It looked like an ordinary glass of water. It would taste like an ordinary glass of water. But Ash knew that if they drank it, there would be no going back.
"I know exactly how you must feel," Liz's voice came from across the table. Ash's head snapped up to meet her eyes, surprised. They weren't even sure of knowing that for themself, and the half hour since they arrived at her apartment had been mostly filled with small talk.
"You're curious, mostly. It's normal for a first play session. You're wondering what it'll feel like, what it will reveal about your strength of mind as it opens you to my manipulation. The sensation of the inevitable sapping of strength that follows. What suggestions I might make - now that's a fun mixture of arousal and nervousness, isn't it? You worry that this is irresponsible or shameful thing to do, but even the little voice that tells you to be embarrassed about your kinks can't talk you out of this now that it's right in front of you. You're just too curious, and that curiosity can reason its way around anything."
Ash picked up the glass and swirled it a little, watching the movement for a moment as they mulled over her words. Was it really so irresponsible to give up control for just a few hours, just to find out what it was like? Or perhaps they didn't need to give up full control - what they really wondered about was the experience of trying to resist her suggestions while under the drug. Would it feel like an external force was inside their mind, or would it be more subtle?
Maybe that was the solution. Yes... they could drink half the glass, enough to be compelled to follow minor suggestions, but remaining able to resist anything major that they didn't want. Impulsively, they took a long swig, and tipped the rest into the soil of the pot plant on the windowsill before Liz could object to them wasting the rest of the dose. They glanced over at her fearing annoyance, or worse, hurt at the lack of trust, but were greeted with a smile.
"Worried I'd be able to manipulate you into finishing the dose and doing something embarrassing?" she teased. "I'm not offended. And don't worry about the cost either - I'm actually able to get the tablets fairly cheaply. That's why I put four in your glass."
Ash could actually feel the blood drain from their face as their legs began to feel shaky. Four? But that would mean-