9/11 Then and Now

October, 2001

Being from the West Coast, I don’t have the same type of stories as those who lived and worked near to Ground Zero on 9/11. I do have “a 9/11” story, and it’s time to commit it to text. I’ve told it many times and I THOUGHT I had blogged about it, but I guess I was incorrect…

I made my first trip to New York City to work as a Pro Domme back in 2000. Times were certainly different back then! It wasn’t like I could just find a Mistress on social media who advertised a rental space, and set things up for a visit. Nope. There was this thing called vetting. Yes, I’m going to be making a lot of “back in my day” references in this post. Get used to it. I had to research NYC Dominas in DDI (yes, there used to be these things called magazines where we had to place print ads–IMAGINE THAT!). There was a budding website that featured a Domme Directory (maxfisch), but it was still very new. I ended up contacting Mistress Avalon and supplicating myself to her. We used to have to show deference to our Domme Elders. I had to prove to her that I was a valid Domina and that I had a skill set. She didn’t really care about my silly website. She wanted verification that I was a card-carrying member of the DDI Advertisers Club. What I mean by this it was an indication that I understood how to place a print ad in the publication. I think she might have even asked if I had been in more than one edition (they were published quarterly). It was a measure of validation. I totally understand her point of view now. At the time it was frustrating.

My first trip was quite successful and I decided that even though L’Oeil Cache was magnificently equipped, I didn’t want to bow to Mistress Avalon anymore. I sought out a different rental experience.

I ended up negotiating with Mistress Nadine to use her space for my October 2001 visit. She was very down to earth and didn’t treat me like an underling. I booked my airfare and hotel and thought that everything was set. Then it wasn’t.

The morning of 9/11 I found out about the first tower being hit via the radio. The alarm had gone off and that’s how I heard the news. Of course I ran to the television and turned it on to see exactly what was going on. The second tower collapsing is what I saw. If you weren’t alive then, it was something unforgettable to see the massive loss of life on your tv screen. There was nothing you could do but watch in horror.

Like I mentioned at the beginning, I lived in California in the SF Bay Area. I didn’t have any connections to people who lived or worked in Manhattan. I did what everyone else in my area did for the next few days: I listened to the news, read newspapers and generally felt numb about the whole situation.

As time passed, I started to think about my trip that was booked for the latter portion of October. Should I cancel it? COULD I still go? Eventually I made the decision that I would still travel and that this would be important “some day.” Boy was I correct!

Mistress Nadine was very cool about the entire situation. Her space was in Soho and still accessible. We agreed that we should do “something” while I was there to try to aid in the general situation of the 9/11 aftermath. I didn’t know what this was until I arrived though.

She told me that we’d donate a portion of the proceeds of our sessions during my stay to the local firehouse that was in her neighborhood. She knew people there and they were aware of what she did as a Domina. We would present them with a check and commemorate the occasion with a photo-op.

Baby VQ and Mistress Nadine at the firehouse

Not gonna lie, my entire trip was surreal: From my airport experience, to 5th Avenue being entirely empty at night. It was bizarre to visit such a teeming metropolis and see very few people out and about. I stayed at the Hilton in Mid-town. A large number of First Responders were staying there as well.

My sessions went well. I had very few cancellations. Clients wanted a distraction and I did as well! I utilized the proximity to Ground Zero to walk to Lower Manhattan to attempt to see what I could see. So happy I had my camera with me. I will never forget “the smell.” It made the acrid wildfire smoke I have grown used to almost seem pleasant.

Now I find myself returning to New York City, twenty years later. We are in another disaster of sorts, and divided unlike I ever thought we could be. Fortunately, kink unites me and my clients with an unwavering desire to experience our form of reality. The need to submit to the will of a power Domina will never die. I am thankful for this constant in my life.

It will be good to return to New York City after almost a two year absence. I am grateful for colleagues such as Mistress Ariana Chevalier and Mistress Chloe. Now “we” are the ones who are the Domme Elders. Thank you two for providing me a home away from home for so many years now!

London and NYC Recap

The appropriate terminal for my arrival.

My October travels have come to a conclusion. It was certainly a memorable series of journeys!

I started off on October 5th to London. The purpose of this trip was to attend the Femdom Ball. I had been intrigued for some time with the concept of this event, and figured it was time to satisfy my curiosity. I had a bit of trepidation before setting out, as past experiences at London Heathrow Airport had not been efficient or pleasant during lay-overs (circa 2007). Thankfully, the process of getting to London went much more smoothly than I anticipated. Heathrow has changed significantly for the better. I was impressed with the entire process of making my way through the airport from landing, immigration, to baggage.

My faithful European travel slave, guy, was my attendant for the weekend. We have traveled to the Essen Fetish Weekend, and numerous video shoots in Belgium  in the past. He is an excellent traveling companion. I value his patience, resourcefulness, and above all humor in the face of transportation snafus. Let’s just say that our car service situation didn’t always goes as planned!

My Femdom Ball Ensemble.

The Femdom Ball itself was an interesting experience. I wore a latex top and skirt from House of Harlot. My female slave made the suggestion of choosing a color other than black. I thought that was an excellent idea and the results can be seen to the left. As for the event itself, I was fortunate to be seated next to Mistress Thick of New York. Let’s just say that we have like minds. I think our commentary kept the rest of the table entertained. One of the highlights of the evening was meeting Sardax. If you don’t know who Sardax is and you follow my blog, shame on you. Anyone who proclaims to be a follower of all things Femdom should know about his work. Sadly, one of the women at our table was completely clueless as to the man and his body of work. She was the winner of the real-time sketch with Sardax. Hopefully she has been adequately evangelized to his greatness and will become a future customer.

After the ball concluded, we made our way to Club Alice for the Rubber Cult party. Whereas the Femdom Ball was a formal event with many elaborate dresses and evening gowns, this event was simply about the rubber fetish. I saw every type of outfit imaginable! I think the latex cowboy ensemble was my favorite for originality and composition. Funnily enough, I ended up seeing some friends from the Texas Latex Party and Essen Fetish Weekend. It was nice to catch up with them.

The VQ Restaurant in London.

I didn’t session or sight-see during my time in London. I wanted to focus on the events on my schedule. There was plenty of socialization on Saturday and I used Sunday as a day to rest and catch up on social media and the like. We ventured out to the VQ Restaurant for dinner though. I simply HAD to visit this establishment. The VQ Restaurant is part of a chain that is open 24 hours–unlike my business! Ha!

 

I left London on Monday, October 9th and headed for my favorite city in the world: New York. I was obviously missed as the week was filled with sessions. When I wasn’t working at the New York Rubber Studio and bugging Mistress Ariana Chevalier, I was catching up with friends. Mistress Shane and I had dinner mid-week and Mistress Chloe joined us at the end. There simply wasn’t enough time to do doubles with either of them, but I’m hoping that this opportunity works out during a future visit. The best doubles manifest from real Femdom friendships. I also dined with @TheBootBitch during my visit. She is a Lifestyle Femdom friend.

The shoes modified for me by helix.

I don’t usually discuss sessions in detail that occur while I’m traveling, but this appointment was far more than “just” BDSM for pay. No, this was a life event. I say this as there are certain people in this world who have set themselves apart from the rest. The person in question goes by the handle of Helifix on social media. He not only enjoys being trampled, but he crafts BDSM toys as well. I think this is a bit of an understatement, as he has figured out a way to improve on a piece of equipment that I am notorious for using: the cockbox. He took the best parts of the cockbox–AND MADE IT PORTABLE! This device is also very visually appealing. Not only did he bring this portable cbt trampling board to the session, but he came bearing gifts. I am known for the modified high heels that Trampleguy has made for me. Helifix took it to the next level, yet again. He took a pair of “street legal” stilettos and made them into some serious “top fuel” contenders. I’m not exaggerating when I state that these shoes can’t be worn on the street. They simply can NEVER be on a floor. They can only be used on a soft surface such as flesh. Helifix and I had a great time using his cbt board and the new shoes. Like Trampleguy, he loves being recorded so I had a blast capturing video of the session. I am always fascinated to see what the ground level perspective of my trampling looks like. It just never gets old! I think it is apparent that I had a great time with helix. He is a very nice person as well as a great rug. My dream session would be where I trample him and Trampleguy at the same time.

A Manhattan in Manhattan.

My last working day in New York was spent on the outing I make every time I come into town. I meet up with a long-time client and we traipse around shopping and checking out new sights. The end of the evening was capped off by dining at the Carlyle Hotel. We first had a cocktail at Bemelman’s Bar. Then we moved to the restaurant. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of the location and the dress code: gentleman MUST wear a jacket. After experiencing fine dining in San Francisco, where there are too many patrons who don’t seem to care about their appearance, this was a pleasant change of pace. The cuisine and service were impeccable, as I expected. The bar has certainly been raised for out next excursion in Manhattan!

I was able to have a personal day at the end of my trip. I spent it with my best friend visiting a zoo and seeing a movie. I’m going to keep the details slim on that day as I really have done on a bit too long this time. It’s time to wrap things up and move onto planning for my next stop: Detroit!

Spring Travel Redux: Detroit and DC

This blog post is dedicated in no small part to Mistress Mara Mayhem. I have learned much from various “Legends of Professional Domination” but I also keep my mind open for advice from those who are not on everyone’s radar. Mistress Mara is a breath of fresh air when it comes to new acquaintances made. Some women I regret ever having met. Not she! One of the aspects of our friendship I am most grateful for is her advice on touring In The World As We Know it.

Back in the “good ole days,” one could announce a trip on a Femdom Forum and your website. The polite inquiries would happen almost immediately and sessions would be booked well in advance of departure. Sadly, those days are basically over. The only men who seem to be able to abide by any type of planning are those in the AARP set. There is nothing wrong with that, but it’s a comment on the state on “younger clientele.” They simply can’t or won’t plan. Thus, what to do? In my case, I listened to someone who has a different perspective on touring.

Mistress Mara has been invaluable not only for destination advice, but also how to wade through the mire of new and often-times last minute applicants. I have to admit I was a wee bit skeptical when she recommended Detroit as a destination. I will admit that it’s quite easy to pay attention to the fear-mongering that the media spews out regarding certain cities in the US: Oakland, Chicago, formerly NYC, etc. Well, I have worked in all of those destinations and never felt unsafe, so Detroit must not be all that bad either, right? Right! Detroit completely exceeded my expectations as a Femdom Destination.

Suffice it to say, both Mistress Mara and I were appreciated in the Motor City. I enjoy traveling with her as we are complimentary to each other. She is a red head and I am a brunette. Hair color matters immensely in this line of work. If you don’t believe me, then just ask “the only blonde Mistress” in any given city how well she is doing and you will have your answer. Mistress Mara and I also share, shall we say, some rather unique interests that shall remain unpublicized. This makes the hours in between torturing slaves fascinating and entertaining. No, get your mind out of the gutter. We weren’t having “hot lesbian pillow fights” in the hotel room. We are far more cerebral than that ,my dear reader.

One of my longest-serving clients also made the trip outstanding. We have been meeting each other all over the country since 2000. Detroit was our latest adventure. He was full of advice of where to dine and what to do. We had amazing seats at Comerica Park

Great seats for the game!

 for a Tiger’s game and then shared a meal at a world-class steakhouse.

The trip went so well, that I plan on returning with Mistress Mara Mayhem in November. Yes, I plan travel out that far. The dates are set and I will be spending time in not only downtown Detroit, but the suburb of Troy for a few days. The Troy portion of the trip already has interest so I wouldn’t delay on introducing yourself.

I wasn’t home for long before I had to pack my bags again for another trip. This time it was to our nation’s capital: Washington, D.C. Again, I heeded the advice of Mistress Mara Mayhem for this journey as well. I was able to maintain an open mind profit from the result.

Traditionally Washington, D.C. has been a trip of double sessions with Mistress Tyler. Despite my love of working with her, the timing doesn’t always work out for those who want to see us together. Some brave souls WERE able to book us and I had an amazing time tormenting them. There are only a handful of Pro Dommes around the world that I share a professional chemistry with. Mistress Tyler is one of these women (Mistress Mara is the latest addition to these ranks). It’s never a competition when we have a slave to share. It’s truly a complimentary situation that only benefits the male creature under our finger tips. We were able to demonstrate this experience to “lita.”

I’m writing specifically about this session as it filled a void that had been in my BDSM brain since the Sunday before my trip was due to depart. My beloved transformation client (talk about the last of a dying breed), had to cancel our session together. We are only able to meet twice a year or so at this point. This cancelation simply couldn’t be helped, but I was saddened that I was going to miss out on the opportunity to watch his “inner slut” blossom and manifest in front of me. It’s not like there was going to be another transformation on my plate right around the corner…or was there?

lita transformed

I credit Mistress Tyler for coming up with the idea of what to do with lita. To be honest, I was shocked and amazed at the result of applying cosmetics to her eyes and lingerie to her form. The transformation I had been missing, happened before my eyes! In honor of discretion of all parties involved, I’m including a small snippet of the result. I hope to meet lita again on a future trip. She certainly exceeded my expectations!

Sadly, there were MANY eager supplicants who missed out on my DC trip. They either contacted me too early or too late. I will be returning in March 2018 with Mistress Mara. We plan on staying in a hotel suite that will accommodate our kinky tastes and allow us to welcome those who have missed out in the past.

What’s in store for VQ now? I am home for the duration of the summer. If you are local to the SF Bay Area and interested in seeing me, I recommend you contact me asap. The next 90s are going to pass quickly and my regulars have missed me.  For those interested in future destinations, I will be in Chicago in September, London for the Femdom Ball in October, New York after London, Detroit in November, and then Antwerp in December.

In the meantime, I will be in my garden…

Beauty in the garden.