OOM: Tattoos

[bigarmy_strangepants]

 Ragnar is sitting in the bar room itself, doodling on a large sheet of paper.

He's drawing stylised birds -- sharp beaks, outstretched wings, claws grabbing. A raven and a dove feature prominently and recognisably; the thirds is a songbird, rising in flight, so probably a lark.

He's not yet content with what he is doing, though.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan comes over and sits with him.

"I thought I was going to be the artist."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"You are," Ragnar says. "This is just doodles, of what I could imagine. I wouldn't want one of these on my skin, as they are."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Perhaps I can use them as a starting point", he suggests. "If this is the kind of thing you want."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says. "Birds, entwined, flying, singing, fighting, just a few lines to each, not a natural bird."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Easier for one of you to trace the lines", he agrees, "when it comes to mine."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says. "And easier for one of you to follow up with awl and mallet when it comes to mine."

[athelstanthescribe]

"The only thing that might keep us from doing that is if it hurt you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Tattoos are supposed to hurt," Ragnar says. "At least a little. And the place I've picked is one where it hurts a lot."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Will you know if it feels wrong? If it's hurting more than it should?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says. "I've had tattoos before -- see, my head is full of them!"

He grins at Athelstan and bends his head, as if to show off the raven ornaments. They have become even more intricate since they last saw each other in their world.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods, studying them. "And you've had one in that place on the other arm? Or close to it?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"No," Ragnar says. "But general experience says that the inside of the biceps a rather painful place to have them. But I don't mind -- it's exactly the right place to have the two of you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Well, you must tell us if it feels wrong."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Definitely will do," Ragnar says. "I thought that maybe with the lark rising out of the dove, with them sharing a few lines..."

He vaguely moves his hand over some of the sketches.

[athelstanthescribe]

"And the other pairs being joined as well somehow?"

He looks at the sketches.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes, that might be good," Ragnar says. "To show they're one, and because it might be an interesting design, nice to look at."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not that anyone but us will see it. And anyone else Sinric goes with - and you could let Lady Lagertha see yours."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Would you not mind if she knew?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not if it was her. You know I always cared for her, and she - I think she wouldn't mind."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Well, I will tell her, then," Ragnar says. "She might laugh at me."

Which he obviously wouldn't mind, to tell from his grin.

[athelstanthescribe]

"How is she?" he asks suddenly.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Married to the earl of Hedeby, an important trading place on par with Ribe or Birka," Ragnar says. "In command of many men and shield-maidens -- especially the latter. But from all I hear, the earl is, well, not quite up to standard as a husband, and has a very nasty streak to his personality. I can't seriously imagine what got into her that she consented to be that man's trophy wife. Perhaps she was still completely pissed off at me when she found him and meant to show me how well she could do without me -- which fell completely flat, as I didn't even hear about it."

[athelstanthescribe]

"...and she's putting up with him being a bad husband?"

That seems unlikely somehow.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I honestly can't imagine why!" Ragnar declares. "It's not my business to doubt her choices, but really -- why?!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'm sure she has her reasons. And the moment those reasons no longer apply, no one will stop her."