Tiffany floated in a space between sleep and wakefulness, kept aloft by the soothing sound of her favorite music. A place of comfort, a place of relaxation, a place with no concept of time. She let her mind drift from topic to topic, a blissfully incoherent stream of dreams, memories, and ideas. But then a soft, high voice appeared from outside. We've landed, Tiff. The voice slowly counted down from 5, the numbers causing Tiff's mind to stop drifting, to regain focus, to grow clearer, to feel rested, to come to wakefulness, to Click. Tiff's eyes fluttered open at the sound of a soft finger click, and her housemate Malia smiled down at her. "I got our bags, follow me." Tiff stretched, her body feeling very well rested. She glanced down at her phone as they walked through the aisle of people. 5:49 PM, exactly 3 hours since she'd boarded the plane. But thanks to Malia, it had felt like no time at all. Being friends with a hypnotist certainly had its perks. And, well... Nobody knew this better than Malia herself, Tiff supposed. That's why they'd flown out here, after all.

Tiff was happy to handle the luggage while Malia went to go meet her friend. And it was... Probably of her own free will. It seemed perfectly reasonable to her, since Malia got the bags, but... no matter how much she liked Malia, and how helpful her hypnosis was, there was always that little pang of worry. That she was being manipulated, that this wasn't right, that she wasn't in control of her own mind. Of course, that was a total overreaction, Malia wouldn't do that, but then there was the worry that Malia made her think that. Malia did assure her that she never used hypnosis unethically, but on the other hand she certainly wasn't above charming a cab driver for a discount every once in a while... And Tiff was definitely a bit more worried about the friends they were going to see. She didn't know any of them, but Malia had mentioned some of them being a bit less... restrained with their use of hypnosis. Hopefully none of them would try to make Tiff their harem dancer or whatever... As the luggage finally arrived and she easily grabbed the two cases, she heard Malia's high voice approaching. "Ahh, and this is my housemate I told you about! Tiffany," Tiff looked over and saw Malia gesturing to another woman, " this is my friend Hazel!"

The first thing that struck Tiff about Hazel was how... powerful she seemed. Not physically, although she was a few heads taller than Malia, not that that was unusual.   But the way she carried herself, the way she moved so elegantly, the way her eyes fell upon Tiff with a mysterious, knowing look... Tiff felt dizzy for a second. Hazel reached out a slender arm and smiled kindly. "Hello, Tiffany. It's nice to put a face to the name." Tiff quickly recollected herself and returned the handshake. "You as well, Hazel." Not the smoothest introduction, but Tiff wasn't the best at those even normally. "Follow me, my car is just outside." As they walked, Hazel turned to look at them. "And I'm sure you're quite hungry after that trip, aren't you?" Tiff and Malia nodded, and Hazel grinned. "Well, I know the perfect place to eat, then~" She and Malia chuckled, and Tiff awkwardly chuckled as well. There was definitely an inside joke she wasn't getting...

The trip to the restaurant was pretty quick, even without being put into a trance. Within only a few songs on Tiff's playlist, they arrived at the restaurant. Tiff looked up, seeing a large lighted sign reading "Lapinelle's" in elegant cursive, a cartoon bunny head dotting the i. Something about the presentation made her wary, but she dismissed that. This was Malia's friend, it was probably nothing. Probably... The three of them walked inside... And Tiff's feeling of wariness tripled. Every employee, from the waiters to the bartenders to the maitre d, was wearing a sexy bunny outfit in varying degrees of revealing. Hazel walked up to the front and merely held up three fingers, and the maitre d immediately led them to a table, humming happily. As they followed her, Tiff couldn't help notice how all of the employees moved so efficiently and calmly... She even caught a glimpse of a disconcertingly glazed look in a waitress's eyes. They were led to a special booth near the back, elegantly decorated with images of rabbits, spirals, and placid meadow scenes. Hazel and Malia happily sat down, but Tiff was a bit slower. This place made her feel almost... Unsafe.

A waitress almost immediately came to hand them their menus, perfectly passing them out without even looking. "Hello, welcome to Lapinelle's! What can I-" She noticed Hazel, and she became almost literally starry-eyed. "Ohh, Mistress Hazel, Haaii! I'm so happy to serve you today! And are these your friends? Oh, I'm so happy to serve them too, I-" Hazel gently clicked her fingers twice, and the waitress stopped mid-sentence. She spoke to the waitress in a gentle, kind tone. "It's wonderful to see you, Talulah. Now, Back To The Order..." Talulah blinked for a second, a blank expression on her face, before snapping back to reality as if rebooted. "Of course Mistress Hazel! What would you, and your friends of course, like?" Tiff glanced at her menu. The vegetarian options were quite extensive, which was certainly a nice change of pace from the restaurants she usually ended up at while traveling. For once, she had many more options than a few simple salads and sandwiches. "...Not sure..." Malia shrugged, and Hazel nodded, smiling up at the enraptured Talulah. "I believe we need a few more minutes to decide, Talulah. I will call you once we're ready. For now, Go Serve The Others." Talulah rebooted again, and she dutifully went to take the order of another table.

Hazel and Malia happily chatted amongst each other about the upcoming meeting as Tiff buried herself in the menu. She was already not a fan of restaurants where the women were objectified and gawked at like this, but... The fact that they were clearly hypnotized to do it was so unsettling! Some of them hardly looked cognizant! How much did they even know about what they were doing? She really hoped that they at least came to work of their own free will... And weren't just snatched off the streets and brainwashed... But- "Have you decided what you want, Tiff?" Malia's voice snapped her out of her worrying. "Uh..." She realized that she hadn't even been paying attention to the menu, and quickly skimmed it. "Uh, Honey Glazed Carrots." Hazel nodded and reached into her purse, pulling out a small whistle. She gently blew into it, producing a lovely high note, and less than a minute later Talulah was at their table. "Sorry for not coming immediately Mistress Hazel, but I was busy at Table 7 and-" Hazel calmly snapped her fingers again and gave her their orders, and Talulah wrote as fast as Hazel spoke. She quickly ran off to the kitchen, and Malia smiled at Hazel, impressed. "That's a very clever trigger. How does it work?" Hazel smiled proudly and began explaining it while Tiff tried to focus on anything else. This was making her more uncomfortable by the minute. She was beginning to itch, and sweat, and fidget so nervously...  Talulah came back with their orders in only two minutes and happily doled them out along the table. "Will that be all?" Hazel smiled. "For now, yes. You did a wonderful job, Talulah." She reached up a hand. "You're a very *Good Pet*" Talulah shuddered happily and bent down, letting Hazel softly pet her head. She purred happily, and Tiff felt her skin crawl. She quickly got up. "Sorry, need to go to the bathroom, bye." She tried to quickly exit, but Malia softly put a hand on her arm. "What's wrong, Tiff?" Tiff took a rapid breath. "Nothing's wrong! I just need to go to the bathroom, I... I..." Malia stood up and gently put a soft hand on her shoulder. "Tiff, I can tell something is bothering you. Just tell us. It's okay..." Malia's soft voice calmed Tiff's nerves, and her kind gaze relaxed her body. Tiff slowly sat down, everyone looking at her worriedly. She took a deep breath, and started talking. 

"I feel really uncomfortable here. It kind of feels like the employees are just being used and brainwashed to obey you. You just treat them like pets, and that makes me really nervous. And the sexy uniforms just feel really objectifying and... I don't know, problematic. And... I-I don't mean to offend you, but... That's why I'm uncomfortable..." Tiff stopped speaking, partially glad she had gotten it all out but very worried that she'd offended Hazel. However, Hazel looked over at her apologetically and spoke quietly and earnestly. "...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I forgot how shocking, or disturbing even, this must look to an outside perspective. I guess I assumed that since you were Malia's friend, you would be okay with this. And I shouldn't have done that. I should have asked you about it beforehand. That was very rude of me, and I understand why you feel uncomfortable." She smiled apologetically, and Tiff felt her worry begin to slowly fade. "And, for what it's worth, I can promise you that everything here is done with the full, informed consent of my employees." Talulah nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, I signed a contract. And, I, uh... I just think I look really sexy in the uniform, really. andireallylikegettingcalledagoodpet..." She murmured the last part under her breath, blushing profusely. Hazel smiled. "I know someone I hypnotized isn't exactly the most unbiased source, but I promise they all knew exactly what they were signing up for. And I do pay them well, besides." Talulah nodded enthusiastically at this, and Tiff sat in silence, pondering everything.

Eventually, after Talulah had been sent away to another table with a parting pet, Tiff quietly spoke up. "...I'm still a bit uncomfortable, but... That does make me feel better... Sorry for jumping to conclusions..." Hazel smiled apologetically. "And I apologize for the same. Now, would you like to try our food? I promise it won't brainwash you." They all chuckled and began eating. The carrots were even better than Tiff had expected, and she happily ate them up. Talulah came back a little later, still a bit awkward around Tiff, and took their dessert order, soon bringing out a wonderful fruit salad. It was the best dessert Tiff had had in a while that didn't make her worry about her nutrition, and she savored it. Malia and Hazel continued chatting, and Tiff found herself relaxing. She felt a lot better now.

After dessert, Hazel happily paid for the group, giving Talulah a large tip. As the blissful waitress bounded away, Hazel looked at the others. "We have plenty of time before bed. Would you like to have a tour of our inner workings?" Malia nodded, and Tiff shrugged casually. They followed Hazel through a plain 'Employees Only' door in the back, and found themselves in a large, comfortable break room. Several employees, including a few men, were resting inside, some of them still wearing their uniforms. A lot of them were either lying fast asleep on the comfortable looking couches or sitting in a trance on some cozy armchairs. A few of them were awake, chatting happily or watching TV, but they all turned their heads when Hazel walked in. A couple of them bounded over, nuzzling against her like overeager puppies, but the rest merely greeted her happily or just smiled. Malia observed the employees, intrigued, while Tiff just looked around in amazement. "Wow. This place is big." Hazel laughed. "Yes, it is, isn't it? I believe this building used to be a warehouse before my, eugh, predecessor turned it into a 'restaurant'. This break room used to be nothing more than a boring gray room, but I made sure to spruce it up once I took over." Tiff cocked her head. "Predecessor?" Hazel grimaced. "Yes. The original owner of this place was... Well, your assumptions about the restaurant would have been correct back then, let's just say. Might have even been far worse... But I was able to deal with him, and now Rebecca and I strive to make this place a far better place for our employees." Tiff was about to ask who that was when a gruff voice sounded from nearby. "These your friends, Hazel?" Hazel smiled. "Ah, speak of the devil. Malia, Tiffany, this is Rebecca, my co-owner and head of security." She gestured to an approaching woman, and Tiff's heart skipped a beat.

Rebecca was massive, probably almost 7 feet tall, and absolutely jacked. Long red hair flowed down her shoulders, and she wore a dark red tank top that showed off her gorgeously muscular arms. Hazel may have had an aura of strange, mysterious power, but Rebecca exuded raw physical might. And Tiff was feeling lightheaded. She hadn't really thought about dating since T- that ex of hers, but... Rebecca looked right at her, and she blushed. "Uh, h-hello, Rebecca, I'm... I'm Tiff... Uh, Tiffany... you can call me Tiff..." Rebecca laughed, a deep, powerful sound. "Hey Tiff. Just call me Ruby."  Tiff nodded awkwardly. "Okay, Ruby, yup!" Ruby chuckled, and Tiff looked away, flustered. She noticed Hazel and Malia giggling and blushed even harder. Hazel helpfully called their attention. "Come on, there's much more to see." She waved Tiff over, and she and Malia followed her down a hallway. Ruby waved at Tiff as they left, and she blushed again.

"These are our... I suppose you could call them our 'Residential rooms'." Malia raised an eyebrow. "Your pets live in the restaurant?" Hazel smiled. "Only those without another place to stay. Rent can be quite high around here, and some of them have been kicked out of their family homes as well. So I ensure they have a place to live while they get back on their feet." They passed several doors, many of them adorned with nameplates and decorations.  Near the end of the hallway, however, was a much larger metal door that seemed to have been custom installed. Hazel smiled. "And here's one of my favorite pets." She softly knocked on the door and called out, "Gretchen, I'm home!" A voice from inside responded. "Oh! Come on in!" Hazel pulled open the heavy door, and they entered a very strange room.

For a split second, Tiff thought the door led outside as she saw the blue sky above her. But it wasn't the sky, it was a screen, covering the entirety of the ceiling. And as she looked around, she realized that not just the ceiling, but all the walls and the floor were covered in massive screens, projecting the image of a placid meadow overlooked by a strange castle. And sitting on a soft bed, drawing something in a sketchbook, must have been Gretchen. She was a young woman, a bit younger than Tiff, probably a bit taller than Malia. She had short honey-colored hair that curled at the ends, with dyed streaks that resembled a traffic light, but it looked surprisingly good. She wore a large crocheted scarf around her neck, adorned in a colorful heart pattern, which stayed tight as she ran over to hug Hazel. "Mmm, hi Mistress Hazel, I missed you!" Hazel hugged her back, gently stroking her hair. "I missed you too, Gretchen my pet." Gretchen beamed at her before noticing the other two. "Oh, who are these?" Hazel gestured to them. "This is my friend Malia and her housemate Tiffany that I told you about." Gretchen nodded and held out her hand. "Nice to meet you! I'm Gretchen... although I guess you already knew that, hah..." Tiff shook her hand, impressed at her grip strength, and Malia just softly clasped it. "Yes, Hazel has told me a lot about you! I remember she mentioned you were quite timid. Has she been helping you overcome that?" Gretchen chuckled nervously. "Uh... Yeah, you could say that! It's a long story..." She absentmindedly fiddled with her scarf. Tiff was curious, but decided not to pry.

Gretchen followed them as they returned to the break room, plopping down on a chair to continue drawing. Hazel gestured grandiosely. "So, how did you like the tour?" Malia grinned. "It was wonderful! I'm truly impressed by how much good you've created from what was such a despicable scheme. Especially providing rooming for your pets! And, actually, speaking of those rooms..." She grinned deviously, and Hazel looked at her with friendly exasperation. "No, you cannot stay in any spare rooms tonight, I haven't set them up. There's a hotel quite near here that I understand is very nice." Malia giggled. "Are you sure you can't be... Persuaded~?" She fluttered her ringed fingers before Hazel's eyes, causing the other hypnotist to look away and grin. "Well, I suppose when you put it that way... A hypnotic duel sounds like a wonderful way to decide this~." Malia grinned. "Indeed! If I win, me and Tiff get to stay the night here!" Hazel nodded. "That sounds fair. And if I win... Hmm... You will help clean the kitchen tonight~" Malia made a disgusted face, but nodded. "Alright! May the best hypnotist win!"

The two hypnotists stood in the center of the break room, drinking water that Amy, one of the employees, had brought them to ensure they were in prime condition. Gretchen counted them down. "Alright, uh, Three, Two, One... Go!" Hazel began letting her words flow out in a soft, rhythmic manner. "Our gazes meet, and your eyes are drawn to my eyes, your eyes are drawn into my gaze, your eyes are drawn into mine..." Malia's high, silky tone weaved itself through the air, piercing through Hazel's hypnotizing barrage. "Listen to my whispers... Letting them slip through your ears, nice and smooth... Feel them slithering up into your brain, swirling around and around in your brain... So smooth, so pleasant..." ...Continuing to stare into my eyes, my swirling eyes, my swirling eyes are pulling you deeper, my swirling eyes are swirling your thoughts around and around and around..." "Feel my whispers sink deeper... Feel my whispers slide down your neck, so soft, so silky... Feel them slithering down your back, making all your muscles feel so relaxed... Feel them sinking down, down to the bottoms of your feet... And you're starting to sink down with them..."

Tiff yawned as the battle of hypnotic voices caught her in the crossfire. She had no idea if spectators were permitted or encouraged to succumb to the duelists, but she didn't really care right now... It was so nice to listen to... So relaxing... Just like her music... And so, not particularly caring which hypnotist won, Tiffany slipped under both their spells, and drifted into a space between sleep and wakefulness... Kept aloft by their soothing voices...