Disclaimer: I do not own Daily Life With Monster Girls.

Interview #3 the harpy

Syleris angled the visor with her dark brown wing and made another adjustment to her outfit. She carefully panned the mirror over herself. Her checkered leather headband kept her platinum mane from obstructing her dark yellow eyes. Her tanned complexion complemented (she thought) the lighter colored halter-top and cutoffs. She idly scratched at the light brown feathers on her thighs.

Sitting for so long in one place with nothing to do but stare out the window made her restless and for the hundredth time since getting into Smythe's SUV her taloned feet patted the floor impatiently.

She was so restless that she didn't notice when Smythe pulled the vehicle over and switched off the engine. Syleris blinked and looked over at the agent when the rumbling of the engine suddenly stopped.

"Something wrong?" She asked.

He smirked and pointed a finger at something behind her. She turned around and gazed at the triple storied structure across the yard. She wasn't too familiar with human architecture but she was reasonably sure that this was supposed to be impressive by most standards. It certainly matched the picture that Smythe had shown her of the abode she'd been assigned too.

She clipped off her safety belt and opened her door. As her feet hit the soft grass she exhaled pleasantly and reigned in the urge to take off and sprint. She resigned herself to being content at leaving the stuffy vehicle and stamped her feet a few times.

Smythe came around the SUV and walked a bit ahead of her. He looked back and motioned his hand at the entrance. "C'mon."

Syleris sighed as she approached the door. She hesitated before pressing the button for the doorbell.

"Go on." Agent Smythe encouraged her.

She grimaced and pressed it with her thumb. Inside the house an electronic bell 'ding donged.' A moment later the door was answered by a golden scaled echidna.

"Oh hello, Agent Smythe. " She greeted with a wave. "Is this our new guest?"

"That is correct Ms. Peri." Smythe answered. "This is Syleris."

The echidna titled her head a bit. "Oh right, the tall harpy I'd seen around the office."

Syleris frowned. "I am not a 'tall harpy'. I am of average height for my species."

The echidna smiled. "Pardon me. Of course I know about terrestrial harpies. It's just that you never slowed down enough for me to actually identify you as one."

Syleris blinked. "Oh, right. I guess that's my fault then."

"Please." The echidna waved them in.

Syleris and Smythe entered the mansion. The harpy took a few moments to scan the room. There was plenty of comfortable looking furniture for over a dozen terrestrial harpies and spaced widely enough for her to lay relaxed on the floor between them. The room was also tall enough that if she were a flying harpy she could glide around near the ceiling with almost no interference, save for the chandelier.

"Can I get you two anything?" The echidna's question interrupted Syleris' observations.

"Uh no." Syleris answered distractedly.

"No thank you, Ms. Peri. Is Mr. Keysman available?" Smythe asked.

The echidna raised a finger. "Let me check. It's been a very busy day." She turned and left the room down one of the hallways. Syleris walked around the living room inspecting what she could.

"Any questions yet?" Smythe asked her.

"Yeah." She turned and faced the agent. "You said someone donated this place?"

"The lot was donated." He explained. "The house that stood here was demolished and this was built over it."

She raised an eyebrow. "You demolished a perfectly good house?"

Smythe coughed into his fist. "Yes. The previous structure was determined to not be adequate for our intended use. Some changes were required."

"Required for what exactly?"

"For each homestay student that will reside here." He concluded. "You are third out of the six that Mr. Keysman volunteered to host."

Syleris kept her expression. "Third of six. He volunteered to host six liminals?" Smythe nodded affirmatively.

"And you agreed to this?"

Smythe smirked. "To be clear, I'm the one that asked him to host."

Syleris still didn't change expression. "You are trusting six liminals to one guy?"

Smythe nodded again. "You'll see."

Syleris was going to ask another question when she heard two voices approaching from a hallway.

"-and I think we'll need to get stronger insulation installed when the yuki-onna arrives." A male voice was saying.

"Yes, her room should probably be away from Sula's and any water pipes if possible." A deeper female voice answered. "An upset yuki-onna can wreck a decent plumbing system in minutes."

A pause. "Right. Pipes freeze, pipes burst." The first voice answered.

An arachne Syleris didn't recognize and a young human male entered the living room. The male waved to them.

"Ah hello there." He approached Syleris and offered his hand. "You must be our new guest. I'm Jack."

Most harpies had trouble with this gesture since they didn't have true hands like humans and many other liminals. Fortunately her friend Verandys took the time to teach her how.

Syleris lifted her arm slowly and grasped his. "Greetings host, I am Syleris."

Jack tilted his head slightly before letting go. "Please, just call me Jack." He thumbed at the arachne behind him. "And this is Tetra."

The arachne motioned her head in a facsimile of a nod. Her eyes regarded the harpy with suspicion or disappointment. Syleris closed her eyes and nodded.

She looked back at Jack. "I must apologize for my behavior last week. I'm told that I nearly ran into you."

Jack blinked. "Oh that." He motioned his head at Tetra. "She had my back, so no harm was done."

The arachne stepped forward. "Something I will continue to do in the future."

Syleris squinted at her implied threat. Jack stepped to the side and glanced at them both. He held up both hands. "Whoa hey, no need to be hostile here ladies. No one's been hurt."

"I don't particularly care for people who recklessly endanger my host." Tetra snidely commented.

"That was an accident." Syleris shot back. "I certainly didn't mean to-"

Tetra's face tightened in anger and she advanced another step. Syleris braced her legs to defend herself. Fortunately Jack stepped between them and placed his hands on Tetra's arms.

"Whoa, Tetra, wait." The arachne halted but didn't shake her glare from the harpy. "You weren't mad at Sula yesterday." Jack pleaded. "Were you?"

"Sula apologized immediately and was clearly remorseful for her actions." Tetra backed up a step and freed one of her arms from Jack. She pointed a claw at Syleris "This harpy doesn't seem the least bit ashamed for almost injuring you."

Syleris' eyes widened in resentment and indignation. "Injuring him?" She raised her arms at Jack. "I wasn't trying to hurt him, I didn't even know what happened."

Tetra inclined her head skeptically.

"I ran out of the office and out the building with my friend. I didn't see a human in my way." The harpy glanced down. "I just got lectures about Exchange laws and reprimands about something I didn't know that I did." She glanced at agent Smythe. "And chores. I got lots of chores too."

She looked back up at Jack. "I'm really sorry that I almost hurt you. I was too excited and just wasn't thinking when I left agent Halia's office. I just wanted to run and keep running with my friend."

Jack nodded a couple times. "Accepted." He looked back at Tetra. "See, she's not bad." The arachne barely dipped her head. "And besides," He continued. "It sounds like you pulled me out so fast she didn't even notice."

Tetra narrowed all six of her eyes. "She should have noticed."

"Yes." Jack acknowledged while giving the arachne a knowing look. "But you were too fast."

Syleris was going to object to his assertion but paused when she spotted a grin creasing the arachne's lips.

"Flattery is the sweetest smelling poison, Jack." Tetra commented.

He took a step back and put a hand over his chest. "I do not flatter, madam." He protested in a weird accent. "I only offer the sincerest of compliments to my guests." He turned his nose up and to the side while waving his other hand in some fluttering gesture.

Syleris just blinked at his antics. Tetra put a knuckle at her chin and chuckled. After a moment Jack put his arm down and faced Syleris.

He took note of her perplexed expression and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. Mockery of high society is a favorite past time of Americans."

Syleris nodded her head slightly. "Uh huh."

Jack sighed. "Alright, I was going to wait until we got more acquainted to show you but..." He trailed off and started walking toward another room. When he got to the entrance he looked back at her and beckoned. "C'mon, I think you'll like this."

Syleris looked at the arachne for a second before following Jack. She tried to keep one eye on Tetra while trailing him. She didn't feel comfortable leaving her back to a potential enemy.

"Smythe mentioned you're more of an athletic type." Jack was saying as he descended the stairs out to the garage. She noticed that there were a lot of vans and trucks in there. Each of them had a symbol emblazoned on them that she didn't recognize. It looked like a hammer crossed over a wrench with the blades of a circular saw ringing the outside edge.

"So you'll probably like this." Jack turned left and proceeded through some metal double doors. A brief cacophony escaped when he opened them. Syleris cocked her head and glanced at Agent Smythe.

He nodded toward the door. She grimaced slightly and followed Jack. Going through those doors was like walking into another building.

The ceiling was almost twice as high as the first room and maybe twenty times as wide. It curved outward and had large rectangular skylights spaced evenly to let the early afternoon sun in. Large fluorescent lamps and extra wide fans hung from rails bolted to the ceiling. Each of the outer walls had wide windows spaced just below the ceiling.

The walls were mostly gray cement but a few had blue mats leaning on them, attached by hooks that hung from the ceiling rails.

Most of the floor was covered with interlocking rubber mats. Spaced around the central area were various types of exercise equipment. Fixed weights, pull-up bars, treadmills all organized by type. Blue suited human work crews were setting up and testing each piece. Each of their suits also had a patch on the shoulder that matched the symbol from the vans in the garage. One of them noticed the new arrivals and waved.

Jack stepped up next to Syleris and waved back. A dark-skinned man that was almost as tall as she approached Jack.

"Mr. Keysman? Something I can do for you?" He asked in a deep yet slightly cheerful voice.

"I'm just showing around my newest guest." Jack answered.

"Ah." The man acknowledged. He turned toward Syleris and offered his meaty hand. "Welcome. My name is Reginald. But you can call me Reggie."

Syleris offered her own hand. The big man took it fairly gingerly, shook and let go. Syleris returned her attention to the gym.

The big man grinned. "See anything that interests you?" He asked playfully.

Syleris nodded. "Yes actually." She traced her vision around the outer edges of the room. Her legs itched and she tapped a talon on the rubber mat she stood on a couple times. "May I?" She looked back at Reginald.

He barked a laugh. "I think that's ready for use." He followed her gaze around the room. "Let me get my boys to clear out and you can take 'er for a test run eh?" Slyeris nodded a few times and lightly stamped her feet in anticipation.

Reginald whistled loudly and waved at his crew. "First shift! Clear the track, then call it a day!" Several of them gave a mild cheer.

"Second shift!" He bellowed. "Start on the other room!" The remaining crewman nodded and headed toward a double door on the far end.

As the work crews went their separate ways Reginald turned and faced Jack and co. "Sorry again for the rude awakening this morning." He glanced at Agent Smythe. "We hadn't received word that anyone had taken residence here yet."

Jack cleared his throat. "Yeah, your lucky I was already up when you arrived." He nodded toward Tetra and Sula who had just joined them. "Average home invaders would not fare well against either of them." Both monster girls displayed dangerous toothy smirks.

"Yeah, poor Mark and Mattie found that out the hard way." Reginald acknowledged. "Thank you for not harming them." Both girls nodded. He nodded back sagely. "I'll call ahead and knock next time."

"That would be appreciated." Tetra raised an eyebrow and folded her arms.

"Forgiven." Sula stated. "As soon as you get the other room finished."

Reginald chuckled. "Got some of my best guys on it miss. Now, I understand you have some ideas for the future homestays.."

Syleris tuned him and the others out. She watched carefully as the last crewman left the gym. When the door slammed shut she darted toward the rubber track and sped down it as fast as she could. She spread her wings out, one toward the ground the other in the air, to take the curves then tucked them back in for the straight-ways and was speeding back toward the group. She grinned as she sprinted by all of them. Her new host and Reginald had their mouths open in awe. Sula and Tetra regarded her with a degree of respect. Smythe seemed to be smirking and nodding his head lightly.

Can't catch me...

Syleris rounded the first curve at full speed and continued on. She hadn't been able to run like this for over a week. She wasn't going to let anything stop her or slow her down unless she wanted too.

She resisted the urge to close her eyes and imagine herself back in Gran Chaco. Racing with her family and old friends. It wasn't that hard, considering she was running on rubber rather than flat grassland. The feel of the ground under her talons was very different but not unpleasant.

As Syleris completed her fourth or fifth lap she focused entirely on running the track. She was tangentially aware that her new host and the others had left the gym, but she didn't think overly much about it. She needed some solitary freedom to feel the rush of acceleration and the simple joy of being in motion.

For a moment she missed Verandys. The only friend she's made since coming to America was another liminal who happened to love running and racing just as much as she. The two of them got into so much trouble in so little time. She grinned for a several laps.

At the start of another lap she remembered the real reason she came to this country. She was supposed to be learning about humans and studying like Dr. Holden encouraged her to.

Her grin mollified. Thinking about the doctor and why she left home made Syleris slow her pace. She stared at the track while running and recalled the last few conversations she had with her family.

A motion out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Jack had come back into the gym and Syleris ran up to him along the track. When she got close enough for talking distance she kept her legs pumping up and down.

"Yeah? Did you want something?" She asked.

"Um, you've been running for a few hours." He stated.

"And...?"

He scratched the back of his head. "I was wondering if you wouldn't join us for dinner."

She shook her head. "Not hungry."

He blinked. "Okay well, how about a drink then?"

She slowed her running in place and eventually just stopped. She nodded. "Okay I am thirsty, I could use some water."

Jack smiled and handed her a water bottle. She unscrewed the cap and downed the whole thing in one go. She tossed the empty bottle into a nearby garbage bin.

"I made tacos and chopped up a fruit salad." Jack offered. "In case you change your mind."

Syleris snorted and followed him out of the gym doors. Jack slowed and then stopped and looked back at her.

"What?" She asked.

He raised a finger. "You might want to take a shower first."

She blinked and took a step back. "What? I'm not sweating that bad am I..." She glanced down at her halter top and cut off shorts and noticed a few darker spots. "Ugh I am sweating! Estoy sudando la gota gorda! " She exclaimed. "By Amana. I knew this would happen. I'm so out of shape."

Jack blinked and stared at her incredulously. "You've been running for hours and you're out of shape?" He shook his head. "Lady, just watching you run in place makes me feel exhausted."

Syleris guffawed. "You remind me of my one human friend back home."

Jack blinked and stared at her a bit more. She gave him a mild glare back. "What? I don't have something on my face do I?"

He gingerly held up a hand. "I'm sorry if I'm being offensive. But I thought harpies had um..." He trailed off.

She glared harder. "Had what?" He took a step back but kept his mouth shut. She stomped closer to Jack. "Had what, host?" She towered over the poor human.

"I thought harpies had memory problems!" He blurted out.

Syleris blinked and backed off a step. "Oh." She waved a wing dismissively. "A common misconception." She looked to the side and took a moment to calm herself.

"That issue's prevalent among the passerine line of harpies but most Rheiformes like myself can remember things just as well as anyone else." When Jack didn't say anything when she looked back at him. He just had a very odd look on his face.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't speak.." He stopped and swallowed. "Um Passer-something? And reforms?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "The scientific name for my order is Rheiformes." She lectured like she was talking to a child. "The Passeriformes are the harpies with short term memory loss."

Jack blinked a few times."Okay, I'm going to admit that I was not expecting to get a science lesson from a harpy."

She gave him an irritated look. "What, did you think I was stupid?" She demanded.

Jack held up both hands. "Ah no, no. I just guess that I had some... preconceived notions about harpies and hadn't really thought them through." He put his hands down. "Like I said, I really don't want to offend. I 'm just..." He looked down at the floor. "Much more ignorant of liminals than I thought I was."

Syleris nodded. "Now you really remind me of my friend."

Jack looked back up at her. "I hope that's a good thing."

She smirked briefly. "It is." She took on a more sober look. "I really can't blame you though." Jack tilted his head.

"Passerines get around most of the world a lot more than my kind." She explained. "Most other terrestrial harpy tribes don't interact with humans much outside their territory, even after the Exchange laws passed." She glanced up. "In fact, I'm probably the first one from my tribe that's traveled as far as the United States."

Jack smiled. "Well you are more than welcome here."

Syleris nodded approvingly. "Thank you for accepting me. And thank you for that gym back there." She motioned her thumb at the back door. "I really need all that to get back in shape."

Jack shook his head. "Thank Reggie and his crew. They're the ones actually building everything around here."

She folded her wings. "But they wouldn't even be here if you hadn't volunteered for six liminals."

Jack shrugged. "I suppose." He jerked his head toward the other side of the house. "C'mon. Lets get you cleaned up and have some dinner."

Syleris nodded and followed him through the house toward the bathroom. Dominating most of the room was a large square bath. Just beyond that were a pair of over-sized sliding shower screens along the back wall. After a quick lecture on their use Jack stepped back from the shower and headed out. He stopped before he opened the bathroom door. "Uh Syleris?"

She looked over at her host.

"Did you happen to bring something clean to change into?" He asked.

Syleris blinked. "Oh shoot. I didn't. Ummmm..." She raised a wing to her chin.

"It's alright. I'll see if Sula has a shirt she wouldn't mind lending you." He paused. "But she wouldn't have any pants would she?" Jack risked a glance at the harpy. "She might have a skirt that might fit."

Syleris narrowed her eyes. "I don't wear skirts." The way she spat the last word left no room for argument.

Jack blinked. "Alright well. I'm not sure any of my pants would fit you even with a belt -Oh I know!" He exclaimed. "Tetra can probably whip you up something."

Syleris' eyes widened and she was about to protest but Jack was already halfway through the door. "I'll be right back, don't get in yet."

The door shut and she was left standing alone. She really didn't want any help from the arachne who clearly had a problem with her. Syleris considered turning down Jack as a host and requiring Smythe to take her back to the apartment.

What would she use as an excuse? Tetra had threatened her. But she could argue that she was just looking out for her host. Maybe if Tetra really didn't want Syleris to stay she'd make sure the harpy couldn't stay.

Oh what am I thinking? She bopped her forehead with her wing. I'm here to study and learn, not to make friends. I don't need her to like me to do that.

But it would make her feel better, and safer, if she could.

Syleris waited by the door anticipating a knock. She didn't have to wait long.

"Come in." She called. The door opened and revealed Tetra. Syleris couldn't be sure but the arachne did not look pleased.

Tetra scuttled into the room and placed a bright yellow t-shirt on an empty towel rack. She rotated her bulk to face the harpy and simultaneously gripped a length of thread in her hands.

"Turn around." Tetra said.

Syleris took a step back and eyed the arachne with suspicion. "What are you going to do?"

Tetra raised an eyebrow slightly. "I'm going to take your measurements. Turn around."

Syleris did as instructed but kept her head turned to keep an eye on the arachne. Tetra approached and began stretching the length of thread near her waist and thighs. Syleris thought that was all she needed but Tetra started measuring her legs and feet as well.

"You don't have to do that-" "Please don't speak." Tetra cut her off. "This will go faster if you don't speak."

Syleris stood still and tried not to breath, tried not to think about what the arachne's claws could do to her while she was vulnerable like this. She honestly considered bolting when Tetra started humming.

She didn't recognize the tune, but Syleris found it oddly comforting. She focused on the humming and tried to match its beat with any song from her memory. She couldn't, but in her mind she hummed along.

Tetra scuttled sideways in front of the harpy. "Arms...wings out please." She corrected. Syleris spread her wings out to their maximum length. Not nearly as impressive in reach as the other harpy species but much more dexterous than them as well.

She watched Tetra run that thread along her shoulder and stop at certain points. When she did her humming stopped briefly and then resumed. Syleris could just see a mental checklist being filled in the arachne's head as she did her work.

Tetra stepped back and started spooling out more thread from her abdomen. "I'm finished." She stated. "You can wash up now. This will be done by the time you get out."

Syleris rested her wings and blinked. "I...thank you."

Tetra shook her head. "Don't thank me. Thank Jack."

Syleris nodded. "He asked you to help me."

"Yes and he is going to compensate me most generously for this."

The harpy blinked. "You could have refused."

Tetra shook her head again and breathed out once. "He is being a good host and doing what he can to provide for his guest. My refusal would serve no purpose save to waste time. I won't interfere with my host's duties just to satisfy my own petty desire to be spiteful."

"Tetra." Syleris pleaded. "I really am sorry I almost hurt him and I'm sure my friend would be sorry too if she were here."

Tetra stopped her weaving and glanced at the harpy. She examined her for a second then asked: "Say that again."

The harpy took a step forward. "I am sorry I almost hurt Jack." She dipped her head once. "Thank you for protecting him. I probably wouldn't be here if you hadn't."

Tetra blinked once."Accepted." The harpy smiled.

"Just don't make me have to protect him again." Tetra insisted and resumed weaving.

Syleris nodded. "Never, you have my word." She tilted her head after a moment's thought. "So are you his...guardian?"

Tetra sniffed. "Someone has to look out for this hapless squishy human." She stuck a thumb at the door. "He's invited six monsters into this house. He can't defend himself from any one of us should the worst occur." She shrugged. "I might as well be his 'guardian' as you put it."

Syleris regarded Tetra a few moments. "I've never heard of an arachne willingly protecting a human that they weren't already married too or something."

The arachne gave a small smile. "I think this one's worth it."

Syleris smiled and nodded. "I think so too." Tetra raised an eyebrow. The harpy raised a wing. "I know, I know. I've known him only a few hours. But he's already done this much for me." She waved her wing encompassing the house and Tetra.

"Not all of this is his doing you realize." Tetra pointed out.

The harpy shrugged. "None of it would have happened at all if not for him."

The arachne snorted. "That's more right than you know."

"Hmm?" Syleris asked.

Tetra waved a hand. "Never mind. Take a shower already, you stink."

Syleris displayed a mock grimace then turned toward the shower. But she paused as another thought came up.

"Wait, so what are you gonna do when, you know what, comes around?" She asked.

Tetra's weaving froze for a moment. And then resumed. "I'll think of something."

The harpy eyed the arachne. "You know it's gonna be back soon." Tetra just kept weaving.

Syleris took a breathe, disrobed and jumped into the shower. "Then I guess I'll have to think of something." She said to herself as the hot water rinsed away the day's grime.

Jack lightly jogged back down the hallway. His urgency was spurred by the mistake he may have just made. He approached the bathroom door and was about to knock when it opened.

He backed away and let Tetra get through. Jack noted the sound of a running shower before the door closed behind her.

Tetra noticed the pensive look on his face. "Jack? Everything alright?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Um, I think I should be asking you that."

She tilted her head quizzically.

"Well, I only just remembered that you two didn't exactly get off on the right foot earlier. And when I asked you to help her...I realized that neither of you would be comfortable with that." He glanced down. "So I came back here and was gonna try to..." Jack trailed off as she held up a hand.

"It's alright Jack. I think Syleris and I have established... an understanding."

He blinked. "You have?"

She nodded. "I had a little chat with her."

He narrowed his eyes. "What kind of a chat?"

She grinned. "The kind without webbing and claws and threats." She assured him. "Just some monster girl talk."

"Okay." He nodded. "Okay. I was worried for a minute." He looked at the arachne directly. "Do you think she likes it here? I haven't really gotten a chance to talk with her much."

Tetra opened her mouth to answer when both of them heard a strong melodic voice. They both stared at the bathroom door and remained silent. Jack barely recognized the language as Spanish but he could tell the voice was singing about joy and loss and freedom and sadness. It rose and fell in pitch and strength.

"Is that her?" Jack asked, transfixed.

Tetra cleared her throat. "I think that answers both your questions."

Jack shook his head and blinked a few times. "It's beautiful." Tetra nodded in agreement.

"What are you two doing?"

Tetra and Jack darted their eyes at Sula down the hall. Tetra held a claw to her lips.

Sula slithered forward and cocked her head slightly. "What is that?" She stage whispered. "Is that her?"

Sula joined them by the door and paused a moment. "I recognize that song." She exclaimed. "Papa Mateo sang it to us." She glanced down. "He sang it a lot before he passed."

Jack glanced at her. Although her words seemed sad her tone was light and she held a slight smile. "What song is it?" He asked.

"La Muerte no es el Final." She looked up at Jack. "Death is not the End." Her eyes glistened a bit at the memory.

Jack and the two monster girls stood there and allowed the harpy's voice to serenade them. When the song ended Jack wanted to hear more. He stood back from the door and sighed.

"Come on." Tetra whispered. "We should go before she discovers us."

Jack and Sula nodded and headed back to the kitchen.

"Well, that was a rare treat." Tetra commented as she took her place at the table.

"Hopefully not too rare." Sula surmised.

"Yeah." Jack agreed. "That was...that was something else."

Tetra chuckled. "Unfortunately harpies don't sing for non-harpies usually."

Sula took on a saddened expression. "Yeah..."

Jack frowned. "Wait a minute." His guests looked up at him. "Why wouldn't they?"

Tetra shrugged. "Part of their rules." Sula nodded affirmatively.

Jack frowned harder. "What rule says people shouldn't sing for other people."

The monster girls glanced at each other then back at Jack. Sula held her hands apart. "It's just... part of their rules."

Jack wasn't satisfied with that answer. "That makes no sense."

Tetra leaned forward. "A species' rules don't have to make sense to any others Jack." She grinned slyly. "There's a few human rules that regarding liminals that don't make sense to me."

Jack held up a finger and was about to counter. But no words came out. He blinked a couple times and kept his mouth shut. He tapped his finger on the table and thought furiously. There had to be a way around that restriction.

"Maybe it only applies to passer harpies and not reform harpies like her." He stated.

Both monster girls looked at him like he'd lost a few marbles. He rattled his head. "I mean, the shorter flying harpies might have those rules but would terrestrial harpies have those same rules?"

"Well they're all harpies..." Sula mused.

"But Echidnas and Medusas and Melusine's would have different rules from each other wouldn't they?" Jack pressed.

Sula looked down at the table and hummed. "That's true..."

He tilted his head up at Tetra. "I know large breed arachne have different customs than arachne." She raised an eyebrow at his point.

He paused a second before continuing. "So why would terrestrial harpies necessarily have the same rules as other harpies?" He looked at each of them. "I mean have either of you actually met a terrestrial harpy besides her?"

Sula shook her head. "Well no..."

Tetra put a knuckle near her chin. "Hmm. You may have a point Jack." She snickered and looked at him intently. "You should ask her while on your date."

Jack blinked rapidly at her completely unrelated subject. "Date? What date?"

"Well you had a date with both of us didn't you." Sula was grinning maliciously.

Jack looked at both of them aghast. "Those weren't dates, those were just interviews."

Tetra tapped a claw on the table. "What else are first dates?" She turned and started walking out of the kitchen.

"Have fun on your date, Jack." Sula called while she slithered toward the garage entrance.

"Those weren't dates!" He insisted at the fleeing pair. Where are they going?

"Who's going on a date?" A Spanish accented voice asked.

Jack jumped as Syleris walked into the kitchen. Her platinum hair was less spiky but without the head band it fell all over her face and shoulders. Sula's t-shirt fit her well enough though and the silk shorts Tetra made complemented her thighs.

"No one's on a date," Jack replied too hastily. Syleris cocked an eyebrow.

Jack swallowed and composed himself. "Would you like some water?"

Syleris nodded wordlessly and brushed some of her hair of her face when he turned his back to the table. He returned with a tall mug equipped with a handle.

"Thank you." She said after taking a gulp. She looked over at the stove and noticed some cooked meat in a pan. "Actually, I could eat some food too if you don't mind."

Jack smiled. "Not at all." He turned back to the stove and fired up the pan with taco meat still in it. "Should just take me a minute."

He returned with two wraps and plenty of chopped fruits in a bowl and a fork. "That smells good." She thanked him and dove in.

Jack let her get in a few bites before asking: "I hope you don't mind but.." She looked up at him expectantly and swallowed. "We kinda heard you singing."

She blinked a couple times. "Okay." And resumed eating.

Jack looked at her askance. "Uh well, the other girls told me that harpies aren't supposed to sing for non-harpies."

She speared a chunk of strawberry and held it up. "Oh that." She took the bite of fruit and swallowed. "That really only applies back home." Jack gave her a curious look. "I'll sing for whomever I want, whenever I want. If the matriarchs have a problem with that they can try to drag my ass all the way back to Bolivia if they want."

Jack chuckled. Syleris gave him an odd look. "Sorry." He held up a hand. "I'm just picturing that image in my head." But I wanna sing Mamma! I have the music in my soul!

The harpy shook her head and took another bite of her taco wrap.

"Though what I'm really curious about." Jack said. "Is how learned you are."

The harpy swallowed the last bite of fruit and nodded. "I confess I'm a bit of an aberration among my people on that front."

Jack smirked. "You're an 'odd duck.'"

She looked at him evenly. "Really? Bird puns?"

Jack stretched his mouth into a shit-eating grin.

"You haven't been making snake and spider jokes this whole time have you?" She asked sardonically.

"Nope. Think I should start?"

Syleris raised an eyebrow and smirked back. "Your funeral, human."

Jack chuckled. "But seriously, what do you mean that you're an 'aberration.'"

She took in a breath and let it out slowly. "Most of my tribe has contented themselves with the knowledge of the world that they know. Stories, rules, and wisdom orally passed down generation to generation. From what I understand things have always been like that." She slide her plate away from her and stacked the now-empty bowl on top. "We didn't ignore humans and other extra-species outright. Couldn't ignore human males for essential survival reasons." She focused on Jack. "I don't have to go into that do I?" He shook his head.. "Good. Well, the tribe has been satisfied with limited contact with the outside world for centuries."

Jack nodded. "Smythe told me that terrestrial harpies are rarely ever encountered outside their territory."

Syleris nodded back. "Then one day I was racing with one of my nest-mates. I got distracted by something I'd never seen before. It was some human encampment right on the plains. I was so enamored by the idea of that many humans being this close to home that I didn't notice that I was about to crash into a rock."

She glanced at the table and traced a vaguely round shape with her wingtip.

"My nest-mate cried out and tackled me out of the way." The harpy breathed in and out. "She saved me from my own carelessness but she clipped her foot on the rock.

Jack winced.

She closed her eyes and nodded once. "Yeah, fortunately Kalendra didn't break anything." She opened her eyes and stared at the table some more. "Also fortunate was a human at the encampment that knew some things about harpy physiology and general medicine."

She looked up at Jack. "That's when I first encountered someone associated with the Cultural Exchange." She explained. "I'd heard the idea discussed by a few of the matriarchs but never actually felt interested in such a thing, until I almost literally ran into it."

Jack cocked his head to the side. "Your nest mate is alright now isn't she?"

Syleris waved a wing. "Oh yeah, she's fine. She's tough."

Jack mentally suppressed an old bird joke.

"And the human doctor knew what she was doing, amazingly enough." She smiled at the memory.

"The concept of a human successfully treating another species intrigued me. So I hung around the human's camp as much as I could."

"Most of them were pleased that they didn't have to venture far into the plains to find the liminals they wanted to study, so it worked out well for us." She placed both her wings together briefly. "They asked me all sorts of questions about my tribe and their customs and I got to learn a lot about humans and their cultures."

"That sounds pretty cool." Jack said. "But if Bolivia has their own Exchange program why did you decide to come all the way up here?"

She smiled. "That's where my human friend comes in. The doctor who treated Kalendra is actually from the Unites States. She studied medicine at the University of Chicago. Her husband is a professor there."

"University of Chicago..." Jack mused. "I think they have a suburban campus a few miles from here."

She nodded. "That's correct. She contacted her husband and arranged for me to be brought to the United States to be a student at that location."

Jack's eyes widened. "You're smart enough to study medicine?"

She glowered at him. He waved his hands placatingly. "I don't mean that as an insult, I just...well usually folks need years of education before their allowed to attend medical school." He put his hands down as her expression mollified. "They have to take an entrance exam too."

She smiled proudly. "I passed it."

Jack's shocked disbelief prevented him from physically reacting. He froze for a good ten seconds. Syleris' smile morphed into a smug grin.

"H-how?"

She snickered, then closed her eyes and breathed out. "My friend, Dr. Holden, taught me how to read Spanish and English. And I discovered something about myself."

Jack tilted his head after her pause. She looked at him directly. "I remember everything I read."

Jack took a second to contemplate the significance of that statement. Then his eyes widened as he put it in context. "Whoa."

Syleris watched him closely, examining his thought process.

Jack tapped an index finger on the table a couple times. "You said your tribe passes their history and customs on orally right?" She nodded while smiling. "So you don't have books in your tribe right?" Syleris nodded again.

"Oh man." He breathed. "So if you never had books..." He waved a hand at her.

She closed her eyes. "I would never have known I had this gift." She opened her eyes at him. "That's why I am considered an aberration to my people."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Is that what they call you?"

"They don't dislike me." She clarified. "If that's what your getting at." She closed her eyes. "But I am different from them. And if I stayed I would be wasting my potential."

"Do you," Jack began. "Do you think they understand that?"

She nodded lightly. "The matriarchs do. They're the ones that agreed to the Exchange laws in the first place. The world changes and harpies adapt and move on. Clinging to traditions is not a harpy trait. We call them rules but they're considered more like guidelines." She took a sip of water from her cup. "We're free-spirited, we go where we want, when we want." She shrugged. "So long as we eventually return home to our families." She quirked an eyebrow. "'Birds of a feather' and all that."

Jack snorted. "I thought you didn't like bird jokes."

She titled her head side to side. "Mmm, I like mine." She grinned smugly.

Jack rolled his eyes.

"So I take it Smythe didn't inform you about any additional responsibilities for me?" Syleris asked.

Jack cocked his head at her. "Additional responsibilities?"

"Liminals in the homestay program cannot be outside of their residence unless their host family accompanies them." She reminded him. "So you'll have to transport me to and from campus every day I have classes."

Jack leaned back. "Oh, right." He thought about the logistics of that task for a few seconds. "But wait, would I have to stay with you on campus the entire time?"

She laughed lightly. "No, Professor Emil Holden has an Exchange certification that declares him as a host substitute while homestay students are on campus."

Jack nodded his head in thought. "Okay." He looked at her directly. "I'm going to have to meet this Professor Holden before I trust one of my guests with him."

She giggled at Jack.

He tilted his head. "What? What's so funny."

She closed her eyes and covered her mouth with a wing. "You just, seemed so serious right there."

He blinked. "Well yeah, I'm responsible for you and the other girls. I can't just drop you off somewhere and leave."

She chuckled. "It's alright Jack. Professor Holden is married to my friend Doctor Holden. He's the one that suggested I become a student here and helped arrange my transportation and legal papers."

Jack blinked again. "Oh. You've met Professor Holden then?"

She shrugged. "Not in person. But I've talked with him over... facechat?"

"FaceTime." He corrected. Jack tapped his thumb and forefinger on his chin. "Alright, I'll try to give the benefit of the doubt. But I still want to meet and discuss details."

"Okay." She said. "I'm pretty sure we can arrange something with the professor in the near future."

Jack sighed "Oi."

Syleris blinked "Something wrong?"

"Um, nothing wrong just...stuff keeps piling up since I took this job. And it's probably going to keep stacking as this place fills up. "

"Stuff like what?" she asked.

"Um, well let's see." He got up and went to the refrigerator door. He retrieved a slip of paper that was held by a magnet. He grabbed a pen from a drawer and returned to the table. He pointed at each item with the pen as he read them off.

"There's paintball with Kelly and her homestays, the trip to California and back, Talbot's case, the Taranto-ball at some point, which of course leads into learning more dishes to cook." He took a breath. "I should get the rest of my stuff out of my previous residence, prepare for the next four, 'scuse me three," He crossed out a number and replaced it with the appropriate one. "Three homestay guests, take each of you out to see the town at some point, shopping, groceries et cetera." He started writing the latest item. "And now there's a meet and greet with a college professor."

He scanned the list once, then got up and placed it back on the fridge door. He tapped another slip of paper right next to it. "And all that's on top of the daily chores that need to be done around here."

Syleris stared at him blankly for a few seconds. "I don't know who or what half that stuff is, so I gotta ask... you sure you can handle all that?"

Jack sighed heavily. "Honestly, I don't know." He perked up a bit. "But when I think about where I used to be and the company I have now. I'd much rather be here."

He waved a hand at the house in general. "I mean, come on. Where else am I gonna meet and hang out with liminals all day." He smiled. "Beats the hell out of working at the office."

Syleris smirked. "You really like liminals don't you."

He gave her a sardonic grin. "What was your first clue?"

She closed her eyes. "Alright, Jack." She opened them up and focused on him. "I think it's time to make it official." She stuck out her wing across the table. "I accept you as my host."

Jack took her wing-hand and shook. "I'm honored Syleris. Welcome to the family."

A/N: Thanks for reading. I wanted to explore one of the other Harpy subspecies instead of a Papi clone. Granted, writing an overly energetic forgetful bundle of crazy would be fun but... Papi is Papi. And she's already got plenty of material in the original and elsewhere on .

Please comment and review.