Note:
This is the fourth in a series of stories.First entry
Previous entry
Bonus Round
“Sorry, did you say one hundred thousand dollars?” Stacy asks in astonishment.“That’s right,” Racquel replies.
“And just what does this ‘bonus’ round involve?” Stacy queries suspiciously.
“In some ways, it’s similar to round three. Basically, you have to last thirty minutes without safewording or passing out... that's the gist of it anyway, you know those lawyers always make things complicated.”
She holds up her hand, forestalling Stacy’s protests. “But, there won’t be any automated devices. Any of your former competitors who volunteer will be tickling you.” She glances at Olivia, “And I’m sure that at least one will sign up. They’ll get to choose if and how they want you restrained, just like you did during the punishment rounds.”
“But,” Racquel continues with a smile, “for the first twenty minutes, they won’t have access to any of our fun tools, just their own bodies. Plus! Plus, you get to remove one device from the tools they’ll get after twenty minutes.”
Racquel hesitates briefly, pausing to lock eyes with Stacy, before saying, “There is one other… difference for this round. You’ll, aah, need to be naked, and, just a reminder, the other contestants can touch you anywhere that’s not covered by clothes.”
Stacy looks at Racquel. “I’m exhausted. Can I have a few minutes to decide?”
“Of course Stacy.” Racquel smiles as she responds. “We would take a thirty minute break anyway so we can prep, make sure our other contestants are very clear on our guidelines, and also give our audience a break. Why don’t we take that break now. We’ll be ready if you decide you want to go for the BIG PRIZE, but no hard feelings if you’ve had enough.”
“Okay. I can work with that,” Stacy says. She turns and heads for her dressing room, her tired muscles slowly dragging her on.
After closing the dressing room door, Stacy leans back against it, then slides down to sit on the cool tile floor.
“I can’t really be thinking of doing this, can I?” Stacy says to herself. “I can barely walk, my stomach aches, and my brain’s basically mush at this point.” She shakes her head, “Why am I even considering this?”
Because it’s a hundred thousand freaking dollars, a sarcastic voice replies in her head. Do you know how much money that is? That’s more than you make in a year- for thirty minutes of work. You would really rather work at the diner for two years rather than get tickled for half an hour? You’ve already been tickled way longer.
Exactly! Stacy replies. I’ve already been tortured enough. I don’t think I can take any more.
Pfft! the sarcastic voice responds. All you have to do is agree. I’ll admit, you DID do one thing right today: you picked a safeword you can’t remember, let alone say. As soon as you sign up, that one-hundred k is as good as yours. Just think what you can do with that money. You could take time off from work. You could get personal acting lessons. This could be your ticket that takes you from all those failed auditions and bit parts to what you’ve always dreamed of: being able to support yourself by acting.
But... naked?
But nothing! the voice cuts her off. Hey, you said it yourself: people are topless and naked in movies all the time. It’s no—big—deal. Get up. Look at yourself in the mirror. Is it really that different from what you’re already not wearing now?
Stacy drags herself to her feet, moves over to the full length mirror next to the shower. She studies her image in the reflection. Her nipples are puckered, clearly visible under the thin bikini fabric. Her soaked thong sticks tightly to her lips, forming two distinct ridges.
You have a point.
Damn right I have a point, the voice snarks back at her. Oh, and don’t pretend you haven’t enjoyed some of today. I know you got turned on during that first round, and I saw the glee in your eyes when you were punishing the other contestants.
“No I didn’t,” Stacy says softly.
Don’t lie to me! the voice yells, echoing in her skull. It continues in gentler tone, I’m you, remember? I know everything you’re thinking and feeling. I even know what you fantasize about. So don’t try to tell me that part of you isn’t enjoying this.
Stacy’s shoulders slump in defeat. “You’re right,” she pauses, “I’m right?” Shaking her head she continues, “Anyway I’ll do it.”
The voice cheers her on. That’s the spirit. Now, get cleaned up, rest up, and get ready to win a bunch of money.
The voice gone, Stacy is alone again. She heads to the shower.
* * *
Stacy starts at the knock on her dressing room door, her eyes fluttering open. “I must have drifted off after my shower,” Stacy realizes. The door opens the smallest crack and Jim asks: “Stacy, it’s almost time. Are you ready? Have you made your decision?”
Stacy takes a deep breath, answering, “I have, Jim. I’ll be out in a minute to let them know.”
“Thanks Stacy. I’ll let them know you’re on your way.”
Stacy pulls herself up as the door clicks shut. She reaches up, stretching and loosening her muscles.
All things considered, I feel surprisingly good. That nap did wonders I guess.
She steps to the door, taking a moment to collect herself.
Confident, powerful, that’s what you’re going to project. If you’re going to do this, make damn sure you look good doing it.
With that last thought, Stacy opens the door and strides out.
* * *
Stacy sees Racquel, Olivia, Rachel, and, to her surprise, Amber all chatting in the center of the room. Unnoticed, she studies the four as she walks towards them. Rachel and Amber are in the first uniform of the day: sports bra and athletic shorts. Her eyes flick to Olivia, surprised to see her still in the micro-bikini she wore in round three.
She does look amazing, I can understand why she decided to stay in it.
Olivia glances up, meeting Stacy’s eyes.
But, she’s going to make me pay.
She nudges Rachel who looks up confused. The other three women turn as one, their gaze focusing on Stacy as she crosses the large room to join them.
Racquel beams at her, “Well Stacy, I think I can guess what you’ve chosen given your outfit, but let's hear you say it.”
Stacy looks, stone-faced, at Racquel. “I’ve decided to play the final round,” she states.
… cause apparently I need money more than modesty.
Racquel nods, “Great! Now, to make it official and to keep any lawyers off our backs. I want you to look into that camera,” she points to a corner of the room, “and tells us, in your own words, what you’re agreeing to.”
Stacy takes a deep breath.
No turning back now.
“I agree to be tickled for up to thirty minutes. The tickling will only stop early if I say my safeword or I pass out. I choose to be naked in order to play the bonus round. Only Olivia, Rachel, and Amber will be tickling me, no machines. For the first twenty minutes, no tools are allowed, but for the last ten, you’ll be making tools available to them. Finally, I get to ban one tool entirely.”
“I choose the navel prober,” she adds, “I never want to feel that thing again. If I last the thirty minutes, I win one-hundred thousand dollars.”
Thirty minutes… it can’t be worse than last round—right?
Racquel holds her hand to her ear, listening, then nods. “Perfect, that’s what we needed! Our ticklers have already decided what position they want you in. So let’s get you set up and we’ll get started.”
* * *
A few minutes and adjustments later, and everyone’s happy with Stacy’s position. She’s lying, face-up, a little over four feet off the floor, on the same round pedestal she and Olivia had chosen for Rachel’s punishment. The cushion presses firmly into her lower back, forcing her torso into a severe arch. The skin of her belly is tight under the strain; her ribs are outlined under the skin.
Her arms are pulled tightly over her head, in a Y. Chains running from the wall to her wrist cuffs prevent her from pulling her arms down.
A small platform supports the back of her head, a leather strap across her forehead preventing her head from moving an inch.
Her legs are folded tightly—ankles pressing against her thighs. A single leather strap tightly encircles her shin, pinning it to her hamstring. Her knees are forced open by the leather cuffs encircling them, more chains pulling her legs open, each nearly horizontal.
To complete her bondage, each of her toes is pulled back firmly to a leather cuff just above her ankles.
Those toe ties were Olivia’s idea.
Racquel calls out to Stacy, “Are you comfortable? Are we ready to start?”
You mean, am I comfortable as my breasts, exposed to the world, pull down towards my head? As my pussy is spread for everyone to see? “Sure. Let’s go.”
She hears the three women positioning themselves around her body. Looking up, Amber comes into view, her fingers wriggling tauntingly. Amber presses her crotch against the top of Stacy’s head.
What a bitch.
Amber leans forward, eyeing her armpits, then meets her gaze.
“When you wake up begging for mercy in the middle of the night, remember me.”
Stacy hears Racquel call “Begin,” and braces herself for the onslaught.
* * *
She’s startled into soft giggles as, instead of the fierce torment she was expecting, feather-light brushes tease her hips, belly, and underarms. The soft, teasing, strokes slide past her defenses, shooting straight to her brain as she giggles nonstop.
“What’s the matter?” Olivia calls out mockingly. “Is little baby a little ticklish? Coochie-coo! Laugh for us, you know you want to.”
Teasing makes it so much worse! Her giggling intensifies as the other women join in, taunting her continuously.
After five minutes, her giggling is about to switch to full laughter when she hears Olivia say, “time to switch ladies.” Amber waves a mocking good-bye then slides out of view to her left. From her right, Rachel comes into view. From near her feet, she hears Olivia say, “let’s take it up a notch.”
Rachel spiders her fingers up Stacy’s neck and along her ears. Stacy’s head futilely jerks as she tries to escape the annoying sensations. Full throated laughter erupts as, a moment later, Amber starts stroking Stacy’s left ribs with one hand and pinching her side with her other. Her laughter rises in pitch when Olivia's right hand grazes the arch of her right foot from heel to toe and her left hand softly teases the skin between her navel and slit.
Amber switches to tormenting the sensitive crease where the bottom of her left boob meets her rib cage.
Shit! Why is my nipple getting hard?
Olivia’s constant lower belly tickling is starting to feel increasingly good as each pass gets ever closer to her clit.
Rachel switches to exploiting Stacy’s armpits, sending jolts of laughter through her every time she plunges her fingers deep into the hollows.
At the ten minute mark, Olivia again calls out, “Rotate, but gentle for a moment. Our plan’s working.”
They have a plan? That’s bad.
Stacy closes her eyes, panting quickly as the torture stops while the women shift around her body. Soft giggles flow once more as Amber lightly spiders her fingers over both of Stacy’s soles. Rachel’s right hand slowly strokes Stacy’s belly while her left hand lightly scratches over the sensitive spot near Stacy’s hip.
Stacy opens her eyes at a light tap on her cheek. Looking up, she meets Olivia’s eyes as she stands above her.
“Not what I expected,” Stacy gets out between the giggles. “I thought you would want to break me.” An evil grin spreads across Olivia’s face.
Oh shit. What are they going to do?
Olivia squats down. Her mouth nearly touching Stacy’s ear, she whispers, “Oh, we’re going to break you Stace. You see, during your break, I went back and watched Round Three again—how your nipples got harder and harder the more I tortured your belly button—and I realized two things. First, that I didn’t screw up. That without that devil probe, there was no way I could’ve gotten you to quit. You’re just too determined.”
Olivia’s tongue darts out, licking the edge of Stacy’s ear. “And second, that tickling turns you on.” Stacy’s mind blanks. Hearing a secret she was only barely willing to acknowledge spoken from the lips of a rival shocks her to her core.
Olivia taps her softly on the cheek again, saying, “Focus dear. I’m talking to you.” Seeing Stacy’s eyes lock on her, she continues.
“So, we’re going to tickle and tease you. We’re going to edge you until you’re begging to cum. Eventually, we'll let you. Because, once you cum, one fingernail will feel like an entire hand. You'll crack in seconds."
Stacy shuts her eyes in despair, her imagination unfolding a thousand nightmares in her mind.
Olivia rises and says “Full throttle,” to the other women.
Stacy’s imagination blends with reality, amplifying the shots of ticklish agony emerging from her hips— as Rachel digs her fingers into the sensitive spot, and her navel— when Amber twiddles her finger deep inside. Desperate laughter bursts from her lungs.
Stacy’s eyes open, confused, when she feels something brush the tip of her nose. Looking up, she sees Olivia’s pussy just above her face, barely covered by the micro-bikini. Olivia’s musky scent fills her nose as she tries to breathe between bouts of laughter.
Stacy feels Olivia’s fingers slowly circle her nipples. They harden, stiffening under the gentle touch. Stacy’s laughter begins mixing with moans as Olivia gently grazes the tender tips of the nipples with her fingernails.
Fuck, it’s working.
Stacy tries to catch her breath as the three women stop tormenting her momentarily. Tears pool in the corner of her eyes.
Olivia steps back, “final spots,” she says to Rachel and Amber. Rachel stays where she is, her fingers lightly tracing Stacy’s hip. Amber trails her fingers along Stacy’s inner thigh as she strolls to Stacy’s right side, opposite Rachel.
“Olivia, don’t do this. I can’t take it,” Stacy pleads to Olivia, their movement allowing her a moment’s respite to beg.
Olivia bends down, her lips brushing Stacy’s ear once again as she whispers, “You will. And remember, you’re only halfway through. Nothing today has prepared you for what we have planned.”
Halfway? They’re going to shatter me, and I can’t stop it!
“Besides,” she adds in a louder voice as she stands up, “you could always just give up. You’re basically tickling yourself,” she laughs as she walks out of Stacy’s sight.
She checks the timer above her head: fourteen minutes, forty two seconds remaining. Five seconds pass, then ten. Stacy’s breath slows as she recovers.
A moment later, Stacy’s body tries to convulse, managing only a bare twitch as Amber’s small finger plunges into her navel, the fingernail teasing the sensitive flesh at the base. Two hands start tweaking and teasing her nipples.
Amber laughs as Stacy’s nipples harden to rocks under her fingers. “You are really getting turned on by this? You’re in soooo much trouble now.”
Stacy barely registers that Amber’s talking, her mind trying to make sense of the awful tickles from her navel and the wonderful feelings her nipples are sending her. Her world turns sideways when Olivia flicks her nails up and down the outside of Stacy’s pussy lips. She can’t stop herself—shrieking laughter melts into guttural moans.
Her moans take over as Amber lifts her finger from Stacy’s navel. She and Rachel concentrate on teasing Stacy’s nipples and softly tickling her upper ribs. Her stomach and hips flex, but she can only twitch as Olivia keeps switching her focus, teasing the crease of her groin on one side while caressing her lip on the other.
“Please.” Stacy begs softly as the sensations fade slightly. She forces her tear-filled eyes open, seeing that just under ten minutes remain.
“Please what, Stace?” Olivia asks. “Please let you go? Please tickle you more? Please let you cum? You’ve got to be specific dear, otherwise we won’t know what to do.”
“Please—” is all Stacy gets out before she moans loudly, her nipples suddenly filled with both tickling and pleasure.
Olivia laughs at Stacy as she’s cut off. “I guess you noticed that our tools are finally available. That soft stroking on your left nipple is from Rachel’s choice of a makeup brush. Your right nipple is getting the traditional feather treatment from Amber. As for me—well, I bet you’ll recognize this…”
Stacy hears a low buzzing sound moments before Olivia presses a magic wand against her lips.
“Yes!” Stacy yells as the sensations meld in her mind, driving her towards bliss.
Olivia studies Stacy’s thighs as they all play with her. After a minute, the muscles start to contract rhythmically. “Switch!” Olivia yells, dropping the vibrator and grabbing two toothbrushes from the tools tray. She slides one directly in Stacy’s belly button, the other sweeping back and forth, between her hips. Amber swaps her feather for a pair of toothbrushes, gliding them both across Stacy’s sensitive stomach. Rachel drops her makeup brush, her hands focusing on Stacy’s vulnerable hip spot.
Stacy's desperate scream pierces the air as her orgasm is ripped away, replaced by the horrible tickling. Within thirty seconds, Stacy is a mess, laughing nonstop. Olivia calls, “Switch!” again and Stacy feels the tender teasing return to her nipples and pussy.
For the next five minutes, Olivia closely monitors Stacy, pushing her closer and closer to orgasm, only to stop and drive her libido back down with intense tickling. With just over three minutes remaining, Olivia switches once more back to teasing Stacy. She smiles when Stacy’s lower body twitches from a single finger sliding along her lips. She motions for the other women to ease off a bit.
“Stacy…. Stacy! You with us?” she asks.
Stacy licks her lips, her throat raw from the day’s relentless laughter. “Yes,” she manages to gasp out. Olivia gently rests her hand on Stacy’s pussy.
Just one finger. One stroke! I NEED release!
“If you want to cum, ask us nicely,” Olivia warns.
Stacy’s mind has lost all track of time, or purpose, under the twin torments during the round. Her hips try to grind upward, seeking the fulfillment she craves. A frustrated moan escapes her lips as the straps prevent more than the tiniest twitch.
“I'm begging you, Olivia! Let me cum! I’m so close!” she cries.
Olivia motions to Amber and they swap locations. Amber softly massages Stacy’s toes as Olivia stands close on her right side.
“You heard the lady,” Olivia says.
God yes!
A terrible smile fills Olivia’s face. She nods to Rachel and Amber. “Tickle her.”
“What? No!” Stacy screams before dissolving into frustrated screeches of laughter as Rachel scratches the bottom of her sensitive knot. Her left hip's torment follows a moment later. Amber’s fingernails scribble along the base of her toes as they twitch, trying to escape the torture.
As Stacy’s squeals of laughter fall silent, Olivia slides two fingers smoothly inside Stacy. She leans down, wrapping her lips around Stacy’s nipple, sucking hard as she flicks the tip of the bud with her tongue.
Stop! Yes! Help! No! More!
Primal thoughts fly through Stacy faster than she can comprehend. The endless tug-of-war between pleasure and torment pulls her mind apart. As Olivia pulls her fingers nearly out, then pumps them back in, Stacy's thoughts slow... as if her nerves themselves were tiring. As Olivia's fingers seat deeply inside her, her clit brushed by Olivia's thumb, a last thought fills her:
Finally!
A burst of light fills Stacy’s mind. Every muscle in her body tenses, her brain overloaded with sensation as the orgasm crashes through her. Over her. As each wave crests, Stacy feels another layer of consciousness stripped away until all she's left with is pleasure... then nothing. Her body stills as she passes out.
* * *
Stacy’s eyes blink open and she takes a moment to make sense of what they see. She eventually realizes that she’s looking at a typical popcorn ceiling. Turning her head, she discovers she’s alone in a small, clinical room. Sitting up—I’m naked?—, she wraps the sheet around her.
Suddenly, the bonus round rushes back through her mind. She shudders.
“Wait, crap, what happened after my orgasm? I can’t remember anything. Did I pass out?” she asks the empty room. Stacy desperately tries to remember any moment after her climax, but only finds a black nothingness.
She pounds her fist into the cot. “I was so close!” It strikes again. “All that for nothing,” she yells. Her hand slams one last time. “I can’t believe I lost…that I let her beat me,” she whispers, the fight leaving her body. She cradles her face in her hands as she cries softly.
I’m a failure. No money. No modesty. Nothing.
A soft knock on the door has Stacy stifling a sob. She hears Racquel call through the door, “Stacy are you OK? Can I come in?”
No!
“I guess, and sure,” is all Stacy can muster in response. She tries to wipe the tears from her eyes, but only spreads them across her cheeks as Racquel walks in.
“Stacy—” Racquel pauses in alarm when she sees Stacy’s disheveled state. “What’s wrong?” she asks, concern filling her voice.
“I… I…” Stacy shrugs helplessly. “I’m just sad… and frustrated. I failed. I did what I could, and it wasn’t enough.” She covers her eyes again, hunching over.
Stop it! Don’t cry.
Racquel jerks up. Her voice softens. “Stacy, no. Hun, you won. You’re our first ever grand champion. You get the one hundred grand.”
Stacy looks at her skeptically. “What do you mean? Didn’t I pass out. I thought that meant I lost? Did they cheat somehow?”
Racquel smiles gently at her and pulls up a chair to sit in front of her. “I admit, I thought you’d lost too, but this is what happened…”
* * *
Racquel watches nervously as the three women push Stacy closer and closer climax. She presses a button on her headset and whispers softly, “You’re sure this is allowed?”
The voice of her producer comes back immediately. “Absolutely. Our lawyers expected this and we’re clear. Just let them keep rolling.”
Racquel shifts nervously as Olivia wraps her mouth around Stacy’s nipple, watching Stacy closely. The sudden silence in the room is deafening when Stacy stills. She pushes the nurse standing next to her into motion, “Go! Make sure she’s OK!” Racquel follows on the nurse’s heels, hovering as she checks Stacy’s breathing and pulse.
Amber, Rachel, and Olivia step back from Stacy to give the nurse room. Rachel and Amber chatter excitedly in the corner, but Olivia just stares at Stacy. Concern, and more than a little guilt, flash across her face as she watches the nurse work.
Shortly, the nurse stands up. “She’ll be fine. She passed out from over-stimulation. We should let her get some long overdue rest.”
Olivia's sigh of relief can be heard throughout the room. The nurse starts unstrapping Stacy, another nurse joining her as they prepare to move her to a gurney. As they start to roll Stacy from the room, Olivia takes a single step forward before stopping abruptly.
Racquel whispers to her producer, “Okay. I’ll go announce that Stacy’s lost, and congratulate our victors.” Gathering the attention of the contestants she says, “Stacy was a worthy compet—” She cuts off mid-sentence, her hand going to her ear.
Amber and Rachel stop their excited chatter, eyeing the host. “Why’d you stop?” Amber asks angrily.
Racquel holds up her hand, saying, “Sorry, I’m hearing there’s some confusion over who actually won.”
Amber’s eyes grow wide with rage. “What do you mean there’s ‘confusion’? She passed out! That means we win. Give us our money!”
* * *
Stacy interrupts Racquel, jolting her from her memory. “Wait, what money? What was Amber talking about?”
“We want to make sure that anyone winning the bonus prize has been tested to their limits. And we don’t trust that revenge alone is enough of a motivator. So, if the other contestants make you lose, saving us a hundred thousand dollars, we share the wealth a bit, giving them five grand each.”
Stacy just nods, motioning for Racquel to continue.
* * *
Racquel pinches the bridge of her nose, then gestures sharply. “Just be quiet, they’re explaining it to me now. I’ll let you know when I know.”
She listens for a few moments more, then nods. Lifting her head to address the other women and the audience watching, she says, “Stacy is our grand prize winner.”
She ignores Amber’s angry outburst and explains, “I thought I knew everything in our rule book, but I, and apparently a lot of us, had overlooked an addendum to the rules of the bonus round. I won’t bore you with the details, but the short version is that yes, if the contestant says their safeword or passes out they lose.”
She pauses to take a breath and Amber exclaims, “Yeah, that’s right.”
Racquel frowns at her, then continues, “But there’s one exception: if they pass out during an orgasm. Basically, the contestant loses if they pass out because our audience isn’t being entertained. But, watching someone have an orgasm so intense, they can’t process it? No one will ever forget that.”
Rachel and Olivia hold back Amber as she tries to advance on Racquel.
Racquel eyes Amber with disdain, then says, “I do have good news for you three though. By that same logic, we’re awarding you each the five-k bonus. You drove Stacy to that point and earned your reward.”
* * *
“And that was that,” Racquel says to Stacy. “The others went home and we put you in here so we could monitor you until you woke up.”
The tight band around Stacy's chest loosens. “Wait, I won? Really? I won?” The weight of her disappointment slides from her shoulders, her hunched posture vanishing as Racquel nods.
I’m NOT a failure! She didn’t beat me! I WON!
“You did.” Racquel hands Stacy an envelope, “Congratulations again! Your check’s inside.” She rises from her chair, sliding it back into place as she prepares to leave.
“One last thing, Stacy. As you know, we’re just getting started, but based on your performance today, we’d like to invite you back for our Tournament of Champions.”
Stacy’s mouth drops open in disbelief.
In what world would I ever agree to do this again?
Racquel lifts her hand and Stacy pauses, curious. “You shouldn’t answer now. It’s going to take us quite some time to find enough women that would have even a small chance against you. We’ll reach out once we have enough contenders to fill out a bracket. I just wanted to give you a heads up so you could start considering it. Take some time, enjoy your winnings. And again, congratulations.” Racquel turns and walks out the door.
As the door clicks shut, Stacy sits in stunned silence. After a moment, she shrugs
That’s good advice. I’m going to go home, relax, enjoy winning, and worry about the Tournament of Champions another day.
She picks up her check, revealing a note lying on the table.
What’s that?
She unfolds the card.
I'm sorry. No matter the stakes, I crossed a line. Please let me know how I can make it up to you
—Olivia
As if anything could make us even…anything you’d agree to anyway.
The card starts to crumple in her fist. She pauses, a parade of moments, all focused on Olivia, flashing through her thoughts:
... the cruel tickling during the bonus round
... Olivia's inspiring confidence in the micro-bikini
... the glee on Olivia's face as she sunk the makeup brush in Stacy's navel again and again
... the quiet respect she'd shown Stacy after losing round three
Her fingers unclench, and she tosses the card back on the table. “I don't know where to begin... or even if to begin."
A soft smile plays across her lips as she looks for her clothes to get dressed. “I'll never look at a crop top the same.” She laughs, tracing the rim of her belly button with one finger.
Author's Note:
Hi all, this post finishes Stacy's story, for now. I hope you've enjoyed reading it and I appreciate you making it to the end.Just to set expectations, I teased the idea of a Tournament of Champions, but it's probably going to be a (long?) while before I write that story. For one, there are some other stories I want to tell in the TIGS universe. But honestly, I also don't have enough great ideas for games/rounds to drive an entire tournament yet. I've got a couple, but I think I want (at least) 3-4 really strong ideas to build around. If you have ideas you think would be fun and you don't mind me using/adapting/merging or selectively taking pieces from them, please either post them below or send me a DM. If I use all or part of your idea, I'll be sure to give you credit (unless you want to stay anonymous of course).
So if the ToC isn't next, what is?
Well, in the next few posts, we're going to find out what happened to Amber and see the day from her perspective. After that? We'll see. I've got sketches/outlines/ideas for 10+ arcs I'd like to write in the TIGS universe. I'm also experimenting with a different universe that I think is going to be more sadistic and cruel and less playful than TIGS (generally) is. If those turn out, I'll probably mix them in some weeks in place of a TIGS episode. If that sounds like a terrible idea to you, please let me know!
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks again, especially to those kind enough to leave feedback. It makes a difference, more than I expected when I started this journey, to know that other people are enjoying these stories too.
