I hope this I'd an okay question, I'm a tattooist and I'd love some ideas for my client!

I hope this I'd an okay question, I'm a tattooist and I'd love some ideas for my client! He's getting a large octopus tattoo, and would love to represent his stutter somehow. He thought loads of words in the head of the creature, but I don't think this will be very aesthetic pleasing and we didn't know what words to use. I thought maybe make it a bit steampunky and have a few of the cogs anf some with missing pieces, so whatever its connected to would pause, but I also feel uncomfortable with suggesting this idea incase it comes across as offensive somehow. Maybe I'm just being silly. I don't wanna suggest a design which make it somehow suggest "broken"... if ya get me.