searchingforlove | IC Inbox

[ It's been a while since Valmont has spent time with Manuela, and whether or not this is a good thing, he can't say. Certainly their last session had been exhausting, and had, at least temporarily, brought out a side of himself he wasn't quite prepared to confront. But, well. It had also felt really good. And then she'd gone and sent him that Thing for Christmas, humiliating stipulation and all. Now every day that passes without hearing from Manuela is apprehension mixed with a generous dose of relief. Yes, he still wants to see her, but if it comes at the price of wearing that...? Not that he spends a lot of time imagining how it would look and feel on him, buckled tight against his throat, but if he did, he couldn't imagine it would be anything other than horribly demeaning.

And then, the fateful message. Meet at the tea shop where they'd had their first rendezvous, and a winking reminder: don't forget his present.

So it is that Valmont shows up for tea with an unusually bulky scarf and a face redder than can be explained by the cold outside. He really should be keeping an eye out for Manuela, but he can't seem to concentrate, shifting from one foot to the other with an unusual self-consciousness. Snap him out of it? ]

[Manuela comes striding up, a dress just as low cut as ever, slits of her dress revealing those beautiful legs of hers. Of course she's in a fluffy coat but it's clear she has no problem showing off the goods to the world. After all, have you seen her?

But she stops when she sees the scarf.]

Valmont, I believe my instructions were clear. Wear the collar so I can see it or I leave.

[She pauses there to wait and see if he will fix the situation, the expression on her face saying she has no problem turning on her heel this instant.]

[ Valmont's gaze takes a second to flicker down Manuela's form, appreciating her skin on display. As emasculated as he might feel right now, he is still male, after all. But her beautiful face is twisted in a scowl at the moment, and Valmont bristles at her reprimand. ]

Your instructions said to, and I quote, wear the silly thing. I certainly haven't agreed to anyone else seeing it.

[ Mr. Letter of the Law, that's him.

...But, because it does worry him that Manuela might make good on her threat, he hooks a finger into his scarf and slides it down juuust far enough. There it is, black leather buckled snug around his neck. It looks like the leash is kind of all bunched up inside the scarf too? There were probably better ways to do this. ]

Oh? Well if you don't want to be seen with it then I'll go home. I'm capable of making myself tea.

[And does she turn as if she's going to just leave right then and there? Yes. Yes, she does. The next move is his and she's ready to see what he will do next knowing that she's willing to just leave here and now.]

No, wait -

[ There's panic in his voice as his hands hover above the scarf. He really doesn't want Manuela to leave, not after he's come this far - he's already wearing the blasted thing, for god's sake, and there's nothing but a piece of cloth separating it from the world. It shouldn't be so hard to - just -

His hands tremble, unmoving. It should be simple, but the idea of everyone seeing paralyzes him. He can't make himself take that next step, he can't...

He can't.

Damn it. He knows what he has to do. ]

...Make it an order. Please.

[ And when you've gotten the P-word out of Valmont, you know he means it. ]

[Well now. This is an interesting turn of events. Manuela turns to face him with a brow lifted before she walks closer to him. Studying him for a moment or so, she considers the fact that he's very much just said please to her. A man of such pride isn't going to say that so easily.

Interesting.]

Remove the scarf, Valmont. Do not wear it in my presence.

[An order. She can easily do that.]

[ There it is. Unconsciously, he runs his tongue over his lips, feeling something small and freeing shift within him. ]

Well... it would be bad form of me to refuse, wouldn't it?

[ In a moment the scarf's off, collar on display and leash cascading free, and maybe people are looking, but you know what? It was an order! He can't do anything about that! ]

Right. Well. That's over with. Shall we find a table?

[ His face is still burning, but this much, at least, he can handle. ]

[So it does work. He wants her to have the control over him. Oho but this is a fun development. She smiles as she walks closer to him.]

Find us a table, Valmont. One with a view. I want to enjoy that while we sit together.

[Okay so the order thing? It's a lot of fun.]

I - I didn't mean you had to order me to do everything...

[ But it's barely a complaint. He's not going to protest now, not when every command she gives leaves a thrill running through him in its wake. Good god, how long has this tendency been in him? Maybe it's just an Iris thing. Maybe it'll go away on its own.

He's not entirely sure he'll be happy about that.

Right. A view, is it? See and be seen - she'll be putting him on display as much as anything. The thought is still tremendously embarrassing, but, well, an order is an order. He scans the shop, eyes settling on a small table near the front window. Nice and visible, and he tries not to betray his hammering heart as he points it out: ]

That one, then?

[ Does it meet her approval? ]

[She doesn't have to but clearly he wants her to. He's complaining but also seems very interested in it. Which is more than good enough for her. She smiles as he gets them a table. Well, finds them one as she asked.]

Perfect. Come along now.

[Going over to sit down, she makes sure to present herself in a way that does wonders to show off those lovely legs of hers. She knows they're some of her best assets.]

Really though, we will have to work on all the complaining. Especially when you love when I order you around.

[ At least she didn't pull him along by his leash, Valmont supposes, following her to the table. Baby steps.

But then Manuela busts out the L-word just as he's sitting down, and it's a miracle he doesn't miss the chair entirely. ]

Love - ? I don't recall saying anything of the - yes, I'll grant you it has its... enjoyable aspects, but - I'm doing it for you, that's all!

[ Yeah. Definite baby steps. ]

Yes, dear. You love it. Now...

[She smiles at the person coming to take their order and gets herself some tea, pretending like it's nothing unusual to be sitting across from someone wearing a collar and a leash.]

I categorically deny this.

[ Hell, in Prismatica, it's probably a lot less unusual than it could be, but he still tries not to blush or fidget too obviously with his collar as the waiter comes over. His eyes flicker to Manuela before he speaks - is he allowed to place his own order? ]

Yes. We all know you have a denial issue.

[She waves her hand to give him permission to put his order in. Really now. He's got so much denial and yet he can't get enough of obeying her every whim. It's quite the power trip actually. One she thoroughly enjoys.]

I have not got - oh, I suppose by saying that I'd simply be providing grist for the mill, wouldn't I.

[ And yet there's another shiver of gratification as Manuela nods her permission. He orders his tea and takes a deep breath, trying to settle himself down both physically and mentally. ]

Was there something you wished to discuss on this outing, or was it merely an exercise in embarrassment?

[Her smile says that yes. It would indeed prove her point. She rests her hands on her lap then looks to him when their orders are in.]

I wanted to see if you would do it honestly. Because if you did then I think we can make an arrangement.

An... arrangement?

[ He swallows. The shivering feeling has started to spread throughout his body, seemingly radiating from his collar outwards. Whatever Manuela's about to suggest, he gets the feeling that, against all probability... he might enjoy it. ]

I'm listening.

We will start small. During the time of the Iris moon, you will come to me when I call for you. You'll do exactly what I ask for and I will satisfy you in a way that pleases us both. You'll essentially be mine. I don't mind sharing you with others but you will need to provide a strong reasoning for times when you cannot come when I call.

[She tilts her head a bit.]

When you see me, I want you to wear your collar. I will let you come up with a proper title to call me but you will not use my name. Is that clear so far?

[Basically she's here to be your dominatrix, Valmont. You ready for this?]

[ Start small, she says, and yet it feels like she's asking quite a bit of him. To follow her orders so completely, to make himself hers... Not very long ago he would have rejected the idea outright. But he hadn't anticipated quite how freeing it would feel to submit to her. He doesn't want to give that up. Pride against pleasure. He swallows. ]

Assuming you don't ask me to do anything too ridiculous... then, yes, I find your terms, er. Acceptable. So far.

[ Is she going to tack on anything else? ]

Good. If you can make that work we'll renegotiate soon to see if you want to try more.

[Because there's no point in putting more on him until she can see that he can handle the rest.]

Ah Here's the tea.

[She waits until they're left alone again, taking a sip of her tea.]

Find us a hotel, dear. You should be able to book one with those cute devices they've given us.

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