WOW! HQ is totally perfect.
Thanks.

Oh, wow.

Ian’s tattoo is Latin (aka the language of the devil. it is the scourge of my entire being :P) for “This and now”

Okay, I can take a hint. :D

So, for context, the topic was can vampires get tattooed if they can’t be injured or scarred? Specifically to L.J. Smith’s Vampire Diaries tattoos are never mentioned, so it’s pretty much up to the producers what they want to do with that in the TV series. However, I think that from a logical standpoint you could argue that TVD vampires could get tattoos if they so desired.

The main stumbling block would be if the vampire’s skin can’t be injured. We know from several instances in the books that TVD vampires have skin that can be pierced, even with something as simple as a knife. So that’s not a problem. When you get a tattoo, the needle penetrates the epidermis (top layer, which sheds dead cells and regenerates on a regular basis) and deposits the ink in the dermis layer (which is where you find collagen, hair follicles and all that good stuff). All kinds of cool, biological healing stuff takes place at this point, but in a nutshell the cells around the area take up the ink, and the epidermis heals over basically trapping it there in the form of a tattoo. Once it’s there, there’s no real reason for the body to reject it at all.

Thus, my theory is that provided the tattoo needle is able to penetrate the epidermis (and, given a knife can, that shouldn’t be a problem), then a vampire can technically get a tattoo. The site would just heal super-fast and they wouldn’t have to go through the pesky after-care that we mere mortals would to ensure a healthy tattoo at the end of it.

Now, how long the tattoo would stay I have no idea. In humans, tattoos eventually fade a bit with time for various biological reasons (which is why they lose clarity). It might be that because vampire bodies don’t change, a tattoo would remain in place as crisp and clear as the day it was inked (though they could probably just remove it (painfully) themselves – slice that section of skin off down under the tattoo, and then it would just regenerate like new). Or, because of their accelerated healing that causes the ink to be absorbed and dispersed into the body faster, it might be that a tattoo isn’t permanent for them, and only lasts for a matter of days or weeks (which would mean that pre-existing tattoos would eventually vanish). Either way, I conclude that a TVD vampire can get a tattoo. Which I admit I’m finding the thought of kinda sexy. :D

There’s a fanfic to be written in there. A possibly wrong, but very hot fanfic. :D

It’s very-very interesting conversation.
In the beginning of 3rd book and later I noticed that Stefan can speeds his healing process if he’s not hungry and he wants to hide his wounds. Maybe vampires can also slow healing and have a tattoo as long as they want…

Besides there is no magic rings on photos, so maybe the actors is just out of make-ups and this tattoo will never appear in show?

Hope we’ll find the truth this Fall.

Vee
Hmmm?! On that I can see it too))) So Damon really will have a very intriguing tattoo just like Ian has?

I checked Ian’s old photos. I don’t know what to say. Many actors have a tattoo but seldom show it in movies. Plus on Red’s interview Ian talked so thoughtfully about Damon…

Maybe Ian want to add some bit from himself into this character. This would be very excitedly and fine.