We individuals who have a unique taste for life and wish to indulge in the darkness manifest within us have been subject to life in the shadows due to our unsatisfactory interests by those common folk that operate in their every day lives without much acknowledgement to our existence. There may be occasional whispers and mocking deriding us for our desires, but we have found ways to indulge within the safety of our various communities for many decades now.
We operate underground, unknown to the world at large, in little societies designed around open engagement. Classifying ourselves into three categories by which to more easily navigate our interactions with one another. Individuals may drift from corner to corner, skulking about in a multitude of slightly different environs, while others may find one locale to call their home and maintain a level of familiarity with the other passers in the night.
This has served us well, and will continue to serve us for many decades to come. There is no reason to upend the structure that has kept us safe for so long. However, I would like to propose an alternative. Not a full on replacement, but simply a means by which others may be brought into the fold without the culture shock that sometimes overwhelms the senses. Some of what is outlined may be stuff that is already followed, but for the purposes of explaining an alternative to its fullest, there may be some reiteration of what we have already come to accept.
Be they predator or switch, one must not interfere negatively with their claim upon the unsuspecting prey. You may assist in their capture of said unsuspecting prey, by feeding or otherwise playing with their food provided that you have their consent, but you must not take over and assert dominance over the predator or switch in question.
Those who engage in the masquerade do not make mention of the masquerade. Even terms outlined in this document may be considered off limits. “Predator” and “Prey” already have established understanding of a sexual predator and their mark and thus have a certain level of inherent discomfort associated with them. So as to not scare off potential meals, it is suggested to refrain from the usage of these terms, or even of mentioning of vore or alluding to your understanding that this society is all around you. Even if others are being more cavalier about their understanding, it still behooves those in the masquerade to behave obliviously, so as to seem more trustworthy to the skittish and shy prey members.
We are living past an age of society wherein those who bare traits of our animal ancestors are beholden to the limits of anatomy and diet. Those beholden to the masquerade understand that regardless of species the inherent understanding of the food chain does not apply and such advances made towards one of a traditionally understood to be food source may in fact be one that engages in their love to swallow as much as any other understood predator.
If one has so chosen to join and follow the rules of the masquerade, they may need another method by which to readily identify other members of the sect. For this purpose we suggest wearing or otherwise having on you, an animal fang. Keep it somewhere proudly shown or at least readily available so that you can raise it or otherwise fiddle with it to signal to others that you suspect may be part of the society. One who is of a predator caste to signal back can simply rub the fang, while one who is a switch and perhaps leaning into becoming an unsuspecting prey can break the chain off their pendant and stash it in their pocket.
These laws may be expanded on and subject to change at a later date, but you are obviously not required to follow them. Slip-ups and forgetfulness are of course going to happen and do not result in immediate expulsion from the masquerade, either. These are simply methods by which we of the masquerade choose to engage in our unsavory hobbies.
I almost hear those of the established order decrying their inability to properly tease or torment their catches before the inevitable end. I would like to conclude this document with a few possibilities of circumstance by which you may make your intent clear to those in the know, while those oblivious will be subtly tickled in ways they do not realize until it is too late for them.
For this we look to double entendre. Usually reserved for engaging sexually, it can also be used for subtly making your intent to devour someone else. Phrases such as “I simply must have you over for dinner”, “Cute enough to eat”, or even as simply as “I’d like to get to know you deeply and intimately” sound suitably like normal speech, but can have the double meaning of making it clear that you intend to swallow this other individual down your gullet and leave them writhing inside you.
After all, in fairy tales, wolves had better success if they practiced subterfuge as in Little Red Riding Hood, than just trying to overtly smash their way through, such as in The Three Little Pigs.