Mishka's Second Assignment

[Dragon's muse]

Nicely done. Good characterizations and you did very well with Arlene's reaction. Excellent breakdown of what it is we do, in terms that someone who doesn't do it can understand. i got a very nice sense of the bond between the two women. i really liked Arlene's flusteredness (i think i just made up a word) and her suspicions about Joshua and it being all HIS idea. Her protectiveness gave credence to the bond. That would be a pretty predictable reaction. It lends some realism to the story.

The only other thing i would say is that with the Abuela/Abuelo reference, you might think of giving Arlene more of an Hispanic sounding name.

i will get your next assignment up this afternoon.

On to the nits.

A Friend in Need

“Arlene! Did you get my Mom’s crystal? It’s in the closet in the bedroom,” I called from the hallway, not really listening for an answer. I think she answered something about the crystal and a large box.

Hearing a crash from the room, I run in to see her on the floor with the box on her toe. “Arlene! Are you ok? Is your foot hurt?”

“Um…no…I’m fine. I didn’t mean…I mean…I’m really sorry, you know, about your stuff,” she said almost in a whisper. I thought it was my crystal. I looked down, and saw what she was frantically trying to repack.

“It’s ok Arlene. Don’t worry about it,” I told her soothingly. The tape had come undone on the box, and I went to get the roll from the kitchen. When I returned, Arlene was staring wide-eyed at my restraints at the end of a thick chain.

I felt the need to explain, but had never done so before. “Joshua got me those for my birthday.”

She just looked at me quizzically. So I thought I should just continue, as if she had audibly asked me something. “Restraints. They’re quite comfortable.”

Finding her voice, “You’re into this stuff?”

It was my turn to look confused. “What do you mean ‘stuff’?”

“I mean…this…kinky stuff, you know?”

“Oh. Kinky. Well, I hadn’t thought of it that way.” I looked down at my blindfolds and Joshua’s mask. I guess it would seem kinky to her, from what she’s told me about her marriage.

“Look, it’s none of my business. As long as Joshua isn’t hurting you that’s what matters,” she said firmly, and leaned over to continue to put our toys back in the freshly taped box. I blushed. “Is he hurting you, Katy?”

What am I supposed to say? Yes, but I like it? I just shrug.

“I don’t get it.” She picks up my nipple clamps. “Are these what I think they are?”

“What do you think they are?” I giggled a little. Her face was priceless, the shock and stare made me laugh out loud. “Oh come on, Arlene, don’t you think you’re overreacting about this a little? Ok, I was pretty shocked when Joshua brought out the handcuffs for the first time, but the more he showed me, the more I liked.”

Crossing her arms sternly, “So this was HIS idea.”

I kneel down to resume packing. “He doesn’t do anything I don’t like. He’s very careful. Gentle, in fact.”

“He’s gentle with this paddle?” displaying it like a “Price-is-Right” girl. (i really like this line)

I smile, “Yes, actually.” Ok, so he’s not exactly gentle. “He started off doing it lightly anyway.”

“I still don’t get it,” she says, shaking her head. “Why? Wha…what…,” she stammered, “Forget it. Forget I asked it’s none of my business. Let’s just finish up, ok?” I could tell the curiosity was killing her, but after a brief pause she couldn’t contain herself.

“So what is it?” she asks, lifting a long piece of rope from the pile, examining it briefly before returning it to the box. “What’s so great about letting him do this to you? Letting him…dominate you like this?” The “D”-word was spit out like something dirty was in her mouth. My life wasn’t dirty, but I know she didn’t mean to be uncouth.

“It’s not about the toys. It’s the way he looked the first time I was tied up.” I smile, remembering the intensity on his face. Finally I had the chance to put into words what has made me so happy this last year. “The more I was tied down, the more control he took, the more peaceful I became.” I sat and crossed my legs, wishing I were a poet to explain how much this lifestyle has meant to me.

“You know, I’ve been looking after my parents for three years now. It was pretty lonely just working and caring for them. Joshua became my friend and helped, but then he became much more, he takes care of me and it makes him happy to do it.”

“You mean you just do whatever he says?” she asked. I sighed, this was harder to explain than I thought. I guess for an introduction I should keep it as simple as possible, no poetry. She was being patient enough to really listen.

“Arlene, it’s our way of taking care of each other. These things, this box, it’s just the physical part of our relationship. It’s just the skin of something deeper. Don’t get me wrong, the sex is incredible, and yes, at first, I thought of it as kinky, sweet naughtiness. The more we tried, the more sensual and intense it was. Then we took it out of the bedroom. Then it wasn’t “naughty” anymore, it wasn’t “kinky”. It was the life that we needed that works best for us.

She looked at the floor, I could tell she was thinking it through a little. In a small, nervous twitch, she reached for the last of our toys and helped me seal the box. She stopped. She just stayed looking at the closed box for a full minute. I couldn’t tell by the look on her face what she was thinking or feeling, I just waited quietly.

“Ok.”

“Ok?”

She nodded her head. “Yeah. Ok.”

“I don’t understand. What…”

She looked up to me to say, “Believe it or not, I think I get it. Not all of it, but I can understand submission. Abuela obeyed Abuelo, and he was always a good man. They loved each other very much.”

We both became silent again. It didn’t feel necessary to talk about it anymore, at least not now. The introduction was over, and it hadn’t been so bad. I had finally revealed my lifestyle. I smiled at the thought of how pleased Master would be hearing that my best friend, after all this time, finally knew.