What can I say about MAL2020? It was a blast? It was amazing? That and more.
I reconnected with the North American Leather and Fetish communities after some time away, in a big way and in a way I had not been able to before. I was ready to jump back in.
A bit of background – I stepped away from the community due to the stupidity of politics that was, essentially, making me sick. I was seeing my own community implode and I really wanted nothing to do with the implosion, and I was exhausted. I will say this: It’s okay to take a break.
Scott and I jumped on a flight from Toronto Pearson to Washington National, got whisked away in a taxi to our hotel and chilled for the night.
The next morning we headed over to the Hyatt for our first day. Scott was dressed in his JediBear shirt and myself in latex and rubber flagging the things I’m into.
Arriving at the hotel there was an unmistakable energy to the place when it comes to such a celebration of fetish, kink and sex. It felt pretty amazing and I had a grin. I admit that prior to arriving at MAL, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was blown away.
The vendor fair – holy crap! This was the Fetish Mall of America where you could find ANYTHING, or so it felt! Where else would I find the finger portion to a finger flogger I bought that was missing that part? A gas mask with rebreather bag? Gear, equipment, leather, rubber, neoprene, pup hoods, estim kits, canes, and the list could go on.
Needless to say, we stocked up on things we had always dreamed about getting. For example, a Porta Plow from Fort Troff for both at home and on the road; and I picked up two lighter floggers for practicing two-handed/Florentine flogging.
With the space that Scott and I have at home, I’ve long struggled with how do we create a kinky space when we want it, and a calm regenerative home space. MAL helped make it happen for us and I think it will help in the future. I definitely want to go back! Now how do I collapse a rim chair down to bring back to Canada and the United Kingdom?
We even found Scott gloves and boots which had me extremely chuffed as it is very difficult to find someone with his size of hands, feet and calves gear off the rack!
I was dressed in rubber for Rubber Cocktails which I had seen Seth, dressed in casual leathers, and I suggested he join me. Prior to that I had my boots shined by boy john who was part of the same ECLSb title class as me and Sir. We’ve had a long connection. If he’s around and available to black, I’ll make my boots available to him.
For an event like MAL, the hotel lobby is a key place to cruise and hang out. I never thought that I’d feel comfortable in such a space, but surprisingly it felt right. It was great reconnecting with Ed, Steve, Ron and his boy, and making new connections with people we met.
I went to the DC Eagle that night, by myself to smoke my pipe and check it out. A great large space!
The next day I decided to put on my Chicago K-9 Unit gear with Scott wearing his Dr Woof Weeping Angels shirt, kilt, red socks and new boots. Scott looked amazing.
We ended up meeting up with Daddy Gary, boy Jon, and BurrPup Ursus – again more reconnections and new connections. Scott remarked to me at the end of the weekend that between the pup and I, we have the fetish world completely connected.
If there is one thing I’ve learned recently is how deep the pup community has gotten. It feels much like the boy community building various clubs a few years after I was collared to Master Chuck. As I explore handling, it has been an eye opener for a community that I’ve been arms-length from for possibly too long.
Play-wise I ended up getting into two scenes. One involved flogging, coffee piss and a good pounding; the other was a straight up flogging scene for a pup I met at Smokeout in 2019. Then again, there was also pounding some ass that was offered to me at Smokeout in 2019 as well, that I finally took advantage of. I’ve not played like I have at any other hotel-based run in North America. Refreshing!
That night was Leather Cocktails – I say that anyone has to do this at least once, and to actually see both the parade of colours and the dropping of the cock ring. it’s a great chance to see friends and make new friends in Leather.
That night I was invited out by a Sir and his boy to The Green Lantern to hang out and reconnect. A fitting last night to the weekend.
The next day it was back to the Hyatt for brunch, seeing Gunny and his pup sox, who did an amazing job of servicing my Wesco Big Bosses, one last run through for last minute items at the vendor fair, saying goodbyes and we were off home.
We’ll be back – thanks pup for putting it on our radar!
