#apothecary diaries tickle

[allnightstay]

Day 1 - Anticipation 🔮

Maomao's Weakness

Jinshi uses Maomao's love for poison against her to do something he's always wanted to try...

Ler - Jinshi

Lee - Maomao

~ Happy TickleTober! I've been watching a few new anime and am excited to share these fics with you! I hope you enjoyyy

It was a slow day, and Jinshi was feeling quite playful. Due to a recent incident, he had been able to obtain 3 samples of non-lethal poisons and knew exactly what he wanted to do with them. He had asked Gaoshun to summon Maomao, stating he had a "gift" to give her. Knowing Jinshi is probably up to no good, Gaoshun internally rolls his eyes but abides by his orders.

"As you wish Master Jinshi, but do remember you have work to do today." Gaoshun reminded him, only to receive a few "I know"s from the childish man.

Maomao was currently in the field attempting to collect mushrooms for something she planned on making later, when she noticed Gaoshun approach.

"Good morning Master Gaoshun." Maomao greets with a bow to the man.

"Good morning, Master Jinshi has something he'd like to give you."

Maomao visibly cringes, asking herself what he could possibly want to give her. Doesn't he have anything else to do besides bother her?

The two walk towards Jinshi's office and eventually find themselves all together.

"Ahh Apothecary, how nice of you to show up." Jinshi's tone was playful and Maomao sensed it immediately.

Arms raised to her face, Maomao replies with "You did summon me here after all."

Jinshi was seated, but stands and asks Gaoshun if he could have a minute to give Maomao her gift in private. Gaoshun was a bit reluctant but Jinshi reassured him it would only be for a moment.

"Please be responsible." is all he says as he steps out to stand by the outside of the door.

Maomao shivers when she hears him say that, not knowing what Jinshi had planned.

"I have something I'd like to give you, Apothecary. I think you'll be really happy to see what I have." He says with a smirk. What is this man really up to? She's done nothing to earn a reward, could he just be feeling friendly?

He takes out 3 small bottles and places them on the table between them. Maomao's ears immediately perk up when she realizes what she thinks she's getting.. is that poison!?

"You see, I was able to get some extract of the poison that caused the lady in waiting to accidentally faint. I was told this poison is non-lethal, and I believe it is also one that you'd be able to handle." He smiles beautifully at Maomao, knowing she's beaming on the inside.

"Master Jinshi, are you really giving these to me!?" Her eyes were lit up brightly as she began to reach for one bottle, but was cut off my Jinshi's gentle grab of her hand. He pulls her on the couch he's sitting on, causing Maomao to fall in a way to where she's slightly leaning on him.

"Ah! Master Jin-"

"I have a small favor to ask of you, Apothecary. See I really want to give you these poisons, but I'm afraid I need you to do something for me first."

He still had his arm wrapped around Maomao, to which Maomao quickly removes and scoots to the farthest part of the couch.

"What exactly do you need?" She asks. She's willing to do most tasks knowing there'd be a reward of poison, but sometimes she really didn't know what to expect when it came to Jinshi. Afterall, it's not like he can really do anything too harmful, right?

"The task is simple really." He says as he gives her a jab to the ribs.

Maomao flinches and gives him a look of confusion.

"I never get to see you smile, l believe I saw it only once and I really enjoy how it captivates your appearance." Another jab to the ribs.

"What do you say we play a little game? Hmm?"

Ugh. There's no way he's really doing this right now. Doesn't he have paperwork or something to do??

But the poison... she tells herself maybe it's not what she's thinking.

"Master Jinshi.. what exactly do you have in mind?" Maomao asks nervously.

"Like I said, I simply would like to make you smile. I only require five minutes of your time. After that, you're free to take all these poisons for yourself~"

He sounds rather convincing, and Maomao has really been craving to taste something that makes her whole body go numb. What's the worst that could happen.

"Okay, fine. But I honestly do not laugh at most things Master Jinshi. It may be quite difficult to make me smile. So don't take it personally."

Maomao assures Jinshi he'd have a tough time making her smile, clearly not knowing what was about to come. She was getting quite anxious, anticipation creeping up inside of her.

"Alright then! Let's get started." Jinshi appears way too thrilled for what he's about to do. He starts to move towards Maomao, and, deciding to be bold, grabs her waist and pulls her down so that she is laying on the couch looking up at Jinshi.

Wasting no time, he starts tickling her stomach and spidering his fingers across her belly.

"Wa-Wahahat?? Ma-maha-master Jinshihihihi!" was all Maomao could manage to say before she was in a puddle of giggles.

Jinshi had a firm but gentle hold on her, smiling down at the now beaming face of Maomao.

"Whaaaat? I told you I had a little game. Only a short 5 minutes of you smiling, it can't be all that hard right?" He knew what he was doing but quite frankly didn't care. He loved getting any time with the Apothecary, especially time like this.

"Ahahahaha, I thought youhuhu would just tell some johohokes or somethihihing, I didn't agree to thHIHIHIS!! AHHHH HAHAHA"

Jinshi found a particularly sensitive spot on her upper ribs, eliciting a scream from Maomao. For someone so serious all the time, she was super ticklish. Jinshi relished in every moment of his torment.

"Shhh keep it down Apothecary, you're going to make Gaoshun worry! You wouldn't want this to end too early and not take home those poisons would you?~"

Stupid Jinshi. Maomao knew he was using her weakness to his advantage. She'll have to get him back for this one.

"Mahahahaster Jinshihihihi this isn't faahahahair!!"

"Now now little Apothecary, you did agree to this. Remember, you said something like 'Okay, fine.' Don't tell me you lied to me, that wouldn't be very nice." He says, sneaking his way up into her underarms. Only a few minutes have passed, it felt like the longest five minutes to Maomao.

"AHAHAHAH OKAY OKAY PLEEEEHEHEHEHEASE NOT THEHEHEHERE!!" Maomao was starting to lose it. But also, she notices the buzzed feeling she was getting from being tickled by Jinshi this way. Was she getting a little high from the tickling the same way she does with poison?

Her thoughts were broken by the sound of Gaoshun barging in, which in turn caused Jinshi to stop abruptly.

"Maomao, Master Jinshi, is everything oka- oh." He realizes the game they were playing. Gaoshun knew secretly deep down Jinshi had a love for tickling, as he'd find nonchalant ways to get Gaoshun to poke him in order to focus.

"My apologies. I heard a scream and needed to make sure you two were okay." Gaoshun stated.

"All is good Gaoshun, we were just finishing up here, right Apothecary?" Jinshi said with a silly tone and all. He was quite content with his results.

"Uhuh, yes. I am okay Master Gaoshun. Thank you. If I am no longer needed, I shall be taking my leave now, Master Jinshi." Maomao had a clear blush on her face with the sweetest hint of mirth still in her eyes.

"You are free to leave, and please don't forget your gift. Stop by again sometime hm?" Jinshi suggested. He may be wrong but he thinks he felt a hint of joy coming from Maomao. After all, she didn't seem bothered in the slightest for once.

Maomao grabs her little bottles of poison and trots back to her room. She's beyond flustered but also confused on why she actually enjoyed that moment. She's always bothered by Jinshi but for some reason this felt.. good.

Later that night, Maomao went to sleep thinking about the interaction over and over.

Maybe she will stop by again...

Ahhhhh this is my first TickleTober fic, I hope you liked it!! It's the second day though, so time to catch up on the next fic!! <33

[otomiyaa]

The Apothecary Diaries - Tickle Scene

From ch.8 - This is so cute

[gojonanami]

"JUST A LITTLE LONGER" - SATORU GOJO

✴︎ summary: after geto defects, you find yourself on a roof of a building wondering where things went wrong - and you're not the only one. based off another scene from apothecary diaries. ✴︎ contents: gojo x f!reader, fluff, angst about geto, gojo cries, reader does too a little, but cuddling from behind, i love this scene so much it's so cute, and jinshi is so gojo coded ✴︎ wc: 821

This was probably a stupid idea. 

And it was, you knew that, but it didn’t stop you from doing it anyway. A cursed spirit could kill you any day, so what was falling off a roof? Besides, you took another shot of sake, you couldn’t quite bring yourself to care about the possible chance of falling to your death after today. 

Suguru was gone. 

Defected, after slaughtering so many people — or monkeys as he called them now. There was no changing his mind — no going back. Suguru was a person of conviction — you supposed he still was. Shoko simply went with the flow, Satoru knew what his duties were, and you — you didn’t know what you were doing, but you thought maybe it was enough if you could help just one person every day. Especially if that person was one of your friends. 

And yet you didn’t see one of your friends needing your help, did you? 

So why were you sitting up on the roof of one of Jujutsu Tech’s buildings? You didn’t know either — you had a whole suite of aloneness you could have drank in, but you choose to take a shot in the same place that you, Suguru, Shoko, and Satoru drank in on late nights between assignments. 

Shoko would tease you — too sentimental for your own good — that’s what she always told you, but you couldn’t help it. Not after a night like this. But sitting up here wouldn’t resolve anything would it? 

And you began to carefully climb down, thinking about how much easier it was when Suguru used a cursed spirit to help you up (even when he really wasn’t supposed to summon them on campus). Fuck, your eyes burn with tears. You missed him— 

Your foot slips, as you fall backwards, into the awaiting arms — more like the awaiting body of someone below. You hear a grunt as you tumble backwards into them, your body and mind in shock, wondering what person you possibly murdered with your stupidity. 

“Satoru? What are you doing here?” 

“I should be asking you that,” Satoru grumbled at you as you turned to face him, “y'know when I joked that you would be falling for me, this isn’t what I meant,” 

“Oh really? Because this is exactly what I had in mind,” you snort, and you move to get up, but he’s pulling you back with a hand around your wrist, “Toru, let me get off of you—” 

“No, it’s cold,” he pouts, and now you really take a look at him — he wasn’t wearing his glasses for once, his hair unkempt at best, and his uniform all too disheveled — and his face, porcelain skin flushed red — and the faint smell of—was that— “are you drunk?” Satoru wasn't one to drink, but you supposed it wasn't for the act of it as it was the effect.

And it may have been the moonlight, but you swore he flushed further, before he’s forcing you to turn back around, pulling you further into his lap, his arms around your middle, “Maybe,” he mumbles, “I could say the same to you,” and you spot the bottle of sake on the ground in the grass, somehow not broken, “reminiscing about old times?” he pressed his forehead against your shoulder. 

“Yeah,” you sigh, teeth baring down on your bottom lip, as his breath warmed your neck, his hair tickling your skin as he leaned closer, “when did it go wrong?” 

“More like when did i go wrong?” he mutters, words all too bitter, “I should have seen it — I should have done more—” 

“No one saw it, we didn’t realize how bad it had gotten for him since Riko,” you whispered, “none of us—” 

“You weren’t his best friend—” 

“Me and Shoko were there too,” you cut him off, “we were there too,” you say quietly, “either way, Suguru made his choices, just as we did. And there’s nothing more we can do, except for what we can do here,” and then you add, “and it isn’t your fault.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because i said so,” and he laughs then, a genuine laugh. 

“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, before burying his face in the nape of your neck, his nose tickling you, and despite the cool air of the approaching fall, your body was now burning. 

“Toru—you’re tickling me—” and he’s only pulling you closer, as you finally glance back at him, “Toru—” and your words fall away, as you see a tear slip down his cheek, his eyes shut. 

“Just a little longer,” he says, barely above a whisper, his face pressed against your shoulder again, as his arms tighten around your middle, “warm me up for a little bit more,” 

You stare up at the night sky, stars dotting the night sky — such a beautiful night despite it all — as you finally let your tears slip down your cheeks silently, “I’ll stay as long as you want.” 

And you did, forever. 

✴︎ a/n: i hope this doesn't flop like my other fics lately, but oh well lol. i wrote this quick little thing now, so forgive any typos.

✴︎ taglist: @forest-hashira, @anondrive, @neon-crow, @forest-fruits-jam, @yukuriku, @lxvegojo

[stuffeddeer]

Perfect | The Apothecary Diaries | Jinshi x reader

cw - you're mute, jinshi calls you perfect a disgusting amount of times, gn neutral but you're referred to as: concubine, doll, toy, flower of the emperor's

i need to feed the tag to revitalize it

Jinshi gently cups your cheeks, palms resting against your face. The calluses tickle your soft skin, making you shiver momentarily.

With a kiss to your forehead, Jinshi lets out a sigh - a long breath, rather. A breath of relief and respite, brought only on by your presence and kind gaze. Unkind gaze. You stare at him in annoyance, bottom lip puffed out as you pout at him. He pays it no mind.

"I find you immaculate; unsullied and... perfect." The purple haired man finds no shame in his words, merely reporting fact like he would to anyone else. Except, maybe without all of the affection and adoration.

The man seems almost obsessed, if you didn't know any better. With a gentle swipe of his thumb back and forth, back and forth across your cheek, you wonder if perhaps he is.

"No flaws on this wonderful face. No flaws on your pretty little pout. I wish you'd glare at me forever." The last sentence is less than a whisper, spoken only to himself that you happen to catch due to the proximity he holds you in.

Your pout loosens, biting nervously on your bottom lip instead after sucking it in. Still, you've yet to say a word to the man. What got into him, possessing him to say all of this? Soft hands cup his, gently tugging them from your face.

"Please," he nearly whimpers, eyes wide in panic.

The reaction makes your eyes widen in tandem, hands stilling as they hold gently onto his, less than a few inches from your face. Head cocking to the side, you silently express your confusion (and maybe concern).

He trembles at your silent words, letting out another long breath; this one more a sigh of embarrassment and acceptance. "You... are perfect. You're like a gift from the heavens just for me, crafted in the image of a thief after nothing more than my heart. I wish to hold you, may I?" The last sentence is tacked on, spoken quickly as his hands move back to your cheeks.

Pursing your lips together slightly, you give him a small pout. The question was merely for show, a courtesy while he did as he pleased anyway. "To stay such a low ranking concubine for the emperor is a waste. You need to be paraded, heralded for your perfection. You— " Jinshi can't stop himself from pressing another kiss to your forehead.

"No. I think I'll keep you to myself. A doll for me to pose as I please, yes? A toy made just for me, as I spoke earlier."

You roll your eyes, an amused smirk tugging at your lips. Jinshi nearly swoons.

"That, right there! Your wonderful reactions. You..." he can't explain it. How is he to summarize everything that makes you you?

A deadpan look is shot at him. Of course you react with your face, isn't that communication? Your hands move to hug at the fabric of his robe, trying to turn his attention back to what you're saying, rather than how you look. Or whatever is on his mind - you didn't bother to learn.

The action works, Jinshi blinking a few times as he sits up slightly. His eyes focus on yours, waiting to decipher your actions. Noticing his obedient change, focusing entirely on you now, you take that as your queue to communicate. So you try.

A neatly manicured finger points to your chest, tapping against the fabric twice. You. Following, you drag both hands up in fists before crossing your forearms. An X..? The action is followed by your hands creating a heart shape, finished by the same pointer finger tapping Jinshi's chest. Heart... Me. Jinshi thinks. You don't heart him. Love? You don't love him? He speaks it out loud, asking if he understood you correctly.

You shake your head, face scrunching up to showcase your disproval. Once again, your arms cross in the shape of an X. So it's not don't, he now knows. "Don't... No...? Maybe unsure? Are you unsure if you love me?"

A smile cracks on your lips, biting one briefly to try and keep it from growing wider. You shake your head - as amusing as his guesses were, they're terribly wrong. This time repeating all the steps, you make the same actions. Point to you, make an X, make a heart, point to Jinshi. Of course, he still seems lost, gazing at you with focused concentration. His eyebrows are knitted together as he tries to unravel your meaning.

For a small moment, your lips part in a mousey sigh. While it's been a few months now since you lost your voice, you still haven't kicked the muscle memory of opening your mouth to respond - or react, in this case.

You hold up your left palm flatly, right hand miming holding a brush as you trace imaginary circles with it. Right away Jinshi knew you were asking for something to write with. He's quick to move. While he doesn't want to be away from you, his hands leave your cheeks so the purple haired man can quickly get you what you ask for - whatever you ask for.

Gently dipping the brush in ink, Jinshi watches you paint characters so delicately onto the paper. You're a bit anxious doing so, knowing how expensive the material is, but knowing you'd just feel worse making him get up again to find something new. That's alright, you'll just write small.

The characters read I can't love you.

He frowns. "Can't... the X," Jinshi makes the symbol with his arms, "meant can't?"

You nod quickly, gently settling the brush down over the paper. Once again, you point to yourself, hold up an X, make a heart, then point to Jinshi.

"You can't love me. You can't love me. But... you can." The eunuch was confused. You can, so easily. He's trying so hard. "Please?" Jinshi whispers.

If you could chuckle - could laugh, you would, but you only pout once again. Picking up the brush, the pads of your fingers gently move down the soft paper. It wasn't the first time you've used it, but so freely felt wrong. Either way, you brushed out more characters.

I'm the emperor's

I'm a concubine

I can't—

Jinshi pouts as well, his hand gently resting over yours to stop the brush work. "You can't love me," he finishes for you. Frowning, you nod.

"He has a habit of giving up lower ranked concubines to those of merit."

You smirk. What merit has Jinshi earned? A mere rear palace eunuch. One with prestige, sure, but not enough to be rewarded with a flower of the emperor. None of this is spoken, of course, but Jinshi easily catches the mirth in your eyes.

Clicking his tongue, his pout deepens. "Teasing me without a voice... only one as perfect as you could accomplish such a feat."

The smirk pulls into a grin, feeling pride at his understanding.

"But, if I may be so bold, I'm sure the emperor will gift you to me. You're mine, after all - I've claimed you."

An eyebrow cocks at his haughty tone, unimpressed and doubtful. The intention gets across as Jinshi huffs, reaching over to pinch your cheek. "Don't be so cruel. You are, you know! And the emperor will agree. He doesn't visit you, anyway."

Insult to injury, but you suppose he's right. You had arrived to the inner court around 5 months ago, and just before your time to finally meet the emperor had arrived nearly 2 months after, you lost your voice. Hearing the news, he decided to meet with someone else while you recovered - something that never happened.

"I hadn't meant anything by that. But it's a good thing now, right? You get to be mine instead. No one else gets to traverse your perfect mind."

You click your tongue this time, the sound one of few you can still make with your mouth. For a eunuch, Jinshi had quite the balls on him. Annoying.

The purple haired man grins at the newly painted characters on the page, unable to hide his excitement at your writing. "Yes! And I'll only be worse once you're finally my spouse."

Unable to keep it at bay, a soft smile appears on your lips. His spouse, huh? Eunuch or otherwise, spending your life by his side sounds very lovely.

Jinshi grabs your hands, pulling them against his chest as he leans in toward you. With a kiss to your forehead, he whispers, "Perfect. You're mine and you're perfect."

[mcgrillzdumpinc]

I'll likely make a more in depth post once I've read through all the translated light novels but

Hello Apothecary Diaries fans I am in volume 8 and would like to reassure you about the choking scene from volume 5

Spoilers under the cut!

Okay so there's a scene at the end of volume 5 (the manga is not there yet) that many have interpreted as sexual assault. For the sake of those sensitive to such topics, I'm going to give a light on spoilers version of the scene and then an in depth analysis. Personally, I do not view the scene as sexual assault, but it is very forceful and carries A LOT of very sad subtext. You'll understand what I'm getting at in the more depth part.

So, the general gist of the choking scene.

MaoMao and Jinshi are in the garden to escape a banquet. They talk for a bit about a very scary incident that occurred that day (thankfully nobody was killed) and share casual conversation. Then Jinshi brings up that they're at this banquet to find him a wife. I won't spoil the specifics, but fyi MaoMao has been wearing an accessory this whole time that loudly announces (to everyone except herself, of course) that She's The Favorite™. Despite how obvious Jinshi has been with his intentions, including holding her hand and combing his other fingers through her hair while mentioning the whole wife thing, MaoMao evades him while thinking "I'm not capable of love". So, she tries to dodge him by offering up another woman. This is what causes Jinshi to snap and choke her, as well as hold one of her arms behind her back to stop her from fighting back.

He doesn't kill her. As far as damage to her throat, the text doesn't indicate any. He then leans his weight on her. MaoMao then remembers how she was taught sex techniques against her will be the Verdigris House women & decides to use those techniques against Jinshi. She then promptly leaves and Jinshi feels like the most pathetic man in world.

The two don't interact beyond official matters until towards the end of volume 6. Jinshi brings more rare medicine in lieu of an apology. The two talk around the wife situation again and MaoMao gets tickled. It isn't until volume 7 that they have an actual conversation breakthrough.

That's my light on spoilers version of the events. Now I'll give a more in depth version, that's honestly a good chunk of my own meta-analysis around the events of volume 5.

Honestly, volume 5 is full of really interesting scenes regarding Jinshi and MaoMao. This is the first volume after Jinshi has been forced back into Imperial Brother status, yet the first thing I noticed that actually changed between JinMao is how MaoMao takes initiative with him now. As soon as she learns an insect plague might be on the horizon, she dives into unprompted research and delivers her findings to Jinshi. She's no longer working at the palace or for Jinshi, but she still takes on the extra burden. She also takes initiative to get Jinshi some extra sleep (though she misinterprets his desire to not sleep alone). And later in the novel, when they're in the paper makers' village, MaoMao acts so cute when reapplying Jinshi's burn scar makeup. I'll let screenshots talk for me.

Like man. She's so cute. And I wonder, if these two didn't have to deal with social standing and imperial drama, would we get way more of them just being cute and companionable? If MaoMao wasn't an unwitting member of the Who Wants To Be An Imperial Princess race, would her feelings for Jinshi have grown without so much pushing and urgency on his end?

But I digress. I think a lot of volume 5, especially once they reach their travel destination, is MaoMao trying her best to keep her blinders on even though she is in the thick of imperial drama. She's especially desperate with regards to the blazingly obvious fact that a certain someone of very high status is in love with her. I think the end of chapter 6 does a very good job of driving home one of the major reasons why MaoMao is reluctant to trust Jinshi's feelings.

To add fuel onto this unfortunate fire is that MaoMao, as an unmarried courtesan's daughter, was attacked as an infant by her mother, sought after by fucking Lakan of all people, ignored while crying as a baby, and forcibly taught sex (to the point of tears!). She also had to cover for Luomen's own eccentricities, specifically ensuring they had enough money to feed themselves. MaoMao, to put it shortly, has been taught not to believe she can attain anything beyond her very simple life of being a lowly apothecary.

And then here's Jinshi who, as a prince, has been forced to grow up fast & have all his favorite things taken away from him. I think MaoMao is the first time he ever wanted a person. He is, for lack of a better word, obsessed with her. I think a lot of his pushiness & tendency to be clingy with her is him desperately trying to make sure he doesn't lose her. If he makes her his wife, then, well, she can't leave.

And I think the choking scene is him finally at his breaking point. At this point, he has lavished her with gifts, been very forward sexually with her twice, and given her a new hairpin that is essentially this story's version of a promise ring. It's MaoMao's repression/reluctance vs. Jinshi's desperation and so far she's winning.

But then she pushes him past his breaking point and he takes physical action against her. MaoMao responds by performing an unspecified sexual act on him.

So why don't I personally take this scene as sexual assault?

Mainly because I think the people actually guilty of sexual assault her are the Verdigris House women who forced MaoMao to learn sex.

As far as I understand it, whether MaoMao can actually say no to Jinshi is left up to interpretation. If we're talking on social status terms, she can't say no. But if you look at Jinshi's overall treatment of her, both before and after this scene, I very much think MaoMao can say no and instead chooses to defuse the situation.

Because what isn't for interpretation, however, is MaoMao's abysmal impression of what love and sex can actually be for her. So she defuses a situation by using sex, something she herself doesn't like, and doesn't allow Jinshi to reciprocate, which leaves him feeling terrible, too.

I want to be clear. I do think Jinshi is in the wrong for physically attacking MaoMao. But the sexual portion of the scene, at least to me, falls squarely on the shoulders of MaoMao's fucked up backstory.

Anyway, I think I've typed for long enough. I am using the official translations of the light novel for this analysis, so if any fans have access to alternate translations or WN only knowledge that throw my analysis in the trash bin, please let me know (fyi puedo leer el español).

[nerdpiggy]

apothecary diaries tickles me so much. maomao and jinshi's relationship makes me cackle

[bearfully]

A non-exhaustive list of moments in the Apothecary Diaries light novels that have made me lose my mind.

Spoilers up to volume 6 under the cut. For reference, the anime is on volume 2, and the manga is on volume 4.

Jinshi biting the fuck out Maomao's neck for no good reason??? Possessive dog behaviour.

Jinshi making a big deal about how he's disgusted by the thought of eating grasshoppers, and then eating some in the very same chapter just because Maomao spoonfed them to him (as a joke that she didn't expect to pay off). All in full-view of multiple witnesses.

Maomao betting herself in a drinking contest for 300 silver and Jinshi leaning over to whisper in her ear that she's a good deal (and Maomao's subsequent internal monologue about how Jinshi needs to learn how to haggle because she isn't worth that much). Sir, you've already bought her once.

Maomao's cousin/step-brother asking her if she'd ask Jinshi to impregnate her

This entire passage:

“Do you know why the Emperor’s younger brother specifically chose to bring you here?”

“I assume because I’m so useful.”

Rikuson placed one of his hands on Maomao’s hip and held her hand with the other—she saw that this was the western style, but it would have been unthinkable in the capital. Strange that it felt so ordinary here. Funny, what the right time and place could do. “True enough. But I think you could stand to have a slightly clearer sense of your own value,” Rikuson said, carefully maintaining his polite mode of speech. “It demonstrates the power of the La name at court.”

“I’m a base apothecary born in the pleasure district,” Maomao said bluntly. She didn’t know how much Rikuson knew, and she didn’t care. As far as she was concerned, this was the truth.

“That’s well and good. Just one thing, though.” Rikuson smiled again and glanced to the side, in the direction of the crowd. The beautiful man at the center of it was looking directly at them. “Please remember that you aren’t a disinterested third party. Never forget the import of what you wear on your head.”

Does he mean the hair stick? she thought, but Rikuson was already taking her hand; he brought her fingers slowly to his lips and kissed them.

Jinshi STRANGLING Maomao before telling her he wants to marry her. Freak4freak.

Also Maomao's panic response to this entire situation apparently being to kiss the man and run

Jinshi bribing and tickling Maomao to get her to marry him??? I wasn't expecting the light novels to touch on marriage (or romance at all aside from Jinshi's massive crush) so that fact that he just comes out and begs Maomao to marry him is insane. Ultimate sad little meow meow of a man.

[blazingorchid]

WHAT IS UR FAVORITE:

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AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO MENTION

HELLO ANON! Can I just say it tickles me pink to see this 😭

It is soooo hard to pick favorites since I love so much stuff 😭 but I’m gonna try!

Novel: a really old series, but I recently reread the first collection again—Night World! Same Author as Vampire Diaries I believe.

Show: Bridgerton! I am so stoked for season three! I’m turning into a feral animal at all the promos that have been released lately!

Movie: Crazy Rich Asians comes to mind first, but I also love an older movie called Flipped! Also, In The Heights when thinking about musicals ✨

Manga: Fruits Basket was my first and will always have a very special place in my heart, and Ouran High School Host Club ✨ (the anime is one of my favs too but the manga goes so much more in depth of their characters)

—Anime: One Piece! Recently, I have fallen in love with Apothecary Diaries

Fanfics: Gosh, you’re asking someone who has been reading them for over a decade. I have a lot of favorites all across fandoms- but two of my most recent:

Both authors are amazing and have other fics that I’m nuts about!

Food: Steak! 🤣

Color: Pink and Red!

Anything else: Uummmm I am so bad about talking about myself 😅 but this was so fun! Thank you!

[cjrae]

This is absolutely true to my experience and I'm coming up on my 15th wedding anniversary. It's important to remember, in fiction, that kissing has been a visual shorthand for Requited Love, but sometimes, artists will use it to subvert your expectations.

For an example, please see the Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 5 epilogue. The kiss contained there is part of an absolutely pivotal scene - but it is not romantic. It is the climax of a knock down, drag out fight and is used to hurt Jinshi when he realizes that for Maomao it is not a declaration of feeling, but instead showcases an utter LACK of intimacy.

That kiss is used to devastating effect to subvert not only the characters' expectations, but the audience. Our two protagonists are almost broken apart by that fight and it takes an entire book for them to come back together enough to even begin rebuilding their relationship on the foundation of the old one.

I can literally tick off at least half of that above list and apply it to Jinshi and Maomao, both before and after Volume 5. There's nothing wrong with wanting The Kiss or it's more grown-up cousin, The Consummation (it's a trope for a reason!), but it's fun to pay attention to the smaller behaviors that tell you how the characters are feeling long before they may be able to verbalize or show it.

playful banter, ribbing, insults/backhanded compliments

recognising ticks/tells and how to respond (e.g. specific throat clear before they speak)

tolerating inconsequential bad habits (e.g. puts dishes beside dishwasher, not in it)

listening to the same stories multiple times as if they were new

developing similar quirks (e.g. particular laugh)

inside jokes

mock fighting, mini competitions

blatant honesty, humble apologies, knowing when to drop an argument

saying nothing/talking for hours

tending to illness or injuries

pokes, pet/pats, head/shoulder bumps, bites, tickles, cuddling, long gazes, stroking hair

grooming, restraighten clothing, touch up hair, brush off crumbs

singing and dancing together

understanding your partner’s hurt rather than just apologising

trust and respect

knowing how to cheer the other up, how to piss them off, humour them

reassurance (e.g. I’m here to talk, you’re doing a great job, your insecurities don’t define you)

associating sights, smells, touches, songs, phrasing, etc with them (e.g. “I saw a pigeon today and thought ‘is this my partner?’”

hating dumb things they do, but finding them hard to live without and secretly loving them

compromising, sacrificing, reciprocation

When writing couples, I like to use the Kiss Rule:

If they have to kiss for you to know they’re in love, you’re not writing a romance right.

[allnightstay]

♡ Welcome to my little bag of interests ♡

♡ This is, dare I say it, a tickle blog ♡

♡ I have a few fandoms I'm currently watching ♡

Current Fandoms:

Kaiju No 8, Apothecary Diaries, Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family, Love is War, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, One Piece, Fruits Basket, Naruto, Death Note, Inuyasha, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Dan Da Dan, Attack on Titan, Yu-Gi-Oh, and more I probably forgot to add at the moment

♡ Please do not message me anything naughty or send me asks about my personal information. I do not roleplay. ♡

All Fics Below 👇🏻

TickleTober List!

#AugTickleTober2024

🎃 Day 1 - Anticipation: Ler Jinshi x Lee Maomao

👻 Day 2 - Chase: Ler Nezuko x Lee Tanjiro

🔪 Day 3 - Prank: Ler Kakashi x Lee Naruto

🕷️ Day 4 - Hide and Seek: Ler Frieren x Lee Stark & Fern

🎃 Day 5 - Boo!: Ler Bakugo x Lee Deku

👻 Day 6 - Cuddles: Ler Bangchan x Lee Reader

🔪 Day 7 - Fidget: Ler Miyuki x Lee Kaguya

🕷️ Day 8 - Nuzzles: Ler Monster x Lee Jinwoo

🎃 Day 9 - Wake Up: Ler Fern x Lee Frieren

👻 Day 10 - Spidering: Ler Sanji x Lee Zoro

🔪 Day 11 - Hug: Ler Lee Know x Lee Han Jisung

🕷️ Day 12 - Mischief: Ler Loki x Lee Reader

🎃 Day 13 - Win: Ler All Might x Lee Deku

👻 Day 14 - Lose: Ler Yuji, Megumi x Lee Nobara

🔪 Day 15 - "Are you ticklish?": Ler Gojo x Lee Megumi

🕷️ Day 16 - Cackle: Ler Ryuk x Lee Light Yagami

🎃 Day 17 - Raspberry: Ler Geto x Lee Reader

👻 Day 18 - Tickle Fight: Lee/Ler Naruto/Sasuke

🔪 Day 19 - Secret: Ler Orochimaru x Lee Kabuto

🕷️ Day 20 - Tease: Ler Orochimaru x Lee Kabuto

🎃 Day 21 - Costume: Ler Bang Chan x Lee Changbin

👻 Day 22 - Role Reversal: Ler Eren x Lee Levi

🔪 Day 23 - Sweet: Ler Lyla x Lee Miguel O'Hara

🕷️ Day 24 - Joke: Ler Gojo x Lee Geto

🎃 Day 25 - New Discovery: Ler Deku x Lee Todoroki

👻 Day 26 - Ticklish Kiss: Ler Yor x Lee Loid

🔪 Day 27 - Nonhuman Parts: Skipped bc I literally couldn't think of anything

🕷️ Day 28 - Spooked: Lee Okarun x Ler Momo

~ Tickle Writings ~

Jujutsu Kaisen

Ler Gojo x Lee Yuji

Ler Megumi & Itadori x Lee Nobara

Ler Gojo x Lee Megumi

Ler Geto x Lee Reader

Ler Gojo x Lee Geto

Death Note

(1) Ler Ryuk x Lee Light

(2) Ler Ryuk x Lee Light

Spy x Family

Ler Yor x Lee Loid

One Piece

Ler Sanji x Lee Zoro

Apothecary Diaries

Ler Jinshi x Lee Maomao

Demon Slayer

Ler Nezuko x Lee Tanjiro

Attack on Titan

Ler Eren x Lee Levi

Solo Leveling

Ler Monster x Lee Jinwoo

Naruto Shippuden

Ler Kakashi x Lee Naruto

Lee/Ler Naruto x Lee/Ler Sasuke

(1) Ler Orochimaru x Lee Kabuto

(2) Ler Orochimaru x Lee Kabuto

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

(3) Ler Orochimaru x Lee Kabuto

Dan Da Dan

Lee Okarun x Ler Momo

Ler Frieren x Lee Stark & Fern

Ler Fern x Lee Frieren

My Hero Academia

Ler Bakugo x Lee Deku

Ler All Might x Lee Deku

Ler Deku x Lee Todoroki

Love is War

Ler Miyuki x Lee Kaguya

Stray Kids

Ler Bangchan x Lee Reader

Ler Lee Know x Lee Han Jisung

Ler Bangchan x Lee Changbin

Marvel Stuffs

(1) Ler Loki x Lee Reader

(2) Ler Loki x Lee Reader

Ler Lyla x Lee Miguel O'Hara

[otomiyaa]

Day 23: Money

Jinshi x Maomao | Nim's Lovely Tickletober 

Word Count: 1.4K

Jinshi was shaking. No, no, no. Calm down. Don't panic. Too late, he was totally panicking and breathing heavily.

The knocks on his door startled him.

"C-c-come in."

As requested, Maomao entered and she bowed politely. "You called for me?"

Jinshi stared at her. She looked so casual after, after.... Jinshi shuddered as his mind went back to that moment earlier in the day. He was wondering what Maomao was up to in her free time lately so yes, he kind of followed her.

Staying behind, Jinshi ended up losing track, but he did go in the same direction as she did and looked around for her. That was when, from an abandoned shed, he could hear voices. Groans, and moans, mostly....

"Does it feel good?" That was Maomao's voice!!! More groans.

"Yes."

That was a man and he sounded so happy. Jinshi was already losing it. It didn't take long before the door opened and first the man came out: Lihaku. Jinshi stared in disgust as he walked away. Then Maomao came out. She looked all smug and proud while she admired the money in her hand. She then merrily pranced away.

Jinshi couldn't believe what he witnessed. Maomao was earning extra money doing things.... things like that? In places like that? WITH MEN LIKE THAT?

Not sure what to do with this new information, Jinshi had decided to summon her to his room to try and subtly discuss the matter. If Maomao was having money problems, she should come to him. Not do some nasty business with other men. He knew she was raised in such an environment, but this was still really shocking for a person like Maomao.

"I j-just wanted to talk. Are you doing well?" Jinshi asked, trying not to sound as if he was dying inside.

Maomao nodded. "I am doing well."

"H-how about financially? Is there anything... you need?"

Maomao made a face. "I need a lot of things. But not particularly." Another painful arrow through Jinshi's heart. Yes, loving poison and experimenting with all sort of things wasn't the cheapest hobby and she was drooling over any valuable ingredient at the market, he knew that.

But if she didn't need anything in particular, was she even just randomly doing this side hustle for like, no important reason at all?

Jinshi had no choice but to cut to the chase, especially when Maomao asked first: "Why do you ask? Are you raising my salary?"

That smug little girl. Jinshi glared at her and finally said the truth. "Because I saw you this afternoon."

Her expression changed. She looked surprised. "Oh." She then looked smug again!

"It can't be helped. My skills are so good, people want to buy a session all the time. And I can use the extra money."

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!! Jinshi almost stumbled as he rushed forward and he grabbed her shoulders.

"Y-you can't do things like that!!!" he screamed. Maomao looked unfazed.

"Why not?"

"B-b-b-because......! It's....!" Jinshi was almost fainting. Maomao looked like nothing was wrong at all.

"I don't see the problem. If I compare my work to any doctor's, I have the right to get paid for my services."

"You...!!! Eh? D-doctor?" Jinshi asked when he realized what she was saying.

"My massages really improve the physical health." Maomao nodded proudly. Massages. Jinshi sank through his knees and breathed out. They were just massages. He clenched Maomao's robes to not fall over completely and he sighed.

"M-massages. So... You're that good at them, hm?" he asked tiredly. Maomao nodded again.

"Do you want to try it?"

Jinshi blinked and slowly looked up. Was she offering him a massage now? He tried hard not to appear too perverted when thinking that thought. He then slapped his own cheeks. No, no, it's not like that! Maomao has been selling these massages to other men. Surely he could get one too.

"I'll give it to you for free," Maomao said. Jinshi almost gasped. Special treatment!!! He nodded his head profusely.

"Yes," he said stiffly. Within the next moment, Jinshi sat down and Maomao stood behind him. Her small hands were working on his shoulders, and Jinshi started to question this whole massage thing again. It did feel kind of erotic... Then again, maybe that was just his own silly and problematic mind.

"Does it feel good?" she asked. Oh yes definitely. Jinshi couldn't even answer. Maomao's fingers traveled more to the side, her thumbs rubbing him firmly in circles and making his muscles tingle. But then...

"Yah!" Jinshi jolted, and Maomao paused.

"Does it hurt? Your muscles sure are delicate," she commented.

"No! No it doesn't," Jinshi said. It didn't hurt, but worse. It tickled.

"Alright then." Maomao continued and Jinshi started to try and control his breathing. As if it wasn't already bad enough (in a good way) that Maomao was voluntarily touching him, her massage started to tickle, and the more Jinshi tried to convince himself it didn't, the more ticklish it became.

"H-hehehe.... mhmhmhm....." To his horror, Jinshi realized giggles were escaping his lips, and he quickly covered his mouth.

He hoped she didn't hear that embarrassing noise.

Maomao hummed. "Oh... If you're the sensitive kind of person, my massage can indeed tickle," she said. SHE TOTALLY HEARD IT.

Jinshi started to shake a little, holding back his laughter. "It d-doesn't t-ti-tihihickle."

The ticklish sensations only worsened though and he started to think she was doing it on purpose now.

"It doesn't?"

Jinshi continued to giggle and he squirmed, especially when her fingers lowered to his lower back, and he arched his back suddenly and gasped.

"W-wahahait!" he laughed. Maomao giggled as well.

"I'm amazed. I never had such a ticklish client before." Jinshi couldn't help but see it as both an insult and compliment. He was embarrassed that he seemed to be the only man giggling like a child because of her massage. But Maomao also took her precious time to make Jinshi laugh. It tickled a lot, but he also kind of didn't want her to stop...

"Y-y-you're dohohoing it ohohon purpohose ehehe!" Jinshi had fallen on his side now and giggled while Maomao continued to tickle him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. You are the one who is too ticklish for my massage."

She kneaded his lower sides and back, and Jinshi had never felt such a pleasant and ticklish sensation before. "Wahahah!"

"Do you want me to stop?"

Jinshi shook his head. "I cahahan tahahake it!"

Maomao laughed playfully. "We will see about that." The moment she aimed for his ribs, Jinshi's suspicions were confirmed that this girl had the actual nerve to tickle him on purpose.

"Nohoho! Not thahahat!" Jinshi howled.

"It's all part of the massage," Maomao lied. She made him laugh more than Jinshi had in the past... years. In his whole lifetime maybe. Those who would bathe and care for him knew how sensitive he could be and would avoid it whenever Jinshi's ticklishness threatened to make him laugh.

But Maomao here, she didn't hold back and exploited it. Surely it was rude and shameless, but Jinshi couldn't help but enjoy it. The feeling, the attention, and the uncontrollable laughter.

When Maomao finally stopped, he was breathing heavily and looking up at her smug face.

"Did that feel good?" she asked. Jinshi was still catching his breath. He knew she was teasing him, but... He wondered how he could get her to do this again to him without appearing like a crazy pervert.

"Y-yes. I admit it tickles, but it's a good massage," he sighed. He then added: "If I pay you money next time... Would you do that again?"

Maomao looked suprised to hear this answer. "Are you sure?"

Jinshi blushed and nodded. "It d-does improve my phyiscal health, as you said..." Jinshi said shyly. He wasn't going to say this out loud, but he was convinced that laughter was definitely a good medicine too, especially after a bad day.

"I'll pay you extra..." he said.

Maomao first gaped at him. She then smiled radiantly. "Hehe! Well, of course!"

Jinshi knew it would be weird to give her money for extra 'services' like that. But at least it was less weird to treat it like a paid massage service, rather than just ask her to tickle him again and again.

And besides, if this would keep Maomao off the streets and her precious hands off any other man's body... yes, Jinshi would pay her the double amount and would take her tickle attacks as a well-earned bonus.

[ao3feed-matchablossom]

Tickletober 2024 Collection

by otomiyatickles Tickletober 2024 on tumblr; collection of 31 tickle drabbles. "Lovely Tickletober" prompt list by @lovelynim. Words: 25399, Chapters: 31/31, Language: English Fandoms: Blue Lock (Anime), ダンジョン飯 | Dungeon Meshi | Delicious in Dungeon, 怪獣８号 | Kaiju No. 8 (Anime), SPY x FAMILY (Anime), Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime), Haikyuu!!, Shall We Date?: Obey Me! (Video Game), 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game), 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい | Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! (Anime), Red White & Royal Blue (2023), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga, My Adventures with Superman (Cartoon), 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game), Nana (Anime & Manga), 黄昏アウトフォーカス | Tasogare Out Focus (Anime), Lost (TV 2004), 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga), 堀さんと宮村くん | Hori-san to Miyamura-kun | Horimiya (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 恋与深空 | Love and Deepspace (Video Game), Deadpool (Movieverse), SK8 the Infinity (Anime), 葬送のフリーレン | Sousou no Frieren | Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Anime), ヲタクに恋は難しい | Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii | Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku (Anime) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M, F/F, F/M, Gen Relationships: Chigiri Hyouma/Kunigami Rensuke, Senshi/Chilchuck Tims, Hibino Kafka/Hoshina Soushirou, Loid Forger | Twilight/Yor Briar Forger | Thorn Princess, Kuroo Tetsurou/Tsukishima Kei, Beelzebub/Solomon (Makai Ouji), Argenti/Boothill (Honkai: Star Rail), Adachi Kiyoshi/Kurosawa Yuichi, Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Edward Elric/Winry Rockbell, Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Alhaitham/Kaveh (Genshin Impact), Komatsu Nana | Hachi/Oosaki Nana, Otomo Hisashi/Tsuchiya Mao, James "Sawyer" Ford/Jack Shephard, Kong | Aether/Xiao | Alatus (Genshin Impact), Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Gepard/Sampo (Honkai: Star Rail), Lyney/Wriothesley (Genshin Impact), Caelus/Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail), Hori Kyouko/Miyamura Izumi, Jinshi/Maomao (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), Qin Che | Sylus/You, Piotr Rasputin/Wade Wilson, Aventurine/Dr. Ratio (Honkai: Star Rail), Nanjo Kojiro | Joe/Sakurayashiki Kaoru | Cherry Blossom, Takeda Ittetsu/Ukai Keishin, Jiaoqiu/Moze (Honkai: Star Rail), Frieren/Himmel (Frieren), Momose Narumi/Nifuji Hirotaka Additional Tags: Tickling source https://archiveofourown.org/works/60213430

[ao3feed-twiyor]

Tickletober 2024 Collection

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/0cT1stI by otomiyatickles Tickletober 2024 on tumblr; collection of 31 tickle drabbles. "Lovely Tickletober" prompt list by @lovelynim. Words: 24032, Chapters: 29/31, Language: English Fandoms: Blue Lock (Anime), ダンジョン飯 | Dungeon Meshi | Delicious in Dungeon, 怪獣８号 | Kaiju No. 8 (Anime), SPY x FAMILY (Anime), Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime), Haikyuu!!, Shall We Date?: Obey Me! (Video Game), 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game), 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい | Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! (Anime), Red White & Royal Blue (2023), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga, My Adventures with Superman (Cartoon), 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game), Nana (Anime & Manga), 黄昏アウトフォーカス | Tasogare Out Focus (Anime), Lost (TV 2004), 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga), 堀さんと宮村くん | Hori-san to Miyamura-kun | Horimiya (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 恋与深空 | Love and Deepspace (Video Game), Deadpool (Movieverse), SK8 the Infinity (Anime) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M, F/F, F/M, Gen Relationships: Chigiri Hyouma/Kunigami Rensuke, Senshi/Chilchuck Tims, Hibino Kafka/Hoshina Soushirou, Loid Forger | Twilight/Yor Briar Forger | Thorn Princess, Kuroo Tetsurou/Tsukishima Kei, Beelzebub/Solomon (Makai Ouji), Argenti/Boothill (Honkai: Star Rail), Adachi Kiyoshi/Kurosawa Yuichi, Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Edward Elric/Winry Rockbell, Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Alhaitham/Kaveh (Genshin Impact), Komatsu Nana | Hachi/Oosaki Nana, Otomo Hisashi/Tsuchiya Mao, James "Sawyer" Ford/Jack Shephard, Kong | Aether/Xiao | Alatus (Genshin Impact), Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Gepard/Sampo (Honkai: Star Rail), Lyney/Wriothesley (Genshin Impact), Caelus/Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail), Hori Kyouko/Miyamura Izumi, Jinshi/Maomao (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), Qin Che | Sylus/You, Piotr Rasputin/Wade Wilson, Aventurine/Dr. Ratio (Honkai: Star Rail), Nanjo Kojiro | Joe/Sakurayashiki Kaoru | Cherry Blossom Additional Tags: Tickling read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/0cT1stI

[eternally-flustered-lee]

My favorite tease is anything that makes me feel silly and helpless. Anything from "tickle tickle tickle" to wiggling fingers in front of a death spot.

Teases are the easiest way to fluster me 100% I'm so easily flustered.

I don't like coffee or tea but I take my hot chocolate with dark chocolate and no whipped cream.

I don't know what my favorite thing about tickling is. I think the lack of control without the threat of anything bad happening.

Ahhhhh no i'm too shy for that right now.

I blush, the more I'm teased the more I blush, it's a vicious cycle

I'm not sure how to describe my laugh. My usual ler describes it as squeaky and cute but I have no idea It really depends on where I'm tickled.

I'm watching Jujutsu Kaisen right now, as well as Apothecary Diaries, NCIS and a few others. I mostly watch anime but I mean that in the most normal person way possible.

I really like to do journal decorating with scrapbook supplies. Really calming.

Any tickles!

Tickles will wake me up, but tickle me long enough and I'll take a nap.

I'm not really a ler but I think Toge Inumaki from JJK would be fun to tickle (especially for the revenge that could take place after)

Inumaki from JJK, Jinshi from Apothecary Diaries, and I'm not sure about another one.

I go by Risa on here if that counts. Otherwise some teasy tickle related nickname will do just fine!

Ears! My ears are such an intense giggle spot but no one thinks to exploit them. And the palms of hands!

I don't like tummy tickles, but that's just because I'm not ticklish there.

For pretty much solely nostalgic reasons, the host by Stephanie Meyer

Both absolutely affect me but soft tickles fluster me a lot more.

I accidentally kicked my flip flop across the room when I got tickled one time. I kicked out of surprise and it went flying

One time, my main ler just laid on my arms and just spent the next thirty minutes alternating between visually and verbally teasing me, wiggling her fingers in front of my underarms (death spot) and actually tickling me. I died of embarrassment

I would love to travel to Ireland!

Against my will, All Star by Smashmouth

I love to fluster my main ler!

The one who flusters me would also be my main ler

it would be a Gaussian blur of bright colors

Bee’s Tickle Asks 🍯

I see a lot of tickle ask lists going around and I thought I would make my own! There are some tickle related questions and non tickle related ones, get to know your community!

Lees: What’s your favorite tease, Lers: What’s your favorite way to tease a lee?

Easiest way to fluster you?

How do you take your coffee? If you’re a tea person, how do you like your tea?

What’s your favorite thing about tickling?

Tag 3 people you’d like to know better!

Do you blush? (You’re adorable either way :3)

What does your laugh sound like?

What show/series are you watching right now?

What’s your favorite way to wind down?

Cuddly tickles or tickles sitting up/pinned?

Tickles to wind down or tickles to wake up?

Name 3 fictional lees you’d love to wreck

Name 3 fictional lers you’d like to be wrecked by!

Do you like nicknames? If so, which one is your favorite to be called?

What’s a spot that you wish got more attention?

Are there any spots you don’t like?

Favorite book?

Do soft or rough tickles affect you more?

What’s the silliest thing you’ve said/done because someone tickled you?

A tickle memory!

A place you’d love to travel to someday

A song that’s been stuck in your head recently

Someone you like to fluster!

Someone that flusters you!

If you could describe tickles as a color, what would it be?

feel free to send some of these in!

[sabraeal]

Shidan/Garrack and a love potion gone wrong

The Kit-Cat clock up on the wall’s been acting up again.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-purr-purr-tock. No wonder it’s been running slow.

Shidan tries not to notice – it just encourages the thing – but even with the pneumatic engraver going, even with the Quiet-Me he’s carved into the crown molding of the office, it’s obvious.

He lets out a huff. This is what you get with antiques: attitude.

“That’s what you get for letting mom practice spellwork on whatever she could get her hands on,” pipes a voice from behind him, back where there’s a cluster of what Yuzuri calls alternative seating options and Shidan calls expensive trash bags.

He doesn’t turn – Don’t-See-Mes are tricky things, and he’s just managed to get it anchored to the monogram; the last thing he needs is for the damn thing to get ideas and start turning the whole watch invisible as he’s working on it – but he does say, “That’s what I get for your grandmother letting her spell whatever she wants. God know why she thought a clock needed an opinion.”

“Knowing Mom? Probably so she could argue with it.”

That’s true, but Shidan knows better than to say. If there’s one way to make sure something will make its way to Crystal, it’s to tell Kirito right before he goes home. Won’t take more than an hour for the texts to start, asking why he’d give the kid ammunition for one of their neighborhood-famous rows, or whose side he’s on.

Shidan’s of the firm opinion that if you’ve got the gift, and you’re still putting crystals on your electronics and magnets on your light switches, you should probably expect some push back from your magic-minded son. But that’s not really his business.

“I’ll fix it,” he grumbles instead, trying to ignore the dubious chirp from above him. He wasn’t the one that spelled it for an opinion. “Probably just needs to get wound up again.”

If the next tick sounds like a hiss instead, that’s not his problem either.

“Can’t you just get it counter-charmed?” Kirito asks, somewhere between thoughtful and petulant, like most kids his age. “It’s not like Mom’s much good. Not compared to you.”

He’s too old to let that puff up his ego any, but he does allow a grin where his nephew can’t see. “Maybe so, but she wasn’t dumb either. All her charms at that age repel my magic. Didn’t like me meddling in her education, I gather.”

Or her diary. But that’s not a story for this audience.

Yet.

The kid’s not content to let it drop, of course. “Why not take it somewhere else? It’s not like you’re the only enchanter in the city, and anyone’s gonna be better than Mom.”

“Maybe I like it.”

He doesn’t. Nostalgia’s for your own mistakes, and having to live with a clock that thinks it’s too good for little things like accuracy or telling time at all doesn’t tickle the soft memories of his childhood. But taking it elsewhere means taking it to someone older, someone who remembers him as a know-it-all teenager or a kid who would cry when a pretty shop assistant talked to him. The last thing he wants is a walk down memory lane as he fixes yet another of Crystal’s mistakes.

That’s the problem with this town: it’s too damn small.

“Seattle is not small,” Kiritochimes in. Shidan finally twists to look at him, flipped around on a bean bag chair so old Shidan’shalf-convinced at least one of the people in this room was conceived on it.“You’re just cantankerous.”

He glances at the pattern – arainbow paisley that saw better days when Free Love was a principal philosophy– and amends his estimate. Both the people in this room would have been named Beanif their mothers hadn’t been so viscerally into the mystical Far East during theirpregnancies.

“It’s a flood plain six hundredthousand people are collectively too stubborn to leave,” Shidan grouses,putting the engraving tip back to the metal. “It’s small. And the Marinersnever win anything. Also, who is teaching you that kind of language?”

“High school.”

Shidan shakes his head. “Shameful.”

“Would you prefer ‘asshole’?”

“Just don’t let your mother hearyou. Also,” Shidan twists his head to look at his nephew, “shouldn’t you bein school?”

Kirito scoffs. “It’s three o’clock,man. What do I attend, prison?”

He glances up at the clock, wincing.Damn, he’d been hoping he’d finish this Don’t-See-Me charm tonight. “Some kidsdo extracurriculars.”

“Bugging you is my extracurricular.”

If that isn’t the truth. “I don’thand out college credits.”

“Neither does JV soccer.” Kirito jerkshis head back toward the shop. “By the way, you got strangers.”

“Strangers?” Shidan stands upso fast he bangs his knees. “Damn! Next time lead with that!”

“Nah.”

If there’s a perk to all this, it’sthat there’s not a single caster in this town he doesn’t know.

It’s also, most of the time, hisbiggest problem, but he knows every single person that has legitimatebusiness with him, and who just decided to poke in while their tea was steepingat Tea Republik. Or, more likely, who was trying to find the dispensary threestreets over.

These three don’t look like they fitany of the above.

He’s used to getting young girls in here, ones that look like they got their fashion sense straight from The Craft, but these ones have on tank stops and see-through cover-ups, baring far too much smile to be any of his usual high school hopefuls.

“I love your headband,” one girlsays to Yuzuri, lifting the giant frame of her sunglasses. “Those are like, catears right?”

“So cute,” another chimes in.“I love the little pearls. Where did you get it?”

Lab accident and some air-tightglamour, courtesy of the Emerald City’s Mistress.

“H&M,” Yuzuri offers coolly.

“Oh my god.” A girl presses a handto her chest. “I love H&M. Those are where your shorts are from too,right? I can tell.”

Suzu, trapped up against a displayof verbena, sends him a look that he’s only seen in war movies, just before theplucky sidekick gets taken out by a bunker buster.

Oh, for pete’s sake.

Shidan strides up to the group, hismost customer-friendly smile propping up his mouth. Not that he uses it forreal customers, but – there’s something about this town that enjoys surliness,and he doesn’t want to suddenly make himself interesting. “May I helpyou ladies?”

“Totally,” one tells him cheerfully,sinking her hands into the pockets of her high-waisted shorts. “Do you selllove potions?”

His smile pulls thin. “I’m sorry,this is an apothecary. If you’re looking for Harry Potter merchandise, there’sa toy store just down the –”

“No, no.” She waves a hand with alaugh. “We’re not looking for kid stuff. The real deal.”

He breathes in, letting the air runacross the roof of his mouth, huffing it out the canals of his nose. It’s justthe soft hum of Yuzuri’s magic, mixed with herbs and the more static fervor ofSuzu’s that settles on his tongue.

“The dispensary is over on –”

“Listen, I talked to a goth girl.”The girl leans hard on the counter, focused. “I know this place is the realdeal. How much?”

Shidan lets his smile slip, lets hisface turn as stern and annoyed at he is. “We don’t sell trash here. Who toldyou we would?”

“We just figured,” another girl sayswith a shrug. “The ones that lady is selling are so expensive.”

“Competitive markets,” the third girl peeps,looking not sure at all about the turn in conversation. “It drives down the price.”

His teeth grind in his ears. That lady.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who is huckingsnake oil and contraband spellwork.

“Well, you won’t find any of thathere,” he grits out. “Make sure to spread the word.”

The girl rolls her eyes. “Fine.”

“Now, boss,” Suzu starts as the doorchimes closed behind the girls. “Don’t jump to any –”

“That lady,” he snaps. “Weknow exactly which lady in this city would try to sell high schoolers –”

“College kids,” Yuzuri corrects.“Come on, Shidan, they were wearing U-Dub swag.”

“The point stands!” he huffs,folding his arms across his chest. “There’s only one person who would –”

The chimes tinkle above the door,admitting another three patrons. These, he knows.

“Speak of the devil–” Yuzuri giveshim a glare –”‘s apprentices.”

“Yuki!” his own calls out with apointedly friendly wave. Shidan scowls, hunching over the counter. Fraternizingwith the enemy, that’s what this is. “Can we help you?”

Garrack’s apprentices are a mixedbunch; they’ve been in here before for this-or-that, the woman having nevergotten much better at managing her stores than she was when she trained underArluleon. He knows them by look if not by name: a sullen, dark-haired boythat’s always poking his sharp nose into the belladonna and verbena, far tooyoung to be so advanced in his studies; a girl – woman, Yuzuri wouldinsist, though the both of them would barely be old enough for graduate studiesif they weren’t neck-deep in this world – with hair so red it should be dyed,only there’s no dye that can get that sort of color, not with chemicals alone,and –

And the last one. He’s tall,dark-haired, ethnically ambiguous, and curiously hard to look directly at. There’s something about the air around him, the way it presses down,heavy, when a body gets too close, the way it snaps and spits when someone’smagic gets a little too friendly.

Nothuman, would be Shidan’s guess, but it’s rude to ask, and even worse tosay. Good way to end up a frog or a lamppost, throwing that sort of talk around.

The girl is the one the approaches. The boy peels off seconds from the door, bee-lining for where Suzu’s started restocking the verbena, but the man hugs toher like a shadow, the eerie gold of his eyes tracking over the shelves like he half expects an ambush.

Gosh, what do kids even get into these days?

She gives Yuzuri a smile when she hits the counter, exchanging polite how-are-yous, but it’shim her eyes are fixed to, focus never wavering.

“Can I help you?” he ventures when the conversation comes to an uneasy pause.

Her hair bobs brightly under the lights. “I’d like to make a commission.”

He blinks, and in the second of hesitation, her shadowsnaps, hand banding around her arm and pulling her into a low but clearlyintense personal conference.

“Just give ‘em a minute.” Yuzuri sighs, turning back to theshelves. “Obi hates anyone spending anything on him.”

The never quite finish; Shidan loses his patience first.

“What for?” he asks finally,interrupting a low argument from the man. It earns him a reproachful look he’d rather not be on this side of, but – he’s running a business, not couples’ counseling. Time is money.

“I need a Don’t-Look-Here.” Hermouth purses, thoughtful. “Or a See-Me-Not?”

“I don’t need to get hit by a car,”her shadow grumbles, “a glamour would do.”

“If you want a glamour, you shouldbe asking the Mistress for that.” Five years ago it would have pained him toadmit it, but there’s no use pretending he can weave light like she can. Notnow.

She winces. “Ah, we – we tried that.Apparently Obi’s magic isn’t…harmonious with Haki’s.”

His gaze cut towards the kid. Notexactly a surprise. “Ha.”

“She thought a charm would workbetter – or, some metalworking?” The girl offers him an embarrassed smile. “Shesaid there was no one better on this coast.”

Shidan puffs up at that, but he’snot in his twenties, to be swayed by a little flattery. “I can see what can bedone. For a price.”

Yuzuri huffs. “Shidan –”

The girl though, she just gets focused.“What were you thinking?”

“She would never!” Shirayuki gaspswhen he’s done. Her reaction is so over the top – hand pressed her her chest,mouth and eyes gaping – he’d think it’s fake, if he wasn’t so sure this girlwas incapable of a lie.

“That’s banned magic!” she explains,affronted. “Garrack would never.”

Behind her, Ryuu and Obi exchangelooks.

Shidan points. “I want to talk tothem.”

The apartment is the third floor ofa cramped craftsman, sandwiched between a 24-hour laundromat and a store thatsells vegan foods for either humans or pets, Shidan can’t tell. The steps creakas he tip-toes up the narrow stairs, having to duck under low-hanging wallsevery flight. It’s a contrary little pile; just likeGarrack Gazalt herself.

The ‘3′ hanging on her door iscrooked, missing a screw at the bottom, at the mercy of her guests andGarrack’s mood. When he knocks, it skitters another quarter inch to the right,and he uses the interminable time she takes to answer to straighten it. All itneeds is a ninety-nine cent trip to the hardware store and it’d be good as new,but –

The door swings open. The woman whostands there can nearly look him in the eye.

“Well, well,” Garrack drawls,leaning against the door. “Shidan Weise. What did I do now?”

As always, she leaves him scramblingfor an answer. “Love potion,” he manages, gritting his teeth when she grins.

“You better come in, then,” shetells him, turning her back. “This could take a while. Tea? I have a pot on.”

“Yes. Wait –” she always does this –“No, I’m here to tell you to stop –“

“–Sullying Arluleon’s name, being ashame to the profession, et cetera, et cetera.” The kettle whistles – she musthave spelled it hot, which is not the proper use of her gift – and hestrains to hear her over the banging in her kitchen. “You know that’s not hisreal name, right? It was Kevin. Also he’s been dead for ten years, but who iscounting.”

“He still commands –”

“A decent following despite thewhole being-dead thing, yes, I’m aware.” She sets a mug in front of him, chippedon the rim. “I’m not doing anything he wouldn’t, the sly old dog.”

“Love potions are prohibited by thecouncil,” he manages, finally, wishing he didn’t sound so – so pedantic.“If you’re caught selling one – to mundanes no less –”

“I’m not making love potions,Shidan,” she scoffs. “I’d never.”

“I had some girls in my shop thatthought otherwise.”

“My apprentices wanted to raisemoney for something, and a girl came in looking for something to make herboyfriend stop playing Call of Duty.” Garrack shrugs, her sweater slipping offher shoulder. It’s…distracting. “So we brewed some rose hips with an infusionof Come-Hither, and suddenly we’re making love potions.”

She levels him with a look thatmakes his heart pound, that makes his skin feel two sizes too tight. “It’s allin good fun, Shidan.”

“I don’t –” she shifts, frecklesvisible right where he’s sitting and – “you put something in my tea.”

“You were concerned,” she tells himsimply. “So I thought I’d give you a dose. Easy to control, isn’t it?”

That is…optimistic of her. “Yes. Ofcourse. Very.”

“Unless…” She slips fromher chair to the couch he’s currently trying to disappear into, mouth curled with amusement. It isn’t embarrassing enough to be – to be half hard just looking at her, oh no; she has to know too. “You’re havingsome reaction.”

Typical. he should have expected she’d try something like this.

“Is that –” she leans forward just enough to for his gaze to flirt with what might be beneath; he licks his lips – “isthat common?”

“Hmm. Yes.”

Her arm stretches along the back of the couch, the skin of her forearm electric against the thin material of his shirt. His throat makes a dull thunk when she crosses her legs, when her foot accidentally brushes along the seam of his trousers, making every hair stand up on his calf.

This is interminable. He’s in hell. It’s the only explanation.

“But,” she murmurs, so close he can see the freckles in her eyes, brown and gold against blue, “only when there’s an attraction already in place. Hence why it worked sowell on the boyfriend.”

“A-ahh…”

“And of course,” her eyelashes flutter, and he has a front row seat to when her gaze drops straight to his mouth, “when it’s served with intent.”

“Oh, Jesus,” he pants, grabbing ahandful of sweater and pulling. “Fuck it.”

Garrack grins against his mouth. “Finally.”

[otomiyaa]

Jinshi's Surprise

Jinshi x Maomao ft. Gaoshun

A/N: Happy birthday @ppystkposts, I think you're wonderful and wanted to write you something, so hopefully you'll enjoy this chaotic little thing^^ Have a lovely day!!

Summary: Jinshi has a surprise for Maomao, but things don't go as planned. (Also on AO3)

Word Count: 2.9K

Part 1. Jinshi POV.

Not here. Not here either. Jinshi was losing his mind. Where was she? This girl was avoiding him. That apothecary! The nerve!

"Master Jinshi. Please calm down."

"I am calm," Jinshi replied, but he indeed was not. "I just thought, you know. Maybe she got lost, or poisoned. Or abducted. One of those," Jinshi tried to reason calmly as he and Gaoshun headed back to his room.

It had been a while since he sent Gaoshun to summon Maomao for a special surprise.

"What exactly did you tell her?"

"What you told me to tell her. You have a surprise for her. She said she would be here soon."

Soon. Jinshi had always vaguely felt that Maomao respected Gaoshun even more than she respected him. A feeling he hated. But to think she would lie to Gaoshun's face too... Did she dislike Jinshi so much? To not even want this surprise from him?

His surprise stood ungifted on the table in his room. A foreign poisonous plant, she must like that.

He wanted to see the cute smirk on her face when he gave it to her. He wanted to hear her ramble about how extraordinary the gift was. He wanted her to ask him how he got it, and then listen to his casual explanation even though he put in quite some effort. He wanted her to show that rare genuine smile to him, with her eyes filled with love and joy...

Oof. He wanted so much. But she wasn't even coming when asked, and now Jinshi felt sad.

"If she doesn't want her surprise, maybe I should eat the plant and make her heal m-Hwah!" Jinshi yelped when Gaoshun poked his side.

"What! You wouldn't!" They just reached his room and Jinshi stumbled right in.

"We talked about it last time, Master Jinshi. Everytime you act like a child, I will treat you like one."

"I wahahasn't acting like a- hehehey no! Dohohon't!" Jinshi hurried towards his couch, with Gaoshun right after him, both his hands attacking his sides with the one thing that made Jinshi lose all control: tickling.

"That tihihickles! Nohoho!" Jinshi cackled, dancing and squirming around like a worm to avoid Gaoshun's determined fingers.

"I am aware it does. Maybe next time refrain from joking around about taking in poison," was Gaoshun's strict answer while he continued to tickle.

He was serious. Gaoshun would never go as far as tickling Jinshi as a joke. He seriously seemed eager to punish Jinshi for his behavior, so Jinshi laughed hysterically and tried to wriggle his way out with an apology.

"Ahahalright! I ahaham s-sorry! I won't- ahahah stohohop that! I wahahasn't- ehehe!"

Jinshi had collapsed on the couch and was squirming around. When he desperately clung to the backrest and tried to climb away from Gaoshun's prying fingers, he froze when he found a surprising presence kneeling right behind the couch. What.

"Hello, Master Jinshi."

The apothecary! Jinshi let out an unmanly shriek, and Gaoshun immediately stopped tickling him, gasping in shock as well.

"W-wha- Xiaomao?"

Maomao got up instantly and wiped the non-existent dust off her clothes - just to be clear, Jinshi's room was perfectly clean.

"W-w-what are you doing here?!" Jinshi huffed. Maomao looked at him, then at Gaoshun and she bowed politely.

"I was told you called for me."

Jinshi's eye twitched. Well yes, that was true but... Why was she hiding behind the couch?! What was she even thinking and... Jinshi felt as if the floor was collapsing beneath his feet.

She heard him... She heard Gaoshun tickle him. She heard him laugh like a, like a, like a what?

Jinshi breathed heavily at the realization that this was probably never going to leave that girl's memory ever. She was going to remember him as the helpless, uncool, ticklish Master Jinshi... Forever...

"Gaoshun. Hold her."

Maomao didn't seem at all alarmed when Gaoshun grabbed both her arms. She merely looked up at him with curiosity and slight confusion. But then Jingshi wiggled his fingers and she gulped.

Yes. There was only one way to avenge his dignity, or what was left of it.

"For sneaking around and seeing things she mustn't see. One is to be punished..." Jinshi said slowly.

He had to tickle her and make her remember that more than anything. He glared at Gaoshun. Yes. Gaoshun was going to allow it. He played a big part in his humiliation after all. Gaoshun gave a stiff nod, and Maomao let out a soft cry.

"No Master Jinshi- I can explain - I, eeek! What do you think you're- noooo! Nonono don't do that, aaaaaahh!"

Jinshi smirked while he reached out for Maomao's struggling body. Looked like they were in for quite the fun ride.

Part 2. Maomao POV.

Such a turn of events. Maomao stared in horror as Jinshi's tall figure loomed over her while her arms remained stuck in Gaoshun's hold. Jinshi's wiggling fingers inched closer and closer, and Gaoshun's grip wasn't loosening.

Oh dear. Oh no. This was it. Instead of poison, she was going to die from hysteria and embarrassment. From tickling.

This was not what she signed up for! It wasn't her fault that she ended up, well yes, overhearing something private... Such as Jinshi giggling and laughing like a child as he was getting tickled.

Despite her predicament, Maomao almost felt a smug smirk coming up. Jinshi, giggly and ticklish. Who would have thought?

Earlier today when Gaoshun came to look for her to invite her into Jinshi's room for a surprise, this wasn't what Maomao had expected to find. Or well, it clearly wasn't the intended 'surprise'.

Maomao ended up getting caught up in studying some poisons so much that she ended up losing track of time. Then hours later, the moment she rushed towards Jinshi's room and didn't get a reply after knocking, she opened the door slightly to see if he was simply being pissy about her not showing up sooner and if he was ignoring her, or if he really wasn't here.

He really wasn't there.

In other cases she would've waited for him to arrive, really. But right after opening the door, she noticed a remarkable plant on Jinshi's table. There was also a subtle interesting scent lingering in the air. Her curiosity got the better of her and she slipped right in, without Jinshi being here...

The plant seemed foreign, poisonous and very rare. Perhaps it had caused a mysterious case of poisoning at the palace and the surprise was a new mystery for Maomao to solve. Hmhm.

Maomao couldn't fight her desires to smell it, feel it, taste it...

But then as soon as she had picked a leaf and put it in her mouth, she heard Jinshi and Gaoshun's voices and footsteps. They were coming back, ah! In panic, Maomao instinctively hid herself behind the sofa and nibbled on the poisonous leaf there.

She barely had time to regret her decision of hiding herself rather than reveal herself to Jinshi. Already very soon, Jinshi's surprising laughter sounded through the entire room, startling her.

"That tihihickles! Nohoho!"

Jinshi was ticklish... Maomao quickly spit some remains of the poisonous leaf out and listened carefully. Jinshi's laughter was quite something else. It sounded so sweet and bubbly.

Maomao had wished to listen to it some more, but then... she got caught. Her eyes made contact with Jinshi's, and she noted the subtle blush on his cheeks and the sparkle in his eyes from laughing so much.

"Hello, Master Jinshi," was all Maomao could say. She came out of her hiding spot and tried to explain herself to a very flustered Jinshi, when the order came:

"Gaoshun. Hold her."

But why? Maomao wasn't sure at first what to expect when Gaoshun really grabbed her. Was he going to stop her from tasting more poison? It wasn't the first time they would gang up on her like this to prevent her from munching on something poisonous. But then Jinshi started to wiggle those fingers towards her, and she knew she was done for.

He was going to tickle her.

"No Master Jinshi- I can explain - I, eeek! What do you think you're- noooo! Nonono please don't do that, ahahanything but- aaaaaahh!" She struggled and kicked with her legs, but nothing could be done. The moment Jinshi touched her sides, a tickly tingle shot right through her body, and laughter started to bubble up.

"Ehehehe no plehehease! It ihihisn't fahahair! Lehehet me goooo- naahaha!"

Cursed with a ticklish body, Maomao had suffered frequent attacks from her sisters, and was even a regular target at the Jade Pavilion. That was just the story of her life.

Jinshi was the last person she wanted to find out about it. To think Maomao didn't consider that when she thought she could get away with laughing about him being ticklish.

"Hehehe, how are you liking this, hm?" Jinshi chuckled while his fingers shamelessly tickled Maomao's exposed sides and ribs. What was he all smug for! As if he was getting her back for tickling him just now! It was Gaoshun!

Speaking of Gaoshun... What had gotten into him? Why would he assist with something like this! Maomao tried to pull her arms free, but even though Gaoshun seemed to put in minimal efforts, his grip felt tight and he wouldn't even budge when she continued to struggle.

"Good. Keep holding her like that, Gaoshun," Jinshi complimented. Maomao wasn't sure what was happening, but all she knew was that it tickled so, so, so bad!

"The punishment is working," Jinshi said proudly. Working how?!

Maomao wanted to growl, but she could only cackle hysterically. "Mahahaster Jinshi, nohoho! Fohohorgive mehehe!" She wasn't even sure what was there to forgive, yes maybe sneaking in and overhearing him getting tickled. But she felt that the punishment was a bit out of proportion. She was helplessly exposed to the relentless tickle attack, there was nothing she did that deserved such treatment.

Except, eh, maybe eat the very rare and precious poisonous plant on his table. But they wouldn't know she did that, right? She licked her lips. She could still taste it on her lips, and her throat was burning and tingling pleasantly. If the effect had been worse, she may have been spewing all over Jinshi by now. Luckily that wasn't the case.

"Enjoying yourself there, apothecary? I assure you, we are not done yet." Jinshi's fingers started to climb up further, and Maomao's eyes widened.

"Waha-wait ehehehe what are you...! Eyaaaahahaa!" Oh no. Not. Her. Armpits! Maomao threw her back and howled. She was done for!

Part 3. Gaoshun POV.

Maomao's bright and unrestrained laughter was a rare and unique sound. Gaoshun had never heard her make such a voice before. She giggled, squealed and begged, and there were moments when he felt bad for her.

Jinshi was having way too much fun with this. But there were three reasons not to interfere, for now, as long as he sensed that Maomao wasn't going to die laughing.

Reason one: Gaoshun knew it was kind of his fault that Jinshi's childish, defenseless and ticklish side got exposed to the one girl he would probably never want to show this side to.

It just happened to be something between them. Gaoshun tickled Jinshi more than once in a while to teach him a small lesson anytime he acted like a child. It mostly involved Maomao whenever Jinshi deserved to be tickled. But he would never humiliate Master Jinshi in front of her. Not without his permission at least.

Reason two: Maomao wasn't supposed to be hiding in here. What was she even thinking? Sure, he knew she was a free spirit. Smart and cunning even. But he never imagined she would sneak into Jinshi's room and hide there. What if she did this again and overheard other things, such as the truth about Jinshi's identity?

With different circumstances, this could've been really dangerous. He agreed with Jinshi, Maomao deserved to be punished for this. And while tickling her wasn't necessarily what would've come to his mind first, Gaoshun couldn't help but let Jinshi get away with this for now, with some minor support from Gaoshun himself.

Reason three: They were having fun. It was truly a rare and remarkable sight, but despite laughing her head off, and despite feeling embarrassed and worked up, both Maomao and Jinshi appeared to be having fun. Even when Maomao's laughter was forced by the tickling, Gaoshun had never sensed so much joy between them.

He smiled fondly. Perhaps, if Maomao wouldn't curse Jinshi for the rest of her life after getting tickled like this, there was a chance it might even cause them to grow closer. Knowing each other's weaknesses wasn't a bad thing. Especially if that weakness was being ticklish, which would cause the other to crumble and giggle adorably.

"Mahahaster Jinshi- not thehehere ahahah!" Maomao squealed when Jinshi tickled her under her arms. Gaoshun snapped out of his thoughts and looked back down at Maomao's struggling figure in his arms. The poor girl seemed to be even more ticklish than Jinshi and was making quite the scene.

"Yes, apothecary. Since you ask so kindly, this is exactly where I will tickle you," Jinshi said in a formal tone. There was a happy grin on his face and he appeared to be completely cured from his embarrassment. Gaoshun could understand that. Maomao's laughter was that contagious.

"Is everything alright over here? Oh dear." Gaoshun looked up to see Suiren peeking into the room.

Gaoshun nodded. "Everything is fine." Suiren smiled fondly at the unique sight, shook her head and left again. Meanwhile Jinshi was taunting Maomao with some fake tickles.

"Hayah! Hayeh!" Jinshi made weird sounds as he feigned some pokes, making Maomao twitch and squeak.

"S-stohohop thahat!"

"I'm not even tickling you. But, now I am."

"AAHahah not agaaaaain Mahahaster Jinshi wahahait!"

Jinshi had a lot of fun switching between her armpits and ribs, and when he wiggled his fingers towards her hips, Gaoshun was about to interfere since at this stage Jinshi was getting a little too handsy with her. But then... Jinshi froze all of a sudden, and Maomao gasped for air.

"Is that...?" Jinshi pulled something off Maomao's robes and he studied it. It was green and looked like...

Gaoshun's eyes widened. "Xiaomao tasted the plant," he said immediately, knowing her very well. Maomao yelped in surprise.

"I-it was only one leaf, I swear!"

Jinshi huffed and wailed dramatically: "GET HER SOME WATER! ANTIDOTE! MAKE HER THROW UP!"

"There is no antidote," Maomao said dryly, but still Gaoshun and Jinshi dragged her away to clear her throat. At last that did conclude the tickling party.

"What is this plant doing here anyway?" Maomao asked after she had some water. Despite tasting poison, she seemed as unfazed as ever. Meanwhile Jinshi still appeared in shock.

"I w-was going to give it to you. To study. Not to eat."

Gaoshun remembered he had warned Jinshi before that Maomao might eat it, and he covered his mouth and chuckled. Stubborn as ever, Master Jinshi was.

"You would give that to me? Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong. It is a gift."

Jinshi was sitting on the couch and Maomao was standing behind the table as if no tickly business had happened just now. Gaoshun observed their formal conversation.

"A gift... for me?" Maomao asked, squinting her eyes. It was as if she didn't believe it.

"Yes, for you. As long as you promise not to eat it."

...... Maomao continued to glare, and for a moment Gaoshun really pitied Jinshi. But then Maomao's eyes sparkled and she smiled brightly. She jumped towards the plant and hugged it.

"Thank you! Master Jinshi, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Jinshi blushed and seemed happy with her response. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head and smiled.

"A-and consider eh, that punishment just now..." Jinshi said, and he eyed Maomao carefully. "As my way to request your silence. W-what you heard earlier, is to be kept a secret. If not, I will punish you again, and I will show no mercy."

Maomao blinked and nodded. "Understood." For someone threatened with tickle torture, she appeared completely aloof.

"To add to that, I also request that you not sneak into Master Jinshi's room again," Gaoshun said. "If we catch you again, I too will show no mercy."

Maomao gulped. Gaoshun was surprised to see her take him more seriously than Jinshi, but all was fine as long as the message was clear.

"U-u-understood!" she squeaked. She bowed with the plant still in her arms and slowly stepped back.

"Thank you again! I will work hard to repay you!" With that, Maomao fled the room in a hurry. She was flustered after all. Gaoshun glanced at Jinshi who stared in front of him for a while as if he was zoning out. He then suddenly fell back and let out an uncharming wail.

"Aaaaaaah!" Although his expression and sounds were weird, Gaoshun was certain that Jinshi was feeling happy, and this made him smile.

"Good for you, Master Jinshi," he spoke softly, and for the next few minutes he continued to listen to Jinshi's little breakdown of happiness.