[He huffs a breath, smile softening, eyes rolling.]

Yeah, recklessness. Death wishes. Those're things my lab partner would have accused me of. [And maybe Hermann's right, like, a little. But it's not all just that, okay? Alright, maybe he's bitter and a touch childish right now; they just kind of had another little spat.] I'll admit, I wanted to know what was in their heads. I was ready to rush into it, and whatever happened happened. But it's not like I did it just because of my morbid curiosity... I really believed in my work.

[He gives a pause.]

I was actually thinking, depending on how long I'm here — like, if I run into any cool aliens out in space, I could fill in my back. You know? Ah, here — I'll show you! [He seems super eager, though there's a tentative caution in his words. This is uuuusually around the spot where people think he's a weirdo or think it's badass. But as he takes off his shirt and shows the intricate chest piece that engulfs every inch of the front of him, he turns himself slightly, points over his shoulder to the bare back, which is instead littered top to bottom in pale brown freckles instead of ink.]

It's a blank slate! Figured maybe I'll find more interesting creatures out here.

I just need to find a good tattoo artist. There's gotta be some good ones out there in the vast reaches of space.