Getting the Tattoo

[piwakawaka]

Tiwa looks nervous and excited as she pulls James through the door to her Uncle Manu's which looks out over the water. The house itself isn't huge but it has clearly been constructed and worked on by someone who is good at making things, there are lots of wonderful small touches of carvings and paintings,

"No one else is here but him at the moment. I convinced Mum that she didn't really want to see me getting tattooed and she agreed. So no questions to deal with for now."

Comments

[notthatpotter]

James laughs.

"Yeah. It's kind of an aggressive sport in some ways," he adds.

Really. It takes a whole lot of skill! And finesse! And all that good stuff.

"Did Tiwa tell you a bit about it?"

[piwakawaka]

"Not too much, hard to get straight and simple from the girl."

"I'm not that bad, uncle."

"Course you are, fluttering all about."

Its clear this is an argument they've had many times before as she pouts at him,

"I'm getting better."

"Yeah, growing up, little bird."

Then he smiles at her, "There you are, all done."

[notthatpotter]

Now James takes a better look at the tattoo.

"Wicked. I mean, that's really a piece of artwork or something," he comments.

[piwakawaka]

He gets two beautiful beaming faces as Manu starts cleaning and wrapping her tattoo up,

"Thank you, suits you, little one."

Once her arm is wrapped, Tiwa hugs her uncle and then James, "Thanks."

"I've got lunch going if you two want something to eat."

Tiwa looks over to James, its up to him.

[notthatpotter]

He shrugs.

"Sure, why not? I could use something to eat."

[piwakawaka]

"Thought you would. Tiwa knows where the kitchen is, I have to clean up in here."

She still hasn't quite let go of James' hand so takes him through to a room that's a bit more open with a worn wooden table covered with random doodles. On the table are the makings for lots of sandwiches including some newly grilled lamb,

"He must think you're like Tane and going to eat most of it."

[notthatpotter]

"Yeah?"

In truth, James isn't that big an eater. He's about average on the scale.

He shrugs.

"It does smell good."

[piwakawaka]

"Yeah, clearly you're a boy. Thanks for coming here."

She starts constructing a sandwich for herself since that way he won't see just how much she's beaming.

[notthatpotter]

"Of course," he says easily. "It was really cool to see your uncle do that."

He watches her for a moment.

"And you were bloody brilliant sitting through it all too."

[piwakawaka]

"Hope I didn't hurt your hand."

He gets one of her grins,

"Should help yourself while its still warm."

[notthatpotter]

He shakes his head, waving his hand at her to show just how unhurt it is.

"S'fine," he says cheerfully.

And then he proceeds to help himself as she said.

[piwakawaka]

They're in the midst of eating when her uncle returns and he kisses the top of Tiwa's head as he makes a sandwich,

"So, what did you snag from your Mum's place for us to have for dessert?"

Tiwa gives him a look but pulls out from her pocket a good sized bag,

"Just some afghans."

[notthatpotter]

James laughs.

"You're always swiping things, aren't you?"

[piwakawaka]

"Not swiping from Mum, she always makes extra."

Not that she wouldn't mind snagging one of his ties or anything but that's different. Her uncle just laughs,

"Have to watch what shines round her."

[notthatpotter]

"Yeah, clearly," he agrees, laughing again. "S'all right, though. I don't exactly own anything shiny."

[piwakawaka]

"Course you do, all that gold when you're in your uniform."

She gives a really innocent look and pecks James on the cheek.

[notthatpotter]

"Oh. Right. I forgot about that," he says teasingly.

"'Course, you can't be stealing my uniform or anything. I need that."

Beat.

"Or. Well. Needed it. I suppose I don't really need it anymore."

[piwakawaka]

"Oh no, wouldn't do that, your ties are safe where they are."

Since she might have already snagged one last time she was at Hogwarts.

[notthatpotter]

He raises an eyebrow.

He's so on to you, Tiwa.

[piwakawaka]

So he gets one of her most innocent looks as her uncle just laughs at them,

"Do hope you have enough ties to spare, James."

[notthatpotter]

"Luckily I do," he says, glancing back at Tiwa's uncle.

"I keep losing them everywhere." Beat. "Or they get stolen by birds."

[piwakawaka]

"Clearly you need ones that are less shiny."

She says with a smirk as her uncle chuckles again at them, then grabs a handful of cookies,

"You keep that dry and clean for me, girl and I'll leave you two. Got another appointment and I'm sure the poor boy will want his tie back."

[notthatpotter]

"Yeah, I would," he says, nodding solemnly.

He eyes Tiwa.

"When did you go nicking it from me, anyway?"

[piwakawaka]

"Why? You're done with school and you have others."

Her innocent look is just staying there as she passes over the cookies.

[notthatpotter]

"And why would you want it?" he asks.