Julia hated posture class. St. Mary’s Finishing school was known for their strict discipline and outstanding results, even if it was through unconventional means. She didn’t want to be sent to St. Mary’s, but her father hadn’t given her the choice. As an upper class socialite, she was to be sent to finishing school to learn everything there was about manners and behaviours, and unfortunately St. Mary’s was where she was sent. 

Dressed in the school uniform of a grey tartan skirt, white blouse, red and yellow tie, knee high grey socks, and black pumps with a three inch stiletto heel, she filed into the large training room with the rest of her class. The girls were split into two groups and directed to opposite sides of the room. There was the good half, and the bad half. This was based on marks given out during the classes and how well along you were coming in your enforced training. Julia grimaced as she lined up with the other girls in the bottom half of the class and was prepared for posture training. The girls in the bad half received rigid metal posture trainers. They were devices that had a built in collar and waist clamp with a rod that went behind the back between them to ensure your posture was ramrod straight. Attached to the rod were two metal cuffs, used to place the wearer into a boxtie. The whole contraption would be padlocked on, ensuring it would not come off until the end of class when the instructors deemed so or if it was left on as additional punishment for failing the class. Before that happened though, each girl received a thick leather posture collar that kept their chins propped up and head straight. 

Julia bit her tongue as one of the assistant instructors placed the posture collar around her neck and buckled it tight. She hated the collar more than the restraints, mostly because if she wanted to turn to see anything she was now forced to turn her entire body. Shuffling forward and forced to look straight ahead, she watched her friend Natalie be placed into the rigid posture trainer. The collar was snapped around her neck over the leather posture collar, then the waist part closed and tightened around her waist. Her arms were pulled behind her and folded so her wrists were stacked one on top of the other and the cuffs were snapped closed around them, ensuring she was stuck in the boxtie position. Leg irons were locked around her ankles before a crop tapped her twice on the thigh and Natalie moved forwards to join the class at the end of the room. 

Julia stepped up next with a sigh. She hated the metal boxtie armbinder, but the class was so difficult she wasn’t able to graduate up to a softer leather posture trainer. She stood up straight as the trainer snapped around her collar and waist. She hated how the trainer put even more pressure on her neck, but she held her tongue from complaining as her arms were brought behind her and the cold metal cuffs were snapped shut around her wrists. “Remember to keep your mouth shut next time.” The assistant instructor scolded her as they brought up an additional piece of gear: a harness panelgag. 

Julia gulped as she looked at the web of leather straps, remembering her little outburst from last class had earned her disciplinary action. One of which was detention where she had been strung up on a frame for three periods, but the other was that she was to be gagged for all posture training classes for a week. The ball on the inside of the panel was inserted into her open mouth and the assistant instructor quickly buckled the web of straps around her head. Julia could feel drool already building in her mouth but forced herself to swallow it the best she could. Dripping any drool onto the floor would earn her an additional disciplinary sentence and she wanted to avoid more if she could. 

The leg irons were locked around her ankles and the double tap of the crop on her thigh told her to move out. Moving slowly and deliberately to not pull the leg irons tight and cause her to trip, Julia made her way out of the line and followed the path that Natalie had walked before her until she reached the end of the room. It took another 10 minutes until all the girls were prepared and lined up into six lines at one end of the room. The instructor was Ms. Avery, who looked more like a dominatrix than a teacher in a crisp white blouse, black leather skirt, black knee high high heeled leather boots, and black leather gloves with a riding crop in her hand and a coiled whip at her waist. 

The lecture the girls received was similar to before, instructions on walking with grace and purpose, maintaining good posture, and how to look like a woman when moving around a room. In her demonstrations, she definitely showed what she preached as all eyes were glued to her, mandatory or not as she commanded the room. Julia personally thought it was more the leather she wore that exuded the dominant effect into the room, but she had seen scores of young rebellious women through the academy and her record spoke for itself. 

After the demonstration, the girls started practice. Books were placed on top of each head and the girls were instructed to walk the length of the room without dropping the book. Failure to do so was disciplined between rounds. While their classmates would continue practice, girls that failed would receive Ms. Avery’s crop or whip on the side. It was well known in the academy that following posture training class, eating in the food hall would be very uncomfortable and a lot of girls would be gingerly shuffling on the wooden benches after the cropping and whippings they received. 

Julia stepped up behind Natalie and received her book, carefully balancing it on her head as the whistle blew and the girls started walking. Despite most being ungagged, no one spoke as they started the walk. The only sound in the room was the click of high heels and jingling of chains, along with the occasional crop slap as an assistant instructor saw something they needed to correct. A couple of books hit the floor and some groans of despair emerged from girls as they were brought to the side where Ms. Avery awaited with her whip to dole out some discipline, but Julia successfully made it to the other side without dropping her book. 

It was much harder with a gag in her mouth, forcing her to breathe fully through her nose as round two began. Julia bit down into the ball in her mouth and started forward again, her leg irons rattling as she strode towards the other end of the room. With the sound of discipline being handed out filling the air for the three girls who dropped their books, Julia was feeling more incentivized than ever to have good posture. I will get out of this stupid metal piece of shit. She complained to herself. Posture trainer my ass, they just like seeing us in bondage.