#tickle concept

A humanoid species, similar to humans but with visual and biological differences (I've yet to actually draw up any designs lmao-). They're sentient and intelligent, capable of speech and civilisation and reasoning. They can live amongst regular people but do also have their own cities/villages etc, which is where the majority reside. Because of this, they don't fully understand human customs.

They also act as conduits for electricity.

However, this electricity isn't your standard stuff. One watt can power an entire house for several days. A full spark? Entire industrial buildings. So you can only imagine what harnessing a larger amount could do.

The kicker is- it's only something that can be released via laughter. When one of these things laughs? OH BOY. SPARKS EVERYWHERE. Full blasts of pure energy just flying out of them in gold arcs.

Imagine the potential...

One being kidnapped and expecting the worst- being cut open, experimented on, organs removed. But the kidnapper(s) are only interested in making easy money, and they've heard what the electricity produced by these things can do. They plan on using this energy to sell to shady companies. They try and make the creature laugh, but jokes don't really land when you're a grumpy lil hostage. They keep the creature in comfortable living conditions, feeding them and taking care of them in hopes they'll laugh naturally at some point because even ONE laugh would make thousands. Nothing works, so they brainstorm what they could do...and then it hits! Tickling exists! Uh oh!

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Somebody needing special effects for an event. The lighting they'd ordered has been delayed and won't make it in time, but they have to have SOMETHING. They realise they can use a creature as a free light-show, coercing them with the promise of 'just a quick favour!'. The creature is naive and eager to help but quickly regrets it as they realise this 'favour' is just them, pinned backstage, being tickled into hysterics. They beg and beg, but the tickler just tells them they can't stop now, the crowd is LOVING it! And it's true- The display is stunning and ethereal, golden sparks flying from seemingly nowhere and the viewers are none the wiser to what's actually happening. They just assume it's some high-tech installation, meanwhile the poor creature is absolutely SOBBING WITH LAUGHTER backstage. Somebody save them-

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One of these guys befriending a human and going on a camping trip with them and their friends. Come evening, the mosquitos are relentless. Someone makes an offhanded comment that makes the creature laugh, and the sparks elicited from them act as a bug-zapper. Whenever a fresh wave rolls in, the friends will give the creature a quick tickle without even breaking away from conversation. Boom! No more mozzies! Occasionally there'll be so many mosquitos that just a few sparks won't cut it, so the poor creature gets tickled breathless because 'we can't enjoy ourselves if there's all these pests flying around, man!'

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A creature finding a discarded appliance and having no idea what it is, just that they find it FASCINATING. It's only weeks, maybe months later when something makes them laugh and the appliance sparks to life and ohhhh THAT'S what it does! But now they want more. When the voltage wears off a few days later, they seek out someone to tickle them sheepishly like '...I just think it's cool when it lights up...pls tickle me' :')

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A creature with no concept of bills or rent offering to help out their human friend with the electricity by letting themselves be tickled. Because their sparks are so strong, they actually end up powering the ENTIRE street, and can't understand why this is an issue because 'I helped, right??' all teary-eyed awhhh. (They get given a snack and a cuddle though, it's all forgiven)

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TALKING OF CUDDLING- As a species, they naturally have a slight static quality to their skin, even if not laughing. They give off a low buzzing/vibrating sensation if touched. When cuddled with another of their kind, 'sharing static' is seen as a bonding activity and a sign of trust. When cuddling with a human? The static acts as a calming sedative, able to relieve anger or panic. This is helpful for forcibly relaxing somebody who's spiralling, or perhaps so lost to their emotions they could be a potential danger to themselves or others.

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A creature gets sick! Oh no! And there's none of their own kind around that can help! They're forced to go to a human doctor. When the check-up begins, it starts fairly non-invasive; 'date of birth?', 'Any underlying conditions?' etc. It's only when there's more...touching, that things get complicated. The creature is desperate not to spark up because the machinery at the clinic is important, they don't want to make the job harder by causing the equipment to go haywire...but the doctor is unintentionally pressing all their ticklish spots, asking if it hurts. Maybe they actually DO end up laughing and have to apologise through giggles whilst the room flickers and the equipment beeps and lights up. 'Ihihi'm so-sohohorry! I cahahan't help it!'

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Two humans making it into a game of who can get a creature to spark harder. They take turns tickling them, getting steadily more and more competitive whilst the poor creature is just squealing on the floor.