Things Are Gonna Change Around Here

[BadForm]

OOC: Need an inventive female writer to run with this. Story of a dominant male husband, loving but chauvenistic, who is turned into a complete subbie by his wife. No violence (they love each other too much), but threat of violence is a-ok. Gonna need some inventiveness to make it work. With apologies to two writers who, if they glance here, will recognise a little copycat naming on this character: Bartholemew (Bart) Phoenix, 33, 6'3", pleasantly built from regular workouts, dominant personality, Auto Dealership owner, black hair, brown eyes, caucasian. Leaving the wife up to whoever wants to co-write. May be roles for others later, mostly depending on how the wife wants to train him, but we'll leave that for later.

IC: I pulled into the garage with a tired, but satisfied grin. It had been a hard, good day at the dealership, I'd shifted six cars myself - three of them well over what I expected to get. Now it was time for my wife to take care of me just as she knew how. A meal, a beer in front of the evening game, and a little loving. I knew I was lucky to have a wife who knew how to treat her man, but then she was lucky to have someone as successful as me too.

I walked in through the front door and shut it behind me, turning round and calling into the house.

"I'm home beautiful! What you got ready for dinner?"

That was when the world exploded. A loud crack, something whizzed past my ear, and took out part of the plaster in the hall. I turned round in shock and saw my wife sitting have way up the stairs, pointing the hunting rifle at my head. I tried to mouth 'what the fuck?' but could only stand there mute.

"Things are gonna change around here!" She said with a strange smile.

 

[PhoenixPrime]

OOC: If one is me, I'm flattered. *s

 

[ARaynes]

Darla

"And it isn't going to be me!" I yelled my finally fury. It really pissed me off that I didn't see fear in his eyes, only a "what the hell" look.

Always he came home and expected dinner on the table. Little did he know that starting a few weeks ago I had been planning a little surprise party of my own. I would change things around here. No more would I be here for him to say, "Get me a beer darling." Or "Where is dinner? I was hungry three hours ago!"

It was my turn for fun. I wasn't going to stand here and be his little slave when I had my own free will. I needed a life of my own. I needed to enjoy it, not cater to his lazy ass.

He was always saying, "You should feel lucky you married a man as good as me. You could have been married to man that doesn't want to work to support his wife."

Support your wife you will, but in a different way.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

I blinked slowly as my hand went to caress my ear, nervously seeking out a bullet wound. I was unharmed, which seemed unbelievable considering how close the bullet felt like it was to me. This whole situation seemed unbelievable, as though I was in some sort of bizarre nightmare. I stared at my beautiful wife, sitting there on the stairs, and wondered just what she was playing at.

"Honey..." I said, my voice seeming to come from a mile away. "What are you doing...?"

There was no fear in my voice, just absolute, confounded puzzlement. She had never even spoken to me like this before, let alone attempted to blow my head off. It didn't occur to me that to be that close and still miss she would almost certainly have to be a great shot.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I must admit that the fact that I had been taking shooting classes went missed really upset me. This was his goal though I thought to myself.

"Honey, What are you doing?" He questioned me.

"Like you don't already know!" I yelled at him. He played stupid really well apparently. "I am taking my life back. For all these years I have done what YOU wanted me to. Now, I am thirty and ready to take my own life into concideration."

He looked puzzled. I laughed generously looking at him. He looked like those puppies with the confused look and their head turned to one side. I could almost hear the "Huh?"

Shaking my head from side to side I realized he honestly didn't know how he had treated me all this time. "You don't know how bad you have treated me the whole time we have been married do you? Well, after this week you will."

I had planned on this. I called the Manager of his store and said that hewould be on vacation for a week. He needed some time off for "learning." Being how I was always the one that called his vacations or sick days in it was not a question at all from him.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Pheonix

"Treated you badly?" My eyes were fixed on the gun, but my mind was reeling in confusion over her words. "What the hell are you talking about, woman? I've been working my ass of for us, for YOU all these years. Don't I bring home more money than you've ever seen before. Hell, there isn't anyone else in your family that has a house this nice, is there? Treated you badly..."

My eyes were trying to stab a message into the back of my brain. They saw just how her finger twitched on the trigger, how the gun moved, just perceptibly, to point at the center of my skull.

"Now... why don't you put that gun down and get me my dinner and we'll forget this even happened?"

My voice was quieter then as I tried to placate her. My brain insisted on playing stupid though and didn't realise how such a reply would affect her. She was right, over the next week I was going to learn.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

A loud hysterical laugh escaped my lips. I couldn't help it. He couldn't have possibly think that the life he "gave" me was what I wanted.

"You have got to be kidding Bart! Look at what you just said. 'Let's put this behind us and YOU get my dinner. First off, you will be making dinner tonight. I left a recipe by the stove. You will also make dessert and rub my feet. If I loose the damn remote, on accident of corse, you will bring it to me after spending thirty minutes looking for it. YOU will be the one to bathe me and undress me for bed. Understood?"

He looked more confused than ever. "What you don't understand? How many men your age get their wife to put their clothes on them in the morning so that he can go to work looking clean as a spring daisy? How many have breakfast waiting for them downstairs in an oven keeping warm? Not many I would think."

It had been a long time since I felt so good about speaking to him. He couldn't slap me this time. I had my Bessy in my hands. She barely ever missed any more. I was so calm and collected that it scared me a bit.

"Oh, and don't think I can't hurt you with this thing. I have learned pretty much in my "crochet" class." A sneer crossed my face just then and I allowed it to stay. I wanted him to get scared, though it looked as if that would never happen.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

"You... you're serious, aren't you?" I asked, astonishment growing on my face.

How could she be acting like this? My little Darla. She knew better. Not that I would ever hurt her, I thought, conveniently forgetting that one time a few years ago when she'd really upset me. I seldom remembered that now. as I made a vow with myself never to touch her like that again. Unfortunately I had not told her that vow, or how sick I felt about having struck her. Now, it was just one of a billion forgotten memories of life.

I laughed, more out of nervousness than anything else. "Ok, lets just say I play your game for now. What is it you want? Dinner. Well, ok, but there was a reason you took over cooking when we got married, remember. Even you said I was better at working than cooking, but if that's what you want..."

Something at the back of my mind was focussing on what she had said about learning to fire the gun, at what it now realised was not a crochet class. That part of my mind, the sane, watchful part, was screaming for attention. Stop being such a dick, it screamed, you sound like a petulant boy, you're going to make her even madder. On reflection, it would have been better if I'd been able to hear it.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I concidered what he said about the reason I took over the cooking. He was right, but I once watched a show on the Discovery channel that would prove that theory wrong.

"You know, Bart, they once taught an orangatan to cook dinner. I am sure you have a little more brains than some monkey. All you have to do is read."

I was angry. "This isn't a game. This is what you do to me day in and day out. Now, get! Go to the kitchen and make my dinner! Don't do any fool moves because I won't hesitate to shoot your ass. Or maybe I would shot the front side. Less things I have to do with that gone!"

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

Finally, the sensible part of my mind seemed to get the message through. Angry though I was, I knew at the moment there was no point in arguing - and no safety either.

"Fine," I said, scowling as I marched through to the kitchen. "Ok, wheres this goddamn recipe...? This it, in front of the microwave?"

I picked up a piece of paper. Looked like she'd at least made sure it was something simple. Linguini with herbed butter. I started reading through the ingredients. 6 ounces linguini...

"Ok, then where do you keep the linguini?"

2 tablespoons unsalted butter. That was easy enough, the butter was on the table, but I had no idea whether it was salted or not. 2 tablespoons minced parsley, one of basil, thyme, organo, garlic...

"What are these herb things? Do we have any?"

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

It was hard to keep from laughing at him. He looked like a child trying to cook for the first time. It was pathetic.

"The herbs are the things that you move around the kitchen to play pranks on me. I am sure if you open your eyes you will see them." The pranks he played on me were very mean spirited, but he seemed to enjoy them.

"The pasta is on the counter where it normally is. I keep it in that container over there remember." Not once while saying this did I let my guard down. I was prepared.

"This is what I do all the time for you. Not once have you taken me out when I said I felt ill or didn't feel up to cooking. You never even so much as lifted a finger to cook me some broth when I was puking my guts up." Venom jumped from my tongue. I was fed up.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

Glancing around I found the herbs - not hard, they were in a spice rack directly behind me. The linguini too was easy to spot when she pointed it out. I had no idea how to measure 6 ounces though. Did we have some weighing scales? She sounded too pissed for me to ask her so I just grabbed what I hoped was the right amount and turned back to the recipe.

Bring 3-4 quarts of water... Great, there was no way I was gonna ask if she had something to measure that with... to the boil, add pasta and season with salt to taste. I looked in the various cabinets until I found a small pan and filled it with water, then put it on the gas ring and lit it.

"I don't get it though, sweet-heart," I said as I waited for the water to boil. "This is what a wife does... Why would you object?"

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, this is what a wife does, but most wives get a break. They aren't required to cook. They aren't required to choose what her husband will wear. My god, they don't even have to make sure that their husband wakes up and has a good breakfast. They get to make their own choices. I don't."

He didn't seem to understand that when they first married she enjoyed taking care of him. She even thought it was sweet at first the way he held his feet up for her to slip his trousers on him. But now, all this time later, it was redundent work. She hated how he could not get dressed like a man his age would. She hated having to wake up hours earlier to make sure the breakfast was ready when he woke up. She resented him taking the decisions away from her.

"I have been so tired lately and you haven't even noticed! You haven't noticed the way I get sick easily. You don't appreciate how I have been treating you and the little hints I have dropped."

I stopped. Need not give too much away too soon. "You said the other day that I was gaining too much weight! Well, pregnant women do that!" I yelled, not able to contain my anger at him. He was taking away the happiness of this pregnancy without even knowing it.

 

[BadForm]

David Lurken

"Pregnant?" I dropped the linguini in the boiling water and turned to face her. "Pregnant? How'd that happen? No, I know how it happened, you know what I mean..."

I sighed. It really wasn't a great time for her to go and get herself pregnant, I was trying to expand the business, but I could make adjustments. Maybe that accounted for her mood too. You heard how women got funny in the head when they had a kind inside them.

"Look," I said, walking towards her, smiling. "It's ok. I know having a kid probably made you scared and thats why you're doing this. It's ok, I forgive you really. But you're not the only one who's been reading and watching tv. I heard that its important that a woman who is pregnant continues to get light exercise like housework etc. So, how about you hand over the gun, and I'll let you finish dinner. I'll even drive up to the shop and get a six-pack to celebrate... I guess I shouldn't offer you any though, not in your condition."

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

"WHAT?!?" It was not really a question, more of an astonished thought. "Are you nuts? Get over there and cook. Are you not learning anything?"

It was a disappointment that he would be a slow learner after all. "I am trying to get my point across her and you can only turn this around on me? You have nothing to say you will forgive me for. I didn't do anything wrong."

It was annoying to say the least. I was tired and he was trying to turn this over and blame me, or our baby, for this attitude. "You will burn the pasta if you stand there with your mouth open like that. Now go! We are hungry." I used we knowing that would bother him.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

Not done anything wrong? Many would question that pulling a gun on your husband was not doing anything wrong. But I guessed that she was just stressed because of being pregnant. If I gave her a few hours she'd get over it, but for now she was still holding the damn gun.

I returned to the linguini and glanced at the clock, seeing its time was done. What next? A glance at the menu told me to drain it and put it in a serving bowl. I turned off the gas and slowly tried to pour the water out of the pan. Unfortunately, the linguini came with it, splatting into the sink. I sighed and grabbed a bowl quickly, picking up the linguini in my hand and dropping it into the bowl.

"Shit!" I yelled. "That bastard's hot!"

I shoved my hand under the cold water before turning back to cookery book. What next? Number 2, meanwhile, melt the butter in a small skillet... What? I couldn't believe this thing. What was the point in labelling something 1 and 2 if you were meant to do them at the same time? I grabbed a skillet and followed the instructions, melting the butter and putting in the herbs. As the butter and herbs melted and mixed even I had to admit it smelled nice. It said to cook low until the herbs wilted, and so I did, amazed that some part of this meal was finally coming together. Then, finally, it was time to split the linguini and pour over the butter.

I put the finished product into two bowls and brought it to the kitchen table.

"There you are, sweetheart," I said with a smile. "It's ready."

With that I sat down and grabbed my fork and spoon to begin eating.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I sat still holding the gun and picked up a fork. The food was wonderful and I hate to admit that I ate hurridly. "After dinner the dishes need to be put in the dishwasher. Otherwise you won't have anything to cook with in the morning."

I picked up the gun and went to sit on the counter. "Are you happy with being a dominant male shovinist?" I asked, hoping to get his nerves rattled.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

Still with the gun! What was wrong with her tonight? Surely pregnancy can't have had such an impact on her, it didn't make sense. I mean, I gave her everything she needed. This was ridiculous, but it wasn't as though I was in any position to argue right now.

I picked up the dishes and opened the washing machine. Placing them inside I shut the door. Then I realised there should be some soap or something, shouldn't there? Or was it just inside the thing to begin with?

"Do I need to put soap in this?" I asked.

She snorted at me and started pointing out, without moving, where the dish-soap was and where I was meant to load it. When I closed the door again and made to walk away she gave me a deadening look.

"Aren't you going to turn it on?"

For a second I gave her a blank look before turning back to the machine and working out which of the two knobs was used to turn it on. Finally I was allowed to sit down again.

"Now, what was that you were asking?" I had tried to ignore the question, but the look on her face told me that wasn't an option. "Chauvenist? But I'm not! I mean, I give you everything you need. I let you have some money so you can buy yourself dresses and stuff too. And you've just shown me what you do here is pretty complicated, so it's not like you don't have a fulfilling job to do, is it? I reckon you've got it good - we both have really. Don't we?"

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I couldn't help but laugh again. "Everything I need eh? So, when I need to stay in bed because I am just too tired to cook you breakfast, I get the day off? When I am sick with the flu, I don't have to cook you dinner? Where was my time off? I don't have anyone to call and say I am sick!"

It angered me the way he thought I had the perfect life. "Oh, yes, you give me plenty of things to do, but no time to finish it. I don't get to sit from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. You let me by dresses, from cheaper stores. You never take me out so I can wear a fancy dress or high heal shoes. We never go on vacations, "I am too busy." You say. What about my needs? To feed the soul??"

I stood. "I think it is time you ran my bathwater."

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

What was with her? The complaints she was making were just ridiculous. Being sick? I'd gone into work with everything from a minor headache to just a week after my appendix op - it was what you did. And vacations? She was right we were too busy. I was too busy providing for the family to take a vacation. Work was important, it wasn't like you could just drop it or something. Besides, truth be told, I had enjoyed cooking that meal. Frustrating though it was, and even though I burned my hand, I had fun. It was a new experience, and if anything it told me she had a good job here, looking after the house and cooking.

Still... she had that gun. Oh well, it wasn't like it was hard running a bath. I marched upstairs and into the bathroom, pushing in the plug in frustration. Then I turned on the faucets. 70%hot, 30% cold, nice and steamy, just like I liked it. There was nothing better than climbing into a very hot bath, letting the steam carefully ease away the aches of the day. Of course, you needed to get in slowly and adjust, but that would be ok.

"Done!" I shouted down to her.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I saw the steam before I saw the bathroom. It rolled out and to the top of the staires like some kind of eeiry movie. Getting up there I finally looked at my husband for what he was.

"What are you doing? I can't bathe in water like that. Are you trying to kill the baby. That is one way to do it. Give it shock and boil it!" Tears came to my eyes and hurridly I blinked them away. "I didn't know you were that heartless."

I sat at the top of the staires, "I thought you were better than that."

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

"What? But..."

I turned around, and saw the tears in my eyes. I ran over to her bewildered, and tried to put my arm around her shoulder.

"But, baby, I, I don't understand. You asked me to run a bath and that's how I like a bath, nice and hot. Sure it stings at first, but once you're in its wonderful. I mean... I... Kill the baby? It's not that hot... Is it?"

I hadn't meant to hurt her, I was trying to do what she asked, but now its seemed I'd upset her too, and if she was right about the baby, I'd have to be more careful.

"Look," I said finally, heading back to the bathroom and pulling the plug. "I'll refill it. Maybe you can tell me when it's the right temperature, ok?"

I couldn't believe it, but I was actually pleading with her.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

Sniffling I stood up, holding the gun, but aimed down. "You, you didn't mean to kill him?" Hopeing that it would be a him he wanted.

I walked to the bathroom as he started the water again. Reaching out I felt the water and it felt cooler than it looked before. "Thank you. That is better."

I started taking my own clothes off and stepped into the water laying the gun on top of the tub. "I will need something to wear when I finish bathing. Go get me panties and something to sleep in." i demanded and waited as he left.

 

[BadForm]

Bart Phoenix

I must have still been stunned by the idea of nearly killing the child. Nothing else would have explain the way I automatically went in to the bedroom to fetch her some night clothes. I searched her chest of drawers, wondering where she kept her underwear and night dresses, and eventually found them.

At first, I started to reach for the soft, silky teddy and matching briefs, but then put that back. She was pregnant. You didn't have sex with a pregnant woman, that would be disgusting. No, better to get something plain so I wouldn't be tempted by her body. Eventually, I decided on a long flannel nightshirt, its high front reaching to her neck, the hem reaching all the way to the ground. I added to that a pair of basic blue-white lined panties that I had once asked her never to wear if she wanted to have sex. They were such a bore and a turn off. That made them perfect for while she was pregnant. I tried to shut out the thoughts of the times we'd made love recently. Why hadn't she told me? I could easily make other arrangements so I wouldn't need to bother her.

I returned to the bathroom, avoiding looking at her naked in the bath. The last thing I wanted now was to get turned on.

"I've got you something, sweetheart," I said, smiling nervously.

 

[ARaynes]

Darla Pheonix

I watched as he left, thinking perhaps he had decided to change his ways after all. I was toweling off when he came back in. "What did you get me to wear?" I asked, smiling brightly at him.

"This." He said, smiling back and holding up the pajamas and panties.

"Why did you pick that?" I frowned, knowing the outfit he picked would be hot and itchy. "Do you know how itchy that thing is?"