DPP: Mark My Skin

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Fanon tends to portray Lee as a man unlikely to get a tattoo. I think this is very interesting considering that he's never said anything against tattoos - I don't even think he mentions Kara's marriage tattoos at all in canon. There is no evidence, either, that he is without a tattoo in a delicious secret place (although we've been lucky enough to see almost every inch of him).  Maybe Kara can solve the mystery??




Questions for shippers:
1. What types of events would inspire Lee to get a tattoo? What tattoo design might he get? How would Kara react?
3. If Lee and Kara were married in UB, would they get marriage tattoos? Would they be different than those in canon?
5. If Kara got another tattoo related to Lee, what would inspire it? What would be the design? How would Lee react?

Creative Ideas for shippers:
Anyone care to manip a tattoo onto our lovely boy?
Anyone skilled enough to draw the marriage tattoos for our happy couple?
Anyone feel inspired to write a Kara/Lee tattoo-related fic?

Fics?
There are quite a few K/L fics that feature tattoos and I'd love to get links! Give me my tattoo fix, shippers!! (And don't be shy about reccing your own - I know there are some tattoo-related fics hiding out in people's journals or buried in the many pages of the bsg_pornbattle.)

ETA: Don't forget to read (and continue!!) rachelindeed's fic for the videotaped memories post yesterday. Who will continue the story??

Comments

2/2

[kag523.livejournal.com]

Kara spends the next weeks sketching in her notebook. She sits on the stoop of their house in the thin warmth of the Spring sun, pencil in hand, working and reworking the design, her eyebrows pulled together in concentration. Lee waits nervously. When she finally shows it to him, he finds himself smiling; the poignant pull of times past linking with the present. It’s different enough from the emblem of her first marriage that he can accept it without question. Unique enough that it stands on its own.

The image somehow fitting for them both.

The process is unpleasant, and Kara teases him for his squeamishness. Lee grits his teeth and lets the steady throb become his only focus, the repetitive flash-burn of alcohol marking the slow progress. He imagines the pain burning away the ties to the past... to that moment on the table... to the grief over Zak... to his anger with Sam... to his guilt over Dee... to the endless heartaches and betrayals that once defined them... Even to his father. The growing shape of it – like a wound across his skin – one final act of contrition to all of these moments.

And then Kara goes.

He expects for her to laugh and joke with him, but she lays motionless, eyes pressed closed throughout. Her silence reminds him of how pain and suffering is every bit as much a part of her life as her laughter or strength. Her connection to him, a sacrifice every bit as real as his own.

The growing image covers the faded scars, blending into the silvery shapes of her first tattoo and creating their image anew. Partway through, Kara hisses in pain as the buzzing needle digs too deep into the soft flesh of her inner arm and Lee frowns, hating himself for suggesting it. But the process continues, and finally she stands, moving beside him to look at the finished design.

Arm in arm, they can see it appear in the mirror. It’s Aurora, her wings outspread, formed, like Apollo, from the rays of the sun, moving from Kara’s arm and onto his; the centre-point of the design resting over their hearts.

(http://s931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/kag523/?action=view&current=Tatoo-1.jpg)

Re: 2/2

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! Thank you for writing and creating such lovely artwork! I love their angst and their steady movement into stability. I love that they waited until they were sure. Such a beautiful tattoo. *hugs*

Re: 2/2

[kag523.livejournal.com]

You are most welcome! Sorry I wasn't around yesterday. It was a great topic too... but my (work) kids were needy and taking my time. LOL

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[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

Nice work. Beautiful tattoo design.

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[kag523.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

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[nazkey.livejournal.com]

I just commented on your LJ. I love that you've actually done all 3 prompts for this post and so beautifully too!

*bows down to your inexhaustible talent*

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[kag523.livejournal.com]

*hugs* You are awesome! :>)

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[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I love the choice of Aurora for their tattoo! A Fresh Start, indeed.

(Heh, and I liked their fight. Sounded like them. ;)

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[kag523.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm not particularly good at banter, so I'm glad their bitchiness at least worked. ;>D

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[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved this. And I don't even like tatoos. But the story and the manip are beautiful. Loved how they seem to form one single design.

Re: 2/2

[kag523.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so glad then that it worked for you as a story. I actually don't have any tattoos either, but I imagine for Kara it would be very important.

Thanks for the lovely comment! K :>)

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[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

That was so lovely, K! I particularly liked how the actual ritual of tatooing was both a kind of remembrance and cleansing from past guilt and grief. Thank you for sharing!

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[kag523.livejournal.com]

Oh Rachel,
This comment just makes me grin because I do not feel shortfic is my strength. (As opposed to say YOU!!! Telemachus is my all time fave short fiction EVER.) So I am hugely honoured that it rang true.
*hugs*
Thank you for reading! K :>D

Re: 2/2

[wand3rlust.livejournal.com]

Beautiful writing, manip and tattoo. I do like the idea of a clean slate, but that said, I don't think Kara would ever remove the original tattoo. I think she'd find a way to either combine/manipulate the tattoo (sort of like what Angelina Jolie does) or she'd just use another body part.

Re: 2/2

[kag523.livejournal.com]

I don't think Kara would ever remove the original tattoo

I wrote the removal as a response to Lee. My thought being that they've been together long enough that he's obviously asked her about marriage - and she's okay with that - but she doesn't get how much the other tattoo bothers him.

Why do I think this? Because she stopped wearing Zak's ring on her thumb when she married Sam. *shrugs* But personally (as I love Sam) I would have been happy with your direction too. Oh my. Such angst!

Re: 2/2

[wand3rlust.livejournal.com]

Why do I think this? Because she stopped wearing Zak's ring on her thumb when she married Sam.

Good point. Just makes me sad she went through the painful removal process because of their fight. :( But I guess when it's time to let go, it's time to let go. So I can see your thinking there.