jim relayed the events of his conversation with bill to adrianus over text. he found some of it difficult to describe. the more he looked back on it, the more he felt it must have all been his imagination. bill had just been listening intently because he was curious. nothing hypnotic had happened whatsoever, and it would have been especially embarrassing to pretend that it had to adrianus, of all people.

still, it was, at least, very clear that bill was interested in hypnosis, so it was worth telling them about that. they responded by asking him if he would be willing to watch them hypnotize bill, if bill was alright with that. the idea sounded a bit voyeuristic and perverse.

he agreed anyway.

it was sort of bizarre, casually standing next to bill at adrianus' doorstep, as if this was just another visit. they hadn't talked about hypnosis on their walk there, although he was sure they had both been thinking about it.

this was his coworker. they hadn't even been friends for all that long. everything that had happened since he had shown bill that picture - no, since he had met adrianus, had been strange and surreal, as if the normal rules that had governed his reality until that point had suddenly been twisted. even knowing this, even consciously recognizing how differently he was behaving, the inertia pushed him forward, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

when the door opened, the two of them greeted adrianus and stepped inside.

"should we take some pictures again today?" they asked.

"we- we can!" bill responded. it felt sort of cruel to tease someone who already looked like he could burst from excitement and anticipation at any moment.

"let's do that later," jim said. "there's something more important to take care of first, isn't there?"

his coworker's face went bright red. "are we-- right now?"

he put a hand on bill's shoulder, without really thinking. "i don't think you're going to be able to focus on anything if you keep wondering when we're going to start."

he could feel him trembling slightly.

"are you alright?" he asked.

"you're just- this is just-" bill was still smiling. "i mean, both of you?! together?!"

"i'm just going to be watching, i'm not..."

"but when you act like you're making the decision for me... i mean, it's- i don't mind it, it's just a lot! it makes it feel like you wanna see this more than they do..."

was he being pushy? he gingerly withdrew his hand.

"how about this?" adrianus said softly. "i'll go get us some tea. why don't you both wait on the couch? jim, perhaps you can help bill calm down a bit, and remind him what he can expect, if he does feel ready to begin?"

"alright," he responded.

"that sounds good," bill said.

he did seem a bit less tense after sitting down.

"is there... anything you're nervous about?"

"no, not really! or, well, maybe it'll be hard for me to really get into it when i'm all... you know. i don't know how much i can relax and focus and everything! i always have so much energy, you know? and especially right now..."

"you'll relax anyway."

"do you really think so?"

"it's more automatic than you think."

"i mean, i'm sure it's easier for you!"

"you're going to relax."

bill paused. "see, how do you know that? when you say it like that, it's like... i mean, is it a prediction, or a command?"

"i just know from my own experiences. you seemed pretty absorbed in our conversation the other day, too. i think if you're that interested, it won't be hard."

bill leaned closer to him. "how... how relaxed do you think i'll be? i mean, do you really think i won't be able to move?"

"you won't. you won't move."

"can you keep saying stuff like that?"

"...what?"

"like how i'll relax and i won't be able to move and everything."

"i don't think i need to repeat myself." it wasn't that he didn't know what bill was really asking for. "i know you're impatient, but it will be better if you hear that from adrianus."

"but they said you're supposed to help me

calm down first, right?"

"you already seem better than before."

"but i'm still not-"

"it doesn't matter. you're going to listen, anyway. even if you were still trembling. it doesn't actually matter." he couldn't help but lean closer, himself. "if you can't relax, then just stay like this."

those wide eyes were staring at him again. it was amazing that bill could react so strongly, even after baiting him into saying things like that.

it was much more satisfying than it should have been.

"have you softened him up for me?" adrianus asked as they approached them, setting down the cups on the table in front of them.

"he's probably just as tense as he was before."

"it's just anticipation, isn't it?" they sat on the other side of bill, moving close to him.

"it is, i think, yeah," bill said. "yeah."

jim wondered if he could have made him jump, just by touching his arm or his shoulder at that moment, while he was focused on adrianus. he stayed still.

"here, why don't you have some tea, first? it's chamomile."

"alright!" he said, taking the cup and having a sip.

"it's nice, isn't it?"

"it's supposed to help people sleep, right?"

"yes. i thought it was appropriate right now."

"right..."

"have a little bit more, and then we can get started. if you're ready, of course."

jim drank some of his own, setting it back down after bill set his down.

"are you ready?"

"i think so! or, i mean, i want to try, i don't know if i... you know."

"that's alright," they said. "now, turn around to face jim."

"what? like, turn away from you?"

"yes."

he moved over, showing jim his face, which looked a bit bewildered. jim was surprised, himself. he knew he was going to be watching, but if bill was already flustered, it probably would be even worse having adrianus right behind him.

he visibly tensed up the moment adrianus' hands touched his shoulders.

"very good," they murmured, near his ear.

he shuddered. "wow," he said.

their fingers moved, lightly massaging him, in a way that was sort of mesmerizing even just to watch. "there's nothing to be nervous about... you can just relax."

it looked as if it had the opposite effect. jim could clearly see the blood rushing to his face.

they might have been doing it on purpose.

"is something wrong?" they asked, in a low, quiet voice, that felt more teasing than concerned. "i'm just going to hypnotize you. it's alright..."

he sat straight up, more alert than ever, with that nervous smile.

"i- i really don't think i can relax like this."

"well, perhaps you can't just yet. or, your mind can't, at least. but that's alright." they were speaking more slowly, softly. "see? your shoulders are already starting to release some tension, aren't they?"

he noticed them sink down as they said that, almost immediately, even though no other part of bill seemed even remotely relaxed.

"that's right... very good. do you understand now? it doesn't matter how tense you feel, how nervous or excited you are. you'll react exactly the way you are supposed to."

"that's..." there was already a strange kind of blankness in his eyes. he was twitching. "wow."

"by the end of this," they said, rubbing his shoulders with their thumbs, "all of the energy will be drained from your body. you'll be entirely limp."

though his posture was starting to change, his expression hadn't.

"do you feel it? it's already started happening... it keeps happening... just let go to it."

even as he trembled, his breath shaky and uneven, he melted, bit by bit, leaning back against adrianus. it definitely gave the appearance that this was something being done to him, that his body was acting entirely on its own, and he was unable to control or resist it.

it felt sort of like something jim wasn't supposed to watch, but it was already too late. it had only gotten easier to stare, now that bill looked so absorbed in the situation that he hardly even seemed to care that jim was sitting right in front of him.

"very good... you're doing so well."

his face seemed to be softening a bit, now, too, although it was subtle. his smile was just a bit smaller, his eyes just slightly less wide, his eyebrows not quite as furrowed.

"you'll make such a good doll."

it was as if those words jolted through him, but only for a moment. he didn't say a single word in response.

they ran their fingers through his hair. it seemed as though he was shifting from nervous excitement to a hazy, dazed sort of feeling. he was always so expressive. it was surreal to see those changes so clearly.

"what do you think, jim?" they asked, looking at him, completely catching him off guard.

"what? what do you..."

"he is cute, isn't he?"

he stared at bill again. "he is," he said.

jim blinked, only just now realizing how odd he had been feeling. he had been focusing so closely on bill, on his reactions. he knew adrianus' previous suggestions weren't intended for him, so he hadn't obeyed them, and yet, the instant they talked to him, he listened, the same way he would have in trance. had he been in trance this entire time?

their fingers gently brushed against bill's hair, so lightly, so softly, so slowly. it would be fine, he thought, if he was in trance right now. easier, even. it would mean he wouldn't have to feel weird about seeing his coworker like this. about how closely he was looking at him. about how strangely good it felt. it wouldn't mean anything. this was something adrianus was doing to him, to both of them. it was them. it was all them.

and it would be nice to feel the way that bill had looked then.

"you see, bill?" they murmured. "you are like a doll, already. being played with, controlled, watched. and so cute..."

there was no longer any sign of nervousness, resistance, or even excitement in him. just looking at him gave jim this empty, dull sensation.

adrianus' own voice had started to feel like it was just droning on. "don't worry. i won't fully turn you into a doll, just yet. you can just imagine it, for now... feeling heavy and blank... so good..."

it was like none of them were really there, anymore.

it continued like that for a while, jim wasn't sure how long. it was repetitive, nothing in particular was happening, there wasn't any real direction anything was going in, but the monotony lulled him into such a deep relaxation. every word felt good, even though he wasn't really listening in the way he would be if they were directed at him. every slow, deep breath coming from bill was comforting. the unchanging, peaceful look on his face was pleasant. nothing was boring, or interesting, or much of anything at all, but it was good, almost in the same way it felt nice to roll back over and fall asleep after waking up earlier than you needed to.

"alright, i think that's enough," adrianus finally said, as if to shake off their own tiredness. "we'll have to wake up at some point, won't we?" they straightened up, pushing bill up with them. "you can slowly feel the energy and alertness returning to you. you can stretch, and rub your eyes, if you need to, as well."

all three of them stretched in their own ways, bill yawning as he did so, as if he really had been sleeping. jim took another sip of his tea. it was completely cold.

"wow!" bill said, seeming almost as energetic as usual. "that was kind of crazy."

"you fell very quickly."

"it was just that voice you did! it's like, as soon as i heard it, it was like, oh, this is hypnosis."

jim looked at his watch. "it's around the same time you left last time. are you going to want to get home soon?"

"oh yeah! i guess i probably should." as he said that, he gave no visible indication that he was actually planning to get up.

"i did get a bit carried away," adrianus said. "but, it was quite nice. you do make an excellent subject."

"thank you! well, it didn't really feel like i was doing anything."

"you were listening very closely, though."

usually, after waking up from trance, jim was able to feel normal again fairly quickly, but this time, his head still felt a little foggy. it didn't bother him, exactly, and it didn't feel like he couldn't think, or do anything he needed to, but he was aware that it was different.

"i think i should go home, too."

"are you alright?"

"i am, i just kind of want to go home and do nothing."

"i feel like i could just sleep here," bill said.

adrianus chuckled. "well, really, if you don't have any obligations tomorrow, you could spend the night, if you wanted. i have a guest bedroom."

"hmm... i don't think i have anything important."

jim didn't, either. he was seriously considering it. he didn't want to bother riding the bus home, especially not while he was still sort of out of it. it was dark out already, which made it feel even later than it was. now that he thought of it, he could hear it raining outside, too. it must have started during the hypnosis session. he had completely tuned it out.

"you can take some more time to consider it, if you need to. you can always change your mind, later," they said, standing up and taking the cups with the cold, barely touched tea. "i do have clothes you can borrow. though they might be a bit big. there are spare toothbrushes, and such, too." they began walking off, before pausing. "oh, and if both of you decide to stay, you can either share the guest bedroom, or one of you can sleep on the couch, here, if you're alright with being visited by the shadow beast."

though he didn't particularly mind having a cat come bother him, he had a feeling the guest bed would be especially nice, considering adrianus' commitment to comfort in general.

"ah, but would the two of you like to eat anything? that may help you wake up."

jim sighed. "i think i'm spending the night anyway, so i should probably have dinner."

as he waited at the table with bill, while they cooked, he was struck by just how mundane it felt. he had watched his coworker get hypnotized, and now they were staying over at adrianus' house for the night, like stranded travelers who had nowhere else to keep them sheltered from the storm outside. it wasn't really even storming, the rain sounded fairly gentle. he could have just called a cab.

but here he was.

the food was a simple pasta dish, quick, inoffensive, and filling. their conversation had been light and casual as they ate, none of them talking about hypnosis, or even dolls.

it was comfortable. hanging out like this made it hard to believe that he had only been friends with bill for a couple of weeks.

"oh, yeah, so there's only the one guest bedroom, right?" bill asked as he put his plate by the sink.

"yes."

"and only one bed?"

"yes, although it is large enough for two people, if you wanted to share. but the couch is still available. i suppose you two should decide where you'll be sleeping."

"well," bill said, "if only one of us gets the guest room, it should be jim, right?"

"i really don't care either way," he responded.

adrianus smiled. "you should just share. the bed is more comfortable."

"i mean, that's fine with me." he turned toward bill. "if it's fine with you, i guess."

"well, i'd be fine on the couch, too, but i don't really care."

"you'll both be in the guest bedroom, then. here, i can show you where that is, if you'd like to get ready now."

bill and jim followed them up the stairs, and down the hallway.

jim supposed it was nice adrianus had made the decision for them. he didn't really want bill to sleep on the couch, and bill didn't want him to, either, but neither of them would have chosen to share if they hadn't said it. it would have taken forever to reach an agreement.

"you know, now that i think of it," bill said, "one of us could've slept with you, too, right, adrianus?"

they laughed. "well, that is true. is that what you would prefer?"

"i just thought it was kind of funny."

"is that it? you weren't thinking you wanted me to hypnotize you to fall asleep?"

bill blinked. "well, i wasn't, but..."

the thought was now in jim's head, too. the thought of slowly falling unconscious while they directed him to. the thought of such an automatic process being in their control. the thought of being guided into dreams.

it felt strange just to think about.

"i'm sorry to tempt you with that. i don't think i'll be doing that tonight. perhaps another time," they said. "but, here is the guest room."

it was nice, just like any other room in the house. the bed was large enough that they wouldn't have to be particularly close to each other, and the blanket looked warm and soft.

"do either of you want any pajamas, or robes? they might be a bit big on you."

"i don't think i need it," jim said.

"do you have a big t-shirt i could sleep in?" bill asked.

"i'll see what i can find."

they both got ready, taking turns brushing their teeth, getting changed. jim decided to just sleep in his underwear, while bill wore the shirt adrianus gave him, which was just a large, plain white t-shirt.

it suited him, in a way. it made him look small. maybe that was a weird thing to think.

"do you think you're gonna go right to sleep?" he asked, crawling into the other side of the bed. "or are you gonna be on your phone for a bit, or something?"

"i don't know how quickly i'll fall asleep, but i'm not going to shine a bright light in the room while you're trying to sleep."

"that makes sense. well, i won't either."

one of the lamps was still on, dimly lighting the room.

"but, you know," bill said, "i keep thinking about what adrianus said. this bed is so comfy, if someone was hypnotizing me here... well, maybe i would have an easier time sleeping."

"do you normally have trouble sleeping?"

"i just think a lot. when i'm really tired, i can sleep, but sometimes i end up staying up because i'm doing something, or i'm focused on something, and i keep thinking about it even when i get into bed. i think about stuff i wanna draw, and ideas i have, and it's hard for me to stop."

that did sound like bill. "so you want someone to just force you to stop, and focus on sleeping?"

"yeah, exactly."

it wasn't like he didn't understand. he didn't have as much trouble sleeping as he used to, but the idea of someone helping with that was still appealing.

maybe the idea of being able to help someone else with that was appealing, too. there was something about bill, lately. he had such an eagerness to be hypnotized, it made jim feel like he should do something about it, even if he wasn't really a hypnotist. he'd learned a few things from adrianus, and his own research, but he didn't have much confidence in it.

how much confidence did he really need with someone like this, though? and if he didn't do anything, bill might take forever to fall asleep. it's not like it would help his own sleep to be next to someone who's tossing and turning all night.

he turned onto his side, facing bill. "come here."

"you want me to come closer?"

"i'll help you sleep."

"you're going to hypnotize me?"

"sure," he said. trying to be casual about it only made it more awkward, but it felt too late to back out.

bill crawled closer, toward his side of the bed.

it wasn't as if he had to speak right into his ear to hypnotize him, but it'd certainly been more effective for him when adrianus was very close.

"is it alright if i get closer?"

"how close do you want to be? do you want to be, like, spooning?"

it wouldn't be a bad position for hypnotizing someone, although it might have been a little too intimate. "it doesn't need to be that close. i just want to be near your ear. to make it... easier to listen."

"i mean, it's alright, i'm just surprised."

he leaned closer. "get into whatever position is comfortable, however you normally sleep."

bill faced away from him, making the position similar to spooning after all. still, he didn't wrap his arms around him or press up against him, only putting a hand on his shoulder.

"don't focus on anything except my voice," he murmured. "don't think about anything."

it felt a bit bold to start with commands like that, but bill seemed to need that sort of directness from him.

he realized it was difficult to get feedback like this, though. he couldn't see his face. it was hard to gauge his reaction, and would only get more difficult as he stopped moving.

"say something when you like or dislike something. it's alright if it's just a mumble. you can stop responding when you get too tired to, or when i tell you to stop."

"i like this," bill said quietly.

"good."

bill shuddered. "i like that..."

it felt more sexual than he expected. he knew he was lying right next to him in bed, talking into his ear, and hypnotizing him, but he thought it would be a little easier to ignore those connotations. he was just trying to help him fall asleep.

"you shudder too easily..."

"i can't help it. it's just your voice... but i like it. i mean, i like you saying that..."

jim had barely even started, and bill already liked everything. maybe asking him to respond was pointless.

being firm felt a little more awkward now, but he knew he shouldn't let this drag on for too long. "you're feeling tired. you need to relax. you're going to relax for me."

he particularly seemed to release his tension after the "for me."

"that's good," bill said, his voice almost a whisper.

"just go limp," he said. "like a doll."

bill was tense for a moment, before relaxing again, more deeply than before. "i-i really like that."

"keep relaxing, until you can't move. until you feel warm and heavy. until your mind feels fuzzy."

"really good..."

his responses started to sound more automatic, like he wasn't even thinking about them. his voice was gradually sounding more blank and distant.

he really could have told him to stop responding, to be quiet. it was obvious that just about anything would work on bill. but he wanted to keep hearing it.

"that's good," jim whispered. "that's right. completely still."

"good..." his voice had become very quiet.

it was like that was all bill was even capable of saying.

"you can't think about anything. you can't move. you can only listen and relax. you're falling asleep."

"...good..."

his breathing had slowed. he did almost sound like he was asleep. it was relaxing just to hear. jim felt a wave of tiredness in his own body, his own words becoming more automatic and repetitive.

the last thing he remembered before falling asleep was muttering on and on about feeling tired, sleepy, and relaxed, wanting to sleep, as bill's responses turned to murmurs, to hums, and finally stopped.