Cartilage piercing (aka helix)

Hey guys(: so I was wanting to get my cartilage pierced sort of near the top but like on the side and i have a few questions.
1. How much does it hurt compared to a lobe piercing? (I was told that if you pinch your lobe and your cartilage, then the cartilage will hurt more, but the lobe hurts more to me)
2. I heard you really shouldn't get it don't by gun. What would happen if I did?
3. At my dads house I have a pool, how long until I will be able to swim again?
4. Is Claire's a good place to get it pierced? Because when I got my lobe pierced I don't have any problems with infections.
5. How should I take care of the piercing? Like what products and how often?
6. Should I get both ears pierced at the same time or wait until one is completely healed to get the other one pierced?

If you could answer all of these that would be amazing. But if you can only answer a few, then thats alright, too.