What your Mistress would want

It might feel like a battle, but it's a foregone conclusion. Even as I'm considering what to do I'm already handing her glass back to her. Some part of me knows that this is part of the plan that Mistress F has unfurled before us. I'm going to always trust her.

After Miss Summer had taken back her glass I sat back and intended to slowly sip the cocktail that was posing as wine. I found myself draining it as fast as possible, without drawing Stacey's attention.

The receptionist reappeared out of the haze that was starting to form in my brain. "Finished already? It must have been good" then added in a stage whisper, and raising the back of her hand to the side of her mouth, "(girl's gonna get a raise for pleasing the Doctor's guests.)" Miss Summer glanced at my glass and took a big swig of her drink. I thought I saw her almost pull a face, but I couldn't tell if it was the taste that she drank more than she intended, in an effort to catch up and make me seem like I wasn't rushing.

"The Doctor will see you now." The receptionist held out a small tray with both hands. I placed my empty glass upon it and Miss Summer drained her glass and copied me.

The receptionist floated back to making room for us to stand and she turns and looked at the door to indicate where we should go.

My wife seemed to try to encourage Stacey, "Ready?" she asked. He nodded. Their conversation seemed to have calmed him.

I was nearest to the door, so I lead. I knocked on the closed door and waited for a command. (One does not simply walk into one's Mistress's room without permission.

I felt myself melting with a dreamlike state. It was mostly the drink, but even before I had consciously registered it, the single word from inside of the room was triggering a cascade of emotions and reactions within me. "Enter." The command was clear, yet muffled by the door. I looked back to see how Miss Summer and Stacey were, and checked that they were ready. (I was fairly sure that they weren't ready for what was about to happen, but I needed them to at least be ready for what they thought was going to happen.)

I grasped the door knob and it felt like brass wrapped in silk. I realised that my muscles were already feeling the effects of the drink. I couldn't feel if I had managed to turn the handle, but the door popped open, just a smidgen and I began to push it.

With my other hand I reached back to Miss Summer and she took my hand, as the three of us walked in.