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The following is a fan-based

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Chapter 11: Family Affairs 2/2

I have to say that I was quite surprised to get to know Hope's mother.

Grace Ravenhurst was quite similar in behavior to her eldest daughter. Fairly tall compared to Hope, with an inch or two over her, the woman held greater curves, brown hair and, as mentioned before, pink eyes that tended to glow with kindness and curiosity when before novelty and new people. She was wearing a sleeveless pink shirt and a short dark-gray skirt that hugged so nicely to her hips. The woman was suddenly taken by the notion her daughter's newest friend was a human. To the point she literally dragged me out of the living room, looking quite giddy and proceeding to pull me to her office. Which was more of a library than anything which would resemble a proper office. There was no desk, no big mahogany desk, and not too many books within the single wall-library.

Now, that wouldn't be that confusing since her job wasn't much of a desk-related activity, but what really confused me was that there wasn't the classic therapist couch where one could lie down while the mind-doctor could poke at my brain. No, there was a normal couch. One where I was told to lie down and rest my head on her lap. It was... indeed an experience. But I was quite stunned by the fact that, despite the positioning, things didn't get too intense. The staring was just promising that, but Grace didn't... go any further. Instead starting with simple questions after an apology that didn't feel like one.

"I'm so sorry for the hurry, John. It's just that it's been a long time since I had to handle a human just like you."

I frowned but slowly nodded. "I know that we aren't that... common in some places."

"Oh no, that's not what I really meant," The mother hummed. "There are many humans in town, but it's rare for one to seek therapy through us."

That actually confused me. "Really?"

"Truly. It's not much of a limitation, but people are... well, suspicious of the unknown that a group called the 'Love Clan' might offer to solve their problems."

My lips twitched for that interesting reason. "I mean, I can see that being a concern."

"And it's alright to see it as one. It's not a genuine offense to us," Grace admitted calmly, her smile not faltering at that notion. "I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, and while asking us for help is something we would be more than happy to provide, we are still not going to force anyone to do things they don't want to."

I slowly nodded at that, taking a moment to ponder about it. I could see some humans growing distrustful about it. Despite how long it's been and the fact it's confirmed there are some tangible Dragon Gods within this reality, people are still religious towards classic Earth deities. Heck, even I held some attachment to my childhood's religious education. I wasn't truly connected to it, but some morals were still there and holding strong within my core, thus enabling me to still respect the source of said rules. And it was there, just as I grew at ease that Grace began poking at the right 'spots' as Hope would say.

"By the way, Hope told me that you were from Italy, right?"

I blinked, glancing up to her face. "Yes."

"And that your family is quite small. Father, mother and younger sister. Kind of like ours."

I cracked a smile at that. "Yes. Joy, right?"

"My youngest daughter," The Gazelle Prime hummed. "She is a bit of a troublemaker... and I can tell you were one too."

Tensing up at that comment, I could only frown at that comment.

"What?"

A giggle left Grace's lips. "It's in your politeness. It's a bit forced, but in a way that aims to please while also sounding apologetic."

I never heard anyone bringing up this part of me. It was a bit true, I tended to be quite appeasing with my voice when talking with someone I was trying to be respectful with.

"Sorta."

The woman hummed. "It's alright. You're no longer a child and those mistakes no longer matter- actually, they matter within the way you have grown through those."

"I would say that too," I admitted mirthfully. "I was a pest."

"Oh my? And I guess you tend to drive your mother mad."

"At times. But she wasn't one to give up at the 'challenges' little me would put her through. Mom couldn't just be beaten."

I felt a hint of unease when I felt a hand caress a few strings of hair off my forehead.

"I wouldn't mind meeting that woman. Sounds like a lovely person," Grace beamed, but just briefly as she spotted the awkwardness in my face at the reminder that couldn't be possible due to the situation I was in. "And... Do you miss home, John?"

Quite the sudden question, but I could see she was going to the long road to get to the reason that drove me to react that way.

"Sometimes."

"But not always?"

"I'm not too dependent on that thought," I argued politely. "It's a thought, and I guess I just feel nostalgic of the house where I grew up in."

"Hmm, I can see that. But I can also see that there's more to it," Grace remarked quietly. "Now, I don't wish to push you through a topic you don't wish to talk about, but... I can tell that you already know what I want you to tell me."

"Why am I not visiting or even contacting my parents?"

Her smile flickered in brief confirmation and I sighed.

"It's complicated. Dimensional-hopping."

She was confused by the way I started that answer, but still listened to the full explanation. I went out with all I knew on the matter. And while Grace looked a bit skeptical at first, when I mentioned that Naerie believed in that she seemed to be less unsure about it and more confident I was being truthful about it. But as the topic was promised to be kept a secret, the next subject proved to be no less relevant to me as it was that secret I had about my 'home'.

"Does Hope know about this?"

My lips twitched. "No."

"It's a matter of trust or-"

"I think it's that but also her being... chatty with that kind of stuff. Like, I mean no offense-"

"But she is quite keen to gossip. I can understand she can be a handful about it," The mother replied truthfully, continuing to caress my hair. "She is a good girl but... everyone has flaws."

I slowly nodded at that.

"Also, what do you really think of her?"

"Hope? She is a good friend."

"Only a good friend?" Grace pressed with a teasing tone, which had me raise a brow in confusion.

"Yeah?"

"John, are you perhaps relying on what you two see each other in public or what you genuinely feel about her when you think of that?"

The question was tremendously precise considering how little info she had on the matter. Did Hope say something I wasn't aware of? Maybe Grace knew things I didn't know about and was trying to push me into saying something in that regard. But... I couldn't tell what it was all about on the spot.

"Well, I guess we're close friends."

"Oh~? She told me the same thing. But I can tell there's much more than just 'close' than normal close friends," Grace hummed, causing me to tense up to her smug and yet teasing mood. "Still, I think that I will leave this to it. You two are both old enough to fish out how to handle this without being morons... right?"

"Y-Yeah."

The woman giggled and then sighed in relief. "Good to know."

...

"Hmm... Yes, I think we can stop now."

"Wait, just like that? What about checking my power if it is Love-related? Hope said-"

"I think you were already told what it is about and... I'll be honest with you, John. Hope may have overreacted about what happened," The Gazelle Prime pointed out. "Sure, it's quite unusual for Naerie to react to things, but even I can tell that it was more tied to how you handled her. People have weaknesses, even those that can hold quite the stoic expressions for that long. She is stressed, and I can tell you have good hands, John so... be careful on who you end up ensnared by those. You know, I'm still married, but I would say no to a massage~."

My face went red at the suggestion and that was enough to elicit a massive laugh from Grace as she had gotten me out of nowhere and without a warning. Still, she didn't press on it, keeping things quite... chill. Or the equivalent of that while still being caring and loving towards others. Me in particular. But before I could leave, she decided to ask me something.

"By the way, John. Can you do me a tiny favor? It's about my youngest daughter. I think you two may be able to sort out something about her dilemma."

I normally would have said no, but... I was really impressed by Grace's professional self. And the fact she gave me a full tiddy hug before I left. So I was kind of in an agreeing mood and ready to handle this unexpected favor for this free therapy session. And I just could tell this was going to be an interesting interaction as I heard a lot of things about the last member of the Ravenhurst Family, Joy.

Not all of those were good.

The new task wasn't exactly what I had prepared myself for.

I mean, why should I be prepared to help someone I didn't know much about? Still, I had Hope and Grace's perspectives on the matter about who I was dealing with Joy. I found her where I was meant to, doing the exact thing that Grace had told me the girl was doing when she left her alone. Her fists were slamming hard on the third punching bag she had set up, two broken ones were lying on the ground, cracked by her mighty strikes as those eroded their endurance.

That should start ringing an alarm or two about the chance of approaching her but... I had my ways to get close without getting decked on my nose. Joy looked like a mini-Grace to a certain degree with her brown hair styled similarly to her mother, her pink eyes shining a vibrant glow that showed anger and yet focus. Her attention was fully aimed at the bags she was obliterating with her punches. She was wearing a cropped military-green jacket with a few stickers on it, a cropped white shirt with 'Ram Girl' written on it in pink while also revealing her abs. Under that a pair of black yoga pants that hugged nicely at her lower frame and some bandages around her ankles to cover part of her exposed hooved feet.

Just as I got close enough, the girl paused for a moment, her ear twitching as she looked at me, frowning at my presence.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

"John Bukharin, guest for a few days and bringing you a water battle."

"..." Joy kept quiet, but soon nodded and allowed me to approach to give her the bottle.

Instead of outright leaving the room, I sat on the matted ground close to where she was training, an action that wasn't lost to the girl. She paused again. "Why are you still here?"

I shrugged. "Should I leave?"

"I want you to."

"Why?"

That actually drew her to stop her training, but I wasn't sure if it was surprise at the back-talk or the fact I was actually asking about it.

"What?"

"Why do you want me to leave? I'm just watching you demolish a punching bag. That's pretty cool."

She blushed at that, either for embarrassment or tiredness catching up to her. "I don't like it. Having someone to watch me... vent off."

I sighed, knowing that I was threading on a difficult topic.

"Truth be told, you would need that. And someone to talk to."

"L-Look, I don't need help."

"That's debatable. How long have you been straining your body to go beyond your usual punching regiment?"

Her lips twitched, confusion flared. "What?"

"You said you don't need help, but I can tell you're hardly in any shape to go ahead. And no, this isn't a challenge, I am just saying that you are definitely going to collapse from exhaustion if you go through this for too long."

"I'm fine."

"You are not. Your knuckles are definitely bust at this point."

She growled. "Look, John. You don't know what's going on inside my head right now and I really don't need this so-"

"You want to punch something because you are angry. And you are punching the bags because this usually relieves the stress," I argued without hesitation, freezing her on the spot. "You want this to be one of those times where punching something until you're tired will help you see some enlightenment, but you can't. That's why you're punching until you're tired, hurting and unable to react to anything. It still hurts."

Her teeth gritted at the awfully precise comment. "So what? Should I just stop and go back to him?"

"I didn't say that. In fact, how about you give me your version of the story. I only know what the others know, what Drake had told them. You kept mostly quiet about it."

"..."

"Joy-"

"I'm thinking!" The girl lashed out angrily, but only verbally and kept her fists put. "It's not that easy."

I nodded. "Sorry."

After a longer pause, she finally spoke up and told me the truth. Turns out that this Drake kind of deserved the reaction from his soon-to-be former girlfriend. Let's be honest, I might be supportive of Hope's good will at times, but this time I had to disagree with her point. Sure, Joy had agreed to an open relationship but one with some rules to keep things from going too far and ruin the bond she had with him. Said rules were broken by Drake as he 'forgot' to mention who he was with, what he was doing with them and then do nothing but 'apologize' when the truth came out the next day. At this point, we were both sitting down, with me listening raptly at what Joy had to say before she ultimately had to wrap things up.

"And that's all. What do you think? Should I just back down and get back to him?"

That was surprisingly easy to answer despite how odd it felt for me to say. "Nope."

She frowned. "What?"

"You gave him requirements that were easy to satisfy within that relationship, he decided to willingly break those multiple times and then he expects you to back down. That's not how a serious commitment works, Joy."

"So I shouldn't... get back with him?"

"Truth be told, I don't see any point of reconciliation. You said that you offered him the deal of telling you when he was with another partner, but he went over it and still did it with someone without you knowing about it," I remarked calmly, trying to keep things reasonable. "Like, you are in the right, but I think you shouldn't get violent about it. You have what many would call the 'moral high ground' and a good standing to make a decision here while thinking of what either of the choices will lead to in terms of ramifications."

"This is... just so complicated," Joy commented quietly. "I'm even bringing this up to you and not my family-"

"That's because you are worried they will not support your side."

"I... I guess. I just don't feel like this is wrong. And I've been wrong before even when I was confident I wasn't."

"You are not wrong. It's just..." I sighed, and then an idea came up to solve this mess for good. "Tell you what. Do you want me to give you something that will clear your mind on what to do on the spot?"

She raised a frown at that offer, and she nodded as I proceeded to show her a beautiful site called Reddit and pick up the right place where she could find some feedback while keeping her anonymity. R/Relationships wasn't exactly a place I was familiar with due to first-hand experience, but I had the luck of stumbling on plenty of videos back in my original dimension and I knew that Reddit was a thing even in this part of the macroverse. And it was as active as, if not more active than, back home. So, I proceeded to write a post for her, with the girl sitting beside me and nodding or shaking her head on how I worded the entire situation. After ten rough minutes of brainstorming, the post was ready and it was uploaded. And so it was now a matter of time on what kind of feedback she was going to get.

Nothing much came during the rest of the visit, we kept for another day after that one, and I had the chance to speak more with Ayah and Joy, the former being keen to continue talking of glorious chaos and why it was amazing (within the limits of not outright corrupting me somehow as Kayin was around all the time when that happened) while the 'ankle-biter', as Joy was called by a few, allowed me to tag along to see her sparring and training. Hope would look at both circumstances with a supportive posture, but she also looked quite annoyed for some reason. I wasn't sure what was up with some of her glares, but I could tell it was tied to these interactions.

After all, the same didn't happen when it came to the other 'members' of the family. These four were more workers under Kayin, but had been around for so long that they were considered part of the Ravenhurst. Kodiak was the burly bear that was known for his super strength, the Hyena twins Jax and Xing were a 'loud barker' and impressive precision respectively while both sharing a witty personality, and then there was Violet, which was a Deer Prime from the Wisdom clan that worked as the 'tech specialist'. I wasn't really sure what was up with her and why she gave me so many annoyed looks throughout our stay here.

Still, we had to leave once it was time and soon we were back to Prism. Hope loved the experience, and I had nothing to complain about. She had quite the lovely family... which further reinforced some words I shared with Grace about mine. I missed home a lot, but I just couldn't let this thought bring me down. Also, Joy would eventually find a way to contact my number and tell me how things went and she confirmed my point. Drake tried to salvage something, but managed only to keep things friendly. It wasn't a harsh break-up, but the two were no longer dating as the guy failed to show himself willing for a reconciliation and following the previous rules.

Tomorrow was another day, I realized through how quick-paced things were nowadays, and I could tell things were just going to get more intense as soon as it was time to handle those unfinished business on the homefront.

If only I knew how intense those were going to be.

AN

Oh my, who's next!? I bet it is... someone that was already met before! One or two at the same time!