Chapter Text
Lucy
“Wait- Does he have any kinks? What about shaking things up with a bit of kinky play?”
Lucy froze, and the line went silent waiting for a response. Did Norrie just suggest what she thought she did??
“...Lucy? Are you still there?”
“Yeah…” She shook her head to clear it. There was no way. “Sorry, can you repeat that? I thought you had just suggested for me to suggest to Paul that we start tying each other up in the bedroom or something.” She laughed, rubbing the back of her neck.
“I mean, maybe not to that extent, but why not? I think it’s a good idea- he’s a gamer, and aren’t nerds supposed to like it a bit dirty? Maybe you’ve been playing it too vanilla.”
This is certainly not the direction she thought this conversation would go when she asked for Norrie’s advice on potential ways to rekindle her and Paul’s love life.
They had been together for almost three years now. It was fantastic at first, but lately he had started falling into the habit of spending all his waking time at home on that bloody computer, playing that rubbish MMORPG. She didn’t mind him spending time with his friends- she knew he didn’t have very many in real life- but this was getting extreme. And he had promised he wouldn’t let his gaming habits get in the way of their relationship…
There had been a couple times in the past when he had started to slip, but he’d been able to snap out of it before it got too bad. He’d even been really good about limiting his computer time and making an effort for an entire year after they moved into their own flat. But now, nothing seemed to be working no matter what Lucy tried. At this point, they hadn’t had sex in at least two months (not that she was counting).
Suffice it to say, not only did Lucy miss her boyfriend, she was starting to get desperate.
But was she that desperate?
“Norrie, I know absolutely NOTHING about kink or, what’s it called, BDFM? You realise that, right? How can I-”
“It’s BDSM, Lucy. And I don’t really know that much either, but…” computer keys clicked through the earpiece on her phone. “Hey, look! There’s a Kink 101 class, an Intro to the London Scene, coming up this Friday. Some organisation called SCK- Safe and Consensual Kink? And it’s only 20 quid to register. I’m signing us up- I’m off this Friday too; we can go together!”
“Wait, you’re being serious about this?” Lucy started to panic. This was way out of her comfort zone. “How do I even know this will work?”
“Look, if it doesn’t then maybe it’s time to think about finding someone who’s more interested in you than a computer screen. Has he even shaved this month? That neck beard is atrocious, and it’s not even November so he has no excuse.”
“Don’t be so mean, you know he’s having a rough time at his job with them being so short staffed. And it’s good he has a support system outside of just me, I just…” Lucy needed to collect her thoughts. Her voice grew small at the admission. “I just thought I would be a part of his escape from reality, is all. I used to be…”
“Lucy. If adding a bit of spice to your night time activities isn’t an ’escape from reality,’-” She could hear the air quotes- “I don’t know what is. I know you have nothing going on on Friday evening, and the class doesn’t go too late so you can still get plenty of sleep before your Saturday morning shift. I’ll pick you up at 5, we’ll grab a bite to eat, and then we’re gonna sit down and learn about how to drag that lazy sod off his arse and back into the real world, alright?”
There was no room for argument. Lucy sighed.
“Yeah, sure. Alright. I’ll pay for the food, though, if you’re paying for the tickets.”
“Sounds like a plan. See you then!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lockwood
“Have you heard back from Angela, yet?”
Lockwood looked up from his phone. He had been mindlessly scrolling through Twitter (he refused to call it “X” since its new owner made the change), and suddenly realised he had found his way to Angela’s account. He closed the app with a sigh.
“No, I called it off.”
“What? WHY? This one even had a brain between her ears!” George was incredulous. It’s only happened a couple of times now, but Lockwood could tell his housemate was getting sick and tired of him moping around, pining after women that he had ultimately broken up with. Maybe he should just delete his dating profile and give up altogether.
“Because, George, I think there’s something wrong with me.”
“And what could be wrong with the Great Anthony Lockwood?” George exaggerated an eye roll up to the ceiling. “You realise you could have literally anyone you want with your looks, right?”
Lockwood just stared down at his home screen, his ears turning pink as his thoughts turned to the other night.
Angela had wanted to celebrate their one month anniversary with some wine at her flat, and soon enough, things became more than a bit heated. They certainly weren’t new to snogging, but his cheeks burned as he remembered her jumper hitting the floor, his lips and tongue exploring her neck while her fingers unhooked one button after the other of his shirt, their pants and moans combining as their hips ground against each other through their clothes… It was admittedly much farther than they had ever gone before.
He remembered watching as his right hand slid up the valley of her chest until his palm rested on her sternum, fingers shaping into an L right between her collarbones. After the wine, he had barely managed to hold back that deep, animalistic urge to move his hand just a few centimetres higher, but the mere thought of doing so nearly drove him to the edge. He gently leaned his weight onto her decolletage, his left hand continuing to caress her breast through the lace of her bra…
“Earth to Lockwood!”
He snapped back to the present and realised with a start that his body was starting to react to the memory.
Fuck.
He sat up straight and breathed in a deep, calming breath, willing his anatomy to cooperate. “Sorry, I must have zoned out there. What was that, George?”
“Sure,” his friend deadpanned. “Look, I obviously don’t want to know the details, considering how certain other parts of you were joining your trip into space, but really, what’s up?” He plopped down into a chair across the Thinking Cloth. “Why do you keep breaking up with girls you obviously still like?”
“I…” Lockwood closed his eyes, knowing there was no skirting the subject this time. He knew he'd have to choose his words carefully to not sound like a maniac. “Every time things get… a little heated, I get the urge to…” his cheeks flushed again. He couldn’t imagine how red they were at this point.
“Oh God, I’m not gonna like this, aren’t I?” George’s fingers came up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he looked towards the ceiling.
Steeling up his courage, Lockwood began again, “Igettheurgetowrapmyfingersaroundtheirneck,” he mumbled.
George paused, looking like he knew he would regret asking. “Come again?”
“I get the urge to wrap my fingers around their neck!” Lockwood practically yelled it out, his eyes going wide at his confession. He quickly began to backpedal. “It’s not what it seems, I don’t want to hurt them, but-”
“So you’re into the idea of choking.” He was cut off by an unamused George. “What about it?”
“What… what about it? Didn’t you just hear I want to strangle women while in bed with them??” How could George be so nonchalant about this?
“It’s called choking, and yeah, you and most of the kink community. Can we be done? I really don’t want to be talking about your preferences in bed.”
“How…” Lockwood was dumbfounded. “What’s a kink community?”
Silence.
Lockwood looked towards his friend to find him looking at him with utter bewilderment. “Are you taking the piss? How in the fuck don’t you know about kink?? You realise Holly is a regular to a couple local dungeons and Kipps is even a part of a kink education organisation, right?” He rubbed his eye with his palm. “Bloody hell, you really are repressed; Kipps is gonna have a conniption.”
George pushed himself off the counter to retrieve his phone, pressed a few buttons, and held it to his ear.
“Hey, Kipps? You’re not gonna believe this… Yeah, Lockwood broke up with Angela… I know, believe me. But, apparently he’s freaked out about a potential choking kink and thinks there’s something wrong with him…”
Lockwood sputtered, standing. “You can’t just-”
“I know !!” George raised his voice into his phone, thrusting his palm in the protesting boy’s face and turning slightly away. “Does your organisation have anything he can look at so he can move on with his life? I’m at my wit’s end here!”
Lockwood plopped back down in the chair. He crossed his arms, sulking. “I don’t need a bloody brochure…”
“Wait, really? That sounds perfect… Well, he clearly won’t be on a date or anything… Brilliant, thank you so much. He’ll be there.”
“I’ll be where?” Lockwood’s back shot up straight.
“A kink 101 class.” George answered, pressing the end call button. “Tomorrow evening, and Kipps is leading it so don’t think you can play hookey.” He pointed at his friend's face for emphasis.
“And if I refuse?”
“WHY?” George threw his hands in the air in frustration. “Wouldn't it be a relief to find out that there’s nothing wrong with you, and learn how to meet like-minded people?? I swear, if you don’t go, I’ll stop cooking for you for a month; I am done with your moping. Besides, Kipps is going to let you in for free.”
“Fine! You’re right, I really should.” Lockwood conceded, rolling his eyes. “When and where is it?”
George’s phone pinged. “That should be the info right there… Yup! Here, I'll text it to you.” A couple more taps of George’s thumbs, and Lockwood’s phone soon beeped as well. He clicked the message.
[Fwd: Kipps- Intro to the London Scene. Jun 6th, 7:30p, 87 Church Road, London. Vanilla attire required, bring ID]
He stared at his phone. “What the fuck is vanilla attire?”
George let out an exasperated sigh. “Just don’t go naked, okay?”
“Why would I-” He cut himself off, holding his hands up placatingly. “You know what. Fine. Great, I wasn’t planning on it anyway.”
“Fantastic. Now that that’s settled, may I continue cooking dinner in peace?”