Page 21 of In Her Own Way
With a contented sigh, she pulled upKinkson her phone. She made sure no one could see her screen and went to check on her group first thing. Whoa. There were responses to her newtopics. See? Sunday brought them all out. She was relieved to see that people in her group were alive and kicking. Finally. Ooh, the new applicant had responded to one of the topics. Nice.
“Let’s just see what you’re made of, Daddy Vic,” she mumbled under her breath. She’d taken a chance on letting her in, and hopefully she wouldn’t have to kick her out just as fast.
Question:Is there a difference between “male” energy and “masculine” energy?
Daddy Vic:These are my opinions. You don’t have to agree. To me, there is a definite difference between male energy and masculine energy. I see it this way. Masculine energy (as defined by society’s current view) is assertive. It is protective. It is strong. Not that feminine energy can’t be these things, but that wasn’t the question. Male energy can be these things as well, but I find it can be aggressive rather than assertive. It can be possessive rather than protective. It can be overpowering, not simply strong. (Perhaps overly testosterone-fueled???) I have been told I have both masculine and feminine energies (I think we all do in varying degrees), but I am not male.
Jessica sat back, stunned. Wow. What a thoughtful answer. She needed the ideas to marinate in her brain before adding her own thoughts. There were several responses underneath Daddy Vic’s comments. Jessica was dying to see what other people thought and was about to scroll down when a ruckus at the door interrupted her actions. Someone was backing in the door. Oh, shit. It was Miss Marta and her lovelylittleShanice. Madison and her Domme Shasti were next, followed by a whole gaggle of other people. Jessica’s heart soared. Was this what MistressRikki was referring to? All these people? She glanced toward the front counter.
Rikki caught her glance, smiled, and gestured to the very loud and boisterous group entering the coffee shop. Several of them carried pizzas and assorted bags. Were they having a party? Kari made her way over to Jessica’s table.
“Miss Rikki says you are to join the party,” Kari said. “Grab your gear and let me introduce you.”
Before Jessica could respond, someone called, “Hi, Miss Jessica.” Another, even louder call followed it, “Hi, Miss Jessica.”
Jessica chuckled. It was the twolittlesshe’d met the night before, Shanice and Madison.
“Well, look at that,” Kari said. “You already know people. You’re in good hands. Come join the party.”
“Thank you, Kari,” Jessica said, standing up. “I’m Jessica, by the way.”
“I know,” Kari said, turned, and headed back to the front counter.
Jessica didn’t get far when Madison came over and took Jessica’s messenger bag from her. Shanice wheeled her chair over. Jessica did her best not to react. The poor young woman was a double amputee. Both legs, below the knees. She hadn’t seen that in the dark dungeon last night. Shanice smiled and said, “Hi, Miss Jessica. I’m glad you’re here. It’s a big day today.”
“Is it?” Jessica asked. She had no idea what the party was for.
Shanice simply smiled, turned her chair around, and wheeled back to the gathering group.
“The biggest,” Madison said. “Come on, Miss Jessica. There are people you haven’t met yet.” And even though Madison was carrying Jessica’s bag, she reached for Jessica’s hand and pulled her along after Shanice.
Jessica said hellos to the women she’d met the night before. There was Mistress Rowena and her submissive Minjung, who had the most amazing smile. Mistress Shasti, of course, had been the one to send Madison over to help with her bag. Jessica was still nervous around Miss Marta, but Miss Marta seemed to take her being there in stride. She also met a woman named Mistress Jaleesa who had, like, five submissives and one of them was even a guy. How interesting. Jessica knew she’d never be able to share a Domme with anyone else, but more power to them. There was a man named Master Seamus who also had more than one sub, three male subs in total, one of them alittle. She met a few other people, like the cheerful Lydia and her submissive Pammy. Jessica’s brain was overflowing with names and new faces, but what a great problem to have.
The group had pizza, visited, and seemed to catch up on each other’s comings and goings. They generally seemed to like each other. Was this a munch? If it was, it wasn’t like any munch she’d ever been to in Chicago or Cincinnati. No one was talking about protocols or power exchange. In fact, there really wasn’t much BDSM talk at all. It just seemed like a big friends group, making Jessica feel like an outsider. Did they gather like this every Sunday? Once a month? Was there something particular they were celebrating?
“You’re confused,” Miss Marta said, walking up to Jessica.
“A little, but this is an amazing group.”
“I found them after you and I parted ways,” Miss Marta said. “Shanice and I met, and then together we found this group of people. It was lifesaving for me.” Miss Marta looked at herlittle,talking to Master Seamus’slittle,whose name Jessica had forgotten. Bobby? Billy? Brian? Something like that. “It was lifesaving for both of us, actually,” Miss Marta said.
“I’m glad you found them.” Jessica was genuinely happy for her former lover.
Miss Marta took a big breath and looked relieved as someone hurried in the door. “Oh, thank goodness she’s here.”
Jessica followed Miss Marta’s gaze. It was the woman named Bernadette, Miss Rikki’s wife. She was limping, even with her cane, poor thing.
Miss Marta touched Jessica’s arm. “It’s time for the unveiling. Please don’t leave until afterward, okay?”
“Okay, Ma’am,” Jessica said, even though she was clueless about what was about to be unveiled. Although she missed the physical closeness she’d once shared with Miss Marta, she rather liked thinking of her as a possible friend. And herlittle,Shanice? Just the nicest. Maybe she could be friends with these people. Maybe one day, hopefully soon, she wouldn’t feel like such an outsider.
“Come on, Miss Jessica,” Madison called to her. “Come watch with the professor and me.”
Jessica nodded and headed to a spot next to Madison. Several people had their phones out, ready to take pictures or record whatever happened next.
And then it happened. As soon as Miss Marta wheeled Shanice out from a side room, she could tell that what was about to happen would be monumental. The professor on the other side of Madison was crying. Miss Marta was tearing up, too. Jessica put a fist to her mouth as Shanice reached down and locked her wheels. She leaned forward in the chair and put both prosthetic feet on the floor. She pushed off the arms of the wheelchair and stood up. The room was still. It was silent, except for people trying to keep their emotions under control. Jessica included.
Miss Marta stayed behind the wheelchair, looking petrified.
