video;

[parricida]

[Hey, it's Garak! Looking, admittedly, not quite his best-- his hair is tremendously mussed, sticking up a little and far too long, and is that blood smeared on his neck? No. That can't be-- that's probably not blood. Probably not.

Anyway. It's Garak, sitting in his ship, smiling at the camera.]

Now. Despite our recent opportunities on these three moons, some rather lovely ladies have reminded me that one can't always have the clothes one wants. And with some new fabric in my possession, I thought I too might offer my services to the fleet.

I'm a tailor by trade-- a very good tailor, in fact. If you, like myself, are getting rather tired of Floot Loops clothes, send me a message, and I may be able to help you.

Comments

[parricida]

Black and clingy. Two piece or one?

[catamite]

Two? Like... pants and a shirt.

[parricida]

[He laughs softly.]

All right, all right. I'll do my best with some illustrations and send them over soon, hm?

[catamite]

[both so relieved and impressed!]

Wow, okay!

...I've never had, like... anything made for me before.

[parricida]

No? Well, I do hope I impress you, my dear. It's rather nice, having one's clothes tailored to fit.

[catamite]

[he should maybe not be this unconditionally thrilled to be receiving something from a scaly-faced man who looks like he just got done hunting down his own lunch.]

I can't wait.

...Do you take measurements and stuff? Or do you have one of those mannequin things on your ship?

[parricida]

[Don't be fucking rude]

Measurements are needed, yes-- but only once we get the initial sketches done, so I know what precisely to measure.

[catamite]

Oh, I get it. Okay.

[...he only mostly gets it, let's be honest.]

[parricida]

[He snorts.]

I'll simply call you when I'm done, hm?

[catamite]

Okay!

[he's so excited so excited]

Thanks again!

[parricida]

Of course, my dear. In the meantime: how have you been?

[catamite]

Oh, um. I'm okay.

[which will be his answer always and forever.]

[parricida]

Of course you are. You're resilient, aren't you?

[catamite]

Well... yeah, I guess. Elves are more resistant than humans to most things...

[because that's obviously what Garak means, right]

[parricida]

Even emotionally, hm?

[catamite]

Oh, well...

[a little shrug and another shallow smile]

They say that it's hard to bother an elf. So, I guess so.

[parricida]

Mm. Now, if it was me, I'd be terribly worn out over it. Enslaved, another man killed over me, and not to mention the entire fleet knowing my business-- terrible, isn't it?

[catamite]

[...and here he'd thought that Garak was merely talking about his attempt to stay behind on the winter planet.

so, as he reorients to the actual scope of the conversation, his smile melts away and face pales.

and he's just silent for stretching moments, as it all sinks in-- the fact that Fenris might have been more successful in his hunt than he'd realized, that Garak knows all about it, that everyone might know about it... about him...]

private;

[parricida]

[The way he responds, it looks as if he hangs up on Nel-- but all he's doing is turning it to private.]

Now, that's more the reaction I was looking for.

private;

[catamite]

[he's a little rattled when Garak speaks up again, so he must have either really believed that he'd been hung up upon, or had already started to tune out and shut down.

he sounds a little hollow, uncomprehending, when he replies.]

...But why?

private;

[parricida]

Why what, my dear?

private;

[catamite]

[he focuses on the screen again, and repeats himself--but the question changes.]

...What do you want?

private;

[parricida]

I hardly want anything. I simply wanted to make sure you're all right-- such an experience is going to affect you, I certainly know.

private;

[catamite]

[he nods, dumbly, not really absorbing the sentiment. and he glances to the side because he doesn't understand... this man tells him these things, seems pleased with the reaction, but claims to leave it at that.

it leaves him floundering, feeling exposed.]

...And everyone knows?

private;

[parricida]

They do.

[He exhales through his nose.]

Unfortunately. But I think most people are content to leave it be-- and far more interested in Fenris than yourself.