SSC 2007: It Works Both Ways, by the Crimson Kid

It Works Both Ways

"IT WORKS BOTH WAYS" by the Crimson Kid [Category: Adult]
{508 words}

"Both ways?" My friend Brittany shook her head. "No, it doesn't--I'm the only disciplinarian in our relationship. You know that, Miriam, you helped us work out our understanding."

"That's not what I mean," I explained. "You both have responsibilities, Brittie."

The lithe brunette sighed. "Don't I have the discretion NOT to discipline, isn't that part of the deal?"

"Absolutely," I agreed, "If you decide to grant forgiveness without corrective chastisement."

She leaned back against the couch. "So what's the problem then?"

My gaze met her deep brown eyes. "The problem is that Paul didn't feel forgiven yesterday and he still doesn't. Forgiveness doesn't involve withholdng closeness and affection, but he says that you've done that to him."

Brittany broke eye contact. "He lost his temper and was rude to my mother, just because I beat him at tennis and playfully teased him."

My eyebrows arched. "Is that all?"

She shrugged. "Paul slipped on a wet patch and fell backward onto his butt during our match...I laughed at that, but I knew he wasn't hurt."

"Just his fragile male ego." I grinned. "His derriere can absorb lots of impact."

"When be blew up at my mother's house I decided to simply let it go." Brittany sounded defensive. "After all, I contributed to his moodiness."

"But DID you let it go, Brittie," I demanded, "Or have you been cold to Paul?"

Her eyes flickered. "Naturally I still wasn't happy with his behavior--I let him know that."

I frowned. "The ice treatment after you yelled at him, hmmmm?"

"Scolded him, you mean," she countered.

"Scolding occurs before or during a spanking," I pointed out, "But Paul wasn't spanked, was he?"

My cousin's girlfriend sighed. "I wasn't in the mood, Miriam, I just wanted to forgive and forget."

"Okay." I steepled my fingers."What if you'd been in the mood but Paul hadn't felt like being punished?"

Her eyes flashed. "He would've gotten a bare-bottom blistering anyway, right in front of my mother." She paused. "He had on an athletic supporter, and Momma knows about our spanking relationship." That revelation wasn't entirely surprising since Mrs. Sinclair had occasionally strapped Paul's exposed posterior during his boyhood.

"So if discipline is deserved, mood is irrelevant," I summarized, "Both ways."

Brittany nodded grudgingly, conceding my point. "So what now?"

"Better late than never," I responded. "I didn't come here alone, so I'll bring in my companions from the foyer--but I'd propose one adjustment..."

Moments later, my cousin Paul found himself bending over the arm of his sweetheart's couch, shorts around his knees and thong-separated bare bumcheeks upthrust. His southern hemispheres provided an ideal target for Brittany's mother, whose strong right arm was cracking her pliable razor strop across them steadily and vigorously.

"Once you've dealt with him yourself," I reminded Brittany as we stood watching Paul's rump redden rapidly while he squirmed, kicked and howled, "Show him he's forgiven and that you love him dearly."

"Certainly, Miriam," She affirmed resolutely, caressing the Spencer spanking paddle she held, "But that will be afterward..."

{The End}

This story tries to do rather too much in 500 words was my honest opinion. The dialogue between Miriam and Brittany is all carefully thought out stuff but, to my mind, consumes too much of the few words the writer has. The subject of the discussion, Paul, is reduced to a one dimensional irrelevance and the tale seems to take a lot of time before it gets to the actual denouement. If what the writer intended was a dissertation on an F/M relationship's joint responsibilities then that was quite well observed but the story lacked a little excitement in consequence.

~ Alex Birch

Although I found the story a bit confusing as to who was who and their place in the story, I still enjoyed it a lot and felt myself feeling sorry for Paul. I'm a bit unclear as to what the title refers to, but I found that it didn't detract from the story and my enjoyment of it. After all, who wouldn't enjoy a story with a strap and a Spencer paddle in it.

~ Barrister

This story strikes on some frequently discussed newsgroup topics: The dynamics of a disciplinary relationship, the responsibilities of each party practicing DD, and withholding affection as a form of punishment. I like the conclusions drawn. The cast of characters confused me a bit, and I had to re-read it to get the family relationships straight in my head. I like that the story is mostly dialog because it moves quickly, but maybe a bit too quickly given the number of characters. Still, it discusses some complicated issues with humorous style and gives us an ending that is satisfying.

~ IrishWinks

This story utilizes dialogue very well. I enjoy the exchange between the two main characters. They explain the intricacies of a spanking relationship, describe the circumstances that lead to punishment, and relay a conflict that must be resolved.

This story brings up good points about spankings and forgiveness. I like when Miriam says "The problem is that Paul didn't feel forgiven yesterday and he still doesn't. Forgiveness doesn't involve withholding closeness and affection, but he says that you've done that to him." It shows how sometimes without punishment, two people can become more distant and their problems can go unresolved. This story does a nice job helping the reader to understand this concept and it resolves the situation with a well-written spanking scene at the end.

~ Jess

I do enjoy a story where the Top is reminded of their responsibilities and held to them. It's all too rarely seen in real life. Going both ways doesn't mean the Top has to accept discipline herself, as evidenced here, it just means they have hold up their end of the deal. It's an interesting and different sort of premise.

This Top however seems to be in need of a good spanking herself. Her self-righteous 'I didn't feel like it but of course HE'D get spanked whether he wanted one or not' attitude was annoying. And of course his misbehavior came after she had publicly ridiculed him. In the end she is convinced to do her 'duty' and spank her husband, but one wishes her friend would spank HER instead.

The rest of the story is well-written but follows a fairly standard spanking format.

~ Kessily