24 - Shoot!
Story by SciFurz on SoFurry
This time the gang visits Ara's homeworld and meet her family.
Her little sister isn't too happy about Ara hooking up with a human though.
24 - Shoot!
'Nervous?'
Ara looked at Guy while she stood before the exit of the airship after she and the rest of the gang had landed at her home world. She smiled a little. 'I was when they chose me to go to your human world, and I guess I am now because I'm coming back not just with a human, but my lover. I don't know what everyone thinks about this.'
He took her hand. 'How do you feel about us?'
She smiled softly at him. 'Weird, but in a good way and happy.'
'Then isn't that all that matters? It's your life and yours alone.'
She sighed softly. 'I know, but it's family we're talking about.'
Guy nodded. 'That's why you should have faith that they trust in you, and will accept your choices.'
Ara looked through the opening of the exit and took a deep breath. 'Yes.' she said and exited the craft with Guy.
They walked through the port and Cani noticed how everyone seemed to look at them. 'I guess we're popular here as well.'
'It's more about being the only other species around here.' said Mami. 'I see none other than Ara's species.'
Ara nodded. 'We are a scary species after all. Who dares to come here?'
'We do.' said Cani.
Ara chuckled. 'Yeah, but I doubt we count as an average group of beings.'
'True.' said Guy. 'And I'm glad we don't because we wouldn't have ended up like this then.'
'Who'd ever imagine a screwed up bunch like us could even exist?' Mami muttered.
Cani ruffled Mami's hair. 'Don't forget you're one of the screwed up ones.' she said and sniggered.
Mami frowned and swatted at Cani's hand. 'Yeah, yeah, I know all too well.' she said and sighed. 'I'm probably the most screwed up one of all of us, giving up a royal life to live with all of you.'
Guy smiled at her. 'And I can't help feeling incredibly proud and happy that you did, my princess.'
Mami blushed and looked away. 'Damn you for being such a good guy.' she muttered and he chuckled.
At the exit they hailed a taxi and had plenty of space in what was essentially a taxi for four persons with lots of legs. The trip was quick to Ara's family and she took one more deep breath before getting out the taxi.
Guy took her hand and smiled softly at her. 'Remember, have faith in them.'
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. 'I have faith in you.' she said and they walked together up the path leading through a small cluster of big trees.
The girls and Guy watched countless silk strands spread out over the canopy. 'The kids love to climb the trees and spin their strands all around them.' said Ara. 'It's sort of the thing you humans have with drawings of your kids and fridges.'
'We might need a much bigger fridge in the future then.' said Cani.
'Why that?' asked Feli.
Cani grinned. 'For when Guy gets Ara pregnant.' she said and Ara and Guy blushed first, then the rest did when they thought more about it.
Feli bit her lower lip when she didn't know what to say but a sudden shout grabbed everyone's attention.
A spider woman rushed down the path. 'Ara, my dear! Welcome home!'
'Agi, my mother.' said Ara. 'Your first challenge.'
He chuckled and Ara's mother hugged her tight. 'I'm so glad to see you again.' she said and looked at the other girls. 'So glad to finally meet you. I've heard so many things about you.' She let go of Ara and turned to Guy and looked closely at him. He smiled politely at her and wondered what kind of mother in law she'd be. 'So, you're the man who's such an idiot for hooking up with a spider girl and even end up wanting to marry her.'
Ara's jaw dropped. 'Mom! Don't tell him what I wrote you!'
Guy laughed. 'She's putting it mildly.' he said. 'I'm truly evil to have lured her into my trap, just to keep her at my side along with my other victims.'
Ara's mother grinned wide. 'I figured she'd end up with a special person ever since she was a little girl and secretly dreamed of meeting someone who was not of this world, and proclaimed to everyone she'd marry an alien.' she said and hugged Guy. 'Good luck with her.'
Ara sighed. 'Can we go on without the embarrassing bits now?'
Cani grinned at her. 'I thought it became rather interesting.'
Agi led the group into the wide house and the living room. She gestured at another spider with broad upper body and greyish skin and short hair. 'This is Doro, my husband.' she said and gestured at a smaller female spider with a shade of blue in her long black hair. ´And this is Rina, my other and youngest daughter.'
Doro shook Guy's hand firmly. 'I'd never imagined the day I would welcome a human into my house, and even into the family at that.'
Rina clicked in dismissal. 'It'll end soon enough.' she said and walked away.
Agi sighed. 'Rina can't yet accept the fact that her big sister left for another world and will stay there. She's of the opinion no one likes our species.'
Guy nodded. 'I have to admit most people aren't fond of the spiders native to our world if they get too close, but there are also people who really like them and keep them as pets. It's still a trait left from our natural instincts.' He looked at Ara. 'But there's no such worry when we can communicate directly with them and understand them. Especially when they're attractive.'
Ara blushed and pushed his shoulder. 'Shut up.' she said and looked at her mother. 'See what kind of idiot he is?'
Agi smirked. 'Not bigger than the idiot who accepted his proposal after knowing all that.' she said and turned towards the other girls. 'I didn't mean you, of course.'
Cani laughed while Mami smirked at Ara and Avia and Feli blushed. 'No, we're all kind of idiots in a away.' said Feli. 'But there's nothing we can do about it, we're better off this way.'
Doro cleared his throat. 'Well, how about food and drinks to celebrate the idiocy joining our family?'
Guy smiled at him. 'I can certainly drink to that.' he said and Doro grabbed him by the shoulder. 'Let me show you our spooky wine cellar, my boy.'
Ara rolled her eyes. 'There's nothing but idiots here indeed.'
***
'It's true.' Doro said after Mami asked if there really were hardly any visitors from other worlds coming to this one. 'Apparently we're not the most attractive species to others. It's hard to get people to come when we've got nothing to offer that other worlds with more furry species don't have.'
Guy nodded and picked a slice of sausage from several plates with finger-food. 'It doesn't make things easier for you to make contact with others when you already have a low confidence.'
Doro took a drink from his glass. 'It reminds me of the time I first tried asking Agi out.' he said and chuckled. 'I had such low confidence it was actually her that asked me out.'
Agi chuckled. 'You only needed a little encouragement.' she said and looked at the girls. 'And he worked so hard to decorate the cave.'
'Cave?' asked Cani.
'There's a cave nearby where he did the decorations at the time. It's a public space for people to gather. He made new decorations and wanted me to be the first to see.'
'But they were nothing compared to your dress. 'Doro said.
'Could it be you made your own dress?' asked Mami of Agi.
Agi nodded. 'Most of us decorate our special clothing.'
'Don't you still have it?' asked Ara. 'I thought I'd seen it a long time ago.'
Agi nodded.
'Go on.' said Doro. 'Why don't you show it? It's as pretty as ever.'
Agi blushed. 'I don't know.'
'I do remember it was pretty indeed.' said Ara. 'I'd like to see it again too.'
A glint appeared in Agi's eye. 'All right, give me a hand then.'
Ara followed her mother and a little later Agi returned.
'Where's the dress?' asked Doro.
'It's coming.' she said and turned towards the doorway. 'Come on out now, you wanted to see the dress and the rest does too.'
'To see the dress, not wear it.' said Ara.
'What better way for the others to see it than it being worn? Now quit being shy and show your friends.'
Ara sighed and hesitantly walked into the living room. Everyone gazed at the silken dress falling nearly to the floor made of white silk with a hint of light blue and sparkling threads along the edges of every piece of fabric falling between Ara's legs. The front of the upper body showed a chevron pattern in the same thread and another long piece of the fabric was draped across Ara's large abdomen with a band in the middle to create outward spreading folds.
Guy wolf-whistled. 'Beautiful, and I'm not just talking about the dress.'
Doro smiled at his daughter. 'You look indeed as beautiful as your mother did back then.' he said and looked at Agi. 'And still does.'
Agi giggled and Ara shuffled with her hind legs. '..idiots..' she muttered.
'Oh, you guys should go see the cave now!' said Agi. 'It's a clear night and the moon's out. It'll look great.'
Cani jumped up. 'I'd like to see! I still love looking at the decorations in the street at home.'
Without further ado the gang took a walk and Ara led them to a large cave in a straight side of a small rock hill. A pond lay underneath and everyone gazed at the glittering of water drops hanging from intricate mosaics created with the silvery threads hanging inside the cave and spanning across the pond and space between tall trees on either side. A few spider couples sat around and enjoyed the view and each other's company.
The girls and Guy gazed at the scenery for a while when Agi and Doro arrived. 'I think if we had a place like this at our neighbourhood, it would be packed with romantic couples.' Guy said.
'That's it!' said Feli. 'The other worlds don't have something like this!'
'That's right.' said Mami. 'Ara's work is popular at home because it's so unique apart from beautiful as well.'
'So, what you need to do is promote places like these to couples looking for a romantic time away.' said Guy to Doro and Agi.
Doro looked at Agi. 'I'll ask Krek to come by tomorrow.' he said and looked at the others. 'He's the one who can organise promotional work and who knows how to set things up. You'll have to explain your idea to him.'
The gang agreed and after some time enjoying the view they all went back for the night.
***
'You really think so?' Krek asked when he heard the idea.
Guy nodded. 'To you it's something normal although it is a beautiful art, and to us who have no ability to create such natural threads, it's special.' He looked at Ara. 'And with someone talented to spin them it's a pleasure to look at it.'
Krek watched Ara blush and understood. 'But we need something that has more impact than just an ordinary romantic couple.' he said and noticed Avia gesturing lightly with her head to Guy and Ara. 'We'd need an extraordinary couple indeed.' He smiled wide. 'All right, we'll create a photo shoot of a romantic tour around our best public places with Ara and Guy.'
Ara sputtered and Guy coughed. 'Wait, I'm not really model material!' he said.
Krek waved it away. 'Doesn't matter, you're the perfect special couple for these special places.' he said and stood up. 'I'm going to get things ready, there's a full second moon in a few days.'
Cani grinned at Ara while Doro led Krek outside. 'So, you're going to become the poster girl for romance on your world.'
Ara buried her face in her hands. 'I knew there'd be trouble when we came here.'
***
'First off, an afternoon lazing about.' said Krek when the gang and the photo crew arrived at a spot with webbing spun horizontally between small trees.
'Hammocks!' said Cani and jumped on her back into one. She grinned at the others as she stretched on the sturdy webbing. 'This is really comfortable. I can let my tail hang free and feel the air at my back.'
Feli shook her head while a few spiders passing by chuckled at the black canine wagging her tail furiously underneath her. 'Cani, behave! We're also representing our worlds here as visitors.'
Guy smiled at Cani and stroked Feli's back. 'I think she does a pretty good job at representing her kind.'
A good shiver crept along Feli's spine and she relaxed a little. 'That's what I'm worried about.' she said and sighed. 'I guess it can't be helped, these do look great for use during warm days.'
'Ara, Guy, get on, then we can begin the shoot.' said Krek, who stood next to another webbing stretched between three trees.
'I look silly.' Ara said when she lay on her back in bikini, with her legs along her body.
Guy looked at the bright red fabric covering her chest. 'You look sexy.'
She blushed and poked his bare chest. 'Don't say that out loud.'
He smiled a little mischievous at her. 'Want me to whisper it into your ear instead?'
She blushed harder and looked away. 'Not here in public, idiot.'
Krek clapped his hands. 'All right, you two lovebirds, time to get some seriously good photos.' he said and instructed them on the poses he needed.
Rina clicked in disapproval as she stood at the side. 'And next year they'll hate these photos when they've broken up.' she muttered and sighed. 'What am I even doing here?'
'Your mother thought it would help you to accept him when you spent some time with us.' Mami said.
Rina looked in surprise at the mouse behind her with her heart beating fast. 'You shouldn't sneak up on people!'
Mami smirked a little. 'I didn't. You just didn't notice me earlier.'
Rina sighed and watched her sister and the human try to look serious in front of the camera.
'Now, help her from the net.' said Krek a little later and Guy held out his hand to Ara while he stood in front of her.
Rina noticed everyone was watching the couple and didn't pay any attention to her. "Show me your real colours, human." she thought and casually cut the thread tying the webbing to the tree she stood next to.
'Ah!' cried Ara when the webbing under her gave way and she tumbled forward. Guy quickly caught her but the next moment they stared at each other in an accidental kiss on the ground.
Ara quickly pushed herself up. 'Are you okay!?'
Guy smiled up at her. 'I'm enjoying myself. You?'
She blushed. 'Weirdo.'
'Ah, what a shame.' said Krek. 'But we have no time to redo it, we have to get going to the next place.'
***
'Ohh, nice.' said Mami when they looked at an open air restaurant underneath a dome of finely spun threads.
'It keeps insects, and even light rain out.' said the maitre d' welcoming the visitors. 'We've set up a table near the back.'
The back consisted of a low rock wall with plants draped over the edge and the table was laid with a silk table cloth and a small vase with different colourful flowers. Guy and Ara sat down and Krek took photos while they ate the appetisers and first course.
Cani's stomach grumbled and she stared at the food in front of Ara and Guy. He chuckled and held up his plate. 'Want to finish mine, Cani?'
She wagged her tail. 'Yes!'
'No need for that.' said the maitre d' when waiters appeared with plates. 'Of course we have enough for everyone.'
'Doesn't mean I don't want to finish his.' Cani said with a big smirk.
During a course of dessert of fruit Rina noticed something crawling quickly about on the wall next to her. She took a closer look when it sat still and smiled at the fuzzy little spider with two large eyes in front. A quick look around told her the rest was enjoying dessert or busy with the photo shoot and a devious smile appeared on her face.
She caught the spider with a flick of her hand and a small web in her fingers, then loaded it into a catapult between her thumb and forefinger made of an elastic thread she had spun. 'Let's see you panic at this, mister fake lover.' she whispered and shot the spider expertly into Guy's collar. 'Go get him, little one.'
Guy stiffened at the sudden tickle in the back of his neck.
'What is it?' asked Ara.
Guy reached into his collar and arched his back when the tickle went down. 'There's something in my shirt.' he said, then squirmed when the tickling moved around his waist. 'Ah! It tickles!'
Ara reached out to him as he twisted in his chair. 'Hang on! Let me take a look!'
'Aaahhh!' went Guy and tried to catch the thing that tickled while it crawled fast all over his chest and back, flinging his arms all around him.
'Hold on!' Ara said and pushed the table aside, which Guy kicked over in a reflex kick when his side suddenly got tickled.
Ara tripped, fell against Guy, and they tumbled onto the floor while he squirmed and she frantically tried to unbutton his shirt. With a groan of frustration she ripped it open and caught the cause of Guy's troubles.
She opened her hand and the little spider watched them from the palm of her hand. 'I understand the desire to be all over him, but there's a time and place for that.' she said.
Guy watched the spider wiggle it's two front legs. 'At least tell me she's female.'
Mami grinned at him. 'And I thought I was the smallest one to get their paws on you.'
Krek shook his head. 'Well, so much for this shoot.' he said. 'Let's go for the next one.'
***
The gang stared in awe at the wide canopy of multiple spider webs strung between tall trees over a small lake with tiny islands of rock and grass scattered all around and lit by candles. Some were occupied with couples enjoying the view of the stars shining through the moonlit silver threads and sharing a drink or two. Small boats were available to get to the islands and the shoot began with Guy rowing Ara towards a grass island in the middle.
He helped her out of the boat and sit down on a cloth laid out on the grass, lit the candles, and poured a sweet wine while the crew took photos from their boats. The other girls sat in their own boat and Feli wriggled her fingers when Cani nudged and grinned at her. 'No worries, he'll have to take us out on a date as well.'
Feli looked away at the webbing. 'I don't worry, Ara just happens to be the only one qualified to do this shoot with.'
Cani sniggered softly until Krek called for a break, and she quickly rowed their boat to the island and hopped off to sit next to Guy. 'Feed me!'
Guy chuckled and put a small pastry in her mouth, and she sucked gently at his fingers as she pulled back while gazing mischievously into his eyes. Feli sat down and poked Cani. 'Who was worried again?'
'Just for the pastries!' Cani said and smirked.
Rina stood back and watched the girls demand Guy feed them all and grumbled silently while she watched the crew check their cameras and the photos. One of the assistants moved a travel case and bumped it into a stake. She saw it tilted a little and that it held the noose of the rope tied to the back of the boat used by her sister and Guy. She looked at the group and heard Krek mention finishing with Guy helping Ara into the boat and rowing away.
She pondered the idea that came to mind, then moved closer to the stake. 'Sorry, sis.' she whispered and loosened the stake in the ground completely with her last pair of legs.
'Right then, help her into the boat, Guy.' said Krek after the crew was ready.
Guy held out his hand towards Ara, and she took it as she stepped into the boat. It swayed a little as she placed her right legs onto it, then drifted away when the stake fell over and the noose slipped from it.
'Ah, Guy!' she called out when her stance widened.
'Ara!' he said and stepped forward while she gripped his hand. The boat drifted away faster and Ara cried out when it rocked under her weight and she lost her footing.
A big splash later and both Ara and Guy lay in the water.
The water wasn't deep so Guy stood up and helped Ara up in his embrace. She looked at his soaked face , grinned, and whispered in his ear 'There are better ways to get me wet, you know.'.
He chuckled. 'So I guess all this romance stuff isn't working?' he whispered back.
'Maybe try next time without a camera crew.' Ara whispered and giggled.
Cani jumped in the water and hugged them both. 'Don't hog all the fun!'
Guy laughed while Ara splashed Cani and said 'Here you go then!'.
Krek sighed. 'And I almost thought this one would get done without a hitch.'
***
Guy wriggled carefully out of the pile of girls later that night and shuffled towards the bathroom. He took a breath of fresh air in the back garden afterwards and looked up at the stars when he heard soft steps behind him. He looked back and saw Rina glaring at him. 'Rina? What's wrong?'
She jumped at him and pushed him to the ground. 'You!' she hissed and pushed down on his chest with her fangs bared. 'I know you're faking it! That you don't really like my sister or us spiders as you pretend you do! I don't know why but I will expose you!'
Guy gazed at her in surprise. 'Wait! What do you mean!? I really do love Ara!'
'How can you love a species as ugly as us!? As dangerous as us!? I will bite and eat your flesh if you don't give up on her!'
Guy looked her straight in her black eyes. 'Fine then, bite. I will not give up on Ara.'
Rina bared her fangs more. 'I really will bite and suck your blood and kill you!'
He turned his head sideways. 'Go ahead then.'
She moved her face in his neck. 'Last chance!'
'Don't need it.'
She touched his neck with her fangs, waited a moment, then pulled back. 'How can you be so calm!? Don't you know I can easily kill you!?'
He smiled a little at her as he sat up. 'No, you can't.'
She hissed at him. 'What do you mean I can't!?'
'You're a vegetarian.' he said and she pulled back in surprise. 'How do you know!?'
'I noticed you never ate anything but fruit and vegetables here at home and at the restaurant, and I saw vegetarian cookbooks from my world in the kitchen.'
Rina gritted her teeth and shed tears in frustration, then hit Guy on the chest. 'I don't want to see my sister hurt when you think she's ugly!'
He grabbed her wrists, pulled her close, and hugged her tight until she stopped hitting his back. She sniffed and went limp.
'You two are really alike.' Guy whispered. 'Ara also couldn't believe she wasn't ugly, but everyone we know likes her and think she's pretty. Why would I want to be with her and hold her tight if I thought she was ugly?'
'I don't know..' Rina sniffed. 'But all those other species are so pretty..'
Guy pulled back and wiped her cheeks. 'Why? Just because they have fur or feathers instead of your black skin? Because they have two legs instead of eight? Or two eyes instead of four?' He brushed a lock of her hair aside. 'It just makes your species different, not ugly. Your sister is as attractive to me as my other beloved girls.'
'He really does mean that, trust me.'
Rina turned her head quickly to see Ara walking up to her and Guy. 'Sis..'
Ara sat down next to them and stroked Rina's head once. 'I didn't believe it at first either because of the looks I received at first from the first people I met, but that was because they were surprised. Guy and the humans around our home convinced me I don't have to hide who I am.' She smiled softly at Guy. 'In fact, he's so nuts he prefers me not hiding anything while we're in private.'
Guy blushed and cleared his throat. 'That doesn't mean I'm nuts. It's perfectly normal for healthy men.'
Ara looked at Rina. 'It's also normal for healthy men to desire attention from pretty females, so you might not want to be this close to him before you end up in his harem as well.'
Rina blushed and sat back quickly. 'I, I have no intention of joining his harem!' she said, and stood up and headed indoors quickly.
Ara smirked at Guy. 'We really need to put you on a leash.'
He chuckled and cupped her cheek. 'If that means you girls will never leave my side, I don't mind.'
Ara chuckled and kissed him. 'Back to bed with you, we need your warmth.'
***
Mami looked around at the terminal a few days later when they arrived for their flight home. 'Is it me, or do I see more tourists going around now?'
'It's not you.' Krek said as he walked up to the group. 'I have great news!' He presented the brochures he'd made. 'The promotion is a success, we gained a lot more tourist traffic after we published this in your worlds.'
Guy and the girls looked through them and recognised the photos that were made from the date photo shoots under the header When Everything Goes Right on a Date. 'Oh, these look good!' said Feli.
Ara and Guy blushed a little at the romantic depictions as they lay in the sun, ate dinner, and enjoyed the mood at the web covered lake.
'Wait, what's this?' asked Mami when she turned the page. 'When Everything Turns Out Perfect Instead?'
The others turned to the next section and chuckled as they saw the photos of Ara and Guy in their accidental kiss, Ara leaning on Guy's bare chest while she held the little spider in her hand, and both of them in a wet embrace in the water.
Krek grinned wide. 'There's your usual romance atmosphere, and there's those special moments that make it great.' he said and handed over a disk. These are all the photos we took, and they include ones we took from all of you during the official shoot as a little surprise from me to you.
Cani took the disk and grinned. 'We're going to have a show when we're back home then.' she said and looked at the others. 'Anyone want to bet who is seen the most with Guy?'
Mami looked up at her. 'If by seen you mean begging for attention, it'll be you.'
Cani stuck out her tongue. 'Like you didn't take the opportunity to sit in his lap when you could.'
'Hey, he's my personal chair!'
Ara laughed and turned to Rina. 'See now why I stay with Guy and my fellow victims of his charm?'
Rina rolled her eyes. 'I can only think you do belong in this insane bunch.'
The girls exchanged hugs with Ara's family and Guy smiled gently at Rina. 'Think you can trust me with your sister a little now?'
She looked at the brochure and sighed. 'If you ever..'
He held out his hand. 'If I ever hurt Ara, I'm inviting you to be one of the firsts in line to do whatever you want with me.'
She chuckled slightly, looked him in the eyes for a moment, then shook his hand. 'I trust that my sister found someone to be happy with.'
'I'm sure you'll do the same, and don't be surprised when it turns out the one that fits you is human.'
She snorted and shook her head. 'That'll be the day!'
The gang said their final goodbyes and headed towards the boarding terminal while waving back until the last moment and Cani nudged Avia. 'That only leaves your family.'
Avia nodded quickly and glanced at Guy. 'I hope it'll go well.'
'Worried your family might not approve?'
Avia nodded. 'Suspicion of other species is high in our society.'
Cani bumped her shoulder against Avia's. 'I'm sure when they get to know us it'll all turn out great. Just look at how things turned out so far.'
Avia smiled a little and nodded. 'Yeah, I suppose it will.'
***
Rina sighed as she walked through the school hallway the next day and bumped into someone at a corner, causing their books to fall on the floor.
'Sorry!' she said and picked up the books. 'I wasn't paying attention.'
She reached out to a book of vegetarian recipes when she froze at the sight of a human hand reaching out to it as well. She looked up at the human teenager with long, wild black hair wearing a t-shirt with Save Animals and a lamb, piglet, and chicken on it.
He smiled a little in embarrassment. 'It's okay, I was distracted because it's my first day here. My family transferred here recently.' He looked at the books and noticed the two copies of the cookbook on the floor. 'Hey, you like this one too? Have you tried the potato and beet recipe?'
Rina blinked at him, then looked at the book. 'Oh! Ah, no. I did read it and thought I'd try it later though.'
He nodded and smiled a little at her. 'I was planning on making it myself today since my parents will be late home this evening.'
Rina returned his smile. 'I hope it'll be good.' she said and picked up the rest of her books.
'Thanks.' he said while he picked up his. Rina continued on her way when he spoke again, and looked back. He blushed slightly. 'Ehm, if you'd like, want to come over and try it together? I don't know what's fun to do around here and would like to know more.'
'Sure.' Rina said. 'I'll wait outside after school.' she said and continued on her way to class, blushing a little and smiling.