#not to mention the vibes of a story that's as full of quiet unassuming kindness as this seems to be

[ilovedthestars]

Hi Stars! I've been thinking some more about media with deep platonic relationships, and I'd like to recommend Victoria Goddard's Nine Worlds fantasy universe. She has several interconnected series set in different parts of the same world, most of which have a lot of "love as in significance" going on.

In particular, The Hands of the Emperor and its sequel, At the Feet of the Sun, focus on the deepening friendship between the Emperor and his personal secretary (later Lord Chancellor), Cliopher. The sequel makes it explicitly clear that Cliopher is ace and the relationship he dreams of having with the Emperor is a queerplatonic one. Both books are enormous doorstops, but I love their leisurely, character-focused pace and overall tone of compassion and hopefulness.

Ooh, thank you so much! I can enjoy a good doorstopper if it's well paced, and this sounds really cool. I went to go look up a summary on the author's website:

An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple act of friendship can change the course of history. Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god. He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. He has never once touched his lord. He has never called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation. One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world.

I can already feel the platonic pining, oh my goodness. That kind of imbalance, wanting to be close to someone who's revered as a ruler and a god, being devoted to them as both but also caring about them as a person--it's so juicy. I imagine this is why some people love bodyguard romances and similar plots, but knowing that the desited end state of this pining is queerplatonic makes it so much more exciting to me.

I read the sample on the website too, which is sizable and took me all the way up to the invitation. I'm intrigued by the worldbuilding, I love that the protagonist is a bureaucrat whose life's work is trying to help people and shift political systems to be better for the citizens, I love all the complicated emotions of his trip back home and trying to reconcile his two lives. I can already feel that compassionate, hopeful, contemplative tone to the writing, and I can already tell that this is a story that treats friendship with weight.

I mean, look at this:

He thought of his lord, pacing in his study, bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. Thought of how well they worked together, the enmeshing of respect and knowledge and good humour and experience. Thought of leaving his lord to the court. Thought of leaving his friends in Solaara-Conju and Ser Rhodin and Commander Omo-how none of them had families, had lost them in the Fall. Thought of leaving his work undone. All those projects slowly, delicately, unobtrusively transforming the government according to his vision of what the world could be. Thought of his lord, never failing to do his duty. Thought of his lord, with no one to joke with him. Thought of losing that—he could not call it friendship, could he? That implied a kind of equality, and there was no equality possible between the Sun-on-Earth and anyone else. But call it a relationship, that was permissible. He suppressed the wish that he dared call his Radiancy his friend.

And this:

"You saw this beautiful place, and you thought I would like it, and that I might enjoy a—a vacation after finishing up my present project, so you rented it for a month in my name, am I correct?" Cliopher swallowed. But his Radiancy said I, not we. He held to that. "I did not presume so far, my lord. It is in my name." His Radiancy continued to frown silently for several moments longer. And then he said: "Thank you, Cliopher." When Cliopher glanced up in surprise, for his Radiancy's tone had changed utterly, he saw that his Radiancy was smiling and there was even, oh just perhaps, the suspicion of moisture in his Radiancy's eyes, and Cliopher sank back to the ground in sheer relief and wonder and also a kind of pain, for he had seen that kind of surprised pleasure before in the faces of people receiving entirely unexpected but welcome gifts. And it occurred to him, somewhat later, after they had settled into their usual work, that if he, who was the chief member of his Radiancy's household, had never before dared offer a gift to his Radiancy beyond the tithes and service expected of him, then apart from his Radiancy's sister, who barely wrote and even more rarely came to court, there was no one else to do so.

I think I am going to LOVE this book. I've requested it from my library, and I can't wait for it to get here. Thank you so much for the rec!!

[dancingoddess]

The Dee Experience

She has a desire to be a very naughty girl.

All day long, she has to be oh so good at her job. Hold her tongue from making a dirtier comment than what the guys have come up with. Being nice when she really wanted to let the Lady Domme out. To cover up the thigh highs and cute panties under such unassuming clothing. To not shock the innocent coworkers with stories from the weekend before. To not out herself as the slut she is, because few would understand it means something completely different for her than what they assume it is, and would judge her harshly for it. There were those who knew, close friends and lovers alike. The close friends who accepted her for what she was, and lovers who saw it firsthand. Both were quite the experience. She jokingly called it the Dee Experience once to a lover, and the name kind of stuck. To have her attention for as long as you wanted, however you needed it. Being very creative and thoughtful, she would make sure you had as much fun as she did.. and be worn out after.

It had been a while since she let the kinky girl in her out, and it was.. frustrating.

You'd think that being the slut she can be, she would have more fun. At times, when schedules mesh, yes, the social calendar fills up faster than the appointment book of other people. Even if only half of the opportunities happen, it can still keep the Lady busy. But lately, like the winter blues affects people, this has been a very trying time. Feeling it affect her mood, she went shopping for cute things, ideas swirling in her head with what she could do with them.

Joyous at her purchases, she waits until the time is right. Thankfully it's not too long.

She puts her ensemble together carefully, enjoying how the fishnet stockings hug her curves, and the panties showcased her ass just so. As her puts the collar on in the mirror, a beautiful stranger looks back at her, anticipation in her eyes, and a devilish smile parting her lips.

Oh my..

Packing an extra pair of panties, because she knew these ones would get very wet, she put a few other provisions in her naughty bag, and made her way to his house. It was quiet on his street. It was the middle of the day, when most of the neighbors where either at work or at school. Anyone playing hooky from work wouldn't guess anything naughty when she got out of her car and walked up to his home. Two friends getting together for coffee in the afternoon perhaps.

What they had in mind was much better than coffee.

As he lead her down the stairs to his playroom, he mentions that he found a site that had some great instructions on rope tying, a mutual hobby of theirs. Over drinks, they bring up the site, and make comments about some of the pics that they see. She points out two she would enjoy when they are a little more confident that would bind her breasts well, and she squirms when he shows her a pic that would have a knot tied in a very fun spot. Finally, they agree on two different possible ties they will try today, and get started on the hands. After a few starts and giggles, he secures the rope around her hands. Pleased with the work he's done, she asks him to take a pic of his handiwork. He asks her if it's too tight, and she wiggles her fingers, feeling the rope between her digits and shivers. No, this is very good, she says. Very good indeed.

They grin, knowing how rope tying turns her on.

He asks her if he can take off her pants, as the next tie around her legs might be more comfortable if she were pants-less. She agrees, knowing what is underneath. As he slides the pants down around her ankles, he notices the full fish net stocking, under a pair of very sexy panties. His hands caress her soft legs, while he gives her a nip on the ass, making her shiver and squeal just a little.

Very nice, he says, as he gives her ass a smack.

He settles her down on the bed, making sure she finds a comfortable position for her legs to be tied. He takes the hands that are bound together, and secures them in place above her head. As he winds the rope around her legs, he makes sure to trail a hand along the thigh, and smiles as she giggles. He brushes his fingers along the front of her panties, delighted to see she is wet through them enough for him to feel. Once she is fully tied, each leg folded at the knee and kept in place by rope, he shoves the panties aside, noticing the fish net seam seems to be wet from rubbing up against her slit.

With both hands he tears at the stockings, and sticks his tongue in the hole he made to get at her juicy clit.

She moans, her eyes going to the back of her head as he enjoys tasting her. She feels him rip the stockings further as he teases her with his fingers, loving the feeling of being oh so bound. It's not long that she's begging to cum for him, cum for him now. He gives his consent and she screams, letting go of thought and control, and cums all over his fingers. Once the full body spams have subsided, he gets up from between her legs, and gives her a teasing kiss. She thanks him, breathless, feeling good all over. As he goes to inspect her stockings, he notices the seam that once held the crotch of her fish nets were still in place, but big tears on either side where he ripped. He apologized with words, but she could see from the smile on his face that he was so not sorry. She was about to protest when she felt him use the seam from the stockings to rub against her clit, but she lost the words, loving the sensation from such a small piece of material. Alternating between the seam, his fingers and his mouth, he quickly brings her to orgasm again, her screams drowning out the music he put on in the background. Reveling in the aftershocks from his hard work, she begs him to fuck his toy now, and to use his toy well. He attempts to rip the rest of the stocking to make room for him, but it's tough. At her suggestion, he goes into her naughty bag, and pulls out a pair of scissors. He looks at her with a question on a his face, and she explains she was hoping he would get horny enough to want to rip things off her, but if he wasn't successful, she brought the scissors to help along. They share a smile, and he takes the scissors to her stockings, slowly and carefully cuts a hole big enough to maneuver in, while teasing her once more with his thumb along the slit. After he's done cutting the hole big enough, he lifts her tied legs up, angling himself at her opening.  With her hands still tied above her head, she helps him lift her legs higher, feeling the crunch in her stomach.  Feeling him oh so close, she begs him to enjoy his toy.  And to fuck her now.  

They lock eyes.  He smiles and asks her if she's a very good play thing.  She nods.  

At her surrender, he slides in, moaning at the feel of her slick pussy on his cock.  She pleads with him to fuck his play thing, to use that cock of his on her.  He slowly works himself into her pussy, making her moan and try to help push him in further.  Only when he's slid inside fully into her a few times does he comply with her request to take it fast, making sure he doesn't hurt her.  He grabs her vibe, teasing her slick clit with the steady hum.     It's not long before she's telling him she's cumming as she spasms around him.  He picks up the pace, loving how her pussy milks his cock, and her screams turn him on.  He asks her if she wants her treat in her mouth, or on her tits as he lifts her top to expose her hard nipples to him.  She begs to take him in her mouth like a good play thing, and he slides out to use that hot, sweet mouth of hers.  She opens wide, loving the taste of her on him as he slides in, trusting him to fuck her mouth the way they both liked him to.  He warns her moments before she feels his cock pulse in her mouth, and feels the hot gush in her mouth.  She swallows as much as she can, moaning her thanks for his cum.  He slows down the pace, shuddering as the last of his orgasm subsides.  He slides out of her mouth, and takes a moment to get her some water, and a towel.  He gives her a sip of water out of the bottle in his hand, and helps her out of the ties on her hands.  He passes the towel to her, and she wipes her face and her drenched pussy as he takes a sip of water from his own bottle.  They lie back a moment, enjoying the afterglow, and the after giggles, as she calls it.  He unties her legs, and they both stretch, enjoying the feeling from muscles being used.   Taking off both the very wet panties and the torn stocking, she reaches for the fresh underwear and knee high socks she knows he will enjoy seeing her put on from her naughty bag.  She's about to put the torn fish nets in her bag, when he stops her by putting out his hand for him.  With a devilish smile, she passes them to him, one eyebrow raised.  

Good toy, he says, putting them into his pants pocket.  

She leaves his home shortly after, humming a happy tune.  She meets her roommate at the front door of their building, just coming home from work.  Catching the site of her messy bun, and smile on her face, her roommate giggles, asking her if she had fun that afternoon.  Seeing her flush crimson and mutter something, the roommate laughs, asking to give her a high five.  They high five as they go up the elevator, talking about making steaks that night.  

After all, not every Dee Experience is about sex.  Sometimes, it's about eating good food, and catching up on the week too.