A Darkening Tide - Chapter 3

I: The Dominatrix Gambit - Chapter 1

Objective Number One: make contact with Darkening insider, and convince him, by whatever means are necessary, to assist in the investigation of his organisation's activities...

"First impressions speak loudest", so I've been told - but then it's equally valid to say that "reputations that are assumed, rather than earned, are valueless".

Any world associated with more aggressive sex-related activities tends to call forth a particular, sleazy image of narrow, neon-lit streets and hidden "dungeons", but Lyosis shakes off such stereotypes with ease. Several races have declared this world their own over the last five thousand years, and rather than destroy what previously existed, each race has built their cities on the foundations provided by what went before, creating a fascinating layered environment, every building supported and influenced by that which lies beneath. You could explore the capital city for years, and still come across some new interplay of cultures and architectures that would surprise and delight.

I'm not here for the architecture, however, or the history - although the original Lyosians were a female-dominated race, and it is that background that has made this planet a place of pilgrimage for those skilled in the art of domination. During the day-time, such pilgrims mix openly with the general population, from the philosophers and historians to the ordinary folk; then, as night falls, the pilgrims are drawn to the lowest levels, and those places where the city of The First Civilisation is predominant. There, amongst the ancient statues, in the great galleries that were once open to the sky, the dominants discuss their craft, and the very brave come to seek them out.

Gleru Vapresil of The Darkening feels he is brave enough to venture to this planet, worthy enough to seek the company of one of the pilgrims. He clearly isn't lacking in confidence, but perhaps he doesn't quite realise exactly what he's walking into - and the same could be said for me. maybe even more so, given that my being here also involves the mysterious dealings of The Darkening. I do, however, have one distinct advantage - I've received tuition from the very best, and as I walk through the galleries, those teachings are never far from my mind...

Beauty, poise and confidence, contrary to popular belief, cannot be taught, or learned. They either exist in a person, or they do not. If they exist, they can be enhanced by learning, by the proper tutelage. If they do not, their lack can, to some degree, be compensated for, but never replaced. None of these are a worry for you, my dear, for you have all in generous measure.

Thus, we find we already have the foundations in place, and the work can begin in earnest.

Experience and wisdom combined, Talona has been an excellent teacher, although I'm sure I would've benefited more from extended, face-to-face teaching, rather than the telepathic "download" I received, slotted into the first available space in my mind. If I manage to find the time, hopefully I can arrange for some one-on-one "refresher" lessons, but for now, I'll just have to make do with the knowledge I've been granted, and hope it's enough to help me avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention.

Confidence is one thing, but the ability to impose oneself on one's surroundings is a completely different matter. This should be effortless, without conscious application, or any attempt will be recognised for what it is - the laughable fumblings of one who is trying too hard.

I've been in a similar situation before, but this is certainly different from swaggering down a catwalk with wrestlers in tow - part of a life that now seems so distant, almost as though I was a completely different person then. To some extent, I was - almost all of my time in wrestling "management" was before The Transformation, before Ealvonhai and its "Myth-World" counterpart merged to become Mystalorn, before Kiranni Rafiloh and her Soul-Self, Mane-of-Night, became a single, and truly complete being. My time on Mystalorn just after The Transformation, and before I became the first Mystalornan to set foot outside our new world, was spent in intensive meditation as I adjusted to my new existence, and as a result, I go far beyond "poise" and "confidence" as Talona would know them.

"Imposing oneself on one's surroundings" also requires a certain, and quite literal material component, but my wardrobe is more than adequately stocked with appropriate garments. I have several long dresses, slit to mid-thigh at the front, with "keyholes" at the back to allow me to tuck my hair into my boots as usual, and on this occasion I'm wearing one made of the finest black leather, lined with satin and trimmed at the cuffs and hem with swirls of white, and which is teamed with my brilliant white Moonlight Laqzuri boots. The whole outfit certainly seems to play its part effectively, for it draws only admiring glances, and never looks of suspicion.

My "fellow" exponents of the dominatrix's art appear to accept me as one of their number, leaving me free to go "fishing" for my target. "Walking the galleries" is only the start, however - this is simply making one's presence known; the overture to the "main event", which takes place at one of the temples that have been "reclaimed" as more private meeting-places. I seem to be faring well enough, but still, none of this is quite what I'd been expecting...

If one is simply going to pick up a whip and swear at people, become a whore, or a slave-driver. Anyone can do either - it takes an exceptional individual to become even a modest dominatrix, and a modest dominatrix is a contradiction in terms, even an insult to the calling...

...or so Talona said, and perhaps she's right - but the whole "whore with a whip" thing does sound more like fun, and for a moment, I remember an occasion when I briefly played "pleasure girl" on a street-corner. Of course, I was never in any danger, and I was never going to do anything I didn't want to do, paid or otherwise...

A different world, a different time... a completely different situation. This time, I have to be completely serious, completely convincing, or my quarry will slip from our grasp before we can even begin to put our plan in motion.

These pilgrims might be publicly tolerated, even welcomed here, but those who come seeking a dominatrix are often members of societies that are not so open-minded, and secrecy is preferred. Some go to great lengths to conceal themselves, never venturing beyond The First Civilisation city, with their minds shrouded against intrusion and outside influence, and Gleru Vapresil, a valued member of The Darkening, is no exception. A casual psionic sweep reveals only those with minimal mental shielding, or those who feel no need for it, but my target remains invisible, making a more intensive scan necessary - and that comes with the inherent danger of triggering someone else's defences.

I am, however, not someone whose telepathic efforts could be described as "the laughable fumblings of one who is trying too hard."...

Ah - there he is. His defences are partly technological, partly magical; a surprisingly effective, and subtle blend, but I'm a "subtle blend", too, magic and psionic, and I easily hurdle Vapresil's combined defences in a single step. After a couple of minutes, our paths intersect, exactly as planned, without any manipulation - the time hasn't quite come for that.

For a wealthy man, Vapresil is doing his best to blend into "the crowd", dressed dark, with no obvious outward sign of affluence, but he's not the kind of person who's comfortable with keeping his head down. The man isn't exactly attractive, to my eyes - dark, back-swept hair with occasional pale streaks of silver and yellow, parchment-coloured skin, slanted dark eyes, all suggesting an ancestry stemming from something other than a primate - but personal preference just doesn't come into this equation.

All right - let's get on with this.

Vapresil looks in my direction, trying hard not to look me straight in the eye - one thing the submissive should never do. I confirm I've detected his interest by keeping my own gaze squarely on him, then after a minute or so, I give the slightest of nods, a gesture that says "I'll give you the chance - now, impress me."

I just can't imagine Talona going through anything like this one, let alone time after time over a period spanned decades. I get the feeling that her teachings are based on experience, yet coloured by her feelings about how it should be, in a perfect world - domination become an art-form. She hasn't been a "practicing" dominatrix for years, and if her teachings can be believed, it doesn't exactly pay well...

Payment should never come into the equation. If you are paid, the implication is that a service has been rendered, and thus, your absolute control over the relationship is immediately lost. Gifts, too, should be treated with suspicion, and never accepted - the submissive should not ever attempt to buy your favour. It is by their performance that they earn any value in your eyes.

Vapresil approaches warily, takes a seat on a low stool, in front of me, and just to one side, doing the absolute opposite of what I'm doing, in that he's trying not to impose himself upon my field of vision. I know he's here, he knows he has my attention, but it's for me to take this further, if I so choose...

"So what brings you here, into my presence?", I enquire, coldly, words steeped in indifference, legs crossed so the shiny surface and silver crescent-moon buckles of my boots catch the light.

I don't particularly care if my actions "turn him on" or not, but he does pause to consider his choice of words with care. "It is only right that I make my situation clear to you, My Lady", he says eventually. "My... business is one where rivals will make use of any advantage that may present itself..."

"What you do elsewhere is none of my concern", I mutter, seeming irritated, but inwardly delighted that Vapresil has taken the first step into the trap. "In my presence, it does not exist."

"If only it were that simple, My Lady", he continues, with a little more confidence. "I have had to employ particularly painstaking strategies to safely pursue this facet of my life, and previous dominant parties have not always been understanding..."

Yes - if only it were that simple, I sigh inwardly. This is clearly not going to be as straightforward as I'd imagined, and my patience is swiftly waning.

...to be continued...

Posted at 19:20 on 22.05.2008


~ o O o ~


Previously...
Mane-of-Night And The Watcher From Beyond - Chapter 1 - 21.06.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 14 - 17.05.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 13 - 15.05.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 12 - 13.05.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 11 - 11.05.2009