Untitled, bitch.

Ragatha tried to rally everyone with a chipper, "Great job, team! We... survived!" but her voice cracked halfway through. Pomni was clutching her shellshocked head like she had seen the face of Cthulu's acne-covered son eat a bowl of preschoolers. Kinger bolted for his pillow fort with his usual frantic energy.

Amidst the tension, predictably, Jax pounced.

"Whew, long day," he drawled, stretching his arms behind his head. His eyes flicked toward Gangle, and that sly grin spread. "But hey, at least we have our gift wrap intact. Mostly."

He flicked one of her ribbons, and Gangle squeaked, stumbling backward. Her mask tilted awkwardly, betraying her nerves. "H-hey! Don't-"

Jax snickered. "Careful, you'll unravel. Oh, wait, you always do."

Gangle's ribbons shivered with flustered energy. She made a halfhearted attempt to recollect herself, squeaking, "I-It's fine, I'm fine-"

"Jax," Zooble snapped. Their voice carried an edge sharp enough to cut glass. They stepped forward, glaring. "[BLOINK!] off."

The grin faltered for half a beat before Jax shrugged. "Whatever. Sheesh. Sensitive much?" He slunk off, clearly satisfied with the reaction.

Zooble turned back to Gangle, who was still fumbling with her ribbons, embarrassed. With a sigh, they gently tugged a ribbon into place for her. "C'mon. You shouldn't have to take that. Let's go."

Gangle blinked at them, somewhat surprised, but nodded quickly. And before she could unravel further under Jax's mockery, Zooble led her away, ribbons trailing nervously behind.

Gangle's room was small, cozy, and lined with bits of fabric she collected, like a nest of ribbons and cloth scraps. It looked softer compared to the chaos of the circus, though the atmosphere was heavy with her anxious energy.

She shuffled inside, mask tilted low. "S-sorry... I, um, I didn't mean to make a scene. I know Jax is just... Jax."

Zooble folded their arms. "Yeah, that's the problem. He knows exactly how to push buttons. Doesn't mean you should just take it."

"I guess," Gangle squeaked, her ribbons twisting as she slightly unraveled. "It's just... easier to not fight back, you know?"

Zooble sighed, watching her fidget. Despite themselves, they felt a tug of something warm. Frustration at Jax, sure, but also... the way Gangle tried so hard to keep herself together.

They stepped closer, tilting their head. "That's not really working out so well for you, though."

Gangle squeaked again, flustered by the closeness, her ribbons tightening around her. "W-well, I-uhm-"

Her mask shifted, betraying her nerves. Zooble noticed with a faint smirk tugging at their non-existent lips. They remembered something from a few nights ago, just how ridiculously ticklish Gangle had been.

A wicked thought crept in.

"Alright," Zooble said casually. "You clearly need cheering up. And I know just the thing."

Gangle's mask shot up, eyes wide. "N-no, you wouldn't-!"

"Oh, I absolutely would." Zooble grinned. They leaned down, their lobster claw twitching just enough to make her squeak. "Cheer-up therapy. Doctor's orders."

Gangle squealed before they even touched her, ribbons flailing as she tried to curl herself up like a cocoon. "Zooble! D-don't-!"

But Zooble only poked one ribbon near her midsection.

Gangle instantly squeaked like a helium balloon let loose, her laughter bursting out in squeals. "EeEEeeheehehe! N-nooo! Z-Zooble!!"

Zooble barked out a laugh. "Oh my god, you sound like a squeaky toy."

Her mask flushed pink at that, and she wiggled dramatically, unraveling instead of pulling away. "Sh-shuuhuhuhut uuuuup! EeeEEeeeheehee!"

"Not my fault you're squeaky," Zooble teased, fingers and claw tapping along her midsection ribbons. "What, you expect me just to ignore your tickle spots? Get less ticklish."

Gangle squealed higher, her pitch climbing until it cracked. "I c-caahaAn't! Ahahahaaaha!"

She wriggled and twisted, ribbons slipping through Zooble's arms as though she was trying to unravel right out of their grip. But she wasn't going anywhere; Zooble had caught her again, pinning her gently against the fabric wall.

"Slipping out, huh?" Zooble teased, grinning down at her. "Nice try, ribbons."

Her mask was tilted back in helpless laughter, ribbons flailing without aim. She wasn't fighting to escape... she was inviting them to continue.

And Zooble... definitely noticed.

Zooble leaned into the role mercilessly. Their claw wiggled against her midsection, sending Gangle into pitchy, squealing hysterics. "EeeeEEeeheehehe! NohoHOhohohohoo! StohHohoHooop!!"

"See, you say 'stop'," Zooble taunted, "but you're unraveling all over the place. Can't fool me, Gangle."

Her ribbons were everywhere now, twitching and curling. She squeaked again, eyes squeezing shut under her mask. "Y-youhuhu're soho meeeheheeEEHEHEEeeheheheean!!"

"Mean? Me?" Zooble tsked mockingly, shifting to wiggle their regular hand along her side ribbons. "I'm the nicest person here. Look at me, giving you the gift of laughter."

The squeals turned to snorts, then back into squeaks. Gangle's laughter pitched so high it almost broke the air. Zooble had to bite back their own laugh at how ridiculous and adorable she sounded.

"Seriously, you're gonna break the sound barrier," Zooble teased.

"ZoohhooOOBLLLE!! Eeeeeeheehheheeehe!"

Her unraveling hit a point where one ribbon slipped free entirely, flopping onto Zooble's shoulder. Instead of recoiling, Gangle buried her mask against their chest with an embarrassed squeal.

Zooble froze for half a second, heat prickling at their neck. The contact was sudden, intimate. For a flicker of a moment, they felt her mask vibrate with her helpless giggles, soft and warm against them.

They recovered quickly, smirking. "Oh? Hiding now? That's not gonna save you."

And with that, they let the lobster claw clamp gently on the ribbon where her ribs would be, giving rapid little wiggling squeezes.

Gangle screamed, a squeaky, squealing sound that cracked halfway into a giggle-snort. She unraveled wildly, ribbons flying everywhere. "EEEEeeeEEeeheheehhee!! N-nhOOHoHoHOO! NoHOot theeHEHehERE!!"

"Bingo," Zooble teased, relentless. "Gotcha."

Her laughter was pure chaos, squeals tumbling over squeaks until she flopped limp against them, mask glowing pink.

Zooble, sensing victory, let their claw slow. Their other hand idly brushed along the back of Gangle's mask.

The change was stark.

Gangle gasped, then melted, almost literally. Her ribbons went limp, puddling against Zooble's chest as if every non-existent bone had left her body. Her laughter softened into helpless giggles and squeaky hiccups. "Eeeheheee... heehehhee!! Nohohooohoo..."

Zooble blinked. "Wow. Melting's new."

"D-dohohohohon't-!" Gangle squeaked, but it came out faint, muffled against their chest.

Zooble smirked, brushing again at the back of her mask. "Unbelievable. You're just a puddle now."

Her ribbons coiled weakly around their arm, not resisting, only clinging. She giggled helplessly, trying to hide. "S-shuhhhuuuhhup…"

Zooble's expression softened. They gave her mask a gentle stroke, alternating between playful pokes and soothing rubs. "You really are something, Gangle. Cute, squeaky, and floppy all in one."

Her mask tilted low again, embarrassed. "Y-youhuhu're teeheeheeasing..."

"Of course I am." Zooble chuckled, lowering their voice just enough to add weight. "It's fun when you get all flustered."

The air got heavier, laughter giving way to something... warmer. Gangle curled closer, ribbons trembling, too flustered to reply.

Zooble didn't push further. They let her settle, still smirking but... gentler now.

When the giggles finally faded, Gangle peeked up shyly. "K-kihinda fuhun..." she admitted in a squeaky whisper.

Zooble arched a brow. "Kinda? That squeaky meltdown said otherwise."

Her mask flushed, and she swatted them weakly with a ribbon. "Stohoppp..."

Zooble grinned with their eyes, catching the ribbon and holding it. "Eh, make me."

The tension hung in the air, playful, teasing, but undeniably close. Gangle squeaked again, hiding her mask against Zooble's chest. Zooble chuckled softly, their claw resting loosely on her side, no more tickling, just holding her in place.

"See? My patented cheer-up therapy works," Zooble said lightly. "Better than sulking, right?"

"...M-maybe," Gangle mumbled.

Zooble tilted her mask up gently. "Definitely."

Her mask glowed pinker, and she curled tighter around them.

Zooble laughed under their breath. "Alright, squeaky toy. You're wiped. Let's get you somewhere soft before you unravel into a puddle for real."

Kinger's pillow fort loomed at the center of the circus, seemingly always larger than it was the last time one saw it. Cushions were stacked haphazardly into towers and tunnels. Kinger peeked out from the entrance, eyes wide in panic. "INTRUDERS! Wait- no, allies, yes, allies. You may pass!"

Zooble rolled their eyes but carried Gangle inside anyway.

They found a soft corner, fluffing the pillows around her. Gangle was still giggling faintly, her mask tilted in shy happiness. She curled into the nest of cushions, ribbons draping loosely like a blanket.

Kinger saluted them dramatically. "Fort security approves." Then he scuttled off to another corner.

Zooble smirked, settling her in place. "There. Better than Jax's nonsense, yeah?"

Gangle's mask dipped in a sleepy nod. "Mmhmmm..."

Within minutes, Gangle's giggles faded into soft breathing, her ribbons snug around the pillows. She looked peaceful, lips curved in a smile.

Zooble lingered, watching her for a moment. Something warm tugged at their chest.

"Better than sulking," they murmured again, softer this time.