Mesmer holds onto her, his brow furrowing, but he continues. “Whenever you hear the words ‘like’ or ‘truth,’ even from yourself, the pleasure you feel shall increase, independent of your relaxation. When I say ‘stop,’ you will freeze in place, unmoving, except for breathing. The trigger words will continue to increase your relaxation and delight. When I say ‘release,’ you can move again.”
Again he stands, holding her hand. “I see you like the bakery,”
She sighs.
He tells the audience, “You have interesting truths.”
She gasps.
He delivers a side-long glance at the woman, pausing for a moment.
“Here is another truth.”
She bites her lip.
“A lovely red balloon is tied to your right arm, but you’ve reached equilibrium. The balloon cannot pull your arm higher. You cannot tug the balloon lower; this equilibrium follows your body, so you can move, stand, sit, or jump without changing the distance between your arm and the balloon.”
At this point, he releases her arm, letting the “balloon” keep it aloft.
Libi blushes deeply as her arm dangles there. She blinks and shifts but doesn’t move from the spot. “I, uh, like, mmm…” she squeaks. “Sorry, what were we talking about?”
Mesmer smiles warmly. “Ah, we were speaking of truths.”
“Ah?”
“Including what you like and dislike about Baker’s bakery.”
A shiver runs up her body.
“For instance, can you truthfully…”
She moans quick and a bit louder. Mesmer pauses, adjusting his collar, gulping.
“…say you like the bakery’s goods recommended to the rest of us here.”
Libi brings her knees together, those feelings of relaxation and elation messing with her focus. She hears those words, clings to those feelings, and practically worships those desires. “I like, ah, my boss. Really, I do, but I… I’m having a hard time….”
Gulping, Mesmer holds his hand toward her, saying, “How are you feeling right now, Libi? Is something the matter? I might be able to help you if you just explain everything you’re feeling to me.”
“I feel good—terrific”, a smile rises across her lips. “Is it wrong to feel this good?”
“W-well, I, d-don’t see why not, but do you wish to enlighten the whole audience about such things?”
Libi blinks and scans over the crowd. It is a sea of enraptured faces, one and all, but their expressions are all upon her, all waiting to hear what she has to say. All of them wanting to know, see, and experience more.
“I don’t like the coconut things”, she admits. “It’s not the taste, but the mouthfeel, you know?”
Producing a handkerchief from his pocket, Mesmer dabs his forehead. “It can be an acquired taste”, he agrees, “but thank you for being so truthful about the goods Baker puts out. Is there anything you’re feeling, anything at all, that you would like to do before the audience? You are in your most comfortable position and experience the happiest and most serene moments of your life. Excitement, do you wish to feel the excitement, Libi?”
“Yes”, she sighs.
“A…and what excites you?”
She purses her lips. A moment of hesitation that would have been an eternity passes by in but a fraction of an instant, and she says. “I really, really like to have S-E-X.”
Mesmer squeezes the handkerchief as the world is only her and him amidst a sea of an enraptured crowd. His arm trembles, and his lip quivers. “Sex?” his voice comes out in a less controlled squeak. “That's what’s the most exciting? And you’d freely share that here, in front of everyone?”
Her eyes flutter as she looks at them. For a moment, Mesmer could swear he can see the hearts in her enamored eyes. “I’d fuck you right now if you said the word.”
A rise of gasps and cheers call through the audience. 
“I must remind you and the audience”, Mesmer intones, somehow in more control than a moment ago, “that everything you say, do, and feel comes from within you. Hypnosis is the art of drawing out the truth from an individual, and it is not about controlling someone outside of their will. If I told you to punch me in the face right now, you would do so only if you truly desired to bring violence upon me. You understand this, do you not?”
She nods.
“And you know that if I ask of you to do something that would embarrass anyone, it is because you desire to do such an action and that you may not remember it at all, or if you do, it will be as a dream to you, is that not so?”
She nods.
“Very well”, Mesmer says. He kneels beside her, bringing his lips oh-so-close to her ear, his hot breath upon her skin as she speaks. “You wouldn’t have intercourse with a stranger, surely, but what is it you desire here on this stage?”
“W…what would it be like…to get off in front of everyone”, she responds in a dreamy, breathy voice.
He nods, a smirk running up on his lips. “Well, I think I can grant you that.” He whispers lower, more intimately, into that ear. “When you hear ‘now,’ I want you to relive the most intense orgasm of your life. When you finish, the balloon around your wrist will pop, and you shall relive that orgasm again.”
Libi stands in front of the audience. Her feelings of comfort and coziness, mixed with a bit of excitement, churn throughout her like sweet cream. She smiles, one hand behind her back while the other remains in the air. “So, when are we going to go through the hypnosis?”
“Ah, my dear”, Mesmer says, “think about it deep in your heart. You remember the pact you made and the secrets you’ve spilled, not to mention the exciting promise you gave yourself.”
Libi’s brows furrow. There is something there. Something that she was worried about yet excited about at the same time. There is a fog in her mind, keeping her from finding the truth, from keeping her from stopping enjoying herself. That nagging worry in the back of her head–it’s not there, and it’s so liberating.