~*~

"Ah, good afternoon, Doctor.  It's so nice to see you again."  The Cardassian tailor's grey face took on a warmer hue as he welcomed his friend to the dinner table and hastily swept aside a pile of padds.

"Hello, Garak."  Dr. Bashir plonked his tray down, accepted the proffered seat, and began shovelling food into his mouth.  Pointing at the padds, he added rather indistinctly, "What's all that?  Lunchtime reading?"

"Not exactly," Garak replied with a twinkle.  "More in the nature of homework.  Perhaps I can interest you in one of the patterns?"

"Oh, I don't think so, Garak.  I already have all the clothes I need."

"Ah, but these are not for clothing, my dear Doctor.  See for yourself," and he pushed one of the padds across the table.

Julian glanced at it idly and promptly choked on his soup.  "Hair styles? I didn't know you were a hairdresser!"

The Cardassian spread his hands.  "In my business it sometimes pays to diversify," he explained.  "I wouldn't want to place all my, ah, eggs in one cargo hold."  He eyed his companion doubtfully for a moment, and continued, "As a matter of fact I have a special offer on tonight, for one night only. A free cut and blow for my very first customer.  Perhaps you would care to take me up on the offer?"

Julian regarded his friend with deep suspicion.  "I'm not sure.  Just how good a hairdresser are you?  I wouldn't want some complete novice hacking about up there."

"My dear Julian, how could you even suggest such a thing?  I am more than competent, I assure you.  Besides, it isn't so very different from cutting out clothes - simply a matter of following the pattern.  Of course, if you are not interested in a free hair cut..."

"Oh, well, I suppose when you put it like that," said Julian, smiling, "how can I refuse?"

* * * * *

Later that evening the Doctor was sitting in a chair in Garak's quarters with a towel round his neck.  Small snips of hair lay scattered round his feet, but the scissors had been abandoned, and the hairdresser was kneeling, strangely busy with something between his slender thighs.

 "Oh, God, Elim, that's so good," Julian groaned, hands knotting in thick silky black hair.  "Please don't stop!"

 "I thought you might enjoy my offer," the tailor replied with another twinkle.

 The doctor writhed in ecstasy.  "God, yes!  Mind you, the cutting was a bit dull, but this blow job is something else again!

~*~