#g/t stuff

[ipilokko]

Size swap with your ocs

how would they feel about it?

Hello! Thanks for the ask! I always love some size swap 😌🌱

Once Mollie's a giant, she'd just tour the house with her new perspective and interact with the things she couldn't use on her own as a human. She'd try Roy's clothes on herself and learn how to use the turntable and the amplifiers.

At first, Roy would be absolutely terrified when he realizes he's been shrunk. Looking at his belongings he'd just try to look past how huge he actually is and how he appeared to Mollie when he was a giant.

Until then, Roy would have never seen anything as big as Mollie since the giant side doesn't really have tall buildings– two story on it's tallest–. He'd have a hard time looking at her since he has medium megalophobia, but would try his best to push himself to not break her heart.

Mollie could barely hold herself trying not to make jokes about Roy's size every chance she gets. She'd start calling him "big guy" after he's the small one. Even though she'd try to be as gentle as she could, it would still take her a while to adjust her movements and her voice, as she has a naturally louder way of speaking. And Roy would have trouble speaking up since even with fellow giants his voice is mostly low and soft.

After they get through this though, they'd just spend the day doing what they usually do. Mollie would be really clingy once Roy is more comfortable around her. She'd take him anywhere she goes, unless he'd have something else to do. If he's hanging out on his own, like reading something she'd just follow him wherever he goes as she doesn't completely trust him on his own.

No shoulder rides for Roy. No way he can keep his balance on Mollie's shoulders. She has smaller and thinner shoulders, sure this gives him penalty as well. And he's just not built for action and risks, he prefers to play it safe and safe only 💀

Have a little big man yapping about one of his favorite things.

[witchfrom18thcentury]

With humans and tinies I am like: Mmhh, I’m a ok with that. 🙂

But with giants and humans I am like: O my goodness!!! They’re too cute! I love them! 😍🥰❤️💝

[sizebrained]

Starting off 2025 with a commission of Ben and Hazel from Unstuck Together By the wonderful @kix-mm I love it so much! Look at them.

[st4rsinthenight]

★random ahh g/t trope where a farmer goes to feed the animals at the barn only to get shook by the sight of giant legs sticking out of the barns entrance. Turns out that the legs belong to a giant who found shelter in the farmers barn and decided to take a little nap there or something. Oh and, the giant may or may have not destroyed the farmers agriculture work with their footsteps or something.★

[pinkiedevv]

How a Tiny Travels (Ideas)

Climbing:

Ofc every tiny needs a good way to climb, and my primary thought goes to grappling hooks fo sho. Probably made out of actual fishing hooks and attached with corded string XD

Maybe customized shoes with sticky/grippy bottoms like those people who use suction cups to climb skyscrapers XDDD

awhh would a tiny have a little case of gripping chalk so they could hold onto handholds better when climbing?

Somehow an equivalent of a parachute in their backpack in case of a big fall XD. Like basically just a handkerchief that billows out and is attached to the sack with a few strings

Via giant. Period.

But to elaborate, one option is on the shoulder ;3. Tiny can lean against giant's neck or hold onto their ear/earing for stability

The hand. Obvi. Shenanigans have a high chance of ensuing.

Chest pocket. Mmmghhh. AKA the nap spot.

Lawful Chaotic of hoodie pockets, Chaotic Neutral of backpack side-pockets, and Chaotic Evil of pants pockets XDDD

On top of giant's head. Very comfy, much floof. Giant probably will not appreciate the amount of hair pulling that will most definitely be happening up there

Fast Travel:

Roomba. (juuuust make sure tiny can't get sucked in underneath *thumbs up*)

Toy cars except the remote is set up on the car's dash so tiny can control it themselves ;3

Stairway bannisters - AKA the forbidden slide for going from an upper floor to a lower! (And a guaranteed way to give a giant a heart attack! <3)

Pets. Kitties or doggos. Risky beezneez this can be, but the rewards are pretty stellar if tiny makes a good fren outta them~

In the air:

BIRBS - highkey could be scary cuz some birds definitely look like they'd monch on a tiny, but the image of a tiny riding on an owl's back is just - so cute to me

Balloons. Unghhghhhgh. Supervised by their giant ofc. It'd be like a whole hot air balloon except it's just a helium one cuz tinies weigh literally nothing. And a whole paper basket to tie at the bottom for them to ride innnnn yesssss

A drone??? Somehow??? hA like a mini plane/helicopter for tiny

One of those gliding suits like a flying squirrel XD

-

Mannnn this. Why can't I be in a world with tinies, huh????

... I WANNA BE ONE OF THEM OKAY TRANSMIGRATE ME ALREADY

ehehe ignore that. Uh. Ye so here've been a buncha travel methods that I've thought of for a tiny! ;D

[narrans]

NEXT PUBLISHED BOOK WINNER!

Hey there tall, small, and in the walls!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that "My Borrowed Son" has officially won the poll. Across all of my platforms (Tumblr, Wattpad, DeviantArt, Twitter/X, and Ko-Fi), I did the math and My Borrowed Son ended up as the winner.

We are not done yet though!

The next step is to determine whether or not YOU - the amazing and wonderful readers and creators here - want hard back or soft back books.

Keep in mind! These books have raised in price. I did some math and have the price comparison down below.

Hard back is on the LEFT Paperback is on the RIGHT

As you can see, there is a significant price difference.

I would LOVE to do the hardback, but want to make sure this is a financially smart decision.

SO! Below is a poll. Please let me know whether you want hard back or soft back and PLEASE RSVP which book type you would like if you would like to purchase a copy of "My Borrowed Son."

This is such an amazing community and I cannot thank all of you enough for commenting and enjoying my piddly scratchings. I cannot wait to see what you all want to do moving forward. There will certainly be more updates to follow.

Cheers and, as always, stay awesome! ~Narrans

[stupidgtblog]

Random g/t thoughts 8 (or 9????)

I really like the concept of sleeping giants. Idk if i'm weird for it but like I really like it. Like the concept. Like the steady breathing. the COMFINESS the sleep-talking oh my god. Like I read this one fic where the giant was afraid to share a bed but he MOVED her in his sleep to his chest OHHH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOD

this one is kinda hard to explain but the almost like half-awake thoughts? Like imagine a (particularly mean) giant right before going to bed is just like 'I love you.' and tiny is just like "?????" and oh they're already asleep and will not remember this in the morning.

Also like waking them up is a whole different thing. Like I personally write all my giants to hate mornings, so getting essentially crawled and poked all over doesn't really help with crankiness. Also the fact that the tiny cant really get anywhere without them, but also we can get like accidental fear??

They couldn't wait anymore. "Wake up! It's almost noon, I've been waiting here for hours! I swear, it's ridiculous I have to deal with this every-" They are cut off by a heavy hand, pressing them deep into the way-too-hard mattress.

"be quiet," they said, groggily, but still way, way louder than they normally are.

"Ok. ok. ok, I'll be quiet - I promise." they said, still shaken.

Cut to PROFUSE apologies when they actually wake.

[welcometomylittlelife]

Hey Parker! I decided to draw you, check it out!

Hope you like it<3 -Zel

@gtzel,

Dude! This looks so cool! Haha I like that you added in the smudges that were always on my face. Mom always told me about all of the smudges that I got - and she never knew where they came from. I was always into something growing up.

And thanks for taking my... well... condition... into account. It's nice to see since that's definitely a part of me.

You seriously have so much talent! Keep it up! And let me know if you have any other fun sketches. I'd love to see them.

That's all from me!

So long! Parker

[greatgigintheskiess]

G/t community!

Put all of your things down and take a look at this:

✨JARS✨

That's it. That's the post.

Just jars :P

[ipilokko]

Mollie close up was a lot of fun fo draw!

[witchfrom18thcentury]

And you? What type of giant do you prefer?

[sizebrained]

The Reason for the Glue Traps...The Rat Part 3

Hazel is terribly wounded, Jug is not happy but tolerates the giant siblings, and there's Cob... Does this count for #macromarch?

CW: Adult themes, language, danger, threat of death, terror, trauma, blood, wounds.

***

"Hurt? How?!" Sam's panic about Cob vanishing was compounded by worry now for Hazel. Sam saw the look on Ben's face. It was a mixture of fear, anger, and a devastating sadness. He looked worse than the night of his accident. Sam rushed to her brother. She dropped, sliding across the floor in one deft motion. Years of volleyball. Sam quickly clocked what was happening and saw what Ben was kneeling down in front of--the hole filled with fur and Hazel being held by another tiny figure. Sam looked closer at Ben. She wasn't sure if he was going to sob uncontrollably or throw up. Maybe both. Sam looked at the tiny person's face holding Hazel. Her big green eyes stared right into his. "You must be Jug..." Sam whispered carefully. Ben's head turned in surprise at his sister. He had no idea who was holding Hazel. He could just feel the authority emanating out of all four inches of him. Ben didn't like that Sam knew who he was and he didn't. Jug nodded. Even though they were kneeling, the pair of humans were impossibly large. Even after hundreds of years, Jug found himself surprised by them. He thought he'd seen it all from humans. But this was new and terrifying. His spine crackled with dread. Even on their knees, they radiated sheer size that made him feel insignificant in comparison. Jug did not like it. They reminded him of when he saw a stuffed bear in a museum. "Can I see her?" Sam asked slowly as she opened her hand and set it down on the floor in front of Jug.

Her palm was facing up expectantly. She smiled trying to not seem threatening. He took a half a step back from Sam's hand without even realizing. Jug saw Sam's white teeth peaking out behind her smiling lips. Each one was the size of his head. Some larger. He shivered. Even near death, Hazel could feel her father's fear shaking his whole body. "Da...she saved Cob...." Hazel managed to groan out into her father's chest.

Sam didn't hear Hazel's weak words of reassurance but Ben did.

His ears were constantly tuned in to her voice and sounds. Even now he heard her like she was kneeling next to him like Sam. His breath caught in his throat and he stifled a sob. Sam noticed that. She put her other hand on her brother's broad back and rubbed it reassuringly. "Please let me have a look and see if I can help..." Sam whispered again. Soft but insistent. Jug swallowed as if his hesitation would go down his throat again. He came closer to Sam's outstretched palm. It was enormous.

The side of her thick palm was higher than his knee. Sam's hands looked like the rest of her, toned and strong from years of exercise and sports. Jug felt unsure of trying to put Hazel in the huge human's hand without stepping on with her.

He hadn't let a human touch him since Jacques. Not even the Professor, who was like a partner father to Hazel and looked after his family for years. Certainly not Mary or her husband. No human contact for hundreds of years. Jug stayed near the hand, he adjusted Hazel in his arms. Sam felt her patience slipping. Time was a factor. She took a deep calming breath in through her nose and slowly out of her mouth. "She's very important to all of us. I would never hurt her," Sam promised. She felt like she was trying to coax a scared kitten out of a sewer drain. Normally, Sam would just grab him and pry Hazel from him but she knew better. Cob had told Sam about their father one night. Mainly that he was still living in the shed and by Ben's building and she would likely never see him. Cob said their father had gone through something terrible with humans when he was younger. Sam asked what had happened but Cob wouldn't explain. Only that he didn't like being near, seen, or touched by humans. Sam wished Cob was here instead of Jug. She missed how chatty they were by comparison. "Please I need to see what I can do and then try to find Cob, they disappeared and..." Sam said tilting her head and squinting at a sound she thought she was imagining at first. Sam thought they heard Cob's voice shouting, but it sounded muffled. "I'm here! I'm here! Jesus Christ! GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!! PLEASE!!! ANYONE?!?!" Cob whined. Jug grunted hearing his other child.

Jug braced himself then stepped onto the hand in one quick movement. He slowly knelt and laid Hazel down on the broad patterned skin of Sam's palm. Tenderly, Jug caressed Hazel's forehead with the back of his hand and cupped her cheek. He turned his head and looked up at Sam without speaking a word but his eyes drilled into her. It was a warning. "Imbécile!" Jug exclaimed, hopping off the hand. Jug had already guessed where Cob was and followed their shouts towards the hole Ben made. As soon as Jug was off her hand, Sam stood straight up with Hazel. She rushed over to Ben's bathroom, keeping her hand as steady as possible. She came out a moment later with a first aid kit. She was using her one free hand to pull things from the kit. Ben stayed on his knees in front of the hole. He watched Sam over his shoulder. He was afraid to move to see how bad it was but he was afraid to stay if this was his last chance to be with Hazel. He felt his eyes stinging as tears started rolling down his face. "Idiot géant!" Jug yelled up at Ben to get his attention. Ben blinked and looked down at the source of the voice unsure of what he had just said. "Oui! Big Fool! Help me!" Jug implored. Jug was standing in front of the dead rat. He was pulling on its whiskers desperate to try and make it budge. Unknown to Ben, Cob was on the other end stuck between building and its body. They had teleported again in a blue shimmer without any real control. Ben sniffled and reached down with one massive hand. He gently pushed Jug backwards with the back of it, the knuckles pressing into him as he moved Hazel's little father.

Jug thought it was strangely casual, like the human was very used to being around them and didn't seem phased by their tiny size at all. Jug tumbled backwards caught off guard by being swept out of the way. Two of Ben's long fingers wrapped around the rat's throat. Ben felt little resistance as he pulled it out of out the passage like it weighed nothing. Because to Ben -- it did.

Jug hadn't managed to make the rat budge with his whole body. Jug watched in horrified silence as Ben's size and power were on full display. As soon as the rat was clear, Jug looked to see Cob scared and confused from what had happened. Jug really needed to figure out what to do with his youngest child over this before they got themselves killed with their gift. Jug motioned for Cob to come to him. He didn't have to wait long as Cob rushed to their father's embrace. They both looked up at Ben as he held rat's body in his grip. Ben's sweaty, tear covered face looked furious. Jug watched while holding his breath. So did Cob. Cob had never seen a look like that on Ben's face. It was the first time Cob ever held fear and Ben in their head at the same time. They understood a lot better now why their father avoiding humans wasn't crazy.

"Ben?" Cob asked worried. Ben pulled Hazel's pick out of the rat's skull and let it fall to the floor in a light metallic clang. He squeezed the rat's body. Blood and viscera started pouring out of the poor creature's limp corpse onto the floor below. "Ben!" Sam yelled from his kitchen. "Bring Cob over here I need them!" Sam yelled again trying to figure out where to start with Hazel but finding her tiny body very difficult to manipulate safely. Ben dropped the rat from his grip letting it fall to the floor in a wet thud. He reached down to pluck Cob up with the same two fingers he had used on the rat. Cob screamed and Jug stood in front of them protectively. Ben's blood covered hand froze in the air. He came to his senses. "Oh God...Cob...I'm sorry..." Ben stuttered suddenly filled with shame. He drew his rat dirtied hand back and held it against his chest. He started crying, wiping blood and rat bits across the front of his shirt. Jug looked over their shoulder at Cob. His wide eyed stare spoke volumes.

It was Cob's turn to look embarrassed feeling their father's disapproving shock. "It's...it's ok...Can you maybe...use your other hand?" Cob asked stepping around their father in a leap of faith. Ben nodded, sniffling and lowered his other hand down flat for Cob. They hopped onto it like they'd done countless times. Right after Cob was lifted up and away as Ben made his way over to Sam. Jug stared at the rat's mangled, crushed corpse. He wasn't sure whether that would make it easier or harder to skin. Ben was next to Sam in a few steps and lowered his hand to the countertop for Cob to get off of it.

Ben paused for a moment feeling himself freeze as he stared at Hazel's body lying flat on her back. It reminded him of when they first met. This was worse. Sam kept her eyes on Hazel, squinting to try and see her tiny injuries. It was impossible. She was just too small. Sam kept trying to look over Hazel's body as she talked to Cob without looking at them. "You disappeared! Where did you go?! How did...Nevermind. Help me get her clothes off." Sam ordered Cob. She'd get an explanation of how Cob could disappear and reappear miles away later. It was Cob's turn to freeze. They looked over their big sister's body and a hand went to their mouth to stifle a sob. It was bad. Hazel looked dead. But Sam's booming voice snapped them out of it. They dutifully obeyed and carefully stripped their sister, being mindful of her wounds. Sam was rifling through drawers before she finally found what she'd been looking for--a magnifying glass Ben had specifically bought to see the details of something Hazel was sewing. Holding it now, Sam lowered her eyes down to Hazel. She lightly pushed Cob back with an outstretched pinky finger. Without the clothes and with the magnifying glass, Sam could finally see. It was worse than she feared. Far beyond her training. Sam was amazed Hazel was still alive. Sam exhaled and looked up at her brother. She took a moment to try and form her words. "Ben...she...I can't..." Sam started. Ben stood there and felt his heart between his ears. His mind was racing back to the night of his accident and all the days and nights after. Then it was only Hazel that filled his thoughts. Her smile, her laughs, her grimaces, her crying...

Her everything...she was everything to him in a way nothing else had ever been before. She couldn't die. Then it struck him. He rushed to Hazel and very delicately maneuvered her body into one of his hands through her protesting moans and whimpers. "Shh...save your strength darling you're going to be ok." Ben whispered. "Darling?" Cob and Sam both asked in unison at different volumes. Ben lowered his face down and kissed her curled up body very lightly. Then he covered Hazel's body with his other hand and speed walked out of his place.

Sam broke out of her shocked stupor at her brother's public affection, finally. "Where are you going?!" Sam yelled after him. "Sadie's a vet!" Ben yelled as he disappeared out the door. *** End Part 3

[st4rsinthenight]

★g/t thought of the night★

— |★| A giant and tiny have been friends for quite a while now, and in fact- they are pretty content with each other, with the tiny showing no sign of fear when they are around their giant pal. All is good. Though one thing is that, whenever the giant tries to make any sort of physical contact with the tiny, they always squeal and still with surprise, which is something that may concern the giant- putting them in thought that their little friend isn't as comfortable as they thought they'd be with them. One thing that don't seem to consider though, is that the reason as to why the tiny always flinches when they give them the slightest of prods and such, is because their freezing cold hands and touch are too much for their little friend to handle.

[demonicfreakish]

| Shadow of Me | :Creature Concepts: Pt.1

Small update collection of some of the finished concepts of the creatures found in our headworld. Some of these are the lore/designs my husband Abaddon/Obsega(ObsidianAssassin) came up with. And some are mine. But we both did the writing on them all and developed their lore. I will tell a bit about them but not a lot. Most of their lore can be found on my Patreon~

Staggsguld - "term used for referring to the sun deer"

These creatures mainly feed on nectar from various flowers they find in Chreshera. But during high noon in the scarlet fields they will freeze themselves and open their membrane hoods to soak up the sun's rays for more sustenance. Sometimes you can catch whole herds standing still like statues doing this. Some males that live long enough for their crystalline horns to grow so large they begin to twist around themselves like trees. Even grow moss on them. This creature is also the flagship creature of our lore.

Chimerah - "term used for referring to the shade-toothed panther"

Though large and bulky these creatures are as silent as the chill of a cold voided room... Even the Staggsguld cannot hear them coming. The only chance you have at some hint of their presence is the prickling sensation you feel as all the hairs on your body stand up. Obligate carnivores in nature, their bodies made up of different animal parts. That most of which are from snake, feline, ursidae, and draconic. Like most if not all creatures in Chreshera they give off a soft bioluminescence. But they can fade, even turn this off, when hunting their prey...

Piquies - "term used for referring to the guinea hog sauropod."

These creatures are large in size but not nearly as large as the cows of our lore. Though being the pork in our world they still hold a lot of use rather than just as food to feed various cultures. They also serve as hearty steeds or as pack holders for weary travelers. Not much bigger than a Clydesdale horse these small creatures toddle along but aren't very speedy due to their robust stature. They mostly chew on various grasses and tubers for their sustenance but when farmed its more preferred to feed them a rich diet of various fruits and veggies for a more sweet meaty taste. Though be wary the small ones like to bunt your legs if you are not paying attention to them.

Those are just a few of the creatures from our lore, when we finish more I will likely make another post like this one. If you want to see more and our work in progress on this world and the story they hail from- Check my Patreon for more~ (Oh and we have started on the lore book to our world- the Penumbraverse/Penumbra Universe) Check the link below for more:

[mysticcomfort]

Happy Pride month, from my idiots to yours!

[narrans]

My Borrowed Son | 27 | Strangers Like Me

Chapter Twenty-Seven | Strangers Like Me

Parker was in awe of the place he saw. This place was so strange and yet he knew it was a house. An aroma that smelled sweet and familiar lingered in the air and only got stronger as the four of them approached the structure.

Parker’s mind was completely numb. No part of him felt real. He felt like a helium balloon, floating along and merely existing. Every sense was taking in information, but processing it was another story.

As they approached, Parker noticed two other small children who were smaller and younger than him outside of the structure. It sounded like the two of them were talking – well, one was talking, and the other was babbling simple phrases.

It wasn’t until they were a few feet away that they instinctively stopped and turned toward the approaching group. The oldest of the two’s eyes were wide and he quickly took the younger by the hand and guided her inside. There was some kind of commotion inside and, a few seconds later, two more adults, one man and one woman who looked a little older than the man they walked outside of the structure. Their expressions told Parker everything he needed to know about seeing him with the others.

They were apprehensive, completely uneasy, and shocked into silence at seeing him.

Parker’s step faltered and he stopped dead in his tracks. He never considered himself a shy person, but too much had happened all at once and was making him retreat into himself. His body trembled as he pulled the cloak given to him by the man further over his shoulders.

This made the man stop and glance over at Parker.

“You’re alright. It’s going to be okay, kid,” said the man. The same instinct Parker had experienced all his life that raised when he sensed his mom coming or when he fell from a great distance wasn’t giving him any red flags. Usually, the hair would raise on the back of his neck or something inside him would be screaming to run away.

That was not the case here.

In fact, there was something homey about what was happening.

It was familiar.

Parker swallowed, his throat feeling like sandpaper from getting sick earlier, and followed behind the man.

The woman ushered the other two teens into the home, giving Kit a harsh stare, before her features softened as she looked back to Parker. The man did the same thing as Finnick and Kit passed, saying something along the lines of, “We’ll talk about this later,” as Kit crossed the threshold.

The woman exhaled slowly as though to calm herself down before stepping forward toward Parker. The young teen noticed she had a prosthetic leg, which seemed unfathomable. How could she have a prosthetic leg and not be human? How did she get the supplies for it? It looked 3D printed after all.

“Parker, sweetie, come on inside. I’m sure you have some questions,” said the woman as she turned on her heel and vanished inside the house. The man with her followed shortly behind after giving the man who helped Parker a stern look.

Parker wasn’t sure why, but he got the impression that there was something uneasy and unspoken between the group and the stranger. Regardless, Parker drifted along through the door and into the home. He immediately noticed so many odds and ends that were hung from the walls.

The items ranged from ones he actually used to help build his own space to creative alternatives for everyday items. Things like thumbtacks in the walls for coats and bags and twist ties for hinges on the doors. There was a cork in the corner with a paperclip in the back which made the thing look like a stool or chair and this was just the hallway.

The number of things in the kitchen and living area alone that looked like they had been fashioned out of the most obscure items and turned out okay. One of the things Parker noticed was a bundle of blankets in the corner that looked like it had been made from yarn. There were trinkets hanging in the air and cut paper dolls and origami creations that looked to be made from old gum wrappers.

The idea of using trash to decorate was an odd one to Parker, but the actual execution looked rather enchanting and homey. This was just one of so many things all around that he recognized for their actual use but appreciated its reused purpose.

What on earth is happening? This place is fascinating. They reuse everyday items to make new things and use them for something else entirely. That matchbox is a cabinet and drawers. This other one is a sofa.

Parker absentmindedly stepped into the kitchen and suddenly found himself sitting at the kitchen table with a thimble full of something that smelled like tea in front of him. The man who was in the house was sitting at the head of a table made of cards while the woman continued to bustle about the kitchen, snagging more “cups” of tea for everyone else.

Finnick, the older teen, sat next to his father at a diagonal from Parker while the girl, Kit, leaned against the door facing with her arms crossed as tightly as a twisty pretzel. The other two were in the living area. It was clear the older one was meant to watch over the youngest but was failing miserably because every few seconds the youngest managed to charge into the kitchen in pursuit of her mother.

The other man stayed leaned up against the kitchen counter as the woman sat down across from Parker. With her lack of movement, everything finally fell still in the house.

The tension was tangible, but Parker had no idea how to even begin. What did he ask? Did he have the right to leave? Was he being kept here? Were all of these people delusional and calling themselves “Borrowers?” Or was that actually what they were?

Was that what he was?

“Well, Parker, I’m sure you have a lot of questions. You can take your time if you’d like. We’re happy to answer anything,” said the woman. “I… suppose introductions are in order. I’m Mira, and this is my husband Toulouse. Our eldest is Finnick and our daughter, whom I’ve been told you met last night, is Sprokit. Our other son is Reed and our youngest is Dove. We’ve been living here for many years and, well… hearing about your arrival certainly sparked some discussion.”

Parker looked at the man in the corner. He pulled the cloak further over his shoulders and swallowed again. The smell of the tea was appealing, but Parker’s insides felt like they could turn for the worst at any moment.

“And… him?”

The man glanced up at Parker, keeping his arms folded loosely, before sighing heftily.

“Kers. I moved here with you and your mom.”

Parker recited the names a few times in his mind, but he knew they wouldn’t stick. He felt like his mind was frozen in time back when he first entered the walls, and it would take nothing short of an ice chisel to get information through his brain at the moment.

“R-right…”

“Parker, do…”

“You… said you’ve known me for a while, but what does that mean?” Parker asked, interrupting Finnick as he began speaking. Parker wanted desperately for them to stay quiet and let him process the information in front of him, but that was a pipe dream at this point. It was obvious they wanted to help and wouldn’t relent until they thought he was satisfied with their answers.

They looked over at Kers, as did Parker, and waited for the answer.

“I said it before, I was hidden. I found your home a little over four years ago and decided to live there and make sure you were okay,” said Kers. He sounded exhausted, but truthful.

But it still didn’t make sense to Parker.

“W-what? What does that even mean? Okay? Okay from what?” Parker heard Kit scoff before she piped up from her spot in the doorway.

“Oh, please,” she said exasperatedly. “Okay from the human. He was making sure you were safe from the human.”

“Sprokit!” scolded Toulouse firmly, making Parker jump slightly. Kit rolled her eyes and rolled her lips together to form a thin line on her face. The father sighed and nodded. “She means the woman you call ‘mom’.”

The woman I call “mom?”

Those words echoed hollowly in Parker’s mind. It made him bristle that these people were calling his mom “the woman,” reducing everything she did for him all of his life to two simple words that didn’t do her justice.

It also felt like a punch in the gut. “The woman” he knew as his mom wasn’t actually that thing. A mom was a woman who gave birth to you. A mom wouldn’t lie to you. A mom helped and protected as well as provided for you. A mom loved you.

Parker felt his insides swirl again and he coughed a little as his body lurched. Thankfully, nothing came up, but it did make Parker feel sicker by the second.

“B…but…”

“Parker, it’s okay. I’m sorry. We’re just not used to talking to a Borrower who has been seen and talked to a human before. Old habits die hard,” apologized Mira as she leaned forward onto the table and smiled while catching Parker’s eye.

That word is what helped snap Parker out of his stupor.

Now feeling completely detached, the questions started coming in clearer for Parker. Though still numb and waiting for something to break through his frozen mind, Parker’s questions started manifesting, and he wasn’t about to let them slip away.

“That… word… Borrower… what is it?” asked Parker. Sympathetic glances flashed from every set of eyes to one another before turning back to Parker. Mira looked visibly shaken and upset, but she still mustered a smile for the young teen.

“Well, that’s what we are. We’re Borrowers. We borrow things that humans won’t miss in order to survive. Little things like sugar, bread, pins, cloth, ribbons, and anything else we might find useful,” Mira replied.

“We usually don’t see other Borrowers often, but we all live by a code in order to keep ourselves safe,” Finnick chimed in as he too leaned forward in his chair. “It’s rare for so many Borrowers to be living together under the same roof since it’s more likely a human will notice things going missing.”

“What about those two who come to visit?” interjected Reed as he began dragging the youngest, Dove, back to the living room. “They said they come from a massive group.”

“Rey and Hero probably live in that abandoned house down by the creek. I can’t imagine they live in a human’s house, especially with a big group. You saw their clothes. Definitely Outies,” dismissed Finnick.

“Outies?” echoed Parker. Toulouse nodded.

“Yes, Borrowers are usually ‘Innies’ or ‘Outies,’ meaning where they live; either inside a house or outside in the wilds,” replied the father of four.

Parker had to physically rest his head on the table to keep from vomiting again. The entire room as spinning faster and faster, making the teen see stars, and his action quieted them for a minute while he regained his bearings.

When he did, he dared to take a sip of the tea Mira gave him just to quench his parched throat. It was soothing and made him feel a little less sick. The sweetness definitely helped add to the taste too.

“So… y-you… you’re saying… there are just… massive groups? Or… rather… small clusters of groups of B… Bor-row…” Parker couldn’t get the word out, but his meaning was understood.

“Yes, that’s correct,” replied Toulouse.

“Th-then… why haven’t I heard of you? Why isn’t it on the internet? W-why… h-how does n-no one know about you?” asked Parker.

“About us you mean,” grumbled Kit. Mira snapped her fingers harshly at her daughter and gave her a warning stare before turning back to Parker. The palpable tension dissipated after a few moments in intense silence, followed by the eldest son clearing his throat.

“Because of the rules,” Finnick replied. Parker’s blank expression prompted further explanation. This threw Parker for a loop.

“Rule? There are… rules?” Parker asked aloud unintentionally.

“Yes, quite a few of them. There are three we Borrowers generally abide by in order to keep ourselves safe.” The way Toulouse explained reminded Parker of how his mom would explain things to him. It was slow and simple, broken into multiple parts to make it easier for him to process the information.

“The first rule is to never be seen by a human because it is dangerous for you and for all of Borrower kind. The second rule flows into the first which is you must move if you think you’ve been seen. It’s for your protection, even if you weren’t seen. The last rule is to never talk to humans. If they know we’re sentient, they’ll only try and get answers out of us.”

Parker listened to the father’s explanation and something in his mind flashed. It was quick, like a lightbulb memory, but he remembered hearing those rules once before, along with the reason why. Slowly, Parker said, “Because… they’ll treat you like a… pet….”

The inquisitive glances the family members gave one another told Parker he had said something correctly.

“That’s right,” said Reed as he popped back into the kitchen to retrieve Dove once again. “You’ll get thrown in a cage and they’ll throw away the key. You’ll never be seen or heard from again, and that’ll be the exposure of Borrower kind.” Parker twisted around in the chair and glanced at the younger kid as he flashed a smile and, snagging his little sister under the armpits, hoisted her up and waddled back to the living room.

Parker’s vision blackened around the edges, and he once again needed to rest his head on the table. A cold sweat covered his body. Regret filled him as he realized he was probably soaking Kers’ cloak through with his perspiration. The family of Borrowers waited patiently for Parker’s recovery as they awaited his next question.

But his mind was running wild.

Everything and nothing made sense.

This had to be a dream, right?

Parker pinched himself under the table hard along the outside of his thigh, but the trick didn’t work, and he was met with five pairs of eyes staring at him expectantly. One thought was something he clung to, however, and he hoped in this moment to possibly disprove everything they just said.

“But… my mom… she said it was a genetic condition. She said I have Parvi Homunculi Syndrome. It’s just a rare condition. Are… you sure you don’t just have that?” Mira must’ve heard the desperation in Parker’s voice because her features filled once again sympathetically.

“I… I know how weird it must sound,” said Mira. She brushed her hair to the side and sighed before clasping her hands together and resting them on the table. “But we’re Borrowers. We’re different than humans for a number of different reasons, despite how similar we might look.”

“Differences?” Parker barely uttered the word, fearing the sip of tea he just had was going to churn his insides and reappear.

“Yeah, differences. We have instincts that humans don’t have. Our vision is better in the dark. We have great balance and land on our feet; well, most of the time,” Finnick stated.

“Tell us, Parker, have you ever experiences anything like that? Sensing something before it happened? Feeling the tremors in the ground as a human walks around when they’re rooms away? Finding curious places to hide? Or feeling the need to hide when you sense something coming?” asked Toulouse. “Haven’t you ever fallen from up high and landed safely on the ground? The instinct or need to reuse or create? What about walking around here in the walls? Didn’t you notice how well you could see in such low light?”

His scenarios made Parker’s blood run cold.

Every single one of those things he mentioned was something Parker had experienced. He had always attributed those things to his condition.

So… my condition… it’s a lie?

Well… not a lie…

I do have a condition….

I’m a Borrower.

Everything they’re saying makes sense. How would they know about everything if they hadn’t experienced it themselves? They don’t know about my climbing and falling habits. They don’t know about the things I’ve invented. They couldn’t have known about my senses unless they had it too.

Mira’s face softened and she quickly pushed herself to her feet and retrieved a single square of toilet paper, tearing off a side and gently pushing it over toward Parker. It was only now he realized warm, salty tears were soaking his face. The tears glided down his cheeks and puddled at his chin before dripping onto his shirt.

His entire body shook like a leaf in a windstorm as he numbly snagged the piece of toilet paper and hid his face away. Breathing was a chore, and the few breaths he sucked in wracked his body with sobs.

Over and over, he asked himself why?

Why him?

Why was this happening?

How many Borrowers were out there? Surely there had to be some reference to them specifically out there in the world.

How could an entire race of people just be completely unnoticed like this family?

The thoughts that followed only made Parker’s sobs double him over.

How long had his mom known about him and not said anything?

Why was he just finding all of this out now?

Why had his mom lied to him?

Didn’t she love him?

Why didn’t she just tell him the truth?

Parker wasn’t sure how long he stayed hunched over smashing the now soggy piece of toilet paper to his face, but he did suddenly notice a pressure on his hand that wasn’t there before. Not like he cared. Everything was spiraling out of control and off of the edge of a cliff. What was one more thing?

Eyes red and dry despite the moist tears, Parker blinked away the blur and finally realized the pressure on his hand was Mira. She had reached forward and gently clasped his hand in her own. Parker felt the urge to resist but couldn’t tear himself away from the comfort the pressure of her hand gave. Her motherly instincts were right.

All Parker wanted right now was a hug… but from whom?

His mom?

Someone his own size?

Even now, the thought of someone being able to wrap their arms around him and him being able to do the same was unfathomable.

As his breathing calmed, Parker felt a new emotion boiling in his belly, and it quickly consumed him.

Anger.

Frustrated anger and distrust filled him like magma filling a volcano. He felt ready to burst at any moment, but he wasn’t about to leave now.

He needed to know more about these strangers like him. He needed to know more. His desire for knowledge fueled by the fact he had been deceived for his entire life hardened his features and cleared the darkness away from the corners of his eyes.

“Parker, I know this is a lot for you all at once,” said Mira, noticing the teen’s change in demeanor. “But…”

“Please…” said Parker, his voice cracking. The teenager was barely able to keep from falling apart as he sat there on that cork bottle chair. “Just… tell me what you can… about Borrowers? About what happens when… Borrowers are seen? What happens? And…. About me… and my….” Parker’s voice trailed off as he suddenly had trouble saying the word “mom.”

Toulouse sighed and leaned heavily onto the table and said, “Parker, are you sure?”

Parker nodded and squeezed Mira’s hand.

“Yes,” he said definitively. “Please.”

It took a few hours, but Toulouse and his family began telling Parker what he needed to know. They told him about how Borrowers had managed to keep themselves secret because of the rules and how they’ve had narrow misses in the past. They talked about how they went about creating their home and the balance Borrowers needed to live in secret with their human counterparts.

What really made Parker’s blood boil was the stories about what happened to Borrowers in the stories where the were caught.

Some were thrown in cages until they were rescued. Others managed to trick their ways out of their containment and away from their human captors. The one that hurt Parker the most was the ones that were treated as evolved pets.

Evolved pets had little homes they lived in with electricity and water. Repurposed doll houses were usually the container used rather than a cage with traditional bars – just like what Parker lived in.

Borrowers experienced isolation and every little thing was always taken care of. No need to borrow because food was always on the table. No need to climb because you’re carried everywhere. No need to go outside because entertainment is brought to you. The purpose of a Borrower was to go out and survive, not be taken care of at the whim of a human.

It was the exact existence Parker had been living.

It made his insides churn to think that his mom had been treating him like a pet for practically all of his life.

“Alright, that’s enough for today,” said Kers, chiming in after hours of silence. He had remained practically emotionless and silent for most of the time while Toulouse and his family helped “educate” Parker in the ways of a Borrower. The family opened their mouths to object, but Kers beat them to it. “Parker has been gone for a while, and I’m sure his mom is worried sick about him being missing. She’s bound to have noticed by now. You don’t want her looking for him, do you?”

The question shut down any arguments the family might’ve had. Despite Parker’s reservations in returning, he sighed and pushed himself to his feet.

“Um… thank you… really. I…” Parker stammered over his words as he thought about everything he just learned.

“You don’t need to thank us, Parker. Just, keep yourself safe,” said Mira.

“And, if you don’t mind, keep your knowledge about this place and my family close to your chest. I apologize again on behalf of my daughter. We should’ve made it clearer that she wasn’t supposed to act rashly when it came to your… situation,” said Toulouse.

“Thanks. I… can probably do that,” said Parker. His head swirled dangerously fast with his first step, but thankfully Kers was by his side and guided Parker safely toward the door. The older Borrower watched the younger cautiously while Parker paid him no mind.

Parker’s mind was far from him. There were too many other things going on to be concerned about revealing the family’s home. With a final farewell, Parker and Kers left the house and headed back down the route they came.

The two Borrowers were completely silent for the majority of the trek, leaving Parker to fester and dwell in his own thoughts.

It wasn’t until they were by the wall at a familiar stretch that Kers physically stopped moving forward and turned to face Parker. There was something in his expression that was sorrowful and uneasy, but also determined. It reminded Parker of the look Toulouse gave him a few times.

Fatherly.

It was a new look and took the teen by surprise.

“Parker, I know this is not how any of us wanted things to go,” said Kers. “But I want you to know that I’m sorry. It was never my intention to help keep this truth from you. I… had actually planned on talking to your mom today to figure out how to talk to you.”

Parker wasn’t sure if he was buying it, but Kers continued.

“I know you’re going through a lot, and I know I have no right to ask this of you, but listen to me and don’t do anything rash,” said Kers.

Parker bristled at the words.

“Rash? You don’t want me to be rash?! You knew. You watched for years and let me believe…” Parker took a breath as his fury reared its head again. “You let me believe I was human. You and that woman both.”

Kers stiffened as he heard that word. The last thing he wanted to do was make an enemy out of Parker, but Kers needed to make a few things clear to Parker. Attempting to diffuse the situation, he kept his voice calm and low.

“Parker, that woman is still your mom. She loves you and only wants the best for you. Believe me. I’ve seen it every day for years. I don’t think she would intentionally hurt you. I don’t know why she didn’t say anything, but it can’t have been easy when your differences are so obvious,” said Kers firmly.

Parker jerked his head away as he looked down at the corner of a nearby beam.

“She lied.”

“I know, and that’s not the best look. Still, Parker, trust me on this. She loves you. Regardless of everything else, she loves you,” emphasized Kers.

“She treated me like a pet. How… can I trust someone who would lie to me so easily for so long?” The words spilled out of Parker like water leaking from a sponge. He felt like he couldn’t absorb another thing and his words were now just spilling out.

“No, she didn’t. She treated you like her son. Coming from a family who used to have pets, I can see where taking care of a kid and taking care of a pet are almost the same thing,” pointed out Kers.

“But…”

“Listen, Parker. Don’t do anything rash. Think about everything you’ve just learned and don’t act emotionally. That’ll only hurt more,” advised Kers. “Sit and think about everything. I’ll be back later tonight to check on you if you’d like.”

Parker nodded numbly, but the adult’s words simply added to the puddle that was his thoughts. Kers finished walking Parker to his room and, with a reassuring pat on his shoulder, left the teen to go back to the world he knew.

As Parker jumped back through the electrical cover and climbed the stairs to his little house, he suddenly realized he was still wearing Kers’ cloak. The heavy fabric had been draped over his shoulders the entire walk back, and Kers must’ve thought Parker needed it more.

It felt like a hug from behind, and the warmth of the fabric kept Parker’s shaking at bay.

The teen made it back into his room and into his space with every intention of resting in his bed until dinner. The words he wanted to say were locked somewhere in his brain. He just needed time to muddle through.

It was what he saw in his kitchen as he entered the little house that instantly changed his mind.

Parker noticed a massive plate with cut apples just sitting there. Before, this would have been an enjoyable treat. Now, however, all Parker saw was those videos on his social media where some tasty treat was delivered on a platter to none other than the family pet.

Something about seeing that plate snapped something in his mind.

You’re just a pet to her.

It was a bold, hateful thought that spawned out of nowhere in his mind, fueled only by recent events.

Despite Kers’ warning, he wanted to know the answers.

He wanted to know why his mom hadn’t told him anything and everything she knew about him.

Another, greater part of him hoped that everything he just heard was a lie. He wanted it to be untrue. He wanted Kers and Toulouse and Mira and Finnick and Reed and Kit all to be lying to his face to abduct him into the walls.

Parker spun on his heel and marched back down the stairs and dared to climb the steps all the way down to the kitchen where he heard his mom… that woman… working away. Trembling in his shoes, Parker finally made it to ground level and came around the corner. The urge to vomit as he saw her filled him, which contrasted greatly with the expression on her face as she saw him.

~~~^*^*^~~~

Amanda had been pacing the floor for what felt like hours. She had practically torn the house upside down trying to find her son, Parker. After their little disagreement this morning and the fear eating her alive, she couldn’t find him.

His room?

Not there.

Living area?

Not there.

Bathroom?

Nowhere to be seen.

Kitchen?

Nope.

She had cut up some apples in the hopes of luring him out and to make sure he had a little something to eat if he was still upset with her, but to no avail.

She hoped that he hadn’t done something foolish or decided to go into the walls and got hurt. It was an idea she should have supported, but was afraid to.

It was clear now more than ever that she needed to talk to Parker about everything, and now she finally had the words to do so. The moment she found him, she would tell him everything. It was long overdue, but it was time.

If only she could find him!

Now, after she was about to start calling and shouting, there he was.

Parker came out from around the corner and relief immediately flooded over her. She rushed over and knelt, which made Parker flinch and shy away. Struck by the odd interaction, Amanda glanced over him and immediately noticed his appearance.

Parker looked drained. He had obviously been crying and looked ill. What really caught her off guard was what he had draped over his shoulders. It looked like some kind of cloak, but it was way too big for him. Brown, frayed, and torn, this thing obviously didn’t come from anything either of them had made.

There was time to ask questions later.

Right now, she was relieved beyond words that Parker was here.

“Parker! I’m so glad you’re here. I was worried sick. Where were you? Are you okay? Sweetie, I’m so sorry about earlier. I don’t know what came over me. I should’ve…”

“You should’ve what?” interrupted Parker, something that wasn’t like him. Amanda, caught off guard, felt her heart clench as she met her son’s eyes. There was something in them that she registered immediately.

Hurt.

Pain.

Anger.

Frustration.

Desperation.

Before she could say anything, Parker continued.

“How long?”

Those two words shook Amanda to her bones.

No. What?

“H-how long? How long what?”

“How long have you known I’m not your son?”

The words hung in the air. Like a dense fog, Amanda suddenly felt lost. Tendrils of tension clutched her chest.

No… I’ve run out of time. I’m too late.

Amanda’s throat clenched. She knew this conversation was going to happen, but not like this. She looked into Parker’s soft brown eyes and saw he was clinging onto the last threads of hope. It was part of that desperation she saw earlier.

And she had no lifeline to give him.

“Well?!” Parker’s voice cracked as tears welled up in his eyes. He looked to be on the verge of collapse.

Amanda bit back her own emotions as they constricted her throat. A bottomless void opened in Amanda’s heart.

“Parker… you are my son. I’ve always been your mom,” said Amanda. Parker couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was she serious? Or was she lying. The tether he thought he was receiving was just within grasp. Maybe this was all just a bad dream.

Her next words shattered him.

“But I’m not your only mom. Someone… some beautiful, wonderful woman gave birth to you.” Amanda’s cheeks were etched with tears at this point. With the last bit of her strength, she choked out, “I love you, Parker, as if you came from me… but you’re right. You are not mine.”

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

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