April.
Violet was bored. It was late afternoon, the air was starting to get hot. Outside, the people in the street passing were screaming "get out of your apartment before you fall asleep". She had spent Sunday in bed, sometimes with a book in hand, sometimes her computer, sometimes herself.
She wanted to leave her room, go outside, see some friends, chat about this colleague at work and the looks they exchanged or that bartender, who kept staring at her.
But she didn't have the energy. So she went online. She spent another hour watching her TV show, after gazing at the ceiling thinking about her life choices. It was eight o'clock. Then, she went on her favorite online forum, a sort of free story-posting website, with all kinds of themes. Horror, romance, adventure, erotic, comedy. Sometimes, some stories mixed themes. Sometimes, Violet would write until late during the night, sometimes, she would just read until she fell asleep.
There was also a tab designed to make people meet over one theme in particular : there were conventions for independent authors to meet their fans, meet-ups for one genera in particular, film sessions, etc. This hot evening of April, Violet, almost asleep in her bed, completely hidden under her bedsheets, read the following ad :
"Speed-dominating, 3rd session, tonight, 10pm. For anyone wanting to experience domination in a safe environment, gather with us tonight! Whether it be to explore submission or domination, try and meet your pair amongst the 3 or 4 partners you will encounter for a brief moment to get to know each other! Only a few tickets left. The link to sign-up : "
Violet paused. She thought about it for a while. It was quarter past nine, now. The place wasn't too far. She had already met people from the forum, everything had gone well. But she never had done any sex-related meet-up. Even if the ad only talked about getting to know other people on the subject, she was apprehensive.
She certainly wanted to know more about herself on the subject. She knew she could enjoy taking power all to herself. For an instant, to feel she can do whatever she wants, because the other person has accepted this torture, and wants to take part in this scenery. Taking a hand and force it against the bed. Hiting gently the body of her partner, with the palm of her hands. Saying an insult, and knowing the other person enjoyed it. Asking to do, seeing it happen. Was that what domination was all about? She didn't know for sure. She never really experienced that with any of her partners, whether it be woman, men, or other. She never had that kind of connection, but seeing this ad, for a moment, she pondered the possibilities that lied upon her.
After a short time, she started to move, for the first time today. She got up, put on a small white dress, looked at herself in the mirror, laughed a bit, clicked on the sign-up button, answered a few personal questions, got out of her apartment, to the speed-dominating session. What was it going to be like?
She arrived a little late. The place was quite cute, it was a sort of cafe with little colored headlights all over the place. She was welcomed by two people who guided her through the rules of the event :
"So, Violet, the goal tonight for you is to meet people with whom you may match. You're going to meet 3 or 4 partners tonight, who will try to fit in the criterias you entered when signing up, uhm not so long ago. There may be some pairs which don't really make a fit, but that's okay you can stop the date whenever you want. You will be installed in small private rooms, but if at any moment you don't feel comfortable, feel free to stop and call us for any help, we're here for that. It's your role and your partner's to create a safe space between the two of you, but you can also check the guidebook to have info on what a domination-based relationship can look like. They're just suggestions. Also, tonight there are only pairs, group sessions will take place next month. Soo, that being said, have fun and stay safe! You can go to room 3 on your left."
Violet felt both reassured and anxious. Reassured by the atmosphere and the organization, anxious about what would happen inside the room. She made a few steps, into the unknown, into excitement and apprehension, towards room 3.
The first person she met, the encounter was a bit what she had expected : awkwardness. No domination, no feeling, nothing. Just names, jobs, hobbies? Both were so shy, the conversation couldn't go anywhere except to the next partner.
The next person was more direct. They asked Violet was she wanted to try, why she was here. She answered with a bit of hesitation, but confirmed that she was here to explore what taking control could feel like. The partner was disappointed, as they were seeking the same goal. "How do they make the matching system? Are you sure you don't want to try submission?" No haha, I'm sorry for you". They shared a laugh, and changed partners.
Violet was a bit disappointed. She was getting bored. She waited 15 minutes before getting to partner number 3. Her anxiety had worn off with her last two encounters, so that was that. But when candidate number 3 entered, a sudden panic took control of her. She knew him.
- Violet??
- Victor???
- Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you'd be here
- No, no it's me I don't know why I came here, this is so stupid
They stared at each other in silence, still panicked. Victor broke the silence.
- I'll get the organizers, don't worry, oh my I'm so embarassed. How did you get here?
- How did YOU get here? This is so weird.
- I wrote a story recently on the forum, so I thought, why not come take a look at what happens in real life, to have some inspiration. I was really just here to meet people, not to really create a domination-based relationship. I feel stupid now that we've matched.
- Yeah, okay, I understand.
Victor had changed a lot with time, but she still recognized him. He kept the conversation going.
- How about you, how did you end up here? You didn't seem to me like the type of person, to, you know... enjoy this type of... things.
- What does that mean haha, you're here too. I came here because I was bored, and wanted to meet new people, regardless of the context. Seems like meeting new people isn't something for tonight...
- Are you saying that because of me? We can change partners if you want.
- No, I mean in general. Going here was a stupid idea, I shouldn't have gone.
- Am I the worst partner you saw tonight?
- Ha, probably not. How about me?
- No, no probably not, I've seen worse.
- You didn't get any inspiration for some new stories?
- Well apart from meeting an old classmate at a speed-dominating session, no. Mostly boring deja-vus.
- Yeah. This event is a bit weird. I wonder if people can actually match like that, like it's so specific to find the perfect person with the perfect kink who corresponds to your own. It seems too complicated for me.
- Well I guess that's why they make people meet, it's to explore what they enjoy or don't. It doesn't have to be complicated.
- Have you explored anything? Cause all I've explored are my limits to boredom.
- A bit I guess? With one partner we tried something but I'm not sure I enjoyed it. So we changed. I hope this one-to-one isn't too boring for you then.
- No, no, it's just I have trouble figuring out how to test things, how to fit into the exercise. It seems so hard for me to just try something with someone I just met, to talk intimacy and take the leap.
- That's why they made us meet, so that we'd feel more comfortable.
- Yeah ha, I'm sure that's why. But even like that, it's doesn't feel natural.
Violet paused.
- Like if I asked to do something, you wouldn't, do that for example.
- What do you mean?
- Well if I gave you an order, to test you, to try and establish a domination, you would just be weirded out, no?
A small silence.
- Well, test me.
A long silence.
- Can you get on your knees?
