It's a wonderful time to keep up with a Cardassian.

[the_tailor_spy]

Ah, I see you've made a little pun in the title of this entry. Oh how very nice for you. I'm sure it amused your brain to no end thinking it up, though you could have spent said time finding something more interesting for me to do. After all, even a simple tailor requires something interesting with which to occupy his time.

[He smiles, slowly]

Still, it could be worse. I could be stuck somewhere unpleasantly cold, or in the middle of a Federation base.

Comments

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

I resent that. I'm kept very busy on Starbase Ten. There's rarely any time not to do something there.

[Smiling though. Jo never met a Cardassian before.]

[the_tailor_spy]

[He smiles, indulgently]

I never said it wasn't busy, young lady. It simply isn't as interesting as, perhaps, your average rock cave.

[Now, how clever is she...does she take it at face value or does she verbally joust? Ah, the game begins...]

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

It depends on who you're talking to. I'm a doctor, not a geologist so I wouldn't find a rock cave as fascinating as Mr. Spock might.

[the_tailor_spy]

I knew a Federation doctor once. Rather dull at first, but under my careful cultivation he bloomed.

Ah, yes, the capable and, indeed, versatile Mr.Spock. A man of some repute in many circles.

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

Well, I pride myself on not being even half as dull as most of Starfleets medical personnel.

He is an impressive officer.

[the_tailor_spy]

For a Federation officer, certainly. And not even half as dull? Fascinating! Do tell me you're not part of the humourless clique that Starfleet tends to churn out.

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

Not at all! If you couldn't learn to have a bit of fun, an assignment like mine would have driven me insane in the first month. It helps that I've spent a lot of time with Uncle Jim's crew.

[the_tailor_spy]

Uncle Jim?

[Well, that would be a fascinating coincidence...if, in fact, he believed in such things.]

As for insanity, I often wonder if the Federation as a whole is not insane, and this has lead to its thriving. A complete and utter disregard for likely outcomes.

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

Captain Kirk. I've known him since I was a kid, so he's almost family.

[Jo shakes her head and give a conspiratorial grin.]

Between you and I, I don't think anybody or any government is completely sane. None of us would ever leave our own planets if we were.

[the_tailor_spy]

[He smiles at that]

I will keep your secret well, of course. And the Captain Kirk? Goodness, the most legendary human of all! Alternately cursed and amazed at across the galaxy.

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

That'd be him! [All the laughing.]

He does get into a lot of trouble, doesn't? As out of line as his methods seem to be, apparently they're effective enough that Starfleet can never court martial him.

[the_tailor_spy]

[He smiled in astonishment]

A legend in any time period, and apparently - you're family. How interesting.

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

Pretty much family, since I grew up around him.

[A polite smile and she offers her hand to shake.]

Dr. Joanna McCoy, at your service.

[the_tailor_spy]

[He does so, smiling in further astonishment]

And a McCoy, at that. A descendant of Admiral McCoy?

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

He's my father, actually! Even taught me how to make his famous Mint Julep. Once I was old enough.

[A sneaky smirk.]

[the_tailor_spy]

[Some names reach legendary proportions even in Cardassia.]

I'm sure the old Admiral is endlessly proud.

[the_other_dr_mccoy]

Surprisingly so, actually.

[earlgrey_hot]

Come now, Mr. Garak. It's not all that bad, surely.

[the_tailor_spy]

[He inclines his head in a slight bow]

Ah, Captain Picard. The legendary Captain Picard.

Oh, it could be greatly worse, I assure you. [A small smile] But there is so little that is interesting to do here. If you have any suggestions, of course, I am more than willing to hear them.

[earlgrey_hot]

I'm afraid that I'm new here, too. We're mostly in the same boat, as it were.

And you are far from obscure yourself, Mr. Garak. Captain Sisco occasionally mentions you. The stories are quite interesting.

[the_tailor_spy]

Why Captain, I'm flattered that the work of a simple tailor has come to your attention.

Perhaps you are 'in the market', as you humans say, for a new suit? I assure you I can find something to match your tastes.

[earlgrey_hot]

I have no doubt of that, but perhaps another time. I don't think that there will be much of an occasion to wear a suit while I'm here.

[the_tailor_spy]

Captain! [He says it as if chiding]

A Starfleet Captain of your reputation must be ready for any situation. And replicated garments are so...what is the human word? Gauche. I believe that is it.

[earlgrey_hot]

You are a very persistant salesman, Mr. Garak. A good trait in your line of work, I imagine.

Don't worry, if the need comes that I require new clothes, you shall be the first one I come to.

So much pun...XD

[pinkspectre]

I second the cold part, though my friend in the Federation has led me to believe their bases are only bad if your on the wrong end of the military.

[the_tailor_spy]

I can assure you, miss, that there is no right side of the Federation military - but the greater point is that their bases are rather excessively bland.

[pinkspectre]

There's a wrong end of a scorpion, doesn't have to mean there's a right end.

That's how it is. Function over form, and it doesn't have to make sense, it's policy. That's sort of how most armies run.

[the_tailor_spy]

[He sighs]

Regrettably true. And they often suffer from a deplorable lack of imagination.

[dominion_war_graduate]

Nothing wrong with puns! Though I ... have to kind of agree: Starbases might be busy enough, but they're certainly nowhere near as fun as actually being aboard a ship.

[the_tailor_spy]

I've never been the sort to enjoy a long space journey, of course.

[He shrugged, slowly]

My business is tailoring, after all - a ship is not a good place to attempt to develop a customer base.

[dominion_war_graduate]

On the other hand, it's almost like an exclusivity contract at that point! Who else will the crew turn to for tailoring?

[the_tailor_spy]

True, I suppose. And I am the best in the sector, I might add. It's why I'm still in business.

[dominion_war_graduate]

I know. I still have one of your suits from when I was stationed at DS9.

But Starfleet decided I was needed more at Starbase 8, and now I'm actually commanding a ship rather than stuck behind the helm of a Danube-class. They're nice ships, but Starfleet really needs to breathe new life into their runabouts.

[the_tailor_spy]

Ah. Loyal, repeat customers. The essence of my trade.

And the runabouts. What wonderful little vessels they are. Not as elegant as a Cardassian design, of course, but still.

[dominion_war_graduate]

The Cardassian ships I've seen have impressed me, no doubt. Still, I think the perfect combination of function and appearance has to be the Excelsior-class. The Excelsior itself, after all, has been in service for just about a century now.

That's what I'm hoping will be the kind of legacy my own ship leaves once our test missions are finished.

That reminds me, I should have us stop in at DS9 again anyway to pick up new plasma decompilers. You don't still work at DS9, do you Mister Garak?

[the_tailor_spy]

[He smiles]

Depending on the timeline, I might. But no, not in this incarnation. I'm working towards the rebuilding of a new Cardassia. I'm a bit of a diplomat, nowadays.

[dominion_war_graduate]

Diplomacy... something I am still learning, I'll admit. It's not the easiest of a commander's duties.

[ten_chocolate_sundaes]

True, the mighty Federation has surprisingly dull outposts, but their officers are where the true fun is, anyway.

The stuffier the officer, the more fun to be had!

[the_tailor_spy]

[He smiles, and nods]

An elegant, and I daresay even eloquent summation of the Starfleet character.

[Because don't for a second think he doesn't know that face. And you agree with that face. That he happens to be right is something of a bonus.]

[ten_chocolate_sundaes]

You know, I think I could like you. You grasp things those same Starfleet officers don't.

[the_tailor_spy]

[He inclined his head in silent thanks.]

Perhaps because my considerable talents were arrayed against Starfleet and the Federation for a number of years.

[ten_chocolate_sundaes]

They are the most fun to play with, aren't they?

Don't tell them I said this, but the only reason I'm so interested is they show such promise. It's a secret, though. Shh. We don't need to inflate their egos any more.

[the_tailor_spy]

[A nod]

But of course. I am very good at keeping secrets.

[especially_the_lies]

It's been my experience that most Federation-run establishments are unpleasantly cold. Not to mention overly bright.

But there's no accounting for taste, I suppose.

Well isn't this awesome :P

[the_tailor_spy]

[He smiles, a bit curiously. It's not every day you carry on a conversation with yourself, and you aren't going mad.]

Or perhaps there's no taste to account for. But your point is well made, naturally.

Re: Well isn't this awesome :P

[especially_the_lies]

Naturally. By the way, I know that look -- you're wondering if you haven't perhaps been caught in a temporal loop or thrown into a mirror universe.

[the_tailor_spy]

How very perceptive of you to say that. It was rather...what's the human term...'par for the course' on DS9.

[especially_the_lies]

Why, thank you. A keen eye makes the tailor, or so I've always said.

And while I'm sure Chief O'Brien and the others are frantically trying to figure out a way to use graviton pulses and tachyon beams to right the situation, I believe the how and why is, in this case, really beyond the point.

Which is, of course, that I so rarely have the chance to interact with fellow Cardassians aboard this station.

[the_tailor_spy]

[A smile of genuine amusement. Oh, this is a rare opportunity indeed]

Undoubtedly, they are. Bandying about technical terms and racing about in a most comical manner.

And as it happens, I too, have that same complaint.