Riki’s Third Tattoo

I like geeky stuff. This tattoo is from a Japanese cartoon or anime. I like the design. It’s my personality. It’s my body. This is my geeky side.

 

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Riki’s latest tattoo, inspired by anime. “It’s my geeky side,” says Riki. (Yoni Chernock/Lifestyles)
Everyone wants to know: Are you afraid?
No. It didn’t hurt. Maybe a little spasm. But in general, I have a high tolerance for pain, so I feel nothing. The hard part is the tattoo takes hours. You have to stay still, not move around. You have to relax and stay physically still.
First me and my mom have to set up a consultation with the tattoo artist to decide the best place, size and color of the tattoo. My colors are white, dark purple and black.
Both cats have a yellow half moon shape. It is on my first tattoo too. (See below.)
The artist has to have a license. My artist was female. The place has papers that you have to sign. You have to bring ID to show you are of age — over 18.
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Riki G talks about her new tattoo. (Yoni Chernock/Lifestyles)

You have to take care of it. You have to wash it twice day with unscented bar soap to clear off bacteria. Then you put a small circle of lotion on it. You can’t swim. You can’t shave your legs.
I got my first tattoo when I was 21. I like bows, dressing up nice. I showed a picture to my mom. She liked it. It’s my tattoo, but she has to be “in the circle.”
I got my second tattoo when I was 22. The meaning is private.
This is my third tattoo. I’m 23. It’s a way to express myself.
This story was written form an an interview with Riki G by Angel Bruno, Yoni Chernock, Timothy Fauske and Anthony Kefalinos

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