#ray willow

it's been too long. It's been quiet for too long. Ray's mind is spiralling, filled with all the different ways Light could hurt them, and they know it's a bad idea to give them ideas but it's been so long! Ray is terrified.

The golden hue that seems to coat everything they see is a reminder they aren't gone, even if they're quiet.

Quiet in their own mind, the mind that hasn't been truly their own in so long. The mind that belongs to another.

They belong to another. Light, the god of Lost Potential. They're nothing but their little human Vessel, now. Their pet. A plaything to show off to other gods- the brands around their wrists where shackles are clearly supposed to sit are evidence enough of that.

An echo in their mind jolts them back to reality.

"Oh, don't be so blue over me, Sunray, I'm right here! My, you certainly missed me, didn't you! What a surprise, but you have always been the obedient one..."

Ray flinches as they can feel themself losing control of their body, falling backwards into the recesses of their own mind. Something takes over, and they can see the self that exists without the confines of a physical body.

There are the chains. Made of the same golden liquid that their tormenter is, decorative in a way that still makes them sick to their stomach. Emblems of the sun and fancy swirls carved into metal, the same way they've been carved into their flesh.

They sigh, already moving to kneel as the mind swirls under them, a figure that looks exactly like themself coming up from the golden liquid covering every part of their mind.

"Good job, Sunray! You've gotten so much more obedient since I first claimed you, oh it's positively precious!" They pull on the chains, Ray falling over as they're yanked forward. Of course.

"Hello Light... what do you want from me...?" their voice is small. Obedient. Surrendering.

"Well I'm so glad you asked, Sunray! We're going to visit some other gods! Originally I was just going to go by myself, but I decided it's the perfect chance to introduce you to the divine world! What do you think, Sunray?"

It's a trap. Of course it is. If they say no, Light is going to get angry. So they just sigh, slowly getting back up onto their knees. "If that's what you want, Light..."

"Splendid! Good job, Sunray, I've certainly trained you well!" Light pulls on the chains again, and they trip once more, this time into their waiting arms. Wonderful. They go limp immediately, wishing for the slightest hint of control. They aren't even the one piloting their body, although they can passively feel it walking somewhere. They just slump into Light's arms, pretending it's someone who loves them. Even as they hold too tight, far too tight.

Eventually, their body stops walking, and they're released from Light's arms. They step backwards quickly, looking around their mind again.

"are you bringing them here...?"

Light laughs. "oh no, oh no, of course not! This is my domain, it would be impolite to them to invite them in here, where I have the upper hand. We'll meet in equal territory, which is why we're out here in the woods! You can take the body back, Sunray, go on."

They sigh, slowly regaining control of their body. They sit up in the middle of the forest, looking around to see that there's already a pool of the golden liquid nearby, which Light steps out of. When they're not in their mind, of course, they're a featureless creature, dripping golden, all too tall and terrifying. The golden liquid snakes around Ray's wrists, forming chains once more, in the real world this time. They don't resist, and when Light tells them to kneel, they merely obey.

Hands in their lap, the chains limp, the other end in Light's palm. Head tilted down, deferent to Light and all their allies. It's embarrassing, and humiliating, but it's better than the torture they'll put them through, so they do it.

A moment later their friend arrives, and Light and them chat for a moment. Ray doesn't look up to see their newest tormenter. There's no point in doing so.

"-Oh, and you must meet my little Sunray! Here, look at them! Sunray, say hello!" Light abruptly yanks on their chains, holding their hands above their head. They must look utterly pathetic, looking at the friend in fear.

"Oh, how adorable! Can I pet it, Lili?" Light nods, and the chains fall from their grasp, hands falling back to the ground and instead being bound behind them as the gold swirls around them, tying them down. They're docile, Light knows, they've broken them quite well, but it's always good to make sure.

Light's friend, the other god, they start to pet Ray's head, hand going down their head like they're a dog. They're no better to these gods, of course, but it's no less horrific to witness when you know it's true. Especially when you're in the shoes of the one being treated as such.

For hours, they're cooed over by a monster much larger than themself, Light having handed the other end of their chains to their friend.

Socialization, they called it. Getting used to other gods.

They feel so horrible, so embarrassed, so ashamed. They're nothing but an animal to these gods.