"it's such a lovely dress, isn't it?" adrianus said softly, gently running his hands along the fabric.

rain just nodded, looking at herself in the mirror, wearing a black dress, with a frilly white apron. her eyes already looked sort of blank.

"you can feel it on your body... you can see it in your peripheral vision... but, that isn't all." he placed cat ears on her head, before wrapping a collar with a bell around her neck. "you can hear the bell, every time you move... and that will be a reminder of what you are right now. it will remind you to stay nice and docile, to listen closely to anything you're told to do, and to follow automatically. to enjoy listening and following. your mind is quiet, and perhaps even drowsy, but your body moves freely and easily. do you understand?"

she nodded again.

"now, just bounce on your feet a bit, so that you can hear the sound of the bell."

she moved, lifting the backs of her feet so she was on her tiptoes, and then going back down so her feet were flat on the ground, hearing the chime with each bounce, and seeing the skirt swish.

"there you go. very good. each chime is a reward for your movement. when you're wearing this, you don't move much unless asked... so the chime is always a reminder of your obedience, of the task you're carrying out. it's such a nice, pleasant sound, isn't it?"

he hadn't told her to stop yet, so she continued the movement, her mind feeling foggier with each sound.

"that's it. you can stop, now. how did it feel?"

"i just moved," she said quietly. "and i heard the bell..."

"the sound of the bell makes you feel good, doesn't it?"

"it does..."

"today, as you do your chores, i will be watching you closely, making sure that you stay like this... that you stay in the right mindset... and reminding you how nice it feels. you're going to be nice, and obedient, and empty for me, and you're going to stay that way, as long as you're wearing this dress, alright?"

she nodded.

"very good. now, let's start with dusting. remember to start with things that are higher up, alright?"

he handed her a duster, and she stepped over to the shelves that he directed her toward, her legs seeming to move on their own, the bell jingling with every step.

she wasn't thinking much about anything, just doing everything exactly the way she was supposed to, and falling into the monotony. adrianus repeated the suggestions as she worked, praising her, reminding her that each chime of the bell was a sign of her obedience.

her mind was quiet and dull, but she liked being useful. everything felt so easy, so floaty, like she was in a dream.

even as she switched to other chores, even as she did more work, it only felt more pleasant, her thoughts becoming soft and fuzzy as her body carried out the tasks.

"i knew you would make such a lovely maid," adrianus murmured to her. "does it feel nice?"

"it does feel nice..."

"you've been very helpful. let's take a break soon, alright? you've done such a good job... you deserve a reward."

"but... this is the reward..." she said quietly.

"what a good girl... well, i'm glad you feel that way. but, even if working is so rewarding for you... it is still work... and you know how i like to spoil you. and you need to listen to me, and do exactly as i tell you, don't you? so when i tell you that you should have a reward... the correct response is always to accept that. do you understand?"

"yes," she said. "i'm sorry."

"there's no need for apologies... all you need to do is listen, and do as you're told. alright?"

"yes."

"there you go... now... why don't you make us both some tea... so that we can enjoy that together?"

"yes, of course," she said, before stepping over to the kitchen to follow the instruction, the collar still jingling with every movement, her mind still sinking with every chime. she just wanted to serve him... to please him... to be good.