Tattoo Excursion

Posted on 04 Jan 2015 @ 6:32pm by Lieutenant Oren Idris Ph.D. & Lieutenant Elijah Williams IV, M.Sc. & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D.

1,472 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84 - Deck 24, "Pinpoint Art" Tattoo parlour
Timeline: MD17 - 1630hrs

[ON]

After much deliberation and days spent over a sketch pad, Oren felt ready to once again take the plunge into slapping another art-piece onto his body. Though he'd been planning to get it done during his next shoreleave, finding an actual tattoo shop on Starbase 84 felt like pure kismet.

The place itself seemed as professional as one would expect from a tattoo parlour in this backwards part of the quadrant, but Oren had gone to much worse, so the shady looking Antaran behind the selection consoles didn't phase him. Stepping up to the counter, he handed the man his paDD to load into the program.

Abbey was pulling Elijah along the corridor towards the tattoo parlour "Oh come on scaredy pants, my dad wont touch a finger on you he's away and he wont even know I have it!" She turned to Tuula who had also come along begging her to take her side. "Tell him ----" She smiled walking in the middle of the pair her arm wrapped tightly around Elijah's arm.

"Tattoos are great, and Abbey is plenty old enough to get one," replied Tuula, looking up at Elijah. She glanced down at her arms as she propelled herself down the corridor, keeping pace with Abbey. Her ink was plainly visible through the fishnet sleeves on her outfit. Most of her tattoos had some special meaning, but more than that, they were an affirmation that in spite of everything, she and she alone had the final say over her own body.

"Abbey, if this is what you want, it's all your decision -- not your dad's, not Elijah's, not anyone but yours." For a moment, the corners of her lips formed a slight smile. "That's the beautiful thing about them," she added.

Elijah turned his attention from Abbey to Tuula, "I completely agree." Though he wasn't entirely sure that Luke Wyatt would agree. He smiled at the doctor then turned his attention back to Abbey. "I have two of them myself, it was a liberating experience. I guess I'm just saying Luke might murder me in my sleep."

"Don't worry, we won't let him do that, will we, Abbey?" asked Tuula in an upbeat voice. She was excited -- the anticipation of fresh ink got to her every time.

Abbey turned to Elijah "You're such a good friend!" in a quick unthinking motion she kissed him on the cheek "Lets go get ink!" She laughed walking past the office and into the tattoo parlour.

Finally after the small discussion they came to the kiosk and abbey's bravado faulted "Actually maybe this was a bad idea" She said turning a shady pale of white "Does it even actually hurt?" She asked finally asking the question that had been buried.

"Depends where you get it," Oren suddenly chimed in from his spot near the unoccupied chair. He'd just been giving the artist some last minute instructions when he'd heard some familiar voice.

"You can always ask for a numbing agent, but that would be like cheating," ORen added, hopping up onto the chair and resting his naked arm onto one of the armrests.

Elijah crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at the other scientist, surprised to see the man, then turned back to Abbey. "Mister Idris is correct, it depends on where. The one on my bicep didn't hurt at all, the one on my hip hurt only slightly. But, that is part of the whole experience." He unfolded his arms and reached for Abbey's hand. "I'll be here, I'll hold your hand if you want me to. Hell, maybe I'll even get another tattoo for myself."

"Me too," added Tuula. She'd had some ideas swirling around her head for the past few weeks, and, well, when in Rome... "We can all get some ink together."

Elijah smiled and nodded. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

As the other debated getting their tattoos, the tattoo artist had settled next to Oren's arm. "Would you like a privacy field?" she asked the El-Aurian.

"No need," Oren said, not minding his fellow crewmembers. It wasn't like he had anything to hide on the tattoo itself. She nodded and set off to work. Oren flinched as the needles first went in but then forced himself to relax as she began her work on his inner forearm.

After speaking to the tattooist she decided on a small design of a handful of birds taking flight upon the back of her right shoulder. being directed to the bed she laid down and braced herself "Oh gods" She said looking to Tuula and Elijah.

Tuula held Abbey's hand tightly, helping her through the pain. She still remembered her first tattoo -- she thought the pain would never end. But her artist back on earth was so supportive as he guided her through the process, and soon she had a beautiful flower permanently inked on her lower leg.

"Excuse me, do you think you could squeeze me in after you're done with Abbey?" she asked the artist as he changed his needle.

"I don't have any other appointments today, so I think that can be arranged, Ms...."

"Dr. Dr. Tuula Voutilainen," replied Tuula.

The artist raised an eyebrow. He had people from all walks of life coming into his shop, but Tuula's ink was a little more explicit than most. Usually professionals such as doctors and lawyers would have maybe one or two easily covered up tattoos. He should have known by the Rod of Asclepius tattooed on Tuula's right forearm, but in his defense, the torn leggings, boots, fishnets, and spiked collar threw him off. Most doctors didn't dress like Tuula, but of course, Tuula was not "most doctors" in any way. "Very well, doctor, I think I can squeeze you in. Anything you had in mind?"

"I was thinking... maybe we could do some butterflies in silhouette on my shoulder?" asked Tuula.

"Of course," he said as he dipped his needle in ink and went back to work. Tuula continued holding Abbey's hand, her mind running a mile a minute in anticipation of her new tattoo.

Offering a reassuring smile, Elijah looked down at Abbey. He was glad his best friend was taking this step. He remembered when he got his first tattoo, it was so thrilling and such an independent thing to do. He liked it so much, he got another and today he planned to get another one. He looked to the artist. "After the good doctor is finished, I would like to get something as well. I am thinking just something up my forearm." He would get more detailed once he was in the chair.

Oren smiled at the small group, looking down at the half-finished tattoo on his own forearm. It was a child's hand print done in a watercolor style surrounded by a splatter of colours, giving the whole forearm a smeared effect in reds, yellows, purples and blues. Despite the bold colour choice, the overall look of the tattoo remained delicate, fitting nicely on his pale skin.

"Nice," commented Tuula, examining Oren's tattoo. "Does it symbolize anything, or just look cool?"

"It's to remind to of something I forgot, so that I never do it again," Oren explained, watching the artist work. "It's why I put it here. My other tattoos are on on my back. This one I can see all the time."

"I see." She looked back towards her left shoulder, watching the needle pierce layers of skin and implant the ink. She winced slightly, but it was no pain she hadn't felt before. "Mine... I guess it symbolizes nature and femininity and resurrection and rebirth and all that jazz... but mostly it looks cool."

"Mine originally represented defiance," Elijah commented. "But, now I just like it." He wasn't sure if he would get anymore tattoos or if this would be it, but there was something quite thrilling about marking ones body in such a way.

--A little while later--

"See, Abbey, it didn't hurt that bad," said Tuula, adorned with a bit of fresh ink, rolling out of the tattoo parlour with her friends and shipmates.

Abbey wiped the wetness from her eye, it didn't hurt exactly. It was more of a discomfort but still she couldnt control her eyes. "Not at all" She smiled looking back and forth between her friends and Oren. "Thank you for holding my hand" She added.

"You're welcome," replied Tuula, scanning the promenade area for a bar or a sushi joint. "Now, lets go celebrate!"

[ OFF ]

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Oren Idris, Ph.D.
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Elijah Wiliams, IV
Geologist
USS Galileo

Crewman Abbey Wyatt
Scientist's Mate
USS Galileo

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