It had been two weeks since Wil Warren downloaded SpidersWeb, and in that entire time his profile hadn't had a single hit.
It was a discouraging thing for him. After all, he had joined the dating service to meet someone. A platform that billed itself as the premier social network between humans and inhumans surely had someone for him. It was a rather large pool to pull from.
And yet, nothing.
As the tram swayed under his seat, Wil flicked through his phone, checking his profile again.
Wil Warren
25
Blonde
195 lbs
Looking for someone special.
That was it. Aside from his photo. Maybe he should have added more? But what could he say? He squirmed at even the thought of putting more information out there. He knew he was shy. That was the whole reason he'd downloaded SpidersWeb. If he'd had more confidence, he'd just walk up to one of the women in the train. Like the lovely holstaur three seats away, the leather overalls she wore from her job at the local blacksmith barely able to cover her immense breasts, her pretty brown eyes reading a magazine while her cow ears flicked. Or maybe the catgirl a few seats to his right, her jeans and leather jacket tight around her firm, lithe body; her tail swishing, eyes closed as her head nodded along to the music coming from her earbuds.
But no. If he had the confidence, Wil would have spoken to them before. Or the dozens of other women he'd seen on the train. At work. On the street. He could still remember the goblin secretary at the office he'd done some IT work at. Lulla. That was her name. He'd been so flustered by the busty shortstack's flirting, he'd fairly run out the door.
Wil grimaced, stirring as they reached his station. He rose, bracing himself as the train breaked, rolled to a stop, the doors sliding open with a hiss. Maybe he should add his work to his profile? Or his salary? He made a fair bit. Would it look good? Bad? Would that seem too strong? Too arrogant?
"Dammit," Wil sighed as he shouldered his bag and trudged across the platform. Sometimes, life just didn't seem fair.
He reached his building in short order, climbing the steps to the door. He unlocked it, swung it wide. Maybe he should put in some extracurriculars? Or what foods he liked? Or nudes? He blushed hotly. Maybe not. But the food thing was a good idea...
"Wil Warren?"
Wil stopped dead in his tracks.
There was a woman in his apartment. Not just any woman, but a dark elf. She was slender, tall, dressed in a black skirt as sheer as spiderweb, slits down the sides revealing her long legs as she rose from his couch. Her top covered her shoulders and upper arms but revealed the bottoms of her firm breasts. Her hair was platinum white and cut sharply around her shoulders, her necklace a silver spider with ruby eyes. Her lips were lush red, contrasting sharply the darkness of her skin. A pair of thin glasses set before her eyes gave her an air of mature ease and confidence that made Wil's heart skip a beat.
Wil's own glasses slipped down his nose as he gaped at her. "Wha..."
She brought out a silver phone. It had a spider keychain. She flicked through it, glancing idly at the screen.
"Hmm. Yes. Wil Warren. 25. Blonde. 195 lbs. Looking for someone special. That's you."
Her words shocked Wil. He dropped his bag, tensing. "Wh-who are you? What are you doing in my apartment?"
"My name is Malia Sinfay, from SpidersWeb Husband Acquisition department."
"Husband... what?"
She sighed, the condescending sound making Wil blush. "You may as well sit down, Mister Warren. It seems there's some explaining to do."
Wil didn't want to sit down. He wanted this strange woman to leave. And yet, he found himself obeying, tense as he walked to the couch and took a seat. He fidgeted uneasily, eying her, then jumped as she sat down next to him, crossing her legs and cocking her head towards him.
"Now, Mister Warren, as I said, I am from SpidersWeb Husband Acquisition department. You may have noticed how many single young monster girls there are around these days? Well, not everyone is looking for a simple date. Many young ladies are instead seeking permanent relationships under certain terms. Our department's goal is to match men with these women who are looking for proper husbands."
Wil shifted in his seat, trying to edge away from her, even as he was drawn to her. The perfume she wore was particularly striking. Scented of peppermint, or perhaps thyme...
"I-I see. Well that's um... a very nice goal and all, but I don't really see what it has to... to do with me..."
Malia looked at him from over her glasses, making him blush even harder. "It would seem, Mister Warren, that you failed to thoroughly read the terms and conditions when you decided to use our product."
"S-sorry?"
She turned her phone towards him, and Wil saw it was keyed onto his account. A swipe of her thumb scrolled down to the bottom, a sideways flick causing the very small print there to suddenly balloon.
"As it stipulates," Malia said while Wil read in growing shock, "SpidersWeb reserves the right to canvas those profiles made on it, finding those men who we deem suitable for our Husband Acquisition program, and recruiting them."
"H-hang on. Recruiting them?" Wil said.
