it had been a while since the cramps had been this bad. or, really, it's more that it had been a while since jim had had them at all. it was late, and he was tired, and the pain radiating through his lower abdomen was almost nauseating.

but he wouldn't bother with the heating pad. he knew from experience what would help him.

he threw off the covers, walking down the stairs, where adrianus was sitting on the couch, reading.

"you're up late," they said. "is something wrong?"

"cramps," he answered. "it hurts enough that i don't think i can sleep."

they set down their book. "and it's not so severe to be concerning?"

"no, i don't think so. it's pretty bad, but... well, it's probably still just a 4 or 5 on the pain scale at most, and it comes and goes. it only just got this bad. yesterday i barely noticed it."

he sat down next to them, right next to them. "i just want you to hypnotize me. i think then i can sleep."

their arm wrapped around him. "well, i'm sorry it's been so unpleasant. but i do like to see you being so forward about it. you must really need it."

"talk into my ear," he said. "the asmr helps."

they leaned closer, until he could feel their breath on his ear. "relax," they murmured, rubbing his back. "just relax."

the pain made it difficult to focus, but that word always felt nice. most of his tension left him, even through the discomfort.

"you can be intense about it," he muttered. "anything that you think will work... i want to go deep."

"that's right... you need to be deeply hypnotized right now. you know how much you need it. no resistance at all..."

he never really resisted them, anyway, but he had no interest in even pretending to now.

there was another wave of pain.

"deep breaths," they said. "focus on me... let yourself go completely limp... feel your body becoming heavy... you don't need to move. you don't need to do anything except give into it. to go into a deep trance. you only need to listen to me..."

it felt good. the tingles in his body temporarily dulled the ache. the more he gave into it, the better it was.

he needed to give in more deeply. maybe it wasn't enough just to give in and listen.

"i need to stop thinking," he said quietly, distantly.

"that's right... you need to stop thinking completely. your mind needs to be empty."

he nearly moaned, not even out of sexual pleasure, but pure hypnotic bliss and relief. his head felt fuzzy.

"very good," they cooed.

every wave washed away the pain. he felt still. he felt calm. hypnosis was good for him. it was an undeniable fact now.

he could feel it in his lower back. that tingly, static feeling. as if it was healing him.

but he was focusing too much on that. when he brought his attention there, he could feel it ache again. he had to stop trying to make it happen.

"i need to stop thinking," he said again. it felt good, even just saying it to himself.

"good... you do... and you will."

their encouragement felt even better.

"i need to let my mind go numb."

"that's true. very good. let that happen... your mind and body becoming dull and numb. until there's absolutely nothing left."

"i need to just..." he trailed off. "i need..."

"shh," they whispered, "you can be quiet now. you can't think anymore. it's alright. let me help you lie down and get comfortable."

his body was still entirely limp, even as they moved him. it felt good, to be so empty. to let them do all of it. he was little more than an object, at this point.

a blanket was draped over him, a pillow pushed under his head. they continued murmuring and whispering to him, slowly, gently. some of the words faded away, the tone of their voice becoming the only thing that reached him. it sounded nice, it felt nice.

even when some pain came back, it was easy to ignore, until it just went away, and there was nothing. he had the feeling it wouldn't come back.

he could sleep now.