A Request from Pippa, RP for sand_andwater

[gifted_hands]

Tadhg's curiosity pricks at him as he gathers the sketch pad and pencils needed for his next and quite unexpected task. Pippa had called him the day before yesterday and asked if he could stop by his brother's apartment the Monday after their family celebration of Rory's birthday. He'd felt a brief stab of worry that it might have something to do with her injuries, but she'd explained in her soft, proper manner that she was thinking of getting a tattoo. Could he come over so they could discuss the details?

Certainly he can, and so he does.

On his journey to Woodside, Tadhg wonders yet again if Rory knows of Pippa's plan or if she intends the tattoo as a surprise. Certainly bigger brother gave no indication at the party, instead fielding a series of questions about his band's impending first CD release that were by turns excited, concerned and curious. Tadhg didn't bring the subject up himself. Tattoos are an intensely personal matter, and the etiquette that goes with them is equally personal. Pippa is past the age of consent, therefore whatever ink she decides to get stays her own business until she chooses to make it someone else's.

After a careful check, he returns to the daylight world in the stairwell on Rory's floor. He could have just entered the apartment itself, but etiquette also surrounds his use of the powers. When dealing with humans like Pippa, abide by human rules of courtesy as much as possible, which includes use of the front door. He knocks and waits patiently, idly tapping one sneaker-clad set of toes.

Comments

[sand-andwater.livejournal.com]

Pippa had asked Tadhg to meet her at Rory's because it is closer to Cait's in Manhattan than her own apartment on Staten Island. It never occurs to her that the distance isn't really an issue. She's human and she thinks like one. Closer and because she is still trying to clean up her mess from the previous week. Glitter, she mutters to herself as she rushes across the apartment to open the door, is an evil unto itself.

She pops up on tiptoe to check the peephole prior to unlocking the door and opening it. Rory may never worry about answering his front door, but Pippa never takes the chance of letting in the unknown. This goes doubly these days. It's Tadhg, she grins. "Hi, how are you? Come in...pretend I'm not a mess."

That shouldn't be too difficult a request to fill, Pippa's idea of being 'a mess' is wearing baggy jeans, a faded tee shirt and her hair being covered by a head scarf. In short, she looks like someone who has been at domestic tasks most of the day and nothing more.

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

He gives her his usual affable smile as he enters. "I'm just fine, Pippa. And you?" The question is slightly more than academic, but Tadhg's tone stays light.

He moves into the living room and glances back at her. Living room, dining table, they can do this wherever she feels comfortable.

[sand-andwater.livejournal.com]

Pippa shrugs and waves her right hand, brushing off the question. "I'm fine." She arches an eyebrow as she catches sight of his sketch pad and other materials. Maybe she hadn't been as clear as she thought on the phone. She's certain he wouldn't need any of that, her mind firmly set on what it is she wants.

Gesturing at the sofa, Pippa seats herself and somewhat restlessly rubs at the inside of her wrist. She has questions, concerns and though her mind is made up, she wouldn't mind a little reassurance from someone she trusts. "When I mentioned to Rory that I had been thinking about getting a tattoo, he suggested I talk to you...his is lovely, by the way."

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, lass." Tadhg's smile brightens a touch at the compliment. Rory's armband (http://pics.livejournal.com/fey_fire/pic/000023ry) did take quite a bit of work, though the mystical crafting demanded more than the actual design. He doubts that Pippa has any mystical applications in mind ... or does she?

Probably not, but only one way to find out for sure. "So did you have something in particular in mind, design or location-wise?"

[sand-andwater.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't even occur to Pippa that a tattoo can be more than just inked skin, she certainly doesn't have anything magical in mind with her request. "I actually do know precisely what I'd like done. It's a matter of it being a feasible request and someone having the skill to do it."

Normally Pippa has a bit more sensitivity for another artist's abilities and passions, but this is different. It's her body and if she can't have things just so, she won't do it. Her way or no way. She gives Tadhg a level gaze and then holds out her arms, forearms to the ceiling. "I'm not completely ignorant of the process involved and I know it's somewhat painful, particularly along the inner wrist, but..."

Pippa shrugs, she's thought this through though now, since her experience with Larch, her reasons have changed a bit. She still wants the same thing. "As for the design, I'm afraid there isn't one. It's only text." Pippa bites her lip. "I hope you don't feel like this is beneath you and you certainly don't have to be the one to do it, I was really hoping you could just answer some questions for me."

Of course, she's pretty sure Rory would prefer the artist to be his brother and not someone else. She would too, truth be told but she won't insult a man who is responsible, in part, for saving her life.

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

Tadhg still wears the same easy smile. "Not beneath me at all, I'm sure. I've done text tattoos before." Usually specific spells, but inking is inking. "And with any tattoo, the clearer an idea you have about what you want, the more likely we are to get a good result." The customers' tastes always come first when they'll be wearing the art in question.

"So the wrist then?" He reaches out to brush fingers lightly across the right one. "What do you want it to say?"

[sand-andwater.livejournal.com]

"L'amore domina senza regole." The accented words roll easily off her tongue as Pippa gently withdraws her wrist from his touch and offers the other instead, refusing to meet his gaze in case Tadhg has the same reaction to her left hand most people have displayed. She doesn't want to see revulsion on his features. "I know precisely what I want, I've given this a lot of thought."

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

Nary a glimmer of revulsion shows on Tadhg's face, nor any disregard, but only quiet acceptance. In some ways he's more familiar with Pippa's injuries than she is. But his main focus stays on the inner surface of her wrist.

"Italian, isn't it?" he asks, curiosity evident in his tone. "What does it mean?"

[sand-andwater.livejournal.com]

She still only has a faint understanding of what Rory, Tadhg and the others put themselves through for her sake and she's so far from finding the courage to ask any of them for more details. Still, she glances at him from under her lashes, his curiosity causing her to smile.

"It is, yes." Pippa doesn't know if Tadhg's aware of the fact that she speaks the language fluently or not but she only offers him the asked for translation, "Love rules without any rules."

The slight coloring of her cheeks leaves little guesswork as to what, or who, may have inspired this particular phrasing.

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

He grins at Pippa's translation, in delight rather than amusement. "What a lovely sentiment. If any language can surpass Gaeilge for sayings about love, it would have to be Italian."

Fiddling idly with one of his pencils, Tadhg contemplates the other elements that will go into the tattoo. "So we have the phrase. Have you made any decisions concerning the type of font you want, along with color and size?" He chuckles and arranges his pad on his knee. "And if you can spell it out for me so I can be sure I've got it right ..."

[sand-andwater.livejournal.com]

Pippa sits back a bit, obviously entirely at home in Rory's apartment as she snuggles into the sofa's cushions. "Sans serif--simple. Small, obviously, if it's going to fit along the inside of my wrist. I'd like to be able to cover it up with my watch band or under a bracelet if need be."

She's given it thought, made decisions about how she wants it to look and as she spells the words out for Tadhg, Pippa adds softly, "It was supposed to serve as a reminder while working my glass, that's why the inside of my wrist."

To demonstrate what she means, Pippa holds her hands out as if there were a pontil being worked between them, fingers moving to spin the nonexistent rod at a constant, steady pace.