At A Glance
Author	Babs
Contact	azaleascars@yahoo.com
When	A year ago

As many of you know, one of the most unique aspects of body modification is the 'curiosity' that ignites within each of us to explore our own physical selves. Often, this spark triggers many to seek out the possibilities that we can achieve on our own.

My boyfriend K and I have both been very intrigued by body modification. We've been together for about three years now, and together we've grown in discovering body modification. When we met, one of the first things K had asked me was,

"What do you want to do with yourself? Your life?" I knew exactly what to say, because I'd know for a few years by then. I told him I wanted to be a part of a tattoo & body piercing studio. I wasn't sure what my place would be, I'm artistic, but that could mean anything. Anyway, we had one of *those* moments, because he just smiled, and let out a sound of joy and relief. K had been dabblings in tattooing and piercing for a few years. So anyway, that was about three years ago, when it all started...

Since then, however we've both encouraged each other to follow through with our goals. K has purchased many different guns, professional supplies and such in order to learn as much as possible. In our former home, we'd set up a 'clean room in a spare bedroom, where we were able to venture in all the glory of tattoos and piercing. Everything was very sterile, we'd purchased several pieces of equipment (autoclave, sonic cleaner, etc.) and supplies from companies so we could do everything in the best way possible, and so as not to endure the stigma of 'tattoos outta yer kitchen' (though, everyone started somewhere, right?).

Anyhow, K had pierced my ears for me three times in each ear with 14g captives. Slowly but surely, after they were healed, I began a quest on stretching my piercings. During this time, K had taken a liking to the appearance of larger gauge lobes. Sooner than expected, we put in an order with one of our suppliers for two 4g needles and some single flared flesh tunnels. I feel I should mention that we were both looking into dermal punching at the time, but we both felt we should further research what all entails that particular procedure before trying it out ourselves or on each other. Anyhow, once our order arrived, I became rather nervous. I'd never pierced ears before, at least not in this sort of setting--with latex gloves, foil packets of bacitracin, iodine, skin scribes!?! In middle school friends and I would pierce each other's ears in the bathrooms during our lunch to piss off the teachers, but that was with a box of safety pins from the grocery store and a ligh ter. Nothing compared to this. But, K had instilled faith in me; after all, it was just an ear piercing.

Well, after getting set-up with forceps, large corks, rubber bands, several packets, I felt I was ready. I had K mark his lobes himself, so he would be satisfied with placement. I must say that you cannot get the full effect of this scene unless you've seen a four gauge needle. Looking back on it now, having assisted in 00g dermal punching, it isn't that big of a needle. However, when all you've ever seen were 18-10g needles, not outside of a catalog, mind you, a 4g needle is one big piece of steel. The next few moments are hard to describe. I hesitated for a bit, as I wasn't sure I would be able to apply enough pressure to get the needle to penetrate the skin completely. I asked K if he wanted me to count to three, or just do it. He decided he wanted me to count to three, as he would take a deep breath and then I'd pierce. The first lobe went fairly effortlessly. I felt K's body tighten up a bit, and he leaned towards me as I forced the last bit of the needle thro ugh his ear. K's eyes opened up, he smiled and then started to laugh.

"Wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be!" What a relief! I was afraid I'd put upon him a good deal of pain that he'd never forget. It was then that I noticed how the needle hat cut through his ear. The needle cut a crescent and folded it over onto the back of his lobe. There was a decent amount of blood, but nothing unbearable to look at or to be near. One detail I had overlooked was the flesh tunnel...Butting the jewelry up to the needle would be difficult as tunnels don't have a rounded off end...no end as a matter of a fact. K declares this was the most painful part of his first ear. The jewelry slid into his new piercing easily, but that split second of transition is what got K. But ok, so the first lobe was done, successfully. The o-ring was a pain, but we got through it.

So, as it comes naturally, I welled up some confidence for the next ear lobe. I have to say this outright--K's second ear was a dirty bastard. First, we noticed that the placement would have to different to match up with his other tunnel. No big deal, but a delay nonetheless. Everything else was the same up to the point where I ask K how he wants to count or breathe. He hesitated, then decided we'd do the same thing...count, breathe, pierce. The piercing didn't go as easily as the first ear. The initial penetration was tough--really tough. K knew more than I did how tough this skin was. He cringed this time, forced his eyes shut, groaned a bit, and leaned close to me. I said something that was attempting to sound reassuring, but I don't remember what it was. The needle tip made its way through the lobe, but the crescent shape was not cut yet. I applied more force into the needle. The random thoughts running through my head were infinite...How does it feel? This s*&t is so F&*@in' hard! How do they do it!? Please don't resent me when this is over! Then...

The pop. It was through. I remember seeing the skin seem to swell, and then pop. It was through. Pushing that four gauge needle through K's ear lobe was like trying to force a spoon through a steak. Difficult. His eyes opened in a flash, a little different that before..But then, a smile, and a laugh. He was just happy it was over, and I have to admit, so was I.

So, that's how it ends. Bloody, swollen, throbbing. Steel through skin. Steel and skin. You just gotta love piercing.