Needles
This is unfinished, but corset piercing was my first thought when I saw the prompt. I think if I had time I'd start again, though I'm still not sure where I'd go with it. It will only be posted here until I find the time and inspiration to finish it. Constructive criticism would be welcome.
I paused in the doorway to watch him work. It was strangely calming to see this master carefully pierce skin in long rows down the pixie's back. He didn't mind people watching. That's why the door was left open.
"You can come in," he murmured. I jumped. How did he know I was there? "I can hear you breathing."
I wondered idly if he could hear me thinking as well.
I stepped into the room, which was decorated sparsely with dark wood and lit by a number of lanterns. A woman knelt in the manner of all submissives in this place, head bowed, legs tucked under her, bottom nestled between her heels. Long black hair that looked purple in the light fell in a sheet over one shoulder, covering her bare chest.
“Sit,” he said. “Watch.”
I knelt to the side of their tableau. He was on his knees as well, to better reach her back. I was reminded again that this was not the world outside when I saw that the needles he used were thin bone. Would she be keeping the piercings? Or were they for a special occasion?
“Ask your question.”
He never took his eyes from the flesh in front of him. I winced as the tip pierced skin and the pixie gasped.
“Does it hurt?”
“That’s not a question for me, that’s a question for her. She’s not allowed to talk. It’s also a stupid question.”
“I’m sorry, Master.” I watched the tears trickle down her cheek, an echo of the blood that ran down her back. “Is she keeping them?”
“Yes. Among her kind they are a symbol of ownership. Her master asked me to do this for her. When she returns to him he will lace them front and back. There is also one he can padlock so that he retains control over her completely.” I tried not to picture where that would be. “Show Kristy that piercing.”
She turned her head as he gently wiped away blood. There was a ring in her chin and when she poked out her tongue I saw there was one in her tongue as well.
“The freedom to speak is perhaps the most elemental. The freedom to ask for something, to express our ideas.”
“Wouldn’t the freedom to think those ideas be the most elemental?”
He turned suddenly and I froze under the violet gaze. Then he smiled. “Yes. But if we control thought than we are creating a robot. There’s no challenge there.”
“Are you ready?” The woman nodded. “This is your last one. You’ve done a wonderful job. Take a deep breath.”
I leaned closer to see the bone pierce skin and tried to imagine what it felt like moving through flesh. Her mouth was open, though no sound left her lips. As he moved his hands away, her whole torso shook in a silent sob.
“Go lie down.” She stood and gracefully moved behind a screen where a silhouette moved away from the shadows and helped her to the bed.
I paused in the doorway to watch him work. It was strangely calming to see this master carefully pierce skin in long rows down the pixie's back. He didn't mind people watching. That's why the door was left open.
"You can come in," he murmured. I jumped. How did he know I was there? "I can hear you breathing."
I wondered idly if he could hear me thinking as well.
I stepped into the room, which was decorated sparsely with dark wood and lit by a number of lanterns. A woman knelt in the manner of all submissives in this place, head bowed, legs tucked under her, bottom nestled between her heels. Long black hair that looked purple in the light fell in a sheet over one shoulder, covering her bare chest.
“Sit,” he said. “Watch.”
I knelt to the side of their tableau. He was on his knees as well, to better reach her back. I was reminded again that this was not the world outside when I saw that the needles he used were thin bone. Would she be keeping the piercings? Or were they for a special occasion?
“Ask your question.”
He never took his eyes from the flesh in front of him. I winced as the tip pierced skin and the pixie gasped.
“Does it hurt?”
“That’s not a question for me, that’s a question for her. She’s not allowed to talk. It’s also a stupid question.”
“I’m sorry, Master.” I watched the tears trickle down her cheek, an echo of the blood that ran down her back. “Is she keeping them?”
“Yes. Among her kind they are a symbol of ownership. Her master asked me to do this for her. When she returns to him he will lace them front and back. There is also one he can padlock so that he retains control over her completely.” I tried not to picture where that would be. “Show Kristy that piercing.”
She turned her head as he gently wiped away blood. There was a ring in her chin and when she poked out her tongue I saw there was one in her tongue as well.
“The freedom to speak is perhaps the most elemental. The freedom to ask for something, to express our ideas.”
“Wouldn’t the freedom to think those ideas be the most elemental?”
He turned suddenly and I froze under the violet gaze. Then he smiled. “Yes. But if we control thought than we are creating a robot. There’s no challenge there.”
“Are you ready?” The woman nodded. “This is your last one. You’ve done a wonderful job. Take a deep breath.”
I leaned closer to see the bone pierce skin and tried to imagine what it felt like moving through flesh. Her mouth was open, though no sound left her lips. As he moved his hands away, her whole torso shook in a silent sob.
“Go lie down.” She stood and gracefully moved behind a screen where a silhouette moved away from the shadows and helped her to the bed.