The Alphaville Herald

The Story of O in Roissy – A Planned SL Community

by Alphaville Herald on 01/10/07 at 8:55 pm

Provincial French village with sex acts confined to specific areas

by Aurel Miles

Ask yourself, “what does SL really need?” – chances are you’re not saying, “I know! Another BDSM community.” True enough there are lots of communities for those who like their sex on the sharp and pointy side but I guarantee you’ve never been anywhere like Roissy.

Roissy community is the brain/love child of Megan Fabre and Marian Wildcat, a flatland/ round world couple that play together in the RW and separately in flatland (M/F in 3-D, F/F in flatland). It is lovingly based on the 1975 movie version of Pauline Reage’s 1955 novel “The Story of O” (originally written as a series of love-letters). Roissy is visually stunning, intellectually challenging and friendly. Now seriously, how many BDSM communities can lay claim to all three of those qualities?

This reporter was invited on a tour or the sim the day before they opened and, expecting another variation on the usual array of red tufted crosses and torture machinery, was very pleasantly surprised by what I found there. Megan met me at the gate and told me “We’ve always thought of having our own sim, this seemed like a natural thing to do.” The build took six weeks to complete between Megan, Marian and their architect Deusen Marx. Megan did the Moulin Noir, Marx built the Chateau and Marian built the housing and did the landscaping.

The shopping area looks like a French country market and is filling up quickly. The village itself is pleasingly arrayed against a hillside. Megan’s Moulin Noir is a gorgeous art nouveau club with a massive fireplace and seating for 20 in comfortable decadence. But the Chateau is a work of art. Using photo-realistic textures and duplicating the Chateau from the movie it is easy to be swept away by the concept. Entering the Chateau is a dramatic moment – just give it enough time to rez first.

However, in case you think it’s all about sex – the owners have planned Roissy as a residential sim complete with rules about public nudity and security systems (neither is acceptable) and roleplay (encouraged, not mandatory). It is a relief to visit a theme sim where one is not constantly being reprimanded for “stepping out of character” I mean, Jeez people, this is not high school and you are not the dungeon master.

But I digress; what is acceptable at Roissy is intelligent adult thinking about the roles of men and women in sexual relationships. In the Chateau O’s story is the basis for any and all “play” women (girls) who choose to submit to being named a sister of O are expected to be available as sexual submissives to any community members at any time they are within the Chateau walls. It is not, however, a free sex sim.

Roissy looks like a sophisticated French village. So far the majority of residents I’ve met there have been clear-headed adults with a penchant for exploration and a knack for critical analysis – something that can’t be said for a lot of sims. There is a coherent theme and residents are expected to conform to it. It is a rental-only sim, housing is in keeping with a provincial French village and sex acts are confined to specific areas.

Megan and Marian are in it for fun first and foremost but in the way they are administering the sim they are also beginning an experiment that will be enlightening to see unfold, particularly if it is successful. What does submission actually mean? Where are the areas in daily life where sex asserts its power dynamic? If it reaches half of its potential Roissy should be a fascinating place to visit.

Roissy’s first act of sexual rebellion is a fashion show that will begin with haute couture and reach its climax in a series of increasingly fetishized lingerie ensembles.

The show begins at noon on Saturday September 29. Residential plots at Roissy are all spoken for – names are being taken for a waiting list and an extension is being considered.

Aurel Miles may be reached at aurel.miles@yahoo.com – or by im – whatever’s easier.