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F.A.Q.
FAQ:
1. What does BDSM mean anyway!?
BDSM is a complex acronym that stands for: bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism. That’s a LOT of territory to cover, realistically, and can range from people who occasionally decide to spice things up with handcuffs to those who live a 24/7 dom/sub life together as well as everything in between.
Since the community is based around a BDSM club, what we’re dealing with is a business that exists to cater to the interests of everyone along that spectrum, within reason. The job of the backhouse employees is to create whatever scene and level of intensity that the client desires, within the employees own limits of course.
Not all of these encounters are sexual.
There are those who are interested in sadism or masochism who merely want to give or receive pain, and there are those who choose to display dominance through everyday tasks or physical challenges. It is perfectly fine to have a character who is interested only in non-sexual contact or to have one who prefers to save specific sexual acts for a lover.
On the flip side there are some clients do specifically come to the club to have sex. Remember, this is Nevada, where prostitution is legal, taxed and monitored.
But keep in mind that there are also plenty of encounters that happen around the club with little or no BDSM overtones at all, and those are perfectly acceptable... as long as they’re kept in the right places and marked appropriately on the community. If your character and another choose to have a snog-fest in the public lounge that's your business; having wild monkey sex on the bar in the jazz portion of the club is a little frowned upon though, and will bring the (amused) security down on you.
2. Do members have to participate in the BDSM aspects of the community?
Absolutely not. This community is all about character interaction, character development and nothing more. Talking, random scenes of silent companionship and solitary scenes are all encouraged. Sex is NOT the main point of the community, despite the fact that many might come to see it that way. Also, there is more to the BDSM lifestyle than sexual intercourse – its complexity makes the lifestyle quite unique.
Even if you do decide to have your character participate, remember that you and the character both have the right to turn down or opt out of any scene at any time! Safe, Sane and Consensual are not mere suggestions.
3. I am interested in participating in the BDSM portion of the community, but I don’t really know anything about the lifestyle. Can you point me to any information that might help me understand?
There are many BDSM websites of varying levels of usefulness out there, but here are links to a few:
LeatherNRoses
Ambrosio's BDSM Site.
BDSM article on Wikipedia
Remember that the lifestyle revolves around consent, which is key, along with safety in regard to mental and physical health.
Also, feel free to ask questions! There are those around with more experience, and we’re always glad to help! If you’re a little nervous about trying to play a veteran to the scene without experience yourself, feel free to have your character learn as they go as well, utilizing resources such as the other characters and the message board.
4. What kinds of employment can my character find at the club?
Amongst the Wave is a high-class Jazz/Blues/Early American Pop themed club. It requires a variety of staff to help run the place, which include: Chefs (prep cooks as well as classically trained chefs), Waitstaff, Bartenders, Security Personnel, Singers, Musicians, Janitorial Staff, Dishwashers, Hosts (that help seat guests in the dining area), Bussers, Spa technicians (masseuses, personal trainers, salon technicians and the like) and Management Personnel.
In regard to the “backhouse” occupations, those include: Professionally trained submissives and Dominants, two doctors and two nurses on staff (daytime and nighttime shifts – one of each during each shift), specific staff that act as Housekeepers, Waitstaff and Hosts all in one, Spa technicians (masseuses amd beauty technicians that don't mind catering to the BDSM crowd) Management Personnel to help oversee to organization in regard to appointments, and also Security Personnel.
The hours of operation fall between 2pm to 10pm in the jazz lounge and 2pm to 2am for the restaurant and VIP area (yes, there is another entrance to the 2nd floor by way of stairs from the outside of the building). The club is open every day of the week and can be open earlier or later depending on events or if a client has rented out one of the 24/7 playrooms.
5. Is there a specific plot to the game?
No, and that’s the simplistic beauty of it. The game is all about character interaction and development. Characters creating individual plotlines with other characters is fully encouraged, and those can center on just about anything.
Maybe a character falls in love with another and decides to leave his or her place as a “backhouse” employee. Maybe a guest falls in love with one of the singers or musicians and decides that he or she would like to pursue him or her. There is a possibility that a “backhouse” employee and his or her client fall and love and wish to pursue a Master/slave relationship. Perhaps a character is battling addiction of some kind and finds some kind of support system at the club. Maybe a character goes off the deep end and stalks an ex, resulting in a fight/harassment plotline.
Really, there are various things that can be done. However, there is no death in the game and there will be no police raids that end up with shutting down the club or any actions that directly effect the club without mod approval. That negates the purpose of the game.
6. So there is no death in the game…what happens if I want to drop?
Then drop. It’s as simple as that. People come and go all the time, and there is no real explanation needed on why a character disappears unless that character is somehow an employee in the game. As for customers, well, there is no explanation needed. Just let the mods know that you are dropping so the character/job role can be freed up.
7. What kinds of plots require mod approval?
On the whole, we like to allow players a lot of freedom to develop their characters and plots as they choose. However, if your plot will affect a) the entire club or b) huge parts of the city, it does need mod approval.
Also, be aware that the purpose of the club is to create a safe place for employees and clients to explore the BDSM lifestyle, in all its variety. To this purpose a very well-developed security system is in place. This is of course more apparent in the backhouse, where every session is videotaped. However, even in the main lounge, activity is constantly monitored.
This means that any plot where a fight would break out or something untoward happening in the club requires involvement of the security team (usually the mods, 'stocked' security personnel or other players, depending on how it works out).
Outside the club is another matter, but do keep in mind the positive focus of the community; conflict is good, but an ongoing abuse plot is likely to be interfered with by busybodies at the club, who after all, view everyone involved as family!
And any plot involving non-consensual sexual activity does require approval, because the nature of the comm, as a safe place for exploring BDSM themes which rely heavily on consent, makes them a little problematic. That's not to say they'll absolutely not be allowed, but you are required to get approval first!
A note on NPCs that are going to be sticking around: children, family members, ect. (anyone who shows up on a regular basis in logs that is not another player). It's fine to throw in a random made-up character for a session, or to be a visiting friend, or a coworker... anything that's minor and won't show up a lot, feel free to make up. If however, you have an NPC that your character is actually responsible for (like your child) or an NPC that you would like to be able to use in logs regularly, let the mods know!
8. Where can my character live/work/hang out?
To a large extent, this is up to you! While we are loosely saying the club is located in Las Vegas, and use of actual landmarks there is encouraged, feel free to make things up! Apartment buildings, businesses, parks, casinos, whatever you need!
Just be sure that your character has some attachment to the club even if it’s only as their favorite place to come listen to music, since that is where the majority of the action happens. There is also the option of actually living in the club on the 5th floor, but that is a case-by-case basis and it is highly recommended that you speak with the club owner first as sometimes the rooms are available free of charge or at a deep discount to help employees out.
9. What about locations within the club?
The club is a vast and mysterious place and holds most anything you would need! Everything out here is to be kept generally as clean as you would in any other bar; remember that not everyone who comes into the main lounge even knows the back room exists.
The elevators behind the security checkpoint on that layout are the access to the BDSM part of the club, also known as the backhouse area.
Go down to the basement level and you’ll find a small clinic, several playrooms, and areas for the more adventurous. Downstairs is where most of the bloodier play happens; if you wish to have a cutting session or set up a dungeon scene, you’re going to want to be down here. Same for medical play.
On the 2nd floor, you’ll find a VIP bar and lounge, which can be the setting for all manner of interesting public play. A small stage within the VIP lounge is available for BDSM sessions, shows, and competitions. For a general idea of the style of the VIP lounge, look here. Each seating area is fully stocked with condoms and toys, so go wild if you wish!
Further along the hall on the second floor, you’ll find a few playrooms exist on this level as well, for lighter play. Each of the playrooms can be set up for any type of session one likes; there are staff whose job it is to create whatever theme is requested, so feel free to be creative with your sets!
The 3rd floor houses an employee meeting room, dressing rooms, security office, and administrative offices. There’s also an employee lounge up here that’s open only to the backhouse employees, unlike the one downstairs.
On the 4th floor is the spa area, which includes: separate men's and women's relaxation rooms that have access to the sauna and steam room with several private massage rooms complete with private showers and tubs. There is also a small gym with machines, weights, exercise bikes and a treadmill available for use as well if one would rather work up a sweat before washing off and using the spa facilities.
Those apartments that were mentioned earlier? Those are on the 5th floor. They’re not detailed out on purpose, because frankly, a character’s home says a lot about them. So if your character does manage to secure one of these, feel free to post a link to what the apartment itself looks like on your character journal.
On the roof, available to VIP customers, you’ll find balconies, gardens, hot tubs, and tents full of pillows that can provide just the right amount of privacy without being well... in private.
10. If my character is friends with the management... or the owner... or this important client...
The answer is always no. It’s perfectly acceptable to bring in a character with shared history with canonmates, friends, or anyone else you choose. However, each player character who is an employee or client of the club has to follow the club rules. Not doing so results in punishment, no matter who you are.
If you wish to bring your character in as an employee, it is assumed that they are newly hired, and you may choose to either ask for an in-character orientation for them or handwave their first couple of weeks and allow them to be starting to settle in. Clients have a little more leeway in being assumed to be established, but any special privileges you feel that status might give your character has to be cleared with the mods.
11. What if my character is very uncomfortable with BDSM?
This can be an interesting plot to play out... if done carefully. Having a character test his/her own limits and comfort levels is awesome, and gradually coming to a better understanding makes perfect sense. However, if you wish to have your character INVOLVED in the BDSM portion of the comm, they must have or develop some interest in that direction; coercing others to play is not acceptable, and consent is key to everything we do here.
Also, please remember that if a character goes around actively talking down others in the club for their interests or kinks, there are going to be in-character repercussions for that! (Usually a very irritated muscle-bound club owner who dislikes seeing his employees crying because of others making them feel ashamed... you've been warned.)
12. If my character is not human in his or her series, what does that mean for him or her in regard to the game?
All members of Amongst the Wave are human. Sorry, no special powers or abilities are allowed. Physical traits related to powers (such as special eye colors) may be kept within reason, as long as the character still looks human.
13. How can I contact you if I need to speak with you?
You may e-mail me at atw[period]mod [at] gmail [dot] com or Sierra at http://www.plurk.com/satinalove