Her silhouette was the one thing he never could lose.
Every molecular atom that composed her presence in his life had faded away into a tender hurt, like a dayβs old bruise, but the outline of her remained cemented in his subconscious; his memories were coated in a thick layer of Vaseline, distorting the finer details into indistinguishable mush, yet he was still able to realize that something was so very deeply wrong.
Someone was missing: someone whom he had pledged his undying love towards many kisses ago, someone whose gentle nature had only encouraged his own to reach new depthsβ¦someone who he had held close to his chest like a small child when she needed it, needed a beacon of light to guide her through the constant rainstorm that seemed to be feasting off of her like a leech, and someone who he had sung to softly while she cried - God, it ripped his very soul in two just to see her cryβ¦she had an ache that he couldnβt quite mend, but heβd be damned if he wouldnβt give it his all to do so.
Somebody else was saying something on the outer edge of his consciousness, he could feel it.
βNo, please, let me sleep awhile longer - let me dream a little moreβ¦β
His plea meant nothing to the fickle whims of his decaying mind, of course - it was all starting to swirl together into nothing at all, like water draining from the bathtub. He wanted to gulp it all down like a man left to die of thirst, wanted to quench his insatiable yearning for the woman who had been there to help him navigate his deepest valleys, but he had no mouth from which to drink. He was drowning - no, it could never be considered drowning when the ocean was that of her loveliness - he was being swept away by the waves of a heartbreak so primal it made the marrow of his bones cry out in agony, and his lungs were failing him just as they had when she had first asked him to dance with that sheepish smile on her lips.
β¦What was her name again?
βJax! Stop putting mashed potato on Kingerβs head! Itβs so meanβ¦β
That was Ragatha who was standing in front of him, hands on her hips as she admonished whomever she was speaking to. He knew her - red curls, careworn face - and he felt pride because of itβ¦why was that? Was he proud of her in particular? She seemed like a nice enough young woman - perhaps a bit overworked if anything. That constant crease of worry between her brows was something you werenβt supposed to adopt until your late forties at the least, and he was fairly certain that she was nowhere near that ageβ¦then again, perhaps she was a mother? It felt like she was most likely talking to her child, after all.
βWhahahat, he likes itβ¦!β
Oh, that would explain it: Jax, the newcomer, was sitting by his side. Spry, chipper, and very young - he had taken to all of this much better than either of them had anticipated, or so he thoughtβ¦hadnβt he? Looking at him filled him with the same mixture of emotions that he might have felt when regarding a puppy in a shelterβs kennel (or perhaps a rabbit in the case of his avatar) - an almost feral instinct to protect encumbered by no small amount of pity.
Those cartoonish pupils were looking at him expectantly, but he couldnβt for the life of him imagine why - it was hard to concentrate when his face felt so cold and strangely mushy.
Ah, of course.
βOh, hey, Jax! I love when you put mashed potato on my head.β
It wasnβt the truth, but he supposed it wasnβt entirely a lie either - keeping the grin affixed to the younger manβs face felt more important than ceasing some mild physical discomfort, after all.
βYou see?!β he snorted triumphantly, rearing up a fork and the serving tureen full of the artificial gloop like a painter would with his palette and brush.
Kinger just hoped none of it would wind up in his eyes.
βJax, Iβm being serious,β Ragatha continued in exasperation, but her features seemed to have grown just a touch milder. βThat stuffβll harden up soon enough, and I donβt think Caineβs improved any on removing itβ¦besides, doesnβt he look good enough as is?β
Jax pondered the posed query, observing the full set of facial hair the chess piece now wore, before he blew out a longsuffering sigh that whistled through his teeth. βFine,β he conceded as he relinquished the side dish into the pair of expectant fabric arms. βI guess youβre right, dollface - Iβll get olβ King Coo-Coo over here cleaned up.β
βDonβt call him that,β she answered almost automatically. Then, after a moment of thought, βDonβt call me thatβ¦β
βWhat - youβre a doll whoβs got a face. I thought it seemed pretty appropriate,β he replied with a doe-like innocence, but the soft shadow of a drawl on the underside of his tone gave a much different impression. βWould just βdollβ suit ya better?β
βNo.β She was warding off a smile. βJust my nameβll do nicely.β
βAugh, but thatβs so long - seven whole lettersβ¦! How about Raggy, huh? Much more efficient than that other one, right?β
βOh, gosh, fine!β she caved with a fond roll of her eyes. Her face was flushed a pleasant rosy hue that was just a few shades off from that which hung from her head. βYou can call me Raggy if youβd like toβ¦now Iβm gonna go put this away so somebody wonβt be tempted, and that beard had better be gone by the time I get back.β
βWhatever you say, Momβ¦β
Kinger watched her retreat with a loud bark of laughter trailing behind her, and was suddenly awash with the warm glow of pride all over again; he barely registered the light pressure of a cloth napkin gently mopping the starchy substance off of his eyebrows, for he was too preoccupied with fighting to remember why exactly this remarkable woman stirred up such a strong emotion within his soul. A part of him longed to hold her - to cradle her in his arms like a swaddled infant, and whisper sweet nothings into the softness of her cheek until those great droplets of tears had all but dried up - then againβ¦there was no reason to do such a thing, right? She hadnβt been crying when heβd seen her moments ago, had sheβ¦?
The sudden shock of soft microfibers gently sweeping back and forth over the crook of his neck had appeared in the center of the tracks, and his already stuttering train of thought had no other choice but to completely derail itself.
βA-aha!β he yelped, shoulders hunching as he trembled with titters like a leaf caught up in a summer storm; soft pinpricks of painless electricity were coursing through him, drawing forth chortle after chortle from his absent vocal chords.
βHohold still!β the lavender lagomorph chuckled. βSheesh, Kings, you trying to get me in hot water with Raggy already? And here I thought we were friendsβ¦β
βIhi canβt hehelp it!β he spluttered sheepishly as the last of the smeared food was wiped clean, and he found that he had brought one of his hands up to guard where his mouth ought to have been at some point without realizing it. βJax, y-youβre tickling meβ¦!β
Tickling - that was the term he had been searching for. That little soft spot at the halfway point between an itch and pain that humans had inherited as a defense mechanism, but was more often used among their kin as a sort of bonding assistance tool. The word was shaded fondly in the fog of his mindβs eye, although he was having trouble imagining why - after all, this little buzzing around his neck felt quite maddening indeed.
Jax raised one of his thin black eyebrows in an expression that was standing squarely on the corner of bemusement and straight up incredulity, his head tilting to the corresponding side in a decidedly owlish manner, as his lips slowly curled back into a toothy half-smile. βSeriously? That was enough to tickle you?β he scoffed in rapidly mounting disbelief. βI barely touched you!β
Kinger could feel his face flush with the heat of his own surging blood, even though he wasnβt entirely sure why - this was what people did when they were tickled, wasnβt it? Laugh? βW-well,β he stammered, βI happen to be particularly ticklish-β
βParticularly ticklish?!β Jax echoed with a slight laugh. βGeeheez, this is some pretty sensitive information youβre giving away there, Gramps! If it fell into the wrong hands, you could be in some serious troubleβ¦β
Kinger wasnβt entirely sure what the younger man meant by that, but the look on his face was making him feelβ¦fluttery? Was that the right word? His lips twitched with the urge to grin from ear to ear, and his tummy rumbled with the first bubbles of giggles that almost felt predetermined to be leaving his mouth at some pointβ¦but why on earth was that the case? Nobody had said anything funny, had they?
β¦What were they talking about? Where was he?
βHey. Earth to King Crazy.β
He returned to the present with a sharp exclamation of surprise, but his dilated pupils soon focused on the man sitting in the chair off to his left. βOh, hey, Jax!β he greeted warmly. βYou startled meβ¦were we talking about something?β
At this, the rabbitβs eyes narrowed due to the vastly increased width of his own sly grin.
βOh yeah, we were talking about something. In fact, youβd just agreed to help me out with a little problem I have!β
βI did?β
βSure ya did! You see, I couldnβt help but wonder just how ticklish the king of this castle really isβ¦β
βWow, I hadnβt noticed,β the other drawled sarcastically. He had reached up to fiddle with the cross atop the wooden head experimentally at first, but now that he had gotten the reaction he had been seeking he was prodding at it like one would with a D-pad on a controller. His long ears twitched curiously at the sound his touch provoked. ββ¦Dude, are you giggling?β
βIhi cahanβt heeheeheelp ihit!β Kinger whined for the second time without knowing it, his mirth having indeed reached a vastly higher register than before, and his hands flitted about uselessly in their harried quest to push the young man away. It felt like his body was turning all gooey and warm inside, almost like he had eaten a whole jar of molasses; what part of his brain that had managed to gather enough cognition to do so was urging him to get away from the near constant buzz, but his physical form itself longed to recline into the touch like a cat sprawling out beneath a sunbeam. βOhoh, pleeheeheeheeeease!β
βPlease what?β Jax nearly purred with half-lidded eyes of honeyed derision. βPleaseβ¦tickle you more? Pretty weird thing to ask, but far be it from me to turn down royalty!β
A shrill squawk of shocked amusement rippled throughout the big top tent like a starting gun to announce the beginning of a race, for there was now a second yellow-gloved hand intentionally scrabbling at the opposite side of Kingerβs varnished wooden neck.
Jax barked out a laugh of his own. βHA! Wahas that a yelp?!β
βNaht the tihickles!β the middle-aged man pleaded as though he were still a small child. βNaht the tickles!β He managed to gather his bearings enough to turn himself towards the rabbit a bit more in the hopes of having a better chance at fending him off. βWahahahait-!β
βJax, let him goβ¦β
His body sagged in the chair as the hands blessedly retreated, leaving him to greedily gulp down lungfuls of air that he no longer required. The looking glass of his awareness fogged over with a sudden rush of endorphins, the same way steam clung to the cool edge of the bathroom mirror after a hot shower, and he felt a pit he hadnβt even registered was in the bottom of his stomach stop yawning somewhat.
Huh.
Ragatha had returned, arms crossed in a sort of disappointed disciplinarian reminiscent pose, but if he didnβt know any better he could have sworn there was a glimmer of fondness shimmering in the iris of her only functioning eye. βYou have to be gentle with him, okay?β she explained patiently. βHe doesnβt have the stamina like you and I do.β
βSo, what Iβm hearing is that youβre the only one whoβs allowed to tickle him,β Jax concluded, effortlessly twisting her words like they were made of rubber.
βThatβs not what I-!β
βOr would you rather be in his place? I didnβt take ya for the jealous type, dollface!β
This time, she really did turn as red as her hair. βI did not-!β
He cut her off with his own bout of raucous laughter, exceedingly proud of himself. βIβm just messinβ with ya, Raggy,β he insisted with a dismissive wave of his dominant hand. βCβmon, lemme tickle olβ Kings over here for a bit - heβs funny! I promise youβll still have your monarch by the time Iβm through with him. Besidesβ¦β
Kinger blinked a few times in rapid succession when the other fluttered his lashes up at him in an unspoken plea towards getting his own way.
βHe doesnβt mind, does he? I mean, Iβm having loads of fun over hereβ¦sure would be a shame if I had to stop so soonβ¦β
Although he was already beginning to lose his grasp on the thread that linked the two of them together for the time being via conversation, the warm golden gemstones of happiness still glittered brightly behind his ribcage. It had felt so torturous in the moment, whatever this thing he was being asked to do was, but at the same time it had left him feeling as light as a feather from withinβ¦when was the last time he had felt like that - so happy he was almost floating? When was the last timeβ¦whoever this was looking at him like that had felt that way too?
βN-noho,β he finally collected himself enough to answer with one last residual chuckle, βIβ¦I donβt mind.β
βThere, see?β Jax crowed as he turned the pleading look onto the ragdoll now.
That seemed to do away with the last of her hesitation.
ββ¦Five minutes,β Ragatha relented with the ghost of a smile haunting her lips. βThen Iβm coming back out here, okay?β
βYes, maβam.β Jax gave her an overexaggerated salute.
Kinger watched her go the same as he had last time, her curls bouncing merrily over her patchwork dress, and felt another bit of lead be exiled from the holding deck that was his soul. It seemed as though she carried those same gems around with her in a basket, eagerly taking the heavy stone from others in exchange for one of them; he hoped heβd given her back some of the precious minerals, but there was no sense in combing through his memory in the hopes of finding out for sure.
He then turned his gaze back to the newest member, and felt a shiver trail its icy fingers down his spine.
Jax was staring at him with a grin that was not befitting of a prey animal. βLooks like itβs just you and me, huh, Kinger-Boy?β
He swallowed dryly.
βIβve only got five minutes to spare before olβ dolly dearest swoops in to rescue you, so I guess Iβd better make them count, right?β the rabbit, who was now more akin to a hare, simmered rhetorically.
Kinger nodded before he regained control over the facilities that would allow him to prevent it.
βYeah? You think that sounds good?β He curled his right hand into a vaguely claw-like shape, and his fingers twitched in a wriggling gesture that could only entail one thing. It was plain to see that he was relishing in his newfound position of power.
Despite not knowing the precise reason why, the chess piece giggled at the sight of those dancing fingertips. He could feel his face growing warm beneath the chill of his wooden exterior, and the hazy memory of hiding under the covers from his mother wanting to play this same game with him before bed in his youth came floating back to him.
βI havenβt even touched you yet, Kings~!β Jax nasalized in mocking infantilization, and the glint he acquired just beyond his eyes at the soft whine of anticipation it earned him was enough to make it feel like the temperature of the room had just dropped by several degrees. βAnd would ya look at that: you even gave me a whole new set of spots to play with! So, which oneβs the most ticklish?β
βIs it your armpits? Ribs? Or maybe your sidesβ¦?β Here Jax paused to consider the other for a moment. βWell, technically all youβve got are your sides, so maybe the stomachβs a better optionβ¦β
An unexpected pang of realization bolted through Kingerβs nervous system when that writhing gloved hand lingered over his midsection, closely followed by a cyclone of butterflies in its wake. βJax!β he squealed. βNaht the tummyβ¦!β
ββ¦Tummy?β Jax peered past the confines of the narration to look directly at you. βAre we serious? How old are you again? Yβknow what, now itβs definitely gonna be the βtummyβ, just for that.β
βNooohoohoohoohoooooh!β
The chess piece attempted to toss his head back with a shrill shriek of nasally laughter when eight very determined fingers started to claw up and down his stomach, only to fail for the simple reason that it was no longer a separate body part from his neck. His hands flapped frantically at his sides, as if he was trying to gain enough friction to propel himself away from the situation he had found himself in, and he quivered with mirth as the fur lining of his lush purple robe sent additional ticklish pulses through his nervous system.
βWell, whaddaya know?β Jax pitched over the baseline humdrum of physically induced amusement. βLooks like the kingβs got a ticklish tummy~!β
βEheheh! I-Ihi dohohohoo!β
ββ¦You admit to these things way too easily, Kings,β he chuckled with an endeared roll of his eyes, even while he refused to cease his ticklish endeavors. βBy the way, I donβt think youβre laughing as hard as you should be - letβs try this out.β
The hands shifted their efforts to rapidly goosing Kingerβs belly in one quarantined zone at a time, and the royalβs reactions pitched back down into almost drunken-sounding chortles as a result. βHuhuhuhuhuhuhueeheheheheh!β A loud snort severed his hysteria in two, and he shut his eyes to avoid looking at the smug expression thus painted on the otherβs face that flustered him so. βMmfffeeeheehehehehehehh!β
βHey, thereβs something new~!β Jax boasted triumphantly. βMaybe Caine should have made your avatar a little piggy with how you snort, huh? After all, you donβt seem very regal to me right nowβ¦arenβt kings, you know, not supposed to be ticklish? Imagine if you got captured by some nefarious villain, and the only thing separating the rest of us from their wrath is your ability to withstand a little tickling? Weβd be toast! I mean, all theyβd have to do is go βGitchygitchygitchy!β and youβd-β
βEeeheeheeep!β Kinger hiccuped while he hunched in on himself like a beetle stuck on its shell, and his hands found purchase at long last when they came to rest atop the rabbitβs bony shoulders. βNohohohoo! Eheheheheeh! Ihi cahahaanβt!β
Jax, the likes of whom was anything but unobservant, actually came to a standstill at the abruptly sharp nature of such a reaction. His pupils flitted over the trembling form of his captive like a xerox machine might over a sheet of printer paper, and then they grew as wide as dinner saucers in an unfocused gaze that left him looking decidedly starved.
βNo, wait, donβt tell me. Let me test somethingβ¦β
Upon being left to dangle beneath that intrepid stare, the king found that he much preferred to have his hands covering his face to avoid feeling like a fox ensnared in a hunterβs trap.
Jax cracked his knuckles with a sickening pop from his artificial skeletal structure, a sound that made the other man titter in giddy fear, and he then drew in a great lungful of air that provided him with the stamina necessary to pitch his voice up into a saccharinely sugary croon: βA-gitchy goo, tickle tickle tickle~! I found your tickle spot~!β
Kinger split apart into raucous cackles like an egg dropped straight into a cast-iron skillet - there was no hope of him being able to restrain said noises even if he truly desired to, despite his gloved palms dampening their volume minutely. He twisted this way and that as his supposed tormentorβs thumbs drilled into where the divots of his belly ought to have been, a place that was apparently devilishly sensitive for him (he could just catch the outline of a memory rife with freshly manicured nails before it had gone again), but he found that the tone of voice being used against him was far more ticklish than any wiggling finger or feather could ever dream of being.
It didnβt take long before Jax was cackling as well, the sound of his shared mirth brash and somewhat prickly. βAre you f[%$!#]g kidding me?!β he wheezed while the cartoonish splat that redacted his foul language from the listening ear rattled within both of their skulls. βThatβs what gets you?! F[%$!#]g baby-talk?! Youβre way past the age where that should be getting you, big guyβ¦β
βIHITβS TICKLISH!β Kinger shrieked - his brain was unable to create a better rebuttal.
βNaw, is it ticklish~?β Jax mocked, effortlessly slipping back into that patronizing drawl. βDoes the widdle baby have a ticklish tummy-wummy~? Huh~? Does it tickle-wickle too much for the itty-bitty widdle Kingy-wingy~?β
The poor man was hiccuping with laughter by now, and his shoulders hitched with each tiny squeak of bubbly joy.
βOh my god, you sound like a rubber duck! Whoβs a ticklish widdle ducky~? Whoβs caught in my little tickle trap~?β
βIhi cahaahaahaahaaahaaahaaaβ¦!β
βWhatβs that? You can~? See, thatβs what I like about you, Gramps - such confidence that you can take on the Tickle Monster~!β
Oh dear God.
βNO!β Kinger screamed so violently that it made the lagomorph stop dead in his tracks. βNaht the Tickle Monster, pleheease naht the Tihickle Mahnsteher! H-heheβll gohobble me uhupβ¦!β
That was what the Tickle Monster did, wasnβt it? He could almost swear that the distant recollection of perfectly white teeth gnawing tenderly on his strange trunk of a body was scratching against the stained glass of his distilled mind, but it all grew entirely incoherent whenever he tried to pin it down beneath his thumb.
The expression which Jaxβs face donned was that of a kid who had just finished tearing the wrapping paper off one of the presents Santa had left for him on Christmas morning, and was now eager to discover what kind of buttons and flashing lights his shiny new toy had for him to play with. βOh, heβs gonna gobble you up, thatβs for sureβ¦after all, you did kinda rob him of all his food by being such a willing canvas earlier! Itβs only fair that he gets to have your belly as a little snack in return, isnβt it? After all, all this tickling makes ya - er, him work up an appetite!β
One lanky forearm snaked behind Kingerβs lower back, successfully arching his abstract torso up off the dining room chair, and he quickly dissolved into a near puddle of jittery babbling soon thereafter. βWahahait! WaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaHAHAHAAAIITT!β
Jax disregarded the pleas for mercy with all of his usual tact, having instead chosen to all but headbutt the otherβs midriff with a throaty growl before chewing directly on top of his robe with a set of jagged teeth that were successfully cushioned just enough to be pushed back to the other side of painful.
βNAAAHAAAHAAAHAAAHOOOOO!β he screeched while he flopped about in his captorβs hold like a beached whale. βT-TIHIhickle Mahanster, pleheHEEHEEHEEASE! D-DOHONβT EEHEEAT MY BEHEHEELLLYYY!β While he was granted a short reprieve when the bunny had to spit out a few strands of spotted white fur, the nibbles were largely as incessant and pitiless as he liked to think he remembered them being; his hands, at a loss for what to do with themselves, stuttered in midair until they eventually settled for clenching into (quite literal) white-knuckled fists cinched tightly at his waistline. He snorted again, but he was too busy being utterly accosted by a thick swarm of butterflies (perhaps by now they had swapped places with a similarly sized group of moths instead) within his buzzing stomach to be embarrassed by the sound. βOHOH GAHAHAHAAD! HEHEHEHEHEEELLLP!β
To his immense relief, the beast appeared to be satiated with the feast shortly thereafter; the hungry maw relinquished his abdomen free of any fanfare, and he lolled down into the grasp that now felt like it was there to cradle him as opposed to keep him prisoner. He couldnβt stop chortling to save his own skin, an organ that he no longer possessed, but it felt oddly serene to be left so helpless. A frothy wave of molten happiness swept in to kiss at his toes playfully from where he stood on the shoreline, and warm rays of dappled sunlight sprout from the seedling of affection until theyβve bloomed a garden that encompassed his figure in its entirety. Still he continued to swell with the last lingering droplets of humor, even while his eyelids began to grow heavy, until it dawned on him that his own laughter was not the only kind to greet his unseen ears.
ββ¦Oh, hehey, Jax!β
Said man had doubled over in his seat, his lithe frame compressed with silent snickers like a morbidly stowed accordion, and it took him nearly half a minute more to smooth out the creases of his own clumsily crumpled frame. βOh, man,β he exhaled while he wiped a budding tear from his waterline. βI gotta say, Kings, you really crack me upβ¦β
Then he had reached out to stabilize himself with a hand on the otherβs kneecap, and the comedown was brilliantly fractured into a hundred or so odd pieces.
βTICKLES!β Kinger screeched while he bucked so hard that the chair he had been sitting in clattered onto its back on the checkerboard floor, and he tumbled out of it in a limbless heap of spluttering giggles. βIhit tihihihihiHICKLEEESSSSS!β
Jax had followed his descent like a hawk to a field mouse, something that had subsequently caused the older man to roll onto his frontside in a desperate attempt to scramble away, whereupon he perched himself atop the robed spine to dig into an approximation of the knee pits with a kind of sadistic glee that was at odds with the soft composition of his avatar. βOh, Kinger! Donβt tell me you were going to keep such a fun spot hidden from little olβ me~! Didnβt I ask you to tell me which one was the most ticklish, huh? Didnβt I~?β
βNAHT MY K-KNEEHEEHEEHEEESSS, AHANYWHERE EHEHEHEELLSSEEE!β the chess piece begged as though his very life depended on it, all but screaming with laughter while he slapped an open palm against the linoleum in a fruitless bid to distract himself from the overwhelming sensation. He couldnβt imagine that there would be a place more ticklish than this one - if there was, he didnβt know if he could bear itβ¦hell, he was scarcely able to cope with it now.
βWhat if I donβt wanna go anywhere else?β Jax posited impishly. βWhat if I wanna keep on tickle-tickle-tickling right here~?β
βAww, is this the kingβs widdle giggle spot~? Huh? Is this where he likes his tickles most of all~? Is this where I should stay forever and-?β
βJax, slow down!β
The rabbitβs ears flattened themselves against the top of his head as he turned to look at a rapidly reapproaching Ragatha almost sheepishly. βFive more minutes?β he half-joked like a kid asking their older sibling to extend their turn with the console.
βHeβll have passed out by then, look at him!β the doll spluttered in bewilderment. βI told you that heβs not cut out for too much roughhousing!β
βRelax, buttons and bows, we donβt even need to breathe in here! Besides, heβs a grown man - you can take it, canβt ya, Kings~?β
Sensing the desperation rapidly bleeding into Kingerβs wheezing cackle, she played her best hand. βYouβre doing it wrong.β
Sure enough, Jaxβs antics came to an immediate halt. βHuh?β
βYou donβt need to be so harsh with him,β Ragatha explained while trying her best to keep her own relief hidden below the surface, βbecause a gentle touch usually works best. Here, come sit next to me so I can show you.β
Kinger, who had not wasted a moment of the respite by failing to gather himself, was still coughing up hiccuping titters when she gently rolled him right side up again. Struck by a rare moment of clarity, he buried his face in the soft plush of her shoulder at the thought of what was to come. βOhoh noβ¦β
βSo, you kind of justβ¦rub your hand up against his robe like this-β
The cocoon of fur that the man was encased in began to shift around like one extraordinarily ticklish hug, and before he knew it he was back to shrieking with boyish giggles that should have been well behind him. His hands flapped, betraying his undeniable happiness despite the slight inner turmoil, and he turned on his side to cling to the woman most adorably. βHeheheheheheehh! It - ihit tihickles!β
βYou see?β Ragatha hummed while she turned to look at Jax almost expectantly. βIt doesnβt take much to get him going.β
βEh, I think I was better off on my own,β the rabbit insisted with a shrug of his shoulders. βYouβre too cutesy for this hard life of tickling, dollface.β
She knew that he was just trying to get under her skin - she could see it in the corners of his smile - but she still couldnβt help the soft shudder that ran through her at how clearly he enunciated that dreaded verb. βTicklingβs meant to be cutesy,β she argued, although most of her attention was dedicated to the recovering βlee. βAre you alright, Kinger?β
He nodded - truth be told, he was more alright than he had been in what felt like an age.
βHere - help me get him to bed.β
βNaw, Saint Raggy over here, helping the poor and the needyβ¦β
βCohome on, give me a hand!β
While the two familiar strangers bantered around him, a little golden butterfly came to rest atop Kingerβs head.
scrolling on tumblr and looking through the sfw tickle tag, assuming no one is there
then feeling a presence shift behind you, just to turn around and see and friend with a small smirk
"tickling? that's your interest?"
you stumble over your words, shutting off your phone and dropping it, but before you can explain yourself you feel hands on your sides
"that's so cute! why didn't you tell me?"
before you know it they've got your phone and are searching through your blog to find your tickle spots and favourite types of tickles, just to get to you better
*He let the tension in his shoulders relax a bit.* Apologies. I recently had to deal with someone more... insistent on that premise. I had to ensure you wouldn't be, as well.
*He chuckled in response to your dramatics* Aww, and you're too flustered to admit it~ Come now, it's three very simple words! Simply say 'Please tickle me!'
*He... hadn't expected that to work so easily. In fact, he expected more of a fight. But he was still happy to do so* Gladly~ *His hands were suddenly at your sides, squeezing gently*
How is it not fair? All you did was request tickles, and here I am, giving you tickles, making you squeak and laugh and make all these adorable noises, just like you wanted!~
Oh dear, oh dear, whatever shall we do with you. Luckily for you, I have a little helper who adores causing mischief! *His shadow suddenly materialized beside him, a wide grin on it's face*
Hm, you might as well have just said it out loud!~ *Suddenly his shadow pulled your leg straight, and used it's claws to scribble gently behind your knee*
How am I mean? I gave you ample warning of what would happen if you continued to be difficult, and you continued to be difficult! That's not mean, that's simply truthful.
*The shadow held tight as Alastor's grin widened* I'm stating a simple fact, darling! I'm sorry that it just to happens to show how much of a lee you are~
*And just like that, your leg was free and his shadow was completely gone. All that was left was his own hands at your belly and back* There we go, this is far more bearable, isn't it?
*And now comes the period where she holds her laughter in again. She just kinda looks at him, biting on her lip and smiling like an idiot. She's definitely messing with him.*
*Suddenly, the 'tail' of his shadow is wrapped around your ankles, pulling your legs straight before it was scribbling at the back of both knees. Alastor himself switched from gentle scribbles to vibrating his hand into the center of your belly*
*Teira gasped before doubling over completely, screaming like a banshee and laughing almost maniacally. Her ankles kicked about as she swiped uselessly at Alastor's hand.*
*For a moment he just stares at you, before his smile widens and his eyes narrow, and instantly his hands were back, as well as his shadow's, tickling just as they were before* Oh, Teira, you of all people should know if you plan to exact revenge, you don't give me an opening to resume~
*She seemed to succumb to the teasing, covering up her face with her palms and laughing into her hands. Her face and even the tips of her ears burned a bright red.*
*Teira settled down a bit, but still produced bubbly giggles as she hugged her core. She seemed less fiery and a bit more docile, giggling and blushing with her tousled hair partially sticking to her face.*
Hm, then I guess I have to help you! *Suddenly a shadowy tendril wrapped gently but firmly around your wrists, pulling them above your head* There we go, no more hiding!~
Aw, but that's half the fun! *He whined dramatically, though the spark of mischief in his eyes showed he completely intended to* Perhaps just a little bit?~
*He couldn't help laughing softly at that* Ohh, all I can say is you're lucky I agreed to be nice, otherwise I'd have a few things to say about those little noises!~
Do you take requests from ANY fandom, even the niche ones
hiya! i can try. the only requests that are GUARANTEED to get done are the ones in my fics and hcs guidelines post, but feel free to send in a request regardless. thank you! π«Ά
Hiii! Random tumblr user here, actually. I've never felt more curious about a community like this and I just had to ask a question. Why do you guys like tickling so much? Not trying to come off as rude at all, seriously. I just wanted to have insight, since I've seen a couple posts around and all of you are so very sweet people.
I'd be delighted to answer your questions! π The opportunity to share a perspective I hold so dearly (and one that isn't often understood) is one I take gladly.
I should say first thing, that I am not an expert and do not speak for everyone, but I'm sure you know this lol.
From all of the years I've spent observing and participating in the community, the most primary appeal to tickling is the surrendering of control to someone you trust. Many people, including myself, feel unable to truly relax in their real lives, either because they suffer from perfectionist ideas or people-pleasing behaviors or low self esteem or whatever. We feel as though if we are not at peak performance, if we do not stay composed at all times, if we do not make ourselves as small as possible, we are not worthy of existence. When you're being tickled, you cannot make yourself small. You cannot stay composed. You laugh, you wiggle, you squeal, you blush and smile, and none of those reactions can be controlled. It's all just you at your most vulnerable, helpless state of being. But guess what? You're safe. You're safe and you're loved. You are loved even if you have a goofy laugh, or are loud, or say stupid shit. A lot of tickle community culture is praise and compliments to get across to the tickl-ee just how cute they are when they're tickled. It's all part of the fun and the person tickling you thinks you are beautiful when you're just being yourself. For certain people, this becomes an incredibly liberating experience, and oftentimes helps with emotional traumas.
Another very substantial benefit is the physical sensation. I know tickling isn't usually perceived as the most pleasant experience π but if you are touch-starved or if the touch is light enough, it can be very relaxing. It's like all of the negative thoughts in your head are pushed out of your mind and all that exists in your brain is giggles and clouds and joy. There's a reason people use the phrase "tickle drunk"
TLDR: it's really about the freedom of being helpless while also being safe, and getting to get high off of your own giggles while you're at it
Ya got any Giovanni hcs? Lee or ler, I ain't picky
π² Giovanni Potage headcanons! π²
This guy is DEFINITELY a switch. I can't think of many characters from this franchise who are strict one way or the other, and Mr. Soup is certainly not one of 'em! The split for him is about 60/40.
~ Lee... ~
Tickling him is a great idea, as long as you bring safety gear. This man is a THRASHER. Don't get too close, or you're gonna get kicked in the face.
Of course he denies being ticklish. How can a banzai captain have a weakness as childish as THAT?
His boys quickly dispel that idea.
He's very sensitive, the slightest poke getting him to flinch at the very least.
He's got a loud laugh, bordering on a cackle. However, tickling his neck brings out uncharacteristic little giggles.
His mom used to blow raspberries on him when he was a kiddo and it destroyed him every time.
Teases are hit or miss. He's usually too busy laughing his head off to notice. "Coochie coo!" does generally get under his skin, though.
His worst spots are his ribs and his underarms. Runner-ups being his waist and the backs of his knees. (The runner-ups bring snorts!)
(Speaking of his knees, Crusher once tried the egg crack thing on his knees and he IMMEDIATELY burst into giggles. Crusher was not the same that day.)
"HeHEHEY, WAHAHAIT!"
"NOHOT THERE!"
"DOHON'T YOU DAHAHARE!"
"Tehell... no one. Or you're FIRED!"
Just the slightest bit bashful. He'll make you promise not to tell anyone.
~ Ler... ~
Watch out. He's a fiend for revenge tickles.
ALWAYS cracks his knuckles before dishing it out.
He's not exactly gentle. Rough tickles are his forte.
Suuuuper teasy. Big fan of cooing at his lee.
Also a huge fan of maniacally laughing alongside them.
Loves giving tickle tazes.
His favorite spot to tickle is the sides. Usually exposed to some degree and easy to squeeze and scribble his fingers against.
Once he finds a death spot, he is honed in.
Doesn't stop until he's satisfied or the lee taps out.
"I'm hardly even doing anything!"
"Hoholy crap, dude! THAT was a squeal!"
"Ready? Three... tβBZZT!!"
"N'aww, look at youuu~!"
KING of aftercare, provided you ask for it. He'll grab you some water and pop on a show.