A surprise visit...

Posted on 16 Sep 2017 @ 8:29pm by Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D.

1,037 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: A cozy home in Tampere
Timeline: MD33, 1900 hours

[ON]

In a small, clean, and smartly decorated dining room in Tampere, Jaana Voutilainen sat at the table with her parents, who she was staying with for a few weeks between assignments. It was a quiet dinner of salmon, potatoes, and steamed vegetables. With Jaana having been in town for several days now, they didn't have too much to talk about and instead were just enjoying each other's company.

"It's nice to have you at home," said Aksel, for the umpteenth time that week. Jaana had always been particularly close to him, and they had spend a lot of time outdoors together over the past few days, just enjoying some daddy-daughter time.

Jaana just smiled between bites of her father's home-cooked salmon. She was about to say something when she was interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. "I'll get it," she called out, setting her fork down before getting up. She didn't know who might be at the door, but nothing could prepare her for the surprise she felt when she opened it.

There at the door was Tuula, in all her deathrock glory. Her green and black mohawk was worn up, revealing multiple ear piercings, and her lipstick was chosen to match the hair. Wearing a leather jacket, she looked just like the last time Jaana had seen her, with only one exception – the runic symbols tattooed on the left side of her neck.

“Surprise!” she exclaimed, rolling through the door into the living room where her three immediate family members stood, frozen in shock.

“Oh my God” Jaana exclaimed as she opened the door and saw her sisters face. “Tuula, what are you doing here!”

"What, I can't visit my family when I get some shore leave?" replied Tuula in the sort of nonchalant tone she would use to torment her sister whenever she would express shock at her latest antics. "I thought it would be a nice surprise; do you not want to see your twin sister or something?"

“Of course I love to see you, you know that!” Jaana said, a little insulted by the suggestion. “I'm just surprised to see you here. Shouldn’t you be on the Galileo? I didn't know the ship was on shore leave.”

"Just got back a few days ago; we had kind of a rough mission," replied Tuula before rolling forward and wrapping her arms around her sister's hips, giving her a big hug. "It's so nice to see you again," she added as she released her sister from her grasp and looked up at her mother and father.

"Would you like something to eat?" asked Aksel, stepping forward before leaning over and giving her daughter a big hug. "I did make some extra salmon."

"Yes, come in, it will be just like old times," added Anya, looking down at her daughter with the mixture of love, shock, and concern about her strange appearance. "I can open a bottle of wine and--" Anya froze for a second as she noticed something she didn't before. "What's that on your neck?"

Jaana looked at what her mother was referring too and her eyes grew large. “No, you didn't. Don't you have enough yet?”

"What?" asked Tuula, oblivious for a moment before remembering the work she had done on her neck a few days before. "Oh, this," she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I got it a few days ago; they're runic symbols for resilience. I thought it was appropriate because... you know..." she added, her voice trailing off. The family didn't need a recap of all the challenges she had faced in her life, and she didn't want to worry Jaana with the details of what happened on the last mission. "Anyways, I think the artist did a good job; wouldn't you agree?"

“I love the symbol, I just wish you would find a less permanent way to display it on your body.” Jaana said after they were all seated at the diner table.

“What’s the point if it just washes off?” countered Tuula, rhetorically, as she rolled up to the kitchen table in the chairless place that was always there for her. She expected the usual pushback from her mother, who had never appreciated her unique style, but was surprised to see Jaana getting in on the criticism as well, especially after their matching tattoos from several months ago. “Besides, I like it, and that’s all that matters.”

“What about your patients!” shot back her mother, still in shock. “How do you think they’re going to react to seeing a neck tattoo on their doctor! How is that professional?!”

“I dunno,” replied Tuula, brushing aside her mother’s criticisms. “Hopefully they’ll think it looks cool.”

“I don’t know what happened to you,” replied Anya, sighing deeply. “You were so pretty, before this obsession with tattos and dressing like death…”

As he placed a plate of food in front of his daughter, Aksel subtly rolled his eyes and looked at Jaana. While he didn’t necessarily appreciate Tuula’s choices, he at least respected them and it broke his heart to see this tension between his wife and his daughter. He didn’t know what to do, and his eyes showed a feeling of frustration and powerlessness.

“Come on, Aiti,” Jaana said. “She is still beautifull.”

As Tuula blushed slightly, Anya paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Jaana was right. Even if Tuula would dress strangely sometimes, she was still her daughter. “I’m sorry…” she started, walking over to her daughter to give her a hug. “I’m proud of you, and everything you do. I just worry sometimes…”

“I know, aiti,” replied Tuula as her mother wrapped her arms around her. “But you shouldn’t; I’m happy.”

After giving her daughter a big hug, Anya pulled away and walked towards the counter. “Can I get you a glass of wine?” she asked, changing the subject. “Anyone need a refill?”

“I think that’s a great idea…”

[OFF]

Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

With a cameo by
Lieutenant (JG) Jaana Voutilainen
Former Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

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