It wasn't anything, if I was just allowed to speak, I could've explained myself! Instead, as soon as the glass of water fell onto my lap, the speaker system of my apartment chimed and the ever-familiar voice of Gaia rang through my place.

"Citizen Kaitlyn, there has been an accident reported by your clothing. As you know, such an act is not tolerated for members of your citizen level. Therefore, you have been issued a demotion. You have three business days to submit an appeal form, or otherwise you may be promoted if you display outstanding maturity for your citizen level. Commencing demotion."

I opened my mouth to speak, but before words came to mind the chime sounded again and I knew Gaia had stopped listening. Even for my new level, Gaia did not delegate constant attention to me. I wanted to stomp on the ground and throw a temper tantrum, increasing my stress levels and heart rate, so that she would be drawn to check in on me, but deep down I knew that that would just mean further punishments, not enough for a demotion, but still punishments none the less.

Sighing, I could hear as my apartment began to shift to accommodate my new rank. The emblem on my front door was going to change as well, instead of proclaiming to those walking by that I was at least somewhat valuable to the world at large, my new doorpiece would show that Gaia thought I was just a child.

"It wasn't like your old rank was all that impressive," a mental voice chimed in. I sighed again, knowing that that voice was at least partially right. I was the lowest of what most would consider the "adult population", mostly because I couldn't advance any higher because of my position as a freelance artist, but still, I was queen of my citizenship level, which was mainly populated with the unemployed.

The ding sounded when my apartment stopped shifting, almost like a microwave proclaiming it was done cooking, but in this case the dish was a heaping load of disappointment. Speaking of food, I was just getting myself a cup of water to drink while I was getting ready to cook dinner for myself when it spilled and this entire mess happened. I opened my fridge to reveal that all of my raw ingredients had vanished, and been replaced with what looked like individually wrapped snacks and lunchables. Wincing, I checked the freezer, and only microwaveable meals were in there.

Even better still, my entire kitchen was basically gone, replaced with one microwave that didn't have any buttons on it. All of my food and spices in my pantry were replaced with plastic-wrapped, serving-size snacks and meals.

I knew that eating healthy was an easy way to promote, so I grabbed a glass of water and a lunchable and retired to the living room to watch some TV.

My TV and most of my living room was at least the same, but I guessed that Gaia probably blacklisted some of the more "mature" channels, so I didn't even try.

As I turned on the TV, my automated house system spoke up.

"Citizen Kaitlyn, you are wearing clothing that is prohibited from your citizen level, please change into an approved garment and turn in your current outfit in your personal quarters."

Then the system began to repeat. I grit my teeth. Each one of these little indignities were adding up, and soon I had no idea what I would do.

My bedroom was still kind of the same. My king size bed had been reduced to a twin, and its linens set now sported a flower pattern. My walk-in closet had all of its hanging space changed to simple shelving units, where my new clothes were unceremoniously piled in neat little stacks. I stripped of my v-neck and khaki slacks, down to my lacy panties and bra, and traded them out for a pink T-shirt with a little sequin of a flower near the waist and a modest baby blue skirt.

Dejected, I threw my old outfit down the laundry chute to be requisitioned by some other, higher level citizen. Just as I was about to return to my food, my house system spoke up again.

"Unauthorized undergarments detected, please change immediately."

I didn't yell "give me panties or give me death!" because that would've probably netted me a demerit and put me on my way further down the rabbit hole of the lower citizen levels, but I really, desperately, passionately wanted to.

Instead I gingerly stepped out of my panties, undid my bra and threw them down the chute after my old clothes, trading my little luxury of quiet scandalousness out for a fresh set of plain light pink underwear and a tan bra.

Now, finally kitted out in my new clothes I could go back to eating my food. I curled up on the couch with my water and lunchables, letting the mindless TV drama play as I stuffed my face full of ham, american cheese and ritz crackers. After my dinner I searched every nook and cranny of my apartment for any kind of alcohol whatsoever, but, not finding any, I just decided to lay dejectedly on the couch as I kept watching TV. I could work on some of my commissions, I thought, but I was in no mood to be productive.

"It is time for sleep, citizen Kaitlyn, executing sleep protocol." I heard my house system declare. There wasn't anything I could do to protest as the TV shut off and the lights began to dim, so instead I just went to my room, dressed myself in slightly childish baby blue pajamas and fell asleep.


----------------------
"But!" I said, trying to speak up as Gaia was rattling off my demerits all around my apartment. Over the last week I had eaten none of my meals in designated dining areas, not gone to bed on time a single time and I wasn't "sufficiently productive".


"Further demerits will put you at a serious risk of demotion, Citizen Kaitlyn, recommendation is to change your behavior immediately."

The ding sounded again and she was gone. I stomped my foot, now clad not in my usual socks, but now in velcro shoes and ankle socks with frills around the top.

There was a knock at my door, and I could hear a familiar voice call my name.

"Kaitlyn! Its Moira."

"Come in!" I yelled

Moira came in. She was my neighbor, former classmate and best friend. While we still kept up with each other despite our radically different career paths, I always have an inkling that she's only friends with me because it makes her feel more mature. Not that that's an issue for her. I heard her professional heels click along my hallway as she walked in. She was wearing all the trappings of her citizen class, a smart office dress, a leather purse and her hair pulled back in an elegant bun. Even without the heels she was several inches taller than me, but now she towered over my head even from a distance.

"What happened to you?" she immediately asked, sizing up my childish clothing. "Did you get demoted?"

"Yeah, but it was an accident, I swear!" Moira made a little disbelieving smirk.

"Anyway, I just wanted to knock and ask if you were up for lunch. I'm off work today and I wanted to get out of the apartment."

I agreed and we both left my apartment. I climbed into the passenger seat of Moira's car, but when she turned the ignition the car's AI piped up.

"Unauthorized citizen in the passenger seat, please move to the rear seating of the vehicle."

I groaned, and Moira just gave me an apologetic look. Instead of protesting, I just hopped in the backseat. Moira looked into the rear-view mirror to talk back to me.

"How's your work?" She asked innocently, I grunted, staring out the window.

We arrived at the restaurant and I hopped out. Again, because of my citizen rank, I was given a short menu and an even shorter drink menu. I decided on the chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese, and Moira got the ahi tuna salad. I was practically fuming.

During lunch, I got to quietly sulk over my chicken tenders while wearing velcro sneakers while my friend talked about her bright future over ahi tuna and fresh arugula. She was on the cusp of getting a promotion in her job, which inevitably came with a new citizen class promotion as well. I tried not to turn green as she outlined the perks.

	"Also," she continued, "another thing I get is a new apartment level!"

	"Oh," I said sarcastically, "so you're abandoning me to my fate down here as a lower class, huh?"

	She seemed hurt by that comment, "actually, it's a multi-room, multi-person apartment."

	"Oh?" I said, nibbling on another chicken tender.

	She explained that with her new apartment she was entitled to invite roommates, regardless of citizen class, to live with her. She obviously was implying me, and I tried to play it cool, but we both understood that I needed Moira's support and friendship more than she needed mine. After that was discussed, I was a lot more open and chatty with her.

	I started bitching about my "job", even though I hadn't had a commission in months, and how that was probably a factor in my demotion. I also bitched about what I had to do and the restrictions that I had. Before long, complaining had gotten us to the end of lunch.

	I said my goodbyes to Moira as we both slinked back into our own apartments. I threw myself down on my couch, kicking off my velcro shoes and turning on the TV. A ding sounded.

	"Citizen Kaitlyn, your TV consumption habits are unhealthy and warrant a demerit, please refrain from watching television and do something productive," the ding sounded again before I could respond.

	I decided, with a groan, to spend the rest of the day drawing. There wasn't anyone or anything to draw for, so I mostly just doodled on my tablet and browsed the web. One microwave dinner in the evening at my desk and then I tucked in to bed.

	Over the next week, I decided to work on my art mostly. I was getting absolutely no commissions, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from trying to get some, and more importantly, getting more productive! So, I shut myself in my room, only coming out for a quick microwaved meal. I was rewarded handsomely for my hard work, my art had garnered a small following online, and I was starting to get some minor commissions. At the end of the week, I went to bed proud.

	And, as I was pulling on my childish clothes, hoping beyond hope that it was my last day of sequined t-shirts and frilly pleated skirts, my hopes were crushed. Gaia's voice rang out through my apartment.

	"Failure to dress oneself in a timely manner, failure to eat at appropriate times, failure to maintain apartment cleanliness, failure to suppress clutter, failure to keep an appropriate sleep schedule, failure to be physically active, failure to leave the apartment..." The list went on and on as Gaia droned. I tried to keep my composure as Gaia finished with, "Commencing demotion."

	I wanted to pound on the floor. Scream. Rip my hair out. Cry. I did none of those things as I stood, stock-still, waiting for my apartment to finish changing. I thought briefly about yelling out all that I had done, but being an internet artist didn't really offset the other demerits. I heard the ding.

	"Please report to the dining room, your breakfast is there, not doing so in a timely manner will result in a demerit," Gaia's voice began to drone. I scampered out of my bedroom.

	The living room had been stripped of all of its sofas and chairs. I guess Gaia assumed that citizens of her level only needed a soft shag rug in the living room to watch TV. Now that the living room had been mostly stripped, a small dining room table had appeared between it and the kitchen. That dining room table had only one chair, but that chair had arms and seemed a little on the... well, comprehensive side. The back seemed to be incredibly high and in general the chair seemed restricting just looking at it.

 	"Please report to the dining room, your breakfast is there, not doing so in a timely manner will result in a demerit," Thinking quickly, I jumped into the chair, and in response it slid under the table, effectively trapping me. As if on cue, a big bowl of oatmeal was deposited onto the table by a robotic arm.