LuckyAlbatross
Posts: 19224
Joined: 10/25/2005
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Hey guys! Happy New Year!
I went to Dark Odyssey this weekend to celebrate, with my boyfriend and local partner. It was my first DO and a truly awesome event. It revived my faith in how awesome events can be. So I figured I'd post my rundown of the weekend here. Would love to hear reactions and what you consider makes a convention great or not.
Friday
The EXPERIENCE of it is what made it such a fabulous event. Describing it would be only the play by play reminders, and not at all what “really happened.” But hopefully my writing skills can be somewhat up to snuff and help keep a kernel of the experience within them.
Going into the event, I had very much wanted to just relax. I did not want to worry about feeling left out, feeling like an outsider, feeling like an unknown, stressing about time and schedules, about my partners and their enjoyment.
They finally let us out of work an hour and a half early. I drove down to the NV’s who was completely ready to rock and then drove down to the New Carrollton Metro hitting every single red light on 450. I was feeling blah from work at this point and just a bit tired but we enjoyed the car ride and got a very good parking space at the metro.
Grabbed fare cards and made a fairly smooth transition and came out at Union Station. On the way, I made my “no stress” idea into something of a mantra. We were early, we were going to have fun, we were just going to allow what happened to happen. I sincerely let go. I hadn’t been to that particular area in a very long time and it was dark. I trusted NV to get us going and, despite a few trips over cobblestones in heels, we made our way to the hotel quite nicely. I told him we just had to follow the groups in black leather. There were indeed many on-street parking spaces available at that time, but I had still avoided DC traffic and no longer had to worry about my car being on the street.
We entered the hotel and you could immediately sense the buzz of convention energy going about. It was very cool feeling the “pings” of finding people you already know together again. I sent NV off to get registered while I got us checked-in. Then I went in for registration. They seemed a bit harried and unfortunately the guy behind me asked them a question about day passes which no one seemed to have the answer. I felt bad for the people behind him in line since they didn’t just keep registering him and move him to somewhere or someone else to get the answer.
Got up to our room on the 7th floor. It was very comfy and yummy, and the bathroom was a great space as well. The two queen beds with fluffy duvets. The incandescent light was not as bright and warm as I like, but I turned all the lights on and felt good with it. I immediately unpacked and took up nearly every hanger in the closet. We noticed room service was incredibly high priced and vetoed that for the next evening.
Since we’d gotten in much earlier than I had thought, we were able to join the group going to Kelly’s for dinner. On the way down in the elevator we had our first reconnection of the weekend. It was Lizzy from LR who Line had bought and we had a huge group scene with her. We caught up in her travels and hoped to connect up later.
Apparently there were two groups heading out. One group did indeed go off to Kelly’s. The group I was with unfortunately was experiencing problems with coming and going and not sure where to go. Eventually we discover that we’re going to Uno’s instead as some people didn’t want the bar atmosphere. NV and I considered that odd, but not an issue and just wanted to grab some drub. We stood around a little longer, me wishing a solid alpha personality in charge could just step in and say “Go people!” The good news of course is that while you’re standing in the lobby you get a dozen people you see only in conventions come along and do your hello hugs and introductions. Was good to get a few of those in. Eventually we all did just get moving over to Union Station. We’d found ourselves talking to another young local who is studying as a biopsychologist so we got into discussions about determinism and standard systems and all that fun stuff.
We all arrive at Uno’s and sadly the staff did not have our reservation on paper. I was fine with splitting us into groups (after all when you get a large table, you don’t really talk with the people down at the other end anyway) but they wanted to keep us together. Very happily they were able to get a table for all of us in less than 5 minutes.
So we sat and chatted. I got to know a very sweet dom from Denver next to me and some good chatting all around the table. The service was very nice and while my fish and chips were drier than I would have wanted, there was plenty of meaty fish to get into and the fries were hearty.
It was getting towards the late end and I still dislike the “lingering dinner after talk” so we got money to the hosts and went back to the hotel. I changed into my purple gown which was actually my senior prom dress. I got all my bling on and we headed downstairs for the Truth/Dare or Bare game.
Lots of people liked the tiara and sparkliness of the gown which was nice. Lot’s more hugs of welcome. Got to introduce NV to a lot of new people as well. They got started and had a fairly long line of people to go through.
Overall I felt the game was a lot of sweet fun. I think they should have used the play stations more often as it seemed they were empty most of the time. I also would have liked riskier/sillier dares. It seemed like they were playing it safe and mild. As well for the truths…far too many yes or no questions and not enough explanatory ones.
But I liked seeing so many eager people going up and Phantom is always awesome as a man with a mic. I got very tired of hearing “DO Virgin!” said really high and loudly, but was very cool seeing the whole mix of people.
At this stage I’d usually be full of high tension. All these people around, connecting, not connecting, where to go, what to do. And yet I was still simply THERE. I was relaxed and there to enjoy myself. Every time I felt my thoughts slip into worry, I stopped them and brought it back into the moment.
After the game was over, people got into play and wandering around. I had wanted to get into dancing however the music wasn’t getting into me and the mood of the people didn’t seem to be really geared towards that. So we went up to the room and I took off the tiara which was killing me at that point. I stripped and put on my light green satin robe. We grabbed our toys and headed down to play.
NV was feeling toppish which was nice for me. I was feeling flexible at that point, but part of me was very much hoping just to be spoiled as a bottom the whole weekend. And I pretty much was.
We perused the play spaces. There was a LOT of space, and a LOT of space in between stations. But we felt the number of equipment pieces were somewhat small. Some of the rooms were too cold, but they were nicely done. Given the equipment they had, I think they utilized the space wonderfully.
We wanted to play at one of the beams. Really the only thing that irked me in the playspace the whole weekend was our fave local singletailer setting up VERY close to one of the main doors with the masochist not even within 5 feet of a piece of equipment. This blocked a lot of the normal foot traffic. And while I felt like he wasn’t half as bad with the loud crackings as I’ve heard in the past, there were definitely a few of them.
But we moved on and got set up at a beam to the side. The NV trussed me into a crotch rope and chest harness. I was very much into a good bottom space with him and he was enjoying taking control. He got my ankle tied and did a partial suspension with one foot on the ground. Unfortunately my feet had been in heels all day and I wasn’t able to hold the position for more than a few minutes. He took advantage of the time that he had and proceeded to do lots of tickling on me. Then he put me down, readjusted the harnesses and did some MORE tickling on me. We cooled down a bit after that and wandered around some more.
Oddly enough I wasn’t interested in watching. I was either bored or envious of the scenes that were going on and really wanted more intimate time with the NV. So we headed upstairs to the room. I told him if he was up for it, that I’d enjoy being put back into bondage, taken roughly and then just snuggle together. At first the NV thought I meant in public and he’s not comfy with the public sex thing. So I reassured him that I didn’t mean for us to leave the room again that night. And he was very happy to oblige. He tied my forearms to my upper arms in a chicken wing style, attached those in the back and pulled my feet up in a spread hot tie, which he then attached to the nightstand. So I was on my stomach with my arms bound tight to my side and my legs tied bent and open.
And then he took me, he was hard, he was fast, he was humiliating with it. He came and then used his fingers, very hard and rough. I was burning with it, the humiliation and the desire and the submission. NV said later that I was still very wet, but it felt very raw and difficult for me so after I’d begged to stop for a bit, he slowed down and untied me. He wanted me to get myself off and it was very delicious.
We enjoyed our after-sex shower ritual together and I washed his hair. We were actually in bed and resting a bit after midnight watching Criminal Intent together. We went to sleep shortly, to awaken at 9 am for orientation.
Saturday
I don’t know if it was a bug to catch from NV, the air in the hotel or something else, but I could tell I had breathed very hard all night and my throat was very dry. It was nothing terribly distressing to me however and I cleaned up in the bathroom and got ready for the day.
While I had not had an opportunity for rampant anonymous public sex and usage the night before, I did not at all regret the lovely intimate time NV and I had instead. I was feeling extremely centered and flowing with life. I grabbed a coke and one of the lovely snacks NV had provided for us and got dressed in my green salwar kameez and dupatta (or known as a sari suit).
I had expected more weird looks than anything about the outfit, but instead I got an overwhelming positive response. A few people even asked me to twirl around to look at it, which of course I was embarrassed and delighted over. So my risk was a hit.
First we had to attend the DO Orientation as it was our first DO event. I doubt anyone would have noticed if we had not gone, but it does no harm to play by the rules and you just might learn a key piece of info. So we went and got the lowdown as well as our dear cherry pins which NV and I promptly gave to eachother. We also discovered the secret elevators.
We got into our first class which was D/s 24/7 with Raven and Joshua. I had known Raven and Joshua from online lists a few years now but never met in person. So I introduced myself and gave welcomes from other people who knew I’d be seeing them. Joshua looked so much like a bank teller from the 1800’s with his linen shirt and gold waistcoat. His pale complexion and light bone structure just scream fragile at you. On the other hand Raven is stocky and broad and very good at only being normal and nice where you can forget the danger underneath.
The class itself was very good. Classes should leave you with more questions than you came in with, with more places to pick up on and with new ideas to chew on. While I’d actually been in 24/7 live in situations, my life and perspectives have altered so much since then that a new framework was necessary for me. With their summaries and anecdotes I was able to begin visualizing the threads in my relationships that would have to be worked out. I deal with a conflict in that a future owner would have to accept my other relationships…and yet not feeling as if that would be allowing full ownership.
One of the best parts was Raven discussing how much he hates protocol and just wants service to be invisible without a lot of hand waving and sirring. As he put it “Toast Happens.” That was just a sublime simple way of putting it all that I think I might have to do a t-shirt for it.
So I left with more ponderings than I started with and we headed to the vending. There really weren’t any classes in the next session and since they were closing down the vending right after classes, we figured it was a good time to get shopping done.
We headed over to Danny’s as he was the one who hooked us up for the event and gave him some help setting up and organizing the booth so we felt like we’d contributed. NV wandered around a bit and found some interesting thing. I really liked the colored chain mail floggers. The hard leather corsets were very cute but not my style. They DID however have the heart wooden paddles that I’ve coveted for quite awhile on sale. So I sent NV to get money and buy supplies. He bought lots of the green rubber tubing, a whole box of the rubber stretch sheets, a roll of bondage tape and the paddle for me. NV reminded me that HE likes green on his own as well…it’s not all about me.
Danny was busy with people and we’d gotten him all ready so we headed back up to the room to hang out. Ate the sandwiches he had made for us the day before and just hung out watching more Criminal Intent. I got him to snuggle in bed with me and eventually mentioned we should take advantage of the time together. Got naked and had a good sex romp. I took a quick shower to clean off and then figured it was about time to get dressed and head down to the next session again.
We were separating for that session and early for the class so I was stuck feeling a bit dorky sitting in the class alone with Bridgett and her friends at the table having a chat. But as they were leaving, the NV comes over. He says sorry and that he just realized the classes weren’t starting until 2:30. The fact that I said no big deal to this gave him a double take and caused him to say “Wow you really are relaxed.”
I laughed and blushed and said we should just go up and relax in the lobby for awhile. He got a latte and we hung on the couch, people watching. A few more hugs of recognition. Just sitting and going over what to do and watching the wedding party leave. Amused at the vanillas having weird looks at the non-vanillas. It was a very interesting mix having vanillas at the hotel the entire time.
As we were sitting, a few minutes still before class. I see DCS on the escalator coming down. Big shock! He wasn’t supposed to get to the hotel before 8. I practically shoved the people next to us on the floor and raced to give him a hug and kiss hello. He said I had ruined his surprise, but I know it was just the universe putting me in the right place at the right time.
Turns out DCS had gotten an email that NYE pass holders could come for the whole day. So he’d woken up at 3 am, hopped on an early morning flight from Houston, gotten a ride in with his roommate and got there to see two sessions. He’s so awesome.
I was of mixed feelingson this- knowing my plans might have changed if I'd known about this and my state of finances. But I figured that since I was letting go and allowing the universe bring to me what I needed at the time, that I would just be happy for this little bit of grace for once.
Since it was almost time for classes, I hurried him through registration while I shoved his stuff in the room. They had already gone to the class by the time I got down which was sad, but I made my way to the next session, which was Sacred Whoredom, again taught by Raven and Joshua.
I’ve never been very out as a whore in the scene. It’s not very accepted or encouraged and even being a “true slut” can get your reputation on a very negative path. I had never really looked at the whoring as a possible divine calling before. The historical perspective of whores being trained as instruments of the divine, to give of themselves through their sexual energy so that people could come and experience the divine through them and their rituals. It was a very sacred space and experience.
I’d known that I could help my customers. I knew that a lot of sex therapy was going on, that it was far more for most people than just getting a blow job (though that’s enjoyable as well). But I had never put it in the perspective of anything more than just a job, a station in life. The idea of it being a divine gift to be used and flowed to others was quite a nifty concept for me.
They also delineated a sacred slut from a sacred whore. A sacred slut being one who uses the sexual energy of the divine to enjoy sex with others, but on a very egalitarian level and for the enjoyment of the slut and the sex. A sacred whore is one who indiscriminately within set limits offers themselves in trade to any customer who wants to experience that energy. It is more of a service for someone rather than an enjoyed act (not that the sacred whore doesn’t enjoy it directly, simply that it is not the motivation).
The ideas that they brought up, the common threads, the urges, the intuitions, all of it just deeply resonated within me. I found myself in one of those awesome classes that you really feel new revelations falling at your feet. You can almost hear all of those disparate experiences clicking into a full place. It was very awesome. I also felt that I no longer needed to hide being a whore. Yes there is the illegal aspect of it and care must always be taken in that sense. But emotionally and culturally…I WANT to celebrate myself as a whore as much as I celebrate myself as a slut.
After that great class I reconnected with NV and DCS who had also enjoyed their class on Switching Strategies. Trust me, it only LOOKS like I’m trying to gather all of the weirdest/button pushing aspects of bdsm culture together.
NV decided he wanted to take his last chance and bought two things of liquid latex. Out of green, but black and purple were nice too. Once I had them both together, I knelt down and kissed their shoes. The flowing feeling I’d had all weekend just sort of took a pause at that point and another, more deeply serene space came over me. I knelt there and looked up at them, just wholly in love and in service for them. DCS’ face showed a solemnity, a happy calm. NV’s face showed some anxiety with enjoyment.
After a few, they hauled me up and said we needed to get to classes. Unfortunately they’d had to shift the latex class to another room and it took awhile to get it open and started. NV loves it, I’m not a big fan. The smell and texture is just not anything I enjoy. However, I can feed on his desire and allow it to overtake me and enjoy it through him.
The class was actually much fun, the perfect way to do a last class of the day, with lots of humor and interaction. I myself became excited at all the possible ideas for outfits and play and designs. And they did give some truly evil concepts and tricks in playing which I’m sure NV will employ at some point.
DCS’ class on planning a scene was a longer class so the NV headed to try and find a computer to use while went downstairs to wait for DCS since he didn’t know the room number yet. I found a cherry pin on the floor with no one around so I went upstairs and asked if they had any extra backings for pins. They didn’t which annoyed me (not like you can’t get 20 for 3 dollars at a crafts store but still…) and gave the pin to DCS when I saw him.
It was time for dinner. I had a headache that was threatening to become a migraine, but figured dinner in enough time followed by drugs would be good for me. NV was continuing to have stomach problems but hoped that food and drugs would help him as well. DCS was treating us and we decided to head to Union Station again and see what was available there.
Unfortunately the only really good place seemed to be Uno’s again (the other places had closed for private parties). So we went there, got seated immediately. I took off my slippers and let DCS enjoy my feet a lot during dinner and we had good conversation. The food was fairly good, but due to my worsening headache and NVs worsening stomach, we didn’t really eat much. Our server unfortunately was very cranky about having to work late and it was not the best served dinner ever.
But we made pleasant enough company and stopped to get alcohol for possibly going to the party later and drugs to help our ails. Got to the room and I took a dose of the drugs and we all snuggled together. Then NV and DCS decided to do a tickle fest with me, held me down on each side and pretty much tickled me forever. I got into the zone of being helpless and just reacted to the sensations. I became one big tickle nerve and my muscles were getting sore from being held down and struggling. It was beginning to get overmuch and I was starting to make not happy sounds and luckily they slowed down and allowed the intensity to flow into the happy calm after space. We relaxed after that for awhile and then I took a shower to get ready for the evenings enjoyment. NV and DCS caught up on stuff while I blow dried my hair.
I was wearing the dark green velvet dress that DCS had bought me and the open toed black Fredericks shoes. They were far more of stilettos than I usually wear and will need to practice with them if I plan to wear them seriously. But they looked great that night and while the NV was still unsure how he was feeling about the evening, he wanted to head down with us.
Of course, we get downstairs just as the evening dinner had ended and everyone was mingling about. Oh well. Mingling blech. I must admit I was VERY happily surprised to see people in ACTUAL formal wear. Yes there were the standard fetishy dresses as well. But seeing satin and chiffon and lace and velvet velvet velvet…formal wear was divine! I was having an clothes orgy just with the fabrics.
We headed into the sex rooms and saw many people hanging about. One of them was one of DCS’ friends so we wandered over to her and chatted a bit. Joshua was hanging around nearby so I left him and had a conversation with J that continued the sacred whore discussion in sharing experiences. I encouraged him to check out Firefly for the Companion concept and thought he would enjoy it for the historical perspective at least. We talked about some of the pitfalls and social pressures there exist and dealing with it within your personal lovers relationships as well.
Eventually he had to run off and do stuff and NV was feeling very badly. I encouraged him to get to the room and rest but I think he was determined to see the New Year with me.
We headed into the ballroom for the New Year entertainment. The tricks were definitely cute and fun, though I’d have enjoyed less noise and more chairs. They actually went on after the midnight point but did an unofficial countdown in the end. Then the NOISE of balloons popping! Gah! Kissed my men and gave hugs. Wasn’t sure what to do then. I wanted to dance and get excited. But the NV wasn’t feeling well. Nor was he going upstairs. I didn’t want to leave him out or feel like I was flaunting with DCS in front of him. It was also too loud to communicate. He got frustrated and left and DCS and I enjoyed a dance or two before heading up after him. I also realized I REALLY need to get DCS more comfortable and smooth on the dance floor.
We went upstairs to make sure NV was ok. I explained my confusion before and he said it was fine and that he was probably just going to crash for the night. I felt bad for that but glad DCS was there as well. I got out of my killer shoes and put on my slippers and we grabbed the toys and went downstairs.
DCS was a bit out of sorts as he’d been planning a double topping session and had to rethink everything. And the dungeons spaces were definitely filling up. Eventually he set up on a rack in the corner. He barely used any toys and the whole evening turned into a long sexual dance together of flesh and kissing and submission. He cuffed and blindfolded me and reacquainted himself with my body. First he was all over my front and then all over my back. He was humiliating in telling me how much he loved my breath getting deep and blowing on his cheek and making the squeaky sounds that I do. I was lost in the roils of the energy and sensations.
He wanted to take me into the sex room. He leashed me and I held onto his hand and he lead me around, still blindfolded. We got to the room and immediately he started talking to a few people. With the hearing loss that I have and without my visual eyesight AND being in the objectified quiet state, I think communication was kinda hard with me, I could never tell if they were talking ABOUT me or TO me and expected a response. But it didn’t much matter because I soon had one woman’s fingers stroking on my clit and a mans fingers pushing inside my pussy. I was so wet and they were able to get into a perfect pressure and rhythm. Someone else stroked my back. It was fabulous.
Sadly they stopped and DCS led me to one of the chair things and laid me out. I could hear things going on about me. Never had I been so frustrated by a blindfold. Usually they help me focus on the person playing with me, screen out my exhibitionistic and voyeuristic pulls. This time, knowing all that was around me, feeling it and hearing it but not seeing it, knowing I never WOULD see it, was maddening and wonderful at the same time.
DCS went down on me. I think he was half amazed he could do that. It was wonderful but I’ve never been able to orgasm in a crowd of people. He went away to try and get other people to fuck me but no one apparently wanted to take that step. He went away again, with me playing with myself and trying to get off. Still no one. It was indeed very frustrating for me and slightly hurtful that I couldn’t get the random quick fun fucking that I wanted so much. But a small thing amongst the rest. The fact that DCS went to such trouble and desires meant a great deal to me.
I told DCS that I could probably get myself off if I worked on it in optimal conditions. We didn’t want to go to the room and disturb NV so we headed back to the mat near the rack we had played on.
However, DCS first wanted to stop at the dance floor and have me dance naked. I was most worried that I’d be the ONLY one on the dance floor and I couldn’t take that sort of individual exposure. Also the balloon pieces were still all over the floor and quite annoying. But we danced. I did a sort of half cha-cha half tango thing, since DCS didn’t know how to tango at all and you really can’t do that just leading. He also needs to learn form. Had some very nice songs on and enjoyed myself until I could feel my muscles getting tired. DCS said later that I really impressed him and that it was one of the best parts of the evening. Since I was still cuffed and blindfolded, I will take his word on that one.
We went to the mat and were told that the dungeon was closing in 15 minutes. I was stunned. We’d started at 1 at the latest. Surely it hadn’t been that long! But he laid me down and had me get myself off. It was a very deep satisfying orgasm. He kept me blindfolded and put my dark green robe on me and we headed upstairs.
We actually managed to survive the escalators and get to the top when we were stopped- I needed shoes. We were 20 feet from the elevators and I hadn’t had shoes on the night before when we went up, so I was irritated. But we stopped and put my slippers back on (thank heavens no clunky boots) and went up.
NV was asleep and snoring a bit. WE snuggled in bed, a bit more playing with me and I gave DCS an orgasm. At that point it felt like I just needed to consume him more and more and the act of consuming him made the need even greater.
But we fell asleep snuggled together, the blindfold finally off, the cuffs and collar still on. NV snoring softly in the bed next to us.
Sunday
What did he have to remind himself to do on January 1st at 8 am? Pay the rent of course! I was annoyed at being woken up two hour early and rolled over to get back to sleep. I wasn’t able to get a full two hours in, but I went in and out of sleep. Eventually the real alarm went off at 10 and all woke up. I snuggled with DCS a bit, gave him another orgasm in bed and then snuggled with NV and he said he still felt kinda bleh but ok.
We all got up and dressed and packed and all that normal stuff. The hotel has mischarged us for parking fees so we would have to get those taken off.
I wore my new green satin blouse with the rhinestone buttons and black skirt. We all three made our way down to the lobby to leave. Was sad knowing I had to go so early but nothing to be done about it.
Got the bill corrected, as the NV said “We took the metro in.” DCS wanted to hit the vending while he had the chance so we gave hugs and kisses goodbye and went back to Union Station. NV and I had a few minutes to wait but made it back fine at New Carrollton. I hadn’t been sure about the parking costs and stuff but apparently there was no parking at all this day and we drove straight off.
_____________________________
Find stable partners, not a stable of partners.
"Sometimes my whore logic gets all fuzzy"- Californication
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