Bruce and I do Black Rose 10

by Laura Goodwin

I love to go to the big leatherfolk conventions and have been to several, but this was the first time my subby hubby and I got to go together. In fact, it was his first ever. We have been married ten years, and have never had a honeymoon. We decided this would be it. For once we actually had a little extra time and money, so we could do it right. We drove down from Hartford, CT through a wet, icy winter storm, and got to our hotel Friday afternoon. Fortunately the weather soon improved.

One thing nice about events like this is femdom people mix in seamlessly with everyone else, and in general the mood was very convivial, as I hoped. It's a chance to be yourself and feel normal about it, in a supportive environment. I had prepared Bruce for the spectacle to come: I warned him to expect a wide variety of kinkos in lots of extremely wild outfits. I also told him to expect to learn some new tricks from watching others play. This convention was typical in those respects.

Friday

We quickly unpacked, showered, and dressed in full leather regalia before reporting to the host hotel to pick up our registration packets. The lobby was full of excited people, most of whom were just arriving with bulging baggage. You have more fun at a BDSM convention with lots of fetish outfits. :) It's a golden opportunity to dress up, although it certainly isn't required.

The first thing we did was tour the huge vendor's area. There were dozens of little booths set up with all kinds of wonderful toys, clothes and gear on display. This is where most people were meeting up with their friends, so there were lots of hugs and kisses going around.

At 6:30 PM I left my slave to his own devices so I could attend a cyberwomen's dinner. There were about 50 online BDSM women present for a friendly Chinese buffet. After that my hubby and I went back to our room to prepare for the night's festivities.

At Ten PM there was an icebreaker auction in the dungeon. The dungeon was just plain huge. "100+ playstations". Room for 1000 people, no lie. Crosses and racks and tables and horses and medical equipment and slings...nothing was omitted. There was a small stage set up, and one by one people who wished to be were auctioned off for play money. Both my Bruce and I agreed to be auctioned. Bruce sold for 2000, I got a little more, but a couple with a tens unit went for over 20,000! The fellow who won the bidding for me turned out to be a very nice masochistic gay man who just wanted to be whipped. I stripped him, bound his hands over head, and just whipped him up and down all over! We were both grinning like mad the whole time! He really responded well to the whip; what a treat for me. So right away I made a new friend!

Later that evening I hung my slave Bruce up for a whipping as well. I stripped him naked, and figured what the heck, and got nearly naked myself! I used a variety of disciplinary instruments on him, which gave him a huge, mouthwatering erection: that's my boy! ;) As usual, a small crowd gathered around to watch us, and I got complements all through the weekend from those who had stopped to observe. Scenes were going on all around us, and it got a bit overwhelming. The dungeon was a bit on the cold side, and the chill sapped my strength. Otherwise I would have played all night: I mean, this was a total wet dream situation! At last we had to admit we couldn't go on, and we went to bed.

Saturday

I only slept about 4 hours Saturday morning, from 2 to 6 AM. ;) I leapt out of bed around 6:30 when I became obvious that I was too stimulated to sleep. I threw on some jeans, etc., and went to the lobby for "continental breakfast". I didn't want a big breakfast that day, since I was going to be modeling in the corsets seminar later that morning.

By 9AM Bruce and I were on our way to the host hotel with a couple of changes of clothes and a bunch of painful toys tossed into the trunk, lest some need might arise! You know what they say, "A good scout is always prepared!" ;)

Bruce and I hung out around the lobby and vendor area, "cruising and schmoozing", catching up with familiar friends and meeting some new ones. By ten-thirty I could wait no more, and made haste to the room where the corset lady was lacing up her models. We weren't due to start until 12:00, but it takes a while to be laced and tightened down if you are going to do it right, and *I* certainly intended to! I volunteered to help model because I love wearing corsets, I have four of my own. I was hoping to meet other corset lovers, and maybe learn a bit about corset history.

I got to Mistress Autumn's room, where several ladies were already dressed, that is they were in that charming state of undress where the corsets could be shown to best advantage. Mistress Autumn herself was a gorgeous petite redhead in a historical gown from the 1880's, and she was an inspiration to me. Several attractive men were present to take my coat, offer me coffee and chocolate truffles, and of course assist with my lacing when the time arrived. I felt quite at home! :)

The corsets we were modeling were for the most part re-creations...for example, my green brocade with velveteen lining (of the Edwardian period) was a copy of a corset from 1904. Even so, it was still pretty old, and I had to take a needle and stitch it in a couple of places to keep the stays from poking through.

We had fun lacing all the different corsets and helping to tighten each other's laces. Then we trooped down to the lecture room and waited until Mistress Autumn and Mistress Noire asked us forward to show our fashions. I was asked to help with the presentation in other ways, trotting around the room to display up close for our attendees such items as busk closures, and a genuine piece of whalebone, which is what they used to use for stays. I felt quite dashing in my black velveteen mini-dress, high heel boots, long gloves, and the beautiful green brocade corset. Our presentation was popular and well received.

After that, I met with Bruce and a wonderful couple, Renee and James. She is the founder of a group in VA called Escape (link on my web site). We left the hotel and ran down the road for BBQ! We had a delightful conversation about things that really matter (Ms. Renee and I are both BDSM group leaders, so we discussed technical issues of leadership, which I personally find fascinating, but I won't bore the rest of you).

After lunch Bruce and I toured the Kinky Crafts show. Bruce had entered a fabulous hand-made leather toy trunk, and we wished to see his competition. There were some fantastic things in the show, including a marvelous bamboo "tiger cage" built by Robert of TPE (who invited us to a wonderful post BR 10 play party later). It was hard to be objective, but I relaxed, thinking Bruce would certainly get some sort of prize. The top two prizes were *Best of Show* and *People's Choice*, and these each brought a $150.00 cash award and a trophy. We were told that the winners would be announced at the Anniversary Gala that night.

By now it was around 3PM. The BDSM games were in full swing: I watched the singletail competition, where tops were asked to pop a series of balloons with their whips as quickly as possible. They were judged on style, correct implementation, and accuracy, as well as speed. Later, I watched the bondage-in-a-bag competition, where top/bottom teams were given identical bags full of basic bondage items and were required to use these to bind the bottom as creatively as possible within 15 minutes. That competition was truly hilarious and sexy as well. There were other contests I missed: the dog show, the horse extravaganza, the flogging and caning competitions, all of which I would have enjoyed, but since Bruce and I were planning to stay up late playing, we decided to try to catch a nap before dinner.

We lost our chance for a nap though, because every time we tried to leave my fans kept stopping me to pay their respects and make a little conversation. Around 5PM we made it back to the hotel. Time enough to shower and change and dress in our most elegant outfits for the Gala. We wanted time for dinner before 8PM, and with the lines at the hotel restaurant we thought it best to not delay.

I was dressed in a black stretch velveteen gown, and over this I layered my chainmail mini-dress as a kind of decorative tunic. I had a beautiful chainmail headdress to match. Bruce was handsome and masculine in his leather chest harness, leather pants and boots. We had to put a T-shirt on him to go to dinner. As I expected, dinner service was slow, but I was consoled by the many admiring glances we were getting.

At 8 we participated in the show of colors, a parade where representatives of BDSM clubs carry their banner and receive recognition from the crowd. Bruce and I of course were there to represent United Leatherfolk of CT. After this, the winners of all the competitions were announced and stepped up for their applause and ribbons...everyone except the Craft show winners! The announcement for the Craft show was delayed to give more people a chance to vote for People's Choice. What could we do but go to the dungeon to play while we awaited the outcome? ;)

The dungeon on Saturday night was mobbed. It was the last chance to play, since there was to be no Sunday night dungeon, so everybody had to go. The only way to stick out in a crowd of this kind was to strip and play like insane people, so that's basically what Bruce and I did, at least for the first hour. Eventually the overwhelming scene going on around us stunned us into passivity. We got (somewhat) dressed and hung around watching others play. Many very advanced and beautiful scenes were going on, and we also observed, unfortunately, a number of people who plainly didn't know what the heck they were doing. Dungeon Monitors had their hands full that night.

A buffet had been set out in the craft show area, and we found ourselves in there, making conversation with more lovely people, including some I previously knew only as online personalities. Bruce and I also got into a long talk with Nancy Ava Miller, whom you should know is the lady who founded the group that later became Black Rose.

Late at night the announcement finally came, and BRUCE WON BIG! His incredible hand-tooled leather traveling toy chest was awarded ~both~ Best of Show and People's Choice! $300 bucks for his efforts! (Which is to be mailed). The judges put two big blue ribbons on the chest. (He was later given the trophies: two breathtakingly beautiful cocabola wood dildos made by The Toy Bag people. These come mounted on a base, where we attached the engraved plaques.)

Bruce accepted the congratulations of his admirers, then it was time to get some rest if we could, since Sunday promised to be a big day.

Sunday

Sunday morning I leapt out of bed and was singing like a bird with pure happiness. I had a heart full of pride for Bruce's sake. This really annoyed my long-suffering hubby, who can't get used to being married to a "morning person". I think to escape my unseemly glee he left the room to fetch coffee for us.

We were in a rush to pack and check out before ten o'clock: I didn't want to be late for the singletail workshop. Three masochistic admirers had chipped in to buy me a 4-foot David Morgan signal whip, and I was determined to learn to use it properly. Bruce and I flung our things into our baggage, our baggage into the car, and we grabbed a Burger King breakfast sandwich on the way.

Bruce went to Don and Susi Q's anal play workshop, partially because we had exchanged email with them earlier in the month and had promised to connect. Bruce and I happen to both love anal play, so it was fitting that at least one of us go. This points to a common complaint: it's always painfully difficult to choose which workshop or lecture you will attend at any given time at these leatherfolk conventions. I'm just glad I could send Bruce, so I could also make my whipping workshop.

The singletail workshop was assembled in the dungeon space, and I pity the other workshops that were trying to carry on even after a couple of dozen straight-whip neophytes started cracking like gunfire en masse. For some reason, two of the noisiest showoffs in the class gravitated to me, and really made it obvious that I couldn't crack my whip *at all*. I could snap it all right, and as the hour wore on my accuracy improved dramatically. I also learned a new way to work it, and almost took my own ear off in the process. I kept working at it, at one point hanging up a bundle of rope which I naturally had handy, to use for target practice. I got so that I could pluck one strand out from the bunch more often than not, So I Did Learn Something...I just can't make it crack loud, at least not under those circumstances. Boy, was I frustrated!

I was in a rather ill humor when Bruce met up with me again. My arm and shoulder hurt, and my ego felt rather bruised as well. Bruce and I shambled off to the women's issues seminar, where we connected with Nancy, one of our ULC members. The three of us sat in the front, since I didn't want to miss anything the panel might say. After the women on the panel took their turns making opening remarks, we of the assembled joined in, and in the end when the smoke cleared it actually looked as if we got some things accomplished. In any case, my spirits were brighter going out than they had been going in.

At that point we broke for a late lunch. I asked Bruce to invite a couple to share our table, since service was slow and waiting for a table was one of the least pleasant things to do this weekend. I figured, we came here to meet people, so what the heck? We lucked out and were joined by a very nice couple who happened to be Black Rose members. They were fiercely proud of their club, and we agreed they had good reason. We had arrived prepared to be impressed, but nothing could have fully prepared us, especially for that incredible dungeon! During our conversation I was reminded of the existance of a document called: "The Black Rose Guide for Organizing and Operating a Leather Group". I decided to obtain a copy, and because I tend to be scatterbrained, I thought it best to ask for it before I forgot. I left the table, ran around the corner to the tables in the lobby, where to my delight I found Ms. Rose herself trying to eat a little lunch. I asked her for the document, she quickly agreed, and ordered her gofer sub to bring it to me as I dined. I returned to the table, saying to my companions, "Now you are going to see why *I'm* famous! I've got a slave bringing it to me right now!" ;) By the time our meal arrived I already had the booklet in my hand, which only solidified my admiration for the Black Rose organization.

The event was over. It was time to go...but not before Bruce bought a tens unit for our personal use! We kissed and hugged and exchanged email addresses with our new friends. Then we jumped in the car for a trip to Washington DC, to see the Lincoln memorial and all while there was light in the sky. This proved to be more awe-inspiring than I expected. As a writer it was particularly moving for me to read President Lincoln's words which were engraved in stone on the walls. The row upon row of names engraved in the black granite of the Vietnam memorial brought tears to our eyes. So many lives, so much waste. A sobering experience.

Our Black Rose weekend wasn't over, though, since we were invited to a post-BR10 party hosted by the charming and talented Robert of the Total Power Exchange. He had the most beautiful private dungeon I'd ever seen, and Bruce got to experience the wheel of misfortune and other terrors. We spent the night there, then drove home, feeling exhausted and fulfilled.