CYOC: Stuck as my little cousin (A Body Swap Story)
This story is based on the “Family Swap Tradition” branch up to the point of the chapter “Stuck as my little cousin”. All due credits to the anonymous authors and grayman. Added my own photos and twist to the story.
But if you want to read the original, you can read it here: https://www.cyoc.net/interactives/chapter_162577/branch_171502.html
Branches:
Family swap tradition
Dylan’s perspective of the family swap tradition
Dylan is now little Kenny
Dylan and Kenny's First Night
Stuck As My Little Cousin
Reading the CYOC branches are not necessary and you can jump into the story here:
Dylan and Kenny were more than just cousins—they were bound by an unusual family tradition that made their connection even more unique. Every winter, their extended family gathered at their old cabin in the mountains, a tradition that had been passed down for generations. It wasn't just a time for reminiscing and bonding over hot cocoa by the fireplace; there was something much more profound that set their family apart. Each year, without fail, every adult in the family swapped bodies with another adult, and every child swapped with another child. It was a secret they held close, a ritual as ordinary to them as opening presents on Christmas morning. It was said to strengthen the family, to allow everyone to see life from another's perspective—literally.
Ten years ago, when Dylan had just turned eighteen, he had been poised to join the ranks of the adults for the body swap. However, because he had only barely crossed the threshold into adulthood, he had still been considered part of the children's group. That year, his eight-year-old cousin Kenny was part of the lottery as well. As fate would have it, they drew each other's names, an event that hadn't occurred in a while. The family was thrilled at the coincidence, seeing it as a rare and special bond between the two cousins. Dylan, on the other hand, had his reservations. He had always looked forward to swapping with the adults, but instead, he found himself in the body of his younger cousin.
As the swap took effect, Kenny marveled at his new height and strength, eagerly flexing his fingers and running around in Dylan’s teenage body. He found immense joy in doing things he normally couldn’t—opening jars with ease, lifting heavier objects, and even reaching the top shelves without a stool. Dylan, however, was far less enthused about his new perspective. Everything seemed too big, too overwhelming. He missed his independence, his deeper voice, and the physical confidence that came with being eighteen. Despite his discomfort, he tried to make the most of it, knowing the tradition meant it was only temporary.
As the week at the cabin came to an end, everyone gathered in the living room to swap back to their original bodies. One by one, family members reclaimed their identities, until, at last, it was time for Dylan and Kenny. But Kenny had other plans. That night, while Dylan had fallen asleep, Kenny, still in Dylan’s body, carried him to the room where his younger self usually slept. With his father’s help, he tucked Dylan into bed and declared that the swap had already been reversed. His father accepted it without question, trusting the ritual to have gone as planned. In Kenny’s mind, he had just secured himself an entirely new life.
The next morning, Dylan woke up in a panic. He was still in Kenny’s small body. Rushing out of bed, he tried to explain to Uncle Frank, his supposed father now, that something was terribly wrong. But Uncle Frank dismissed his claims with a chuckle, patting his head and telling him that he should let go of his jealousy. No one believed him. They all assumed he was just a child clinging to the experience of being older, something that had happened before with other kids in the past. Try as he might, Dylan couldn’t convince anyone that he had been cheated out of his rightful life.
For the next ten years, Dylan lived as Kenny, forced to relive childhood, go through school again, and watch his former self—now Kenny—live the life that should have been his. He struggled academically, not because he wasn’t intelligent, but because he had already learned everything before. The frustration of redoing classes he had already passed as Dylan gnawed at him. He withdrew from extracurricular activities, lacking the motivation to repeat experiences. Socially, he felt isolated, unable to connect with his peers the way he had when he was truly a child. He lived in a state of detachment, simply going through the motions until he could finally reclaim his real life. Physically, Dylan remained relatively unchanged. His frame remained lean, his voice barely deepened, and puberty didn’t bless him with the same physical advantages he had once had.
(Dylan in Kenny’s 18-year-old body)
It was a stark contrast to what had happened to Kenny. Kenny, living in Dylan’s body, flourished. He embraced adulthood with vigor, excelling in college and later building a promising career. He worked out religiously, sculpting a body that exuded strength and confidence. He took on responsibilities Dylan would have had, networking, dating, and becoming an entirely new person. The family never suspected a thing—they simply believed Kenny had matured well and Dylan had taken a different path.
Each winter at the cabin, Dylan watched as his true body continued to change, growing further away from him. Kenny wore it effortlessly, almost as if he had truly become Dylan. Meanwhile, Dylan felt perpetually stuck, his aspirations put on hold, his identity in limbo. For a decade, he was trapped.
(Kenny in Dylan’s 28-year-old body)
But this year was different. Dylan’s original body was now twenty-eight, and his current one—Kenny’s—was finally eighteen. As the family gathered for their annual ritual, Dylan’s heart pounded. This was his last chance. And then, to everyone’s amazement, Dylan and Kenny drew each other’s names once again. A rare stroke of fate had given Dylan what he had wished for all these years. The swap happened in an instant, and suddenly, Dylan was back in his own body.
(Kenny back in his body)
(Kenny trying to get used to being Kenny again)
(Dylan back in his original body)
(Dylan trying to get used to being Dylan again)
As they sat together after the swap, Kenny looked at Dylan with an expression that was both apologetic and uncertain. "I stole your life," he admitted. "I was just a kid, but I knew what I was doing. I got used to being you, and I—" He trailed off, unable to meet Dylan’s eyes. Dylan let out a slow breath, absorbing the weight of the words. "It’s been ten years," he finally said. "And I guess… it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re back where we’re supposed to be. That’s what counts."
But then Kenny hesitated. "Actually… I wanted to ask you something," he said carefully. "Would it be okay if we swapped again at the end of the trip? I’ve been you for so long. I don’t know how to be myself anymore." Dylan blinked. He wasn’t sure how to respond. A part of him wanted to shout no, but another part of him understood. He left the question unanswered, letting it hang between them like the snowflakes drifting outside the cabin window.
Over the next few days, Dylan struggled to reacquaint himself with his original body. He felt unfamiliar in his own skin—too tall, too muscular, too hairy. His movements felt heavier, more deliberate. He had spent so many years as Kenny that being Dylan again felt alien. He caught his reflection in the mirror and barely recognized himself. Meanwhile, Kenny, back in his original body, wrestled with the same feeling in reverse. He missed the confidence of his old self, the maturity, the strength. Looking at Dylan, he felt like he was staring at a stranger inhabiting the body he had called home for ten years.
(Cousins trying to adapt)
By the end of the week, Dylan made his decision. After several deep conversations, both he and Kenny realized they had fully adapted to their switched lives. "Let’s do it," Dylan told Kenny. "You feel more like Dylan, and I feel more like Kenny. We’ve been each other for too long to go back now." The weight of the decision settled between them, but rather than hesitation, there was a shared sense of relief. Kenny’s face broke into a wide smile, and Dylan felt a surprising sense of contentment. They performed the swap one last time, and when it was done, there was no regret, no confusion—only peace. From that moment forward, Dylan thought of himself as Kenny, and Kenny thought of himself as Dylan. They had lived each other's lives for so long that, in the end, it only felt right. They embraced, not as two people returning to their old selves, but as two men who had found where they truly belonged.
so i'll be casuallly working my way through @/anyhao's ask game - i thought the prompts were so fun that i'd do them regardless of the fact that it's an ask game :)
Girl Group!
bonbon girls/soloist chen zhuoxuan: main vocal (b. 1997)
everglow yiren: main dancer, rapper (b. 2000)
fromis_9 hayoung: leader, main vocal, lead dancer (b. 1997)
mimiirose inn hyori: lead vocal (b. 2000)
woo!ah! nana: main dancer, vocal, rap (b. 2001)
mtg kang eunwoo: main vocal (b. 2002)
niziu mayuka: maknae, main rapper (b. 2003)
details
average age: 22
nationality: 4 korean 2 chinese 1 japanese
weak point: dance, but they're all great performers
strong point: vocals
concept: similar to ive but stronger...ive with a little lesserafim thrown in. im imagining a lot of powerhouse vocal moments & elegant but complex choreo. 20% cute + 45% elegant + 35% "strong"
song recs: lesserafim's blue flame, gwsn's tweaks, exid's cream
Boy Group!
cha hakyeon: leader, main dancer, vocal (b. 1990)
wayv ten: main dancer, vocal (b. 1996)
cho seungyoun/woodz: lead vocal, rapper (b. 1996)
ateez seonghwa: main vocal (b. 1998)
onlyoneof junji: vocal (b. 1998)
chuang 2021 xue bayi: lead dancer, vocal (b. 1999)
chuang 2021 hu yetao: maknae, lead rapper, lead dancer (b. 2000)
details
average age: 25
nationality: 4 korean, 2 chinese, 1 thai chinese
weak point: none tbh
strong point: dance
concept: onlyoneof's "art hoe" concept was on my mind while assembling this group. i think they would do well adding a bit more...techy sounds? and khh into the mix, like 80% onlyoneof, 10% aespa, 10% dean
song recs: onlyoneof's designer, haeil's magical, xiso's poppy
[Since it seems like CYOC may be down for good, I’m going to share some of my favorite stories that were once available on that site, spruced up with grammar fixes and some AI images.
This story (which combines a few branches) was not written by me, but I don’t have the author information saved. If you wrote this and either want credit or want it taken down, please DM me.]
The small silver ring was the ring of truth.
It granted the wearer of the ring a powerful ability, the power to always be correct. Essentially, the ring alters reality itself in order to make any statement by the wearer of any question accurate.
If the wearer were to say, for example, that man's best friend is the cow, then reality would change so that cows would replace dog's as people's faithful companions.
Or if the wearer says that the allies lost World War 2, then the ring will make it so that they had lost all along. The ramifications will be anywhere from practically unnoticeable to life changing.
While the ring alters reality to make the wearer correct, nobody will notice the changes.
——
Alex was having a kinda mediocre day. Sure, school had gone alright, but he definitely messed up on a test. Either way, not much happened.
Alex was a 17-year-old half-Latino kid. He had curly dark hair that reached his ears, a decent figure, all things considered, and at 6’1" he wasn't half bad. Still, he wasn't that great, considering he was the quarterback and STILL hadn't managed to get a girlfriend yet. Maybe it was his sense of humor or his interests, but either way it frustrated him to no end.
"Ugh, man, maybe I'll ask Steve for advice… he always knows what to say." He sighed as he continued to walk towards practice.
However, his mope session was thrown for a loop when something bright flashed in his eye. He winced slightly, then quickly swung his head around ready to sneer at whoever nearly blinded him only to find nobody there. He detoured into the small sitting area that he didn't recognize and looked around."Huh… this new?" He thought aloud.
Alex was about to leave, chalking it up to some passing car until something caught the corner of his vision. Sitting on the edge of the fountain was a small, silver ring. It didn't look like anything major, but still for some reason it caught his eye. He picked it up, giving it a once over, then scratched his chin with his other hand.
"Hmm, wonder if it's worth something,” he thought, hoping that maybe it could help pay for the PS5 he'd been dreaming of. Alex slid the ring onto his hand.
"Shit, gotta get going, don't wanna be-" He started to hustle before getting a call on his phone. Alex pulled it out and raised an eyebrow at the caller I.D. "Really, a call from Henry now?" He thought.
Alex accepted the call and said “Yeah, Henry, what’s up?”
“Hey man, I was just checking to see if you were down to come over to play Call of Duty once you’re cleaned up. Still down for that?” Henry asked. The guy was a gamer geek who had been Alex’s friend since they were little.
“Yeah, sure,” Alex said distractedly.
“Everything ok? I know Delilah turned you down earlier. That must be hard,” his friend said sympathetically.
“I still don’t get it.” Alex vented. “I mean, no offense-”
“None taken.”
“-but somehow I have even more trouble pulling in girls than you. I mean seriously, sometimes I think, have we switched lives and I’m the geek and you’re the jock?”
Suddenly Alex felt a vibration from the ring, and the world suddenly swirled and went black.
When he woke, he was in his room at home, but it was different. There was more geeky stuff about video games, such as posters, that looked like he’d stolen them from Henry.
He glanced in his mirror and gasped. Alex barely recognized himself as he’d become a total geek. He was the same height with the same black hair, but he was paler and quite thin, he now had thick glasses, and he was wearing baggy jeans and a Halo T-shirt that was way too big.
Alex then saw the picture of himself and Henry he kept on his dresser. He saw this new version of himself dressed very similarly to his current outfit, but also a changed Henry. His blond hair was in a pompadour, his skin was more tanned, he wore no glasses, and he was clearly bigger and more muscular, wearing a tight Colts T-shirt.
“Well, sorry, I’ve got to run home and shower,” he heard Henry’s voice come from the phone he realized he still held. “Talk to you when I get there?”
