Matt will probably hear the click of Daniel's heels, each step sharp and precise, before he comes around the corner. He's in his usual work clothes, a black silk blouse, pencil skirt, and seamed black stockings with a pair of black heels. He grins when he sees Matt. "Ah, there you are. Come on, I've got somewhere we can talk."
He leads the way to the shoe section of the store, glancing around to make sure Glinda's not around, then leans down to lift a pair of sparkling red shoes off the rack. A door opens in the floor, leading downwards and he waves a hand. "Welcome to the Ruby Slipper."
So there's a lot about this moment that feels magical? Not least of which are Daniel's sartorial choices. Matt's pretty sure this is how one feels in the presence of a miracle. He smiles back, pleasantly stunned, and traipses after him.
... To the trap door in the floor activated by a pair of shoes???
"Oh my God," he says, following. "Uh. Thanks for making the time to meet with me." A pause. "I didn't realize this was here."
The trapdoor closes behind them, but there are soft red-tinted lights in the stairwell that keep it from being too dark to see in. It ends in a beaded curtain that catches the light, making the crystal beads sparkle like rubies themselves - Daniel holds the strands apart for Matt. "Neither did I until this morning. Got a note with the key and instructions not to let Glinda know on my nightstand."
He hits a light switch to turn on the main lights, illuminating the main lounge and bar. It's bare, undecorated, but the chairs are comfortable and the bar is fully stocked. "You want a drink?"
"Ohh," he breathes, at the minuscule, manifold chiming of the beads. Matt crosses into the room and glances around, eyes sweeping corner to corner in fascination.
He smiles at Daniel crookedly.
"I'd love one," he says. "Whiskey if you've got it. Maybe I can drink enough to forget I've been here, because otherwise I'll definitely tell Glinda."
It's not a declaration of intent so much as an awareness of who he is as a person.
Daniel laughs, going behind the bar to investigate the selection. "I haven't actually fully explored the place yet - just had a quick peek this morning before I had to do my actual job."
He grabs two clear ruby-red crystal glasses and a bottle, bringing them over to one of the tables. There are other doorways leading off of this main room, each with their own bead curtain. "I don't actually care that much if she finds out, to be honest. If the fairies want to give me a present, they don't get to say what I do with it."
"To each their own." Daniel figures that most of the time people look best in what they're comfortable in. Sure, there are times when he'll put people in something that makes them squirm and blush, but that's usually a sex thing, not a fashion thing.
"Not at all. I'd encourage it, actually - go ahead."
Matt does enjoy wearing things for sex that make him squirm and blush. It's definitely fashion where he's a little more out of his element.
He glances up from his book with a smile.
"Okay, great. So Caleb mentioned you were particularly experienced with rope play? I like tying people up, and I have a few knots I feel pretty solid on, but I was wondering if you had any advice or recommendations beyond like--leaving room for two fingers to slip under, not tying knots that choke up, untying at regular intervals."
"Are you looking for just tips and tricks? It sounds like you've got a pretty good grasp of the basics. I can show you a few knots that the tie-ee can undo easily themselves if they need to. If you want techniques... well, we might have to wait until we've got Caleb."
Or another model, but he feels like Caleb will respond quite well to being the one he demonstrates and Matt practices on.
"That'd be great," Matt says, nodding appreciatively--and grinning when Daniel mentions Caleb. "I'd love to test some techniques out on Caleb. I will ask him if he's still down?"
Matt pauses.
And he peers down to his notes.
"I did have, uh, a more specific question? We talked about putting him in handcuffs for an extended period of time--like all day. Which is super hot in theory, but is it feasible?"
"It's certainly feasible, yeah. I've done it more than once. There are a few considerations - like, are you going to let him out for bathroom breaks? And some more specific advice I can give you if you want it." A lot of it is common sense, but he is fully aware that common sense isn't entirely common, especially when you're young and your enthusiasm races ahead of your ability to think clearly.
"But just to get it out there, my first piece of advice is to keep track of the damned keys."
Matt nods seriously at first, jotting down a couple phrases. Then he laughs, surprised--at first because, uh, no duh?? But after a beat, he realizes that's fucking good advice.
"Oh my God, yeah." He grins sheepishly, scrubbing a hand across his cheek (and smudging some ink on it in the process). "Especially if I'm not wearing, ah, something with pockets. Consistently."
Aka, if he's wearing nothing at all.
"Bathroom breaks sound like something I'd want to negotiate with Caleb. Meals too."
"Meals can be really fun if you decide to leave him cuffed for them. Feeding your partner is very intimate - just don't try spaghetti, or... soup, or something like that. Bite size finger food's probably the best." Lucky Matt, he gets the wisdom of thirty-five years of minor mishaps. Daniel notes him rubbing ink across his cheek (adorable), but he won't say anything about it for the moment.
"Anyway, I'd probably advise changing his arm position every couple of hours and checking on his circulation regularly. Being cuffed puts you a little bit off-balance, as well, so being close in case of a trip or a fall is a good idea - he won't be able to catch himself and faces are breakable."
Matt gets a dreamy sort of expression on his face as Daniel talks about feeding a partner--one that may imply he's entertained a few thought experiments on the subject. Still, he dutifully notes the suggestions down (no spaghetti, no soup, finger food bite-size), taking a sip of whiskey between each one.
"Faces are breakable," he notes ruefully. A few more notes--and another sip from his glass. "Okay, well, I'm glad to know this idea wasn't totally unworkable."
A crooked smile.
"I'll ask Caleb if he's still into it, of course. But it was a pretty appealing image."
Daniel hides a smile in his drink at Matt's expression. It's very sweet, and he's glad that Matt can understand the possibilities in it.
"Oh, it's definitely very appealing in real life, too. Having someone trust you that much, depend on you that much... it feels good. Besides, Caleb just looks incredible when he's tied up." He would usually skip openly admiring someone else's partner, but since Caleb's the one who sent Matt to him for kink advice he feels like it's permissible.
Matt doesn't seem at all put off--because he knows Caleb and Daniel hook up, or possibly because he's cherishing the hope that Caleb really will serve as their rope model. He nods.
"He really does."
Another, smaller smile. "Trust. Yeah. That's what it is. I don't--usually ask people to trust me, and I'm not sure how trusting I am myself, but ... it's nice."
More than nice. It's beautiful. But Matt's slightly shy about saying so.
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He leads the way to the shoe section of the store, glancing around to make sure Glinda's not around, then leans down to lift a pair of sparkling red shoes off the rack. A door opens in the floor, leading downwards and he waves a hand. "Welcome to the Ruby Slipper."
no subject
... To the trap door in the floor activated by a pair of shoes???
"Oh my God," he says, following. "Uh. Thanks for making the time to meet with me." A pause. "I didn't realize this was here."
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He hits a light switch to turn on the main lights, illuminating the main lounge and bar. It's bare, undecorated, but the chairs are comfortable and the bar is fully stocked. "You want a drink?"
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He smiles at Daniel crookedly.
"I'd love one," he says. "Whiskey if you've got it. Maybe I can drink enough to forget I've been here, because otherwise I'll definitely tell Glinda."
It's not a declaration of intent so much as an awareness of who he is as a person.
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He grabs two clear ruby-red crystal glasses and a bottle, bringing them over to one of the tables. There are other doorways leading off of this main room, each with their own bead curtain. "I don't actually care that much if she finds out, to be honest. If the fairies want to give me a present, they don't get to say what I do with it."
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"Well--I'll try to keep it a secret, at least, if that's what you want." A slight emphasis on you. "Anyway ..."
He pats down his pockets, removing a small notebook that isn't his tome and a pen. Another smile, a bit sheepish.
"You look great today, by the way."
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The compliment makes him grin openly. "Thank you, love. You're not bad yourself, I always liked the rumply academic look."
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"Oh good, as long as I'm rumply." A beat. "Not even kidding. I never feel comfortable being all that formal, unless everyone else is ... thanks."
He sips a moment, then sets his glass down to pore over his notebook.
"I hope you don't mind if I take notes. I have some questions, too; not that many? Just to get started."
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"Not at all. I'd encourage it, actually - go ahead."
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He glances up from his book with a smile.
"Okay, great. So Caleb mentioned you were particularly experienced with rope play? I like tying people up, and I have a few knots I feel pretty solid on, but I was wondering if you had any advice or recommendations beyond like--leaving room for two fingers to slip under, not tying knots that choke up, untying at regular intervals."
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Or another model, but he feels like Caleb will respond quite well to being the one he demonstrates and Matt practices on.
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Matt pauses.
And he peers down to his notes.
"I did have, uh, a more specific question? We talked about putting him in handcuffs for an extended period of time--like all day. Which is super hot in theory, but is it feasible?"
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"But just to get it out there, my first piece of advice is to keep track of the damned keys."
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"Oh my God, yeah." He grins sheepishly, scrubbing a hand across his cheek (and smudging some ink on it in the process). "Especially if I'm not wearing, ah, something with pockets. Consistently."
Aka, if he's wearing nothing at all.
"Bathroom breaks sound like something I'd want to negotiate with Caleb. Meals too."
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"Anyway, I'd probably advise changing his arm position every couple of hours and checking on his circulation regularly. Being cuffed puts you a little bit off-balance, as well, so being close in case of a trip or a fall is a good idea - he won't be able to catch himself and faces are breakable."
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"Faces are breakable," he notes ruefully. A few more notes--and another sip from his glass. "Okay, well, I'm glad to know this idea wasn't totally unworkable."
A crooked smile.
"I'll ask Caleb if he's still into it, of course. But it was a pretty appealing image."
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"Oh, it's definitely very appealing in real life, too. Having someone trust you that much, depend on you that much... it feels good. Besides, Caleb just looks incredible when he's tied up." He would usually skip openly admiring someone else's partner, but since Caleb's the one who sent Matt to him for kink advice he feels like it's permissible.
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"He really does."
Another, smaller smile. "Trust. Yeah. That's what it is. I don't--usually ask people to trust me, and I'm not sure how trusting I am myself, but ... it's nice."
More than nice. It's beautiful. But Matt's slightly shy about saying so.