shark could tell in an instant, they could feel it, when adrianus' strokes turned to petting, petting them the way you'd pet an animal.

"such a good cat..." he murmured.

it flustered them, coming out of nowhere like that. he didn't have to say that it was supposed to be hypnotic - they knew. it was hypnotic. not automatic enough or immediate enough for them to really feel like they'd fully become a cat or anything, but enough for them to feel like something was going to happen.

he was leaning closer, watching them even more closely, with clear affection in his eyes. like the way he really would look at a cat. honestly, it was weird how quickly he could shift his own perspective. how quickly he could see them that way. how easily he could treat them like a pet.

it probably just wasn't too far off from how he already saw them.

they felt tense with anticipation.

"just relax," he said softly, rubbing their chin.

it just made them feel weirder.

"you're making such a cute face," he cooed, still using his drowsy, hypnotic tone. "you're such a cute cat, aren't you? such a sweet cat..."

their face was probably red. they couldn't explain it, but getting that kind of attention from him was overwhelming. and the hypnotic feeling, the feeling that somehow, in some way, they were becoming more like a cat, was also overwhelming.

he pulled them closer, snuggling them, and kissing their forehead as he stroked their back.

it was embarrassing. it was weird. it was surreal.

but it did feel kind of good.

"just relax and get comfortable... you're good at getting comfortable, aren't you? you just relax so quickly... even if you struggle and twitch at first... eventually you just snuggle up with me, don't you? it's cute... you're such a tolerant cat... and so sweet, and gentle... you never bite, or scratch... such a perfect cat... such a good kitty..."

as obvious as it was that they wouldn't scratch or bite, the praise was melting them. they did like snuggling up with him, and being petted... the idea of being his spoiled pet really didn't sound bad.

they did get settled, relaxing into his arms.

"there you go... that's right... that's my sweet cat... it isn't so bad, is it?"

it felt unnatural to talk, so all they could really do is rub their head against them.

his other hand scratched their head. "good, very good..."

they were being praised and rewarded for acting like a cat. they really couldn't resist it, rubbing against him more, leaning into his hand.

"i wonder how long you'll be my pet for?" he murmured. "you're just such a cute cat... i'd certainly like to spend more time with you... to train you... to give you treats... to just have you around, as i go about my day..."

the idea that he wanted them to stay like that for a while... it's not an idea they would've liked as much if he'd said it earlier, but now, they were starting to get more used to it, and a part of them... felt kind of docile. like they wanted to please their owner.

it was especially weird, because they weren't completely unaware of what was going on. they didn't feel like a literal cat, but... somehow that didn't really matter. they were a cat. that didn't contradict everything else - the human body, the memory of who they were. that didn't matter. they were still his pet cat. because that was what he wanted them to be, what he was treating them as. that alone made it true, made it real.

he could just do that to them, he could just make them into his cat on a whim, just because he thought it was cute... he really was like their owner.

"you want to stay this way, don't you?" he cooed. "you want to just be my sweet cat..."

they couldn't talk, and they physically couldn't purr, but a low hum came out of their throat.

"oh, that's right, you do, don't you? such a cute sound... you wanted to tell me? you wanted to tell me how you feel about it?"

each word made them feel fuzzier.

"mm..." he held them a bit tighter, his voice almost a whisper. "you can stay my pet as long as you'd like... i'll take very good care of you..."