Greg felt the familiar sway as Madison made her way down the staircase.
The noise reached him before the living room did. Teenage laughter, overlapping voices, howls of joy, all cascading through the house while the television blared in the background. The whole place seemed alive with them, too loud and too bright and too careless to belong to anyone else.
“Oh my god, Ava, you didn’t,” Brooklyn shouted.
Krysi laughed, the sound cutting through just before she bit into a Pizza Roll.
As Madison entered the living room, Greg saw Brooklyn sprawled across the couch like she had been poured there. Ava was in the middle of the floor doing some ridiculous dance while music thumped through the television speakers, even though one of the Fast and Furious movies was playing in the background. Krysi sat nearby, half watching the movie, half watching Ava, laughing every time Ava committed harder to the bit.
Greg grasped Madison’s fingers.
There was nothing he could say that would change any of it. He knew that. He was not in charge here. Not anymore.
He was being allowed to be here.
Invited into their space.
Into their world.
Brooklyn noticed them first.
“Greggy!” she said brightly. “You’re joining us today. Fun.”
Greg forced a small smile. “Hi, Brooklyn.”
Madison’s fingers shifted slightly around him.
Greg caught himself.
“Ms. Reynolds,” he corrected.
Brooklyn grinned. “Aww, he remembered.”
Ava looked over, stopping mid-dance. Her face lit up when she saw him. A slight sheen of sweat glistened against her darker skin from the dancing.
“Oh! Hey, Greg,” Ava said. “It’s been a minute. I only have a few weeks left before you’re looking at a fully trained Guardian.”
She said it with such excitement that Greg could not help but smile.
“That’s amazing, Ava.”
He meant it.
Ava had always worked hard. Her whole family had. When her parents started their lawncare business, Greg had been the first person to sign up. Then, over the next few weeks, he had talked to the neighbors, casually bragging about the job they did, how careful they were, how professional, how fair the price was.
Before long, houses all over the subdivision were calling for slots.
It had been a simple thing.
Greg had never brought it up himself. He had not wanted credit or repayment. He was just helping because that was what people did. Ava’s family were good people, and good people deserved a break sometimes. He had not been able to do much, but he had been able to do that.
And Ava knew.
Her parents knew too. They always asked new customers how they had heard about them, and Greg’s name had come up enough that no one needed to say it out loud.
Seeing Ava now, older, smiling, more confident and secure, felt like its own reward.
She was a good kid.
Greg was glad she was friends with Madison. Her and Krysi both kept things balanced. Greg had always thought of them as Madison’s true friends. The kind who would still check in years later, even after college or jobs or whatever life threw at them. The kind who would make time during holidays when everyone came home.
He was not as sure about Evan and Brooklyn.
Not because they were bad friends, exactly. They cared about Madison. He could see that. But life had a way of pulling people apart. College, careers, relationships, distance. Sometimes friendships ended not with a fight or a blowup, but because the speed of life did not slow down for anyone.
Ava and Krysi felt different.
Ava crouched slightly, hands on her knees, so she was closer to Greg’s level in Madison’s hand. “Thanks. I’m so ready.”
“Do you have a Little lined up,” Greg asked, genuinely curious, “or are you waiting until after you’re fully trained?”
The question left a strange taste in his mouth as soon as he said it.
A Little.
As if he were not one.
As if he were still only a father asking one of his daughter’s friends about her future plans.
Ava did not notice his hesitation.
“Yeah, I can’t wait,” she said. “I have to get a female, though. I kind of wanted a male Little, but my parents said if we’re spending the money, we need to get a bigger one. One that can do more to help out.”
She shrugged, still smiling.
“But I’m still excited either way. I get to give a Little a home.”
“Oh my god, stop,” Brooklyn said, throwing her head back against the couch. “You sound like you’re getting rescues.”
“I mean, kind of,” Ava said.
Brooklyn pointed at her. “See? That. That right there. You’re going to be such a good Guardian it’s actually annoying.”
Ava laughed.
“You should have seen her practicing her Little walk the other day, Greggy,” Brooklyn continued. “It’s really good. So much better than Madison and me when we were in training.”
“I still remember when you both were practicing at Brooklyn’s,” Krysi said, laughing already, “and you were competitive Little-walking and ran into the recliner. Both of you just fully ate it.”
Madison groaned. “Ugh, that was Brooklyn’s fault. She was super obsessed with those platform sneakers.”
Brooklyn sat up, offended. “Excuse you, bitch. Still obsessed. I stand by that purchase.”
Krysi pointed a Pizza Roll at her. “You almost killed both of you.”
“I elevated the sport,” Brooklyn said.
“You elevated yourself into a recliner,” Madison shot back.
Ava laughed and resumed her little dance, softer now, more teasing than performative. “Honestly, I wish someone had filmed it.”
“No,” Madison said immediately.
Brooklyn grinned. “There might be footage.”
Madison’s head snapped toward her. “There is not footage.”
Krysi’s smile widened around another Pizza Roll.
Madison stared at her. “Krysi.”
Krysi held up both hands. “I’m eating. I know nothing.”
Greg felt Madison’s hand shift as she laughed, and for a moment, he let himself relax into the sound of it.
It was strange.
Too loud.
Too careless.
Too much like the old house and nothing like it at all.
But Madison was smiling.
And for now, that mattered.
~~~~
The Ava Cruz Model was updated this weekend. I wanted to attempt to more closely make Ava look Mexican. I’m not fully happy with it but its better then the original.
Ava does sound like she’d be a good guardian.
Her family being Mexican would probably follow some Mexican little standards but Ava being american would incorporate some american standards so the idea she i would be a bit blended.
No disrespect but her model is way different.
No disrespect taken.
I did note at the end her I updated her model.
The old model started crashing the whole program as I’ve had to use an updated program since getting a new gpu last year.
So a new model had to be made.
The other optionI could have done was just cut Ava from the story altogether.
Obviously I don’t know where the story is going, but Ava could be a significant character, since she balances out the group along with Krysi. Evan needs reigning in.
I would say Ava is on par with Brooklyn, Evan, Krysi, Emma, etc. So far i’ve only broken out Evan’s world. But in theory the plan is to over time do A Brooklyns world, Ava’s world etc. Kind of like how the MCU made thor movie, the iron man movie, etc. then it culminates at times to crossovers. This is kind of the same idea.
Where Madison’s world is the main story and then they also have there own stories where you get to know the characters more adn see how they are in there home life.
Thats why Evan’s world i felt was important as its get people to see how Evan is more completely as in madison’s world if you aren’t madison or mckenzie you are just getting snippets of the people and it can cause people to judge unfairly or not have a full picture of what someone is like without the other information.
However, trying to shoehorn all of that into Madison’s world would bloat it and really kind of slow it down pacing wise. have lots of slow moments where its just exposition or backstory.
0) This whole episode is mostly teen girls being teen girls, a lighthearted scene 😀
I wasn’t sure if we would get an episode today, since it is a holiday in the USA. Thanks!
1) Will it be “Ms. Cruz” after she finishes her training? I would have thought Greg would have to call her that now.
2) Looks like Greg has at least one friend in the group. Unfortunately that attitude is not applicable towards Cindy 😬
3) Re: Ava model. Thanks for the info, just the fact that you make these images is amazing, that you put the time in to improve them is even more amazing.
4) I did not think about that fact that Ava is of Mexican heritage affecting how she, or her family, might interact with the Little she will soon acquire.
5) Not because they were bad friends, exactly. They cared about Madison. He could see that. But life had a way of pulling people apart. College, careers, relationships, distance. Sometimes friendships ended not with a fight or a blowup, but because the speed of life did not slow down for anyone. – Foreshadowing?
6) “You should have seen her practicing her Little walk the other day, Greggy,” – Is the shoulder walk that difficult? It seems so few Guardians do it.
6) Its very difficult canonically as the guardian has to be able to adjust for the littles balance on fly. If someone brushes up against there shoulder or just if they are twisting or moving you need to be able to have the body control to move yourself without knocking your little loose or going flying.
So only highly skilled guardians are able to do it. Sara doing it so casually with Jordan is impressive. Ellie has done it as well but Jordan did note how it wasnt the same as Sara’s it was more unsteady and more movement. Sara has pitch perfect body control so she can move naturally and not upset Jordan.
5) Nothing intentional I just wanted Greg to be a bit reflective and show his life expierence of how things can happen that you dont often think about in middle school.
4) Yeah its Ava getting the little and the american training but the family will be involved. They are a mexican family with american traditions flavored in over time naturally. So they arent like 100% authentic mexican but they do impress those values upon Ava. As they are important to the family. They do go back to Mexico to visit family from time to time. Family comes to them etc.
3) I like doing the renders even if they are more work. I do enjoy it overall. Updating Ava and making her look more mexican in and not just stylzed model with dark skin was a fun project. I think i got the lips a bit to full. They give off more african american then mexican vibes to me. So thats a refinement I would want to do in time. As I wanted fuller lips as alot of my characters have thinner lips.
2) Ava’s and her whole family like Greg. If madison and mckenzie were making him available her family would scoop him up in a second just to keep him from goign to a bad home. As he did alot for them. Just because without being asked. I thought it was important in the world that people do acknowledge those who do good especially when nothing is asked in return.
1) Ava just wants Greg to call her Ava. Cindy does not get that same ability its strictly Ms. Cruz as far as Cindy is concerned.
0) I wanted to really just set the stage of them also being their age. Not monsters or villians, or bad people Just teens being teens acting like teens would act. As to me atleast it makes some of the more chiling moments hit harder becuase they are just normal people. Your neighbors, your co-workers, kids of people you know just in a situation. making choices and decision they feel are best given the soceity, and situation and there world.
0) “The Ava Cruz Model was updated this weekend. I wanted to attempt to more closely make Ava look Mexican. I’m not fully happy with it but its better then the original.” would eyebrows make you happier with her design?
1) “Greggy! You’re joining us today. Fun.” – “Hi, Brooklyn.” If you don’t like a nickname, don’t respond to it.
2) “Ms. Reynolds,” – “Aww, he remembered.” And definitely don’t correct yourself like that,
3) “She said it with such excitement that Greg could not help but smile.” she seems so happy to tell him, everyone loves Greg
4) “Greg had always thought of them (Ava and Krysi) as Madison’s true friends.” – “He was not as sure about Evan and Brooklyn.” That might be a bit of hopium, trying to choose which friends his daughter does and doesn’t grow out of.
5) “I have to get a female, though. I kind of wanted a male Little, but my parents said if we’re spending the money, we need to get a bigger one. One that can do more to help out.” They’re Littles even the biggest ones can’t actually do that much to help out.
6) “But I’m still excited either way. I get to give a Little a home.” – “You sound like you’re getting rescues.” I’m curious about this concept of “rescue Littles” What’s the difference between a rescue Little and a regular store Little?
7) “You almost killed both of you.” – “I elevated the sport,” Good pun, but Little walking isn’t a sport
0) dammit i always miss those. I’ve done that so many times with a variety of people in the smallara world. I know sara has been eyebrowless before.
1) Something would probably be said he didnt respond. Sometimes the juice isnt worthe squeeze of upsetting Madison or her friends.
2) a small lethal would never. However correcting seems to fit Gregs personality and persona.
3) Greg man of the people. Ava does like Greg as a person and just because he is a little that hasnt changed.
4) Its also just him thinking and using hindsight but yes there is no guarantee either way. Brooklyn and Evan could be lifelong best friends for Madison. No one knows what hte future holds.
5) No but a female little can more effectively do small tasks then a male. Cindy can do things way easier than Greg can. If you are looking at only getting one and have things you want a little to do. It would be smart to get one that can perform the chores you want.
6) A rescue little isnt a real thing its just something people say as it will often be framed similar to getting a dog or a cat. You are giving htem a forever home. rescuing them from the store or another life. Littles are the same.
7) It could be though. Competitive little walking national champtionship. Competing a course without your little falling off. hte little wearing a special suit that transmit data back for things like balance, motionsickness, etc.
0) I remember Sara had like a fortnight of browless adventures, her braces were on again, off again too.
1) Yeah, but then he plays innocent, “I’m not Greggy, I didn’t know she meant me”
2) I’m happily assuming I’d be immune in this world.
3) No, it’s just changed so much else
5) That makes sense, but still, that’s not really much
6) That makes sense, though a rescue dog/cat is typically one coming from an abusive/dangerous home, unlike Littles, which are going to one
7) I could see Genritech putting on a contest like that.
0) now its fixed and her lips are a not quite as large and i updated the character and clothing preset so hopefully it wont happen again with Ava but you never know.
Wonderful, I didn’t wanna be rude, but I didn’t like her design without eyebrows.
Greg!! My man! He’s just a little legend!!
“ He was not as sure about Evan and Brooklyn” WHAT DID I SAY!!! she will fall out with her friends and I had a feeling it would be Evan and Brooklyn! Even the way they were talking about Madison in Evan’s world sounded a bit off for me! I kinda hope madsion does drop them sooner rather than later
What are the differences between the American Model and Mexican model of littles?