Puttin' On The Ritz

Posted on Thu Jun 5, 2025 @ 10:48am by Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Commander Cara Letsul & Civilian Thavas Th'Omtala

1,548 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Timeline: Sartorial Splendor

ON

T'mpest called Cara into her office to see if she wanted to visit Sartorial Splendor with her. The half Vulcan knew there was more to the tailor than met the eye and she wanted to meet with him without the counselor acting as go-between. She knew T'Lul meant well, but this was one visit she wanted to make on her own. With Cara, so they didn't have to tag team Thavas.

A few minutes later Cara stepped inside the office, "Morning, T'mpest how are you this fine day so far?" She was curious as to the summons, whatever it was she was looking forward to this.

"Starfleet was sadly misinformed about the station and the planet. I can see why, but it makes it more difficult to understand the nuances here." She sighed. "Fortunately, the senior staff is well-informed. I spent a good part of my night reading." She smiled at Cara. "But that is not why I wish to see you. We have a tailor to visit today."

"A tailor? I am intrigued. It will be lovely to see his skills in his handiwork. And what he has available."

"It will, but I expect to learn more from our visit."

Fifteen minutes later, the two women walked in the doors of Sartorial Splendor. T'mpest paused after entering to have a good look around before she asked for the tailor himself.

"I will inform Master Thavas of your arrival Lady T'mpest," Viza said. "Please, feel free to browse further while you wait." Viza bowed her head and left in search of her master. In truth, she could have called him on her communicator, but this seemed more appropriate. A few moments past and then the young Andorian woman returned with the tailor, who was dressed the part of the owner of a shop called 'Sartorial Splendor'. "Lady T'mpest, Commander Letsul," Viza said in formal tone. "May I present Master Thavas Th'Omtala, master tailor, master weaver, clothing designer extraordinaire, and owner of Sartorial Splendor here on DS5 and in locales far and wide! Master Thavas, I am pleased to introduce to you Commodore Lady T'mpest Michaels, the newly in charge of this station, and Commander Cara Letsul, her second."

"How lovely to meet you both!" Thavas said. "Welcome my humble shop."

Humble wasn't really an accurate term for his lavish establishment, but it was very Thavas-like to call it such.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thavas. This shop is extraordinary." Cara remarked having a warm smile., taking in his attire and his demeanor.

"Many thanks," Thavas replied. "It has always been my philosophy that everyone deserves a little luxury now and again, whether that's a new suit of clothes, an attractive set of drapes, a throw, luxurious upholstery, or even just a flashy, eye catching scarf or shawl to enhance an existing outfit. Sometimes it's the little things that bring out a self-satisfied smile and a little well-earned confidence."

"A wise philosophy," T'mpest said, giving the tailor a half-bow. She was both amused and flattered that she'd been identified as Lady T'mpest. "Thank you for your kind invitation."

"The pleasure is mine," Thavas said. "One of the things I love about my work is meeting all sorts of people I wouldn't otherwise get to meet. As I said, everyone deserves a little luxury now and again. Yes, I meet all sorts of people, from Captains of Industry to Captains of starships, and from fine, upstanding citizens to those not so upstanding. I won't say I don't judge. Even I have my limits. But generally, I do business with all sorts. And oh, the stories they tell! Sometimes, they forget themselves and tell me things I probably shouldn't know. But not to worry. I am a model of discretion."

"I can see that. Tact and discretion are necessary to run a successful shop here." T'mpest recognized the artistry in the clothing the moment she entered the shop. It was impressive. "I like your use of color."

"Thank you," Thavas said. "My tact and discretion are well renowned in many circles, such that some of my clients ask me to pass things on from time to time, to people they otherwise cannot be seen with, if you catch my meaning. A service available to all of my clients, in exchange for certain... considerations."

T'mpest raised an eyebrow. "I see you are a good man to know--for the right considerations." She wondered what sort of considerations he would require.

Cara was watching how Thavas was moving, or rather how the cloth reacted to the lighting to her, it reminded her of a stone that seemed black and yet it wasn't. Each movement under the lights there seemed to be a shimmering affect, a change, in its silken-like texture. She wanted to reach out and feel the fabric. "Tell me something, the fabric of your outfit, it is beautiful. What is it called?"

From long years of schooling his expressions, Thavas easily suppressed and hid a frown at the Commander's untimely interruption and answered without a trace of annoyance. In fact, if anything, he sounded all the world as if he was hoping Cara would ask that very question.

"It doesn't easily translate from our language," he said with a bright smile on his face. "Most tailors and fashion designers call it 'shimmerweave'. My human friends of the Jewish faith liken it to Joseph's 'coat of many colors' or to the theatrical version of the story 'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'. The weave can be fairly simple, with just a two colors with slight variations flowing between them as the cloth moves through the light. It can also be quite intricately woven, with many different colors appearing and disappearing as angle of the light changes."

Cara's genuine interest in the fabric store, waned rather quickly. The description of the cloth was beautiful but she caught an undercurrent that she didn't like. Cara looked at Thavas, getting the distinct impression of something, She was well trained in detecting subtle nuances of body language, and taking the fact that this Thavas had been just only talking to T'mpest earlier, and not truly talking with her, Cara gave a rather pointed look at Thavas, then towards T'mpest. "Commodore if you will excuse me, I will leave you to finish talking with him. I have something to take care of." Cara wasn't going stay where she wasn't wanted, and she will not be coming to Thavas for any sort of business. Whether it be for clothing or anything else for that matter. She could see the writing on the wall, he wished only to deal with T'mpest, and Cara wasn't going to force herself upon him either.

"It is quite lovely," T'mpest said. "Do you carry much of it?"

Without another word, Cara left the tailor shop, and went on her way.

T'mpest watched her go and sighed. She needed to find out what was going on with her first officer. But that could wait. They'd both been asked to come here and she wasn't going to be rude and walk out.

Again Thavas, through decades of experience and self-teaching, schooled his expression. Now he was going to have to figure out some way to work Commander Letsul at another time. He hadn't actually been upset with her. His comment had simply thrown the conversation in a direction different that he'd hoped it would go. Nothing he couldn't handle. She was Betazoid. Maybe she picked up something? She shouldn't have been able to. Not only had Thavas trained his mind and emotions such that nothing but a deep probe could get at them, but he took additional, extremely subtle, technological precautions. Clearly, those precautions didn't work this time. He'd have to check later to make sure they weren't malfunctioning.

"Oh, my," Thavas said. "Did I offend her in some way? I must have. I'll simply have to apologize at the soonest opportunity I get. But where were we? Ah, of course. Shimmerweave is the majority of what we carry. Most of it woven by my clan but we do weave some of it here. Viza is learning, and coming along nicely, and I like to keep my hand in. The raw materials come from home, of course, but we weave some of the textiles here. Do you see anything that interests you?"

"I do, actually. I currently have uniforms and a few tunics. I am interested in clothing for both casual and formal occasions." The half Vulcan looked at the clothing and material. "I can replicate what I need, but it is not the same as having something tailored."

"Excellent!" Thavas said. "Would you like to step in back where Viza can measure you while I draw a selection of shimmerweave fabrics for you to choose from?"

"All right." She wasn't sure what she wanted, just that she needed new clothes, and wanted something different to go with her new life on the station. There would be time later to talk to the tailor about...other things.

T'mpest turned to Viza. "Lead the way."

TAG?

Commander Cara Letsul
Executive Officer
Deep Space 5

Commodore T'mpest Michaels
Commander
Deep Space 5

Thavas Th'Omtala
Owner - Sartorial Splendor
Deep Space 5

Viza
Assistant - Sartorial Splendor
Deep Space 5

 

RSS Feed