Chapter 22 – Daddy Hollmey

“Home, sweet home, where are you Jane?”

The voice made John freeze up. Her dad was home and the Gamer was standing stark naked just outside the jacuzzi. Both he and Rave were in a haste to get dressed. For him it was a matter of panic. For her, as was all too soon revealed, it was to see her father as quickly as possible. She stormed out of the bathroom while he was still busy figuring out which side of his shirt was the front.

Rave didn’t get far. Her father was right behind the door. Throwing her arms around him, she shouted, “I’m glad you’re back, daddy!”

“Hello glad, I am Dad,” he responded without a second of hesitation.

The first impression John had of her father was the urge to facepalm. He chuckled at the same time. Dad jokes were the greatest and most terrible medium on the planet. Of course, all of what he felt was filtered through the confused terror he felt.

“I take it you had a nice shower?”

“Took a shower and then a bath, actually.”

“Oh? Well, I hope your getaway vehicle is big enough to carry both.” That one took a moment to register, but John nervously chuckled again. “Hello, young man,” Rave’s dad finally acknowledged John.

“H-hello,” John responded.

Regan Hollmey, Lvl 46

Abyssal Power Dad

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Age 47, a member of the Abyss Auction. A fairly successful coordinator of local enterprises in and around Springfield. Rich and a free spirit, he loves to collect things and make bad puns also known as ‘Dad jokes’.

Relationship Points: 2

Emotions: Proud, Proud, Curious.

‘Proud two times?’ John wondered, while Regan ended the hug with his daughter, giving John a proper view of the man.

Regan Hollmey was a man of average height, with brown hair and a dense three-day beard. Had it not been for the dark rings under his eyes, he would have looked pretty good. His outfit matched his house: a coat like that of a private detective mixed with a modern business tie and a green fedora sitting on his head. A leopard-pattern strap was wrapped around the felt hat. Frankly, he looked weird.

“Now what do we have here… a boyfriend?” Regan asked, although there was a glint of recognition in his eyes.

“Nah, just someone interesting I picked up.”

“Interesting… well, I guess mundanes turned Abyssals are typically interesting. John Newman, correct? The Gamer?” The thusly addressed Gamer turned even more rigid than before. “How?” Regan read the question from his mind. “Your intel package is all over the Abyss Auction. You must’ve been quite unlucky to run into an information broker so quickly.”

“Enough about him,” Rave poked her father in the chest. “How long are ya staying?”

“Only until midnight,” Regan confessed with a long yawn. “Have to drive out tomorrow. How about we go eat something before I crash?” His eyes turned to John. “You can stay.”

John wanted to say no. A whole bunch of things about Regan unnerved him. The high level, his house, his jokes, and the uncaring attitude he had towards the fact that somebody left the bathroom with his daughter. He would’ve felt more comfortable with a shotgun aimed at his head.

However, the way Rave looked at him urged him to stay. John resigned himself to a mumbled “Okay.”

Regan happily clapped his hands together. “Great I already brought pizza anyway.” He said and pushed his hand into the air. Reality rippled and a moment later he pulled a pizza box out of thin air. John was dumbstruck, he thought only he had that ability. “I am afraid it has gotten cold though.” Regan added, causing even more confusion. Inside his own inventory things were preserved in their current state.

“It’s a dimensional pocket, they cost a lot but dad gets his sponsored from the Abyss Auction.” Rave whispered into his ear.

“Now, now children, you can flirt when I am gone.” Regan said and marched towards one of the dining rooms. It was the relatively normal kitchen John had noted – the only thing that was off about it was that it looked like the interior belonged in the sixties.

Regan opened the box to reveal a pepperoni pizza. A blue aura rose from his entire being. What made John ready to dart towards the door was channelled only into a thin energy blade at the tip of the man’s finger. With a couple of swings, he had sliced the pizza into eight evenly sized pieces. ‘A rather unorthodox usage of martial arts.’ John thought. The aura disappeared a moment later.

“So, what is the Abyss Auction?” He had heard the term before, both in person and through Observe. Time to finally get details.

“Ah, a good question young man, however a better question would be why Jane didn’t show it to you yet.”

 “Because he has no money.” Rave answered between two bites of pizza. “Like, none, even less than Baldy.”

“You shouldn’t talk about Travolta like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because he owes me money. So, unless your friend here already took out student loans, he has more than Travolta.”

Rave nodded, “Good point.”

What was this? How did he go from receiving a handjob in the bathtub to speaking to these two about Travolta on a breakfast table. The whiplash was even stronger than the contrast between the white polka dots on the red tablecloth.

“Show it to him when he gets some money then.” Regan concluded. “Now I want to ask a question!”

‘YOU NEVER ANSWERED MINE!’ John nervously shouted in his mind, but sheepishly nodded.

 “How did you two meet?”

“Well, after I stalked Moi-Moi for a bit I randomly heard the Gamer here speak about his abilities and then….” She recounted the events from her perspective. At the part with the Wall Shadow, Regan’s expression darkened.

“Well, they got what was coming for them.” Regan just said as he heard that the monster had killed the summoners. The story ended with the two proposals between the guilds John had received.

“You know I would be a lot happier if you would train in safe conditions.” Finally, some normal daughter-father conversations.

“But safe is so booooooring.” Rave complained and wiggled her feet under the table. “Also, there are no good martial arts teachers in these parts.”

“True. So, Gamer, you joined Collide then.” It wasn’t a question. “Travolta must have been very happy about that.”

“He actually looked very indifferent.”

“Did he scream at you yet?” 

John made a puzzled expression, “Ehm, no?”

“Then he is as happy as the grump ball gets. Speaking of Travolta, he is coming with me.” That seemed a bit more important than to be mentioned in such an offhand manner.

“Jimmie too?”

“No, he is booked already. The Apothecaries are really eating all his time.” They continued eating and chatting for a bit, father and daughter. John hardly managed to chew the one piece of pizza he had grabbed. His mouth remained dry. “I’ll be leaving my daughter in your care, John. Do not disappoint me.”

“More like leaving him in my care,” Rave laughed over the threat and grabbed another slice of pizza. John didn’t feel like eating anymore.

“Anything else going on while I was gone?”

“We got a new history teacher.” Rave said, “You know who.”

“Oh? Well, as long as we stay away from her we shouldn’t run into any problems. She has an agreement with me after all.”

John was left in the dark what that exchange meant. New history teacher? That could only be Ms Wentworth. “W-what about her?” he asked cautiously.

“We don’t know the details but we have worked out a deal that we stay out of each other’s faces. I suggest you do the same unless you want to end up like this.” He pointed at the half-eaten pizza. Confusing and yet clear enough.

“I’ll stick to ghosts…” John mumbled.