Leaving Your Mark: Part I

Posted on 21 Sep 2015 @ 7:00pm by Jynn & Lieutenant Oren Idris Ph.D.

3,585 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 09 - Empires
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4,
Timeline: MD03 - 1900hrs

[ON]

Oren made his way down towards Jynn's quarters with a light, almost bouncing step. The tattooing kit in his pack was an unfamiliar weight over his right shoulder as he stopped for a moment to take a look at his reflection in one of the bulkhead to make sure everything was in order. He'd spent most of the previous evening in the holodeck, getting reacquainted with the technique of tattooing once again and couldn't help but feel pumped about the opportunity to do it on someone real for the first time in decades.

That said, as he reached Jynn's quarters, he felt nervous too. What if he made a mistake? Sure, it was easily taken care of with a trusty dermal regenerator, but still, Oren was a perfectionist.

At the moment Jynn was laying in his bed staring up at the ceiling. It wasn't often he found himself sedate, but he took these moments to reflect on his current state of being and there was certainly a lot of reflecting to be done. He had looked forward to their appointment, but over the past few days the tension within had started to mount.

Readjusting the strap on his shoulder with one hand, Oren tapped the chime of Jynn's quarters with the other. Jynn stood up excitedly, looking forward to the company that would bring the thoughts away from himself and as he opened the doors at his command, the El-Aurian gave him a wide smile.

"Hey!" Knowing his affections wouldn't seem out of place, Oren leaned over to pull the Deltan into a one-armed hug, planting a kiss on his cheek before proceeding into the room. He was expected, after all, so there was no need for formalities.

Jynn returned the sentiments with a hug and slightly restrained kiss to Oren's cheek. He loved the more intimate greetings of some species and was happy to receive it, but he knew it wasn't always the best for him to indulge in.

"Welcome," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," Oren replied, taking the opportunity to set the bag with the tattoo kit onto a nearby surface. Putting his hands on his hips, Oren looked up at Jynn, lined eyes narrowing with his smile. "Nervous?"

"Seriously," Jynn questioned with a broad grin and eyes that almost seemed to question the sanity of the speaker before him. A moment later and he clapped his hands together. "Of course not!"

"Hey." Oren raised his hands up in mock defense. "Just checking to make sure," he said. "So..." he trailed off, running a hand through his slicked back hair. In an honestly, he'd been hoping Jynn would be slightly more hesitant as Oren was nervous himself. Mostly about showing his designs off. He hoped Jynn would like at least one.

"So," Jynn mimicked Oren's trailing. "So which one first," he exclaimed. "My back or my shoulder? We can do the shoulder first, then I can get more comfortable!"

"Whatever you want, it's our tattoo," Oren pointed out, reaching up to gently rub under his right eye. His nervousness had started to make him feel like he was sweating and he didn't want his eyeliner to smudge so early in the evening. "Did you have a particular spot in mind that's more comfortable for you? Maybe the couch?" Oren motioned to the item.

"Sure. That will work fine. Ready?"

"Of course. First we'll need for you to pick a design. I drew a few things that you can look at."

As Oren replied Jynn walked over to the couch and disrobed for him, exposing the entirety of the canvas he was about to work on. He sat down on the couch with an excited bounce and looked up into his eyes. "Lets get started! Shoulder first. Fitting since we are on board right now."

Oren nodded, taking the kit from the nearby table and moving over to where Jynn was sitting. The El-Aurian settled his smaller frame on the couch next to him, pulling out the paDD he'd brought.

"So, these are a few of the designs for the Galileo," he narrated, scrolling through the images on the paDD to find the right ones. Finally, he settled on an image of the Galileo, done with clear lines.

"This one is pretty classic," Oren explained, moving to the next one quickly. "What do you think of this one?" he suggested, showing him a watercolor design, done in a style he hoped Jynn would recognize as being slightly Deltan, with loose lines and lively, contrasting colours while keeping to the general design of the Nova class.

"I get to choose? Normally I don't see the work until after it is completed upon me," Jynn stated in true form for someone not keen on caution. "I must say, though, that you obviously know your cultures. I'll take that one," he said as he pointed to the more than slightly Deltan drawing. "Fitting, a distinctively Deltan vessel set free amongst the stars."

"Well, I'd be a very lousy anthropologist if I didn't know my cultures," Oren said, loading the design into the stencil maker. And a lousy microbiologist, he thought momentarily, amused at the play on words as he watched the stencil appear.

"Good thing you're basically hairless otherwise getting all of these tattoos would mean a lot of shaving," the El-Aurian told him, smiling as he disinfected the area where the tattoo would be. That done, he carefully applied the stencil. Thankfully, his hands were steady now, which was a welcome relief to how they'd been shaking during his practice runs in the holodeck.

Jynn took a moment to relax himself and as he did he took a moment to further study Oren with all his available senses. He certainly smelled as lovely as he looked, and the makeup he had applied was certainly unexpected for a male of his species, but it looked most stunning on him. He had the urge to feel him again, as well, but in the middle of being tattooed was probably not the best time to be moving around.

He watched intently as the stencil was applied. It had been done a thousand times before, but he still liked to watch the entire process as it unfolded from start to finish. With a couple hours work his body would be forever changed again.

Pulling away the material slowly, Oren smiled at the sight of the stencil on Jynn's skin, a preview of the image he'd be working on. Seeing it somehow relaxed him and Oren felt the nervousness he'd felt all day slip away. In fact, as he filled the ink caps, he could barely remember why he was nervous in the first place.

"Alright, I'm going to start the outline. Ready?"

"Ready!"

Chuckling at the Deltan's enthusiasm, Oren finally turned the machine on and the faint, buzzing noise filled the room. Shifting one last time in an effort to get comfortable Oren set about his work, pressing the needle against Jynn's skin to apply the ink into the skin.

Jynn flinched instinctively at the sudden needling, but was obviously not bothered much by it. Truth be told he could have silenced the sharp and dull pains at any moment, but he was not one to deprive himself of any sensations. He watched intently as Oren began writing upon him. Looking into Oren's beautifully decorated eyes he continued their conversation with a smile. "You know, I've never seen a male El-Aurian wear any makeup before, and I must say, it's most stunning. It looks absolutely lovely on you," he spoke, unable to remove his gaze.

Oren said nothing until he finished the line he was work on, and then raised his green eyes to meet Jynn's. Raising his working hand, Oren wiped away the blood and excess ink as he spoke.

"Thank you, but technically you still haven't seen a male wear make up," the El-Aurian explained before going back to work on another line.

"Really," Jynn questioned in a rather confused tone. He took a moment to study Oren further as he allowed the feelings of confusion to process and settle in. The examination was proving rather ineffective. He did he best not to move but now he just had to know what he meant. "I do believe the crew refers to you as a male and I'm sure this would not go uncorrected by you where you female," he said with a pause before smirking. "Unless you're the least confrontational person in existence! What exactly do you mean?"

"I would correct them if I cared that much" Oren explained, making sure Jynn's skin was taut as he worked. "But I've learned it's best to just let people believe whatever they want." He shifted in his seat slightly glancing up at Jynn briefly.

"Well, what do you prefer to go by," Jynn asked as he set a hand on Oren's lap. "Rather than use pronouns that may or may not be correct and may or may not make you uncomfortable, I would certainly rather use a term that you would be happy with." He patted Oren's leg gently before continuing. "I'm nothing if not accommodating."

Oren smiled, pausing in his work to look up at Jynn once again. "I would prefer people use my name, instead of he or she," the El-Aurian revealed. In truth, Oren felt warmed and slightly relieved by Jynn's offer. "But, after so many years of 'he' and 'she', I'm not uncomfortable with either. People use 'he' a lot more now than they did fifteen years ago." With a shrug, Oren went back to work on the rest of the outline.

"Thank you, Oren. You can be sure I will refer to you by your name whenever I can," he said with a smile as he closed his eyes to relax for a bit, allowing Oren to concentrate on the work to be done and taking time to feel the needles motions as they went over his shoulder.

Almost ten minutes passed in silence as Oren worked, quietly contemplating the exchange with Jynn. As he finally finished the outline, he wiped at the tattoo before leaning back to check his handiwork.

Jynn opened an eye to peek out at Oren as he paused, examining the expression on his face for all apparent emotions as he set about his work.

Changing the needle to one for shading and coloring, Oren watched Jynn for a second before speaking.

"Thank you," he said quietly, filling another ink cap.

With nothing more than a smile in reply Jynn closed his eye once more, allowing the many thoughts within his head to continue their flow through his consciousness. Normally the silence would no doubt have been broken by him already, but he allowed himself a few more moments of quiet. There was plenty of time.

Smirking at him, Oren went back to work, filling in the tattoo.

Jynn was sure to let Oren know he was still conscious and participating by flinching a little as the tattooing continued.

Another hour or so passed between them, the silence occasionally filled with random small talk. Eventually, with one final swipe, Oren was finished. Sighing, he leaned back and stared at his work in silence. In fact, it felt exhilarating to know that he'd marked someone more or less permanently. He was reminded of just how intimate the experience could be.

A few moments of quiet anticipation passed then Jynn opened his eyes to examine what was no doubt the finished product of Oren's hard work. An instant later and he was absolutely beaming. "My new home," he practically shouted. "I love it, Oren. You certainly know how to leave a mark," he said as he interrupted himself with a laugh.

Oren smiled back, happy that Jynn was satisfied. "I'm glad you like it." Sighing, Oren stood up to stretch slightly, working the ache out of his limbs.

"Do you want anything from the replicator? Something to replenish your fluids." Without waiting for an answer, Oren walked to the replicator and, a minute later, came back with a tall glass of sugary juice.

Taking the glass that had been brought to him and sipping it slowly, Jynn thanked Oren with another pleasant smile. "What a wonderful time for a break. Is there anything you would like to know or talk about? I'm all ears, which I suppose is why I've been told I'm a good listener."

"You and me both," Oren replied, shrugging a bit before settling down next to Jynn once again. "Was it hard for you?" he asked out of curiosity. "To leave Delta?" He knew how difficult it was for Deltan's to venture off of their planet, away from their kind and having to live with so many restrictions.

"Very. I sometimes see myself going back, though to deny my spirit the freedom it desires seems more harsh than the limitation that is placed upon me." Jynn want quiet for a moment as he thought about the restriction. The oath he had taken and not more than a few days ago had broken. The thought of doing lasting damage had weighed heavy on Jynn in these moments of quiet as he thought of how easily he had lost control. "It's for everyone's safety, I suppose. We Deltans are a dangerous bunch when we set out for love," he spoke as he grinned a half-hearted grin.

Oren offered a reassuring smile, reaching over to put his hand on Jynn's. "I wouldn't say you're dangerous," he pointed out, giving his hand a squeeze. "It's hard adapting to a culture that isn't your own, and physiologies that are different than yours." To tell the truth, Oren could only sympathise.

"I was born on Bajor, but it was hard for me even there. Then I left to Betazed and it wasn't comfortable there either." Oren shrugged, sipping his own glass of soda. "I never really fit in, so I know it's hard to be different."

I guess it's just difficult knowing that the closer I find myself to someone the closer I am to potentially ruining their lives," he spoke with a saddened look in his eyes. "Tinaro. Rebecca. Rheneas. Tuula..." He paused with a heavy sigh. "Tuula... And even you, Oren. A brief slip of the mind and a moment of passion later and anyone could become insane, comatose, or something else simply because I want to love."

Oren nodded, but kept his hand on Jynn's hoping it at least showed the man that Oren wasn't wary or afraid of him.

"I know it's hardly a consolatiom but, I've been around a few Deltans before and, even when they lost control of their pheromones, nothing ever happened between us. It was a little uncomfortable physically but I really felt no urge to do anything," Oren explained. Back then he'd actually asked the Deltans he'd worked with to try to inflience him to sate his curiosity, hoping.it might perhaps spark some kind of interest. But all he'd gotten was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach and a disapproving look from the Head Researcher.

"What I'm saying is that, it takes two and I don't think you should take all the blame should something happen. People don't understand Deltans. I don't understand either," Oren admitted, offering Jynn a sheepish look.

"Thank you, Oren. It does help to get some outside perspective at times. Especially since I, or all Deltans really, are rather quiet about such matters." Jynn rolled over to lay face down, setting his face to the side facing outward from the couch. Part of him wanted to bury his face in the couch, but he knew talking with his new friend could only help. "If it makes you feel any better, I sometimes do not understand Deltans," he said with a bit of a smirk.

"If it make you feel better, I don't understand El-Aurians," Oren replied, putting another needle into the tattooing machine. Adding more ink into the caps, Oren downed the rest of his drink before scooting towards Jynn. "Do you want to look at the designs I made for the Atlas? Or should I surprise you?"

A slight smile returned to Jynn's face. It wasn't even a question to him, though he did like choosing the first one. A little more thought out than his usual spontaneous and risk-taking self, though he was sure Oren would have picked the same one had he not. "I already picked one, which I must say doesn't happen often. I'll let you pick the next one. I have no doubt I will be pleased with the results."

"No pressure," Oren joked, printing out the stencil of his chosen design and pressing it against Jynn's skin. "I'm going to have to sit on you," he warned, realising that there was no comfortable position for him that would allow an hour long session of work.

Jynn made a slight adjustment to make himself comfortable more in the sense of being used as a piece of furniture for someone else than for himself. "Hop on. I've been told I'm very comfortable." He paused in a moment of thought. "Or maybe that was comforting" he finished with a quiet snicker.

Smiling, Oren stared at Jynn for a moment, trying to find the right position that wouldn't be too awkward for either of them. Eventually, he straddled the Deltan's thigh, but kept his weight off him as he tried to settled down enough to begin working.

"This one won't be a Deltan design," Oren told him after almost a half hour of comfortable silence.

A feeling of warmth and comfort seemed to fill Jynn's very soul. What an intimate experience to have someone leave a permanent mark upon your body. Upon your life. He knew that whatever design Oren had picked would be perfect. "So, what's your inspiration with this one," he questioned, though he was sure he knew the answer.

"Um...I've always loved designs like, trash polka, watercolor and sketch-work, so I'm using those kinds of styles. The history of the Sovereign class makes those styles fit," Oren explained, focusing on the fine points of the nacelles.

It was an unexpected answer for Jynn, though that itself was enough to make him even more excited. He was familiar with the latter two styles, but the first sounded most alien to him. He tried to picture it in his head, a labor of love as all tattoos where, but one that sounded hastily and randomly drawn and delivered. He wondered how much thought could go into something that sounded so random. Planned chaos? "Sounds exciting," he all but exclaimed as he allowed his more negative emotions to wash away as though they were no longer there.

Oren hummed in agreement, wiping away the ink.

"This style usually goes with black and red, but I'm using blue and gray so that it doesn't class too much with the rest of your body," Oren explained after another half hour of companionable silence.

"So...have you always been so direct? I mean, even for a Deltan?" Oren asked, looking down at Jynn's profile as he changed to another needle.

"Always. Some times too much so. I suppose it's just in my nature." Jynn was still as a stone, enjoying one of the few experiences he loved that didn't involve constant movement, though his mind was certainly still moving at a lightning pace. "I hope it doesn't bother you."

"Not at all," Oren replied with a smile, huffing to get blow back some of the stray hairs that had fallen onto his forehead. "I like it, actually. People tend to be too subtle, but I guess I can't complain considering I'm not a very direct person either. Especially when it comes to my feelings. I envy your outspokenness."

"I prefer things to be in the open. Perhaps it's my adventurousness but I prefer to leave little to guessing. Besides, I find it all comes out in the end. Being direct just seems like so much less trouble." Jynn's mind started to wander again. That was always his way and he found it rather unsettling that he had begun to keep parts of his life secret. It certainly made sense why, but it was almost anathema to his existence.

"It is," Oren agreed, nodding despite that fact that Jynn couldn't really see him. "That said, a lot of different species don't like it. That's why I like Tellarites. They're a little too honest, but I admire that in a species," he said with a smile.

"Almost done," Oren added in an excited tone.

Maybe Oren was right. Maybe Jynn was 'almost done.' He shook his head, shaking off the thoughts. That's obviously not what he meant. But it seemed news traveled fast on such small ships. 'Rumors at Warp Speed' or some such poetic phrase, perhaps? Maybe it wouldn't hurt to talk to someone whose race was known more for their wisdom and less for their spontaneity. There wasn't much time left to talk. Because he's almost done tattooing he reaffirmed his thoughts that he was not, in fact, done for.

"I have a secret..."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Oren Idris
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Jynn
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

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