Tattoos that talk ; Choosing my forever tattoo partner.

The idea of getting a couple’s tattoo, to me is fascinating, more like a story on your of love, friendship, or family, right there on your skin in form of a tattoo. I’m Nigerian, and in our culture, tattoos are often seen as controversial, but times are changing. Now, tattoos can be art, a bond, or a mark of somethingnpersonal. Well, lets walk through my personal thought.

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Romance; a tattoo with a romantic partner sounds great, but then I’ve seen and heard stories of people tattooing each other’s names or faces, only to regret it later when things fall apart between them. So for me, if I were to get a tattoo with someone I love "romantically", I wouldn’t go for their name, initials or face, I would rather go for something symbolic, like the sun, star...something symbolic we both hold deara shared experience, a private joke, or a phrase we both hold dear, so even if life were to happen and something happen between us that makes the relationship end, the tattoo will still hold beautiful meaning. But seriously, I would only do it, If I was very sure I mean, very very sure.

Family; as a Nigerian, we have deep meanings and connection to family. Growing up with siblings, extended families and all cousins, I would get a tattoo and write something like "Ogbeni"( a yoruba word thats means my friend or buddy) and that is because that’s what we always call each other when we joke around. It would symbolize the bond we share, the memories of fighting over remote controls, or what channel to watch, including those times we had to cover up for each other when one of us got into trouble. It will symbolize love, and all those unspoken promises to always have each others back.

Should I stope here, come to think of it, what about friends, that friend must be just too special though. I have this ride or die friend, just to close we were, we've been through everything together, and if I were to get a tattoo for out friendship sake, smiles, I remembered something, well the tattoo will be something funny, something she would see and I won't need to say anything before her mind drifts there, it will be a tiny yam tuber. Why? Because we once spent an entire semester in school joking about the yam we thought w have left at home, we decided to cook it one day and found out that over a half of it is spoiled, well that day, we had it all planned out, but the yam shocked us, that way, the tattoo will be a tiny half yam, Smiles, she would see the tattoo and be like, you know.

Nigerian parents and tattoos don’t usually mix, I can guess what my mum response will be, something like, "what wahala(problem) did you want to put me in with your dad". Since she will be my first go to, well, the truth is, she will finally agree and I know what to inscribe on my skin already " Omo mi" (Meaning "My child") because that’s what she calls me whenever she’s feeling extra soft. It would be between us, I very well know she wouldn't want her church friends know,Smiles.

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And the truth is, tattoo isn’t just ink on skin. It’s a story, a memory, a shared experience. It (tattoo) is something you look at years later and smile because it reminds you of a person or a moment that really matters. So, If I were to get a couple’s tattoo with anyone, it would be about the meaning, the connection. And whether it’s with my partner, family member, or friend, I will make sure it’s something timeless, something I will never regret having/doing.

But lets not lie, it’s not everybody that can handle that needle. But the pain would/should be worth it if the tattoo represents something or someone truly special. So, who would I get a couple’s tattoo with? Maybe my future wife, my siblings, my best friend, or even my mum. But whoever it is, theres a certain thing, and that is that the tattoo would tell a story, my story, in a way that words never could. And that, sincerely, is the beauty of it all.

There are various entries organized by @leogrowth.
This post is in collaboration with the @tattooworld community and an entry to day 17 of #januaryinleo in #inleo,I am inviting you to also check it out,so as to partake in various interesting writing prompts.

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