Liberation Nation Ch. 06: Free Use University

All characters in this story are 18 years or older.
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Mark's footsteps echoed down the wide corridor as he studied the syllabus page on his phone. He flicked back to the room number, above which read: Orientation to Free Use Ethics and Dynamics. The title alone had piqued his interest. He'd barely glanced at the syllabus until now, but the phrase "free use" in the course name had a wildly different meaning at Amor University.
Frowning, he switched over to the building map. Room 210 of Blake Hall was proving more difficult to find than he'd anticipated, and each step marked the ticking of seconds until the class started. He hurried around the corner, fraught at the idea of being late to the first day of class. A gaggle of students and their quiet chatter confronted him, most on their phones and the others emitting moans. The epiphany hit him like a textbook. He roamed the halls of AU...being late was perfectly acceptable, even expected. The weight of punctuality hung on him from his previous life in the United States.
Just as he shed a fraction of those old ideas, the room placard became readable. He nodded to the other students, feeling out of place. They were undergraduate freshman, but he was a first year Master's student. Being new to Elutheria, his academic advisor had encouraged him to take the introductory course. Four years of age wasn't that much younger, but as a graduate student he felt worlds apart from the worries of the undergrads.
But he recognized in their faces some early confidence that came with the excitement and commitment of moving out to a new country. Elutheria was founded along the United States-Mexico border in 2006. The population control was strict, and the entry requirements stricter. Only persons aged eighteen or older were allowed to apply, travel from the US into Elutheria required two weeks of quarantine even if you were already a citizen, which meant most students had effectively moved out from their parents permanently, a challenge that Mark hadn't faced until recently.
Students filed into the room in small groups, and a warm conversation echoed through the open door as he stepped inside. It was a spacious lecture hall, filled with natural light pouring through a line of windows. There were no desks or seats; the room was instead filled with large mattresses, soft bean bags, and a seemingly infinite amount of pillows along the terraced rows of the lecture hall. Most of the "seats" were arranged in clusters, rather than the traditional rows, removing the feel of a classroom entirely. As Mark scanned the room for an open mattress, his gaze landed on the woman standing at the front of the class, setting up her presentation slides. She was tall, with cropped, dark hair and a welcoming smile. She wore a fitted blazer and dress pants, giving her an air of authority balanced by her easygoing demeanor. The button-up shirt under her blazer was loose on the top, revealing her ample cleavage underneath, softening the intimidation she projected onto the class.
Mark found a seat near the center of the room, far enough to avoid special attention from the professor but not far enough to seem disinterested. He shifted his backpack onto the floor and tried to settle in, although his heart rate pumped faster than normal after his long walk. The instructor waved her hands, bringing the room to order. "Welcome to section three of Orientation to Free Use Ethics and Dynamics!" she announced, her voice warm and confident. "I'm Professor West, and this class is designed to help new students navigate university life here at Amor and, by extension, within the broader culture of Elutheria."
A few students nodded, and Mark noticed one or two leaning a little closer to their neighbors. The professor paused to let more latecomers file in. Mark slid over to let two students sit down next to him, a dark-skinned student with thick glasses, wavy hair, and generous curves, and a tall, bronzed-skin student with a five o'clock shadow and sharp cut. They shot him quick, thankful smiles as he made room and set their backpacks down next to his.
"The main goal of this course," she continued, "is to examine the ethics, boundaries, and freedoms of free use within an academic and social environment. Think of this as a class where you'll be doing as much as learning." Her gaze swept over the large class, resting briefly on Mark. "And yes, this course is hands-on. But don't worry. We'll take it one step at a time."
Mark felt a ripple of anticipation pass through the room. His pulse quickened, but he tried to stay focused. All of these students were in the same boat as him--new to the country and willing to learn.
"Many of you are here for similar reasons. AU is a top ten university globally, but Amor's unique culture of openness is what sets us apart, and it's why you're going to learn so much more than what's in your textbooks." She tapped her tablet, and a presentation appeared on the large, blank wall behind her, large enough even for Mark to read from his seat. The solar windows eskişehir escort darkened automatically, dimming the room to brighten the title screen with the course name in large letters.
"Let's get started," she said, stepping out from behind the desk. "Elutheria's policy on free use is simple: anyone is welcome to initiate physical or sexual contact with anyone else, within the boundaries of our Code of Consent. Now, that document was explained to you in detail during your immigration process. This class is where we'll unpack the meaning behind it, exploring the implications it has for you as individuals and as part of this community. I'll expect you all to read through the syllabus in your own time, but I'll go over a few quick points now.
"This class will meet every Monday from nine a.m. until ten. This class is required for all incoming undergraduates and graduate students, but I don't take attendance because I've found that students are very...motivated to show. We will cover important information that you'll need for the homework that won't be available online, so if you have to miss class for any reason, please let me know or ask for help from your peers. If you need any accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. There is no final exam, but weekly reflections are due on Sunday nights at nine p.m., so don't put those off. There will be some group work as well, which I've already assigned.
"If you have questions about anything, feel free to reach out. I teach four sections of this course in the fall semester, but I want you to know that I do care about the success of each and every one of you, and I always look forward to getting to know students better throughout the fall."
She bit her lip, sending vivid images through Mark's mind of what exactly that process might entail. The two students next to him shifted on the mattress, indicating a similar thought.
Professor West clicked a button, and a slide appeared on the wall behind her with the title, "The Code of Consent." Beneath the title was a list of key points that looked, at a glance, more like the preamble of a law document than a syllabus outline.
"Now, I want everyone to take a deep breath," Professor West said, watching them with a knowing smile. "This may be new to some of you, and it's perfectly natural to feel nervous. Remember, free use is about freedom, not obligation. Just because you have the option to engage in this culture doesn't mean you have to rush into anything. Here, comfort is paramount. Studies have shown that eighty-two percent of Elutherians don't initiate their first act of free use until forty-eight hours in the country, and twenty-three percent of Elutherians don't initiate their first act of free use until a full week in."
Mark felt a sense of reassurance, a softening of the nerves he hadn't realized were tightening inside him. He could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from around the room as Professor West's words settled over them. He was nearing a full week in the country, and still had yet to initiate. Despite meeting his neighbors and onboarding at work, all of his steamy encounters had happened to him, or at the strong encouraging of his new neighbors. Encouraged to know he wasn't alone, he vowed to forget about an arbitrary deadline and focus on enjoying his new life. He'd naturalize when the time came.
"Now," she continued, "we'll start with a brief exercise. This will be a paired exercise in comfort and boundary-setting. Everyone, please find a partner. Gender doesn't matter, but it can't be someone you already know. Introduce yourselves, and we'll go from there."
The class broke into murmurs as people turned to the nearest student. Mark looked at the woman on the mattress, who had shooed away her friend.
"Hi, I'm Esha," she said, her tone friendly and calm and with a hint of a South Asian accent. "It's nice to meet you."
She wore a loose green sweater that did little to hide her ample chest. Her thick glasses and quiet demeanor gave the impression of an astute academic, not someone who would willingly enter Liberation Nation. He felt his boxers tighten as a quick shot of arousal flowed through him, and he struggled to maintain a poker face. The innocence in her eyes was a turn-on, a surprise to him.
"Mark," he replied, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you too."
The babble of conversation from other students filled an uncomfortable silence between them that was thankfully cut short by the instructor.
"All right, now that everyone's paired up," Professor West's voice carried over the room, "we'll start with something simple: eye contact. Look into your partner's eyes and hold the gaze for one minute. Think of it as your first chance to establish a connection, even if it's silent. Yes, this will be more challenging then you think. And no talking! Your minute starts...now."
Mark swallowed, shooting her an apologetic smile in advance of the awkwardness. But as he locked eyes with Esha, her comforting expression relaxed gaziantep escort him. She was pretty, in a nerdy way. Back at his undergrad institution, he'd met plenty of students just like her, and hadn't given a second thought about relations with them. He'd only had a few hookups, and just two casual relationships, before moving to Elutheria, and most of those women hadn't been in college for the courses. The allure of her shy, dark eyes was more tempting than he'd expected.
That sent a pang through his heart. He'd developed a crush on his neighbor, Lily, the instant they'd met. Over the weekend he'd gotten to know her better, and although he wasn't hesitant to get his hopes up, it had seemed like she'd returned much of his feelings. Yet here he was already fantasizing about pulling up the sweater of this student. He struggled to maintain eye contact after that, working through an odd guilt that he retained from his old expectations.
"Great!" Professor West's voice broke the spell, and they pulled away with embarrassed smiles. "Now, how uncomfortable was that? Did anyone feel a little nervous? Exposed?"
She gauged the nods of agreement throughout the lecture hall.
"Isn't that fascinating? A country where sexual contact with other genders is allowed at any time--and yet, looking into someone else's eyes still proves a challenge," Professor West explained. "All of you have brought baggage from your previous lives, your previous cultures and values, here with you. That kind of connection with a stranger is not practiced or encouraged in the rest of the world. Remember, connection aren't always about physical contact--it's about understanding and respecting each other's presence. Remember, all touch begins with that shared sense of mutual respect. In our next few classes, you'll learn to recognize and trust that instinct. It's what makes free use possible."
She paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "This is just the beginning. In this class, we'll explore every aspect of what it means to participate in a free use culture--not just the physical but the emotional, ethical, and social dimensions too. And by the end of the semester, my hope is that you'll each have a fuller understanding of how to live freely, respectfully, and joyfully in this community."
The room was quiet, filled with a quiet, unified focus as the students hung on her every word. Professor West tapped the tablet, switching the presentation to a QR code and breaking her own spell.
"Everyone pull out your phones, we're going to answer a few questions together as a class. Stay together in your pairs, but don't compare answers. This is completely anonymous."
Mark scanned the code and the browser opened to a poll titled "PHIL 102 Section 3 Poll." The first question was a straightforward T/F: "My partner is of the different gender than myself."
Mark knew what the question represented. In the Code of Consent, which he'd studied carefully during the arduous quarantine, free use laws only applied to non-same-gender relations. While sex was still allowed and encouraged at any time between those of the same gender, verbal consent was required. That applied to acts considered outside the bounds of normal sex, namely kinks, which required consent no matter the gender and needed to be registered with the government.
He clicked "T", wondering where this line of questioning would lead. He got his answer immediately, and tilted his phone screen away from Esha.
"Would you engage in manual, oral, vaginal, or anal sex with your partner (giving or receiving)?"
His eyes bugged. It was an insane question to ask inside a college lecture hall, but Professor West was totally relaxed at the front as the students began to whisper among themselves.
"No talking," she reminded them, shushing the agitated students.
Mark quickly scanned the options, of which he could select several, which included "None of the above" and "All of the above." Careful not to look over at Esha, he selected "All of the above" and submitted his answer.
The third and final question appeared, even more shocking than the last.
"Are you willing to share your answer to the previous question with your partner after the poll has concluded?"
Trembling, his finger hovered over the selection for "No." Before pressing down, doubt crept into him. What if she selected yes? Would she be offended if he refused to share? He had selected "All of the above", hadn't he? It would be much worse if he'd selected "None."
His forehead prickled with nerves, but before he could second-guess himself again, he switched his answer to "Yes" and submitted. A text bubble popped up thanking him for completing the quiz, and he sighed and put his phone back into his pocket, propping himself up on the mattress to watch the results roll in.
"Okay, we've got about a hundred fifty answers...a few of you yet to answer...try not to think too much about it. Submit your first instinct."
Professor West paused a giresun escort beat to let the last of the nervous students complete the activity. Mark admired the way her cleavage glowed in the light of the presentation. Unlike Esha, West seemed very confident, leaning into the promiscuous professor role. He reminded himself that in Elutheria, promiscuity wasn't actually a role, it was just a fact of the culture. Slut-shaming didn't exist; if everyone was a "whore", then no one was.
"Shutting it down in three...two...one..."
Professor West clicked a button, displaying the results of the first question in a simple bar graph. The answers were split fairly evenly, with a slight lean toward opposite-gendered partners.
"Keep an eye on these numbers," Professor West said, circling the digits on her tablet. "Over one hundred students got paired with a student of a different gender. Now, for the interesting part..."
She dramatically brought her finger down, switching to the next question. Gasps and giggles broke out immediately among the students, as "All of the above" dominated the results, followed closely by all the options except anal. "None of the above" only had a few dozen responses.
"Isn't this curious," she said with a smile, knowing full-well the results. "First, take a look at the highest answer--all of the above at ninety results. But what follows next? Manual and oral at around sixty-five each, and vaginal at around fifty. Anal has a few answers. This happens every year. Some of you selected anal and decided the other options weren't for you, instead of just choosing "All of the above"....
The students let out a collective chuckle.
"Reading instructions is important, people," Professor West said, turning the playful scolding into a teachable moment. "But what can we draw from these numbers?"
A student in the front row raised their hand and mumbled something.
"Can you repeat that, louder?" Professor West asked.
"There are lots of same-gender pairs that are still interested in sex."
"Correct!" Professor West said, gesturing to the bar graph. "In anonymity, most men and women are willing to admit to bi- or pansexual tendencies. However, because we carry the burdens from your previous places of residence, most men are much less willing to admit it. It's a natural consequence of the suppression of favorable masculinity and the oversexualization of women of other societies. Here, men and women are all equal, all across the board. Elutheria has the highest reported non-heterosexual population in the world. What's interesting is that those numbers actually increase as the population ages, meaning after some time, people become more comfortable with their own sexuality. And now we're going to really challenge you."
She paused, leaning forward against the desk to bring them all to close attention with her words.
"I'm going to reveal the results of this last question. You all know what it is. If you're feeling embarrassed either way, that's totally natural. However, for the rest of our short class time, we're going to discuss your results with your partner, if you choose. And, depending on the results, you may act on them. I'm going to come around the room and facilitate discussion between partners. I think you'll find that once the ball has gotten rolling, your answers may quickly change."
She tapped her tablet, and the presentation changed. Mark's eyebrows raised. The column to share answers was much lower than the column for secrecy. Despite the triple-digit numbers willing to engage in any act, for the new AU class, it was difficult to admit.
"Take the time to discuss with your partner, I'll be around shortly. I might not get to every group, but I'll do my best. Remember--you're free to act on any information you want to share. In fact, you're free to act regardless within the Code of Consent. But the connection will be more enticing with the conversation first.
Mark turned to Esha, his cheeks reddening. Her dark skin was similarly ruddy as she pulled a small bottle from beside the mattress.
"I found the lube," she said, and they both let out a nervous chuckle.
"So, uh...what did you select?" Mark asked.
Esha giggled, hiding her mouth with her hand.
"I don't--um..."
"Let's start with the last question," he jumped in, trying to ease them into the insane conversation Professor West expected them to have. "Are you willing to share? It's okay if you don't want to."
"I picked yes."
"I, uh, also picked yes."
They paused, the tension drawn between them like a tightening cord. Mark shifted on the mattress, feeling drawn toward her soft presence. Around them, faint sighs and moans floated around the lecture hall as students acted on the results of their poll. Her soft, dark lips tantalized him, pulling him toward her. Breathlessly, his heart pounding, he tilted his head.
Their lips touched, sending jolts sparking inside his chest. She kissed hungrily, roughly, surprising Mark with her intensity. He'd underestimated her by her looks; each motion threatened to swallow him with her passion. The world swam around him as his brain fought to stay in the lecture hall, flashing instead to his weekend with Lily. It jarred him, slamming between the two, barely able to distinguish what day it was as hands rubbed over his jeans.