One must wonder exactly where love and body modification meet. Everyone seeks someone they care about and love, someone who accepts them for all their peculiarities and unique tastes. What happens when their unique tastes extend to those of body modification, something that is always changing within itself, morphing to new levels of artistic creation. Perhaps a look at couples who meet this issue head on everyday can create some insight into this question. One such couple is that of Jason Sand and Frances Bignall. How have their modifications brought them together and created the circumstances for their relationship?
Jason Sand: . . . finding someone with a similar level of mods immediately perked our interest.
Frances Bignall: The mods that I have performed on myself have undoubtedly limited my choice of partners and have alienated me from most. When you get to a certain level I think it does become more important to find someone who is on that same wavelength.
JS: It wasn't really the mods themselves but the inspiration and drive that really got our attention of each other.
Would they be together if not for the mods?
FB: . . . we have ended up on in the same place, doing things for reasons which might not be the same but which certainly compliment each other.
JS: I think our meeting would not have come about the way it did...but due to the eerie fact of this seeming predestined I would say it would have come about one way or another.
FB: . . . our compatibility goes beyond what we do with our bodies, but having said that, it is that which drives us that also bonds us. We do have an connection that is present in all we do, not just our mods.
Of course, once together the modifications bring upon different issues. What issues come up for a couple who are both so deeply into mods, one might wonder . . .
Encouragement . . .
JS: One thing that is good of us is the fact that we see each other modifying for the positive thing it really is for each other and it binds us together.
FB: It is certainly a good thing to find encouragement in another, and also to have someone to say when something might not be such a good idea.
Healing . . .
JS: Many see it as detrimental and even obsessive when approached the way I have approached it . . . constantly in the healing process . . . much like trying to get a mate’s attention, like a mating plumage.
FB: I am always healing something... there is always something I'm having to take care of, but I like that feeling . . . It’s one thing that keeps me going.
JS: Gives a sense of being alive.
FB: Absolutely.
JS: We try to coincide healing times when doing certain mods.
JS: As for the constant healing, it makes me at least worry of her and that in itself acts as a reminder of how much I really do love her.
Competition . . .
FB: yeah . . . I suppose there is a competition, but in a playful way . . .
Modified Times: Do you push each other, create a challenge for each other?
JS: I think that comes about naturally.
Or perhaps a complimenting and consideration for each other . . .
JS: We know where each of our mods is going, the fact they run similar lines can't be helped . . . Many peoples mods walk similar paths.
JS: We do discuss what would be more better for the other. Example. Pubic implant. I have little to gain from this but she does...so we give a bit of our body space up for each other in some ways.
FB: Neither of us would ask the other not to do something if they felt it was right. There may be times we don’t like what the other is doing as much as we could . . . but it goes far beyond a physical appeal, it goes more into being happy at the others contentment with themselves.
Modified Times: If encouragement was lacking from the partner, would it have prevented you from going through with a certain mod?
JS: I think it would put the mod under a bit more question, be looked at more. But in the end I think it would only help in defining the individual part of the couple and not add to the couple itself.
FB: We always consider the other in our actions, but ultimately you can’t be happy if your partner isn’t.
Modified Times: Has the goal become to be an overall compliment as a couple regarding mods?
FB: We have talked about getting mods that compliment the other . . . or more that compliment US. We will grow together and this will undoubtedly have an effect on what we do.
One also must wonder where each partner’s individual interests will take such a relationship . . .
FB: I don’t see us pushing each other away, we both have plans for quite major modifications, we have discussed our plans with each other right up to the level of amputation, though that is not an area we see ourselves going . . . at least beyond small body parts.
JS: I have been working towards a lip disc and even the fact that kissing and such will be an issue has been brought up.
Modified Times: What about a growing interest in a certain aspect of mods....if one of you suddenly gains a large curiosity about a certain mod that they hadn't had much interest in to start . . . does it become something that you explore as a couple, or does the interested one explore it by themselves?
FB: I think we would certainly take an interest . . . I am interested in all aspects of mods, not just those I want, and I am interested in everything Jason wants to do, not just what he has mentioned before . . . any new ideas of his would have my full attention.
JS: . . . looking at the actual aspect of it is one that we would handle on our own then bring what we learn to other. As she said it would probably be something that would inspire both of us in the long run.
Modified Times: Have you taught each other about mods or did you come in with an equal knowledge?
JS: we both tend to mention something now and then that is new to the other. We often discuss procedures together and both have a good feel for what to expect.
FB: We discuss all kinds of mods. in obsessive detail, often completely unfeasible ones. We share our knowledge on subjects that the other isn’t as familiar with . . .
JS: I remember a recent conversation regarding a foot cutting that has yet to come about. I knew of the vein and nerve bundles there and worried that Frances wasn't taking this into consideration. But at my request she looked more into it and gave it some more consideration. I couldn't ask for more.
FB: Yes . . . I was being a little . . . impulsive with that one.
Modified Times: Jason has some major scale ideas about complete changes to the body's structure, extension of the fingers and restructuring of joints for example....what about you, Frances, any ideas that you would like to see become realities in the world of mods?
FB: I do have plans for quite extensive implants, including facial ones.. I don’t have the same ambitions for bone restructuring that Jason does, but I am very interested in changing the shape of the body as a whole. I have ideas that I don’t know whether they are realistic or not, the removal of parts of my ear for example . . . I also put a lot of thought into changing my facial appearance. I have ideas that will do that but may not be possible.
. . . and what modifications stand out as favorites for each partner?
FB: I do like his facial stuff and hand stuff [tattoos] . . . mod wise though. would have to be the implants. I think they really do add to his appearance, not just physically, I think they suit him very nicely, they also add some very nice texture . . . The tattoos are extremely attractive, and actually make him look like a little pixie in the dark.
JS: Appearance wise it is her navel as it brings to focus her curves and the beauty of her tummy and waist. But more so it’s her lip and oral modifications. Beyond the obvious oral benefits, her lip rings cause her lip to droop in an over-exaggerated poutiness that makes her so attractive and sexy in a way that demands attention.
And where does family come into all of this?
JS: Mine find me lucky . . . My family expects me to find someone of my own interest.
FB: I think they would find it odd if I found a person without mods who accepted me the way I am. Ultimately all that matters to my parents is that I'm true to myself and that I am with a person that respects me and makes me happy.
One other aspect of a relationship in any circle is the social appearance of the couple. When someone is more heavily modded, they tend to catch more eyes, thus one must wonder how the public reacts to a couple where both partners are heavily modified, and one must also wonder how the couple deals with the public . . .
JS: More smiles . . . and we definitely do get more attention. People do tend to talk to us as a couple and not two individuals.
FB: I find that I don’t notice others’ reactions as much when we are together, but that could just be because I'm oblivious. We do get attention, but it’s hard to gauge it, coming from a place where I am often threatened for my mods . . . people are more accepting in the states anyway.
JS: Actually oddly enough I think Frances got more attention while we were together than I did. It is definitely the hair . . . We tend to find more comfort when together and escape others’ reactions.
What does the near future hold for modifications?
FB: I would like to start on my facial tattoos around my birthday in September, I also want my facial implants ( forehead, for now ), implants in my collarbones, genital implants, I will of course continue stretching all the things I'm stretching and getting new ink wherever possible . . .
JS: Chest implant, maybe collar bars, lip cutting to 3/4", subincision and pubic implant, transcrotal flesh tunnel near 00ga, and enlargement via cutting of my reverse PA.
Finally, what describes this relationship as a whole?
JS: Fate?
FB: Yes, actually I think fate is what it is.
