Do You Trust Me?

Merida went back to the other three, finding Talia and Laura still betting, and doing surprisingly well. “Just wanted tae let you three ken Mary and Isabella left.”

“Without saying goodbye?” Talia pouted. “Also why was she Mary and not Mark.”

“Well, apparently the wheel o’ whimsy has gag prizes on it too. Mary has tae streak back tae her room, as Mary.”

“Damn wish I could have seen some of that.” Laura said as she indicated she wanted another card.

“Well, she’s really sexy now. Very curvy.”

“Really? How’d that happen?” Laura was both intrigued and confused.

“I’d guess medications Mark took, for anxiety or depression. Her baps, erse, and hips are all fairly big noo, ken. She also has some nice, plump, smoochable lips.”

Laura raised an eyebrow, “Merida it almost sounds like you want to kiss Mary, and not Mark.”

Merida thought about it. “Huh… I reckon you’re right. Actually thinkin’ about it noo, aye. I definitely want tae make oot wi’ Mary.”

“I thought you were straight? Did you get a sexuality change without telling anyone?”

“Naw, I didnae. I would say I am straight. Like I dinnae find any o’ you sexually attractive. Even if I ken you all are attractive. You just arenae my type. Whit’s weirder is I think I find Mary mair attractive noo than I did durin’ the slumber pairty. Also I remember thinkin’ back on Mary after the spring’s effects ended. On all o’ you really. I wasnae attracted tae any o’ you.”

“But now you are? Maybe it’s one of Mary’s TFs. The Mary TF is supposed to add an effect to the male specific TFs. Mark has two of those. So maybe Princely Staff or Built like Adonis got something making you attracted to Mary?” Talia offered.

“Seems as likely an explanation as we’re gonnae get right noo. Flora, if you’re no’ playin’ any mair, want tae go take care o’ that thing?”

“Sure. Also Merida. Laura and Talia know about the hypnosis. Talia is the one to suggest it, and Laura was the back up. So, you can talk to them about it. But please don’t, go spreading it around.”

“Alright, where d’ye want tae do this? I assume you’d like privacy.”

Flora considered that when Talia spoke up, “Use the top of the Velvet Tower. Laura and I are staying there right now so no one else is going to bother you.”

Flora turned to Talia, “Thanks I appreciate that. Let me cash out my chips and we can go, Merida.” Flora walked over to the teller as Merida walked towards the exit. Merida noticed Flora talking with ASTRID, and Flora tilted her head to one side in thought. Then Flora nodded, and took off her shirt, and walked over to Merida. “Alright let’s go.”

“Flora, why are ye topless? I thought you were up?”

“I was up. I just chose to take my winnings in BP instead of getting my collateral back. I did buy one of the three days back since I had 400 chips I didn’t wager. So I’ll go topless these next two days and I got a nice chunk of BP in return. I’m cool with that.”

“That TF really did a number on ye, didnae it?”

“Maybe? I mean I’ve gone skinny dipping before. I’ve also streaked once on a dare. So it isn’t like I have an issue being nude out in the open. At least not completely.”

“Okay, let’s go tae the tower.”

“We need to stop by the Cottage first. Pick up the books.” So they went and got the books from the Cottage, then went to the top of the tower.

~Ping~

Talia (To Merida): You have my permission to use any of the gear in the Tower. I realized it could be useful for what you are doing. Possibly fun too.

Merida just shook her head. No way am I doing that. “Okay, so you have three books there I see, they look pretty thick.”

Flora handed them over and sat down on a couch on the top level of the tower. “They aren’t that bad, lots of tables and diagrams and stuff. We thought it might take you an hour or so to read through the first book, after which we can probably see if this will even work at all.”

Merida took the first book that Flora offered her and examined it. ‘Basics of Hypnotherapy’. “You know this looks like a real text book for a college course.”

“It probably is. It was in the medical section. There was an entertainment section on hypnosis as well. This felt more practical.”

This book is thick. How does Flora think it will only take an hour? Merida started to pursue the book looking at the table of contents first. Merida started to dig into the book chapter by chapter. “Okay done. I sort of expected it to be dark out, with how long it felt like I was reading.”

“It was only a little more than two hours.”

“That still seems really fast to me.”

“Well don’t question it too much, consider it a good thing. So I read through all three books, I tried self-hypnosis and it didn’t work. So how do you want to do this?”

“Okay, well lie doon on the couch and get comfortable.” Flora settled back intae the plush couch puttin’ her feet up and her head on a pillow. “First, I want ye tae take a deep breath in through yer nose… feel the cool air fillin’ yer lungs… and now, let it oot slowly through yer mouth, releasin’ all the tension from the day.” She guided Flora through several mair breaths. As Flora’s body relaxed, a low, contented purr began tae rumble in her chest. “Grand. Keep breathin’ like that slowly in… and then oot… Noo, Flora, I want you tae picture yersel’ in a quiet forest. Sun comin’ through the branches. The wind carryin’ the scent o’ pine trees. Can you describe where you are?”

Flora lightly nodded, “I’m in a pine forest, I’ve been here before. It’s in the Rockies.”

“Is there anythin’ notable around ye?”

“Yes, there is a large clear pond with a small waterfall leading into and out of it. There is this large flat stone that I love drying off on after a dip in the pond.”

“Guid, d’ye feel safe here? Relaxed?”

“Yes.”

“Then in yer mind, as ye breathe, each time ye exhale, I want you tae think about a worry ye hae, and I want you tae slowly remove a piece o’ yer clothin’. As ye remove each piece o’ clothin’, ye will become mair relaxed as ye set aside that worry. When ye hae finished removin’ yer clothin’, tell me.”

Flora breathed in and out for about a minute. “I’ve finished.”

“Excellent. Noo, are ye relaxed? Carefree?”

“Yes. Very relaxed.”

“Guid. D’ye trust me?”

“A little?”

“Why the hesitation?”

“I’m worried. Worried you will take advantage of me.”

“I understand, Flora. D’ye still hae any other worries?”

“Mark, not liking me. That I’ll like being his pet.”

“Flora, it seems ye forgot tae finish undressin’. After all, yer clothes are yer worries.”

“But I finished undressing.”

“Can ye tell me whit worry yer shirt symbolizes?”

“That I might get eliminated.”

“And yer breeks? Uh... trousers.”

“That I’m not good at talking with others.”

“So, you agree yer worries are yer clothes?”

“Yes.”

“And ye still hae worries on ye, right?”

“Yes.”

“So ye still hae clothes on then, right?”

“I… I guess I do. I must have missed them.”

“Okay, I want you tae take aff the last o’ yer clothin’. Tae set aside the last o’ yer worries, can ye do that?”

“Yes.”

“Noo, d’ye trust me?”

“Yes.”

“D’ye trust me no’ tae take advantage o’ ye? D’ye trust that I simply want tae help ye?”

“Yes.”

“Guid, noo I want you tae step intae the pond slowly, takin’ a step wi’ each breath. As you go deeper you will feel mair relaxed, mair open tae suggestion, you will sink deeper and deeper intae the water. Deeper intae a trance. Stop afore you are completely submerged. Noo, Flora, tell me how you feel.”

“At peace, calm.”

“Guid. Noo I want you tae remember this feelin’. Each night while lyin’ in bed, you will slowly return tae this pond. You will take aff yer worries and slowly slip intae a peaceful calm and drift aff tae sleep. D’ye understand?”

“Yes.”

“While in this state, you won’t feel the desire tae get up or move aroond. You are at peace.”

“I am at peace.”

“If you do sleepwalk anyway, a pairt o’ yer consciousness will also awaken. Tae guide ye back tae yer bed, back tae this pond. Understand?”

“I will guide myself back to bed, to peace.”

“Guid. Each mornin’ you will exit this state just like I will guide you oot when we are done. You said you trust me. Are you comfortable wi’ me placin’ a trigger tae return you tae this state?”

“Yes, but only for you.”

“Okay, when I and only I say ‘peaceful kitty’, you will find yersel’ back in the pond exactly like you are noo. D’ye understand?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like me tae help wi’ any o’ yer other worries?”

“Yes. All of them.”

“Okay. When you wake up, you will be able tae accurately write doon yer worries. You will do this over the next few days. You will entrust me wi’ that list. D’ye understand?”

“Write worries. Give you the list.”

“Aye, guid. Noo, can ye describe yer trust in me?”

“That you are a good friend. I trust you to help me. Protect me. I trust you not to take advantage of me.”

“Would ye trust me wi’ yer life?”

“No.”

“Guid. Each time I help ye, yer normal level o’ trust in me will increase until ye reach the level you are currently at. D’ye understand?”

“I will begin to trust you more.”

“You understand that you shouldnae exceed this level o’ trust, because o’ my previous suggestion, correct? You can only exceed this level o’ trust if you normally would. Understand?”

“Yes, I will trust more, but only to this much.”

“Noo, whit will bring you back tae this state?”

“You and only you saying peaceful kitty.”

“Noo I am gonnae count doon frae ten. As I do so, you will get up oot o’ the pond, put on yer clothes, and awaken. You will awaken the next time I say the words ‘Fierce Lioness’, understand?”

“Yes.”

“So when will ye awaken?”

“When you say Fierce Lioness”

“Guid. Each time you are in this state, that phrase will bring you back oot o’ it, just as I am aboot tae guide you oot noo, understand?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Ten. Begin tae move oot o’ the pond. Nine. Step onto the shore. Eight. Dry aff yer body as ye begin tae awaken. Seven. Put back on yer clothes, takin’ back yer worries. Six. You are steppin’ away frae the pond back towards wakefulness. Five. Exit the clearin’ and feel the awareness o’ the surroundin’ world return tae you as ye do. Four. Take a deep breath as ye walk through the forest back tae this tower. Three. The scent o’ pines is replaced by the true scent o’ yer surroundings. Two. Feelin’ wonderfully calm and rested. One. Open yer eyes, Fierce Lioness.”

Flora opened her eyes, then sat up. “Okay. I feel amazing. You’re a natural.”

“I think it’s probably my boon. But okay. You really feel grand?”

“Yeah. You didn’t do anything while I was under, did you?”

“I’ll go through everythin’ and if you hae a problem wi’ anythin’ I’ll remove it. First, I made it so you should essentially be able tae fall and stay asleep. That if you get up, a pairt o’ yer consciousness should too, and guide you back tae bed. Then you will awaken the next mornin’ just like I brought you oot o’ this.”

“That sounds great. Hopefully it actually works.”

“Agreed. Noo, I also put in a trigger phrase tae baith take you back intae that state and bring you oot o’ it. It only works if I say it, no’ anyone else. I put two other things in: one is you’re gonnae make a list o’ yer worries and give them tae me, so that I can help you. When I help you, it’ll be easier for you tae trust me. Does any o’ that bother you?”

“Not really. What are the trigger phrases?”

“Well, tae bring ye oot is ‘Fierce Lioness’.”

“Oh, I like that.”

“I thought you might. Noo, the other one is sort o’ the opposite. It’s ‘Peaceful Kitty’.” Merida saw Flora’s face overcome wi’ a slightly vacant expression. “Flora. Whaur are ye right noo?”

“I’m in the mountain forest pond.”

“Are ye bare-arsed? Relaxed?”

“Yes.”

“Guid. Fierce Lioness.”

Flora returned slowly to normal. “Woah. Did you just put me under again?”

“Aye, I wanted tae make sure the triggers worked. That likely means yer other suggestions worked too. Are ye sure ye dinnae want me tae remove anythin’?”

“Yes, just because the triggers were placed doesn’t mean that everything is perfect.”

“And ye trust me wi’ this level o’ control over ye?”

“I mean a little. I’m still worried that you might **** it. But I figure if you do that Mark will come down hard on you when he finds out. Because let’s be real he will likely find out. That safety net plus the fact I really did need a solution to my problem. Is why I’m trusting you. Thank you for your help Merida.”

“Sure. Nae problem. I guess I hae a new skill noo, do I no’?”

“I’ll say. I wouldn't be surprised to see you becoming a full fledged hypnotist if you wanted. Maybe even like one of those hypnotists on TV shows and in movies where you can induce it with a simple snap of your fingers. I’m going to go to bed. Alright? Again thanks for the help.”

Merida and Flora went down the tower. Finding Talia and Laura back down stairs. Laura greeted them, “Hey you two. Did it work?”

“I think so.” Merida said. “I mean at least as far as I can tell.”

“Well, that's good. If you need the tower again just let me know I’m here all round, with the exception of my date night.” Laura offered.

“So, did you put in any fun triggers while helping Flora out. Maybe make her meow whenever something particular happens?” Talia inquired with a hint of arousal in her voice.

Flora snapped at her, “Talia, don’t joke about that. That isn’t funny. I’m not a cat.”

“I know you’re not. Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be at least a little funny if she made you meow if someone said a certain word around you. Also I can’t help that I find the idea she would do that extremely arousing. Blame Mark for that.”

“Aye, but ye dinnae hae tae make jokes aboot things ye ken others are sensitive aboot.” Merida retorted, “Especially since I ken ye ken better, since ye tellt me aff for thinkin’ like that earlier the day.”

“You are both right. Flora, I apologize.” Talia said.

“Whatever. Thanks for letting us use the top of the tower. I’m headed to bed.” Flora walked out and Merida followed after her.

Laura turned to Talia, “You know it’s jokes like that, Talia, that make me worried. Worried that I do need to be concerned about you crossing a line. Please try to do better.”

Talia deflated. “I will Laura. I will.”