Chapter 10

Emily, Lois' other roommate, didn't return until early morning. Sheila was still asleep, but Lois and Mike weren't; they were drinking coffee. "Sheila's latest beau?" Emily asked, cocking her head, her earrings clinking.

"No," Lois replied, her smile sunny, "Mine."

"You're kidding, right?" Emily asked, peeling off her black opera gloves.

"No." Mike shook his head.

"Okay, can somebody help me get out of this corset?" Emily asked. She put one of her high-top boots on a kitchen chair and started unlacing it.

"Goth, huh?" Mike looked on, amused, as Lois got up and stepped behind Emily to unlace her corset.

"It's what I do."

Mike nodded. Nobody REALLY had black hair that hung like that without help -- or looked that lily-white -- and the black lipstick and nail polish were a dead giveaway, too. She didn't look too bad under the get-up -- oh, her thighs were a little thick, maybe, but still presentable. Mike really wasn't clear why anybody wanted to look like that -- except to draw attention.

"Okay, Honey, we're getting to the free show place -- and since Lois has claimed you and I don't do matinees..." She whirled her finger. Mike got the hint and turned away. "Now, if you'll all PLEASE be quiet, I had a long night at Rocky Horror and I need my sleep..." Mike turned back when he heard her boots hit the floor in another room.

Lois grinned at him. "Did you like that get-up?"

"It catches the eye, but it's a bit dark..."

"I've worn similar -- if you like it, I can play dress-up some time," she told him, smiling lazily.

"That'd be nice."

"Why don't we head out and get something to eat?"

"Sounds good." They hit the cafeteria, because it was cheap, then headed for Mike's room, where Eddie was running around feverishly.

"Dude! There's a Fetish Fair at the Inn! They emptied the place -- all the family areas -- for the weekend and there's just WILD shit going on down there! Displays and demonstrations..." Eddie came up short at the second head that appeared around the doorframe. "Who's this?"

"This is Lois."

"Hi." Eddie flicked a glance between them. "Where did you two meet? You didn't look like you were gonna do any serious partying..."

"We met last week at the Inn, Eddie," Lois told him.

"So you're the chick with the issues?"

"What?" Lois flashed a look at Mike.

"I just told you that, Ed. Actually, I had the issues," Mike interjected. "We had a great time, but I got a little nervous behind some possible complications..."

"Well, I'm glad it's sorted out," Eddie declared, turning to Lois, "He's been down on himself for days -- I figure it was over you."

"Eddie! Shit -- just tell the world..."

"If she's the cure, she needs to know it. Worst case, she puts a ring in your nose," Eddie grinned. "Since you guys have both been to the Inn, I figure neither of you is gonna freak. It's totally cool up there! Everybody's tricked out in leather and lace -- or not a whole lot..." he leered at Lois.

Lois shrugged. "I'm game." She glanced at Mike.

"Yeah, okay..."

"I've got some stuff for you, maybe, but Lois should do something sexy, you know? Not that you aren't..."

"No, I get it -- fetish wear. I can probably borrow something from one of my girlfriends; Emily is seriously Goth."

"Em Prescott?" Eddie cocked his head. "Tell her Rusty says hi. Maybe she'll want to go..."

"She was at Rocky Horror last night, so she's bagged," Lois replied. "Do we have to dash right up there?"

"No, we can wait. It's gonna be a bitch dressing Joe Cool here..." Eddie eyed his problem child. "Mike you got black jeans, right? What size are your feet? You can't wear my jackboots, but anything is better than nothing..."

"Mike, I'll go back and alert the girls -- you guys dress out and call me. I'm going, at least -- and maybe this will get Sheila off our backs. Give me your number..." They swapped cell phone numbers and Lois headed out.

"Nice!" Eddie approved when Lois was out of earshot. "You've been in it?"

"Yeah."

"Emily once told me that she was rooming with a TV -- must be this Sheila..."

Mike gathered himself. "No."

"No what?"

"No, it isn't Sheila."

"No?" Eddie's eyebrows went up. "Holy shit!" He dashed to the window. "Lois!" he yelled, "Look up here, Babe!"

Lois, on the sidewalk, turned to look up at Eddie, hanging out the window. "Yeah!"

"You are fucking AWESOME!"

"Okay..." She didn't know what to say...

"See ya later!"

"What the fuck?" Mike shook his head to clear it.

"Em SAID she was hot -- but I had NO IDEA!" Eddie clapped him on the back. "Very cool of you, Man!"

"So you're not freaked..."

"Man, you have no idea what I'M into!" Eddie laughed. "Besides, Em told me -- in confidence -- that her roomie wasn't a guy playing dress-up, but was a chick between the ears..." He eyed Mike. "It takes a big guy to handle that kind of shit!"

"Yeah, that's why I was dumped out, Man," Mike related. "I was too chicken about having somebody throw it up in my face. I'm not gay -- and neither is Lois. She's even got some weird chromosome thing -- she's, like, two-thirds girl, genetically..."

Eddie nodded. "Just accidentally drew a weenie. Sad. I bet she's a mess..."

"Big time. I talked her past a lot of it -- then I grew chicken feathers.," Mike sighed. "That's over, though. In general, it's nobody's business..."

"For sure! MY lips are sealed! Em just thought we might meet someday, and she didn't want me making an ass of myself..."

"Cool." They started working on wardrobe. Eddie dragged out a duffel bag of stuff Mike had never seen him with before...

When Lois got back, Sheila planted herself before her. "So that was Mr. Wonderful for sure? You aren't just gagging me after blowing him and leading him down the path?"

"Sheila! Jeezus! Are you really THAT jealous?" Lois gasped.

"Well, if he's anything close... I thought he was REAL cute!"

"He IS real cute! But yes, he was the guy from the Inn -- speaking of which, they're doing some fetish thingie..."

There was a thump and Emily's head appeared around the corner. "Fetish?"

"Yeah," Lois related. "I was going to ask you if I could borrow some stuff. It's a Fetish Fair at the Friendly Traveler's Inn."

"Really? And your boyfriend knows about it? He's something! Maybe I should get in line!"

"Actually, his roommate told us. His name is Eddie, but he said to tell you that Rusty says hi..." Lois relayed.

"Rusty? Red Dom?" Emily blinked.

"He didn't say anything about a Red Dom..."

"Serious red hair? Freckles? Kind of doughy-looking?" Emily asked.

"Uh huh."

"Rusty. Yeah, we've been the same places a few times. He's into the lifestyle. I think he's practicing before taking on a sub," Emily told Lois. "I'd do him."

"Should I tell him?"

"No, we're too much alike. Rusty doesn't look like much, but when he stops being Ricochet Rabbit and gets his mojo on, he's a force of nature. I bet he's gonna turn up looking sharp!"

"Wanna go, then?" Lois asked.

"Oh, Hell yeah!" Emily was up and running.

"Hey, what about me?" Sheila asked.

"I always planned to ask you," Lois told her.

"Yeah, right!" Lois was still in the doghouse with Sheila.

Emily's smile grew fangs. "This thing isn't for the faint of heart, Sheila. There will be girls there in next to nothing -- REALLY next to nothing! Because it's the Inn, they may be in NOTHING AT ALL, except maybe a dog collar and a leash..."

"What?"

"It's fetish stuff! BDSM! That kind of thing! Oh, shit -- I'm SOO excited -- I forgot all about it!" Emily oozed.

"Well..." Sheila looked nervous.

"We're gonna be tricked out, too --aren't we, Lo?" Emily assured her. "You can go, and I'll cover you -- but you have to wear what I put you in..."

Sheila licked her lips. "Okay."

It turned out that Sheila's outfit came from Lois' wardrobe -- something she had left over from the bad old days. Lois and Emily turned out very similar -- fishnet bodysuits -- Lois in red, Emily in black -- high- heeled ankle boots, corsets in colors contrasting the bodysuits (Emily in Red, Lois in black) and black tulle petticoats. Emily wore opera gloves in black; Lois, a dog collar (spiked spectacularly) and a leash. Sheila, however, ended up in white heels, pink nylons and panties, a white corset and petticoat -- and a pink collar and leash. Emily insisted upon this last item, telling Sheila, "It will help indicate that I own you and keep the animals away -- beside, Lo is wearing one..."

"Who's gonna hold HER leash?" Sheila complained.

"Mike," Lois smiled.

The guys arrived, Mike in a black muscle shirt and a vest over black jeans and boots. Eddie was in a black T-shirt and a bow tie, leather pants with a studded belt down to knee-high boots -- all under a cape. His hair was moussed back until it looked like a flame followed him everywhere, and he carried black leather driving gloves in one hand. "Very nice, Rusty!" Emily approved. He looked very different than his everyday, eager beaver look.

"Hi, Em," Eddie nodded. "You're hot as usual..." The reserve he projected was quite different than his normal presentation, too. "Shall we go?" They all piled into Eddie's car, which was a big, four-door ride, and headed for the Inn, drawing looks from passing motorists all along the way. "Who is your pet?" Eddie asked.

"This is my roommate Sheila," Emily told him. "She's not really into this stuff, so you'll have to excuse her if she can't get into character."

Eddie merely nodded -- but Sheila found his green eyes measuring her in the mirror. "Is he always like this?" she asked Emily.

"No, usually, he's sort of like a puppy -- bouncy and loud. This is his Dom persona -- I've only seen it a couple of times."

"It's an act, then?"

"Not really -- more a mood or a mode. He's showing a side of him that he hides. He can be VERY persuasive when he's like this..." Emily grinned. Sheila nodded, but she didn't understand.

The Inn was jumping. The management was trying to cover both sides of the fence, since the police were highly visible -- but they had a track record and a good reputation. Signs outside the entrance proclaimed that this was a public event but it was for adults only -- children of guests were being handled off a side area and provided the use of some facilities in the family area -- but many normally family-reserved locations, like meeting rooms, had vendors and exhibitors. The truly adult areas were 'anything goes' as usual, and there were several demonstrations going on involving nudity of some type -- but there were signs in the public areas asking that attendees and exhibitors keep their genitals covered. Still, the management was turning a blind eye to outfits that would get the wearer arrested in most public gatherings -- and asking the police to do the same. The crowd was boisterous, but not rowdy and there were sights to be seen everywhere...

Mike and Lois had a grand time trailing Eddie, Emily, and Sheila through the aisles. Mike didn't know whether to be pleased or horrified that Lois was familiar with a vast number of the displayed items...

Sheila was flabbergasted at the whips and paddles and canes and other instruments of corporal punishment. Emily led her to a side room where a demonstration of the use of certain whips was under way -- and she cringed at every crack. Eddie watched her, obviously amused. "I have a feeling that you can be brought into line pretty quickly!"

"Nobody's doing that to me!" Sheila insisted -- but it was false bravado, and everyone knew it.

Emily caught on and took to teasing her by going to displays of ball gags and enema bags and other implements of torture and discipline and holding them up and eyeing her meaningfully and saying, "What do you think of this?" Lois played up, giggling, even demonstrating some items, saying things like, "This would light up your life!" swatting a palm with a strap, or, "You'd be real quiet during TV wearing this!" holding a gag.

"Why are you guys razzing me?" Sheila whined.

"Because you show all of the classic signs of being a submissive," Eddie told her. "You fear everything, and can't even imagine what some of these things might do to you -- but I bet your panties are wet..."

"They are not!" Sheila denied hotly -- but they were...

"There's a flogging demonstration in the Monaco Room in five minutes!" came over the speakers.

"Let's look in on that!" Emily cried.

"Good idea!" Eddie nodded.

"Cool!" Lois agreed. Mike nodded grinning.

Sheila didn't get a vote -- Emily merely tugged her leash and glared at her if she balked.

They managed to get a front row SRO location. A Dom in leather had a woman -- somewhat heavy, and probably forty -- chained up by the ankles and the wrists, her arms and legs spread -- and in the case of her legs, locked apart by a bar. "The flogger produces a wide-area impact that can be heavy -- what we call thuddy -- or stinging, largely due to the thickness, heaviness, and softness of the tails. Strike weight also changes the nature of the impact; a thuddy flogger can deliver a sting -- but the power required can make the impact devastating, as the throw weight magnified by the speed required would be impressive..."