#switch!howdy

Howdy comfortably reclined against Barnaby’s side, tucking his head into the crook of his neck and shoulder. Barnaby’s arm draped loosely across his waist. “By golly you make one heck of a pillow, Barn! If I sold ones half as good as you, I’d never keep ‘em in stock.”

Barnaby chuckled, giving an easy shrug “Aw shucks, Howdy, good to know I ain’t too ‘ruff around the edges’ for a cuddle.” He waited only a second for the joke to kick in before Howdy let out a snort, escalating into a laugh.

“’Ruff around the edges’, goodness, ha-ha-ha! That was a good one!” Howdy elbowed Barnaby in the belly quiet gently.

“Hey! Easy there, bud!” Barnaby exclaimed. His grip tightened, giving Howdy a squeeze just above his hip. This caused the caterpillar to buck and let out a noise of surprise, one of his lower hands coming down to grip at Barnaby’s wrist.

There was five seconds of tense silence before Barnaby uttered a devious chuckle. “Oh Howdy, I’ve got a few more zingers to run by ya’, if you don’t mind” He said, meanwhile his fingers were gently kneading at Howdy’s side.

Meanwhile, Howdy was twisting and wiggling. Fruitlessly he attempted to free himself from Barnaby’s vice grip to no avail. “Barnaby, *snrk* don’t!” He said, trying to sound stern. But the teeth in his words were dulled by his snickers.

“Aw, come on, wiggle-worm! You’re gonna get a kick out of these, they’re real rib ticklers I tell ya’!” Both paws buried themselves in an armpit on his left side, one attacking the lower arm and the other teasing the upper. The outburst of goofy cackles put an instant wag in his tail.

“GAH! HAWHAWHAW! Ba-BARNABY! *snrk* Geeheehee-HAWHAWHAW! G-Get ppfft-*snrk*-HAHAHAHA ohowt of THERE! GAHAHA~!”

“Man, I didn’t even start and you’re already in stitches! You really have the best sense of humor there, Howdy. Okay, okay, get this one, what gets bigger the more you take away? A hole! Get it, of course you do, you’re losing it! Here, hang on, I got another, what do folks never eat for breakfast? Lunch and Dinner! I’m really hitting the spot tonight, ain’t I, pal?”

As Barnaby babbled on, Howdy was falling apart in laughter. Both at Barnaby’s absolutely endearing humor and the tickling fingers under his arms. Armpits were a sweet spot and Barnaby darn well knew that.

“You really are my best audience fella, ya always know how to make a comedian feel appreciated around here! Ya know I’m not the best with words sometimes but...hey, come on bud, quit laughing while I’m tryin’ to be sincere!” The dog huffed in mock offense.

“W-well! GAHHAWHAWHAWHAW! YEEHEEHEEheehee *snrk* *squeak* GAH-HAW-HAW! Get OUT of m-myheehee ah-ARMPITS! GYEEEHEEHEEHEE~!” Howdy spluttered, still thrashing a good deal. Barnaby was well versed in keeping out of the way of those kicking legs and swinging arms. Howdy never really knew what to do with himself while tickled and just kinda threw out his limbs at will.

“Aww come on now, Howds! The giggles I’m gettin’ outta these underarms are top stuff! You could make a real winning sellin’ these.” Barnaby objected, paws still scribbling into the sensitive hollows under Howdy’s arms. “But, since you insist. . .”

The massive dog rolled them both to the floor. Howdy was too winded and too caught off guard to defend himself before Barnaby had him pinned belly-down on the ground, sitting on his waist. The dog’s round tummy pressed into his back and he could feel his tail thump against his leg.

“Gehet off me ha-ha, you goofball, you’re no lap dog!” Howdy said with a laugh. One of his lower arms swung out, only managing to graze Barnaby’s leg.

A laugh was received in response; the dog’s chuckles vibrating his plush tummy against Howdy’s lower back. “Not gonna happen Howdy ole friend! I’ve got a hankerin’ for a tickling, and a goofy caterpillar with one of my favorite laughs, prime for some good giggles.” Barnaby’s paws hovered just inches from Howdy’s spasming sides “I do think I promised some rib tickles earlier, didn’t I?”

“Barnaby DOHON’T *squeak* GYAH-HAW-HAW-HAW! NOHOTTHERE-eeheeheehee! HAW-HAW *snrk*~!” Loud, goofy, squeaking laughter burst from the caterpillar puppet. Pounding one hand on the ground and burying his face in the crook of his upper arm.

Barnaby kneaded and squeezed up and down Howdy’s sides. “Good gravy, real big in the britches until someone’s got the squeeeze on ya, bucko. Guess Mr Tickle-Monster can’t afford what he sells.” The furry paws dug into the space between Howdy’s upper and lower arms, renewing hard squeaks and squeals from the ticklish caterpillar puppet.

“GAH-HAW-HAW! QHUIHIT THAT! *snrk* keeheehee~! AH! *squeak* BAHHAAHAAHAA!”

“Gosh, you’ve got such a cute laugh.” Barnaby said teasingly, reaching out a hand and lightly fluttering his fingers against one of the wiggling antennae. Howdy squeaked and giggled fitfully, swatting the offending paw away. The second antennae was then subjected to the same treatment.

“Quihihit *snrk* THAT! You *snrk* kyyYAHAHA! EEEHEHEHE!” Howdy clapped two hands over his antennae to shield them from further tickling.

Barnaby snorted “Oh be like that, will ya? Alrigh’ then.” His paws retracted, only to dive under Howdy’s pajama shirt, tickling away at his back and sides. Wiggling fingers glided gently up and down the broad surface of Howdy’s very sensitive back, Barnaby chuckling at the sharp twitches and spasms.

“GAH-HAA-HAAHAAHAAHAA~! BARNABEEHEEHEEHEE *snrk*! Keeheeheehee *squeak*, NO NOT THERE! OH-HO gosh! *snrk* Dangit! GAHHAWHAWHAW~!” Howdy was absolutely howling. His fist pounding on the floor, the partner hand balled up in his hair.

Barnaby continued to expertly tease the broad, sensitive surface. He scribbled down the center of Howdy’s back, flittered his fingers under his shoulders, drew little circles into his lower back above his hips (which really got him squealing).

“Can’t forget the best spot!” Barnaby teased, walking his fingers up to the space between the two sets of arms. Without pause, his paws scribbled into this space, making sure to pinch lightly where the arms connected to his back.

The caterpillar spasmed and jolted with each pinch, tucking his face into his upper arms and continuing to pound his lower set of fists on the ground. His muffled laugh was practically half squeals at this point. Occasionally he would reach behind him and blindly swat at the offending pooch that was tickling him half to death.

“Hahaha! Aw, is the big, bad, tickle-monster being too mean to the poor gigglebug? This tickle-tickle-tickle too much for you pal? Little too tick-uh-lish for it, ya big wiggle-worm? You act tough but you’re soft as a fresh loaf of bread, just get a load of how squishy these sides are?” Barnaby squeezed at the soft spaces between the upper and lower arms, causing Howdy to shriek and clamp his elbows down to cease the tickling paws.

Chuckling and pulling his hands back, Barnaby gave Howdy a moment to catch his breath. As he did though, he carefully pushed the hem of the pajama shirt up, exposing the whole of that soft lower back. “Here bud, I’ll be a little sweeter on ya this round.” Barnaby’s devious tone gave Howdy a clue so bright it could have been a neon sign.

“Barnaby...don’t you dare, I-I know what you’re thinkin’ and if you put that fast-talkin’ yapper of yours anywhere near my baaAAAAHHHHAAHAAHAAHAA~!”

Barnaby inhaled deeply, blowing a huge raspberry in the center of Howdy’s back. The caterpillar practically screamed before clamping his hands over his mouth to muffle himself. Then planted his face back into his arms as another raspberry hit, roaring guffaws muffled by his arms.

Up and down, that fluffy snout traveled the surface of that broad back, blowing tingly raspberries into the sensitive surface. Exacerbating the ticklish sensation with periodic nuzzles and nibbles where applicable. The tips of his velvety ears grazed the sensitive surface with feather-soft flicks that were only made worse via the tingly ripples. Eventually that snout wiggled its way up underneath the bunched up shirt fabric to attack at what left it was covering.

The raspberries to his upper back and tickly nibbles to the seams where his arms connected proved to be too much. One of Howdy’s arms swung and managed to connected, giving the dog a strong, but unfocused cuff on the arm.

Barnaby gave a small whine and paused his tickling, rubbing his arm, thus giving Howdy a chance to catch his breath. By now his belly was aching and cheeks were burning, his normally well groomed hair was a mess of flyaway locks. Titters still escaped between his heaves as the tingly aftershocks eased out of his system.

“Tha-hooo-that’s...whatcha get...ya big, mean furball.” Howdy said, the edge taken out of his snark with breathlessness.

“Mean? Furball?!” Barnaby exclaimed in an insulted tone, his expression narrowed as he continued “Oh I’ll show you mean, wiseguy.”

The large dog adjusted his position to sit up. Reaching a hand behind him, he seized one of the four ankles at his disposal, tucking it under his arm. A second followed with the opposite hand. Using his mouth, both slippers were yanked off and tossed aside. The now exposed toes wiggled nervously.

“H-hey, wait..come on Barn, c-can’t we chat about this first?” Howdy stammered, his tune having changed quite agreeably.

“Sorry, bugbear, ‘m afraid you’re not gonna be able to talk here in a second.” Not lingering long after his sentence, his fingers dug into the soft soles of Howdy’s feet. Then the caterpillar was sent right back into his peals of laughter. Barnaby’s fingers easily rediscover all the soft spots across Howdy’s soft soles, extracting that hard hitting laughter he loved.

But Barnaby wasn’t here for the small pickings. “Now, how’s about I get to really tickling these tootsies” Barnaby teased, fingers scampering upwards to scribble at the plump, wiggling digits.

“GAHAHAHA~! PLEAHEEHEEheeheese...*squeak* nohot the tohoes *wheeze*. *snrk* KeeHEEEHEEHEEHEE~!”

“Wha’s that, ‘not the toes’? Tootsies too ticklish? Ah, alright, I’ll leave ‘em be. Guess I’ll just just have to tickle in between ‘em.” His fingers barged in between the sensitive toes, mercilessly wiggling into the soft material.

Howdy utterly lost his ability to talk. Between the soft pawpads tickling the sensitive spaces and the fur whisking against against his toes (only made worse by his compulsive wiggling), all he had the thought process to do was lay there and laugh. All that was running through his mind was the ‘awful’ tickling sensation between his toes. By now his belly ached and his voice was going hoarse.

Then it was gone. Barnaby let Howdy’s ankles drop and climbed off him, resting with his back against the couch. Gingerly, he pulled the exhausted caterpillar into the coziest hug. Howdy snuggled into the soft fur, pressing himself into the squishy pillow that was Barnaby.

“Woo...got me good Barn. Ha-ha-hooowee, I’ve gotta killer bellyache after that laugh.”

“I think I can fix that.” Barnaby responded, a large paw gently started to massage Howdy’s aching belly. As Howdy melted into the affection, Barnaby took the opportunity to press kisses into his neck and shoulder, nuzzling the soft fluff. His other arm wrapped tighter around his partner’s chest, squishing him into the mushy cuddle.

Howdy gave a snorting chuckle “You’re real quick to go from tickle-monster to snuggle-puppy there, Barnsy.” His voice was teasing, but he also cupped Barnaby’s cheek in one hand, both scratching under his ear and pressing him closer so Howdy could kiss his other cheek. The sound of Barnaby’s tail thumping against the floor made him unable to help but smile.

“What can I say? Makin’ folks laugh is my soft spot. ‘Specially folks I got a soft spot for already.”

Their kisses met this time, Howdy adjusting himself to proper smooch the goofy dog who had his heart in a headlock. Really did make his playful antics worth it. That and. . .

“Oh Barn, speaking of your soft spots. . .*smooch*. . .I just remembered my favorite one.”

Obviously a little twitter-painted from the kissing and closeness, Barnaby was clueless to the obvious build-up “Oh yeah, which one is that again?”

The only hint he got was a smirk, a raise of eyebrows, and an onslaught of tickling hands on his sensitive tummy. “BAH-HA-HAWWOOOO! NO FAIR! *snrk* AH-HA-HAAHAAHAA~!”

“All’s fair in love and capital, puppy-dog. I’m ‘fraid you’re gonna be payin’ out the tum for that attack you put me through. Now let’s hear those happy howls, Barney-Boy!” Howdy teased, making sure to target those bright polka dots on Barnaby’s sides and belly.

“HA-HA-HAWOOOOHOOHOO! *snrk* HAHAHA. . . I’ll-*snrk*-eeEEHEEHEE-I’ll get you FOR THIHIS GAHHAAHAAHAA! HAAWWOOOOOO~!”

“Oh really? What are you gonna do, huh? Watcha gonna do, silly dog? Can’t do much while I’m tickling your tummy, can you? Big, silly puppy can’t resist tummy tickles, can you?”

Barnaby couldn’t respond, his foot kicking and tail wagging as he hid his blushing face in his ears. The combination of tickling and ruthless teasing was quickly reducing him to a howling puddle of laughter. If he knew Howdy at all, which he did, he was gonna be here a while.