Luckys nook

Curly stared at the scene in front of him, cursing the fact that his responsibility as captain means he has to deal with stuff like this. Daisuke, with a look on his face somewhere between sheepishness and a pout, is stuck in the emergency foam. With Swansea glaring at the kid like he's the cause of all his problems, unfair, but the kid was trouble sometimes. They've only been on the ship for close to 5 months and there's already been several incidents like this, usually with Daisuke as the unintentional culprit.

Curly can't ever bring himself to be mad at the kid though, he's a good kid and he only wants to help out, he just needs to listen a little better. “Well. I see the issue here.” He says. Swansea's glower is turned on him. “The kid was brought on just to make me suffer!” He snapped, “Intern my ass.” He grouses. Curly sighs, waving Swansea off, “Go, I'll deal with this, I'm the only one with access to the axe case anyway.” He ignores the man's muttering as he storms out of the room, the door closing behind him.

Turning around to face Daisuke, he raises an eyebrow. “How many times has he warned you not to mess with the vent now?” The kid pouts, “I was just trying to help! How was I supposed to know it would trigger the emergency foam?” He wiggles a bit while he's talking, trying to free his hands from the foam. He gets one out and starts slowly digging out the other hand, which is quite a ways deeper in the foam than the other one was. Curly clears his throat, and when Daisuke looks up at him, gives him a stern look.

“You should know better than to mess with the vent, it's collapsed inside since before this voyage and you've been told that it's too dangerous for even Swansea to try and fix.” He raised an eyebrow. “You've only worked on this ship for 5 months, you're nowhere near qualified enough to fix the vent, it could kill you if you try, at the least it would hurt you pretty bad.” As he's speaking, Daisuke droops, ashamed and embarrassed. He sighs, ruffling the kids' hair. “I'm not mad at you, kid, I don't want you to get hurt and Swansea doesn't either. It's why he's so hard on you.” He gives him a reassuring smile, which Daisuke hesitantly returns.

Curly stepped away to get the axe out of its case, pulling out the code scanner to make sure he puts in the right code. When he grabs the axe and starts walking back, he sighs as he sees Daisuke's nervous look. “Can't you just use your hands and pull me out? I got my hand out on my own” He says with an uneasy grin. Curly leans the axe nearby, resigning himself to calming the kid down. “It's too thick for me to pull you out of it, the only reason you could get your hand out was because it wasn't deep in the foam. And,” He raised an eyebrow. “You wouldn't be in this situation if you had just listened to Swansea.” He shrugged.

Daisuke still looked hesitant, and Curly struggled to think of something to help the kid calm down. The last thing he wanted was him freaking out and getting hit with the axe on accident. He thinks back to earlier in the week during game night, after losing at sorry for the third time in a row Anya had started to tickle him to distract him from the game. The tickle fight that happened could have gone down in history. It would calm him down, and Daisuke never seems to mind it. Plus, maybe it would finally stick that he needs to be more careful and listen to what he's told.

He raises a hand and starts poking at Daisuke's side, grinning at the immediate giggles it elicited. It was always hard not to smile when Daisuke laughed, he's so bright and energetic that his joy and laughter are contagious. “Waihahait!” He squealed and covered his face with his free hand as Curly moved to scribble at his belly. “Daisuke, I'm not even doing anything,” he laughs softly. “Liahahar!” He shrieked when Curly poked at his belly button.

Curly stopped to give Daisuke a moment to breathe before smirking at him. “Is that any way to talk to your captain?” Daisukes eyes go wide. “Waihahait! I dihihidn't mehehean it! Dohohohn’t!” He pleaded as Curly reached for his free hand. He halfheartedly tries to squirm away, but the foam might as well have been concrete with how tough it was to move through it.

Curly, pausing as he gets a slightly evil idea, hums to himself. “don't what?” He asks, hiding a grin. Daisuke walks right into his trap, “tihihickle mehehe!” He giggles out. Daisuke freezes, eyes wide, as he realizes that he just fell for the oldest trick in the book, and one that he himself uses often. His nervous anticipatory smile grows as he stares at the silently grinning captain.

Curly lightly drags his nails around his palm and down his arm, listening to Daisuke's panicked laughter fluctuate as he goes back and forth. “Awww does it tickle, Daiske?” He can't help but tease. He's met with squeaky giggles as he draws closer to his palm.

Curly waited, letting the anticipation build until Daisuke started to get fidgety. Then he strikes, spidering down his arm and scratching at the palm of his hand. Daisuke's giggles get wilder as he unsuccessfully instinctively tries to pull his hand away.

After a moment, he lets go of Daisuke's hand, giving him a moment to breathe. “Alright kid, let's get you out of that foam.” Curly said, picking up the axe from its resting spot. Daisuke nods, still giggling slightly, waiting for Curly to chop through the thick foam before shaking out his body from being trapped in the foam for a while.

When free, he rubs at his palm, chasing away residual tingles. He seems to remember what got his stuck in the foam in the first place, and his head droops, expecting a reprimand. Curly sighs softly, pulling Daisuke into a side hug and ruffling his hair. “Like I said, nobody's truly mad at you, just worried because you could have gotten hurt or worse. Just don't do it again and you'll be fine.” He grins at him, and Daisuke smiles back.

Droid panted heavily as he sprinted through the playground as fast as he could, Pezzy right on his tail. Pezzy is persistent, but Droid is stubborn. He ducks around a corner and crouches down in the ball pit, slowing his breathing and staying as still as possible.

“Where did he go?!” He can hear Pezzy shout somewhere to his left outside of his hiding spot. Droids eyes go wide as he hears a voice off to his right too, alongside the rattling of the balls in the ballpit. He knows that voice. He curses internally, figures that Puffer would team up with Pezzy against him.

He needs to come up with a plan to get out of this, and he needs to do it fast. He peeks out of his hiding spot just enough to check where Puffer and Pezzy are and spots Pezzy with his back turned nearby but Puffer nowhere to be found, maybe he got bored and went after one of the easier survivors.

Droid ducks back down and starts to slink off to his right, moving carefully to not make any noise and alert the hunter. As he gets to the closest exit he pauses as he realizes that it's gone quiet and he can't hear Pezzy anymore. Swallowing nervously, he decides to make a run for it out of the ballpit and hope for the best.

“There he is! Puffer!” Droid hears Pezzy shout, and has only a moment to question where Puffer had been before he gets tackled to the ground. He and Puffer wrestle a bit, but he was already tired from all the running around so it's not long before he's pinned down. Pezzy jogs over with a grin on his face. Droid is already smiling despite his attempts to hold it back, covering his face with his hands to hide his smile.

“Nuh uh, you know the rules of the game, no hiding.” Puffer says with a smug smirk, pulling Droids hands away from his face and handing them to Pezzy, who pins them down with his knees. Puffer takes his place on Droid's thighs, drumming his fingers against his stomach with one hand. Droid starts giggling quietly, attempting to pull his hands down even though it's a fruitless venture.

Pezzy starts tracing his inner arms down, stopping just short of his underarms before tracing back up. “Hurry uhuhup!” Droid complains. He averts his eyes from his two teasy friends as they narrow their eyes at him. “Awww poor guy can't handle a little teasing can he? Too ticklish for his own good.” Puffer taunts, grinning at Pezzy who grins back. “Yeah, we haven't even started yet and he's already giggling.” He teases, continuing his motions up and down his arms.

“Stohohop teasihihing!” Droid whines, pouting up at Pezzy, the only one between the two most likely to take mercy on him. Luckily for Droid, he's in a merciful mood. “Alright, alright, we'll have to go after the others anyway so I guess we can't take too long, right Puffer?” Puffer sighs and rolls his eyes, but agrees with what Pezzy said. “Yeah, you're right. Can't keep them waiting too long.”

Pezzy, who had stopped tracing Droids arms while talking to Puffer, starts up the motion again, throwing Droid back into a fit of giggles. Droid is so distracted by this that he forgets about Puffer. Until he starts skittering his fingers over his stomach. “NOHOHOHO!” He laughs, half heartedly trying to wiggle out from under both of his friends.

Unfortunately for him, his wagging tail easily gives away how much fun he's having. Puffer and Pezzy decide to hold onto that knowledge for later. Pezzy joins in soon after, digging his fingers into Droids underarms, making him jolt and laugh harder. He instinctively kicks his legs, unintentionally kneeing Puffer.

Everyone freezes. Puffers eyes narrow at Droid as he watches a nervous smile grow on his face. “Wahahait Puffer, I didn't mehehean toho-” He cuts himself off when Puffer doesn't react to his plea. “No, no, I see how it is.” Puffer says, smirking. Droid is only able to look up at the sympathetic look on Pezzys face fora fleeting moment before Puffer starts clawing at his ribs, making him squeal at the sudden attack.

“PUHUHUFFER PLEHEHEASE!” He cackles and squeezes his eyes shut in an attempt to lessen the tickly sensation. It doesn't lessen it, it makes it worse. It's further made worse when Pezzy moves from tickling his underarms to tracing his neck lightly. The difference in Puffers rough attack and Peezys gentle attack is agony.

“YOURE BOHOHOTH EVIHIHIL!” He whines through his laughter as Puffers hands slip under his shirt and start digging into fur to claw at skin, making his laughter increase. He opens his eyes at Puffers disbelieving laugh. “You act like you're not enjoying this.” He says, pausing in his tickle attack to raise an eyebrow at Droid, who's very thankful for his fur for hiding his blush.

“I'm nohohot!” Droid insists, pouting at the looks from Pezzy and Puffer. They don't believe him, which isn't fair. “Uh huh, so there's a totally unrelated reason your tail was wagging?” Pezzy says, smirking at the look on his face. Droid whines, he knows that they know he's having fun, it's worthless to deny it. His tail is a traitor.

“How about this, we'll stop if you admit that you enjoy being tickled, deal?” Puffer asks with an evil smirk as he resumes his tickle attack. “Whahahat? That's not fahahair!” Droid cried through giggles. “Come on Droid, it can't be that bad, can it?” Pezzy asks smugly, fingers moving to scratch lightly at his ears, one of his weak spots."

“Thihihis is soho mehehehan!” He whines as Pezzy scratches at the base of his ears. “Awww poor Droid can't handle a few tickles.” Puffer coos at him. “Stahahap saying thahat!” Droid pleas, much to Puffer and Peezys amusement. “What word? Tickle? Does that make this worse? Tickle tickle tickle.” Pezzy taunts lightly.

“OKAHAHAY FIHINE, YOU WIHIHIN! I LIHIHIKE THE TIHIHICKLES PLEHEHEASE!” Droid cackles, startling Pezzy, who looks over at Puffer to see what made him react like that. Puffer had started clawing at Droids thighs, one of his worst spots. Hearing his shouting, they both let up, moving to let him curl up and rub away the tingly feeling.

“You're bohohoth evihihil.” Droid says through residual giggles. “Bold words to say when you're still in tickling distance.” Puffer teases, wiggling his fingers in Droid's direction and laughing at the squeak he gets in return. “Nohohope! I'm fihinine!” He yelped.

Pezzy laughed with Puffer at his reaction, shaking his head fondly when a still giggly Droid leaned against him. Pezzy wraps an arm around him, pulling him into a side hug. Droid pouts at Puffer, who rolls his eyes but sits on Droids other side. They should he going after the other survivors, but for now they can exist in this moment of calm.

-bonus dialogue-

“You know you never actually told us to stop, right?”

"Shut the fuck up Puffer!"

“Don't push me, asshole!"

“Why did I get pushed?!”

“Shut up Pezzy.”

“Yeah, what Puffer said.”

Groans erupt from Pezzy, Droid, and Grizzy as Puffer passes the finish line in first place for what felt like the hundredth time that night. “HA! Suck it! I win again.” He smirks as he brags about yet another victory, to the annoyance of everyone else.

They'd been playing Mario Kart for the past few hours and had only gotten a few wins over Puffer, and his ego was starting to get on their nerves. When Puffer leaves to get a drink, they start their plotting. “He's too cocky, Grizzy do something.” Pezzy complains. “Yeah man, you're the one who lives with him.” Droid agrees. “Fine, fine, just give me a second to think.” Grizzy says, leaning back in his chair with a sigh.

A moment later, Grizzy gets an idea. A week prior, he had brushed against Puffers side by accident. Puffer had practically jumped a mile in the air and, despite his attempt to cover it up with a cough, had squeaked a bit. Puffer was ticklish, and that was Grizzys ticket to curbing his ego. He smirks slightly as he relays his plan to Pezzy and Droid, and they grin and wait for Puffer to get back.

Eventually, Puffer returns from the kitchen with a drink. Smirking, he asks, “are you guys ready to lose again?” Pezzy and Droid make a show of groaning and complaining at him, working on keeping him distracted while Grizzy sneaks off towards his room. They hold back laughter as they watch the door to Puffers room slowly creep open, Grizzys head popping around the door as Puffer is none the wiser.

Before Puffer can react, Grizzy slinks forward and wraps his arms around him, trapping him in his chair. “Grizzy?! What the hell!” Puffer shouts, wiggling in an attempt to escape. “You've been too damn cocky Puffer, we're tired of your ego.” Grizzy says, Droid and Pezzy nodding in agreement. “Wait, you two are in on this?!” Puffer yelps, fruitless attempts to escape ceasing momentarily so he can stare in disbelief at his two friends on screen.

The two in question smirk triumphantly, proud to have gotten one over on Puffer for once. “Yup, me and Droid distracted you while Grizzy was sneaking into your room.” Pezzy says with pride. Puffer glares at him and Droid. “I'll get back at all three of you for this shit, I swear.” They share a nervous look at his words.

“I'm sure you will, but for now you're stuck here.” Grizzy says, starting to tap his fingers against Puffers sides. Puffer squirms slightly at the sensation, a wobbly grin growing on his face as he realizes what's about to happen. He attempts to push Grizzy away since his arms are free, but Grizzys hold on him is too strong. “Oooh is that a smile, Puffer? What's funny?” Pezzy taunts with a snicker, making Puffers face go red in embarrassment. “Shuhut the fuck uhuhup!” Puffer shouts, a few giggles making their way out.

“Yeah, what's so funny? I don't remember anyone making any jokes, do you Pezzy?” Droid tilted his head in mock curiosity as Pezzy shook his head with a shit eating grin on his face. “Yohohou asshohohles!” Puffer whined. “Well that's rude.” Grizzy says, unable to hide the amusement lacing his voice. “Could have just asked me to start.”

Puffers blush worsens, covering his face with his hands. “Awww is poor Puffer embarrassed?”. Pezzy coos teasingly, cackling when Puffer shakes his head from behind his hands. “Okay okay, enough teasing. I want my revenge.” Grizzy says with a smirk, hands going from tapping against his sides to tracing up and down, making Puffers giggles kick up a notch.

Puffer's blush steadily grows to the tips of his ears as Grizzy scratches at his sides, and it gives him an idea. Grizzy blows lightly at the back of Puffers left ear, snickering at the squeak it draws forth from Puffer. His hands drift up from Puffer's sides to his ribs, making him wiggle in a valiant attempt at escape. He doesn't succeed.

“Look at him wiggle, he looks like a worm!” Pezzy cackles, making Droid burst into laughter. “He does!” Droid says through giggles. Their words only succeed in making Puffer wiggle and blush harder with an embarrassed whine, which only makes them laugh harder at his misfortune.

Grizzy frowns at his wildly wriggling friend, it was a lot harder to hold someone in place when they won't stay still. Grizzy smirks as he gets a truly evil idea. Puffer's going to kill him but it will be so worth it. He grabs both of Puffer's hands and pulls them up into one hand, making puffer yelp in surprise. He looks up at Grizzy, gulping at the mischievous look on his face.

“Alright Puffer, if you manage to keep your hands up for 5 minutes while you're tickled, then I'll let you go. If you don't, I get to tickle you for 10 minutes. Deal?” Grizzy says, making Droid and Pezzys eyes go wide with sympathy. They'd been on the receiving end of that particular game of Grizzys before, and so far neither of them have won. Puffer stands no chance.

Puffers eyes narrow at the challenge. He knows logically that it's a trap and that there's no way he can win, but his ego is too strong to make him choose any other option. “Do your worst.” He says, confidently smirking up at Grizzy, whose own eyes narrow at his attitude. Pezzy and Droid look at each other nervously. They know that Puffers fucked himself over, but does he know that?

Puffer sits up straight when Grizzy leys his hands go, crossing them behind the head of his chair, gripping the back to keep his hands in place and squeezing his eyes shut. He cant see it but he knows Grizzy is smirking down at him. It sends a shiver of anticipation down his spine, but he stays confident and collected and doesn't show his nerves too obviously. By this point he'd forgotten almost entirely about the presence of Droid and Pezzy, his focus taken up by the challenge and the flustering nature of what was about to happen.

He's so deep in his thoughts that he jumps slightly when Grizzys fingers graze his underarms, swallowing nervously. It's bold of Grizzy to go for one of his worst spots this early, but it makes sense when his goal is to tire Puffer out and make him drop his arms. He tightens his grip on the back of the chair, now it's a battle of willpower. The question is, who wins?

Grizzy starts off with lightly scratching at his underarms, making Puffer bite his lip to hold back giggles. He can't hold back the wobbly grin as easily. Pezzys voice makes his eyes snap open and towards the still active discord call. “Awww Grizzy, he's smiling so wide! Man if only you could see it from where you are.” Pezzy says with an exaggerated sigh with Droid joining him in his laughter.

Puffers eyes narrow and, despite how badly he knew it would backfire on him, he sticks his tongue out at his two friends. He's truly a beacon of maturity. Pezzy and Droid gasp in surprise. “PUFFER! That's so rude, Grizzy do something!” Pezzy shouts as Droid nods with a mock angry look, making Grizzy look up with a confused look from where he's still tickling Puffer. “What did he do?” He says in confusion.

“He stuck his tongue out at me and Pezzy!” Droid complains with a pout. Grizzy hums to himself as Puffer starts stammering out excuses, considering his options. He had been planning on keeping the game going until Puffers arms dropped, but clearly his ego is still very intact. This changes things. Looks like they'll have to shelve the game for next time.

While Grizzy was thinking, he subconsciously loosened his grip on Puffer. Seeing his chance to run, he wiggles out of Grizzys hold and sprints out of the room. Grizzy freezes in shock for a moment, processing what just happened as he hears Pezzy and Droid shout for him to chase after Puffer in the background. Blinking, he stands up and bolts after his friend, aware of the head start he has on him.

Grizzy doesn't see Puffer out in the hallway, but knowing him he probably hid somewhere nearby in the hopes that he wouldn't be found. Unfortunately for him he's a very predictable hider, and Grizzy has a hunch on where he hid. Grizzy peeks his his head into his room, silently making his way to the closet.

Even if Puffer wasn't predictable, the quiet giggles from the closet would have given him away almost immediately. He puts his hand on the doorknob, preparing to pounce if Puffer tries to make a run for it. He quickly twists the knob and yanks open the door, catching Puffer in his arms when he tries to bolt.

Grizzy easily wrestles Puffer down, tasering him in the side to get him to drop to the ground. He pins him in place with his knees pinning Puffers hands, sat on his thighs, cracking his knuckles to drive up the anticipation. It works judging by the bright blush on Puffers face as he watches him. He sighs, tapping his fingers against Puffers hips ominously, a promise of what's to come.

“So, anything to say for yourself?” Grizzy says with a raised eyebrow. Puffer wiggles experimentally, internally swearing when he realizes he doesn't have a single chance to escape. He gives Grizzy a smug smile though. “Nah, I don't take back anything.” He says, knowing that he's only digging his grave further. Grizzys eyebrow raises further, and he shrugs. “Suit yourself, don't say I didn't warn you.” He replies.

Rather than go for Puffers hips immediately, Grizzys hands jump upwards to his underarms, then to his ribs, then to his sides, then his hips. He proceeds to repeat this, switching it up periodically to keep him guessing. Puffer yelps and breaks out into cackles with no chance of holding back his laughter. He's unable to kick his legs or cover his blushing face, all he can do is laugh. Or he could tap out and give Grizzy what he wants. He's still too proud for that.

Grizzys hands move from their, frankly evil, position tormenting Puffer, to his worst spot, his stomach. He lightly spiders his fingers over his tummy, making Puffer laughter go lighter and more giggly. Puffer closes his eyes in embarrassment, blush traveling to his ears at the flusteringly light tickles. “Aww can poor Puffer not take the tickle tickle tickles?” Grizzy coos teasingly at him, making him whine and shake his head.

“Stahahahap teasihihing me you bihihitch!” Puffer giggles out, half heartedly trying to wiggle out from under his friend. Grizzys eyes narrow playfully, and Puffers own eyes go wide as he realizes the mistake he made. “Wahahait waihahait, I dihihidn't mean ihihit!” Puffer says through his giggles. Grizzy shakes his head, “No, no, I see how it is Puffer, we're name calling now.”

Puffer giggles in anticipation, face scrunched up from how widely he's smiling. The hands on his stomach, which had paused while Grizzy was talking, slide under his shirt to scribble at bare skin. Puffer bursts out into loud cackles, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

Grizzy continues tickling Puffers stomach for a moment, before slowing down to periodic tapping to keep him on his toes. Puffers laughter dies down into quiet giggles, face damp from the laughter induced tears. Grizzy looks at him with a stern stare. “So, you gonna apologize for your ego? Or do you need a round two? Because I wouldn’t be opposed.” He asks with a mischievous smile.

Puffer giggles, shaking his head. “Ihihih’ll apohohologize!” He yelps when Grizzys hands scratch slightly harder at his stomach. Grizzy smiles fondly at him, sliding off from where he had him pinned and helping him up. He leads him back to Puffers room, grabbing a water bottle on the way. Before they enter the room, Grizzy takes a moment to turn Puffer around and gently wipe the tear streaks off his face, lightly shoving him away when Puffer rolls his eyes, making Puffer chuckle.

Puffer flops down in his chair when they enter the room, breathing out a sigh of exhaustion. “That took that much out of you? What else did you two do?” Pezzys voice makes Puffer sit up quickly, having forgotten that Pezzy and Droid had been in call. He huffs a quiet laugh at the suggestive faces they're making. Leave it to them to make things freaky.

Grizzy rolls his eyes, setting the water bottle in front of Puffer on the desk, smiling in return when he gives him a grateful smile. “Get your head out of the gutter, we didn't do anything. Anyway, Puffer you have an apology to give.” Grizzy says, unable to hold back the fond smile as he shakes his head, leaning against the back of Puffers chair.

Puffer groans in mock annoyance, leaning back in his chair and staring up at Grizzy with a pout, who in turn raises an expectant eyebrow at him. Puffer sits up, meeting the equally as expectant faces of his other two friends. “Sorry for being egotistical.” He mutters with an eye roll, kicking at the ground with a foot.

“Nah don't be, it was funny.” Pezzy says. “Yeah it was.” Droid says with a chuckle. Puffers head snaps up. “What.” He says, staring in disbelief at the two. “Yeahhh this was in the plans for a while, we just used that game of Mario Kart as an excuse.” Grizzy says, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. “I will be getting you back.” Puffer tells him with a glare. He turns around at the snickering coming from his computer. “That goes for you two also.” He says with a raised eyebrow, delighting in the nervous looks from all three of them.