it was a strange feeling, preparing to hypnotize adrianus. there was no question of who really had the power, of course, even then - jim's suggestions were only going to reinforce the dynamic they already had.

but it was interesting, how even when adrianus sat back in that comfortable chair, the same one they often had jim sitting in, even when they relaxed, and took a few deep breaths, the same way he did, it was completely different. it didn't feel like submission. it was more like they were just making themself comfortable.

it had been difficult for him to imagine it at first. he wondered what it would even look like for him to hypnotize them, with their dynamic. but now that he was standing there, looking at them, assisting them in their relaxation, he could kind of see it.

"is there anything i can do to make you more comfortable?" he asked. "before we start."

they hummed, giving it a moment of thought. "i think you've done a good job so far. you tend to serve me well enough that there isn't much else to ask for."

"i'm glad to hear it," he said. "then i guess i should..."

"just go on. it's alright."

"right." the nervousness hadn't completely faded, but at this point, any encouragement from them tended to calm him at least a little bit. it would be enough for him to get started.

he leaned closer to them, which they welcomed, leaning a bit closer themself, reaching for his hand, holding it, interlocking their fingers with his.

"that's right," they murmured. "don't be shy."

it felt nice.

"you can just focus on me," he said quietly.

they looked directly into his eyes. somehow, it didn't distract him, or make him feel fuzzy in the usual way. it felt more like being pushed to act. to carry out the task he had been given.

"that's good. i'd like to focus on you. i always like to focus on you."

it was sort of going both ways. he supposed that was alright. it was interesting how their eagerness and receptiveness still felt so powerful.

"right," he said, forgetting some of his tension. "just focus on my words..."

"your voice sounds nice like that, jim," they said softly. "it's starting to come out a bit more naturally, isn't it?"

"it's getting easier..." he said, his tone a bit dull. "you find it easy to listen... it only makes you feel more relaxed and comfortable... feeling more and more... like you're in your place... and i'm in mine."

even as the words came out almost automatically, his heart rate was quickening. it was a strange sensation, calmly putting himself in that sort of position.

they began rubbing his hand with their thumb. "that's exactly how i feel right now."

he knew about the classic hypnotist trick of pointing out what was already happening. he was starting to intuit how to use it in this situation, as well.

"you can let yourself indulge in this moment..." he continued. "you can feel that... affection... that feeling of... looking at something... something that you find cute."

it wasn't that he would have called himself cute, or thought of himself that way. he was telling them what they already thought, what they already felt... reading the expression they were already making.

but when he pointed it out, it intensified. he could feel it in the way they were caressing his hand. he could almost see it in their eyes.

"every touch, every caress... it only makes the feeling stronger... the more you touch me... the more you want to touch me... to... pet me. every touch is hypnotic... and the more you fall into trance... the more you indulge in it... the better it feels... the more i seem... like just a pet to you."

"that's right, jim," they whispered, their voice already dripping with affection.

there was something almost scary about it, in an odd sort of way. not that he wanted to stop. it was just that feeling that, if everything he was saying really was going to happen, this might go even further than their usual sessions. he was doing more than just listening to them, letting them take the lead. what would they act like, if they didn't hold back? if they weren't really thinking about his feelings?

he already knew that he wanted to get to a point where his suggestions no longer did anything. he wanted to lose all control over the situation.

their hand was already running along his arm, stroking his skin.

"you're becoming overwhelmed with affection... a strong, irresistible feeling of affection... the kind that makes someone just want to squeeze something... to pet it... to rub against it... to claim it as theirs... to coo at it... it's a hypnotic feeling... a complete focus on the object of your affection... it feels more relaxing, comforting, and satisfying, the more you give into it... the closer you are to it..."

it was subtle, but their touches were changing, getting just that bit hungrier, but in that slow, trancy sort of way. he almost squirmed, just from that.

"you almost stop understanding it as a being with a will of its own..." he was indirectly referring to himself as an 'it,' now. it happened without him really consciously planning it. "it becomes nothing more than a pet... something that you just need more of... it would take genuine, unmistakable distress from it... to snap you out of it. you ignore any squirming... any small protests... they only make it cuter to you... you only want to hold it closer."

they were pulling him closer. it wasn't forceful, just a slight tug on his arm.

"why don't you come sit in my lap?" they asked.

it was strange, how that still felt like being interrupted and ignored, even though it was exactly the response he was coaxing them into having.

it was sort of addictive, putting that effort into being a hypnotist, without the respect that a role usually demanded. more and more, he understood the appeal of the situation, the feelings and sensations that he never would have had if he only stuck to a more traditional hypnotic relationship.

he tried to resist their pull. he wondered whether he could even say anything about it, if it would be strange for him to stop in the middle of his suggestions to say that he would keep standing, or something. in a way, this role was almost more restrictive than the role of a subject.

"come on," they said softly, the way you would coax a cat to come sit with you. "it's alright... you can just sit with me..."

really, he was only resisting because he wanted to see their reaction. because he wanted to make the effect stronger. but it made it surreal to basically continue telling them to keep going, while physically trying to pull away from them.

"you know that it's just... that it doesn't really know what it wants," he said, somehow maintaining an even tone. "it would feel good to be able to show it... to show that you know how to take care of it... to show that you know what it needs..."

"you're just so cute," they said, almost whispering. their hands wrapped around his body. they weren't being rough or aggressive, but the way they held him and pulled him, he physically couldn't resist. he was placed in their lap, their hands petting and caressing him as they held him in place.

his squirming happened reflexively. they held him more tightly in response, which also seemed almost reflexive.

"oh, that's right... just relax... just let me hold you. good boy..."

it was sort of uncanny. they often treated him a bit like a pet, and spoke to him a bit like a pet, but this felt different. he was sure a part of them was still aware of the situation, and didn't literally see him as an actual pet, just because he didn't think his suggestions were strong enough, or that they would be the type of subject who would lose awareness so easily. but the tone was so close to the kind they would use for an actual cat.

he was so caught off guard by it that it was difficult to even think of what to say next, or even to just repeat and rephrase the suggestions he had already given.

"that's a good kitty..." they cooed, petting his back. "such a sweet cat..."

he shuddered.

it was still targeted. it wasn't exactly the way they would talk to a normal cat. it was more the way they might talk to him if he was turned into a cat, maybe.

"i'm just a cat to you," he said. "you want to be sure i understand that..." again, it was more like interpreting their own words and actions than like his own unique suggestion.

"you've already relaxed so much in my lap... this is what you wanted, isn't it?" they squeezed him, something they didn't do very often, compared to how much they held and petted him. "oh, that's right... you do love being held... and you'll tolerate being squeezed and rubbed like this, won't you? won't you?"

it still felt surreal. he was being hypnotically affected by it, too. it was hard not to be, when his hypnotist was treating him so convincingly like a pet.

he felt a new kind of helplessness creeping through him.

"you'll keep affirming that i'm a pet... that i'm your pet... that i'm just a cat... this hypnotic feeling makes you think of your own hypnotic suggestions... they bleed into the things you're cooing... hypnotic control is part of how you show affection... you know that your pet will do what you want if you talk to it in the right way... if you say the right words..."

they kissed his forehead, petting his hair. "you're just so cute," they murmured. their hands kept wandering against his skin, as if they couldn't get enough of it. "your heart is beating so quickly, though. what is it? are you excited? oh, i'll help you relax..." they held him more tightly again, which only made him twitch more. "shh... just relax for me... i know... oh, i know..."

he felt warm. it was embarrassing, and it was only made worse by the fact that he was the one who encouraged this.

"you're always such a good cat... you're always so good for me... i know you can relax for me now... i'm not letting you go, anyway... so wouldn't it be better if you just relaxed? oh, that's it... such a smart kitty..."

it really was more like babbling at a pet than like giving someone hypnotic suggestions, but that somehow only made it feel more hypnotic to him. it really didn't matter what he thought, or what he did, at that point. they were going to keep treating him as a pet.

"my words feel more and more like just meaningless sounds..." he muttered. "until you don't care what i'm saying at all anymore... it doesn't matter to you... it's just... cute... it's just the sounds your pet makes..."

it was like locking the door and swallowing the key.

"i just can't take it," they cooed. "you're just too cute... i just have to show you how much i love you... i know you'll understand... you'll let me pet you and kiss you as much as i want... even if you squirm a bit... i'm sure you'll go still after a while, like you always do... it's so cute... you're so sweet... such a good pet... such a perfect little pet..."

there was nothing left but to enjoy it, now. to feel the intense focus from them, the feeling of their certainty that this was right, that this was how he needed to be treated. he would be dragged down with them, dragged down beneath them.

"i like tolerant cats like you," they said affectionately, "that just let people pick them up, and pet them all over, and squeeze them... so well socialized... so used to being a pet... so suited to it... i'm lucky, to have found one like you... oh, and aren't you lucky you found me, too? you deserve so much love and affection..."

"it... it's not just luck," he muttered. "you... you've made me more..."

"such a cute voice, too... such cute sounds... even your complaints just sound so cute... always a bit weak and pathetic... like you're not really arguing. like you've already accepted it."

he wondered how much they understood him, at that point. if they were intentionally ignoring his words, or if the meaning really didn't reach them in the first place. if it was just noises to them.

even if they had responded so dramatically to his suggestions, it felt almost more like them seizing the opportunity, being prepared to listen and let go fully and completely just so they could... enjoy him more. their readiness to look at him as something less than human... but still distinctly him... it wasn't just a performance for his benefit. it was something they barely needed permission to do. something they would embrace with the slightest encouragement.

"just get comfortable with me..." they murmured, trying to adjust his position. "snuggle up with me... you can sleep in my lap... are you feeling sleepy? you need so much sleep, don't you..."

that drowsy feeling was already clouding his thoughts. he moved, getting more comfortable.

"good kitty... that's right... you're so snuggly, aren't you? so snuggly when you get sleepy like this... when you finally settle into my lap... it doesn't even matter what you were doing before i grabbed you..."

their affection was sort of suffocating and overstimulating, and demeaning. but accepting it and letting it happen like this, behaving the way they wanted anyway... it felt good.

he wondered if he should give them a hypnotic trigger for it. if it should be something he might do without really thinking. just something subtly cat-like, or that adrianus found cute, that would instantly trigger that overwhelming affection, before jim even realized he was doing it.

it wasn't a bad idea, he thought. he would have to talk with them about it later... when they would actually listen.