driftfleet | Third Stitch

Who: Qing and whoever!
Broadcast: Fleet-wide video/audio/text
Action: Caprine, possibly Iskaulit!
When: Some nebulous time after he gets his gift from the Tree

[There's an unusual sight on the comms today, though most people might not realise just how unusual it is. Qing is often - almost always - smiling, but there's a hinted quality of manufacture to it normally. A small change, but nonetheless.

His smile is much softer, genuine. Beside him sits a small machine, settled onto a table off to one side. It's white, with an arm that rests over the table studiously, a long rod with a needle attached to it holding steady just below the arm.]

It seems I've finally gotten the sewing machine I'd been looking for previously. Ah... if anyone would like something made, I can now do so much more quickly. Once we have fabric, of course. Um... and payment can be figured out when you tell me what you want.

[For people used to the confident way he speaks in a professional manner, this might sound a little odd. Oh well.]

LATER. Private message to Makie

I am sorry it's taken so long, but I've finished with your kimono! You can pick it up anytime, or I can bring it to you. Whichever works best for you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Did you not have it before?

Oh, no. I stitched your kimono by hand.

[Which is what she'd expected given her own experience. She wonders what a sewing machine is by his definition. She can find out this afternoon.]

I will come by after lunch. Would you like some tea?

Tea would be wonderful. I'll be here waiting after lunch, then.

[Indeed she will find out, and probably hear it before she even gets there, honestly.]

[She'll turn up early afternoon with ginger tea and a collection of sweetmeats left over from planetside visits, her shamisen curled under one arm. Though that part's just normal-- she takes it everywhere, these days.]

[He's waiting, of course, though not idly this time. There's a steady noise that Makie likely won't be able to recognise - the sewing machine is in motion. Occasionally it'll stop, though, and in the moment of recognition when his door slides open, she'll probably be treated to the sight of him leaned over the little machine, its needle-arm moving and then coming to a stop when he stops moving the fabric to look up.

Once he registers who it is, he hops to his feet and leaves his work there, smiling brightly.]

Welcome back, Makie. [His eyes do drift to the shamisen, but he's not wholly sure how to bring it up yet. It's not important right now anyway.]

[It's a much tinier machine than she was expecting. Technology is slowly beginning to become a common thing to witness, but even so.]

Hello again, Qing. [She offers the small basket of sweetmeats, offering him a smile before turning to glance at the machine again.]

I must confess, I wasn't sure what I was expecting.

[He'll take it to set down on the table with a soft thanks, laughing at her words. On that point, he can understand her commentary.]

They do come in different sizes. I remember being fascinated with it when I was little, too.

[Basket set, he shifts his attention to the carefully folded cloth near his bed. Makie will likely recognise the fabric she'd given him, even folded like this.]

Did you want to try it on first, to make sure I don't need to make any alterations? [Admittedly, he's curious to see it on her, too.]

That's likely wise, if you don't mind. [She sets the small tea box down on the table as well, resting the shamisen against a wall out of the way.]

Is there somewhere you would like me to change?

Not at all. You're more than welcome to use the bathroom. [He shifts the sewing machine off to one side, then, perhaps revealing it's a lot lighter than she may have suspected.] I'll wait here.

[She pauses mid-gathering of kimono to peer at the sewing machine again. It's not at all what she was expecting.]

I'll be right back.

[She'll leave her things here, confident that Qing is well-mannered enough to leave her belongings alone, and retreats to the bathroom to try the kimono on.

It's well made.

She'll return still wearing it so he can see that it fits for himself.]

Of course.

[He is more than well-mannered enough, and is in fact just standing idle when she returns from the bathroom.

His hands rise to clasp in front of him, a smile on his lips. Ah, it does fit! There's a bit of relief there.]

You look wonderful. [He means it, quite clearly.] Does it feel alright? Not too tight or too loose anywhere?

[She smiles at the statement. It's appreciated, and she lifts her arms a little to show it more carefully as well as judge for herself.]

No. I don't feel it a strange fit anywhere. You've done very well.

[He breathes a sigh of relief. Sometimes, bodies just don't... fit quite right. Something like a Kimono is usually a little bit easier, but still.]

I'm glad. I do feel bad that it took so long, though. [He'd blame becoming First Mate but that's not really fair either.]

It's not as long as other orders I've placed in the past, and the planet is quite beautiful and distracting. I understand.

Third Stitch

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