Wednesday 19 February 2014

A Brand

Everybody and their dog (literally, if you go by some usernames or personalities!) has debated the importance, or lack thereof, of a brand.
They’ve also debated the issues with a real brand compared to a tattoo. I’m not getting into that debate – my view is clear, I have a brand (not tattoo) on my left thigh, that was put there EXACTLY as the books describe (so that dispels the myth of ‘it’ll kill a girl? Unless I’m a ghostie-jira?) – hot iron, inch and a half high, and half an inch wide.

Now... I DON’T recommend others have it done, unless properly prepared for the consequences.

Firstly, and most obviously, brands aren’t readily available on supermarket shelves. My Master made mine, and I’m allowed to keep it (now unusable) with me, it currently lives on the bedside table, on the lamp I use for reading. It took him ages and many attempts to make it – his first one wasn’t right, and if you’re going to do it, you need a perfectly straight piece of metal – or it’s going to show as uneven in the brand.

Heating the brand – isn’t as easy as you think. It can’t be too hot, and it can’t be too cold. Master worked on that, and to be honest I don’t remember much of the heating or branding process.. I think I blocked most of that out, as brains are prone to doing when it’s in pain! Holding it on my skin, I’m told, took plenty of focus – as he had to work out just long enough to brand, not so long as to maim (Thankfully, he got that right!)

Healing time is A LOT longer than the books – in the books the next day the slave is bouncing around serving. I was still shaking (your body goes into shock) two days later, and being fed sugary tea by my Master. He took time off work to look after me, and didn’t leave my side for more than a couple of minutes (to shower, for example) for about a week, after that I went to work with him for nearly two months as my thigh healed. I wouldn’t recommend a BTB brand unless this is a possibility. Even then, if it starts to get infected – go to the hospital. Mine did (as people know, I’m uber sensitive) but thankfully with painful salt solutions and over-the-counter antiseptics, we were prepared and kept it to a minimum, and didn’t require a hospital visit.

We’ve always kept my brand ‘under wraps’. This is because my Master has never wanted people to repeat it, it still aches in the cold, and has occasionally rubbed against tight clothing (don’t expect to do long horse treks with a brand – I learnt that the hard way!). This is still the case – but now, after three years (Moved to him November ’09, branded Sept ’10, engaged December ‘12, married November ’13) He’s allowing me to post a couple of pictures.

So... Here we go –
When it was first done:
(Day One, almost immediately after branding)

Now, three years on:




Is my brand perfect? No. Perfection is not an achievable goal. But I’d love to see someone who has had a BTB brand (right size, hot, hand branded) that’s better.



We expect it to change further in the future, lighter scarring around the edge will fade, as it already has in places. If the kef fades (which we don’t believe it will), it will be his decision whether to rebrand me or not. I don’t relish the idea of going through the pain again – but that’s not my decision.. and since I promised to ‘love honour and obey’ him, I don’t plan on breaking my promise.

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