Dinner is Dinner

Phil stood outside Matis' house, his mind in a state of frenzied disbelief. The once impenetrable wall of hostility that emanated from Rochelle, Matis' mother, was now permeable, breached by the power he held in his hands. With his new phone, Phil had access to the deepest recesses of Rochelle's mind, a treasure trove of thoughts and emotions that were his to command.

The weight of the device in his hand was both exhilarating and terrifying. The ability to manipulate the very essence of another human being was not something he had ever imagined possessing. But now, as he stood at the threshold of Rochelle's home, Phil was consumed by the desire to wield this power. To take control of Rochelle's thoughts and emotions, to bend her to his will, was a tantalizing prospect.

Yet, as Phil's finger hovered over the doorbell, a nagging doubt tugged at the edges of his consciousness. Was this the right thing to do? Was it ethical to manipulate another person's thoughts and feelings? To take away their agency?

For a moment, Phil wavered. The allure of his new-found power was strong, but so too was his conscience. He knew that what he was about to do was morally dubious at best, and downright wrong at worst. But then he remembered why he had come here. This was an experiment, a chance to test the limits of his new device, to see if it truly had the power he believed it did.

With a deep breath, Phil pushed the doorbell, the sound echoing faintly through the empty hallway beyond. The phone was safely stowed in his pocket, and he felt a twinge of relief at the thought of its presence. It was a talisman of sorts, a reminder that he had control over the situation. Dinner was just dinner, nothing more. Phil was in control, and he could handle this.

As the door swung open, revealing Rochelle's austere visage, Phil felt a wave of confidence wash over him. He had this.