Except for their very brief discussion about her awareness of the D/s world, Rory realized he had no idea how much terminology or mechanics Daralyn knew about all this. Should he have shared some of the stuff Marcus had loaned him to read, discussed his own Internet searches? He’d figured those kinds of things would just unsettle her, but Tyler’s glance his way made him wonder if the guy was thinking the same thing. What kind of Dom brought his sub to this kind of party and didn’t tell her what to expect?
The kind of Dom who didn’t know much himself. Who thought it might be good to see it unfold together. Except as the Dom, he was supposed to stay a couple steps ahead. He’d focused on the front end safety, like confirming this guy was okay through Marcus and Thomas. But maybe staying ahead was also about prepping her for what he was going to see, as much as he could. Christ, had he fucked up?
“People who prefer to ease into play, who are still figuring out their preferences, usually like to start in the garden,” Tyler said, holding his gaze. “It’s a more open-feeling environment. There are also several socializing areas, so the intensity of the things you might see are tempered by that.”
Rory nodded. Message received, and he didn’t feel judged, which helped. Tyler inclined his head, then included them both in the sweep of his gaze again. “We only have a few rules, but they are inviolate.”
Rory saw Daralyn roll the word around on her tongue. Inviolate.
“If these rules are broken, depending on the circumstances, you’ll be asked to leave. They’re simple rules, easy to understand, such that breaking them would be interpreted as a willful act.”
Daralyn’s expression became wary, uncertain. Tyler reached out, took her hand. “Don’t worry, little one. I have no doubt you and your Master will be fine, but it’s best to be clear about these. They keep all of us safe, and ensure our enjoyment of our time together.”
The way Daralyn looked toward Rory when Tyler called him her Master rolled a lot of powerful things through Rory. A stronger echo of when she’d called him “sir.”
Tyler’s words also seemed to ease Daralyn’s tension, which was good. But with his serious Dom vibes and authoritative voice, Rory assumed Tyler could reassure a woman hanging off the edge of a cliff by her fingernails.
“While you’re here, you’ll see people engaged in play they enjoy or are experimenting with,” their host continued, withdrawing his hand from Daralyn’s. “Don’t disrupt them with questions, or physically insert yourself into the scene without invitation. If they want you to participate, they will initiate that.”
Tyler rested his elbow on the sofa arm, his hands clasped as he braced his long legs. “If you’re invited to play and don’t wish to do so, polite honesty is all that is needed. There are no egos to negotiate here. If you’re more comfortable with not being approached at all, we have a wrist band you can wear that tells people you are here to watch and learn only, not participate. You may take the band off if you get more comfortable.”
That appealed to Rory. He’d likely go that route and see how things unfolded from there. Less pressure on both of them.
“We do have alcohol,” Tyler continued. “But we expect everyone to be responsible with it. If you are playing and your level of play discourages alcohol use, we expect you to self-regulate.
“Finally, there are no judgments here, except by our Dungeon Masters. They’re wearing black shirts and brown khakis, and a lit lanyard that says Dungeon Master on the tag. If they deem a scene is out of hand, they will intervene.”
His gaze sharpened. “If you see something that concerns you, approach them, discuss it quietly, and they will handle it. They have in-depth information on those playing here tonight, their preferences and level of play. Since you don’t have that information, you may not know all the facts that make seemingly edgy play acceptable. But be assured, keeping everyone safe is the top priority. Some things are not everyone’s kink, so if you feel that way, keep the opinion to yourself. We don’t tolerate any discourteous treatment of our guests.”
His pleasant tone returned. “If you want to use any of our equipment, and you’re not sure how it works, don’t hesitate to ask a DM. We also have plenty of Doms and subs willing to provide guidance.