This is a fictional story with fictional characters that utilizes many real world locations. While some of the stories shared here are based on encounters I have had or stories that I have heard about most are utter fabrications and the story should be taken as such.
*
It was apparent at once that the group was founded by fellow nerd such as him. The flier Jason held in his hands was printed on parchment paper in a fantasy script font. But this wasn't what gave it away. Nor was it the abundant puns, the tongue-in-cheek references to both
50 Shades of Grey
and
Eyes Wide Shut
, or the fact that somebody had described Hard Limits as "Limit Breaks". It was the name of the group that immediately caught his attention.
Association of Fishersville Kinks.
An innocuous if somewhat officious sounding name, but whose true purpose was given away by the bold initials that stood at the top of the parchment:
AFK
.
"So I hope you don't mind," came Sara's voice from behind him.
She was carrying a mug of something in the coffee family as she strolled around in front of him to gauge his reaction. Her apartment wasn't exactly going to win any awards for interior design -- there was a certain controlled chaos to it all. It perfectly conveyed her life story in a single room: the sink full of dishes said she was a college student, the empty ramen packets said she was a broke college student, and the collection of fastidiously scribbled notes documenting every social interaction she'd had in the past months said she was a psych major. In reality she hated every aspect of the field except for the eventual career opportunity. Being a therapist meant helping people. Studying to be a therapist meant learning to hate people.
"No, I mean, it seems like an interesting bunch," Jason said.
"I might be embarrassed bringing that up after only a second date, but given the events of last night-"
"Yeah, I might be inclined to question your motives about that," Jason remarked, half-teasingly. After all it
was
only their second date. Last weekend they'd gone on a simple and sweet dinner date. That was more or less how the second date was going as well until an off-hand comment from Sara led to the simultaneous revelation of a shared perversion. Fueled by just the right amount of alcohol to spurn creativity without overly inhibiting judgment the two found themselves experimenting. Jason noticed that Sara wasn't sitting down and took a moment here and there to rub her wrists. No marks -- he'd been careful but perhaps it had been a bit more snug than he intended.
"Well this was to show you that I
was
genuinely interested in...
that.
And to show you that despite this being a very small town there's still quite a few of us who are interested in the lifestyle," Sara explained.
"So is this a support group?" Jason asked sarcastically. He then stood up, parroting a common sight. "Hi, my name is Jason, I'm a Sadistic Dominant."
Sara rolled her eyes in a permissive sort of way. "No. It's more like a club. I mean it's nice to know that there are some people here who won't call you a sociopath or an abuse victim because of your personal interests."
Jason nodded knowingly.
Even with Fishersville being in a relatively liberal-minded area of Virginia, the Bible Belt had cinched tight around the smaller communities. It was the kind of community that still had some people turning their heads at interracial couples, to say nothing of any sort of fetishism. Any naturally anything within the LGBT spectrum was right out. To be fair things had gotten better in the larger cities -- Staunton, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville. All the college towns with students from all across the nation sharing their beliefs like a microcosmic melting pot -- the image of America reflecting in its highest institutions of learning. It was one of the things Sara found so fascinating about attending UVA.
"To be honest I'm a little surprised you didn't," Jason retorted. "Gotta flex that psych degree somehow."
"Yeah, no I don't do that armchair crap. If you wanna be one of my test subjects during my thesis, fine. Of course we'd have to stop dating for that," Sara smirked.
"Really? I couldn't be your
control
subject?" Jason tossed back, taking a chance and swatting her ass lightly.
"I'll give you an F on understanding what 'control' means in a scientific context, but a solid A+ on the pun," Sara replied. "But seriously I mean you don't have to show up if you don't want to, but I figured you might get along with these people."
"It's not like I have anything else to do this Wednesday. Why such a weird day for a fetish meeting?" Jason asked. "I mean you'd think you'd meet on the weekends when you can actually do stuff."
Sara rolled her eyes again, this time with a hint more impatience and whacked Jason on the head with her folder. "It's not like this is an orgy, you dork. We just talk, share stories, network," Sara glanced at her cell phone. "And I gotta get going. Which means you gotta get going."
"Aw damn I was planning to raid your panty drawer," Jason shrugged, sliding on his shoes and grabbing his wallet a keys off the counter.
"Maybe next time," Sara said, albeit her tone was a bit less teasing and a bit more impatient mother. "Just let me know on Messenger if you're showing up."
"I'll tell you right now I'll be attending," Jason explained.
"Don't feel like our potential future relationship depends on your joining or anything," Sara offered as she shut the door behind them both.