#ler!ocean

“You’re lying, Noel.”

Ocean crossed her arms, staring down the dramatic teen. She wasn't going to listen to those lies, especially when they were…well, wherever they’d ended up after the carnival accident. Karnak wasn’t telling them.

“So what if I am? You hardly have any right to know the truth, Miss Human-Pyramid.” Noel scoffed, refusing to look at her.

The group had found themselves a peaceful moment to relax and think in the purgatory-adjacent space they were in. Naturally, Noel and Ocean decided to fight during it.

“That was one time!” she scoffed, crossing her arms indignantly. Sure, she’d said some…unsavory things about her fellow choir members, but he didn’t have to keep bringing it up. “And at least that was honest! I know you’re lying.”

It was Noel’s turn to scoff then, his hands moving to rest on his hips. “Am not! I owned a genuine french cigarette holder, and I’ve used it before!”

“Sure you did, hungry hombre.”

The mention of his honorary taco meal made Noel see red. Pulling out his most sassy, vile mindset, the boy delivered his comback. “Well, at least I’m likable. I bet you can’t think of one person in your life who’s payed real attention to you. Even your parents don’t notice you.”

Ocean gasped, clutching her imaginary pearls. It hadn’t been a deeply upsetting blow—the truly influential aren’t always likable, after all—but he’d definitely struck a chord. That deserved some payback.

With a small glare, Ocean stepped silently toward Noel. That was the most terrifying part: her not speaking. It was rare for that girl to be quiet, even more so when she was upset.

“Why are you doing that? It’s creepy,” he huffed, taking a few steps back. Ocean didn’t faulter, still walking right at him. “Hey, back off, you— GYAH!”

Noel’s entire body jolted as Ocean poked his side. It was a quick little jab—nothing painful or intense—but enough to let him know of her plans. “No! No, Ocean, don’t you dare!”

“Oh, I dare.”

Before Noel could run, the girl lunged at him. It was rare to see Ocean truly act her age, but she used every ounce of strength she had to wrestle the cursing, shrieking boy to the gound. They ended up sitting on the floor, Noel trapped with his back pressed against Ocean’s chest.

Noel kicked and shoved at Ocean’s arms, feeling her hands rest upon his sides. They were still for the moment, but he knew exactly what was coming. “Get off of me!”

“No, I don’t think I will,” she grinned, resting her head on his shoulder. It was partly to avoid being headbutted, yes, but it was also to tease him. “Unless you admit that you’re a dirty liar and that you never owned a French cigarette holder.”

“How dare you?!” he exclaimed, trying to elbow her. Ocean caught it easily, making him grunt in frustration. “I’d rather die!”

“Fine.”

Noel jumped as her nimble fingers started to slowly move, gently scribbling on his sides. They weren’t his most ticklish spot, but they were definitley sensitive. He felt his nerves light up with the foreign sensation. “Youhuhuhu ahahahasshohole!”

“Language, Noel!” Ocean gasped, giving each of his sides a quick squeeze to emphasize the point. It was surprisingly fun to hear him laugh like that.

“GAH! Fuhuhuck! Fuhuhuck youhuhu!”

Noel’s laugh was high-pitched and whiny, making his cheeks burn. He hated laughing like that, the way it made him sound. He didn’t mind his more effeminate voice, but he did mind how ridiculous his natural laughter made him sound.

“Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you laugh like this,” she mused, moving one hand to poke around near his navel. It was definitely different to hear him sound that way, but…it was kinda cute, in a “goofy brother” way.

Noel’s blush intensified at her acknowledgement, feeling embarasment grow in his chest. He though she was mocking his laugh. “Shuhuhut ihit!”

Ocean shrugged, grinning as she noticed his blush. “What? It’s a cute laugh, Noel. Why can’t I point it out?”

“B-behecause dohohohon’t!”

“Hm…I think I will.”

With a smug grin, Ocean’s hands shot up to the boy’s underarms, wiggling away into the soft, sensitive skin. He’d been clamping his arms down, so she figured they had to be a bad spot.

And boy, was she right.

“NOHOHOHO!” Noel screeched, kicking and writhing under her touch. It was so ticklish; he hadn’t been tickled there in ages, and he wasn’t prepared for how intense the feeling would be. “FUHUHUCK! OHOCEAHAN!”

“Hm? Need something, liar?” she hummed, resting her head upon his shoulder once again. It was too fun to tease him.

“NOHOHOT THEHEHERE!”

Ocean commented, “Not there, interesting.” Her evil little fingers were still teasing his armpits, arms crossed on his chest to keep him from running. “You know you can end this by telling the truth, right? It’s really easy. Or we can just listen to this laugh all day.”

Noel shook his head rapidly, smacking at Ocean’s arms. “NOHOHO!”

He didn’t want to surrender to Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg of all people, but she had him in a tight spot. He couldn’t get away, her touches tickled, and none of the other choir members were nearby to help him.

Well, shit.

“F-FIHIHIHINE!” Noel gasped through his laughter, tapping out against Ocean’s thigh. “IHI LIHIHIED!”

With a shit-eating grin, Ocean removed her hands from his pits and moved to his sides. “Oh, you did, huh? And what’s the truth?”

He was giggling his ass off at that point, squeaking out words through the mess of mirth. “I-Ihihihi mahade ohohone frohom ahaha strahaw and smohoked tohohoilet pahaper throhohough ihit…”

Ocean blinked a few times before eventually stopping her tickles, processing that. It was not smart to smoke paper items, but…everyone has their idiosyncracies, and Noel’s weren’t that bad compared to a serial killer.

“Was that so hard?”

“Y-yehehes, you witch,” he grumbled, leaning back against Ocean as he tried to recover. He hated to admit it, but she was decently comfortable.

Ocean narrowed her eyes at his little jab, responding with a physical one to his side. The squeak she got out of him was satisfying. “Watch it, lover boy.”

“Fuhuck you…”

“I knew you were lying. I’m talented with detecting lies, you know. I took a class about it online, and I passed with flying colors.”

“Ugh, of course you did…” Noel grumbled, running a hand through his hair. He could already tell it was a wreck. “Mind combing through this while you’re back there, since you messed it up?”

“Sure. I actually learned how to style hair from one of my mom’s friends. She’s a cosmetoligist…”

Noel zoned out as she continued to ramble, tilting his head back. Same old Ocean…

Though she had complimented his laugh. Maybe there was a decent human—maybe even a friend—to be made out of her yet. He’d explore it, if he had the time.