All the character's names belong to OUAT and the writers.

This one is for Theresa, the inspiration behind every word you'll read even though she will never know this exists. Thank you Theresa for being so infuriating.

BDSM but nothing too strong.

Enjoy, R&R.

Feedback is always appreciated.

(I have to thank my amazing beta reader for making this chapter acceptable, thank you mermaidrina)

It was another Friday night alone at home, past midnight and she had just finished revising the last paragraph of the article sent to her earlier that night by one of her interns. The boy, no older than 21, wasn't completely without talent but there was a lack of attention to details that desperately needed to be dealt with. Emma herself wasn't much older than him, she had started to work as an intern for that newspaper the moment she finished high school, back then and without a proper degree Emma's job resumed to the enticing task of fetching everyone's coffee. However, even though luck had never been plentiful in her life, one of the senior editors found her commitment to her job worthy of reward and asked her what she really wanted to do with her life. The answer had been quick and short, to write. From that day on her life changed drastically , a scholarship to one of the three most prestigious universities in the country, a position as an intern and ten years later there she was, Executive Editor. The once dream j ob quickly became a burden, even though her staff was always ready to go, controlling an entire publication was everything but freeing.

Emma got up from her desk, massaging her temples and walking around the room eyes closed, another headache, another sleepless night. After grabbing a cup of coffee from her kitchen she resumed to her desk and entered one of her usual chat rooms.

She had created an account on that site a few months before hoping that some random conversations with strangers could help her relax, but that had proved to be useless. Just as in real life, the site was full of empty heads, full mouths and vain egos that she had no patience to encourage.

All the rooms she had scanned had proven themselves disappointing, so that night she decided to try new ones, something a bit different maybe, so she clicked the first chat name she found and just like that she was inside the chatroom "Kneel and beg, my chains, your bed ".

Why she entered that chat room was nothing more than a coincidence, Emma quickly realized the nature of that chat. She was no prude – far from that – but she had never engaged in anything even remotely close to BDSM.

Knee now Angelica, submit to me deeply and maybe I'll let you kiss my feet as a treat later

Yes Mistress, my place is at your feet.

Are you topless Angelica?

As you commanded Miss...

On your bed?

Yes Miss.

Oh aren't you a little slutty slave?

I am indeed Mistress.

Maybe a spanking is needed?

If you say so Ma'am.

Emma was suddenly glad she hadn't taken a sip of her coffee since she logged in or her screen would've been ruined at that moment. Not only had she entered a BDSM chat room, she had entered what it seemed to be a lesbian BDSM room.

Every bone in her body was telling her to leave the chat. Emma considered herself a strong independent woman and had been taught that submission was humiliating and even ridiculous. Watching some girl being called a slutty slave even in a silly chat room was making her stomach turn.

There were 3 people in the chat room with Emma, the girl whose name she deduced to be Angelica, the other woman with "LeatherXMistress" as a pen-name and another woman that had remained as silent as Emma. Suddenly a private message popped up on her screen.

ReginaAppleM:

You seem rather quiet compared to the women that usually appear in this room.

May I ask if it's your first time here?

Don't mind Miss Elena, she barks too much, she lacks finesse as many others around here.

Emma was torn between answering, leaving the main chat and ignoring the message, she got up to fetch herself a fresh cup of coffee getting back to her computer a few minutes later finding yet another message on her screen.

ReginaAppleM:

I hope Elena didn't scare you away, I can assure you we're not all the same.

The blonde decided to answer, after all it was just a message. She sat down on her desk and started typing up a reply .

WarriorBard2016:

Don't worry I'm not easily scared not even by Elena's clear lack of finesse.

Yes, it is my first time here.

You seem rather quiet as well, maybe a trace shared by both of us.

After reading the message a few times – perfectionism comes with the job – Emma sent it and turned her attention to the main chat again, Regina hadn't participate in it yet but the other two women seemed to be having an awful lot of fun. Emma couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of someone feeling good about being called slave, kneeling in front of someone – man or woman – should be degrading not enjoyable, and yet that girl seemed to be basking in the idea of this Elena humiliating her in front of two complete strangers even if just verbally.

Emma wasn't even paying attention to the other two women, she was waiting for a new message to appear on her screen, that Regina had been the only person on that site that hadn't started up a conversation with her with a "Hey babe wanna hook up?". It was refreshing at very least. Suddenly another message popped up on her screen.

11.31 pm ReginaAppleM:

We're not all like Elena, she's too rude sometimes for her own good.

I only speak when I have something to say, sometimes knowing when to say nothing is how one shows true intelligence, don't you think?

If I may ask, why are you here ?

11. 33 pm WarriorBard2016:

So you're also a Dom like Elena?

I agree, silence can be a hard language to master, I see that all the time at my job.

Honestly? By mistake, decided to click on a random room and here I am.

11.35 pm ReginaAppleM:

I can assure you, I'm nothing like Elena. However, I am a Dom but I do switch, just not very often.

I would ask you about your job but the not knowing can be quite alluring.

And why did you stay?

Emma typed an answer twice erasing it afterwards. She was asking herself the same question, not only about the chat room but about the site too. She had no idea why she had created that account. She was a very busy woman with a very demanding job and yet there she was, spending hours of sleep on a site watching a girl being humiliated and chatting with a complete stranger that could very well turn out to be some kinky pervert. However, there was something about her speech that showed an intelligence Emma was rarely faced with, so she typed a third reply and sent it before she could question it or her sanity.

11.50 pm WarriorBard2016:

Why did I stay? Well, I think I stayed out of curiosity, and then you messaged me.

Yes, the not knowing can be thrilling. People fear the unknown, they ignore, however, that knowing can be so much more dangerous.

11.55 pm ReginaAppleM:

Curiosity? About the BDSM thing?

If there is anything you'd like to know feel free to ask.

You seem elegant, if I may say so. Your speech... it's refreshing.

Dear Warrior, real life is calling me and I must go.

May I message you later?

Emma couldn't help but smile at the screen, it was the first time someone called her elegant. Everyone can call you sexy, beautiful, smart, but no one had ever called her elegant in the ways of the mind. No one had ever cared about her speech, Emma never thought someone would. Again she found herself typing up a reply .

11.59 pm WarriorBard2016:

Curiosity yes, I've studied the subject a few years ago but there is still much I don't know.

You flatter but the words are well received, elegant isn't a common compliment nowadays.

Yes, you may message me later.

Have a goodnight.

00.02 am ReginaAppleM:

Elegant isn't a common compliment nowadays because elegance isn't a common trait either.

I don't flatter, I never do. I speak my mind.

I'll message you tomorrow, I have to confess I will be loo king forward for it.

Goodnight dear Warrior.

Emma had to admit she was intrigued by this woman, elegance, eloquence those were not common traits in the people around her and she often felt extremely annoyed by that. This woman, Regina, however, seemed quite different, like some relic from a different time. Suddenly Emma found herself frowning at the idea of a sixty year old Regina sitting on a couch somewhere talking to her so she quickly clicked on the woman's profile and felt relieved to see that the woman was 37 years old, only six years older than herself.

Twenty minutes later Emma had turned off her computer and was in bed. She knew she had to be up in six hours and yet sleep seemed to be nowhere to be found. Emma had promised to herself again and again to talk to her doctor about her insomnia but work was always first.

It took her an hour to fall asleep and when she did she still had the word elegant in her mind.