Maurice makes two points: that male dominants place a higher premium on absolute control than on beauty or other compelling qualities in a submissive, and that "true submission" is given voluntarily and willingly rather than compelled through force.
To the first of these points, I say that Stella's own perception of what drives a pirate is the only viewpoint that matters here. The pirate movie ignited her core. This is her beacon, this is her meaning, where inner and outer worlds unite. As an adult, she is thriving in a rich, authentic, purposeful life of consensual slavery, the prized possession of her wise and humble owner. Her dreams have come true - except as she and Lucia have since written to me, they would have reached this point much sooner if the movie had featured a pirate queen. But in essence, it has all unfolded just as she envisioned years ago. Nothing makes her "feel more valuable and desirable and sexually powerful than to be wanted so much" that she has to be enslaved, so that she becomes "more powerful as a female even as all [her] worldly power is taken away." Let us rejoice with her and not think of overlaying an alternate reality, when her own internal and external reality is so exquisitely consistent and right.
To the second point, regarding "true submission," I say that what sings in our souls is what is true. " . . . . You don't have any choice but to enjoy it, you're a slave now!" . . . . "I wanted the beautiful countess (me!) in that pirate movie never to escape or be rescued . . . I wanted her/me to hang eternally in that delicious uncertainty between the hope of rescue and the fear of unrelenting slavery . . . I wanted to be thrown down into that pirate ship's slave hold and never emerge again." Now I ask you, is that mental masochism or is that fulfillment? Is that involuntary or is that embracing one's fate?
Does true submission need to be willing when a girl dreams of surrendering her will?
Isn't the surrender of will the ultimate act of submission?
Does it really matter whether one seeks, or is approached, or is taken?
Like Stella, in my fantasies since childhood I've wanted to draw out the delicious uncertainty forever... knowing that on the other side of uncertainty lies the certainty of succumbing to that which awaits me. Like Stella, I've always believed that in succumbing to a greater force outside of myself, I will succumb to a greater force inside of myself as well, the relentless inexplicable longing to be slave. This is not masochism. This is submissive bliss. This is where we find our meaning. This is where we find our selves.
