Tinker tailor

 

“Moonbeam,” the tailor explained to Truly as she took her measurements in the fitting area of the shop.

The two women had spent the first minutes of this stop on Truly's Orientation tour comparing the tailor’s former service in Elle’s Space Corps to Truly's cousin’s modernized experience in the organization: “Kids have it easier these days.” Eventually, their conversation turned to the vestiary topic at hand.

“Every suit is bespoke, but that is the fabric Bishop likes me to suggest to each new recruit for their first day ensemble.”

Truly regarded the three mannequins posed between the full-length mirrors of the circular room. Each was dressed in a different style of the Moonbeam suit, like members of a tacitly creative bridal party. “Easier for Bishop to identify her new automatons?” Truly jested.

The tailor got Truly's number. “I hadn't thought of it that way, but… She told me that as managing partner and head of training, it is her way of passing down her pattern to her students. And with only one every year–”

“One? But how… Turnover? Growth?”

“I cannot remember the last time a member left the company.” The tailor held up a swatch of the soft gray fabric near Truly's collarbone.