Over the last few months my body has been pretty much a shooting gallery for piercings. My piercer, who I love and trust, was only to be in town from the months of August-November. I've collected quite a few piercings in that span of time, so woo!
At A Glance Author Mark Contact xslashvre@yahoo.com IAM Nothing Remains When It just happened Artist Missy Twohig Studio Karma Tattoo Studio Location Erie, PA I went in to the studio last Friday, right after picking up a paycheck. I was supposed to be going in for a vertical tragus piercing. I talked to Missy for a while, unsure of doing it. I still have a healing conch and I can't sleep on the side and I didn't want to have to worry about sleeping, the usual. So, being quite upset by this and not being sure of anything else to get done, I left. The next day, as I was preparing to go to work, I had a revelation. I hated my job, a lot. I called in and I quit. It was awesome! I had a lovely ride through the countryside with a friend, during said ride I called Missy, informed her of the great news of my unemployment, and told her I'd be in for my vertical tragus.
Fast forward to dinner. I got some chinese with a friend, and called the friend who had planned on getting pierced with me. Told her I'd meet her at her place in about an hour. We finished up the meal, left, and were on our way there.
Picked up Jen, got dropped at Karma Tattoo, and headed in for the piercings. Me for my vertical tragus and Jen for her nape. When we got in Missy informed us that she NEEDED some coffee. Jen and I decided we could go for a nice coffee treat as well, so we all walked down to Starbucks and got some coffee. We had an enjoyable walk back to the studio, joking and having a good time the whole way. I was in a ridiculously good mood over quitting my job so everything seemed so amazing.
We got to the studio, and Missy started her setup. All through the set up and the measurements, markings, and such I chatter away. Not only was I excited about being unemployed again, I was wired from the coffee drink I had just finished up. While I chattered away, Missy cleaned me off, measured the space to pierce, pinched at the area (which amused Jen so much that she asked Missy to pinch at it some more, Thanks Jen), and she marked me. I didn't even take a close look at the markings. Just a quick glance and I complied. I don't worry about placement if Missy is piercing me. She's damn good, what do I have to worry about? I lay down on the comfy table, and keep on talking to Jen. When I'm getting pierced, lately, I can't shut the hell up. I kept on talking and talking as I felt Missy aligning the needle. Missy does everything freehand, so I didn't really have the clamps to prepare me for anything. Missy does the ol' take deep slow breaths routine, and about halfway into it, she pierces me. I was totally not ready for this. She told me later that her grip was slipping on the skin and it had to be done right then. I am not lying when I say it was the most DISGUSTING feeling and sound that I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. Ugh, it sounded like bubbles in my skin were popping and I could feel them all bursting. It was nasty. The pain was overshadowed by the gross factor of this. I was squicked. The transfer was painless, as always with Missy. The jewelry was in place (bioplast, 14G curved barbell, fits perfectly), I took a look at it. Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang, that looks damn good is what I thought. Missy and Jen also had the same reaction to the piercing. And it does look great. It's a damn good looking piercing and she did an excellent job as usual. She cleaned me off and snapped quite a few pictures of it and cleaned up her area to prep for Jen's nape piercing. After Jen finished up, it was nearly time to shut down the shop. Jen and I paid and tipped Missy, and joked with the rest of the staff. The atmosphere at Karma Tattoo is so chill and relaxed, but at the same time open and fun. I love it. Jen and I left a few minutes after watching Missy try to do a cartwheel, and we walked home. The cool air felt nice on my new addition, but after a block or two, it was all but unnoticed. And that's pretty much how it's been since I got it pierced. Unnoticed.
It's been a little under a week and everything is great. Not too much crusty matter, sleeping is effortless, no pain AT ALL, no redness, no swelling. It's like I've had this piercing all along. It looks good, it feel great, what more could I possibly ask for in a fresh piercing? And I suppose that wraps up my story of the disgusting sounding yet carefree vertical tragus. :D