by Robin Roseau
I looked good, and her touch felt great. Her look of appreciation felt really good, too.
"You look amazing, Brandy," she whispered. "Truly."
"I don't even want to think how much this all costs."
She told me, but then pointed out how much of a discount I had earned by playing her game today.
"God," I said. "I'd never wear it."
"But you look amazing."
"I couldn't wear this anyway."
"But you want it, don't you?"
"Yes," I whispered. I looked over my shoulder at her. "You're an amazing saleswoman."
"I didn't do this to make a sale," she said. "I did it to make a friend. I haven't had this much fun in an eon. Did you have fun?"
"Yes," I said. "Very much."
"I want to ask you a question. It's personal."
"You've seen me naked. How much more personal could we get?"
"You like girls, don't you?"
I laughed. "You couldn't tell by the way I've been looking at you?"
"Have you ever been to a party wearing anything like this?"
"Hell, no. I wouldn't know where to find one."
"You're in London alone, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing tomorrow night?"
"I was going to hit a show."
"Have you bought your ticket yet?"
"No."
"There's a party."
"You're inviting me to a party?"
"After a fashion. Come on." She took my hand and led me up front, to the counter. She reached underneath in a drawer then considered me carefully. "It's a fetish party."
"I thought so, the way you said it. I don't know, Precious."
She pulled out a piece of paper. It was pink. Pink. Seriously? Pink?
She turned it around so it was facing me. It was an invitation. "They sell tickets," she said. "But I have a few I can hand out."
"You bought them?"
"We help sponsor the party, and so we get a few of these."
"Pink. Come on. The invitation is pink."
"Yes. This invitation is pink. It's special."
"Oh?"
"If you attend, you can win a prize. A nice prize."
"What?"
"We're not the only shop that donates, but it could be something from here. And we don't donate the cheap stuff."
I looked at the invitation. There were directions on the back. "They have cabs for transportation between the train station and the castle."
"Castle?"
"Didn't I mention that part? It's at a castle."
"A real castle. Knights and jousts and stuff."
"A real castle."
"A castle," I repeated again.
"Brandy, it's not just a fetish party. It's a lesbian fetish party. Girls only."
"Are you going to be there?"
"I don't know. I'm trying. I might be late. Brandy, if you go, you need to arrive by 9, which means you want to catch the 6:30 train. And these pink invitations are extremely exclusive."
"The pink means something, doesn't it?"
She nodded. "Yes. Fresh blood."
"Oh, god," I said.
"Let me ask you something. Have you wondered about parties like this?"
"Yes." I whispered my answer.
"You're here in England alone. You're not going to run into anyone you know. You can use any name you want. No matter what happens, you'll never again see any of the people from the party, unless you want to. You'll never run into them at some future event. You'll be completely anonymous."
"You're an incredible saleswoman. I suppose you won't give me the invitation unless I buy this outfit."
"Not true. I'll give you the invitation as long as you have something appropriate to wear. Which, of course, I am happy to sell you. You looked really hot in that Cat Woman outfit, and it's a lot less expensive."
I laughed. And bought the clothes.
Reception
There were two women of Amazonian proportions checking tickets at the door. I presented my pink ticket while the Amazon looked me up and down. She saw the pink and smiled.
"You'll need to talk to Tessie," she said with a gesture.
I stepped through the door, took a half step out of the path of anyone behind me, and gaped.
The fairytale was continuing.
I was standing in a foyer which also served as the main hall of the castle. There were large corridors leading both left and right and a grand staircase leading to the upper levels of the castle. High above me, the ceiling was glass, and I imagined it was amazing during the day. It was certainly amazing now, with deep shadows adding a mysterious appearance.
Behind a table sat several women. They were dressed quite provocatively, as was everyone else here, and they all looked truly stunning.
I'd never seen anything like it except in the movies.
Finally I stepped forward and said, "The woman at the door told me I should talk to Tessie." I held out my invitation, and one woman said, "This is Tessie." She directed me to the right, and I gave my invitation to that woman instead.
She examined it carefully then smiled. "How did you acquire this?"
"Someone named Precious gave it to me." I shook my head. "Standing here, that sounds like the name of a drag queen, but-"
"She's definitely not a drag queen," Tessie said. She smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Tessie. What can I call you?"
I'd thought about a fake name. But I wanted to use a name I'd actually recognize if anyone used it, and so I said, "Brandy."
She didn't comment on my nationality, although I'm sure it was obvious to her.
"You've never been to a rave like this."
"No."
"All right. There are rules. They're here." She tapped the table, and I looked down to see a laminated set of rules. I picked it up. I wasn't surprised by any of it. If anything, I thought they were being cautious.
"Is this necessary?"
"If you have rules, then you are far less likely to wish you had rules," she said, smiling again. "Note the first one."
"Absolutely no touching without permission," I read. "Got it."
"We take that rule literally, except inadvertent touching that happens because someone else isn't looking out where she's going. If you need someone's attention, you don't even tap her shoulder. Do you see?"
"Got it," I said again.
"Read them again and ask any questions you have."
The rules were straightforward, and I admitted I didn't have questions.
"Good," she said. "Sign this. It just states you've read the rules, understand them, and agree to follow them." I signed the paper she presented to me.
"Good," she said. "Sub or domme?"
"Excuse me?"
"Are you a submissive or a dominant?"
"I'm not sure that's any of your business. Why do you assume I'm either?"
She cocked her head. "Did I offend you? I didn't intend to."
"No, you didn't offend me. But I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do, Brandy," she said. "I already know the answer, so please do not play the coquette. Submissive or dominant?"
I looked down, which probably only served to confirm what she said she already knew. A moment later another woman was at my side. I stared at her. It was the woman I'd seen watching me outside.
"Who is this, Tessie?"
"Nina," said Tessie. "This is Brandy."
"Has she signed the rules?"
"Yes. We were just reaching the next step."
"So I heard." She turned to me. "May I touch you?"
"Um."
"Please," she said. "Just like this." She set an arm around my shoulders. "Is this all right?"
"Yes," I said quietly. I let her draw me away to a quiet corner of the room.
"Overwhelming, isn't it?" she asked gently.
"How could you tell?"
"This isn't my first time."
"It's mine."
"I know. You understand the nature of this party?"
"I'm not entirely sure."
"You read the rules. You didn't seem surprised by them."
"You were watching?"
"From the moment I saw the pink invitation. Precious sent you."
"Yes," I admitted. "I'm not sure what I'm doing here."
"I watched you. I think you saw."
"Outside."
"Yes. You looked like a frightened rabbit."
I turned away, but her arm around my shoulders kept me from fleeing.
"You were talking to someone."
"Arguing with myself whether I should run."
"It looks like you argued yourself into the front door, but you haven't decided to stay. What did you say to get yourself past the door?"
"That if I didn't do it, I'd wonder for the rest of my life."
"If you run now, you'll still wonder. This is a safe party, Brandy. You can relax and enjoy yourself. You can walk around. It's a beautiful castle, and you can snoop everywhere."
"Is there a dungeon?"
She laughed. "Of course. But oh, you mean the old fashioned kind. Not the more modern variety. There is a cellar. If it was ever used as that type of dungeon, I don't know it. I rather doubt it."
She paused. I still wasn't running.
"Brandy, you should stay. Wander around. Grow comfortable. No one will bother you if you do not wish to be bothered. Perhaps you'll find conversation. Perhaps you'll grow bolder."
"Bolder?"
"Yes. Perhaps you'll scare yourself away. That would be a shame."
"Is this a sex party?"
"That depends on what you consider a sex party. The main rooms are not places for that sort of debauchery, but there are rooms that may be so used. If you wish a key to one of the private rooms, you must pay for one."
"I don't think I'll be doing that."
"It wouldn't normally be your responsibility, anyway," she said. "I must ask you. Dominant or submissive?"
"Why do you keep asking that?"
"Brandy, why is it so hard to admit what I already know."
"I'm neither."
"Mmm hmm," she said. "I don't think so."
"I've never done anything like this," I said. "Any of it."
"Ah. But you've thought about it, haven't you."
"I don't know. Maybe."
"You're self conscious," she said. "If you couldn't guess, I am a dominant. Tessie is what we call a switch. Some days she prefers to be dominant and some days she prefers submissive. She can also adjust her mood based on whom she is with. I do not believe you are a switch, and I know you're not dominant. That leaves the third choice."
I sighed. "Submissive," I said. "But I've never-"
"I know," she said gently. "But here, tonight, you advertise."
"I don't want to advertise."
"You attended this attire in these clothes carrying the invitation that Precious gave you. You didn't come all this distance to run away now."
"But-"
"If you were a switch, you would have to decide if you wished to be a domme or a sub tonight."
"What if I just want to watch?"
"Then watch. No one is going to do anything to you without permission."
"You promise."
"I promise. Now, if you had a hard time with that, you're going to have an especially hard time with the next part." She led me back to Tessie's table. "Tessie, we'll need a pink collar."
"A what?"
Tessie reached underneath the table, looked for a moment, and then produced a metal collar. I stared at it as she handed it to Nina. It a simple metal hoop large enough to wrap around someone's neck and was quite pink. "What adornments?" Tessie asked.
"We'll get to that," Nina said. She turned to me, holding the metal hoop. She did something -- I couldn't see what -- and it opened widely, hinged at one point.
"I have to wear that?" I squeaked.
"Yes."
I gulped "It tells everyone I'm a sub. What does the pink mean?"
"Newbie," she said. "It means everyone will be especially gentle with you."
"But you said they won't touch me without permission."
"Yes, but they'll know you're new and inexperienced. They won't use any codes that carry hidden meaning. Things like that."
I sighed, and I didn't fight when she slipped it around my neck. I heard a snick. "There. You won't be able to take that off without seriously damaging it. When you're ready to go, one of us will remove it for you."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously," she said. "It's there to stay, and no one will let you leave the house while wearing it."
"Oh, God," I said.
"Now, adornments. We have little decorations we can add to your collar. They mean a variety of things."
"Like what?"
"We have one that says you like spankings." She handed me another sheet of paper, and the list of adornments was lengthy, and they were organized into groups.
"I don't know what half of these are."
"They're by group," she said. "Some are how you like to serve your dominant. Some are how you like to be treated."
"I see that. There's one that says Informed Consent. What does that mean?"
"I don't believe you want that one."
"Why not? I like the idea of knowing what I'm getting into."
"That one means you know the list of things that are possible tonight, and you're consenting to all of them without further negotiation. It also negates several of the rules for how people can treat you."
"What?" I squeaked again.
"You may be touched without permission, or drawn into a scene, again without permission. You gave permission when you accepted the adornment."
"You're right. I don't want that one." I read the list again. "I don't know..."
"Pick at least three."
"Will you pick for me?" I asked, attempting to thrust the list at her.
"I know what I like. I don't know what you like."
"I don't know what I like, either. I've never done this."
"We have one that means, Not Tonight. It means you aren't open to playing, and no one will even invite you."
I didn't say anything, but I looked away. Why was I here? I didn't know.
"Do you have fantasies?" Nina asked gently.
"Some," I said. I turned back. "Of being blindfolded."
"More than that?"
"I guess."
"Pick one."
I couldn't bring myself to say it, so I pointed to the sheet. Nina smiled, leaned over to whisper to Tessie, and a moment later she was adding a small, green ring to the collar. There was a white B on the ring. It clipped onto the collar, and after that, it could slide around like a bead.
I pointed to two others. They were also green, one with an S, and one with a T. I realized they letter offered a hint. Bondage. Spanking. Tickling. Then without prompting, Nina added one more.
"N for Nina's?"
She laughed. "N for Nervous."
"Oh."
"I'll replace it if you ask and clearly request two replacements."
"I think I'll keep the N."
"That's an open offer for later."
"You're being very kind."
"Questions?" I shook my head. "Then go enjoy yourself."
Tourist
I played tourist, just like I had the entire trip. There was alcohol available, but the rules said to be careful with the amount we drank. The bartenders wouldn't serve anyone they felt was tipsy, and if anyone had more to drink than was wise, she would be safely escorted home.
I collected a glass of wine and decided to nurse it.
I roamed the mansion. Most of the people were in the rooms on the main floor. There was a large ballroom, and people were dancing. The banquet hall had food, and it was quite lavish. There was a separate music room, and I found a group of barely dressed women playing music while other women listened or chatted. It was hard to take my eyes off the musician
s.
They all wore collars, although none were pink.
I stayed for a while, watching from the side of the room. At one point, a woman entered the room and took a position beside me. We glanced at each other a few times, but she didn't say anything, and neither did I. She wasn't wearing a collar. I wondered what it meant that she didn't talk to me.
I decided I wanted to explore more. The castle was amazing. And so I went exploring.
The second floor was arranged more intimately, a wide variety of rooms. Some were empty of people. Some held small gatherings, the quiet space allowing for better conversation. Here and there I found women engaged in heavy petting sessions, usually being ignored by the other people in the room, but sometimes with everyone else watching.
I blushed and departed quietly each time.
I wandered out onto the balcony over the main entrance then stood at the balustrade for a while, watching the comings and goings. A woman, older, with sharp features, stepped up next to me. "Nice night," she said.
"It is."
As casually as I could, I looked her up and down. She was slender, more slender than I preferred, but she seemed fit, and she looked pretty darned good in her outfit. Everyone looked good, even though that wouldn't normally be true with the amount of skin some of them were showing.
"We don't see many pink collars," she commented.
I lifted my fingers and brushed the collar. I didn't know what to say about that.
"Is it accurate?"
"Being pink?" I asked. "I was told it meant I was a total noob."
"Noob?" she asked. "You have an accent."
"So do you," I said.
"I suppose I do, but I believe I am somewhat closer to home than you are."
"I'm from America."
"Of course. So noob is American slang?"
"It's computer gamer slang," I said. "It refers to someone who is very new at the game, with the connotation she doesn't know what she is doing. That's me." I held out my hand. "Brandy. American noob."
She laughed lightly. "Margot. What do you think so far?"
"I'm so intimidated I can't begin to describe it."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't think you're the reason."
"Perhaps not, but I'm sorry you're not enjoying yourself." She paused just a moment. "Would you like to dance?"