I think it's believable, especially since she's already a student at the university. She should be used to the way things are, so just taking a moment to calm down seems appropriate

I think I'd need a little more to believe it. I think you have something there, with him getting back into his schoolwork -- maybe she asks what he's looking at -- they could discuss what they're studying. Does she know what's going to happen to her? Would she like to?
Maybe he lets her know why he's doing this practicum on breath deprivation!

Maybe he's watching a video and turns up the volume. Curiosity here, I think, could be a good lever to her acceptance. He's almost got his Master's degree -- how much of that was learning how to manipulate his clients using psychology techniques?

Oh wow! I've gotten several useful comments, but I think this is the best! Gonna do some rewriting later today.

Oh fabulous!! Very happy to help! <33

I've now decided that this girl just isn't suitable for the story. I'm going to give her an out - allowing another student (one of her friends) to voluntarily take her place. Then I'll see how the story works.

On second thought: I think that after the volunteer shows up, the original condemned realizes that letting somebody else die in her place is wrong and asks to get strangled per the original plan.

The substitute objects, and the protagonist has to call the Director for a ruling. The Director says to strangle the condemned woman, and the substitute can arrange for a private execution next week after the protagonist gets his final license.

I have done a heavy rewrite. Please let me know what you think of this version.

Libby Massey
Age: 19
Sentenced for: Breach of trust & Endangerment (see over)
Method: vaginal sex with manual strangulation
Condemned is in tears. You'll need to get her "in the mood."

Massey was acting as safety monitor while her roommate Algar Clark was hanging himself for autoerotic purposes. She got so involved with her own pleasure that she forgot to watch Clark. He was unconscious for nearly three minutes before she noticed and cut him down. The Dorm's EMT used an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and managed to bring him around, but it was a close call. There is a good chance that Clark lost some brain function from the incident.

Reggie opened the door and found Libby weeping silently. Her tears turned to sobbing when she saw him.

"Relax, Ms. Clark. Nothing is going to happen to you for a few minutes."

"But.. but… you're going to kill me, aren't you?"

"Yes. When you're ready."

"I don't think I'll ever be ready."

"It says here that your roommate trusted you with his life, and you let him hang until he lost consciousness and for almost three minutes longer. Is that right?"

"I got a little distracted, that was all."

"And nearly killed your roommate."

That set off another bout of sobs. "Well… yes. But watching him hang was so erotic. I just had to… until…"

"You knew it was dangerous. You agreed to be his safety, and you failed."

"I… got distracted."

" Well… just sit there until you stop crying. Then we'll discuss what happens next."

Reggie sat down, got out his phone, and set a five-minute timer, then started reading the about advanced asphyxia methods.

The screen flashed after five minutes. He looked up; Libby was still weeping quietly. Time for a different tack. "How are you feeling?"

"Horrible. I don't want to die."

"You're a senior here at Dolcett U, right?"

"Yes."

"So you've been here, going to classes for over three and a half years?"

"Yes."

"In that time, how many students have you watched die - hanged, strangled, drowned, shot, beheaded, impaled…"

Libby closed her hands into fists, then put out her right index finger, then the middle, then ring finger… At last she stopped. "thirty-seven, I think."

"And how many of those wanted to die?"

She thought another minute. "There were six who volunteered at Professor Damien's midterm demonstration, and six more at the end of term. And Ying Jin was impaled as part of the school play my sophomore year. And a couple more whose names I can't remember, so I guess that makes fifteen."

"That leaves twenty-two who didn't want to die but submitted to the rope, the tub, the guillotine, whatever. Right?"

"Yes. I think that's right."

"And you shouldn't have to because…?"

"Oh." She raised her head and looked at him. After a few seconds, she added, "Can I have a little time to think about that?"

"Sure."

She looked up about two minutes later. "I guess I’m ready now."

He handed her a box of tissues. "Here. Wipe your face and lie down on the bed. Things are going to be good… for a while."


"Yes, si… Reggie." She undid her DU school tie, then her blouse and her bra. Then she looked at him. "Hey, don't you want to look at my tits? The guys I've been with think they're pretty nice."

Reggie looked her up and down. "I think those guys are 100% right. Nice size, and perky. Almost as perky as that smile on your face."

"Why… I… I am smiling. How can I be smiling when I'm about to be killed."

"Not just killed. Executed. With full honors, including an orgasm. You'll have at least one. Guaranteed or your life back."

She looked like she was going to start crying again, then a small smile crept over her face. "Oh, you're joking."

"Only half. I'll bet I can outlast you. And asphyxia is well-known to enhance erotic stimulation. And I have an incentive: if you don’t orgasm, I don't get my executioner's license. I'll have to repeat the entire year of grad school, then try again."

"Yeah, I guess that would be a pretty good incentive."

"Just go lie down on the bed and leave the rest to me."

She hesitated, then lay down on the bed.

"Right. Now close your eyes and pretend I'm your boyfriend."

"Umm hmm."