Lillikol (Complete) +FAQ

[Sophie ♥]

Lillikol ~ 50 Questions

After publishing Lillikol, readers wanted to know more.  So we answered 50 questions about the island and about Maisie.  We really recommend reading the story first, as a few questions spoil key points in the story.

 

1.) So there's an obvious Japanese culture influence on Lillikol as is evident in place names as well as the general expectation that young women will form relationships with each other as a sort of "practice/play" before entering a heterosexual one with adulthood (this originating during the construction of Japanese womanhood during the Meiji era and continuing on to present day Japan). While I feel it's safe to say that your interest in such matters is the obvious origin point, my question really boils down to: how did this play come to be in-universe?

The in-canon explanation for the Japanese influence is actually trade-based. Lillikol is tangentially related to the US, but there are social norms in Japan (like collectivism, and strong community identity) that really resonated with the Lillikolian culture.  Though Lillikol’s island name is Polynesian, the cities are Japanese because they were built and developed afterward, when trade was more important.  The idea of homosexuality as a silly concept for boys and immature for girls was just congruent with us as writers.  It sounded fun.

 

2.) How big is Lillikol?

It's roughly circular and about 55 miles from coast to coast, give or take.  It would take less than a day to walk from one side to the other, if you wanted to.

 

3.) When was Lillikol founded and by whom?

People lived there for a long time, but the official "start" of Lillikol was around the 1900s. The annexation of Hawaii and division of a lot of the Pacific ocean was a big motivator; Lillikol was out of the way and people didn't seem to bother with it.

 

4.) Were both of Maisie's parents from Lillikol or just her mother? 

Both Maisie's parents were born on Lillikol, as was Maisie. 

 

5.) What happened to make Maisie’s parents leave Lillikol?  Was it just their own wants for personal improvement that made them forget about their daughter?

They left when Maisie was less than a year old because they "wanted more out of life". They moved to Oregon and worked tirelessly to fit in with this new culture. Maisie, however, didn't fit in at all (as most teenagers don’t!).  As time went on, Maisie’s parents grew more and more disappointed in their daughter couldn’t fit society’s standards of “normal” and they gave up on her.

 

6.) What did Maisie’s parents see in her that was different? She seemed mostly average when she arrived in Lillikol.

The short answer is, nothing was ever good enough for Maisie's parents. They didn't want her to be "Lillikolian", they wanted her to be "American". Even though the Lillikolian culture never permeated who Maisie was (until she arrived there), she was under constant pressure to be perfect.

 

7.) Does any girl/woman choose to just never "train-out”? 

Generally, no. When they feel ready to "be adults" they work on potty training. Since it's not a fetish to them, the idea of being in diapers for the rest of their lives isn't really that appealing. However, even as adults, some women will wear a diaper to bed or at the end of a long day for comfort. Think of it like a glass of wine!

 

8.) How was the age for when women could 'train out' decided? Same question, for boys? 

Girls, it's usually the time they "start a family". Eighteen is the minimum, twenty-one is more average, and sometimes as late as twenty-five. All that is normal. The philosophy is "I'm ready to have a child of my own, so I can't play the part anymore." 

Boys, it's about the time they start puberty. Sex becomes way more important. Girls don't really find boys in diapers to be sexy - it's more familial. So boys train out on their own, to show that they aren't kids. Like a display of maturity? But since girls care a little less about that, boys built an affection for diapers and "babying" their girlfriends. Do this over and over for a few generations, and you have current Lillikolian sexuality.

 

9.) The tech on the island seems old. Is this by choice or just because they are on an island?

The tech on the island is underdeveloped by design. The people in charge decide what tech comes to the island and what doesn't. This is to maintain their "way of life". Phones and internet and stuff are generally turned away because it takes away from the community aspect of the island. Also, exposure to the outside world interrupts the delicate balance they build. Despite this, Lillikolians know about other countries and the kinds of tech they have available. (They have movie theaters so sometimes approved movies will show computers and phones!) But generally, people don't care. Why would they?

 

10.) What about hospital technology?  Is it on par with average US hospitals?

Lillikol doesn't have hospitals. They have medical centers in each city, and a particularly large medical center in Lillikol Proper. Their medical tech isn't exactly on par with modern day, but it's still very good. They can take care of 99% of problems. For the other 1%, they have a partnership with a Hawaiian hospital.

[littleTomás]

On 9/7/2020 at 12:00 PM, Sophie ♥ said:

On second thought… maybe diapers weren’t a bad thing at all.  Maybe they were supposed to be part of my perfect life all along.

 

At long last she realized what I knew all along!

Amazing story. It had a very nice twist there at the end, solid world building, and it was thought provoking. I constantly would be scratching my head as new details were revealed and the plot unraveled. Cora is my favorite character in the story and she helped make Maisie complain way less about literally everything. Also Cora is gonna turn that tunnel into a gay bar when she’s an adult. Team Cora! Awesome job S&P ?

[Sophie ♥]

11.) Does Lillikol have trans people?  If so, what age do they transition?

I'm sure they have trans people, based on statistics alone.  But they aren't really recognized that way.  It's more like "a boy who dresses like a girl" and "a girl who dresses like a boy".  But because people are generally polite (or at worst, standoffish) they aren't bullied or humiliated for their choices.  People just might find them weird.  It's a bit archaic and hopefully Maisie's presence on the island creates some cultural shifts around gender and stereotyping.  

 

12.) Can I put Lollikol in the same universe as the Calibeen series and the Dependents series? I must make connections akin to how Steven King tied like 30 of his pieces of work to the Dark Tower!  For example: the 7 colors of diapers on Lollikol are the same 7 colors of diapers given to Firsts before the color ceremony.

Technically speaking, there's nothing preventing Lillikol from being within the Calibeen series or the Dependent series!  I mean, it's an island in the middle of nowhere.  As for the colors of diapers, you could totally argue they are made by the same manufacturer.

 

13.) Do Cora and Maisie end up together?

Maisie is fifteen years old, so her love life is not set in stone. However, we set up the end so that she has a romantic interest in Cora and potentially Kodi, if people want to headcanon it that way.

 

14.) What diplomatic relations does Lillikol maintain with the US?

We are not diplomatic experts, so pardon my complete lack of helpful information here. We chose Lillikol's state of affairs mostly for convenience so we could write cute diaper stories. But here you go. 

Lillikol is its own national entity. It doesn't adhere to the constitutional laws and regulations of the United States. That being said, they have a strong diplomatic relationship, mostly because the US doesn't actually care. Lillikol is small, has very few valuable resources, and is strategically less advantageous when compared to Hawaii. The United States allows immigration from Lillikol with very little paperwork (partly because it happens so rarely), and in exchange Lillikol doesn't offer support to US enemies (though they have no ability to do so). Lillikol isn't allowed to legally own its own military, and they are required to provide emergency assistance to US citizens lost at sea.

 

15.) We know girls wear dresses; is it socially unacceptable for their diapers to be on full display? 

Past a certain age (4-5 years old) it's socially unacceptable to have your diaper showing. They are literally treated as underwear. Though older children (5-10 years old) will flash their diapers for kicks, it's frowned upon. This is sort of a lead-up to puberty, when seeing someone's diaper becomes a very familial, intimate thing. That being said, girls get around this rule by using thicker diapers, which forces them to waddle. It's a way of "showing they are wearing a diaper without actually showing it". Unnecessarily thick diapers are the equivalent of wearing a thong and low-rise jeans.

 

16.) Is it possible for someone to hold dual citizenship with Lillikol and the United States? And in such a case, if someone has left, given that new people are rarely allowed onto the island, can someone who's left Lillikol return? Whether a case like Maisie's or an adult even going back and forth. 

Dual citizenship... yes, though they would need to be born on the island. Lillikol's immigration policy is "no". They don't have asylum either. If someone washes up on their shores, there is protocol for that. If you have left Lillikol, you can return. You can travel between the United States and Lillikol, though the process is extremely difficult and exhausting. The best way to do this is to work for the Lillikolian government, which is mostly made up of teachers.

 

17.) How would their society react to someone who is incontinent? For a boy, would people believe he's incontinent or just think he's faking it? For a girl, will society ever seen them as an adult? 

It would be a non-issue. If someone is incontinent, they would wear diapers. If anything, they would have less stigma than the United States. No one would think twice about it, or even think it's weird. Lillikolians also take medical needs quite seriously.

 

18.) What happened behind the scenes with the arguments for and against Maisie being allowed onto the island? 

It was a huge discussion. Maisie's situation is unprecedented. Adults have left the island before and returned, though it's rare. Never before has an infant left the island and returned knowing nothing about Lillikolian culture. If Maisie had even one family member or potential guardian in the United States, she would have been denied access to Lillikol. The primary concern is how she would impact society, and if she was a threat to their "way of life". Mace was one of the people on the committee and he offered his family (as did one other member of the committee) to incorporate Maisie. In the end, the vote was extremely close and - as the story shows - for good reason.

 

19.) If someone was trans and able to say "I want to be a girl", how would that be received? We've seen Lew, but I don't want to assume anything in his case, since he hasn't actually identified that way as far as we know. 

It wouldn't be taken very seriously. Boys aren't required by law to train out. (Girls aren't required to stay diapered either, but that's a totally different mess). It's just a social faux pas. It's seen mostly as "immature", and very unattractive to girls. But at the same time, Lillikolian culture is mostly polite. The worst that would happen is that person loses some friends. If a boy decided to live as a girl, dress as a girl, wear diapers for another ten years, and dated boys... nothing bad would happen. But that person would have a hard time making friends. Hopefully Maisie goes into policymaking.

 

20.) Can boys marry boys and girls marry girls?

No, not at the point in time when the story takes place. Marriage isn't religious, but heterosexuality is a strong social norm.

[Sophie ♥]

21.) What plot devices and/or MacGuffins would you recommend for a teenager being adopted into a Lillikolian family from the US? 

They must have been born on Lillikol. This is an interesting idea to play with, because someone could be born on the island during a rescue and then they are technically Lillikolian. But if they were not born on the island, they are an immediate and resounding "no". 

The next factor is island responsibility. Do they need to step in? In this case, the younger the person the better. An adult by United States standards (18+) means the island has no responsibility. The next thing they consider is island impact. Will this disrupt the island's way of life? This is the most subjective, and proceedings rarely get this far. Finally, they need an adoption family ready and waiting. It has to be voluntary, and there's a rigorous set of criteria.

Finally, if you give it a few years, Maisie's success story would likely make this process a bit easier. Not a LOT easier... but a bit.

 

22.) What would happen if someone washed up on the island but couldn't go back home? Would Lillikol just try to pawn them off on someone else? 

They have procedures for exactly this thing. Lillikol has a holding center for castaways. More like a beach house than a cell. The castaways are later transported to Hawaii where the United States takes care of them. What the US does then is up to them. This isn't always what is best for the castaway, depending on their country of origin and the current political climate in the US. But withholding a castaway goes against their diplomatic agreements, so Lillikol doesn't really have a choice.

 

23.) What about someone petitioning the Lillikol government, perhaps with a bit of pressure from the US because the US does what the US wants. 

Okay so this creates a disparity on "what we want" and "what might happen". Since Lillikol is our creation, I would love to believe they would follow our principles. That is, letting a big boy boss you around once means they will do it again. Letting threats and fear of the unknown make your political decisions is a slippery slope. Additionally, bending the rules for someone that could disrupt your society threatens their way of life. So I hope beyond hope they would say no to the United States. 

That being said, we made the mistake of putting Lillikol in the "real world". So whatever corruption stems from that is probably our own doing. Ahh, the burdens of a god...

 

24.) Could you elaborate more on the program Maisie was in? We only really see the parts about enforcing diaper use, but it seemed like there was a lot more monitoring going on. 

In order to put a student into the High Regulation program, they have to be approved by the school board (which is like city government). Maisie was pre-approved before she even got on the island, but Sugar didn't want to use it. She wanted to give Maisie the freedom to make her own choices. 

Basically, the High Regulation program is a more intense version of the Regulation program. Regulation is all about checking up on students, helping with school, giving attention, changing diapers, etc. It's good for students with busy parents or students with a lot of siblings that aren't getting enough attention. It's also good for students with depression, ADHD, and physical health concerns, as well as students on a new medication that need help with reminders. The whole system is put in place to encourage health and routine, though Maisie's interpretation of it was quite vilifying. The High Regulation version is a lot more clinical and has access to more aggressive forms of powder. Enforcing diaper usage is not one of its core principles, though it is a handy side-effect.

 

25.) So had Maisie been having more problems with active self harm or other mental health issues, it would have been more similar to something between intensive outpatient and Individual Education plans? I wanted to ask about mental healthcare on the island and why she never saw a therapist, even as part of general screening. 

That is exactly correct, a very good definition of Regulation plans. There are also school counselors (who are more like therapists and extremely qualified) that are there if you need them, though regular appointments aren't exactly a thing. It's more of a walk-in experience. Truthfully, parents in Lillikol usually fill the role of "needing someone to talk to".

 

26.) What's with the timed diaper covers? 72 hours is crazy! 

They are intended to be used as a solution and a punishment for people who keep wetting or leaking in school. Some people don't change their diapers enough, while others think they can get away with tapeless when they clearly can't. The timers are for levels of offense: 6 hours, 24 hours, or 72 hours. More and more frequently, they are used instead to inhibit sex on school grounds. Maisie was put in one because she was in the boy's bathroom, which is a place girls often only go for one reason.

The 72 hours is pure punishment, truth be told. After that kind of diaper rash, you won't soon make the same mistake.

 

27.) What kinds of things are forbidden on the island and what's left to discretion? If Maisie had had books with her, would they be checked over by some standard? Table top RPGs? Board Games? Physical photographs?

It's on a case-by-case basis. If Maisie had taken any photographs with her, she likely would have been able to keep them. Clothes, usually not, with maybe rare exceptions for sentimentality. Games, no. Maybe one of the customs officials would take a look, find it interesting, and offer it up as a "potential thing to bring to the island" and it would go to a review board. Books, no. Same thing. If something isn't available on Lillikol, it's probably not available for a reason.

 

28.) When Maisie brings up rape, Lyon says it's not polite conversation. What happens to someone accused of that? 

In Lillikolian history, it has only happened once. The man was castrated. Men on the island both respect and protect women, regardless of how childishly they dress. Likewise, women are taught to speak their minds plainly, even with those in positions of power. Despite their differences in dynamic, the confidence, empathy, and respect in girls and boys are about equal.

 

29.) How socially acceptable are pacifiers for women?

Not uncommon, but not acceptable either. Pacifiers are something girls (and boys) get over at about 6-7 years old, around the time they get over strawberry powder. But sometimes girls play up the baby angle with boyfriends and stuff, as a joke. It's one of those things an adult would roll their eyes at. Almost every instance of Maisie using a pacifier is Julienne teasing her. Diapers are ironically more comforting for adult women than pacifiers!

 

30.) How about dirty diaper smell? 

Though messing is normal, it's a lot less common than wetting. For whatever reason (I'm not a scientist) it's a lot easier to train out of messing. Most girls will use the nurse's bathrooms at school if they need to go, or they wait until they get home. That being said, some girls do mess. It's more of an intimate experience that they generally don't make public. They will usually change right away, so they don't smell. Diapers or not, teenagers don't want to smell bad.

Lastly, I'm sure there are some dietary limitations and regulations that ensure the wet (or messy) diaper smells aren't that bad. Also, probably a lot of water.

[Baby Billy]

I really liked your comment about being God, as an author of a story like this or the diaper dimension you are god you create the land the people and the rules than take the story from there.? 

[Sophie ♥]

16 hours ago, Baby Billy said:

I really liked your comment about being God, as an author of a story like this or the diaper dimension you are god you create the land the people and the rules than take the story from there.? 

Thank you!! It can be complicated sometimes. ❤️ 

[Sophie ♥]

31.) Is it possible that they've developed some sort of thing to change metabolics a bit and make messy diapers not smelly, given their powders and how big a part of their culture diapers are? 

Sadly, no. Maybe some stuff that makes it less stinky? But it's absolutely necessary that messy diapers smell bad, or none of the plot even works! (Can you tell I’m getting sleepy?)

 

32.) How did Maisie first react to messy diapers? 

The first experiences she had with messy diapers was actually Julienne. They were in line at a concession stand and Julienne ran off in a hurry. Maisie followed her and Julienne froze just outside the bathroom. Maisie reacted as any good sister would: she teased the hell out of her! And then told her it was okay.  Accidents happen.

 

33.) Did Maisie ever mess her diapers? 

Yes. It was anticlimactic. She didn't like it, but she didn't freak out. She took a long shower afterward.

 

34.) How far from Hawaii is Lillikol?

200 miles northeast? I'm bad at judging distance, so I hope that checks out.

 

35.) What is Lillikol’s population?

About 20,000.  7,500 in Lillikol Proper. 5,000 in Nishi.  2,500 each in Kita, Azuma, and Minami.  That means Maisie would only have 30ish kids in her grade!

 

36.) Which begs the question - why are Cora and Julienne only in a few of her classes?

There is only one school in Kita, with about 400 kids.  The school has two buildings: an elementary school and a high school.  Each school runs maybe 10 classrooms at a time, but they all math classes.  Two classes of Math 6, two of Math 7, etc.  Maisie might be in Math 7 but in English 9, depending on her level of advancement.  Even if she’s in the same class as Julienne, she might be in a different classroom.

Long story short, it’s okay to be in a higher grade in one class and a lower grade in another.  And yes, this is a clever work-around we came up with after the fact.

 

37.) Does Lillikol have a university?

Yes.  Only one, in Lillikol Proper.  The university is only for high-skill jobs like doctors and counselors and teachers, since the school system is actually good and you don’t need 4 more years of monetized education to know how to do things.  Also, apprenticeships are way more common and always paid.

 

38.) What does Maisie do after the story ends?

She lives her life.  She gets a bike.  She goes exploring with Cora through the woods.  She takes day trips to the other cities.  She studies at Lillikol Proper’s library.  I like to imagine she and Julienne go on a hiking trip around the entire island, following the cliffs and the beaches.  It would take a few days (maybe a week?) but they would have a lot of fun camping together.  They would take a lot of pictures!

 

39.) What's the diaper market like? Are all the diapers made by the same company? If not what's the marketing competition like? There is only one current manufacturer, though that wasn't always the case. 

Prior to the 1970's, Lillikol used cloth diapers. When disposables were brought to the island, they were particularly popular with younger people, because they were more attractive than plastic pants. There was a bit of a manufacturer pride at the time, and it formed cliques on the island. One of the companies eventually shut down and the other refused to evolve. They switched to a totally new company in the 90's and switched again in 2008. They've had the same seven colored diapers since then. 

Despite the recent social development of diapers being attractive, the Lillikolian government still sees them as a practical choice. As time goes on and politics switch over to a younger generation, there might be a movement for more childish prints. I can definitely see Lillikol making a deal with ABU sometime in the next decade!

 

40.) What are the diapers like in Lillikol? 

For teenagers and adults (ages 13+), there are two kinds of diapers (day and night), each in seven different colors: red (light, almost pink), orange (peach), yellow (the least socially popular but still with high sales), green (mint), blue (powder blue), purple (lavender), and white (with blue tapes, whereas the others have white tapes). All of them are sticky-tapes, no hook and loops.

The day diapers are thinner, more discrete, and recommend changing every six or so hours. The night diapers are thicker, force a bit of a waddle, and recommend changing every twelve hours. Boosters are also very common, especially for long days with lots of activities. Then there are Tapeless diapers, which are like a bigger, white-only version of Goodnites. These are for young adult women to help them potty train. Boys usually skip them completely. Baby diapers (infant to 12 years old) are another story. There is actually less variety and a lot of young girls are excited for colorful teenage diapers.

[Sophie ♥]

41.) Do Lillikolians talk about which diapers are most absorbent, or which ones are better for certain situations? 

Oddly enough, no. Since diapers are more of a societal staple than a hobby, people don't like to stay in wet diapers too long. The absorbency of modern ABDL diapers would probably be considered excessive and a little pointless. 

As for the 'better for certain situations' part of the question, this is actually very common with boosters! Assessing a day's activities and deciding to use zero, one, or two boosters is constant. It wouldn't be out of place to overhear a discussion between girls about how many boosters are best for going out to dinner and then seeing a movie.

 

42.) What about the sex diapers Maisie mentions? 

Ha! I forgot about that line! These are sort of like a cloth diaper mod, and found only in adult sections of stores. They are ironically called "adult diapers" and have a hole placed conveniently for frontal penetration. These are for young adult women who are uncomfortable with complete nudity and find safety in wearing a diaper. Sometimes adult women use them as a nostalgia thing.

But a parent finding one in a teenager's room is often cause for a huge fight. Though Lillikol is generally sex-positive, diapers serve as an effective deterrent to traditional sex for high schoolers. There's still a lot a boy and a girl can do when the girl is in diapers, but one of those things isn't getting pregnant. Adult diapers are also carded items, which women can't obtain until they are eighteen years old.

 

43.) On that topic, what about contraception?

Condoms are a thing, but they are carded.  Despite this, most dads will buy some for their sons just in case.  Better safe than sorry.

Truthfully, diapers are the most effective form of contraception in Lillikol.  In their teen years, girls tend to be uncomfortable without them.  Girls are also brought up to be very vocal about their wants and feelings, which discourages sex that makes them uncomfortable.  Boys are also raised to be extremely respectful of a girl's body, and seeing a girl naked is more reminiscent of diaper changes than sex.  The opportunity to change a girl's diaper is very intimate, but also very familial.  Wearing a diaper is sexy. Changing one isn't. So naked girls tend to be less sexy than diapered ones.

 

44.) Adding on to the question about being trans earlier: I don't suppose there'd be any access to hormones or any other medical interventions? 

There are access to hormones, but trans reasons are not one of the approved uses. Other medical interventions are also a negative. Like I said before, if Maisie becomes a policymaker you can expect a lot of sexuality and gender reforms. Maisie says trans rights!

 

45.) Have you thought about making a world where acting like a baby is sexy and not just wearing diapers? Like, a more intense Lillikol, with less attention to morality and human rights? 

Yes, we wrote that story. It's called Untrained. You can find it for free on our Patreon.

 

46.) Where do the powders come from and why do they use them if the culture is happy to be in diapers? 

Again, we aren't economists or pharmacologists, but the simple answer is: they are imported from other countries. Since Lillikol is an independent nation, it isn't inhibited by the FDA. That being said, Lillikolian officials do their research before bringing anything to the island. 

Powders (which are often actual powder, and sometimes injections) are a specific type of drug that are used primarily for as-needed treatments. Some make certain things easier on parents, such as Strawberry Powder (short-term mild euphoria). Immunities to this powder builds quite fast, so Strawberry is used exclusively on children. Lemon Powder (relaxation) is something you can buy at a teahouse, which is particularly popular during school exams. People also tend to abuse Lemon Powder more than any other powder. The effects of these powders on Maisie in the story are intensified because she has never had them before, and these were the most potent effects.

Plum Powder and Purgatory Powder (a colloquialism for Blackberry Powder) are actually much older, when punishments were more common. They aren't used that much anymore, and maybe half the children in Lillikol can go their entire lives without ever experiencing them.

Unlike conventional powders (which are fruit-named), there are a series of highly regulated medical powders and can't be used by anyone other than medical professionals with pre-authorization. Bright powder (compliance for about 10 minutes) is used by school nurses as a more advanced Strawberry Powder that works on teens and is easier to authorize. Heavy Powder (muscle relaxant) and Soft Powder (painkiller) are injectables for fast-acting effects. Maisie was pre-authorized for all powders before arriving on the island, given her unique circumstance. 

Other powders that Maisie doesn't experience that we should mention include Peach Powder (which helps you sleep), Cherry Powder (which acts a bit like caffeine), and Mango Powder (which helps you focus). Mango Powder is abused almost as much as Lemon Powder, but is harder to come by.

There are non-powder oral medications as well, such as vitamins, anti-depressants, painkillers, and other medical interventions.

 

47.) Does the school, given that it seems to serve as a good part of the government system (especially for people underage) have authority over students outside of school hours? Do they have a lot available outside of school hours, since you talked about the regulation program, counseling, etc.

Nope.  The school acts as a parent to a child only during school hours.  Some teachers serve as Lillikolian officials as well, but they have no power outside of lawmaking.  Schools do provide 24 hour services, such as runaway shelters (it happens sometimes with teens!) and all hours counseling.  The Regulation programs are school hours only.

 

48.) Does Lillikol have police? 

Yes, but they are more like a neighborhood watch. Parents are responsible for their kids, not the country. The most they will do is bring a kid home, even if they broke something or assaulted someone. There is a court system for adults, which usually results in community service. There are procedures for serious crimes (murder, rape, etc) but they happen very, very rarely. Consider this a "plot hole" in our story if you want, but I don't want to think about our imaginary diaper island's murder rate. Just let us pretend people can be good and decent.

 

49.) Does the southern city serve as a port city, given their reliance on imports? 

Yep! Minami actually has some steep cliffs, but there are key locations that make it easy to get down to the water. Minami has a lot of docks, many of which are used for imports. Minami is also has a lot of recreational boating that you can't do in Nishi, because of the beaches.

The residential docks are separate from the commercial ones, which limits contact between Lillikolians and off-islanders.  They also rarely get “new companies” and never imports that haven’t been regulated and pre-approved.  That being said, cultural differences still transfer between the adults who do the offloading and the captains of the ships bringing imports.  If you did your research, you would find most of the cultural shifts came out of Minami, including the Japanese emphasis on collectivism.

On the topic of in-country tourism, Kita has tide pools and gorgeous views of Azuma's cliffs. Azuma has gardens and forests and a museum on flowers.

 

50.) Does Maisie get her revenge? 

Absolutely! >:D

[littleTomás]

I love how y'all made some of the explanations after the fact. I often write things, but don't analyze the world-implications super in-depth, so that was relatable. Anyways, as always, y'all write fantastic stories. Keep it up!

[keith60]

hi  sophie

[Sarah_Hillcrest]

I'm almost finished with this story.  I generally read books on an e-reader, so I haven't read many of the episodic stories on this forum.  I found the SP Patreon through "The Usual Bet" and found all the stories in pdf format. It surprised me to find Sophie here on this forum that I've been a part of for years but somehow missed her.  This was the first story I downloaded and it is so good!!!!  Thanks for all the amazing content.  

[Sophie ♥]

13 hours ago, Hopsalot said:

@Sophie ♥ and @Pudding hey! Sorry for pinging you here but I wanted to check in with you on something really quick, I would’ve private messaged you but I couldn’t get that message to send so I’m trying here. At the middle of this story, I think, I made a comment about an idea I had for the island and I decided to write it out. I’m messaging here just as a formality because the structure is pretty similar for the island (my story will be a different island though) and I didn’t want to step on any toes or make anyone upset at all, so I’m happy to answer questions about it if you have them, I just felt weird posting a story that seemed similarish to this one and wanted to message you guys first. 

Oh my gosh. XD No feel free to write whatever you want!  We are actually super happy that we inspired you to write something else. ❤️  Look forward to reading it!

[XyXy]

So, what do they do with all the used diapers? Wouldn't the island landfills quickly be overwhelmed with that many people wearing for so long?

[Sophie ♥]

3 hours ago, XyXy said:

So, what do they do with all the used diapers? Wouldn't the island landfills quickly be overwhelmed with that many people wearing for so long?

I have a thing where, after a diaper is taken off, it disappears from my brain.  Like, I don't wanna think about it.  I'm reminded of that scene in Spongebob where he takes off the couch cover and it's diapers.  And tears down the wallpaper and it's diapers.  And I think to myself: "I hate that."  So any time you read a Sophie or S&P story, just assume they get magicked into another dimension.

TBH tho, I don't have a good answer for you.  In my brain, Lillikol is a very natural and cleanly place, with few exceptions.  I would like to say that their trash in general is taken off the island or has a very suitable trash disposal system.  But I don't know the limitations of such a thing and nor do I care to think about it.

[keith60]

when will maisie start pooping in her diaper 

[keith60]

this story is good 

[Kahlez]

First thanks to keith for commenting here or i would have missed that story even i have only read like maybe 10% already want read it all. There is a funny thing for me to point out that the name Kita is kind of ironic or maybe fitting (i guess depending on your view). In Germany Kita is short for "Kindertagestätte" and basically means Daycare xD