Dressing the Part - Part II
Posted on Wed Jan 14, 2026 @ 8:53am by Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Civilian Gertrude Helsing & Civilian Geral Lasuma & Civilian Beatrice Weatherford
1,338 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission: Chicken Run
[PREVIOUSLY]
It didn't take long for them to make their way and Lasuma rose as the arrived. "Evening Ladies. You weren't following the Commodore were you? He asked with a smile, edge with humor.
[CONTINUED]
"Of course not," Gertie assured him. "Why would we? Everyone knows she comes here for lunch every day." That was old news.
Without missing a beat, he followed right up. "So, it's a stakeout then...or is it that," with a theatrical flair, "All station's a stage?"
Gertie looked at her friends and laughed. "Maybe we're just here for the tea."
Lasuma's brow raised sharply, looking from her to T'mpest and back again. "You don't really expect me to believe that do you?"
T'mpest had to look away to keep from laughing. She'd learned a lot about the tea ladies since they started reporting about her and Lasuma. She was impressed with their network of spies, too. At the same time, she preferred to not be part of their gossip if she could help it.
The tea lady looked from Lasuma to T'mpest, then laughed out loud. "Of course not. But I didn't want to just say we want to hear the latest gossip while we try your dessert menu."
Smiling genuinely, "Well that was going to be assumed anyway, regardless of the excuse given. Did you see a dessert you wanted?"
Gertie looked at Beatrice, then back to Lasuma. "All of them. We'll need to come back several times just to try them all. Then we'll be back for our favorites. You can't just have tea, you know."
T'mpest chuckled. "They are good. I do not blame you for coming here often. You should mention your favorite desserts on Tea Time."
"Or why not do a culinary series with the chefs on the station."
Beatrice looked at him with a devilish grin. "Good thing that would have to take place after the Ball or I wouldn't fit my dress."
"Speaking of dresses, I have yet to get one for myself," T'mpest said. She bowed at the two ladies. "So, if you will excuse us, we will be on our way. Feel free to talk to my secretary after the ball. She can help you get in touch with the chefs on the station. Or Mr. Geral may be of assistance as the head of the merchant's association."
"Oh, yes. We'll definitely do that." Gertie smiled to both Lasuma and T'mpest. "Thank you. Do you know what you'll be waring to the ball?"
"Not yet." T'mpest slipped her arm through Lasuma's so they could continue on their way. "Enjoy your desserts, ladies."
Lasuma grinned, "Well I guess that's my cue. Enjoy." As they neared the hostess Lasuma nodded back to his table, "See that they get whatever they want."
Once they neared Traxx's shop, "So...any idea what you are looking for? Full formal, cocktail, short and fun?"
"Long. Semi-formal. Scarlet with gold accents." She looked at Lasuma with a raised eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"Very Marine-ish." Deciding to antagonized her raised brow, "that converts to short and fun?"
T'mpest laughed, then covered her mouth to muffle the sound. "No. that converts to dress for a ball and let your hair down later. Although for some, later will be as soon as the formalities are completed. Since I have been asked to give a speech, I would prefer to look a little formal. At least in style. Color...perhaps not so much."
With mock disappointment, "OH fine..."
Seeing the couple walk into his shop Traxx dropped the hem he was working on heading straight for the Commodore. "T'MPEST..." his hand reaching out for hers, "...let me guess, you need something for the Ball?"
"I do." She flashed Lasuma a teasing smile. "I want something semi-formal, long, and in scarlet with gold highlights. Or just scarlet. It can be simple in design. Mr. Geral thinks I should wear something short and sassy."
"Or be able to convert to something short," Lasuma added with a grin.
The Bolian put his finger to his lips, tapping as the looked at T'mpest. "Well, this isn't the first Marine Corps Ball I've had to design for. Very formal, lots of yacking to start, but afterwards it can get a little crazy...even heard of a few dance offs.
"Hmmmmm....assuming you will be wearing your hair up?"
"I...have yet to decide," T'mpest admitted. "I will be giving one of the speeches, so I wish to dress properly for the first part of the proceedings." She couldn't help looking over at Lasuma as she added, "But if the dress could become a bit shorter for dancing after..."
Traxx looked to Lasuma and Lasuma, already smiling at the idea, "Do your thing."
Traxx was still standing there but now had his fingers steepled as the tips of his fingers tapped against each other.
Lasuma glanced over to T'mpest smiling as he nodded subtly. He had seen this before, an intense expression had replaced the fun-loving causal Traxx.
Spinning back to the racks behind him Traxx began shooting through dress after dress, occasionally draping one over his arm as he continued his search. Not even looking back he spoke to T'mpest. "Up on the stand."
She looked at Lasuma, one eyebrow raised, then did as Traxx asked, feeling a little bemused.
Turning back to T'mpest he held up various short skirted cocktail dresses. As he held one up after another the rejects flew, right at the couch Lasuma was sitting in. "No... No... No... NO, why did I even pull that thing out uhhh."
Pausing with one, he tossed the others aside as he passed it from one hand to the other to change his perspective. "Yesss yess... the color is wrong and I will need to make a few alteration but this will be the butterfly to emerge from the cocoon."
"Okay. Is there anything else you need?" Was that all? If so, T'mpest was happy to leave--although she wasn't quite sure what butterfly was emerging from which cocoon.
"If you trust me to create the 'formal' part of your gown for the ball myself' then we are done and I will get to work. I have your measurements and can get started right way."
T'mpest nodded. "I trust you."
Traxx bowed, a bit taken aback at her trust. Straightening back up, "Well then, you two get out of here. I have some bibbidi-bobbidi work to do."
T'mpest gave Traxx a half bow, then turned to Lasuma. "Were shall we go next?"
He gave her a grin, "Care for a swim?"
She couldn't help grinning back, remembering the first two times they'd been in the water together. Only one was on purpose. "I have no appointments for the rest of the day, so, yes. It sounds perfect."
Back in Lasuma's Clothier
Traxx watched the pair leave and smiled. As the door closed, he pulled out his tablet and began flipping through design after design. "No, No , no, no, agh no, no, no, no, no, definitely no, mhm, hhhmmm nahh, no, no, no, HMMMM....if changed that, use a shearer material there...put fasteners at her side...YESssss. Changing the color to scarlet, for the outer 'covering' with shear material down the center of the bodice and sleeves with gold accents and sequins over the little blank party inner dress, the hem just below mid-thigh, tapering to just below the knee.
The 'outer' dress perfect for formal matters or dances, but then she could BAM unhook and shed the covering and Paaarrrtaayy.
Closing his shop for the rest of the day he opaqued the window and got to work. He plugged in her measurements and began fabricating while readying a holographic mannequin for fitting and alteration as he worked from the inner to the outer layers.
Geral Lasuma
Owner - Lasuma Enterprises
Beatrice Weatherford
Teatime Co-host
Deep Space 5
Gertrude "Gerty" Helsing
Tea Time Lady
Deep Space 5
Commodore T'mpest Michaels
Commander
Deep Space 5
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