The shower is steamy\nThe water is torrential\nYou smell like an old injury\n\n...And you like it that way.\nThe water trickling down your raw skin feels like lava. Just another reminder of what you are, now, an externalization of the internal self. You almost forget you've changed, then it hurts again and the catharsis returns.\nIt'll look different when it heals up. Smoother, like real metal, the colors will set better.\nIn a way, you almost hope it doesn't heal.\n\n[[It's final.|SF1]]\n[[It's my identity.|SF2]]\n[[It's endless.|SF3]]

The song is aggressive\nThe counter is worn\nYou see your past staring back from the wall\n\n"That one."\nThe colors, the size, the pattern are discussed.\nThen he asks you, "Where?"\n\n[["On my chest."|S4]]\n[["On my arm."|S4]]\n[["On my shoulder."|S4]]

The world is quiet\nThe sun goes down\nShe doesn't fucking believe you.\n\nYour heart grows cold and metallic, inch by inch.\n\n[[That's it, then.|S3]]

The room is home\nThe walls are memories\nYou feel nauseous\n\nShe is crying and won't turn her face to look at you.\n\n[["I'm sorry, mom."|S2]]\n[["There was nothing we could do, ma'am."|S2]]\n[["But I love you..."|S2]]

It's what I am...\n\nAnd what I try to be, every day.\n\n[[*|ty]]

The ink is fresh\nThe salve is sticky\nYour skin is raw and swollen\n\nThe mirror shows you how different you look, like wearing a costume or changing hair color. It's a changed, light-headed you. \nHe leaves you to it.\n\nYou feel...\n[[Stronger.|S8]]\n[[Determined.|S8]]\n[[Exhausted.|S8]]

The walls are black\nThe past is now\nShe's still crying.\n\nThere's nothing more for you to say. Your body is saying it all for you, forever. \nTemporarily, the pain in your heart has been displaced.\n\n[[I'll always remember.|S7]]\n[[I'll show the world.|S7]]\n[[I'll let it go.|S7]]

The gun is buzzing\nThe fingers tighten\nYou feel like your skin is being sliced off\n\nThere's blood. Not much though. \nYou try to relax.\n\n[[It's tribute.|S6]]\n[[It's penance.|S6]]\n[[It's investment.|S6]]

The chair is hard\nThe sketch is blue\nYou have some time to kill\n\nThe buzzing instrument nearly drowns out the music. He puts on glasses.\n"Whatcha gettin' this for?"\n\n[["For... reasons."|S5]]\n[["For her."|S5]]\n[["For me."|S5]]

The room is bright\nThe walls are colorful\nYour wallet is in your hand\n\n"Whatcha want?" he asks.\n\n[["I don't really know yet."|1]]\n[[Try to answer, somehow.|1]]

Didja like it? Say hi to me @NikaHarper and support more of my work at http://patreon.com/nikaharper\n\nThanks so very much!\n

It's what she wanted...\n\nAt least, you imagine so.\n\n[[*|ty]]

The night is young\nThe air is tangy\nHis skin is dark with worn, bled art\n\n"Let me know if anything stands out to you," he shrugs.\nYour voice catches in your throat.\n\n[["I want a medal."|2]]\n[["Something pretty."|2]]\n[["You don't respect me."|3]]

The air is warm\nThe music is raucous\nHis face doesn't change the slightest bit.\n\n"New ink, and you don't know what you want? I'll do it, but..."\n\nYou stare\n[[At a hard, metal shield with a medieval crest.|S1]]\n[[At a delicate sketch of some kind of feather.|F1]]\n[[At a cartoony superhero logo.|L1]]

The air is warm\nThe music is distracting\nHe waves his hand at the walls\n\n"Somethin' from over here, then?"\n\nYou look around\n[[At a hard, metal shield with a medieval crest.|S1]]\n[[At a delicate sketch of some kind of feather.|F1]]\n[[At a cartoony superhero logo.|L1]]

Inkling Tattoo

Nika Harper

It's your identity...\n\nAnd at least this part of it is strong.\n\n[[*|ty]]

It's beautiful...\n\nAs beautiful as she is to you.\n\n[[*|ty]]

It's endless...\n\nAnd it may never be enough.\n\n[[*|ty]]

The window is open\nThe past is now\nYou stare at the ceiling\n\nThe impression it made changed everything for you.\nNow you're changing yourself forever.\n\n[[I'll do what's right.|L7]]\n[[I'll have proof.|L7]]\n[[I'll always have those times.|L7]]

The ink is fresh\nThe salve is sticky\nYour skin is excitingly raw\n\nThe mirror shows you how different you look, more colorful than an hour ago. Your reflection is a changed, light-headed you. \nHe leaves you to it.\n\nYou feel...\n[[Heroic.|L8]]\n[[Wistful.|L8]]\n[[Psyched.|L8]]

The chair is slick\nThe sketch is blue\nYou wonder about the colors\n\nThe buzzing instrument nearly drowns out the music. He puts on glasses.\n"Whatcha gettin' this for?"\n\n[["Inspiration."|L5]]\n[["Nostalgia."|L5]]\n[["It's fucking awesome."|L5]]

The gun is buzzing\nThe fingers tighten\nYou feel the first deep line draw through you\n\nThere's blood. Not much though. \nYou try to relax.\n\n[[It's hardcore.|L6]]\n[[It's expected.|L6]]\n[[It's fascinating.|L6]]

The house is quiet\nThe door hasn't opened\nYou have all afternoon\n\nThe third time through, now it's just you lying on your back with your imagination.\n\n[[It all changed then.|L3]]

It's yours...\n\nThe perfect reminder of a perfect day.\n\n[[*|ty]]

It's a dream come true...\n\nAnd it'll look awesome with my matching belt buckle.\n\n[[*|ty]]

The cover is glossy\nThe bedroom is silent\nYou flip the last page\n\nIt's perfect, the most brilliant cliffhanger of your young life.\n\n[["I'mma read it again!"|L2]]\n[["I'm going to be just like you."|L2]]\n[["THAT WAS SO COOL!"|L2]]

It's final...\n\nAnd it's trapped from your heart, to your skin.\n\n[[*|ty]]

The shower is steamy\nThe water is torrential\nYou take pictures even though its swollen\n\n...And you love it.\nThe water trickling down your raw skin feels like lava. It feels good to know it's there, a permanent mark that means so much to you. The colors are livid and perfect.\n\nIt's like you're infused with power when you see it on your skin.\n\n[[It's not my secret.|LF1]]\n[[It's what I am.|LF2]]\n[[It's a dream come true.|LF3]]

The sun is beaming\nThe air is laughter\nYou smile without thinking\n\nShe smiles too, her eyes look like dark cherries. \n\n[["Happy graduation, sweetie."|F2]]\n[["We knocked 'em dead out there!"|F2]]\n[["I do."|F2]]

The moment is still\nThe applause is deafening\nHer hair smells like coconut\n\nShe wraps her arms around your neck, laughing. \n\nThe feather in her hair tickles your cheek.\n\n[[You'll always remember.|F3]]

The music is quieter\nThe counter is worn\nYou look at the wall and remember that day\n\n"That one."\nThe colors, the size, the pattern are discussed.\nThen he asks you, "Where?"\n\n[["On my foot."|F4]]\n[["On my neck."|F4]]\n[["On my arm."|F4]]

The chair is soft\nThe sketch is blue\nYour smile is nervous\n\nThe buzzing instrument nearly drowns out the music. He puts on glasses.\n"Whatcha gettin' this for?"\n\n[["To surprise her."|F5]]\n[["To remember."|F5]]\n[["To smile more."|F5]]

The gun is buzzing\nThe fingers tighten\nYou cringe as the needles push deep\n\nThere's blood. Not much though. \nYou try to relax.\n\n[[It's exciting.|F6]]\n[[It's worth it.|F6]]\n[[It's love.|F6]]

The air is warm\nThe past is now\nHer eyes have joyful tears\n\nYou both worked so hard to get here. All those little pains feel so worth it.\nA constant reminder of one of the proudest days of your life.\n\n[[I'll remember.|F7]]\n[[I'll show it off.|F7]]\n[[I'll miss her.|F7]]

The ink is fresh\nThe salve is sticky\nYour skin has a new, swollen texture\n\nThe mirror shows you how different you look, subtle and everlasting. Your reflection is a changed, light-headed you. \nHe leaves you to it.\n\nYou feel...\n[[Giddy.|F8]]\n[[Proud.|F8]]\n[[Relieved.|F8]]\n

The shower is steamy\nThe water is torrential\nYou can't take your eyes off the design\n\n...And you love it.\nThe water trickling down your raw skin feels like lava. It will calm down and heal with enough lotion applied, not so angry and red. The delicate outline of a wonderful day that exists on you always.\nWith a little time, it will be perfect.\n\n[[It's mine.|FF1]]\n[[It's beautiful.|FF2]]\n[[It's what she would want.|FF3]]

It's not a secret...\n\nAnd something I'll find in my life again.\n\n[[*|ty]]

The music is noisy\nThe counter is worn\nYou look at the wall and remember that day\n\n"That one."\nThe colors, the size, the pattern are discussed.\nThen he asks you, "Where?"\n\n[["On my bicep."|L4]]\n[["On my back."|L4]]\n[["On my forearm."|L4]]