A gentlemanly tattoo

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

Hello everyone. I was thinking about the fashionableness of tattoos recently after looking at a colleague's arm (he likes old-fashioned tatts) and doing this quiz:

http://www.blogthings.com/whattatooshouldyougetquiz

(My result was that I should have initials - not that I'd have anything, but I think it suits me).

I can almost imagine Bertie perking up at the idea of something so unsuitable, and Jeeves' reaction. Do you think RJ in beautiful copperplate script and the colour of Jeeves' eyes in a place that a gentleman never shows in public would be too outrageous even for our bad taste boy? 'Property of R. Jeeves' might be too vulgar, after all, Bertie is well-bred. And he wouldn't risk it unless they were 'outed' and forced to flee, but still.

I have silly ideas sometimes. What a story it would make, ha ha. Anyone like to write it, if game enough? ☻

Comments

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

Heh. It said I should get a full body tattoo because I shouldn't have just one. (I currently have two rather intricate ones anyway and have been contemplating more.)

I don't think Jeeves would let Bertie get one at all! Tattoos were at that time so much more associated with disreputable characters like sailors and criminals that even if Bertie saw one and thought it was the spiffiest thing ever, Jeeves's absolute horror would probably put him off it.

Even now, my mom is a little put off by the fact that I have tattoos. Her attitude is, "what are people going to say when you're an old lady in a old folks' home?"

I said, "Mom, when I'm that old, the kids taking care of me will have way more tattoos than I do." This sort of gave her pause. I mean, mom loves me and all, but she does think I'm a weirdo.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

I have to agree. Tattoos were unacceptable for "respectable" folk until after WWII, when military men came home with them. for a nobleman, well. Flattering or not, Jeeves would have a heart attack! I think he'd be put off, since he's so old fashioned.

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

Really? Wow. I had no idea. Thanks for that. It's fascinating! But yeah, still, Jeeves would probably nix it from the start, like all those other fashionable things Bertie loves so much. ;)

[storyfan.livejournal.com]

It seems to me there's a very short AU fic wherein Bertie does have a tattoo. I could be dreaming, though.

I have two tats myself and will likely get more. They're addictive, so if Bertie ever got one, I doubt he'd stop there!

[dogwoodblossom.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of that scene in the film version of The Importance of Being Ernest where we see that the woman who insists that she could never marry a man called anything but Ernest has gone and gotten his name tattooed on her ass.

[katelynna10000.livejournal.com]

I WAS TOTALLY GOING TO WRITE THE SAME EXACT THING! This is why I always read the comments before commenting.

Yes, I quite like Gwendolin getting a tattoo. I also liked the idea of Anunt Augusta being a dace hall girl! Like mother like daughter- perhaps?

[mxdp.livejournal.com]

Looks likeI I should get a full body tattoo lol.
There should be more fic but I imagine it's going to be hard to do better than Romanshoes did :)

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

Mine says I should get an Asian inspired tat. Not unless I have someone I know and trust to make sure it's doesn't actually say 'Pasty white girl trying to add mystique by bogarting Asian words'

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

There is this Chinese bar in my town, and one night we were drinking with this guy who was showing off his new tattoo. He said it said "strength" in Chinese and Jackson, the bartender, kept giving it this funny look and finally said, yes, it did mean 'strong' but that character had a feminine connotation, as in you'd only use it for a girl. So we called the poor guy Wonder Woman for the rest of the night.

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

And that's what I want to avoid;p

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. LOL, Erynn and Trista! You may have a point, Erynn. Tattoos can be quite artistic.

I suppose I had the idea that Bertie would shock Jeeves by coming home with a tattoo, so it would be a fait accompli, but I didn't think to mention that.

Today we gathered around to admire a colleague's arm. She has a tattoo of the eye of Horus, or Ra, I think they're the same, with a radiating pyramid, you know, all the mysticism. She had it brightened and darkened so it stands out more. It took three hours. I don't know how people stand the pain!

An occasional fancy of mine is that some people might get tattoos that they are entitled by blood to wear, e.g. relating to their clan. I can imagine erudite students having a party, having a few too many and going to a tattoo parlour.

Now I must follow up those links you have posted. I am on dial-up, so it takes me a bit longer.

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

It does hurt, but probably not as much as you'd imagine. It's certainly more than the "tickle" that the linked Victorian article suggests!

Both of mine took several sessions to do, between outlining and color. They're both on my chest and have great significance for me. I intend to get others at some point, but it's expensive and I have to save up for them. Both of them are a combination of Native Northwest and Celtic knotwork styles with a slight Asian influence, one depicting a salmon, the other a raven.

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

I thought about getting a tattoo of a kind of open circle, with four stick and a head, a simplistic but stylized turtle, just to see if I could stand something more complex. If I could, then I'd have it developed into the image I want. Even have a cousin that runs a tattoo parlor outside Chicago, who'd give me discount, you know, if I drove the 8 hours up there. The final design is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Yes, I know. But it means a lot to me:) shell with crossed sai and a Celtic trinity knot in each of the pieces that make up the shell. But where would I put it? That's the question that's holding me up.

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

On your back or midriff, possibly? Back is a large area, but you may want to see it as well. Lower back is a popular area, so teens and 20s can show off their tatts between their fashionable cropped tops and hipsters.

Celtic knots look stunning, though I haven't found out what they mean. I'm sure there is a meaning if I care to look for it.

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia, darling! It's the modern girl's Jeeves. Celtic knots and links to artist sites with meanings. I got these Trinity knot earrings when I was in Ireland, a lifetime ago, and they mean a lot to me. I had a friend with long hair, who had her tattoo on the back of her neck. So if she wanted to show it off, she wore her hair up, if not, down with the hair. But I have short hair, and lumps in unfortunate places. Well, anybody could call them fat rolls;) And I'm pretty sure I was never a teenager. I was born old. Oh, and if you're at the library or something where you get high enough speed to look at pretty pictures, wikipedia the Book of Kells. It's a Bible written in Gaelic with Celtic knots.

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

Well...I wouldn't trust Wikipedia too much, as anyone can contribute to it, therefore it might be wrong. However, it can be a ready source of useful information.

I had never heard of the Book of Kells, so I looked it up. Stunning images, so beautiful! If I wasn't on dial-up, I would have explored further, but I may indeed find something at my library, in a book even. I am glad this centuries-old treasure is still around and still in good shape. Very interesting.

Now I am interested in Celtic knot earrings myself. :) I think they would suit me. I like earrings.

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia is a starting point, it's just so handy! I watch Colbert Report, it's great, he tells people to go in and change things all the time. Told people to change the entry on 'Bells' to reflect Palins latest confused rant. But they have good references to follow up on.

I have tons of earrings, love 'em too!