Not yet, Willow needs some reassurance.

Willow blurted out the first words to come to her mind. "I wish you were free from—"

"No!" Melody flew forward with her arms crossed in a T-shape, her graceful demeanor gone. "If you wish for that, someone will have to take my place." The serene smile had melted off her face, replaced with an anxious frown.

"Then we'll find some asshole who deserves to be—" Willow was shocked to find Melody's hands over her mouth.

"Stop trying to free me!" The genie's cheeks turned red despite her tan, and she couldn't stop the smile from forming. "This is a dream come true for me! I feel so free like this, Mistress."

Willow gave the flattest stare she could. It was impressive, she'd had a lot of opportunities to practice it. "You are literally wearing a collar and calling me Mistress, Mel."

Melody laughed weakly and backed away, bobbing in mid air with one hand winding her tail around a finger in a both familiar and unfamiliar gesture. "Okay, I know that sounds weird and paradoxical, and like the lamp has brainwashed me— but it really didn't need to do much even if it did!" The stare continued. "No, seriously! As a genie, I don't have to worry about school and a job. I don't have to think on how to navigate social interactions and restrain myself so people don't think I'm weird..."

She started speaking faster and with more certainty, more sincerity than Willow had ever seen from her shy, snarky friend. She wanted to tell Melody she was wonderful the way she was, she didn't have to be a genie, a ****. But she couldn't. There was a brightness to her eyes and a joyful energy to her movements Willow hadn't seen in a literal decade. The blonde had always been closed off about her real emotions, so much so that many people thought she was stuck-up instead of a bundle of shy nerves.

Willow had thought Melody had been comfortable enough to be her true self with her— maybe she'd been wrong? The thought was unpleasant.

Melody had trailed off, a frustrated expression as she grasped for the right words. Even her hands were making those **** grabby motions that embarrassed her.

The look was familiar to Willow, it brought forth the memory of them sitting on the blonde's bed as they went over university applications. Melody, thoroughly stressed out by the decision, had wanted to stay local, earn the minimum amount of credits to get a nursing or veterinary degree. Willow had convinced her friend to come with her to a more prestigious university, with a better medical and biological sciences program. One to challenge her, use that brilliant mind she had.

She'd thought she was helping.

"This is a release for you." Willow realized. "There's no pressure or expectations on you aside from obeying and granting wishes..."

"Exactly!" The smile was back, full of excitement. "Do you have any idea how much stress and anxiety I had in me from constantly comparing myself to you? Trying to keep up with you?" She saw the hurt surprise on Willow's face and quickly continued before the misunderstanding could last more than a few seconds. "I'm not blaming you at all! You're amazing, Wil! You're gonna cure cancer or something. It was all me being stupid."

She shook her head, silver hair flying, "But that's beside the point here. I had so many hang ups and fears and inhibitions chaining the real me down," her eyes shone with some pure emotion Willow couldn't identify. "Now I only have one chain on me, one I'll happily choose to wear forever."

Willow felt her mouth go dry and her heartbeat pound in her chest. "You're into this, you like the idea— of-of being owned." By me. She thought but didn't say.

"Love it!" The genie corrected gleefully. "I want to be held, and cherished and told what to do! I want to be played with and used for the sexual pleasure of others, no matter what it is or for who." Her eyes almost pinned Willow it place. "But I'm so glad it'll be you as my Mistress."

"I understand, Melody." She didn't, not yet, it even scared her a little. But she would understand, if this was truly what would make her happiest. The brunette finally stood from her kneel and set the lamp on a side table. "What do we do with...this?" She asked with her hands spread wide. Unsure what exactly she meant by this. The Lamp, Melody, the whole situation.

"Whatever you Desire! I am ready and willing to grant your every wish, Mistress!" The genie winked and stuck out her tongue, a bit of Melody's normal mischievousness shining through when she waggled it. "Though terms and conditions may apply~"

The tension that had been keeping her calm snapped. Laughing wetly, Willow stepped forward and pulled Melody into a crushing hug.

"I'm so glad you're alright, Mel." She whispered.

The genie blinked in surprise, then melted into the embrace. "More than alright, Wil." Okay, she thought with her cheek pressed into her friend's bosom, maybe all the sexy fun times can wait a little bit longer...