Spotlight on.... VelvetDarkness.

[fire_breeze]

VelvetDarkness has been a voice of reason, of straight honesty and provides a dry sense of humour that leaves us all chuckling. I know that I've always appreciated her insight in all matters, proving herself time and again to be very knowledgeable.

So....

Let the questions begin

I know from several of your posts that you mentioned that you were a strict vegetarian, and if I am not mistaken, a vegan. How did this begin?

 

[KokopelliRises]

If you could only use words (longer than two letters) that started with one letter of the alphabet, what letter would you choose?

 

[MisterSir]

If the answer is "nine", what is the question?

 

[VelvetDarkness]

VelvetDarkness has been a voice of reason, of straight honesty and provides a dry sense of humour that leaves us all chuckling. I know that I've always appreciated her insight in all matters, proving herself time and again to be very knowledgeable.

So....

Let the questions begin

I know from several of your posts that you mentioned that you were a strict vegetarian, and if I am not mistaken, a vegan. How did this begin?

It was a gradual process of education and personal choice. Few people wake up one morning, decide to be a vegan and then handle the lifestyle fall-out.

I was about 12 when I first saw a PETA video about meat production. It was a compelling film which made me find meat distasteful and processed meat abhorrent. My mother thought she'd be indulging a fad for 5mins but I persevered.

About 2 years ago my friend and I came up with the idea of a vegetarian cafe on a double decker bus. We found a food vendor in Greenwich market who cooked and sold a wide range of fresh, organic dishes and everything he made was vegan. He had successful stalls in a few other big London markets and we fell in love with his cooking. He is now our head chef. He is very evangelical about the benefits of a healthy, vegan lifestyle and he provided lots of info on aspects of the dairy/egg industries that are just as unpalatable and abhorrent as the meat industry. I therefore decided to go the whole meat-free-hog and remove dairy from my diet. It took a period of adjustment and I think about cooking and eating in a completely different way now. I haven't regretted my choice.

Veganism is slowly becoming more mainstream but it is still frustrating. Even vegetarian restaurants often have little to offer vegans. Most vegetarian options in mainstream restaurants and food outlets are egg/cheese heavy and can't be adapted. I rarely eat out because even places where I know I can order a dish I like, I have to be the awkward person who sits there asking for A without B or to swap one ingredient for another. Plus, eating out with non-vegans inevitably means the conversation turns to my veganism and I spend the whole meal defending my choice, which gets tedious. Then, if I'm really lucky, people comment that all I talk about is my diet, even though it was because others were quizzing me. If I had a quid for every 'but what if you were on a desert island...' question I've fielded I'd be a rich woman. Another favourite is when people comment on my fair skin and announce I'm pasty, under-nourished and unhealthy looking because I don't eat meat. For the record, I'm pasty because my mother was a redhead. I had exactly the same skintone when I was an omnivore. It's not my fault that I'm a natural born goth.

Anyway... end of mini-rant.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

If you could only use words (longer than two letters) that started with one letter of the alphabet, what letter would you choose?

Good grief!

No, that's not my answer... I'll have to get back to you.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

If the answer is "nine", what is the question?

How many brothers and sisters did my Irish granny have?

 

[silverwhisper]

hi, velvet! i'd like to begin with my usual bernard pivot questions, if you don't mind, before moving into other waters...

1. what is your favorite word?
2. what is your least favorite word?
3. what turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
4. what turns you off?
5. what is your favorite curse word?
6. what sound or noise do you love?
7. what sound or noise do you hate?
8. what profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. what profession would you not like to do?
10. if heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

ed

 

[Quoll]

I just have one question for now. How are you?

 

[satindesire]

Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

What brand of toilet paper do you use?

How many boxes of matches do you have in your house?

What was the last cheesy 80's movie you watched?

 

[bailadora]

If it's not too intrusive to ask: how did you and Major Malfunction meet?

 

[bobsgirl]

No particular question, but big kudos from me. VelvetDarkness has my vote for the funniest quote I've seen at Lit in a long time:

It's not as though you can go back to her, drop your trousers, force her to her knees and say, '8 out of 10 random female usernames on a sex forum would totally suck me off, so pucker up bitch.'

OMG, Velvet... That is a Lit classic. LMAO

 

[VelvetDarkness]

1. what is your favorite word? Not sure. My personal little mantra is 'I'll handle it.'
2. what is your least favorite word? Cunt. I have no problem with this word when Master uses it in play or whatever but it irks me no end that it's one of the most taboo expletives just because it refers to female genitalia.
3. what turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]? Blimey, these aren't exactly easy questions. Peace, quiet and the knowledge that there's nothing else I need to be devoting my time to. I usually have little creative/emotional/spiritual epiphanies when I'm half daydreaming and my subconscious is doing the thinking for me.
4. what turns you off? Stress, fatigue, strong judgement/criticism.
5. what is your favorite curse word? Bloody
6. what sound or noise do you love? The sound of my collar or restraints fastening, Master's zipper, the little meow my cat makes when he comes home.
7. what sound or noise do you hate? Metal on metal or teeth, Master's snoring.
8. what profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Novelist, possibly erotic novelist.
9. what profession would you not like to do? There are so many. Anything unethical or involving animal products. I would not like to be an employee again but time will tell.
10. if heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome.

ed

 

[VelvetDarkness]

I just have one question for now. How are you?

I'm ok thanks, things aren't as stressful as they could be. Although my business is new, it's becoming successful, so it's all good.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

Cat person. I have no patience for dogs. Cat's are more self reliant. Dogs are like kids that never grow up. Plus, with a cat you're always the sub.

What brand of toilet paper do you use?

Revive. It's an unbleached, recycled brand that doesn't feel like sandpaper.

How many boxes of matches do you have in your house?

None. The cooker's electric and I don't smoke. I have a lighter that I use for candles and oil burners.

What was the last cheesy 80's movie you watched?

Cheesy 80s really isn't my thing. Oh, I saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off last month. That one's a classic.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

If it's not too intrusive to ask: how did you and Major Malfunction meet?

We actually first bumped into each other in the Lit chatroom. We talked a bit, swapped emails and later swapped numbers. I did some work in his town and sent him a text. We met the next night and had dinner. The rest is history really. We knew we were right for one another. We were long distance for a year and have been living together for nearly 2 years.

 

[Eilan]

No particular question, but big kudos from me. VelvetDarkness has my vote for the funniest quote I've seen at Lit in a long time:

It's not as though you can go back to her, drop your trousers, force her to her knees and say, '8 out of 10 random female usernames on a sex forum would totally suck me off, so pucker up bitch.'

OMG, Velvet... That is a Lit classic. LMAO

I agree!



What brought you to Lit?

 

[VelvetDarkness]

What brought you to Lit?

My repressed kinkiness. I was a noob in more ways than one when I stumbled on Lit. I started off as many do, just reading the stories but then the forums caught my eye. I've disappeared a time or two when life has been crap but something always lures me back and I can never lurk for longer than 5mins without getting itchy typing fingers.

Now that I've been here some while, there are people here who I consider friends. Although it's an anonymous forum and everyone comes and goes, there are people to whom I am so attached that I couldn't just walk away now without wondering what became of them and their lives. Also, on occasions when I've gone awol, it's been touching and slightly shaming to see a thread asking where I've got to. People here do care about other posters and there's a real camaraderie here. It made me feel bad to think that people were worrying about me when I was just too preoccupied with other stuff to post.

 

[Quoll]

I'm ok thanks, things aren't as stressful as they could be. Although my business is new, it's becoming successful, so it's all good.

I'm pleased to hear that.

I may have missed it, but what is the business, if that's not too personal?

Re the cat sub thing. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8147566.stm

What flower and or what smell triggers the most pleasant memories for you?

 

[VelvetDarkness]

I may have missed it, but what is the business, if that's not too personal?

A vegan cafe on a double decker bus. The bottom deck is the kitchen and the top deck is the seating area. A 9ft awning that comes out of one side can cover another 30 diners. We're also converting more buses to make it a chain. They go to popular London locations and have been at some of the summer festivals.

What flower and or what smell triggers the most pleasant memories for you?

Flowers make me sneeze.

Other than that... my mother's perfume.

 

[Quoll]

A vegan cafe on a double decker bus. The bottom deck is the kitchen and the top deck is the seating area. A 9ft awning that comes out of one side can cover another 30 diners. We're also converting more buses to make it a chain. They go to popular London locations and have been at some of the summer festivals.



Flowers make me sneeze.

Other than that... my mother's perfume.

See I knew I had read that somewhere, that sounds like a fantastic idea, I really hope it takes off for you. (no more roses for you)

 

[VelvetDarkness]

See I knew I had read that somewhere, that sounds like a fantastic idea, I really hope it takes off for you. (no more roses for you)

I'm not allergic to cyber-roses though.

*sniffs deeply at screen*








See?

...and if we're being picky, cats have pretty much the same effect on me.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

If you could only use words (longer than two letters) that started with one letter of the alphabet, what letter would you choose?

On deeper reflection, I'm going to have to say 'M.' If I couldn't say 'Master' I imagine the consequences would be pretty severe.

 

[RuneBlade]

On deeper reflection, I'm going to have to say 'M.' If I couldn't say 'Master' I imagine the consequences would be pretty severe.

Good save

 

[VelvetDarkness]

Good save

Well, I wouldn't be able to say his Christian name but I'm sure being addressed as Master would compensate.

 

[infinity706]

2. what is your least favorite word? Cunt. I have no problem with this word when Master uses it in play or whatever but it irks me no end that it's one of the most taboo expletives just because it refers to female genitalia.
5. what is your favorite curse word? Bloody

Well, this is strange. In your 3 years here, you've only said 'bloody' 67 times, however, you've used 'cunt' 70 times. Are you sure you didn't get them backwards?