Alexander Ch 02 1

Author's Note: All characters are over the age of 18 (in fact, all are over 25). This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to person's living or dead is purely coincidental.

--

"You going to tell me what was going on the other day?"

It was after his shift, but Ellie was still behind the bar at Shenanigans. Alexander was cooling down with a PBR.

"Nah," he said. "Just a thing."

Alexander had woken up the next morning, amazed to find that police had not broken down his door in the night. He hadn't put the ring back on, and had held his vow for four days now. He was feeling good about it, but the temptation was still there. In fact, he had taken to carrying it around in his pocket. He imagined himself a modern day Bilbo Baggins, except instead of turning him invisible, this ring would give him amazing powers.

But all he had to do was remember that look on Monica's face before she left. That look of brokenness.

Alexander was actually somewhat sorry that he hadn't gotten any identifying information from Monica, as he kind of wanted to check in and see if she was ok.

But he hadn't. He had to let it go.

"Hang out a bit," Ellie said. "It should be quieting down soon, and I'm not done with you yet."

"I like the sound of that," he said, grinning.

And this was the thing. He hadn't put the ring back on, but even so, he had a new bounce in his step. He found he could mouth off to the second chef and just get a laugh, instead of a reprimand. He gave his regular barista a wink, and got a shy glance back, instead of the stink-eye he expected.

Was it because of the ring? Or was it not giving a fuck, now that he had proven himself a worthless human being once and for all? Or had not waking up in a prison cell gone to his head?

He had plenty of time for thinking it through while making plate after plate of chickens marsala, francese, piccata, and madeira. Thoughts with no clear answer.

It was just about when he ran out of tinder swipes that Ellie leaned into her side of the bar, giving him an eyeful of her tip-inducing cleavage.

"That guy came in looking for you," she said.

A cold rush went through him. "What guy?"

"Is A for Asshole? That guy you were messing with. Or with his wife. What I can tell you: he wasn't real happy."

"I guess you didn't tell him where to find me, or I'd have been found."

"Nah, course not. Told him I'd never seen you before. But what the fuck was going on there?"

He felt a sudden urge to tell her. To confess it all. No: terrible idea. A good lie wasn't coming to him either. He found his hand was resting on the lump the ring made through the denim.

He went for the partial truth. "Look, it was something like hypnosis. I shouldn't have done it, and I regret it. I... convinced him to leave, and got her to pay for my drinks."

Ellie leaned in, making sure he didn't escape the radiance of her bosom.

"Bullshit," she said.

Alexander let himself be offended. "What? What's gotten into you?"

"I covered for you, and you think you can bullshit me like that?"

"It's true!"

"I have a very well attuned bullshit detector, and I think you are absolutely full of it."

"Why would you think so?"

"Because you look way guiltier than getting a couple of free beers. And when I said the guy was looking for you, you looked like you'd seen a ghost. I'm going to give you ten minutes to think of a better lie, or get the hell out of my bar."

She made her rounds, pouring some beers. Alexander quickly finished off his PBR. He was beginning to think that getting the hell out of her bar was probably the best plan. He should never have said anything at all.

But she was back. She placed a pint of hazy in front of him.

"I'm going to make it easy on you," she said. "You got into something like hypnosis. Yes, I believe it. I think that shit is real. But you didn't just get her to pay for your drinks, did you? I saw you two go out together. Either you are just messing around in some kind of swinger shit, or you really did hypno them, and you hypno'd her into bed."

"Christ." Alexander stood up.

"Do me," she said.

"Um, what?"

"Hypno me. Like I said. I believe it. Just prove it. Then I promise I'll leave you alone. I don't care if you seduced some uptown couple. I hope it was worth it. You do gotta watch out for them, though. The dude looked like he was capable of holding a grudge."

Alexander reached into his pocket, slipped the ring on his finger.

He didn't feel any change. There was no tingle, no special feeling at all.

"So, um, ok, what do you want me to do."

"Just, you know, put me under. That's what they say, right?"

"Stand perfectly still, right where you are," Alexander said. "You can try to move, but you find that you can't actually move. You can breathe normally, but your body is otherwise completely stiff, like you are made of stone."

She looked at him. Her pupils dilated. Her nostrils flared. He thought he saw a twitch of a grin.

"Ok, you can move now."

She leaned all the way across the bar, her ample breasts flattened across the wood.

"Ho. Ly. Shit. That was fast. How do you do it?"

"Magician's secret," he said. "Plus, you said you would leave me alone."

"I lied, A. I am never going to leave you alone now, not until I know everything."

Alexander's heart sank. "It doesn't frighten you that I can make you do what I want?"

She considered. "I guess it should, huh. Give any other guy at this bar that option, I guess we know where things would go."

She looked at him, appraising. She continued: "They'd go where you went with that guy's wife, wouldn't they."

"Look, let's just settle me out and forget about it ok? You covered for me, I am grateful. Let's move on. I... I did tell you I regretted it."

"Yeah, cuz you're a testicle. That's what I say instead of calling you a pussy. Cause a pussy is tough, but a ball's--"

"Yeah, I get it."

"Ok, so... you should be on stage. Or something. You still working at that midtown restaurant?"

"Yeah."

"Well that's stupid. You can obviously be making bank. Doing shows, or, I don't know. Crimes. You definitely should not be drinking PBR's after the dinner shift at whatever-your-place is."

"Probably true."

"All you need is a manager." She repositioned herself and he couldn't help glancing at the display of her boobs again. He wasn't sure exactly who was controlling whom.

Still, he resisted. "No, I don't want to be on stage. Or anything."

"I mean it more metaphorically. But, look, you know I'm bi, right?"

"I thought you only liked girls, actually."

"Mostly true. I wouldn't normally let on because, guys, bars, female bartender. You know how that goes. But clearly you are already having a major guilt complex, so I think I'm going to be safe with you. But. Why don't we actually have some fun. Why don't we get you on the road to profit, and enjoy ourselves a bit. Things work out, I'll do the manager thing, take 25%. Hang on. I still work here. BRB."

She withdrew the distracting cleavage and left Alexander to contemplate his future.

He looked at the ring on his finger. So much for his vow.

On the other hand, Ellie -- knock-out gorgeous Ellie -- was actually talking to him. Like a human. She knew something -- enough -- about what was going on, and wasn't calling down the wrath of God. This had to be good, right?

On her next pass, she slipped him a scrap of paper. "My phone. An address. Meet me here at 2:30. It's going to be busy closing the bar, so we'll finish this later. Don't get drunk. Got it?"

"Uh, tonight?"

"No time like the present! Or, 2:30 am, anyway."

* * *

Alexander didn't finish the beer that he hadn't really wanted anyway. He had an hour and a half. Time to get home, take a long shower, and contemplate his future.

The shower felt good. After shift he always felt caked in kitchen grease. He let the water run hot, sluicing over his body, washing himself clean.

The guy -- Tom -- had come looking for him. So, there had been some impact from his first heady power trip. But he didn't know how bad. He had sworn a solemn promise to himself never to wear the ring, but who was he kidding. He had been carrying it around in his pocket.

He put on fresh clothes, and sat with his back to his desk. He had recycled the laptop, washed the dishes, cleaned the apartment, done his laundry. It was still a weird, tiny apartment, barely more than a utility closet. He didn't need to be here. His great uncle Julius had not lived out his days in a shithole apartment. (Ok, everyone had hated his great uncle Julius.)

Still, he still had free will. He could still make one promise: to use the ring for Good. He would be a force of Good in the world. Maybe he could bring about world peace. He wasn't quite sure where to start with that one, but he'd talk it over with Ellie.

He kept his eye on the time. Normally he would be going to bed by now. He didn't have to be at work until three, there was no reason not to stay up til dawn if he wanted, but he liked to have some semblance of normalcy. The shower had relaxed him.

Maybe he should just go to bed. Take the ring off. Forget about the whole thing. Go to sleep. Start over tomorrow. He didn't need to get himself in any more trouble, he really didn't. What if he did something with Ellie he regretted? He didn't want to be that guy, ever again.

He didn't get into bed. He kept remembering that smooth, pale, creamy skin. Her dark hair glinting purple-red under the neon. The sharp edge of her lipstick. The depths of her eyes.

He slipped into his leather jacket, and made his way out to the cool, Spring night.

He gave himself plenty of time. Let himself walk off the nerves... although it didn't seem to help much. He was tight with anxiety when he got to the address. It was some kind of converted industrial; artist lofts probably. A few lights on, but mostly dark. It was 2:42. Hopefully late enough.

The door controls gave no indication of who he was buzzing, or where in the building the residence might be. Decent security, then. Before buzzing, he texted: "Here. Should I buzz?"

He leaned against the brick wall, waiting. After a few minutes: "Do it."

He buzzed and was let in immediately. All he had to do was find apartment 5E. You never knew with these kinds of places, but he took the elevator to 5, hoping for lettered doors.

5E was a scarred and dinged metal door with an old-fashioned push-button ringer that sounded like a bicycle bell.

The door opened, and Alexander found himself looking up at a black guy, probably half a foot taller than himself. "Um..."

"Yeah, come in. Ellie's pouring out some shots, just in case."

"Uh, thanks..." Alexander had the strong feeling he had just gone in way over his head.

But Ellie was grinning when she came out balancing a tray of shot glasses. With some flair she spiraled it onto a table; gestured at the loft around them.

"This is Davon's place. Like it? Pretty grand. He's a drug dealer."

"Yeah, not really," the black guy said. "I play one on TV."

"What show?"

"Most of 'em. Everyone needs a black guy drug dealer from time to time."

Alexander laughed uncomfortably. "Yeah, I guess that's true. Sorry about that."

The buzzer rang again, breaking the awkwardness of the moment, at least in Alexander's mind.

"Ah! Our victim has arrived!" Ellie said cheerfully.

Davon pressed the button to unlock the building entrance. "When are you going to tell me what this is about, El?" he asked.

Alexander raised his eyebrows in solidarity.

"You remember Tanya?"

"No."

"Let me rephrase that: you remember Tanya. Little white girl, massive tits. You two were hot for each other a couple months back at Club V, but you were too much of a gentleman and she was too shy."

"Oh, I don't think I like where this is going. Does she know this is my place?"

"That's what the shots are for."

"I think I'm going to go lock myself in the closet," Davon said. "El, you've gone too far this time."

"Oh, you have

no

idea. Alexander: how quickly can you do your thing? It's like instant, right? You're going to let her in and freeze her up like you did to me in S this evening. Don't worry, I have a plan."

She sauntered over to him, and pressed herself against his arm to whisper in his ear: "And if this works, you and me are going into business."

Alexander was mostly aware of the soft press against his bicep.

When the bell rang, Ellie pushed Davon (who had not, in fact, retreated to a closet) down onto a wide leather sofa. She suppressed giggles.

Alexander opened the door to see a short, top-heavy woman who looked more than a little nervous.

"Uh? Is Ellie?"

"Yes. Calm down..." Alexander had to stretch his short term memory. "Calm down, Tanya. Come in, and give Ellie a hug. Don't speak. Don't notice anything else yet. Ellie will explain everything."

The look of anxiety in her expression deepened, but she walked silently in, and went straight to Ellie.

Alexander had to admit, the site of these two buxom women embracing stirred something.

"Okaaaay," Davon said. "This is getting weird."

Ellie pulled away from Tanya's embrace. "Only the beginning my friend." Then to Alexander: "Can I tell her what to do, or is it all you?"

"I'm not actually sure. Let's try... Tanya, listen to everything Ellie says. You must do whatever she tells you. You must obey her in every regard."

Ellie smiled. "I like it! Ok, everyone... first shot!"

She reached for a glass, waited for everyone else. Davon and Alexander both took one, but Tanya just looked confused.

"Grab a shot glass, Tanya, drink with us."

Tanya gave Ellie a worried look, and seemed like she was trying to say something, which only brought an expression of fear to her.

"Take a shot, Tanya," Alexander said.

Mechanically, she took the couple of steps to the table and lifted a glass.

Together they all lifted a glass and tossed it back.

"Ok, so it looks like you need to direct. We may need to work on that, but it's good enough for now. So, make it so she can talk again, alright?"

"Tanya, everything is ok. Let your body relax, and feel that everything is ok. You are with friends. You can speak now."

"Ellie!" Tanya's voice trembled. "What's going on? What is this?"

"Do you remember a couple of months ago, Club V? Remember what you said to me?"

She looked at Davon. "Oh, my God! I am so embarrassed. I was just a bit high! I didn't mean anything. I, really, I..."

"Be silent now," Alexander said, sensing the moment.

"Look guys," Davon said. "This isn't cool. She doesn't want to be here."

"Nonsense," Ellie said. "This is going to be the hottest thing ever. She's just got some nerves, and we are going to help her with her inhibitions. And you, sir. Do you remember what you said to me yesterday?"

Davon groaned.

Ellie explained to Alexander: "Davon here hasn't had sex in four months."

That hardly counted as a dry spell in Alexander's life, so his sympathy was not fully engaged. But it felt good for this to be Ellie's call, and she seemed to have no doubts at all.

She continued. "So I've watched porn like this. We just hypnotize her inhibitions away, and let her do what she wants. We can't make her do anything she doesn't really want to do, right? So we just, you know, release the parking brake, and see where it goes."

Alexander didn't want to go into the problem with that. He would try to finesse it.

"This is the most important command," he said. "You don't have to do anything you don't really want to do, in your heart of hearts. But all your inhibitions are gone. Simply gone. Puff! Gone like they were smoke in the wind. You have no inhibitions, no embarrassment, no hesitation. You know you are a sexy woman. You feel it in your body. You feel how he's looking at you."

Alexander took his inspiration from the way Davon was staring. He had to agree, Tanya was a sexy woman, but he didn't think she held a candle to Ellie. If there was any drooling to be done, he had to think, really, it should be over Ellie's creamy-smooth skin, big, dark eyes, confident-yet-feminine swagger. More of a sway, really, but it seemed to come across almost like a swagger.

Tanya, however, did seem to have eyes for Davon also. The two were locked in gaze.

Ellie sidled back up to Alexander. She whispered: "Give him a little suggestion, too, can you do that?"

Alexander wondered what the limits were. What if he stood in front of a crowd? Would he become Hitler? (Hmm... had Hitler worn a ring?)

"Davon, go ahead and stand up. Let Tanya have a good look at you."

Davon stood. He was tall, athletic build. He also had a kind of dangerous edge to him.

"What do you want to do with Tanya, here, Davon?" Ellie asked.

"Answer honestly," Alexander directed.

"I want to bend her over this sofa and pound that sweet little pussy while those massive breasts sway and roll over the leather."

Ellie raised her eyebrows, looked at Alexander. "Davon would not normally say that. This shit really works. Sooo hot!"

Alexander turned his attention to Tanya, who was licking her lips. "You can talk again, Tanya. Tell us what you want? Be honest. The more honest you are, the more relaxed and free you can be. Feel it in your body. Feel that desire coming alive now."

"Yeah," she said. "Yeah. I want to see him. I want to put my hands on him."

Ellie half clapped. "See? I told you."

Alexander felt a wave of relief.

Ellie went on, "Go ahead, Davon, you heard the girl. Let her see what she's getting."

He hesitated, but Alexander let him find his own way to it. The best poetry has a light touch. It lets the reader find his own answer.

After a moment, during which Ellie gave him a "Go, you fool," glare, Davon pulled his shirt off. He was lean, well muscled. His abs actually rippled as he moved.

"He's fucking sexy as hell, isn't he?" Ellie said. Alexander felt some envy.

"Do you like what you see, Tanya?" Ellie prompted.

"Mmmm hmmm."

"Go ahead, put your hands on him like you want," Alexander said. "Help him out of the rest of those clothes."

"Mmmm yeahhhh."

Tanya reached out and traced the shape of his powerful build. She had to reach up to run a finger around the slab of Davon's pecs. She traced the lines of his strength down to his belt, and began unwrapping him. She licked her lips again.

"Feel how turned on you are," Alexander said. "Notice how excited you are getting."

Ellie whispered to him, "Is this not the sexiest thing you ever saw?"

"It might be."

When Tanya pulled down Davon's trousers, Alexander found himself surprised that Davon wasn't huge. Aren't all black men supposed to be huge? His cock was already hard, and it sprang free, bobbing in front of Tanya's face. But it wasn't any bigger than Alexander himself. Maybe not quite as large, if anything. He laughed at himself.

Tanya didn't seem disappointed. She seemed mesmerized.

"Do you like that?" Ellie asked.

"Oh. My. God. He's perfect."

"Well, you got your wish, Ellie," Davon said. "Can we get a little privacy now?"

"Oh, I don't think so."

"I'm not sure I can..." He glanced up at the ceiling. "I definitely shouldn't..." but his voice trailed off. His eyelids drooped shut. Tanya had wrapped her lips around the head of his cock. She wasn't even kneeling. She only had to bend forward a little.

Davon's cocked pulsed and twitched as she kissed and swirled her tongue over him.

He let out a long growl.

Ellie laughed. "I'm pretty sure you can."

"Feel how horny that makes you," Alexander said, boosting her reactions. He had seen this work. And he felt some of that power stirring in himself. He took a glance at the ring, and felt like he saw that dark glow in the depths of the stone. "Feel that craving getting stronger, Tanya."