I’m spending a quiet Saturday evening in – already dressed in my favorite jammies, sipping a glass of white wine and eating a piece of chocolate while I think about what all I want to share with you. Mmm… life is good.
Just a quick side question… are jammies ever sexy? Hmm.. probably not. Well at least they aren’t the kind with feet in them ;)
Anyway, as I mentioned in my previous post, I went out to a movie and dinner last night. What I didn’t mention is that I went in the company of four men. Sounds decadent doesn’t it? ;) Well, ok, ok, they’re all my friends, but still – who wouldn’t have fun with that much testosterone for company?
I had heard mixed reviews from others about the new Star Trek movie, but I have to admit I really enjoyed it and the fellas seemed to as well. My only problem was that I was sitting in between Bill and David and they teased me for getting teary-eyed a couple of times. I can’t tell which two spots made me tear up because I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone but I’m one big emotional bundle lately so they shouldn’t have been surprised :)
After the movie, we had dinner in a very nice restaurant. The fellas were having a good time playfully harassing me about several different things. I just smiled and told them the only reason they felt as if they could even try to get away with this was because there were four of them and one of me – the odds were finally even.
Richard is someone who is relatively new to my circle of friends, but since he’s really nice I like him and feel pretty comfortable with him. I’ve gotten to know some more things about him over the last week as he’s been coming by to see Bill almost every day, but I haven’t really told him much at all about myself. When he would ask, I would tactfully turn the conversation back to him. Tonight, I suppose encouraged by the presence of the others, he was a little more assertive in his questioning. Nothing too nosy, nothing out of line at all. Just general things – what books did I enjoy reading, what types of movies did I enjoy, what hobbies did I pursue.
When he asked about hobbies, Graham, David, and Bill all exchanged glances, then quickly looked back at me. I wasn’t certain what they expected me to say to this man I barely know. “I like to tie men up and tease them til they are begging for release.”? “Sometimes I have my male friends all around the world tie red ribbons around their cocks to remind them that just for a little while I have taken control”? I mean really.
I mentioned photography, writing, and that I dabbled with recreational hypnosis. I really expected him to zone in straight away on the hypnosis, but to my surprise he was initially more interested in my writing. What subjects, what genre, was I published anywhere, etc. Since I decided I wasn’t ready to answer questions about my online presence, I gave some vague replies and steered the conversation toward the hypnosis.
“I’m not really a believer in hypnosis,” he said, looking around for some sort of agreement from the others. Finding none, he asked, “You don’t all really believe in that stuff, do you? That someone can make people do silly things?”
Ohhh.. a bit of a challenge…
We talked for awhile about what hypnosis was and wasn’t. Bill and Graham were able to share a number of stories about being hypnotized, stories that seemed to intrigue Richard a bit but didn’t totally convince him. David, who I must remember to thank for feeding me the most perfect line, asked, “Why don’t you just tell him a little about how you would hypnotize someone.”
I watched him lean in a little as I began to share how easy it was to help someone relax, because relaxing is something we often do without conscious effort. I do so love it when they lean in… I know I have their attention ;) I continued on, explaining a couple of techniques while deliberately lowering my voice a bit so that he would have to really concentrate to hear me. Not only was he concentrating and leaning in but David was as well. While I didn’t really want to hypnotize Richard – again I don’t know him well at all – David on the other hand has been my subject before.
I turned my attention to David and reminded him of the last time I had hypnotized him. “You remember how good it felt, don’t you David? How easy it was to let go and slip down into a nice, deep hypnotic place? To feel your conscious mind letting go and to allow that wave of relaxation to spread over your body?”
He nodded slowly.
“You’re feeling a bit that way now, aren’t you? As if it would be the easiest thing in the world to do to let go and let me guide you for awhile. Isn’t that right, David?”
“Yes,” he replied in a voice much quieter than usual.
I continued on for a little longer and then offered a suggestion that after he awakened, he would find that every time I touched his forearm, he would feel a flush pass over his body.. something warm enough that he would feel the need to say, “it’s a bit hot in here, isn’t it?” and would then shift a little in his seat. This would continue until I remarked, “I think it’s cooling off now”, after which he would revert to normal. Finally, I suggested he would not remember anything that was said during the time he was hypnotized until I spoke the phrase, “You’re really a good sport, aren’t you, David?” At that point, the memory would return.
To be honest, I wouldn’t hypnotize just anyone in a crowded place, and I wouldn’t suggest not remembering unless I knew doing so was ok with the individual. I’ve had enough opportunities to talk with David, Graham, and Bill about hypnosis that I knew I had permission to do whatever I wanted. They trust me.
I suggested to David that I was going to begin chatting once again to the others at the table and as I did, he would awaken and in a few moments would rejoin the conversation. I glanced at Richard and his expression was more open than it had been before. I took that as a good sign. He also looked a bit dazed ;)
We talked a little more about the movie and then I reached across, touched David’s forearm, and asked him to catch the waitress’ attention when he could. He nodded, ran his hand across his face, remarked, “It’s a bit hot in here, isn’t it?”, shifted in his seat, and then called for the waitress. Bill and Graham both chuckled and agreed. Richard looked from face to face, I think to see if he could figure out if we were putting him on.
After the waitress left, we carried on chatting about various things. Three other times I touched David’s forearm, and three times the same thing happened. The last time he remarked that it was hot, I replied that I thought it was cooling off. He agreed.
The conversation continued and after a few moments, I rested my hand one last time on his forearm. He flushed a bit and shifted in his seat, but didn’t say anything. I thought it odd that he had stopped responding to part of the initial suggestion but not all of it. Still, he had done well.
“You’re a really good sport, aren’t you, David?”
Initially he looked a bit confused and then he began to laugh… his face still quite flushed.
All this was more than Richard could take without remarking. “So do you remember what happened?”
David acknowledged that he did.
“And you weren’t putting me on?”
“I like a joke as well as anyone but I wouldn’t fake something like that because I know it is something LJ is very serious about. It wouldn’t be respectful to her.”
Richard silently absorbed David’s reassurance.
Graham on the other hand was too curious to remain silent. “I don’t understand why you flushed and moved around in your seat when LJ rested her hand on your arm after she told you the suggestion would no longer be in effect.”
David hesitated, then replied, “How would you respond if she was touching your arm, her eyes all lit up like they are right now, and she was talking to you in that way she sounds when she’s been hypnotizing someone? Her voice is sexy all the time, but when she is being hypnotic….”
Richard laughed and winked at me. “That’s the one thing out of all this that is easy to understand. I may have to have my own demonstration to fully comprehend the rest.”
Cheeky man.
