Meet Raythe

Please tell us a little bit about yourself – How would you describe your everyday vanilla life?

I'm a hardworking 25 year old male with a larger build (6'1", 300lbs). My everyday life is kind of boring atm, as I am currently in-between jobs. I spend most of my free time in-between playing video games (yeah, typical guy, I know. lol), working on woodworking projects (I've just completed one bar, and am working on a second bar/cabinet), and working on crafting projects (I've dabbled in making fleece collars, and I'm currently redesigning a plush Deadpool template). I also like to spend long hours chatting with my girlfriend, as she is currently living in California due to her family and college, while I'm still here in Wisconsin (Go Pack go!!). And finally, my girlfriend and I are both furries. We're fans of anthropomorphic animals in artwork, and both have our own anthropomorphic animal characters.

When did you first realize you were into bondage?

Funny enough, it was Fear Factor that first sparked my interest in bondage. When I was younger (probably younger than I should have been), I was watching one couples' episode of Fear Factor. The challenge involved one half of the couple to be handcuffed and put in a plastic body bag, while the other person had to do the challenge and free them before the timer went off, which would drop the bag into the water below. I didn't know why at the time, but seeing the females in that predicament made me feel very excited. The idea of females struggling aroused me, and once I was able to access the internet, I realized I was into bondage, and BDSM in general.

How you best describe yourself and why? Your choices are: Dominant, Submissive, Switch or Fuzzy Rainbow Unicorn.

I would describe myself as a switch. Originally I was fully a Dom, but as I worked with my girlfriend (who is also my sub), I realized I had a subby side as well. I would let her occasionally take the reigns for a night, until eventually we both discovered we like both sides. So I've been a switch ever since.

I actually quite enjoy being a switch, because you get to see both sides of the play, and get to enjoy both aspects as well.

Do you feel that your desire for bondage is more physical or emotional? (please elaborate)

For me, I feel it's right down the middle. It is both a physical and emotional journey. For being a Dom, the feeling that physically you're taking away the subs freedom, whether it's with ropes or leather straps or a straitjacket, is amazing. Then that transcends into an emotional experience, as you can feel this is the ultimate gesture of trust your sub can give you. The fact that they are willing to let you do that to them, and they trust you to treat them right and release them after, is an emotional ride that will get you high every time. For being a sub, it's pretty much the same but with the roles reversed. Giving yourself up to your partner and having them treat you the way they want, that's both a physical and emotional roller coaster that will always leave you wanting more.
It's because of this that I'm forced to say that it's dead center for me (lol).

Were lovers accepting of your interest in bondage?

My first ex was not. She basically called me a psycho and told me that I belonged in the looney bin (she said a bit more than that, but I'd rather not share the rest of it among shared company).

Luckily, the next relationship I found myself in was with the love of my life, and she not only fully embraced my love of bondage, she has since become both my pet and my Mistress.

Please briefly describe your first bondage experience.

My very first bondage experience was with my first ex-girlfriend. She was wearing a baggy sweater, so I tied the sleeves behind her like a straitjacket and let her struggle for a bit. Suffice to say, she was not a happy camper, and we never attempted anything like that again.

What was your best bondage experience?

My best experience was with my current girlfriend. She came and visited me for a week, so we ran to Home Depot and got some shipping wrap. I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say that she was helpless for a long time, and it involved a large gag from Sub-Shop. (and no complaining from her *giggles*)

What is the most creative safeword you have ever used?

My girlfriend and I both use the same safeword: Sunstone. It's based off of a BDSM comic of the same name, which can be found here: http://shiniez.deviantart.com/ I know it's not the most original safeword, but the comic is one that both of us fondly enjoy, and we also feel the word is unique enough not to be mistaken for any other word while gagged (which has been a god-send during a few of our sessions).

What do you feel is most important about the experience of bondage?

I feel that just relaxing and enjoying the scene is one of the most important things during bondage sessions. It's no fun for either party if either person is tense and untrusting of the other. If you're a Dom, just keep your mind on what you're doing, and enjoy doing it. If you're a sub, just relax and follow your Dom's lead. It'll be so much more fun if both parties are trying to have a good time together.

What is the best advice you would give to someone just starting out with BDSM?

I would say two things: follow SSC religiously; and start slow and work your way up.

SSC means Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Always think of that as you attempt things. Is it safe? Is it sane to attempt it? Do both parties willingly consent to the action? If you can get yeses to all three questions, things go much smoother, and you can have more fun.

Start slow and work your way up. That means to just start at a more tame level that both parties are okay with. What you see in bondage porn movies and pictures are the results of years of work in the industry. Starting out, start with something you both are comfortable with using. I would recommend fuzzy cuffs or handkerchiefs as a first bondage tool. They are soft and easy to get out of. Once you're comfortable with that step, go to the next step (possibly ropes or leather straps). Get comfortable with that, then advance again. You'll be doing the more advanced stuff sooner than you think.

I would also recommend lots of stretching exercises (makes both parties more flexible), and to do lots of research before attempting something (you do want to show off how knowledgeable you are as you're working, right? *winks*)

What is your favorite gear, toy or lingerie item from sub-shop.com and why?

My favorite piece of gear from Sub-Shop would have to be the 2" Clearly Bound Large Ball Gag, Candy Apple Red Ballgag. It muffles any sound that the one wearing it is trying to make, and turns any speech into pure gibberish. It's also very mouth filling, and is surprisingly comfortable. My girlfriend wore one for about half hour with only one issue: The strap left some lines on her cheeks. Nothing too bad, except for the fact that we were forced to explain the marks to my sister and brother-in-law over dinner that night. *chuckles* Now that was a bit embarrassing. lol

What is the one sensual fantasy you haven’t lived out yet that you are excited to try?

My girlfriend and I are both into bitchsuits, and so once we get the money for it, we'll be ordering a matching set of bitchsuits for each of us. We've hobbled each other in a similar style, using tape, vet wrap, or saran wrap. It's a unique experience, and I can't wait to be wrapped in a latex bitchsuit for the next time.

What’s your favorite knock-knock joke?

I don't have any good knock-knock jokes, but I do have a good naughty joke:

A husband and wife are walking in a hardware store, with the husband slightly behind the wife. The husband starts laughing as he looks at his wife's rear-end, and says, "Honey, with the way you're walking right now, it makes your butt look like a big ol' washing machine!" The wife rolls her eyes and they finish their shopping. Later that night, they're lying in bed together. The husband gets excited and starts trying to get his wife in the mood. She pulls away from him and says, "I'm not firing up this big ol' washing machine for that tiny load. You're going to have to do it by hand!"

What is Eskimo ice?

I'm not exactly sure, but for some reason, I keep thinking about the shaved ice cones I used to get at the County Fair when I was younger. I don't remember the exact brand name of them, but I do remember that they had penguins on the sign, and that the shaved ice was super delicious!