Author's Note: All characters are above the age of 18. I want to thank my wife for editing and my friend Ann for her encouragement.
"So, that happened," Persephone said. She was seated on her bed and faced her television screen, where Dr. Beatrice Angioli's blushing image took a deep breath. Instead of wearing her usual pajamas, Persephone wore a blue blouse with a plunging neckline and a pair of jeans.
"You didn't need to go into that much detail," Beatrice said.
"Well, Vince did want me to be completely honest with you. Although I've got to admit, I'm relieved a little bit in telling you. Oh - and considering you usually hear horror stories, I thought something nice would be a change of pace," she responded.
Beatrice nodded and tried to compose herself. "How exactly are you changing the meanings of these mantras?"
"Maybe, the conditioning didn't lock the meaning of those phrases in place because it was incomplete. Or maybe this is just the easiest way to combat the negative aspects of the messaging. I have no idea - you're the psychologist," Persephone pointed out.
"Indeed, I am, but I have to admit that, at this point, that guess sounds as good as mine." Beatrice leaned back and looked away in thought, then turned to look at Persephone as a question occurred to her. "Before our next session, I want you to write out what you think these mantras mean to you now. Make it concrete."
"The 'Master Owns' mantras are fairly straightforward," she explained. "Vince became my 'Master,' and he wants me to have agency over myself. He doesn't want me to act like a bootlicking slave. And he loves me, cares for me, and genuinely wants me to be happy."
"To be honest, I'm impressed with Vince; he's one of the good ones," Beatrice admitted. "I suspect that this urge to be owned would make more sense to your friend, Sophia. You should talk to her for more perspective."
"I will!"
"Just one last thing before I let you go; I noticed that, for the first time, you'd worn something other than your pajamas to our session. Is there a reason for the change?" Beatrice asked.
Persephone blushed. "Vince has made it clear that I should make it a habit of wearing real clothing when I'm video chatting - for the sake of professionalism," Persephone explained.
"I'm almost afraid to ask; what have you been wearing otherwise?" Beatrice asked.
"Panties."
"Just panties?"
Persephone nodded.
Beatrice leaned forward and gave Persephone a concerned look. "I know you've had problems with your husband telling you what to wear in the past. Is this Vince's idea?"
Persephone chuckled. "No - this is all me. I don't like wearing clothes."
"But you're a fashion designer," Beatrice pointed out.
"Vince said the same thing."
"Was this a recent development, or have you always had, uh, nudist tendencies?" she asked.
"Let me put it this way," Persephone said with a smile. "My parents have stories of me as a child that are supposed to be embarrassing. But, they've never embarrassed me."
"Very well then. I'll see you Monday. If your progress continues, we'll cut down to one day a week next Monday and then once a month shortly after that," Beatrice said.
"Thank you, Doctor Bea. I'll talk to you then!"
Persephone bounced a little on her bed in joy. She texted Sophia.
Persephone:
Hey! I was wondering, do you have a moment to video chat?
Sophia:
I'm free at the moment. Give me a few minutes to set up, and I'll connect.
Moments later, Sophia appeared on Persephone's television screen in her bedroom. Sophia had brown hair in an asymmetrical bob and green eyes. She also wore a Nirvana In Utero t-shirt and sat in front of a bookcase filled with leather-bound books. Persephone looked at her face; she was older, but she was instantly recognizable as the Sophia from the 'Happy Sub' video. The sound of rain came from both the TV speakers and from overhead.
"Hey!" the woman said with a slight bounce. "Sephie, Sophia. Sophia, Sephie. Uma, Oprah..."
"What?" Persephone asked as she shifted at the end of her bed.
"Nothing - just a really old, really bad joke," she said. "It's so good to actually see your face!"
Persephone instantly became self-conscious and tried to hide her scar by combing her fingers through the short hair on the left side of her head. Unfortunately, it was ill-timed, clumsy, obvious, and she silently cursed herself for even trying.
"Don't be ashamed. I knew about it from speaking with Vince," Sophia said.
"Hearing about it and seeing it are two different things," Persephone said.
"It is. But we all got scars, Sephie. Here's mine." Sophia held up her left forearm. The underside of her forearm had an old, long, jagged scar that stretched from her wrist to the inside of her elbow. Tattooed beside the scar, in elaborate cursive, were the words
Death's down the road, not across the street.
"That's dark," Persephone mumbled.
"It's a double meaning... No shortcuts. Get it?" Sophia said with a pained smile. "This was supposed to kill me," she continued. "It was only by sheer luck that my pre-med roommate forgot her textbook. When she found me, she managed to slow the bleeding enough to save me before the ambulance arrived. Two blood transfusions and only minor brain damage. I still can't do math all that well... For years I told everyone it was from a car crash - even to those who knew better. Finally, mistress Billie got tired of my lies and told me to start telling the truth, or she would tell it for me. Soon after, I got this tattoo. No more lying."
"I'm so sorry," Persephone said.
"Don't be. It happened so long ago that it might as well have been a different person. So, what did you want to talk about on this dreary Friday morning?"
"Well, I just finished my appointment with Dr. Angioli, and she strongly suggested that I should talk to you. There have been some... developments."
Sophia smiled and waited. When Persephone said nothing, she urged her, "Well? Are you going to tell me, Sephie?"
"Yesterday, Vince and I had sex for the first time," Persephone mumbled.
"No shit! Congrats! I know he can be a bit rough, but once you get used to that, he's fantastic," Sophia beamed.
"It's so fucking weird hearing you say that, which makes what I'm going to say sound even weirder. But, uh - thank you for teaching him how to control his orgasm." Persephone blushed and covered her face with her hands.
Sophia laughed. "Please - it was no hardship. He's a lot of fun."
"But you've got to admit, it's weird, right?"
"I've been a sub for a little over ten years, babe; It's not weird to me. However, mistress Billie and Master Rob don't often share me with other Doms; Vince was one of the few exceptions," she admitted.
"I think I got Doctor Bea a little hot and bothered," she said.
"You didn't!"
"I did," Persephone admitted. "Vince told me I should be honest with her, so I gave her every single detail."
Sophia laughed. "I'm pretty sure he didn't mean to give your therapist a heart attack!"
