Exploring the realms of sexual fantasies

When I observed a flier hailing the arrival of Eroticon at Axis Saturday night, I knew immediately what to do -- find a female reporter to escort me to cover the show. For the last two months I have attempted to explore the overall BDSM scene in person, online and within books, but somewhat to no avail.\nFor those who lose themselves in acronyms, we are talking about "bondage & discipline," "dominance & submission" and "sadomasochism."\nGraduate student Elisha Sauers, a former Indiana Daily Student opinion editor and current staff reporter, showed up at my doorstep costumed in leather and high-heel black boots, with a dog-collar wrapped around her neck. She handed me the leash and, in doing so, jokingly invited me to take control of her.\nAfter a brief trip through Wal-Mart's Halloween costume section where I procured a devil-like costume for myself -- a red-hooded cape with wizard-like cuffs -- Elisha and I embarked to Eroticon. \nWhile undressing to my skivvies in her car before putting on my costume -- the first act of "trust" between us -- Elisha and I discussed the night's rules with my hand figuratively around her neck. For the first time in my life I was acting the role of a BDSM dominant, or "dom," for the remainder of the evening.\nElisha trusted me enough to lead her around town and within Axis by a collar around her neck, and she submitted herself to a night of public perception as my "slave." On the other hand, our exchange of power was based on journalistic enterprise instead of sexual tension. \nThe BDSM literature describes the "dom" as often fulfilling his or her needs by pleasuring their "sub" partner, which can create an intense emotional relationship between the two persons based on a mutual desire to satisfy one another.\nEroticon offered participants a wide variety of BDSM stimuli, referred to as "eye candy" by other participants, in addition to educational programs, audience contests and BDSM booths like a foot-massager. I lost myself in the erotic-event -- imagery of naked humans decorated in body paint, women bound in ropes, and dog-collared men waddling in tow. \nRenee, the foot masseuse, said her foot-worship style consisted of soaking the feet in oils, cleaning the feet in a lathering wash, getting the ruff spots off of the soles and concentrating on the arches with rose-petal oils. Watching Elisha derive pleasure from the foot rub reminded me of my role as "dom" -- to ensure my "sub's" needs, wishes and desires were met. \nWhile we did not volunteer ourselves to experience a free-flogging by "Mistress Moth's" posse of Panopticon dominatrices, Elisha and I did partake in "Edible Beauties," which consisted of scrapping a strawberry across a duo of chocolate-covered women before consumption.\nEroticon enables local and visiting BDSM-lifestyle Hoosiers a "safe place" to share their sexuality and fantasies with other like-minded folks.\nAs I learned Saturday night, BDSM-relationships are about communicating limits before engaging in fantasies. \nI do not think I will ever depart from the thought of devoting myself entirely to the needs, wishes and desires of another human being, or two or three.