Gayle’s hatred towards the Domme continued to build.

It wasn’t new for another person to hear Tess talk about her way of life, her views on perfection and why she was so hellbent in achieving it, but most of them did it out of obligation — most people in her presence would be crazy to not pay attention to what she had to say, given the power and influence that she held. The difference, however, was that Mila listened. Not only that, she engaged in the conversation, challenged her, unlike those who were practically trained to agree with everything she had to say, even if Tess had managed to persuade her with her argument. A refreshing change of pace to say the least. “Isn’t it? I realize it’s an unorthodox way of appreciating what life has to offer. but it’s what makes sense to me and, well, I’m nothing if not set in my ways,” it was a wonderful perk of having the status Tess enjoyed as a Dominant from the Barton family. No one could question her decisions or idiosyncrasies, and in the off-chance they did, it was all too easy to ignore. Maybe it wasn’t ideal, and the Domme wasn’t blind to the dangers that came with it, but she couldn’t possibly say she didn’t enjoy to abuse it. After all, to always have your way as a Dominant could be incredibly intoxicating. She chuckled and nodded when Mila pointed out the smile on her face, “very perceptive.” What she’d said before wasn’t an accident. For a long time now, whether she would admit it out loud or not, Tess had been searching for a night like that; whimsical and full of possibilities. It was difficult to contain her bliss, particularly in front of the one responsible for improving it so dramatically. “The setting truly is beautiful… but you can take most of the credit. Provided you don’t make me regret boosting your ego even further,” she teased lightly, eyes fixated on Mila, resisting an urge to reach to the woman’s face, to touch her skin. It was almost torturous to be in the presence of such beauty and still hold urges as simple as that one, but old habits die hard. “You’re mostly right. I did have a class. Of sorts. Mother was the one who indoctrinated me,” and in her case, it truly did feel like a class, more than motherly advice. Cordelia Barton isn’t an ordinary mother. “But her views on perfection aren’t quite the same as my own. I adapted her teachings to fit my views.” Why she was talking so much about her personal life with a submissive she’d just met, Tess couldn’t tell, but it was obvious she wasn’t anywhere near close to stopping it any time soon. The effect Mila had on her was powerful… scary. The Domme tilted her head to side at the woman’s offer, “You do have a point, wasting a night like this would be nothing short of devastating. very well,” she agreed, a much more difficult task for Tess than she let on, but it was a risk she had to take, “we’ll do it my way another night.”

Her mind was flooded with memories of her sisters rushing around the Barton penthouse in New York City, Tess herself not even of age at the time, while they called her that name. The Domme almost missed their innocence. Almost two decades after that, Tess still was the Wicked Witch, at least in the mind of the three of them… it was difficult not to question what that meant for her. “That’s a good way of looking at it, but I doubt my sisters understood that level of nuance at such a young age. For them, I was the child’s understanding of a witch: a monster,” she explained without dropping the casual smile on her face, and quickly continued before Mila could interject her, “it hasn’t bothered me for years, though. It was annoying at first, I’ll admit it, but if I had to be the monster they thought I was to be where I am today, so be it.” Which wasn’t to say that it didn’t leave any scars, because it certainly had. Tess always felt monstrous thanks to her family’s perception of her, and even more so when that perception was adopted by so many people outside her inner circle. No, she killed anyone, she never cheated, she never purposely hurt anyone, but she was vicious, she was uncaring, demanding, cold. The nickname was fitting, then. It was easy to accept her nature and the tormented destiny that came with it. At the other comment, Tess could only grin, “and you know nothing of my wickedness, dear.” It was a light tease, and perhaps a promise of what was to come, should they be lucky enough. The submissive’s reaction to her compliment brought a peculiar warmth to her. They were both so eloquent, so intelligent, and it felt so incredibly silly to share a moment like this. Tess wouldn’t trade it for anything. She bit her lower lip just slightly, and looked up to the sky as she listened to Mila explain the origin of her costume. The Domme was a seeker of knowledge since she was a child, and to hear such a lovely legend from woman like Mila was a particular highlight of her night. “It’s a wonderful story. Very fitting, as well. I can only imagine how many powerful people humbled themselves in your presence,” Tess herself would certainly be included in the count before too long if the woman continued to be as enthralling as she was. “The family does sound a bit extensive, though. I don’t think I’d be able to survive any of that,” she joked with a chuckle, and finished her champagne.

At any other time, to be outside alone with a submissive would be a terrifying experience for Tess, such was her fear of being exposed. She never quite felt like it with Mila, however. Not because she was any less afraid, but because the woman had a way of making everything much simpler, again making her feel like a silly teenager at prom. As ordinary as a walk around Rosewood was, the air felt much more especial than that. She hoped that would be a night she remembered for a long time, another unusual feeling for Tess. Their conversations, their light teasing, even the tension between them was as natural as anything had the Domme had ever experience, particularly in the first night of knowing someone, and it filled the woman with hope for something that might come. Silly, she knows. The night would end, and Mila would come back to whatever life she leads, but it was something. Much more than what she had to endure for a long time. The submissive’s curiosity brought a smirk to the Dominant’s face, “all in good time.” In the short time they’d spent together, Tess had thought of a thousand different scenarios of what she would like to experience with Mila, far too many for whatever time they had left before sunrise, and, assuming things progressed the way she was hoping they would, to pick exactly what to start with would certainly be a challenge, but one she gladly welcomed. Tess stepped carefully through the woods, hoping to maintain the same poise she always held, even with her eyes closed and being led by someone else. To say she’d ever imagined herself in a position like that would be a lie, as would saying she was entirely comfortable, but she pressed on regardless. Wherever Mila was leading her to would be much more than worthy of this weird, but altogether fleeting, moment. “As a collector of material things, I’m afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree on this particular subject.”

“Oh, there are much better ways to make you squirm, and believe me when I say I’m hoping to go through each and every one of them. But I had to start somewhere,” Tess replied, the freedom their privacy gave them empowering every word. She could do whatever she wanted to Mila at this point, barring any limits or regrets, and she certainly hoped to take full advantage of it. As dark as it was where they stood, the Domme could still admire every detail of the woman’s face, now no longer having to worry about what others might think of their proximity. Somehow, she looked even more beautiful then, though the breathlessness after the kiss might have something to do with it. To have that kind of influence over someone like Mila was unlike anything she had ever experienced, and she greedily wanted more. “I knew you’d start seeing things my way,” she opened a rather boastful smirk, all the power she had concentrated in not pulling the other woman back for a second, a third, a fourth kiss. Truthfully, there was nothing stopping her, but she felt like it was best not to rush. If this was really as private as it seemed, Tess wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible. “You were right. This place is fantastic. Thank you, for bringing me here,” her tone was softer now, sincere. Most of what she had known of Rosewood before that night was vile, but this? It almost changed her perception of the estate. Slightly. Tess kissed her again, this time quicker, lips pressing together and hastily followed by hips, before she pulled back, taking a few step backwards — a self inflected torture once she was no longer touching the submissive. “Very well. I did promise to try it your way for one night,” with a nod, she sat on a rock to her side to remove her heels. She couldn’t remember when was the last time she was barefoot outside of her own home. “The dress might follow later, if you behave …or not.”

- 

Even if nothing else came of their night together, Mila would be happy with this. She may not find it easy, given her current struggle with restraint. But in that moment she truly believed she could talk with Tess until sunrise and there still wouldn’t be a lick of boredom to be found. It felt so easy; sharing in views and engaging in conversation as they were. A give and take that felt so natural she could scarcely believe it was their first time meeting. She appreciated not being shot down for her questioning more than she could admit, and while she had learnt better than to question certain individuals, Tess had clarified it so perfectly she’d almost even swayed her to the domme’s way of thinking. Almost. Nodding faintly in understanding regardless. “Unorthodox for those seeking perfection perhaps, it’s certainly a view I can admire.” She smiled in way of explanation. “I suppose we almost meet in the middle from opposing ends of the spectrum when you think about it...An appreciation for uniqueness all the same?” It was a statement presented as a question all the same, something that she knew she could have potentially interpreted wrong, but fairly confident perfection hardly meant mindless duplication to the woman either. “I try.” She joked lightly, even if the words were anything but a lie. Mila always had been very much of the mindset that intuitiveness was vital, people spoke volumes louder through body language than they ever would with words. The compliment was a pleasing one. A thought that almost made her preen in response to the idea she was the main reason for her magical night, yet one she still would have played off slightly...Were it not for the jovial comment about her swelling ego, bottom lip pulled between her teeth as she grinned in response. “Me? Making you regret such a thing? Never.” She teased lightly, hand coming to rest at her chest in faux innocence, before her head tilted to the side. “I couldn’t possibly be witless enough to ensure those wonderful compliments from such a beautiful woman wouldn’t continue.” The submissive was far from an egotistical person by nature, but she truly did enjoy indulging the slightly more playful aspect of her personality every now and then, and she felt safe enough with this particular domme that even reprimands wouldn’t be something she particularly regretted. “She sounds...delightful?” Mila added when the explanation of perfection lessons from her own mother was offered up, certainly not wanting to offend in her assumption, but unsure what to make of it either. The brunette understood childhood pressure to excel well -- But a forceful strive for perfection, to the point of indoctrination. At a young age it was bound to leave marks all it’s own. “Entirely disastrous.” She agreed lightheartedly, unsure whether Tess had even fully grasped what she offered up next, but something she would take all the same. The thought of potentially seeing the woman again perhaps even more enticing than the prospect of learning what a night her way might look like. “Deal. I look forward to it.”

Even with the whirlwind of thoughts struggling for dominance in her mind, Mila fully intended to listen on the domme’s explanation uninterrupted. She simply couldn’t wrap her head around what they had possibly seen in her that was so drastically different to what she was witnessing now. It was an odd sensation to almost feel defensive of the woman in that moment, something she highly doubted would be appreciated even if it did come from a place of genuine feeling. Tess was the last person on earth that needed protecting, or reassuring for that matter. Instead trying an angle of honesty. “Well, for what it’s worth...” Mila paused briefly, suspecting that wouldn’t be particularly much coming from someone she had only just met, but continuing all the same. “I don’t think you’re a monster. I think you’re about the furthest from that of anyone i’ve ever met -- And I truly don’t mean it from a place of obligatory comfort, Miss. It’s simply a matter of fact.” Mila knew it was likely a topic not to dwell on, yet also one she apparently suddenly felt much too strong about to ignore. “Perhaps I'm missing something, and I appreciate entirely that you’ve embraced it; but holding people to standards you fully expect of yourself, being unapologetic about who you are and what you want...I don’t see how that could be a problem for anyone?” There could certainly be factors in play the submissive wasn’t aware of, she knew as much. Things could always be far more complicated than they seemed on the surface, but from what she gleaned so far, Tess had been a kind enough dominant, with the potential for a rather demanding streak she doubted she would ever mind. The shift back to such tantalising words of wickedness was something that had her trail of thought lost quickly, one that had her masochistic nature practically begging to push those buttons that would have such inclinations brought to the forefront rapidly. The knowledge she had acquired from watching was perhaps the only thing able to bring her back down, the thought that Tess valued privacy and if she pushed now it would mean a reaction with the awareness their current surrounding held anything but. It simply wouldn’t do, despite all the tensity, breath catching a little on her inhale even as she smirked back. “True, and a travesty in itself. Though I suppose you could always show me.” The silent promise was one she couldn’t bear to think about, not if she was to hedge her willpower against such advances right now. Mila might have been the one to initiate a slightly greater majority of their flirtations, but Tess certainly did have a way of gaining the upper hand quickly despite it. “I..” It was perhaps the feeling she already couldn’t quite shake the fuelled her next one. Unsure what her initial response even was, a soft syllable that got lost quickly. “Perhaps. But i’m unsure if it’s something I enjoy, necessarily...” She trailed off, one corner of her lip curling upwards as she shook her head, unable to hold the domme’s gaze in that moment. “I don’t think I'd ever wish to humble you, Miss. Even if you are making self-restraint rather impossible right now.”

Tess’ reaction to her request, despite being an expecting one, was still something that had her mind racing. It was so incredibly difficult to pinpoint where the domme stood on such a  plethora of kinks from what she had offered so far. She clearly enjoyed denial though, that much was obvious. Words that caused a slight pout, something far too whimsical that usually she would have scoffed at. “Such a tease.” There was something about all of this that felt almost juvenile in nature. Not immature by any stretch of the imagination, but akin to the nerves and teasing energy that tended to accompany it - Even if she doubted she was ever able to flirt this well as a teen. Mila wasn’t an idiot. She knew full well it likely wouldn’t last. The night would end, Tess would find someone better...Caring was not an advantage given her position, and jealousy hardly an emotion she understood, but the thought of this being a potential first and last time for them -- It had her chest tightening faintly as her mind spiralled for no good reason to such things, unable to help but squeeze her hand a little tighter and shift closer still to shake such pathetic thoughts from view. The domme was simply intent on them taking their time, in every aspect of the word, that it felt a little more genuine than anything she’d experienced in far too long. Even in her practically blinded state the woman was elegant, a notion Mila would have smirking at, were it not so strangely endearing. Perfect, always. She supposed it only made sense. “Well since you’re currently indulging me regardless, i’m inclined to concur.” She chuckled as Tess offered an agree to disagree scenario for this particular point. One she was grateful for merely because the thought of spending another extensive amount of time reaching some form of middle ground was unbearable. Not because she grew tired of it, but because she’d become far too invested. Unable to simply fain agreement like they’d attempted to train her to, despite the fact she knew it would mean less time in delightfully precarious positions with the dominant. “Any particularly prized possessions in this apparent horde of yours?”

Actions counted for a lot, they truly did, but the way that comment cut through her, the delivery with which it was said, it had Mila hooked. Hit with such a sudden urge to relent and submit and beg to be shown all the tormenting ways she planned to do so. Even if she somewhat fought against it for now, even if she was unsure why her pride was hindering her so. She knew her body betrayed her regardless, breathing swallowing in response, lust laden eyes clouding her vision briefly as she looked up at her, the faint little almost whimpered “Please do,” that slipped past her lips despite her best efforts -- It was intoxicating and maddening and Tess had barely so much as kissed her once, hating how quickly she was able to reduce her to such a needy mess through nothing but a different take on her own damn words. She was grateful, in a way, for the continuation in conversation. Something she could fixate on, unsure she could have taken such intense anticipation for much longer. “Only because you can be rather persuasive when you use your lips like that.” The submissive breathed out, words still lacking in that quiet coincidence they usually held. She beamed a little at the comment which followed all the same, that notion she had done well more than pleasing in her current mindset. “You’re quite welcome, Miss -- Though I can’t claim it was for entirely selfless reasons.” Mila purred lightly, fingertips only barely beginning to wander down the soft curve of her throat as Tess pulled back from her; biting down hard on the inside of her lip to prevent hands gripping the material of her dress to keep him in place, nails digging into her palm as they as her hands dropped back to her side. It truly was the last thing she wanted, unable to help shifting in place a little with such a ridiculous need to keep her close. Something that had been unexpected, but also something that worked wonders for obtaining a scrap of that resolve. Sitting down next to Tess in order to remove her heels too, she pulled the bottoms of her outfit up slightly. It didn’t take long before she dragged back into that flirtatious back and forth however, especially give the words to follow about a potential promise, irregardless of her behaviour. If Tess wanted to tease, now she could too. Her need beginning to outweigh her inhibitions slightly. “Oh I do so appreciate the option, mistress. I’ll admit, behaving for you is quickly becoming much too difficult given your aptness for teasing as you have...” She countered in a seductive lull, leaning over until they were almost touching once more, a coy smile clinging to her features. “Allowing my imagination to run rampant like that, you’ve given me far too much to contemplate.” Mila wasn’t particularly know for pushing buttons, a part of her simply itching to do so for nothing more than a reaction. Good or bad, she didn’t doubt both would be delectably sinful. “Every touch, all this tension.” She trailed off, leaning in further still, until she was mere inches from the domme’s lips. “Thoughts of all the delicious little tortures you could be inflicting on me right now if you wanted to...” The brunette let her words hang in the air for a split second, before slinking away from her grasp as she stood, sauntering over towards the closest hot spring. “I may be a masochist at heart, but that’s a suffering all its own.” She added over her shoulder, sinking down to perch against the edge of the pool, sun-kissed legs dipping beneath the surface of the pristinely heated water as far as she was able. The the hum of pleasure it elicited falling from her lips unencumbered as her closed her eyes and tilted her head back. “But the water truly is perfect, Miss. You should try it.”

THERE’S A      brief pause on celeste’s part, silently going over theas frame to access for any damage. she wanted her okay, even if mentally there would be some bruising from the events. as the other nears she releases her hold on her wrist to further take her hand. tangling their fingers celeste gives her hand a squeeze. 

“ NOTHING IS    going to happen to you when you’re with me. ” she assures. the ringing of sirens in the distance are heard and celeste glances around warily before pulling thea flush against her through their joined hands. “ right now i think you need me. and maybe, i need you too. ” despite stress she tries to joke, even if barely. “ there’s nothing else to be done but wait now. i helped evacuate everyone before running into you. ” she admits. “ people are going to be on edge though, so no matter what don’t let go of me okay? ” she shifts her weight before walking ahead of thea, using herself as a shield of blockade from any danger. “ we’ll head to my cabin just off the estate grounds till this clears up in the morning. ” celeste didn’t really leave any room for argument as she headed towards her parked car, maneuvering through the shocked and shaken clusters of residents, staff, guests alike. 

-

There was something so comforting about Celeste’s calm demeanour in that moment. A small sliver of order in all the chaos that drew her like a moth to a flame. Their fingers entwined and she felt the strength there too, a ridiculous notion when she really thought about it, but Thea was hardly in her right mind right now. The domme simply felt safe, and basic instincts were taking over any form of rational thought. She smiled faintly at Cel’s assurance, nodding at the prospect of getting out of there sooner rather than later. “I believe it...Honestly I’m glad I ran into you.” Of all the people that could have found her there, she was grateful it was this brunette at least. 

Even the sirens themselves weren’t perhaps as distracting as when Celeste pulled her in, chuckling faintly, seemingly unable to help respond to the light joke with one of her own. “Really, now?” She teased, a little lacklustre given their current surrounding.  “Let’s maybe, I don’t know, step away from the raging inferno before you start pulling those moves  -- I don’t think that’s what ‘the heat of the moment’ really refers to, you know?”  Despite the distraction and flash of playfulness that came with it, things soon sombered as they began to move once more. Biting the inside of her lip at the soft order given. “I don’t plan on going anywhere...” She tailed off, the faint ebbing of shock still clinging to her bones. Curling into the brunette’s side a little, she fell in step as the other effectively acted as a shield. Thea hated how pathetic it made her feel, and at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to care. Especially as she began to see familiar faces in the din, ones that had her breathing a sigh of relief as she noted no injuries and was still pulled along regardless. No real protest left in her at all. “Yeah that...That sounds good.”   

♡

Sophia was all too graceful for the peace and tranquility that the hot springs provided her; it had been far too long since she had felt wholly and truly relaxed, and there was no better prospect than spending the entire evening basking in one of nature’s finest feats. She wasn’t at all used to being alone, though, and had so rarely ever sought out solitude, even before Yadriel had drawn a constellation of scars along her young and fragile heart, and she found herself wishing, rather longingly, that she had requested the presence of one of the estate’s many dominants to join her. Still, as she dipped her toes into the water’s beguiling heat, looking for all the world to see like a woodland nymph in a watercolor painting, she could already feel a familiar warmth blooming between her milk and honey thighs, and her long, gossamer lashes fluttered demurely at the thought of the pleasure that even her own nimble little hands were capable of providing her with. 

Except - suddenly, coming from somewhere behind her, was the barest rustle in the foliage, and the almost unheard tread of whisper-light footsteps trailing over the grassy ground. Sophia blinked, then, not at all unlike a startled gazelle, and every inch of her bare frame was instantly tense and alert. It couldn’t have been Yadriel, could it? He had no idea where she was in the estate, and she’d certainly never shared the location of the manor’s hot springs with him when they were passionately in love in the heart of France. With a shaky swallow, the fairy-faced heiress forced herself to turn around towards her sudden intruder, but instead of a dark-haired and brooding Yadriel standing in the otherwise secluded hot spring, Sophia was pleasantly surprised to recognize Cara O’Reily instead. There, in all of her tall, blonde, and goddess-like glory, was the female domme that Sophia had spent entire days worshiping in the past, and the sight of her now, just as gorgeous as always, was enough to have her heart beginning to beat hummingbird fast, and she flushed instantly with a flood of rosy heat that spilled from the apples of her cheeks all the way down to her exposed decollete as well as the peaks of her full breasts.

“Madame O'Reily.” Her name, her title, tumbled past Sophia’s pouted pink lips in a breathless rush, and it was as if she was being led by an invisible leash as she moved towards the edge of the hot spring once more, each of her fluttering steps through the steamy water causing her long, faun-esque legs to tremble. Cara exuded power and dominance, and had played a crucial role in Sophia’s training as a submissive; there wasn’t a single inch of her lush, nubile frame that the older blonde hadn’t thoroughly and fully conquered, and already Sophia was just barely resisting the urge to crawl to her on her knees and kiss the very tips of her feet. Even as she shrugged out of her crisp blazer, she was still dressed to kill beneath, and it was all she could do to allow her gold-speckled green gaze to cast upwards, drinking in the sight of Cara’s stunning body that her tailored white blouse made known. She knelt, then, like a reverent deity offering a blessing to one of their loyal followers, and Sophia’s dainty hands instantly moved to rest upon the edge of the spring, her elegant little fingers trembling helplessly as she all but clutched onto the grass.

Cara touched her, then, one hand holding onto the silk of Sophia’s discarded kimono and the other stroking underneath her chin to capture her attention fully, and the young nymph mewed, twining almost all the way out of the hot water like a flower stretching towards sunlight just so that she could be all the more close to the commanding domme. “If I had known that you were the sort of vicious creature that I needed to be worried about, maîtresse, then I would have done my very best to provide you with a sacrifice worthy of being placed upon your altar.” Sophia’s voice was sweet and earnest, her words ringing true with sincerity and the lilt of her Parisian accent, and she turned to nuzzle one of her silken cheeks affectionately against the palm of Cara’s hand, and, with her fervent, eager to please viridian green gaze fluttering upwards to lock onto the domme’s striking blue, she kissed the tips of her fingers, even allowing her pink kitten tongue to flicker out and taste the intoxicating warmth of her skin. “S’il vous plait, it has been entirely too long, déesse divine. I - I have missed you so terribly.” 

-

There was something to be said for such a peaceful environment as this to ease an aggravated soul. Even without Sophia there, a notion she certainly wouldn’t wish now it had been brought to light, the calm tranquility of it all already served to soothe. Cara’s mood was one of incalculable cause, an odd sensation digging its claws deep within her chest and refusing to retract no matter what she did. The mere sight of her own little naiad was perhaps the first form of ease that night. Not a concept that eliminated it completely just yet, but a thought that had her irrational annoyance quelled to a certain extent. The submissive always had done that for her, postulation now stating it hadn’t changed since the first day they’d met. She was simply so impeccably perfect, something about that willing, pliant little body and eagerness to please always had been such a wonderful distressor; a need for certain levels of training as Sophia’s desires and preferences were mapped out serving to distract so deliciously -- Even now, she was beginning to forget what had irked her in the first place.

A brief thought flickered through her mind about even entertaining the impulse to walk up, a sudden intrigue to witness what the young blonde could possibly be doing out here all alone in the dead of night, before she interrupted such. The startled, doe-like expression staring back at her combined with the faint blush had such thoughts dispersing quickly however. What a perfect reaction for such wickedly delectable prey. “Hello, kitten.” She lulled in a sultry lilt, the familiarity of their interaction gratify. Small tendrils of relaxation slowly trickling across her skin. Cara was always confident, always domineering, in all aspects of her life -- It was perhaps intimacy where she struggled on occasion, a faint softness reserved for a rather elite few. A faction Sophia always seemed quickly able to fall into, regardless of the domme’s best efforts to have her work for such. The history between them far too palpable to be ignored. 

It was perhaps the very fact she knew the girl so well that she was able to pick up on the minuscule reactions. A smorgasbord of telltale signs and comments written all over her skin the domme’s mind. The magnetic pull, the faint tremble in her form, the way those delicate little fingers of hers curled against the grass in some feeble attempt to keep Cara’s influence out of the picture - Sophia was always quick to react to her presence, a form of conditioning meticulously executed over their many nights together, but even now it seemed a smidge too quick. As though she was in such a mindset before the domme had even arrived, that this was more an elevated perk of an already laid out plan...It was something that had her taking her time roaming every inch of Sophia lithe frame with her eyes once crouched, dragging it out, and in the end still tsking all the same. “Needy already, are we?” The domme hummed, fingertips faintly tracing the delicate curve of her neck until they reached the hollow of her throat. “Are the dominants here really so bad you felt a preference for playing with yourself had I not shown up?” She questioned, a light taunt lacing her words even as her hand continued it’s lazy trail downwards, over the top of her pert breast before fingers dipped beneath the surface of the water to pinch a pebbled nipple between them. “It simply won’t do. You know how I feel about that.”   

It wasn’t as though Cara had anything against masterbation per say. It was a healthy activity, and one she knew plenty indulged in. Her strenuous relationship with it stemmed from the fact she didn’t see the point, or why it was needed. A submissive that had to result to such was a neglected submissive in her view, and a dominant feeling that way inclined assuredly could find someone to satisfy their needs better than imagination and their own tools. It was likely a wondrous thing that was simply lost on her, but she never did quite understand it. The reaction she elicited from little more than a tilt to her chin was one that had Cara smirking lightly. Especially given the way she leaned up and into her touch, as though she had been starved of the domme’s attention for too long. “Hmm, well i’m glad you didn’t...I’d much rather have you as recompense.” The blonde purred, watching as Sophia nuzzled against her hand obediently and hit with a sudden urge to somehow produce and leash and collar out of thin air. As it stood, Cara would simply have to make do. “I’ve missed you too, pet.” She cooed sincerely, unable to help but push two fingers slightly further into the submissive’s wanton little mouth as she’d lapped at them. Her darkened gaze fuelled by the celestial term of endearment coupled with the soft wet warmth of her tongue. Perhaps that was one problem with aiding in the training of this particular submissive, she was too in-tune to Cara’s preferences. It took more restraint that she cared to admit to stand back up regardless, a practiced ease to the disposal of her clothing that she still took her time with. “That water does look rather inviting.” The domme continued with a faint tease. Nothing to do with the stunning little blonde currently naked in it, of course. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind terribly if I joined you?” 

Tess couldn’t quite tell what it was, but there was something different about this submissive. It seemed as if the more they talked, the less it felt like the woman was keeping her company out of obligation, but rather genuinely wanted to listen to her. It was a sad admission to know how rare that was. It wasn’t that Tess didn’t know how to hold a conversation, she was trained to be a competent and charming speaker, but when things got intimate, when it was only herself and another woman, she often faltered, betrayed by her own nerves and insecurities. That was when there was actual conversation to be had — the alternative was a quick exchange of money and promises of secrecy before an empty night. So far, Mila hadn’t given room for any that. It was… new. “There are ways to find satisfaction even in the face of imperfection. No artistic creation is perfect, but I can still admire a painting, I can still enjoy a good book. It’s the same for food, wine, fashion… What I admire in the things I like is their pursue for excellence, their utmost dedication to their craft. Like I said, it’s not always about the perfect itself, but the search for it,” there was a hint of passion in the Domme’s voice as she spoke, one that was rarer than she would’ve liked, “there is also the acknowledgement that things are hardly ever perfect by themselves, but there is nothing stopping you from combining them to find something better.” It almost felt a little silly, to be explaining her guiding views in life to someone she’d just met in a fairy tales-themed party, but in that moment, Tess wouldn’t have it any other way. Mila wanted to hear her, and she wanted to talk. “As for knowing when to stop pressing for more, admittedly, it can be a challenge, and I won’t say I have always been great at it… but I usually know I’m getting close when there’s a smile on my face. Perfection can often be a very personal quality, and knowing that, I can stop looking for it whenever I find something that meets my standards, as high as they can possibly be,” the Domme smiled as she explained, reveling in a smart conversation with a beautiful submissive. They talked about perfection, and yet there were very few things she enjoyed more than this. Even Mila’s questioning never even came close to bothering her; she would much rather have this back and forth than another cold woman who only accepted what she had to say as absolute law. “You’re not offending anyone, dear. The way I live my life is hardly usual, it makes perfect sense for anyone to question it. I-” she stopped for a moment to find her words — this was the part of the conversation she almost never, if ever, talked about with anyone. For some reason, she felt safe enough with Mila to share, “I’m afraid I never quite learned how to live in the moment. There wasn’t a class for that,” she let out a small, almost embarrassed chuckle, “I understand the appeal, of course - the romanticism of it all - but I never felt comfortable in it.” The Domme finished with a sip of her drink, partly to hide her face behind her glass. She did make special note of one other thing, however, ‘no pretend’ — she could count on her fingers how many times in her life that was an accurate statement around her or her family. But she didn’t disagree.

Small compliments between Dominants and submissives were often the norm in situations like this, but whether it was by obligation or not, Tess couldn’t help but open a small, flattered smirk at Mila’s words. With some luck she would know soon how sincere the woman was, but she was confident, helped by the fact she didn’t seem to be able to stop touching her. Tess wanted more, of course, she could barely wait for the time she had enough privacy to be the one touching the other, but she remained still, knowing the wait would be much more than worth it. For now, she would endure the temptation. “I have two younger sisters, Emily and Katherine. They’re ten and twelve years younger than me, which can be a challenge sometimes. When they were younger, they would often call me Wicked Witch to rile me up or annoy me. I thought I would embody that for that night,” the truth was a little more complicated than that, as was her relationship with her family, but that wasn’t the time to get into that. She would much rather focus on the silly anecdote than the fact that both of her sisters blamed her for ruining their lives or that she often felt like she deserved being called a witch for everything she’d done in the past, and everything she still does. All of it was well hidden behind a casual smile as she explained her choice of costume. The Domme used her own question to admire Mila, more than just the clothes she was wearing, but her features, sharp and strong. Elegant. Tess raised a brow at her explanation, a silent admission that she still failed to know the inspiration behind such a graceful costume. “Well, I’m sure such Goddess would be rather pleased with the honor. You look beautiful,” she spoke freely now, with the confidence boost given by the submissive’s earlier promise. “I’m very interested, though. I’d love to know more about her,” a small request on the larger scheme of things, but hopefully one of many that would eventually follow.

This, Tess gathered, was the moment of truth. The submissive’s response to their first moment of tension would like inform how the night was going to progress, or if it would progress at all. Far too often the Domme had ruined nights, perhaps not as magical as this one, but nights that gave her hope for future, sometimes because the other woman proved herself to be below her standards or because Tess herself got lost in her own insecurities or rigidity. It would be far too easy for Mila to leave her alone where she stood to find another Dominant to entertain her, someone who she actually wanted to spend her time with. For whatever reason, she did not. More than that, her words lifted her up like she could never have expected. The submissive felt lucky. Any level of tension immediately left Tess’ body, replaced by a type of confidence she only displayed in the most special of circumstances. “Neither do I, but I’m sure you can find a way to repay the gratitude,” she teased, choosing to ignore the last bit of what Mila had to say. For the first time since she first stepped foot in Rosewood, she wasn’t thinking about leaving — not if it meant cutting short her experience with the other woman. Even if she wasn’t planning to move back home any time soon (her cover could realistically keep her in the estate for as long as she needed), the thought of leaving the submissive did help her make a decision: she would enjoy the night as much as she possibly could. Damn the risk; sometimes in search of perfection, whether that was a perfect night or a perfect connection, you simply had to take chances. What a chance Mila was.

It was impossible for Tess to hide her satisfaction as they walked together under the moonlight. Her light tease clearly had the effect she desire, and the intimacy they shared felt almost like a dream. The Domme couldn’t help but steal glances from the submissive, dumbfounded by the fact that what was happening was actually real. The hum against her ear had the hair on the back on her neck standing up with the electricity of the moment, “I might have a thing or two in mind, yes,” she grinned in return, tilting her head slightly to watch the other woman. There was no way of knowing what would realistically happen next, not knowing where they were going in the first place, but what kind of Dominant would Tess be if she didn’t have a plan for the submissive should things go her way? And she would make sure that they would. ‘Do you trust me enough to close your eyes, mistress?’ The way the word mistress left Mlia’s lips was nothing short of addicting and she couldn’t wait to hear her repeat it again and again, but it was a different word that held Tess’ attention. Trust. The single most important aspect in a relationship between a Dominant and a submissive, and not by accident the hardest to achieve. She wouldn’t be silly enough to say that she trusted the other woman completely after knowing her for half a night, but there was no denying she wanted to, badly. Trust would mean whatever happened between her and Mila lasted more than a magical night, that it was more than a struck of luck helped by the perfect set of circumstances, that the dream had become reality. The Domme didn’t trust her completely, but she trusted her enough. She hummed low as she closed her eyes and held the woman’s hand tight as they walked into the night. It was a weird position to be at, again as the Dominant being led by a submissive — she was much more used to being the one who blinded her partners temporarily — but it was a position she appreciated all the same, at least now, when there were only the two of them and nobody could see her nervous grin, “you sure do enjoy your adventures, don’t you, Mila?”

The Domme enjoyed the short travel, soft submissve hands leading the way to their own version of a promised land, but the anticipation was eating her inside by the time she was told to open her eyes once again (and no, she did not cheat for a second). Mila was right, she wasn’t disappointed. Tess didn’t reply to the woman’s question right away, instead she took a few steps forward to really take in what she was looking at, a careful study of the location, even if only to deprive her of an immediate recompense — that would come later. She had used the word magical far too many times that night, but perhaps nothing could be as accurate to the true meaning of the word than that place, and that moment. Tess took her sweet time, adding to the suspense, before moving back towards Mila, a serious face slowly turning more jovial, playful,”it’s not bad,” she finally spoke with a nod, hands reaching to the other woman’s side to finally hold her the way she’d wanted to since she first laid eyes on her. The warmth from the springs behind her wasn’t the only warmth she was feeling. “But I can think of a way or two to improve it,” were her last words before she leaned forward, closing the small gap between them and capturing Mila’s lips on her own on a tender, if slightly hungry, kiss, the Domme’s grip on her sides tightening as she felt unable to stop herself. Breaking the kiss was the hardest thing she had to do in a long time, but she did it with a smirk on her face, “see? Perfect,” a self-congratulatory remark, sure, but one that felt appropriate in the moment. Tess watched the submissive’s face closely for an instant, holding back the will to repeat what had just happened before her attention moved back to the hot springs, “was part of you plan to go for a swim? Because I’m afraid this dress can’t go on the water,” she teased.

- 

From the moment Tess began her explanation, Mila was captivated. There was no other way to describe how she currently felt. The luring words coupled with the obvious, yet not overly enthusiastic passion behind them was something she couldn’t recall having witnessed in a long time. Especially regarding the subject matter she’d chosen for her examples. “That truly is a beautiful way to look at it.” She admitted wholeheartedly, certainly not one with any qualms in disclosing when her view might have swayed to a certain extent. “Appreciating something that isn’t quite perfect through the artist’s zeal and pursuit of such in their craft.” It wasn’t fair, quite frankly. How was it possible for someone to be so articulate and breathtaking, all at the same time. That particular point of view one that Mila certainly had no complaints about...There was also something to be said for Tess implementing the exact subject matter while she spoke on it. Perhaps not even intended, but a concept Mila picked up on all the same. “She says while smiling.” The brunette chuckled lightly, brow raised in response. “Should I be flattered or thank the setting..? Or is it neither, and this is simply your rather devious way of making me grasp your ‘combining to find something better’ theory.” She teased faintly, unsure if it was even a conscious decision but also not putting it past someone as astute as the domme seemed to be. The pause in her phrasing while she clearly searched for the right expression wasn’t lost on Mila, understanding it maybe meant something a little deeper and so should perhaps be taken a little less lightly. “Oh I don’t think there was a class behind the passion you wield in your endeavour for impeccability either, I believe that’s all you...” She smiled softly, a faint shrug lifting her shoulders. “But perhaps we can change that for the evening? It does feel like a rather spectacular night for firsts, and my life happens to consist completely of non-preemptive moments. It’s the planning aspect that you seem to thrive in that I find uncomfortable.” Or at least, a luxury she couldn’t afford. There was no place for her at the manor to dwell on what could have and might be, to make plans only meant disappointment, and recalling her past only pain. It was a rare opulence for Mila to find herself having a say in any facet of her life -- one of the first in a while her decision to stay with Tess in this moment.  

Perhaps even more enticing than getting to touch the dominant, was the restraint she showed in the face of it. Such things told her far more than words ever could about the kind of individual she was dealing with. So often those with silvery blue birthmarks would react on their impulses, undisciplined and lacking in that control they loved so much. If her own lack of it was currently telling her anything, it was how much trouble she would be in should it bleed into other aspects of Tess’ life too. She certainly exuded that composure far too well, and Mila couldn’t seem to help her mind wandering to the implications of such things. Her gaze fell back to the brunette’s as she listened to the explanation, making a mental note of her sister’s names and relative age difference out of habit despite doubting the domme would mind if she forgot. It was what they called her that stuck out, head tilting faintly in response. “Well, i’ve never particularly considered being called a witch an insult; rather a symbol that has endured over the centuries, a representation of female empowerment in patriarchal narratives...But wicked? I understand we’ve only just met, but it’s about the furthest out descriptor I could think to use for you -- At least, in the context a sibling would use it.” She added with a smirk, a light suggestiveness to her last few words in case it was a topic the domme would rather not delve into. A fleeting thing that could be fixated on as an alternative. Praise was always something Mila would happily accept, even if more often than not the empty comments did nothing for her. This felt different. The tone in which the domme offered up such a complement, coupled with her roaming eyes, was enough to have her dropping her gaze momentarily. That soft blush finding purchase in her cheeks once more, a betrayal in her outward appearance that aggravated her a greatly...Even if Tess knew full well the effect she had at this point. “Thank you, Miss.” She added with a hidden smile, before tilting her chin back up regardless. She was hardly some simpering school girl, there was just something about the domme and the tension in the air that had her hyperaware it seemed. “I used to visit Cambodia a lot as a kid, I couldn’t tell you how - accurate, my grandfather’s stories might be. After all he did love to exaggerate for dramatic effect.” The brunette smiled fondly at the memory, trying to recall any specifics. “But barring all the theatrics, she’s a prominent Goddess’ in their religion. One of agriculture, rain and regrowth. Her name literally means great one, and he always said it was due to the fact that she’s the most important - Something that i’m sure actually divides opinion.” Mila added with a faint chuckle, knowing full well to perhaps not take that as gospel. “Local myths claim that she was born in the clouds and remains there, still controlling the water’s regenerative gift to the land and souls of their people, hence why Epics sometimes symbolise her as a gentle rain -- The best part is even the royal family still plow a certain field in order to appease her, as a way to ensure the growth of crops...I always thought that was rather symbolic, you know? For even such affluent people to humble themselves to her.” She perhaps hadn’t fully understood the implications of it when she was younger, but regardless of wealth and stature, it was truly something that united them all. “I mean, she also has ninety-seven husbands and thirty-eight daughters apparently, but that’s neither here nor there.” 

It was painstakingly obvious to see how the tension left Tess’ frame once her words had sunk in with the domme. Something that she was thankful for, glad that she could offer her some easement, even if she didn’t exactly understand what tension she had felt in the first place. The woman wasn’t acting in any unusual way, at least in her eyes. If anything, that promise of protection and the tone it was offered made her far more inclined to believe it, rather than shrink back and feel she’d done something wrong. She would much prefer stricter dominants any day, and Tess had been such a perfect combination of controlling and yet slightly gentle in that moment it took more restraint than she cared to admit not to jump the gun and close the distance. Especially given that response. “I’ll endeavour to do so, just say the word.” Mila all but purred, the sudden increase in confidence radiating off the domme in waves affecting her far more than she cared for...before shaking herself out of it. She wasn’t like this. Usually she prided herself on her self-discipline, her ability to stand back and be lead or guided by another; unfazed until they made it clear she should be, even sometimes riling up to such an extent they would act -- The submissive felt capable of none of it with Tess, a thought that excited her greatly, and worried her too. Finding someone so apt at ticking all her boxes and pushing all the right buttons was dangerous. Her greatest fear perhaps an overstep on her part fuelled by the sexual tension she could already feel in little licks of warmth against her skin, while Tess remained as collected as ever. She truly was in for a long night the way things were going.    

The slight change of pace and being granted another aspect to think about helped, something that alleviated her all but squirmy disposition, at least to some extent. The stolen glances that had her smirking and averting her gaze every now and then canceled out by a need to recall the unmarked path. That, combined with the fact she wasn’t denied such close proximity to her current mistress brought her back to herself enough to scrape some semblance of restraint into her demeanour. The reaction she picked up on for her fleeting contact being one of the first real indications she had received that she was physically affecting the woman. A crowning achievement in her view, given what she had learnt of the domme so far. “Well now i’m curious even if you aren’t disappointed.” She smiled lightly, a thought that lingered on all the same. Tess being difficult to read was hardly a notion she minded, given how obvious most could be, but she was intrigued as to what those ideas could possibly entail. The faint hum and way her hand was gripped tighter gave her more indication that Tess had done as suggested, a reaction that had her smiling despite herself as she took extra precautions to ensure no tripping over tree routes or snagging on branches. The last thing she wanted to do with this new found trust was ruin it over something so trivial as her own carelessness. “Of course, Miss. How else would you ever escape the ordinary? I’d much rather collect stories than material things.”                           

She watched carefully as the domme stepped away from her to survey the scenery. No word being uttered for what felt like an eternity. Mila had been so certain Tess would appreciate it as she had, a thought that had her beginning to second guess everything she thought she had gleaned about her during their conversations. Brows furrowing slightly in quiet reflection, she tried to recall anything that may have been taken out of context for her to miss her mark, so lost in it she almost missed the shift from a serious expression to taunting playfulness as she walked back towards her. About to make a spirited remark in response to not bad being her only thought, before it was lost as Tess grabbed her, pulling her in. A faint yet ludic pout clinging to her lips. “I’m sure there must be a better way to make a submissive squirm, miss. It was very mean to keep me in suspense like that.” Mila teased, still unsure exactly how Tess truly felt about the view but uncaring right now. They could be anywhere and it would still be perfect in her mind. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, and what would--” She was cut off as the domme leaned in, caught up in the press of her lips. It was an almost gentle thing, but one that soon built up, pushing herself flush against the domme as she let out a little mew in response. The hands tightening around her hips had her fidgeting slightly, unable to help it after the painfully slow build up to this exact moment. She just about managed to catch the small noise of protest in her throat as Tess pulled away once more, unhelped by the fact she truly didn’t want to stop but knowing it wasn’t her place to initiate either. “If this is what you mean by it, you may be converting me rather quickly.” She chuckled, slightly more breathless than she’d intended to be, fingertips tracing along the domme’s sharp jaw since it was where her hands had fallen even as the talk of swimming came into the picture. “You could always take it off?” She quipped back, head tilting suggestively for a few moments before she continued. “But no, not if you don’t wish to. It was more the general setting and privacy I thought you might appreciate. This hardly seemed like an evening to spend in the manor -- Besides, those heels can still come off, no? We could...” She paused briefly, the closeness and unexpected kiss certainly not helping her concentration any. “We could always sit at the edge?”

@cfmoxie​ ( Kamali & Mila )

Given the debacles of the past few days, it seemed as though Kamali’s workload had doubled. Submissives were coming to her left and right, looking for some semblance of order amidst the chaos, and while she certainly enjoyed their rapt attention and eagerness to please, they were certainly quite the handful. She had spent almost every waking moment in the dungeons, forcing calmness back into the residents with a firm hand and a sharp voice with clinical precision. There were so many to take care of, but to show weakness was to further stain the reputation of Rosewood Manor, and that was simply unacceptable.

She watched her latest submissive limp away, allowing herself a moment to breathe before picking up the next file in her dossier. But a glance at the name brought a smile to Kamali’s face. “My, it has been quite some time, hasn’t it?“ She chuckled to herself, resuming her usual position in the throne-like chair right at the centre of the room as she watched the door with rapt attention. After all, her next appointment wasn’t just some client off the streets, but one of her true pet projects and a crowning accomplishment. Mila Syan was the ultimate embodiment of a reconditioned submissive, and it excited the dungeon mistress to no end to know that she would be coming through those doors at any minute. 

As the door opened yet again, the domme took her time roaming over the other woman’s body, looking for signs of injury out of habit. The dominants at the estate were not known for being gentle, after all, and she had a habit of seeking the worst ones out. “Mila, darling, it’s been far too long since your last visit. Come closer so I can examine you.” Kamali greeted her, her order spoken softly, but resolutely. “Tell me about how you’re feeling. Any troublesome thoughts resurfacing since our little garden party? Any lapses?”

- 

It had been a long few days, the whole calamity of the event something that would have felt like a distant memory if not for requests of her time accumulating dramatically in response. People apparently finding solace wrapped up in the arms, and legs, of herself and her peers. The mollycoddling, the woe is me demeanours, some evening showing off barely there bruises as though they were valiant war wounds -- She had thought she might have found some respite in those that resided at the opposite axis, but it was clear such things had shaken them too. Those that took it too far the other way, as though she was responsible for starting it, and they fancied themselves capable of doling out punishment for such indiscretions...Something Mila wouldn’t have minded, were they actually capable. Instead mistaking random acts of violence coupled with mediocre sex to be appropriate.    

It was aggravating, almost repulsive. The similarities she saw in her clientele disgusted her, even as she obliged them; filling their needy, greedy hearts with all the things she knew they longed to hear. It was perhaps what felt like the first stretch of time she’d had to herself since it happened, something that would usually be spent indulging her artistic side, or reading a good book...Maybe even seeking individuals she actually enjoyed for herself. There was a small part of her that hadn’t, necessarily, wanted to go and bother Kamali. Mila knew the domme would be busy, that she’d perhaps be wasting her time - However she didn’t know when she would next get a lull like this, and if past experience was any indication, the longer she left it the worse she could get. It hardly seemed as though their wallowing would ease up any time soon.    

She watched some fellow sub limping away as she was called through, the slight smirk on her features at knowing exactly who he’d been to see something unavoidable. Mila didn’t waste much time opening the door, or acting timid about occupying the space for that matter -- Attention quickly finding Kamali, in all her regal glory, sat on what could only be described as a throne in the middle of the room. She was hit with such a sudden impulse to walk closer and drop to her knees at the sight alone, but it was still one she fought against for now...God if she hadn’t missed that domineering energy. She could practically feel the woman’s trained gaze on her skin. An aspect that for once, she didn’t find herself squirming under. The submissive was fairly confident her makeup had served to cover most bruises aside from a few stubborn finger marks at her jaw, ones that she had made faint but found impossible to disappear. “It truly has, though I know you’re a busy woman. I wouldn’t wish to take up your time needlessly.” Mila smiled faintly, stepping closer at the light command. That urge to kneel at her feet one far too familiar and habitual not to win out now she was moving, regardless of any initial conflict. The odd comfort she found in doing such a feeling she tried to ignore. 

Kamali simply knew she was doing, and Mila was rather sick of dealing with buffoons. “I’m okay as far as the actual - message, goes. I wasn’t there, barely even saw it. I hope you’re well too? You hardly seem to be faring poorly with it all.” The brunette added, despite knowing full well it wouldn’t do to skirt around the question. “Not quite a lapse, per say. Troublesome thoughts, certainly.” She paused, unsure how to word it. “I just, need -- I don’t...” Mila’s brows furrowed faintly, eyes fixating on the ground, an initial attempt to hide the disgust in her voice before releasing it would be futile anyway. “They’ve been so pathetic.” Not a particularly eloquent response, but an honest one. Something that had her so lost in the implications she almost forgot to add a term of address, “Miss.” Tess had perhaps been her only exception that evening, a lingering thought, one that seemed to keep her on a level that she still felt adequate in what was expected of her. Between meeting her, and the excuse this uneasy feeling gripping at her chest gave to befittingly seek Kamali out, the night certainly hadn’t been all bad in her eyes. What was a little anarchy every now and then anyway.   

THE FEELING    of failure seeps into her soul. she was in place to make sure things such as this didn’t happen. and she knew how she’d be at the mercy of her superiors in a few hours. her moment of anguish flickers across stoney features eternally analyzing every detail before the fire.

A FLICKER   of pain on her face at the softness thea offered her. she’d failed. and that hurt worse than any physical blow. “ i’m fine. ” she assures her stoically. releasing her wrist finally as the panic settles knowing thea is now at her side and she could watch out for her. “ i’m not sure. i was outside the ballroom when it happened. letting people in. ” the rumbling of the fire department in the background sounds distant to her. her attention on the other and their conversation. there was attachment to the other. “ you can come with me. i need to get you to safety. to the other side of the estate. will you let me escort you? ”

Thea couldn’t think to do much more than nod, a little dumbfounded, when Celeste admitted to being okay. Incredibly glad for it, but also particularly distracted by the events transpiring around them. “Right, good -- Makes sense.” The part about where she was when it happened, at least. Nothing about the rest of this was especially comprehendible in that moment. “I...” She trailed off slightly, a small spark of protest finding purchase in her chest that she pushed down before it surfaced. Thea wanted to help, she truly did, but honestly she knew there wasn’t much she could really do at present. More bodies around would only confuse things further. “Yeah, maybe we should..” The submissive paused, shifting closer to the domme’s almost comforting presence as louder, panicked shouts rang in her ears. “Scratch that, we definitely should. If - if you’re not needed anywhere else I mean?”

Melody giggles a little whenever Cara tells her that flattery will get her everywhere. That was something she was definitely aware of around here. It seemed that no matter what you did, you could always get trough to a dominant by flattering them. That was something that Melody was very good at accomplishing with the dominants. A slight blush appears on her cheeks as she hears the girl tell her that she is unforgettable herself. That definitely makes her smile. Now she was definitely excited to see what the others lips tasted like. 

When Cara says that they could hold onto the favor Melody raises an eyebrow and wonders exactly what she me means by that. She claps her hands a little at the idea of eventually going to the dungeon with Cara. She was wondering just Cara would have done differently to her there. “I can’t help it. I’m just excited.” Melody points out to Cara after she was told she was being impatient. Even if Cara didn’t think that she could last an entire day, she knew that she could. Or at least she would attempt to last an entire day with Cara. As Cara begins to untie her dress she ‘s giggling slightly as she looks up at Cara with a nod. “As you wish Miss.” Melody said after letting her dress drop to the ground. Leaving her in just her bra and underwear. 

- 

Cara didn’t doubt for a second that the words she’d uttered to this particular submissive were ones she knew well. There was something in that giggle, the way it was almost an acknowledgement, that told the blonde all she needed to know. Melody knew the power she held in her position. How dominants, despite perhaps being less obvious about it -- or more so in some cases, had instincts much akin to their own. Regardless of the fact it was flipped for the most part, some aspects united them all. 

“Clearly.” The domme offered with a light chuckle, something evident in her response before a word was even uttered. Melody was all but fidgeting already, the excitable little clap at the prospect of being taken to the dungeons one not lost on her. She would have to make a note of it for later. “Much better.” She mused, taking an appreciative glance of the girl’s stunning form before invading her personal space once more, effectively pinning her against the wooden pillar. “We’re going to play a little game, I want to see how long you last at it...” The blonde hummed, nails grazing the now exposed skin of her abdomen on the way until she reached the hem of her panties. “You’re going to keep those needy little hands to yourself, and every time you don’t, I’ll stop and start again.” It was perhaps a little evil to request such a thing on a night like this, but Melody seemed so eager to please she couldn’t help herself. One hand snaking into the thin material to brush against her clit as she leaned down, nipping and kissing a trail along her neck. “Do you think you can do that?”   

THE SCENE    is choas. scrambling figures clinging to areas free of smoke and flame. however amidst such danger celeste is nothing short of resourceful. her strides are long and purposeful; tall frame powerful. 

SHE HAD     a duty to all residents. their safety above all else. she’s honorable and fair to her core, not much mind given as her hand locks on to the others wrist.   “ you’re to follow me, that’s a order. understood? ”

It was hardly Thea’s finest moment, a worry that struck so deeply she was moving before her mind had chance to catch up with her. Not away from the commotion, but towards it. Trying and failing miserably to keep her resolve once she’d actually had time to process what she was doing. The tight grip on her wrist was one she almost tried to pull from instinctively, before her gaze fell to the woman it belonged to, her own arm going slack in response. “C-Cel?” Her voice failed her briefly, attempting to clear it a little before trying again. “Are you hurt? What the hell happened? Can I...can I do anything?”

@ open : selene + ?

If she’d had a mirror on hand, Selene would absolutely have been taking the opportunity to see just how amazing her outfit looked in the firelight. It was terrible, yes, and not something she said out loud for obvious reasons. But just looking down at her dress and seeing the way the light danced on the sequins was mesmerizing.

Focusing on these shallow, trivial thoughts was a very good distraction from the reality of how close to a horrible demise she and others had been. As far as Selene was concerned, she was functionally immortal by sheer inability to comprehend a world without herself in it. But she’d almost had to confront that possibility tonight, and was now ensuring that she did not have to confront it at all. “I wonder how much it will cost to fix this little disaster,” she mused aloud to the nearest person. “It’s not as though they won’t be able to afford it, but I’m sure it will be more than this dress is worth. And that’s a sizable amount.”

-

Thea hadn’t been in the ballroom when the explosion happened. It was something she was thankful for, and yet still filled her with dread all the same. So many of her friends had been in the there that night, so many she’d seen that she doubted (despite praying) might have left before it happened. Trying to get closer had already been met with someone pulling her back again, and with so much commotion going on all around them, there truly was no chance of knowing if they were out until things had died down - A notion that had her fidgeting in place, a feeble attempt to quell such a ridiculous impulse to run forward and help. She knew no good would come of it, the last thing they needed was another body getting in the way. 

“Hmm?” She murmured firstly when a comment was directed her way, before the words actually caught up. “Right, yeah, sure...I’m pretty certain it’ll be pocket change compared to if this fuckery comes with a body count.” The words came out a little more vexed than intended, the feeling of helplessness perhaps seeping into the conversation slightly. Her mind still a million miles away and in need of any form of idle chat in that moment. “Are you -- okay, at least?” 

 The other had thoughts swarming behind the dark hues of hers, Safiya was almost curious enough to ask but she doubted a straight answer would be delivered. The night was one of mystery and magic, most people held the same aura around them. It made it difficult for the gardener to really know who’s hunter and prey but she squinted with the question. “I think… you love to be prey with the proper hunter.” Her brows lifted slightly, “But you find hunting just as fun with a good prey.” Nodding she felt rather proud of her guess before realizing the girl stepped closer. Blinking for a second, finding her brain catching up to the words before her feet slipped past the other and made a ran for the shadows without a verbal response.

Mila stopped a little short at the brunette’s assumption, unable to help it. She truly had hit the nail on the head with that one, something that she presumed would mean their little game to be up before it even really begun. The submissive may have omitted the truth to some degree, but it didn’t mean she planned to outright lie to her either. “Good assumption...” Whatever she was about to offer in way of explanation, some small apology on the tip of her tongue for any distrust it might have caused -- It all fell away when the other slipped passed her advance regardless. Brow raising even though no one was there to see it as her gaze trained on the girl while she ran off. True to her word, she gave a slightly lacklustre pursuit until she deemed enough time to have passed. Oh, this was going to be fun.   

Gayle didn’t flinch when Cara questioned her words. Her anything really did mean anything. It’s where her own fun came from — on top of the occasional good sex and orgasms. The exploring, the being explored, being part of whatever fantasy these powerful people had about her. It was the one power she had as a submissive, and she knew how to use it. “I said… what I said” she tried to bite back, but her voice was shaky, needy. What the Domme was already doing to her body was too much to resist or fight. “Fuck,” she groaned as her underwear was removed and quickly replaced by Cara’s finger, at the same time everything she wanted and the most painful of tortures. “All.. all talk,” was the last bit of challenge she could muster before biting her lip again, eyes rolling in pleasure.

Tess’ gaze moved towards the forest for a moment when the submissive spoke of imperfections, a shy smile making itself notice at the compliments she received. It wasn’t an argument she hadn’t heard before, for some reason people had a wild fascination for mistakes, but no one had managed to be quite as compelling as Mila had, though she was sure that the woman’s beauty and the silvery quality of her voice certainly helped sell her points. Still, after a lifetime of living the way she did, it would take more than a magical night and a dazzling submissive to influence her in this particular topic. “It is more than exhausting,” she admitted promptly, “it’s also absolutely worth it. What most people don’t realize about the search for perfection is that it doesn’t mean, necessarily, the denial of the imperfect. Rather, it’s the belief that one should seek improvement where they can.” Her mother didn’t explained it to her like this when she was a child, Cordelia’s idea of perfection is much cruder, more about appearances than reality. Tess wasn’t of age when she came up with her own version of it, though it was impossible to let go of some the teachings she endured. “To your point, for instance, this view is absolutely magnificent …but it wasn’t truly perfect until something rather exceptional was added to it,” she turned back to face the submissive again, making explicit what she meant by what was said, “I’m glad I didn’t settle for what it was before. Even if I risk the boredom,” she teased with a with the ever light touch of venom in her tongue. In reality, Tess couldn’t possibly imagine growing tired of this — or any other perfect scenario she envisioned for herself. She’d simply worked too hard to achieve her dreams to not fully enjoy herself when she finally achieved them. If she ever achieved them. There was a sense of pride that hit the Domme when Mila admitted most didn’t appreciate her fully, almost as if it took a Dominant equally as talented to fully admire what the submissive could offer. “Lucky for us, I’m not most,” she gave a boastful, playful shrug in return to her jest before letting out another light chuckle and nodding, “I know precisely what you mean. But I wouldn’t worry if I were you, I don’t see how it would be possible for you to overstep.

Not in a million years was Tess expecting what the submissive had to say next, and as a natural reflection, she felt her jaw tense. Was she that obvious or was Mila that perceptive? The truth likely lied somewhere in between, and all the Domme could do now was try not to look as surprised as she was. Conversations on secrecy were common enough for a woman in her position, often followed by a formal agreement, a signed contract, a hefty payment in exchange for silence… None of that seemed to be on the table this time, and it was difficult for her to understand in that moment what exactly it could mean. Could she trust her? It didn’t escape Tess that this was the first time she wasn’t the one to initiate the conversation, for better or worse. After the initial shook, however, she felt different… free. If the Domme did find in her enough faith to believe in Mila’s intentions, that meant there was nothing holding her back in the woman’s presence, and only she knew how badly she needed it. Her response was a simple one, a stark contrast to the myriad of contrasting thoughts currently rushing through her head; she exhaled deeply, nodded, and offered one word followed by a smile: “understood.” The woman’s sudden proximity to her would’ve sent her to overdrive a minute ago, but now there was confidence in the air, not only in the Dominant energy she exuded, but in herself. Tess didn’t flinch when Mila touched her dress, rather, her eyes watched her fingers intently, oh so curious to see where they would move to next as light shivers ran down her spine. “Wicked Witch of the West, actually. Minus the green makeup for obvious reasons. It’s something of an inside joke,” she explained still looking downwards, but slowly moving towards the submissive’s beautiful attire. “I’m afraid I haven’t the faintest idea of who you are supposed to be tonight, but I will say it’s already a new favorite of mine.”

“We’ll call it a tie,” the Domme offering, the memories of her previous encounters with the estate’s submissives all too fresh in her mind. Not all were bad, granted, but it would be incredibly difficult for her to meet someone who had the same effect on her as Mila did. Tess wouldn’t have minded to spend the night on her own at that balcony, watching the moon and the stars, listening to other guests trip over themselves to impress one another, but this… this was decidedly better. It was never her plan for the night to leave the ballroom for any reason — she didn’t want to risk getting distracted, and frankly, there was nothing about the woods or the gardens that particularly appealed to her — but it was impossible in that moment to resist following Mila’s direction. She had only taken a few steps towards the exit and her mind was already racing with possibilities of where the two might end up; somewhere in the manor, perhaps? A secret room only they had access to? Or maybe somewhere more whimsical, in line with the theme of the night? Tess hadn’t seen much of Rosewood at all since arriving, she didn’t have much of a reason to, but now she suddenly couldn’t wait to see every corner of the estate, so long as her new company was present. Wherever the destination was, judging by Mila’s words, they would be alone. Good. Tess could feel her body warming with the thought.

To feel the submissive’s hand on her shoulder, as innocent as it was, felt electric. Tess would be the first to admit, although not necessarily loudly, that she starved for that kind of touch. Being hurried away, however, was not necessarily a welcome addition. She’d just said she had no interest in running after submissives; it should stand to reason that she didn’t care for being led either, but that wasn’t the issue at hand. The Domme was far from stupid, she knew something bothered Mila and she respected the woman enough to let her decide whether to share the reason behind it or not, but as someone who was groomed all her life to be in control at all times, it wasn’t particularly easy to stand aside and do nothing. “Allow me to make one thing clear,” she finally spoke, now that the two were alone and safe from prying eyes and ears, “when you are with me, in whatever capacity that may be, you are my responsibility and under my rule and protection. No one will take a hold of you, unless you request it, no matter how persistent another Dominant is,” Tess didn’t intend this as a warning or lecture, but as a promise. There was nothing more sacred to her than trust between a Dominant and their submissive. “You are mine for the night. Nobody other than the two of us has the power to change that,” she finished, finally taking the submissive’s hand with her own, another small gesture that meant much more to the Domme than it normally would to anyone else. The weather that night was sublime, with the smallest hint of cold in the air, and the moon in the sky gave off enough brightness to cause Mila to shine — in her eyes, at least. So when the submissive spoke, Tess couldn’t contain a smile. What could possibly be more breathtaking than this? “Ready when you are, dear,” she held the woman’s hand tightly, shoulders touching now that they had no reason to be separated any longer. “This better not disappoint me. There’s a lot riding on this now,” she teased, smile turning more mischievous as she spoke. It wasn’t possible for her to be disappointed at this point, not with the turn her night had taken, but there was nothing like some playful intimidation to make a submissive squirm. 

- 

The way Tess’ attention left her was still one that she understood perfectly. Despite having only just met the woman, it was something that she still knew came from a place of consideration rather than boredom, and so felt confident enough with the current topic of conversation. Besides, it was hardly meant to undermine but rather understand, and the domme seemed more than open to explaining her views. “Well, doing so where possible does sound far more reasonable.” She added with a light smile. “I suppose I never thought of it that way.” There truly was something about the way Tess spoke that only served to draw her in. As though she’d had years of practice on how to so eloquently get her point across, and even then there was an aspect that simply couldn’t be taught. Never once had there been a moment Mila found herself uninterested in any of it. The explanation that followed was one that had her head tilting almost subconsciously while she listened, brows furrowed faintly in contemplation more than any sort of confusion. “But if that is the case, I am curious; how can you ever know to be satisfied with - well, anything? There’s always going to be something that could somehow improve a moment. How do you know when to stop, and call that perfection? To not get so caught up in elevation it becomes a vicious cycle and life gets missed along the way?” She didn’t quite know what to make of exact moment the domme chose to look at her while rationalising her point. A brief thing that she realised she was likely just thinking far too much into it, chuckling faintly all the same. “I didn’t mean it to offend, a part of me understands where you’re coming from completely - Though there is something to be said for simply existing every now and then, don’t you think? No prior knowledge, or any awareness of how it may turn out.” Mila smiled faintly, biting the inside of her lip as she suddenly found her wine glass much too interesting. “Like this, right now. Meeting you wasn’t premeditated, or planned...If anything, it was the lack of perfection on my part and previous company that had me needing some air. And now things are simply -- Easy perhaps isn’t the right word, but effortless. There seems no need to pretend with you.” It was a concept that perhaps worried her a little more than she cared to admit, but one she was thankful for all the same. The jovial self-praise something that had her smiling softly as she tried to keep the light admiration out of her voice, unsure if she truly succeeded. “No. You most certainly are not.”  

The thought of being unable to do anything that might overstep was a comforting one, if not a little short lived. No sooner had the words left the woman’s lips, she was clenching her jaw at something else Mila had felt the need to share. The submissive certainly didn’t regret her words, and so she instead ran over explanations in her head. Her chin tilting up faintly as she steeled herself for whatever argument might potentially come her way about dominance and power, or how she shouldn’t assume to know her -- Notions that never actually arose. Instead it was only a relatively simple one. An acknowledgement despite Mila suspecting there might be more behind it, yet a response that had her nodding briefly all the same. It was merely something she felt Tess needed to hear, not planning to linger on it. Instead raising a brow at The Wizard of Oz reference, the slight confidence shift not lost on her either. “Hmm, well you’d look good in anything, but I understand the body paint may have felt a little much.” She smiled, far too distracted by the soft skin beneath her fingertips to keep much in way of meaningful conversation - even if one aspect still stood out to her. “Inside joke?” Not her finest worded question, but in her defence Tess wasn’t stopping her, eventually coming to trace the soft swell of her breasts held so perfectly within reach by the bodice of her dress. Mila was hit with such a sudden urge to curl her fingers under the material in that moment, she had to physically ball them into a fist to stop herself from doing so, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. There would be a time and place for it later, when they were truly alone. The last thing she wanted was to rile Tess up to such an extent she did something about it in a place that meant she wouldn’t receive an appropriately wicked response from her witch. Only fully grasping the comment on her own clothing as her hand fell back to her side. “A rather understandable thing, I can assure you.” She chuckled, slightly more breathless than she would have liked. “Her name’s Po Ino Nogar, a Goddess in Cambodian culture.”   

“Deal.” She conceded with a smile, hardly feeling the need to disagree unnecessarily over such things. Mila certainly had no intention of claiming she had been the only one in need of a little respite, but she also doubted submissives were quite so handsy -- attempting to ignore the irony of the fact she herself had just been so mere moments ago. The brunette never was one lacking in restraint, and even when she did find herself on the beginning of that path down a road littered with bad habits, a brief reminder of her place was all it took. This was merely a different type of restraint than she was used to, one that meant an impulsive need for the closest proximity possible. It was something she thought best not to contemplate the potential implications of, instead putting it down to the enchantment of such an evening. Despite all the aspects warring for dominance in her mind, it was still easy enough to pick up on the way Tess tensed slightly at being usher through the crowded area. Something that only had her appreciating the domme’s lack of any real protest all the more. It wasn’t until they were alone once again and Tess was responding to her that she truly came to grips with the type of woman this particular individual was. Words that sounded so simple, and yet caused such a surplus of emotions she didn’t know what to do with them. Never in her life had Mila experienced someone being protective of her, and yet here Tess was, a domme she had known all of five minutes, somehow serving to make her feel safer than she could ever recall in little more than three stances. She tried to ignore the warmth that flooded her body in response, the slight shiver it sent down her spine that she attempted to explain away as the crisp night air against her skin. None of it worked particularly well, and it took Mila far longer than she cared to admit to find her voice once more. Gulping thickly, she reiterated a word she hoped would give the dominant some insight into her silence, unsure what else to say. “Understood.” Still, the way those words sounded on the brunette’s lips, how Mila was hers and under her rule -- Even if only for the night, the anticipation was palpable. An almost awestruck sensation still clinging to her bones as she shook her head faintly. “I truly don’t know how I got lucky enough to find you alone, but i’ll be thankful for it even after you inevitably leave the estate.”      

It was perhaps the initiation of physical contact that both pulled her back down and yet also tugged further on her instincts, finding herself a little less bewildered and a little more exuberant once the thought of getting to spend such a night with such a woman began to register. Interlacing their fingers almost absentmindedly as she walked, Mila simply hoped it wasn’t taking things too far. Whatever she was about to offer in way of small talk fell short when Tess got there first. This better not disappoint me. That tone of voice, even with the teasing little lilt, causing her to falter in her stance if only slightly. Deep down she knew it wouldn’t, the submissive didn’t know why she was second guessing herself. “It’s...” She trailed off, the word falling from her lips with far less conviction than she intended, before trying again. “It won’t. And if it does, well,” Mila paused, resting her chin on the woman’s shoulder just enough to hum near her ear. “I’m sure there must be something I could do to make it up to you..” It was perhaps the only notion that had her thinking twice about where she’d chosen, the thought of taking Tess somewhere that wouldn’t particularly impress her only so she could make up for it in other ways. Still, with the domme’s strive for perfection, something told her it was still the best course of action to take. “Do you trust me enough to close your eyes, mistress?” She purred, lips brushing the back of Tess’ jaw as her free hand curled delicately around her elbow. Something that would aid to guide a little, should Tess take her up on the offer -- Not that it particularly mattered either way, a few more steps and they were on the outskirts of the clearing. 

The hot springs were a well guarded secret from what Mila could gather. Something that was hardly off limits, but not many seemed to know about...Or if they did, they just didn’t particularly care. The submissive certainly wouldn’t have known about it herself, had it not been for some relatively hazy memory of running this way pursued by guards. She assuredly hadn’t had the time to appreciate it then, she truly did now. It was even more beautiful than she remembered. A man-made thing that appeared so entirely natural in such a setting it would always be mistake for such. The way the moonlight aided in its illumination, the soft string of lights and faintly swaying willow trees that seemed to fit so flawlessly into the theme of the evening despite Mila knowing full well it was always like this. Nothing new had been added for such an occasion, and it only served to aid in her assumption they would go undisturbed. She was so lost in the way the heat of the water made wisps of steam when mingling with the air that she almost forgot the domme might very well still have her eyes closed, almost. “You can open them if you did.” The sub lulled, giving her a moment to take it in regardless before shifting to face her more directly. A soft playfulness encasing her words she simply couldn’t seem to help. “What do you think? Did I choose wisely, oh great curator of perfection?” 

.

“I mean I’m sure you’ve seen yourself in the mirror countless times. You’re absolutely gorgeous. From head to toe. Like how could anyone forget a face like yours?” Melody questions. Like she was shocked by how good the woman looked. She even looked good the last time she had seen her. Cara could probably wear a trash bag on her and make it look like something beautiful. Like no one would even pay attention to the fact that she was wearing that on her. Melody didn’t feel like that she could pull that kind of thing off. 

“Yes ma’m I’m all yours. I mean I think you already know of just how badly I want it.” Melody said. She couldn’t help but blush after she was finished listing off her long list of kinks. “I know it’s a lot. I figured I’d just list them all out basically.” Melody said. Melody watches Cara carefully as she reaches down to grab her wrist and then Melody finds her arms above her head as the older woman’s thigh is wedged between her legs. At the mention of the dungeon Melody lets out a frown. It was disappointing because she was already interested in what Cara had in mind. “You could always take me down to the dungeon if you wanted?” Melody said. She didn’t think the dungeon would even be closed or whatever during the event. Melody nods she knows not a lot of women were into that and it was perfectly fine. Melody raises an eyebrow at the mention of leather and her other ideas that she had in mind. “I can be all yours for the whole day if you want miss.” Melody said as she squirms a little already feeling the excitement of what Cara had in mind and eager to get started. 

- 

Cara hummed faintly in response to the praise, a light smirk playing on her lips. “Flattery will get you everywhere, little one.” She teased, certainly not one to shy from a compliment yet unable to find motivation to ensure it continued in that moment. Her mind distracted with far more wicked thoughts. “You’re rather unforgettable yourself.” Perhaps it was simply her job catching up with her, but there always was something to be said for submissives that turned pliant in her hands. No bite, or fight back or bratty behaviour to be found, ones that simply gave in.     

“Well then, how about I keep hold of that favour of mine for now, and we’ll just call it what it is.” She chuckled low, deciding it was hardly a fair trade for something Melody was all but begging for at this point. She would much rather hold onto it in that case. “It’s not a lot - you should see my list.” The domme added, lips curling upwards into a smirk as she went on to mention about taking her to one of those playrooms regardless. “Impatient little thing, aren’t we?” Smiling faintly, she tilted her head in way of explanation. “I can take you down there any time, don’t you worry.” It would hardly have to be a special occasion after all, and the event called for doing things usually taboo on an average day. “But I think i’d rather indulge in the voyeuristic pleasures the night has to offer, this certainly doesn’t come around often.” Cara continued, before her brow raised faintly in response to Melody’s next comment. “An entire day? Oh, darling,” She paused, leaning in closer until she was inches from the submissive’s lips. “Bold of you to assume you could last that long.” With that she closed the distance, kissing her intently as she let go of her wrists - If only to allow nimble fingers to start untying the pieces of lace holding up Melody’s attire. “Now let’s get you out of this dress, shall we?”