Tattoos require pain tolerance which is part of what makes them cool. But the problem is you then spend the rest of your life trying to figure out who Mona was, or translating that kanji character on your arm for people in bars. Tattoos also require piercing the skin, which gives you cooties. Could tattoos be made temporary , piercing free, but still painful?

The Phantom wears a skull ring so when he punches people, they have a bruise in the shape of a skull. Cool! But they get knocked out too, and everyone has the exact same one, which is less cool. I propose that a series of raised shapes be made so when whacked into people they will leave a shaped bruise. The whack strength could be calibrated by part of the body, either by a machine or by trained bruisesmiths who wear the bruise tattos devices as rings / brass knuckles.

Your bruise tattoo will change in color and shape as days pass, adding to its splendor. Eventually it will disappear, making room for its successor!
-- bungston, Oct 23 2009

Hickey Stamps Hickey_20Stamps
be true to thine shameless self and promote! [daseva, Oct 23 2009]

Baked by Iain M Banks in the Culture series. Sorry.
-- nineteenthly, Oct 23 2009


I taught freaking Iaian everything he knows. He stole that entire book from me, along with half my wardrobe (the pants!) and my pet ferret Mel. I am coming to get you, Iaiain! This time your mom is on _my_side!
-- bungston, Oct 23 2009


Thwack! mallet with blind embossed croissant comes down on bungston's left knee.
-- xenzag, Oct 23 2009


Contattoosions. Welt I never.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 25 2009


OK, [bungston], your anno has scared me into bunning you.
-- nineteenthly, Oct 25 2009



random, halfbakery