Robin bit back the instinctive rejoinder -- because idiots like you do them -- because that wasn't fair, he'd been a child with no alternatives and aside from the dog, they probably weren't all that innocent, no.

"The human condition isn't always optimum," he said briskly. "I've learned to deal. But you have to have realized by now, him making you do it? Old Yeller is historical fiction, they veterinarians and shelters who... they call it putting them to sleep, it's supposed to be a quick, painless death performed by, uh, trained professionals who are psychologically equipped to have that on their consciences and know how to sleep at night. Why would a grown man make a child do it?"

He paused to breathe, but barreled on before Omi could get a word in.

"It's brainwashing. Textbook, actually. Take a vulnerable individual, make sure they're entirely dependent you for survival, and they'll believe anything you tell them. You have nowhere else, no one else to turn to, not believing everything he tells you is going to be literally impossible to do because what's he gonna do if you don't? Turn you out? I mean, I suppose you knew he wouldn't kill you, at least-- he had you to do that."