Star Trek Imagines (Reader-Inserts) Part Two

Ent. Shran - Blue Boy

A/N: For anyone who isn't familiar with the painting mentioned in this, I added a picture to this chapter.

You squinted at your painting, trying to figure out just what it needed to be finished. "Maybe a bit more shadowing here," you murmured to yourself, dipping into the paint on your pallet.

Your doorbell rang and you frowned. "Just a second," you called out, putting your pallet and brush down onto your desk. When you went and opened your door, you were greeted by Commander Shran.

"Y/L/N," he said. "Archer suggested you and I go over these reports before I return to my ship." He looked down at your clothing, clearly noticing all of the paint stains on your clothes.

You smiled slightly. "Yeah, sure. Sorry about my appearance, I was working on a new piece."

"I didn't realize you appreciated the arts," he mused with an intrigued look in his eyes.

"Yeah, I like to paint in my free-time. If you want to look over those in the mess-hall I can clean up and be there in a few minutes."

"That won't be necessary," Shran said. "Why not just go over them here? You have a desk, yes?"

"Well, yeah," you replied slowly. "But it's covered in art supplies..."

He smiled. "No matter. A little mess never hurt anyone."

"It would be impolite of me to invite you into my quarters when they're not clean," you said nervously, not wanting him to see what you had been working on.

Shran's antennae twitched. "You don't want me to enter your quarters."

"It's not that, I just... the painting... it's not done yet and I don't want anyone to see it until it's done." You bit your lip, hoping he'd accept that.

"I have an eye for art. I'd be happy to give you advice about it," he said and stepped into your quarters before you could stop him.

"Shran—"

"Is that me?" he asked in a low voice as he took in your painting.

You cringed and moved further into your room, the door shutting behind you. "Um. No?"

Shran stared at the man in the painting that was obviously him. It was a version of "Blue Boy" by Gainsborough only instead of the boy being human, it was Shran.

"You are a remarkable artist," he said, looking over the intricate details of the piece.

"Thank you," you replied meekly. "It's uh... it's based on an old Earth painting called Blue Boy."

Shran's antennae straightened. "Blue Boy? Hm. A Pink Skin painting an Andorian. That must be a first."

"You're not mad?" you asked hesitantly.

He looked at you. "Why would I be mad? It's an honour to be immortalized in your painting. And to have it be based on a famous Pink Skin painting makes it even better."

You sighed in relief. "Thank God. I honestly don't know why I painted this... It just kind of came to me."

"If you wish to paint me again, I'd be happy to model for you," Shran said with a slight smile. "I feel like I owe you something for that painting."

"Oh, no, that's not necessary."

"I insist. I don't like being in anyone's debt," he said. "Even if I wasn't meant to see this, you still put in a lot of effort and I think you would be rewarded for that. How about dinner on my ship tomorrow evening?"

You smiled. "How can I refuse an offer like that?"