The Collar
RE: The Collar
New story: The Collar (M/f, steel, collar, stuck)Jamiewakes up, somewhat hung over, and still wearing a locking steel collarshe tried on at a fetish show. What happened to the key?This one is an experiment in the “less is more†school of thought.Less bondage, that is. Rather more dialogue. Please tell me if it works.
RE: The Collar
That was a great story, it made me want a collar like that one.
RE: The Collar
[quote="2bBound"]it made me want a collar like that one.[/quote]Yeah, me too. When I write, I always find myself researching what I'm writing about -- in this case, the big unknown was how indestructible a metal collar could be. Frankly, I still don't have a really good handle on that; what I learned is that metallurgy is a really serious subject full of complex trade-offs and imperfectly understood chemistry, a real black art.
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RE: The Collar
[quote="ruru67"]When I write, I always find myself researching what I'm writing about -- in this case, the big unknown was how indestructible a metal collar could be. Frankly, I still don't have a really good handle on that;[/quote] You mean you're still not quite sure how indestructible a metal collar could be? As I read the story, I was wondering if the collar could be even more indestructible still. The characters seemed uncertain whether an angle grinder could be used safely to remove it, and didn't seem to think there was any other possible method (in the absence of the key) of removing it. But would it in fact be definitely possible or definitely impossible in real life for an angle grinder to be used safely in this situation? I would kind of expect that an expert in metal and tool usage would know definitely whether it could be safely used or not. And if it could be used, would it have been possible for some additional properties or features of the collar to make this impossible or unacceptably dangerous? The idea of bondage or restraint that is indestructible - impossible to remove - kind of intrigues me. What if the restraints had been, instead of a collar, wrist and ankle restraints done in a hogtie? - just as thick and strong; in all respects similar except for where the restraints are applied? And supposing the key were truly lost - burnt in a fire, flushed down a toilet accidentally, or something like that? Would an angle grinder be usable then? (Or anything else?) Or might the poor victim have to remain hogtied for the rest of their life, or else a release attempt made at the risk of their life?[quote="ruru67"]what I learned is that metallurgy is a really serious subject full of complex trade-offs and imperfectly understood chemistry, a real black art.[/quote] In what sense? I'm a bit surprised to hear that it is apparently so little understood.Regards, Michael.LockedInALocker2011-02-16 06:33:53
RE: The Collar
[quote="LockedInALocker"]You mean you're still not quite sure how indestructible a metal collar could be? As I read the story, I was wondering if the collar could be even more indestructible still. The characters seemed uncertain whether an angle grinder could be used safely to remove it, and didn't seem to think there was any other possible method (in the absence of the key) of removing it.[/quote]Well, exactly how hard/strong the metal could be wasn't really the point of the story. I did want to be reasonably sure that the story was believable though, hence the research. And I like to learn stuff.The "Readers Digest" edition of metallurgy comes down to a trade-off between hardness and strength; as you introduce carbon and other elements into the metal, it starts to form crystalline structures, losing its malleability becoming hard; this resists cutting and abrading tools, but at the same time the reduced malleability actually reduces the material's ability to withstand shock, and the material may become prone to cracking or even shattering. A lot of treatments harden only the surface, which protects edges facing wear while retaining the strength associated with the more ductile metal within.[quote]I would kind of expect that an expert in metal and tool usage would know definitely whether it could be safely used or not.[/quote]Perhaps. In the story, Alan is speculating whether John would take on the job, who hasn't seen exactly what he's up against. So there's an element of uncertainty. The collar is hardened to the point that tool steel won't cut it; an abrasive tool will be needed. There's no doubt that it can be cut; it's just that it's not going to be a quick and easy job, and with the metal close to Jamie's skin, it's going to be hard to protect her from the heat and sparks. That isn't a problem you run into every day in a metal shop.[quote] And if it could be used, would it have been possible for some additional properties or features of the collar to make this impossible or unacceptably dangerous?[/quote]I explored that theme in Fifty Feet, so I didn't really want to do it again. For the purpose of this story, difficulty and inconvenience (as opposed to near impossibility) of escape is sufficient.The Steel Collar, by Arceye does involve a permanent, booby-trapped collar, although I'm not convinced it would be genuinely impossible to remove. I've seen other stories deal with permanently incapacitated bondagettes. Part of the point of this story is that Jamie is not physically incapacitated.By the way, Andromeda Chained explores semi-permanent bondage (handcuffs) in a non-kinky setting.[quote][QUOTE]what I learned is that metallurgy is a really serious subject full of complex trade-offs and imperfectly understood chemistry, a real black art.[/quote]In what sense? I'm a bit surprised to hear that it is apparently so little understood[/quote]I said "imperfectly", not "little". There's a lot of scholarly material out there, lots of active areas of study, from the esoteric to the brutally practical. Basically, a Ph.D in metallurgy and materials science will keep you lucratively employed for life.
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RE: The Collar
Never mind all the discussion - This was a good, readable story, as always with your work.Thank you, and please keep them coming.
Struggle and Submit
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RE: The Collar
[quote="Housebound"]Never mind all the discussion[/quote] Just wondering what problem you have with the discussion. Don't you like discussing stories, talking about the ideas that might be behind them - or reading others' ideas on them?Regards, Michael.
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RE: The Collar
No, it was just that all that is there/isn't there an indistructable steel collar islikely to distract from the merit of the story. For the record i don't believe there is a collar that cannot be cut, BUT the means and the locationwould probably mean that the only effective method would entail the prior removal ofthe wearers head!
Struggle and Submit
RE: The Collar
[quote=Housebound]the only effective method would entail the prior removal of the wearers head![/quote]I mentioned in another thread a SF story where the protagonist does exactly that ...
RE: The Collar
[quote="ruru67"]By the way, Andromeda Chained explores semi-permanent bondage (handcuffs) in a non-kinky setting.[/quote]I don't if you've ever read the other books by the author. The handcuffs appear again in later books, not often, as a reoccurring way of playing with people's minds and keeping the wife straight as to what is important in life. I've personally read the collected works of the author posted to date. Some are better then others but all worth reading. Word of advice is to read them in order. Only two don't really build where another left off but still add to the overall background of the series.
RE: The Collar
Okay, I started that story with an odd sense of expectation, as so many stories posted here are little more than descriptions of intense and often unrealistic bondage. But that was the wrong expectation. This one was several realistic and atypical characters, and a genunine though not unpalatable predicament. And it had a happy ending, on at least two levels.Well done!Sei.
Embrace your inner wierdo! No-one else will! (No, they'd be more likely to lock it up and throw away the key...)
RE: The Collar
[quote="ruru67"]the big unknown was how indestructible a metal collar could be. Frankly, I still don't have a really good handle on that; what I learned is that metallurgy is a really serious subject full of complex trade-offs and imperfectly understood chemistry, a real black art. [/quote]I liked the story. It didn't seem like how indestructible the collar was a question. It seemed clear that it was past bolt cutters or a hack saw and that getting it cut off would be as embarrassing as wearing it. Added to that was that getting it cut off would destroy a nice object and end her contact with some one and something she had an interest in.The basics of metallurgy are well understood and it's all about trade offs, that's where the old classic lines about the metal unobtainium come from. The black art really starts to come in with surface treatments and mixed or layered alloys. Some of the mixed metal industrial carbide cutting tools are a good example. They take a supper hard carbide metal, break it into a fine powder, mix it with a less hard tool steel and then heat and compress it to form a cutting tool that fits a new niche. There is the layering of steels in swords that dates back a very long time. A safe is rated by how long some one who knows about that safe would take to break into it (not picking the lock). The safe has a tough skin and then layers or a mix of things, some very hard to cut and needing specific cutting tools, others soft and gummy meant to clog up the cutting features of those tools. Just crossing the point of cutting something with bolt cutters or a hack saw means you likely need to involve others and for most people would require asking around to even find a person who could do the job. So while I do enjoy the stories about magic or some material that can't be cut, I also enjoy the more realistic ones like this.roboman2011-02-19 13:45:51
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RE: The Collar
[quote="ruru67"]Well, exactly how hard/strong the metal could be wasn't really the point of the story.[/quote][quote="Housebound"]No, it was just that all that is there/isn't there an indistructable steel collar is likely to distract from the merit of the story. Cry[/quote][quote="roboman"]I liked the story. It didn't seem like how indestructible the collar was a question.[/quote] Funny. Maybe I'm in a minority opinion here - but to me how indestructible the collar was did seem to be a significant part of what the story was about. What a story is "about" (in the sense of subtler meaning than the simple events in the plot) may be mostly subjective anyway, so maybe you can't be dogmatic on what a story is "about". But it seemed pretty obvious to me that the story was designed to make the collar as difficult as possible to remove, in terms of both the design of the collar and the circumstances which made the only person with the key as inaccessible as possible for a very long time. To me, that confluence of circumstances didn't seem coincidental, and it all obviously (to me) pointed to a clear theme of a collar close to indestructible and all but impossible to remove.Regards, Michael.
RE: The Collar
I have read this story about 5 times now and think that you are right less is more. The collar is very difficult to remove if not impossible, it does not restrict movement as in traditional bondage, but does make the wearer feel very self conscious and awkward when around other people, I like the theme of the story and would like to read more like it.
Jacko.
Jacko.
Re: The Collar
Thank you I really enjoyed this story. The idea of a collar that could not be removed is thought provoking. Jamie's dilemma regarding her colleagues seeing her with it on was handled really well by her friend.