That was my mother's reaction to finding out that I was looking into getting a vertical hood piercing. That's generally her reaction to finding out I want to get ANY piercings, so I wasn't all that surprised. Soon as I turned sixteen I got my id from her so I could head out and start getting pierced (she would only sign for my ears)
At A Glance Author Fae Contact Fae@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Elwood Studio Raven's Retreat Location Chilliwack, BC Anyways, I found out that my friend was hosting a workshop with Elwood in her private dungeon club in Chilliwack and that he would be doing permanent piercing afterwards. My initial idea was that I would at long last get my tongue pierced, but it suddenly didn't seem nearly so intriguing. I mean, if you're going to get pierced by THE Elwood, you want to get something really good that you wouldn't want done by just your average piercer. So, after much research and a great deal of humming and hawing, I finally settled on the vertical hood.
Day of workshop/party arrives and the panic sets in. I had my nipples done and I keep hearing that the vertical hood is less painful. The problem is that post-piercing, you forget the pain, so why I'm taking the advice of these people is beyond me. Either way, the 'helpful' comments are not helping. As the day goes on, the panic increases. I'm always this way pre-piercing. I decided to get my nipples done kind of spur of the moment and it was done in a shop so there wasn't much time for me to freak out. This is different, this is fucking AWFUL.
7:45 rolls around and Elwood shows up. Having never seen a photo, this very friendly looking pierced guy walks in and I cheerfully ask him what he's getting done. I'm politely corrected and told exactly who this (rather attractive) man is and blush and apologize and chat with him a bit about micro-dermal piercings. More people arrive leading up to the workshop - which eases a little of my worry because my brain is distracted by watching Elwood stuff play piercing needles into his willing volunteer who grumbles good naturedly at him when he decides to show people how to cause a little more pain when pulling out the needles. The first person getting a permanent piercing is getting a PA - I feel for him when he grunts and jerks around on the table but I am too busy back into panic mode about my own to feel too much sympathy.
I manage to put it off a little longer by letting my friend get her nipples done first and she swears cheerfully at Elwood, the poor guy, when he does her. I go into full panic (which I generally do before being pierced) but thankfully this time I'm allowed to since it's a private party. Elwood is very understanding and lets me tweak out and my support group boots everyone out of the room, the owners of the dungeon sit one behind and one beside, surrounding me in good lovey feelings. Elwood is sitting in front of me, rubbing my legs and talking real soft - sign of a fantastic piercer when they'll get you through your tweak instead of relying on your friends to do it. Slowly but surely my legs part and Elwood begins his prep.
The swabbing isn't so bad, feels kind of nice and even the easing in of the little receiving tube is tolerable. The lining up of the needle is a little less comfortable, but still ok. I'm just beginning to think this might not be so bad when he puts the needle through. My legs jerk, my back arches and I.. well, I whimper actually. No bellowing, no screams, just a muffled whimpery yelp. He slips the jewelry through, which is not the most comfortable experience and... I'm done! I take a peek down through watery eyes and grin because it's as pretty as I hoped it would be. I hop off the table (and bring half the paper with me when it gets stuck to my bum) and walk about five steps and have to stop and relax a moment. I'm actually quite functional post-piercing; go me! I even take pictures of a couple of the guests at the party and pose with Elwood (piercing safely tucked away) for a picture for the Raven's Retreat website.
I'm hooked. Nobody else will be piercing me; I'm an Elwood addict. It was such an intense and amazing experience and it helped me so much emotionally to have the little bonding experience beforehand. Considering I'd never had ANYONE poking at my bits, not even a doctor, I think I did quite well. And to Wolfe, who thought I was going to hop off the table and chicken out - TAKE THAT!