Moving along in the kitchen, I do feel like I’ve slept well… but that spider is just freaky. I can’t help but avoid the thing.
It’s not so bad when we’re just relaxing and doing our own things, but while working…
Glancing over at her, Salka is frying more food, Oraxia clinging to her back with her head over her shoulder, watching the process with an odd intelligence. Feeling a shiver run up my spine, I turn away and go back to my own cooking… keeping a distance from them.
While I’m mostly glad the customers haven’t seen it and gotten grossed out- that could be a nightmare in itself, it’s already straight out of one!
A giant spider in my kitchen, on the back of Salka, watching us cook! It’s just… ugh, creepy. Let alone, thanks to it, she saw me in my underwear!
Tossing some food onto a plate I pass it off to Yuna, trying to hide my blush at the memory of being seen in my underwear. Or the fact that I saw Salka in less before, but not the point.
Her voice gets my attention quickly. “Hey, Lumi? Whatcha think about a karaoke night?”
“Karaoke? I mean… could be fun I guess. I’m not a good singer though.”
‘I do sorta wonder how her voice sounds… I’m sure it’ll be pretty, hearing her sing.’
Spotting her nod, and the spider copying her nod, I quickly look away and focus on my work. “Just don’t tell me you’re gonna have that thing try and sing.”
“Oh, no. I mean… maybe she could be a chorus, but no.” Letting out a sigh of relief, I hear her continue. “But no, actually I need to go pick up some stuff before we do karaoke, and need Yuna’s help to carry it back.
My tail stills as my muscles tense up. Don’t tell me…
“Could you keep an eye on Oraxia for me?”
“Are you serious?!” Quickly I realize the customers can probably hear me, so I quiet down. “S-she can handle herself can’t she?”
Giving me a deadpan stare, she holds up a cookie with a footprint made by the spider. “She is too curious and will probably try frying herself if I don’t watch her. She’s a literal child, no matter how smart.”
‘She wants me to watch… her? She’s freaky, and I don’t even want her around to begin with! But…’
Looking away, I continue working. “...fine, only because it’s for you. But don’t expect me to do this often, next time, Yuna can do it!”
“Thanks Lumi, you’re a lifesaver. Quite literally at times, heh.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She chuckles, not explaining.
‘Whatever…’
***
Before she walks out, she walks up to me and holds out Oraxia to me. She looks up at me with all eight, beady little eyes, and the fur on my tail stands on end.
“Nope, I said I’d watch her, not touch her.”
Holding her up closer to me, I almost slap her hand away, before she laughs and puts her down on the couch. “Alright, fine, fine. Just make sure she doesn’t get in trouble. Oh, and she doesn’t need to eat, but she likes your pudding as a treat.”
“Alright- wait is that why you’ve been asking for my pudding?!”
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“Thanks bye!” She shuts the door in a hurry, making me groan and sit down on the couch. “Such a pain… she’s lucky she’s so cute… or- nice, I mean nice!”
Turning to my right, Oraxia is staring up at me innocently, ignoring my outburts… but I can’t help but shiver. “Creepy… I just don’t get what she sees in you.”
She looks almost sad, looking down and making little dejected clicks. Sighing, I get up and go to the kitchen, the spider following behind me like a puppy.
‘God that’s so creepy… well, it can’t be helped I guess. I’m just… babysitting a giant spider. …nope, still creepy. Maybe watching a good show will help?’
Going into the fridge, I grab myself some of the leftover lunch to eat… only to spot her standing behind me and staring.
“...are you hungry?” She nods… and I just sigh. “Alright, fine. You can have some pudding, but we’re watching my show.”
She claps her little hands together in happiness, and I can’t help the slight grin that shows on my face.
‘Well, not like anyone would see it. Salka or Yuna wouldn’t hesitate to tease me for it though.’
Heading back to the couch, I sit down and turn on the TV, putting on a romcom. Could be nice, and it’s all about love and stuff. I doubt that’s a bad idea to teach her. Better than some action or drama.
Or horror- oh god we should never let her watch a horror movie.
Shuddering at the thought of a giant spider trying to jumpscare me, I shake my head to get rid of the imagery.
Looking down at her, the show playing quietly, I realize something. “...how do I feed you? I never saw you eat before.”
Grabbing the pudding and a spoon I brought, I look at her for a sorta mouth… before her fangs spread a little and she lifts her head up.
“Huh… beneath there?” Bending my head down a bit, I spot the little opening beneath her fangs where her mouth is. “Weird… guess that’s how she feeds you pudding though.”
Taking a spoonful of pudding, I hold it by the furthest point up the spoon, before slowly moving it to her. “Don’t… move… please…” I can’t help the twitch in my muscles, or my tail frightened stiff, as I slowly put the spoon into her mouth.
Then it shuts, and I feel something rough drag across the spoon, and it’s released, where I quickly pull my hand away.
“Alright… are you-” She cuts me off by opening her mouth for another spoon. “And here I was, hoping you would be satisfied with just one.”
Sighing, I continue to feed her, slowly, my shoulders untensing as I feed her. ‘She’s… not too scary, when she’s eating pudding and clicking happily after each bite.’
I’m actually surprised, by the time the pudding is gone, she’s sitting there and making happy little clicks. “Alright, now I should eat my food.”
Placing the pudding and spoon to the side, I start eating as I watch the show. Oraxia just sorta sets herself down in a somewhat sit, letting her body rest on the couch as she watches with me.
‘Guess she’s able to enjoy TV too. I wonder if Salka had a pet spider before, to not be creeped out by her? Or Yuna, I mean even she isn’t bothered by it like I am!’
…
After a little while, I decide it’s a good time to make dinner, so I do so. Getting up, I head to the kitchen and start cooking.
Turning on the oil, I turn and start cutting up some sweet peppers to throw into a cheese sauce. That, plus some french fries is good. Lazy, but it’ll taste good and be easy to munch on.
Such a strange thing… Salka was always talking about how dangerous the arcane is, yet here we are, with an arcane pet. I mean, wasn’t it her job to kill people who would do that? And her old boss literally killed her brother for her knowing about it?
Shaking my head, I banish the thought. ‘As curious as it is… I trust she knows what she’s doing. Besides, how would her boss even find out about anything going on here? The spider is inside all day.’
I turn to look at it, only to realize Oraxia isn’t next to me. Suddenly worried, I quickly spin around, spotting her above the pot of oil on the stove, a couple of her legs kicking at the wall to try and grip it.
‘Shit, it’s too greasy above there, she’ll fall!’ “Oraxia, down!”
Time seems to slow down as she loses her grip and falls, on a direct course for the oil.
A bell rings as I catch her, yanking her fuzzy body to me as I move away from the pot quickly, just to make sure her legs don’t get caught in the liquid.
Her little eyes are staring up at me wide, looking terrified, and I see her as a child for the first time.
With a shiver up my spine, I pat her head. “You’re safe, just don’t go near the oil again, okay?” She nods a little, before I suddenly hear a click.
Looking up, I see Salka watching me with a phone in hand, taking a picture of me.
Eyes widening, I drop the spider and rush at her. “Salka! Delete that right now!”
Laughing, she runs away. “Haha! But you looked so adorable! Like a momma spider!”
“I swear to god I’m going to ban you from my cooking!”
___
Lumi the momma spider has a bit of a ring to it, right? Or maybe that’s just me. And, if you like Oraxia, try joining the patreon to read more of her sooner!
