Master/slave Relations: Handbook of Theory and Practice (16 page)

Styles of Contracts

So, let's say you are, in fact, going to prepare a document that
specifies the contractual obligations of the partners, better to
understand the proposed power exchange relationship. There
are three main ways to consider doing this that have worked for
other people. I'm sure that there are other ways to do it, but these
are the more common ways of approaching contracts in the M/s
Lifestyle.

• Time-controlled contract: This defines the obligations and duties each will assume at certain points
along their agreed path. Normally, the defined level
of power exchange starts as a simple structured
definition of the relationship at the time. The contract
specifies the furthest level of power exchange that is
comfortable for both parties and explains commensurate duties and obligations. In between are a number
of stages, normally between two and four, with each
step mapped out. The level of power exchange is
normally increased over time, though I am aware of
one where the final stage was a required dissolution
of the relationship. The timing of when the contractual
stages come into force are not usually in the contract.
Instead, it is up to the slave to inform the Master that
he/she is ready for the next stage (thus giving consent),
and for the Master then to inform the slave when the
next stage will come into effect (thus retaining control).
This type of contract may be most applicable when two
people are quite certain at the outset that their relationship will work out, and they know the path along which
they wish to travel. While I've never known a couple to
use this structure, it seems to me that this can be useful when the Master is much more experienced than the slave, and when he is clear about where he wishes
to lead that slave over time.

• Several contracts used in stages: This type of contract may be more applicable when two people wish
to begin exploring a path together. Here, Master may
begin with some kind of temporary contract - perhaps
a contract that covers a weekend, or a week or so.
This can be viewed as a "getting to know you" contract.
It may be fairly brief, but it gives each partner some
starting points for developing their relationship. Next,
Master may offer a training contract that could last for a
number of months, and could, perhaps, be renewed if
Master didn't feel the slave had accomplished enough
during the first contract period. Next, Master may offer
a more extensive contract during a courting period - a
period where Master is deciding whether to accept this
slave for a lifetime commitment. Finally, Master may
offer the slave a much simplified contract for life.

Some notes:

• Each time one contract ends, the NEXT contract is
negotiated and prepared, so that both parties know
the level of power exchange they must now meet,
and also (as with the single time-controlled contract) understand the objective for the next stage,
so they can strive to meet it.

• A new type of contract is only created once Master
is assured that the intent of the previous contract
has been fulfilled; that the slave has been able
to live within the power and authority structure
described in the expiring contract.

• Although it may be hard to accomplish, I strongly
suggest that you let one contract expire, and use
the next 4-6 weeks to negotiate the next staged
contract from a position of equal personal power.
That is, I urge you NOT to negotiate the next con tract from within the M/s relationship. After all, if
the slave has given the Master all authority over
him/her, how in the world does the slave suddenly
have the power to negotiate???

• Single stage (simple) contract: This contract lays
out the core obligations and duties on both sides. This
defines the balance of power or authority exchange at
the time and leaves open any decrease or increase in
that exchange. Typically, these contracts have no ending date. This contract is also known as a No Limits
Contract and is usually used in an Owner/slave relationship, rather than a Master/slave relationship.

Common Clauses in Contracts

There are many sample contracts available on the Internet. You
may find it hard to identify a pre-existing contract that you could
use - without alteration - in your own real-life relationship. That's
because people (and their relationships) are so different. At any
rate, when drawing up a personal contact, you might want to
consider:

• Health: The obligations to ensure, or improve, the
health of oneself and of the slave. Here, discuss fluid
bonding. [NOTE: I recommend that you do NOT
include any discussion of weight loss or exercise in
your contract. The problem could arise that the slave
is unable to exercise for the prescribed number of
times or number of hours for whatever reason - even
through no fault of his/her own - but he/she has now
violated the Contract and is liable for Punishment. It
makes much more sense for exercise requirements
to be in Instruction or a line or two in your Protocol
Manual. Also, dietary and exercise requirements may
change over time, but the Contract does not change
over time.]

• Safety: What emotional and financial safeguards are
you going to put in place for the slave, both during the
relationship and upon demise of the relationship (or
upon the untimely death of the Owner or the slave).

• Emotional Support and Affirmation: When you start
reviewing slave contracts, you will be struck with all the
language giving you, as Master, permission to punish
and control the slave. In my experience, a person on
the path of Internal Enslavement (IE), or Total Power
Exchage (TPE), is incredibly compliant to begin with.
My experience is that the person seeking to serve a
Master is much more interested in being recognized
and cherished for doing a good job, than for being
punished for minor lapses in service.

• Sexuality: To whom, and when and how, is the slave
to be available? Here, discuss any issues of polyamory, swinging, multiple slaves, and so forth.

• Openness: Is the nature of the relationship to be
discreet, or open and obvious to the public, work colleagues, family, etc.?

• Biological Family: What provisions are made for any
biological family members, especially minor children or
aged parents?

• Discipline: The nature and extent of control, and
the means (if restricted in any way), for the Owner
to enforce the control. Here, discuss any restrictions
on specific kinds of discipline. For example, you may
wish not to use any type of BDSM implement that is
also used for scening. The issue is that implements
used for scening carry positive associations and
related positive emotions. If you start using the same
implement for punishment, you will lose some/most/all
of those special and positive associations with that
implement.

• Finance: Explain how pre-existing wealth, as well as
income subsequent to the contract, are to be handled.
For example, during the training contract, you may not
wish to address any aspect of your slave's finances.
On the other hand, if your slave candidate is very
experienced (has lived as a slave for many years),
he/she may expect to surrender personal control over
his/her finances.

• Duration: How long is your contract? This is a hotly
discussed topic. In the gay community, there is a
tendency to spend some time getting to know one
another before extending a contract without a termination date - a contract for life. Among the heterosexual
M/s movement, there is a much stronger tendency to
create a series of staged contracts that carry termination dates. There is a substantial camp that believes
that a contract must have a termination date in order
to be realistic. There is another substantial camp who
want their contracts to have termination dates because
they recognize that the slave (and even the Master)
will change a great deal during this experience, and
Master wants to be able to reevaluate the slave every
year or so, in light of their experiences together.

Before providing examples of contracts, a note:

There is no such thing as a "cookie cutter" contract for this
kind of relationship. You have to tailor this - or any other
preexisting contract - to your own situation. These contracts
are only included as examples, not as models.

EXAMPLE OF A TRAINING CONTRACT

Note #1: This is in a form that I have actually used. Still,
you would have to modify it for your particular circumstances.

Note #2: As this contract was drawn for a female slave, I
have left gender references in the feminine.

Either party may terminate this Contract at any time before the
above named date in the event of a material breach (a material
breach is a violation of any contract terms and conditions such
that the other party feels his/her benefits under this contract have
been destroyed). This Contract may be reviewed, renegotiated,
rewritten, or terminated by Master prior to its termination date.

Mutual Respect

This contract describes the respective roles and responsibilities
of Master and slave. This contract assumes that each party
holds the other in equal respect; that Master and slave each think
of the other as having equal value to themselves. Master is not
better than the slave; the slave is not less than the Master.

Contract Provisions

1. To the best of this slave's ability, this slave pledges to
honor the terms and the spirit of this Contract, and to
study to develop the skills and knowledge necessary
to serve Master's wishes and desires. This service will
be without ego, pride, or expectations. From this day
until the termination or extension of this Contract, this
slave pledges at all times to obey Master with humility
and to subvert the slave's will and desires to his will
and desires. To the extent possible, this slave will hide
nothing from Master and answer all questions fully and
honestly.

2. During this training period, the slave agrees to obey
Master to the best of her ability and to devote herself
entirely to Master's pleasure, whether through readings, writings, dress, personal service, or sexual service. This slave also renounces all rights to her own
pleasure, comfort, or gratification, except insofar as
permitted by Master. The slave agrees to learn what
interests and excites Master through exploration and
communication, and to incorporate such discoveries
into this relationship.

3. Master now accepts conditional responsibility for this
slave. At this stage, this includes the slave's spiritual,
social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being. This
slave accepts full responsibility for informing Master of
all fears, concerns and anxieties on any and all topics,
and also to inform him of any real or perceived dangers
or safety concerns, whether or not they relate directly
to him or to them as a couple. Concurrently, this slave
recognizes and agrees that Master's decisions on any
topic represent the final word regarding the resolutions of such issues. The slave will not be punished
for respectfully stating these concerns. Master strives
to listen to the slave's concerns with a clear and open
heart and mind.

4. At this time, Master specifically declines to accept
responsibility for the slave's financial well-being. This
topic will be discussed and addressed in a later contract phase.

5. The slave agrees to dress in the styles and fashions
selected by Master, and Master does not make such
dress requirements of this slave as to represent financial hardship or burden.

6. During this trial period, Master and slave will play by
SSC rather than RACK rules. That is, the slave agrees
to accept responsibility for using safewords or safe gestures when necessary. The slave acknowledges
that the physical play safeword is red. Master accepts
the responsibility for stopping activities in progress to
assess situations where the slave uses a safeword,
and he will, to the best of his ability, immediately
modify or stop the activity. The slave agrees to hold
no ill will due to his decision. Master will not punish the
slave for the use of a safeword or safe gesture.