I used to help Dan (social irregular) with some of his play piercing sessions, and at the least when I was around, I took pictures. But I'd never had one done on myself. After we broke up, and we'd both been stressed, I ordered us each a t-shirt and box of needles from bmeshop. Dan's because without money for his art, he needed something that makes him happy, as play piercing does, and me because I needed a release and do something I've never done.
At A Glance Author Amanda Contact gothicphoenixx@hotmail.com IAM gothicphoenixx When It just happened Artist IAM-social irregular Location Toledo I've always liked the idea of the corset and said if I ever do permanent surface piercings, I'd like one on my back. But until now I've never known if I could handle it. Well, 20g needles are different than a surface bar, but the pain wasn't too bad. Mostly it felt like a less painful version of local anesthetic, which is what I told Dan the night before my session when he put one needle in my back so when we did do it, I'd know what to expect.
Since I had two days off coming up, we ended up doing it the following night. Actually, it was about midnight once all the set up was done (box of gloves, towel, peroxide, gauze, lace, and of course the needles) and we were ready to start, so I guess it was really at the stroke of my first day off that we began. He had his friend Brian (Glitch) in the room, which took some convincing me. I wanted this to be something just between us. I also wanted pictures. Dan said he'd take pictures and it would just take more time, having to change gloves and such, but he'd recommend Brian doing it so we got more. Finally, he said Brian would be quiet and I agreed. He asked what we should listen to, and I had Brian turn on NIN.
Dan sat in a chair, and I sat on his bed, facing the wall. I had wanted to lay down, but Dan said it would be easier for him if I sat up, and it's probably actually better that I did. I think it made breathing easier (especially because allergies kicked up that day and I was stuffy) and since I always sit up during piercings, it wasn't too big an inconvenience.
The first few needles felt good and slid pretty well. We planned on getting twenty down each side, and I thought I could handle it. That changed, and it started to hurt more. He said he could tell that it was hurting the further down I got, and I told him I may have to stop soon. I was starting to feel a little light headed and it was starting to hurt more than I was willing to take that night. I was on the edge of tears I didn't want to spill. I think it was at 22 that I told him I couldn't do any more.
He told Brian to go and get me some water and stopped for awhile. He said he'd like to keep going at least a little more, because there are just some spots on your body more sensitive than others, with more nerves, etc. He's done a lot of play piercings and he hits a few every time. I was only about half done with our goal, and I didn't want to give up. But I also didn't want to tax myself too much my first time. I told him he could do a few more, once I'd had water and relaxed a little. He agreed that he'd stop when I told him to, as long as there were an equal number and then he'd lace me up.
I had Brian put on Hurt, because we were almost done and it still hadn't come on and sat back in my spot. After about four more needles, I said to stop. He asked if I was sure, and I asked how far down it was. (I have this mark on my back that I wanted to at least get to so it was covered.) He said about three more needles. I said okay. The first two slid like nothing. They went quick and I breathed at the right time. If the whole rest of my back would go the same way, I'd have been able to keep going, but I decided enough was enough for that day.
I told him this, and he said he was finally figuring out what works. (A lot of the time he'd say ready, and then not go, or count down, or not say anything, so I didn't always know when to expect it-and sometimes he went real slow and other times pretty quick. For me, at least, we've decided with a warning so I can take a breath and let it out and then a quick piercing seems to work best, and next time we'll know).
Even though I knew if it went that way I could probably handle the next 10 needles, I figured, still a little light headed, it would be best to stop. So he said he was doing one more, vertically, in the middle of my back to help with lacing. This made me nervous because you can see my tailbone, so there's not much flesh to work with. That and he said he thought it would probably hurt the worst but that I could take it. So I braced myself, and it didn't hurt at all. It wasn't really centered (and I think had it been, it probably would have, since there's less flesh where he said it was going than where it did), but it wasn't bad at all. Dan, perfectionist that he is, decided he didn't like the placement of a couple that were a little off, so he fixed them. They hurt more than the initial piercings, being moved, but it wasn't too bad.
Fun part over, it came time for the pretty (but also fun) part-the ribbon. On Monday, I had the day off and went to Jo-Ann fabrics to pick some out. I picked up a sparkly red and purple, and a silky black and maroon. Dan told me he thought I should have gotten larger, but we never made it to pick out more, and he decided he could make it work. Well he said maroon or black and I told him I'd been thinking of both, so he decided to lace every other one so they'd interlace. Where the needles feel good in a pain but release kind of way, the lace feels good in a gentle, relaxing way. I've always liked soft fabric moving against my skin, coming undone, etc. So it was an extended version of that, getting laced up.
When we got done, we took some pictures and hung out for awhile. It wasn't too uncomfortable sitting with needles, and I barely even noticed them after awhile. The only problem was when I had to raise my arm for something or if I bent over too far. Dan said we'll do this again sometime and go to a club or something, and I told him only if we put in rings first, because there's no way I could dance, etc. with needles in, if they'd even let me in the door.
After awhile, Hurt came on again, and Dan and I danced to it. Brian snapped a couple pictures and fell asleep in the corner. Finally, we decided it was time to take them out, which Dan did two at a time. I'd expected this to hurt (because taking the 'test' one out from the previous day had), but it really didn't. I didn't bleed a lot either (which actually kind of disappointed me, because I'd bought gauze and bandage, in case). But one near the top gushed and ran down my back. I told them to get me a towel so it didn't get on my pants, and Brian was taking a picture and Dan was telling me it wouldn't get there, and it did. That was probably the worst feeling of the whole thing, having blood run into the back of my g-string—like having your nose run and not having a tissue.
Dan wiped me up and held a towel on the one that bled a lot. Otherwise, I was pretty dry. Then he cleaned my back up with peroxide and gave me a silky shirt to put on instead of my t-shirt. I fell over on his bed and laid for awhile, totally drained. We hung out for awhile, then I went home about four and went to bed.
Though he told me it would, my back didn't hurt in the morning. And, surprisingly, there weren't obvious marks either. Well, by which I mean a lot of bruising. You can still see where the needles were, but I think if you didn't know they were from that, you'd think it was from pimples or something. It's Thursday now and it still hurts a little now and then, and I've a couple bruises, mostly on my shoulder blades, but overall the afterpain for me wasn't that bad.I'm barely even past the experience, and already I can't wait to do it again. Actually, I couldn't wait to do it again from the time the needles came out and I felt this kind of sense of loss. That's the one downside to play piercing-it's not permanent. But that's also the upside of it, because you can keep doing it. This was definitely a good experience and something I look forward to doing again. (And since I only used 30 and Dan plans to use his box and ten of mine, I'll have plenty without having to wait for them to arrive) This experience was made better by being performed by the one person I really trust, and having pictures, thanks to Brian.