"you know that the idea of mind control is more effective than anything, don't you?" time murmured. "and you know that you don't need to be tricked into believing it. you'll play along with anything, if it's hot enough to you. in fact, it's even more effective if i tell you what i'm doing, isn't it?"

"well, it's true," shark said, noncommittally.

"it is true, huh? you can't even argue with it now?"

"i mean, it literally is."

"i like that this is how you react to it, at this point. trying to act like it's annoying because it's so obvious. because we both already know it. but you can't just give in right away, can you? that's not how the game works. so you resist through your tone. because you're too honest, and it's too obvious to you that i'm right. so that's all that's left for you to do."

"man, what's even your point?" they asked.

"well, i'm really just rubbing it in," time said. "you're in a pretty frustrating position, huh? no matter how annoying or smug i am about it, i'm still right. that's the worst, isn't it?"

well, it was. it was unfair. every interaction with time was like a rigged game, and there was nothing they could do about it. because they couldn't even envision winning. because that was just their dynamic.

"i want you to be annoyed by it, though," time said. "it's more fun. that's why you feel like that anyway, isn't it? if you just completely gave into me, every time, it'd just be normal. it'd stop being humiliating. wouldn't it? you don't want to stop being humiliated by it. you want to be embarrassed by how easy you are. you want to feel yourself being dumbed down by my words. don't you? you want to feel how you can't resist it. you want to feel how much it turns you on. it's even better if you didn't feel that way just a second ago, isn't it?"

it was turning them on, a little too automatically, even when they still felt that annoyance. they looked away. there was nothing they could even say to it.

"no, come on," time said. "look at me. look at me and try to tell me you're not getting horny. look me in the eyes."

shark turned back to them, looking in their eyes, just like they said. "well, like... i mean, i am kind of horny, but..."

"yeah, that's right, isn't it? and looking into my eyes like this, and trying to argue, and not being able to, is just making you even hornier, huh? making your head get even fuzzier for me. that's all it takes, isn't it?"

they nodded. it really felt like being caught and dragged down.

"it's really the annoyance that's the act. this is how you really feel. you were just waiting for permission to give in."

shark couldn't tell if that was a suggestion or not. it already felt true.

"well, that's too bad," time said, their tone changing back. "because i only really wanted to tease you. how do you feel about that? you really wanted to just give in and be stupid and horny for me, didn't you? now you just get to be annoyed and horny for me."

being pulled back up only made it more frustrating. "you're doing this kind of shit now, too?"

"well, i have to do something to get a reaction, don't i? maybe if i get you worked up enough you can be annoyed like this while you're asking me to fuck you. telling me to just make you stupid again, but trying to make it sound like you're just complaining. trying to hide how desperate you are."

they hated that it really seemed like something they'd do.

all of it was hypnosis. they knew that. time was stringing them along, making them react however time wanted them to react. even if they didn't feel stupid, even if they didn't feel like they were in a trance, it was all the same thing. and they still couldn't stop falling for it. because knowing what was going on only made it worse. knowing that there was no trick for them to catch onto, knowing that this was what they wanted, too.

"do you think i should let you touch my cock today?" time asked. "or do you think i should just make you look at it? or maybe i won't show you at all."

"i don't care," they said. "i don't need it."

they were throbbing and pulsing.

"but you know you love my cock, don't you? you really can't argue with that, can you?"

"i mean, i like it, but..."

"you love it."

"i... i love it, but..."

"hey, i didn't give you permission to get all stupid and fuzzy again, did i?"

their breath was heavy. "how long are you going to toy with me like this? i mean, you want to get off already, too, don't you?"

"no, i could do this all day," time said. "it's alright. i won't edge you, or anything. you'll probably cum just from the teasing, anyway."

they wanted to argue, but the arousal was intense enough that they knew time was right.