Ragatha tried to rally everyone with a chipper, "Great job, team! We... survived!" but her voice cracked halfway through. Pomni was clutching her shellshocked head like she had seen the face of Cthulu's acne-covered son eat a bowl of preschoolers. Kinger bolted for his pillow fort with his usual frantic energy.

Amidst the tension, predictably, Jax pounced.

"Whew, long day," he drawled, stretching his arms behind his head. His eyes flicked toward Gangle, and that sly grin spread. "But hey, at least we have our gift wrap intact. Mostly."

He flicked one of her ribbons, and Gangle squeaked, stumbling backward. Her mask tilted awkwardly, betraying her nerves. "H-hey! Don't-"

Jax snickered. "Careful, you'll unravel. Oh, wait, you always do."

Gangle's ribbons shivered with flustered energy. She made a halfhearted attempt to recollect herself, squeaking, "I-It's fine, I'm fine-"

"Jax," Zooble snapped. Their voice carried an edge sharp enough to cut glass. They stepped forward, glaring. "[BLOINK!] off."

The grin faltered for half a beat before Jax shrugged. "Whatever. Sheesh. Sensitive much?" He slunk off, clearly satisfied with the reaction.

Zooble turned back to Gangle, who was still fumbling with her ribbons, embarrassed. With a sigh, they gently tugged a ribbon into place for her. "C'mon. You shouldn't have to take that. Let's go."

Gangle blinked at them, somewhat surprised, but nodded quickly. And before she could unravel further under Jax's mockery, Zooble led her away, ribbons trailing nervously behind.

Gangle's room was small, cozy, and lined with bits of fabric she collected, like a nest of ribbons and cloth scraps. It looked softer compared to the chaos of the circus, though the atmosphere was heavy with her anxious energy.

She shuffled inside, mask tilted low. "S-sorry... I, um, I didn't mean to make a scene. I know Jax is just... Jax."

Zooble folded their arms. "Yeah, that's the problem. He knows exactly how to push buttons. Doesn't mean you should just take it."

"I guess," Gangle squeaked, her ribbons twisting as she slightly unraveled. "It's just... easier to not fight back, you know?"

Zooble sighed, watching her fidget. Despite themselves, they felt a tug of something warm. Frustration at Jax, sure, but also... the way Gangle tried so hard to keep herself together.

They stepped closer, tilting their head. "That's not really working out so well for you, though."

Gangle squeaked again, flustered by the closeness, her ribbons tightening around her. "W-well, I-uhm-"

Her mask shifted, betraying her nerves. Zooble noticed with a faint smirk tugging at their non-existent lips. They remembered something from a few nights ago, just how ridiculously ticklish Gangle had been.

A wicked thought crept in.

"Alright," Zooble said casually. "You clearly need cheering up. And I know just the thing."

Gangle's mask shot up, eyes wide. "N-no, you wouldn't-!"

"Oh, I absolutely would." Zooble grinned. They leaned down, their lobster claw twitching just enough to make her squeak. "Cheer-up therapy. Doctor's orders."

Gangle squealed before they even touched her, ribbons flailing as she tried to curl herself up like a cocoon. "Zooble! D-don't-!"

But Zooble only poked one ribbon near her midsection.

Gangle instantly squeaked like a helium balloon let loose, her laughter bursting out in squeals. "EeEEeeheehehe! N-nooo! Z-Zooble!!"

Zooble barked out a laugh. "Oh my god, you sound like a squeaky toy."

Her mask flushed pink at that, and she wiggled dramatically, unraveling instead of pulling away. "Sh-shuuhuhuhut uuuuup! EeeEEeeeheehee!"

"Not my fault you're squeaky," Zooble teased, fingers and claw tapping along her midsection ribbons. "What, you expect me just to ignore your tickle spots? Get less ticklish."

Gangle squealed higher, her pitch climbing until it cracked. "I c-caahaAn't! Ahahahaaaha!"

She wriggled and twisted, ribbons slipping through Zooble's arms as though she was trying to unravel right out of their grip. But she wasn't going anywhere; Zooble had caught her again, pinning her gently against the fabric wall.

"Slipping out, huh?" Zooble teased, grinning down at her. "Nice try, ribbons."

Her mask was tilted back in helpless laughter, ribbons flailing without aim. She wasn't fighting to escape... she was inviting them to continue.

And Zooble... definitely noticed.

Zooble leaned into the role mercilessly. Their claw wiggled against her midsection, sending Gangle into pitchy, squealing hysterics. "EeeeEEeeheehehe! NohoHOhohohohoo! StohHohoHooop!!"

"See, you say 'stop'," Zooble taunted, "but you're unraveling all over the place. Can't fool me, Gangle."

Her ribbons were everywhere now, twitching and curling. She squeaked again, eyes squeezing shut under her mask. "Y-youhuhu're soho meeeheheeEEHEHEEeeheheheean!!"

"Mean? Me?" Zooble tsked mockingly, shifting to wiggle their regular hand along her side ribbons. "I'm the nicest person here. Look at me, giving you the gift of laughter."

The squeals turned to snorts, then back into squeaks. Gangle's laughter pitched so high it almost broke the air. Zooble had to bite back their own laugh at how ridiculous and adorable she sounded.

"Seriously, you're gonna break the sound barrier," Zooble teased.

"ZoohhooOOBLLLE!! Eeeeeeheehheheeehe!"

Her unraveling hit a point where one ribbon slipped free entirely, flopping onto Zooble's shoulder. Instead of recoiling, Gangle buried her mask against their chest with an embarrassed squeal.

Zooble froze for half a second, heat prickling at their neck. The contact was sudden, intimate. For a flicker of a moment, they felt her mask vibrate with her helpless giggles, soft and warm against them.

They recovered quickly, smirking. "Oh? Hiding now? That's not gonna save you."

And with that, they let the lobster claw clamp gently on the ribbon where her ribs would be, giving rapid little wiggling squeezes.

Gangle screamed, a squeaky, squealing sound that cracked halfway into a giggle-snort. She unraveled wildly, ribbons flying everywhere. "EEEEeeeEEeeheheehhee!! N-nhOOHoHoHOO! NoHOot theeHEHehERE!!"

"Bingo," Zooble teased, relentless. "Gotcha."

Her laughter was pure chaos, squeals tumbling over squeaks until she flopped limp against them, mask glowing pink.

Zooble, sensing victory, let their claw slow. Their other hand idly brushed along the back of Gangle's mask.

The change was stark.

Gangle gasped, then melted, almost literally. Her ribbons went limp, puddling against Zooble's chest as if every non-existent bone had left her body. Her laughter softened into helpless giggles and squeaky hiccups. "Eeeheheee... heehehhee!! Nohohooohoo..."

Zooble blinked. "Wow. Melting's new."

"D-dohohohohon't-!" Gangle squeaked, but it came out faint, muffled against their chest.

Zooble smirked, brushing again at the back of her mask. "Unbelievable. You're just a puddle now."

Her ribbons coiled weakly around their arm, not resisting, only clinging. She giggled helplessly, trying to hide. "S-shuhhhuuuhhup…"

Zooble's expression softened. They gave her mask a gentle stroke, alternating between playful pokes and soothing rubs. "You really are something, Gangle. Cute, squeaky, and floppy all in one."

Her mask tilted low again, embarrassed. "Y-youhuhu're teeheeheeasing..."

"Of course I am." Zooble chuckled, lowering their voice just enough to add weight. "It's fun when you get all flustered."

The air got heavier, laughter giving way to something... warmer. Gangle curled closer, ribbons trembling, too flustered to reply.

Zooble didn't push further. They let her settle, still smirking but... gentler now.

When the giggles finally faded, Gangle peeked up shyly. "K-kihinda fuhun..." she admitted in a squeaky whisper.

Zooble arched a brow. "Kinda? That squeaky meltdown said otherwise."

Her mask flushed, and she swatted them weakly with a ribbon. "Stohoppp..."

Zooble grinned with their eyes, catching the ribbon and holding it. "Eh, make me."

The tension hung in the air, playful, teasing, but undeniably close. Gangle squeaked again, hiding her mask against Zooble's chest. Zooble chuckled softly, their claw resting loosely on her side, no more tickling, just holding her in place.

"See? My patented cheer-up therapy works," Zooble said lightly. "Better than sulking, right?"

"...M-maybe," Gangle mumbled.

Zooble tilted her mask up gently. "Definitely."

Her mask glowed pinker, and she curled tighter around them.

Zooble laughed under their breath. "Alright, squeaky toy. You're wiped. Let's get you somewhere soft before you unravel into a puddle for real."

Kinger's pillow fort loomed at the center of the circus, seemingly always larger than it was the last time one saw it. Cushions were stacked haphazardly into towers and tunnels. Kinger peeked out from the entrance, eyes wide in panic. "INTRUDERS! Wait- no, allies, yes, allies. You may pass!"

Zooble rolled their eyes but carried Gangle inside anyway.

They found a soft corner, fluffing the pillows around her. Gangle was still giggling faintly, her mask tilted in shy happiness. She curled into the nest of cushions, ribbons draping loosely like a blanket.

Kinger saluted them dramatically. "Fort security approves." Then he scuttled off to another corner.

Zooble smirked, settling her in place. "There. Better than Jax's nonsense, yeah?"

Gangle's mask dipped in a sleepy nod. "Mmhmmm..."

Within minutes, Gangle's giggles faded into soft breathing, her ribbons snug around the pillows. She looked peaceful, lips curved in a smile.

Zooble lingered, watching her for a moment. Something warm tugged at their chest.

"Better than sulking," they murmured again, softer this time.

Gangle sniffed. She thought about telling Caine that the adventure sucked, much like all of his adventures, but she couldn’t seem to find it in her. If Zooble were in her position, they would be able to give Caine a piece of their mind without an overwhelming wave of guilt crashing into them. 

Gangle wished she were more like Zooble. Maybe if she just…

She took a deep breath. “That adventure…” Gangle blinked. Caine’s eyes almost seemed to shine with delight as he waited for what she had to say. His kicks grew ever so slightly faster while he leaned in closer. Gangle spun her pen around her ribbons. “...was fine. It was fine.”

Caine shot up so quickly that Gangle squeaked. She covered her mouth before glancing up at Caine, who had floated several feet in the air. “Thank you, Gangle!”

Gangle fiddled with a fold in the sheets. “I didn’t say anything crazy…” It was silly, but she couldn’t seem to look Caine in the eyes. She just said the adventure was fine! Why was he reacting like that? Why did he always react like that? 

“But you liked it!” Caine said. “Do you know how rare that is around here?” He fell back onto the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight. “Zooble insults my adventures. Jax insults my adventures. Ragatha says she likes my adventures, but she also acts like I’m two seconds away from throwing her to the wolves. Like, come on, that was ONE time!”

With every word, Caine crawled closer to her. Until, eventually, they were face-to-face. If Caine could breathe, Gangle would probably feel it brush against the surface of her comedy mask.

“Caine.”

Caine stopped abruptly before sitting back onto his knees. “Yes?”

“I said it was fine,” she said. “That’s it.”

“Oh,” Caine said. For once, he actually seemed to deflate a little.

Gangle immediately felt bad. “I mean,” she added quickly, curling her ribbons around herself. “It wasn’t too bad. It’s just…not what I wanted.”

Caine scratched his chin. “What do you want, then?”

Huh? Caine was asking her?? What she wanted for an adventure??? Was he being serious? Was he trying to make fun of her? Gangle squinted at him, trying to see what angle he was coming from, but could only sense what seemed to be earnestness from that familiar glint in his eyes. 

“You want my opinion?” she asked carefully. 

“Of course!” Caine said. “You’re my only genuine positive review.”

She glanced at her sketchbook. Still closed. Good. “Maybe something smaller.”

“In what way?”

“I dunno,” she admitted quietly. “Just less intense.” Somehow gaining a sliver of confidence, Gangle continued, “Something quieter. Like a sleepover or…” She hesitated. “Something where everyone’s actually having fun instead of running for their lives.”

Caine hummed thoughtfully. 

“And maybe…” Gangle said slowly. “Something kind of silly?”

“Great!” Caine placed his hands on his hips. “I excel at silly!”

“Um, not your kind of silly.”

Caine gaped at her in what she hoped to be mock offense, but knowing him, it very much could have been real.

Gangle ignored him. “I mean, like games, I guess? Stuff people do at parties. Or…” Her ribbons twisted tighter together in her lap. “Play fighting? Teasing each other? That kind of thing.” While she was talking, Caine’s eyes widened with interest. She hurried onward before she could lose her nerve. “Like, when people wrestle over blankets or dare each other to do funny things or…” She paused just a smidge too long. “Tickle fights, I guess.”

The second the words left her mouth, Gangle wanted to disappear into the floor forever. Why did she say that?

Caine stared at her.

Gangle stared at her sketchbook. 

The silence suffocated her.

“...Gangle.”

“Yes?” She cringed at the way her voice shook.

“Is this your way of asking me to tickle you?”

“No!” Gangle yelped. Her voice was so shrill that even Caine flinched ever so slightly. “No, no, no! I don’t want that at all! I mean, who would want that?! It’s so weird and, oh my God—” Gangle buried her face behind her ribbons. She knew they were too thin to properly hide anything, but she didn’t care. “Just forget it.”

Instead of laughing at her, Caine scooted closer again, looking oddly delighted. “I can absolutely make your dreams come true, my dear whimsical waffle cone!”

“What?”

Before she could react, Caine grabbed one of her ribbons and began dancing his first two fingertips up and down the soft silk. By instinct, Gangle tried to pull her arm back, but his grip was too strong, and, to be honest, she wasn’t trying all that hard. She screeched and folded in half as the electric sensations tangled inside of her nonexistent chest. A part of her didn’t know that their current avatars were ticklish, and the sudden confirmation left a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. 

“Ahahaha! Caine!” Gangle cackled. “Whahat are you doihihing?!”

“Why, I’m just doing what you asked of me!” Caine’s fingers traveled further up her body, fluttering along every inch of sensitive skin they could access. “You sound happier already!”

“Wahahahait, but I didn’t—!” Gangle fell into another pool of laughter, purposefully not allowing herself to finish her sentence. Sure, she didn’t explicitly ask Caine to do this, but she wasn’t entirely disliking it. 

Gangle kicked her legs. She wasn’t trying to kick Caine, not that she could, considering where he was sitting, but just as a way to funnel all of the energy that buzzed throughout her. 

He began wiggling his fingers behind her mask. She flopped backwards as he traced each horrifically ticklish groove there. “Now, what do we have here? It appears your comedy mask is definitely working tonight!”

Gangle squirmed underneath his touch. “Cahahahahaine!” She whined before falling into laughter. Somehow, she had forgotten every word in her vocabulary except for his name. 

“Yes?” Caine practically sang. 

He drummed his fingers along the ribbons that wrapped around her center. As though this entire situation wasn’t humiliating enough, it felt like he was playing her like some sort of xylophone! He poked and prodded at every ribbon and even skittered his fingers in between each groove, taking care to brush up against the edges closest to where her underarms would have been. 

She shrieked suddenly. The sound came out stilted and sharp. “Ehehehahaha! It tihihihickles!” 

“Well, duh! That’s the point, isn’t it?”

Caine started to squeeze her sides, which somehow also tickled, which she didn’t know was possible. She supposed she had experienced weirder throughout her time in the circus, but, in between sharp cackles and squeaky shrieks, she couldn’t exactly remember any of them.

For an artificial intelligence, Gangle was surprised by how good he was at tickling. She had half-expected him to treat the action as mechanical or, worse, just like his other violent adventures, but this time, he was acting…oddly soft. 

He barely touched her, choosing to skim the pads of his fingers across her ribbons or mask rather than properly digging into her more sensitive spots. And, when he did, he would pause every so often just to see how Gangle was reacting. Even though she did think about choosing to push him away or telling him to stop…it had been a long, long time since someone had been so affectionate with her. Even if that someone wasn’t actually a person in the traditional sense. It wouldn’t be so bad to let this thing go on for just a bit longer…

“Aww, just look at that smile!” Caine announced. “Folks, we may have a record-breaking performance tonight!”

For one horrifying moment, Gangle thought that Caine might actually be recording this for some twisted adventure. She glanced around her room, but she didn’t see any cameras or anything like that. When her gaze fell back onto Caine, he shot her an exaggerated wink. 

Ah, he was just joking. Or, maybe, he was role-playing? Either way, he wasn’t being serious, which let her relax.

“Pfft—” Gangle jolted as Caine managed to worm his hands beneath her arms. The sensation was odd, considering how he wasn’t actually touching anything, but it felt like feathers were fluttering along her skin regardless. “Heheheh…” All she could really do was laugh and wiggle around as he found the next vulnerable spot he wanted to target.

Caine swooped in and kneaded the area near Gangle’s back before she could properly hide behind her ribbons. She squealed and curled inward, almost managing to fold herself into a ball. 

“Incredible form! Such a wonderfully charming laugh! The judges are in tears!”

“Ahahaha—!” 

Gangle had always hated her laughter. Her giggles were so squeaky and punctuated by tiny yelps and shrill shrieks that always made the people around her flinch or cringe away. She found her voice to be just a tiny bit too high-pitched and whiny, and while she could control it most of the time, she couldn’t exactly hide her reactions while being tickled.

So, hearing Caine unabashedly compliment her like that made her feel…odd. It could have been because he was currently tickling her to tears, but she couldn’t exactly think what to make of it. 

Gangle turned her head to the side. She tried to shove her face into the mattress, only for Caine to grab the side of her mask and gently turn her, so she was facing him again. 

“Ah, ah, ah!” Caine scolded. “No hiding that wonderful face from the camera!”

“Aaaahahahaaaa!” That was more of a scream rather than a true laugh, but Gangle couldn’t handle it. How come this was the same guy who sent them on painful, deadly adventures that made everyone’s heads spin daily? The same guy who managed to read in between the lines and tickle her oh so gently, all while complimenting her laughter and her smile? Who exactly was Caine?

Just as Gangle was beginning to run out of breath, Caine sat up straight. “And, there it is, folks!” Caine said triumphantly as Gangle dissolved into helpless laughter beneath his fluttering fingers. “That’s the sound I’ve been trying to get all day.”

He stopped tickling her and sat back as Gangle collapsed onto her bed. “Eheheeep…” She kept giggling, partly because the ghostly sensation of his fingers still seemed to weave between her ribbons, and also partly because of how happy she was. 

God, she was so cringe.

Caine clapped his hands together. “Is that what you wanted?” He asked. “Did I do a great job?”

Gangle smiled softly. “You did a great job, Caine.”

Caine stared at her for a second before grinning so brightly it almost blinded her. “Excellent!” he announced. “Then, the adventure was a success!”

💙Pomni🃏

General:

This wet dog of a clown definitely loves tickles.

She just thinks it’s nice that there’s a way to just laugh without needing to think about anything else: a way to just disconnect and enjoy oneself.

A lee-leaning switch. Loves being tickled, but occasionally wants to make someone else giggle and squirm.

Lee:

She gets lee moods pretty frequently, though she rarely tries to fix them. Girl is way too anxious to actually ask for what she wants

Sometimes, one of her fellow players will notice and step in and help, usually Kinger or Ragatha.

She’s a squirmer for sure. Make sure you’ve got a good grip, or she’ll wriggle away (not for long, but still)

If you get her really good, she’ll squeak like a stress toy. It flusters the hell out of her if you tease about it.

Worst spots are her sides, which get loud squeaks if you squeeze them. Navel is sorta bad as well, but she can handle it a lot longer.

Melt spot is her neck, specifically under her chin. She can and will fall asleep if you stay there too long.

Ler:

She’s a softer ler to everyone but Jax. He deserves it honesty-

Gentle tickles, small teases, compliments. Her goal is to make you happy.

“Wow, you’ve got a really pitchy laugh. No, don’t stop, it’s nice.”

“Thanks for not squirming away. Oh, c’mon, I can tell.”

“You’re so soft… I’ve gotta do this more often.”

Really easy to fluster if you can think through the giggles; a quick compliment or praise has her burning.

Her ler moods are usually spurred by something else, like walking in on a tickle fight or hearing the t-word a certain way.

To fix a mood, she’ll usually just go up to Ragatha or Kinger and wiggle her fingers. They usually get the message pretty quickly.

Pretty decent with aftercare. She’s a cuddle bug, but if you’re not big on touch, she’ll find a blanket for you. Other than that, you’ll have to ask.

🦷Caine🎪

General:

The chaos man is a pure switch.

Once he finds out that tickling can affect him and works oh-so-well on his friends, he makes sure to abuse that knowledge whenever possible.

I mean, laughter is better than abstraction, right?

Lee:

The first time he’s tickled is the most confusing moment of his existence.

Like, what? Someone wiggles their fingers somewhere, and it feels like little fuzzy zaps under his digital skin? Crazy.

Once he gets past that, though, the toothy man loves every bit of the odd sensation he can get.

He’ll provoke the players, casually throw the t-word into speeches, or make NPCs to do the job for him (nobody knows about these guys though)

He tries to hold still, but don’t be surprised if he randomly teleports mid-tickle. It always flusters him when he has to go back and ask for it to continue.

Worst spots are his sides and underarms. He’ll screech.

He’s not really all that ticklish anywhere else though, each spot only getting little giggles and titters.

Doesn’t really have a melt spot, though he loves belly tickles. It’s not a bad spot at all for him, but he likes feeling “normal” and connected to the players in that sense.

Sometimes, if you really get him laughing, the sound will glitch. It’s utterly adorable to hear.

Ler:

Run as fast as you can, my friends.

Ler moods come to him for completely random reasons. If he sees someone sad or stressed, if they laugh just a bit too sweetly, if they’re being too sassy: they’re done for.

He uses his digital powers to subdue lees. If you’re hiding? He’ll teleport to you. Fighting him off? Bubbles come and snag your wrists. If you genuinely don’t want him to, he’ll let you go. Other than that, good luck.

“Oh my! You’re quite ticklish, aren’t you?”

“You can’t, hmm? Can’t what? Can’t handle it? Can’t tell me to stop? I’d love to know what’s going through your mind, dear!”

“It tickles, does it? How about I add a few feathers; I hear they’re all the rage among humans!”

He’s really hard to fluster when he’s tickling. Teasy lees, you might have met your match.

Sort of okay with aftercare? He doesn’t understand it at first, but he tries. Head pats and water are his go-to, but he’ll do more if you ask.

💜Jax🐇

General:

Sassy rabbit feels like a ler-leaning switch.

He’s always willing to wreck a bitch, but doesn’t mind the occasional laugh or two for himself.

When he’s feeling lonely or touch starved, tickles are his go-to in either direction.

Lee:

While on the rare side, his lee moods are intense.

Blushes, small giggles, antsy demeanor, flinching from small touches: not exactly discreet.

If another player notices (which almost always happens), he’ll deny and fight it ‘til the cows come home. You’ve gotta fight to give him what he wants.

He’s a flailer for sure. Donkey kicks and stray elbows are his specialty.

Worst spots are his ears, specifically the bases. They get him cackling almost instantly.

Melt spots are the tops of his knees. Nobody really ever targets them, but he goes nearly limp if a few spidering fingers land there.

If you get him just right, he’ll thump his feet against the floor. He dies if you tease him about it.

Ler:

Evil son of a gun, so watch your back.

He lives for a good chase. Will probably try and tease you into running, just so he can trap and catch you.

Very verbal and teasing. He has zero shame in turning you red as a rose.

“You got ten seconds to run, doll. Better make ‘em count~”

“Aww, what’s the matter? Can’t bring your arms down? That’s alright; I’ll make sure you have some fun~”

“You sure do scream a lot, sweet cheeks. I’d cover my ears if they didn’t sound so cute.”

Very smug man, not an easily flustered ler. It really takes some confident prodding or skill to get him.

He uses his tall man advantage every time. Holding a lee up by their arms, using his legs to keep them sitting, putting something on a tall shelf and attacking whenever they try to get it: the list goes on.

He’s actually pretty good with aftercare, even if he doesn’t like to admit it.

He’ll make sure you’re okay and get you water, though he’ll act like it’s such a chore. After that, it’s either cuddles because you “look like death warmed over,” or a special snack to “keep you from annoying him.”

❤️Ragatha🪡

General:

She’s a switch, not really leaning in one direction or the other.

Loves tickling because it can make the other players laugh, which they all desperately need. She knows she does.

Lee:

She’s incredibly shy when she gets in a lee mood. Good luck getting her to do anything productive or coherent until she’s helped.

While she tries holding still, she can’t help but curl up. You’ll need to hold her arms above her head or get used to moving with her.

I like to think she’s got a louder, more obnoxious-sounding laugh (no projection, you have 0 proof-)

Lots of snorts, cackles, and little hiccup-squeaks.

Speaking of which, the easiest way to fluster her is to compliment her laugh. She’s self-conscious about it, so literally any praise will have her coming apart at the seams (hehehe pun)

Worst spots are her neck and back, specifically her shoulder blades. She cannot handle massages around there.

Melt spots are her belly and thighs. Some gentle traces or pokes in either of those areas has her in giggle heaven.

Ler:

She's incredibly sweet, though she's got a different way of doing things for certain people.

With most of the circus members, she's soft and playful. Light touches, quick scribbles and small teases.

“You're such a wiggle worm, giggles. Try to hold still for me, will you?”

“Aww, look at that adorable blush. I'm glad to know you're having fun!”

For select individuals (Jax and anyone misbehaving), she's playfully mean and a touch ruthless. Fast squeezes and very teasy attacks.

“Aww, that spot’s pretty sensitive, huh? I should tell the others; I'm sure they'd love a chance to see you like this!”

She's surprisingly strong, able to pin pretty much all of the players. If you wanna try escaping, get ready for a good fight.

She's amazing with aftercare. She'll make sure you're alright, get you a drink, and swaddle you in a soft blanket for cuddles.

If you aren't big on touch, she'll get you the finest digital cuisine (basically asking Caine for your favorite food) and whatever else you can think of.

🎭Gangle🎀

General:

This ribbon girl is very much a lee.

If she does tickle anyone, it’s an extremely rare one-off occasion.

She’s just more comfortable with being tickled, for a number of reasons.

Doesn’t want to risk pushing someone’s boundaries, uncomfortable touching them, or just a general not-wanting-too feeling.

Lee:

Lee moods are about as rare as pebbles for her. They’re pretty obvious, too.

Tightly coiled posture, a giddy look on her face (biggest giveaway), and very nonchalant staring at people’s hands.

Needless to say, everyone is clued in almost immediately.

She has no shame in wiggling around and unraveling, though she does actually want to get away. It’s fun, and it usually gets her ler to tease her.

Worst spots are the inner parts of her midsection ribbons. She will absolutely try to unravel and slip out of your arms if you try it.

Melt spot is her mask, specifically the back of it. As long as she’s wearing it, she’ll feel the tickles. Girly melts into a giddy puddle in your arms.

Her laughter is really pitchy, with plenty of squeaks and squeals to go around. Kind of like a mouse on helium (great way to tease her, as long as it’s done kindly)

Gets flustered VERY easily. You won’t have to try hard unless you really want to.

♚Kinger🪲

General:

The softest lee-leaning switch you'll ever meet.

He loves tickles, though you won't catch him openly admitting it. It's too embarrassing for him

He gets lee moods frequently, though he's willing to help a friend with theirs if they need it.

Lee:

He's decently shy, never coming out and asking for tickles. He usually just suffers in silence until Ragatha notices.

On a rare day where he's stable and confident, he'll tease Pomni or the ragdoll to try and provoke it.

It rarely works how he'd like, but they almost always realize that he's in a lee mood. Failed successfully.

He'll squirm around like a literal worm, though he can't help it. Lucky for his ler, he's pretty much a walking tickle spot.

If one spot is blocked, another opens up.

His worst spot is his stomach. He goes silent when anyone gets him there, save for the occasional squeak or gasp.

Melt spot is the top of his head on the little cross thing. He'll lean right into it, maybe even fall asleep.

He's got a really squeaky, pitchy laugh. If you get him really laughing, he'll start to snort and flap his hands.

Ler:

If one of his fellow players is close to abstraction or just needs some cheering up, he'll be there.

He's got a very soft, lightly teasing style. Doesn't really push anyone to their limits unless they really want him to.

“Of all the bugs in my collection, I must say I have a favorite…the Tickle Bug!”

“Those are some cute giggles, friend. So glad you could share them with me!”

“Of course I can help with your…predicament. Now, arms up for me, dear.”

Kind of the dad of the circus. He's always there to help if need be.

Super great with aftercare. 80% of the time, he'll tickle you in his fort. That means pillowy cuddles afterwards and a nice nap.

If that's not your thing, he's more than willing to accommodate. As long as you're happy, he's happy.

🎡Zooble🪀

General:

This preschool toy mashup gives me strong ler vibes.

They don’t seem like someone who’d like to be tickled unless the ler was EXTREMELY close to them and knew their boundaries by heart.

Ler:

They’re an absolutely despicable little shit.

Worst spot targeting, slightly mean teases, and the CHASES!

They could throw their arm at the fleeing lee, and it’d all be over. The thing could latch onto their worst spot and wiggle away, leaving the lee unable to do anything but wait for Zooble to catch up.

It doesn’t take a lot to provoke them, but if you want a proper wrecking, you’ll have to work for it. They don’t get annoyed enough to destroy someone easily.

VERY teasy, almost unfairly so.

“Tickles, does it? Maybe if you hadn’t been such a pain in the *boink*, this wouldn't be happening.”

“You brought this on yourself, ya know. Every unbearably ticklish second of it.”

“What? Not my fault this is your worst spot. Get less ticklish.”

Have you seen that lobster claw thing? You can’t tell me that thing wouldn’t tickle like crazy.

For aftercare, they try their respective best. They’ll pat your back, maybe give you a head rub.

Zooble scrunched up their shoulders. Their little wing accessory flicked up and down with each loud chirp of laughter. “Hmmehehe!” They began poking at the ribbons that curled around the invisible expanse of her stomach, which made Gangle let out a tiny squeal.

Ragatha turned away once more. Ah, geez, why couldn’t she stop staring? She tugged at the collar of her dress, vaguely wondering when it got so hot in here. A small part of her heart ached, and restless energy weaved through her. She tried to expel some of it by wringing her hands or pacing near the doorway but it did little to quell the butterflies that had somehow found their way to her stomach.

“Gangle, wait.”

Ragatha’s ears perked up.

Zooble continued. “It looks like someone wants to join in our little game.”

Ragatha froze. It took her a good three seconds to gain the confidence to turn back around. Still, her hands trembled.

Both Gangle and Zooble stared at her with wide, impish grins. Ragatha’s blood ran cold.

Then, her heart began to hammer with barely contained excitement.

Gangle giggled and tilted her mask to the side, looking much like those cute characters she liked to doodle in her sketchbook. Gangle smiled ever so sweetly before mouthing something.

Ragatha leaned forward curiously.

“Run.”

Oh?

Oh! Oh, goodness!

Ragatha did not need to be told twice.

She turned around and sprinted down the nearest hallway. Colorful wallpaper seemed to smear together as she ran as fast as could. Her shoes pounded against the floor loud enough to almost drown out her panicked laughter.

Unfortunately, ‘as fast as she could’ did not equal fast enough.

Something grabbed her shoulders, halting her hard enough that she nearly stumbled.

A gloved hand dug viciously into her side.

“EEAHAHA!” Ragatha shrieked. Her legs fell out from under her, but Zooble was more than ready to follow her to the ground. Two thin ribbons slithered up her torso and wiggled themselves neatly into the grooves of her armpits. “Oh my—yeyehahaaai!!” She clamped her arms down, but Gangle had already found her sweet spot.

“If you wanted to join us, you could have just asked,” Zooble said. “No need to stare.”

“We’re more than happy to share the love!” Gangle continued to drill the edges of her ribbons up her underarms.

Ragatha twisted helplessly underneath the attention. Laughter freely burst out of her, causing her to grin so hard that her cheeks ached. Every breath she took ended up dissolving into bright, uncontrollable giggles.

“Okayahahahay! I’ll hahaha! I’ll do that nehext tihihihime!” Ragatha leaned into Zooble’s hand as they began to scribble lightly across her soft, unguarded stomach. Zooble must have noticed because they began going faster, earning a clipped squawk from her. “AAAah—! I prohohomise! I prohomise! Ahaha!”

What happened next was mainly based on instinct rather than quick decision. Ragatha’s fingers darted out, and weaved their way in between a few of the ribbons that curled around Gangle’s sides.

She had primarily done that to ground herself, but Gangle jumped. “Eeeee…! Nohohoho—!” She squealed as Ragatha began to wiggle her fingers through the gaps.

Gangle’s ribbons flared outward in a startled burst before coiling around herself in some sort of way to protect her sensitive silk parts from Ragatha’s tickle attack.

Ragatha started to speak before biting her lip to stop herself. She genuinely didn’t think that would work. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say, but a newfound resolve wove its way between her fingers.

“I—” Ragatha stuttered briefly before gathering her footing. “I got you nohohow!”

She sat up before wiggling her fingers deeper into Gangle’s sides. She made sure to massage the edges of the ribbons that curled into one another, which made Gangle giggles increase an octave. She curled into a ball on the ground. Gangle tried to stop Ragatha by grabbing her wrists, but she didn’t get far.

“Hey!” Zooble started scratching at the lowest groove of Ragatha’s ribs, but they quickly faltered once she started drumming her fingers across their torso. “Hhehehey—!” They tried to repeat themselves, only for the sound to dissolve into a loud cackle.

Unfortunately, Zooble was stubborn, and they immediately dug their hand into Ragatha’s underarm. Ragatha flinched violently and fell into a cascade of hiccupy laughter. “Wahahaha! Zooble!”

Ragatha tried her best to maintain her grip on both Gangle and Zooble, which wasn’t easy to do considering how squirmy both of them were. Still, she managed.

Until Gangle managed to thread another ribbon up the back of her knee.

“Gahahahangle!” Ragatha kicked her legs out helplessly. “Stop tihihickling meee!!”

“You fihihirst!”

Ragatha stopped.

Gangle did too, and Zooble followed immediately after.

All three of them collapsed into a breathless heap onto the floor. They were practically a tangle of limbs, ribbons, and other spare parts.

“You’re both evil,” Ragatha declared through another bout of helpless giggles.

“Mm, maybe a little,” Zooble admitted.

Gangle only laughed softly. Her ribbons were still looped lazily around Ragatha’s wrists. “But, you still had fun, though, right?”

Ragatha opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. Her first instinct was to deny it on principle alone, but she didn’t want to lie to either of them, especially not when they took the time to include her during what was obviously meant to be a private moment.

Zooble poked her side, again, interrupting that thought.

Ragatha let out a startled squeak.