#tkblog

Somewhere Only We Know.

(A/N: okay, so episode 8 came out and this idea seemed to make a lot more sense... i hope you enjoy, anon! sorry for taking too long. warning: the fic below contains tickling, if that's not your cup of tea, scroll away)

lee!ragatha x ler!pomni

words: 1000

summary: after caine's crashout, ragatha's cloth is all messed up. so, as a good (girl)friend, pomni helps her stitch it up.

The Digital Circus' crew as a mess to say the least. And rightfully so. The past few days were hell for them since Caine's crashing out.

Zooble's body parts were all scattered around, with Gangle and Kinger helping to pick them, Gangle's ribbons were all tangled up, Pomni was throwing up a black goop, Ragatha was full of slashes and loose stitches and Kinger, well, doing his best in the said situation. Caine usually fixed them all up with a simple snap of his fingers, but now...? He was gone.

"Gosh, Ragatha, you arm's spilling foam!", Pomni said worried to the older woman. The latter covered herself embarrasedly.

"A-Ah, it's nothing... don't worry", she replied offering a soft smile, "I'll just stitch it right up again and everything's gonna be A-Okay! Plus, Caine will fix us eventually... right?"

"I... don't know if he's coming back... But aren't you right-handed? How are you going to stitch your own arm with your left hand?", the jester asked.

"I... I'll manage it, it's fine...", the doll said with a thumbs-up.

"No way. Let's do this together, you can't walk around like that for much longer", Pomni promptly grabbed Ragatha's left hand and made her way towards the ragdoll's bedroom.

"Sit down, Rags, please", she said reassuringly, "Now, tell me where you keep your sewing kit, please?"

"It's inside the second drawer", the bedroom's owner pointed her finger at the said direction.

They both sat down onto the bed, chit-chatting about every and anything while Pomni stitched up the patches on Ragatha's dress. It was all going well until the jester got onto the slash close to the doll's underarm. The latter let out a squeal.

"Are you okay? Did I go in too deep with the needle?", Pomni asked worried.

"Oh, don't worry! It just tickled a bit. I'm A-Okay!", she replied reassuringly.

"Tickled?" Pomni’s brow furrowed, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Wait, you can feel that with the needle?"

Ragatha’s cheeks, already a soft yarn-pink, deepened to a bright red. "O-Of course I can! I'm not just stuffing and cloth, you know..."

Pomni finished the last stitch carefully, setting the needle and thread aside. She examined her work — a bit uneven, since she wasn't the best seamstress, but it would hold for a while. "There we go! All done", she smiled proudly.

"Thank you, New-Stuff!", Ragatha said with a warm smile, flexing her newly stitched arm, "I really appreciate-", She stopped mid-sentence as jester’s hand lingered near her side. Noticing that, she cautiously asked

"P-Pomni?"

"So," Pomni said slowly, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes, "You said that tickled?"

Ragatha’s eye widened. "Don't"

"Don't what?" Pomni’s fingers wiggled playfully.

"Pomni, I'm warning you-", she was cut mid sentence as the shorter girl started tickling her. The doll shrieked as the jester's fingers found her sides, her whole body jolting away. She tried to scoot back on the bed, but Pomni followed, relentless. "POHOHOMNI! STOHOHOP!"

"Stop what?" Pomni asked innocently and giggled, her fingers skittering up and down the soft fabric of Ragatha’s dress, "I'm just testing if the stitches will hold up!".

Ragatha squealed, flopping backward onto the mattress crying out for her to stop dramatically., "Oh, come on!" Pomni teased, her confidence growing. She'd never been the one in control like this — especially when it came yo tickle fights against the doll — "You said it was just a little tickle. This seems like a lot of ticklishness!"

"BEHEHECAUSE YOU WOHOHON’T STOHOHOP!"

Pomni's fingers found the curve of Ragatha's waist, pressing in with gentle, wiggling pressure. "Not here?", the doll could only nod while laughing.

"Or here?", she moved lower, to the soft spot just above Ragatha’s hip, since it was a place wherein the ragdoll loved to torture her.

The ragdoll bucked, her good hand flying down to swat at jester’s wrists, but her movements were weak, compromised by the overwhelming ticklishness coursing through her. "I'LL AHAHA I'LL GET YOU FOHOHOR THIS!"

"You keep saying that," Pomni said, grinning. She leaned in closer, her pigtails swinging. "But you're kinda... stuck right now.”

She blew a soft raspberry against Ragatha’s neck.

"P-POMNI! PLEHEHEASE!” Ragatha shrieked, her head tossing from side to side. Her remaining eye was watering, but the smile on her face was radiant — brighter than anything the circus had seen in days. "I SUHUHURRENDEHER!"

Pomni finally stopped, her fingers still resting onto the doll's body. She sat back, breathing hard, her own cheeks flushed with laughter. Beneath her, Ragatha lay sprawled, her hair a mess around her head, her dress all wrinkly and her newly stitched arm limp at her side.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, panting. Then Ragatha let out a breathless laugh, covering her face with her arm. "You're a menace".

Pomni grinned, tucking her legs beneath her body. "You said it was just a tickle".

"I lied," Ragatha groaned, though she was still smiling. She peeked out from behind her arm. "I didn’t think you’d actually do anything..."

"Well..." Pomni said softly, her expression gentling, "you looked like you needed it", she offered a sincere smile.

Ragatha lowered her arm, her gaze meeting Pomni's. The laughter faded into something softer, quieter. Her eye was still watery, but not from the tickling anymore.

"...Yeah," she admitted after a long moment. "Maybe I did".

Outside, the Digital World remained silent. Caine was still gone, Zooble was still in pieces, and the circus remained a glitching, uncertain mess. But in that small, fabric-draped room, with Ragatha lying on her bed catching her breath and Pomni sitting beside her with a rare, peaceful smile, the world felt a little less broken and the atmosphere a little lighter.

Pomni reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of yarn hair from the ragdoll's face. "Same time tomorrow?", she asked smirking.

Ragatha laughed, swatting weakly at her hand. "Don't push it", she rolled her eyes.

But she was smiling. And for now, that was enough.

Irrational Fear.

(A/N: hello, anon! thank you so much for your request! i'm still writing the other one, this week's been crazy with uni starting. warning: the fic below contains tickling, scroll away if you're not comfortable)

lee!pomni x ler!ragatha

words: 879

summary: wherein pomni is scared of horror movies, but (un)fortunately ragatha is there to teach her that outside fiction, there are scarier things to fear in the real world

Ragatha was the circus sweetheart. Everyone knew that. Everyone saw her efforts and running around to check on them and appreciated that — well, maybe apart from a certain purple bunny, who thought she was a bit forced. So, imagine how surprised Pomni was once she found out the doll loved horror films. She had even asked Caine for a VHS player and tapes, saying she missed watching those.

So, the ringmaster wanted to please her, since she was the most obedient one in the circus. Always caring for others — even him — hopping onto every adventure and giving him honest but not harsh feedback. She was ecstatic to say the least. It became almost a ritual to watch them every night before drifting into dreamland.

Now, on the other hand, the jester absolutely despised horror. She had always hated it, but after being possessed in that creepy mansion? Hell no, she'd rather stick with going to the Digital Lake or literally anything else. So, she was already anxious when their sleepover night arrived. They would do it twice a week, each time in the other's room. And, this time, it was Ragatha's room's turn to be used...

"So~ What do you wanna watch, New-Stuff? I have the whole Scream's franchise, Friday the 13th's, The Exorcist, The Ring... The Blair Witch Project...", the ragdoll asked excitedly showing her whole collection. Even though they were all classic horror movies and she's seen all of them a ton of times, it still gave her such a comfortable thrill, which she missed badly. As for the jester, she got shivers down her spine at every title being mentioned, slightly remembering some cut-scenes she had seen or heard about them. Honestly, she had never even finished any of them from how badly she hated it. She was pulled away from her spiralling thoughts as the other woman waved her hand in front of her face, "Digital Earth to Pomni~".

"Uh- Any is fine, I don't think I've seen any...", she replied trying to sound tough. What she said made Ragatha's mouth drop.

"WHAT?", she exclaimed a little bit too energetic, "I mean, how haven't you watched them? They're are all a must-watch at least once!"

"Not really a big movie fan haha...", she said trying to mask her nervousness.

They hopped onto the doll's bed under the sheets after the room's owner put on the VHS and selected 'play'. (Un)Fortunately, she chose The Blair Witch Project. Just like any horror film, the beginning wasn't that bad. The movie itself got so popular and became a milestone within the found footage horror niche because it conviced every one who watched it that it was real. Which only added to the eery fear inducing feeling. The slow and torturous tormenting from the said witch was painful to watch.

It was a 50/50 dynamic playing out in that room. On one side there was Ragatha beaming excitedly even though she had watched that countless times, and on the other one was Pomni, biting her lips and pulling the sheets closer.

"Pom-", the doll was cut short before she could ask about her opinion on the movie so far by a shriek coming from the younger girl, "Geez, not so tough anymore?", she chortled, "Don't worry, it's not real", she smiled.

"G-gosh... my legs are shaking! Why do people even watch this stuff?", she poutly exclaimed.

"Adrenaline boost, darling~", she beamed and paused the movie, "...but we can stop watching it before you abstract out of panic", seeing how scared the girl was, an idea popped into her brain.

"But... y'know... there are things here that are far more terrifying than this...", she began.

"L-like what?!", the jester inquired.

"Oh, y'know... just the Tickle Monster...", she smirked and wiggled her fingers in a devilish way.

"Ra-", before Pomni could even protest the doll attacked her neck with fluttering tickles, and she immediately bursted out with giggles.

"N-nohohot fahahair!", the jester tried to fight the other girl, but Ragatha was stronger.

"I told you the Tickle Monster is real and far scarier than these movies! I think I've been possessed by it, Pomni!", she said now attacking the girl's stomach.

"Stohohop it!", she cried out loud while kicking her feet.

"Nah, you're too scared and jumpy right now, you need to relax a bit~", Ragatha said in a teasing voice.

"I c-cahahan't relahahax with yohohou tihihickling me!", she tried to retaliate by squeezing the doll's waist, making her squeal a bit.

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that!", Ragatha said immediately squeezing the jester's hips.

"F[Bleep]K! S[Bleep]T!", was the reply to the squeezes, followed by a bunch more of cursing words censored by silly bleeping noises.

"Stop cursing at me, New-Stuff. Just accept your fate~"

After some more minutes of torture for Pomni and fun for Ragatha, the doll eventually stopped. The jester slowly catching her breath and hiding her face into her hands.

"So... let's continue watching the movie?", the doll asked innocently.

"Oh, f[Bleep]k no!", Pomni replied giving her a glare.

"Then let's continue our joyful laughing session!", before the younger girl could even say anything, Ragatha had pinned her down again. Well, let's say they had fun for a while...

(A/N: this fic contains a small amount of tickling)

lee!pomni x ler!ragatha

words: 735

summary: wherein pomni isn't too fond of physical contact, but ragatha is the only exception.

Pomni didn’t like being touched. It wasn’t dramatic or something traumatic — but rather overwhelming? Too close, too sudden, too much. Her body reacted even before her mind could get a grasp on what was happening: flinching on instinct, guarding space like she was something fragile. Not everyone really noticed that or just didn't care that much at all.

Everyone except for Ragatha.

Or maybe… especially her — because the ragdoll was the only one the jester trusted not to cross the line for the wrong reasons. She knew Ragatha always wanted the best for everyone and respected their boundaries.

But even now, Pomni felt it before anything happened out of habit. Just like a sixth sense. There was pause in the air. That patient quiet Ragatha got when she noticed Pomni tensing. But it was quieter than usual. Too quiet.

Pomni stiffened immediately, "No", she simply said while looking at the other girl.

"'No' what?", Ragatha blinked confused.

Pomni took a step back, arms crossing over her sides out of pure reflex, "Don’t..."

Ragatha didn’t touch her. Didn’t even move closer. "Don't worry, I wouldn't do anything you wouldn't want me to..." she said offering a soft smile.

"That’s even worse...", Pomni muttered. "That’s what people say when they are about to do something...", she pouted slightly.

Ragatha tilted her head, amused. "You're very perceptive, y'know?", she gently said.

"I am setting boundaries...", she looked away embarrassed.

Ragatha nodded, immediately serious. "Okay!"

That was the thing: if anyone else told her that, Pomni wouldn’t believe them. But the doll really meant it — and the jester's body knew it. She relaxed just a bit. Ragatha leaned closer but still didn't touch her.

"...Just curious though", she inquired.

Pomni narrowed her eyes. "...About what?", she asked suspiciously. Ragatha's voice dipped into playful innocence.

"Why you're smiling when I haven't even touched you", she smirked.

"I am not-", Ragatha wiggled her fingers near Pomni's side without touching her. The jester snapped instantly.

"Dohon't!", she said within a giggle, her own body betraying her before her fear could even show up. She froze. "No!", she said weakly, mortified. "That doesn't count!"

"Uh huh?", Ragatha's eyes lit up with mischief.

"Don't you dare!", Pomni said clutching her sides tighter.

Ragatha grinned, "You hate being touched so much but you laughed anyway? Awe..."

"T-that was a reflex!", she said embarrassed.

The doll leaned in just a little more, still careful, "A ticklish reflex?"

Pomni shook her head violently in panic, "No! Absolutely not!"

Ragatha raised an eyebrow, "I kind of want to test this theory though...", she said teasingly.

Pomni opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted as Ragatha lightly tickled her side. The girl squealed and immediately scooted away, giggles spilling out, "N-no! I said d-dohohon't!"

Ragatha pulled back instantly, hands up innocently "Okay okay, truce!".

Pomni was still laughing, but she wasn't mad at the other woman. "You're the worst, y'know?"

"But you're safe... I would never hurt you, I promise", the ragdoll said with a small smile. That stopped Pomni short, her giggles fading as she straightened herself, realising her shoulders weren't tight like when everyone else tried touching her. Her chest wasn't buzzing with panic, but rather feeling a slight warmth.

"I don't usually let people do... this..." Pomni quietly said.

"Yeah...", Ragatha said softly and in a knowing way. Pomni glanced at her, shyly saying, "But... with you? it's different". The other one smiled.

"Aww, you're so cute, New-Stuff", the doll teased her a bit.

Pomni huffed, still shy, "D-don't get used to this... softness..."

"Aww but I want to hear your giggles again!", Ragatha wiggled her fingers slowly, obviously giving Pomni time.

"I-I swear dohohon't!"

"I haven't even touched you!", the doll laughed.

"S-shut-", Ragatha interrupted her by poking her side once again.

"I SAHAHAID DON'T!" she replied in-between giggles. Ragatha laughed with her.

"You always do...", she remarked.

Pomni collapsed back onto the soft floor, catching her breath and staring at the ceiling.

"Y'know... if anyone else did that..." she said quietly, "I'd freak out..."

Ragatha sat beside her, not touching the girl, "But... you didn't?". Pomni closed her eyes.

"Because it's... you...", as she heard that, the older woman smiled warmly. She got surprised when the shorter one hugged her tightly, slowly retributing the gesture to not startle her.

"Thank you...", and for once Pomni was fully relaxed in the Circus.