Kelli glanced at Jordan, her eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and curiosity. They stood in the shadow of an enormous overturned shoe—a bizarre monument to their altered reality. The shoe’s cavernous interior echoed with their conversation, lending a surreal quality to the serious discussion.
“You’re really protective of Sara, aren’t you?” Kelli remarked, her voice a mix of amusement and respect as she moved to lean against the rubbery sole of the shoe, feeling its immense weight dwarf her small frame.
Jordan, his face shadowed by the shoe, nodded. “Sara cares… maybe too much sometimes. It can come off as controlling, sure. But she saved me from a giant spider once. She didn’t hesitate; she just jumped right in. That’s just who she is—fiercely protective.”
Kelli raised an eyebrow, the ludicrousness of their shelter—the shoe—making her want to laugh, yet the gravity in Jordan’s voice held her back. “I get it, I guess. Sara doesn’t seem bad, just… intense.”
“She is,” Jordan agreed, smiling slightly. “She’s a good person, Kelli. Being with her, especially after the infection, I’ve seen sides of her that are just… well, protective, like a shield in this crazy world.”
Kelli softened. “You’re right. I’m sorry for judging her so harshly. It’s just been a few hours. You’ve known her non-stop. It’s different for you.”
The conversation shifted as Jordan looked around their tiny, confined world. “So, what do you do for fun around here?”
Kelli sighed, her gaze drifting to the distant walls that marked the limits of their small world. “Not much, honestly. Adjusting to life as a little on the outside is tougher than I thought. I rely on Kayla so much it’s almost suffocating. I miss my autonomy.”
Jordan chuckled ruefully. “I get that. After yelling for independence and then nearly being killed by a mosquito, I realized how right they were. It’s dangerous out here without a guardian. I thought about escaping once, wanting to break free from it all, not just from Sara but from being a little at all. I’ve since learned my lesson. The great outdoors is best experienced from Sara’s shoulder.”
“You wanted to escape?” Kelli looked at him, her expression incredulous. “I can’t imagine running away from Kayla. We’ve had our fights, but I could never leave her. Being littles has changed our dynamic. I used to be the older sister who could push her around, who could protect her, and watch over her. Now, I have to be more strategic.”
Jordan nodded, understanding. “Yeah, the desire to escape wasn’t about Sara, really. It was about feeling trapped in this new form. But now, I’ve found peace in what we have. It’s not an outdoor adventure, but it’s a life.”
Their laughter mingled with the echo inside the shoe, a shared moment of absurdity and acceptance in their altered existence. As they continued to talk, the conversation deepened, not just about survival but about living and finding small joys in their vast new world under the watchful eye of a giant shoe.
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Yes!!!!! This was perfect!!!!!! More of Kelli x Jordan moment and then talking about their life experience and guardians good god I need them to kiss already but my Boy Jordan you did good kid you did good…..they grow up so fast 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I wonder if we can get a parallel with Kayla and Sara
yeah, i’m curious as to what Sara and everyone are talking about. It’s a good chapter though. I like that it pretty much shows what we were talking about last week, that Kelli’s still struggling with the Adjustment and is more mad about that than she is about Kayla telling her what to do.
Kelli is newer to the situation. In some ways the facility wouldn’t prepare you for the realities of what it means to be small. As you have a pod while small it is sized to the little. So they really don’t get the expierence of what life is like with a guardian until you are with a guardian.
So Kelli is struggling with that which for her would be natural as she is not as go with the flow as Jordan. She is not as much of a homebody as Jordan was. She’s socially the opposite of jordan. So things that don’t bother him do bother Kelli more.
Like Jordan would probably be happy if Sara did less like Kayla. Where Sara’s active lifestyle wouldn’t bother Kelli at all as she’d be doing things and going places all the time.
That’s interesting. So what’s the difference between wexler and Kelli in regards to training? Just the fact Kelli’s family claimed her vs wexlers not?
Jordan is not trained at all and never lived at a facility. As Sara claimed him immediately and was already trained.
Kayla was not trained so Kelli lived in a government facility built by generitech while Kayla completed her training. So she was just in holding but not really there all that long. As she had a home in place. So her training would have been much more basic just because she wasn’t there that long.
Bryce was actually bought and sold. So he would have been through the full training program and tested out. Whereas Kelli was just given what would be compared to cliffnotes. Basic understanding and the essential need to know.
Awesome, thank you! Was curious how that worked for small Ara victims in holding while they wait for their families but couldn’t remember if it was answered anywhere
I’m glad it has the ringleaders seal of approval. I know you’ve been shipping them hard. Time will tell how it all plays out.
1) “You’re really protective of Sara, aren’t you?” well one of then needs to be.
2) “she saved me from a giant spider once” she did, there’s also all the times she’s not saved you, and all the times she’s been the one you’d have benefited from getting saved from.
3.1) as much as I love the look of them in the shoe, I don’t think these two would want the biggles seeing them like that.
3.2) though it does seem a bit out of character for them to climb into a shoe.
4) I doubt Sara would appreciate his escape attempt being discussed.
5) way to much of this episode was praising Sara, yucky.
3.1 and 3.2) agree. I bet they either get teased or reprimanded for it being unhygienic lol
4) maybe, but technically it’s more Jordan’s business than hers. Unless she want to start a serious filter of that part of him lol
3.1+2) I reckon it’d be teased. It may become a recurring gag where Ellie offers her shoe to Jordan as a place for his to sit😆, and Kayla wont ever let Kelli live it down.
4) From Sara’s perspective Jordan is hers, therefore Jordan’s business is hers by extension. And she has been trying to filter him.
Lol yeah ellie and Kayla would be relentless.
And that’s true..I was kinda rethinking about it and I figured she’d use that logic
1) I feel like it’s a give-and-take relationship between Jordan and sara.
2) I feel like there’s not as many times he needed active saving as you are eluding too. As there is a degree of you need to be able to help yourself and not putting yourself into bad situations.
3.1) I feel like they wouldn’t think much of it. It’s not as if Kayla has little furniture for them to sit on. the side of her shoe is probably cleaner then the floor.
3.2) They were just tired of standing was the methodology used.
4) She may not mind as he is saying it was a bad idea.
5) some would say not praised enough.
1) yes, Sara takes and takes and takes, than guilt trips and gratitude manipulates Jordan until he gives lol. But Sara definitely takes more than she’s owed and gives as little as she can, just enough that calling it the “bare minimum” would technically be wrong.
2) there’s more than enough for my point though. “there is a degree of you need to be able to help yourself” true, but when Jordan tried to help himself Sara’s outright stopped him, you can’t have it both ways.
And while I disagree with his method, I could argue the escape attempt was him trying to help himself, all be it in a stupid way.
3.1) I’d understand if they were leaning/sitting ON the shoe, but they’re both IN the shoe.
4) still his attempt to escape would reflect badly on her, both for making him feel he had too, and for allowing the situation that led to the opportunity.
5) That’s true, lots of fucked up people in the world.
Jordan just being a stoic “I have no enemies type deal”. Honestly though he’s philosophy is harder to pin down each times. It’s like absurdism mixed with stoicism. Like an it is what it is so f it we ball. Honestly he’s really growing on me as a character. Sara could definitely benefits from taking notes.
Jordan is more accepting of his situation compared to Kelli and others. He is very much one of those go with the flow if you have plans and they turn into something else its fine kind of people.
Sara could take a page from Jordan’s book as she can get wound up pretty tight.
Love a Vinland Saga reference.
Good post, though i bet Kelli get’s shit from Kayla for sitting in her shoe lol Kinda expected that Kelli would be more receptive to listening once she calmed down, just sucks that she can’t really do much anymore. Jordan’s really spoiled in that regard. I hope Kelli gets some kind of entertainment. hell even a smartphone to stream on would help.
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Chapter 5: Family Time
Prior to the family dinner, Joey spent his time at the Hales catching up with everyone. First, Sandi made sure that she had his full attention while she performed some excerpts from the recital that he missed. After all, he had promised her that he would be there and flaked, thought Sandi, so it’s the least he could do to see some of the cooler routines in which she took part. After Joey oohed, aahed, and cheered as if the room had a full audience, Sandi rolled her eyes, bowed, and lightly punched him again before grabbing her recent report card. Joey was always helping Sandi with homework and studying when Roni didn’t have time, so Sandi always wanted to show him that his work paid off. Joey shot her a sideways grin when she showed that she was able to maintain her straight A’s as he recalled her anxiety over math from the month prior, and gave her a congratulatory hug.
Once she was done showing off, Ciara took advantage of a lull in the action to drag Joey to her room and show him her watercolors from school. Despite being only 9, Ciara actually had a knack for painting and drawing that would make most adults jealous. On one of her side tables was a framed drawing that she had done a year ago of her family and Joey, bringing a somber smile to his face as he thinks that will be the best thing to have to help Ciara remember him by after he is shipped off to a Generitech facility and adopted.
After spending some time with each of the younger Hales, Joey sat down on a chair in the family room right by the bay window, trying to subtly glance outside to make sure the coupe hadn’t come any closer. Roni doesn’t really notice this, having been so sucked into her phone since sitting down when they arrived. “I wonder what she could be thinking,” thought Joey, seeing her smile here and there. She’s been acting odd since the park. “You’d think she’d be struggling to stay composed, but she’s really into whatever is going on with her phone,” he muses seeing her light up at something that comes onto her screen.
Mr. Hale glances between the two and finally addresses Joey to break the silence, “So, son, you’re looking pretty haggard. A few late nights for school?” He asks, running his hand through his thinning hair down to stroking his beard.
“Oh uh… well… I’ve been a little under the weather and, well you know my dad… I need to focus on taking over the family business,” Joey replies nervously.
“Right,” sighs Mr. Hale, drumming his fingers on the armrest. “That father of yours… he may be successful but if he keeps grinding you into the ground like this he’ll end up alone in a nice retirement home,” Mr. Hale chuckles to himself, “What did you say to him to make him mad this time?”
“Daaaad! Don’t make him relive it! Joey was barely able to tell me,” whined Roni in an attempt to deflect from the reality of the situation. She quickly glanced from her phone to Joey to make sure he was okay before going back to whatever it was she was so obsessed with.
“Hmm okay dear but… I just want to make sure Joey’s okay,” replied Mr. Hale with a small hint of skepticism. He shifted in his seat and looked Joey in the eye. “You know, you can always talk to us if things get too tough. We’re here for you, son.”
Joey gave a small, appreciative nod. “Thanks, Mr. Hale. It means a lot.”
Before either Joey or Roni could reply, the loud, high-pitched voice of the normally reserved Mrs. Hale rings out from within the kitchen, “RONI! JOEY! COME SET THE TABLE!”
Thankful for the interruption, Joey immediately hops out of the chair and heads to the dining room.
“Roni, come on, you can play candy crush later,” he jokes as he attempts to swipe her phone from her. “Joey! Stop! I play real videogames, you know that! Besides, this is important!” Roni cries with a huff as she covers her phone from him, making sure Joey can’t see what she was doing this whole time.
With a small grin, Joey just shrugs and heads to the kitchen. “Whatever, Roni, you can just sit there playing your secret game. I’ll take care of it. It’s the least I can do for your parents for letting me stay here on such short notice.”
“Son, you don’t need to do that on your own,” Mr. Hale called over his shoulder, “Roni, go help him for Pete’s sake. Your mother asked the BOTH of you, you know.”
“But Daaad! This is really important I swear! Plus Joey’s got it!” whined Roni, using her best cutesy voice to convince her dad. “It’s okay, Mr. Hale! I’ve got it covered,” Joey called back.
As Joey takes the plates and starts setting the table, Mrs. Hale quickly gives Joey a small side hug, her blue eyes shimmering with appreciation, “You’re such a helpful boy, Joey, thank you!”
Joey smiled warmly. “It’s nothing, Mrs. Hale. You’ve always been so kind to me.”
Mrs. Hale squeezed his shoulder. “You’re part of this family, Joey. We’ll always have your back.”
Joey’s heart swelled with gratitude as he continued setting the table. This family had given him a sense of belonging that he cherished deeply, and he was determined to make the most of every moment he had left with them.
this was another nice chapter. seeing more of the family is nice as It will be interesting to see whose opinions change and whose stay the same after they learn the truth.
This just makes me want to see them next to Kayla’s foot. LOL
being that Kayla is an athlete it would probably not be pleasant most days unless its post shower.
… your point? LOL