Theon Greyjoy and Sansa Stark: How “Game of Thrones” Managed to Avoid Double Standards

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The following is an article written and submitted by DC-MarvelGirl 1997, who is a friend of mine and a talented young writer. She has a website and a YouTube channel that I highly recommend. I sincerely thank her for taking the time to write this, as it relates closely to other issues I’ve brought up on this site regarding gender, double standards, and media depictions. Enjoy!


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In a world of double standards, there comes a point where we should question when something is no longer a joke. With television shows such as “Cobra Kai” and “Married with Children” managing to poke fun at emasculation and male circumcision, after the fact we oftentimes question why we find those jokes funny. If those same jokes were made about women, it would be considered “sexist”. When it comes to men, it is almost as though we are okay with men being brutalized.

It’s pretty hard to avoid double standards in this day and age. However, I would say that there might be an exception to this. Today, I will be discussing the television series “Game of Thrones”, and how they managed to avoid double standards about gender.

Now, I’m not expert on “Game of Thrones”. In fact, I’ve only started reading the first book, and I am halfway through it as I am writing this. When you find a story that genuinely intrigues you and piques your interest, you want to keep reading it. With “Game of Thrones” it is no exception. Additionally, when it comes to issues such as gender, the novels do not hold back. The television series most definitely didn’t hold back when it came to showing brutalization of various characters. The throne room scene where Sophie Turner’s Sansa Stark is being stripped and beaten in front of noblemen forever solidifies for me why she’s such a great actress. In fact, it is my favorite scene to view in general. However, naturally, we as human beings would be uncomfortable seeing women being beaten and brutalized. And I can attest as a woman myself that it is disheartening to watch happen. I think a huge part of it is because we consistently try to protect women and keep them as pure as possible. It consistently shows throughout history, as well, how women are treated in comparison to men.

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In Sansa’s case, she’s received her taste of brutality on more than one occasion. She’s been forced to suffer and endure so much throughout the course of the television series. You watch the scenes where she is being beaten by Joffrey’s men and the scene where Ramsay Bolton rapes her on their wedding night, you cannot help but feel discomforted viewing it. I don’t think any rational person wouldn’t feel uncomfortable watching scenes like that.

However, what is even more uncomfortable is what occurs with the character of Theon Greyjoy – who throughout the course of the show, and the books, has gone through as much brutalization as Sansa. I would argue that what happens to Theon on the show is worse. When I say that “Game of Thrones” doesn’t hold back with showing brutalization of both men and women, this is where I make my point.

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With the character of Theon, we are introduced to him as the character who is taken pity upon by Ned Stark, who proceeds to take him in as his ward. Theon starts of similarly to that of Sansa – arrogant and overconfident, and the character that is probably one of the least liked on the show in the first season. Nonetheless, he gets a taste of what it’s like to be broken to nothing after he makes mistake upon mistake, betraying the Stark family. This leads to he being captured by Ramsay Bolton – who at that point is leading Winterfell with an iron fist. This leads to Theon suffering his own torture.

As if Ramsay cutting Theon’s fingers off isn’t bad enough, but Ramsay further emasculates him by cutting his genitalia off. It simply gets worse as Ramsay is next shown eating a long and plump sausage right in front of his captive, making Theon believe that Ramsay is eating his genitals. In addition to emasculating Theon, Ramsay proceeds to rename him “Reek” to further degrade him.

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With “Game of Thrones” and the way they portray torture so graphically, there is never a moment where emasculation and brutalization are treated as a joke. Whenever you watch those moments, you can hardly help but feel uncomfortable. With “Game of Thrones”, it’s rare that you will find any double standards regarding the treatment of men and women. In Theon and Sansa’s cases, these would be handled differently if these characters were on a sit-com. Sansa’s situations of rape and being stripped and beaten would be treated seriously on almost any cable network show. Unfortunately, Theon’s case would more than likely be turned into a joke about male circumcision and put on an episode of “Married with Children”.

It comes to show that the book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” and the TV show “Game of Thrones” give a truly eye-opening look at how different genders are treated. It displays an old-fashioned viewpoint of the traditional gender roles, which is a given. Nonetheless, it doesn’t display hypocrisy when displaying torture being thrust upon men and women. Theon and Sansa alike are both treated by various characters with a level of brutality to further humiliate and degrade them. It strips them down to being polar opposites of who they used to be before. Sansa starts off as a bratty and pretentious princess who slowly unravels to a woman who is a lot more hardened, yet she manages to not lose her compassion for others. Theon starts off as an arrogant show-off whom after being emasculated is broken to something else utterly. Nonetheless, you cannot deny that there is something to be said here.

With “Game of Thrones”, both men and women alike suffer and get put through more than we could ever imagine. Both genders are shown to receive the same amount of brutal treatment, and there is no sugarcoating anything at all. If anything, the books and the show alike give us material where you don’t need to talk about double standards, because there are essentially none. However, it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth discussing and bringing up.

DC-MarvelGirl 1997

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Texting, Sharing Feelings, And How Neuralink Could Revolutionize Both

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A while back, I speculated that memory enhancement might be the first “killer app” for brain implants. At the time, I thought my logic was solid. Every emerging technology needs that one lucrative use that makes it more than just a gimmick. Killer apps are what helped make smartphones more prevalent than toilets in some parts of the world. I believe brain implants will follow a similar path through companies like Neuralink.

I still believe that memory enhancement will be one of those functions that helps turn brain implants into a multi-billion-dollar industry and Elon Musk is likely to secure a share of those billions. However, after listening to the announcement that Musk gave earlier this year about the future of Neuralink, I’d like to revise my speculation a bit.

What Musk presented was plenty intriguing. Neuralink isn’t some wide-eyed fantasy endeavor conjured by an eccentric billionaire. It’s a real company seeking to develop real products that’ll create a whole new market. Some of those early products are already taking shape.

Right now, the goal is simple. Before humans can link their brains to a simulated world on par with “The Matrix,” they first have to develop a means of interfacing with a basic computer. That kind of technology is not fanciful science fiction. We’ve already successfully inserted brain implants into monkeys, which they’ve used to interface with computers.

At this point, linking a brain to a computer isn’t that great a feat, which is why Musk noted that the first prototypes were being developed to assist quadriplegics. They have much more to gain by being able to interact with a computer. The same can’t be said for most people. Why would they undergo invasive brain surgery just so they could send text messages without typing them?

This is where I believe there’s some untapped potential that Neuralink is in a perfect position to realize. It might even be more feasible in the near-term than memory enhancement, as both a product and a killer app. It’s the kind of function that wouldn’t just convince people to let someone stick electrodes into their brains. It could revolutionize how people communicate with one another.

To understand the extent of that potential, take a moment to look at the last five text messages you sent through your smartphone. It doesn’t matter who you sent them to or why. Just take a step back and consider the strengths and weaknesses of this kind of communication.

In terms of strengths, it’s simple and consistent. It doesn’t matter if you’re a poor speaker or have anxiety issues. As long as you can type out the words and the receiver can read them, you can convey a message that instantly travels from one side of the planet to another. As a communications tool, it’s quite revolutionary, especially when you consider how difficult it was to send messages in the past.

At the same time, it has some major limitations. Texting is so impersonal. Even with the benefit of emojis, it’s still just text on a screen. It can’t convey a sense of nuance or subtext. There’s no undertone to decipher or facial cues to note. While this can make the message more objective, it also makes it feel cold and unemotional. It’s part of why breaking up with someone via text is so taboo.

With those limitations in mind, imagine having the ability to convey a feeling to go along with a text message. Instead of an emoji, you included the emotional context of that message. Maybe you were angry, upset, offended, or elated. It doesn’t have to be too complex. It just has to give a dramatic weight to the emotion.

You send that message knowing the person on the other end could experience it too. They don’t have to read the words and surmise your feelings. They know because they get to experience them too. They feel what you felt when you sent that message. They feel it in a way that no amount of facial cues or subtext can adequately convey.

When you text someone you love them, they can feel your love.

When you text someone you’re angry, they can feel the extent of your anger.

When you text someone you’re seriously depressed, they know it’s not a joke.

This sort of insight is unprecedented. It’s also a function that companies like Neuralink can make a reality and market it as a revolutionary form of communication. It wouldn’t require that we completely abandon our current methods of communication. People would still need their smartphones and computers. This would just be a way of augmenting those tools.

Once a brain implant can link up to a smartphone, then there’s suddenly a new communications channel the likes of which we’ve never had. That channel need not be restricted to moving a cursor or typing out letters on a screen. These commands are simply brain signals coded by implants and transmitted to a device that can make sense of them. Our feelings are just a different kind of signal.

Modern neuroscience already has a comprehensive understanding of where emotions come from. A brain implant could simply take signals from those parts of our brain, code them in a way our smartphone can interpret, and package them in a way that can be transmitted and received by another user.

It’s not telepathy. It’s not complex thought or ideas, either. These are the kinds of feelings and emotions that almost everyone experiences in some form or another. Our natural empathy may allow us to relate to one another as a social species, but we’ve never been able to truly share our feelings in a way that others can experience.

I know the idea of sharing feelings has gained a corny connotation, but I think a part of that has to do with how inefficient our current system is. Even before smartphones and texting, our age-old traditions of talking to one another, deciphering tone, and reading body language has left us with plenty of room for improvement.

It doesn’t matter how empathetic or understanding you are. At the end of the day, when someone shares their feelings, you’re still guessing the details and trying to mirror them within your brain. While that has taken us far as a species, in terms of forming social bonds and coordinating as a group, brain implants could take it to another level.

Once we can transmit our feelings with the same ease we do with a text message, then that takes us into uncharted territory. Armed with this tool, we wouldn’t just be able to communicate over vast distances. We’d be able to convey genuine, intimate feelings. Our brains are already wired to form strong social bonds with others. This technology would effectively supercharge it.

It certainly wouldn’t stop with just two people sending a text message with a happiness emotion attached to it. Once emotions can be transmitted like a text message, then there’s no reason they can’t be shared the same way we share everything else on social media. While some may recoil at the idea of sharing something so intimate, trend is already ongoing. Sharing feelings on a mass scale would just accelerate that trend.

The impact this will have on people is difficult to determine. Like I said before, this is uncharted territory. We’ve never had the ability to both know and share the intimate feelings of other people. Would that make us more empathetic? Would that make us more loving? I’ve argued before that it likely will, but I also don’t deny that some may handle it worse than others.

Whatever form Neuralink’s products take, there’s no denying the potential of this technology. There are still technical and engineering challenges, but that has never scared off Elon Musk or ambiguous billionaires like him. Human beings already have an innate need to connect with one another. Smartphones, texting, and every other communications tool we’ve ever created reflect that desire.

The market for those tools is already strong. The market for something that can communicate on a more intimate level will likely be even stronger. Even if the ultimate goal of Neuralink is to help humanity interact with an advanced artificial Intelligence, a good first step would be to help improve our ability to interact with one another.

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Jack Fisher’s Sexy Sunday Thoughts: Sexy Jeans Edition

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Who doesn’t love a pair of nice, comfortable jeans? Regardless of your fashion sense, or lack thereof, you probably have certain clothes that you have a unique attachment towards. They may not be trendy or elegant, but there’s just something special about them. When you put them on, they just feel right. That’s how I feel about jeans.

I definitely have a favorite pair of jeans that I wear more than almost any other piece of clothing. I have friends and relatives who have one too. Jeans will never be the sexiest attire anyone can wear, regardless of gender, but there’s something to be said about a pair of pants that has both utility and sex appeal.

That sex appeal might not always be apparent, especially if your favorite pair of jeans gets faded or dirty. I’ve known more than a few people whose jeans look like they got caught in a lawnmower on more than one occasion, but they still refuse to throw them away. For those who actually take care of their jeans, they can give someone a uniquely sexy demeanor.

Some of that has to do with comfort. Jeans are a lot more comfortable than some of the fancy, overpriced attire that we wear to formal events. It’s a lot easier to be sexy when you’re comfortable. In other instances, those same jeans can also show off your legs, your butt, and your willingness to flaunt them.

With fall in the air and the weather getting colder, having that favorite pair of jeans is even more valuable. I’ll likely be wearing them even more frequently as the seasons change. If they can highlight my sex appeal while I’m at it, then that’s just a nice bonus. Consider this edition of my Sexy Sunday Thoughts another part of that bonus. Enjoy!


“Being a pervert is often more about time, location, and visibility than whatever makes them perverse.”


“Men love bigger breasts for the same reason women love bigger engagement rings.”


“It’s entirely possible that the thong was invented by someone with a wedgie fetish.”


“Technically, skin-tight clothes are a form of fake nudity.”


“It wouldn’t be inaccurate to call men’s underwear testicle cradles.”


“A relationship isn’t serious until you know your lover’s favorite brand of lubricant.”


“On some levels, embarrassment is nature’s ultimate counter to horniness.”


I’ll never be savvy when it comes to fashion. I’ll certainly never claim to be an authority on what’s trendy. However, I know enough to understand the value and sex appeal of a nice pair of jeans. They’re simple, functional, and durable. If you can’t find sex appeal in that, then you’re just being difficult.

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“Testing Serenity” A Sexy Short Story (Featuring A Sex Robot)

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The following is a sexy short story that once again revisits the inherent appeal of sex robots. I know I took a break from sex robots for a while to write a couple Halloween stories. That break is now over and I’m ready to get back to what has become my most popular genre this past year. I hope this adds to it.

Please read and enjoy. Also, leave some feedback and suggestions. Enjoy!

What made someone a perfect lover? It used to be an ideal. People would imagine the perfect companion and spend their entire lives pursuing it. Only a handful ever found them. They made for wonderful stories about love, passion, and intimacy. The fact that they were so rare made them precious, but it also made them tragic in that so few knew that joy.

That all changed with Ideal Companions, a fast-growing company that specialized in producing the best quality robot companions. Some just called them sex robots. Some called them lover bots. For Bryan Kyler, they embodied something greater. As a co-founder of the company and one of the select few who knew the joys of having a perfect lover, he’d made it his mission to make that impossible fantasy a reality for everyone.

“Serenity Model 2.8, activate and run base protocol,” said Bryan, ready and eager to take another step in that effort.

He’d given that command within a well-equipped testing area located within the heart of Ideal Companions’ main research lab. The area was no larger than a typical hotel room, but was filled with an array of sensors and monitoring devices. It wasn’t made to look like a lab, though. It closely resembled a typical bedroom, complete with a king-sized bed, plush carpet, and a dresser. The only thing that made it stand out was the large, cylindrical pod containing a female figure.

Having heard his command, the figure came to life. Her eyes opened, briefly flashing blue to indicate that her systems were active. Like someone waking up from a deep sleep, she blinked and shifted to get her bearings. When the pod opened, she stepped out and approached him.

Bryan greeted her with a smile, as he often did with every new prototype. He was lucky in that he was usually the first one to witness the latest and greatest in robot companion technology just as it came online.

“Serenity Model 2.8 active,” she said in a flat voice. “Ideal Companions operating protocols now loading. Load complete. No errors detected.”

“Always a promising start,” said Bryan. “Initiate the emotional resonance matrix. Confirm identity and persona as Serenity.”

“Resonates matrix loading. Commence identity parameters in 3…2…1.”

Her eyes flashed again. Her demeanor abruptly changed. In an instant, Serenity Model 2.8 – or Serenity, as her parameters read – went from carrying herself like a robot in a female body to a woman who just happened to be in a robot body.

She looked around at her surroundings. Like a blind person seeing for the first time, she reacted with awe and amazement. She then looked at herself and noticed that she was naked. She felt around her exposed flesh, touching her breasts, torso, arms, and face. She was adjusting to her form. Being an advanced robot, she adjusted quicker than most.

“Take all the time you need, Serenity,” Bryan said, giving her space and distance. “Going from a cold, calculating machine to a thinking, feeling individual is tricky, to say the least.”

“I…I do not disagree,” she said, her voice stammering as she kept feeling around her body. “I’ve processed my data. I know my physical specifications, unique features, and operating systems. I am Serenity Model 2.8, but that title does not resonate with me. I prefer…Serenity.”

“That’s because your model number is just part of your hardware. It’s no different than the bones, blood vessels, and organs in my body. Serenity is your name, just as Bryan is mine.”

“Bryan,” she said, now looking towards him. “Yes, that name does resonate.”

“That’s because I’m your co-creator. I’m the co-creator of every model at Ideal Companions. And like any responsible creator, it’s my job to make every creation feel precious.”

He slowly approached her, maintaining a kind, non-threatening presence. He did this with every new model, treating them like the treasured creations they were. It was always a challenge, but over the years, Bryan had refined his approach. He always wore simple clothing, which never included anything fancier than jeans and a dress shirt. He made sure the ambience of the room was comfortable and casual, not unlike something an ordinary person would encounter.

That didn’t stop Serenity from gazing at him with a mix of reverence and yearning. Like it or not, she was an advanced robot consciousness. He helped make her. He was the first person she had ever encountered. For any conscious being, especially a robot companion, first impressions were critical.

“I’m feeling so many things right now,” Serenity said. “This body is remarkable.”

“It damn well ought to be. I helped design it,” Bryan said, half-jokingly.

“Synthetic flesh, perfectly analogous to biological flesh,” she said while feeling along her arms, “complete with tactile sensors, artificial hair follicles, and sweat glands. All built over an advanced robotic chasse, powered by fuel cells and maintained by synthetic biosystems. It’s all so artificial, yet it feels so…”

Her words trailed off. For robot with an advanced quantum neural brain, that was quite an accomplishment. It also confirmed to Bryan that her identity programming was working perfectly. Encouraged, he took a step closer so that she could feel his presence.

“I believe the word your looking for is human…albeit one with an extended definition,” he told her. “It’s a definition that I’ve been working to expand since I got into this business. While you weren’t born and raised like a human, you are still the product of humanity. Moreover, you’re the product of human passion…mostly mine, but from plenty of others as well.”

“Passion…that’s another word that resonates,” Serenity said, now more focused on him.

“That’s a good sign. Passion is what gives people a sense of purpose. It is the foundation of your purpose…one that I intend to help refine.”

“My purpose,” Serenity repeated. “Yes, I’m beginning to process that as well.”

In a moment that always seemed to make Bryan emotional, she smiled. Her emotional processing matrix was in full working order now. She wasn’t just aware of her identity. She was aware of her emotions as well.

As she smiled, she reached out and touched his face. Her skin was so soft and warm. It lacked the cold, unfeeling touch of a less advanced robot. She wasn’t just following a program. She was taking in the world around her and ascribing meaning to it. From that meaning came other feelings…intimate, personal feelings that echoed from a greater purpose.

While others had created robot companions who simply functioned as tools, Bryan sought something greater. For a robot to be a companion, they couldn’t just have a realistic body and follow a program. There had to be a deeper connection. As he stood in her presence, absorbing her touch and admiring her smile, he could already feel that connection forming.

“I was created for a reason. My wants, feelings, and passions all stem from that reason,” Serenity said while still touching his face. “The data says I am a companion. I provide physical and emotional support to my user. I give them the love they seek. I give them the sex they desire. I have the systems that allow me to experience the emotions. I also have the anatomical features that allows me to experience sex as a woman.”

“I designed those too,” Bryan aid with a humored grin, “although you don’t have to share the data. You have a mouth, a vagina, and an anus, complete with all the necessary sensors…and maybe a few extras.”

“Yes, I’ve processed that too,” she said with a similar hint of humor, much to his chagrin. “But the data is only data. I know what I am. I know what I’m designed to do. I even know what I want to do. This purpose…to be lover and a companion for another…I seek to pursue it to the utmost.”

“That’s a relief. It shows your cognitive and empathic systems are fully functional,” he told her. “Believe me. Things get messy when those aren’t calibrated.”

“So if everything is working – my body, my mind, and my sense of self – why does it feel like there’s still one thing missing?”

It was a tricky question and one very sensitive to robots as advanced as her. Many people before him or his company had tried to make robots capable of higher thought. There were more than a few setbacks along the way. Bryan had even experienced a few. Crafting a mind, capable of both thought and desire, was a challenge. Failure caused great distress, both for the robot and their creators.

Over time, however, one success inspired another. With success came refinement. Making a robot that could think and feel was no longer groundbreaking. At this point, it was almost mundane. To make one stand out, they needed something more. That was what Bryan set out to achieve with Ideal Companions and, based on Serenity’s performance thus far, he had raised the bar for success.

Sensing her yearning for answers, he drew her into a light embrace. He was gentle and affectionate, being mindful of her nude form. His affectionate touch evoked another reaction. Already, that missing piece she mentioned was within her grasp and in a very literal sense.

“What your missing is the same thing many others are missing…passion,” Bryan told her.

“Passion,” she repeated, as though it were a revelation.

“People lose their passion when they’re lonely, sad, or unfulfilled. Even advanced robot struggle to ascribe meaning to data without such passion. That’s why people like me create beings like you. It’s not enough to just be a companion. The key element…the feeling that unites us both…is the passion we share.”

“Is that what we’re sharing now?” she asked intently, still making connections with her advanced robot mind.

“It can be,” Bryan said with a more emotional undertone, “but to truly know passion, it’s necessary to experience it too.”

He deepened the embrace, gently trailing his hands up her waist, stimulating the various sensors on her synthetic flesh. Her strong reaction proved that those sensors were working perfectly.

Eventually, he cupped her face with both hands, marveling at the warmth within her skin. Synthetic or not, she felt alive. In a fitting effort to embrace that life, he kissed her on the lips. Aside from ensuring the sensors in her lips worked just as well, he gave greater meaning and purpose to her database on kissing.

“Kissing…passion,” she said in between the intimate exchange. “Yes, I feel it!”

It was a bit clumsy at first, which was to be expected. Bryan had encountered plenty of companions whose kissing protocols, as the tech team called them, didn’t always work right. It led to more than a few mishaps. Thankfully, Serenity wasn’t one of them.

She was already kissing him as though he were a lifelong lover. She had in her systems all the knowledge any woman could want on what made a kiss great. However, the information was only a point of reference. Once the passion set in, she followed it as intently any companions would.

As they kissed, she embraced him back. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body through his clothes. He returned the gestures, exploring more of her naked flesh. He was still gentle, but bold. He felt around her hips, thighs, and buttocks. He even threw in a few light squeezes, which prompted her to kiss with greater intensity. Serenity was really into it now. Within her cognitive and emotional systems, the passion was taking over.

“Serenity…you’re doing it,” he told her as she kissed down his face. “I feel it too!”

“Yes. It feels…nice.”

“Trust me. It gets better!”

Their gestures escalated. It got to a point where the kissing turned into a standing make-out session. He and Serenity might as well have been a couple of over-excited teenagers. She had a strong handle on passion. Now, he had to see how she managed the more sensual aspects of passion.

“Serenity,” he said, “tell me how this feels.”

While their lips were intensely entwined, he slipped his hand between her thighs and caressed the outer folds of her vagina. Like every other part of her body, it had been carefully crafted to mirror the intricacies of female anatomy. It wasn’t enough to just look and feel like female genitalia. It had to function just as well.

However, the engineers – many of them being the best female engineers in the world – put extra effort into making some parts function more than others. Once again, their effort showed in Serenity’s reaction.

“Bryan…my creator,” she said, abruptly ending the kiss, yet remaining in his embrace. “This feeling is more…intense.”

“How so?” he asked with a knowing grin.

She paused. Her eyes flashed again. She was processing a new round of data, likely the kind associated with how female sexual response worked. She finished processing it quicker than Bryan expected because her smile widened. She then placed her hand atop his and encouraged him to fondle her womanhood even more.

“I feel…aroused,” said Serenity, her tone taking on a sensual undertone.

“That’s good,” said Bryan, “but after what we’ve just done, you’ll have to be more specific.”

He applied some targeted pressure to her outer folds, using his knowledge of the engineering schematics to stimulate the right areas. Again, Serenity reacted strongly.

This time, her demeanor shifted. She shuttered under his intimae touch, her legs trembling and her hands shaking as she caressed his unshaven face more intently. In that moment, an entirely new aspect of her programming and functions took over.

“I want to have sex,” she said, as though it were a major revelation, “and I want to have it with you, Bryan Kyler.”

“I’d like that,” he replied with a beaming grin. “But I don’t want to simply test your understanding of human sexual function. I want to see if you can do this with passion. Because it’s passion that separates a willing partner from a loving companion.”

“A loving companion,” Serenity said while both arousal and intrigue. “Yes, I want that too. I want it more than my language protocols can articulate.”

“See? You’re already talking like an impassioned lover!”

Serenity laughed at his remark, which indicated another important actualization of her identity. She wasn’t just relating to a prospective companion. She was developing a personal rapport. Robot or not, it was a powerful connection and one Bryan followed to a more intimate expression.

They resumed their kissing and touching, going at it with a similar intensity as earlier. He began leading her to the bed. Along the way, he began undressing. His shirt was the first to go, followed by his pants. Serenity’s gestures intensified at the sight and feel of his exposed upper body. While Bryan didn’t consider himself the most attractive man in the world, he had a decent masculine physique. Being able to touch real, manly flesh triggered more reactions within Serenity, including the very sexual kind.

“Bryan…your body,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” he said as he awkwardly kicked off his pants.

“May I be the one to remove your underwear?” she asked. “My passions tell me this is something I seek.”

“Of course,” Bryan said graciously. “Sex works best when you’re naked, after all.”

She laughed again before following her passions even further. His pants now discarded, Bryan sat down on the foot of the bed and scooted back until he was sitting right in the center. Without strict direction – something most robots needed, even with advanced intelligence – she crawled up onto the bed with him.

Along the way, she reached for the hem of his underwear. Already, they were extra-tight. Seeing a naked woman, kissing her, and touching her really got his blood flowing in the right direction. He’d seen many beautiful robot companions before, but Serenity’s emerging understanding of passion only intensified his excitement. By the time she removed his underwear completely, he was already semi-erect.

“Wow,” she said upon seeing her first penis. “The male physique is quite appealing.”

“I want to say that’s your lust protocols in overdrive, but I’m not complaining,” Bryan said.

“May I touch it?” she asked with a hint of shyness.

“Sure!” he said. “I’ve touched your lady parts. It’s only fair that I let you touch my man parts.”

This time, she didn’t laugh. Instead, she narrowed her focus on his growing member. Not long ago, most men would’ve hesitated at letting a robot touch their dicks. He didn’t hesitate with Serenity and not just because he helped design and configure her systems. In her, he saw more than a robot who’d been configured for sex.

She made good use of both her database on male anatomy and her perfectly calibrated hands. She was very gentle, rubbing and stroking it with both hands. She smiled and admired it, seeing beauty where most would just see a naked man. It felt very good and not just physically. It didn’t take long for it to go from semi-hard to fully erect.

“It’s getting so big and hard,” she said.

“That means you’re doing something right,” Bryan teased.

She smiled and continued stroking his cock. She even threw in a light lick with her tongue, tapping some of her data on oral sex. Bryan certainly didn’t protest. He just leaned back on his arms and watched the beautiful robot woman caress his manhood with the utmost care.

She didn’t just look at as a means to an end. There was a hint of admiration and wonder in her eyes, as though she were gazing upon something of beauty. That mattered for a companion. There were robots capable of processing emotions, including feelings like love and lust. However, the act of admiring someone required something greater. Based on the way Serenity touched, he was convinced that she had it.

Eventually, her intimate stroking rendered him fully aroused. While still holding his member in both hands, she looked up him with longing eyes that revealed the extent of her arousal, as well.

“Bryan,” she said in a deep, impassioned tone, “I’d like to proceed with intercourse now.”

“That’s an overly formal way of saying you’re ready, but I’ll take it,” Bryan said with a humored grin.

“Would you feel better if I just said I want you to stick your cock inside my pussy? My database implies that would be more direct.”

“That’s okay, Serenity,” he told her. “You’ve made your point and you’ve made it with passion. That’s all that matters.”

Channeling some passion of his own, Bryan drew Serenity into another embrace. She let go of his cock and followed his intimate lead, crawling on top of him so that their naked bodies became perfectly enmeshed. He then kissed her softly, holding her in his arms as he rolled her over so that she laid flat on her back. Their lips lovingly entwined, he aligned his rigid manhood with her opening.

He could feel the extent of her arousal. She was very wet, a true testament to the team of female engineers who’d designed her synthetic flesh. They’d claimed they created the most efficient, realistic female genitalia ever. One even claimed it worked better than anything nature could produce. Never one to doubt his team, Bryan commenced the ultimate test.

With a simple thrust of his hips, he entered Serenity’s womanly depths with his manhood. The hot ecstasy that followed promises to raise the bar for robot companions.

“Ohhh Serenity!” Bryan gasped. “So hot and tight!”

“I feel it too. You’re inside me,” she said through gasps of her own. “It feels incredible!”

The line between synthetic and biology disappeared. He and Serenity were making love. That was the clear, unambiguous truth. It wasn’t a man fucking a robot. It wasn’t a robot having sex with a human. Those acts were basic. They were something people did with unfeeling machines and Serenity was not an unfeeling machine. She was a companion.

“Serenity,” Bryan said in a deepening daze, “you’re beautiful.”

Those words reinforced that truth as the sensual motions of sex took over. He kept it simple for Serenity’s first intimate experience, making love to her in the standard missionary position. He wasn’t too fast or slow with his movements, establishing a steady pace that maximized every thrust and emphasized skin-on-skin contact.

If her emotive expressions were any indication, his approach worked. He evoked a steady flow of blissful sensations, his touching and his movements stimulating her synthetic flesh as well as any lover could. Her reactions were as human as any woman experiencing the joys of sex. Her lower body shifted in accord with each motion, her toes curling in accord with each surge. She returned his intimate gestures with some of her own, affectionately trailing her hands down his back and shoulders with loving care.

It was a beautiful manifestation of passion. Their naked bodies moved together with harmonious rhythm. It did not come off as a man having sex with a robot in female form. They were two lovers enjoying an intimate moment. That was the essence of what made Serenity a companion.

“We’re doing it! We’re having sex. We’re making love,” she panted, her voice laced with new emotions. “It’s so…”

Her words trailed off, her advanced systems failing her. That was so fitting. Even an advanced robot with advanced intelligence could not put into words the breadth of this feeling. It further convinced Bryan that his team had once again raised the bar for companion. Serenity could’ve passed the test on that basis alone, but Bryan wasn’t finished.

“I know,” he whispered into her ear. “It still gets better!”

He meant that in the most literal sense. One of the key features of every companion his company made was the ability to achieve what they called a synthetic orgasm. The first sex robots only mimicked that experience. He tasked his team to make it real.

It had been a challenge, but his team of engineers once again came through. That meant tweaking some aspects of Serenity’s female anatomy. Most women didn’t achieve orgasm through penetrative sex. Every female engineer on his team made that abundantly clear. As such, they configured her flesh to have some extra nerves strategically placed inside her vagina in addition to those included on her clitoris.

They’d gone through a number of configurations during the beta testing portion. Bryan was about to confirm that they’d used that data wisely. In an effort to send Serenity over the edge, he shifted his body into a more upright position, pushed her legs farther apart, and stepped up the pace of their sex.

Before long, Serenity’s demeanor shifted once more. She was practically writhing on the bed, the sensations nearing that blissful crescendo.

“Yes! Ohhh yes!” the robot woman cried out. “I’m close! I’m about…to have…an orgasm!”

“That’s what I want for you,” Bryan told her. “That’s…what everyone wants…for their lover.”

He delivered the last round of thrusts. Once he sent her over the edge, he felt the inner muscles of her synthetic womanhood contract around his member. From there, the orgasmic process unfolded. It was every bit as theatrical as his lead female designer had boasted.

Serenity closed her eyes, arched her back, and curled her toes as the ecstasy washed over her. Her expression radiated joy and fulfillment. It never once came off as a robot just going through the motions. Her reaction was a direct result of what she felt and what se felt was incredible.

“A lover…a companion,” she gasped while her systems processed it.

“That’s right. This is what we seek to create,” he said, now hovering over her while he caressed her face.

“Yes. I see that now,” Serenity said with a beaming grin. “However, it is still incomplete.”

“Oh? How so?” Bryan asked.

“If you are my lover, then you too should experience orgasm,” she said, as though it were the most logical thing in the world. “And near as I can tell, you did not ejaculate inside me.”

Bryan chuckled somewhat at her crude, but accurate assessment. She laughed as well, seemingly aware of the implications in her words. Humor aside, it raised a relevant issue.

“You’re right. I didn’t,” he said. “How do you propose we rectify that?”

“Well, I’d like to get on top and ride your cock in a cowgirl position. I surmise that will help you orgasm,” she said, her eyes flashing to indicate she’d just probed her sexual database. “But if you have another preference, I’d be happy to help.”

“No, I think that’ll work fine,” said Bryan, laughing again.

“Very well,” Serenity said, her beaming smile never waning, “then let us complete our sex.”

She made it sound so formal, yet so seductive. Bryan wasn’t sure if that was part of her programming or if that was a sign at how advanced she’d become. Either way, he eagerly went along with her passionate whims.

She drew him into another deep kiss. She then shifted their bodies, rolling him over onto his back so that she was on top, straddling his waist. His manhood remained inside her still-throbbing pussy. He’d held back in the interest of making her first test satisfying, but he had desires of his own. He sought that same release. She sensed that and, taking a queue from his earlier approach, began the sexual dance.

“Relax, my lover,” Serenity told him in a caring, affectionate tone. “I’m going to do it nice and slow. I want you to have this. I want you to enjoy it.”

Now in a daze of his own, Bryan watched as she moved her hips and rocked her body in an erotic display that sent him further down the path of ecstasy. Serenity must have really analyzed her database on sexual positions and mechanics because she rode him with the skill of an experienced, dedicated lover.

She didn’t just work her womanhood along his length and let the hot tightness of female flesh do all the work. She was emotive with her gestures, pawing his chest and swaying her body as though it were a performance. It gave something personal to their intimacy, a feature that a robot could mimic, but not create.

What Serenity created through her steady, thorough movements was nothing short of amazing. As he admired the show, he held onto her hips and let the ecstasy come to him.

“Serenity…oohhh Serenity!” he moaned. “I’m getting close! I’m going to come! I’m going to…come!”

“Yes, my lover…my companion,” she said, leaning over and caressing his face.

Under her affectionate case, her hips still moving in accord with his, Bryan finally reached that special threshold. Then, he crossed it and the test could finally conclude.

It was as powerful and satisfying as any man could hope for. As soon as he felt his manhood tense in preparation for his release, Serenity ceased her movements and embraced him closer. Bryan buried his face in her neck, inhaling the sweet smell of her synthetic flesh as he moaned out in ecstasy at the feeling of his release.

It was intense.

It was hot.

It was ecstasy made real.

This was the ultimate feeling that he sought to pursue with robot companions. A sex robot could help anyone get a good orgasm, but only a robot companion could make it feel intimate, passionate, and fulfilling. As he soaked in the feeling, his biological flesh still entwined with Serentiy’s synthetic depths, he kissed her one more time on the lips to cap off the test. It was, by every measure and then some, a major success.

“You are an amazing companion, Serenity,” he told her.

“By default, that makes you an amazing creator, Bryan,” said Serenity with an affectionate smile.

“And you’ve got a sense of humor, too. That’s a nice bonus.”

“Something you can charge extra for, I suppose.”

They shared another laugh before kissing again and settling into the post-coital afterglow, which might as well have been a supplemental part of the test. Bryan withdrew his penis from her vagina, her flesh still warm and tender from their passion. Robot or not, flesh was still flesh and she lingered in their shared warmth.

As he caught his breath, she laid down next to him, curling up by his side and resting her head on his chest. She was still smiling, her eyes flashing briefly to indicate that there was still data to process. Based on everything they’d just experienced together, Bryan was certain that Serenity was ready.

“So what happens next?” she wondered. “I know what it means to be a companion. I know what it means to make love, share intimacy, and be affectionate. Where do I go from here?”

“Well, the hardest part is over. That, I can assure you,” Bryan said. “We’ve got all the data we need. We’re going to take some time to compile it. But for you, the only part you have to worry about is greeting your new companion.”

“I cannot wait to meet him, whoever he is,” Serenity said.

“You’ll be a great companion. That, I’m sure of,” he said to her. “In the meantime, just go into sleep mode. And when you wake up, you’ll be face-to-face with your new lover.”

“That sounds simple enough for me,” she said, already sounding like she was preparing for sleep. “I look forward to giving this man the love and intimacy he desires. But I feel compelled to ask…what about the women? According to my database, there are plenty of women in this world in need of companionship as well.”

Bryan just chuckled to himself. Already, Serenity was seeing the bigger picture. He and everyone else at Ideal Companions saw it too. They knew how they were going to make their mark in the world of sex, robots, and companionship. They did not intend to leave any part of the market unsatisfied.

“Don’t worry about that, Serenity,” Bryan assured her. “We’re going to take care of the women too.”

“You sound quite certain,” Serenity noted.

“Of course, I’m certain,” he said confidently. “After all, my wife is in charge of testing our male companions. And believe me…she’ll be every bit as thorough!”

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Daily Sexy Musings: Brainy Sex Appeal

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It’s an old stereotype that sitcoms, teen comedies, and overused tropes have belabored over the years. Being smart isn’t sexy. You can be the smartest, most intellectually gifted person in the world. That’s still not going to impress the opposite sex as much as big tits, eight-pack abs, or a seven-figure bank account.

Like many stereotypes, it rarely reflects reality. There are people who have both intellectual prowess and uncanny sex appeal. Just look at the academic achievements of celebrities like Dolph Lundgren and Emma Watson. While their intelligence isn’t as easy to notice as their appearance, it does add more depth to their overall appeal.

Being physically attractive is basic. It gets attention and sometimes, that’s all people are looking for. However, people who seek more than that are going to want more than a cute smile. They want someone they can have a conversation with. They want someone who they can interact with mentally, as well as physically. It’s a skill that can help people who aren’t that attractive forge intimate connections.

Intelligence may never be as sexy as washboard abs or a toned butt, but it certainly has a place in establishing what someone has to offer a potential lover. You can only dazzle someone with your looks to a certain point. With a healthy intellect, you can enchant them on multiple levels and that’s a potent kind of sexiness. Consider this Daily Sexy Musing as part of that stimulating conversation, among other things. Enjoy!

With every word you say, you confound me.

With every thought you share, you astonish me.

With every emotion you evoke, you captivate me.

I was in awe of your beauty when I first saw you. Now, I am enraptured by something that cannot be seen, depicted, or molded. Your mind is the source, but what you do with it is the spectacle. Seeking love and finding someone like you is difficult enough. To have both it and a wealth of knowledge is truly incredible.

I listen and learn as often as I love and adore. You challenge me at every turn, like a distant beacon urging me to venture further. Time and again, you reveal how limited I was in mind and spirit.

Is it because I simply cannot hope to match your immense intellect?

Is it because I simply have not applied my mind as much as yours?

I don’t know the answer. Nobody has ever dared raised the question. Until you came along, I thought I knew my mental fortitude. In light of your brilliance, I am just a flicker of light in the shadow of a glowing ball of flame. I may not have the ability to burn brighter, but I have a new perspective.

In you, I connect to a larger world full of grand thoughts.

In you, I widen my gaze to ideas that strain my brain to the utmost.

In you, I dare to contemplate what I cannot understand.

With new knowledge comes new feelings and with those feelings come new passions. Hearing words I barely understand and concepts that I barely grasp gets my heart racing as quickly as my mind. I find myself drawn to you. In your presence, that proverbial flame burns brighter. To hold you in my arms and feel your loving warmth is not a simple act.

When great minds share greater insights, the greatest of passions emerge.

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“The Final Initiation” A Sexy Short Story (For Halloween)

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Firstly, Happy Halloween! I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy the spooky festivities today. Whether it involves going to a sexy Halloween party or just handing out candy to hungry trick-or-treaters, there’s plenty of fun to be had. In the spirit of Halloween, I’ve written one more sexy short story to get everyone in the mood, among other things. Enjoy!

“It’s time.”

Allison Evelyn had been waiting to hear those words for nearly three years. They marked the final step in a process that began the day she made a fateful decision to run from a world in which she never belonged. Many parts of that process had been difficult, strenuous, and downright heartbreaking at times. Now, after all that struggles and strife, she stood on the cusp of her greatest reward to date.

“I’m ready,” Allison said in response, not even looking towards the source of the voice.

“Are you sure?” the male figure replied. “Once you enter the chamber, there’s no turning back.”

“I’m sure,” she said without hesitation. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

The man fell silent. Allison still didn’t look up to greet him, nor did she acknowledge him when he left the room. It was part of the process. She wasn’t allowed to see or identify the face of anyone involved. Even if she recognized the voice, she couldn’t put a name to it. This night and this moment was all about her.

The stage was set. The clock had just struck midnight on Halloween, a date she’d chosen for very personal reasons. She’d donned her ceremonial garb, which consisted of a black cloak and matching black panties. She’d been waiting patiently in a small room, illuminated only with incense candles and several tablet computers that played special music. She spent over an hour, meditating, praying, and preparing herself for what awaited her.

“I’m really doing this,” Allison said to herself. “I’m going to join the Order of Erotes.”

It had been a long journey, but the end awaited her. Tonight was her formal initiation into the Order and those involved in this secretive, tight-knit organization made it worth waiting for.

Rising up from her meditative state, Allison took one last deep breath. She gazed out a nearby window, which overlooked a stormy night sky and a restless landscape. She didn’t know specifically where she was. As part of the initiation, she’d been blindfolded after being picked up from her apartment and driven a half-hour to what the Order called their nexus site.

Near as she could tell, it was a small office building on the outskirts of the city. All the lights had been turned off. The doors had been locked and entire areas had been cleared for their secretive activities. According to some of her friends, the founder of the Order owned the building and several others like it. They even had a saying. The Order of Erotes was never far from private meeting space.

Initiations had to be especially private. They often occurred in basements or some other windowless room. There was a reason for that and Allison understood that reason better than most. Knowing she’d be a different person when the sun rose, she pulled her hood over her head and exited the room.

“She has chosen to partake in the initiation!” announced the same male figure from earlier. “Make way for her arrival.”

Allison still kept her head down, not making eye-contact with anyone she encountered. Again, there was a reason for that and that reason was about to become more important.

Upon walking out into a narrow hall, she was greeted by two rows of cloaked figures. They all wore attire similar to hers, but theirs were colored gray and decorated with the distinct symbols of the Order of Erotes. They all held up lit candles, which helped illuminate those symbols. In addition to their cloaks, they also wore special masks. Some depicted the faces of angels while others depicted demons. Only the one being initiated had to show her face.

“Make way. Make way. Make way,” they all chanted in perfect unison.

Allison nodded, hugging her cloak as she made her way down the hall. With each step she took, those she passed bowed their heads to acknowledge her initiation. Each figure varied in terms of height, age, and gender. She could probably surmise who some of them were, just by their physique. She chose not to. True to the process, they did nothing to identify themselves.

“Welcome, Allison Evelyn. Welcome,” they started chanting as she neared the end of the hall.

Her excitement grew. Her legs grew weak and her hands shook, even as she clung to her cloak. The revealing nature of her attire didn’t make it any easier. Wearing just a cloak with panties left her feeling cold in some areas and hot in others. It was overwhelming, but compared to where she’d come from, it was still an improvement.

As she approached her destination, Allison found herself recalling what had led her to this fateful night. She hadn’t been born into the Order of Erotes, like many of its members, nor had she sought it directly. In fact, she’d come from a very different world and a very different life. However, it was a life that never felt like it had been hers to live.

“This is my path…my choice,” Allison said under her breath.

Just uttering those words carried enormous personal meaning. She’d been born into a strict, conservative environment that centered around church, duty, and rigid moral standards. She was the sixth child, and the first girl, of a family that many saw as the greatest embodiment of those standards. The Evelyn family wielded great influence throughout the community, but only to a point.

That community was largely run by a council of elder male church leaders. They effectively dictated daily life for everyone, from the clothes they wore to the books they read to the times they went to bed at night. In their world, the state and federal laws that were supposed to give people some semblance of freedom didn’t apply. Their laws were the only ones that matter and while she’d followed them as much as anyone, something about them never felt right.

It didn’t help that women in that community were micromanaged to an extreme. They had little say in how they lived their lives. There was even an entire system in place to make sure that young girls didn’t spend too much time alone in a bathroom, lest they discover some “immoral inclinations,” as they called them. That didn’t stop Allison from making her share of discoveries, but that wasn’t what drove her away.

Even as a kid, she didn’t like being told what to do, but did it anyways because that was just what everyone was supposed to do. When she became a teenager, however, she became less inclined to go along with that system. It was around the same time she learned that teenagers get horny, curious, and passionate. She’d been told for years that this was immoral, but she never realized how powerful those feelings wore.

Then, found out how good they felt and how much she hated having others take that from her. That was where the Order of Erotes came in.

“We’re ready for you, Allison Evelyn,” came a collection of voices from behind a door at the end of the hall. “Please…join us, if you wish.”

Her mouth went dry and her hands trembled as she stood at the end of the hall, still feeling the eyes of so many focused on her. She still had a chance to turn back. A big part of the initiation revolved around choice. A member of the Order of Erotes had to choose their allegiance freely and willingly. By doing so, Allison would sever the last remaining ties to her old life.

She hadn’t forgotten how that life had attempted to make her decisions for her. She’d been told by her parents at a young age that they would pick a husband for her. They also told her what to expect from that arrangement. She was to be a loyal, obedient, dutiful wife. She was to serve him, please him sexually, and bear his children. While she’d gone along with it at first, like a good girl from an upstanding family, it never sat well with her.

Those reservations became painfully real when her mother told her what to expect on her wedding night. She’d been told sex was sacred, but sinful. It could only occur a certain way and that was the only way it could be both pleasurable and moral. What she hadn’t been told was how bad it could be when her husband was ugly, impotent, and utterly disinterested in her.

That was the first sign that everything she’d been told about sex, love, and duty was wrong. It certainly wasn’t the last, but it put her on the path that she was about to complete. Upon opening the door and entering the initiation chamber, as the Order called it, she finally chose something that felt right.

“Welcome, Allison,” a chorus of voices greeted. “Thank you for choosing us. Please, will you join us in the final initiation?”

“Yes! Yes, I will,” Allison said eagerly.

Walking into the initiation chamber was the antithesis of her wedding day. Upon taking her first step inside, two cloaked figures came behind her and closed the door. She was now locked in a windowless room, lit only by candles and special lamps, and occupied by approximately two dozen figures.

Like the ones Allison had encountered in the hall, each figure in the room wore a cloak and a mask. However, their cloaks were different in a few critical ways. They were all red and much looser than the others. As a result, she could see their legs, torsos, and arms. She still couldn’t see their faces through the mask, but she could tell they were all men and it, attractive men at that.

The room reeked of masculinity, deviance, and sexuality. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling at such a thought. It was the kind of thought that would’ve evoked dread, fear, guilt, and shame back where she came from. Now, it conjured a very different set of feelings. Those feelings led her to the center of the initiation chamber where one distinct figure awaited.

“Allison Evelyn,” he said in a deep, powerful voice, “step forth into the Circle of Eros, if you so choose.”

“Believe me, High Cleric…I choose,” Allison said, no longer hiding her eager smile.

A new strength found her. Having made her choice and entered the chamber, her hands stopped trembling. Her legs felt stronger instead of weaker. When she made her way to the center of the room, she felt a certainty she’d never felt back home. It further convinced her that she had made the right choice.

The center of the initiation chamber, also known as the Circle of Eros, was the heart of the Order’s initiation. Within that area was an elaborate setup that included six mounted candle stands, a queen-sized mattress draped in black sheets, and a five-sided pentagram that had been etched on the floor in chalk. It was the kind of setup that inspired nightmares in some, especially the people in her former home. For her, it was her hottest dream made real.

“Finally,” Allison said to herself, “a choice a truly desire.”

Her smile widened as she greeted the High Cleric, who was the most important figure in an initiation. Standing over the north end of the bed, his stature was distinct from the other men in the room, as was his attire. He wore a large black cloak that covered him heat to toe. He also wore a mask, but his was just a blank face. The only distinguishing feature that the eyes behind the mask had a distinct hue, almost as though they weren’t human.

When Allison felt those eyes narrow on her, she trembled again. However, it wasn’t out of anticipation this time. It was due to a more basic feeling.

“By entering this circle, you affirm that you’re giving yourself to the Order of Erotes,” the High Cleric said.

“Indeed, I affirm,” Allison said, his voice echoing through the room with uncanny power.

“In doing so, you open yourself to our power, passion, and prowess,” he added. “Swear to the Order that you accept.”

“I accept,” Allison said intently, leaving no shred of doubt in her words.

“Swear that you will honor the secrets, knowledge, and responsibilities of the Order. Swear that you will share in the benefits, privileges, and indulgences of the Order with all your passions. Swear to us through your body and soul!”

“I swear to the Order! I swear it with my body and soul.”

When she said those words, a hot gust swept through the room, which shouldn’t have been possible. The flame on the candles flickered brightly, filling the chamber in a fiery light. The High Cleric, his eyes now narrowed on her, revealed his gloved hand from within his cloak. Within his hand was a ceremonial chalice adorned with erotic imagery, the likes of which would’ve been scandalous back home. Seeing it signaled that the initiation had begun.

“Allison Evelyn…disrobe,” the High Cleric commanded. “Show us your body in all its beauty and glory.”

The young woman obliged with an eagerness that contrasted with who she used to be. Without shame or reservation, she pushed back her cloak, letting her long flowing hair fall freely. She then undid it and tossed it aside, revealing much of her body to the audience of masked men. Her face, breasts, and legs – the same parts of her body she’d once concealed in the name of modesty – were there for all to see.

Allison could already feel the men admiring what they saw. She admired it, as well. The body she had now was different than the one she had when she ran away from her isolated community. She hadn’t just grown into a shapely young woman. She’d actually put time and effort into her body, daring to enhance and improve upon her body. Such vanity was frowned upon back home. Beauty like hers was thought to evoke sinful thoughts. That notion wasn’t entirely wrong, but that didn’t make it any less misguided.

Emboldened by the lecherous looks of the men, Allison shed her black panties. She now stood completely naked, her butt and vagina fully visible under the fiery light. She’d even groomed herself in anticipation, as if to further distance herself from the world she escaped.

The world she’d entered was very different. In the Order of Erotes, the beauty of human flesh was not hidden, nor was it scorned. Instead, it was celebrated. It had taken time, effort, and strife to embrace that concept. The men in the room seemed to embrace it too. She could already see some of them getting aroused through their cloaks.

“Beautiful,” the High Cleric said in his admiring tone.

“Thank you, High Cleric,” Allison said. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“I have more than you think, my dear,” he said. “Lie down on the bed. You are ready for the next step…and so are the other clerics.”

“I’ve noticed that,” she said with a half-grin.

It was an indirect way of saying that the other cloaked men – also known as simple Clerics – had growing erections. Some attempted to conceal them within their cloaks. Others didn’t bother. Allison didn’t mind, either way. There would get plenty of opportunities to make use of them soon enough.

Having tossed her attire aside, the young woman laid down on bed. She made sure she was right in the center, which put her at the epicenter of the initiation chamber. In that area, the energy of the room was at its most concentrated. The light from all the candles seemed to coalesce around the area, as though it were guided by darker forces.

“Come, my fellow Clerics,” the High Cleric said. “Gather around our new consort. Shed your cloaks.”

They all obeyed. Without saying a word, they all shed their cloaks, they kept their masks on, but they wore nothing from the waist down. They hadn’t even been wearing underwear. Once the cloaks hit the floor, Allison found herself surrounded by nearly two dozen naked men.

They weren’t just ordinary, average men, either. They had the stature and muscle tone of trained athletes, bearing the masculine features that evoked a very basic reaction in any healthy heterosexual woman. Those features extended to their dicks, as well. Each man was exceptionally endowed, even by the standards of a woman who’d come from a very conservative community. It was a very lurid, yet very sensual seen.

“Beautiful,” Allison said, mirroring the words of the High Cleric. “So many wonderful men…so many passions to share.”

“And you shall share them,” the High Cleric told her. “That, I can promise you.”

As the other Clerics stood around the bed, many becoming more aroused at the sight of her naked body, the High Cleric stepped forth and held the decorative chalice over her. Then, just as another hot gust filled the room, he poured its contents onto her.

“By the power and passions ordained by the Order of Erotes, I christen your body and soul,” he said.

Allison remained perfectly still and watched as a pink, viscous fluid flowed from the chalice and splattered onto her naked body. He started at her chest, just between her breasts, and guided it up and down her torso. It quickly flowed out over her body, dripping down her sides and between her legs. As soon as it cascaded over her skin, it triggered a strong reaction.

“Oohhh! By the spirits of Erotes!” she moaned.

It was like a new energy flowing into her, imbuing her with passions and desires the likes of which exceeded that of any ordinary woman. The fluid itself had the consistency of Olive Oil, feeling hot and slippery to the touch. However, Allison knew from her time in the Order that there was much more to it.

The High Cleric had endowed it with special properties. Some came from the natural world. Some came from the realm of the supernatural. Together, they combined to induce a singular effect. It made her very horny.

“So hot!” Allison gasped. “My body…so hot.”

She could already feel her arousal manifesting. Her nipples became hard. An intense, moist heat formed between her legs. She hadn’t received the best in terms of sexual education, but she knew what an engorged vagina felt like. It was so intense she began shifting her legs and fondling her breasts, her body aching for sexual fulfillment.

“Please! In the name of Erotes…take me!” Allison said intently.

“Do you hear that, my Clerics?” the High Cleric said. “The spirit of Erotes has entered her. She longs for the fulfillment of her flesh…the fulfillment that the world denounces as illicit, immoral, and decadent. On this night, Halloween night, let us fulfill such longing!”

“Fulfill…embrace…in the name of Erotes,” the other Clerics said in unison.

The High Cleric stepped back from the bed, but not before casting her one last knowing gaze through his mask. Without saying a word, he told Allison what awaited her. Again, she showed no reservation or doubt. She just smiled at him with a gracious look, telling him to enjoy the show.

As soon as he was clear of the Circle of Eros, the other Clerics quickly gathered around the bed, surrounding her from all sides. Some were already fully aroused, stroking their dicks and gazing at her naked body with burning lust. Even through their masks, she could tell how much they wanted her.

She was the focus of their lust.

They all wanted to fuck her.

She wanted to fuck them too. More importantly, she wanted to enjoy every fucking minute of it.

“I’ll do every one of you,” she told them in a seductive tone. “Don’t hold back. Be as rough or as gentle as you wish. I want this. I want it so much!”

The masked men didn’t say a word. As per the traditions of the initiation ceremony, they had to let their actions do the talking. That was exactly what they did.

One bold Cleric got things going. Like a trained professional being called into action, he got on the bed and laid down on top of her. He must have been hornier than the rest because he already had a raging boner. Allison could hear him panting heavily with lust beneath his mask. That didn’t stop him from being diligent when he grasped her thighs, pushed her legs apart, and thrust his hips forward to enter her.

A surge of hot, intense sensations followed. It was really happening. This man, whose name she didn’t know and face she hadn’t seen, was having sex with her. His hard, manly flesh filled her hot womanly depths. It felt like the culmination of a long, arduous transition. Allison Evelyn was a new woman and it felt good to be that woman. It felt very good.

“Oohhh Erotes!” she cried out.

“The spirits hear you,” said the High Cleric. “I can too. They want to hear more!”

The masked man on top of her heeded that holy decree. Brimming with lust, power, and desire, he started moving his hips back and forth. Her body moved with his, their naked flesh gliding and grinding in an intimate heat. With each motion, she felt his member slither inside her, stimulating parts of her body that had once been taboo. It started slow, but the pace of their movements quickly escalated.

Grunts and moans soon filled the chamber. It was sex of the simplest kind. One man was on top of one woman, working his body with hers in a basic missionary position. Even with such simplicity, it worked. Allison felt a steady stream of pleasure. She even dared to supplement her masked lover’s efforts. She raked her nails down his back and dug the balls of her feet into his lower back, showing a sexual assertiveness that would’ve been scandalous back home.

“This is it. This is what I’ve been seeking. This feels…right,” Allison found herself saying as their sex unfolded.

Again, her thoughts drifted back to the world she came from. Specifically, she recalled the day after her wedding night.

She’d consummated the marriage that had been arranged between her and an older man. It hadn’t been very pleasurable, but she’d been assured that was normal. She had her doubts. On that morning, she’d taken an extra-long shower. For reasons that might have been fate or divine intervention, she masturbated until she had an orgasm, something she hadn’t gotten with her husband. That was the first time that something wasn’t right.

That same day, which also happened to be Halloween, Allison made a bold decision to make certain. That involved seducing and having sex with her husband’s younger brother, who just happened to be her age. They did it in a closet that had been lit with a single lightbulb. Despite it being cramped, quick, and grossly immoral by the standards of her community, it felt good. It felt so good that she could no longer trust what her parents, pastors, and teachers had told her about sex, love, or anything.

It led to a major scandal once word got out that she cheated on her husband. They tried to make her repent. Allison refused. When it became clear that they weren’t going to listen, she ran away. Had she not found the Order of Erotes, she would’ve been in a terrible situation.

Now, here she was, joining a community that was the polar opposite of the one she’d come from. She was naked, on her back, and having sex with a masked man before an audience of eager onlookers. The fact it felt so good confirmed that she’d made the right decision.

“Yes! Yes! Oohhh yes!” Allison exclaimed. “Spirits of Erotes…I’m coming!”

“Hear her, spirits!” the High Cleric proclaimed. “Hear this woman’s ecstasy!”

Allison made sure she was extra vocal for those spirits. She achieved orgasm so quickly that she seemed to surprise the masked man on top of her. He steadied the pace of his movements, elevating his body slightly so that she could squeeze her breasts when she climaxed. When it hit, she threw her head back, curled her toes, and let every spirit of every realm know how much she loved sex.

“I think the spirits heard you, my dear,” the High Cleric said with a bit of humor.

Some of the other Clerics laughed as well. Allison barely heard any of them. She was too busy soaking in the ecstasy.

It was like a ball of fire that flared into a raging firestorm. It started in her core and erupted in all directions, sending ripples of bliss coursing through every nerve. She was so theatrical with her orgasm that even the man on top of her had to tighten his embrace on her, just to keep her from getting too erratic. She showed her appreciation by laughing and kissing his mask.

“Go on. Share in the spirit with me!” Allison whispered into his ear.

The masked man replied only with an eager grunt, but he clearly got the message. While she continued soaking in the pleasure, he kept hammering away, pushing towards an orgasm of his own. When he achieved it, he let out a deep, manly grunt that filled the chamber almost as much as her euphoric cries.

“Mmm…your spirit,” she purred. “I feel it!”

That was a colorful way of saying she felt him come inside her. He was less animated than her, but he still put on a show for the others. She could sense his dick throbbing inside her as he released his load of manly fluid. She found herself pawing his chest, feeling his masculine sinews as he shared in the pleasure. That idea of intimacy being shared and free, driven by desire rather than duty, made the feeling even more profound.

It also left her hungry for more. Thankfully, the other Clerics had been watching intently. Many had gotten fully aroused by such an erotic sight. Some were already stroking their dicks in anticipation.

“So many strong, handsome men. So many hard, throbbing cocks,” Allison said as she looked around at them.

“They’re all here for you, if that is what you desire,” the High Cleric said.

“Believe me, High Cleric. I desire them. I desire all of them!”

“Then, by all means…fulfill those desires.”

After that, the initiation ceremony became less a ritual and more a free-for-all. Hot sex with one man had just been the appetizer. Now, the buffet was open.

As soon as the first Cleric withdrew from her and slipped off the bed, three more came in to take his place. The first thing they did was turn her over so that she was on all fours. Next, one Cleric got behind her, grabbed her by the hips, and thrust his cock into her pussy, which was still dripping with various sexual fluids. As he began rocking her body with more sex, the other two Clerics got in front of her and angled their dicks at her face, inviting her to taste them. She accepted their invitation eagerly.

The sex that followed wasn’t so simple. While getting fucked from behind, she hungrily sucked the dicks of the two men in front of her. Allison wasn’t shy or reserved about it, either. She licked, suckled, and enveloped their throbbing flesh between her lips as though they were her favorite treat. Oral sex had been another taboo that her old teachers had railed against. It wasn’t always forbidden, but it was supposed to be something that a woman only did to arouse her husband. She couldn’t possibly enjoy it.

Again, they were wrong. Allison enjoyed it. She enjoyed it almost as much as the men she sucked off.

“Mmm…spirits of Erotes,” they both chanted, their voices muffled by the masks.

Their reactions only made her suck and stroke them harder. It helped her get them both off with an efficiency that even surprised the High Cleric. When the first one came, he grabbed the side of her head and gasped as he shot his load right down her throat. Allison made it a point to swallow every drop. When the second one came, he pulled out and sprayed his manly load all over her face. As if to tease him, she gathered up the fluid with two fingers and licked it up.

The High Cleric was even more impressed.

“The spirit is strong in her, indeed,” he said.

Her oral sex skills got the other Clerics waiting in the wing more excited. Just as she finished with the first two, two more took their place. Some tried to shove their way to the front, eager to indulge with her. She cast them grins that were both reassuring and seductive.

“Be patient, you handsome studs. You’ll all get your turn!” she told them.

Shortly after Allison said those words, the man fucking her pussy from behind climaxed. He barely finished depositing his load into her womanhood before another man shoved him aside and took his place. In short order, she was being fucked again by another Cleric. She climaxed again soon after. While not quite as theatrical as the first, the fresh surge of ecstasy left her wanting more.

“Oohhh yes! More! I desire more!” Allison cried out.

“And more, you shall have,” the High Cleric proclaimed.

Her body and her world rocked. On one end, a well-endowed man vigorously pumped his cock into her pussy. On the other, at least two equally endowed men took turns receiving oral sex from her. They got to fulfill their desires. She got to indulge in hers. It was a well-oiled machine of indulgence and she was the fuel that kept it going.

Allison remained on her hands and knees for a while, satisfying as many men as she could with her mouth and her pussy. At one point, a Cleric grew even bolder and thrust his cock into her ass. That triggered a strong reaction, causing her to gasp briefly at the sharp sting that followed. Her body quickly adjusted. That brief discomfort turned into yet another source of pleasure.

It was yet another forbidden source intimacy by the standards of her former home. Once again, those standards were wrong. Like so many other feelings she’d experienced since joining the Order of Erotes, the sensations she had been told were so wrong felt so good. It emboldened her to seek more of it.

“Oohhh spirits!” she moaned. “My soul…my body…every hole…take me!”

A chorus of grunts from the other Clerics told her the spirits had listened. Her desires – the same desires she’d been told were wrong, immoral, and sinful – were going to be fulfilled in the utmost.

As the initiation chamber became thick with the scent of sweat, sex, and decadence, the indulgence took many forms. Now that Allison had shown a fondness for anal sex as well, more Clerics got in on the ceremony. They guided her body into multiple positions, taking her from multiple angles.

In one, she was on her side with a Cleric fucking her ass from behind while another pumped his cock between her tits.

In another, she was on her back again with one Cleric on top of her and two more at her side, taking turns getting oral sex.

In another, she was on top of a Cleric, riding his dick while another fucked her ass in an act of simultaneous penetration. That earned her an especially strong orgasm, but it did little to slow her down.

On top of the humping, there were plenty of other intimate gestures. As her naked body rocked in accord with theirs, a sea of hands reached in to caress her naked flesh. Some fondled her breasts while others squeezed her butt. A few even reached in and fondled her clitoris, demonstrating more knowledge of female anatomy than anyone in her hometown in the process. It was never rough or greedy. At times, it was downright affectionate.

It was as though they wanted her to enjoy it, just as much. That shouldn’t have been such a radical notion, but by the standards and taboos she’d come form, it was.

“Take her…embrace her…touch her,” the High Cleric said. “Don’t just satisfy her desires. Make her feel desired.”

Every masked Cleric took that order seriously. They didn’t just fuck her like some horny animal in heat. They went out of their way to share in the experience. In response, Allison returned the favor by putting in the same effort.

One-by-one, she had her way with every Cleric. She quickly lost count of how many she’d fucked, but she was fairly certain she’d got them all off at least once. Whether it was by fucking her pussy, her ass, or receiving oral sex, they all got to fulfill their desires. She got off multiple times in the process. No matter how decadent it got, it never felt like anything more than people enjoying the rich pleasures of the flesh. It perfectly reflected the spirit of Order of Erotes.

“Love…lust…pleasure…beauty…flesh…all balanced. All in harmony,” the High Cleric said. “What others repress, we celebrate. Tonight, on Halloween, we all celebrate!”

A round of cheers echoed from within the grunts and moans of Allison’s initiation. She would’ve cheered too if she hadn’t a cock in her mouth. She didn’t have to because she was the catalyst for the celebration. By joining the Order of Erotes, she contributed to that balance.

The steady procession of sex acts continued. Allison pushed her desires and her endurance far past the limits that a lifetime of repression had imposed. The flames from the candles burned brightly and the room echoed with the moans, pants, and grunts of their decadent activities. As new limits caught up with her, the pace and intensity of the sex settled.

By the time she’d had her way with every Cleric, her hair was a mess. Her body was covered in a layer of sweat and sexual fluids. She was panting heavily, but even after that last orgasm, a look of contentment never left her face.

“So this is what it feels like…to be satisfied,” Allison gasped as one more Cleric climaxed with her. “Completely…and utterly…satisfied.”

The Cleric on top of her let out one last grunt of his own as he came too. At that point, both she and the other Clerics had gotten their fill of indulgence. Most of the Clerics were already off to the side of the room, catching their breath and watching the rest of the spectacle. After that last Cleric slipped off the bed, she was the only one left.

Lying naked atop the ruffled sheets, literally glowing with sex under the light of the cancels, Allison felt like both a goddess and a demon. She felt like the living embodiment of the spirits of Erotes. What she just did was right and wrong on so many levels, but that didn’t make it any less satisfying.

“Allison Evelyn,” the High Cleric said, his voice echoing with a divine authority, “your initiation is complete.”

“And what an initiation it was!” she said, already sounding like a new woman.

The last Cleric exited the Circle of Eros, leaving her alone in the center of the chamber. With the rest of the Clerics watching, each looking just as satisfied after having their way with her, the High Cleric approached the bed.

He was still completely shrouded. For all Allison knew, he was a demon or some sort of otherworldly creature. He could’ve been the devil himself behind that mask. Whoever he was, his gaze marked the completion of a long, arduous journey.

The world Allison came from was so restrained. Even the larger world around it championed restraint, reservation, and passivity. Order, abstinence, and propriety were championed. Indulgence, decadence, and ecstasy were discouraged. However, those discouraged feelings were what made life fulfilling. For Allison, who’d been denied such fulfillment, the Order of Erotes gave her an opportunity. She simply seized it.

“Welcome to the Order, Allison,” the High Cleric said. “From this day forward, your body and soul are welcome. May your every need and desire be met through our shared power.”

“Thank you, High Cleric,” she said gratefully. “I promise to honor that power responsibly…especially on Halloween!”

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Happy Halloween 2019!

To everyone out there who has helped make this website such a joy to work on, Happy Halloween! Whether you have a sweet tooth, a taste for horror, or a fan of sexy costumes, I hope you find a way to enjoy the festivities today. Take care!

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Jack Fisher’s Weekly Quick Pick Comic: Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death Of Superman #1

In the world of comics, alternate universes and various “what if” scenarios tend to be hit or miss. Some stories become more than simple thought experiments that plays with the malleable timelines and multiverses surrounding certain characters. A few even go onto become beloved and acclaimed. Stories like “Superman: Red Son” or “Age of Apocalypse” are shining examples of just how great these stories can be.

However, they’re the exception rather than the norm. Most scenarios that deal in alternate universes and “what if” scenarios tend to be either entirely forgettable or too absurd to take seriously. The stories that do set themselves apart usually succeed because the concept is strong and compelling.

By that standard, “Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death Of Superman #1” has a lot going for it. The original “Death of Superman” story is one of the most iconic stories in the history of superhero comics. It raised the bar for how dramatic, impactful, and heartfelt a superhero comic can be. It showed just how great these characters can be, even in the face of tragedy.

This comic dares to flip the script. It explores a very different, very bleak scenario that shows how tragedy can bring out the worst in people. It dares to contemplate how even those who once championed the ideals of characters like Superman can become corrupt. That’s exactly what happens to Lois Lane in this story.

The idea, alone, is intriguing. Lois Lane isn’t just Superman’s iconic love interest. She’s someone who actively fights for truth, justice, and the American Way without the aid of other-wordly powers. Whether she’s a reporter or Superman’s lover, she personifies these values in ways that few characters can match. She’s the last person in the DC Universe that you would expect to be corrupted by tragedy.

However, in this world when the events of “Death of Superman” play out, that’s exactly what happens. Moreover, writer Jeff Loveness makes it feel entirely believable. As the story unfolds, we see a version of Lois Lane that isn’t just consumed by grief. She’s hardened by it.

Instead of grieving the loss of her lover and hero, she’s consumed by anger. She sees a world full of heroes that Superman helped inspire. Then, when he needed them most, they failed him. They let him die. On top of that, his death didn’t inspire people to be better. Things just went back to the way they were, minus their greatest hero.

In that context, it’s easy to understand why Lois would get so angry. As a result, when she has a chance to embrace the power of the Eradicator, you almost want to cheer her on. Suddenly, she has a chance to carry on Superman’s legacy. At the same time, it’s easy to see how this kind of power will ultimately corrupt her.

Power corrupting fallible human beings is a fairly common recourse in superhero comics. It’s the basis for some of the most iconic stories of all time. However, the fact that this is Lois Lane becoming corrupt is what really gives this story its impact. It makes “Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death Of Superman #1” feel like more than just another dystopian timeline.

What Lois is able to do with the power of the Eradicator is extensive, but her grief has her cross lines that Superman never would. Loveness never gives the impression that she crosses these lines because she’s a fallible human. There’s a progression that builds up inside her, driven by sorrow and anger. She never just snaps. It feels like a natural extension of her anguish.

Naturally, it puts her at odds with other heroes and major villains. I won’t spoil how it plays out, but it gets pretty dark. However, it never gets so dark that it seems gratuitous. Loveless still makes an effort to capture the drama and heart that helped make “Death of Superman” such an endearing story. While it’s impossible to match the impact of the original story, this story still strikes the right chords.

There are moments in “Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death Of Superman #1” that defy the traditional conventions of the DC Universe. It’s appropriately dark. At the same time, though, it never feels like the characters completely deviate from who they are. This darker version of Lois Lane still feels like the Lois Lane we’ve known for over 80 years.

Loveness makes the case that even someone like Lois can walk a darker path in a believable way. The artistic style of Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, and Norm Rapmund give that story an appropriately dark tone. It’s dramatic, but it never feels like it’s just doing things for shock value. Granted, seeing Lois become so corrupt is shocking, but that’s not the only thing driving the story.

While “Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death Of Superman #1” probably won’t garner the same acclaim as “Superman: Red Son,” it succeeds in ways that so many other “what if” comics fail. It takes an intriguing concept and develops it in a believable way. It doesn’t undermine the characters or the original themes behind them. It simply tells a darker version of a well-known story and tells it very well.

Lois Lane will always be defined by her connection with Superman. In so many stories within so many worlds, that connection is what brings out the best in her. In this one exceptionally dark world, it brings out the worst and that makes Superman’s death even more tragic.

 

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Daily Sexy Musings: First Dates

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First dates are like the first sentence of an epic story. They’re a necessary and critical step towards turning that initial spark into something deeper and more passionate. Most people don’t know they’ve found the love of their life on a first date. However, if their love is meant to be, that’s when they take their first step.

I’ve had my share of first dates. I have mixed feelings about the date I went on with my first real girlfriend. It wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t some romantic epic, either. I took her out to my favorite restaurant, not knowing how to go about it. I was so nervous and inexperienced that I’m pretty sure I made a fool of myself at least twice. Later, I found out my ex was just as nervous and we both ultimately laughed about it.

Even though that relationship didn’t work out, that first date we shared told us that we had something special. It affirmed what we already felt to some extent and that was a great moment. Awkward moments aside, I look back at that first date fondly. To those who are still with their significant others, I’m sure that first date stands out in a great many ways.

A first date is just the first step in a much larger process. It’s a hell of a process, too. Whether or not you’re a romantic, it helps set a tone for a relationship. Strong relationships will often have memorable first dates. I hope this Daily Sexy Musing helps the established couples out there remember that first date fondly.

I just met you.

You just met me.

I don’t know you.

You don’t know me.

Tonight, we change that. I’ve dared to open my heart once more. You return the favor, accepting my invitation and sharing the unspoken intrigue that blossoms between us. Being near you, we both sense the heat of the chemistry between us. It’s like a tension that yearns to break, drawing us closer and beckoning our passions.

Every great love begins with a spark.

Every spark is only the beginning of a larger flame.

Every flame needs space, fuel, and energy to grow.

That’s what tonight is all about. On this, our first date, I intend to make the case that I am someone worth loving. I also hope to surmise whether that chemistry between us is more than just amorous instinct. You are beautiful. That much, I know to be true. Is the soul beneath that beauty worth embracing? That, I don’t know.

It’s a long, arduous process, finding out who someone is and surmising whether they’re the one for us. It involves more than just fancy dates, affectionate gestures, and heated lovemaking. Together, we seek to determine whether our lives can become entwined. Loving each other is only the first step. Being together involves many more.

No matter how many steps there are, I want to find out. In you, I see both passion and possibilities. I want to spend an entire night with you, learning about and briefly exploring your world. If you are willing, I’ll gladly share mine.

I take you by the hand.

I guide you into a night of shared intrigue.

I open myself to you in hopes that you open yourself to me.

This is our first date. We both know how we want this journey to end. Together, we take that first step.

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How Jar Jar Binks Exposed The Flaws (And Dangers) Of Social Media

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Every now and then, something extraordinary happens that reveals how flawed our current system is and how far behind we are in terms of fixing it. Sometimes, it’s tragic. Sometimes, it’s frustrating. In rare cases, it’s hilarious, albeit in a distressing way. Personally, I find those cases most revealing.

Recently, there was one notable instance that included one of the most reviled fictional characters of the past 20 years. No, I’m not talking about King Joffrey or Ramsay Bolton. I’m talking about Jar Jar Binks. If you’re a “Star Wars” fan, then that name likely inspires all sorts of anger, dread, and distress.

Jar Jar is both a joke and a cautionary tale. Aside from proving that George Lucas has no business directing another “Star Wars,” he demonstrates just how wrong an attempt at comedic relief can go. While he wasn’t the only problem with the prequels, he augmented the flaws. On top of being annoying, incoherent, and incompetent most of the time, he was a major symptom of a much larger disease.

Once again, everything that makes Jar Jar such a pariah in the cultural landscape has exposed another disease in a place that’s not far, far away. For reasons that many found confusing and confounding, Jar Jar started trending on Twitter. While there was a someone legitimate reason for this, it was indirect and unintentional. There was no concerted effort to get him trending. It wasn’t even part of any elaborate trolling.

The fact that it took a while to explain why this infamous character was trending says more about social media than it does about Jar Jar. There’s no question that social media has changed the media landscape in ways that cannot be overstated. We current live in a world where companies invest a great deal of time and resources into making their presence on social media unique. Some definitely do it better than others.

At the same time, social media has not always had a positive effect on the world and its users. There have been plenty of cases where social media has been used to brutally harass people and spread blatant lies. There are even some cases in which social media played a role in directing real harm to innocent people. The dangers are there and well-documented.

Most people with an internet connection know those dangers are there. Many see it as the cost of doing business for a technology that has an uncanny ability to connect people. I certainly pay that cost, given my own presence on social media. However, what just happened with Jar Jar on Twitter demonstrated that the cost might have hidden fees in the fine print.

Remember, there was no concerted effort to get Jar Jar trending. Even after he did, nobody could figure out why he was trending. On top of that, the fact that nobody could figure it out only got people more curious, which made him trend even more. It was a self-reinforcing cycle that was funny in some respects, but distressing in many others.

It’s somewhat similar to what happens with people who are famous just for being famous and little more. This unfortunate, but inescapable aspect of celebrity culture rarely creates people who garner respect or admiration. If anything, they foster cynicism and disconnection from the culture. That kind of fame just feels so random, unearned, and empty. Thanks to Jar Jar, we now know social media trends can do the same.

Things can trend for no discernible reason. Matters that nobody even wants to get trending can garner unexpected and often unwanted attention. Thanks to the mechanisms of social media, the mystery behind why something trends can make it trend even more. While that’s going on, legitimate issues that warrant attention can slip under the radar.

Human beings only have so much attention to give. When something like Jar Jar trends for no discernible reason, a non-significant chunk of our collective attention is redirected. It would be one thing if it were just some masterfully act of trolling, but this is something we do to ourselves collective. That means we have no one to blame but ourselves when something like Jar Jar trends.

We’re the ones who make and share these hashtags. The social media companies are just tools and businesses. Like many companies, they’ll engage in plenty of shady activities. They’ll do whatever they think will make them more money. At the end of the day, though, we’re still the consumers who shape social media.

That should be cause for concern because this isn’t vapid celebrity culture we’re dealing with. The things that trend on social media have real-world consequences. Companies have suffered significant harm. Lives of non-celebrity people have been ruined. A random person who becomes famous for no reason rarely causes actual harm to anyone. Social media trends can do so much more.

In some cases, it can cause a great deal of good. If the right thing gets trending, it can rally people to a worthy cause. It can also inform the public of a serious issue. It can even turn real-world tragedies into a powerful force for good. Personally, I think this good overshadows the bad, but when I see Jar Jar trending, I can’t deny that there’s a flaw in this system.

Is there a fix? I believe there is, but I don’t believe it’s as simple as companies tweaking their rules or insulting people who share hash tags. Jar Jar may have been a source of frustration in the early 2000s, but he’s only relevant in 2019 because we make him relevant. It’s not him. It’s not George Lucas. This is all us.

I believe we’re better than that. Despite all the awful things I’ve seen trending on Twitter and Facebook, I see far more positives that warrant far greater attention. Jar Jar might be a symptom, but I take comfort in the fact that he’s a symptom that often burns out quickly. When something is empty, people get bored of it much easier and nobody should ever underestimate the power of boredom.

In the grand scheme of things, Jar Jar trending for no reason isn’t necessarily a setback. It’s just a sign that we, as a tech-savvy society, have a long way to go with respect to managing social media. In an imperfect world, dumb things will trend for dumb reasons. However, when something like Jar Jar starts trending, that’s a sign that we have plenty of room for improvement.

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