Is It Real, Or Is It Merely A Simulation?
Online dynamics are, by nature, simulations. No matter which way you slice it, while they are immersive experiences, for sure, the lack of physical connection means that they are not grounded in the realm of reality. Yes, mental connections are powerful, and yes, they feel real. After all, the mind is the most fascinating of erogenous zones, and mental play can bring one to thrilling heights of pleasure.Â
Iâve been in an enduring online dynamic for just short of a decade, and prior to that, I did my share of cyber back in the day. There are definitely differences and different levels, or hierarchies involved.Â
Sometimes you meet someone on a lark and you connect instantly, but your realities dictate that itâs highly unlikely that you would see them again. Knowing their features, feeling a sense of attraction, sharing moments and secrets, building a tangible intimacy; these things make it easier to cross the threshold into the aether and build a true dynamic with.Â
Then, there are the play partners that you do âpick up playâ with. The folks that enter the chat room and you just get going on all the fantasies. This is also fun, but itâs a more temporary situation. A quickie.Â
Building a dynamic with someone online means that communication and connection is critical in those early âbuilding blockâ stages. Sharing and workshopping ideas, running through negotiation, trying on different fantasies, visual and verbal prompts, trigger words, safewords, building a style and method of check in and aftercare. All these things take months of collaboration to truly work. It becomes a very intimate relationship because thereâs so much shared between the partners, and trust and respect are paramount.Â
When my dynamic started, we had long conversations about our fantasy worlds, our ideal partners, and after months of working together, it somehow manifested in reality for us. I loved mind play, but I wanted a life partner in the physical realm. He loved acting out fantasies in the aether, but needed a partner who he could actually DO those things with, and I knew in my heart of hearts that would never be me.
Mere months after we started, I went on a date with the man who is now my husband and we are in an open, honest, polyamorous marriage, which allows me to live my truth.Â
And he would make a pivotal connection that is now his long-term partner who he can see regularly and I am truly happy for them. This complements his home life quite succinctly.Â
The thing is, I was always able to separate my reality from the fantasy world, even though at times the simulation truly feels real. The characters that we co-created and the names we generated along with matching visuals had their distinct identities. It was an endless RPG where we were kind of LARPing a bit. It never felt comfortable for me to call him by his real name when we are in a scene, nor did I want to be called by mine during play. Sure, these personas were all a part of us, but are elements that we knew belonged to others in our life. We also knew there were certain honorifics and characters that were sacred to us in return. We've also built a very strong friendship over the years as ourselves, and know a great deal about our real lives. He's a confidant, a trusted advisor, and often one of the first people I reach out to when I need a friend. He's a very important part of my life, which I am eternally grateful for. It's so critically important to me to have a friend that is outside my reality, because he offers an objective view and a perspective that I may miss when I seek guidance.
Whenever we play together, which has been limited these days, it always feels as if Iâve stepped into a portal, where we astrally project and mingle together. Our energies collide, but we also both know, deep down within, that thatâs the realm that we must exist in.Â
The aether is our domain.










