9/8/09 4 interactions

"That's a really neat tattoo." Caucasian female bank teller, early/mid 20's, downtown, pointing to scarification.
"Thank you."*
"How did you do it? White ink?"
"Yep, and it seems to be holding up pretty well."
"Is it new?"
"No, I've had it for several years."
(she then informs me the bank manager is busy, finishes what she can of my transaction, then encourages me to apply for a different credit card).

I actually started this next exchange by smiling and saying hello to a young woman (African-american, late teens) waiting at a bus stop downtown, who I mistook for a former co-worker (who changes her hairstyle more often then I do) because she was looking at me.
"Oh my god, Wow! Is that real?!" (motioning to tattoo)
"Yes."
"Wow! It's so bright!" She rushes over, grabs my arm and twists it. I hang on to the half-eaten apple I'm holding, with difficulty. She murmers exclamations and asks who did it, did it hurt, etc. and her friend (African-american male, late teens) joins her.
"Damn, I thought that was a real tattoo."
(female) "It IS real!"
"Really, wow! I thought it was like a shirt or something when you was walkin' by! Who did it?"(he then proceeds to ask me the same questions). Another man (Caucasian, 40's?) walks by.
"Hey, is that real?"
(Three of us in unison) "Yes!"**
(Caucasian male walking away) I've got a friend who can do that. He learned it in prison!
(Me) Everyone needs a hobby!
(The three of us laugh)
(African-american male) "Damn, that's something! I ain't never seen anything like that."
"Well, anything's possible, and you're still pretty young."
"I gotta get to California."
"I hope you do, I think you'd like it. I gotta get going, you guys have a good night."

*Usually if people assume the scarification is a tattoo, I let them becuase it's much, much, easier than explaining the difference, especially if I don't have time (or I'm trying to be responsible and make a deposit and cancel a credit card.)

**Seriously, I swear to god this actually happened.