It's Time We Talked

Breakfast had been nice. Laura, Merida, Chloe, and Aubrey had found a nice little cafe that served fresh pastries and, more importantly, coffee. They had talked a bit about yesterday and what Aubrey had planned to do with Mark. With Aubrey deciding she wanted to try to explore things with Chloe. Laura was glad, as that meant she could try to clean up the mess she had caused. Which is how she found herself at the edge of the town, where the carriage was supposed to be.

I wonder how I’m supposed to call for the carriage. I really hope I don’t have to walk all the way there. Would serve me right, though.

Laura grabbed her phone to ask Cassandra.

Laura: Is there something I’m supposed to do to get a carriage ride up to Mark’s place?

Cassandra: I have just added all contact info of Mark’s staff to all devices. Please keep in mind that they are only required to do as Mark asks. So be nice.

Guess that means contact Hilde.

Laura: Hi Hilde this is Laura. I was wondering if I could get a ride up to Mark’s place, if it isn’t too much trouble.

Hilde: Give me a sec.

It was another minute or two before she got another message.

Hilde: I can come get you if you want, but Freya told me he isn’t in the best of moods at the moment. Are you sure you want to come up here now?

Laura: Thank you, Hilde. Yes, please, it is important I talk to him. Maybe I can cheer him up too.

Hilde: Be down in a minute.

Hilde: Good Luck.

It did take a couple of minutes for Hilde to drive the carriage down. “Climb aboard. Hope you know what you’re doing.” She quickly got Laura up to the Rose-Crowned Court.

Laura stepped off of the carriage, “Thanks, Hilde.”

“Don’t mention it. His door is in the center hall at the end, big double doors.”

Laura went in, found his doors and knocked.

Mark was looking through his wardrobe, thinking about what to wear for Merida’s date, and was about to text her when there was a knock at the door. Who could that be? Freya only left a few minutes ago. Mark walked over to the door and opened it to find a very nice set of breasts just a few inches in front of him at eye level. He then tilted his head back to look up at Laura’s face. “Laura? What are you doing here? I’m kind of getting ready for my date with Merida. Was just about to text her so I knew what kind of thing to wear.”

“Well, I can save you some time; we discussed her date at breakfast. I would wear something you wouldn’t mind doing some physical activity in. Comfortable, flexible, not too baggy.”

“Okay, I’m sure I can find something that fits that description. Thanks. But why come see me?”

“I did tell you I wanted to talk to you yesterday. Well, that’s part of why I’m here, but not all of it. I’d like to hear a bit more about your argument with Aubrey. She is rather upset at the moment. Chloe is taking her out on a date to cheer her up. Also, if I can, I’d like to try to cheer you up so you’re in a better mood for Merida’s date.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. Chloe taking out Aubrey, not her being upset. I hope they work out.”

“You just want a three-way with them, don’t you?”

“No, actually, I don’t. Not saying that might not happen, but no. I really want them to be happy. Aubrey asked me to do something yesterday, and I know she is taking Chloe seriously. So, I honestly hope that works out.”

“Fine, can I come in? I’d rather be able to sit and talk about things.”

Mark considered if he wanted to do this now. I am already in a bad mood because of the argument with Aubrey. Do I really want to get into it with Laura? Then again, if I refuse, she’ll probably start yelling at me, too. Mark sighed, “Might as well.” He got out of the way, inviting Laura in. “Want some tea? Coffee? I’m making some tea for myself.”

“Thank you, tea sounds nice.” Laura sat down at the table as Mark prepared the tea, and after pouring them both a mug, he sat across from Laura, placing a mug down in front of both of them.

“Okay, I’ll start by letting you know I’m dropping the issue with Flora.”

“Good. But that doesn’t resolve the whole problem, Mark.”

“Then explain the problem as you see it.”

“When you threatened Flora with a punishment. You weren’t treating her like the adult woman she is. Either you were treating her like a child, which she is not. Your pet, which she is not. Or your property. Which. She. Is. NOT!” Slamming an open palm against the table with a bit more **** than she meant to. “What gives you the right to punish her? Because you’re our Master?” She said Master with such contempt that Mark flinched slightly. “If that’s the case fuck off. Just buy the identity rewrite and get this fucking over with, don’t pretend you care. But see, I don’t think that’s the case; I think that it was a hasty decision you didn’t really consider, done under a stressful situation. But the problem is that you weren’t willing to back down from the position and really consider why you thought you had that right. So, before you respond, shut up, drink your tea, and think. Think about why you threatened Flora, because that is what it was, a threat. Think about why you think you can punish us. Why, you think you have authority over us?”

“What are we to you? Future partners and wives? Pets? Sex Slaves? Trophies? Because I don’t think you have really stopped and just thought about all this. You’re not an asshole, Mark, I know that, I’ve seen that time and again. You do have a worrying tendency, though, of being controlling and possessive. You said you had fantasies of enslaving us, that it would be arousing to you. Do you realize how terribly that has affected some of us? Because you could do that. And it’s one thing if it’s a fantasy or roleplay in the bedroom, but you could literally do that, turn us into your property. So please stop and think.”

Mark actually did as asked, and they sat in silence for a good while, just sipping their tea. Why did I feel like I could punish her? What are they to me? They finished their tea, and Mark made another cup before answering so he could really ponder those questions.

“Okay, Laura, I have answers, some are clearer than others, but I feel like I should tell you what I have, and if I come up with something more… coherent later, I’ll let you know. First, let's start with the one I’m most sure of. I want you all to be equal partners with me and my future wife, if that is what you want. I’m sure that will be tricky and hard to manage, but hopefully we can figure something out that at least gets us close to that ideal.”

“Good, then do you see why what you did is a problem?”

“Yes, and no. I agree I shouldn’t have handled that like I did. You're right, I was treating Flora like she was a child who had messed up. That was wrong. But I have a question for you. What if Flora did actually cause permanent damage to Ellen? Damage that Ellen might not care about now, but wouldn’t have consented to before. Because it is obvious that the amenities are designed to change your behaviors, typically slowly over time. But doing too much at once can cause longer-lasting consequences. Ones that aren’t just a change in behavior from exposure or habit. Tell me how you do feel about cooking for all of us? Was that something you really enjoyed before being brought here? Because it seems like you’re really liking it now.”

“But Ellen is fine, sure she was sore the next day, but she recovered. You are talking about a hypothetical that didn’t happen. You might have a point about the cooking, because while I did cook, I never liked it this much.”

“I’m not so sure, Laura. Maybe you’re right, maybe no lasting harm was done. I wasn't mad or angry at them for using the equipment. I’m mad because they had no safety net, no backup plan, they didn’t test things out slowly, like I see you’ve done. You say it’s fine because no lasting harm was done, which I’m not sure that is true. What if Flora and Aubrey hadn’t sent me repeated messages, that I didn’t know what was happening, and didn’t go there to help. I can tell you what would most certainly have happened at a minimum if I hadn’t gone there. At the rate Ellen was going, she would have experienced over a hundred orgasms simultaneously, and each of their intensities would have increased based on the total number. Aubrey and Ellen split the orgasms so they had about a sixth of that number of orgasms and were left passed out for multiple hours from the experience. I am fairly certain that would have messed up Ellen’s head permanently. I bet Cassandra could tell us for sure if we asked.”

~Ping~

Cassandra: It would have. Not sure exactly in what manner, but yes, that much pleasure at once would have altered her brain permanently.

“Well, she is clearly listening to us because she just answered that question and said that it would have had permanent consequences. And that doesn’t mention what would have happened if she were **** or too lost in pleasure to take off the items during her one-hour window to do so. That would be even more, she would have experienced. The way I think of this is that this isn’t much different than if Flora drove a car drunk. Whether she hit someone or not is irrelevant.”

“Which brings us to your question of authority. Like it or not, and I don’t. I DO have authority over you all. Maybe not, a right, but I absolutely have the power. There aren’t laws here, Laura. Cassandra isn’t going to do anything against anyone unless it is explicitly against the rules. I don’t want you to be taking vengeance on one another for perceived or actual wrongs against one another. That won’t lead anywhere good. But there needs to be consequences for actions that don’t result in you sabotaging each other. Because that is how someone gets eliminated. And you say that people aren’t going to do that now, but things change, feelings are complicated. Not to mention possible future TFs. I was the closest thing to a neutral third party. Now I recognize that the power imbalance is an actual problem, one I’m open to suggestions for resolving. But if you’re saying that, you actually think that the only consequences for something where you did genuinely put someone in danger, which Flora and Aubrey did, are hurt feelings and a loss of trust, then yes, we have a disagreement on this topic. But I can tell by your expression that you don’t disagree, at least not completely. As I said, I messed up, I won’t deny that, and I will apologize to Flora. I shouldn’t have treated her like I did. But I don’t think I’m wrong to think that there should be tangible consequences for putting someone in a situation that could cause permanent damage.”

Laura took a moment to go over her thoughts about Mark’s response. Well, this isn’t as bad as I feared, and he does raise some good points. Partners and Wives. Check, that’s good. He admitted he treated Flora poorly and is going to apologize, good that he can recognize and admit to mistakes. I can’t deny he does have power over us; he isn’t wrong there. Even if I doubt whether he really likes having it or not. I guess, depending upon how sincere he is about being open to solutions about the power imbalance, really is the question. I guess I was looking at what happened and not what could have happened. This at least explains Mark’s response to some degree.

“Okay, Mark. You make some valid points. And I’m glad you seem to be reasonable about this and see the problems. I guess my issue is twofold, both revolve around the power imbalance inherent here. First, what does and doesn’t get punished is essentially determined by your whim as well as the punishment itself. That can’t stand.”

“Completely reasonable. Like I said, I am open to options to resolve that issue. One thing I can say it can’t simply be the nine of you voting because no matter the number of votes required, it won’t work; that will create alliances and divisions amongst you. So it has to be something else. Otherwise, give me options.”

“Second, who gets to and how can they punish you? Because right now you could fuck up like this and we have zero recourse.”

“Also open to options there, but I do realize—”

~POP~

Cassandra appeared on top of the table and interjected, “Nope, I’m kiboshing this topic right here. I am perfectly fine with finding a fairer and more equitable way for how he treats all of you, as well as if and how consequences are dealt out. Great conversation, really happy about it actually. But, sorry, no, you girls don’t get to punish him. That isn’t how this works, period. He is your Master, and like it or not, that isn’t changing. He has power and authority over you because I gave it to him. Don't like it too bad, try and do something about it, see how that goes. And I don’t want to hear you bring this up again, Laura, you either, Mark. I don’t want to punish you, Laura, but I will, so drop it, please.” She jumped down off the table. “So are we going to have a problem here?

“Cassandra…” Mark said through clenched teeth.

“No, Mark, you listen here. YOU.” She jabbed his chest. “ARE.” Jab. “THEIR.” Jab. “MASTER.” Jab. “I picked you because you have what it takes to make them all happy, but that only works if you are actually in charge. So, NO, they don’t get to talk about punishing you. They can complain, they can try to get you to see a problem from their perspective, but they don’t get to decide that you were wrong and punish you. If you feel guilty about something and want to make it up to them, fine, you can do that. I can’t stop you there, nor would I. Do I make myself clear?”

Mark raised his voice in anger, “And if I disagree with you and want something like this, you know, because as you said, ‘I’m in charge of the Harem’, what are you going to do about it?”

“I’ll give Laura here a punishment TF for bringing you this idea,” Cassandra said without a trace of emotion in her voice or eyes.

Laura tried to get Mark to back down, “Mark, just drop it. Nothing we can do about it, and I don’t think we would have found anything we could actually enforce without your consent anyway. At which point, doing what I did here, coming to you with the problem, is essentially what would happen anyway. So please, I’d rather not find out what a punishment TF looks like.”

“Fine, Cassandra, we'll drop it. Happy?”

“Not really, I don’t like threatening the contestants… but sometimes I have to. I really do want all of you to be happy. Like I said, I was actually quite pleased with the conversation until the very end, where I stepped in. That reasonableness, caring, and protective nature are part of the reasons I picked you. I want you to understand something, Mark. I trusted you enough to allow Freya and them to work for you. I view them as my own daughters. I think that says all it should need to, about what I think of you as a person. Now I’m going to leave and let you continue the conversation you were having before Laura brought up punishing you.” With that, she vanished.

~Pop~

Mark just sat back down in his chair, annoyed.

Laura extended out her hand to Mark across the table. “Mark, it’s okay. Just a reminder that none of us is truly in control here. It means a lot, though, that you were open to the idea and didn’t shoot me down.” Mark reached out and placed his hand in hers.

“Yeah, that’s the thing that pisses me off the most.”

“Wait, I'm confused. What exactly are you mad about?”

“She waited. She waited until after I started to respond to end the conversation.”

“Explain.”

“Well, we know she was paying close attention to the conversation, probably still is. I finish saying we could ask Cassandra about what would have happened with Ellen, and not even a second later, I get a message from Cassandra with an answer. Likely because she thought doing that would help move the conversation, both along and in a direction she prefers. But there was plenty of time after you brought up the subject, and her cutting me off. I’ve seen her appear in front of me less than a second after calling her, too. So the idea of her teleporting or whatever, taking longer, doesn’t hold up. She waited for my response because no matter what, she would get what she wanted. Either I would have told you no, meaning I am embracing my role as the Master of the Harem and taking charge, in which case she probably wouldn’t have shown up, or I would show I’m reasonable and caring, thereby improving my relationship with you. Then she’s the bad guy, not me.”

Laura squinted at Mark, moved her free hand to his chin, and gently turned his head side to side to examine him.

“Laura? What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to figure out where that brain was before because that was some conclusion to reach so quickly, and likely accurately from such scant information. So explain how, when you are able to think that well. You couldn’t reach the conclusion about Flora without having, what Sam, Aubrey, and I have to badger you and talk it over?”

Laura had not removed her hand from his face. Wow, her hands are soft. “I am a very, very smart fool.”

Laura leaned back and laughed, grabbing her stomach. “I couldn’t agree more. I’ll discuss the issue of consequences with the others and come back to you with suggestions. Because you're right, there aren’t laws here, but that doesn’t mean certain things shouldn’t be punished.”

“Okay, good, until then, I thought of something that is at least better than me simply being judge and jury. I’m going to ask Freya to make the call. She is intelligent, and she isn’t just going to tell me what I want to hear. She is also not part of the harem, meaning that there won’t be discord amongst you because of that, and she doesn’t have any direct power over any of you, and I won’t let her directly punish you. Does that seem fair to you for now?”

“Better than any immediate alternative I can come up with. Which actually leads into topic number two. What the hell are you doing arguing with Aubrey about Freya joining your harem? Especially both with her consent and for the reason she was giving it. Like, okay, sure, if Aubrey had been like ‘Hey, I see you looking at Freya because you have eyes and aren’t blind. Have you just thought about adding her to your harem so you can just bang her.’ I would understand you being upset, but if anyone in your harem had said that, it would have been me. And no, don't go adding her to your harem just because you want to bang her, not sure you even can if you want to. So seriously, why were you arguing with her?”

“I’m not sure I would call it an argument, as I hardly got to speak. But I got upset because she essentially badgered me until I acquiesced and made her a promise. I regret not going after her immediately when she ran out of the room. I already intended to apologize to her tomorrow morning. I had considered finding her before my date with Merida tonight, but I didn’t want to seem like I was apologizing to simply make the problem go away.”

“Hmmm, I’m noticing a pattern here, and I think I like it.”

“What pattern?”

“Oh, just that an angry woman badgering and yelling at you is apparently very effective. Because we have Sam, Aubrey twice, and then myself. Mark, do you have a thing for a strong woman telling you what to do? Or maybe assertive women. Oh, I got it, you're a service top.”

“I don’t know what that is, but I can promise you I am plenty dominant in the bedroom when I want to be. But I know I don’t like being yelled at.”

“Oh? You are really great at segueing, by the way. Care to demonstrate just how dominant you are in the bedroom right now?”

“Wait, seriously? You want to have sex right now?”

“Yes, but no. I can wait until my date night for that. I was thinking we could, just sixty-nine or I do you, then you do me, or vice versa. You know something to pick you up before your date with Merida. Also, you say you're dominant but clam up immediately to an assertive woman.”

“Laura, what does that collar do?”

“Huh?”

“The collar, you know, around your neck. What does it do?”

“This? Oh, umm… I forgot I had this on, we can take it off if you want.”

“What I want is for you to tell me what it does and not evade my question.”

“Umm, I think I should go…”

Mark got up and moved between her and the door. “Nuh uh. You wanted a dominant Mark, you'll get him. Answer the question.”

Laura eyed the door, wondering if she could get to it without harming Mark in the process.

“If you don’t want to tell me, I’m sure I can figure it out some other way.”

“FINE! Sam and Flora are wearing matching collars. They make all those wearing the collars feel all the pleasure that everyone else wearing one feels.”

“So, I wouldn’t have just been eating you out, but also Flora and Sam.”

“Yes.”

“Laura, did you actually forget you had the collar on, or were you wanting them to feel it too?”

“I seriously forgot about it. It’s strangely comfortable.”

“I’m going to decline. I may have an ideal penis for my partner now, but I don’t have unlimited vigor. I have no idea what Merida is going to want to do tonight, but you said physical activity for a date. Then afterwards, I don’t want to not be able to do stuff with Merida because I indulge you on her date night.”

“So, if it wasn’t her date night but mine?”

“I’d take that collar off you. Put a different one on you and show you just how dominant I can be. In fact,” Mark walked over to Laura and pulled on the collar with one finger to bring her face close to his, and whispered into her ear, “On our date night, I want you to find a different collar, one that you think would be fun, and be wearing when you meet me for our date. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Sir.”

And for the second time that day, someone patted her cheek and told her, “Good Girl.”

Mark let go of the collar and then said, “Alright, get going, I have a date with Merida to prepare for,” and smacked her butt, getting her to move on out the door.