Heeeyyyy I'm doing voretober this year!!! (Or at least I'm gonna try to) and here's the first one!
Ao3 link
Space
Gem had a meeting. She had a deal with this guy who wanted to hire her for some bounty work. It was supposed to pay well, but he was sketchy and she wasn't sure if she trusted him- especially with where he asked to meet.
Chrysos was a gambling moon, once a wasteland turned into miles of casinos, bars, and other things made for either getting rich, wasted, or both. Everywhere felt sketchy as she walked through the streets of one of the cheaper towns- Taboonan. She was heading to a bar in a small alley, her trusty trident on her back and at the ready. Anything could happen, and for all she knew this deal was actually an ambush.
Gem took a breath through her gills before she entered the building, going straight for the bar as she kept her head low. She ordered a drink, just some water with some small fish to snack on as she waited. There weren't many people here, only a few at a table laughing and a couple in a corner whispering to each other, otherwise it was just her and the bartender. She noted that she was one of the larger species here, the only other of her stature being the bartender and his scales were reptilian, differing from her blue and orange ones meant for the water. Otherwise majority of the other patrons were furry, not much of a surprise since most fishfolk like her didn't get off planet much- it wasn't like everyone with gills could breath air.
Gem was taking a sip as she thought, chewing and swallowing a minnow as someone sat by her. A Gordon, another reptile but this one she knew from when he'd contacted her and her crew. She nodded to him and he smiled.
“Well it's good to see you showed up.” The naga spoke and Gem rolled her eyes.
“Of course I did, I don't go back on things.” Gem let out a huff and crossed her arms. She was a reputable bounty hunter after all.
He raised his hands in surrender, “Of course of course.” He nodded then motioned for the bartender, “I see you already got started on a drink, but lemme get you something from the area before we talk business.” He turned to the other reptile, “Two terran shots please.” Gem raised a brow as the bartender hurried through a door.
“So, while we wait, mind giving me those classified details?” She sipped on her water, there was only one fish left, swimming at the bottom.
The naga nodded, “Of course.” He smiled to her as if he was relaxed- he was still a foot shorter than her and definitely more skinny, it was obvious he'd be at the disadvantage if anything went wrong. “There's this guy calls himself X or whatever- he's in charge of this company that builds ships, lots of planning- well my employer would be very happy if they were to hear he just y'know… befell a deadly accident.” Gem knew who the naga was talking about, Xisuma. She'd done a few jobs from him before and he was always more than happy to fix her ship and help her crew out- she already knew she wouldn't take the deal, but was careful to control her face. She needed to know of this employer.
Gem opened her mouth to ask more, but as she did the bartender returned, setting two shot glasses in front of the two. “Thanks.” The naga nodded and slid a credit over- Gem wasn't paying attention though as she looked at the small glasses. They looked different than normal shots, lidded and void of any alcohol- but that wasn't the part she was focused on. Inside each was one tiny person, cramped and struggling to push the lid off. They didn't look like any alien she knew, but she could hear them talking, panicking about how to get out. The one in front of her hit on the side of their glass, their hair brown with green streaks and stubble- and she could tell he was shorter than the other.
Gem felt pale, this definition wasn't legal, for a multitude of reasons. “Sooooo….” She licked her dry lips, forcing herself to keep up the facade, needing the name of that employer. “What are these little guys?” She smiled playfully as she picked up the shot, the tiny person yelping as he got shaken around. She felt guilty, but if she could get through this she could get him out of here.
The naga smiled and picked up his own shot, “Humans,” He answered as he gave the glass a shake, the one in his hitting the sides a painful amount of times. “They're from that Earth planet, y'know the one with low oxygen mak'n everything tiny.” She held back a frown as the naga teased his human by licking the glass. “Taste pretty good apparently, and feel even better going down~”
“I see…” Was all Gem could mutter out as she looked down at her tiny human. He was glaring at her and held up a middle finger as soon as he noticed her staring- she snorted, yeah that was fair.
“You got a feisty one I see, those are always the best.” She looked back at the naga as he pulled the lid off his glass. She wanted to snatch it away from him as the human tried to climb out- but they weren't fast enough as he threw them back and swallowed almost immediately. “Aaahh…” He sighed and rubbed as the wiggling lump that soon disappeared into him. “Trust me, you'll love it~”
“I’m sure I will.” Gem forced a smile as she continued just holding her glass, avoiding eating the human if she could. “So about that employer-” She started, trying to get on topic.
“Lady, I don't like talking business until my associates join me, so c’mon try the little fella then I'll give the other details.” He smiled and something in Gem boiled. It was like he knew she was avoiding it.
“And I don't like taking jobs unless I know who I'm working for.” She growled, trying to intimidate the other- it didn't work as he smiled and shrugged.
“Guess we'll hire someone else then.” And that's exactly what she was afraid of- if she didn't know the name of this guy then they'd just hire someone else to kill X. The naga started to stand and she panicked.
“Well if a shot's all it takes to get the job.” Gem forced a sly smile, glad when the naga sat back down. She looked down at the human who'd pushed himself against the back of the glass, looking up at her nervously. She took a breath through her gills to stay calm as she started pulling the lid off.
●●●
Joel looked up at the alien fearfully but was trying desperately to hide it as her giant claws and webbed hand pulled the top off of the massive glass he was in. He didn't waste any time though, he'd spent too long watching these giant aliens and knowing they planned to eat him, as soon as the lid was off he pulled himself out and jumped off the alien's scales hand. He didn't get far though as he heard her make a shocked sound from above and soon another scales hand was in front of him and snatching him up.
“NO-” Joel squirmed and pushed at the hand around him, but it didn't budge at all as he felt it move. Soon light returned as the hand opened and he found himself closer to her mouth, staring into her green eyes. She looked different than most aliens that came, she had blue scales for starters, and no nose, orange fins that looked similar to hair and ears- and the thing he noticed most though, was her mouth full of very very sharp teeth. “Just put me down-” He shouted out, kicking errands fingers desperately.
In response though what he got was the alien opening her mouth, her tongue poking out as her hand moved closer. He tried to kick her mouth to get away but it didn't do much as he got thrown in, landing on the back of her tongue in a heap. Joel pushed himself up quickly and hurried back towards the front of her mouth, slipping and stumbling, but it made no difference as the opening soon closed and he was left in darkness. He took some deep breaths, trying to stay calm… until the tongue under him moved and he was suddenly squished into the top of the mouth. He groaned and squirmed, pushing down on the tongue but it only started moving him around and covering him in saliva. He felt gross as he tried to scoot forward- but soon the tongue started pushing him back and he felt the sucking before he heard it.
Gulk.
The alien swallowed and Joel yelled out as he got sucked down into her throat. It was tight and slimey, squishing and pulling him down at a constant rate until soon enough he was forced through a tight spot before falling into a larger area. Joel gasped and pushed himself up as soon as he landed and ran over to the wall, pushing and hitting at it. “Let me out blummin asshole!” He yelled, trying to hide his fear but his high pitch gave things away. He kept kicking and hitting at the fleshy, groaning wall, hoping to give the alien a stomach ache- instead the wall pressed in as she belched above him.
“Oh excuse me.” He heard the alien say and felt the stomach vibrate with her voice. “So about that employer-” There was more talking after that but he didn't pay any attention. He was trapped, going to be digested by some giant alien monster and there was nothing he could do.
Joel sat down and curled up. Maybe it'd be fast at least…
●●●
Gem felt sick as she walked out of the bar, having learned what she needed but having traumatized a human in the process. At least she had a storage stomach so he was safe, but he didn't know that… She sighed through her gills. She knew the employer, evil X, and now she could get the human home. That's what mattered.
She rubbed her belly and looked down as she walked through the streets back to where her ship and crew were waiting. “You doing okay in there?” She said quietly.
Things were silent for a while before the little guy answered, “What do you think.” He practically snarled back and Gem frowned.
“Sorry, I wasn't sure what else to do.” Her main stomach gurgled and she felt the human jump. She bit her lip, feeling guilty, “Don't worry you're safe in there-”
“Blummin Hell am I safe! I'm in you're fuckin’ stomach!” The human growled.
“No no no-” Gem hurried to say, “Not my main one. That one doesn't digest anything, perfectly safe!”
The human scoffed, “And why should I believe you?”
“Well- are you burning at all? In agony? Dead?” The human was quiet for a moment.
“No….” He answered quietly.
“Exactly.” She smiled, “You can trust me little guy and as soon as we're on my ship I'll spit ya up and Impulse can figure out how to get you home.”
“Impulse?”
“Yeah he's part of my crew- or team, we work together on bounties and stuff. Trust me you'll love em!” Gem's smile grew and she started walking a bit quicker to get back.
The human sighed, “Fine, as long as nobody else eats me.”
“I promise they won't!”