Star Trek: Starbase 777 - skin-deep-tattoo

Chyun-Maiell was wandering around the promenade area searching for a place to get his tattoos touched up. Chyun couldn't care less about if his tattoos faded, but Maiell had too much Romulan pride to let them fade. When the two were merged, the tattoos stayed but they were faded. He soon stumbled upon a tattoo parlor! Maiell stepped through the doorway and looked around for someone to talk to. Today's outfit was Chyun's idea, a very plain looking blue jeans/white t-shirt combo, a classic look. His hair was slicked back to show off his diamond forehead tattoos and the two-pronged cheek tattoos that traced the shape of his breather.

She’d been arranging inks in the back of her shop, as she was still moving in as she got shipments of things from Earth, when she heard the chime of her computer letting her know that a customer had arrived. She quickly pleeced up the equipement, did a quick check to make sure her simple outfit of a low-cut t-shirt, black leather leggings and tall, heavily buckled black leather boots were clean and arranged, before heading out, greeting the very tall individual with a bright smile, a sharp contrast to her style. “Sup dude! Welcome to Skin Deep Tattoo! The raddest tattoo parlor on the whole Starbase! Also, the only tattoo shop on the station!” She said with a chuckle, nodding excitedly. “I’m Dani Baldwin, the owner! What can I do for you today?” She asked enthusiastically.

Chyun was ambivilent about the leather, but it peaked Maiell's interest. The buckles on the boots were very appealing, but Maiell the Romulan was a big fan of too many buckles. Chyun-Maiell waved to the tattoo artist and laughed at the intro. He wasn't sure what "raddest" meant as it was not very well translated through his UT, but the woman was right about the only tattoo parlor. "Jolan tru, my name is Chyun-Maiell, yes, double name, I am here to get my tattoos touched up," Chyun said as he turned is head to the side so Dani could see the tattoos on his cheeks and then pointed to his forehead where he had the typical Barzan T-shaped ridges. With his pointed ears, it was easy to assume he was fully Romulan, the breather was Barzan, but it wasn't like assistive breathing devices were especially uncommon. "And perhaps get some new ones, depending on what method you use," In a very salacious Romulan move, Chyun stretched out his hands to show the unadorned backs and palms.

Dani took in the unique tattoos, impressed by the level of artistic flare and skill that the artist had used, along with how well they seemed to suit Chyun-Maiell. With a bright grin and excited nod she responded. "Well Chyun-Maiell, let me just say first that your tattoos are HELLA badass! And, I've got to ask who did the work for them! And, I'm versed in quite a few methods, but my like, preferred for clients is the modern electro-static print method! It's like, totally not that painful, and can be removed super easy if you end up wanting to change it or get rid of it down the road! I can like, totally do more traditional methods too!"

Chyun smiled proudly when the artist complimented his tattoos. He was happy that she liked them, even Chyun appreciated the compliment. It was weird to both enjoy and be dissatisfied with his tattoos at the same time. They were a part of him and slowly but surely he was coming around to accept Maiell's fashion choices which was why he was here. He tilted his head slightly at the term 'HELLA badass', he assumed they were compliments. "I originally got these stick and poke, but I am fine with a machine. I plan to keep these permanently, they hold deep cultural significance," Chyun explained to the artist. "And for my hands, I have a few inspiration photos I can show you. Essentially I want them to match my face tattoos," although face tattoos were Romulan tradition, tattoos elsewhere were not, including hands. Chyun just liked the idea of more tattoos, partially inspired by their conspirator. "And just black. For my face and backs of my hands and wrists how much will it be? If it's too expensive all now, can just do my face and I'll come back later for my hands," Chyun told her with a smile. He didn't have a ton of money, but he had some.

During her apprenticeship, she’d taken the time and studied the tattoo cultures of every major power in the Federation and nearby, and because of this, wasn’t surprised to hear that Chyun-Maiell would want to keep them given their significance, something that she knew the Aenar also held in common. She grinned happily at Chyun’s mention of reference photos, always glad when clients knew exactly what they had in mind, because turning those ideas into reality was one of the most gratifying, and significant part of her profession. “Oooo reference photos! Lay them on me dude!” She said, excited to see what he’d thought of. “I can totally do that! And, you’re like, my first in-house customer, so it’s on the house! I’m totally grateful you chose me to do your tats my guy!” She said, nodding along as she waved her hand in a ‘no worries’ gesture. “Sky’s the limit too, so don’t worry about it being too expensive! I want you to get what you want!”

Chyun smiled at the artist's excitement and pulled out his PADD so he could get the pictures up. He had a few images of Romulan clothing patterns, the little triangles, various simplified versions of the Republic emblem. Different types of wings and of course, warbird photos. "I was thinking maybe these shapes from my forearm to my knuckles or something?" Chyun explained, not entirely sure how the design would look on him, but he thought the patterns were cool and Maiell approved so maybe this would help him with his self confidence. And if he really didn't like it, coverups or removal were not impossible. "Oh and are you sure? I have no problem paying you, I understand tattooing is an art form and a luxury. It isn't like something necessary to live like healthcare or food," Chyun handed the PADD to Dani so she could get a better look at the patterns.

Dani took a moment to look over the different images, getting a good sense of what he was looking for, nodding enthusiastically at his idea for placement. “Oh man! Those would look sick as hell dude! Yeah, I could like, totally see it! You’ll have potential conspirators flinging themselves at you left and right!” She said with a chuckle, knowing someone as pretty as Chyun was likely had to beat people off with a metaphorical stick all the time. “Nah dude! I’m glad to do it pro bono! Especially because these have so much significance!” She said, before pulling out her PADD. “So when are you thinking of getting all this done? I can get you in pretty much any time, it’s not like I have people beating the doors down here!” She said deadpan for a second before breaking out into a laugh.

Maiell gave a cheeky smile at the idea of increasing his rizz with his cool new tats, whilst internally Chyun was unsure if he wanted all that attention. Chyun-Maiell laughed and snapped his fingers. "When that happens, I'll make sure to drop your name so everyone knows who my artist is," Chyun said with a wink and a laugh. "Pro bono? No, I'm a pulmenologist, I work with lungs, anything related to the respiratory system. I am not in orthopaedics," Chyun responded, catching the word weirdly through his UT. "Well I'm free now if that's okay, I really wanted to get this done soon. I kinda.. wanna reinvent myself I suppose you could say," Chyun explained as he put his PADD back in his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't really know how to say that he wanted to switch up his look because his two halves still hated each other and this would be the only thing they agreed would make them both happy.

“Oh dude for real? Thank you! I’d totally appreciate it! Tryna’ get some clients here!” She said with a chuckle at the wink, glad that someone would be putting the word out there for her, after all, all it takes is some good word of mouth to build up a customer base. She chose not to comment on the epic UT fail, knowing that with her particular dialect it happened quite often, and if someone got atleast the jist of what she was saying, that was a win. “Oh totally! I’d be so down to do it now!” She exclaimed, excited to get to work so soon. With a wave, she gestured for Chyun to follow her back to the actual tattooing area. “Just this way and we can get everything prepped dude! If you like to send me those designs I can get them loaded as a reference too!”

"Of course, I appreciate your services," Chyun said with a nod as he followed the nice artist towards the tattoo area. He quickly sent over his references, assuming he could just address them to the tattoo parlor, although he knew the artists name so he could have also sent it to her. Well, the pictures would get to her either way. "What shall we start on first? And I only want black ink. I had considered white but black is traditional. I don't think my face tattoos will take very long but oh, my breather!" When Maiell got his face tattoos, he was fully Romulan so there was no breather to worry about as he didn't need it. However for Chyun-Maiell he did have the apparatus to worry about. He put his PADD hastily back into his pocket and began to feel the little buttons that released the breather's arms. "For the cheeks, I was thinking I can remove the arm for the side we are currently doing and keep the arm on the other. I will get les Barzan air but if I know how long the touchup will be ai can mentally prepare myself to be low on gases for a bit."

“Well, thankfully with the modern print method, it only takes like, five to ten seconds, so like, if you can hold your breath that long you’re golden dude!” She said with a soft grin and a nod, before checking her PADD to download the references he sent over. After loading the references into the tattoo printer, she gestured for Chyun-Maiell to take a seat on the large, red faux-leather that looked comfortable, but functional and went about sanitizing her hands. “Let’s do the face first! It will be the most uncomfortable, but like, won’t take very long! We can do the arms next, though they’ll take a little longer!”

Chyun sat down on the tattoo bed or whatever it was called. It was good to hear that modern methods would only take a few seconds, his tattoos were done with a traditional Romulan inking method akin to the ol' stick and poke. It was cool cor Maiell, a full Romulan, but Chyun-Maiell had his breather. He reached his hands behind his ears to unhook the clasps and then clicked the two clasps on his face that held the bars in place. With a big deep breath he removed one of the arms, leaving the other where it was. A few seconds with less air wasn't going to kill him, he could actually breathe M-Class air, not for long but a few minutes before he began to get lightheaded. His movements were deliberate and slow, making sure to be careful removing his breather. With the arms removed, now Dani could see his cheek and his round cheek implant. Unfortunately, that was permanent, but it wasn't very large at all so hopefully it wouldn't be too much trouble. "Try not to inhale too close to me, the air out of my breather is toxic to most other species," He warned as he held his detached breather arm facing downward so any air inside would shoot towards the floor and not up at the artist.

She nodded and quickly took a seat on a rolly stool opposite of Chyun, before starting the pre-heat sequence for the printer. With a calm smile, she nodded at her client and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “Ready dude?”

"Yep, ready," Chyun felt very odd only having one arm of his breather in place. He never realised just how the ambient air smelled. It wasn't unpleasant but it was different from the scent of the gases he breathed in. Chyun sat perfectly still to let the artist work and he was also trying to breathe. Maiell was good at sitting still, but Chyun was more jittery. At least the artist was nice, he thought. Chyun sat with perfect posture and his eyes forward, looking very focused.

With a nod, she activated the tattoo printer, and held it over the area, enjoying the telltale humm of the device. Since she’d started in the industry, she always found immense satisfaction in utilizing all the various different tools of the trade, finding it fascinating how many different ways that cultures across the stars had developed to cover one’s body with art. Chyun would feel a warm, tingling sensation on his face for several seconds, before a single frosty gust, and then, just as quick as it had started, the device whined slightly and shut off. Dani was quick to set the printer off to the side, and bring up a mirror so that her client could see the results. “Looks great dude!”

Modern tattoo tech was amazing and Chyun didn't even feel the application. Before he knew it, the tingling sensation was gone and he saw his reflection in the mirror. He was still trying to get used to how he looked, but he was satisfied with the result nonetheless. He put his breather arm back on his face and smiled. "Thanks! We can do the other side now, I like the tone," Chyun said as he adjusted the metal device back into place and clicked it into the implant on his cheek. He then unhooked the other side of his breather, getting ready to do it again.

“Radical!” She said, happy he was glad with the result, before moving over to do the other side, repeating the same process. And just like that it was done and over, as she gestured for Chyun to check out the result. “Look good? I think we can move on if so!” She beamed, clearly in her element.

Chyun stayed still whilst the artist worked on the other side and once that was done he put the breather arm back in place and smiled when he looked into the mirror. Chyun was Barzan was still a little upset that his 'normal' face now had these very harsh and imposing black lines, but Maiell was thoroughly satisfied with the outcome. He thought they were a perfect homage to both his Romulan and Barzan sides and was confused why Chyun seemed to dislike it. The cheek tattoos were put under his breather arms specifically to reference Chyun's breather, but alas, can't please everything. The next set of tattoos were something that Chyun was looking forward to though. Barzans did not have a specific tattooing tradition, but just like the rest of the galaxy, it was not uncommon for people to decorate their body with designs. "It looks good, I'm ready for the hands," Chyun said as he held out both hands for the tattoo artist. "I don't want them exact copies of each other uhh, similar style, but I think a little asymmetry would give them more life and character."

She threw him a bright smile at the praise and listened carefully at what he was wanting with the tattoos on his hands. "Yeah, totally! That would look sick as hell!" At that, she quickly did a few sketches of what she thought Chyun was looking for, before eventually turning the PADD around to show him. "How do these look dude? About right?"

Chyun waited patiently for the artist to draw up the sketches and when she was done he leaned forward to see what she had drawn. It was the exact vibe he was looking for and he nodded to show his approval. "Yeah that looks good!" He gave her a thumbs up and then held out one hand so she could get to work. Finally, something both Chyun and Maiell wanted. Aside from lungs, there were few things the two could agree on.

And with that, Dani set to work, diligently tattooing the designs on Chyun’s hands. A few minutes later, the work was done, and Chyun was sporting some absolutely sick tats. After a bit more conversation, Chyun departed and Dani closed up the shop for a while so she could get some lunch and call her parents.