December Anniversary Part 2/4 - Mimic Madness (Patreon)

Someone has to research the mimics. The institute has a number of devoted field researchers willing to go out into the wild and hunt, catch, study and release all the weird and wonderful tickle-beasts of the world. This has its... dangers, of course. Countless courageous field researchers get ensnared by the meanest of mimics every day, and the brave test subjects who volunteer to test out the mimics' abilities in a controlled environment can end up tickled to tears if a doctor isn't carefully monitoring the experiment.

But of course, it's not safe inside the facility either. Sterile white walls and heavy locked doors might bring you comfort. Clipboards and labcoats might make you feel like everything's under control. But everything can fall apart very, very fast. Being a high-ranking lab researcher doesn't make you immune to the tickling thrall of the many mimics inside.

And not all of the mimics are released.

It's very rare. The mimics are categorised by their danger level - their likelihood to escape if contained, their capability to restrain prey, their innate sadism, their tickle-hungriness. Bristle Level mimics are harmless; Down Level mimics are tricky, but easily stopped. Semiplume and Plume can be difficult, but aren't too threatening, and can usually be restrained with a few sacrificial interns to throw their way and distract them.

There's currently only one Flightfeather Level mimic.

Say hello to the Titillatius Erusomnis - the unstoppable all-consuming Tickle Parasite.

She appears as just a tiny tickly feather but can cover a room in just a few hours. A single fiber can be enough to spread her ticklish body. Researchers must decontaminate carefully after entering her chamber, even for a second. Last time there was a breakout, it took months to get her out of all the vents. So many interns were tickled to tears before the decontamination squad could arrive.

And what really sets her apart? Intelligence. She's smart. Devilishly smart. Smart enough to pretend she's exhibiting previously undocumented behaviour. Wily enough to lure you in without any protective gear. Perceptive enough to know that even a grey-haired older researcher staying behind after hours has filthy, dirty dreams.

Nimble enough to make her beg and writhe and wriggle. Mean enough to make her scream with ticklish laughter. Nice enough to never make her want to leave.

At least in the morning she'll have plenty of information to share with her fellow researchers.