Yesterday wasn’t much better than the one before. Things were still weird between Valkyries and I — not tense, just weird. I don’t think either of us knew where we stood, and both of us were wary of stepping on “rakes”.

So when Valkyries started flirting with me again, it compounded my confusion. You said yesterday that you have to hold back, but now you’re being forward? You’re confusing me, my friend!

I wasn’t going to bite, though, out of respect for his boundaries.

I did feel slightly bad for Valkyries when blogging friend Spanky joined our Discord server and started messing about. Spanky and I have been blogging friends for years now, probably two at least. Spanky is a switch but, from what I understand, he tends to take on a more Dominant role. Our interactions are purely social, but sometimes quite heavy in our comments sections: Spanky writes about his experiences as a Black man in the BDSM community, and sometimes about his experiences of very profound topics, like being fetishised as a Black man. I, unfortunately, have also been fetishised before: some “Dominant” men like the idea of a disabled submissive chick who “can’t run”.

Like Valkyries, though, Spanky is not immune to the desire of clocking off and having fun. Unfortunately, that “fun” happened right where Valkyries — who was undoubtedly missing our “fun” — could see it.

Lunchtime came with a scary experience for me: Huxley tried to attack me. I think I must have startled him from his sleep, though fortunately he only got my smartwatch (with my bracelet being the only real casualty) and I sustained no injuries in the attack. It was a lesson though, in that I can’t have him around me while I work, and he has to be crated (or in another room) while I do.

I am pleased to say that despite the attack he seems to hold no ill will towards me, and when I called him to try some training, he was very responsive to the idea of treats. An unfortunate incident maybe, and a broken bracelet too, but not a broken bond.

I did receive some tragic news yesterday, that I unfortunately can’t disclose to my audience. It fortunately doesn’t involve my family, but it still brings about a deep sympathy for a lady that I’ve heard of but never met. Master Levi, though, is devastated.

Later in the afternoon I ended up on another almost-two-hour phone call with my neighbour, who talks so much that, at one time, I almost nodded off to sleep. It’s not even really a conversation: part of it is about the leak, but for the most part it’s just him, monologuing to me about his life.

Yet, I couldn’t help but think one thing to be true: I’ve never spent this long on the phone with a man before — repeatedly — and had his calls not be because of romantic interest, whether or not he realises it.

The neighbour says something about women; says that his weakness is for feisty women who hold him accountable. I smile to myself.

“That might explain why we’re friends then” I say casually. For once, he’s lost for words.

Valkyries and I did talk some about the issues between us last night, though he accused me of being a “bad girl”, which confused me.

I mean I am, sure, as a rule. But what had I supposedly done, that I clearly wasn’t aware of?

Valkyries felt that I was testing him, which stung a little, but he’s entitled to his feelings. Feelings aren’t facts, though. They’re perceptions.

For my part, I had no intent to “test” Valkyries. In fact, so much so that I don’t really understand what “testing” someone in a relationship means!

Valkyries mentions the part of my last post, where I said that I’d seen him enjoying wearing the crown but not demonstrating much capability to handle its weight. And after I expressed my concerns to Master Levi on Wednesday, that I felt Valkyries might not be up to the task.

That’s not a “test”, Sir, that’s an observation. People make those all the time.

Valkyries did say that we could communicate better, and I should ask the questions I had, that I hadn’t asked before. I certainly wasn’t aware of any outstanding questions, but fine. He wants questions? I can do questions.

“How do you like your Dominants?” I muttered to myself, “grilled, with a side of fries” was the reply.

And grill him I most certainly did.

We talked boundaries too, but what was clear to me was that none of this has been an attempt at manipulation. It has been a misunderstanding, and a colossal one at that.