Shopkeeper (Patreon)

Your friend's birthday is coming up, and you've gone to a shop you know they like to get them a gift.

* * *

You walked into the shop. It was strange, kind of new age. Crystals hung from the walls and ceiling, you had to duck slightly as you moved past the shelves, filled with herbs, and charms, and all manner of things. A strong scent permeated the room, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

“Hi there, what’re you looking for today? Anything specific?” Came a voice from the counter. You looked up, peering around a few crystals that were in the way. The person at the counter had blue eyes, and they were smiling at you over the top of a steaming mug of something.

“Oh, I’m just looking. My friend’s into new age stuff, and I thought it might be nice to get them something related to it.” You said as you wandered over.

“Mmm, any specifics you can give me? Do they like crystals? Tarot? Do they practice Reiki?”

You put your hands up, stemming the questions. “I’m honestly not sure. They’ve been wearing a few different crystals recently, for hypnosis reasons.” You said, blushing. You glanced at the shopkeeper again, noticing their crystal pendant for the first time. “Like yours.”

The shopkeeper’s smile grew, and they set down their cup of tea, and held up their crystal. The scent of the shop was still flooding your nostrils. It was making it hard to think.  The pendant was catching the many lights around the shop, it looked incredible.

“They have good taste then. It’s a beautiful crystal, right?” They asked. You were feeling slightly dumfounded. Each moment that passed left your mind feeling slightly hazier. “Doesn’t it make you just want to stare?” You nodded, slowly. “Good job. Just keep staring for me.”

Their words were coiling around your mind, making it hard to think, just like the soporific scent filling the room. “I… Umm.” You were struggling to hold conversation, unsure of what to say next. The shopkeeper giggled.

“It’s okay. Shhh. Just stare at my crystal, okay?” They said.

Dumbfounded, you nodded. “I just wanna help you. And you want me to help you, don’t you?” They said, as you continued to nod. “That’s right. And I’ll help you make the right decision for your buddy, and for yourself. You just have to let your mind sink down, and down, and down.”

They lowered the crystal as they spoke, and your mind sank, along with your eyes. “That’s right. You don’t need to think right now, do you?” Your mind was struggling on the edge of awareness. A small part of you wondered what was happening to you.

But the rest of your mind was sinking into hazy surrender as the crystal swung back and forth. “Just let go of thought. Let go of responsibility. I know what you need. I’m helping you. Aren’t I being nice?” You nodded your head, slowly. It was so hard to think.

“That’s right. And as the crystal hits the table, your eyes will close, and you’ll fall deeper into trance. Deeper into my power. Your friend did a good job priming you for what comes next.” They said. The crystal scraped the table, and you sank into comfortable blankness.