You watch them, collared, kneeling in a perfect line next to each other, waiting, watching you with yearning and utter devotion. A beautiful sight that makes getting up so much more worthwhile. Smiling, you pass all of them, your steps careful and slow, one hand passing every face of them, feeling, observing all their reactions. Until you choose one. There’s a very specific thing you’ve wanted to try out now for a long time and this one feels perfect for that particular play. Grabbing a leash from the opposite wall you slowly approach xer, watching xer straight in the eye. Xhe notices at once, you can see xer face shining and a gentle smile forms. “On all fours, present that collar”. Xhe reacts instantly. You squat in front of xer and put the leash onto xer, your other hand touching, stroking xer neck, gently moving towards one of xer boobs, playing around. “Today is its day and I have something new, something very special in mind for it. Room 13. It shall follow me on all fours and not think one moment of running away. Not as if it could even process this kind of disobedience.” You get up, at once pulling that leash with you, almost dragging xer along instead of letting xer follow but that’s the point. Don’t leave room for thought, after all, that all encompassing emptiness and brutal guidance is what xhe, they all, want and you very much adore bringing all of them right there. After opening the door you wait until xhe’s ahead of you. “Take the lead, to the pool, don’t stop until you’re just in front of it, nose touching the water, I want to see ripples” you say, reinforcing your command with a strong kick. Following xer, leash still firmly grasped you actively picture what you’re gonna do next, letting everything influence your own mind, entering that sweet space. Until you stop, fall into the abyss, drown yourself in your own mind … Mid step you suddenly break down, face down, feeling an incredibly tight knot in your chest as your thoughts wonder away, barely feeling that tug in your hand from the leash you’re still holding. There’s no focus, no strength left, just this one picture constantly circling around your mind, that one image that crossed the line. Slowly you get down, try to sit on the ground, eyes still focussed only into the void. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. A small, warm touch on your knee. You look up and see xer before you, watching you with a warm, friendly smile. “May it comfort you, may it hug you, Mx?” You nod. First there’s resistance as warm arms embrace you, everything from shoulder to thigh tensing up all at once. But then you give in, allow your body to relax into xer arms. “It’s okay Mx. This happens. But this one, we all, will be with you. You can fall as much as you have to. Yet our devotion is still yours, Mx.” Slowly, you reach out, one arm around its head, one around its body, firmly pressing it against yourself, cuddling back. “This one is honoured to have witnessed your vulnerability, Mx.” “Thank you” you whisper, as a small tear leaves your eyes, embracing the warmth of the moment.