Reviewer: TerryLarka Signed
Date: February 13 2024
Title: Chapter 2: Callie vs the Persuasive Professor
I'm kinda curious as to what Duncan and Kristie's relationship looked like before he shrunk because I'm failing to see what he saw in her from this snippet lol. I mean, three days into shrinking and he's already less than a hamster? Goddamn. I do love how verbally manipulative she was, if being physically imposing wasn't already enough, and that duplicity is clearly responsible for what Duncan "saw" in her.
The opening does a great job contrasting her with Callie, both Callie's softer, deliberate motions in approaching and handling Duncan, as well as her not-so-silver tongue which at least better conveys her sincerity. And man, her explanation of bringing out her mom's sowing machine was adorable ("So I said to myself, 'Self, you gotta help this man out,' cuz that's what roomies do for each other," is so cute it hurts). She's characterized very well throughout the chapter. After making multiple sets of tiny clothes and the most impressive miniature replica of a mattress ever, she's catastrophizing about a short offhand comment she didn't even finish. What a beautiful soul!
The moment Stillwell (great name for a snivelly, creep-ass professor. No offense to any real Stillwells, I'm sure you're cool. Where was I? Oh, right.) locked eyes onto the woman in the backrow of an ampitheater lecture hall, I threw up in my mouth. I hate this guy, and I love that. Every subsequent line about and from him is a downward spiral of vile dreck. The fact that he so brazenly admits he raises the classroom thermostat "for her sake" is the dingleberry on the scum sundae.
Callie being so distraught as to almost unaware step on Duncan is another great moment, enhanced by tiny D being too mesmerized by the titaness before him to move out of the way (and subsequently get a good, totally not enviable I swear, whiff of some toe webbing). I think the potential for harm, usually unitended harm, makes gentle stories all the better. It's hard to explain, but the idea of a giantess intentionally having to hold herself back for the tiny's sake and be ever cognizant the effect simple actions have on him is really appealing.
I already like this Monica character and the two very different impressions our leads have of her. Looking forward to seeing how this meeting with her plays out.
Author's Response: Hey Terry!
You're right in that Kristie's manipulative nature is something that Duncan got sucked into. I've also been kind of hinting that his childhood wasn't exactly stable and that things were a bit rough, so he kind of mistook some of her meanness for simple, blunt honesty, something he actually values. I should also note that this was a really complicated relationship even before the shrinking, so who knows: Maybe we'll dive a little deeper into that as the story progresses.
I'm thrilled that you pointed out the contrasting ways in which Kristie and Callie have handled Duncan's size, both physically and verbally. I tried a couple of things in an effort to draw out that comparison specifically, so it's good to hear that this stuck out for you.
Callie's sewing machine rant was pretty fun to write. And yeah, I also like the fact that she's still worried about offending him even after doing all of that stuff for him. She's not really the type of person who does stuff for "credit," so she doesn't feel like making that stuff should give her a pass. Also, she's kind of embarrassed and confused, as she was saying that without thinking about it, and she's not really sure what she meant by it. Maybe a bit of a Freudian slip on her part?
I love that your reaction to Stillwell was that immediate. I was trying to set a very particular tone with that creep, and your reaction makes me feel like I nailed it! As for his brazen admission about the thermostat, that was maybe the scummiest thing I could think of for him to do in that situation. He's just playing with her psyche at that point. Dingleberry on a scum sundae indeed.
No need to explain on the appeal of giantess' having to show restraint and the impact of their casual actions. You're preaching to the choir, as they say. And like you said, two people wrapped up in two very different emotions in that moment led to some unintentional carelessness that thankfully only ended with a face full of foot sweat (and a raging hard-on).
Monica is turning out to be a pretty fun character to write (as she was at the back end of this last chapter). That's all I should probably say about that for now.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts!