Sir, Butler and Boy ~ Rules and Regulations ~ Page 15
I don’t know how much I can add to this in the comments- I hope it speaks for itself? The fear of what is too far when a sub would do anything, of dominants pushing even further than they themselves feel comfortable and the irony of someone who enjoys things they find unpleasant.
This is a beautiful close to the scene, Tab. Thank you.
There is an implication in the conversation between James and John that anally penetrating Arthur would be something truly horrible for him (which he both craves and abhors) But when Arthur told John he does not enjoy being anally penetrated, it did not seem like it was agonizing or damaging for him, but simply something he did not like, perhaps even disliked, but not to some unbearable extent. (I could be wrong. I can’t find the right pages.) Considering Arthur’s kink is to be used and abused, it seems like a strange line to draw. He certainly gives consent to being penetrated (both here and in the earlier pages). What he doesn’t do is say that he enjoys the act for its own sake. However, it is not as if the situation with physical pain is clearly different. Arthur like to be hit but it is not because the sensation is pleasant to him. Rather the thrill is the relinquishing of control, the approval of the dom, etc. (There are people for whom the sensation of pain in and of itself causes intense pleasure, but it is not clear that Arthur is in that category.) I could certainly understand that John and James would refrain from penetrating Arthur often, but it does not make sense to me that they feel it would traumatize Arthur to do it at all.
I don’t think they’re worried it would traumatize him, so much as both of them have that as a limit to their consent. Penetrating someone feels different from hitting them, I think.
I think the “truly horrible” aspect of penetrating Jefferson–for him–would come in an emotional response. It wouldn’t necessarily be traumatizing as much as it would disturb him, hurt him physically (because he’s not prepped for it), and would indicate he cannot trust his dom(s). And, I really think that last is the biggest part. He’s learned he can trust John, and now he’s learning to trust James in the same way. I think that if either of them tried to penetrate him, he wouldn’t trust the person who did so any more and would most likely lose some of his enjoyment in the rest of their play.
Not to wade in too much with your interpretations, but John style of domination is that of fulfilling something a sub wants/needs, so to go and do something that is only for his own pleasure means he would have to admit it’s something he wants selfishly. There’s a lot of mental clockwork going on which justifies this in his head and makes it okay for him (as we’ve saw in sins of the father)
of course word of god above, but I’d say this is reflective of what it means to be dominant or submissive at your core rather than just doing it for fun. Most doms I know who are that way because it’s fulfilling to them emotionally and spiritually are trying to, as Tab says, fulfill a need or want in their sub, I would add even if that means going against their needs and wants. Meanwhile the sub has the same inclination. Both are playing a balancing act of trying to go far enough to make the other person happy. But going so far that the other person is harmed instead of just in pain means they’re no longer happy, and you’ve failed your role.
(also, hi Thulcandran! Look I’m caught up! lol)
Oh, preach, Jefferson.
So, the incoming ending of this chapter and the fact that the next chapter is the second to last has me thinking about the ending of this series…No spoilers, Tab, but can you at least promise us it doesn’t end sadly? Please?
seconded.
Whatever the exploration, I do need a happy as they can be everafter type closure to this series ^,^
whaa– I don’t want this series to end… but also at the same time excited to see what you’ll do next.