oh god i have the best mental image rn
imagine @hattedhedgehog‘s “Iron Hills Frills” Dain – but with a cute little pink heart-shaped jewel hanging from his bellybutton
help
oh god i have the best mental image rn
imagine @hattedhedgehog‘s “Iron Hills Frills” Dain – but with a cute little pink heart-shaped jewel hanging from his bellybutton
help
Ooooh, I’ve written something about this before, Nonnie! I really like the fanon idea of having braids and dyes and piercings and tattoos to declare different things about the individual Dwarf (or not, as they prefer).
I really, REALLY like the whole body-mod Dwarves thing 🙂
PPPPPFFFFFFFt. Sort of fits in with Yours Faithfully, I guess, but I am imagining a letter beginning ‘Dear Posh Git’ and finishing with ‘and if you mention it to Dwalin, I will flick you around the ear.’
And the reply would be addressed to ‘Dear Simple Rustic, thank you for the laugh, it was much needed. But you do know that the ring traditionally goes through a pig’s nose…’
Ohhh, I don’t really have a list? But I will tell you some of my ideas here, if that’s okay!
A piercing is an indication of class or status. The patterns of the piercing show the level and type of status. The area pierced also denotes a great deal about what that status is. For example, Baris’ lip piercing – in the middle of her lower lip, a heavy silver ring – denotes her status as a celebrated singer. To the left of the lower lip could mean a historian or storyteller. To the right of the lower lip, upper lip, a ball underneath the mouth and above the chin, a stud in the corner of the mouth – all these could mean different areas of expertise. A pierced tongue could mean a teacher or diplomat. Ear-cuffs would be lineage and nobility: social class, basically. Subdermals upon the back of the neck, on the chest, nipples, nose, all of that, plus other jewellery such as wristlets, necklaces, pendants, brooches, chokers – these all indicate a field of status. Most of these fields have to do with the profession: Dwarves respect skill 🙂
Not all Dwarves bother wearing them, but many do, and the indications are all generally known.
BRAIDS! I think beards and hair would be super-personal. Each Dwarf would choose their own style. There would be a lineage-clasp (as seen in the back of Thorin’s hair, or upon Kili’s) to denote royalty. You could have braids to show marital status – or lack of interest. It would be very personal, and up to the individual Dwarf to decide how much they wanted to declare publically or not. Braids would be a sort of wearable billboard, after all (Damn now I wonder if there’s a braid that basically says, ”Sexy single Dwarf, 145, seeks single Dwarf for fun and naughty times, no strings attached!”)
Colours! Beard dye sounds fun (totally inspired by Dwalin’s blue beard in the books, I’ll own up!). I thought that dyes could perhaps indicate gender expression. Jeri is nonbinary, and so their beard is dyed green. Bomfa is genderfluid, and usually has a stripe of several colours in their beard depending on whether today they are Bomfa or Bomfur and wish to be addressed as such.
Tattoos are made to mark special moments or people in that Dwarf’s life. Mourning-marks are made to remember the departed. Gimli got tattoos to mark his coming of age at 70 (he had sneakily gotten three mourning marks when he was underage, however! See Follow the Leader). Hrera got a tattoo on the back of her neck upon the occasion of her wedding.
So, these are some of the things I was thinking! I hope you like 🙂
Yeah, I love that bit of fanon! I think Gimli has piercings along with his tatts. Some cool and unusual ones, like subdermals on the back of his neck, barbells through nipples, and ear-rings. (also – other places hem hem)
They’re not small or discreet, either: these are proof of extreme badassery, after all! Lotsa jewels for special occasions.
I love the body-mod Dwarves thing. Like, a lot.