath to poke through, over jade green leggings and matching heels. It’s another cute look, and even more elfin than before, but I think the red-and-orange outfit was more flattering. Neelix has another matching pants and jacket set made out of the ugliest fabric possible, though with an interesting front closure swooping off to one side. Beneath the jacket is a very handsome red shirt, with a sort of kimono-like layered appearance.

Slow your pace a bit, guys, we’ve got 70,000 lightyears to go.

—

The Costume Designer for this episode was Robert Blackman.  Wardrobe Supervisor: Carol Kunz Key Costumers: Tom Siegel, Camille Argus, Matt Hoffman, Jamie Thomas

[sir-memes-a-lot]

[lucifers-silly-duck]

How tf Jankom a TELLARITE in the delta quadrant.

Guys I think he’s half talaxian.

[feral-ferengi]

I've finished this lineart for Neelix 🦁

And now i keep hearing his voice so vividly in my mind lol

[baylardian-1]

Was doing some Neelix headcanoning for Threshold AU teehee. :3c

As morale officer, and the crew member on Voyager most likely able to relate to Janeway and Paris’s new appearances, Neelix would likely take it upon himself to help Kathryn and Tom adjust and settle into their circumstances. I gave him a lil scraggly tail, I imagine him in this circumstance having to have gotten used to tailoring pants to fit a tail, and offering his services to the captain and lieutenant. I figure Neelix post-Elogium and Parturition has more openly come around to the idea of rearing children despite the unforeseeable future of whether or not he’ll end up having any. With Chakotay choosing to adopt and raise Janeway and Paris’s offspring, I think Neelix would jump at the opportunity to assist the commander in caring for them and INSIST on helping him figure out suitable names. The two lads would try their best to scavenge data logs for any ideas surrounding what their biological parents might approve of. I’d figured they’d pretty easily land on naming the boy Owen, given their shared history with him, but I think Tom would disapprove of using his father’s name given their especially rocky relationship at the point of season two and instead offer up them naming their son after Kathryn’s father, Edward. Tom might also offhandedly suggest Amelia, or Chakotay or Neelix would suggest Amelia from a perceived interest of the pilot from both parents. And Philippa I thought would be quirky and cute if it was the name that Kathryn and Mark had discussed naming a future daughter, the name Mark was particularly fond of using but Kathryn hated and made fun of him for suggesting. :) Though a part of her has always held onto this name despite her initial disapproval of it. I imagine she’d be taken aback and get upset at them for intending to use that name and be very opposed to the idea of them using it for one of the triplets because she’s associated it so closely to Mark and their ideas of a family and everything, but she wont admit to herself that these are the children she’s been dealt and everything and its not what she wanted or planned for etc. etc. And Neelix would be the one to convince her finally to use it because similarly to his recent experience with Kes (In Elogium) they both don’t know if there will be any second chances for opportunities past this point for having children at a desirable and anticipated time. 

[tribblesoup]

Neelix in Love

[lotusmesenpai]

Full body shaded commission of @obiwancomeblowme 's talaxian oc! Had a lot of fun with this one, the vibe definitely made me laugh. No nudity, but put a flag on it just in case.

Thanks!!

[libartz]

Nylex

[defconprime]

Dexa from Star Trek Timelines, 2021.