"Think of it as like… guided meditation."

"Robin, I'm pretty sure most guided meditation doesn't involve looking at your roommate's feet."

"Well, everyone's mind is different, Zach. And I need to learn to guide anyone's mind."

"And for guiding my mind you've chosen me looking at your feet?"

Robin glared at him for a moment, then took a deep breath and continued.

"On Sunday," she replied patiently, "I told you to let your gaze rest somewhere comfortable, and you chose to let your eyes settle on watching my toes."

Robin stretched her legs out, propping her feet up on the footrest in the middle of their shared living room.

"Habit is a powerful thing, Zach. I want to get in the habit of practicing my hypnosis regularly. And you could do well to find a habit that relaxes and calms you. You said yourself you've had a long day at work, and I thought you'd agree that being hypnotised again would be a lovely break from things."

One of Robin's feet bounced slightly to punctuate her words, and Zach had to admit she had a point. "That's true, but it was only… what, three days ago when I first agreed to let you practice on me? And I said that'd just be a one-off," Zach protested. "I thought you'd at least take some time to learn more theory before you asked again."

"All habits benefit from regular reinforcement, Zach." He blinked as Robin's foot bounced along with her words again. Robin continued, "As my hypnotic skills improve, and I'm better able to guide a subject's focus… deepen their relaxation… suggest their experiences… It becomes more important for me to practice regularly.

"And in the same way, Zach, it's important for you relax, to unwind… To let your mind take a break from things. I want you to find a comfortable and appealing way to let that happen. You might try it once, or every few days, and then sooner than you think it could be a normal part of your day. That's how all good habits form."

Zach didn't quite follow, although he was trying his best. Robin's voice had a gentle rhythm when she explained things. To be honest, it was quite pleasant, and in the same way Robin's foot steadily swayed as she spoke. His eyes kept following the motion, and he'd lost track of exactly what point Robin was arguing.

"Wait— Robin, are you saying I should be your regular practice subject? For my own good, to give my mind a break? Every day?"

"If that's what you'd like to do, sure!"

Now Robin's toes were tracing little circles in the air, and Zach could swear Robin was talking in circles too. Hadn't everyday practice been her idea??

"I'm not saying I'd like to, Robin, I meant when you said—"

"You're getting carried away, Zach." Robin's voice dropped to a quiet whisper. "Listen. Let me guide you. There's nothing else you need to do right now, my subject."

Zach found his last few protests dying away. There was something about that quiet tone she used that stopped him speaking.

It was time to listen.

"Watch my feet, Zach. It's where your eyes want to rest, and your mind too. Why resist it?"

Zach sighed weakly as Robin wiggled her toes. He couldn't say why his gaze had settled on Robin's feet a few nights ago. Maybe it was the silver polish she wore on her toes, a soothing shimmer in the dim light. The same dim light now.

"The movement, so soothing. Let your mind settle there."

That night before he knew it, Zach had sat and listened for close to an hour as Robin explained about relaxation and hypnosis and suggestibility. And this felt the same again.

"You can always see them when I guide you. Even as your heavy eyes close, still you can watch, and let your thoughts go with them. Their shimmer guides you down, as my voice guides the rest of you. Each time you see them, it's easier to let me guide you."

Zach vaguely wondered how much time he'd lose tonight. Not that he'd had any other plans.

"And as you feel your whole body fill with the same deep relaxation, perhaps you'll realise this is just what you needed."

Still, it certainly wasn't all bad. Zach had to agree it was a break from things. A way to unwind and let his mind rest for a while.

"As you continue to see my feet and toes moving in your mind, you might even ask yourself why you resisted, and find your mind completely blank."

Earlier Zach felt strange about staring at his roommate's feet and toes, that there was some reason he shouldn't. But now Zach couldn't think of a single reason why.

"And as my words slip into the place where you thoughts once were, you can find your curiosity only deepens. What else could you discover under my guidance? Who better to lead you along this journey? What other sensations might you experience? Just how good could it feel to submit your mind to my control?"

Zach began to wonder if there wasn't some deeper opportunity here: to learn more about Robin, and about his own mind. How far could he go, letting Robin guide him? For all her stranger interests (hypnosis included) Robin had always been open and understanding, ready to accept whatever she learned about someone.

Now that he considered it, Zach felt a strange excitement at putting his mind in Robin's hands. Out of all the people he knew, Zach knew he could trust Robin wherever these new feelings led him.

"And as that excitement fills you, you know you've learned just what you needed. You can enjoy that deep satisfaction and relief as my words unshackle you from that anxiety, that hesitation. You know that putting your mind under my care is what you've always longed for and in this place, in this state of mind, there's no need to hide it from me.

"In a moment, my words will wrap around your will, leading your true thoughts and feelings to tumble out onto your tongue. There's no resisting it.

"But before that happens, your conscious mind will become completely entranced by that shimmer, its awareness dwindling, too distracted to recall—"

Zach blinked awake.

"And… welcome back."

Zach blinked again.

"Oh… h-hi. Wow, how long was I out for?"

Robin smiled, "About 30 minutes all up. I told you each time would be easier." Robin winked.

Zach found himself smiling too. Despite his earlier protests, he'd been really enjoying himself. He was actually disappointed it was over.

"So, same time tomorrow?" Robin smiled again.

"Yes! Tomorrow, of course…" Zach almost sighed in relief. He couldn't believe he'd get to do that all again so soon.

"Wonderful. I'm so glad I can rely on having such a good subject." Robin looked so relieved, and Zach realised he was proud to be her good subject.

Robin continued, "And you'll remember what you learned, right?"

"Yes Robin, of course."

An hour later, settling into bed, Zach was wondering exactly what Robin had meant. What had he learned?

Thinking back now, he couldn't remember much at all after staring at Robin's toes.

There was just the sensation of Robin's voice, and a feeling that he had to listen to her words, that he needed her guidance.

And a strange sense of… relief? Freedom? Bliss?

After a few minutes of trying to remember more, Zach gave up. He just let his mind rest on the image of Robin's feet and toes.

He was sure Robin would explain next time. Tomorrow.