Family Comes First, Pt. 2

“So, can you afford it?” Tanya asks you, breaking you away from the pop-up question posed by the app.

You immediately filter it to the most recommended traits for her, and the most recommended is, surprisingly, ‘Always Clean’. The one recommended after that is the one that allows you to learn languages quicker. The one after those two, you notice, is the trait the app just asked if you want to add to your wishlist, so you at least confirm your assumption that it was suggesting it for Tanya’s daughters. Needing ‘Supportive Children’ isn’t even in her top three ‘Most Recommended’, so you’re assuming it’s not necessary to buy.

“Tanya, I’m checking traits recommended for you and the app thinks it’s not necessary.” You tell her honestly.

“Oh, yeah? What does it think is necessary?” She asks.

“Uh~, the one I got about not being able to get STDs and always having my orifices clean, and a trait that lets you learn languages quicker. Although, I think the latter is being recommended for me so I can learn Spanish to talk to you better.” You tell her.

“Parece que tu aplicación sólo quiere que me folles por el culo en Español.” Tanya tells you in Spanish.

“What?” You ask her, as you only really understood ‘app’ and ‘Spanish’.

“I said it looks like what it recommends isn’t related to me at all. Just ones that will help you with me in some way.” Tanya translates.

“I guess that’s true.” You concede.

“Then what your app recommends isn’t exactly the best way to tell if I need that trait or not then, is it?” Tanya argues.

“Your own anxious feelings aren’t a great way to tell either.” You point out to her in a lighthearted tone, as you don’t want her to mistake your counter argument as snarkiness. Tanya takes a deep breath through her nose while giving you a look of annoyance.

“Bueno.” Tanya says in a conceding tone. “You’re right. I’m just letting my anxiety get the best of me.” Tanya admits.

“Look, Tanya, if your anxieties are confirmed and your daughters keep dropping hints that they’d rather live back with your parents than with you, then I’ll buy it for you in a heartbeat.” You tell her supportively. “It’s just… I feel like it’s a bit premature to buy the trait when we don’t actually know where you stand with your daughters.” You explain to her.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m letting my emotions get the best of me.” Tanya concedes, making you smile a little in amusement.

“It’s funny to see you panic a little though. I guess Mr. O’Brien’s right about children making you act differently.” You say with a chuckle.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tanya asks you with her eyebrow raised.

“You’re the most confident person I’ve ever met Tanya. Self doubt doesn’t suit you at all.” You tell her, while palming her cheek and rubbing it with your thumb. She places her hand on top of yours, and lets herself relax in your touch. You give her a peck on the lips to boost her morale a bit.

“Thanks, papi.” Tanya tells you with an appreciative smile. “I needed that.” She adds.

“Come on. Let’s go get your girls.”

“¿Quién es este tipo?” One of Tanya’s daughters asks her, after the girls greet their mother. She’s the one with glasses, so if you remember correctly, her name’s Sofia. You say hello to both of them, and offer to carry their bags, but they both just ignore you.

“Éste es Jay. Es mi vecino del otro lado del pasillo. ¿No te acuerdas de él?” Tanya replies to her, after holding your hand before introducing you to them. At least, you assume she introduced you since you heard your name.

“Ay Dios mío. Por favor, dime que no trajiste a tu juguete de chico para ayudar a recogernos.” Her daughter, Antonella, adds.

“¡Nelly! ¡No seas grosero!” Tanya shouts at her admonishingly.

“Sólo estoy siendo grosero si este puto me entiende.” Nelly replies to her mother. “¿Me entiendes, puto?” Nelly asks, looking at you. Fortunately, you know enough Spanish to know that she’s asking if you understand her, and that she’s being aggressive if she’s calling you that.

“I know you’re asking if I understand you. So, yes… I mean, I guess I should say, ‘si’.” You answer her with an awkward chuckle, which gets an annoyed look from her. “That’s about it though. I couldn’t follow anything before that.” You admit, which turns Nelly’s annoyed look into a smug one.

“¿Ves? No estoy siendo grosero.” Nelly tells her mom smugly.

“Okay! Enough! Ingles, por favor.” Tanya tells her in frustration.

“Oh, sure~.” Nelly replies to Tanya. “Can you help me with my bag, please?” Nelly asks you, giving you a sweet smile that you can’t deny is pretty convincing; but her calling you a ‘puto’ earlier tells you how sincere her sweetness really is.

Still, she asked you nicely, so you accept and offer your hand to carry her duffel bag. Instead of handing it to you, Nelly throws the bag at you, forcing you to catch it with both hands and letting go of their mother’s hand. Tanya’s eyes flare in fury as Nelly walks off towards the exit ahead the three of you.

“Hija de puto.” Tanya says under her breath in anger, before shouting for her daughter. “¡No te alejes de mí!” She shouts as she tries to catch up to her daughter. You try to stop Tanya but Sofia grabs you by the wrist, making you look towards her for an explanation.

“I wouldn’t get involved.” Sofia tells you, but not even glancing at you when she does. “She was asking for it.” Sofia adds as she continues to stare off into the distance, making you look at what she’s looking at too.

You see Tanya holding her daughter by the arm, pointing aggressively at her daughter as Tanya is obviously admonishing her. You assume that’s the case based only on their body language, as you can’t hear what she’s telling her. In fact, nobody around them seems to, as she’s doing it quietly enough that she’s not making a scene with her scolding.

You and Sofia continue to watch as Tanya lays into her daughter, as Nelly has her head down and sometimes nodding at the admonishment being given to her by her mother. As much as you feel sorry for Nelly getting publicly scolded like this, you’re also taking a mental note to never anger Tanya.

You glance towards Sofia, and she has an all too familiar conflicted look. A look that anyone with a sibling knows. A mixture of relief and fear that represents the thoughts that go through someone’s head when they watch their sibling getting scolded — ‘I’m glad that’s not me’ and ‘I hope I’m not next’.

You glance back at Tanya and Nelly, and you see Tanya aggressively points towards your direction. Nelly walks back towards you and Sofia with her head down and looking absolutely crushed. You also see Tanya walking behind her, Tanya’s eyes staring daggers at her daughter’s back.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Craig. I can carry my own bag.” Nelly apologizes, while her head is still down and not looking at you when she does. Nelly offers her hand so you can handover the duffel bag she threw at you.

“It’s ok—” You’re about to say that it’s fine and she doesn’t need to apologize, but your hand is suddenly nudged forward by Sofia, allowing Nelly to grab the bag away from you. You didn’t even notice that she had her hand on your wrist the entire time you watched Tanya scold Nelly. As soon as Nelly has her bag, she turns around and walks towards Tanya.

“Sorry about that. Shall we go?” Tanya asks you with a smile, flipping her switch from being Nelly and Sofia’s mother to your girlfriend quite quickly. You give her a nod, and Tanya turns around to walk towards the exit with Nelly, ahead of you and Sofia.

“Can I carry your bag for you, Sofia?” You ask her.

“I can manage. Thanks.” Sofia tells you with a polite smile. “I think we should start walking before my mom and Nelly get too far ahead.” She adds, before you can ask if she’s sure she doesn’t want your help. You put your empty hands in your pockets, as you and Sofia follow Tanya and Nelly to the exit.

“So~, how was your flight? I guess I should say, ‘flights’.” You ask Sofia, trying to make small talk. Tanya informed you earlier that they got a red-eye flight so that they can be on the same flight as their grandparents going back home from their vacation with them, before taking the connecting flight going here.

“It was uneventful. I slept, watched a movie, and took a nap.” Sofia answers.

“How are your grandparents?” You continue, trying to continue the conversation.

“They’re fine. Probably going to enjoy retirement now that we’re not bothering them.” Sofia answers you.

“I’m sure your grandparents don’t think that.” You reply, trying to reassure her.

“Let me ask you something mister, how long have you known my mom?” Sofia asks you.

“About four years now. Since she moved to the apartment.” You answer.

“No way you’ve been dating her that long.” Sofia replies in disbelief.

“Well, yeah. We’ve only been dating for about a week now. Also, you can call me Jay.” You clarify.

“Congrats. You’re lasting longer than most.” Sofia congratulates you, without a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “I wouldn’t get too attached though. Your expiration date is probably coming soon.” Sofia adds. Not in an insulting way or even a threatening way. She said it matter-of-factly. You’re about to say something and clarify your relationship with Tanya, but Sofia continues to speak, preventing you from doing so.

“So please don’t act like you know our family.” Sofia tells you politely, making you immediately shut up. As much as you and Tanya love each other, Sofia doesn’t know that and probably sees you as just another guy banging her mother. It also explains why Nelly acted the way she did.

“I’m sorry if I was assuming.” You apologize to Sofia. Sofia stops walking after hearing your apology. Not knowing why she stopped, you stop walking too.

“You seem like a nice guy, mister.” Sofia says, looking towards her mother and sister as they walk towards the car.

“So I’ll tell you something you need to hear before you get too invested. I don’t know what my mom told you, but she doesn’t do relationships. If you’re only here as a helpful and friendly booty call, then we don’t need to do this small talk, getting-to-know you, rigamarole. You don’t need to be friendly with me or my sister; because either way, you're just a tourist to my mom’s cuevita. Unlike my sister though, I can be friendly to tourists… as long as they keep to the tourist attractions.” Sofia tells you, still with a polite smile, before walking away immediately; not giving you a chance to respond.

In any case, it’s not something you’d want to argue in a parking lot anyway. They’ve probably heard it before. Knowing Tanya’s history with dating and relationships somewhat, you can see where Sofia’s coming from. If you and Tanya are going to prove to them that you’re serious about each other, then it’s going to be through actions and not words.

“I’ll help them get settled first, papi.” Tanya says after her daughters enter her apartment and closes the door behind them, preventing you from doing the same. “Can you order us some breakfast?” Tanya asks.

“Sure. Of course. I can cook you guys something too if you want.” You suggest.

“No. You’ll have to cook too much if you do. I want to introduce my girls to the others, and for all of them to have breakfast together.” Tanya tells you, and you nod in understanding.

“By the way, you already bought the polyamory trait, right?” Tanya asks.

“Yeah, why?” You answer.

“Just making sure. It’ll probably help smooth things over with introductions.” Tanya explains, before giving you a peck on the lips. “We’ll be in your apartment in a few minutes, papi.” She adds, before opening her apartment door and closing it behind her.

It seems like Tanya’s suggestion for you to buy the Normalized Polyamory trait to allow you to date Maddy had ulterior motives. She knew it would be a lot easier for everyone’s family to understand your relationship with everyone if you have it.

As you enter your apartment, you hear your phone ring in your pocket. You take it out and see that Becca’s calling you.

“Hey, Becca. How are—” You greet her, but she immediately cuts you off.

“I thought you already bought the polyamory trait!?” She asks you, clearly distressed.

“I have! Why? What’s going on?” You ask her full of concern.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to panic you.” Becca says, before taking a deep breath to calm herself.

“I’ve figured out my Dad’s play.” Becca adds ominously.

“He wants me to stay here in Vegas for the next two years to personally oversee the construction of the building until it’s finished and to help run the hotel and casino for its first year.” She informs you.

“That’s great!” You react upon hearing what sounded like good news.

“You’re not listening to me! He wants me to stay here for two years. Away from you.” Becca spells it out for you.

“What!? Why would you think that?” You ask her.

“I know my father. He’s not giving me all of this responsibility out of his own belief in me. He’s using it to keep me here. He said as much. He’s not allowing me to make trips going back there since he’ll handle any responsibilities I may have in the city. If I do, I will lose this project… and my position at Hoffman’s.” Becca informs you.

You’re speechless. Why would her dad not want you to date Becca all of a sudden?

“Can you please check the app? Maybe it’ll give us a hint as to what we can do to smooth things over with my father. I only asked if you bought the polyamory trait already to make sure that it’s not because of that that my father suddenly wants to keep me away from you.” Becca explains.

“Yeah. Of course. I’ll check it right after.” You assure her.

“Okay. Thanks, Jay.” Becca replies. “How are you and the girls? Maddy told me she and her family are on the road already.” Becca asks, but before you can answer, she says a quick ‘I have to go’, before ending the call. You receive a message a few seconds later that just says ‘Dad’. Making you assume that she’s trying to hide her conversation with you from her father.

After hearing Becca’s theory about her father not wanting her to date you, you follow Becca’s instincts and check the app for the recommended traits for her. Becca has a point that it might give you and her clues as to how to deal with her situation. Once you see the most recommended trait for Becca, you’re just even more confused.

…

[Advanced Trait] Family Comes First (200 Love Points and 200 Lust Points): Everyone will not be bothered if you pursue romantic and/or sexual relationships between immediate family members or those who are of closely related kin. Through your relationship with either family member, your related partners will not be bothered to have a sexual relationship with each other when with you.

WHAT THE FUCK!?

Author's Edit: The trait has been edited from its previous wording to better convey its intended effects. Apologies for the confusion!

Previous wording: Your romantic and/or sexual partners will not be bothered if you pursue a romantic and/or sexual relationship with any one of their immediate family members or closely related kin. Through your relationship with either family member, your related partners will not be bothered to have a sexual relationship with each other when with you.