Frank sat in the back of the blacked-out Mercedes beside his Master, eyes glazed over, but avidly watching the night pass them by in flashes of black and fluorescent amber. Gerard reached over, his hand squeezing Frank's knee reassuringly. Frank looked at his Master in the dim light with a smile despite the Kraken-style raging of the nerves in his stomach.

"Don't be nervous; you look great." Gerard whispered softly, "They're all going to love you, my boy."

"I've never worn this stuff in public before." Frank looked down at the bright cherry-red colour of his tight latex pants, shifting as the tight black t-shirt that encased his chest seemed to constrict his lungs. The black coat that shrouded his body was a great help.

"You'll get used to it." Gerard brought Frank's hand up to his lips, ghosting over Frank's knuckles, "Don't worry about it. A lot of people wear their gear to these parties."

"You promise?" 

"Would I be wearing leather pants and latex gloves with my usual dress shirt if I was lying?" Gerard asked with pursed lips and Frank looked down at his Master's thighs in the black leather, his mouth drying.

"S'pose not." Frank sighed, "You look amazing. I look..."

"Imploringly edible," Gerard answered with a firm tone to his voice, "I have no regrets about sliding you into those pants."

"Why the plain old t-shirt though?" Frank looked at the dim nocturnal shine on his red pants and at the chunky black boots that were laced to his mid-calf. He had genuinely thought it was a great combination until Gerard spannered his ideals and handed him one of his own tees.

"That's just for getting there and back, and for your own comfort. Most submissives are always shirtless at these meetups, male or female - But considering this is already out of your usual reef of safe water, I decided not to completely throw you into the depths until you're ready to swim out by yourself."

"You amaze me," Frank whispered, clasping his hands in his lap as he put his head on Gerard's shoulder, "Is this just Doms and subs or is it a bit of everything and everyone?"

"Bit of everyone. That's why I wanted you to go; Experience all walks of life for yourself. Besides, I have a harness for you to wear when you take that shirt off, boy."

"'M excited to see Ty," Frank admitted, "His bubblegum prince, not so much."

"Behave yourself," Gerard warned, his voice low and firm, "These parties are always open to public punishment and I won't hesitate to put you over my knee in front of everyone - Joshua included."

"He annoys me," Frank whined, "He's so fucking perfect. What a dickhead."

"Frank," Gerard snapped. His hand on Frank's thigh tightened into a warning-level squeeze that had the submissive grimace and curl back into his seat, "I'm warning you, boy."

"My apologies, sir." Frank cleared his throat and sat back up, "I'll behave."

"I know you can." Gerard's fingers relaxed, swirling patterns with his index finger over the shining material that encased his submissive's pale thigh.

Frank smiled, looking out at the dark street, eyes catching the lights every few yards. His brain mentally conjured up some invisible creature that seemed to be running along with the car and jumping over every obstacle. He smiled, eyes darting as he watched with intrigue, unaware of his surroundings, his anxiety fizzling down into a low simmer.

The car came to a stop in the street. The small squeal of brakes from the front of the car pulled Frank from his daydream and he looked up with alarm. He climbed out of the car and scurried around to the other side, opening the car door for his Master with his head bowed. He knew there were only a handful of people outside of the house of which they had pulled up outside, and all he wanted to do was make his Master proud.

He stepped aside, watching his Master's boots touch the asphalt and step away from the car. Frank closed the door gently, watching the dark Mercedes drive off as he stood behind Gerard with his hands behind him; the chilly evening air nipping at the hairs on the back of his neck.

Gerard walked up the cobble path with Frank a step behind him, their feet in practiced sync as the heavy bass thuds of industrial music grew louder. It was nothing that Frank instantly recognised, but he knew he liked it immediately.

They stopped at the door where Gerard seemed to be having a short, curt conversation with a tall and burly dark-skinned man at the door. Frank glanced up at him for a second with an inkling of bravery, and when his gaze was met with bright-red contact lenses, he immediately looked down at his feet.

Moments later and they were inside; It was warm and bathed in dim lights of varying colours, the music loud but not enough to jarr his eardrums. He and Gerard walked into a room to their left that was an extremely expansive closet with two women inside. Gerard pulled off his long grey coat and handed it to them. Frank watched as one woman hung Gerard's jacket on a hanger and put it on one of the rails when another gave him a small pink chip that had a black number etched into it. Gerard turned to look at his submissive expectantly, gesturing to the beautiful Asian woman beside him. Frank cautiously shrugged out of his coat and clamped it between his thighs before he tugged his t-shirt from his skin. He held both items out to the woman as the other gave him a similar chip, his clothing being hung up next to Gerard's own.

Gerard pulled a black chest harness out of seemingly nowhere and held it out to Frank, the black leather and metal dangling on Gerard's outstretched index finger and swaying slowly in a hypnotic fashion. Frank took the harness with both hands and held it up, sliding his head through the bigger hole in the middle, sliding his arms through either arm hole on the sides. The leather ran across the expanse of his pale chest, ringed on either side with cold steel. 

He turned, head cast down, as Gerard fastened the harness in one simple motion under each arm. "Delectable," The latter sighed, unbuttoning a few top buttons of his crisp white shirt, his long fingers still encased in seamless latex gloves. Frank stared at his Master's chest, noticing a similar harness peeking out from beneath the expensive linen.

"Didn't notice that earlier," Frank muttered, his mouth filling with saliva. Gerard looked down at himself and back up; A small smirk that gave his face an almost impish quality was dancing across one corner of Gerard's lips.

"Perhaps that was the point, boy." Gerard rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows with effortless ease and nimble grace, "I like to keep you on your toes."

"Don't I know it, sir." Frank smiled, turning to wait behind his Master before they walked back out into the dimly colourful lights and heavy thrum of the music. He looked around, keeping his head downcast as much as possible against the irresistible urge to scan everything in sight. Frank put his hands behind his back, clasping a fist in the other to stop himself from touching without permission.

They stopped in a large hall where a throng of other Dominants all stood, talking loudly over music. Frank stared beside him at a submissive who was bent over backwards, midriff arched, hands and feet splayed for perfected balance. Frank frowned, trying to decipher why this woman was bent over so far when he noticed the pair of heavy boots sitting aloft over her hips - She was an abstract footstool, her dark olive skin draped in a mesh bodice despite her breasts completely exposed beneath the black netting. 

Frank looked away from her, his cheeks growing ruddy at the realization that she was completely naked under the mesh; not just topless as he had first thought.

He looked to his other side - his left - and saw that Gerard had moved away.  Frank scrambled to his Master's side, peering over Gerard's shoulder curiously to see that it was Ty. The smile on Frank's face lit up instantly. Ty's eye swept from Gerard's face to Frank, winking at him subtly before he looked back at Gerard to answer his question. Ty was dressed in a pair of baggy black cargo pants and boots, a pair of leather bands around his biceps and a beautifully crafted harness that clung to his sculpted chest - and his beanie.

Gerard turned to look at his submissive over his shoulder with a surprisingly kind smile, turning a fraction to look at the shorter boy, "Frank, what are you doing?"

"Sir?" Frank looked up with a small frown, seeing a wide smile on both Ty and Gerard's face, "I-I'm standing, sir."

"Go and enjoy yourself." Gerard waved a hand, "This is a party, after all. I want you to experience it all."

"Why don't you go and find Joshua?" Ty eyed Frank with a knowing smirk, "He's on display in the next room over. He looks rather... Agreeable."

"Agreeable?" Gerard tilted his head, "From what I heard from Talia, it's a notable upping."

"Oh, you spoke with Talia already?" Ty seemed surprised, "I thought she was demonstrating."

"She took a smoke break with Neil," Gerard replied, "I caught her on her way back upstairs. Speaking of which, aren't you meant to be part of an exhibition this evening? With Ravyn, wasn't it?"

"I am." Ty nodded, sliding his hands into his pockets, "She isn't here yet. I had to be here early for Josh."

"I see," Gerard remarked, his eye wandering back to Frank, his dark eyebrow raising a fraction, "Frank?"

"I-I was... listening." Frank blushed and looked down, "I-I didn't know I was allowed to leave your side, sir."

"I want you to experience as much as you can and as much as your body and mind allow you. You are not to be at my side unless you need to be." Gerard smiled, "I won't leave without you. You do whatever you want as long as you're safe and consenting, my boy."

"Yes, sir." Frank smiled and took a small step away from his Master, "Sir?"

"Yes, boy?"

"I don't really know where to start." 

"Start downstairs and work your way through the rooms," Ty interjected, "It's easiest. Don't forget to get your handkerchiefs, though."

"Oh, right," Frank whispered and looked at the large table in the corner with the vast array of colored handkerchiefs all neatly piled atop its polished surface.

"I need to get my own as well, boy. I'll escort you." Gerard steered Frank toward the table with a firm hand on Frank's lower back. Frank looked at all of the people around him, his heart hammering wildly in his chest, "Relax, my prince. You look so alarmed."

"It's just... a lot." Frank murmured, looking down at the table of handkerchiefs in front of him as they stopped. He was somewhat more relieved to see that each color of scarf was labelled and he didn't have to try and guess for himself.

Frank looked through the colors with his lip between his teeth. There was black for 'S&M', dark-blue for 'Anal Sex', light-blue for 'Oral Sex', brown for 'Scat', green for 'Hustling & Prostitution', gray for 'Bondage', orange for 'Anything Goes', dark-purple for 'Piercing', red for 'Fisting', yellow for 'Watersports', pink for 'Submissive', lilac for 'Dominant' and white for 'Not Participating'.

Gerard smiled at his submissive before he took a lilac and a white handkerchief for himself, tucking both of the folded pieces of material into his shirt pocket, "Here's a tip for you, if you like: if you take a 'Dominant' or 'submissive' handkerchief, it already implies that you are into bondage and S&M so you don't need to carry those on you."

"Right," Frank muttered as he took a pink scarf for himself and looked at the silky material in his hand before his eyes wandered up to his Master, "What do I do with it?"

"Wear it somewhere on your body," Gerard explained, gesturing to Ty who had tied a lilac scarf around one wrist and a dark purple one around the other.

Frank unraveled the pink scarf in his hands before he rolled it up into a long strip and tied it around his neck with a simple knot, "How's this?"

Gerard eyed him from under his long lashes. A dark hazel gaze and an eyebrow lift scanned over Frank's upper torso, a devilish smirk taking over Gerard's lips, "Very dashing. Also, very gay, if I may add."

"I mean..." Frank grinned happily, "It is accurate."

"No one here has any doubts about that, boy. Just make sure that that scarf does not obscure your collar. You need to be crystal clear about your ownership status at these places, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." 

"Now go on." Gerard smiled, "I won't be participating tonight, but if you feel like you want to join in and experience something then you have my permission."

"Are- Are you sure?"

"Do I need to repeat myself, Frank?" Gerard's voice dropped an octave and in volume, seeping with the gravity of the undertoned question.

"No, sir." Frank put on a brave smile before he turned away from his Master and disappeared into the crowd.

He walked and weaved his way through the crowd and out into the hallway. He turned to peer into the door right next to the one from which he had come out, and found a small crowd in what appeared to be a sitting room. There were people everywhere, sitting on couches or at tables, drinking and talking over the music as slaves and submissives were used as furniture. There were subs as tables, footrests, chairs and even coat racks. Each one - that Frank could tell - looked completely at ease and quite content with the lot that they had been assigned. He smiled at the sight, glad that he wasn't the only one who enjoyed being used in that way.

He felt a hand graze his lower back and he jumped, spinning around to see Ty smiling at him and throwing him a subtle wink over his shoulder as he walked gracefully up the nearby flight of stairs to where he was needed. Frank felt the blush creep up onto his cheeks as he held Ty's gaze, watching him move right up until the last moment he was out of view. Frank made a mental note to go and see him for sure.

The young and eager submissive moved on to the room across the hallway that was aside to the coat room and curiously leaned in. It was a dining room. Frank instantly understood that each room of the house was being used for its intention... Just altered to the lifestyle - The coat room used for coats and for putting on leathers, the living room used for relaxing and watching TV, which had been subsequently playing some hardcore bondage porn; The sitting room was being used for socializing, with submissive furniture and waiters.

And now the dining room was filled with an array of people that were casually dining on finger snacks that were being served on and by submissives. There was a long table in the middle of the room and in the middle of that table was a beautifully tanned woman covered with an array of small foods like tiny sandwiches and crackers. On either side - head and foot - of the women were four other slaves.

They were sitting back to back on their knees with their heads cast down and ornate silver serving dishes in their hands. Frank looked at them, two women and two men together, each facing a side of the room. One blond man had a platter of fruits, the dark-skinned woman with her back against him had a platter of what looked like pate and bread. On the other end of the table there was another man covered in tattoos with dark-green hair, the plate in his hands piled with decadent truffles and chocolates that looked way too expensive to eat. The pale woman behind him had her black hair up in a perfect bun, her hands patiently holding up a plate of tiny cakes.

Frank eyed them all, watching the people circle and sample the foods and talk amongst themselves. He turned and looked around, scanning and mentally ticking off the doors into which he had been. He eyed the stairs with a smile and looked at their carpeted incline before he set off into the milling crowd.

He made it through virtually unscathed except for the two incidents of very intentional ass-groping. It certainly gave him a fucking heart attack and he knew that there would definitely be people who would not stand for the unwanted touch - but he was not one of them. He felt a jolt of pride in his stomach that someone else wanted him enough for them to boldly make it known. 

He walked up the stairs and looked around at the landing, spying six doors for him to go through and explore. He walked all the way around the open-middle landing and went up to the door, opening it and jumping in fright.

It was a large bathroom that he had not expected to be occupied with any display, and yet...

There was a couple actively having sex in the shower,as well as a Dominant having a bath and getting their body washed by a submissive in a beautiful black-and-purple wheelchair. There was even a slave on their knees beside the toilet holding out magazines. Frank tilted his head to the side before he casually closed the door again and shook his head.

He walked into the room next to it and sucked in a breath. He looked around in awe, eyes widening when he saw the room he had wanted to find. There were people all circled around the center of the unfurnished bedroom. In the middle, under a red spotlight, was a ceiling-high scaffolding that was coated in matte black.

There was a woman lying suspended with thick hooks in her skin to keep her up - And it was Ty who was sliding those thick needles into her flesh with such dedication and precision.  Each slide of sharp metal into her skin was slow and deliberate, planned for essential weight distribution by a complete professional. The way the woman was being handled, it made Frank's own skin crawl and tingle in the best way possible.

He found his way into the room and wormed his way right to the front, gawking in amazement at the way the woman didn't even flinch.

Ty's face was stoic, intensely calm, his eyes trained on his hands as they moved in sync. He was bewitching to observe and Frank so badly wanted to be under his grasp yet again.

Ty placed the last hook into her chest and finally pulled the support slowly out from under her, her full weight hanging now from hooks and tensile rope. The entire room was on bated breath, waiting to see if anything happened.

She remained still, motionless in the air and Ty looked up at the crowd, earning applause to which he bowed. "The process of suspension is not a simple one. But it is easily explained for those who are interested. The process usually costs about $150 for your disposable needs; That is for hooks, needles, rope, quick links and your basics. The hooks used are large fishing hooks that have had the bards filed away and smoothed before they are polished," Ty explained as he held one up in a leather-encased hand, "To prepare for your suspension, you must avoid alcohol or drugs for a few days to ensure that your blood is not thinned or you will bleed profusely. Drink a lot of water beforehand and get a good night's sleep so that your muscles are relaxed."

Frank listened intently, watching as Ty walked around the woman, checking on the hooks in her skin as he continued to explain, "I also suggest having a full meal to eat beforehand so that if your blood sugar drops, you will not pass out."

"And what is the actual hooking process?" A woman on the other side of the crowd asked out, earning a few nods and murmurs. Ty whispered to the suspended woman, asking if she was still okay, and she nodded serenely. He looked up at the woman in the crowd with his hands behind his back.

"The only numbing you're allowed to have in your system, if you suspend for art rather than pain like I do, is Lidocaine. You're first marked for the hooks with a marker, then the skin is cleaned off with a surgical scrub to ensure a bacteria-free contact. The skin is massaged to loosen the flesh and make it easier to pierce." Ty walked around the scaffolding slowly, "Then you are pierced, usually two hooks at a time to equal the weight on each side of the body and make sure that ripping does not occur."

"And if it does?" A man piped up, sounding horrified. Ty smiled wordlessly, the dimples in his cheeks hiding his age.

"I'll get to that. Once all of the hooks are in, you are moved to the suspension area where you will be hung. The hooks are attached to the ropes with a rig. The rig is lifted to tense the skin and make sure that you are being lifted evenly." Ty gestured to the woman behind him, "Some people prefer to go slower when lifting, some people prefer to go quickly. The length of your suspension depends on you. Some people can only take ten seconds, some people can go for an hour."

"What's the longest you've been hooked up?" Another person in the crowd asked out and Ty looked up with a smaller smile.

"An hour and a half," He replied simply, "Hooked by my back on a carousel."

There was a small flurry of impressed murmurs in the circle as Ty checked on her again, smiling at something she had whispered back, "I see. So, once you have finished your session, the rig is lowered and you are removed from the ropes. The hooks are taken out of your skin and the excess blood and air is massaged from the flesh. The blood is cleaned, you are bandaged up."

Ty began to fiddle with a small crank on the side of the rig and the woman was slowly lowered down to the ground where she lay on a large cushioned tarp. Ty bent down, carefully removing the hooks from her shoulders, her chest, her sides and her thighs. He placed a sterile cloth to one of the wounds and looked up, his other hand holding hers, "With regards to aftercare; Your wounds should stay bandaged and clean as to avoid infection. It is normal for the hooked area to be sore the next day but try and avoid blood-thinning pain killers which will affect the healing. You will also probably have hard pieces under your skin known as Subcutaneous Emphysema - Air trapped under the skin which will be reabsorbed into the body."

"Dude, isn't 'Emphysema' a lung disease?" Someone scoffed out a laugh and Ty merely placed the cloth onto another wound to clean it and then stood up.

"'Subcutaneous' refers to the tissue beneath the skin; 'Emphysema' refers to trapped air, ladies and gentlemen," Ty replied politely as he gingerly helped his assistant up onto her feet, handing her the cloth and a glass of water. He kissed her on the temple and then looked at the growing crowd, "Questions?"

"Skin ripping?" The same guy from earlier repeated his question with the same disgusted tone.

"When skin is ripped by a hook, it is agonizing," Ty explained, "I would know." He began unfastening the hooks from the ropes as he spoke, "It happens when the weight in that area is not evenly balanced. It happens when the hook Master is inexperienced. The skin is not tensed or there is not enough skin and the hook tears through it like a knife through butter."

Frank instantly flinched at the thought, grimacing at the mental image that flashed across his brain as he watched Ty unhook the last piece of metal and dispose of them in a nearby biohazard box.

"The skin needs to be stitched up by a professional to ensure accurate healing and avoid intensive scarring. And then it needs to be treated like any other flesh wound. To avoid the person bleeding out more than they will, apply instant pressure to the area and if possible, use a tourniquet that is not made from absorbent material." Ty sprayed his gloves with disinfectant as he spoke, "Such materials to avoid would be cotton, napkins, sponges, 100% polyester, wool or nylon."

"That's everything then, man," A guy complained jokingly and Frank scowled at him.

"If it were then a lot of people would have died." Ty sighed, "Use a necktie, ace bandages or even a leather belt. But to be safe, always have bandages nearby if you're inexperienced."

"Where's yours, then?"

"First of all," Ty's smile vanished as he looked directly at the tall man who was asking him such a derogatory question, "I am not inexperienced by any means. And secondly, all of my medical essentials - including a professional tourniquet and bandages, and even a shot of adrenaline just in case - are all located in the medical kit that I carry with me. Said kit is located to your left on the table not a foot away from you, in a vibrant red color that only a gimp-wearing baboon would miss."

The room was silent as a grin cracked onto Frank's face. There were other people who were quietly laughing as Ty let out a sigh and turned to the tall, black toolbox he had beside him, opening the top drawer to expose individually sealed hooks stacked neatly.

"Any volunteers?" He asked as he turned and looked at the crowd. Frank's hand shot up instantly as well as a few other people. Ty eyed the submissive with a quirked eyebrow and a small smile. He gestured with his head for Frank to join him in the lit circle. Frank's heart instantly jumped into hyperdrive in his chest, his stomach twisting into a knot as he walked onto the tarp to stand beside Ty.

"Hello, little fairy," Ty greeted courteously, "Have you ever been suspended before?"

"No, sir," Frank whispered innocently, putting his hands behind his back.

"Well, then perhaps I start you off easy. Have you eaten recently, boy?"

"Yes, sir."

"Drugs or drinking?"

"No, sir."

"Good boy," Ty whispered as he took Frank by the shoulders and spun him around, his hands firmly massaging Franks upper back and shoulders, moving down onto the back of his upper arms. Frank hung his head, hands at his sides, eyes closed as he concentrated on Ty's hands. There was a cold spritz on his skin that made him jerk away for a fraction of a second, feeling Ty rub an ice cold grit onto his skin, obviously cleaning it. 

His skin was cleaned off with relative ease when Ty pulled out a surgical marker, marking two dots on Frank's back; one on either side of his spine. He also made a mark on the back of each of Frank's arms somewhere in the middle.

"Straighten up for me, boy," Ty instructed and Frank relaxed himself, lifting his head up, "Give me a safe word."

"Candy," Frank offered up, shrugging a small fraction, hearing Ty chuckle as he rifled through his drawer and pulled out four hooks, showing them to Frank.

"Do you understand and consent to what is happening, boy?"

"Yes, sir." Frank exhaled shakily, the glint of light on one of the fishhooks had his heart jump in his chest. 

"Good," Ty whispered, his warm breath running over Frank's skin as he leaned in. Frank heard the rip of the plastic from one of the needles and he tried his best to relax, trying to trick his brain into thinking that he was just getting another piercing at a shop, no big deal.

Which it sort of was.