"i guess i'm running out of time to transfer pokemon over," shark said, leaning lazily on the table. "i don't know. the ribbon master stuff is cool, but it seems kinda tedious. and i mean, i can still just get all the gen 4 ribbons on a pokemon even if i can't transfer it, too. that's like the majority of the ribbons that exist anyway. but i don't know if i'll regret it if i don't do the whole thing while i still can."

jim sighed. "i mean, it doesn't matter much either way, but... i feel like you might as well try it, at least."

"i guess so."

jim stared at them. it was kind of funny how intense his gaze could be, even during normal, mundane conversations. it was almost kind of creepy, but since it was jim, it was still cute.

"do you have something to say to me?" shark asked.

he looked away. "i mean, it's just..."

"you were like, burning a hole into me with your eyes, and now you're being like this?"

"i didn't mean to," he said. "i just thought you'd become a little more motivated and responsible lately. you've gotten better at doing things day by day. so i guess it's weird to me that you don't really see this as an opportunity to practice or embrace that."

"so you were judging me? thinking how you wanted to correct me?" they asked playfully.

"i just... i don't know, it feels like--"

"just be intense about it, it's fine."

he took a deep breath, finally looking back at them. "you should be hypnotized for it," he said. "you should learn how to deal with tedious and monotonous tasks and be patient. hypnosis is an easy way for you to do that. this might not be something you care that much about either way, but you can learn something from it."

"it might still kinda be a lot. i don't know how well i could really stay in a trance when--"

"you can learn to do it," he said. "you will learn to do it, if you practice it."

when he was firm like that, it was hard for them to argue. it was like the entire atmosphere of the room shifted.

"i don't know why you argue against it when i know you'd like it. i know you want something boring and monotonous to focus on while you're in trance. i know you want to be hypnotized to do things you wouldn't normally be very motivated to do. and to have proof of it. it might as well be something like this. actually, there couldn't be a better opportunity. you can't tell me you don't recognize that. are you pretending not to just so i'll tell you?"

just that seriousness always pulled in their attention.

"well, i don't know," they mumbled.

"if you're going to be like that," he said, "then maybe i'll have to teach you."

"man, i really love when you get like this," they said, kind of blankly.

"of course you do." he took another deep breath. "well, that's fine, i guess. it makes it easier."

he stood up from his chair, stepping around the table, standing behind them. "don't look at me, just keep looking forward," he said.

he placed his hand on their head, pushing it down slightly. just that was enough to make them feel like they were being forced to submit.

"you're going to go into a trance for me. or, a deeper trance. you're probably already in trance." everything he said was completely matter-of-fact. "and you're going to understand how much you enjoy it. how much you need it. how much you really want to be made to do something. to be forced to do something you wouldn't normally want to. and to like it. because you will like it."

the casual dominance had already collapsed any resistance they might have had, even playful resistance. even the slight annoyance and impatience in jim's voice was hypnotic, somehow, even though it's the exact opposite of what they normally would've thought of as hypnotic. it was like he was so sure of everything he was saying, like it was so obvious, he couldn't believe he even needed to say it.

it was hot.

"focus," he said, probably knowing that they were thinking too much about how much they enjoyed it. "you like it when something is slow and tedious. you like knowing that you're being obedient. that you're doing what you're supposed to do. don't you? answer."

"i do," they said quickly. "i really like it."

"that's right," he said, his voice still monotone and cold. "you do know this. you do understand. did you just forget? because i can make you remember."

their heart was pounding. their eyes were still wide open, staring off into nothing.

"you know that you can go into a deep trance while you're working on things like that. you know that you'll enjoy that. you should get better at going into trance and maintaining that trance, anyway. when i make you start that today, i'll watch you and give you reminders and reinforcement so you can get used to it. i'll make sure you don't lose focus. i'm sure you'll pick up on it pretty quickly. you learn pretty easily, as long as there's someone there to keep you on track. once it's habit, you won't even need that. at that point, it will just be a reward. you won't disobey or lose focus just for attention. you'll be good and earn it as a reward. do you understand?"

they nodded.

"how are you feeling right now?" his tone was just a bit softer. "do you really understand everything? do you have any questions?"

"i've got it," they said. "it just feels good. i'm really looking forward to it... to like... to you watching me and stuff. and making me focus."

"that's what i thought. well, we're not going to start that right away. i have other things to do right now, and besides that, maybe it will be better if i give you some time to think about it, anyway. if you have to wait for it, i'm sure you'll realize how much you're anticipating it. how much you want it. you might even be the one begging me to do it."

he lifted his hand. "well, you know what to do now. you did a good job listening. you're always better at that when you're in a trance. do you need an actual wake up?"

"no, i'm good," they said, even though it was taking them a minute to shake off that weird feeling.

"good. i'll be in my office."

he picked up his coffee mug and walked off, like nothing happened.

somehow even that was kinda hot.