"can you do something for me?"

"what is it?"

"could you go into a trance for me?"

it caught him completely off guard. "what?"

"just a nice, deep trance, one where you feel a bit sleepy and relaxed, perhaps even a little dull, and empty. you can do that for me, can't you?"

"why do you need..." it wasn't the kind of thing someone should have casually asked for, but he already felt his thoughts slowing down.

"even if you question it, it seems that you're already doing it. very good... just like that."

his breathing was slowing.

"could you do me another favor?"

"sure," he said quietly.

"and you're agreeing before i even tell you what it is?"

"i... i just... i know you're not going to ask for anything that's..."

"anything inappropriate, or that you're unwilling to do?"

"yeah, exactly..."

"that's your only concern, isn't it? so long as it isn't something you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances, you see no reason not to obey, do you?"

"is... is there any other reason not to?"

"for a normal person, or someone who isn't hypnotized, there could be several. not being in the mood, wanting to do something else."

"well, i guess, but..."

"but when i tell you to do something, you want to do it, don't you? so there's no reason not to."

it felt like something he should argue with, but it was difficult to find anything wrong with it. "what do you want me to do?"

"come closer."

he approached them. "how close?"

"close enough to be held tightly."

"alright..."

they wrapped their arms around him, murmuring into his ear. "just go completely limp for me. i've got you."

it happened before he could even think about it.