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Why you should read 'A Melody Of Surrender'...
... even if you don't like D/s stories
Tremendous thanks to THBGato for advice and editing help.
If you're not already a follower, you should be.
This most recent work by Redgarters is a magnificent love story set around a small consulting firm (Bellwether) specializing in corporate and product branding. As with all of her works, it is a joy to read, filled with immersive descriptions and fluent prose that is so well crafted one never wants to stop reading. The descriptions of the work environment and creative process are so compelling convincing that I feel it must have been written by an industry insider with deep knowledge and love for the business. This is storytelling at its finest, and no surprise. Redgarters is a competition winner who has given us multiple number 1 stories, and this is another. Characteristically, it is filled with emotionally moving moments, described with carefully chosen words and delicate detail. The descriptions of the characters, their interactions, and the creative process all are given intimate little touches that make everything feel well rounded and authentic.
My intention in writing this is to give people who, for whatever reason, choose not to read the original, a general understanding of the story. If one of those reasons is a distaste for BDSM, then I hope to convince you not to be put off by the presence of the word "Domme." While there is an element of D/s in the story, and it is important to the intimacy which the two main characters achieve, it contains none of the repulsive flavor many of us have come to associate with BDSM. Following is a summary of what the story does contain, and it is my sincere hope that after having read this short summary, you will go out and read the original.
About BDSM: This story is not about BDSM. There is an element of D/s in it, but as Redgarters explains, the story is about intimacy. To say that having an element of D/s in it (with two mentions of handcuffs) makes this about BDSM is like saying that "A Girl Named Mitch" is about tennis. It so clearly is not true.
Lest you doubt my veracity, I include a post from one of the readers.
PuggyWishbone:
Your intro describing the story gave pause. Literally. It caused me to delay reading. I wondered if the story was for me, whether I would be able to appreciate and enjoy a story about a relationship dynamic and an approach to intimacy that I have always had a great deal of difficulty understanding.
I was wrong to worry. I can't say I fully understand Cadence and Ilaria's complementary needs, but it was easy to see how perfectly they fit together as if made to order for each other and how they bathed each other in selfless love, relying fearlessly on their shared trust, almost from the very start.
Usually, stories focused on D/s relationships leave me uneasy, wishing the partners could find a better way, but this story just made me feel warm and happy for their happiness. I'm glad I put my doubts aside and trusted you. You delivered again, as you always do.
I hope you also put your doubts aside and trust Redgarters that this is about intimacy; because this story has intimacy in spades. But before I get into that, I'll also point out that this is a love story on many fronts. As I pointed out in my first comment to the story, the most striking example is the love that Redgarters has for this story and its characters. I won't speculate on Red's motivation for writing it, but there can be no doubt at all about Red's passion for this story.
On the next level, the characters, mostly all employees of this firm, without exception display a love and commitment to their work. I'm choosing to ignore Vinet's questionable behaviour for the moment, because I don't want to get sidetracked, but also because I think it doesn't disprove my statement. Cadence immediately (first page) shows us that she cares about her work with the dedication she shows even to such a small detail as finding just the right messaging for a Scandinavian homeware brand. We understand immediately that Cadence "needs" meaning; she cannot be happy with a mindless task. We see her show that same need for meaning in the way that she cooks, beginning with the first sentence of the story, and reappearing throughout. There is no ketchup monster here.
Everyone else at this firm is likewise devoted to their work, as we learn in the way that Rowan introduces each of them to Ilaria. This is reinforced by every comment and observation that Cadence makes about her colleagues during the entire course of the story. They all are committed and passionate about their work; it's impossible to believe that Cadence would be satisfied working in any other sort of environment. This is the next level of love in the story, that of the characters to their work, indeed even to each other.
It is into this environment that Ilaria enters, as an outsider brought in to manage a huge and important new project. Ilaria is famous, high profile, accomplished beyond anyone else at the firm. This sets up a power dynamic that is unstable and very likely to end in catastrophe. Cadence recognizes that right off and worries about it. Something extraordinary will need to occur in the near future to get to Happily Ever After.
Unsurprisingly, Cadence and Ilaria are the ones who begin to resolve this tension by working late together and finding a solution to their first problem; that of finding "the concept." You don't have to know anything about branding strategy (because I don't) to appreciate that everyone needs to agree on the concept before you can do anything else. That is the point where Cadence and Ilaria begin to break through the power/familiarity imbalance and start to form mutual respect.
Now it's really interesting the way this comes about. They've hit a wall and none of their ideas are working. Cadence mentions getting a drink and Ilaria just happens to make a comment about "an old fashioned." Cadence's next comment is about "classic cocktails with a modern twist." Ilaria then lets down her hair and shakes it out, revealing what has been there always, and just hidden. And that's how 'the concept' is discovered. And I use the word 'discover' because that is central to the story in multiple ways. The reason this is so significant is due entirely to the rebranding project they are working on, which you will have to read the story to appreciate. This interaction between the two is absolutely brilliant storytelling, so subtle, so integral to their future, and a harbinger of everything that will happen in their relationship. It feels natural, it feels authentic, it's not obvious but it is foundational.
This mutual respect, even admiration, grows into affection. All of this is standard romance story stuff. But there is still a feeling of imbalance between them due to their unequal fame and accomplishment. In a traditional romance story it would be easy: the rich powerful person would be the man and the poor little girl would get rescued from the career she loves, so that she could live in his mansion washing his socks and underwear all day. Clearly that isn't going to work in this story.
Anybody can have sex with anybody, it happens all the time. Even in a 'committed relationship,' sex, sharing a house and bank account, having kids together - none of that can be relied upon to really mean anything (believe me or not, I don't care, but I lived through that). So if Cadence and Ilaria are going to have the sort of intimate bond that's going to carry them through all the shit that's coming next, it needs to be something really special. It needs to be something that only they would do for each other.
If you do go and read this story, which I sincerely hope you do, resist the temptation to speed read over the first 3 or 4 pages getting to 'the good stuff.' If you fail to fully appreciate the underlying personalities and dynamics then the rest of the story is less fulfilling, and indeed the D/s aspect may seem gratuitous. Pay close attention to what's happening in the first 4 pages.
Cadence and Ilaria go on a few dates and start having sex. Pretty standard stuff, but both are not entirely satisfied with it; both are holding back a little bit. That is so typical of life in general it is hardly worth noting. Except that they've each hinted at what they really want. They could ignore the hints and do what normal people do: get married and hope for the best, but they don't. As we saw right at the beginning, Cadence will not be involved with anything that does not have true meaning. Very carefully, over the next several weeks, they negotiate a way for them to be more to each other than 'just girlfriends.' Again, this is a process of discovery and revelation - that's a recurring theme. One thing that is slowly revealed, is that Ilaria also is not willing to settle for less than perfect intimacy.
The mechanism by which they form that bond just happens to be a D/s situation. It's not impossible for a different mechanism to do that, but then that would be a different story. In "A Hard Landing," a helicopter being shot down in combat does that. And again "A Hard Landing" is not about a helicopter crash nor about war.
It's important to notice that they develop their relationship in a similar way to which they discovered 'the concept.' They work together, each making suggestions, discovering their boundaries, revealing more about themselves to each other. Building a partnership of equals, but with different roles. It's a beautiful process and absolutely opposite to the way in which a domineering relationship is formed.
I expect a lot of hate mail with the use of the word domineering, and I'll get even more by what I say next. The vast majority of heterosexual relationships in the world are domineering. Yes, the vast majority. Everyone who is about ready to object to that statement should reflect on where they live. The vast majority of people on this planet do not live in Europe and North America, only 14% of the global population does. And that means that 86% of the global population is still subject to cultures and religions that implicitly, if not explicitly and legally, make the wife the property of the husband. That's the math. And women in those cultures have no real choice in the dynamic of their relationship. That is a domineering relationship. If you do not like abusive and domineering relationships, then against this story is not where you should direct your invective.
Because In this situation, both partners have a real choice in how they will express devotion to each other, both publicly and privately. That Cadence chooses to apply the terms 'domme' and 'submissive' to themselves is her explicit choice. A choice which Ilaria points out as being something that should not be taken lightly.
With the close connection now between Cadence and Ilaria, whatever lingering tension internal to Bellwether is resolved. The team is tight knit and makes great progress, and soon they have the meeting where they present it to their client.
At this point in the story it's important to pay attention to what doesn't happen. The team is under a lot of stress as the date for the meeting with the client approaches, nerves are raw, everything is ready to explode. But it doesn't, because Cadence invokes the reminder that she and Ilaria are together in this. There are no speeches, no admonitions to be a team player, no plea to be patient; all of these things would more likely increase stress levels. Cadence gives Ilaria her simple support. And "it didn't calm her storm completely, but brought it down to gale force." This again demonstrates the love Cadence has for her coworkers, the success of the project, and the cohesion of the team. And it show that Ilaria needs this just as much as Cadence does.
Said client injects strife and discontent into the situation in multiple ways (which you'll have to read the story to find out about). Now more than ever the Bellwether team need to stay focused and united. Now more than ever they need Cadence, their long standing friend and colleague, and Ilaria, the brilliant but difficult visionary, to jointly lead them against the common enemy. The common enemy is mediocrity and failure, and it requires both Cadence and Ilaria working together to achieve success. Each have unique skills which are vital, and cooperation is critical. This can't work with a "hero comes in and saves the day" trope. There are multiple opportunities for the situation to explode and destroy the project, but it doesn't. In every case the intimate trust between Cadence and Ilaria defuses the toxicity before a crisis happens.
They need intimate trust in each other to do this. Could that be gotten by some other means than a D/s agreement? Perhaps, but that would be a different story which would require different people. Again, this story is about how Cadence and Ilaria have found their own way to strengthen their bond and deepen their intimacy at every opportunity for a crisis. The crisis doesn't happen. There is plenty of stress, anxiety, uncertainty, insult, a violent row with the client, an extremely uncomfortable few days in the office, and setbacks that threaten the scheduled project launch. But Cadence and Ilaria have established their own way of anchoring, supporting and strengthening each other.
I won't spoil it for those of you who are going to read it now (I hope everyone) by saying how all that plays out. I will only say that everything that happens next requires tremendous courage by Cadence and exceptional sensitivity by Ilaria. And those two features make this not your expected BDSM story, but instead a tearjerker of a love story. It's also important to pay attention to what is not in the story. There is no pain, humiliation, punishment, whips, chains or other negativity that cause me (and maybe others) to so dislike the BDSM genre. The little bit of restraint (which plenty of couples experiment with) and the control exhibited in the D/s relationship are practiced in an environment of trust, permission, support, and mutual devotion. I think all of us wish for those things from our intimate partner.
It should make as little difference about how intimate partners decide to share their bond, as it does who they choose to share that bond with. When this point is made to their colleagues, there is a moment analogous to a queer 'coming out' moment. From the very beginning the fear of being judged negatively and not accepted has plagued Cadence. And by page three we get the feeling that this same fear plagues Ilaria. Within a few weeks they come to accept each other and the nature of their relationship in private, but the fear of public rejection lurks right up to the end. Another commenter said this:
"... what I loved most about it, was how incredibly well you managed to explore the true subject of the story.
The trust and the feelings. The need to give up control to someone else, or even the need to control someone else, exposing how vulnerable it makes you. Both for the submissive and the dominant: laying themselves bare. Not to mention the struggle people may feel when accepting that part of themselves. Facing the... taboo of it in everyday life, I suppose you could say is another huge part, and you handled that beautifully, how Cady and Iliara found the strength in each other to face it." - Westfjordian
Ultimately, it makes one question whether attitudes toward sexuality still need to be adjusted. In this regard I'm reminded of Forty, in which Ram and Liz must find a very atypical way in which to share intimacy. Is their relationship any less valid for that? It is equally wrong to judge a person or a relationship for a 'kink' as it is to judge based on sexuality or gender identity.
To summarize, this story contains none of the uncomfortable, distasteful aspects I would expect in a BDSM story (which it is not). What it does contain is a beautiful and enjoyable journey of two people finding emotional fulfillment in a safe and loving relationship. And it's wrapped up in exquisite prose, rich descriptions, and authentic dialogue with relatable characters and believable situations.
Anyone who doubted that Redgarters would pull that off should pay closer attention to the rest of her stories. It's HERE, please go read it.
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