Of Ink and An Engagement
“Hi. Er - we’re looking for matching tattoos. We were told you were the best in the area, but also…open-minded.”
Luna looked up. Her customers, who looked to be in their thirties, appeared entirely muggle - which wasn’t unusual. Her shop catered for wizarding and muggle folk alike; the only difference was the amount of magic in her artwork. Only the wizarding tattoos moved.
“Open-minded,” she replied with a pleased smile. “Yes, that’s probably one of the nicest things anyone has said about me for a while. What is it you’d like?”
The original speaker, a tall and willowy woman whose hair was in a messy bun, opened her mouth and closed it again. Her companion waited a beat, then shook her dark hair back and reached for her hand with an air of defiance.
“We’ve just got engaged,” she said. Her tone dared Luna to challenge the statement.
“Congratulations!” Luna cried, forgetting that marriage between people of the same sex was impossible in the muggle world.
The women looked at one another, then back at Luna. “Oh… thank you. Erm… I’m Laurie and this is Esme,” the darker-haired of the two said awkwardly.
“Lovely names. You make a great couple,” Luna said happily.
“Thanks,” Esme said softly, smiling. “That’s actually… the nicest thing anyone has said to us for a while, too.”
“Being different isn’t a bad thing,” Luna said seriously. “It means you’re brave enough to be yourself.” Then she clapped her hands together in her usual playful nature, and asked, “So what are you looking for?”
Laurie blinked. “You’ll do it?” She asked.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
“You support gay marriage?”
“No. I support love, and freedom to express it in whatever way we choose,” Luna said, in much the same tone she’d used to advise Harry on the Auror Department’s membership of the Rotfang Conspiracy - with utter surprise that there was an alternative point of view. “I’d advise you against choosing anything very hard to cover, though, or you’ll just be making life harder for yourselves. A ‘gay marriage now’ tattoo across your forehead isn’t the way to persuade anyone,” she added, suddenly remembering the state of the muggle world. Their nervousness made sense to her now.
“No, nothing like that,” Esme said, chuckling nervously. “They’re a bit - well, normal, really. But that’s kind of the point, you know. That we are like everyone else… just a couple in love. We wanted one day on our ring fingers, so we can cover them with rings when they legalise marriage for us. And then we have a star map from last night, when Laurie proposed, that I’d like on my shoulder blade and -”
“-I’m going to put on my forearm,” Laurie finished, smiling gently.
“Perfect. How do you feel about glow in the dark stars?” Luna asked brightly, waving them into seats.
“Erm… is the ink carcinogenic?”
“Nope,” Luna replied, since she intended to use a sprinkling of magic. She took the star chart and laid some tracing paper over it.
“Then that sounds amazing,” Esme said, beaming. “They’re going to be the best tattoos ever. I’m so glad Neville recommended you.”
“Oh, where did you meet Nev?” Luna asked, joyful at the mention of her friend. At that moment, the world seemed bright and full of love