When I give a person a dream they like, they give a piece of their soul to me.

[he smiles, though it doesn't reach his eyes.]

It gives them power in the dream, so they can interact with it however they like. In exchange I can keep them there for however long -- maybe even forever. Their soul's still mine, and they can keep dreaming even if they end up dying in the real world.

[he knows this isn't the same situation, but.... he's had his thoughts.]