Pain, let's say.Pain, let's say... Pain is a warning that something is wrong, Ken, but have you ever felt pain?" "Of course I have. I've been hurt before." "No, no, no. You've sensed and reacted to pain, but have you ever really _felt_ it? Have you ever paid attention to it, or have you just tried to get away from it?" I thought about it for a second. "Why would you want..." "Because people don't." She smiled. "Think about experiencing it... it's like any other sensation, really. Massage, tickling, orgasm, pain. They're all sensations your body can stand. Some people hate tickling, others like it. Pain can be the same way." I thought about it for a while. "And the other parts?" "What... oh, that. Ken, the one thing we have to believe in is that there are people who _like_ this, and that's all we can do, is beleive, and when possible, help them... help me, us, play safely." I nodded. Then I laughed, breifly. "You know, Nyss said that, this way, I'd at least know where all you perverts were." She grinned in reply. "There is that. Come to the open house, Ken." "The open Castle, you mean." "Whatever." "Is it going to be one of your... parties?" I asked. "Of course. Just a mild one, really." "How many people?" I asked, curious. "Almost two hundred, at least count." "These are regulars at Rick's and Chusi's?" "Only. You'll probably be the only... 'outsider' there." I laughed. I found it hard to beleive that anywhere on Pendor people would think of me as an 'outsider,' yet I had to agree... In this small realm, I would be. "I don't have to do anything, do I?" I asked, unsure. "No, Ken..." she sighed. "That's part of the point. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, at all. You can just watch. You saw the layout of the main hall... there'll be safe spaces set aside, places where you can just talk, or eat. |