Attention friends, I want to write a cute fic about Jax and I am blanking on ideas and scenarios where Jax would be adorably accidentally tickled by the cast. Send me ideas in my inbox or comments if you got any! I will be sure to credit you if I go off your suggestion!
Hello my little minnows! Sorry this took so long, I just wanted to make sure it was perfect! I hope you enjoy!
A Special Visit.
A few days after the events of Voxâs defeat Emily comes to visit the Hotel, Alastor and her get some time to get to know each other.
Lee! Alastor
Ler! Emily
Not written as ship but can be interpreted however you like I guess.
It has been a looooong morning for Alastor so far.
First, he is awoken by a loud crash from somewhere in the hotel, most likely from that insufferable Baxter and his so-called âexperiments.â Then he realizes a few of his shadows had gotten into some mischief in his room while he slept, most likely from tossing and turning during his endless nightmares⊠then Niffty interrupts his peaceful morning in the kitchen with some ridiculous ideas for the hotel, Vaggie gets on his ass about not helping out⊠again⊠and itâs not even 9 a.mâŠ
With a mug in hand, he strolls down the hall like he does each morning, hoping to escape the princess and her girlfriendâs nagging. He carefully calculated his routine to be able to AVOID such annoyances in the early morning. With a light sigh of relief, he strolls into the lounge, stepping towards the large windows. At the very least, he can appreciate the quiet for now⊠that is until⊠Suddenly, Charlieâs voice cheered as she burst into the lounge.
âAnd this is the Lounge- Oh! Hi, Al!â The Princess sang happily before noticing the Overlord.
âHiiii!â With a burst of magical glitter, Emily pops into the lounge, right behind Charlie.
Though Alastor would never admit it⊠the sudden and loud greeting from the Seraphim startled him slightly, making the Radio Demon jump in surprise, the liquid in his mug sloshing a little.
âSorry Al, I know you like to be alone in the mornings, but Emily came for a visit! She really wanted an official tour of the hotel!â Charlie beamed.
âHey! I remember you, youâre the one that I saved from the shark!â Emily smiled excitedly as she floated over to him. Alastor grumbles under his breath in slight annoyance at her choice of wording, saved pfft, more like dragged around.
âI see. How⊠lovely.â Alastor responded, his tone a bit sharper than usual, his ear twitching slightly in annoyance as he firmly places his mug down.
âThe hotel is just beautiful! It would be such a great place to play hide and seek!â Emily squealed happily, flying around the large room, making Charlie giggle.
âOh! Thatâs a great idea, Emily! Maybe that can be our next bonding exercise! What do you think, Alastor?â
Alastorâs ear twitched in annoyance as he finally turned to fully face the Princess.
âSounds a bit childish, donât you think, my dear?â Alastor retorted flatly.
âOh come on! It would be fun!â
â⊠I suppose that is quite in character for you, is it not? Always running off to play childrenâs games while the rest of us fight tooth and nail for every scrap.â Alastor jabs, his grin growing less tense as he senses the slight power shiftâŠ
Emily falters at that, clearly hurt by his words⊠as she slowly descended back down to the ground.
âAlastor! Be nice to her, sheâs still getting used to the way we do things around here!â Charlie scolds as she sees Emilyâs wings droop.
âN-No! Itâs okay⊠I um⊠h-heâs right⊠I guess I have had it pretty easy compared to you allâŠâ Emily reassures, trying to put on her usually happy smile, but it is clear how forced it is.
âDonât mind him⊠heâs just being⊠well⊠Alastor.â Charlie tries to reassure Emily, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder. Emily is about to respond when there is a noise coming from Charlieâs phone.
âHm?â Charlie hums and pulls out her phone to look at the screen, her expression sours.
âOh- I uh⊠I gotta take this. Iâll be back! Al be nice and keep her company until Iâm back!â Charlie instructs before accepting the call and jogging out of the lounge.
Alastor grumbles but does not object, not like he really could anyway⊠So he simply remains standing there watching the Seraphim with an intimidating gleam in his eyes. Emily looks around the lounge in awe and contained excitement. Surprisingly, she seemed to have already recovered from his little jab from earlier⊠interesting. Alastor watches her closely, his eyes never leaving her form as she flutters around the room curiously.
There are a few minutes of silence before Emily speaks up.
âSo uh⊠Alastor⊠right?â Emily asks the demon as she floats down next to him. The Overlord simply nods, before turning back to continue gazing out the window. Part of him hopes if he just stays silent she will leave him be.
Emily canât help but be intrigued by Alastorâs behaviour⊠if she wasnât mistaken he was the demon she saved from the giant Shark thing⊠maybe he didnât remember? Why hasnât he said anything to her? Maybe heâs shy? Or maybe heâs still recovering from⊠oh! Thatâs right!
Alastor was deep in thought, trying not to pay the Seraphim next to him too much mind, but was interrupted by a sudden pair of small hands latching onto his armâŠ
He glances down in the direction of his previously injured limb, fully expecting to find Niffty dangling off his sleeve or something of the sort, trying to get his attention, but no⊠to his surprise and distaste it was Emily.
âH-Howâs your arm doing? It was pretty hurt last time I saw you.â The Seraphim asks cautiously yet eagerly. He quirks a brow, was she actually concerned? How naĂŻve.
His smile tightening in irritation as he sees her gently pull his previously injured arm out from behind his back and closer to her face to inspect it. He hides his surprise expertly behind his usual grin, the sudden touch irritating him, and he just barely stops himself from snapping at the Angel.
âDoes it still hurt? Is it okay? Is it healing correctly? Is it-â Emily rambles with worry and concern as she inspects his arm. If this were anyone else, Alastor would have ripped them to shreds⊠snapped at them for daring to touch him, let alone in such a demeaning manner⊠fussing over him like an injured child⊠but this was a Seraphim. And as much as he would hate to admit⊠he learned the hard way that Angels and such are far more powerful than he was⊠His ears drooped back in annoyance as he watches Emily, still not saying a word as she observes his arm closely. And to be honest, it is not that he found Emily particularly distasteful⊠and unlike Angel Dust or other sinners he could safely assume her hands were clean and well kept, but still, he is very unfamiliar with her, so it was still unnerving.
âHm⊠it seems to be doing better at leastâŠâ Emily ponders, bending his wrist and elbow a bit to test its mobility⊠a small hint of unease in her tone as she sees the slightly irritated expression peaking through Alastorâs smile.
âQuite right. Nothing but a scratch.â Alastor agrees flatly, his eyes once again returning to the window.
âA-Are you sure?⊠It was pretty nastyâŠâ She asks as she rolls up his sleeve to look at the marred skin underneath. This makes Alastor stiffen.
He adjusts his tone before speaking. âI have had far worse, my-â His words are interrupted however as his breath hitched involuntarily as he feels Emily lightly trail her fingers up his inner forearm, where a long fresh scar runs up his flesh. Alastorâs arm reflexively tugs against her grip a bit from the sensation. A small swell of radio static surrounds the area around them, to cover his slight reaction to the light touch. Emilyâs eyes widen as her head shoots up to look at the Radio Demon. Her expression showing deeper concern and guilt.
âOh no! Are you okay?! I didnât hurt you, did I?!â Emily panics, moving her hands to his own, gently holding it in hers. Alastorâs eye twitches ever so slightly before responding. âNot to worry, my dear. Simply a chill.â Alastor responds, his voice strained as he subtly tugs at his arm once again, but she doesnât let go, inspecting his expression closely.
âAre you sure?â She cuts in, leaning a bit closer, her face resembling a worried but caring mother.
âYes.â
âSuuuper sure?â
âIndeed, I am.â Alastor denies insistently, leaning back ever so slightly, trying to maintain some semblance of space between himself and the Seraphim. âThen⊠whyâd you shiver? Are you cold?â Emily questions in that agonizingly motherly tone.
Another eye twitch.
âI am not cold, wherever did you get such an idea?â Alastor huffs, contradicting his earlier excuse, realizing this he takes his eyes off the Angel for just a moment as he catches a slight movement out the window⊠which was his second mistake. Emily tilts her head curiously⊠she doesnât know demons or their behaviour well at all, especially AlastorâŠbut from what she has seen of the Overlord⊠he is always composed⊠even when he was bleeding out⊠aside from a furrow of his brow that is⊠and yet here he was, clearly a bit flustered or at least a bit on edgeâŠ
She glances back down at Alastorâs arm that still rests in her hands⊠the lighter flesh of scarring prominent against his darker-toned skin⊠Without thinking, she very tenderly lets her nails glide up his inner forearm again, along the scar tissue starting at the wrist and ending at the elbow, tracing the unique and abstract patterns and divots as she goes.
Alastorâs reaction is immediate, the Overlordâs stature instantly stiffens and a high-pitched almost elk-like screech fills the room. His arm flinches back, tucking close to his chest. This causes both Emily and Alastorâs eyes to widen, shocked and intrigued by the quite⊠well⊠human-like reaction that just came from the Radio DemonâŠ
âD-did that hurt?â Emily asks, quirking a curious brow at him.
âOf course not. I am perfectly fine.â Alastor responds sharply, reaching his other hand up to pull his sleeve back over his forearm, but not before taking a moment to gingerly rub away the remaining tingles on his flesh.
There is a somewhat tense pause between the two once again as Emily contemplates for a momentâŠ
âWait a second⊠Are you ticklish?â Emily asks as she steps even closer. Alastorâs smile tightens⊠h-how- how did she catch on so fast!?- his ears droop slightly as a very faint flush appears on his cheeks.
âExcuse me?-â He turns to look back at the Angel, a shocked expression in his eyes.
âAre you ticklish? Wait- Can demons even be ticklish?â Emily questions in genuine curiosity.
âDonât be absurd, I am the Radio Demon, I do not get⊠âticklishâ He insists, adjusting his posture back to his usual charismatic and confident stance, but that doesnât stop Emily from noticing how he takes a slight step to the side. Alastorâs grip on his staff tightens once more, so tight the red on his knuckles turned to a lighter pink tone. Seeing Alastorâs growing agitation, Emily steps a bit closer trying to offer reassurance.
âUh⊠Hey⊠Itâs nothing to be embarrassed about itâs-â Alastor cuts her off with a scoff.
âEmbarrassed? Perish the thought, my dear. I simply do not understand your⊠insistence on the subject.â Alastor says in mock politeness as his eyes narrow slightly.
âOh come on! Itâs just a question.â Emily smiles innocently, quickly earning a light warning glare from the Radio Demon.
âItâs utterly ridiculous, and quite childish, if I might add.â Alastor continues, making Emily huff slightly.
âYouâre no fun.â Emily pouts, crossing her arms like a disappointed child. This gets a slight genuine smirk out of Alastor. Something about her innocent yet cheeky personality entertained him a bit.
âHa! I saw that!â Emily beams pointing at him enthusiastically, startling the demon slightly.
âAhem, saw what?â He questions as he adjusts his expression.
âYou smiled!â
âI am always smiling.â The Overlord points out flatly.
âOK yeah⊠B-But it reached your eyes! I saw it!â Emily smiled proudly, crossing her arms again playfully.
âI see, well a momentary falter of judgement perhaps, do not expect it again.â He states before returning his focus to the world outside the window. With that, the two stand in silence for a few moments again, Alastor seemingly unaware of Emilyâs next moveâŠ
Alastor just starts to return to his thoughts⊠before Emily suddenly pokes his side curiously. Alastorâs hair bristles like itâs been rubbed by a balloon. Damn it⊠His toothy grin wobbled as he slowly turns his head to look at the Seraphim.
âMy dearâŠâ Alastor warns. âI would suggest you refrain fromââ
âHehe! Why?~â The Seraphim giggles, leaning in even closer, and with otherworldly speed and accuracy, pinches the small spot just beneath his ribs. Much to the Radio Demonâs dismay, his body responds before he can manage to mask the reaction. His torso jerks away ever so slightly, his smile twitching to something more genuine for just a moment. With a sigh, he speaks.
âIt would appear personal space is not a concept you Angels are familiar withâ .â He begins, trying to remain as unaffected as possible but flinches back when he feels her fingers poke the area a second time. His back hunches forwards slightly as his arm darts down to shield the area, his crackling magic easily showing his growing agitation as the air fills with that familiar but unnerving sound of radio static, something that surprisingly doesnât seem to intimidate the Seraphim one bit.
For as long as he can remember, dating back to even his childhood, his sides were one of the areas that were incredibly sensitive, abnormally so. Why, it was a fact his mother knew quite well. Though the memories are faint, he can recall moments growing up when his mother would soothingly rake her nails down his back while she tucked him into bed as she sang to him, often sneaking a few playful squeezes to his little sides in between. Always resulting in quite a squirmy and giggly reaction from the young lad. Looking back, it was a silly but fond memory he had. Though heâd never admit to such a thing. And to be fair, very few knew of a weakness such as this when it came to him. The only souls that dared touch him in such a way were Rosie and now Emily⊠any others? Well⊠heâd made sure they were⊠taken care of.
Though that fact was doing little to help him at the moment⊠a wave of curses ran through his mind, gritting his teeth so tight his jaw began to tremble. The Overlord shuddered as he felt the small Angel poke at his torso; whenever he moved to regain his composure, she would find a new spot to poke.
âI swear to all that is holy if you do not cease this- IhI- I will-â A small breathy chuckle escapes Alastorâs lips, interrupting his threat, which he instantly regrets.
âEeeeee! You laughed! Oh my gosh, you are ticklish! This is soooo cute!â Emily squeaks as she continues playfully poking and pinching anywhere on the Radio Demon she can reach. Alastor growls in annoyance as he attempts to halfheartedly swat her hand back.
âM-My dear!-â
âAwww! You are so ticklish! All it takes to get you to squirm is a few little pokes to your sides?â Emily taunts playfully, growing more bold as she begins wiggling his fingers towards Alastorâs ribs. Alastorâs shoulder tenses and trembles in repressed giggles.
âI- I am nothing of the sort! Cease this at once! And I did not laugh- it was merely a chuckle at the complete absurdity of your behaviour!â The Radio Demon tried to deny as he dodged her lightning-fast hands, stumbling back slightly until he flipped up and over the edge of the couch, falling down onto his back on the cushions below, putting a much-welcomed but temporary pause on this little game. Emily giggled excitedly at the silly display.
âUgh⊠gracious to the heavens aboveâŠâ Alastor groaned as he regained his focus, pulling his legs down from the back of the couch as Emily continued to giggle, leaning over the back of the couch, a big childish grin on her face.
âHehe! I had no idea demons were ticklish too!â She smiled down at him as the Overlord let out a breath of relief as he pushed himself up into a seated position on the couch. He cleared his throat, smoothing out his coat trying to seem unaffected, though his breath was still slightly laboured, which was giving him away, thank goodness no one else was around at the momentâŠ
âYes, well. I strongly recommend you attempt such tomfoolery with another demon, my dear. I am above such childish antics.â He stated as calmly as his flustered state would allow. Emily only snickered into her hand, finding Alastorâs attempt at nonchalance amusing, and honestly a bit adorable.
âSomething amusing, dear?â Alastor asked, a slight warning and/ or challenge in his tone. Something that unfortunately for him, went right over the Seraphimâs head.
âItâs just funny⊠I always thought demons were horrible people⊠ones that had little to no connection to their human souls anymoreâŠâ
âAnd who is to say that I am not?â Alastor challenged.
âW-Well⊠Charlie seems to trust you, thatâs gotta mean something!â She smiled fluttering up and over the couch, plopping down next to him.
âCorrection, I would say she more so⊠tolerates me.â Alastor corrected, his tone almost half-joking, something Emily caught onto incredibly fast and beamed.
âDonât say that! You seem like a lovely soul!â Emily gasps playfully. Alastor clears his throat, something about how genuinely the Angel insisted, touches a nerve. âOh, such a naive soul, I have much more important things to be doing than partaking in such childish banter.â Alastor reminds him, his sophisticated and gentlemanly persona returning.
âIs that so, mister?â Emily chuckles, poking his side again, making Alastor groan.
âAw, come on! Whereâd that adorable little giggle go?â She teases, suddenly squeezing the lower sides to kick it up a notch, causing the grinning Overlord to gasp before biting his lip.
âUgh- I do not giggle. What the blazes?! D-Do not start this again!â Alastor protests, unable to contain the snicker in his voice anymore, turning his back to the Angel, in an attempt to obstruct her reach.
âOh, Iâm starting it again!â Emily snickered, managing to lightly flutter her nails at the sides of his belly. His ears twitch and jerk, his body obviously trying to find a way to squirm without hurting Emily.
The Seraphim giggles, kneading her soft, dainty fingers into the taller demonâs belly, enjoying the involuntary shiver that runs down Alastorâs spine.
Alastor is unable to hide the small shriek that escapes through his clenched teeth as he leans away from her, which only gives her better access to his torso. Heâs not very good at this⊠that or he has very little experience with his body betraying him in such a way. In reality, Alastor should easily be able to throw her off of him, as she wasnât using any magic to keep him pinned⊠and in any other situation, he would not hesitate to do just that⊠but with Charlie and Lucifer nearby, he knew if he injured her, or even upset her, he would be in for a world of hurt⊠the next best thing would be toâŠ
Come on⊠teleport⊠teleport! Blasted magic! Why does it have to falter when he is distracted!
âHmm⊠you really should eat more, you know. I can practically feel every bone.â She comments, massaging her fingers into his ribs as if to make a point.
âAugheheh! Why Y-Yohou- Yohohohou lihihittle!âAlastor growls before he can protest further he feels the Emily playfully grab his hand eagerly pulling him down, his head landing gently on her lap, his legs kicking up onto the couch as he tries to sit up, but with even just a single hand on his chest, she is somehow able to keep him in place, shit she is strong when she wants to be!
âL-Let me up! I- I dehemand it!â A small involuntary snicker escaped his clenched jaw from the anticipation of what his body knows is to come.
âHmmmâŠâ Emily ponders for a moment, tapping her chin theatrically. âNah, I think you got a few more cute little giggles in there!â Emily coos before going right back to work, her fingers poking and squeezing all around his sides and ribs.
âGrrrrrahaha! IhIhI wihihill get yohou for thihis!â Alastor growled as Emilyâs fingers on her free hand spidered up towards his neck, his legs began to kick at unbearably ticklish sensation.
âA-Agh! My dear!- That is q-quihite enough I- Gyaaahaaahhaahaha!â Alastor giggled. yes giggled, tossing and turning his head in her lap, trying to shield his neck from the unbearably light ticklish sensation.
âHm? Is it though? You seem to be having fun though, look at you laughing!â Emily teased bringing her hands back down to his sides. Unexpectedly, Alastor shrieked, his arms slamming down against his sides, âtrappingâ Emilyâs hands against his ribs.
âAlastor⊠youâve trapped my hands.â She smirked not fully stopping her tickle attack on his ribs. Just ever so slightly wriggling them to keep the Overlord on edge.
âY-Yohou and I⊠bohoth know that⊠is not true!â The Radio Demon said through his soft giggles as he tried to glare back up at her.
âWell⊠if youâre not going to let my hands free then I guess theyâll just have to stay here forever~â Emily teased and started pinching and squeezing the ribs under his arms again. Alastor shrieked once again as Emily began playfully massaging little circles into his ribs. Alastor whined, biting his lip so hard it might bleed, arching his spine before he broke and high pitched laughter escaped his lips.
âGyahaha! Noho! M-My dehehear!! I-I cahahnât- ahahaha!!â The demon shrieked kicking and squirming.
âAh-ha! Did I hit your sweet spot?!â
âF-Fuhuhuck! AHAHA!!â Alastor laughed desperatly pushing at her hands while also trying to protect his sides.
âHm, not the best spot for it huh? I can get at is so easily!â Emily teased with a chuckle, the teasing making it all much worse for the poor demon as his face grew even redder from mirth and embarrassment.
âGYAAA! E-Ehehehemily! I-I-I swehear to you!-â Alastor gasped as she squeezed the soft flesh just above his hips.
âThats my name! Good job!âEmily snickered before Alastor let out a snort as she flutters her fingers along his naval.
âDihid you just snohort?!âEmily laughed.
âI-I I DIHID NOHOHOT!!â Alastor denied right before another snort came from him, Emily laughed heartily before moving back to his belly so she didnât drive him insane.
âEmily?! Al?! I heard a scream!! Are you guys alright-â Charlie suddenly came running into the room. But her concern is quickly replace by confusion as she sees a pair of legs in black pants and familiar hoof like shoes kicking about from behind the couchâŠ
âGyahahahaha! Lehehet goho of mehe!!â Came Alastorâs voice from the couch.
âUhâŠâ Charlie is both amused and shocked by the display in front of her⊠she raises ber phone back up to her ear for a moment. âIâll uh⊠call you back.â She says into her phone before placing it back into her pocket and leaned against the doorframe to watch.
âC-Cehease this! I-I command it!â
âHa! Command huh? In case youâve forgot, youâre the one giggling up an adorable storm here! If you want me to stop, stop laughing so much!â Emily teases, her smile brighter than ever.
âShould uh⊠should we help him?â Vaggie suddenly asks as she approaches Charlie from the hall. Charlie just shrugs, unable to hide the smile on her lips at the sight of the fur on Alastorâs ears fluffed up and a bit scruffed from the squirming.
âAw⊠hehe had enough Alastor?â Emily snickered before she let Alastor finally grab her hands.
âOhoh⊠you are far more devious than I gave you credit for, my dear.â Alastor huffs as his clawed and rough hands continue to clasp around the Angelâs wrists above him.
âNah, I think heâs got it.â Charlie smiles to Vaggie quietly. Emily giggles happily at the demon below her, watching as he catches his breath, his chest rising and falling with his eyes pricked with a few tears of mirth.
âYes, yes. Laugh all you desire, darling, continue to bask in my torment.â He huffs as Emily lets him sit up.
âHehe! Oh come on! You had fun.â
âYou are aware I shall forever deny such a claim, yes?â
So a few months ago I posted a long essay about where I had been and the struggles I had faced in the past year. I got a wonderful message from someone and I just want to say thank you. Your message was what gave me the last push I needed to stop the addiction.
It hasnât been easy but I am coming up on being clean for a whole two months! I am writing fics again and they will be up soon!
Previous post about this can be found here. https://www.tumblr.com/gigglyapples/792178863798140928/to-anyone-struggling-where-have-i-been
Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. It's where your interests connect you with your
I am so happy and grateful for the support and I look forward to what the future brings.
Upon popular request a part two to my fic âSeeing Beyond.â
After the events of Pomni and Jaxâs little team up in the most recent adventure, Jax had fully planned to get his revenge, but heâs got to get creative when Pomni runs to the others for help.
Anyone that comes across this that is not in the you know what community uh⊠Iâm sorry?
Caine hummed as he appeared inside the circus, of course with his usual over-the-top poof of sparkles and dried macaroni. He wasnât gone for too long, for at most a half hour⊠or was it a few hoursâŠ? Either way, he was back now to check on the circus crew. As he floated through the main area of the circus, he was startled by an abrupt and loud screech. Before he could even turn his head to look over, a rush of blue and red zoomed past him.
âNo, no, no! Jax, please!â Pomni exclaimed as she bolted past Caine, causing the circus ringmaster to spin uncontrollably, much like an old Looney Tunes animation.
âMy, my, now what is going on here?!â Caine asked as he watched Pomni run by.
âGet back here! Iâm not done with you yet!â He hears Jax call from down the hall as he bolts through the tent, sliding on one foot as he narrowly misses the corner.
Ragatha, Kinger, and Gangle were currently sitting in the small lounge area of the circus, each going about their own activities and chatting about random topics. Pomni, seeing the group of circus members, is quick to bolt towards them, in a panic.
âGuys! A little help over here!â The group all hear Pomniâs familiar voice ring out. Their heads swinging up at the sudden loud noise to find Pomni frantically running towards them.
âWha- Pomni?! Whatâs wrong?!â Ragatha asks with worry as she stands up from the couch. Pomni, seeing this opportunity, quickly bolts behind Ragatha, her smaller frame hidden by the dollâs dress.
âItâs Jax, h-heâs trying to- t-to!-â Pomni stammers as she tries to catch her breath, her hands grasping the fabric of Ragathaâs dress, almost like a child. As if on cue, Jax appears from around another corner, his eyes instantly locking onto Pomni.
âCome on, Pompom! The sooner you give up, the sooner itâll be over!â Jax informed with a smirk, cracking his knuckles before his gloved hands raised into playful yet threatening claws.
âWh-Whatâs going on?â Gangle quietly asks as she watches from her little spot on the couch next to Kinger.
âNothing serious~ Just a little payback.â Jax shrugs with a smirk. Ragatha is about to step in when Caine pops into existence once again, slightly startling the group, damn it, he must have followed Jax.
âO-Oh! Hey Caine!â Ragatha greeted with an awkward wave of her hand, secretly glad for the sudden distraction.
âNow, whatâs going on here? My circus crew members arenât fighting, are they?!â Caine inquired, leaning into the group from his hovering position above them. His one eye grew impossibly wide in suspicion.
âN-No! No, of course not.â Ragatha quickly reassured. Caine blinked for a moment, his upper jaw quirking into a curious expression. There was a tense beat of silence as the group sat, anticipating what the Ringmasterâs next move would be.
âOh my Candy Heart Sasquatches, you know how much I dislike you all fighting. Interpersonal drama is not in the spirit of the circus.â Caine lightly scolds, twirling his cane casually as he speaks. Jax just rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed that his plan has been foiled. He is quick to school his expression, however, and crosses his arms, leaning his weight on one of his hips as he speaks.
âItâs nothing, weâre just playing around. Right, Pomni?â Jax smirks, leaning to the side to get a better look at the jester, who was still hiding behind Ragatha. Pomni squeaks, hiding further behind the rag-doll.
âHmâŠ.â Caine observes the group for a moment, his eyes darting between the members⊠well, he canât have his circus members fighting now, can he?
He considers his options for a moment before snapping his fingers. Jax, Ragatha, and Pomni are suddenly all teleported to various seats on the couches. Jax on the far left, Pomni on the far right, and much to Ragathaâs dismay, she is plopped down in the middle, separating the two.
âWell, I canât have any tension growing between you all. Ragatha, you keep them separated for now. I need to get back to the new adventure Iâm cooking up that I am *sure* you will all LOVE! Ahahahahahahhaah!â Caine laughs maniacally, before disappearing into a puff of glitter and bubbles⊠waitâ wasnât it usually macaroni?
The group all somewhat relax once Caine disappears, most of them worrying he was going to pull them into another unhinged adventureâŠso the fact he left without one was a greatly appreciated change. Once they are sure Caine is out of hypothetical earshot, Ragatha turns her head to Jax as the taller rabbit casually leans back on the couch, resting his arms behind his head.
âAlright Jax, whatâs going on? Why were you chasing Pomni?â She asks as she stands up from the couch, facing the two. Her tone is similar to a mother scolding her child. Jax just chuckles and rolls his eyes.
âAw come on, itâs nothing. Like I said, we were just playing around.â Jax winks at Pomni, making her glare at him. This only makes his smirk grow into a full-on grin as he rests his arms back behind his head.
âI know you well enough to know when youâre up to something!â Ragatha accuses, crossing her arms. Jax scoffs in annoyance at her accusation, while it is somewhat true, itâs annoying she feels the need to police him all the time. With another roll of his eyes, he shrugs.
âGeez, lay off it. If it was anything serious, Pomni would have told you what was up, right?â Jax teases. Oh, he fully knows what heâs doing⊠Pomni glares at him, she is smart enough to know what Jax is up to⊠but her embarrassment from the whole situation is getting the better of her, and he knows it. Of course, she doesnât want to reveal to the group what Jax was planning to do, if and/ or when he caught her⊠even just the thought of the others knowing was enough to make the circles on her cheeks flush a deeper red.
âWell, how about you two stay with us? We were just having a conversation aboutâŠ.â Kinger offers, but cuts himself off as his mind wanders elsewhere, his large eyes derping to opposite sides of the roomâŠ
âUh⊠Kinger?-â Ragatha begins. âAHHH! Oh! Hi Ragatha!â Kinger suddenly screams, making poor Gangle, who was sitting next to him, jump and hide slightly behind her sketchbook. Ragatha just sighs and looks down at Pomni who still seems a bit on edge, but is slightly more relaxed, if her hands releasing the fabric of the couch was anything to go by.
âYeah⊠you two should stay here like Caine said, that way we can keep an eye on you.â Ragatha says, her last few words clearly directed at Jax, evident by her slight glare. Jax just chuckles, stretching slightly before returning to his previous position.
âYouâre no fun. But⊠might as well.â Jax shrugs, closing his eyes as he rests his head back.
âUh⊠y-yeah. Sounds good.â Pomni nods nervously. Ragatha smiles down at her, she watches as Pomniâs eyes dart to Jax then back at her before shifting in her seat a bit.
Ragatha being the caring person she is, contemplates remaining seated between the two younger circus members. While she wanted to allow Pomni some space from Jax⊠she also really didnât want to become Jaxâs new target for whatever game he was playing right now⊠and knowing Jax, he would come up with some way to scare the doll off if he truly was dead set on getting to Pomni⊠maybe a centipede, or a spider orâŠ. She shudders at the thought. Pomni noticing her inner turmoil gently but reassuringly nods her head at Ragatha, trying to tell her she doesnât have to stay between them. All the while cautiously eyeing the smirking rabbit. Ragatha lets out a soft sigh of guilt but also relief as she carefully gets up and returns to her previous seat next to Gangle.
Jax continues to eye Pomni, his smirk telling the jester all she needed to know about what he was thinking. Pomni grunts and averts her gaze, scooting a little further down the couch, creating even more distance between them.
âAw, whatâs wrong, Pomni? Why are you sitting so far away?I thought we were friends.â Jax says in a mock hurt tone, placing a dramatic hand over his heart.
âC-Cause youâre gonna-â Pomni blurts out in her flustered state, but quickly catches herself.
âCause heâs gonna what?â Kinger asks innocently, tilting his head to the side.
âN-Nothing!â Pomni quickly responds, the circles on her cheeks growing darker. She takes a breath, choosing her next words carefully.
âCause I know that grin, and I donât trust him.â She continues cautiously, crossing her arms as she nervously kicks her feet a little off the edge of the couch.
âOh yeah? And whatâs my oh-so-handsome grin have to do with anything?~â The rabbit teases, leaning a little closer to Pomni, making her tense.
âJax, come on. Leave her alone.â Ragatha scolds again. Jax just scoffs and leans back into the couch.
âWell, she doesnât have to sit so far away, Iâm an innocent bystander here.â Jax jokes, earning a deadpanned expression from the group, making him chuckle. Pomni sighs, trying to calm her nerves and seem less tense than she actually was, her blood practically boiling with anticipation. The group sat in silence for a few minutes. The only sounds being Gangleâs pencil scratching against the page and the occasional rustle of clothes or squeak of a spring when one of the circus members adjusted their position.
âYa know, Pomni, you really shouldnât be so tense⊠you should let loose, laugh a little.â He quietly teases, making Pomniâs cheeks flush slightly as he leans a bit closer.
âYou do realize Iâll have my revenge eventually, donât you?âHe whispers. Pomni can tell he is enjoying every second of this. How hard Pomni was trying to keep her composure and seem unbothered, but deep down her nerves are geared up to 100 in anticipation, how embarrassed she was at the idea of the others seeing her react to Jaxâs teasing and his playful revenge that is clearly coming. Ragathaâs eyes dart between the two circus members on either side of her. She could tell Jax was teasing her about something, and obviously something Pomni was quite flustered about⊠but what that was? She had no ideaâŠ
âJax, you said earlier the reason you were chasing her was for âpayback? Pay back for what exactly?â Ragatha suddenly asks, to her surprise Jax stiffens slightly, his own cheeks flushing slightly now⊠thereâs no way he can admit to exactly why he was trying to get back at Pomni⊠He quickly covers his reaction with a casual click of his tongue and a shrug of his shoulders.
âHeh, not important⊠All that matters is Pomni should have thought twice before she went and messed with me.â He replies, averting his gaze, his eyes locking onto a block that sits nearby. Ragatha quirks a curious brow at the sudden shift in Jaxâs behaviour⊠was he⊠embarrassed? Now she was even more curious to find out what was going on between themâŠ
Jaxâs mind was running through thoughts a mile a minute⊠It had only now just occurred to him he may have not thought this through⊠if he tickles Pomni seemingly unprompted⊠as revenge, it will seem so out of character, which to be fair, it kinda is. And theyâll no doubt figure out what he meant by âpaybackâ as Jax wouldnât usually be the type to resort or even think of such a⊠seemingly harmless and playful form of retaliationâŠwithout having faced a similar fate himself beforehand⊠especially considering his history with picking on Gangle⊠He had to give Pomni credit, whether she thought that far ahead or not by joining the group, it was smart⊠and annoyingly effective.
But then a plan comes to mind⊠if he can bait the situation to make tickling seem like a more spontaneous and logical reaction to the situation without revealing his own pervious fate⊠yeah⊠that might workâŠ
Jax watches the group for a bit⊠waiting for the others to stop paying such close attention to him and before he continues, when Pomniâs eyes snap over to him once again cautiously, he chuckles, turning his body on the couch to face her a bit better. He innocently props his head up with one of his hands.
âWhatâs up, Pompom? You scared? Scared Iâm gonnaâŠâ He trails off, very slowly reaching a hand towards her. Pomniâs entire body tenses as her wide eyes lock onto his hand as it slowly approaches. He knows she is still on edge, anticipating for him to tickle herâŠ
âHurt ya or somethinâ?!â He unexpectedly claims, darting his hands towards Pomni, stopping just short of touching her. Pomni shrieks and curls up against the arm of the couch, bracing herself for the ticklish impact that never came. Jax canât help but laugh at her reaction, it being both adorable and kinda pathetic in his opinion. Pomni glares at Jax as the othersâ gaze quickly moves back to the Rabbit and Jester on the other couch.
âJax! Stop bullying her, youâre scaring her!â Ragatha growls in annoyance at the sight of him still teasing Pomni. Jax scoffs and rolls his eyes, seemingly backing off.
âUgh, sheâs fine. Iâm not even scaring her, sheâs just being a baby. Besides, itâs not like Iâm actually gonna hurt her.â He smirks, suddenly grabbing Pomniâs ankle to keep the small jester from running.
âSomehow I find that hard to believe.â Ragatha scoffs, crossing her arms in a challenging way. Perfect⊠theyâre taking the bait.
âHeh, what? Is it sooo hard to believe I can tease someone without hurting them?â Jax continues to egg them on, gently pulling Pomni closer to him, despite the small jesterâs protests.
âI mean⊠y-you did throw her out of that truckâŠâ Gangle responds nervously, Kinger nods in agreement, though he doesnât actually fully comprehend whatâs going on.
âAnd donât make me list off all the times youâve broken Gangleâs mask, or been overly violent on adventures.â Ragatha adds.
âOh yeah? You really donât believe me, huh? Well, Iâll prove it!â Jax says, accepting the challenge and yanks Pomni towards him on the couch.
âNo way! Jax, donât you dare!â Pomni protested as she struggled to pull her leg free.
âHaha! Whats wrong Pomni? Here I am, having just thought of the perfect way to get my pay back, and proving I can do it without hurting you? Come on, you should be grateful.â Jax challenges teasingly slowly moving his free hand towards her.
âI-I know what youâre doing Jax! Cut it ohout!âPomni squeaked, a small giggle of anticipation already slipping through her lips. Pomni grabbed at Jaxâs hands trying to pry them off her so she could escape his grip, but with the massive size difference it really didnât do much aside from make her look like a flopping fish out of water.
âCome on! Quite squirming so much!â Jax chuckled evilly down at her before his hand latched onto her side. Pomni screeched and curled up best she could under the rabbitâs touch. But to Gangle, Ragatha and Kinger, the sound that followed was not at all what they had expected⊠it was laughter.
âJ-Jahahax! Thihihis is nohot prohoving anything!!â Pomni squeaked through giggly laughter, flapping her arms about in attempts to get away from his fingers.
âNa ah ah, keep still Pomni, gotta prove to the doubters theyâre wrong donât I?â Jax chuckled pinning her arm to the couch instead of her leg now, looking down at her with a playful and sadistic yet fond smile on his face. Somehow this made it all tickle so much worse! Not being able to move or squirm away, every atom in her body was begging for her to move which only increased her senses and susceptibility to his playful touch.
âHaha! Why are you so red? Iâve barely touching you. God this is hilarious.â Jax teases catching onto Pomniâs flushed cheeks.
âN-Noho ihits not! Y-You shut up-!! Aaaha!!â Pomni squirmed. Trying to push Jax back with her foot. Jax just chuckles dodging her attempts with ease.
âAw come on! Its not that bad!â Jax smirked down at her evilly as his fingers wandered up to her neck.
âSh-*BLOINK*! Nohoho! Nohot thehere!â She squeaked, her voice going up an octave or two. Ragatha face palms, clearly both shocked and irritated by Jaxâs childish behaviour. Despite this however, she could tell he wasnât being rough with her⊠his fingers never staying in one place for too long and from what she could tell, not digging his fingers in too much. She sighed and looked over at the others to guage their reactions. Gangle was watching on in shock and awe⊠and maybe even a little envy? Sheâs clearly just as surprised if not more so by the sudden display of gentle playfulness from Jax. Kinger was also a bit surprised but not to the same extent as the girls. He seemed more intrigued and perhaps fascinated. Ragatha sighed⊠just glad Jax was being somewhat gentle with Pomni, in his own⊠odd way.
âOh not here? You mean⊠here?â Jax grinned fluttering his finger at the little spot on Pomniâs neck, the jesterâs face grew to an even more flushed hue at the teasing in his tone and the fact the others are witnessing this, but⊠part of her doesnât hate it⊠sure it was a bit overwhelming and embarrassing but, she could tell Jax was having fun too. And not fully in his usual sadistic way. But genuinely playing with her in a way he clearly hasnât done in a very long time with anyone.
âJahahax! You D-*BLONK*-â Pomni laughs her squirming increasing when he suddenly jumps to squeezing her knees.
âJax come on! Knock it off already.â Ragatha scolds with an exasperated sigh.
âWhat? Youâre the one that made me *have* to prove I can play nice~â Jax retorts, his hands not slowing their assault on the small jester. Ugh, classic gaslighting.
âYou call this playing nice? Youâre practically killing her.â Ragatha argues crossing her arms. Jax scoffs playfully, gently pinching up and down Pomniâs ribs.
âOh come on Raggy⊠Sheâs laughing not dyingâ He teased wiggling his fingers into Pomniâs neck again, making her let out a small squeal. Well time to dieâŠ
âAw whats the matter? I said Iâd get my payback didnât I? Iâm killing two birds with one stone here! I show them how nice I can be and get my revenge.â Jax smirks, letting go of her hand to use both of his own to poke at her underarms now.
âAh! Nohohoho!â Pomni giggled as she tried to push his larger hands away from her, despite her reflexes forcing her arms to pin down against her sides.
âAAAH!!! Jahahahax! Yohohou mohohother- *SPLAT*!â Pomni shrieked kicking and squirming as his fingers weave their way under her arms.
âAaaah, there it is! How I do love the desperate screams of my victims, I am just soooo evil I must consume the screams of agony.â Jax chuckled sarcastically, his eyes on Ragatha to somewhat playfully taunt her as he says this, spidering his fingers along Pomniâs sidesâŠ
âKnohohock ihihit ohohoff! Ohohok! Ohok! Iâm sohorry!â Pomni screeched pushing at Jaxâs hands once again. Jax, surprisingly taking note of the pleading apology and confirmation she has had enough, slowly stops his tickling fingers. Pomni took in a few breaths of air trying to calm herself. She half heartedly shoves Jax back, which he lets her do as he laughs.
âHa! You shouldâve seen your face!â Jax laughs pointing at Pomni as she tries to catch her breath before glaring at the rabbit.
âWell, that was an entertaining display!â Kinger says cheerfully, making Ragatha face palm again.
âA-Are you ok Pomni?â Gangle asks quietly.
âPhew⊠Y-Yeah. Iâm fine⊠Just, need a secâŠâ She pants lightly wiping a small mirthful tear from her eye.
âHa! Looks like I won this round Pompom.â Jax cockily claims resting back into the couch again, clearly pleased with his handy work. Pomni gives him a slight glare at his cocky behaviour and taunting, but she canât exactly deny the fact he has indeed won.
âMaybe youâll think twice before tickling me next time, eh? Oop-â Jax freezes, clamping his lips shut⊠but the damage was already done. The other three circus members also freeze⊠did Jax just say what they think he saidâŠ?
Uh ohâŠ
(It was at this moment he knew⊠he F*BOING*ed up.)
Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. It's where your interests connect you with your
So, since Iâm starting to get the writing bug back I figured you all deserved an explanation as to why I had disappeared. This is a long post, but its less about me dumping all my crap, but instead saying something I think we all need to hear and can learn from. This isnât a fic but its something I truly wanted to share with this community. Hence the tags.
Even if you donât read my story. Please scroll to the bottom, where my main message to you is.
Trigger Warnings: Isolation, Behavioural Addiction, Depression, Early adulthood struggles? And reflection, going into behaviour analysis that revelations some may not be mentally ready for.
The Past Year.
In April last year I graduated University. The thing I had always dreamed of doing ever since I was very young, having grown up with learning disabilities and a lot of struggle in mental health. (Which I think a lot of us can relate to here.)
For my whole childhood I naively believed that graduating Univsersity would be my ticket to finally âbeing enough.â But after so many years of struggle and I finally made it. Reality hit me harder than I ever could have imagined.
Stuck at home with parents that are honestly falling out of love, trying endlessly to get any job just to start making some money and even just meet new people and get out of my small town. (But the economy and job market suck right now.) Living in the city for Uni is so different from my home town. Always something to do and things to see. In my home town there are toxic neighbours and very anti-social environment in general, the sudden change was too much.
Feeling trapped and overwhelmed with the grief of losing the happy ending, I turned to something I never believed I would.
Behavioural Addiction.
I now know I had always had addictive tendencies, biting my nails, acne picking⊠video games, but none of them have impacted my life like this one did.
Character AI, yeah⊠that app. If you donât know, its an AI chatbot app that is meant to resemble texting or role play with characters. At first, it started as just a way to fantasize more tickle stories faster just for myself. It was a way to cope for a while⊠But it quickly turned into something much worse. (Overall Iâd just recommend you donât touch the thing at all.)
I would spend up to 20 hours a day on the app sometimes, rotting away in my bed. Just completely shutting the world out, cause I couldnât handle the reality that what I was told for so long, the one hope I had that kept me going through it all, was shattered and all a lie.
I stopped writing, drawing, even interacting with my friends and family unless they reached out to me. I didnât do anything other than use that app, it was on my mind day and night. I always felt a small voice in my head saying âNo⊠donât do it.â But the urge would always win and that was one of the most horrifying realizations of my life. That I couldnât stop.
I tried many times to quit, but mental withdrawal is a lot harder than it looks. And still being in the environment that lead to the unbearable stress in the first place did not help. I donât want to go too much into it, but there is a very strong silent tension between my parents. A resentment. And it eats you alive when you are in the middle.
But I still think I was very lucky. Before I ever found the app I was accepted into a graduate program. So even though the app still overtook my life and priorities. I had a new responsibility. A new purpose. If I had not gotten in and was going to go that coming September⊠I donât want to know where I would be. Throughout the program I still struggled deeply. I procrastinated on assignments and barely passed a few courses. But I put on a brave face as best I could. No one in my life knows about the addiction or the war I am fighting in my own head each day, which meant I was on my own. So I had began to research trauma and other phycology in relation to addiction and coping behaviours. Learning as much as I could while also in school and trying to cope with this, all on my own. I still pick at my acne, I still bite my nails, I disassociate and shut down. I still use the app to this dayâŠ. But not nearly as badly as I once did though, and I am doing better.
Yes I still have days where it overtakes me. Yes I have days I still need it to cope with overwhelm and stress. I am still trying to learn how to cope without the behaviours I have developed, but the fact that I want to write again⊠I truly believe its a sign I am getting better.
My Message to You
My situation at the moment does not allow me to see a therapist. So I have been doing the best I can with what I have. Diving into the reasons and science with books and studies and anything I can find.
(I personally reccomend Gabor Mate, his books are fantastic for anyone who is struggling with not only addictive behaviours but trauma in general, adhd, and even chronic illness.)
Iâll be honest trying to make the unconscious conscious (One of the main strategies) Has been both one of the most terrifying but also eye opening and honestly validating things I have done. It involves leading with curiosity and compasion for myself. Instead of thinking âUgh! Why did I do that?!â I have to try my hardest to think âHmm⊠I wonder why I went back to it. Something must be missing.â
I have learned so much about my trauma and why I am the way I am. So many of my life long suspicions and gut feelings have been proven correct and even ones I didnât know where there until I read or heard them became validating.
It has been one of the hardest years of my life, and Iâll admit, I have no idea how tomorrow or the next day or the next month or even year will go. I am scared and tired. And who knows, maybe tomorrow Iâll go back to believing its not true⊠that all this is just hogwash⊠but I at least know right now its real. And thats enough.
And I think everyone in this community deserves to hear it too, cause I know that if I struggled, wondered, and felt scared about it, at least some of you have too.
Our urges, our coping mechanisms, Hyper fixations, and even our habits. Good and bad⊠are not our fault.
Try not to blame yourself for coping however you do. Because if anyone else was in the same world as you are, and were in growing up. They would end up just like you did.
Coping mechanisms are literally our nervous systemâs way of surviving the otherwise unsurvivable.
The main point of source of addictive tendencies according to several phycologists today but specifically Gabor Mate, is that addiction, hyper fixation and escapism, is our bodyâs way of coping with pain and trauma we never were allowed to truly feel. Its pain and feelings we were never allowed to truly process and feel because our bodies felt we could literally die if we did. When our brains become trained to reject our own authenticity, aka our own feelings. Its not because we are bad or unworthy, but because we were in an environment that did not allow us the space to truly be ourselves. And to our bodys⊠that feels life threatening, so it will do whatever it must to shield our feelings, and often that is when addiction can strike. That doesnât mean we shouldnât grow and try to heal if our coping strategies hurt ourselves or others. But one of the first steps is learning to cut yourself some slack and realize that to heal, you have to stop blaming yourself for surviving, how ever it was that you did.
I guess all I want to say is. From the bottom of my heart, you are valid. The pain you feel, the trauma you have faced. Any struggle big or small, it matters. You matter. And no, Iâm not talking to the one that you show the world. This isnât a message to them. This is a message to the you inside that feels so strongly, and beautifully and authentically. That wants to love and be loved. That wants to be heard and just accepted. The you that is buried under all the crap and pain you faced. The you behind all the things the world made you feel you had to beâŠ
Iâm talking to the you that is still in there somewhere. They are there and they deserve to be loved, cherished, and accepted. Sometimes the world fails us in teaching us that. And that is not your fault.
It was never your fault, and never should have been your job to learn on your own.
So⊠been a while eh? So much has changed and happened over the last year, and I never thought Iâd write again, but something in me called to the inner gremlin.
Seeing Beyond.
Warning: TADC episode 6 spoilers!
After episode 6 of TADC I think we all need some fluff to brighten our spirits. Not exactly funnybunny but can be interpreted as such I guess.
Anyone that comes across this that is not in the you know what community uh⊠Iâm sorry?
The stakes were high⊠the least threatening of groups, Ragatha and Kinger, had been taken down, leaving just Pomni and Jax, and Gangle with Zooble. Both parties patrolled the circus tent in search of the other team, guns loaded and in hand.
As Jax and Pomni walked, their eyes drifting from place to place in search of any sign of the others, all the while jumping from topic to topic as they conversed.
âOk⊠Hereâs another one.â Pomni begins with a soft smile as she walks alongside the tall rabbit.
âLeast favourite color.â Pomni asks, clearly enjoying this unexpected game of trivia she was having with the purple rabbit. Jax rolls his eyes despite his usual charismatic smile still being plastered on his face.
âEh⊠probably blue⊠or maybe red.â He smirks, holding his hands behind his head casually as he walks. His eyes dart up and down Pomniâs figure for a moment with a cheeky grin, waiting for her to catch on to his teasing remark.
âHuh⊠Whyâs- Wait! Hey!â Pomni stammers, her pupils growing small in playful irritation as she looks up at the purple rabbit. Jax only chuckles. âOh come on, Pompom, ya walked right into that one.~â Jax teased, his smirk growing wider at her irritation. Pomni sighs, shaking her head. She wasnât actually mad, but it seemed this playful banter and picking at one another was Jaxâs way of being somewhat genuine... So sheâd roll with it for now. The two stroll along the black and white checkerboard floors for a few moments in silence before Pomni smirks.
âSoâŠ.â She begins, piquing Jaxâs curiosity as he opens an eye to look down at the small jester.
âAbout that maid dress, huh? I mean⊠it seemed just a little too⊠personalized.â She smirks as she sees Jaxâs eyes widen in surprise and embarrassment. âWha- Hey! Whatâs that supposed to mean?!-â Jax stammers, clearly taken off guard by the sudden question. Pomni chuckles, twirling her gun on her finger casually. âIâm just saying⊠it looked like it was *Maid* for you!~â Pomni giggles, crossing her arms and leaning closer to the rabbit, whose face was flushed red in irritation. Itâs clear she hit some kind of nerve, but what the core of it was? She had no idea. After a moment, Jax shakes off his initial embarrassment and playfully shoves at Pomniâs head.
âOh, shut it. It was completely against my consent, ya victim shaming me now, Pom?â He retorts back as they stop by a bunch of blocks near the large tubes and towers in the main opening of the circus. Pomni smiles as she sighs, leaning against one of the boxes.
âMan⊠being evil is exhaustingâŠâ She groans, flopping down onto her butt to sit for a moment. Jax simply scoffs, rolling his eyes, but leans up against the block as well.
Jax clicks his tongue. âReally? Tapping outta your evil era already? Lame.â He smirks, crossing his arms almost in a challenge, egging her to keep up her act. When she doesnât right away, he slides down against the block, sitting down next to Pomni for a moment, propping his lanky elbows up on his knees, his handgun still lazily gripped in his right hand. He had to admit, stamina was one of the few things heâs still not figured out about the circus. While they donât need to sleep, canât die of oxygen deprivation, or even eat, they still canât run and be on the move none-stop. Maybe itâs like a stamina bar in video game, Jax pondersâŠ
The two sit in silence for a few minutes, listening for any sign of Gangle or Zooble⊠Pomni watches as Jaxâs ears twitch every so often at small sounds her own ears couldnât hear. She looks up at the tent above, contemplating for a moment⊠being on Jaxâs team wasnât ending up at all how she expected, though sheâd be lying if she said she was super surprised as well⊠When she first got here, Jax seemed like just another prick of a guy that bullied people for fun⊠and maybe that was part of him. But over the past little while, sheâs been seeing different sides to him, albeit slowly.
The way he asked about Gangle during the stargazing, the tension between him and Ragatha⊠how he would joke and tease her but not in the same way as he did the others⊠it was odd, but she couldnât say she minded it that much. A small clicking sound diverts her attention back to the present⊠She glances over again to see Jax with a bored expression on his face as he idly spins the cylinder of his gun with his gloved finger. She can tell he is deep in thought, his rectangle pupils large as if heâs in his own little world, watching the cylinder spin.
âOut of ammo yet?âŠâ Pomni asks casually, snapping Jax out of his thoughts. The rabbit shakes his head for a moment before looking down at Pomni.
âNah, got two more in here.â Jax reassures, skillfully flipping the cylinder back into the jack of the gun with ease. Pomni watches him for a moment⊠she canât help but wonder why he had opened up to her, even a little. Sheâs known Jaxâs type before⊠and they are usually a lot more... Aggressive towards anyone that gets close. Well, aggressive may not be the right word, he definitely was that. But there's something else under there, and she can tell itâs buried deep⊠and she knows it can blow up in her face if she is not carefulâŠ
âHey, Jax?âŠâ Pomni hesitantly says, her voice a bit quieter than usual. Jaxâs eyes snap from the gun to her, easily catching the shift in her tone, his guard instantly going up once again. The grip on his gun tightens slightly.
âWhat you said earlier⊠about the archetypesâŠâ She begins with a shrug, her eyes look over at him curiously but with caution.
âWhy do you think we ended up⊠looking the way we do? Like- hm⊠Why am I a⊠Jester? A-And you aâŠâ She hesitates, looking up at him. âA purple⊠rabbit?â She asks.
âWell, Iâm not sure.â Jax sighs placing the gun down next to him, resting his arms behind his head once again. âProbably just a part of the big joke. Makes us forget who we were.â He shrugs almost coldly, his eyes focused forward at a door across the way. He clicks his tongue casually again before he continues. âLike I said, weâre all part of the machine... we all end up turning into what it wants us to be. Maybe our characters are just another part of that whole plan to make us lose who we were.â
Pomni considers his words for a momentâŠ
âBut⊠then why can we still feel things⊠as if they are our bodies⊠Why do we breathe even though we donât technically need to in here?⊠isnât that still human?â She lightly challenges, shifting a little where she sits, knowing she is most likely on unsteady ground with Jax on this topic. Jax sighs, closing his eyes, his grin returning to his face.
âBeats me, but either way it doesnât matter, pain or other sensations donât mean anything inside this digital world. Itâs not like we have any use for them anymore.â He shrugs again, clearly trying not to think too hard about it, using his masked and sarcastic tone. Pomni is quiet for a moment, looking down at her cloved hand curiously, flipping it around a little as she thinks. Jax does have a point⊠without the risk of being killed, their senses really donât have much use, other than sending pointless signals to their brains to stop some kind of perceived danger or damage that could harm them⊠at least not hereâŠ
Jax hisses through his teeth, leaning back a little against the box, crossing one ankle over the other. âBut either wayâŠâ He peaks open an eye to look at her. âMakes it more fun to mess with people, eh?â He smirks, flicking her in the forehead to lighten the mood and hopefully annoy her.
âWha- Hey!â Pomni grumbles and recoils back a little, her arms flailing to try and grab at Jaxâs hand, as he now begins to poke at her head, making the rabbit chuckle. She swats at his hand until he pulls it back, his amused grin only making Pomni more irritated by his teasing. She huffs and playfully pouts, crossing her arms in mock annoyance. Jaxâs smirk grows into a grin at her facade of irritation, moving his hand back behind his head to cushion it against the hard block they were still leaning against. Pomni grumbles and scoots closer to Jax before she elbows him in the side. Her small arm making contact with where his lower ribs would be. Jaxâs eyes snap open in an instant, his ever-present grin faltering for a moment as he flinches back, his arm coming down to shield his side. He looks down at her in surprise and almost confusion a bit as he is startled by the sudden, unexpected sensation. Pomni, noticing this, and worried she may have hurt him, quickly tries to apologize, but he is quick to stifle his reaction, over-dramatically flopping down onto the floor.
âOh! Iâm wounded! How could you, Pomni? My own teammate turning against me!~â He mock-cries, placing a hand on his forehead for extra effect. Pomni giggles with relief to see that she didnât actually hurt him, her expression softening a bit as he flops down next to her. She smiles and gently punches at him, enjoying the playful turn this conversation has taken. âOw!- Hey! Cut it out.â Jax groans in playful annoyance as she pokes and pushes him, though despite his attempts, he canât fully hide the small laugh escaping his mouth.
âMuwahaha! Yes! Feel the wrath of Pomni The Evil!â Pomni attempts her evil laugh again as she jokingly karate chops and punches at the rabbit. Jax looks up at her with a smirk, rolling his eyes as he halfheartedly fends off her attack.
âEh⊠still kinda cringe.â He teases. Pomni, taking this as an invitation, doubles down on her playful efforts to attack him. Her hands grasp his side in attempts to get a good grip to shove him across the tiled floor. Jax gasps, his eyes going wide once again as his arms pin down to his sides. Jax chuckles as her fingers lightly dig into his sides, making him squirm. Pomni, not seeming to notice right away, continues her playful assault, poking and pushing at his torso.
Jax giggles again, trying to weakly grab her hands despite his body telling him to shield himself. He curls onto his side, his eyes shut in small, mirthful giggles as he swats at her hand.
âGehehea! H-Hey! No fair!-â He giggles, grabbing her hands. Their playful squabble pauses for a moment as Pomni catches onto his reaction. Once again, he tries to divert her attention, by this time letting out a fake cough, but Pomni quickly realizes what was happening, and her eyes squint in suspicion.
âJax⊠are youâŠ?â She asks, a small smirk coming to her face as she looks down at the purple rabbit. Jaxâs eyes go wide for no more than a second, his face flushing slightly in realization that she has probably caught on.
âHuh-? Uh heh, am I what?â He inquires, cautiously crossing his arms over his chest, trying to seem unaware of the implication. He could just sit up and run to get away⊠but that would tell Pomni the answer clear as day.
âAre you ticklish?â Pomni smirks, moving to poke his side again. Jaxâs expression resembles a strange mix of emotions: surprise, embarrassment, and even a bit of⊠excitement? But he quickly shoves those emotions away, pushing her hand off as he scoffs and quickly sits up. âPfft- Of course not! You must be losing it, Pomni.â He deflects, scooting back to his spot next to her. His attempts to seem nonchalant donât go unnoticed by Pomni. He eyes her wearily as he subconsciously hugs his knees to his chest, trying to protect any weak spots.
Pomni chuckles sympathetically, seeing the embarrassment in Jaxâs expression.
âI⊠didnât know we could still be ticklish here.â Pomni chuckles, with an innocent shrug, making Jaxâs face flush deeper.
âYeah, wellâ We canât. It was just a glitch or something.â He denies, averting his gaze from her. Pomni chuckles at Jaxâs denial, which she is not surprised by at all considering his personality. She scoots a bit closer to him, her smile growing.
âOh yeah? Then why are you getting all embarrassed?â She teases lightly, digging her fingers into his side again, making the rabbit jolt upright.
âH-Hey!â Jax exclaims, slightly squirming away from her touch. He curls up further, his legs pinning closer to his chest as he tries to shield the sensitive area with his arms. (Yeah, like that saved you before, buddy.)
âHm⊠interestingâŠâ Pomni smiles, pulling her hand back for a moment. Her eyes sparkle with amusement and fascination at the new discovery of not only tickling being a thing in this digital world but that Jax was susceptible to it!
âPomni⊠I-I swear if youââ Jax stammers, but before he can finish speaking, Pomni smirks evilly and reaches up, tickling his neck. A shiver runs down Jaxâs spine as he scrunches his shoulder up around her gloved hand. A wide, genuine grin on his face as he tries to keep his composure.
âAeheheheheh! H-Hehey! Pompom! C-C-Cohome ohon!â He squeaks, scooting away from her but easily just traps himself in a corner of the large blocks.
âHang on. I gotta test this.â She playfully protests, poking and tickling his sides and ribs, making the purple rabbit shriek and squirm.
âPhohomni! Iâm gonna kihihill you!â He gasps, but thereâs no real malice behind his words. Surprisingly, he doesnât do much to stop her, or even take control of the situation like both of them assumed he would. Instead, he just⊠curled up and didnât resist except for what his body naturally did in response to the sensation⊠Itâs such a strange and almost unfamiliar feeling to Jax⊠he should hate this. He should shove her back, get mad at her, scare her off, push her away⊠Anything to avoid her seeing him like this⊠no one sees him like this. This isnât his character, and thatâs wrong⊠but something in him stops him, and it both infuriates and scares him.
âNo, you wonât! Look at you, youâre hardly even fighting back!â She giggles, lightly scribbling into his underarms, making him squeal.
âCome on! Admit it! Youâre ticklish.â Pomni teases, snapping Jax back into reality. He full-on screeches when he feels her hands squeeze his lower sides.
âGahaha!â He giggles as she moves to squeeze the same spot again, making his foot thump against the ground in ticklish agitation. Jax squeaks and giggles wildly as she teases the sensitive spot.
âPohohomni! Iihit tickles!â He gasps through giggles and squeals.
âHa, see! I told you! Whoâs the funny one now, huh?!â Pomni teases, fluttering her fingers back up to his neck. His mind races with conflicting thoughts of telling himself he canât let his persona slip and secretly craving more of the playful affection. The fact he canât hide his reactions⊠and yet Pomni seems to accept and want to see more of it⊠the genuine him⊠The last time something like this happened was withâŠ
âAahahaha! Nyahahaha! Nohot thehere!â He suddenly shrieks as she squeezes and pokes at his belly through his overalls.
âWhatâs wrong, Jax? I thought you wanted me to be evil! Mwahahaha!â Pomni laughs evilly again, clearly enjoying this playful game they have going on.
âOhok! Ohok! Pomni! Ehenough! Yohou win!âHe shrieks pushing her hands back with ease. Pomni, seeing he has had enough, lowers her hands, letting them rest idly in Jaxâs hands. The two of them stare at one another for a beat, as Jax catches his breath a small but genuine smile on his face.
âJaxâŠ?â She begins as he glances up at her. His signature smirk once again plastered on his face.
He clicks his tongue. âWell, you caught me. Looks like my biiig secret is out, huh?â He shrugs with his usual sarcastic tone letting go of her hands. Pomni smiles slightly at his tone, glad he isnât mad. She scoots back a bit giving Jax some space, though she still looks at him with a cheeky smile making Jax playfully roll his eyes as he stands up.
âHooo, didnât think you had that in ya Pompom.â He says, his back turned to her for a moment before he looks back, his smirk once again returning, but this time with a bit more mischief than usual, he runs a hand through the fur on his head.
âYou got guts.â He smirks down at her, he leans down picking up his gun, twirling it casually before he speaks. âAnd⊠â He sighs stretching his arms a bit. âI think you should run.â He smirks.
âH-Huh why?⊠Oh-â She suddenly realizes where this is going. Her eyes go wide.
âOh [BLOINK]âŠâ Pomni stammers scrambling to stand up, Jax chuckles evilly, clearly having plans for revenge. He takes a step closer to Pomni, just when she is about to bolt a bullet comes flying by her head hitting the ground. Both Jax and Pomni look at the bullet in the floor then back at each otherâŠ
They both smirk readying their guns. Revenge may have to waitâŠ
I know I havenât posted in quite a long time again⊠adulting is hard man. And sI am continuing education and the program has been BRUTAL with workload! Iâm still alive and lurking like the gremlin I am. Love you all.
