The First of Many [SeaHeart]

So! This starts with a picture, and goes from there~ XD

I've had several tattoos planned for years and years and years - unfortunately, I have a supremely low tolerance for pain, and have been unable to screw up the courage to go get one.

My sister and I are very, very close. We decided that our first tattoos would be gotten together, and they would be the same thing. There are many things that unite us - but one of the sweetest and silliest is our love for the Legend of Zelda video games. The "heart containers" are the level of life you have left in the video game - they glow in the upper left of your screen. You start the game with three, and when you complete the first "dungeon" (hard level), you end up with a fourth. We love the symbolism that we've gone through alot together, come out perfectly okay *because* of each other... and then there's the sweetness beyond that, too... so it really was perfect for us. The heart containers go "down" by quarters - so we wanted four heart containers with a quarter off of life... because you always have room to grow and heal.

So, it's esoteric and geeky and silly and sweet and everything being sisters with each other has brought us. We wanted these tattoos to be our first~

We had Monday as the SET DATE for the tattoo - no backing out, no ANYTHING. And I was nervous, but I was prepared and excited. Friday - Samhain - (if I was okay with the pain and everything) we were getting our first "major" tattoo after that... so it was all lined up.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand I didn't want to mention it here unless I chickened out. XD

So! We went to the Masquerade Ball last night, and it was HORRIBLE. There were people SITTING, no dancing (save for little kids), and really... it wasn't what it was advertised to be at all. So, we left, took acouple of pictures around the art gallery (the ball was held in our local art museum) and were frustrated generally with the night - that we'd gotten SO dolled up for nothing.

The thing about the tattoo is that Laura and me were not the only ones to be getting it. Laura had very, very, VERY generously offered to pay for mine - and one for Jenn, too. Maddie, my best friend, has been itching to get more tattoos and has had SO many ideas, but really - getting tattoos WITH people is probably the most rewarding, best thing ever, so she'd been waiting.

So. We were ALL going to get tattoos Monday... until last night.

We had done research and picked out a parlor that came highly recommended (Strange Brew - which is in a Pagan shop!) - but they weren't open last night. There *was* this other, wonderful parlor (Ink Spot Tattoos), but they were only open until eleven. I called them and told them of the situation - how we had no appointment - but, would they be willing to do it anyway? Totally, spontaneously, magickally... they said yes. So, we washed off all of our makeup, got out of our ballgowns and drove there immediately. XD

First off, they were the kindest, nicest people. They knew how nervous I was and Ed - the artist - totally put me at ease from the get-go. He cracked a bunch of jokes and was SO kind and gentle... there was really nothing to be afraid of. Once I felt it begin, I was TOTALLY okay with the level of pain - which surprised me. Granted, on the shoulder is supposedly ALOT less trouble than other areas... but I was happy, and could do it. :) I kept breathing and thinking of a bunch of funny things - including Ganesh on a bicycle. XD

Having Jenn and Laura and Maddie there was the most wonderful, inspirational thing. They were all clustered around and kept cracking jokes and giving me SO MUCH SUPPORT. I know it may seem like a little tattoo, and a little thing, but I was honestly afraid of the pain - afraid I would get two tiny dots in and have to leave from it... it was like nothing I'd imagined (I have a very powerful imagination XD), and I could totally deal - and they were with me every step of the way. ;-; I am so blessed with the amazing people I know and love. ;-;

Enough mushiness. Pictures! And I will leave Jenn (

willow_cabin - who did NOT get heart containers. Wait and see what she got. XD) and Laura (

atempestcyclone) to post their own pictures and ramblings.

Maddie's tattoo was too complicated to do last night (we all got tiny ones), so she is getting her major one with Laura and I on Samhain night. I'm not saying what mine is - but I'm ecstatic about it~ :) (And it's not really "major," as in huge - just one of the most meaningful things of my life.)

So yes! Peekturs~ :D

At this point, he was like: Are you ready? And I was like: No. But do it anyway. o.o

He was SO nice about it - and I know I mentioned gentle, but he seriously WAS. I don't know what I was expecting - I guess I thought he would think I was being ridiculous, scared of something so small (he's heavily tattooed in PAINFUL areas), but he was just so understanding. I was so, so, SO appreciative of that. ;-;