OKAY SO MY LIST KEEPS GETTING PUSHED BACK THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY- AFTER THIS, HDG THEN SCP THEN ALL THE REQUESTS I SWEAR- okay this is a slime rancher fic i couldnt resist making this after i saw this amazing art by amazing artist Michaella Brown (tw suggestive!!), with Beatrix! (i dont think theyre on tumblr so i cant tag unfortunately-) i am not interested in slime rancher lore or story, i just like the setting a lot, so i made my own OCs for this and dabbled in a spot of light yuri because i am just a girl leave me alone- I HOPE YOU ENJOY AND THANK YOU AS ALWAYS TO MY BETA READER @princessofthisworldsfuture!! i'd never be able to post any of these silly fics if it weren't for her giving me the confidence to!! also im sorry for titles im not good with titles lol
First Encounters of the Slimy Kind
Words: exactly 3.2k waow! no just kidding its 3,192 Pairing: Lee!Penny Warnings: intense tickles? but most of my fics have those lol
The morning sun draped Far, Far Range in golden tones as Penny hummed and bounced between corrals, her boots tramping up little puffs of dust. The ranch resounded with noise: Boom Slimes boomed, Puddle Slimes gurgled, Quantum Slimes were being a pain in the ass, and there was the familiar, occasional plop! of a Plort landing in the collector. All was as it should be. Penny loved mornings like these, when the promise in the golden dawn seemed tangible, as if the day itself was giddy to surprise her. She was Juniper’s right-hand girl, after all, and she wanted to prove nobody kept a ranch running smoother.
She checked the feeders, making sure each one was brimming with food. The auto-feeders whirred softly, doing their job, but Penny liked to show the Slimes extra affection. "There we go, you lil munchkins," she cooed, tossing an extra Carrot to a particularly eager Pink Slime. "No one's going hungry on my watch!"
As she turned toward the farmhouse, something drew her eye: a new corral, tucked near the corner of the house. That... was odd. She didn't remember seeing it yesterday. A Solar Shield draped over the top cast the inside in a soft, subtle light, and the slight melody of a music box drifted out, tinkling like so many bells. Curious, Penny tiptoed closer.
Inside, a handful of Slimes moved sluggishly, their bright yellow bodies shimmering like liquid sunshine. They had the same bright shade as Quantum Slimes, but their texture was different: thicker, almost gooey, like Honey Slimes. Long, delicate antennae sprouted from their heads, the tips almost fluffy-looking, twitching as though searching for something. Every few moments, their bodies rippled with tiny pulses, as if they were picking up vibrations in the air. They didn’t seem to fight or even bump each other away. They crowded together, eager for attention. Penny placed her hands against the corral wall, and the Slimes immediately flocked toward her, their antennae wiggling.
"Like a bunch of Phosphor Slimes, but with no wings," Penny mumbled to herself. "Well, hello there, cuties," she spoke quietly. "You're new, huh?"
She noticed that there wasn't an auto-feeder set up. That was really strange... Juniper usually had everything prepared! She bit her lip and looked around. Juniper was nowhere in sight, probably off tinkering with something in the barn or searching the Glass Desert again. The Slimes pressed against the barrier, their motions slow and almost sad. They looked so hungry. Penny's heart squeezed. She couldn't just leave them like that! If she handled this, maybe Juniper would finally see just how reliable she could be, maybe even trust her with more responsibility around the ranch. With a firm nod, she chose to take matters into her own hands.
"Okay, okay, let's see what you like," she voiced softly, rushing to the nearest feeder. She grabbed a Pogofruit and held it up to the barrier. The Slimes didn't react. Not even a trace of interest. Penny frowned and tried a Heart Beet next. Still nothing. They simply stared at her with those big, pleading eyes.
Hmm. “Picky eaters.”
Penny bit her lip, then snapped her fingers. "Maybe you're carnivores!" She darted to the coop and gently scooped up a clucking Hen Hen. The chicken squawked in protest as Penny stroked its feathers. "Shhh, it's okay, little one. You're just helping out, that's all."
She gently tossed the Hen Hen into the corral. The chicken flapped its wings, clucking indignantly, and the Slimes surrounded it. Penny watched, fascinated, as their pseudopodia stretched out, poking and prodding at the bird. The Hen Hen squawked again, but the Slimes didn't seem to want to eat it. They just... poked it. Like they were testing it. After a moment, they retreated, their antennae sagging.
Penny sighed and reached in to rescue the confused chicken. “Alright, you’re free to go. Consider this your lucky day.” She set the Hen Hen down outside the Corral, and it scurried off with an offended cluck.
The Slimes turned their attention back to Penny, their antennae perking up. They stared at her with big, sad eyes, pressing their bodies against the barrier like they were begging for something else. “Oh, don’t look at me like that.” She cocked her head. “Well... what do you eat, you weird little things?”
Penny hesitated, glancing over her shoulder toward the main house, somewhat tempted to run and fetch Juniper for help. But the idea of leaving the Slimes hungry and waiting, or worse, giving up before even trying, made her bristle. Maybe Juniper would say she wasn't ready after all. No way. She squared her shoulders and made a decision. Before she could talk herself out of it, Penny stepped through the barrier and into the corral. The Slimes lunged.
Penny yelped as they wasted no time, their pseudopodia latching onto her, wiggling and squirming against her belly, her sides, her thighs. Their antennae tickled her neck and ears, and suddenly laughter welled up and spilled out of her like fizzy soda, high and gasping and unstoppable. “OhOHohOH!! OHHohoh, nOHohoHo!! S-sStoHohoOHOp ihIhit!! ThahaHAHt’s- oHOhOHoH mYhyhy gOhOhosh, youhUHU GuhUHUYS!!”
She collapsed onto her knees, giggling uncontrollably as the Slimes swarmed her. They were everywhere! Their touch was light and insistent, like a hundred tiny fingers fluttering across her skin with adept dexterity. Penny kicked her legs, trying to escape, but it only made them more determined. Through her cackling, she could make out the plop! plop! of Plorts forming. Where on Far, Far Range could that be coming from??
“MEehEHEHRCyHyHyY!!! MehEHheRCYY, IhIHi SwehehHEHAR!! Ihihi SwHEhehEar, IhIhIhI’ll Geeheheht youhu AnYHYhYTHIhIhING!! AnYHyHYTHIIhihING YouhhUu WahHAhaHAHnT!! J-JuHuHUst- ahHEeEHEEHEEK-!! JUHuHuSt StoHohohOP!!!”
She tried to bat them away, but it seemed like trying to fight off a tide of jelly. Their touches were light, but they were everywhere, and- oh no- her underarms!!
“N-NoHohOO NoHoHOT THehEHehEREE!!” She collapsed onto her back, laughing hysterically.
“MEheHERCY, YOuHuhu lIhIHiTTle MOhOhONSTERS!!! TOhOhOHOys!! D-DehEHhELiCahAHaciES!! A-AHAha WHoHoHOle buUhuHUFFet!!” She continued squealing out promises and pleas for mercy, but the Slimes didn’t stop. If anything, they seemed more encouraged by her laughter.
Tears began stinging in her eyes as she laughed, her voice echoing across the ranch. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed this hard! The Slimes seemed to feed off it, their movements growing more enthusiastic, their antennae wriggling with delight. She curled into a ball, trying and failing to protect her tickle spots, her cheeks reddened.
Penny finally managed to squeal out, “JuHUHUNIpER!! JUHuHUNIihIPERHhrR, HheHHEELP!!”
And looking up, she saw that Juniper was already there, her tall frame throwing a shade over Penny’s giggling, squirming form. The ranch owner didn’t say a word. She rarely did. She just sat down, lips forming into a pleased smile, and watched. For a moment, Juniper felt her chest tighten with a strange amalgam of pride and fondness at the chaos Penny was in. She pretended to be unaffected, as always. But inside, she found it almost unbearably endearing how Penny dove into every job with so much heart, even if it meant getting into trouble like this. Juniper told herself to stay cool, to keep that smile calm and minimal, but she couldn’t help the warmth rising below the surface as she watched Penny laugh.
Penny’s face burned even hotter. “J-JUHuHUniPER, PLehEHeASE!!” she wheezed, but the Slimes redoubled their efforts, one of them finding that dastardly sensitive spot just below her sides. Penny shrieked, her body jerking with laughter. “IhIhIHI CahaHHAHN’t TAHahHAKE iHiHIT!!!”
The Slimes showed no signs of stopping.
-
Penny collapsed against the steps of the farmhouse porch, her skin flushed and her breath still hitching from laughter. Juniper sat next to her, close enough that Penny could feel the heat emanating off her. The flustered ranch-hand tried to smooth down her wild, tickle-mussed hair, but her fingers quivered too much.
“S-Sohoho,” Penny finally managed, “W-whahaht ahahare thohose things?”
Juniper reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a small, well-used notebook: her own pocket copy of the Slimepedia. She skimmed the pages before holding it out to Penny. The sketch inside was unmistakable: round, yellow bodies, long antennae, and a label in Juniper’s neat handwriting saying, “Tickle Slimes.”
Penny’s eyes widened. “T-Tihickle Slimes??”
Juniper nodded. “New breed,” she said, simply. “Found ‘em in a cave in Indigo Quarry.” Juniper’s lips shivered with the memory. “I’d gone down to hunt for Gold Plorts and ended up trapped by a cave-in. Everything was pitch black except for these glowing yellow blobs, all huddled together in the deepest part of the cave.” She smiled wider, glancing at Penny. “When I tried to call for help, they came right up and started poking and wiggling at me. Took me a full hour to realize they weren’t dangerous, just curious. But every time I laughed, they shone brighter and seemed happier. That’s how I figured it out. They don’t eat fruit or meat or anything like that,” she drawled, tapping the notebook. “They feed on laughter.”
Penny blinked. “L-laughter...”
“Mhm.” Juniper’s voice was soft and amused. “Their slime makes skin more sensitive, like baby oil. And they can shape themselves to... well, you experienced it.”
Penny’s face burned. She could still feel the ghost of their wiggly pseudopodia on her ribs, her neck, the way their antennae had brushed behind her ears. She squirmed, pressing her knees together. “S-so they just... tickle people?”
Juniper nodded and leaned back against the porch steps. “Seems like it.”
Penny groaned and buried her face in her hands. “A-and you put them in a corral? Without warning me!”
Juniper chuckled, low and warm. “Figured you’d find out eventually. Always so thorough in your work.”
Penny looked through her fingers. Juniper was still smiling, her dark eyes wrinkling at the corners. Penny’s stomach did a small flip. She quickly looked away, her heart beating fast.
-
The next morning, Penny stood in front of the fridge, staring at the chore list. The usual tasks were there, feeding the Hen Hens, collecting the Plorts, checking the auto-feeders... but at the very bottom, in pink pen, was a new addition:
“Feed the Tickle Slimes.”
Penny’s face went up in flames. She could feel her ears turning red. The corral was right outside, right there! And Juniper had written that! On purpose!
She spent the morning rushing through her chores, her mind whirling. Every time she passed the Tickle Slime corral, she could hear the slight music box melody, and her skin shivered. She loved being tickled, but she hated admitting it. Did Juniper know? Is that why she’d written it down??
By the time she finished everything else, Penny was a mess of nerves. She waited at the corral, her fingers twisting in the hem of her shirt. Maybe if she waited long enough, Juniper would wander by and handle it herself. Or she could just run back inside, pretend she hadn't seen the chore note at all, but Juniper would definitely notice. Besides, she didn't want to look unreliable, not now. She realized with a start that the music box had stopped playing. The Slimes inside were sluggish, their antennae sagging again, but instead of looking sad, they looked very grumpy.
Penny gulped nervously. “O-okay. Okay, you can do this. It’s just... just tickling. No big deal.”
She took in a deep breath, then stepped through the barrier.
The Slimes pounced.
Penny shrieked as their pseudopodia latched onto her, wiggling and squirming against every ticklish spot they could find. Without the music box to placate them, they were inexorable, their movements rough and desperate. Penny laughed so much that her stomach ached, until tears flowed down her face, until she was gasping for air.
“N-NOHOHOHO, W-WhahaHHAIT!! T-TOOoHOO mUHuHUCH!! T-TOOOHOHOO MUHUHUCHH!!” She kicked her legs, but the Slimes only clung tighter, their antennae flicking against the backs of her knees. Penny shrieked, her cackles turning gasping and high-pitched.
Just as she thought she couldn’t take anymore, Juniper’s voice cut through the din: “I’ll turn the music box back on.”
Penny twisted her head to see Juniper standing beside the corral, her arms crossed. Her countenance was unreadable, but her eyes were soft.
“...if you answer my questions honestly,” Juniper added.
Penny nodded her head frantically, still giggling.
“Do you like your job here?”
Penny didn’t even hesitate. “YHEhEhes!! OHOhOF CouHuHRSE IhIHI DoHoHO!!”
Juniper’s lips quirked. “Do you like being tickled?”
Penny’s face burned. She opened her mouth to lie, but Juniper just arched an eyebrow, waiting.
Penny groaned through her cackles. “F-FIHiHINE-!! Y-YehEHEHS, IHIHI LIHiHIKE IhIhiT!! HahAHAHPPY??”
Juniper’s smile grew. “One more question.”
Penny’s heart pounded in her chest.
“Do you love me? Romantically?
Penny’s brain malfunctioned. Suddenly, she could hear her own heartbeat thumping in her ears, each thump rising over the sounds of her frantic laughter. Her cheeks reddened, her breath froze, and for a split second, it seemed that the world whirled with the syrupy-sweet fragrance of Slime Plorts filling up her nose. She opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again. “WHahA- N-NOHOHO, IhIHI- ahHHAHAA!!!”
The Slimes chose that moment to discover her feet.
Penny shrieked, her legs kicking wildly as their pseudopodia wriggled into her socks. “Y-YEHEHEHEHES!!! Y-YEHehEHES, OKahHAHAY!! I-IHIhI HAHAVE, LihIhIKE, A MAHAHahASSIVE CRuHUHUSH OhoHn YOuHuU!! AhahAHARe yOuHUHu HahHAHAPPY nOHOHOW?!”
Juniper softened. She reached out and turned the music box back on. The Slimes immediately calmed, their movements growing gentle as the melody spread through the corral. Penny collapsed onto her back, panting and laughing weakly.
Juniper stepped into the corral and scooped Penny into her arms like it was nothing. Penny yelped, but Juniper just held her close, her strength making Penny feel small and safe.
As Juniper carried her back toward the farmhouse, Penny buried her face in Juniper’s shoulder, her cheeks still burning. Juniper stopped just outside the door. Then... she kissed her.
Penny’s heart flew. The ranch, the Slimes, the tickling, none of it mattered. Not when Juniper was holding her like this. Not when Juniper was finally kissing her.
-
A week later, Penny rose to the faint radiance of dawn shining through her bedroom window. She stretched, her fingers sweeping against the cloth of her pajamas, before sitting up with a grin. The ranch was quiet, the early air cool and sweet, but she could already hear the faraway sounds of the Slimes stirring in their corrals.
She slipped out of bed and walked over to her dresser, pulling out the outfit Juniper had planned for her to be her new uniform: a snug, lavender crop top, her favorite pair of denim short shorts, and a pair of loose, fuzzy socks that came up to her knees. She wiggled her toes into the socks, the soft fabric making her giggle a little bit. It was silly, maybe, but she wanted to be comfortable. And if the socks happened to make her feet extra sensitive to tickles... well, that was just a bonus.
Penny caught her image in the mirror and paused. Her cheeks were already pink, her eyes shining bright in anticipation. She took a long breath, rubbing her hands over her outfit. It wasn’t like she was nervous. Not really. It was just... her new routine. A special routine.
She came out of the farmhouse, the morning breeze brushing against her skin. The ranch teemed with the usual sounds: Rock Slimes tumbling over each other, Fire Slimes popping, Quantum Slimes being a fucking pain in the ass, and the occasional cluck! of a Hen Hen. But Penny’s attention was drawn, as always, to the corral near the farmhouse: the Tickle Slimes.
The music box played its mellow tune, the notes floating on the breeze. Penny bit her lip as she came closer, her heart drumming. The Slimes inside had already noticed her. They pressed against the force-field walls, their bright yellow bodies bouncing in excitement. Their antennae flickered eagerly, hungrily, their pseudopodia wiggling in anticipation.
Penny’s stomach fluttered. She could still remember the way Juniper had kissed her after that first confession, the way her strong arms had carried Penny back to the house like she weighed nothing. She could remember the way Juniper had smiled at her over breakfast the next morning, her dark eyes tender and knowing.
And she could remember the way the Tickle Slimes had made her laugh until she cried.
She drew in a deep breath, her fingers clenching into fists by her sides. “Okay, you little monsters,” she said quietly, moving closer to the corral. “Let’s g-get this over with.”
The Slimes bounced harder, their excitement tangible. Penny’s blush deepened. She was definitely not thinking about how much she loved this. She was definitely not thinking about how her skin already tingled in anticipation, or how her stomach was tied in knots of giddy nervousness. She paused briefly at the edge, biting her lip, then muttered to herself, "Okay, uhm, three minutes. That’s it. In and out, just a quick feed, then I'm out, okay?" The promise made her feel braver, like she had some kind of control, even as her heart quivered with something dangerously close to eager delight. Balancing on tiptoe, she gave herself one last nod, a little rule to hold onto before giving in.
She passed through the barrier.
The Slimes lunged.
Penny’s laughter exploded out of her before she could even take another breath. Their pseudopodia latched onto her sides, her belly, her thighs, wiggling and squirming against all her ticklish spots, all the spots they knew she loved. Their antennae flicked against her neck, behind her ears, and Penny broke into giggles, her body squirming as she tried to escape.
“N-NohOHOHhoHO, WWahahHAHIT!! T-ToohohO SeHhehENsiIHIhiTIVE!!” She silently cursed herself for making it so easy for them. A crop top???? Was Juniper trying to kill her???
But the Slimes were tireless, their movements eager and playful. Penny’s laughter filled the corral, high and squeaky and breathless, her eyes squeezing shut. She kicked her legs, her fuzzy socks making her feet even more sensitive as the Slimes wrapped around her ankles, their pseudopodia wiggling against the soft fabric.
Penny shrieked, her hands grabbing at the Slimes, but there was nothing for her to grab onto; every time she reached to pull one away from a particularly devilish spot, her hand merely grabbed jelly, finding no grip. They only ever took her attempts to pull them off as encouragement. They climbed up her arms, nuzzling her face and their antennae wiggling into her ears, and Penny laughed and laughed.
She collapsed onto her back, her body shaking and convulsing with laughter, her cheeks reddened, and her hair in a wild mess. The Slimes swarmed her, their touch light and insistent, their happy gurgles echoing in her ears.
Penny surrendered to it, her laughter pealing out across the ranch, bright and joyful and alive.
And somewhere in the distance, she could’ve sworn she heard Juniper whistling a tune, warm and fond, as the music box played on. The morning sun flowed over the ranch in golden tones, bathing the farms and the corrals in promise. All things felt as they should be in the gentle dawn.
