Everyday Life as an American Host

by Viktorformosa

Jack's life has suffered one hell of a shock lately. As things settle down however, one act of generosity draws the attention of the Inter-species Exchange and its local coordinator Mr. Smythe. Now Jack has an opportunity to change his life ,for better or worse, when he is asked to host several liminals for the Homestay program. OCs, SI(ish)

35. Chapter 35 Interview 6 Mishipeshu pt2

I do not own Everyday Life With Monstergirls.

Chapter 35. Interview with a Mishipeshu part 2.

The trio retreated after the young ones were sent to bed. One asked the other for privacy. The request was honored. And then there were two.

"She beat me."

Hector winced. And kept his eyes shut. "How often?"

"...any time I reminded her of how much she hated herself."

He nodded. "So she regretted what she did."

His niece nodded. "Yes. Her...conscious or the facsimile that replaced it kept her up, disturbed her sleep." A pause. "I sometimes caught her cursing someone, virulently. It wasn't until after her confession that I realized that she was cursing herself."

He let out a heavy breath. "So then this wasn't a lie."

Tetra blinked and turned to her uncle. He was holding out a folded letter.

She took it and scanned its contents. All her eyes fluttered. Then she threw it on the ground. "AN APOLOGY!" She speared the tip of her foreleg through the scrap of paper on the floor. "She wrote you an apology!?"

He nodded. "I received it about a year and a half ago. I didn't know what to make of it." He faced her. "Until now."

Her face contorted as her emotions tapped into the reservoir of rage. Then she slapped her cheeks and held her hands there. "She... apologized to me too. The day she was caught." She spat out the words like spewing bile.

He nodded lightly. "Did you accept it?"

Tetra sneered. "Of course not." Her claws curled into fists. "I'll never forgive her."

He nodded again. "When Emilia told me she'd been arrested, brought in by other arachne...I just felt numb." He blinked. "It had been so long...I just...I didn't feel...anything. Or everything." An empty chuckle. "I had to take off work a few days, I couldn't focus." His lips lined grimly. "And when she told me about you...I...it was too much." His eyes pleaded at her. "I'm sorry."

Tetra closed her own eyes briefly and shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for mi tio." She reached over and lightly took his hand. "All this pain...is her fault."

The older man swallowed and looked up into her eyes. "And she's finally paying for it."

There was a hollow in his gaze, like a limb had been torn from his soul and all that remained was an unfinished scar that still bled.

"He meant a lot to you...didn't he?"

He smiled as a few tears ran down a cheek. "Oh yes, we were inseparable as kids." He blinked them away. Then glanced aside. "I still...I'm still kinda mad at him."

She cocked her head and let go. "For what?"

"For not telling me about her. At all." He answered. "He was going to marry her...and then what?" He raised a hand. "Just not tell anyone about them? Or disappear? My brother was a smart man. Didn't take shit from nobody and always thought things through." He raised a finger. "He could be impulsive but he usually had a plan. But that...this... I just..I don't know."

Tetra leaned back and folded her arms. "Perhaps he was prepared to attempt a double life. He would not be the first man to do so."

Hector took that in a moment. "I just...I don't even know how they met...kept on meeting."

She swallowed and paused. "I know you know this... but... my people are quite accomplished at stealth tio. We've had to be."

He sighed and let out a long breath. "I...know that...I just...Why'd it happen to me? Why did I have to lose..him?"

Her rage resurfaced and spiked into her tone. "You shouldn't have had to. Did Emilia tell you?"

He shook his head. "Tell me what?"

She lifted a clawed hand. "My mother is the only known arachne to have murdered their mate in centuries." She refolded her arms. "As dangerous as we are, we pride ourselves on our restraint and skill." Her head inclined. "The...urge...to cause harm is there. We are all predators after all." She leaned forward a degree. "But we always have a choice."

He blinked a couple times. "What about the full moon?"

She scoffed and flipped a hand. "No self-respecting arachne is careless enough to attempt mating during a full moon." She cocked an eye. "As bland as it sounds, that's just common sense." She growled the next statement. "Even my mother knew that."

His chin dipped. "So...she really..?"

"Lost control without the moon's influence?" Tetra concluded. "Absolutely. It's a simple thing to research. He was murdered on New Year's Eve wasn't he? There wasn't a full moon on that date until years after and before I hatched."

His eyes clouded over. "So was he just...unlucky?"

"No tio." She skittered forward and laid a hand on his shoulder. "My mother was weak. She is weak. None of this is his fault, at all, whatsoever."

She stepped away and let her hands down. "So if you have be angry at him, then be angry at him." Hector glanced up at her. "But be more angry at her. For taking him away before he could explain anything to you." She lifted a claw. "Every human that had a relationship with one of my kind has had to hide it, haven't they? Until now?" She waved at him. "Have you ever thought about what you would think if he had told you about Rosalinde?"

Hector leaned back in his chair. "You're very direct, you know that?"

She smirked. "It's a preferred social tactic."

He chuckled. "No honestly I haven't." He admitted and rested his chin on his folded hands. "That's... That is something I'm going to have think about."

She nodded. "If I may suggest tio, have you talked to a counselor about any of this?"

He cocked an eye. "You really think I should?" She opened her mouth to answer but he cut her off. "No you are probably right." He nodded. "Now that people won't think I'm crazy for claiming a monster murdered my brother..." He finished sardonically, with a bit of bitterness thrown in.

She nodded. "I recommend seeing agent Serilla from the Exchange office that oversees my homestay. Jack and I see her for couples counseling."

He cocked his head. "Are you two having issues? I didn't see anything...that..." He trailed off as she lifted a hand.

"It's not so much that we have issues...we do..." She folded her arms and closed her eyes. "It's more about reconciling how vastly different our worlds are." She tapped her claws on her chest. "I'm a huntress. I stalked, trapped and personally killed nearly every animal I've consumed for nourishment since I was taught how do it." She kept her eyes closed to avoid seeing her uncle's reaction. "Jack's food has come from grocery stores and restaurants his entire life."

She paused a moment to let that thought linger. "And that's just one of the obvious differences in our life experiences." She cracked open her eyes a sliver and hoped that he wasn't disgusted by her previous lifestyle.

He seemed a little pensive but his eyes were still soft. She swallowed and continued. "That being said, reconciling over twenty years of grief that you've mostly shouldered alone..." She shook her head. "You can talk to me about that all you want and I will listen. But I'm hardly qualified to give you advice on how to handle it." She waved at the front door. "That's why we see a counselor together." Her eyes fixed at a point beyond the walls. "The pain that you and I share...can't be wrapped up and left to fester."

He didn't object. "This...agent Serilla has really helped you?"

Tetra nodded and looked back. "She's an arachne and she's already married to a human. She helped me join the colony that I am a member of and her advice has already improved Jack and I's relationship." She lifted a claw. "I can't think of anyone better suited to understand what we are going through."

Hector snorted and nodded. "I'm really glad you found me, mi sobrina."

She smiled at him. "I am glad I found you too."

---

Jack knocked on the newly painted double doors installed in the basement. "Atabey? It's time to get up. Breakfast is ready."

He waited a few moments...then knocked again. "Atabey? I'd like to get going before I get tangled up in some household shenanigans."

Still no response. He swallowed and frowned. "I'm coming in Atabey." He parted the doors and slowly took in the pool room. The only sign of activity was the waterfall. "Damn...that probably drowns out noise from outside." He checked the messages on his phone again. "Atabey. I know you just got here yesterday but ignoring me is good way to piss me off."

He strode over to the bedroom and knocked loudly. "Atabey!?"

A pair of arms wrapped around his chest from behind and a strong appendage seized his leg. "Gotcha!"

Jack tensed up slightly. He turned his head and considered the dripping predator that caught him. Her fang-filled grin was inches from his face. "Good morning Atabey. Would you like breakfast before we head out?"

She blinked rapidly and her face went slack. "Why are you not panicking?"

He closed his eyes slowly. "I spent a full day and night in a cave full of arachne. Been kidnapped by one and I'm dating one currently." He held up a finger. "There are four lamias and a harpy tearing through my meat and eggs like a thresher through a wheat field and I still have a werewolf that I'm supposed to host at some point." He opened his eyes. "You want to scare me for fun? Try something else than sneaking up behind me."

She held still a moment, and then released him. "I didn't..." She blinked. "Kidnapped?"

He waved a hand flippantly. "It's a long story..." He stepped away. "Come on. You should dry off. If you don't claim your share of breakfast, one of those gluttons will."

She gazed at him a moment more. He could tell the thoughts racing through her mind at his rather milquetoast response were being severely scrutinized.

"You. You were the one taken the night of the full moon?" Her tone was a whisper, almost breathless.

Jack paused. He'd had this conversation before. With Verandys. He mentally noted that he'd have to have it again with anyone else that didn't know the identity of the victim either. Now I actually do want to talk about it openly, just so I can get it out of the way with people I meet.

He swallowed and nodded. "Yes I was."

"You've already experienced terror, real terror, because of a monster." Her eyes searched his face.

"...Yes I did."

She held up a hand and started to reach out to him.

"I don't need a hug or anything right now."

She paused. and slightly retracted her arm. Jack smirked wryly and folded his own arms. "In fact, you already hugged me, just now didn't you?"

Her black eyes blinked rapidly. "I, no I...What?"

He shrugged. "Pouncing, hugging. Pretty much the same thing right?"

She stepped back and dropped her hand. Her eyes widened to saucers. "No. No it's not."

Jack almost laughed at her incredulity. "Sorry. I shouldn't tease you like this."

The mishipeshu blinked a few more times. Then her gaze settled. "You..." She lifted a claw and let her mouth work a moment. Then she folded her arms. "Your homestays have been difficult to live with... haven't they?"

He paused a moment. Then shook his head. "No...difficult is not a word I'd use...to describe...this...whole thing." He waved a hand laterally. "Another host I know said 'challenging but fun' for her experience. But mine..." He breathed out. "Exhilarating, extreme." His eyes locked with hers. "Pretty much any activity that I'd normally encounter in my life prior to hosting has been cranked up to eleven."

She cocked her head. "Eleven what?"

Jack blinked a few times, then reared his head. "Oh duh. You probably haven't seen Spinal Tap." He lifted a finger. "So you won't get that reference." She shook her head. "What I mean is...well," He shrugged. "I don't have to prepare dinner, I have to prepare ten dinners. I don't have to entertain guests, I have to entertain guests from half a dozen species and cultures. I don't have to transport a friend, I have to transport friends that don't fit comfortably, or at all, into my car."

A pause. "It's just more..." He smirked. "And I like it."

"At first, I admit, I thought I'd be overwhelmed. So many, so much at a time." He slashed a hand down. "That I'd be injured beyond recovery, certainly crossed my mind more than once."

"Or that I would offend one of them and they would demand to leave. Maybe even quit the Exchange itself." His eyes flicked down. "One of the worst-case scenarios that's occurred to me was that one of you would turn out to be a tyrannical bully and take over the household. Make everyone miserable."

She stared at him silently.

"...And other than calling in MON and agent Smythe there wouldn't be much I could do to stop that."

She folded her arms and regarded him. "Before you go on..." Jack glanced up at her. "You do realize that I am here by choice. I chose to attempt to live among and learn from humans." She tilted her head back. "Not to be above your kind."

Jack rattled his head. "Right, I'm sorry." He patted the heel of his hand to his temple. "I...realized something about my father recently...and...something I was afraid of for a long time turned out not to be true. So my mind has been a little out of sorts as I work it out."

She tilted her head and dipped her chin, inviting him to elaborate.

"You see, for a long time, I was afraid that I would become... my father. He was an insensitive condescending control freak who rarely apologized and blamed others constantly." A breath. "When I would catch myself behaving like him...I'd curse myself violently."

"My old pastor visited a couple days ago and told me that my father was a narcissist." He raised a finger. "And that got me thinking...was I a narcissist?"

Atabey glanced to the side but decided not to comment.

"My initial reaction was 'of course not'." He continued. "But I couldn't discount that out of hand by myself, how arrogant would that be?" He rotated a wrist a few times. "But my pastor and Tetra have told me that I'm not. I'm not my father." A pause. "And I just..." He caught himself. "I'm sorry. I should be discussing this with Agent Serilla."

She regarded her host a moment. "You were afraid you would repeat the behavior that your father modeled for you." He swallowed and nodded. "Would your father be treating so many liminals the same way you are?"

He blinked and reared his head a moment. "Um...No I don't thinks so. I don't really know." His eyes darkened. "No...I..he would not have allowed a homestay at the old house. No matter how cool and awesome they might be." Jack raised a finger. "The only way he'd even consider it, is if having a liminal in the house somehow paid for itself or gave him a big tax write-off of some sort. He'd need some sort of financial benefit to off-set the inconvenience he'd be taking on." His other hand clenched into a fist. "Then he'd mostly ignore his guest and let mom 'handle' them and keep them out of his way." He growled the last part. "He'd treat them like some over sized pet that happened to talk."

She cocked her chin. "And how do you surmise that?"

"Cause that's the way he treated our last pet dog, Sheva." He answered. "He never physically abused her but anytime she was in the way or didn't immediately obey a command, he'd get impatient, surly, and verbally abusive. Called her stupid if he thought no one was around to hear him. Otherwise he'd just expect mom to take care of her."

Atabey took that in a moment. "You don't think he saw extra-species as people."

Jack grunted. "Yeah and he was Star Trek fan of all things."

She cocked her head inquisitively. "I'm not certain..."

Jack closed his eyes and raised a hand in apology. "Sorry, another human pop culture reference."

She smirked. "Would you mind explaining it?"

He glanced up at her. "Uh yeah. I can try." He raised a finger. "Star Trek is a huge space sci-fi series. And most of the main characters are members of the United Federation of Planets. The Federation is supposed to be an all inclusive society that humans and other alien species live and work together in."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Sounds sort of like the Exchange."

Jack nodded. "I'm sure more than one fan has made the comparison. When the first show aired in the early nineteen-sixties it broke several cultural norms and biases. Like having a black woman serve as an officer on board a starship. Even gave her and the main character, a white male, an on-screen kiss."

She inclined her head. "Yes...I've heard that you humans separate yourselves over petty differences."

"It runs much deeper than that, but that's a conversation for another day." He waved a hand. "The point is...it is assumed that if you are a Star Trek fan then you don't let yourself fall into bigoted behavior toward someone just because they are a different color than you. And when the reveal happened, that concept was expanded to include non-humans." He snorted. "Hell it should be even easier to accept liminals than aliens simply by the fact that you were all born on the same planet as humans."

She raised claw and smirked. "I believe Syleris was hatched, but I think I see your point." She waved at him. "Your father's interests did not reflect his actual behavior."

Jack nodded firmly. "Yeah that's it exactly. He was hypocritical, and I hated him for it."

She blinked once. "So then what is the problem?"

He rattled his head. "Excuse me?"

She pointed at him. "You said you hated your father's hypocrisy." She let down that hand. "Are you a hypocrite?"

Jack blinked several times. "I...I don't think so."

She dipped her chin. "Do you think your behavior towards your homestays is anywhere near what you think your father would do?"

"No of course not I..." He paused. Then he smirked lightly and glanced to the side. "I'm nothing like him..." A blink. "I think I...just didn't really...acknowledge it." His smirk grew into a full smile. "Thanks Atabey. I needed to hear that."

She nodded and grinned lightly. "I don't know your father Jack. And while I haven't met many humans, I believe you're the best one so far." Her eyes flashed. "Anyone else is going to have do something quite spectacular to supplant that position."

"I..." He stared a moment and one eye welled up. "Thank you again Atabey."

She nodded firmly. "Your welcome. Now I'm hungry. Think there's anything left?"

Jack chuckled and stroked a finger under his eye. "I have no idea. But I'll make whatever you want if there's not enough for you."

---

The huntress was awakened by the scent of cooking flesh. Her eyes flashed open and she pivoted her head toward the sliding glass door. Instinct and hunger drove her out of the hammock as she skittered along the ceiling. The sizzle of a griddle in use emanated from the door and she paused to gauge the opposition.

Opposition?

First things first, where was she?

Tetra blinked and gazed around the room. It was mostly windows with the blinds fully engaged and it was just big enough to fit her comfortably. A large folded up table lay in the corner by several boxes.

Ah. Right. The four seasons room.

She paused and recalled everything she could from yesterday.

Breakfast. Really early breakfast was promised.

She considered herself a moment. Then gathered and donned her clothes. This was her family, her human family. Do nothing to scare them or upset them. Jack's not here to...

Her head rattled and her eyes narrowed.

Where'd that come from?

Her mind retracted through those thoughts and evaluated them.

Ah. That's it. Jack...is my guide in the world of humans...and he's not here.

…

Am I scared..? Of scaring them?

She took a long...silent breath.

If...if they were scared, they would have called MON and had them collect me.

I can do this. I can do this. I am not a monster. I'm just hungry and I've woken early. Everybody gets at least a little perturbed when that happens.

She took a moment. And calmed her mind.

Some breakfast will help immensely.

Another thought occurred to her.

I should go on a real hunt. The other attempt was cut short.

She nodded to herself.

But that can wait.

Tetra descended from the ceiling and slid open the door.

"Tetra? You already awake?" Max called.

She skittered to the kitchen and leaned her head in. Her aunt was dressed in a white t-shirt and black jeans. She pushed around some bacon on a griddle with a spatula.

"Yes I am. Good morning mi tia." She greeted.

"Oh did I wake you?" The other woman asked. "I didn't mean to quite yet."

Tetra clambered to the breakfast table and slide a stool under herself. "Arachne have better hearing and olfactory senses than humans." She commented. "There wasn't much you could do that I wouldn't notice."

Max nodded and refocused on her task. "Did you sleep well in there? I'm sorry we didn't have a proper bed for you."

She shook her head. "I am fine mi tia. Making a hammock is no issue. And I'll remove it before Jack comes back for me."

Max gathered a small plate and placed some bacon onto it. She turned and deposited it onto the table. "Here, I've read that carnivores are uh...peckish first thing."

Tetra raised an eyebrow. "I'll need more than that." She noted sardonically and smirked. "But thank you." She said while taking up the plate.

Her aunt nodded and went back to the stove. "There's more coming."

Tetra chewed her morsel slowly, delicately. And let her thoughts wander. "Mi tia, would you mind if I asked you a personal question?"

Max glanced back. "Personal? Like what?"

"About your first husband."

She didn't answer for about a full minute.

Tetra's eyes fell. "If you would rather not..."

Max shook her head. "No sorry." She cracked a couple more eggs and threw away the shells. "I was debating with myself." She grabbed two more eggs and cracked them open. "I don't hate the man. But..."

Tetra waited patiently.

"But...When I do start talking about him, at length...I start questioning myself." She elaborated. "And I don't know if I want to do that so early in the day."

Tetra tapped a claw on the back of her palm. "Question yourself? Do you have a regret?"

Max spun around. "My regret is that I didn't leave him sooner."

The arachne leaned back. "Did he do something?"

Her aunt shook her head. "No. And that was the major problem."

Tetra squinted an eye. "I believe I need some context."

Max paused a moment. Then resumed cooking. "Wilbur. Yes his name is Wilbur. Don't ask about it." She rolled through her last statement like a snowplow. "Wilbur was a rock. He was quiet, contemplative, thoughtful and considerate." She waved a hand. "And law school is chaos and desperation wrapped in debt and treachery."

Tetra cocked her chin, positive she didn't hear that last part correctly.

Max shook her head. "Sorry. Some of this might be going over your head."

Tetra swallowed. "I was going to make a note about my reflexes but you weren't being literal were you?" Max shook her head again. "You...were experiencing a...turbulent period in your life. Wilbur..." She managed to not smirk. "Was not a source of difficulty." She waved a claw. "At the very least."

Max nodded. "Yes. At first I thought it was some sort of facade. That it was all a poker face." She turned back to her guest. "Wait you know about poker right?"

Tetra smiled and nodded lightly. "Yes. Arachne play a...version of poker."

Her aunt turned back and scooped out all four eggs. "As I got to know him that first year, he remained seemingly unperturbed by it all." She placed them on a full plate and set it before her niece.

"Thank you." Tetra said and took up a fork.

"Your welcome." Max uttered as she sat across from her. "I started relying on him as a friend. Copying notes and cross-referencing assignments. Then he asked me out on a study date."

Tetra blinked slowly. "Study date? What is that?"

Max chuckled lightly. "It's a date where both of us get homework done. But...could lead to something else." She waved a hand in a circular motion. "One subject led to another subject and before I know it we were making out."

Tetra cocked her head and swallowed a bite of egg. "I'm not sure I follow. We're you flirting with him?"

A smile graced her lips. "We flirted with each other. Made jokes and we could relax with each other. I felt I didn't have to watch myself around him."

Tetra took that in a few moments. "As opposed to watching yourself around...the other students?"

Her chin nodded fervently. "Oh yeah. Law school is competitive to a fault. Firms take the best of the best." She held up a finger. "There's no guarantees, mind. Nepotism and connections get one pretty far in that business. But if you out-perform another student while the right people are watching...you could get a prestigious internship."

She waved a hand. "Anyways, after graduation we moved in together...and I should have seen we weren't good for each other in the long run." Tetra cut another piece and didn't comment. "I began seeing red flags in him."

The arachne paused in the middle of bringing another bite to her mouth. "I'm going to assume that you aren't being literal again."

Max chuckled. "No, that's another metaphor." She explained. "Red flags are warning signs. Something to watch out for."

Tetra nodded and took that bite. "Warnings like what?"

She tapped a finger on the table. "There were small signs before we moved in together...but...the main thing was...his attitude. He was...argumentative."

Tetra raised an eyebrow. "A lawyer who is argumentative...such a tragedy."

Max smirked. "Not that kind...He would..." She raised a hand. "He would start fights...about things. Important things but stuff that didn't need to be addressed at the time." Her eyes fell a shade. "He'd ruin good times...quiet times." She shook her head. "He wouldn't let things go...and just enjoy the moment."

Her niece rubbed a claw on her chin. "Did he always have to be right?"

Max grimaced. "No, he'd admit when he was wrong about his position but... he'd do it again and again.

There were times I knew he knew he was wrong and yet he'd argue anyways."

Tetra flexed a claw. "I've met the sort. Some arachne love to argue for argument's sake." She narrowed her eyes. "Can't imagine being mated to one..."

Max nodded. "It started getting hard for me to imagine too. After the twins came along I feared that his behavior would influence them in a bad way." She paused. "I hated when my parents would argue. I think I promised myself, or at least intended to never argue in front of them."

Tetra held back her usual retort about 'intentions'.

"And then one day...it happened. Tara and Thomas got into a shouting match over some silly game of theirs. Wilbur and I came into the room and demanded an explanation." She dipped her chin. "They were so frightened and confused. They said that they saw us do it all the time."

Tetra tilted her head. "Did you shout at your previous husband?"

Max glanced up at her. "No. Never...At least I don't believe I did." A breath. "When I looked over at him, Wilbur was stricken. He looked as guilty as I had ever seen him." She swallowed. "I think then, he realized what he was doing...and how it would hurt the family."

Tetra gave her aunt a moment before asking a question. "What happened next?"

Max sighed. "He...started to withdraw. He got less argumentative...but also less...of everything else." She blinked. "I think then that...He knew something was wrong with him. And he'd made a mistake."

"Then I got a promotion and we suddenly had an opportunity to move out of the apartment. I could put a down payment on a house and such." She frowned. "He threw himself into his work, like he was competing with me." She shook her head. "It was like he needed to be useful to the family in some way. He wanted to make the larger share of our income and be more responsible with it...and...it was encouraging to see." She nodded to herself. "So I let him meet with the realtors on my behalf and let him pick out the first house."

She shook her head. "It was a mess. It was such a mess. It was cheap but it was a mess." She rubbed the ring on her finger. "He said he'd get it fixed and repaired and everything and I trusted him."

"But he didn't. He kept putting it off and leaving things in a terrible state." She swallowed. "So I took action. I began looking for a local renovation company that could fix it up for us and I found Hector." She smiled. "And he performed a miracle."

She waved at her niece. "The rest you know."

Tetra nodded. "Do the twins see their biological father at all?"

Max shook her head. "Not very often. He has rights to see them and everything. I have no objection to him being part of their lives." She shook her head. "But he never fought for them during the divorce procedure and rarely scheduled to see them at all afterward. It's been over a year since he's been by."

"They see Hector as their father?"

Max closed her eyes. "I think so, yes, He's been the best thing to happen to us."

Tetra paused a moment. "So you really love him? He makes you happy?"

Max nodded and smiled fully "Yes. Yes he does."

"Good." Tetra answered. "Cause he's standing right there." She casually thumbed at the hallway.

A startled grunt preceded the man stepping around the corner. "I was just coming to see how..." His pitiful excuse died under his niece' amused knowing gaze.

She lifted a claw. "Free advice, don't try to eavesdrop on an ambush huntress. We invented it."

Max folded her arms and gave her husband a withering look. He chuckled nervously. "I suppose that...is what I was doing. Sorry honey."

Max glanced at her niece. "You ever think about what you want to do as a career in America?" Tetra cocked her head at the sudden left turn in the conversation. "You'd probably make an excellent private investigator."

Tetra set a claw at her chin. "What is that?"

"Someone who gathers evidence for a client without directly involving the police. Like if an employee is embezzling money or a spouse suspects their partner is unfaithful, they'd hire a PI to look into it and confirm or deny it."

Tetra's eyes flashed. "Mmm. Sounds like a spy."

Max nodded. "Surveillance and copying data and intelligence is part of the gig. But remember that 'spy' usually implies that they are working for a government or corporation. And they usually are directly breaking the law. PI's have to stay strictly within the law as the evidence they gather usually has to hold up in court."

The arachne raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I try to be a spy then?"

"It's a more dangerous profession." Hector answered. "If you get caught there's serious consequences."

Tetra didn't change her expression. "Challenge accepted."

Both humans blinked and their jaws loosened.

Tetra giggled. "I am joking of course." She waved a hand flippantly. "I'd never make legal trouble for Jack if I can avoid it." A fang flashed as she glanced to the side, her crimson eyes glowing ominously. "Even if it sounds quite thrilling to attempt."

"I..I.." Max stammered. "Oh god, what have I done?"

---

Atabey's eyes widened as she cleared the lobby. Some human families with small children took note of the non-human and several started whispering to themselves.

She ignored them and focused on the sculpture of two human males standing back to back in the middle of the room. It was carved out of single block of alabaster and both subjects seemed to gaze down on the puny patrons of the gallery.

"Elias and Jonathan McCarter." Jack identified just to her left. "Founders of our great city."

She rotated her eyes just enough to spy the brochure he held in one hand. "Does that identify the sculptor?"

He searched the brochure for a moment more then glanced up at the statue itself. "Ah the plaque." He stepped forward and stooped a bit. "Ulfar Brannsson." He read off the bronze relief.

Atabey nodded. "I've seen a similar one in Gatlivuk." He turned back to face her. "Though much bigger and serves as a load bearing column." She pointed toward the 'heads' of the brothers. "This serves no other purpose except as art."

Jack blinked a few times. "Is...that bad?" He tilted his head. "And what's...Gatli-Galtvu..."

"Gatlivuk." She corrected. "It's one of the largest Atlantean cities below the eastern Canadian coast." She waved her hand. "And no it's not bad. I'm just accustomed to seeing statues serve a practical purpose as well as being beautiful."

He paused a moment to take that in. "There are..." He blinked a couple times. "How many...You mean like a city built on the ocean bed?"

She scrutinized him a moment. "Yes. You do know that Atlantis is not the only merfolk city don't you? There are hundreds in the Atlantic alone."

He reared his head. "Huh that's... wow I never realized that." She stared at him a moment. He regarded her and turned his chin to the side. "Did I say something bad?"

She shook her head a little. "Not at all Jack." But she continued to stare. He felt awkward under her scrutinizing yet unjudging gaze.

"Did I say something good then?"

She inclined her forehead and both ears flicked once. "You expressed your ignorance on a commonly known subject." She raised a claw. "Before my curiosity goaded me into applying for the Exchange, I admit to subscribing to an ubiquitous belief about humans: they assert to be knowledgeable about any given subject at any time."

Jack took a moment to parse her statement then nodded. "Ah...you mean we have a reputation for believing we know everything?" She nodded lightly. "Yep," He nodded firmly back while creasing his chin begrudgingly. "Can't say I haven't contributed to that impression at least a few times."

Her eyes flashed. "And yet you readily admit ignorance?"

He chuckled easily. "Oh believe me, I've had my ignorance damn near shoved to my face enough times, that I am fully expecting to learn something new at any given moment." She regarded him a second as he continued. "I once told the first girls that I've learned more about the world in the few days I've lived with them than an entire semester of college." He waved a hand at her. "By this point, I suspect it is multiple years of schooling."

She blinked again. "I'll admit some trepidation when Agent Smythe informed me that I would be sharing my host with several other extra-species." A smooth smile formed. "But that seems to have..enhanced your capacity as a host rather than diminished it."

Jack snorted. "Yeah, Smythe seems to go by a sink or swim approach to responsibilities."

He lifted a finger as an 'oh duh' thought occurred to him. "Just realized that expression means nothing to someone who can breath and sleep underwater." He waved that finger at her blank expression. "Pass or fail is probably a better concept."

She nodded lightly. "I did understand that expression you used, Jack. However you are likely correct in the assumption that it would not be appreciated by aquatic extra-species."

He nodded and smiled a bit. "So why the interest in human art, if I may ask?"

She turned back to the statue. "We don't have paintings."

Jack cocked his head and his eyes rattled about as he absorbed her statement. "I'm not..."

Her chin dipped down. "There was an old human that would visit our lake. He brought an easel and brushes and a canvas. And he would paint."

"At first my family ignored him." She casually waved a claw away. "But he kept coming back and doing the same thing day after day."

"Finally my brothers and sisters got so curious about what he was doing that we gambled shells. Whoever 'lost' had to go up to the surface while he was painting and spy on him." She grinned. "I think my brother Vohkinne 'lost' but Istas and Itsu volunteered to accompany him and then all the rest of us did." She shook her head. "I think we just wanted a weak excuse to visit the surface where a human could possibly discover us." Her chin dipped. "For the thrill of it."

She waved a hand-paw. "Not that it mattered as the old human was so engrossed in his art that we probably could have all crowded around his neck to observe and he wouldn't have noticed."

Jack closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah we can be pretty oblivious." He smirked. "Tetra and I have a little joke about that."

She nodded back. "I'm looking forward to meeting her. She is your girlfriend right?"

"She is." He confirmed. "But go on, you were telling me about the artist at your lake?"

She smirked for a moment. "Yes. He was painting our lake...but he added some...elements."

He cocked his head. "Like what?"

She turned back to the statue. "He...painted a magnificent castle that was built on the clouds." Her voice lightened with a wistful quality. "Winged horses bore riders to and from the surface. A great beast breached the surface and roared with a maw full of fangs."

Jack couldn't help himself. "That is so cool."

She snorted. "I'm glad you think so." Her chin dipped. "Most of my siblings called him crazy, delusional." She shook her head. "But I understood." She caught herself. "At least...I like to think I did."

Jack nodded after a moment. "Art...for art sake."

She blinked and turned back to him. "Exactly." She exclaimed. "Who cares if a castle would fall through a cloud if it was actually there in the sky." Her eyes widened in excitement. "This one can fly."

Jack chortled. "I think you summed up a large section of geek culture in two sentences." She tilted her head to the side and opened her mouth to ask something more but he held up a finger. "And I can think of a few anime right off the bat that you should see."

Her mouth stuck and her eyes fluttered a moment. "Annie May? Who are...?"

He couldn't help chuckling. "Hehe oh, man," He waved off her expression. "I'll show you when we get back home. We'll do a Studio Ghibli night."

"I..I don't understand." Her expression went from lost and confused to annoyed and irritated. "Please explain host."

Jack held up both hands, dipped his head and calmed himself as best he could. "I would..." He lifted his eyes at her still disgruntled face. "But it would be easier and more efficient to show you."

Her eyes scrunched a degree and for a moment he feared that he had really offended her. Then her chin lifted slowly. "Very well host. I will...trust your judgment." She held up a claw in his face before he could acknowledge any relief. "But I had better not be disappointed."

Jack blinked and flash backed to an old conversation with Tetra. Something about lying...and—he shook his head.

Focus Jack. Today is Atabey's day. This is for her and for you to get to know her. He let out a shallow breath as she turned back to the gallery. Already gonna blow her mind with Castle In The Sky anyways.

The pair toured the local gallery. Most of the exhibition was made by lots of local artists and a few modern pieces that entrepreneurs had donated. But Atabey gravitated to the landscape pieces and a few portraits.

Occasionally a nervous looking attendant, a thin sandy blonde youth with a name-tag that read 'Nancy' would hover nearby. Jack ignored her but Atabey was clearly getting agitated. Jack tried to direct her from piece to piece and keep her focus off their... stalker? Jesus this lady can't take a hint. We're not gonna damage anything. We're just here to look like anyone else!

The pair entered a more crowded section, the kid's corner and stood off to the side as a family of four exited. The two preteen girls pointed at Atabey and giggled for a moment before she directed her glare at them. Both kids suddenly yelped and sped by their parents.

"Oh no." Jack sighed.

Atabey placed one paw on her face and planted a fist on her hip. "I didn't-" She turned to the wall and let down her paw. Her eyes tried to burn the brightly painted multi-colored bricks into cinders. "I didn't intend to frighten them."

Jack frowned and marched up to their stalker. "Okay what is your problem?" She stepped back from his sudden approach and held up one hand. "If you've got something to say to my homestay guest just say it."

"I..I.." Her peachy lips quivered and both dark blue eyes wavered.

Jack waved back toward the mishipeshu. "You've been following us nearly the whole time we've been here. If you wanted us to leave you could have just asked us to leave."

Her eyes somehow got wider. "N-no! That's not it. I just.. I just.."

A deep voice rumbled and commanded the attention of everyone in the immediate vicinity. "Is there a problem here?" A sharply dressed dark skinned man sporting two massive black horns with silver bands jutting straight from the top of his skull stared down at Jack and the attendant. His red eyes flashed once.

Jack couldn't help himself. New liminals will always fascinate him. "Whoa cool." He exclaimed and mentally jumped into his memory banks trying to decipher what his species was called.

Before he could complete his search the father of those two kids stepped forward. "Yes there is a problem." He pointed right at Atabey. "This...woman...scared my kids."

The massive horned man glanced at the stricken-faced mishipeshu. He lurched a degree. "Oh Nance..."

Jack blinked and stepped back, deciding that discretion was the wiser course.

"I'm so sorry Mister Matabo." Nancy whimpered. "She was just so..."

Now Jack narrowed his eyes. Atabey was just so...what?

The dark giant, Mr. Matabo, curled one large finger toward himself. "Young miss." He called to Atabey. "Please come here. I am confident I can clear this up."

Jack's shamed guest nodded and lightly padded over. She deliberately didn't look at the attendant.

"Mister Denton if you could join us?" Mr. Matabo continued.

The father was taken aback. "How did...?"

"You paid for your family's tickets with a credit card...in your name." Mr. Matabo pointed out. "You claimed them when you entered my lobby."

Mr. Denton shut his mouth and proceeded forward. Atabey turned to him and dipped her head to her chest. "I apologize for frightening your children..it was...it was.. an-"

"It was my fault!" Nancy interjected. She placed a hand on her chest and stepped between the liminal and the other humans. "I...followed them around the gallery and made her feel uncomfortable, unwelcome." She glanced at the two kids peering around their mother's legs. "And they got caught up in the...drama." Her eyes settled on Mr. Denton. "I am sorry to all of you."

The father glanced back at the mother. She didn't say anything but her own frown abated.

"Apology accepted." He turned away and joined his family.

Mr. Matabo faced them directly. "I appreciate your cooperation Mister Denton."

The four left for the lobby and were no longer visible.

Jack stared at Nancy. "So...why were you following us around?"

The attendant nervously glanced at Atabey and then back to the floor. "I...I..."

Mr. Matabo sighed and leaned forward. "She...really likes liminals with horns."

Atabey and Jack were stunned silently, they blinked in unison.

Then he guffawed and partly doubled over. "Ha! Really? You... you were...Hahaha. Oh god. It's... that's...I can't I just can't." Jack held a hand to his face and tried to control his mirth.

Atabey held a finger by the tip of her left horn. "M-my horns...what about my horns?"

Nancy grinned sheepishly. Her freckled cheeks reddened a shade. "I wanted to tell you that they're really cute." She turned to the side a bit and tapped the floor with the toe of her shoe.

Atabey's cheeks flushed and her eyes dilated. "C-cute?"

Nancy nodded deliberately. "I should get back to work. Please enjoy the rest of the gallery." She spun on her heel and power walked away.

Mr. Matabo shook his head. "As should I." He announced and strode with a long gait toward an office door at the far side of the facility.

Jack swallowed and controlled his amusement enough to be able to ask his guest a question. But...she was still frozen in embarrassment. "Oh no."

The mishipeshu finally rattled her head and stared at her host. Or actually...past her host. "Jack I..."

He gave her an inquisitive expression dipping his forehead. "You..." He prompted.

Her pupils slowly contracted to a normal size and her breathing slowed. "No one's...ever told me that." Her eyes focused on him directly. "I didn't even gild mine with copper today."

Jack tilted his head curiously. "Copper?"

She nodded and composed herself. "My people use copper for decorations." She raised a hand-paw. "They're inherited and displayed for all sorts of rituals and parties." She placed that hand-paw on her opposite arm. "And...if you wear some copper and swim near another clan's territory it means you are signaling for a mate." Her eyes widened again. "But I wasn't...doing anything."

Jack put a finger by his chin. "Ah...she's obviously interested, but you couldn't figure out what she was doing." He smirked and nodded lightly. "Don't worry about that, happens all the time."

She blinked rapidly and gazed at him. "All the...what do you mean?"

Jack raised his eyes. "Humans don't really have a set way of signaling for a mate. Least in America." He looked back down at her. "Dating and relationships can get complicated..."

She hugged herself. "I'm on a date with you right now though. Even though you already..." She pressed her lips closed and looked away.

Jack held up both hands. "It's alright. Tetra's made it very clear that I belong to her." He smirked and nodded firmly. "And she's the only one for me..." Both arms dropped. "This 'date' is a part of my responsibilities as host. We really should just call it 'outing' but the first girls insisted on calling it a date and it has stuck."

She blinked down at him. "First girls? You said that before."

"Yeah." He nodded. "Sula and Tetra were already moved in before I even saw the house." He raised a hand briefly. "So they are the 'first'."

She paused a moment. "Am I a 'last girl'?" There was a slight edge in her voice.

Jack blinked once. "Uh technically." His eyes caught a moment. "Unless Smythe foists someone else on me." His face lost a little color. "Gods do I even have the room now? We gotta cook so much already..."

She couldn't help but glare at him.

Jack faced back up, finally recognizing that he'd displeased her. "Oh...uh...okay." He held up one hand. "What did I say?"

For a moment she couldn't believe his selfishness.

But he's not selfish. He's the best human you've met. You just told him that this morning.

She closed her eyes and let her irritation start to slough away. "You called me last."

The panic from his intake of breath was palpable. "Oh crap. That...that sounds like...Like I am..." He took in another quick breath. "Yeah I get how that sounds now." An audible swallow. "I uh should not have called you my 'last girl' Atabey. I apologize."

She opened her eyes slowly. His expression was some combination of desperate, hopeful and pleading with a healthy dash of innocence. She glared for just a moment more to see what he would do.

His mouth opened and his eyes pleaded just a little more before she relented.

"I accept your apology Jack."

He leaned back, closed his eyes and breathed out. "Thank you Atabey." He held up a hand. "Believe me, I am trying to be the least offensive member of the household." That hand waved laterally. "And I'd like to think that I can pick up on my guest's moods and attitudes and adjust accordingly."

She cocked her head and thought a moment. "That...seems impossible."

He blinked. "Come again?"

"You have almost a dozen people living in one house. You cannot possibly please them all."

He dropped that hand. "You're...not wrong." He hung his head a moment. "But...that's the thing." He looked back up at her. "Everyone of you chose to be here...chose to live with me. I'm not keeping any of my guests with me by any means of coercion." He swallowed. "My guests can leave and try to find a new host or go back home any time they want."

He placed a hand on his chest. "I'm not responsible for everyone's happiness. They can look after themselves, they're adults." He glanced to the side briefly. "Well most of them. You get what I mean."

She folded her arms but didn't comment.

"Pleasing my guests isn't the point." He paused and raised a finger. "Although I do pride myself on being able to do so." She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "They're all learning how to behave around humans in a world that is going to become more complicated and integrated. And I certainly need to learn how to live with different extra-species. I wouldn't have made it this far if I hadn't picked up on some details of non-human behavior and culture."

"And all that gets messy, muddled and dangerous." He waved at her. "Liminals make mistakes. Humans make mistakes." He placed a hand on his chest. "My job is to weather those out and correct them." His arm dropped to his side. "When my guests go back to their families, their people, they can teach them, prepare them as best they can."

He nodded firmly. "That's the overall goal of the Exchange. And I've volunteered to serve it."

She hummed. "I know Jack." She turned a bit and faced the entrance. "So...in human terms...what should I do?"

He followed her gaze. "Oh about her? Are you...interested?"

Atabey nodded. "I'd prefer to have a longer conversation."

He raised a hand. "Then introduce yourself and give her your number."

She blinked once. "My number?"

"Yeah your phone number." He inclined his head. "Smythe got you a smartphone didn't he?"

"Oh this thing?" She withdrew her device from a back pocket. "I haven't interacted with it."

"That's alright. We can give her both our numbers." He held out his own. "Here let me get yours and we'll write them both down for her."

Atabey followed his instructions slowly and deliberately and found some stationary and a pen. She wrote down the number that Jack indicated and he recorded his own.

"Now you just tell her your name and ask her to call you when she's off work." Jack informed.

Atabey took the scrap of paper and marched directly to the attendant. Nancy's eyes widened and she took a light step back at her approach.

"My name is Atabey. I'd like to have a longer conversation with you." She informed and held out her hand-paw. "Please use either of these phone numbers to contact myself or my host."

The stunned girl barely managed to lift a hand and lightly gripped the paper. "I...I..."

Atabey squinted and then looked back at Jack. "Did I do this correctly?"

Jack couldn't help but smirk. "Yeah you did. Come on. Let's get go get lunch before collecting Tetra." He stepped around toward the exit.

Atabey faced back to human girl and evaluated her. "You complimented my horns."

"Uh...uh huh." Nancy uttered.

The mishipeshu gazed a moment longer. "Your face spots are unique."

Nancy and Jack reared their heads. "Face spots?"

Atabey stepped back to view them both and held a claw to her face. "She has spots on her face. I've never seen that on a human."

Jack's mouth opened with comprehension. "Oh you mean freckles."

Atabey scrunched one eye. "What in the depths is a freckles?"

Nancy giggled. "They're a genetic trait that I have. But I don't just have them on my face." She rolled up one sleeve and exposed a shoulder. "See? I've got them on both arms."

Atabey leaned forward and examined the limb closely. "So I shouldn't call these...arm spots?"

Nancy and Jack chuckled together. "No." She laughed. "Just freckles."

Atabey righted herself and nodded. "Very well. I like your freckles."

Nancy pressed her lips in and blushed hard. "Th-thank you."

Jack rolled his eyes while smiling. "Oh gods this is too cute." He faced his homestay. "You hungry Atabey?"

She nodded and followed him toward the exit. "Yes Jack." She turned back briefly to Nancy before leaving through the opened door. "I'd like to see your freckles again."

The pair clambered into his van and sped out of the parking lot.

"Y'know technically speaking...you are my first girl." He stated.

She blinked from the passenger seat and faced him. "I don't understand."

He held up a finger. "Of all my current homestays, I met you first. In the parking lot at the Exchange office." He waved that finger toward her. "You uh...decided to grace the roof of my car with your presence."

She blinked once. "I don't remember..." Her gaze focused as her memory sharpened. "That was you..." She faced forward and glanced down. "That was when I misunderstood how liminals and hosts were assigned. I surmised that I had to seek one out to accept me."

Jack chuckled. "Well I accept you Atabey. It just took me a while after I met you." He replaced his hand to the steering wheel. "So in a way, you didn't misunderstand."

She faced back to him. "Your reasoning is faulty." She narrowed an eye at his smirk. "But I won't object to being referenced as a 'first girl'." Her grin exposed a couple fangs.

Jack chuckled. "Just don't tell the others." He shook his head. "I don't need some sort of seniority battle tearing apart the household."

Her grin widened. "The knowledge that I am your 'first girl' will remain our secret Jack."

---

Agent Widowmaker stalked along the branches above the oblivious opposition. She had three targets to eliminate. She would find them all.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are..." She sing-songed to herself.

She leaped to another tree and paused, keening her senses to their limits.

Found one.

The small human's scent was floral and pungent. Her eyes trained on the likely position, a large bush nestled by a sign post.

Widowmaker skittered to the nearest point above the bush and then dropped straight down. Her impact disturbed and scattered the fallen leaves. Her sudden appearance elicited a yelp from her prey.

She casually reached in and held a branch aside. "Found you..."

Tara giggled excitedly as she crawled out from the bush. "You...startled me."

Widowmaker's grin flashed. "Now... where are the others?"

Tara pouted with amused defiance and folded her arms. "I'll never talk."

Widowmaker shrugged. "Sooner or later your insurgent compatriots will be located and exposed." Then she vaulted back to the trees and scurried to the other end of the park.

"Come out, come out wherever you are..."

She wasn't picking up any unusual scents but a particularly muddy section of the forest floor was marked with fresh shoe prints. She followed the trail silently from above and halted.

The trail was disturbed and smeared. She let out a thread and lowered herself head first to examine the sight. "Ah...clever." She noted a particular pattern to the smears of mud.

"I've deduced your tactic, insurgent." She announced and righted herself. "You'll not hide from Widowmaker." She cantered slowly and deliberately, stomping the mud with each step. "Masking your scent was inspired, but it will not fool Widowmaker."

She scanned her surroundings and noted a partial shoe print by a fallen log. She stomped toward and placed her two forelegs atop. Her torso leaned down over the side and she brushed aside a layer of leaves. The muddied blue jeans she exposed stayed absolutely still.

"You can give yourself up." She noted with amused voracity. "You'll only make things worse for yourself." Her other hand prepared to remove the rest of the layer but Thomas took the hint and rolled out to his feet and stood.

"Hollywood lied to me." He spat.

Tetra giggled and held a knuckle to her lips. "You had the right idea." She offered with her other hand. "But your scent masking execution left another trail."

"I need more time to think up a better way." He pouted and stood up himself. "Ugh, now mom's going to yell at me for getting dirty."

Widowmaker inclined her head. "Only one of your insurgent brethren remain. Where is he?"

Thomas stuck out his tongue defiantly. "I wouldn't tell you even if I knew."

She raised an eyebrow. "Compartmentalization...a safe strategy." She leaped back into the trees. "But it won't help." She announced. "Widowmaker sees all."

The huntress crossed the forest park once, twice. But no sign of the third insurgent was found. She grimaced and closed her eyes.

He's not by the boundaries and I've checked the inter...

All her eyes flew open.

He's not by the boundaries...that little cheater.

Tetra dropped to the forest floor and casually strode back to the park proper. She schooled her face as best she could but the acknowledgment of the little scamp's audacity wrestled with her pride and distemper.

Widowmaker approached the wooden table where Max sat comfortably while reading a book on her tablet.

"Oh...hello Tetra." She lowered her device and gazed at her niece. "Giving up already?"

Widowmaker raised an eyebrow at her leading question. "Merely reviewing the evidence while taking a short break." She held up a claw. "And to acquire a drink."

To her credit, Max didn't react adversely to Tetra's stated intentions. She pivoted to her left. "Oh we brought water bottles. Let me get-"

Widowmaker vaulted the top of the table and leaned down toward the oversized canvas bag at the woman's feet. "That won't be necessary." She interrupted. Her clawed hand reached down and snatched a bottle for herself. A bottle that was lying atop a small boy.

"What's this?" She mock-questioned. "The final insurgent? It couldn't be."

Antonio giggled and emerged from the bag with a huge grin. His mother pressed a hand to her mouth to hide her guilty smile. He stepped out of the bag and ran off toward the jungle gym where his siblings played.

"Collaborating with the insurgents is a capital offense Missus Velasquez." Widowmaker trained all her eyes on the traitor. "I'll have to arrest you as well."

Max folded her arms and raised her chin. "I plead the fifth."

Tetra blinked and relaxed her stance. She backtracked to the other side of the table. "The fifth?"

Max nodded. "The fifth amendment of the constitution."

She cracked the seal on the bottle while setting all her legs back to the ground. "Does that prevent a law officer from completing the arrest?"

Max shook her head. "No."

Tetra made a rasping motion with her claws. "Then I've caught you as well."

She leaned forward and placed her hands under her chin. "But I never said I was playing."

The arachne set her bottle on the table. "You aided an insurgent Missus Velasquez. Whether you bothered to inform the proper authorities of your actions is immaterial." She laced her claws together under her chin and planted her elbows on the table, matching her aunt's posture.

"I had no knowledge of anyone using my bag to avoid the authorities." She lied.

Tetra cocked an eyebrow and stared at the perjurer. "I believe I understand why colony matriarchs send representatives when dealing with humans. The patience required to put up with such malfeasance would drive one to take more direct action. Like eviscerating liars when they lie."

Max blinked and backed her head. "You..wha..?"

Tetra let down her hands. "I'll ignore your fib since you are not an arachne." She lifted a claw. "Considering that you are the second human family I've met, I will attempt not to judge how poorly you treat family."

Max tucked her chin and pressed her lips. "I should not have said that last part to you." Tetra straightened her stance and folded her arms expectantly. Max sighed and closed her eyes a moment. "I apologize for lying to you Tetra. I did help Antonio cheat at hide and seek."

"Thank you mi tia." She placed a hand on her chest. "I beg your forgiveness for threatening you."

The human woman faced back to her niece. "Uh, you have it." Tetra tilted her chin a degree. Max' eyes widened. "Oh right, you taught us this." She bit the bottom of her lip. "...and given." She produced a weak smile. "I say 'something... and given.'"

"Accepted and given."

"Accepted and given." Max repeated.

"Thank you mi tia." Tetra relaxed. "Being lied to from family is not a novel experience for me."

Max let her jaw unhinge and closed her eyes. She let out a sigh of comprehension. "Your mother." She shut her mouth after a moment and nodded a couple times. "Of course you would be...sensitive...to any lie..." She opened her eyes again. "It was just a game but..."

Tetra lifted a claw. "'But I never said I was playing.'" She quoted.

Max' jaw stuck and her eyes widened in shame.

Tetra continued. "Arachne have little tolerance for liars mi tia. Matriarchs will expel members and inform all other colonies of their transgressions." She waved a hand. "To be fair, within the confines of games, arachne can and do frequently lie and cheat. The prevailing wisdom being that a skilled liar can catch another liar." She paused a beat. "We're not simpletons mi tia. We test whether others are worthy of our trust, even family."

Max breathed out slowly. "And I failed just then didn't I?"

"Yes." Tetra confirmed. "The lack of consequences you humans face when you lie to each other absolutely astounds me. Your leaders lie and are not immediately chastised and removed from their positions is thoroughly alien to me."

She stabbed a claw into the wood. "Arachne matriarchs that are caught lying are immediately removed and investigated." All five claws pressed into the table. "If it is determined that they only lied once, they are banished. Anymore than that and the penalties become much more severe. Up to and including death."

Max didn't move, did not even breath for several seconds. "You execute your matriarchs for lying?" She swallowed after another moment. "That seems...extreme.." She trailed off as her eyes lowered in thought.

Tetra gave her aunt a moment to process.

Max started nodding a few times. "I...there have been several human leaders that have deserved death and been great liars, among other things...but..." She faced back to her niece. "How...why is there such a grave punishment for..." She blinked a couple times. "It's not like I don't get it but..."

"In my people's history mi tia, every disaster we've suffered has either been perpetuated or exacerbated by a lie." She inclined her chin. "Nearly every investigation into events that resulted in multiple arachne and our partners being harmed or killed, there has been a proven or highly suspected liar involved at some point."

She clenched a fist. "Naturally, the most horrible disasters tend to involve a matriarch misleading their own colony."

Max swallowed and took that in. Then she cocked her head a degree. "Would...you mind if I played devil's advocate for a moment?"

Tetra chuckled darkly. "Which devil are you referring to? I doubt we've met the same one. Or are you perhaps citing the great Enemy that's featured in several of your religions?"

Max blinked and her jaw slowly unhinged. "Oh my..." She blinked some more. "We, we're going to have to revise that saying...several sayings." She let out a weak chortle while glancing to the side. "That is such a strange thought. Devils are people too."

Tetra chuckled again. "To be fair to you humans, lesser and greater devils are notorious for their mischief and self-indulgence at others expense." She flitted a claw to the side. "I would not be surprised to find out that they invented and or actively encouraged the concept of powerful malevolent entities in your cultures."

Max blinked and jutted her head forward. "Wh-why would they do that?"

The monster smirked. "Because messing with humans is fun."

The woman's shoulder's slumped and her expression dipped. "Well now I don't feel so bad about lying to you."

Tetra cocked her chin. "I have not played any tricks on you mi tia." She smirked harder. "I can wrap you up in a web right now if you would like..."

Max settled back on the bench. "Hard pass." Her niece giggled lowly. "I have to ask though...you know that full honesty can be detrimental at times? Don't you?"

Tetra's smirk dropped. "Whether a statement made is detrimental or not is immaterial." She lifted a claw. "Something being detrimental is largely a matter of perspective is it not?" Max was about to object but Tetra cut her off. "Using the truth to hurt someone, for the sake of hurting them, is a known issue." She dropped that claw. "I believe you call that 'brutal honesty'. Fortunately that skitters into the enemy exceptions."

Max narrowed her eyes. "Enemy exceptions?"

Tetra swallowed and nodded. "You humans have a saying that goes 'all's fair in love and war'?" Max kept her expression but nodded.

"Arachne take the 'war' part literally." She explained. "Two arachne who have grievous enmity between each other can request their mistress to declare themselves enemies. A mistress hears their claims against each other and as long as none of the colony's laws have been broken up to that point she can exempt both from the anti-violence laws until the matter is resolved."

Max creased her expression more. "I'm not sure I understand."

"It does not happen often, but enemies can utilize several means to attack each other, within a colony."

The human glanced at her askance. "That...seems barbaric."

Tetra's eyes flashed. "Exactly." She waved a clawed hand. "If an arachne feels so strongly about another that they try to declare that they're that person's enemy, they've already admitted that they have given up using civil means to resolve their grievance."

Max reared her head. "Oh...that's...huh..."

"Any single arachne that is willing to throw away civil discourse and means, likely will not find much support for their grievance. And unless the mistress approves of their enemy request there's nothing else they can do legally." She traced a claw on the table.

The other woman nodded. "Encouraging them to resolve issues without violence."

"Correct." Tetra affirmed. "And an enemy applicant had better have a really good reason to hate another member of the colony or they will face punishment like banishment or worse. "

The lawyer raised her eyes in comprehension. "Don't waste the authorities' time and resources on false allegations and pettiness."

Tetra smiled sharply. "Correct again. Brutal honesty falls under 'pettiness' as you put it. That is only permitted after both are allowed to be enemies. There are many ways to tell the truth. Deliberately using it as a metaphorical fang at someone's jugular is considered an act of aggression."

Max nodded knowingly. "The truth is a tool. It can be used as a weapon. But you use weapons against enemies not friends."

Tetra slapped the table firmly. "Precisely. The justification that 'I'm just telling the truth' does not weave into arachne relationships. We're taught better than to bludgeon away at ourselves. Tactful and considerate conversation yields better results most of the time. We're taught to think critically and to examine ourselves."

Her eyes fell. "Not that my mother was any good at that. Goddess she was such a hypocrite."

Max considered her niece's words for a full minute. "We...got kinda sidetracked." Tetra raised her eyes. "I wanted to argue that there may be times to lie to people for their own protection." She waved a hand "For instance if there's a disaster approaching and telling the public about it would start a panic and make things worse."

Tetra paused and thought about her scenario for a good three count. Then she answered. " Adult arachne do not treat each other like children." Max blinked once. "Being able to adapt to dangerous situations in seconds is an essential survival trait." She crossed her claws together. "I won't say that we never panic." Her eyes darkened a moment. "Like if our warren is being burned out." She continued. "Our fight or flight response to emergencies tends toward flight." She leaned forward a degree. "And we can move pretty fast. Our senses and reflexes can keep us from colliding with ourselves if we have to all flee in one direction." She eyed her aunt. "And...every colony builds multiple escape routes from a warren. Despite our preference to stay in one place and hunt and settle there, we're taught that getting attached to a single cave or forest is a vulnerability. If your mistress orders you to abandon your home, you abandon your home and go to the new one."

She paused again. "Lying to the public for their protection..." Tetra's eyes oscillated with thought. "I'm sorry but..." She shook her head. "I can't think of any situation arachne armed with false information or nothing at all would benefit them."

Max stared back. "You can handle the truth."

Tetra swallowed. "The truth that an outside force can arrive to threaten us, yes." She lifted a clawed hand. "Discovery by humans used to be the greatest fear of my species for centuries. Still is to some who've been resistant to change." She lowered that appendage. "But even the most stubborn large-breed would obey their mistress if danger approaches. Avoiding conflict entirely is favored over escalation."

Max continued to stare. "Why wouldn't you fight back if someone destroyed your home?"

Tetra didn't react for a beat. "If every colony decided to get full revenge on a human town that burned out their warren, there would be no arachne left." Max blinked. "Consider, one colony gets burnt out and the night after when all the adult humans have gone back to sleep, how would they defend themselves from a few dozen arachne sneaking into their homes and murdering them in their beds."

Max froze in abject fear.

"Now imagine that humans who know about arachne heard of this attack and warn their fellow humans. More arachne colonies are attacked. More human towns are slaughtered in response." She pointed at her aunt. "'I told you what happened to the vampires when they attempted to dominate and cull humans. The same coalition of monsters would band together and stop my people from destroying humanity in response. We'd be at their mercy and our pride would rage against that. The war would devastate us. Those that survived might be able to form a new colony, but what would be the point? We still need human males to procreate and the coalition of monsters would protect them from the arachne remnant as long as a state of war exists." She shrugged bitterly. "Then we'd die out."

Max' eyes widened at every theoretical detail of her niece' lecture. "God almighty..."

Tetra nodded. "Indeed. At that point only the Goddess could save us."

Max swallowed. "This is..." She shook her head. "How did we get here? All I did was help my son cheat at hide and seek?"

The arachne chuckled. "Being within proximity of a liminal, especially one as dangerous as me, is an intense experience for humans." She waved a claw between them. "Our lives are vastly different on multiple fronts. We've learned lessons by completely different means." She continued. "And while I am trying to be receptive to how humanity operates...there are some things I will not tolerate."

Her aunt nodded slowly. "Like being lied to."

Tetra inclined her chin. "Yes, arachne and other liminals have observed that humans can effortlessly lie to one another even if there's no perceived benefit for doing so. I've heard such behavior is often used as justification for resistance to the Exchange."

Max snorted. "I'm not surprised. Thomas once showed me a clip of one of our famous scientists. He said that: what if aliens had heard that there's intelligent life on Earth. So they observe us and all our violence and destruction and pollution and sins and then come to the conclusion that...there actually is no intelligent life on Earth."

"Ha." Tetra laughed mirthlessly. "Interesting take on the Fermi paradox."

Max blinked a couple times. "The what paradox?"

Tetra waved behind her. "Thomas was telling me about one of his favorite scientists, an Enrico Fermi, who's team built the first nuclear reactor. He's credited with asking the question: If life is apparently so potentially abundant in the universe why can't we find the evidence? Where is everybody?" She faced back to her aunt. "That clip he showed you suggests that there is life out in the universe. They are just avoiding Earth."

Max snorted quietly. "Can't say I blame them."

---

Jack slipped the van into a parking spot and shut off the engine. "Ah I think I see her already."

The pair observed the park partially ensconced by a small forest. A set of benches and tables separated a large soccer field. At one particular table A tall woman and an even taller arachne sat and conversed.

"Ah...I've seen that arachne back at the Exchange office."

Jack nodded. "You did, cool." He pointed toward them. "And that is her aunt, Max. Maxine Velasquez."

Atabey blinked. "That...isn't 'Max' a...boy's name in your culture?"

He snorted. "Normally yes but Maxine is female...so Max for short."

She blinked again. "That...seems like it could be confusing."

He chuckled. "I'm sure it has. But, now that you're informed you won't make that mistake now will you?"

She sighed and opened her door. "I suppose not." Her host followed suit and the mixed species pair approached the other mixed species pair.

"Ah..." Tetra narrowed all her eyes. "If it isn't the siren that lured my Jack from me." Her toothy grin held a degree of menace. "Finally returned him have you?"

Atabey backed her head and fluttered her eyes. "I'm...sorry." She stated indignantly. "Who are you calling a siren?!"

Jack rolled his eyes and stepped onto the table. "Always so dramatic..." He crouched and kissed his girlfriend. "Be nice, I wasn't gone that long."

She giggled. "I know Jack. I'm just messing with the new girl."

He let out a discontented sigh. "Save your ire for Smythe, Tetra. Don't take it out on her."

All her eyes flashed. "Oh he is going to take the brunt of it Jack." One claw ran down his face and under his throat. "My retribution will be swift and terrible."

"Hi I'm Max." The human woman stood and held out her hand to the mishipeshu. "It's nice to meet you."

Atabey turned but kept one eye on the irked arachne. "Atabey Gendewytha."

Max tilted her head. "I thought Jack said your name was Mishi?"

She shook her head. "No it is not." She focused on the other woman. "An Exchange employee who was too lazy or inept to pronounce my name insisted on an easier nickname."

"That's-" Max' expression shifted to scornful. "Well that's two strikes against the Exchange I've heard in as many days." She folded her arms. "And here I was thinking that my kids should be exposed to more non-human playmates."

Jack turned around and stepped off the table. "Were you thinking of taking in a homestay?"

Max held up a hand. "I don't know about going that far just yet, but..." She swayed her hand at the other two women. "But I can already tell that...this...is going to be a major factor in my youngest' development. I'd like him to see more."

Jack smirked. "You want him to have a liminal friend."

She nodded. "I can't be taking Tetra from you at a whim." She eyed her niece. "She gets snippy with strangers."

Tetra's jaw dropped and her eyes narrowed. "I...You..." She pouted a moment and then held her eyes shut. "You have a point." Her shoulders drooped and she faced back to the mishipeshu while peeling her lids open a sliver. "I should not have unfairly accused you of stealing Jack from me, Atabey. I beg your forgiveness."

Atabey folded her arms. "Accepted and given."

Tetra smiled and skittered up to the newcomer and held out a hand. "Thank you."

The mishipeshu grasped it and they shook. "Now...it is good to meet you Tetra."

"Hey Jack is this your new monster-girl?" All the adults turned toward Thomas, who was jogging up from the field.

Atabey glanced at Jack then back to the teen. "Yes greetings. My name is Atabey."

"Atabey?" Tara stepped up next to her brother. "I thought Jack said it was something else?"

Jack lifted a hand. "A misunderstanding that will be cleared up. Her name is Atabey."

"Oh well nice to meet you." Tara presented her hand. "I'm Tara."

"And I'm Thomas." He matched his sister's motion. The new liminal shook them both.

"Where's Antonio?" Max asked.

Tara rolled her eyes. "He's sneaking around."

"Poorly." Tetra commented and pointed a thumb behind herself. "Fourth table on your left."

Everyone else pivoted and stared.

"Antonio come out and meet Atabey." Max called.

"Okay mom." The youngest Velasquez crawled out from under the table the arachne indicated and ran up to his mother. He gave a little wave. "Hi."

"Hello child I am Atabey." She held out her hand. The boy glanced at her hand but shied away. "I...is something wrong?" The boy buried his face in his mother's thigh.

"I..." Atabey stood back up and held her arm back to her chest. "Did I...say something wrong?"

Max blinked and looked down at her son. "Tony...what is it?"

"Bitey." He mewled.

Most of the rest turned their heads at each other. Atabey blinked a few times. "Bitey? I didn't bite anyone."

"Oh no." Thomas slouched.

"This is bad." Tara lamented.

"What? What is wrong?" Atabey compelled.

Max looked over at the twins. "Bitey? Why do I..." Her expression shifted from questioning to horrified realization. "Barnabus."

"Yeah." Thomas confirmed.

The mishipeshu glanced between all of them. "Who is this...Barnabus?"

"Our old cat." Tara explained. "He was a stray we took in."

"We had to put him down after..." Max knelt down and hugged her youngest. "After he bit and scratched Antonio. He got an infection, a fever and we had to take him to the hospital."

"Oh damn." Jack exclaimed breathless.

Max nodded. "Worst two days of his life." She glanced back at Atabey. "I guess you reminded him of all that. He's usually not this shy."

Atabey placed a claw by her chin. "Is he afraid of all cats?"

Max shook her head. "I don't know...we haven't gotten a pet since."

Jack stepped forward. "Any of his friends have a pet cat?"

She shook her head again. "I've no idea." She placed both hands on her son's shoulders and gently drew herself away. He gazed up at her face. "Is it all cats sweetie?"

He didn't say anything but his eyes were on the verge of tears.

"Oof." Jack exclaimed. "That does look bad."

Atabey pursed her lips. "If it's not all cats..." She glanced over at Tetra. "I have an idea."

Three minutes and a quick crafting session later...

Tetra wasn't quite certain what she was looking at. "Are we sure this is..." She didn't quite frown. "The...'solution' we want to go with?" Jack snorted and glanced over at her. "I am...this is...not the behavior I expected..."

Jack shrugged. "It's working isn't it?"

The pair observed the boy hefting a long stick and dangling one end over the Mishipeshu's face. Hanging from that end was a small plushie bunny that swung about from one of Tetra's threads. Antonio's mouth peeled with laughter as Atabey lightly batted the toy with her hand-paws. Her wide eyes tracked everywhere it went.

"I..." Tetra grimaced and shot her boyfriend a look. "I want it known that I do not condone this...indignity." She turned her chin up. "I am not responsible if my threads are suborned for such...calumny."

"Oooh." Jack complimented. "Good word usage. I haven't heard 'calumny' for a while." He raised a hand. "But I think Atabey would use different terms for what's going on."

Tetra harumphed. "Just don't expect me to debase myself to assuage a child's reservations."

Jack shook his head and gave her a reproving look. "You don't have to watch."

She turned herself one hundred and eighty degrees and folded her arms. "I'm not."

He snorted and smiled. But then a dangerous thought occurred to him. He backed up and angled himself to face his girlfriend directly. "Is there...something else?" He asked quietly. She didn't say anything. But the downward angle of her eyes spoke volumes. "If it can wait..." He prompted.

She shut her eyes and shook her head once. "No I should be honest. If not with myself, then at least with you." Two of her eyes cracked open a sliver. "I suppose I'm a bit...jealous."

He blinked once but didn't respond.

"I...can't play like others can...it is not in me to...just turn off being a predator." She thumbed behind herself at the gleeful kitty batting away at a toy. "I can't just..." She blinked once. "When I do play at anything...I am always in some sort of control. Hide and seek, I seek. I catch, tie up and dominate you for play." She faced down again. "I think I'm afraid of letting go of control Jack." A pause. "And if I can't do that...Do I really trust someone?"

Jack held a knuckle to his lips. "What do you mean by that?"

She sighed. "When you trust someone...you can put your life into their claws...hands...paws...you know what I mean." He nodded once. "I used to do that for...but then..."

His tone dipped. "For your mother, who abused your trust."

She sucked in a breath. "Exactly... I...and there are times I don't trust myself around humans." She raised a hand. "And now I've sworn an oath to trust a mistress I had only known a few hours."

He snorted. "She actually said something similar the next day."

Tetra focused all her eyes on him. "What? What did she say?"

Jack swallowed at the sudden shift in attention. "She...was afraid that...you would force...something to happen that first night there...in the mating chamber..."

She blinked once. "That I would have raped you..." She nodded in comprehension. "A legitimate concern."

Jack twitched and was about to slap her. His face went dark and he choked back a reply. Her eyes fluttered at the display. "Jack...what..?"

"No it's not." He barked.

Her eyes squinted a degree. "You're better than that Tetra." He pointed right at her. "You are a good woman. A good arachne." He folded his arms and bore down his gaze at his girlfriend. "You would never hurt me like that. Ever."

She stared a moment. Then she blinked back a tear. "Jack..."

He stepped up to her. "You are not a monster."

She pressed her lips and her cheeks flushed. Despite her best efforts she smiled. She tried to force it back down but her lips wouldn't budge a centimeter back.

"You love me, you respect me." He stated. "Just as I love and respect you." He waved a hand at the silly display behind her. "So you're different. So what?" He swallowed. "You don't want to roll around in the dirt to entertain children, you don't have to." He stared a moment. "Is it...because they're family? Your family?"

She placed a hand over her mouth. "N-no..." Her eyes fluttered once. "Well, perhaps." She let out a breath and could finally control the tilt of her lips. "I just don't want to be...I don't know..."

He gazed at her a moment. "You've not had a caring family...for years."

Hers eyes fell. "Yes...I am not entirely certain of my behavior...What is...acceptable."

He shrugged unconcernedly. "So, you'll figure it out."

She squinted at him severely. "You sound so...careless."

He shook his head. "Not at all." He lifted a hand. "Families are messy things, even the good ones." He raised a finger. "You're going to make mistakes. They will have to discover your boundaries."

She blinked once. "Boundaries?"

He nodded. "Sometimes there are subjects that even families shouldn't touch. For instance, think about something you and I did during the party."

Her brow furrowed but she responded with: "Okay."

"Now imagine telling that particular part to Tara."

Tetra's eyes flashed in concern. "Oh...Oh...I see." Her head nodded several times. "That is...not...Max and Hector would probably not appreciate a retelling of..." She glanced to the side. "She is much too young for...I see."

"You don't have to be someone you are not." He continued. "But...discretion is useful in building a relationship, right?"

"Of course." She closed her eyes briefly. "Thank you Jack. This is so much better with you to guide me."

He stepped back. "Was it really so bad without...did something happen?"

She shook her head then faced him directly. "No...But I need to go on a hunt. A real hunt. It has been far too long."

He cocked his head askance. "Didn't we already deal with...you know that thing with Verandys that set you off that one time?"

She lifted a clawed hand. "This is different. I am not agitated...my instincts are not engaged. I know...that I must." She placed that hand over her chest. "It was one of the first thoughts I had this morning. And it has been patiently waiting to be sated at the back of my mind since."

Jack stared at her a moment. "When...and where?"

She smirked. Then she placed both hands over his cheeks and tilted his chin up to her. "Jack, have I told you you're the best boyfriend a spider-girl like me could have?"

"Not specifically no." He replied through his squeezed cheeks. "But I take it that I qualify?"

"And then some." She leaned down and kissed him.

When she broke it off she continued. "I'll arrange something with the mistress through agent Serilla." She let him go. "Next time I won't be stumbling around someone else's hunting grounds like a novice."

Jack nodded knowingly. "We got lucky that she was so amenable, didn't we?"

She nodded. "Indeed." She glanced to the side. "Were you any other host...I'm not sure what would have happened."

He blinked once. "What about...me? What do you mean?"

A beat. "What Marian did to you, to us, to all arachne." All six eyes flared and her fangs gritted. "If you had been another host and held animosity toward my kind for what she did. If the mistress didn't allow a negotiation with the Exchange for my release. If Serilla hadn't-"

Jack grabbed her hand. "Hey." She blinked and faced him. "That's enough Tetra. Don't dwell on something you can't change."

She sighed in relief. "Thank you Jack." She stilled herself and let out another breath. "Maybe I am agitated, overthinking things." She swallowed. "Everything will be better after the hunt. I promise."

"Good." He said. "Come on. Let's have some more fun with your family and then head home okay?"

---

Atabey braced herself and narrowed her focus. She'd only had one shot, though she wasn't alone. Several humans had joined her cause, even loaned her a weapon. They will defeat the smirking monster across the field.

She gripped the disc in her claws and poised it to her side as her instructors showed her. She idly considered that prior practice with this particular instrument would have been prudent but the challenge had been issued. There was no turning back. They would succeed or they would fail.

"Ready!"

The mishipeshu and her allies poised in a line and awaited the command.

"Aim!"

She visualized her projectile curving into the goal right past the opposition. There was no way she could miss. And there were too many shots coming to deflect them all. At least one would get through the defense.

"Fire!"

She pivoted her waist and stepped forward while extending her arm. Her claws released the disc. It glided toward the upper corner of the net alongside nine others.

The dark clad monster guarding the objective flung out barely visible strings at high speed, colliding with four discs, knocking them off course. She reared up on four of her lower appendages and swiped all others in criss-cross patterns. Each remaining disc was turned aside, slammed down or caught.

Atabey grimaced but held her tongue. She wouldn't give her opponent the satisfaction. Unfortunately her humans allies were not so disciplined.

"Again!?"

The moderately tall ultimate frisbee athlete with spiky highlighted hair shouted his frustration. His fellow players shook their heads save one. The woman with a light brown ponytail giggled. "I told you guys arachne are fast." She waved toward the lone liminal female that thwarted their efforts. "I think we need more players."

"That's all the frisbees we brought." Nate lamented.

Tetra picked up each remaining disc, stacking them neatly in a short column and approached from the soccer goal net she was protecting. "An interesting challenge. I'll have to introduce it to my colony." She held them out to the nearest human. "Perhaps we'll make the net wider and taller." Turk took back the frisbee stack. "And set up a full second line of throwers to follow-up."

Davin shook his head. "So not fair." Tetra held a smug smile.

"Come on guys." Paul extorted. "This was a nice distraction but let's get back to practice."

Atabey watched most of her defeated temporary allies slunk back to their own devices. Tara, Thomas and herself turned to the smirking spider-woman. "What should we play now?"

"How about we get some dinner on the way home?" Jack suggested from the side. She eyed him a moment and debated whether she'd refuse and attempt to get one over her new housemate again.

"Or..." Jack held up a hand. "Um...maybe there's a uh...'nother sport we could try..." He suggested halfheartedly.

Atabey closed her eyes a moment and willed her competitive mood loose. "I'm too irritated to think of something right now. And I'm hungry." She nodded firmly. "I require meat to consume."

Her host let down that arm in relief. "Alright. There's a decent steakhouse on the way back we can probably pop into."

Max walked up and placed a hand on her eldest' shoulders. "I should get dinner ready too. Thank you for coming back Jack."

"Mi tia, if I could have a moment..." Tetra announced. The human woman gave her niece her full attention. "Mi tia...If...you have no objections..." She swallowed. "I asked this of Hector last night and he gave his blessing but I wanted to ask you separately."

Max tilted her head. "Ask me what, Tetra?"

"Traditionally when an arachne marries a man and lives with them away from her colony, she takes his surname as her own." She waved a hand. "Normally arachne surnames are associated with the colony they belong to." She let down that hand. "But...I don't want that for myself." She swallowed. "I want your name."

Max blinked once. "You mean, Velasquez? You want to take Velasquez as your last name?" Tetra nodded silently.

Thomas pursed his lips and nodded approvingly. "Tetra Velasquez. I like it."

"So do I." Tara assented. Tetra let a small smile grace her lips but kept her eyes on her aunt.

After a moment Max lifted her chin. "I like it too. Tetra Velasquez. You are Tetra Velasquez."

The arachne smiled fully and embraced her aunt. "Thank you."

"You are quite welcome." Max replied. Tetra narrowed her eyes a scant second but didn't retort. "You are always welcome to our home, Tetra Velasquez."

Jack mimed writing a note. "Yet another detail about my girlfriend to surprise Agent Smythe with."

Tetra backed, lowered her torso down and gave all her cousins a hug in turn. She lifted one claw to them. "Now, be good for your madre." She crossed her arms and stood back up to her full height, red eyes gazing down on all of them. "Or I'll teach her how to string you all up like an arachne." The older twins' eyes popped. She pointed right at the youngest. "Especially for you, little cheater." Antonio hunched down and failed to hide a gremlin grin.

Max swallowed and leaned in. "That...uh...might be going too far..."

Tetra raised her chin and shut her eyes. "Of course. I was merely joking." All her eyes opened and fixed a direct gaze the kids. "Or am I?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Threatening children again Tetra? We talked about this."

She pivoted and advanced toward the van. "I issued no threat. Just informing them that bad behavior will be addressed."

Jack waved to the other humans. "Sorry about that. We'll see you next time." They waved and said goodbye and he joined his homestays walking to the van.

Atabey eyed the smug arachne. "I'm still the best swimmer."

Tetra chuckled once. "Oh I've no doubt of that." She shook her head lightly. "Without proper equipment most arachne would struggle in deep waters." She skittered to her side. "That's probably why we avoid settling near large bodies of water." She held up a claw. "Less chance our tunnels get flooded."

Atabey stopped and turned to face the taller woman. "What do arachne do if their caves get flooded?"

Tetra placed that claw by her chin. "Hmm. I've never had to deal with that particular disaster before. I can't remember every colony's evacuation policies." A beat. "I'll have to ask about them the next time I go back."

Atabey furrowed her brow. "They inducted you in but didn't tell you about about their safety standards?"

Tetra shrugged noncommittally. "We we're busy with other things." She held up a claw. "I'll request a full tour and orientation."

Atabey's eyes widened. "Can I come and see? I've never been to an arachne colony before."

Jack and Tetra exchanged a glance. "Uh...that...I think that's up to the matriarch." Jack posited.

Tetra stroked her chin. "Indeed. And she would have to rely on me for a character witness at the least."

The mishipeshu's expression fell. "Oh...so...I have to prove myself to you then?"

Jack and Tetra shared another glance. "Maybe..." Jack hesitated. "It's not like a museum that you can just buy a ticket to get in."

Tetra held her thoughtful demeanor. "I'll ask about non-human, non-arachne visitor procedures." She let down that arm. "If there is such a thing..." She mused.

Atabey closed her eyes briefly. "The other guests told me that arachne were secretive and not very welcoming."

Tetra paused and then placed her hands on her hips. "It's nothing personal Atabey." She waved a hand at her. "It has been fun meeting you today, and I would love to show you my colony." The mishipeshu blinked and faced up. "But I am responsible for maintaining what security I can for my people."

The newest guest nodded. "I can wear a blindfold like Jack did and be lead in. I'd never ask you to risk something dangerous just to sate my curiosity."

Jack and Tetra exchanged a third glance. He shrugged. Tetra chortled and folded her arms. "I...will...let my mistress know that." She blinked slowly once. "I have no idea how she'll react to that sort of request."

Atabey grunted and strode toward the van. "Tell her I said she needs to leave her cave more often."

The pair stayed in place as she made her proverbial exit.

Jack failed to hold in an explosive guffaw. "Ha! I think she just called Madam Jil'tanith a shut in."

Tetra opened her mouth and raised one claw for a moment. "If so...she's not entirely wrong."

Jack lifted both hands. "I'm not denying that she has her reasons...but..."

Tetra nodded. "She did say she doesn't want to be stuck down there the rest of her life." She chuckled to herself. "Now I wonder how she'll react to her own advice..." She faced down to her boyfriend. "She wants to leave...then just do it."

Jack shook his head. "I don't know if Smythe would be jumping for joy or having a fit."

"Bah." The spider-woman dismissed his assertion with a sharp wave of her hand. "He'll take it and deal with it to maintain as much peace as possible."

Tetra's phone rang. She slipped it out of a pocket. "Speaking of the Exchange..." She pushed the button and accepted the call. "Agent Serilla what can I do for you?"

Jack advanced and climbed into the van. Tetra stood right outside his door a few moments later and he lowered the window. "Hey. Is something going on?"

She nodded firmly. "The mistress has summoned me. Agent Serilla is going to pick me up from our house in four hours."

He blinked once. "That's... very specific. It's not some emergency is it?"

She shook her head. "No, Serilla didn't give me any details."

Jack paused a moment. "Should I go with...you...?"

She shook her head. "No. Serilla said this is strictly an arachne matter." She glanced to the side and placed a claw on her chin. "It obviously has to do with Exchange, but doesn't involve my host..."

Jack nodded once. "Still sounds serious. Let's get going."

"Right." She agreed and proceeded to the rear of the van as he engaged the ignition.

Vignette 2: 'Swift and terrible retribution'

Agent Magnus glanced around the decrepit facility and kept her gun hand on her holster. "I do not like this at all sir."

Senior coordinator Smythe kept his face rigid but internally he agreed with the head of his security detail.

"Why here?" She voiced the thought of most of the rest of her team spread throughout their immediate vicinity. "Is there some more significance to this place? Is she blaming us?"

A dim light clicked on in the center of the clearing. A lone small breed arachne stood and faced them. She wasn't dressed in her usual uniform and gear. Instead she wore a short black dress and skin tight black shorts.

"Agent Serilla." Smythe crossed his arms. "These theatrics are unwelcome."

She nodded gravely. "Under normal circumstances, I would agree sir." She held up a claw. "However, the Mistress is unhappy with your conduct."

His face flickered irritation for half a second. "My conduct? If I recall correctly I am the one who requested this meeting." He inclined his chin. "To discuss her recent behavior."

Serilla nodded deeply. "And your item will be examined, but the mistress insists that your deviation of the agreement be addressed first."

Smythe sucked in a short breath. "What...deviation?"

"Article one, subsection seven, clause one:" The mistress skittered into the light displacing Serilla. "Exchange personnel shall inform any member of the Senlin Kanati Collettiva prior to physical visits to their domicile within a reasonable amount of time, barring emergencies."

Smythe cocked one eye. "I've never been to the warren. No one except Serilla even knows where an entrance is."

The mistress lifted a claw. "Correct. But you still violated the clause."

His irritation at her nonsense flared. "Enough! This is ridiculous. I will not play this game while there are serious matters to discuss."

The mistress let down that hand and fixed the agent with a stare. "This is not a game Conrad." Her eyes narrowed. "You still protest your innocence?"

"Of course I do. I haven't visited your warren-"

"I am not speaking of the warren, Conrad." She interjected.

Magnus rolled her eyes up and away. "Oh no."

Smythe took a moment to adjust to the sudden left turn this conversation took. "There is no..." He closed his eyes as the realization dawned on him. "Tetra..."

The mistress smirked. "That is correct Coordinator Conrad Smythe." She pointed a claw right at him. "Yesterday afternoon, you drove to the current domicile of Senlin Kanati Collettiva member Tetra Velasquez without any prior contact to her or the administrator of that domicile."

Both agents blinked. "Who's Velasquez?" Magnus blurted.

Another overhead light flared on to the Mistress' right. Tetra stood facing the agents. "That would be my father's name." She placed a hand to her chest. "My Uncle Hector and my Aunt Maxine Velasquez have given their permission."

Smythe narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing away from-"

Agent Serilla 'ahemed' loudly just to Tetra's right. He held back the rest of his accusation.

The mistress stepped forward. "Do you still protest your innocence Coordinator Conrad Smythe?"

He pressed his mouth shut and sifted through his thoughts and emotions. He took longer than he was proud of to stuff his frustration down to deal with later. "No. I do not."

The mistress lifted a claw and her smirk returned. "Then I am invoking punishment clause 'D'."

If he could murder monster-girls with a look he would do so.

"What's..." Magnus started. "Punishment clause 'D'?"

"Oh you'll see." The mistress informed and then snapped her fingers. "All the lights please."

In rapid succession a dozen evenly spaced overhead lamps flared on. All around the security team and Smythe, two dozen arachne of each subspecies were illuminated.

Magnus drew her pistol but kept it aimed at the floor. "Sir. It's an ambush!" Smythe didn't do anything. "Sir!"

"Stand down agent." He clipped.

Magnus blinked once. "Sir?"

"Look at what they're all holding."

She scrutinized him a moment and then turned and examined their would-be assailants. Each held a thin, rectangular black or gray device with at least one camera lens facing them. "Smartphones? Why?"

"They're going to record this." He sighed.

"Record what?" She asked while replacing her weapon.

Smythe stepped forward. "My...performance."

He took off his jacket and set it over a nearby pallet stack. Three steps positioned him in an ideal spot with plenty of room to move. Each arachne with a camera shifted and pivoted to keep him in frame.

He stretched, he lunged in place and cracked every joint to loosen up. "You have a suitable track?" One of the large breeds hefted a one meter high speaker and then pressed a button on her phone. The ominous strings of an expertly played violin wafted through the warehouse. An electronic beat built up with it and Smythe nodded his head along.

Then he danced.

He rolled his hands, lifted his knees and stomped the concrete. He spun and twirled and craned his neck to the beat of "Moon Trance".

Nearly two hundred eyes were on the dancer as he improvised a new two-step to a five year-old track.

He leaped to the side and the cameras followed. He turned and flung out his arms in tempo and rhythm and pulse. His blood pumped and his breath stretched but he never slowed down save during the softer stanzas.

Magnus and the rest of MON's collective jaws dropped except Serilla, who merely grinned like a child and followed and recorded. Most of the arachne tapped a leg to the beat.

Finally the song ended and Conrad took a bow. All the other occupants clapped and cheered. Agent Serilla approached with an open bottle of water. He accepted and quaffed the whole thing.

He rolled his shoulders and worked out a kink in his neck. "Satisfied?"

The mistress glanced over at Tetra who approached the agent. "One last thing."

He sighed heavily. "I failed to inform you or Mister Keysman before visiting your domicile Tetra...Velasquez. I beg your forgiveness."

She turned her chin up. "Accepted. And given." She ended her recording and retreated back to allow her mistress to approach.

"Shall we discuss your concern then, Agent Smythe?" The madam intoned.

He swallowed and stood fully, though he was still short of her by at least a couple decimeters. "You have plans for my host Mister Keysman." He folded his arms. "What are they?"

Her smirk didn't sway. "I have several designs. Most of which are none of the Exchange's concern."

He inclined his head. "And what are your 'designs' that do concern the Exchange?"

"You will be informed of them through Agent Serilla when you need to know."

One eyebrow twitched. "Unacceptable." He lifted a finger. "Your boldness tonight has more than demonstrated your willingness to buck against the old rules." He folded his arms. "The public will panic if the Exchange is caught off-guard by any...overt displays."

She lifted a claw. "An astute observation. Very well." She folded her claws together. "I have given a task to Mister Keysman. If he fulfills it to my satisfaction, I will declare him an honorary member of the Senlin Kanati Collettiva."

Smythe stood silent a moment. "Meaning that you can visit his home without needing to inform the Exchange. Just like you can with Agent Serilla. As per our agreement."

Her grin sharpened. "Not just myself, Agent Smythe."

He stiffened. "No. You can't. How many?"

She made a show of pondering his question, tapping a claw on her cheek. "Only a couple at a time." The tapping halted. "For now."

Smythe swallowed audibly. "Does Jack know any of this?"

The mistress glanced pointedly at her newest member. "He will."

Tetra nodded gracefully. "Thank you for informing me, mistress."

Madam Jil'tanith held up a claw to her. "Only tell Jack after I declare him a member. I will call you immediately."

Tetra nodded again. "I anticipate it eagerly, mistress."

Smythe clenched a fist. "If anyone gets hurt because of this audacity...head's will roll. Including mine." He folded his arms. "I doubt you will appreciate whoever replaces me."

The madam folded her arms back. "Do you have so little faith in us agent?"

"Tetra and Jack nearly died in this very building because of-" He cut himself off.

All the arachne frowned. Madam Jil'tanith stepped forward and glared down at the man. "Understand this Conrad. Marian is a traitor. She is suffering a traitor's punishment. And every arachne knows." She backed a step. "Do not take me for a fool Conrad. I have learned my lesson regarding arachne that do not belong to my colony. Whomever I send out will have my full confidence and support."

He narrowed his eyes. "And if my office receives another arachne? What happens to her?"

The madam waved at agent Serilla. "She will be offered an invitation and a full explanation if necessary."

"If necessary?" He asked.

She nodded confidently. "I will be informing all other colonies of our conditions. If potential arachne homestays are uncomfortable with that they can find another office to find a suitable host."

"Will you make life difficult for a fellow arachne my office oversees if they do not conform to your conditions?"

She shook her head. "We will neither support nor interfere with her." She waved at Serilla again. "I expect MON to treat her like any other liminal."

One of the mainline arachne cleared her throat. "Ahem. Mistress if I may?"

All eyes shifted to her. Black hair with prominent white stripes covered her carapace. Her skin alternated pale and dark from her navel to the top of her head. The 'front' surface of each leg ran white along the whole length and her abdomen resembled a zebra's hide. Two large pale white eyes set under four smaller black eyes stared at agent Smythe. She was dressed in a dark blue croptop and an off-white skirt.

"Carla?" The mistress addressed. "You have something to contribute?"

She nodded and stepped forward. "Agent Smythe," She addressed in a slightly Nordic accent. "My mistress' conditions are not dissimilar to other colonies when a new arachne intends to settle in their territory."

He narrowed his eyes. "They're supposed to be representatives. When they go back to their colonies they are supposed to teach and prepare their fellows."

Mistress Jil'tanith nodded lightly. "A fair point agent." She held up a claw. "Perhaps a temporary membership can be offered, correlated with their stay with your office."

Agent Magnus folded her arms and shifted her hips to one side. "'My house, my rules'."

The mistress glanced briefly at her. "An...apt if simplified analogy."

Carla raised a claw. "That could generate friction, complications. 'No arachne can serve two mistresses'." All the other arachne murmured agreement. "Jumping between oaths on a whim violates their binding nature."

Tetra shrugged once. "Then make it a temporary oath as well." Jil'tanith glanced her way and narrowed all her eyes.

Tetra dipped her head and raised both hands. "I spoke out of turn mistress. I beg your forgiveness."

She paused a moment to let her displeasure dissipate. "Accepted and given. What do you mean Tetra?"

She swallowed and let her arms down. "Well, you keep calling it the Mission do you not? To find a way to coexist with humans?" No one objected. "And presumably any arachne that intends to return to their colony after leaving the Exchange will convey their experiences. To teach them and such." She raised a claw. "But, due to Marian's stupidity, the Mission was put in jeopardy. Conditions have to be placed to avoid such behavior."

Smythe narrowed his eyes. "Her punishment isn't enough of a deterrent?"

Tetra took a second. "That's...positive punishment," Agent Serilla formed a small smile. "But it should be complemented with something else." She waved at her mistress. "They should be supported by their fellow arachne even if they don't belong to the same colony."

Jil'tanith glanced at Carla a moment. "I would be remiss not to point out that our divisions exist for a reason. Treating arachne as some monolithic edifice is myopic and dangerous."

Tetra lifted a claw. "But not when it involves the Mission."

Magnus raised her hand. "If I may? I do apologize for interrupting before."

The mistress and the senior agent glanced at each other and then nodded toward her. Magnus pointed at the mistress. "To put it in a military context, you are the local commander. New arachne belong to the colony they come from but they have to obey you."

Carla shook her head. "Obeying two mistresses is impossible."

Magnus shrugged. "The mistress they are originally sworn to gives them a reprieve when they leave."

Jil'tanith cocked an eye. "That would require an inordinate level of trust in me from mistresses that I've never met." Magnus let down her arm.

"Inordinate...but not impossible." She tapped a claw on her cheek in a slow rhythm. "The representative they send would be loyal but also adaptable, someone capable of adjusting their behavior to accommodate human expectations. Adopting my rules...should not be terribly difficult for such an individual." She faced Smythe. "I would require them to stay at the warren for a few days before allowing you to assign them a host, if they expect my support."

He grimaced. "Another hurdle? It's already difficult enough for-" He shook his head. "Marian really fucked everything up didn't she?"

"Indeed." The mistress stated. "Had she taken the colonial oath, she would have been compelled to inform me of her dire intentions that night and I absolutely would have stopped her. However, since she was detached from her mistress' guidance she was trusted to act on her own." She nodded at her newest member. "Under this proposed arrangement Tetra would have stayed at the warren before even meeting Jack and they could have at least discussed her mother's history. The whole affair would have stayed an arachne matter."

Smythe sighed. "And Jack would never have been put in danger."

Tetra giggled.

All eyes turned toward her. She swallowed down guiltily. "Excuse me. Two thoughts occurred to me." She lifted one claw. "First, the idea of meeting Marian and not immediately hating her is simply bizarre." She lifted another claw. "Second, he doesn't know it but this meeting is almost entirely about or involving Jack." She folded her arms. "Perhaps I should have brought him along."

The mistress closed her eyes and snorted. "Perhaps." Her eyes opened and she faced Tetra again. "Please convey my contrition for a lack of foresight to him Tetra. No insult was intended."

Carla chuckled. "'Cock-up not conspiracy.'"

Tetra bowed to her mistress. "It will be my pleasure to inform him of everything I can about this meeting."

Jil'tanith turned to Conrad. "I believe we have a path forward. Perilous and uncertain as it is. Do you have any other concerns to raise Agent?"

He pursed his lips a moment. "Nothing that needs immediate attention at the moment." He lifted his chin. "There is another arachne applying for my office."

Mistress Jil'tanith turned to Serilla. "Ekellot. From one of the Central African colonies my mistress. Her recommendation letter is still under review."

The mistress nodded. "I request a copy of that letter."

Smythe frowned but didn't object. "I'll allow it."

"Then this meeting is adjourned." She declared. "May the Goddess guide your travels home."

Magnus stepped forward. "Actually I have a question." Everyone stopped and faced her. "Why here? Why this warehouse?"

The mistress smirked. "To rattle you and give Tetra a more pleasant memory of this place."

Magnus blinked repeatedly. "Rattle us? You were messing with us?"

Her smirk stayed. "Messing with Conrad specifically." The only human man in the room rolled his eyes.

Magnus shook her head. "Okay and why would Tetra care about this place?"

Jil'tanith gave a show of looking it over. "Oh I'm thinking of purchasing this property." All the Exchange employees froze, save Serilla. "Use it as an annex to the colony, so she can contact me directly and securely without having to go through Serilla. Save them both some effort."

Smythe blinked once. "This place...would be staffed by your colony?"

She nodded. "Correct. I'm thinking part of it can be used for storing and distributing our silk to generate income."

Tetra raised a claw. "Commercial silk production. I've had a few ideas about that."

"Talk to Dinah." The mistress waved around. "I'm going to assign her to command our first outreach center."

Smythe blinked again. "You're...first?"

She smiled widely. "Have a good night Conrad, sleep well." She snapped her fingers and all but two arachne scrambled away in unison.

Agent Serilla turned to Tetra. "Come on, Ravi and I will take you back to Jack's." She waved at her boss. "Have a good night sir. I'll see you all tomorrow."

"One last thing before you leave, Tetra." Smythe stated. "Agent Rivers should be contacting Jack soon. I've approved Talbot's assignment to his household."

Tetra nodded solemnly. "I appreciate that Agent Smythe. I'm sure Jack will as well."

As both women skittered toward the van they traveled here in, Serilla turned to her taller patient. "Satisfied?"

Tetra grinned, gripped her phone and watched a recently acquired recording. "Oh yes, more than satisfied."

A/N: Good Gods arachne are fun to write. It's almost addicting.

I'll try to include more of the other girls in future chapters, give them more exclusive material, but these wall-crawling ladies just keep surprising me. Ah well. At least I've gotten to flesh out Atabey more like I planned and given her a friendly (possibly romantic) contact to explore later.

Hope you all enjoyed. And Happy Holidays.