Shiny Things

TRIGGER WARNING.

The BDSM community is so vast. If you can think about it, you can probably do it. And there are some outlandish things that are done more often than one might think. One of these things is knife play.

Now, before you ask, yes. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Knife play is using knives (or other sharp and shiny things similar to a knife) to create sexual/sensual pleasure. Some people use it just for the thrill of having a knife around them, some people use it to create pain, and some people use it in certain scenes they take part in with their partner.

(For those who may not be familiar with certain terminology, I will be making another post about it!)

I've partaken in knife play before. It was so scary, and I loved it. I was with someone I trusted, and they did everything they needed to do prior to doing it. At the end, I felt safe and satisfied, and that’s exactly what I should have felt. If you ever take part in a scene and you don’t feel comfortable, you need to END that scene. Period.

So before I take another step upward on my consent soapbox, I’m going to use some safety tips one of my lovely Twitter friends put up! I learn from other people, and so should you. I decided that she was one of the best sources for something like this, so I’ll be putting up the information at the end of the post!

• KNIVES ARE NOT TOYS! Remember, the original purpose of a knife was to hurt, to kill, to damage.
• Always have a decent first aid kit available. Make sure this includes antibiotic ointment, cotton balls, fabric bandaids, and butterfly bandages.
• Make sure you manage your time in the scene, take your time, and never use a knife on someone that you’ve never used on your own skin.
• CLEAN YOUR KNIVES BEFORE AND AFTER YOU USE THEM!
• Don’t boil the knives to sterilize them. It sometimes warps the blade and may cause it to lose its temper.
• Make sure you’re both clean, and don’t be afraid of being too clean. Rubbing alcohol always does wonders.
• Use a super sharp knife or a dull edge of one. Anything in the middle is incredibly dangerous because you never know what’s going to happen.
• Pull the knife towards you when touching the edge to your partner, never push away.
• If you are scraping the skin, hold blade at 45 degree angle from the skin.
• Never cut above the shoulders, as there are too many sensitive and irreplaceable parts.
• Hold your blade the way an artist would hold and control a paint brush.
• When first exploring knife play, start with a blade no larger than the width of your hand.
• Make sure you account for any flinch or sudden sound that may startle your partner.
• Pay attention to your partner and make sure you know the way they flinch, how much movement per jerk or quiver, etc.
• REMEMBER THIS: Knife play is the ultimate edge play and is legally considered assault with a deadly weapon. Because it is.

You can technically do whatever you want, really. I’ve had situations with partners so rough we decided it would be best to put things in writing first. But there were so many things on that paper that there was no way anything could be misconstrued. At all. But that’s me. I can handle a lot more than other people can. And I’m very much so aware of my limits, and I’m very lucky to have had certain partners who were willing to work with me and push those limits to see what was the best for us.

Knives are, sometimes, a funner concept than a toy. It’s okay to leave some things just a mere fantasy, instead of going forward with actually putting those things into real life. Don’t ever be afraid to NOT do something. There’s a weird thing that I’ve been made aware of where if you don’t partake in something you’re into, you’re not authentically into it. That doesn’t make sense. I’m into having millions of dollars and Donald Trump not being the president, but doesn’t mean that either of those things are the case.

Let me know if there are some other safety/educational posts that you guys want me to write! I’m curious to hear what you guys are interested in! Have fun, Pineapple Peeps!

For those of you who are interested, the Twitter account I mentioned above is @blackBDSM - It's a pansexual kink account... There is something for absolutely everyone, even if it's not your particular cup of tea. If you don't like it, scroll past. But I've found that certain things, such as this thread, have been incredibly helpful. Go give her a look!