ticklefanatic15
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Been two years since I first read this, and I keep coming back to it. This is probably my favorite tickling story, period, and Maggie might just be my favorite 'lee as well. She feels like the most resourceful out of all the Mantis 'lees I've read, and it just struck me today that that's a little odd.
Spoilers for #5 of the new Tickle Tutor series ahead, if anyone hasn't read it (and if you haven't, it's fantastic too, go read it. You don't need to read the prior four to do so, although they're great too), as well as analysis of two stories
See, it's odd to me that Maggie feels the most resourceful because A) she doesn't actually accomplish anything in terms of regaining her freedom, and B) she basically just begs, pleads, and orders like a typical 'lee. Jai Lin, in Tickle Tutor 5, is able to free herself from a much, much more difficult situation through cunning and manipulation... yet to me, she doesn't feel as resourceful as Maggie does. So... why not? Why wouldn't the woman who accomplished her goal feel like the one who made better use of her available resources? I mean, Jai Lin definitely made great use of what she had: she got info from another captive, she worked with the head of the guards, and at the end she lined everything up perfectly to pull off her escape plan (I think, it's been a little while since I read the story)... which required excellent use of her available resources.
I think the reason it feels different to me is twofold: one, Jai Lin spent the story gaining more options and resources, while Maggie lost (apparent) means of escape over the course of her story: she unknowingly squanders her best bargaining chip, telling the boys' mother, just to get off the couch, her authority is ignored, the clothes shielding her sensitive body are slowly stripped away, the manhandling and bondage removes her ability to escape... eventually, her only option left is to trade sex for freedom. Even then, since the boys are noted to keep their word at the end by dressing her and driving her back, they probably would have let her go right after getting off, if not for the unknown-to-her factor of Chester's tastes. On the other hand, Jai Lin only got most of her resources through a chance opportunity - one she used incredibly well, but not something she could plan for. Additionally, I think the scale of the stories tilts things towards Maggie for me: she's stuck in a single barn with only four other people, and as such it feels like the only tools and strategies available to her are the ones she used. Jai Lin is in an entire compound, with many other people including dedicated guards, so while it's obviously a much steeper challenge for her to escape, it also feels like there's probably some things 'off-screen' that she just didn't notice or use.
Ultimately, I guess the two 'lees just feel like different kinds of smart: Maggie feels resourceful for using every possible tool and strategy available to her, even though she fails every time, while Jai Lin feels more daring and insightful because of how she plays almost everyone in the long term.
Again, both fantastic stories. Hopefully, this was at least encouraging for you Mantis; if the analysis is also helpful to you or others in writing stories going forward, even better!
Spoilers for #5 of the new Tickle Tutor series ahead, if anyone hasn't read it (and if you haven't, it's fantastic too, go read it. You don't need to read the prior four to do so, although they're great too), as well as analysis of two stories
See, it's odd to me that Maggie feels the most resourceful because A) she doesn't actually accomplish anything in terms of regaining her freedom, and B) she basically just begs, pleads, and orders like a typical 'lee. Jai Lin, in Tickle Tutor 5, is able to free herself from a much, much more difficult situation through cunning and manipulation... yet to me, she doesn't feel as resourceful as Maggie does. So... why not? Why wouldn't the woman who accomplished her goal feel like the one who made better use of her available resources? I mean, Jai Lin definitely made great use of what she had: she got info from another captive, she worked with the head of the guards, and at the end she lined everything up perfectly to pull off her escape plan (I think, it's been a little while since I read the story)... which required excellent use of her available resources.
I think the reason it feels different to me is twofold: one, Jai Lin spent the story gaining more options and resources, while Maggie lost (apparent) means of escape over the course of her story: she unknowingly squanders her best bargaining chip, telling the boys' mother, just to get off the couch, her authority is ignored, the clothes shielding her sensitive body are slowly stripped away, the manhandling and bondage removes her ability to escape... eventually, her only option left is to trade sex for freedom. Even then, since the boys are noted to keep their word at the end by dressing her and driving her back, they probably would have let her go right after getting off, if not for the unknown-to-her factor of Chester's tastes. On the other hand, Jai Lin only got most of her resources through a chance opportunity - one she used incredibly well, but not something she could plan for. Additionally, I think the scale of the stories tilts things towards Maggie for me: she's stuck in a single barn with only four other people, and as such it feels like the only tools and strategies available to her are the ones she used. Jai Lin is in an entire compound, with many other people including dedicated guards, so while it's obviously a much steeper challenge for her to escape, it also feels like there's probably some things 'off-screen' that she just didn't notice or use.
Ultimately, I guess the two 'lees just feel like different kinds of smart: Maggie feels resourceful for using every possible tool and strategy available to her, even though she fails every time, while Jai Lin feels more daring and insightful because of how she plays almost everyone in the long term.
Again, both fantastic stories. Hopefully, this was at least encouraging for you Mantis; if the analysis is also helpful to you or others in writing stories going forward, even better!
It's not often someone shares such detailed thoughts on my work, but it's always GREATLY appreciated when it does happen.
