Of Scars, Ink, and Bravery

To say Tiadrin was nervous would've been an understatement, an uncomfortable squirming in the pit of her stomach that the almost, captain wasn't a custom too. The annual system defense force commendation ceremony and gala was being held tonight and she was being forced by her own promotion to go. There were two definite problems with this scenario, one Tiadrin absolutely despised the well of gossip and alcohol that was parties and she had a rather gigantic secret in the form of a pretty, cyan haired ink and tattoo artist currently trailing a brush down her cheek.

" Would you quit panicking my starshine!" Caleesa admonished no heat in her words, as she dragged The head of the paint brush over a particularly ticklish patch of skin on the underside of Tiadrin's jaw. "Everything is going to be fine!"

Humming a non-answer in the back of her throat, Tiadrin attempted to move her head back away from the teasing ministrations of her mate, only to suddenly find The little bowl of shimmery, golden paint being thrust into her hands.

"Hold this you incorrigible miscreant, before I decide to leave a different kind of mark on that throat of yours."

Tiadrin allowed her lips to curve up into a slight smirk. "As much as I would enjoy that, my peers and superiors are going to end up scandalized as it is without seeing a love mark above my collar."

"Would it make them feel better if I were to wear a penis?" Caleesa grumbled, gently reaching out with one hand to card fingers through Tiadrin's hair. "I assure you I have no issues with doing so, but I would hate to make all the boys jealous. "

Nearly dropping the bowl in surprise, Tiadrin couldn't help but choke out a startled laugh, feeling her cheeks heat. "And you say I'm the troublemaker in this relationship?"

"Oh if only your crew truly understood just how mischievous you are my pretty Captain!" Grinning, Caleesa tapped Tiadrin on the tip of the nose with the brushes handle, before standing from her place on the bed.  She placed the bowl of paint along with her brushes onto the cloth laid out over the nightstand and padded off toward the lavatory.  "Come on let's wash the excess off your arms, the color should be set in by now."

Rolling her shoulders in order to dissipate some of the tension already building in them, Tiadrin watched with detached appreciation as Caleesa's rather revealing night dress disappeared into the other room. "Come on captain procrastinator! at this rate the party will be over by the time we're both ready."

Not even slightly discouraged by such a prospect, Tiadrin followed reluctantly, feeling more than a bit nauseated.

Several hours later Tiadrin found herself staring at a person in the mirror that she didn't quite recognize. The deep blue top of her dress uniform was there, as was the shoulderlength purple hair scraped back into a neat bun on top of her head. The markings were different though, painted expertly across her face, neck, and arms in bright gold as opposed to her usual more subdued color. Turquoise eyes almost seemed to glow from behind  blue painted lids and her lips were coded in a bright red substance that made them glisten under the harsh lights of the lavatory. Hoping she didn't look too ridiculous Tiadrin pasted on a confident smile that she didn't really feel, afterwards marching out to face the scrutiny of her mate. Almost instantly Caleesa's lavender eyes narrowed and she was across the room in  seconds, gently cradling Tiadrin's face between her hands.

"What's the matter love?" She asked, leaning down in order to briefly touch their foreheads together. "That is your, i'm anxious and uncomfortable but a good captain so I won't show it face, please talk to me!"

Tiadrin opened her mouth to regurgitate one of her typical platitudes, but her emotions had other ideas. " do you think it will be different this time? I thought my parents wouldn't care, but we both know how that turned out... I... I finally feel like I'm where I am meant to be and this is the only thing holding me back, but I can't do it again Cal! I can't go through that again!"