#tktober2025

N leaned against the wall, a few feet away, watching. Not in a creepy way, of course. Just... curious. He liked seeing Uzi in her element. The way her wings twitched when she got frustrated, the way her scowl deepened when a screw didn't fit just right, it was kind of adorable.

"You're staring again," Uzi muttered without looking up.

"Am I?" N asked, tilting his head with mock innocence.

"Yes," she deadpanned, tightening a bolt. "Stop hovering. It's distracting."

N pushed himself off the wall, hands clasped behind his back. He walked closer, his grin subtle. Hovering was what he did. And judging by the way Uzi's shoulders tensed whenever he leaned over her workbench, he had a sneaking suspicion there was more to it than just "distraction."

Tonight felt like the perfect time to test that theory.

N sidled up beside her, leaning down as though to inspect her device. His hand, though, hovered suspiciously near her side. Not touching, just lingering in that space close enough to notice.

Uzi froze mid-twist of her screwdriver. Her head turned slowly, eyes narrowing at the empty air just above her ribs. "Don't," she warned flatly.

"Don't what?" N asked, his tone pure sugar. "I didn't even do anything."

Her glare sharpened. "You're thinking about it. That's enough."

He chuckled softly, straightening but leaving his hand dangling tantalizingly close. "Thinking isn't illegal yet, last I checked."

Uzi snapped her wings tighter around herself, trying to appear unbothered. But N caught the tiniest twitch in her expression, the faintest flicker of anticipation. And oh, that was too tempting.

N drew slow circles in the air with his fingers, hovering them near her ribs. He even let out an exaggerated gasp. "Oh, no, look how close I am. Tragic, really. One little slip and- oops."

His fingertip tapped her side lightly.

Uzi jolted like she'd been shocked. She immediately swatted at his hand, screwdriver clattering against the floor. "N!"

"What? That wasn't even a tickle," he protested innocently. He pocked again, quicker this time, and her wings gave a betraying twitch.

"Q-Quihit it!" she snapped, curling away, though the corners of her mouth were twitching like she was fighting a smile.

N leaned closer, voice dropping into a conspiratorial murmur. "Ohhh... your wings twitched. That's interesting."

Her glare sharpened. "Bite me."

He grinned, chin propped on one hand like he had all the time in the world. "Tempting, but I think I'd rather see how long you can hold out."

Her fists clenched. Her whole body screamed with tension, anticipation coiled like a spring. She tried to keep her usual tough-girl posture, but the longer N's fingers hovered, the more restless she got.

Without warning, N darted his fingers into her side, skittering them playfully.

Uzi erupted. Laughter burst from her like a crack in a dam, harsh and uncontained. "N-!! StoHoHoHOP!! IhIHI swHEHEHEHAR-!" She twisted violently, almost knocking her workbench over in her thrashing.

He laughed along with her, dodging her flailing arms. "Youhu're soho juhumpy! I barely touched you."

"Shuhut- shuhut uhuhup!" she squealed through gritted teeth, shoving at his chest. But her eyes squeezed shut, her grin fighting its way out despite her best efforts.

N only teased her side for a few moments before pulling back, hands raised like he'd completed a science experiment. "See? Now that wasn't so bad, right?"

Uzi glared at him, chest heaving, cheeks flushed. "Doho that again and IhIHI'll-"

Her threat dissolved into a strangled giggle as his fingers hovered dangerously close to her hips. He wasn't even touching her yet, and she was already twitching.

"Ohhh~," N sing-songed, grinning wide, "I think I found something even better~!" N tilted his head, eyes gleaming with playful curiosity. "You're already squirming, and I haven't even touched your hips yet. That... feels important."

Before Uzi could scramble away, N caught her wrists in one hand and pinned them lightly against the workbench. His grip wasn't tight, just enough to keep her from smacking him in the face while she thrashed.

"Lehet me go!" she barked, kicking out.

"Not until I confirm my hypothesis," N replied sweetly. His free hand hovered just over her hips, fingers twitching dramatically. "Do you think you can hold out?"

She pressed her lips together, glaring daggers at him.

He struck. Fingers digging into Uzi's hips in quick, wiggling motions.

Uzi's response was immediate and violent. She shrieked, laughter tearing out of her throat as her legs kicked wildly. "N!! YOuHuhu- YOuhUHuu JeheheHEErk!! StohOhOhOP!!"

Her tough-girl mask shattered. She bucked against N's hold, twisting with every ounce of gremlin energy in her body.

N laughed gently, keeping the pace playful rather than overwhelming. "Wow, you're loud. I'm impressed!" Thinking he'd give her hips a break, N shifted his hand, brushing along the edges of her wings.

Uzi screeched. The sound cracked halfway between a laugh and a startled yelp. Her wings snapped tight against her back, but not before he traced just along the sensitive edges.

"Ohhh, that's even worse, huh?" N teased, his tone light, curious, affectionate. "You're all curled up already."

She couldn't form words, just hiccupy laughter and growls, squirming so hard she nearly toppled both of them.

After a few moments, he slowed, pulling his hands back, tilting his head with concern. "Hey, you still good?"

Panting, Uzi shot him a glare through her flushed face. "Youhuhuhu're... dehehead," she wheezed, even as she was still giggling.

N released her wrists, stepping back with a satisfied smile. "It's more fun when you just trust me."

Uzi slumped against the workbench, hair sticking up in every direction. "Bihite me..." she muttered, but there was no real venom in it.

He chuckled, straightening. "I'll take that as a thank-you."

Her eyes narrowed. "You know you're not getting away with that, right?"

N blinked innocently. "Getting away with what?"

Before he could react, Uzi lunged forward, fingers aimed at his ribs. "Your turn, idiot!!"

He was busy reading, and you were mindlessly on your phone.  He really seemed like he wasn’t paying attention, so you went to get a glass of water that was next to the dish washer.  Slowly you opened it and hid in a corner shelf that was hardly ever used int eh kitchen.  Then you strolled back to the living room and sat down next to him with your water.  You couldn’t help but smile.

“What ya reading?”  You asked, innocently, leaning on his shoulder without the arm, nuzzling into his neck.  You actually knew the answer since he liked to read a lot of history books since he missed a lot of it and you got him this one in particular.

He chuckled.  “What, you don’t remember getting me this?”  He asked with a smirk.

“Oh, I do.”  You lazily traced the side of his neck with your index finger, causing him to shiver under your touch for a second.

“What are you doing?”  He asked with a side eye, and a small grin.  You started to trace your finger on his ear lobe.

“Nothing, just looking at every little part of you.”

“You look with your eyes, not your hands, darling.” He started to put his book down and got up.

He went to the dishwasher, figuring it should have been done now.

  After opening it and noticing his missing appendage, he took a step back.  Clearly it didn’t get up and walk off on its own.  “Babe, you don’t happen to know where my arm went, do you?”  He stood there with one arm on his hip.

You stood up confidently and walked over, like you gained strength.  “No!  Where is it?”  As horrible as a liar you are, he chuckled and reached to kiss you.  As he sunk into that kiss, your hands wandered on his back muscles and traced down his side and ribs, ever so gently, making him hold in a giggle.

“Babe, what’s wrong?  You’re so, squirmy with me today.  Are you ok?”  You asked innocently.

“I’m just fine, but I’ll need my arm back.”  He started to take a step at you, causing you to step back with a large smile on your face.

“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about?  Why would I take your arm?”

He grabbed you by the waist with his one arm, effectively lifting you up to his eye level.  “Because you’re a child.”  He leaned in for a long, sweet kiss, that made you forget about his arm for a hot second.  Then he tossed you onto the couch.  “Where’s my arm?”

You were starting to curl up, giggling to yourself, cheeks getting red.  “I don’t know!”

He lunged in and pinched your side with his only arm, causing you to squeak and grab it.

“Where’s my arm?  If you give it to me now, I promise no harm will come to you.”  He said confidently, staring right into my eyes.

You shrugged your shoulders as if you had nothing to say and he straddled you and with his good arm, started tickling you all over your mid-section fast and expertly.  You laughed hard and every time you swatted his hand away or grabbed it, he just as easily moved it back into position.

You tried to grab his thighs and hips, but he was just too damn fast.  “Sto-op!  I giiiive!”  You yelled.

He stopped and you pointed to the corner drawer.  “In there.”  Your voice shook, pointing.  He kissed you on the cheek. And said thanks.  He pulled it out and locked it onto his shoulder.  You loved it when he did that, so you sat there smiling.

He started to come back at you quickly and lunged his hands up in your armpits, causing you to scream!  “Waaaaaiiiittt!  Yoooou ssaaiid noooooooo moooore!”

“No, I said no harm would come to you!  You were being a brat though, so you deserve this!”  His hands were moving so perfectly all over your neck, armpits, rips, belly and sides, that you felt yourself not able to think coherently.

“Naahaaaa, stoooopppp!”

“Say your sorry for stealing my arm!”

“Sooorrrrryyyyy!”  You barely got out and just like that he stopped.  You were red-faced, breathing heavy, hair a mess.

“You are so beautiful doll.”  He leaned in and gave you a long deep kiss, then grabbed his book to go back to read.

You closed your eyes.  You loved that man.

"I'm not even-"

"If you say you're not doing anything one more goddamn time Matt I'll kill you."

This has been going on for days.

Matt - sweet, clueless Matt - had gotten a bit too adventurous with his hands about a week ago when you were engaging in your standard sickening amount of PDA, touch just a little too light and a little too fast. And you'd flinched, because of course you had, and he'd given you that puppydog-tilted-head look that anyone else might find sweet but you knew meant he'd taken note of the reaction and would be making you regret it later.

Only, later never came.

Sure, there had been small things here and there - the hand on your waist when he needed to get by you being suspiciously teasing, the kisses he pressed to your neck getting lighter and lighter, the casual pokes when you had to stand on your toes to reach something he'd yet again decided to hide on the highest possible shelf. But nothing beyond that. No evidence he knew what he was doing aside from the amused grin on his face and the fact that he'd never done any of that before.

And god help you, it was driving you insane.

"Really, honey. I'm not sure what you're talking about," he tries again, voice placating and confused. But the look in his eyes, you'd know that smug amusement anywhere.

And, okay, maybe you're beginning to crack a little.

"Listen, I- if you're going to do something, just do it already!" You're ranting at this point and you know it, equal parts nervous and infuriated (and, okay, maybe a little amused) in the way only he could make you. "I'm pretty sure this is like, psychological torture or- or gaslighting, or something! Not to mention you-"

The words stop coming only when the world tilts on its axis all of a sudden, the ceiling taking over your vision as your weight works against you, one light but intentionally placed little push to your shoulder, a foot behind your ankle, and you're laid out flat on your back on the couch.

You don't have time to process before Matt follows you down.

"Psychological torture? That would never hold up in court, y'know."

His fingers are digging into your sides gently, and it's all so sudden you almost forget to laugh. Almost.

But you don't forget to laugh. Instead, some high pitched sound between a squeak and a scream is all you can manage before your words are crumbling to giggles.

"MATTHEW!"

You use the last of your breath to put as much venom and accusation in his name as possible, like it's a curse. He seems a little too entertained to care.

"What? You gave me permission and everything!"

"Ihihi did nohohot-!"

#augtickletober2025 by @august-anon

#g&s tickletober / #31 Tickles Til Halloween by @gladdygirl18 & @sunstone-smiles

#sana's tickletober 2025 by @itzsana-kiddingmenow

“By a minute…” Reed trailed off, sitting down next to his wife, Sue, who took his hand in hers.  She squeezed it, looking at him with a genuine smile.

“Babe, are you alright?”  She asked him sympathetically.

“Let’s eat and we can all discuss why you’re so mopey lately.”  Johnny said as he started to grab a dinner roll.   

Reed let go of Sue’s hand and start to eat with the rest of them.  “I’m fine.  I’m having a bit of trouble calculating the sub-terannual”

“Blah, blah, blah!  Didn’t you calculate that already, professor?”

“Johnny, quit being an ass!”  Sue snapped back at her younger brother, who had a shit-eating grin on his face.

“What, it’s the same thing every day!  You need to take a break, loosen up!”  Johnny spat back, while Ben ate silently, shaking his head.

Ben, finally commented, “Hey, I’ve been your best friend forever.  I know you.  If it can be figured out, you will figure it out.  But for now, just relax an eat.”

Reed shook his head in agreement but still seemed very tense and withdrawn.  The rest of the time was spent silently eating, very differently than previous dinners. 

Finally, when everyone was done and the dishes were put away, Reed went back into his office and shut the door.  Sue sat on the circular couch with her brother and Ben and watched Franklin play on the floor in front of her.

“I’m really worried about Reed.”  Sue said, looking at Ben, who nodded in agreement.  “If we could only get him out of the mind of his, even for a few minutes, it might help him re-theorize.”

“Yeah, but how do we do that, Sue?”  Ben asked with sincerity.

Johnny was on the floor playing with baby Franklin, making noises and making him laugh.  Sue looked down and smiled.  “To be a baby, without a care in the world.”  Sue commented.

“I know, to laugh, sleep eat, poop, repeat.  Must be nice.”  Johnny said joining the conversation with a smile on his face.

“What do you mean, that’s what you do now, Johnny!”  Ben laughed as he pinched Johnny’s side, making his gasp and swat away his big friend.  Then Johnny stopped, almost froze like he saw a predator ahead.

“Wait, Ben, that’s it!  We make him laugh!  Like really laugh!”

“I’m not sure that’s possible,” Sue said, smiling.  “He doesn’t laugh too hard for that long.”

Johnny stood up fast.  “And that’s because you never asked me!  I can make him laugh!  You just made me think about that when Ben here tickled my side, which PS, I didn’t laugh, it just made me think.”  Johnny said looking at his friend, who had a big smug smile on his face.

“Sure, sure, Flame Boy.  So, what!  You want to tickle him or something?  Is that even possible, Sue?”

“Well, um, to be honest, we never really tickle each other, at least nothing like what you’re talking about Johnny.  He’s much more mature than when you and I were younger.”

“But that’s it!  He won’t expect it!”  Johnny was giddy with excitement.  Ben was nodding his head now in agreement.

“I like it!  And now that I think about it, we did mess around as kids, although, not for too long, like Sue said.  But the man’s got to be ticklish!  Nice plan, Johnny.”  There was a pause for a second as Ben seemed to think.  “But how, he can practically pull himself out of any grip?”

“Yeah, but he has a hard time saying stretched for long.”  At this point Sue got up as Johnny had said that. 

“I’ll leave you two to figure out the details.  I’m going to put Franklin down for a nap.”

“We got this, Ben!”  He gave Ben a high five. 

They sat together for the next half hour or saw and came up with their plan.

About an hour later, Reed came out from his lab, sat down on his bed and sighed.  He hadn’t gotten much further, but his brain actually hurt, so he took off his button-down shirt and shoes and laid back, closing his eyes. 

“Hey Stretch!”  Ben yelled to him from the living room.  “Come on out here.  We need to ask you a question.”

Reed put his fists on his closed eyes, pressing hard and sitting up slowly.  “Hold on.”  He said as he walked out in the living room.  There he saw his brother-in-law and best friend, with a bunch of papers scattered on the table.

“Come look at this.”  Ben gestured over.

Reed walked over and picked up on the papers, which had nothing but drawings from Franklin on them.  He looked up at his friend.  “What is this?”

“We want to help you rewire your brain.”  Johnny said from the side as he reached out quickly and poked his side, making Reed move suddenly.  Ben now was standing next to his friend, on the other side.

“Yeah, buddy.  You seem, stressed, tense, and not in a normal Reed Richards way.”  Ben said, poking his other side, making Reed shift again.

As he did this, Johnny poked him again and Ben did the same.

“So-so what, you thought poking me would help me relax?”

“No, no, nothing like that.  We want you to laugh hard.”  Ben said calmly, poking him again.

“Yeah, Bolder over here thinks it will rewire your brain or something like that!  I just want to see you squirm.”  Johnny said staring straight at Reed, grabbing his hip and squeezing hard, but not too hard to hurt, making Reed audibly gasp, and a small upward curve of his lip seemed to form.

“I-I don’t think that’s possible Johnny.  Not scientifically anyway.”  Reed siad, looking down and trying to step back, but Ben was right there to stop him.

“You just seem so tense,”  Ben said, putting his big, rock hands on Reed’s shoulders.

“Yeah, yeah, enough foreplay!”  Johnny all but yelled as he lunged toward Reed’s midsection, where out of instinct, he stretched his arms towards him to stop.  As he did this though, Ben picked up his friend in his armpits and started to tickle him there, immediately causing Reed to snap his arms back into place and try to remove Ben’s big hands, which wouldn’t move, and his legs were no longer touching the ground.

A puff of air escaped his mouth, and his sad resting face immediately began to form a smile.  “St-stop it!”  Reed gasped.  Johnny was now back at his tummy, vibrating his fingers as Reed was trying to move his whole body away.

“Oh, come on, Mr. Fantastic!  You can handle this!”  He continued to tickle his belly and Reed’s arms reached around Ben, trying to find a way for him to let go.  Then his legs started to stretch out and wrap around Johnny and pulled him away from his body.

Now, Johnny could have easily turned into a giant flame and hurt Reed, but Ben told him no fire!  With Reed’s legs wrapped tightly around Johnny’s waist, he could reach his socked feet.

“Thanks buddy!”  Johnny called out from about ten feet away from the rest of his body stretched. 

Reed immediately looked up and Ben stopped tickling his armpits, just long enough for Johnny to grab his friend’s socked foot and tickled it hard.

“No-no!  St-stoppp!”  Reed yelled and laughed, reached an arm over there to Johnny.

Before his arm stretched that far, Ben flopped his friend on the ground, kneeled on his legs and started to tickle his ribs.  His stretched arm snapped back and he curled into a small ball trying to make the places Ben could reach small, with his big hands. 

Johnny grabbed his other foot and started to tickle that one now, and the other leg snapped back to his original self. 

Poor Reed was barking out a laugh hard, turning into a wheezing sound as his poor socked foot was mercifully tickled and Ben was tracing now light circles around his scrunched neck and ears, turning Reed all red.  His head felt like it was going to explode.  He couldn’t think, or at least think clearly of how to counter attack, and just laid there taking the tickling.

Johnny finally stood up and let his leg go, and Ben stopped tickling his neck, torso and ribs.  Reed was laying on the ground now, with his head, on one of Ben’s large legs, eyes closed hard, with a huge smile on his face.

Johnny all but leapt over to his brother-in-law and squatted next to him, smiling ear to ear.  “Did we do it?  Did we rewire your brain?”  He asked as excited as a child asking if he liked a drawing.

The two men were looking face down at him, admiring their work.  They rarely got the upper hand on their friend and were genuinely proud of this.  Right then, Sue appeared next to the boys, kneeling over here husband as well.

With a sweet smile on her face, “Babe, did they help you?”  Still no answer but he did open his eyes and look up at his beautiful wife. 

She slowly patted his thigh and squeezed, which made him jump in the air, and a large laugh escaped his mouth, as he said, “Yes, -yyyeesss!  Puuleease stttoopp!”

“Wow Sue, holding out on us.”  Johnny said with a look of interest.

“I never said he wasn’t ticklish.”  She stood up and walked away.

Ben helped up his old friend to his feet and patted his back softly.  “Hopefully this helped you out!”

Reed was nodding his head yes, gaining his composure again.  “Yes, yes it did.”  He started to walk away, stopped, quickly turned around and looked at both of the men.  “Don’t do that again, please.”

Everyone just smiled, laughed to themselves and walked away.  This family was truly fantastic!

Tokens, each stamped with the team emblem, were hidden all over the grounds, from classrooms draped in cobwebs to the trackside bleachers. Whoever collected the most tokens would earn bragging rights and an extra dessert voucher in the cafeteria. A small prize, sure, but Special Week was already bouncing with competitive energy.

Of course, the biggest draw wasn't the tokens. It was the "ghosts." A handful of volunteers roamed the grounds to spook or tag players out of the game. Trainer had written the rules as straightforward as possible... but he really should have known better than to let Gold Ship anywhere near the role of ghost.

"BEHOLD, MORTALS!!" Gold Ship boomed, sweeping into the courtyard with a bedsheet draped dramatically over her tall frame. The fabric dragged on the ground, eyeholes cut unevenly, one side tied in a knot where she'd tripped on it earlier. Somehow, she managed to look commanding as well as completely ridiculous. "I am the Phantom of the Track, the Spectre of Speed, the Ghoul of-"

"You look like someone's laundry," McQueen deadpanned, adjusting her lace-trimmed sleeves. Her costume was far more composed: a refined black-and-violet dress straight out of a gothic novel, complete with choker and gloves. She didn't need fake cobwebs to give off elegance. The others weren't entirely sure if she had intended it to be a costume.

Special Week clapped her hands, her pumpkin-shaped hat wobbling with the motion. "I think it's adorable! Very... creative, Gold Ship!"

Trainer, standing nearby in a cheap vampire cape he'd been coerced into wearing, sighed. "Just remember, the ghosts are just supposed to tag the players. No funny business."

Gold Ship tilted her sheet-covered head. "Oh, absolutely. Pure professionalism. Not a single drop of funny business will leave these ghastly fingers!"

The way she wiggled said fingers made Trainer's stomach sink. He didn't miss the mischievous sparkle barely hidden behind the bedsheet's uneven holes.

Special Week bounced on her heels, eager to dart off. "Alright! I'm going to win this for Mom!" she declared, fists pumped with determination.

McQueen shook her head, muttering about misplaced priorities, but even she looked faintly amused.

Gold Ship, however, grinned unseen under her ghostly disguise. Tagging was boring!! If she was going to haunt her teammates, she might as well really haunt them, with something far more effective than a simple tap on the shoulder!

As the whistle blew to start the event, she floated off into the shadows, already plotting her first scare.

-

The Academy's hallways were dimmer than usual, the lights intentionally left low so paper bats and dangling ghosts cut out of construction paper cast exaggerated shadows. Special Week tiptoed down one of the side corridors, her oversized pumpkin hat bobbing with each careful step. The game was in full swing outside, with shouts... laughter... an occasional squeal echoing faintly through the open windows. Must be some funny jokes someone's telling out there! Inside, though, it was quiet.

Perfect for finding a token.

"Alright, where would Trainer hide one..." she whispered to herself, pushing open the door to an empty classroom. Fake cobwebs stretched across the corners, complete with a few cheap plastic spiders that glinted when they caught the faint light. She grinned. This was precisely the kind of place Trainer would pick.

She began searching under desks, humming nervously to keep herself company. Every creak of the wooden floorboards made her twitch. She wasn't scared, not exactly. Special Week had plenty of spirit, after all. But something about the atmosphere put goosebumps on her arms. She could've sworn she felt a draft run down her back.

As she leaned down to peek beneath the teacher's desk, the door behind her creaked shut.

Special Week froze.

Her heart thudded. "...Hellooooo?" she asked the empty room, her voice carrying much thinner than she'd intended. Silence answered.

She swallowed and crouched lower, determined just to grab the token she knew had to be here and get out. That was when it all went wrong.

A sudden skittering sensation at her sides!! Fingers, quick and merciless, kneaded into her ribs and spidered under her arms.

"Eeheeheehee?! W-WHAahaHAHAH-!!" Special Week shrieked, the sound bouncing off the chalkboard as she nearly toppled forward. She burst into helpless giggles, squirming in place as unseen hands tormented her. Her pumpkin hat slipped forward, covering her eyes as she flailed. "AAHAHhHAHAHAHAHA!! S-STOhOhOHOHOHOPP!!!"

The "ghost" had found her next victim.

Behind her, under the tattered bedsheet, Gold Ship's grin stretched wide. She hunched dramatically, her makeshift ghost costume brushing the floor as she unleashed her... "haunting."

"OoooOOOOoooo!!! Beware, pumpkin girl!! The spirits of the Academy demand laughter as payment~!!"

Special Week squealed again as fingers wiggled mercilessly along her stomach, circling her belly button through her costume. She kicked her legs, laughter tumbling out in her frantic, bubbly bursts. "EEEHEEHEHEEEK!!! GOHOHOHOHOLD SHIHIHIHIHIP, IHIHIHI KNOHOHOHOW THAHAHAHAT'S YOUHUHUUHUHUU!!"

Gold Ship laughed evilly, entirely unbothered that her cover was blown. "Oh~? How can you be so sure! I am but a restless phantom, destined to tickle every pumpkin I see!" She dug her fingers into Special Week's sides again, wriggling just enough to make her thrash.

Special Week's laughter rose to a desperate pitch, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she struggled to tug her hat back into place. "PLEEHEHHEEHASEE!! NOHOHO MOHOHOHOHORE!!! IHIHIHI'M DOHOHOHOHOHNEEE!!1"

"Done?" Gold Ship tilted her head beneath the sheet, pretending to ponder. "But you haven't paid the toll yet!! The toll is... uh, three more giggles. Very official ghost business, I assure you."

As if on cue, she wiggled her fingers up to Special Week's underarms again. The poor little pumpkin practically folded, cackling helplessly as she tried to scuttle away on hands and knees.

"AHAaHAHAHAHHAHA!!! FIHIHIHIHIHIHINE!!! T-TAHAHAHAKE IHIHIHIT!!!" she squealed. Her laughter spilled freely, echoing down the hallway.

Finally satisfied with her haunting, Gold Ship let go and stepped back, swooping the bedsheet around her like a cape. "The toll is paid!! You may wander freely, mortal pumpkin... but beware!! The ghost will haunt again!"

Special Week collapsed against a desk, panting, cheeks flushed crimson from laughing so hard. She shoved her hat back upright, glaring at the doorway as Gold Ship floated out, her laughter trailing like an actual phantom's.

Special Week clutched her stomach, still giggling weakly. "Shehehe's... Shehehe's suhuhuch a mehenace..."

But even as she said it, a smile tugged at her lips.

-

While Special Week was still recovering from her "haunting," another student prowled the Academy's quieter wing with sharp precision, far from the squeals and shrieks of her classmate(..s).

Mejiro McQueen glided across the tiled floor, her every step measured and quiet, lace hem brushing against her stockings. Where Special Week charged headlong with enthusiasm, McQueen approached the event with cool calculation. She wasn't here to stumble around, she was here to win.

"Trainer mentioned that tokens would be placed where one might least expect them," she murmured to herself, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Her violet eyes scanned a row of lockers near the library. "Which means everyone else will be busy scouring the obvious spots. Predictable."

Her gloved fingers slid across the cool metal of the lockers as she inspected each handle. She prided herself on composure, on staying unflappable. A silly school event wouldn't be enough to ruffle her.

...or so she believed.

The air grew colder. McQueen didn't notice it at first, her mind too focused on strategy, but soon she found herself pausing, tilting her head. The lights above flickered faintly, the sort of thing most would dismiss as faulty wiring. But the timing was too uncanny.

McQueen stiffened. "... Gold Ship."

She didn't hear a reply... no footsteps, no taunts, just the soft rustle of something moving behind her.

She refused to look, refused to give in to theatrics. "I will not play along with your antics. I am here for tokens, nothing more."

She reached for a locker handle and tugged, only for her world to erupt into chaos.

Hands seized her sides from behind, fingers worming mercilessly beneath the edges of her refined dress bodice. McQueen's breath caught, then broke into a sharp burst of laughter. "Hhh-HhHahHAHAHahAHA-! W-WhahAHAHHAT IhiHihs ThiHiHiS!!"

Gold Ship, draped head to toe in her crooked bedsheet, leaned in close and declared in a low, theatrical moan. "OoooOOOoooo!! Elegance cannot save you from the ghost's grasp~!!"

McQueen thrashed, her gloved hands flying to pry at the intruding fingers, but Gold Ship's wiggling grip was relentless. Her laughter spilled out in bright, indignant peals that echoed down the corridor. "G-GOhOHoHOHOLD ShiHIHIHIHIP!!! YOHUHUH AbSOLUHUHUHUTE-!! HhhhAHahhHAHAHAA-!!!"

Her composure shattered with every squeal. Gold Ship delighted in it, pressing her advantage. She scribbled her fingers up and down McQueen's ribs, then dipped under her arms where the fabric of her sleeves offered little protection.

McQueen's knees buckled, laughter bubbling uncontrollably as she twisted against the lockers. "HhHhaHHAhahAHHAH!! T-ThiHiHIIS IhihIs PrEheHEHEPohOhOSteroHuhUhUS!!! HAHhaHAhahAHHA!!"

"Preposterous?" Gold Ship repeated, feigning deep consideration. "Nay (neigh), noble lady, the term you're looking for is 'supernatural!'" She leaned in closer, her sheet brushing McQueen's shoulder as her hands danced lower to squeeze at her hips.

McQueen yelped, a decidedly ungraceful sound, before dissolving back into high-pitched giggles. "YOUHUHUHU chaahHAHN't beheEH SehEHhERIOUS!!!! IHIHII'LL- ohohOhOHohOH- G-GEheHEHET YOuHUhUHU FohOHOR THIHIHIHS!!!"

"Revenge~?" Gold Ship teased, circling her fingers over McQueen's waistline until the refined horse girl nearly doubled over. "Alas, the dead cannot be defeated! You will forever be haunted by... the tickle spectre!!"

For a moment, McQueen's pride fought to reassert itself. She tried to straighten, tried to glare through her laughter, but another squeeze at her ribs ruined her resolve. "S-StohOhOhOP thIHIHIHIS N-NohoHOHOnSehehEnse!! GHoHoHOSt Ohohohr noHohot, hHahahAHAHHA!! IIhIhiH sweHEhehHAR YouhUHu'LL PAHAHAY FOHOHOR THIHIS!!!"

Gold Ship only cackled villainously to herself, enjoying her victim's collapse far too much. "So fiery~! So spirited~! Truly, your dignity is most delicious to my ghostly palette~!"

Finally, after what felt like ages to McQueen, Gold Ship retreated, having many more victims to catch. The other still trembled from holding back tears of laughter. She glared fiercely at the departing sheeted figure, though her lavender hair clung slightly to her forehead, betraying just how thoroughly wrecked she'd been.

Gold Ship's muffled cackle echoed down the corridor. "Another soul haunted!! Beware, mortals!! None are safe!!!"

McQueen groaned, smoothing her dress back into order, though her cheeks burned crimson. "Utterly shahameful..." she muttered, though her voice was still broken with breathless laughter. "I wihihill... I will see to it she regrets this."

But the truth sat heavily in her chest. For the first time in ages, her carefully curated composure had been ripped apart, and not by rivalry, or training pressure, but by Gold Ship's ridiculous antics!!!! That alone made her blood simmer hotter than her flushed cheeks.

She stomped down the hall, fuming, but the memory of her own hysterical laughter still clung stubbornly to her ears.

-

Trainer had expected chaos when he approved the hide-and-seek Halloween event. He had not, however, expected the strange reports that filtered in from laughing students.

They had sworn that the "ghosts" weren't just tagging them. Others mentioned something about fingers and giggling? But the details were muddled, everyone was too embarrassed to explain clearly. Trainer rubbed the back of his neck, his cape swishing as he walked the darkened corridor.

"Alright..." he muttered, checking on a set of classrooms, "as long as nobody's getting hurt, I guess it's fine... Just keep things under control. That's all I ask."

The hallway was quiet, with faint orange light from the courtyard spilling in through the windows. Trainer slowed, frowning. He could swear he felt eyes on him, though he saw no one. The air carried a chill, just enough to raise the hairs on his arms.

He sighed, amused but weary. "Gold Ship. I know you're there."

Silence.

He continued down the hall, trying to ignore it. That was his big mistake.

The moment he passed under a flickering light, something swept up behind him. A rustle of fabric, a theatrical "OooooOOoooo~!" and then...

Fingers jabbed suddenly at his ribs.

"Wha-?!" Trainer jolted with a sharp yelp, twisting away on instinct. Too late. The hands followed impishly, tickling mercilessly at his sides. "AhahHAHA- G-Gohohohold ShiHihip, c-cuHuhUt ihihiht ouhuHuHUT-!!"

From beneath the crooked bedsheet came gleeful laughter. "The ghost has no mercy!! Even the mighty master of ceremonies must pay the toll!!"

Trainer bent double, helpless laughter spilling from his throat as the attack continued. He tried to keep his voice low, tried to preserve some shred of dignity, but every fresh wiggle of those fingers dragged another undignified squeak or chuckle out of him.

"S-StoHOHoHop, StoHoHop! Y-Youhuhu cahahan't juhuhust- ahahHAhahaha- dohohoho thiihihis tohohoho thehee evehehent ohohohorganizeher!!"

"On the contrary!" Gold Ship intoned in her most serious ghostly voice, "This is the most essential haunting of all! For if the conductor laughs, the whole orchestra must follow!!"

Her hands darted higher, scrabbling under his arms. Trainer jerked upright with a strangled laugh, arms instinctively clamping down, but the pressure only trapped her fingers there. "N-NoHoHoHoHo!!! NoHoHoT thEHehHEERE-!!!"

Gold Ship leaned closer, the sheet slipping sideways so that one mischievous eye peeked out. "Ohhh, but here is perfect~!! This is where the most haunting giggles are stored!"

Trainer squirmed backward, trying to wedge himself against the wall for stability, but the tickly phantom followed relentlessly. Every attempt to bat her away only left another side exposed for tickling. His cape tangled around his legs, making him stumble and buckle, sliding down the wall, earning a dramatic wail from the ghost.

"Behooooldd!!! The vampire has no power against the spectre!"

Trainer laughed so hard his cheeks burned. "YoUHuHuHU're goHOhoHnna- pffffhaahahHAHAh- ruHuHUHUHIN myhYhy imahahage in frohohohont of thehehe StuHUUHUDents!!"

As if to punctuate his plea, two girls peeked around the corner at the end of the hall. Their eyes went wide at the sight of their usually composed Trainer doubled over, cackling uncontrollably while a bedsheet-clad "ghost" clawed at his sides. A second later, both dissolved into helpless giggles themselves, covering their mouths.

Gold Ship turned her head toward them, triumphant. "BEAR WITNESS, MORTALS!!! Your leader cannot resist the ghost's wrath!!"

Trainer groaned through his laughter, mortified. "G-GohoHOHOhold ShiHihiiiiiihihihihipp!!!"

Finally, Gold Ship took pity. She gave one last mischievous wiggle at his waistline before swooping back dramatically, sheet billowing as she retreated. "Haunting complete!! Another soul subdued by ghostly giggles!!!"

Trainer slumped against the wall, catching his breath, face flushed with crimson. His chest rose and fell as he tried to steady his breathing.

The girls at the end of the hall whispered furiously to each other before scampering off, no doubt to spread word of what they'd seen. Trainer buried his face in one hand. "Greheheattt, just greattt.... I'll never, ever live this down."

From down the corridor, Gold Ship's triumphant laughter sounded like the cackle of a genuine spectre, rolling through the Academy halls.

-

By the time Trainer regained his composure, the entire courtyard buzzed with one story: the ghost who made everyone laugh whether they wanted to or not~! Special Week's pumpkin hat was still askew, McQueen's cheeks were still faintly pink, and now, even Trainer's dignity had been shredded! Enough was enough.

The small crowd had gathered near the fountain, trading grim nods like conspirators.

"She get you too-?" Teio asked.

Kitasan nodded. "Mhm, Scarlet and Vodka as well."

"G-Gohot us both at the same time..." Vodka huffed, Scarlet looking away.

Teio quirked her ears. "Wait. Scarlet, Vodka, weren't you both ghosts as well?"

"Yes." They both replied simultaneously with a sigh.

Trainer scratched his chin. "She's been hard at work... Where's Suzuka?"

Special Week looked up. "Oh, no-! I haven't seen her since we started! You don't think she's the last one standing, do you?"

"Well, if she is, she's the winner until Gold Ship finds her, which won't be long now," Kitasan said.

"She can't keep getting away with this," McQueen said flatly, adjusting her sleeves.

Special Week pumped her fists. "Right! Let's team up and catch her!" Her proclamation earned a round of shouts of agreement from the other students.

Trainer hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "...I probably shouldn't encourage retaliation, but..." He glanced at all their determined faces, then sighed. "Alright. Let's put this ghost to rest."

They moved as a group, listening for... there!

In the distance, they heard the squeals of ticklish laughter. They closed in.

-

"WHYHYHYHYYHY MEHEHEHEEHEHEE!!!" Suzuka shrieked. The ghost was sitting on the back of her thighs, merrily rubbing at her last victim's very, very sensitive hips.

"Well, you complete the set," Gold Fish replied, forgetting to put on her ghost voice. "Uh, I mean- Alllll mortals must feeear the ghoosttt~!!"

Suzuka kicked her feet and pounded her fists against the hallway floor. "GOHOHOHOLD SHIHIHIHIP, PLEHEHEHEASEE!! IHIHI CAHAHAHN'T-!!"

"So you won't!!" Special Week called.

Gold Ship froze, turning briefly to see her seven previous victims, grouped together and grinning villainously.

"Boo," Trainer said, smirking.

Hopping off of her victim, she tried to run, but Special Week lunged first, grabbing the edge of the sheet. McQueen seized her other arm firmly, and the rest of the girls soon followed, holding Gold Ship in place and pinning her to the floor.

"You alright, Suzuka?" Trainer asked, helping the last survivor to her feet. "You won, if it's any consolation."

"I... Ihihi dihihid? Y-yay-!!" Little giggles still escaped from her as she smiled somewhat proudly.

Gold Ship was thrashing around, trying with everything in her to escape the vengeful grip of her friends. "NoOOOO!! Betrayed by my own teammates!!" she cried.

"Not betrayed," McQueen corrected, her smile sharp. "Justly punished."

Then, their tickle attack began. Special Week dove for her ribs, McQueen targeted her underarms, and the rest of the girls picked the spot nearest them as they held the ghost firmly in place. Gold Ship shrieked, laughter exploding as she kicked and writhed. "GyAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!! N-NOHOHOHOT FAHAHAHAHAHAIRRRR!!!"

She flailed helplessly, her ghostly sheet tangling around her ankles as the group dismantled her in perfect, merciless rhythm. Every cackle she'd inflicted came back tenfold, and the hallway was filled with the work of their labor.

Trainer stepped back with a grin. "You know, Gold Ship... you really are the spirit of Halloween. Mischief, scares that don't hurt, and plenty of laughs."

Russ was in the kitchen getting more beer and snacking on another piece of pizza.  She had her feet kicked up on the table, sitting in the middle of her couch, like normal.  Colter came and sat on her right, following suit, kicking up his feet next to hers.

“Damn, Colter.”  Reenie said.  “You have some big feet.”  She pointed out, as his made her 8s look like little kids’ feet.  He laughed and took a sip of beer.

Again, they had been drinking for some time now, so they were all fresh towards one another.

After his sip, he looked at her with his serious face, and said, “You know what they say about men with big feet, don’t you?” 

She slowly turned her gaze towards him, still serious, but with a small hint of a smile forming.  Thinking she knew what he would say, she exuberantly said, “No, Colter, what do they say?” 

He smiled back, taking another sip.  He leaned in and said, “We have big feet.”

She looked at him, no, more like glared at him, for how stupid this sounded.  She had nothing in her hands, so she quickly shot both of her hands at his mid-section and started squeezing as she yelled, “Shut up, you’re such a dork!”

He yelped, not expecting that, and curled up against her attack, not spilling his beer, but taking his free hand and swatting it at hers.  “Wh-what?  Can’t you ta-take a joke?”  He said through his struggling of not to laugh.

So, she dug in further, shaking her head in amusement, now tickling his ribs on his sides.

This made him yell out, “Naa-ahaaa, stttopp it!  Dammit Reeeeeenie!”

Then Russ came walking out of the kitchen and she stopped, as Colter was red-faced.  “Why are you torturing my baby bro?”  He asked, not really caring, but more curious. 

As Colter was catching his breath, she leaned back against the couch.  “Oh, he thought he was being funny when I said he had big feet, and he said men that have big feet have big shoes.  I taught him a lesson is all.”

Russ nodded in agreement, taking a sip from his beer.  “Well, ya know, he’s not wrong, but you know what we really have….?”  He had a full shit eating grim on his face, and she thought, here comes the really stupid comment.

“What Russ, what do they have?”  She said in the same sarcastic tone she used on Colter.

“We have big socks…..”  Both Colter and Russ laughed at this, as she sat in the middle surrounded by middle school boys. 

She shook her head, and grabbed onto Russ’s sides just like Colters’s, and just like Colter, he gasped and tried to swat them away, though he was quicker and set his beer down and grabbed both of her wrists.

“Nah-ah.”  He said shaking his head looking at her.  “We don’t do that.”

She pulled her wrists back and said, “You two are children.” 

“And you are officially trapped!”  Colter leaned in, both brothers staring at her.

Uh-oh, she though.