https://www.scribblehub.com/read/217122-boys-love-newsletter/chapter/414814/
Two women stand there. The one that spoke, is a short Indian girl in a vibrant fuchsia tracksuit and matching pants, with her hair tied up in a high ponytail, and a wide grin on her faace. Despite her questionable fashion choices, her body carries an excited and cheerful confidence; a stark contrast to her more somber but far more imposing companion: a tall Chinese girl easily above six feet with short close-cropped dark hair wearing a white lab coat above a black turtleneck and pants. Her gaze is sharp and cold, scrutinizing Arek as if he's on a chopping table about to be dissected. Her gaze, especially her attention to Arek's tentacles, sends chills down his spine.
"HI!" Arek blinks, the Indian girl's voice is no less vibrant than her appearance.
"...Hi." After a moment of vigilance, he reluctantly responds. This is like a trigger ad immediately the Indian girl takes this as a sign to start chattering as her words spill like a waterfall.
"Well, let's get to know each other shall we? I'm Maya and this is Xue Jiang but you can call her Xu. I call her Xuxu but she gets mad at people for calling her that because-"
"Maya." The Chinese girl-Xue Jiang cuts across her companion's chatter: her tone cold.
"Ok, ok, jeez. Anyway, welcome!"
"...Ah?" Arek blinks.
"You're new here right? I mean, I haven't seen a person shooting tentacles out of their body before. I mean not to say that the tentacles are the only thing worth noticing about you, you're also really cute so I'd definitely remember meeting a supernatural person like y-"
"Maya." Xue Jang's tone is forceful, irritation radiating from the single word.
"Ahahaha, ok well aaaaanyway, since I've never seen you before, do you mind if I check your permit?"
"...what?"
"Your permit!" She chirps.
"Like a driver's license permit?"
"No silly! Your supernatural existence permit!" Arek gazes at her blankly. Seeing his utter lack of comprehension she tries one more time. "...From BTW?"
"BTW?" Arek blinks again. "By the way? Like the texting slang?"
"NO you silly bunny you! How could you not know BTW, I mean it's-"
"Between worlds." Xue Jiang's cold voice once again interrupts, radiating impatience. "The organization that manages supernatural beings in this world."
Hearing this Arek's eyes widen. "There's something like that?" There's a moment of silence. Then Maya opens her mouth.
"Wow dude, you sure have a lot to learn. Let me tell you-"
"Let's get rid of this miasma, then we can talk." Xue Jiang cuts across before the girl goes any further.
"Okay XuXu, whatever you say!" Maya chirps, instantly changing her tune. Arek stands back and watches, raising a brow as Xue Jiang procures an odd-looking machine that looks something like a vacuum. Opening it, she instantly sucks in all the nearby miasma. At this moment, Arthur (who was previously taking a nap in Arek's hair) makes an appearance, popping his head up to gaze at the machine curiously.
"What do you think little guy? Think they're legit, should I listen to them?" The mongoose chatters away, who knows if he's actually answering or simply ready for lunch. However, Arek already has an answer in mind. No matter whether they're lying or not, it's at least true that they've managed to get rid of the miasma. I have nothing to lose at least listening to what they say.
Fifteen minutes later Arek sits at the edge of the roof chatting with the duo after they've successfully sucked up all the miasma.
"So you're basically like a supernatural police?"
"Yup! Pretty much."
"And you're saying...I need to get registered?"
"Mmm-hmm!"
"But...I've been living in this world for a long time and I've never heard of you guys." Arek narrows his eyes.
"Well, obviously ordinary people wouldn't know about us. But I'm surprised we didn't find you earlier, we're usually pretty good at finding all supernaturals. Were you not active earlier or something? That's weird though, even if you were in hiding if you've lived in this world all your life..."
Arek flinches slightly at the word "supernatural". That's right, I'm not human...Ha, I haven't been for a long time.
"...Anyway, now that we've found you, it'd be best if you get registered ASAP." Maya says this with a smile, however, her gaze sharpens ever so slightly and next to her, Xue Jiang's hand goes down to her hip. Arek raises a brow. Are they threatening me?
"...Fine. But I can't go today, it's late." Arek says, glancing at the darkening horizon. Brother is probably wondering where I am...
"That's fine! But...do you know where you're going?"
"Er...I don't."
"No worries! We can take you there. We'll meet you here tomorrow at...1 pm?"
"That's fine." Just as the words leave his lips, Xue Jiang darts forward and Arek hastily backs away, getting into a defensive posture.
"...What are you doing?" He eyes the tall girl's hand, seeing a slender syringe.
"Xuxu be nice!" Maya turns to her and admonishes. Then she turns back to Arek. "Oh, she's just taking some of your blood. To track you, you know, in case you go back on your word or cause trouble." Maya chirps, matter of factly.
Oh just "taking my blood", huh. Arek narrows his eyes. There are multiple ways I can see that ending badly with at least five blood-related curses I can think of.
"No thanks."
"It's protocol."
"Not interested."
Just as the tension is rising, another softer voice sounds from the side, slightly out of breath.
"Hey Maya, Xu...huff...sorry for the delay-huh? Hey, weren't you that summoned fellow?"
Arek pauses then turns to see a vaguely familiar fellow. Hearing the word "summoned" he recognizes him as one of the individuals who summoned him back. Wasn't his name...Orfo?
