⌚ New Experiences

36. The Strongest Bond

Paper turned her head and watched as Dawn bounded away, so full of joy that it was obvious with a single glance.

"That's a new one on me," she commented.

"Hmm?" Lulu was watching too, but didn't seem to be thinking on the same lines.

"So happy. So enthusiastic. I don't know the whole plan, but she's going to be facing some kind of humiliation, right? Spanky's nervous and he'll beg you to stop, if you give him time. So much that it's hard to know if he really means it. Last time Dawn was trying to be a big girl, to prove she's better than him, but only because you told her to. I've never seen someone so enthusiastic about punishment before, and not even hide it."

"Yeah. But if I understand it, it's more the game than the punishment itself. Like, she's excited by the idea of having these hypnosis triggers, and rules that we all understand. So it's not like a role being forced on her, or an owner telling her what to do. It's a game to play, with forfeits as part of the rules. And the same rules all round, so it's fair whether she wins or loses. A test of her control."

"I can kind of see that. Never done that myself. Might be a fun thing to try."

"You'd be up for that?"

"If I like the rules. I mean, I wouldn't go for the baby thing, but some kind of game would be fun. And if you want me to do it, I don't get the choice."

"Just the way you like it," Lulu purred, and Paper nodded. "So, I think Dawn told you the basics for what we're planning?"

"Yeah. I think. Three different types of... triggers, she called it. Magic words. But she wasn't so clear about how it's going to work."

"I think I got that down already, the categories are the important part. One thing that a baby might be told by an adult, one thing a baby might say, and one thing a baby might do. And whichever baby is first to do any of them loses the contest and becomes a complete baby. So it's a game of trying to tease and taunt your opponent, or trick her into saying one of the triggers."

"Right. So what does being a complete baby mean?"

"I thought that was something I'd leave to you. You're the nurturing one. If it were me in charge, I'd pick the most humiliating thing I can think of. You're going to know better than I do what's reasonable."

"Is she okay with being diapered? I wasn't sure if we were too harsh last time."

"She's fine with that. She said she wants to do everything Spanky's done, sooner or later. He's her master, the one who can do anything. But I think she'd be just as excited about the game regardless of the prize for the winner. Or the loser."

"Everything?"

"Apparently. With what happened to Spanky last time, which I think was one of his Master's suggestions... I remember Dawn misbehaving a little after that. Fishing for punishment. Somehow she sees something like that, and feels left out. Or that's how I read it. I thought about making that a part of the forfeit for the loser. Would you be okay with that?"

Paper paused, and thought again. She's ended up changing Spanky's diaper before, after an unexpected hypnotic suggestion made him a little more helpless than anyone was expecting. And although she couldn't say it was pleasant, she remembered how embarrassed the regressed fox had been, like he was wishing the earth would swallow him up. And after that, he was willing to risk it again.

"Is Spanky okay with it?"

"He's leaving the choice to us. To you, really. He's not enthusiastic but said he'll be okay with it unless you object. It's not really a competition unless everyone wants to avoid the forfeit."