Young teen imp: courtship (Patreon)
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Depending on family tradition, the childhood tattoo would be much bigger. Especially as tattoo artisans, they would show their skill through the beautiful tattoos they would have, from them and their children. It is to set up their prosperity by giving them a large tattoo young.
they would commonly expand to the chest and wrap fully around the neck. The back being bare for the coming of age ceremony.
it would usually be ”simple” to their standards with designs based off of diamonds and circles, in relation to one of the divine gods, the crafter. (In a bunch of different names, like the god of all things beautiy, refined, and elegant. or of creativity, being one who carved the earth in song, as a tribute to their other partners, who danced along the rhythm.)
courting starts early, but officially, it happens during or after coming of age. You would present a hand-made gift to your crush, and if they accept it, it would mean they accept your feelings.
it is an unspoken rule that your first-ever made gift, no matter how bad, it the one you should give to your partner(s). as its thought that it signifies your thoughts, expectations, and even your failures, as a reminder of your imperfect but still determined self. the complicated version of “it’s the thought that counts”
btw you mayyyh have noticed, but these two imps are from the first post of imps I drew, the one with the big tattoo that flirting with his other 3 mates.
for a fun fact: the one who accepted the gift wore it till it literally withered and turned to dust. Yeah it meant a lot to him, especially because he’s from an artistic family and others have an expectation that to court him, they must present him with a beautiful gift. it’s not like he himself is already an amazing craftsman! He’s just learning like the rest of them…
so many were reluctant, but this imp from a modest fishing village, traveled all the way to him, near his home, and gave him the gift personally. It was frayed, with old dried grasses and weeds, even re-used leather. But it was very precious.