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  1. Responsibility
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Rated: E · Interactive · Other · #2194646
One day you find a remote that allows you to swap an expansive list of things with anyone
This choice: Responsibility  •  Go Back...
Chapter #5

Responsibility

    by: Switcheroo Author IconMail Icon
You walked into James' room. It was about what you'd expect from a baby's room, with toys strewn about and colorful, childish decorations, and James himself playing with toys in his crib, unaware of your presence. You sat down and watched for a moment before you pressed the button on him. You wanted something mental and simple, then the option for 'Responsibility' popped up. It was a little vague, but you were interested - you knew a baby didn't have the responsibilities of an older teenager. You were curious as to what it meant, though - 'Body' and 'Life' seemed self-explanatory, but would this mean that James would now have to do what you had to and vice versa, or your sense of needing to do things like that? Only one way to find out...

"Confirm."

When you said that, you noticed James' room seemed a bit different. It was still very babyish, but his crib was now a real bed and he was playing on a smartphone. You knew some parents nowadays gave their younger kids smart devices to play with, but not yours. Looking around, toys that were strewn about were now tidied up on the side, though something you did note that wasn't in here before was a stepping stool... and a computer, like in your room? "Woah," you said. This seemed to catch James' attention.

"Michael in room?" James asked, seeming confused.

"Yes, hi, James!" you said, smiling at him. He seemed to just turn his head away from you and call out.

"Mummy?" James called.

"Yeah?" your mother responded in a casual tone, unlike the motherly one she usually used when talking to James.

"Michael in room!" James explained.

"Michael's in your room?" she responded, a little concerned.

"Yes!" James replied.

"Okay, I'll get him," she replied before you heard footsteps. This was odd, to say the least, but gave you more of an idea of what the swap was about. You'd at least swapped away the responsibility to safely roam about the house, and the responsibilities of owning technology, but you didn't feel like you'd lost any skills (yet) and James still talked like a baby, and your mother was conversing with him like an older family member. You wanted to ask him a question just to be sure.

"James, am I meant to be in your room?" you asked.

"No," he answered. "Mummy keep Michael safe." It seemed like in swapping responsibility, you'd swapped some of your agency too, but not your skills... at least, not the skill to talk, but either way it wasn't your responsibility to take care of James unless you had to - not that you minded him seeing as he did look up to you, a teenager was just preoccupied, and Heather liked helping your parents with him. Soon enough, though, 'mummy' was here.

"Michael, how did you get in here?" your mother playfully asked, like she would to James, but before you could think of a response she talked to James in a more casual tone again. "I'm a bit busy with dinner, James, do you want to play with Michael?"

"Yes!" James exclaimed, even though just now he was calling for her upon seeing you in his room, though this would let you swap back with him... assuming you wanted to. He was still a baby, and his personality was probably the same. You were interested in seeing the effects of this swap. "Michael play?" James politely asked you.

"Yeah, why not?" you said with a smile, curious how this would work.

"James, you're such a responsible brother!" your mother complimented him before leaving. "Have fun!"

"Wuv ooh!" James said.

"Love you too!" she replied.

"Love you," you said to her, smiling.

"Aww, and you!" To your surprise, she then walked over to you, picked you up, and kissed you on the cheek before setting you back down and leaving, making James giggle.

"Blocks!" James said, pointing to his toy blocks.

"You want to play with your blocks?"

"Yes!" Naturally, you then tried to stand up and get the blocks at James' request, and you...
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