So, I’ve never had a piercing done except for my ears, so I don’t really know how this works. I watched some videos on youtube and nearly barfed and threw up everywhere. :( sorry. I don’t really like needles going up noses. So, don’t blame me that this is incorrect or not right, because, I don’t even know how this works. :( Sorry.
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Austin
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“Does it hurt?” asked a soft voice. Austin turned his attention to the small girl who was wringing her hands anxiously.
“Erm-” Austin scratched at his head carefully, his finger absentmindedly touching his nose ring. It had been so long with so many tattoos in between that he forgot if it was painful or not. He sighed and rubbed at his face tiredly. “Hey, Alan? Did it hurt to get your nose pierced?”
The thin man looked up and rubbed at his hair. He looked down at his chest and poked at his cat tattoo. “I don’t remember-”
“Well, if he and I can’t remember, then it can’t be that bad.” Austin assured his daughter softly. She frowned and rubbed at her arms. Austin smiled at her and hugged her tightly. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Phil and I are getting tattoos when you’re getting your nose done.”
“I’ll be by myself?” She whimpered. Austin smiled sympathetically at her.
“Of course not. I’ll be right there when you get your nose done. Trust me.”
Sienna relaxed visibly and Austin kissed her nose. “You’ll be fine.”
“Ready, Austin?” Asked Phil, emerging from the back lounge. Austin nodded and Aaron grinned.
“Can I come too?” Aaron asked excitedly. Austin smirked.
“Yeah, sure.” Aaron cheered and grabbed the van’s keys. This time they were driving to their destination. Normally, the artist would come onto the bus and tattoo them in the back lounge, but Austin had a feeling that Sienna was be more comfortable in a professional setting.
They clambered into the van and Aaron put it into gear. Off they went to the tattoo parlor in town. Austin knew what he wanted to get. He was going to get a rose on the patch of exposed skin on his most recent sleeve. He would some how put Sienna’s name in there without it being that noticeable and also Lucy’s name. Sienna looked so nervous, so Austin placed his arm around her.
“Hey, you’ll be okay. If I can survive it, so can you.” Austin said to her. She smiled weakly and just looked out the window. Aaron pulled into the parking lot of the tattoo/piercing shop and got out of the car. Austin walked with his daughter, smiling as she looked anxiously about. She was so fucking adorable. He held the door open for her and she dashed inside the shop and he followed, holding the door for his two other friends.
She sat on the leathery couch as Austin signed in. The man behind the counter nodded and Austin leaned in. “Do you think you could squeeze in a nose piercing before you tattoo us?” he hopefully asked, glancing at Sienna.
“Sure, it’s quick and easy.” the man said, pulling something from under the counter. Austin smile.
“Thanks, man.”
“Of course.” the man called to the back and another man who was covered in tattoos and had some piercings walked up to the desk and stuck out a hand.
“Hey, what’s up, man? I’m Matt.” the smiling tattoo artist shook hands with Austin making Austin feel a bit more comfortable.
“Hey, nothing much. I’m Austin.” he said, grinning. Matt opened his mouth to say something, but the front desk guy cut him off.
“Yo, Matty, you up for piercing today?”
“Yeah, sure.” Matt smiled, bobbing his head. “Who and when?”
“That girl right over there.” Austin said, pointing her out. She was staring intensely down at her phone and Phil was looking over her shoulder, smiling slightly. Aaron was MIA, but that was normal of him. Sometimes he was around, sometimes he walked off.
“Sweet,” Matt walked from behind the counter and to Sienna. Austin followed quickly behind, excited for Sienna’s first piercing.
“Hey, there.” Matt said gently. Sienna glanced up and Austin saw her look on her face as she put away her phone. It looked like a cross between excited and nervous. Just like he looked like when he got his first tattoo. “I’m Matt. I’ll be doing your piercing!” He stuck out a hand and she tentatively took it. Matt pulled her up and took her chin in between his forefinger and his thumb. He gently pulled her face to the side and to the other side as well. Austin gave her a reassuring smile. “Which side are you thinking about getting it done?”
“Erm,” Sienna looked a bit confused, “maybe the left side-”
“Good choice.” Matt nodded, furrowing his brow. “A stud or a ring?”
She looked up at Austin, appearing a bit lost. Austin shrugged and rubbed his head. “I think a ring would look nice on you, Si.”
She passed the knowing look to Matt who nodded again. “He’s right. It would look good on you.” He looked over at Austin. “Are you Dad?”
Austin’s stomach clenched a little with pride. “Yep.”
“Cool. I don’t really need to see ID, cause I’m tattooing you later.” Matt grinned.
“Do I have to sign something?” he asked, confused. Last thing he heard, he had to sign on behalf of the minor who was getting pierced. Matt looked thoughtful as he cocked his head to the side slightly.
“I know who you are, and everyone knows you’re her father. There’s no hiding that. Anyway, law, shmaw. Who gives a damn?” He flashed Austin a devilish look and Austin couldn’t help but laugh at this guy’s enthusiasm.
Sienna followed Matt and Austin brought her closer to him. Austin squeezed her arm and winked down at her. “You excited?”
“Mmhm.” she mumbled. Austin chuckled at her and Matt opened a door for them. He gestured for her to sit down in a chair and offered Austin a seat next to it. It was a comfy chair, leather and plush. The one that Sienna was in. The one Austin was in was one of those chairs that were in back lounges, or fancy VIP rooms in clubs. He basically sank into the leather and held onto Sienna’s hand.
“Comfy?” Matt joked. Austin nodded and gave a thumbs up. “Okay, so what’s your name?” he asked, beginning to bring out supplies for her piercing.
“S-Sienna.” She replied timidly.
“That’s a pretty name.” he complimented her. She gave him a small laugh and Austin felt at ease. “Do you like to listen to music?”
“Some.” she said, seeming less and less uncomfortable.
“Cool! Who are some of your favorite bands?” he asked, cleaning a large needle. Austin felt his stomach plunge as he stared at the needle. Oh my god.
“Erm, I like all bands.” she rubbed her arm not looking at the sharp metal.
“Me too.” Matt said, picking out a box of rings. “go on and choose a ring you’d like. I’ll tell you if it works with you or not.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. Austin gave her a small smile and looked up to see Phil and Aaron standing in the door way. Aaron held up a small bag. “Got some snacks for Sienna and I. And some drinks. Are we allowed to have food and drinks in here?”
Matt nodded. “As long as you don’t spill anything. Aaron and Phil sat down in a small leather couch, placing the goods by their feet. Sienna held up a ring and it caught Austin’s eye. It was a small silver nose ring. It was a bit thick, but aside from that, it was basically identical to Austin’s and Alan’s. It was a simple one and Matt smiled. “You like silver?”
“Yeah.” she said quietly. Austin noticed her eye was on another one though. It was still thick and silvery like the one she had in her hand, but there was a tinted purple one. Austin leaned over and pulled that one out instead and switched them with her.
“I like this one.” he told her. She smiled instantly and her cheeks grew red.
“Me too.” Matt chimed in. “Much more ‘you-ish’.” He cleaned the ring off and positioned Sienna’s face making her look away from Austin. Matt walked around and positioned the needle making Austin cringe and look away. Sienna gripped Austin’s hand so tightly, she probably could have broken her wrist. “Ready? One...two...-”
Austin looked away and squeezed his eyes shut. Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew....
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Sienna
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The piercing didn’t hurt. Maybe it was because she was so used to something small like that and it didn’t really kick it. She didn’t like how Austin was giving her hand the death grip and she only noticed she was holding her breath until she let it out to breathe again. Matt tapped her now numb like nose and stood back, admiring his handiwork. “Mmhmm! Wanna see it, Sienna?”
Her heart leaped as she nodded enthused. Matt laughed and Austin let go of her hand. She looked at her pale father and giggled as he shook his head trying to get rid of the light-headedness she was experiencing as well.
Matt held up a mirror for her and she couldn’t stop smiling. It looked so good! She loved it. Tinted purple was perfect for her skin tone. It blended in nicely with her face and her once ‘too flat nose’ now seemed less flat with the metal sticking out. She squealed and covered her mouth.
“It’s so pretty! Thanks!” She got out of the chair with wobbly legs and hugged Matt after he held out his arms.
“Cool. I’m glad I could give you what you wanted.” He chuckled. “Okay. Who’s next?”
“Me.” Austin said, holding up a hand. Phil nodded.
“Yeah, someone else is doing me. Side by side though.”
Austin smiled and held out his arms for Sienna as well. Without hesitation, she hugged him back. He held her out at an arms length and examined her, making her face flush. “It looks so good, Si! It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
“Well, I wouldn’t expect you to know, seeing how you looked away for the whole thing.” Sienna teased. “And how you basically murdered my hand.” She held up her bruising hand as proof and he smirked, blushing.
“Sorry about that.”
“Hey, Austin, how about you meet me out here so we can talk about your tattoo?” Matt asked nodding to the door. “You too, Phil. I think your artist, Amy, is here.” The two men stood and followed Matt out of the room. Matt poked his head in and looked at Sienna. “Feel free to play some music. You can just press play on Jango. I think I was listening to a station.”
Then he closed the door behind him. Sienna smiled and turned to Aaron. He grinned back at her and winked.
“It looks really good, Sienna. Let me take a picture so I can send it to Alan.” he pulled out his phone. “He was really excited to see your piercing.”
She posed for him and he snapped the picture of her nose ring, no longer afraid of what the others would say about her.
“Hey, Si, pull up your sweater a little.” Aaron said gently. She glanced down to see if her sweater was revealing, but was confused to see her chest fully covered. “Your shoulder, Si.” Aaron quietly fiddled with his phone. Sienna’s eyes widened and she yanked up her sweater so the neck was basically strangling her.
“Please don’t tell.” she whimpered, her hands shaking slightly, feeling tears pricking at her eyes. Aaron looked deeply conflicted as he sank his teeth into his lip.
“Sienna, do you think you could tell someone about it?”
“I talked to you, didn’t I?” She tried to be difficult.
“Sienna, you know what I mean. I had to find out for myself.”
“I don’t want Austin to know.” she whispered. If Aaron didn’t look conflicted then, he sure as hell looked it now.
“Two days, Sienna.” Aaron said, holding up two fingers. “If you don’t find someone and have them talk to me and you tell them about everything, then I’ll tell Austin. Got it?”
She knew he didn’t want to sound harsh, but Sienna didn’t know how else to take it. She nodded and he hugged her. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.” She lied, her stomach clenching. “I’m okay.”
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