“Are you okay?” Greg asked, wrapping his arms around Cindy in a protective hug. He looked up at Madison and Krysi, towering above them like giants. In his mind, neither of them were ever considered tall, just normal teenage girls—but now they seemed like the largest beings on the planet. Their casual conversation about being hungry and getting food felt surreal, like the world had moved on without them, leaving Greg and Cindy trapped in their tiny, powerless state.
Above them, Madison’s voice broke through the air, dripping with condescension. “I’ll feed you some of your pellets when I come back. Looks like you still have plenty of water. If you finish it all, don’t worry, there’s plenty more available in the sink,” she teased, knowing full well how her parents felt about tap water.
Greg cringed as he heard her words, immediately recalling the years of bottled water that filled their fridge. Since Madison was a child, the fridge was always stocked with bottled water, a habit Cindy had insisted on. Tap water was, in her words, “for people.” Littles, as she often reminded Madison, could get their water from the faucet and should be appreciative it wasn’t from a local stream or a puddle, like other animals.
Madison’s mocking tone stung even more now that she was throwing those very words back at them. It was one of many lessons Cindy had drilled into her children, words spoken from a place of superiority and control. Cindy’s face flushed with shame at the irony. What she had once believed applied to others, she now had to live through herself.
Greg tightened his grip on Cindy as they both stared up at their daughter, the girl they had raised, now a towering figure of authority in their lives. They couldn’t fight back—not physically, and not even with words. The world they had once known, with all its comforts and certainties, was gone. Now, it was Madison’s rules, Madison’s control, and they were simply along for the ride.
As Madison and Krysi laughed and chatted, Greg could only hope that this cruelty, this casual disregard for their dignity, was just a phase. He had to believe that the daughter he had once known was still in there, somewhere, behind the facade of a “guardian” that she now wore so easily. But for now, they were trapped, waiting for her to return and decide when they would be fed, when they would drink, and when they would matter again in this new world of hers.
“Do you really just give them basic tap water? I’ve never seen your parents drink tap water in my life,” Krysi asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as they headed downstairs toward the kitchen.
Madison sighed, her tone exasperated as she led the way. “Yeah, I pretty much have to. They’re Littles now, Krysi. Littles drink tap water. Honestly, it’s what Mom would’ve wanted if she weren’t a Little. I mean, she was always going on about how Littles shouldn’t get anything special. It was all about survival, not luxury, remember? So why should that change now just because it’s her?”
There was a slight edge to Madison’s voice, the frustration seeping through as she continued. “I think she’s just confused. You know, like mentally she hasn’t fully accepted that she’s a Little yet. It’s got to be a lot to process—one day you’re in charge, the next, you’re not even a person in the same way anymore. She’ll come around, though. Littles always do, eventually. This is how it’s supposed to be. It’s what she taught me, anyway.” Her words carried the weight of justification, as if she were convincing herself as much as she was Krysi.
Krysi nodded, absorbing Madison’s explanation, though a flicker of discomfort crossed her face. “I mean, Brooklyn’s Little came from Generitech. They were trained, adjusted, already aware of what they were becoming. It’s different for your mom and dad, you know? They didn’t get time to prepare for this. One night they went to sleep as people, and the next day they woke up as Littles.” Krysi still stumbled slightly over using Madison’s parents’ first names. It was a mental hurdle, one she hadn’t quite overcome yet.
Madison gave a half-shrug, her expression tightening for a moment. “Yeah, I guess. But that’s life now, isn’t it? You don’t always get a warning. I’m not doing this to be mean, but they need to understand. They’re Littles now. What else can I do? This is how it works.”
They reached the kitchen, and Madison opened the fridge, scanning the shelves. “Do you want anything in particular? Mom probably stocked up before… you know. Before everything changed. I should probably take over shopping now. Maybe I’ll bring her along next time, let her feel useful.”
Krysi leaned casually against the counter, considering Madison’s offer. “I guess I never really thought about it before. Usually, my parents just ask what I want before they go. Then they approve or veto whatever I ask for.” She chuckled. “You know my mom, one bag of chips, and suddenly I’m on a downward spiral of unhealthy eating.”
Madison laughed lightly. “That sounds exactly like her. I’m pretty sure your mom doesn’t even know what nacho cheese tastes like.”
Krysi grinned, shaking her head. “Nope. I have to sneak snacks into my room just to survive.”
With a playful smile, Madison opened a drawer and tossed Krysi a bag of nacho cheese-flavored tortilla chips. “Mom got these for you.”
Krysi caught the bag, but as she looked back at Madison, she noticed her friend’s expression shift. A momentary sadness flickered across her face, quickly hidden behind a casual smile. Krysi frowned, sensing there was more on Madison’s mind than she was letting on.
“Hey, are you okay, Mads?” Krysi asked softly, stepping closer.
Madison hesitated, her fingers lightly brushing the countertop. “It’s dumb. Just a random thought, really.”
“It’s not dumb. Come on, you can tell me. It’s just us here.” Krysi’s voice was gentle, coaxing her friend to open up.
Madison let out a small sigh. “It’s just… when I handed you the chips, I realized Mom won’t be the one buying them for you anymore. All these little things, they just hit you when you least expect it. She’s still here, but it’s not the same. She’s a Little now, and it’s like part of her is… gone. But then I think, she’s still nagging like always, so it’s like nothing’s changed. But it has, hasn’t it?”
Krysi’s smile faded as she absorbed Madison’s words. She could see the cracks in her friend’s bravado, the internal conflict she had been holding back. “Mads, it’s okay to feel like that. You don’t have to pretend everything’s fine. You’ve been through a lot. And it’s not just them adjusting, it’s you, too. It’s okay to feel hurt.”
Madison gave a half-hearted smile, appreciating Krysi’s empathy. “Thanks. I just… I didn’t think it would feel like this, you know?”
Krysi nodded in understanding. “You’re not alone in this, though. You’ve got me, Brooklyn, and Evan. And you’ll figure it out. You always do.”
Madison’s smile brightened a bit, though there was still a touch of sadness in her eyes. “You’re right. It’s just weird, that’s all. I’ll get used to it.”
“Let’s start by making something to eat,” Krysi suggested, shifting the conversation to lighter ground. “You said something about pizza rolls and salad?”
Madison perked up at the mention of food, her mood lifting slightly. “Yeah, I saw some pizza rolls in the freezer earlier. And we’ve got salad stuff too. It’ll be good. And hey, at least Mom still stocked the fridge before everything went crazy.”
Krysi laughed. “Yeah, I guess that’s one thing that hasn’t changed—your mom always making sure there’s food around. Even if it’s tap water and pellets for Littles now.”
Madison rolled her eyes with a smirk. “Yeah, well, she’ll just have to deal with it. Littles don’t get bottled water, and that’s something she’s going to have to accept. After all, it’s what she always preached, right?”
The two girls shared a knowing look before diving into their impromptu snack session, the weight of their conversation lingering but lightened by the familiarity of their friendship. Though the world had changed for both of them, they found comfort in knowing they could still rely on each other as they navigated the strange new realities of their lives.
Great to hear the different perspectives. Allows for a different angle. Also I think you might’ve repeated yourself with keys and Madison discussing tap water. It seems like 3 paragraphs were repeated.
Kensi* not keys
*Krysi? Kenzie isn’t in this chapter
I’m just having a dumb dumb moment.
noticed that as well
Good catch, When I write I will often do a few different versions of key moments and then delete out what i don’t like. I clearly missed that.
I was reading it this morning before posting and thought it sounded weird myself but i thought it was just me being tired. I guess I should have gone back with a clearer head.
its fixed now. I just re-wrote the whole second half quick as I couldn’t get it to fit together right. It should flow better.
The real ogs will remember.
Gif work now?
(And why can’t I post one?)
Gifs never didn’t work if they were linked. They only don’t work if you upload them.
No longer a real og cause I slept in, typical.
1) Love Greg comforting and getting protective of Cindy
2) “how her parents felt about tap water.” What’s wrong with tap water that reduces it to something for littles and not people?
3) “it’s what Mom would’ve wanted” Hey, she said it, her underlying motivation for how she treats them spoken allowed.
4) “Littles shouldn’t get anything special. It was all about survival, not luxury” Damn it Cindy, you just keep getting worse.
5) “One night they went to sleep as people, and the next day they woke up as Littles” actually it was an afternoon nap.
6) Madison mourning her mother was sad to see, she’s remembering all that her mother did, and can’t do anymore
7) Seeing Krysi comfort Madison was good to see.
8.1) “you’re not even a person in the same way anymore” Sounds like there are ways you think she is still a person.
8.2) “She’ll come around, though. Littles always do, eventually” yeah, and they do it faster in more nurturing and sympathetic environments.
how high is the little suicide rate, cause I’m morbidly curious to know how many never come around.
9) really good chapter, it’s getting harder to condemn Madison (though I still don’t condone her actions) the more we learn about Cindy and her teachings, she even put a fail-safe into her teachings so now she can’t even back peel them.
1) Love Greg vomforting and getting protective of Cindy
He does love and care for his wife. They didn’t have a bad marriage or anything. So him comforting her seemed natural. As he would have heard everything and saw pieces of it. So it would have been a struggle to watch and be helpless to intervene.
2) “how her parents felt about tap water.” What’s wrong with tap water that tmreducescit to somethingfor littles and not people?
They felt bottled water tasted better was also more portable and you saw how cindy was a bottle of water would be more difficult to spill. So they just ordered packs of bottled water and had it shipped to there home. They had a brand they liked similar to how people will prefer a brand of soda or juice over another.
3) “it’s what Mom would’ve wanted” Hey, she said it, her underlying motivation for how she treats them spoken allowed.
She did. it wasn’t a secret or anything. I was just giving readers the idea and saying that it was her motivation without directly canonically saying it. However, I did want to formally say it at a given point just to make it crystal clear. That Madison is doing things based on what she feels her mother would want her to do.
4) “Littles shouldn’t get anything special. It was all about survival, not luxury” Damn it Cindy, you just keep getting worse.
Not a fine moment as now she is stuck with her glorious tap water. As thats what Madison was trained to give littles.
5) “One night they went to sleep as people, and the next day they woke up as Littles” actually it was an afternoon nap.
she was more speaking in generality then literal. As Krysi wasn’t there.
6) Madison mourning her mother was sad to see, she’s remembering all that her mother did, and can’t do anymore
It further humanizes her. Where a person may not like her but further understands her reasoning and not just she is a monster.
7) Seeing Krysi comfort Madison was good to see.
They are close friends. No one wants to see their friend in pain.
8.1) “you’re not even a person in the same way anymore” Sounds like there are ways you think she is still a person.
Well littles can reason and are sentient which is similar to a person. Even cindy would admit there are some ways they are person like. There are some ways each animal is person like.
8.2) “She’ll come around, though. Littles always do, eventually” yeah, and they do it faster in more nurturing and sympathetic environments.
how high is the little suicide rate, cause I’m curious to know how many never come around.
Canonically it doesn’t happen. As a little is in capable of suicide. It would be like a dog committing suicide. So its not even a tracked metric. The little fatality rate in capitvity is very low. Less then 1% of all littles die in captivity from self harm. it’s more common for a little to be killed by rain, heat, predators, etc then self harm.
9) really goid chapter, it’s getting harder to condemn Madison (though I still don’t condone her actions) the more we learn about Cindy and her teachings, she even put a fail-safe into her teachings so now she can’t even back peel them.
Cindy dug her own grave in alot of aspects. Madison is just a product of how she was taught and raised. Cindy unfortunately might have went a little to hard on her beliefs and raising people up who thoguht like her. As now alot of her beliefs are laws and beliefs. People are taught what she believed and even if she disagrees now its almost to late. You have new generations of kids being taught that you aren’t a person and you aren’t equal to them and no reason is being given that is good to dispute that claim. So its almost like in time could be ingrained as fact.
Being a little she has alot of life ahead of her.
3) I know, but it’s still nice to see it canonically stated a loud.
4) really adds to the slavery comparison.
6) That’s true, I do understand where she’s coming from, and definitely sympathise with the sadness and preasure she’s feeling, even if she is partially putting it onto herself by blindly following her mother’s teachings.
8.1) it just seems odd that after making it clear littles aren’t people at all, she’d say that. But I do get your meaning.
8.2) as in its not recorded or the numbers are fudged? Those suicide methods you mentioned all seem like ways littles could commit suicide and it be misreported. Like how in real life “fell of a bridge” can often mean “jumped”.
Littles aren’t like dogs in that way, littles are sentient and capable of decision-making including suicide, unlike dogs. or do you mean in a legal sense?
Given how much shit littles endure, a non existent suicide rate is too hard to believe.
9) she’s definitely laying in the bed she’s shit. She definitely saw littles as a slave race, she,s worse than Sara, worse than Dayton, worse that Mia or Mal, her opinion of littles is by far the lowest we’ve seen yet, and she’s suffering for it.
tap water in the states is really, really finicky lol austin texas for example has like a yearly boil warning for their water cause of storms that allow setiment to get into their water supply.
Flint Michigan, just unbelievably mismanaged
I’m lucky to be in upper norther california and we have good tap water
In southern minnesota there is alot of clay in the soil so it can also come out slightly orange/rust colored. Not dangerous or anything but it does make the water taste different.
so glad I only have to worry about fluoride with my tap water XD
same