Two Masters, one burning question: What truly defines a “Protocol Dom”? Lumos joins MasterMarc at the fireplace, not for an interview, but for a raw, unfiltered discussion on rules, rituals, and the intoxicating pursuit of absolute control. Get ready to dive deep into the mind of a Master who finds ecstasy in total ownership.
MasterMarc: Hi Lumos, nice to see you again. Last time it was just for a few minutes during Darklands in Antwerp. As you discussed with Pup Se7en, your fetish life has radically shifted in recent months. You now call yourself a switch, but you’re predominantly operating as a Protocol Dom. Can you unspool for us what, in your eyes, truly defines a Protocol Dom?
Lumos: Hey Marc, it’s great to catch up again and always a pleasure to chat to you guys!
To me a “protocol Dominant” is a vague term referring to a Dominant who enjoys enforcing rules, rituals and behaviors upon a submissive or slave. I know few Dominants don’t who adopt some form of protocol – the classic being titles such as “Sir” & “Master” – but some Dominants are undoubtedly interested in going a lot further with that control and ritualistic approach to service.
This could be as straightforward as how a slave eats, sleeps, stands, sits or as micromanaged as when it may clip its toenails, cut its hair and so on.
The Sub’s Security: Craving the Cage of Control
MasterMarc: The delicious advantage of talking to a switch is that you’re intimately familiar with both sides of the coin. I know you once reveled in rules and rituals when serving as a slave. Tell us, what was it about strict protocols that held such an irresistible allure for you as a sub?
Lumos: As a younger man I felt a certain sense of comfort in the submission and control that a strict BDSM dynamic can bring.
There’s a certain liberation that comes from a lack of freedom. Where a slave has little control there’s very little for it to worry about; it need only focus on the moment and pleasing its Sir – not just to avoid a beating but because it wants to.
As I’ve got older I’ve found it trickier to get into that submissive headspace and when I have it’s felt less natural – I’ve felt more and more the desire to control the situation.
MasterMarc: Beyond the sheer protocol, aren’t rules and rituals themselves a potent source of security and safety for a slave? That exquisite certainty in knowing exactly what’s expected?
Lumos: Absolutely – I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, it gives a slave some level of reassurance and routine.
Where there’s an ambiguity or flexibility in a Master’s order, it’s easy for the boy to make the wrong decision. If you’re a slave that wants nothing more than to please, then that’s a truly terrifying prospect.
I’ve seen something being shared a lot around on Twitter recently on this subject which I couldn’t disagree with more:
“When you ask a subby pup what he likes done to him and he’s like “whatever alpha wants” Alpha wants you to throw him a fucking bone here bitch Tell me what you like ffs”
And I think it fundamentally misunderstands how a bunch of subs “tick”. If a sub’s fetish quite literally is a lack of freedom then to ask what it wants to do is – while well mannered – fairly simplistic and naive.
The slave absolutely wants to do what you want; the whole point is it wants to relinquish control!
MasterMarc: When we’re in pre-scene chats, the question “What do you like as a slave?” isn’t a wrong one. I ask it to ensure our desires align, that our kinks might dance together. Of course, once a slave is in my presence, I stop asking; I know from our talks that executing my program, fulfilling my needs, will ultimately satisfy him too. And at the end, everyone involved—even if some experiences are deliciously abusive—must leave thrilled.
Lumos: I totally agree that on a basic level it’s sensible to ensure that the Master and slave are on the same wave length as a matter of natural compatibility.
With all that said, I’m completely of the opinion that a lack of control and power is an all consuming fetish in itself – to pamper to a slave’s interests in such a case I think can be pretty counterproductive.
Take me for example; when I was primarily a slave I know my dick would become flaccid whenever I was offered any kind of choice. Now that I’m focused on training boys I’m keen to make sure that doesn’t happen; eliminating freedoms and options might be time consuming but boy is it satisfying!
My Insatiable Hunger for Total Power
MasterMarc: I didn’t realize you were capable of getting a hard-on, Lumos! On the Master’s side, are rules and rituals simply about making your life easier? Or how do you truly see that dynamic?
Lumos: I surprised myself!
Interestingly I don’t even think it’s about making my life easier – sure it’s lovely to have a slave as a footstool, fetching drinks or chained to my bed in rubber – but the effort required to train and look after a boy undoubtedly outweighs the benefits from its domestic service.
So for example; In the much longer term I’m looking to develop a slave for a TPE dynamic, one who won’t so much as piss, shit or cut a toenail without my prior approval. In that scenario training and maintaining the slave will take a long time – the joy instead comes from having total and unwavering power over another human being, the service is but an added bonus.
MasterMarc: I understand your hunger for a TPE relationship. But you know that once you truly reach that point, it becomes a full-time occupation for the Master. Every decision a free man makes subconsciously becomes a conscious burden on your shoulders, and there will be moments when you simply don’t have the time to micromanage every detail.
Lumos: Oh absolutely – the slave is the servant but the work is undoubtedly mine. I have no illusions about how much effort controlling and caring for a slave in a true TPE sense is.
I’ve done it in pockets during my sessions with my subs so far but I’d like to take it so much further – the idea of controlling and micromanaging another human being’s life is immensely alluring, no matter how much work it requires.
MasterMarc: I’ve had experience with 24/7 (permanent) slavery. My boy officially worked for my company, so all the legalities were handled. Other kinksters often told me such a slave must make life much easier. I always countered that it’s not easier, but profoundly more satisfying for me. I compared it to a theater play: the slave has a lead role, as does the Master, but the Master is also the head of production, the playwright, the director, and so much more.
Lumos: That’s really interesting, I rather enjoy your theatre analogy and I very much feel we’re on the same page.
I’m the kind of person who’s always busy so the idea of having a human slave to continually – as you put it, “produce” and “direct” – is really quite enticing.
You mentioned you had a 24/7 slave; if you don’t mind me asking, how far did you go with that and how did you balance its emotional needs with your needs as a controlling Master?
Love, Loyalty, and a 15th Century Housewife
MasterMarc: It’s a truly piercing question. To be honest, it was an incredible emotional connection, though it never blossomed into romance. Yet, that bond was one of the deepest I’ve ever felt. The slave wasn’t my partner; he was my slave. That, paradoxically, made the dynamic much simpler. For instance, Se7en is my partner, and that makes it far more challenging to be the “Master” I truly should be. It’s always easier to see the full, brutal picture when you maintain a little distance. Have you ever faced problems stemming from emotions, either as a slave or a Master?
Lumos: And did you feel the lack of romanticism was a limitation of the dynamic or just how you and the slave naturally fell?
I was romantic with one of my previous Masters; it ended up with him perhaps losing focus of why we were “together” in the first place. I have a sneaking suspicion this isn’t uncommon in TPE dynamics – something I’m very cautious of.
My current couple of boys are purely “utility” slaves, they serve a sexual and domestic utility for me but there’s little or no emotion – at least on my part.
In the future, I can envisage finding a slave I’d like to form a deeper connection with, because ultimately no one wants a dead-behind-the-eyes wooden LTR. I enjoy politics, international travel, clubbing and snuggling with a cute boy on a Sunday morning; it just so happens that in a perfect world the boy I snuggle with would also be my slave, follow my strict rules and remain chained and collared in my presence. A 15th-century housewife dynamic on steroids if you will ^^.
MasterMarc: There was no need for romanticism between us. I believe it would have shattered the unique bond we shared. For me, the ideal scenario that burns in my mind is an SM family: a Master, an Alpha (where there might be room for romance), and two slaves. We’ll see if I ever manifest that vision, and perhaps even my ideal will shift with time.
But now, a crucial question for you: do you truly believe you won’t miss your submissive side in the future? It was a profound need in your past. Can that hunger truly vanish completely?
Lumos: That’s an interesting and noble ambition to seek. I’ve always sought the dreaded gay heteronormative relationships in the past and guess I will do for the foreseeable – albeit with a slave.
On the subject of submission, never say never (hence “switch”) but in all honesty – no. Towards the end I think I was purely a submissive out of habit rather than natural inclination and leanings; I’m far happier as I am now in a purely Dominant, controlling role.
MasterMarc: Thank you, Lumos. It was a pleasure to have you here with me, and I’m sure our paths will cross again soon.
Lumos has peeled back the layers on his fascinating world as a Protocol Dom, revealing a deep hunger for control, structure, and the ultimate ownership of another human being. His journey from submissive security to dominant satisfaction is truly captivating.
What aspects of Lumos’s pursuit of a TPE dynamic or his vision of a “15th-century housewife on steroids” resonated most with you? Does his philosophy on rules, responsibility, and the liberation of true surrender spark your own desires? Share your comments below!
