[Report This]Date: May 18 2025 7:39 AM Title: Chapter 5 - Volunteer
Again, I'm loving all the setup, but I'm certainly not going to argue with you giving us two chapters to get some shrinking in!
Denise seems pretty awesome early on. It was nice of her to give Ben that extra reassurance that what he's feeling and even trying to back out is common among new hires for the company. She could have easily just answered the phone and been the typical monotone employee, not really caring about the person on the other end of the line, but she took the time to connect with him and help him feel better about his doubts. Hell, she even met him when he walked through the door.
Granted this could just be because the company has trouble bringing in employees to fill these roles and she's practiced in walking potential hires off the ledge, but there was a warmth to her that made me feel as though she legitimately cares. I'll admit that I was (and still may be) a tad skeptical about Tiny Treatments at the start, but I got a good vibe from her and that helps me feel like they're a completely legitimate company. So if they're secretly corrupt, you've got me hook, line, and sinker at this point!
Dr. Rivera helped out with that, too. She was calm, composed, and knew exactly what to expect from the new hires. From her showing that she was happy he volunteered to her coaching him a bit on his breathing to the gentle way she checked on him after the shrinking was finished, she was both professional and considerate. Again, early on, I'm feeling pretty good about her.
But between Denis and Dr. Rivera both being well-versed in the ways of easing the tensions of nervous newbies and how terrified the other three new employees (all a little older than Ben, by the sound of it), it's pretty obvious that most, if not all, hires going through this for the first time feel what Ben has been feeling over the past few chapters. Despite shrinking tech being common and safe enough to be put to commercial use, it still strikes fear into the hearts of those about to be shrunk.
Which makes Ben volunteering so great! Maggie was right' he is braver than he gave himself credit for! I was happy to see that you let her get a bit more gentle teasing and reassurance in at the end of chapter four, and seeing how the fruits of her talk about him facing his fears rather than letting them dominate him made me feel proud of him! I know he's regretting that decision right now, but I disagree that volunteering was a mistake on his part (unless you prove me wrong in the next chapter; if you do that, I never said this!).
I'm so curious to see how Ben adapts to being tiny. Will this little example help put him at ease or only add to his concerns? Is he going to be this nervous on his first day actually on the job? If so, how is he going to get over that (or will he)?
And then there are questions about the shrinking and the rules of the establishment. Can a shrinkee be restored immediately or is there a waiting period for their molecular density to be readjusted? Does their mass staying the same mean that they're more durable than something so tiny usually is, or are they just as vulnerable as a bug? How much latitude will customers be allowed to have with the tiny employees, and what happens if they cross the line (given the upscale clientele, I have to imagine that some spoiled snob has taken some liberties with the employees)? Will Ben get hazard pay?
I look forward to seeing at least some of these details shake out as the story progresses. Awesome job with this one so far, too!
Author's Response:
I try to make pretty clear in some chapters along the way that shrinking technology is still pretty recent, and most people have never experienced what it's like to shrink, so it's a pretty terrifying thing to go through since they have no idea what to expect. Like Ben, they all come in for the money, but might back out eventually.
I do my best to explain some of the things you wonder about in upcoming chapters, such as boundaries between client and employees! That's definitely something that was important to me, it wouldn't make much sense for women to have their usual fun with tinies in an establishment like that and just getting away with it (but also, this is a typical wholesome type story with wacky incidents that happen by accident rather than intentional so that might not have necessarily happened anyway)
Appreciate the review as always!