The Invitation
Oasis answered the door expectantly. Philippe had told her she would be getting a package, and it was finally here. As she signed for the envelope, she could hardly wait to see what was inside! Bounding to the couch, she landed with a "thump" telling herself to very calmly open this, so as not to damage the contents.
Slowly she opened the envelope, with her heart beating painfully in her head. Enclosed was another VERY formal looking envelope and a note from her Master. She decided to read the note first hoping to find he was sending for her again.
Oasis,
Enclosed you will find an invitation. The host is a very close friend of mine, and has requested I bring a guest. As I have already accepted for you, your presence is expected. This is a very casual affair and you will present yourself as follows:
You will wear an acceptable dress with heels no less than 4 inches tall. You should not adorn yourself with perfumes or much makeup as this is stated "casual". You will wear your hair down, and beneath your dress you will be presentable to me.
I will send a car for you tomorrow at exactly 4pm. Do NOT run yourself late as punishment would truly be severe if you were. You will also need the invitation enclosed to present once you are there. I will not be there to greet you, but you are to find "Chef" Lucien Morlet. He will be expecting you, and you will be under his instruction for the duration of the evening.
"Je veux que mes amis se regalent sur vous"
Je vous embrasse tendrement,
Philippe
Oasis looked questioningly at the instructions. "I should find these words of French" she mused to herself. "Ohh lala!!" she laughingly exclaimed, " I will know soon enough!" She carefully opened the invitation. When she removed the fragile contents, a waft of some unidentifiable scent was exposed. Inhaling deeply she unfolded the invitation. The paper was silk screen and seemed very delicate in nature. As she held it to the light shining upon her from the sky lights above, she saw an embodiment behind the print. She focused only on the emulation. What became clear were two forms, seemingly sexless, engorging upon one another. Startled by this finding, she was reminded of the book, Imajica. In this book two people were able to completely consume one another literally with their minds. Thinking that at least she would have some literary knowledge to expand upon, she put the contents aside to go to her closets and find the acceptable attire.
Watch Your Manners!
Dressed in an oriental cheongsam, Oasis paced nervously on her four inch black strap heels. She anxiously rechecked herself in the full length mirror. Her shoulders were bare in the cheongsam and the emerald green mixed with black print accentuated her stunning eyes. The button collar at the throat, complimented her elongated neck. "If I could pull my hair back to an oragami style this would be perfect" she said only to her reflection. Looking at the clock she began to pace again.
At exactly 4:05pm the door bell rang. Oasis had already seen the driver pull up in front of her house and decided to count to twenty before opening the door. She was unsettled and nervous about even the slightest tardiness due to her command to be on time. "Twenty" she countrd and opened the door. Before her was a man dressed as casually as she, "Oasis?" he inquired?
"You are late!" she scolded brushing past his proffered arm. Impishly amused by her bold behavior Sir Dauzat followed her to the car. He opened the back door of the Mercedes allowing her to enter silently before placing himself behind the wheel.
After some minutes of silence, Sir Dauzat looked in the rearview mirror to see her expression. By the set of her mouth and drawn face, he could tell she was angry, but he could also sense the underlying incertitude beneath the exterior. "Oasis?" he asked. She only looked at him in the mirror with eyebrows raised questioningly. "I am Sir Dauzat, and your Master Philippe has sent me for you, to guide you before your arrival to dinner. You may address me as Sir."
He was pleased to see the astonished and worried look in her eyes as she realized the treatment she had put forth to not only her Master's friend, but also another Maestro.
"Please forgive me Sir. Master gave no indication to whom exactly would be collecting me, and also did not explain I would need further guidance." she extended, feeling very uncomfortable with her new circumstances.
"I may or may not forgive you Oasis, but Philippe was worried about your lack of training for this social affair, and now I can see he had good reason to be." He let the silence extend between them for some miles. The scenery beyond the windows now, showed winding road and impressive woods on both sides of the highway. He could sense rather than see her uncertainty in how to proceed. He enjoyed this for a few more moments before addressing her again.
"Oasis, Philippe did not have time to send you further instructions, but in asking for my assistance, he has shown you are of great value to him. The people you are going to meet and see tonight are of the "Old Ways". Had you treated one of them so boldly without thought, you would have ended up spending the night, in for you, unimaginable discomfort. I have my own submissive to prepare for this night, but agreed to do this not only for Philippe, but to save you from yourself as well."
"Thank you Sir" Oasis injected humbly. With her mind reeling on what the "Old Ways" could mean for her immediate future, she was still touched to her core by her Master's apparent concern for her safety. Trying to calm her now screaming nerves, she sat silent, head bowed, hands placed together in her lap.
Sir Dauzat looked in the mirror again to find a much different Oasis than the one he had collected earlier. With her head bowed and eyes down she looked almost like a child in meditative prayer. He had expected her to gush forth with pleading apologies in realizing her error, but in not doing so, she had at least gained his approval for remaining calm. Had he been able to see her expression, he would have read the fear and anxiety she could not outwardly show.
"Our host, you will address as Sir Blackheart, is very selective in the company he allows to be near him, or to attend his social affairs. Unless you know for sure one is submissive, you would be wise to address another in an acceptable manner. The staff, who are not owned, may be answered or addressed without formality. You should not have much difficulty distinguishing a submissive or staff. A submissive, male or female, will be bare from the waist up, and a member of staff will be wearing a coordinated uniform. Anyone else, Oasis, you must address respectfully or you could receive a mandamus. Good or bad once ordered, Philippe could not help you. Do you understand?" he asked.
"What is a mandamus Sir?" was her only question.
"A mandamus, Oasis, is a judgment upon you for punishment or reward by Sir Blackheart himself. Were it to be punishment, by "Old Ways" standard, it would be carried out with or without Philippe's permission. A reward would be given to your owner first, then if he so chooses , he may bestow it upon you."
Taking a deep breath she only said simply, "I'm scared."
"You are right in your fear" and then more encouragingly, "Philippe would not have accepted for you if he did not have faith in your abilities to perform."
With that said, he had no further instruction for her. The rest would rest upon her shoulders to weave her way through. He marveled at her ability to stay so still and silent. Some of his own would have been quaking with fear.
Preparing Dinner