"you think we should make him forget everything? make him forget who he even is? just make him a puppet?"

"mm... he might make a good puppet. but i wonder how exactly we should change him? he wouldn't even necessarily need to forget... maybe it's better if he's aware of what he's been reduced to?"

jim was caught between the two hypnotists - he wasn't even bound, or being held particularly tightly, but he couldn't move, regardless.

it was strange how quickly and easily they cornered and trapped him like this. it was as if just their body language, just their words, just their touch, was enough to stop him in an instant. he tried to tell himself that it was more that he was just overwhelmed and caught off guard, that it was just the social pressure of two people confidently acting like they can just tell you what to do... but the longer he just stood there and let them talk about him like a toy to be played with, the harder it was for him to believe.

"well," one of them continued, "even if we take away his memory, we can give it back to him for a while to see his reaction, anyway."

"that is true," the other replied. "which do you prefer?" they asked jim directly, in a strangely soft and tender voice, looking down at him as their hand squeezed down on his shoulder.

"i-i don't-" he wasn't even sure how to respond to that. "i don't really want to be a puppet in the first place."

"that isn't what i asked," they said, their voice still soft, but with a darker tone. "can you answer the question i asked? which do you prefer: having your memories and awareness so that you know you've been turned into a helpless puppet, or knowing nothing else, forgetting everything?"

he blinked, all his resistance buckling immediately under the gentle pressure. "i guess i'd rather be aware," he said quietly.

the hypnotists looked at each other, the first one raising their eyebrows. "so do we give him exactly what he wants, or force him to accept something else?"

"i think he can have his awareness for now," the other said. "it was nice of him to answer me so obediently, after all."

"well, you're right," they replied, casually ruffling his hair. "he's a pretty good boy. he'll make a good puppet, anyway. won't you?"

the situation was too surreal for him to even have a reaction to that.

"be a good boy and nod," the other hypnotist murmured.

he wasn't sure why he did it, let alone so quickly. but he nodded.

"that's it," they cooed. "you'll make a very good puppet."

the other grabbed one of his wrists. "just let me attach a string here... you feel it?"

the other stroked and caressed his face. "your face is becoming blank and empty..."

a hand ran along his arm. "your body is changing."

"another string here... and here..."

they both touched his body like it really was an object, pretending to attach strings, pretending to turn his body into wood. it was too quick and overwhelming for him to do anything, to even think about it - and he was starting to feel different. the touches gradually felt more distant, his body feeling more dull and numb.

"i can feel it when i move his arm," the first hypnotist said. "it's working."

"i can see it on its face... its eyes are sleepy and glassy..."

"it's so responsive. it really was meant to be a puppet."

"it does feel right..."

they pinched their fingers together like they were pulling a string. the wrist lifted in response.

"that's right. very good..."

"just a puppet," one of them said.

"just a puppet..." another repeated.

"now you say it."

"just a puppet..." it muttered.

"and you'll do whatever your puppeteers make you do, won't you?"

they gently grabbed its head, making it nod. it didn't resist. it was as if being made to nod that way really did make it agree.

"you still remember everything? are you still aware of what's going on? you can answer."

"i can," it said. "i am."

"and does it matter? does it change anything?"

"no," it said. "i'm still a puppet..."

"very good."

"very good," the other repeated.

it felt so dull. it was being used as a toy, but it hardly felt anything, except a strange, distant pleasure, buzzing somewhere in the back of its head.