i used to think i was wrong

[quatrains]

"It just has to do with suggestion," is how He Ming tried to explain it. But since Kristoph still doesn't believe him, then fine, he'll put his hobby to good use.

When Kristoph is lifting his cup and taking a drink, He Ming reaches out, grasping Kristoph's wrist, tugging it towards himself to interrupt him. He continues in an even rhythm, voice smooth and calm for once to draw Kristoph into the suggestions. "I'm not saying I can make you do anything you really don't want to do." He could probably build up to that later. For now, though, he just needs Kristoph to listen and open his mind to his words.

He releases his wrist after a moment and continues to speak.

"There's a path I want you to go down in your head. Okay?"

Comments

[glassesglare]

When He Ming grabs his wrist, Kristoph freezes, and his indulgent smile twists into a strained grimace. This is the only evidence of a temper that he allows himself, though, and even this he suspects is too much. He Ming may be something of a brat, but he also has friends in very high places, and any satisfaction he might gain from putting him from his place isn't nearly enough to balance out the potential damage to his own reputation. So Kristoph takes a deep breath and steadies himself, relaxing a moment before He Ming releases his hold on him.

"That's a rather intimate proposal," he says, pushing up his glasses. "And much easier said than done, I'm afraid."

In other words, he still remains a skeptic. He Ming will have to try harder than this to change his mind.

[quatrains]

"It's easy, come on! You can close your eyes." He Ming is still smiling, not dissuaded by Kristoph's skeptical attitude.

"Close your eyes," he repeats, putting more emphasis on it this time, "and follow a path through the trees."

[glassesglare]

Kristoph gives a long suffering sigh, and while his distaste is genuine, he exaggerates it and softens it with a smile. Most people would mistake it for a joke.

"If you insist," he says, right before closing his eyes. There's no harm in humoring the boy for a while. So he decides to play along, and imagines a forest to walk through. A vague image of black trees, barren and devoid of leaves, fills his mind as he waits for further instructions.

[quatrains]

The fact that he's playing along at all will help with the hypnosis. He Ming continues, "Walk down the path in your mind. It's going to take you deeper and deeper into the woods. The grass is greener there, around the path, and at the end of it you'll see a well. It makes you think of sleep. Sinking into the water, deeper and deeper, into sleep."

[glassesglare]

"That's a rather dangerous preposition," he murmurs, but he says nothing else, and instead focuses on rebuilding the forest. His comment broke his concentration, but a moment later he's back, this time with greener trees and a livelier background. And, of course, there's the well. The trees disappear as he focuses his imagination on the water, deep and dark, and soon his posture begins to relax.

[quatrains]

"The water is lapping at the sides of the well." He Ming can see his shoulders lowering, at least a little, and he quiets his voice to match. "Droplets are hitting the surface of the water, right in the middle, ripples expanding. Look into the center of them."

[glassesglare]

While he remains skeptical, he must admit, it is a rather soothing image. He looks right into the center of the imaginary well, and while he doesn't quite hear the drops, he can easily see them dripping against the water. The ripples are soft, gentle, but persistent, and the longer he focuses on him, the slower his breathing becomes.

[quatrains]

"Deeper." He Ming makes sure his voice is audible, but low. They're almost there. "Sinking deeper. It's dark and you hear my voice. Put your hands on the table."

[glassesglare]

Kristoph does so without complaint or hesitation. Whether or not it was He Ming's intention, his little exercise has soothed Kristoph's temper and his ego, leaving him calm, relaxed, and more pliant than he realizes. He has no suspicions of He Ming's intentions, and instead he allows himself to fall deeper into the fantasy forest that they've both constructed. The only thing on his mind are the ripples of well water and He Ming's low, quiet voice.

[quatrains]

He's almost completely in the trance now. He Ming pauses, trying to decide what he can tell Kristoph to do that won't shock him out of it but will still be interesting.

"Stay where you are." He Ming gets out of his seat opposite him at his kitchen table, scooting around the edge of it to stand behind Kristoph and his chair. "Let me touch you. It's just like the water."

[glassesglare]

Touch him? Perhaps with someone else, Kristoph would register that command as strange, but not with He Ming. The boy had already been somewhat physical earlier, what with tugging his wrist around when he wanted his attention. The only movement Kristoph makes is a gentle not do acknowledge that he heard him, but otherwise he remains calm and still.

[quatrains]

Sweet. He Ming doesn't wait very long before acting. He moves slowly, however, so as not to startle Kristoph out of his trance while reaching out to start undoing what he considers a strange ribbon tie from his shirt.

[glassesglare]

The fabric of Kristoph's collar brushes against his skin as He Ming undoes his tie, and he lets out a soft breath. However, it doesn't feel like fabric at all; as he said, it's just like water, rippling gently against him. It would be a curious sensation, were he more aware of himself and his surroundings, but his trance has numbed all conscious thought. The only thing that exists beyond the well is He Ming's commands.

[quatrains]

Since it's working well, He Ming continues. He tosses the tie on the table, then starts on the buttons. He leans a hip against the table for balance as he begins to open Kristoph's shirt to expose his chest.

[glassesglare]

It's a good thing Kristoph is in a trance, or else he'd have quite a few things to say about He Ming tossing his things aside. For now, though, he's distracted by the feeling of cool air against his chest, and lets out a soft breath as his body shifts in the chair.

[quatrains]

Unfortunately, with no one to stop him, He Ming is less than careful about wrinkling as he unbuttons Kristoph's shirt completely, meaning he opens the front of his vest as well and lets it slip down as it may.

"Do you like it when people touch you?" he asks after a moment. Kristoph wears so many layers normally; He Ming is fascinated by the way he looks so exposed and he runs one hand, exploratory, over his skin. He slides it under his shirt to touch even more, fingers curling around his hip.