The Leather Clad Dominant

A personal adaptation of Margery Williams’ The Velveteen Rabbit

For my friend, Sam. By Danielle

One fine day, a brand new Leather Clad Dominant arrived in The Lifestyle. He was very fine and his flogger was all new and hardly frayed at all. His Slaves were very loyal to him and he loved each one in their own way. There was one the Leather Clad Dominant favored most and he kept her closest to him all the time. She became his Wife.

After being in The Lifestyle for awhile, some of the Leatherfolk in The Lifestyle sort of snubbed him, some pretending they were REAL because they had toys that buzzed inside you and paddles with stick out handles. The Leather Folk that was kindest to him was the Skin Covered Bench Owner. The Leather Clad Dominant asked her "What is REAL? Is REAL having lots of toys that buzz inside you and paddles with stick-out handles?" "No. Not at all." Answered the Skin Covered Bench Owner. "REAL is not what you have, or how big your dungeon is." "Then what is REAL?" he asked. "REAL is something that happens to you when you have lived and learned in the Lifestyle in such a way that the Leatherfolk take notice of you and make you one of their Family. It generally takes a long time." "Does it hurt?" Asked the Leather Clad Dominant. "Sometimes. But by the time you are REAL, you will learn to make it hurt in a very good way."

The Leather Clad Dominant sighed. He longed to be REAL, and yet he needed to learn the best and most proper ways to make it hurt in a very good way.

One evening, the Leather Clad Dominant found a group of friends in his own corner of The Lifestyle. He called them PALS. His PALS seemed to be searching for some of the same answers he was looking for, but many of them didn’t know where to find them yet. Some of the PALS came and went, and over time, the PALS asked him to help them find the answers they were looking for. And so, the Leather Clad Dominant set out to do just that, even if it meant making a few mistakes, and if it meant looking in places no one thought of going to. The PALS grew within the Lifestyle very well and continued to seek out higher planes of knowledge within the Lifestyle thanks to the Leather Clad Dominant’s leadership and hard work he and his Slaves put into the research.

One fine day, the Leather Clad Dominant was out and about and some of the Leather Folk took an interest in him. They asked him if he was REAL. He told them he guessed he was, because he was really living in The Lifestyle for quite awhile now. But they looked him over very carefully. "You don’t have a past." They said. "You can’t be REAL." "But how do I finally become REAL?" he asked them. "You have to have a past." They said. "You have to be in a Family." This was a large disappointment for the Leather Clad Dominant, but he kept trying to learn all he could, and to teach all he knew to his PALS. Even if he never had a past, he could still live in The Lifestyle and do the best he could. Besides, he and his PALS had learned so much over the years. The research and teaching was enjoyable, helping other new-comers come along the path he had already traveled.

Then, on one magical Saturday, on May 4, 2002, something very special happened. The Leather Clad Dominant and his PALS were holding a training session. A very good, very important training session. It was a training session on service, how to perform it as well as how to receive it properly. Everything from what defines ‘proper’ service and what the commitment should really entail. Though the information was very detailed, everyone who attended also understood that each relationship is different, but no less or more important or valid than any other. Each relationship is unique, but there are certain guidelines of trust, respect, and understanding that must go into each relationship to be REAL in the Lifestyle. The Leather Clad Dominant knew this very well, as he had already learned this lesson all his long years living in The Lifestyle.

The two Fairies from the Fetish Alliance, Jazz and Stewart , who came to teach the lessons, recognized this that day. At the end of the very special day, the most special thing of all happened. The Leather Clad Dominant was accepted, and adopted into the Fetish Alliance Family by the two Fairies. Dutifully titled Master Sam, the one who once was the Leather Clad Dominant, became REAL at last!