"Why is a piano so hard to open?"

A famous blonde singer bore a stoic face, hearing the words from the most melodic voice she'd come to known, but fearing the words that voice would deliver.

"Because the keys are on the inside."

The corners of her mouth threatened to curl and Taylor refused to let her lips quiver at the horrible dad joke that struck something deep inside to elicit laughter, and maybe more. Hours after a long rehearsal, the singer and her hypnotic mistress decided to share some decompression time that lead to a fun challenge between them, the kind Taylor had come to dread appreciating more than she appreciated the dread of the worst dad jokes she'd heard. They were the worst cause the dispenser of them could make them funny, with or without patented persuasion.

Dressed in casual, baggy clothes, Taylor hoped it was easier to hide her torso wanting to shake from laughter from the keen blue eyes watching her carefully. Seated across from Taylor in her dressing room, also in comfortable, loose clothing was Mistress Alexis. Ever-enchanting despite the casual jeans and t-shirt with "Swiftie-4-Life" printed on the front, her disarming smile threatened to break the dam of decorum and resistance being held back. To the knowledge of both, it was the first time Alexis consciously allowed Taylor to give her best shot at resisting her juvenile, effective brand of humor.

"What did the boy band that plays classical music name itself?"

"The Bach Street Boys?" Taylor guessed with an annoyed sigh and proud smirk. "A little predictable and beneath the supposed Queen of Dad Jokes."

Alexis' smile shrank a little, her eyebrow raised.

"Many people told Beethoven that he would never be a musician because he was deaf, but did he listen?"

The punchline hit with a slight delay, but the rhythm of her resistance faltered and unseemly laughter came pouring out, louder than she expected. It took her a minute before the volume of her reaction sank back to calm, and another minute before she felt a soft compulsion to sink to the floor and crawl a short distance to Mistress Alexis, lounging and grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"I am an amused steward to the wit the Queen of Dad Jokes," left Taylor's mouth without preamble, following a smirk reflecting finally realizing what else was tugging at her senses with every new joke levied.

"Yes you are," Alexis praised with a kiss to Taylor's forehead before she took her place back on her couch.

"I am ashamed," Taylor fought a knowing smile matching her Queen's.

"Of having a wonderful sense of humor? To each her own I guess," the hypnotist shrugged.

"I really should've seen that coming...and don't you dare make a Ray Charles joke from that!" Taylor pointed accusingly and the casual dominant.

"C'mon, you think I would do that?"

"Wouldn't you?"

A small cock of her head to the side told Taylor she wasn't completely above such a joke.

"That wouldn't be as clever as the one about the Spanish musician's saying after he left the sound booth."

"Audios!" was called out like the an over-eager student in-class, desperately trying to steal the hypnotist's thunder whenever she could.

"Three down, two to go. And these have to hit, as per our agreement."

Alexis enjoyed the smug smile beaming at her. Taylor's proposed Three-out-of-Five idea was a fun way to pass the time during Alexis' extended visit with her collared singer, and a welcome change of pace that almost served as foreplay before the usual hot and heavy hypno play to come.

"Why do bagpipers walk while they play?"

Quiet consideration told Alexis this joke was brand-new to the listener.

"To get away from that awful noise."

"Oh hey, I just to play bagpipes. That's not fu-" a snickering noise escaped as Taylor's face contorted, holding in mirth as hard as she could. "Not...funny," she snickered out through pursed lips.

"Are you sure," Alexis was on the verge of a snickering fit herself.

"Yes, that one doesn't....d-doesn't..." Taylor suddenly faded off, watching the jokester fill the silent room with an expectant aura through her seductive expression. The waiting game was short as capitulation took over and moved the blonde to kneel in-front of Alexis yet again.

"I am an amused steward to the wit the Queen of Dad Jokes," the conditioned part of her brain made an honest appraisal of the fourth dad joke.

"Still sure," came the questioning chuckle followed by a kiss to reddening cheeks.

"As long as the last one doesn't make me laugh, I'm sure."

"That's fine. What is Mozart doing these days?"

"I...don't know. What?"

"Decomposing."

Before her forehead could rest in the dual palms of her hands, uproarious laughter filled the entire room. Tears ran down her face as she accidentally rolled off the couch. She laid on her back with her eyes closed, laughing it up for as long as she could if only to delay handing Alexis the win to Taylor's challenge. It took almost two minutes of genuine laughter to subside before she felt very empty, as if she'd laughed all her thoughts away. Then like a marionette, the strings attached to Mistress Alexis' will dragged her back to kneeling.

"I am an amused steward to the wit of the Queen of Dad Jokes," was a whispered surrender she smilingly-sighed, rewarded by hands holding her face to kiss her lips.

"You're not a bad hypno-slave, either," was hotly-whispered in Taylor's ear. The sound made her shiver before a loud snap near the same ear woke her.

Remaining on her knees, Taylor blushed in blissful defeat. "Remind me again the terms of the game? I'm fuzzy on the details for some reason."

"You're fuzzy on a lot of details, but it'll come back to you since our deal was the winner gets to choose the song the other has to sing."

"Dammit. I so wanted to hear you sing something," the honest complaint brightened both women.

"Someday, pet. Someday," the redhead patted the blonde on the head, stroking the long blonde locks to make the singer involuntarily purr a submissive human's purr.

"But in the meantime...hmm...I'm feeling like a classic now. Silly question, but do you know 'Trust in Me'?"

"Is that the one from the cartoon snake? Actually not a silly question, cause I don't know that one."

"Really..." genuine surprise laced her voice. "All this time with me, or with that song's fame...I'll definitely have to teach you that one. Or perform it."

"I vote perform."

"And we'll see if you're eligible for that privilege later on. But since you don't know that...hey, what other songs of yours besides Mastermind lean in a hypno direction?"

Taylor had to think for a while about her library of songs with lyrics fitting for a hypno scenario.

"I mean, technically, the way you described hypnosis to me, any song can lean in a hypno direction since anything can be hypnotic."

"Quite true."

"And a real Swiftie would have the answer to her own question, being a definitive dedicated fan and all," the singer teased, prompting the hypnotist to lean her face in to hold her gaze, a glazed blue growing softer appreciating a more pristine blue glistening with control.

"Please name another Swiftie who controls my Taylor, and makes her obey so Swiftly."

Silence spoke volumes as the lips of the songstress parted.

"Good girl...and good point; one does come to mind that I would like to hear."

Alexis snapped her fingers again at Taylor's ear loudly to awaken the singer to stare down at her imperiously for a moment.

"Sing Treacherous for me, sing it for your most dedicated, decadent, domineering fan..." she spoke while moving her legs off the couch and patting the seat next to her so Taylor could sit and sing.

"Yes Mistress Alexis, she said, still held by the blue eyes until profuse blinking from the redhead gave her back some consciousness. Clearing her throat and narrowing her mind to the requested lyrics, Taylor began.

"Put your lips close to mine

As long as they don't touch,"

Leaning forward, Alexis teased her by holding her chin to pull her towards the prospect of a kiss that never came.

"O-out of focus, eye to eye

...till gravity's t-too m-much"

Eyes made a connection where lips didn't, giving Taylor a lusty gaze with heavy gravity to it.

"And I'll do anything you say

If you say it with your hands..."

Hands pulling at hands caused a pause in the recital as Taylor was pulled to her feet slowly and smoothly.

"And I'd be smart to walk away..."

Turned in the direction of the dressing room's door, Taylor was given a choice flee. The choice was ironic as both knew how unwilling she was to move, and stayed there unwilling to take a step away from Mistress Alexis.

"But you're quicksand," she exhaled in a lovely sigh as she felt the hypnotist's grasp from behind, sinking into the embrace and the wordless command to trance and continue singing.

"This slope is treacherous."

"And yet you slip," Alexis whispered as a back-up chorus.

"This path is reckless."

"But your resistance is feckless," the voice in Taylor's ear grinned.

"This slope is treacherous."

"But such a weak grip," hands ran along the back of Taylor's noting how limp they were, symbolizing the desired helplessness.

"I...I...I like it."

"Cause I told you to," Alexis made Taylor swoon at the end of the refrain. Alexis calmly gave her a moment to recover to continue.

"I can't decide if it's a choice

Getting swept away."

She imagined the thoughts that were her own flowing away in a breeze as she stayed fixed in bliss.

"I hear the sound of my own voice

Asking you to stay."

A briefly tighter squeeze from Alexis answered her question and mindless prayers.

"And all we are is skin and bone

Trained to get along

Forever going with the flow

But you're friction."

A small laugh from behind made Taylor turn to hear it clearer, Alexis loved being both the flow and the friction for Taylor, using her hand to stimulate momentary friction in the parts that made her gasp.

"This slope is treacherous."

"And yet you slip," Alexis reminded.

"This path is reckless."

"But your resistance is feckless."

"This slope is treacherous."

"But such a weak grip," stronger hands dragged Taylor's to the sensitive spots that wanted to rub, to create friction and start fires, but the limpness cause little whines that were additional music to their ears.

"I...I...I like it."

"Cause I told you to,"

"Cause you told me to," Taylor added off-script, happy and teased.

"Two headlights shine through the sleepless night,

And I will get you, and get you alone."

An inspired volition allowed Taylor to gently turn in the grip from behind to face her captor, wrapping her own arms around the hypnotist possessively. Alexis was slightly surprised how Taylor found will, but welcomed it with the given results.

"Your name has echoed through my mind, Mistress Alexis

And I think...I think? I think you should, think you should know

That nothing safe is worth the drive."

Mistress Alexis in the past had questioned the exact meaning of those lyrics, but loved how it felt interpreted as being handed the keys to the singer's engine, putting her in drive, reverse, or any gear she pleased.

"And I would follow you, follow you home.

I'll follow you, follow you home."

Taylor retreated a single step away from Alexis, bright, glassy eyes waiting to be led wherever Alexis wanted to call home for the fleeting moment. Alexis mouthed "follow" as she turned and led her follower around the room, navigating around the furniture as Taylor continued.

"This hope is treacherous."

"It sounds oh so hopeless," the leading, supporting chorus let her hips sway.

"This daydream is dangerous."

"But it isn't strange to us," Alexis looked back and winked at her charge.

"This hope is treacherous."

"With fading reality, you'll cope less."

"I...I....I.....I.....I.......I...."

Taylor was stuck on her descriptive pronoun after Alexis stopped at turned, quickly stepping back in Taylor's personal space to bring them face-to-face with pristine blue eyes again. So lost in the stare, she had to be literally snapped out of her reverie.

"Continue," Alexis sweetly ordered.

"Two headlights shine through the sleepless night

And I will get you, and get you alone"

Confidence returned in her singing.

"Mistress Alexis has echoed through my mind

And I just think you should, think you should know

That nothing safe is worth the drive."

Driven to an embrace again, Taylor wrapped her arms around her mistress.

"And I'll follow you, follow you home," the whisper deposited into the hypnotist's ear sincerely, almost entrancingly.

"I'll follow you, follow you home

I'll follow you, follow you home

I'll follow you, follow you home."

Alexis felt the crooning tones nearly taking her from a hypnotist's trance into one her sub shared. Blinking herself awake, she gripped at the blonde tresses to shock her back into a submissive position.

"This...this slope is treacherous."

"Perhaps I am too," the claim came to a mind happy to hear the assertion.

"I..I...I like it."

"I know you do. Good girl."

Alexis gave her a big hug before bringing them both back to sit on the couch.

"You sing so well, my sleepy songbird. But now, it's time to listen..."

A stream of whispers and head nods followed the change in performers before Alexis pulled out her gleaming pocket watch, and glassy eyes instantly magnetized to the hypnotic, swinging metal.

"It's time to listen...to the remix of Treacherous, by your Mistressmind."

With one hand raised to swing the golden watch between them, Alexis' other hand rested itself on Taylor's flushed, blushing cheek.

"Pull your lips close to mine

As long as they don't touch."

Words originally designated to be dictated like poetry were actually sung a lilting alto that impressed the attempting singer herself. She smiled and kept her resonant tempo as the blonde managed to close the distance, bringing their lips achingly close without taking her eyes off the watch. The ache caused moaning, a moaning that nearly turned orgasmic as Alexis snapped her fingers.

"Always so focused, eyes to my watch

Till the gravity's too much."

Gravity joined magnetism in keeping Taylor focused on the timepiece. The blonde songstress was unaware, but would've appreciated the rhythmic swinging almost acting like a metronome setting Alexis singing and the pace of thinking implanted into Taylor with every altered verse.

SNAP SNAP

But besides the meaning of the words, awareness became occupied with the a pair of snaps from the hypnotized Taylor herself. She snapped her fingers next to her own ears as instructed, causing a reactive moan that fit perfectly with Alexis' singing.

"You'll do anything I say

When I say with words, watches, or hands

Even if it was smart at one point to walk away

I always was, and always am, your quicksand."

SNAP SNAP

Crashing symbols reverberated on both sides of her head, letting the pleasure from the front be bounced around her mind, throughout the deeper crevices. Dulled senses loved the dichotomy of being pulled under while still being pulled towards the powerful watch that wouldn't let go of Taylor's eyes.

"Is this watch treacherous?

Is the time you try to keep reckless?

Watching my watch is treacherous.

And you love it."

SNAP

SNAP

One of Taylor's hands remained next to her head, while the other lowered to snap at her liquefied excitement below her waist, letting northbound and southbound waves of pleasure crash at her core. Another suggestion established for Alexis' remix, the repositioning let sing an orgasmic moan perfectly on key for the refrain.

The imposed peril imparted to the golden object didn't deter from it being tracked, it only made her focus sharper, intriguing her for the exciting effects of the watch yet to be revealed.

"You can't decide if it's a choice

Getting swept away, beyond choosing.

You hear the sound of my musical voice

Tell you to stay, to stay snoozing."

SNAP SNAP

Drowsiness set upon her eyelids with additional mass after the shock waves of snaps, threatening to shut her eyes, but she stubbornly kept them open, kept the watch in her focused sights.

"And we are all skin and bone

Trained to get along.

But you know my voice transcends

Against any resistance, it's too strong."

SNAP SNAP

It was then that the celebrity singer realized Alexis' voice was the only audible sound. Not the sound of the metal chain, the imagined ticking of the watch, or even her own breathing or snaps were picked up by the listening part of her brain. Just Mistress Alexis' voice.

"Is my voice treacherous?

Is listening closely to it reckless?

The sound of my voice is treacherous.

And you love it."

SNAP

SNAP

Despite the vanishing audio, the snaps were still felt in full force, inching Taylor closer and closer to the crescendo she could only express approaching through the desperation in her singing moans. Every spoken word of Mistress Alexis gained excitement in its meaning, until the air was full of excitability Taylor was drowning in.

"This pocket watch shines through this sleep-filled night

And I will have you, as I have you now, sinking.

My name often echoes through your mind

And I think you should know now, to not worry about thinking.

That nothing safe is worth driving, it just feels so right."

SNAP SNAP

The desperate soprano of Taylor drove mutual excitement in the room higher and higher.

"And you will follow me, follow me home

You'll follow me, follow me home

You'll follow me, follow me home

You'll follow me, follow me home

You'll follow me, follow me home."

SNAP

SNAP

"Mistress Alexis is treacherous.

Tell me you love it."

SNAP

SNAP

"I.....

SNAP

SNAP

"Mmmmmmmm.....love....."

SNAP

SNAP

"....iiitttttoooooooohhhhhhhhhh....."

Taylor's release was long and luxurious, and her mistress let her enjoy the duration until her breathing returned to normal.

"I'd call that thunderous applause for sure," the redhead giggled.

"Sleep." A finger snap at Taylor's face sent her off to dreamland.

"I'll have to make you initiate that 3 out of 5 Dad Joke challenge more often if it leads to this," Alexis mused.

"I guess I am pretty treacherous after all."