#ler!kinger

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It was one of those lazy evenings. Even after going on an adventure today, Pomni still felt blah. Drained, even. Had her period followed her into the digital world? Kinger was the first one to notice since getting back home.

“You all right, Pomni?” He asked her. The rest of the gang always knows how to ask their friends if they’re not feeling well, but Kinger had always done an exceptional job at it.

“I’m just tired.” She responded flatly.

“Long day?” He asked.

“Mhm.” That was all she said and all she needed to say. Kinger paused in a moment of silence.

“Would you like to come into my pillow fort? It’s nice and cozy in there.” Kinger asked. His voice was gentle as ever. Pomni smiled at this request.

“Mkay.” So, Kinger kindly guided Pomni over to his self-proclaimed ‘impenetrable fortress’ and invited her in.

“Ladies first.” He said with a polite bow. Pomni was starting to feel better already.

Once inside, Pomni snuggled up with a pillow, hugging it like… well, a pillow. She was exhausted and cozy. Kinger sat next to her, sitting on another pillow and hugging his legs gently.

“You’re so nice, Kinger. You know that?” Pomni sleepily said.

“I’ve been told that.” Kinger admitted. “Are you sure there’s nothing you would like to talk about?”

“Egh…” Pomni replied. “I don’t know how to explain. I’m not sad, I’m just… beh. Kinger knew that people could get like this in this world, even if he didn’t specifically program that into the system a long, long time ago. It was more of a side effect than anything. That didn’t change the fact that his friend didn’t feel so good right now.

“I know someone who can cheer you up.” Kinger said softly. Pomni looked up at him.

“Who’s that?” She asked. Kinger smiled with his eyes.

“Mr. Tickle Spider.” He said, innocently as he gently wiggled his fingers on one hand. Pomni knew that Kinger was a father figure to everyone in the circus, but this was pretty ridiculous. She smiled at the absurdity of the suggestion.

“Kinger, I’m not five years old.” She laughed. “If I was, I wouldn’t even be here.”

“Come on…” Kinger playfully insisted. He began to pull Pomni over towards him. This made her complain and giggle all the same. “Mr. Tickle Spider doesn’t care how old you are, he just wants to cheer you up!”

“Nohohoho!” Pomni protested, smiling genuinely. Just then did Mr. Tickle Spider make his attack. The tickling wasn’t too intense, Kinger made sure not to dig into her body with force. Instead, he tenderly tickled Pomni as if she were his own daughter. She laughed and squirmed around like a happy child. “Kihingher!” That was the only thing she could get out of her mouth besides bubbly laughter. Even without a mouth, Kinger just couldn’t stop smiling.

“See? Mr. Tickle Spider likes you!” He happily said. “Mr. Tickle Spider likes everyone, he’s very friendly.” Pomni didn’t know how to handle verbal teasing, so she countered it the only way she knew how.

“Shuhuhut uhuhup!” She told him through her laughter. Kinger froze.

“Did you just tell me to shut up?” Kinger asked. He wasn’t really offended at all, but he did find it a good excuse to pretend that he was.

“Uh…” Pomni looked up at him. There was only one way this could go now. Dammit.

“Why, I think you need to be taught some manners, young lady!”

“Nohohoho!” She insisted, kicking her legs. Now she knew full well that it would do absolutely nothing to stop Kinger’s playful wrath. In fact, she realized it would just make it worse, but it was too late now. He tightened his grip on Pomni in his lap.

“Hmm… I think Mr. Tickle Spider wants to burrow under your arm.” 

“NOOO!” Pomni squealed like a little kid. Kinger ignored her plea.

“I’m gonna help Mr. Tickle Spider.” He said mischievously as he lifted her arm up to make way for the imaginary spider. “Here he comes!” Kinger teased. He dug his fingers into Pomni’s awfully ticklish armpit as Kinger held it exposed and she nearly screamed with laughter. He let go of her arm, which clamped down on top of Kinger’s terrible tickling hand. “Spiders like to hide in dark places. It makes them feel safe.” He explained. He had to raise his voice just to be heard over Pomni’s cackling. All this noise inevitably drew in a visitor.

“Is everything okay in here?” Ragatha asked with a smile as she peeked into the pillow fort.

“Ragatha, hehehelp mehehehe!” She begged. Kinger happily continued tickling her. Ragatha knew this game all too well. She had been subjected to it in the past when she was feeling blue. She decided to have some fun and join in.

“Is there a spider in here?” She asked with a knowing smile. Pomni gasped for air, which Kinger took as a sign to stop. He removed his hand from under her arm and repositioned it around her chest in a gentle hug.

“Why, yes.” Kinger replied with a mischievous smile. “Pomni wasn’t feeling so well, so I introduced her to an old friend of mine.”

“Eeugh…” That was the only thing a now even more exhausted Pomni could manage. Kinger had tuckered her out, but he had indeed made her feel better. Ragatha looked at her friend and decided to help her out.

“Did you hear the news, Kinger?” Ragatha asked.

“News? What news?” He replied, genuinely curious. Pomni looked up at her as well.

“Did you know…” Ragatha said with a mischievous smile of her very own, “That Mr. Tickle Spider had babies?” She wiggled her fingers at him with a large, toothy grin. Kinger widened his eyes in realization just shy of dread. “And they want to meet you!” She playfully added. He let his guard down, and Pomni easily escaped his grasp. She used this opportunity to get on top of him, pinning him down. She stared him down with a mean grin.

“Ah!” Kinger yelped. He did not expect this, but he knew he had it coming. “Tell them I’m busy!” He exclaimed, trying and failing to get away under Pomni’s weight.

“That’s no way to treat baby spiders!” Pomni scolded. She wiggled her fingers too. Oh no… “Don’t tell me you don’t want to meet the babies…” She teased.

“Wait–!” He squeaked. He tried to avert his playful impending doom, but he couldn’t. At that moment, the two girls swarmed Kinger with their horde of baby spiders. Under attack, Kinger yelped and fell over in a fit of laughter. He begged for them to stop, but they didn’t. It had only been a couple seconds. Still, they eased down on the tickling to a level where their dear father figure could stand it. “Oh, Pomni, I’m sorry!” He choked between chortles.

“Don’t be!” She happily remarked. “I feel much better now!” This exchange made Ragatha giggle and sent Kinger into another laughing fit paired with the tickling.

“He’s so wiggly…” Ragatha commented. It was true, he was writhing like an earthworm.

“He looks like a caterpillar!” Pomni added. She then got a mean look on her face and turned to Ragatha. “...Don’t spiders eat caterpillars?”

“NO!” Kinger protested. In vain, he put up his hands to try to protect himself from the silly wrath of his girls.

“I could’ve sworn they do…” Ragatha said as she leaned in. Then, she went in for the kill, with Pomni following quickly behind. Kinger guffawed loudly and helplessly as he thrashed about.

“This is what you get for lying!” Pomni teased.

“PLEASE, I CAN’T TAKE IT!” Kinger admitted. Ragatha and Pomni let him free just then. He panted to catch his breath.

“Kinger!” Ragatha exclaimed. Seeing what she put him through, she was riddled with guilt.

“Oh my god, are you okay?!” Pomni frantically asked him. Kinger let out one last breathless, soft, emotionally vulnerable giggle and the girls knew he was all right.

“I’m okay, I’m–” He was cut off by Pomni throwing herself onto him for a hug. He tenderly accepted and returned the hug, giving Pomni a gentle pat on her back. Ragatha joined in too. “...just not as spry as I used to be…” Ragatha let out a soft hum of warm contentment. Pomni did, as well. Kinger sighed and held up his finger. “Mr. Tickle Spider… needs a nap…” He said. The two girls giggled at this cute expression.

“All right then.” Ragatha said with a smile. Pomni gave Kinger a pillow to snuggle up with.

“Good night, Mr. Tickle Spider.” She tenderly said.