Streamline Pearl's aspirations for love, marriage, and family

You consider the problem before you with care. Fundamentally, the conflict between you and Pearl comes down to the fact that the two of you want different things from your relationship. But thinking about it, is what you want really all that different?

You want to have fun with somebody special. Pearl wants the same thing, just, with more of a promise for what comes afterward, long-term. You're so close! It's not like you're specifically opposed to being with Pearl, you just don't want to rush into committing to anything without some time to explore first.

There must be a way to reconcile what Pearl wants with what you want, in a way that'll make you both happy.

As you work the problem, Pearl continues vacantly leaning back against the front door, her hands flat against its surface, at her sides. She remains locked in the moment you had her paint with her conscious mind, eyes dreamy and unfocused, with lips slightly pursed to accept her fictional husband's marital kiss. You sneak a glance down at Pearl's high socks and bare thighs, picturing what she looks like beneath her shirt. Damn, what a lucky son of a bitch, the non-existent fantasy man who gets Pearl as his wife.

A lightbulb flickers on. You now know Pearl wants the soppy love and marriage shtick, but what more does she want? She's not in this only to catch a man, is she? Perhaps you stopped your inquiry too soon.

"Let the dream keep going," you guide Pearl, "days passing into weeks, months passing into years, faster and faster." You're determined to find your common ground. "Picture what you think you want from this relationship, what you expect from it, from yourself, from him. Visualize it flying by, on fast forward. Tell me everything."

Pearl's breathing picks up. "W-we get married. Then it's the honeymoon. We go to New York or - first night together. Making love. Move into an apartment. Sleeping together. Graduate college. He does romantic things, never forgets. Start my career, he starts his. Falling in love, deeper and deeper. Talk about starting a family."

About what you expected, but does Pearl even want a family like that?

Pearl rambles on, stream-of-consciousness style. "One of us gets a promotion. Buy a house, then I'm pregnant. It's weird but okay. Mom and Macy are pests. I get big. Take maternity leave. He dotes on me. Takes care of me. Thinks I'm sexy even when I'm huge. Give birth. It's hard, but he's there with me. Hold my baby, I love her more than anything. Mom cries about being a grandma. Raising a kid's tough, but we make it. Family helps out. Husband's a solid dad. I'm a good mom, maybe?"

You should have seen it coming, but seriously, you always assumed Pearl was a no-kids-ever! kind of girl. Hearing her of all people glowingly describe starting a hypothetical family shocks you. This is who she really is?

"Beautiful anniversary. We dance. I cry. Big family trip to Disneyland when the baby's older. Giving dating advice to Macy. Making love. Want to keep kids close together. Pregnant again. He's so happy I'm having his baby. Thinks I'm more lovely than anything and -"

You clap your hands. "That's enough." Pearl falls silent.

You know how to fix this. Pearl dreams of love and marriage, but it turns out, that's all just a means to an end. Pearl's ultimate goal is to build her own family, not play the female lead in a Hallmark movie. That's where you're butting heads. Fooling around, having fun with each other, that's fine. Pearl's fixation on the concept of a perfect husband, with you not measuring up to the part, is the source of your conflict.

Is Pearl wanting some dream romance really a healthy outlook, though? One reason you and Pearl started hanging out in the first place is that you're both from single-parent households. Your mom died when you were a little kid, and Pearl's dad was a scumbag whom she wished had died when she was a little kid.

Tweaking Pearl's perspective so her future happiness isn't reliant on a perfect guy coming along would be doing her a favor. And it won't just resolve your current disagreement, but it'll help her feel better about herself going forward, too. More independence, more self-assurance - things Pearl actually values.

Sure, she could always meet Mr. Right later, and you're sure she'd find a nice guy if you don't wind up sticking together after this summer. But you've got your entire lives ahead of you to worry about crap like that, don't you?

Armed with a rough plan, you launch into action.

“All right, Pearl. For now, I claim your hopes, your dreams, and your expectations - and I’m taking your trust, too.”

"Huh?" murmurs Pearl, frowning even in her sleep.

“Trust me, just for a minute," you urge her. "I'll take good care of you."

With only slight hesitation, Pearl relaxes again, with a ghost of a nod. "Mmh..."

“That's it. Thank you. Now, let’s rewind all the way to the start of your dream relationship. See time spinning backward. All the way to the college classroom where you met this boy. Let me know when you're there."

Concentration shows on Pearl's face. "I'm there."

"We'll replay everything you described to me, one step at a time. Except, this time around, I'll let you know if what you're seeing isn't quite right."

"Um. If you say so..."

"Don't worry. It's okay, because I'll tell you how it was supposed to look and feel instead. And with your trust, you'll to trust so much that what you thought before was a mistake, and that what I'm telling you instead is correct."

"Oh, yeah, okay," she says, as if your directions are a perfectly reasonable request.

You nod to yourself. "And you'll imagine your perfect dream changing to match my words. And just like that, it actually will change - your hopes, your dreams, all your expectations about dating and romance."

Pearl grunts affirmatively. "'Kay."

“Now, back to the college art class. You’re seeing tall, shy, mystery boy. Keep building the image in your mind’s eye, just how you want.”

She smiles distantly. "I see him.”

“Perfect. Now, describe the scene for me, just like before."

Pearl begins her story anew. “I’m in a college art class -”

"You don't know where you are," you interrupt immediately. "It doesn't matter."

"Mm. Doesn't matter where I am," says Pearl. "But I meet a boy I don't know. He's cute. Tall. Stylish -"

"You don't know what he looks like. You haven't met him yet." Need to nip this 'perfect man' line in the bud.

"- and I don't know what he looks like cause I haven't met him yet," finishes Pearl, still smiling at the thought.

"All that matters is that the two of you get along and have fun together," you provide. "You wind up having so much fun, and he makes you feel so sexy, you wind up sleeping with him, without protection. Neither of you even bring it up. Well, you might, but he doesn't listen."

"Cause he wants me so much. He just holds me tight and tells me he loves me," adds Pearl.

"He holds you tight as he cums in you, and he tells you how much fun he had," you correct her - selfishly, sure, but that's how it happened for her in real life. You don't want Pearl to regret her first time. "You're having so much consensual fun too. Love doesn't have to come up for you to enjoy your time together."

Pearl's breathing softens as she lets the warm, hot dream wash over her. "What matters is we're having fun."

Much better. "And you had so much fun that...?"

"That I want to see him again. Have more fun. See if we can start something up more serious."

So close. "You're not worried about starting up something serious. You said it yourself, what matters is you're having fun, right?"

"Right. We keep having fun and I'm not thinking about starting up anything serious. I just want to keep it going. Enjoy the time together we've got, not worry and spoil things with him."

There we go. "And you get what you want. You have so much fun with him. You're friends, but you can have sexy fun too. Any kind you want."

"And I get on birth control fast, so we can do anything we want with each other."

The problem is Pearl already wasn't on birth control the last couple of times. You should fix that too while you're here.

"No, you don't. You're not worried about being serious, and you're not worried that you slept with him without birth control, either. Like I said, it just never came up, and if it did, it wasn't a big deal - it was fun. You barely even think about it."

She makes an affirmative sound. "Cause we're just having fun, taking it a day at a time. I don't want to spoil the mood by getting too serious. So long as I time it right I should be safe anyway."

Great. But... Pearl could already be pregnant for all you know. Probably best to cover your bases while you've got Pearl like this. You don't want her having a panic attack between the time when (er, if) she finds out you knocked her up and you sort things out with your powers.

"So... turns out you forgot to time it right. And you keep having sexy, unprotected fun with him, over and over."

"So I call him and tell him we can't see each other anymore," continues Pearl, sadly. "We just can't control ourselves and - even if it's fun - I can't keep risking it."

You growl. That's not what you wanted to hear. "That's not right. You can't control yourself and that makes it even better. If you call him, it's to tell him to come over so you can have fun or hook up, not break up with him."

Pearl's sad expression inverts into a hot grin. "The danger makes it hotter. He makes me feel like I'm not in control and I love it."

Your cock throbs at her words. Not the best state to be in while performing psychic surgery on your best friend, but it's too late for that. You take a deep breath and police yourself. You've barely even started.

"So... what can happen if you keep going like that? Sexy fun. Letting him cum in you."

Pearl furrows her brow. Her dreams never went in this direction before. Well, not before now. But you need to be thorough. "Uh. I'll get pregnant?" she asks, not quite liking the word.

"And what do you do when - I mean, um, if - you find out you're pregnant?"

"I freak out," says Pearl.

"Except you don't," you tell her, firmly. "It's okay."

"I don't freak out," echoes Pearl. "It's okay."

This is important. "You tell him, but you know you can think about it later. You have time."

"It takes months before anything really happens," Pearl adds, her tone reasonable.

"That's right. So you don't worry," you say. "You have fun with your friend and take things one day at a time."

"Just enjoying the journey, not worrying about being too serious," Pearl surmises. "We've got months to figure things out."

Good foundation. Requires some follow-through, though. "Fast forward again. Where do you want this relationship to go next, if things go well? Picture it, feel it, and tell me."

Pearl, eyes hazy, sees her wedding day again. “I’m in this big, old cathedral, ancient columns and statues everywhere. I'm wearing this fun, sexy white dress, but I'm huge. It barely fits me. Mom and Macy are there, they're relieved this is finally happening. It's a small ceremony - close friends only. My guy friend stands across from me at the altar, he's so nervous. I'm holding his hands, smiling, telling him to relax. We're really starting our life together, starting our family. And I feel this... this total peace, this total happiness."

Hmm. A wedding may be a bit much, but there are some seeds here. "How do you feel that you're about to start your family?"

"Excited. Scared. Lots of other complicated stuff, but it's not bad. I hope I'm having a girl."

You let out a long breath. Her wedding fantasy is just a means to an end, you remind yourself.

"Okay Pearl. That feeling, that excitement about family stays, but everything else goes." You need Pearl's focus on the part of her future she actually cares about. "The boy, the cathedral, the dress, the wedding, all of it vanishes. Erased. Gone. Where are you now? What are you doing?"

Pearl wobbles dizzily, thrown for a loop. "In... my room, I guess," she says with an odd smile. "Playing video games."

"And what are you wearing? How do you feel?"

"I'm in my PJs - or maybe something cooler and sexier than my PJs. Like a chemise or... a pair of shorts with my boobs out, or something. I'm in my room, nobody cares," she says, with a snort. "But... whatever I'm wearing - unless I'm naked, I guess - it's tight, cause I'm so big. But I'm used to it by now. And I'm hyped. Keep thinking about having our kid. Starting our family."

Our. This dream guy's showing up again. "You're excited about having your kid. Starting your family."

"My kid. My family," Pearl echoes, smiling and touching her stomach.

"And you're looking forward to having some more fun with your guy."

"Oh yeah. I've got him coming over. We're gonna go out and blow off some steam. Being pregnant's tough. I need to take a break, take a load off. Do some nice, fun, easy stuff, nothing too hard. Just enough. My guy doesn't mind. He loves how I'm coming along, how tight all my clothes are," says Pearl with a sharp smirk, eyes lightly closed. "Bastard probably gets off knowing he did this to me."

Oh wow. This is great. Pearl's getting really into this - uh, not that you want this to happen, but if Pearl can enjoy the idea, she's not going to be flipping her lid again anytime soon.

Time to put her to the real test and let her run with it.

"Now the days are passing into weeks, months into years, just like before," you coach Pearl. "Tell me everything you see - visualizing your dream relationship passing by, imagining life on fast forward."

Pearl twitches one way and the other, her life flashing forward before her eyes. "Mom and Macy freak out about me being pregnant, but it's okay. Keep having fun with my guy. Go to college. Give birth. It's super hard but I do it anyway. Hold my baby, I love her more than anything. Mom cries about being a grandma. Raising a kid's tough, but my family helps out. I'm a good mom, maybe? Graduate, start my career, get an apartment. Start dating around, looking for a husband -"

"Stop." This 'perfect man' thing again?. "Why do you think you need a husband?"

Pearl's answer spills out of her. "Want to fall in love. Want a dad for my kid. Want somebody to hold me."

You thought you showed Pearl she didn't need to rush into anything? You must not have been forceful enough.

"You don't need a husband to take care of your kid for you. Your mom did fine, didn't she? And if anybody can figure out being a mom, it's you, Pearl," you reassure her. "And boys? They're easy to find whenever you - especially you, Pearl - want somebody to hold you. You don't need to rush into commitment."

"Mmhmm. Better to take things one day at time," Pearl finishes the thought.

"Good. Now, start again from that apartment."

"Right. Get an apartment. Work hard for a while. Raise my girl. Visit Mom and Macy a lot. Want another kid. Invite a boy over to my new place. Have easy, sexy fun whenever I want. Keep him around till I get pregnant, or bored. Take maternity leave. Baby's beautiful, my little girl's excited to be a big sister. Keep working hard till I get a promotion or a better job. Big family trip to Disneyland when the kids can remember -"

"And do you need the perfect guy to be happy?" you ask, testing her.

"Boys are easy to find, I don't need to overthink it," says Pearl. "They're good for having fun and getting a family up and running, though."

You swallow. This is good for Pearl. You're doing this for her. "H-how many kids do you want?"

"Not sure. Maybe two or three?"

Your cock twitches. "You want three or four kids."

"Mm, yeah. I want three or four kids."

Oh fuck. "Uh. Actually no, you want five kids."

"Five kids," she says. "I want a big family."

You shouldn't have done that, but this power is... it's so easy to go too far. You feel yourself slipping. In a **** bargain, you tell yourself that you can let this one side if you stop here. Before you push things any further.

The temptation dissipates. Phew! That was a close one. But five kids? Geeze. Well, if Pearl doesn't find her soulmate before then, you bet you could help with that.

You clear your throat. "Good. And..." you fail your will save "...you want all your kids have the same dad, if possible."

You weren't planning on that, but you can't help it.

"That way they can all be closer, cause they'll have more in common," adds Pearl, in thought. She's breathing deep and calm, at peace now. It's got to be a huge relief for her to not hold herself to the standard of finding a perfect guy.

Okay. Better to finish before you deal any more damage. Pearl's more than ready. Leaning in, you kiss her on the cheek, and prepare to wake her up - though you may have to make one more small change to make sure things go smoothly when she does.

"I have to claim one last thing: all your memories about your hopes, dreams, and expectations, and this trance," you say. "Pearl, you're going to forget everything that happened since I claimed your consciousness. You're also going to forget any mentions I made of claiming things since we came to your door."

Pearl tenses, face scrunching up for a moment. Then she relaxes, utterly and completely, a faint look of contentment on her face.

"And now, when I tell you to wake up, I relinquish your consciousness, your memories, your hopes, dreams, expectations, and your trust. They all go back to you," you say. "Uh, everything, that is, except those parts of your memory I claimed before tonight. And now... wake up."