I have this idea for a story in the Egg Cycle universe, but I think if I wait to write it out as a whole story, I'll lose it, so I'm just going to put this here.
Tags: alien digestion, alien anatomy (2 stomachs!), stuffing, belly rubs, burping (sort of), weight gain, cultural exchange.
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In this era of intergalactic travel, the government of Earth has formed the Earth Welcoming Corps. When an alien from somewhere far away visits Earth, they can request a Guide from the Earth Welcoming Corps. The Guides are one part chauffer, one part tour guide, one part host, and one part fixer. They will accompany the visitor around Earth, showing them things they want to see and making sure the visit goes smoothly so that when the visitor is ready to leave, they take a positive report back to their home world.
Being an EWC Guide is generally seen as a good job to take when you first finish your education and before embarking on a long-term career. The pay isn't great, but the EWC covers all of the Guides's expenses and gives them a very nice shuttle to fly visitors around in. Plus, if a young human is interested in working on a starship eventually — particularly one with non-human crew and/or passengers — working as an EWC Guide is viewed as a good way to gain relevant experience before you're ready to leave the planet.
Joe, one of the Armecto's passenger liaisons, served as an EWC Guide when he first finished school, and was, at one point, assigned to a visitor named Doran from a species that had rarely been to Earth before. During the initial orientation, the visitor is screened to make sure that standard substances that they are likely to come into contact with will not be toxic to them, and that food that is safe for humans will also be safe for the visitor.
Orientation complete, Joe and Doran set out to see the major sights of Earth. There is a standard EWC itinerary which can be modified based on the visitor's preferences. Everything is going well the first day. Joe and Doran are getting to know each other and Joe is pretty sure that Doran is enjoying himself. During their first meal together, Doran keeps remarking on how high in nutrients the food is. He eats a small portion and then retires to his room. Joe doesn't really know his body language yet, but thinks that Doran seemed pleased and sleepy. The next morning when Joe offers Doran breakfast, Doran tells him that he won't need to eat again for another 12 hours. Joe says that that's fine, and he'll grab something for the road.
The next evening, Joe asks if Doran would be interested in a meal in a restaurant. After Joe explains what that is, Doran agrees. Doran clearly enjoys himself, and though he eats what, to Joe, looks like a small portion, his belly is visibly swollen when they leave and he's making occasional gurgle noises that he tries to cover up with his hand. Joe delicately asks if Doran is feeling okay, and Doran says that the food was extremely nutrient rich and he needs to undergo a digestion process. It's a half hour flight back to the hotel, so Joe assures Doran that he has no objection to Doran doing whatever he needs in order to take care of himself and feel comfortable. Doran loosens his clothing over his swollen belly and starts rubbing it, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes. Every so often he makes one of the gurgle noises, after which he makes another sound that, were he human, Joe would interpret as a moan of pleasure. It's making Joe feel a little hot under the collar, but he scolds himself that that is an inappropriate reaction to a visitor he's guiding and resolutely keeps his attention on flying the shuttle. When they arrive at the hotel, Doran fixes his clothes and tells Joe that he quite liked the restaurant. His belly is still a bit swollen, but less than it was and lower down. As they leave the shuttle Doran seems a little unsteady on his feet and is moving slowly, but appears pleased and sleepy.
They keep going on their tour and settle into a pattern where Doran very happily eats one meal per day, after which he retires to his room for the night or does his digestion process on the shuttle if there is a flight between the restaurant and the hotel. Joe has not quite admitted it to himself, but he may be planning meals further from the hotels than absolutely necessary, giving himself more time to watch Doran rub his swollen belly on the flight back.
After several days, Joe notices that the swelling in Doran's lower belly hasn't been receding and the visitor is now sporting what, on a human, would look like a round potbelly. Joe thinks he can handle this tactfully.
"Um, Doran, I hope you don't mind me saying something. But I've noticed a change in the shape of your abdomen recently. I just want to make sure everything is alright?"
Doran makes the noise that Joe has learned is like a chuckle. "Oh yes. More than alright. My secondary stomach is just nice and full from all this lovely rich food you've been giving me. It's a very pleasing shape, isn't it?"
"Yes, ah, very pleasing. You have a secondary stomach?"
"Oh yes! When I eat something, it goes into my primary stomach, and I need to digest it into my secondary stomach." He pats his round lower belly. "Nutrient rich food will stay in my secondary stomach for several cycles. On my planet this kind of belly is the sign of someone very wealthy who can afford to eat well all the time. I certainly see why rich people like it. Are you well, Joe? The skin on your face has turned red."
After observing that Doran seems to especially like fish and rice, Joe takes him for sushi a few days later. Doran loves it. He loves watching the chef prepare the dishes. He loves the sushi itself. He loves soy sauce. Joe is thrilled that he made such a successful choice, and he can't help but watch out of the corner of his eye as Doran's belly swells and swells. Doran is eating nearly as much as Joe, which is at least four or five times his normal portion, and the expanse of his belly shows it. Joe is wondering if he should say something when Doran gives a loud gurgle followed by a quiet groan. He suddenly looks down at his belly and groans again, gently palming it.
Joe quickly pays for their food, and stands to go. Doran gets to his feet but has to lean against the counter as he makes a sound that seems something like a hiccup. He takes a step towards Joe, but is unsteady on his feet and Joe reaches out to catch his arm.
"Ohh, 'm sorry, Joe." Doran makes the hiccup sound again. "Ate too much."
"I'm glad you enjoyed the food," Joe tells him. "Let me help you."
Doran leans against Joe as they make their way out to the shuttle, hiccuping and gurgling the whole time. Joe thinks he can hear additional grumbling from Doran's belly and he tries to toe the line between getting Doran to the shuttle as quickly as possible and not jostling his clearly overloaded belly more than absolutely necessary.
Once in the shuttle, Joe settles Doran into the passenger seat. Doran's expression looks vacant and uncomfortable, and as he takes off, Joe is alarmed to see that Doran isn't rubbing his belly like he usually does after a meal.
"Doran," Joe says once they're in the air and Doran hasn't moved. "Do you… need help or anything? That was a big meal for you."
Doran just groans and paws ineffectually at his belly, but does nothing to loosen his clothes where they are clearly straining against the swell.
Joe double checks that it's safe, then puts the shuttle on autopilot and goes to kneel next to Doran's seat. "Doran," he says, "it seems like you're having trouble doing your digestion process, so I'm going to loosen your clothing, alright?" Doran grunts in a way that seems affirmative, so Joe carefully unfastens Doran's outer layer of clothes. Doran's belly immediately pushes forward, and Doran moans like he does when he's digesting. This close, Joe can definitely hear grumbling and gurgling from within Doran's belly and he is hit with the mental image of all that sushi being slowly digested from one stomach into another.
Except that Doran still isn't rubbing his belly in the way that Joe has understood to be critical for that digestion. Instead, he still looks dazed and uncomfortable.
"Doran…" Joe licks his lips. "Do you need help rubbing your belly?" Doran grunts in a way that Joe isn't quite sure of. Joe holds his hand above Doran's belly. "Is, um, is it okay for me to touch your belly?" he asks. In response, Doran clumsily grabs Joe's wrist and brings his hand to Doran's swollen belly.
"Oh, okay." Joe gulps. Doran's belly is warm to the touch, and firm, but with a little bit of give. Joe starts to rub his hand over the upper part of the belly as he's seen Doran do so many times, and Doran immediately lets out a very loud gurgle followed by relieved moan and another gurgle. That seems like a good sign, so Joe keeps going. After several more gurgles and moans, Doran shifts in his seat, seeming a little more lucid.
"Ohh, thank you, Joe. I needed that."
Reluctantly, Joe makes himself stop rubbing. "Of- of course! Happy to help! Do you… um?"
"If you do not mind and if it is safe to let the shuttle fly itself, I would appreciate more of your help. I have never indulged so much in my life. I feel quite overwhelmed."
Smiling, Joe starts up the belly rub again.
When they get back to the hotel, Doran tells Joe that they will need to cancel their plans for the following day, as he will need to rest and digest. Joe helps him back to his room and makes sure he gets comfortably settled. Which takes the form of another, lengthy, belly rub.
When Doran returns to his home planet several weeks later, he waddles down the ramp of the starship, sporting the figure of a very wealthy man.
