Dr. Joyce Verdi, Ph.D. (F/FF)

[AlexUSA3]

Dr. Joyce Verdi, Ph.D. (FF/F -> F/FF)
Sunday, December 17, 2023

I swished my long sage skirt side to side and over the top of my feet. "How does this look?"
"Beautiful. Perfect for the day on which you live the dream," my friend Janie spoke kindly.
"Don't overstate things. Just because you drove here for me and she flew here for it doesn't…," I downplayed her words, "Doesn't make it perfect. My life's in absolute shambles now."
"Absolute nonsense. You are a sensation! And you are beautiful, Dr. Joyce Verdi, Ph.D."
"Beige blouse? Lavender?" I asked Janie as though she hadn't spoken, "Or brown?"
"Purp… purp… violetta," responded the only other person present.
"I agree," Janie nodded her head in cheerful—even jubilant—agreement.

How was I living the dream when Mom and Dad were dead? When Daddy had the heart attack that ended his life, Janie was there for me, took me to see, and stayed with me as I mourned. A few months later, when I was r-ped by my boyfriend, Janie stayed with me and encouraged me to stand up for myself. When I tried to take my own life, Janie helped tie me up and held me down so she and my roommates could force me to vomit the pills. When Mom died after being hit by a wrong-way drunk driver, Janie traveled with me and mourned with me. When I had no idea where life was going, Janie stayed by my side and helped me figure these things out.

Shortly after Mom died, Serafina entered my life and filled my life again with the joys my own family had brought: eating, laughing, and embracing the great Sicilian tradition of Catholicism in a less superstitious way. When my ex-husband cheated on me, she allowed me to talk to her on the phone for two hours even though I spent at least one hour of it just blubbering. She guided me through the stress of an annulment. I didn't want it because it also meant he was granted one, but it was the only way to ensure I could marry again, should I choose, and retain good standing in the Church. When I needed someone who could commiserate with my thoughts and feelings, I could always turn to her.

That's right. Ryan and I are no longer married. After enough pressure from his father, he began to look at other girls, girls who had no fertility issues like I did, and I warned him it was sin to do so. It did no good. On August 29th, 2022, I came home between classes because I had forgotten my lunch and found his new girlfriend in the closet when I paused to use the toilet. Despite all the stress it caused, including multiple nearly fatal hypoglycemic episodes and a dangerous turn in my type-1 diabetes, I persevered through it and a mid-doctorate transfer to finish my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in just 5 full academic years plus one fall semester. On December 23, 2022, the bishop and, in turn, my priest, granted me an annulment; my marriage was over. I was back to being Joyce Verdi, the only living child of the marriage between Antonio Verdi and Paola Ricci. I changed the locks on my residence less than one hour after he walked out the door.

Was it my fault that I'd had so many miscarriages? I wasn't that desperate to have a baby when I was still a student, but I wasn't practicing abstinence either. Now I was really abstinent, and my surviving aged relatives couldn't make the respective trips from Rhode Island and Florida to see me graduate in person. That's how I ended up with my friends Serafina Randaccio LaRosa and Janie Patterson Rondell being here by my side instead. Both had lovingly taken time away from their own jobs and families in order to give me the support I needed while suffering such mixed feelings of joy and sadness. Honestly, I didn't feel the need to ask more people to be here.

"There." I clasped my hands together in front of me. "Do I look like a girl who got a 4.0 Ph.D. while suffering the dissolution of her marriage?" It took everything working together not to cry.

I hardly looked like it in reality. Some people eat when they're stressed; others, like me, refuse to eat. I'm only 5' 4", and to plummet from 150 pounds in June 2022, when Ryan first started acting strangely, to under 100 pounds in December clearly alarmed friends, advisors, and family alike. I didn't think much of it at the time because I drowned out the dissonance of my personal life by absolutely drowning myself in my work and by spending more time at the pool. There was some muscle, but I never truly gained anymore weight back and still weigh only 102 pounds.

I had Janie and Serafina, who both selflessly took time from their families. The first thing Janie noticed was my newfound skinniness. I wasn't exactly proud of it, but it was all that I had. But today was about graduation though. I couldn't lose focus and knew I could prevail despite every factor working against me. Behind me, a Christmas tree stood on a little table and was decorated with all of the ornaments my parents had either made or given me when they were still beside me on this side of life and now served as a happy memory for me.

"You two would dress like Gangsta's for my graduation!" I rebuked both of them.

Frankly, they were gorgeous even if addicted to their Cool Girls' Club ways. Janie had her pink ruffle skirt, a brown short-sleeve button-up shirt, and a brown bandana headband with her hair in a simple braid that made her look like the Native American beauty that she is. Sera was dressed nicely, but her skirt had fewer ruffles, her shirt had long sleeves, and her kerchief was patternless instead of paisley. She had a black bottom, a pink top, and black scarf, and it was a typical look for the Serafina I loved. The long purple knee socks and black shoes gave her the appearance of a stereotypical school girl, and she was about as naughty in TUGs as she dressed.

"We go now, Joyce?" Sera asked me in her typically sweet manner.
"Yes, yes, yes. All right, all right… we'll go…"

So I walked. Pomp and Circumstance brought tears to my eyes because I had no parents or husband to cheer me on. I was completely alone in life, but I wasn't close to being alone. Janie and Sera cried out for me, and after a wonderful lunch we all returned to my apartment. I needed to relax; I hadn't gotten to engage in TUGs at all since the summer when I had visited friends.

"Would you girls like to tie me up?" I asked nervously as if they didn't still play.
Janie jumped at that. "Well, sure! Do you want one of us to be tied with you?"
"I won't say no if one of you volunteers," I laughed and opened it up for either one of them.
"Me! Me!" Sera burst with excitement, jumping and raising her hand like a tween.
"Gangsta Chick wins!" I hugged my Italian friend and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"You get tied only if you go Gangsta as well!" Janie, the Gangsta Jock, playfully threatened me.
"I'm not as Gangsta as you two," I blushed, acknowledging my Cool Girl heritage.
"Then kidnap yourself," Janie's smile grew wider, and I felt the 10 inch difference in our heights.

I folded my arms up in a pout and stood straight and tall staring at the tall girl so many lovingly called "Gangsta Jock." One thing that had made our friendship special over the years was that I wasn't afraid of her despite her size. Knowing I would inevitably be overpowered by Serafina, who was visibly doing her patent nervous twist in place with her lower lips between her jaws, I walked into my bedroom and grabbed the sage bandana I typically wore when I did want one to go with my outfit or protect my hair. It was still in a headband from when I last wore it; perhaps I should wash it more than every 2nd or 3rd wearing? Grabbing my bag of TUG supplies, I went back to my friends. I guess I was the "Gangsta Doc" playing with a "Jock" and a "Chick."

I handed the bag to Janie; little had changed over the years. I had the same three kinds of ropes and the same gags mixed into the works. There was the pink rope I had specifically dyed on my own with the help of a friend, and I preferred they be used on myself. My white ropes were the same as the pink; brown was rougher rope that was good for binding someone really well. There was enough of each to tie two of us, or, as I was hoping, completely and inescapably bind one. I still remember dying it and how the kitchen smelled in the little college apartment because of the chemicals in the dye. That was one happy memory in my mind.

"Pink for me; brown for Sera," I declared, "Please, no pain for me except maybe spanking."
"No pain, no gain, honey," Sera greedily peered into the bag, "I more love duct tape."
"I have a tiny amount I use for the occasional gag, but I mostly use microfoam, sorry," I was less apologetic than I sounded, "I love your accent, Serafina, and the broken English."
"Oh, all right, I'll take getting tied up anytime, anywhere, anyway as long as I'm not really hurt."
"What do you like for relaxing bondage?" Janie asked me, and I froze and got snippy.
"I haven't relaxed in a year. Usually I'm watching footie or hockey or listening to music."
Janie put her hands on her hips, "Hmmmm. 4PM. Too early for hockey; too cold for flopper."
"FLOPPER?!" Serafina turned in horror, "I goat rope you for 5 minutes and change your mind!"

I paused and laughed at this attitude from the rambunctious Italian. How could I not love a girl who made my favorite cookies and flew with them just for my graduation? She was a genuine sweetheart, and I always considered it unfair that she had no friends who so lovingly used their own talents in return. Despite being in such a weakened state, I tackled her when she expected it least and drove her down into the carpet. Janie, a clever young lady, unbelievably now 25 years old herself, followed me. I giggled every time my friends said "flopper" instead of "soccer."

"Joyce, I tie you and spank you for this!" Sera shrieked while Janie bound her elbows.
"I don't think so!" I said with a giggle and gave her a well-deserved swat on the rear.
SMACK!
Janie laughed while cinching the binding. "I think your captivity will be delayed a little."
"When I get out of this, you, Miss Janie, will get gagged with my socks!" a fire shot from the captive's eyes, a joyous fire of friendship, "Oh, you two always have been a sneaky duo!"
"Thanks for the idea!" I joined the laughter, and the Gangsta Chick tried her best to slip away.
SMACK! I reminded her that she was in no position to squirm away from us.
"YOW! Just you wait!" She threatened us with joy, and I forgot my suffering.

I have friends that make movies with TUGs in them. They could have been here, but I asked that it only be Sera and Janie here for this occasion before I could consider more company. I meant it when I'd said it was over a year. It was my first game at home since I'd discovered my husband's treachery. I'd visited and played with friends last Christmas and during the summer, but that was it. I'd even cut myself off from acting in the films during the past 16 months, but I had written a script to submit to my modeling friends to see if we could make a bombastic comeback for me.

I finally felt safe to be me again. I was the nerd, the lovable girl with glasses. The girl scout and the girl who was known for her escape prowess. I had my own place, both in the CGC and with my modeling friends. But this right here was my most precious place, with these two Cool Girls who were alongside me. For the first time in 16 months, I felt whole again. I was me.

Janie now could overpower Sera solo, which meant she could move to binding our friend's wrists with the brown rope. I took off Sera's flats and knee socks and then tied her ankles with pleasant cruelty comparable to Janie's. Sera howled idle threats the whole time but soon had an accident where both of her socks filled her mouth. I thanked Janie for quelling the bombastic, energetic Italian. A black bandana naturally held the wad in her mouth before Janie taped it all shut with seven layers, or the remainder of the roll of gray tape, leaving the knot of the bandana visible.

Now we were able to focus on tying up the perpetually moving victim of our wills. She received the royal treatment of her legs from me while Janie tied a breast harness and waist rope. A royal treatment meant I tied her legs in five more places, for three on each section of her legs, and that rough brown twine bound her big toes together.

SMACK! the glow in her eyes showed that she was safe and happy and feeling loved.
"Quit kicking!" I ordered her, but she continued even after Janie tightly blindfolded her with a pink bandana, "Serafina Arcangela Cherubina Bonifacia Randaccio LaRosa, you're naughty!"
"Let's hogtie her; she has no quit in her!" Janie suggested, and I agreed and took one of the two remaining brown ropes and handed it to Janie to use on our sweet, lovable, friend.

Janie hogtied Sera from her wrists to her feet while I took one of her stinky, nasty shoes. Such an insolent captive deserved to sniff her own feet. I used some microfoam tape and wrapped it around her face to hold the shoe over her nose. From the squirms, I knew that the captive was thoroughly humiliated and getting an uncomfortable taste and smell. I was blessed to not have the olfactory or gustatory strength for dirty laundry torture. I can take it, but I hate it.

"Mmmm!" my fellow Italian groaned while taking a sniff of the shoe, embracing the escalation.
"You'll pay for your insolence!" I taunted her and told Janie to do the other torture.
"She is a total miscreant!" Janie agreed with my assessment and giggled while looking at us.
"Mmmmm!" The captive's defiance slowly was replaced with happy sounds of struggle.

Serafina is difficult for me as a captive. I do not entertain breathplay, and neither does Janie. I don't like spanking others excessively, but I will fire warning shots. A spank for misbehaving is fine; spanking just because you're my captive isn't. As such, I do admit to struggling to get her to enjoy herself to the fullest, but I was happy to be playing with a person I knew loved and trusted me. Sometimes, all a game needs is a captor and captive without anything happening.

"Mmmmmm!" squeaked a much more submissive Serafina, having found some satisfaction.
"Well… my turn. Take it easy, Gangsta Jock. It's been a long time," I turned to Janie now.
"Joyce, just a little rope and a little cuddling while you listen to your favorite music, OK?"
"You get one hour of me tied up. Just continue my Beethoven symphony list where I left it," I sat down and played with a piece of the pink rope, "Janie, why? Why would Ryan cheat on me? And leave me?" I wiped a tear from my eye and looked into Janie's eyes and found sympathy.
"Maybe it's a blessing the way it worked. You have no children; you can start anew," she shared her thoughts, "If you'd had children, the bishop wouldn't have granted you an annulment."

I reached down and stroked Sera's head in a caring manner. These two were more than common confidantes… I even turned to these two, and these two alone, when I wanted advice on how to spice up my sex life. Back when I had a husband. I didn't want to stay in Iowa any longer. Now even Florida was banal because it was where my parents died; Iowa was where I had died; and I was scared of going somewhere new or unfamiliar. Minnesota? New Jersey? I didn't know yet. Life had taken the scariest twists and turns imaginable. I had no one left but my friends.

Janie quietly took my arms and boxtied them behind my back. I took a deep breath as she did it, and I offered no resistance at all. She carefully and kindly worked a detailed harness and tied an effective waist-and-crotch rope followed before she tied my ankles and thighs. Nothing was said until she had gagged me with my trusty forest green ball gag with its chin strap. A hogtie of my own, not strict, followed. Lastly, a brown bandana blindfolded me.

"I'm just going to let you enjoy yourself for a little bit," Janie said in a sweet, kind tone.
SMACK! Janie was at least comfortable enough to spank Serafina.
"Mmmmm!" Sera's cry at being spanked sounded more frustrated, but I could hear the glee.
SMACK! The Gentle Giant showed her truly gentle side.
"Owwwww!" Only Serafina could make spanking out to be something as good as dessert.
"Naughty Gangsta Chick gets spanked, not sorry!" Janie playfully taunted her.

One of those funny things is pretending to still be tied up when you're a sneaky little escape artist and have your big tough friend the Gangsta Jock thinking you are putty in her paws. You simply drop out of the hogtie with no effort and sit up in order to remove the blindfold that was robbing you of your sight. Not that I could see anyway even after pulling the bandana down to my neck. I still needed my glasses to be able to see beyond reading distance. Yeah, I escaped in 3 minutes, which was disappointing in one perspective and hilariously fulfilling in another.

"Well, well, well… I'll just take out my failure on this one," Janie spanked Serafina.
SMACK!
"Mmmmm!" Sera cried loudly and squirmed in a way that expressed her ongoing happiness.
SMACK! I heard the sound and just felt like she was at the end of her leash though.
"Owwwww!" Her choice of wording said pain, but her tone said she was still happy.
"Untie her," I quietly said to Janie, "Please? I want to talk to you two some more."

Janie understood my needs all too well. After years without either bondage or TUGs in my life, a slow adjustment was in order. The Italian soon emerged with stars in her eyes and a fire still in her spirit. I walked away from the game feeling rejuvenated and like I had been truly liberated… not only from the pain of my dissolved marriage but also the pains of the other sorrows that had preceded it. Tears would never resurrect my mom and dad, but they could express my love for them… and for these two girls right here with me. So I cried while embracing both of them.

"Thank you so much for being here with me… I can never repay you," I looked at both of them.
"Joyce," the spunky Italian spoke from the heart, as she always did, "We love you."
Janie agreed and gave me another hug. "It's our honor… to call you Dr. Joyce Verdi, Ph.D.!"
"You can stay with one of us anytime, you know that," Sera smiled warmly at me.
"Ditto," Janie wouldn't have it any other way; she and I had suffered together too many times.
"I wouldn't have dared to ask such a thing," I squeezed them tightly for a second group hug.

Oh, how good that group hug felt! How special these two were! I had done it! I was a doctor of mechanical engineering! Mommy, Daddy, I know you're happy and constantly praying for me! Your little girl loves you and hopes to spend eternity with you when her time comes!

And I hope Janie and Sera get to join me up there too!

[Caesar73]

I love this Tale.

First the reflective Introduction, then Fun begins. Excellent Tie up Sequences as usual

[LunaDog]

Extremely well told. Enjoyed reading this.