Tickling Jade, Floyd, Azul
(Inspired by luxthestrange)
You had always wondered how different Jade was from the average human—he was an eel merman, after all. He always seemed so composed, eerily calm, with that ever-present smile and unshakable demeanor. But today… today, you discovered something new.
"You're staring again, dear Prefect," Jade said smoothly, not even looking up from the tea he was pouring.
You blinked. "Just wondering something."
You leaned forward on the lounge couch in the Octavinelle dorm. "Do merfolk… get ticklish?"
His hand paused just slightly, the teacup tilting a fraction before he corrected it. "That is quite a curious question. I suppose it depends on the individual."
"Have you ever been tickled?"
He set the teapot down with a clink. "Not in recent memory."
Your grin widened. "So you don’t know if you are?"
His eyes finally met yours. Calm. Neutral. Curious. "I can’t say I’ve felt the need to explore such… frivolous things."
A dangerous glint sparked in your eyes. "Then let’s find out."
Before he could react, you launched at him across the couch. He let out a startled hum of surprise—rare from him—as you pushed him down and jabbed your fingers under his ribs. For a second, there was nothing.
It was so un-Jade-like that you paused in shock.
“Pffft—ahaha, Prefect—!” he twisted, still trying to maintain dignity but now clearly fighting it. “H-Hold on—!”
“Oh my seven,” you gasped, laughing now yourself. “You’re super ticklish!”
“You—ahah—fiend—!” Jade finally broke, squirming under your hands, his usual serene mask shattered. “This is—h-horribly undignified—!”
You didn’t let up, especially once you found the spot just under his ribs near his sides—an apparent death zone.
His laugh was breathy and slightly wheezy. “I-I yield! I yield!”
When you finally relented, Jade collapsed against the couch, panting lightly, a few strands of hair falling out of place. You’d never seen him so ruffled before.
He slowly sat up, smoothing his hair with forced calm. "I see now why Floyd chases you around with those grabby hands of his. You're...dangerous."
You gave a smug grin. “Consider it payback for all the cryptic teasing.”
His eyes narrowed playfully, a shark-like gleam returning. "Ah, but now that I know your tactics, I’ll be better prepared next time."
You blinked, and Jade’s smile widened ever so slightly.
“…You don’t happen to be ticklish yourself, do you, Prefect?”
“Nooo~! Shrimpy’s coming at me with the grabby hands again~!” Floyd drawled, backing up with exaggerated steps and a crooked grin. His long arms flailed dramatically as he nearly tripped over the beanbag in the Lounge break room.
You grinned like a gremlin. “Come here, you oversized eel! This is for dunking me in the Octavinelle pool again!”
Floyd just cackled and darted behind a table. “Hehe~ It was funny! You made the best little splash—like bloop!”
“You think that’s funny?” you lunged.
He shrieked—not a fearful one, but that dolphin-like squeal he made when surprised and excited—and tried to jump the couch. You caught his ankle mid-jump.
“Oh no. No backing out now.” You crawled onto his back like a villain and immediately went for his sides. “Let’s see how you like being messed with!”
The result was instantaneous.
Floyd let out a loud, genuine bark of laughter and bucked under you like a wild animal. “HAHAHA—NOOO~! I’M GONNA BITE YOU—AAHH!!”
“Oh my god, you’re worse than Jade!” you laughed, fingers digging just under his ribs and near the curve of his waist. “You’re howling, Floyd!”
“I’M NOT!!” he squealed, trying to twist and roll, but every time he moved, your fingers found a new weak spot. “Shrimpy’s bullying meee—!! Jadeee~! Azulllll~! SOS~!”
You paused briefly. “You call for help now, but weren’t you the one who dragged me into the tank with a ‘weee~’?”
“...I regret nothing—HAHAHA STOPPP!!” He slapped the floor. “UNCLE!! UNCLE!!”
You finally sat back, laughing until your sides hurt, while Floyd lay sprawled like a winded fish, his eyes watery and his chest heaving. His face was flushed, his hair messed up, and for once—he looked normal.
Well, as normal as Floyd could ever look.
He blinked up at you with dazed, twitching eyes. “…Shrimpy’s a menace.”
You wiped your tears. “You started it.”
Floyd grinned slow and mischievous. “Now it’s on. Next time you nap, I’m dragging you into a tickle war you won’t survive~!”
You raised a brow. “That sounds like a threat.”
“It is~!” he sang, and lunged at you again.
Azul prided himself on many things.
His intelligence.
His eloquence.
His business acumen.
His ability to remain composed in even the most embarrassing of situations.
But you were currently threatening all of that.
“I really don’t see the purpose of this,” he huffed, adjusting his glasses with a flush creeping up his cheeks.
“Oh, I do.” You stalked closer to the couch where Azul sat, nervously straightening his vest. “You’ve been working yourself to death with Lounge paperwork. You need a break. A laugh.”
“I would prefer tea,” he tried, voice strained.
With that, you dove onto the couch and jabbed your fingers into his side.
At first, Azul froze like someone had just splashed him with cold water.
“–HhHhf–!” He made this awkward squeak sound and slapped a hand over his mouth as if his life depended on it.
“Oh no, you are so ticklish—!”
“N-Now hold on—!” he gasped, twisting to avoid your fingers. “This is utterly undignified—!”
“That’s the point!” You wiggled your fingers against his stomach now, and Azul broke.
“Pffft—AHAH–!! N-NOOHO—!! H-Have mercy—!!”
His laugh was shrill, surprised, and very real. He kicked slightly, limbs flailing as if trying to backpedal through the couch cushions themselves.
“Is this what you do to your—AHAHA—?!” he wailed.
“I only do this to overworked octopus boys who don’t know how to relax!”
Azul’s glasses slipped halfway down his nose, his face completely red, curls bouncing with every giggle and yelp as your hands wrecked his composure. “J-JADE!! F-FLOYD—HELP—!!”
“They’re not here to save you.” You grinned.
When you finally stopped, Azul collapsed into the cushions like a damp dishrag, gasping and trying to flatten his hair and fix his vest in a desperate bid for dignity. He wouldn’t look at you, but his ears were redder than a fire coral.
“…I will be revising your Lounge privileges after this,” he mumbled.
“You’re welcome,” you said brightly.
Azul glanced at you, lips twitching into something close to a pout. “…Next time I’m stressed, just give me tea. Or a contract. Not… that.”
You raised an eyebrow. “You laughed, didn’t you?”
He adjusted his glasses with a sigh, his cheeks still burning red. “…Unfortunately. Yes.”
