AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR READING EULOGY OF LONELINESS SO FAR AND IF YOU HAVEN'T PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. AS FOR THIS NEW STORY, I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN A FEW OF THESE, BUT I WANT TO UPLOAD THEM AGAIN IN A NEW FORM KNOWN AS "SINFUL DAYS." THIS IS MY TAKE ON THE CONTROVERSIAL SIN KIDS (IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM AT LEAST). MOST PEOPLE TAKE THEIR CHARACTERS AND GO OFF THE WALLS IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND FOR GOOD REASON, BUT I REALLY LIKE THEM AS CHARACTERS AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW FOR THEM THAT HOPEFULLY GIVES THEM A SENSE OF CONTINUITY AND CONSISTENCY, AS WELL AS SOME FUN AND SAPPY DEVELOPMENT. OR AT LEAST MY OWN TAKE ON THEM. IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR THEN ENJOY.
*PLEASE SEE DOWN BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION*
A gentle midyear air blew through the growing neighborhoods of Royal Acres, Michigan. With each passing year, the once small town just south of the Great lakes grows larger and more diverse, in both people and in developments. Yet, despite all this change, there's still one thing that always stays the same in the town's history. One family remains the tried and true no matter how large and "diverse," it became. "Close," resilient and most importantly, loud, there is always a lot of love, and a lot of chaos to be shared.
It was an early Saturday afternoon and most of the Loud kids were at their father's house for the weekend. Liby, Lacy, and Lupa always spent their weekends at their father's as their own personal tradition, and more often than not they bring their oldest sister Loan with them so she can have some company and time away from the glow of her computer screen. This time they were also joined by their brother Lemy and one of their youngest sisters Lizy while her mother Lana ran errands out of town for the day. With the child count already at six, their father knew he needed some help, so for the small price of two more children, he had his second oldest daughter Liena and his second son Lyle stay and take some of the work load. Having most of his children over at once wasn't too uncommon for him these days, so while he does his best to balance weekend work with paternal responsibilities, his children were independent enough to do their own thing. Separately, they all had their own ways to pass the time, but collectively; they are the bane of all things quiet, reserved and patient.
"Hey 'Dorks and Dungeons'," Lupa said as she adjusted her top. Normally, she dressed in a similar fashion as her mother, albeit a bit more colorful, having a touch of bright yellow amongst the mostly black attire, complimenting the snow white hair she had inherited from her father. However, today she found herself dressed in a hairy and itchy gorilla costume someone in her family must have worn for a Halloween long since passed. She relaxed her arms as she carried a cardboard battle axe and looked towards Liby. "Quick question-"
"Because it's my turn to pick today's activity," Liby answered with anticipation and without hesitation. She stood in front of a small makeshift fort comprising of multiple sheets of left over cardboard placed onto the walls of an open shed. She concealed herself in a cloak made of fake green leaves and a green and brown tunic underneath. The only thing that gave her away was her wire frame head gear that always forced itself out of her hood no matter how hard she tried tto keep it inside. She gripped a bow made of a broken branch and a thin but tight string in her hands and kept her "arrows," in a quiver on her back.
"No, I get that. But why do I have to be a stupid orc?"
"Because you already have the attitude of one. My first idea for you was a Troll, but there's none of those in this campaign." Lupa sent Liby an unenthusiastic look across her face as she was ready to drop her axe and walk away, but she was immediately grabbed by someone reaching over her shoulder with their arm. Lupa growled at the sudden contact, but was dismissed by the energy come from a certain ash brunette dressed in twigs and mud smeared all over her face, hair and orange number two t-shirt.
"Come on Lupa! Being an orc is awesome! We get to swing at anything that breaths and roar like a bear all we want," Lacy practically yelled into her sister's ear.
"Lacy," Lupa sighed after collecting herself. "You already do that normally. I don't find it appealing then, so what makes you think I find it appealing now?"
"Well…"
"You also get to pillage and lay waste to freakin' peasants and stuff," a deeper but still undeveloped voice cut in. Another ash brown haired sibling grabbed onto Lupa from the other side. He was wearing his casual clothes, a vest, t-shirt that was covered with mud courtesy of Lacy, and ripped jeans, but was also covering his face with the gorilla mask that belonged to Lupa's costume. "We get to kick ass and not care whose ass we're kicking!"
"Language Lemy," Liby snapped from the fort.
"Sorry! But yeah Lupa, what's not to like about being an orc and not some sissy elf?"
"What's there to like about any of this?"
"Complain all you want Lupa, we need a third orc anyway, to keep things even," Liby added. Lupa broke free from her siblings and Lacy and Lemy grabbed their weapons. They then got into character with great enthusiasm as Liby began to narrate the scene out loud. Lacy bumped Lupa to join in with her and Lemy. Lupa slightly raised her axe up, not even above her head, and let out a monotone "roar," in response.
There stood the lone elf ranger Sera Whisperwood, bow in hand as she was discovered by an orc advance patrol right at the door step of her camp. She wasn't a direct fighter, but she knew she had to hold them off, for her bow was the only thing standing between her precious cargo and a brutal agonizing death!
"I'm the precious 'cargoed'," the voice shouted as she ran out of the shed. It was a little blonde haired girl with a poncho draped over her dinosaur t-shirt and cargo shorts. She wore her oversized red hat and covered her hands with foam lizard hands she loved to play with. She ran over to Liby's side, jumping up and down in excitement. Not too far behind, a much older and taller blonde came running after the little girl, constantly tripping over her white and beige robe that extended down to her ankles feet and wrists. She had a cowl covering her face up, but it could never fully hide her identity, especially to her siblings.
"C-Come back Lizy- I mean M-Mother Zard! L-Let's stay in the fort and away from these d-d-dangerous m-monsters," the young woman said.
"Okayyy Loan…" Lizy put her head down, and then jumped back up and nearly ran through Loan.
"R-Remember, I'm L-Lady Fendaris…"
"That's right," Liby announced. "Back to the action!"
"Muahaha! You can't stop us orcs you puny elf lady," Lacy growled as she raised her axe into the air. "Surrender now and we might show mercy!"
"Might," Lupa emphasized.
"Try to fight and we'll do some serious damage," Lemy grunted from beneath his mask.
Sera stood stoically, weighing her options. She knew what she had to do. She had to defeat the orcs in front of her for the safety of Lady Fendaris and The Mother Zard. So she gripped her bow and prepared for battle!
Lacy and Lemy charged after Liby who pulled out an arrow from her quiver and aimed it down her sights. Lupa on the other hand, dragged her axe along the ground and took her time walking over to the fight.
Watching from the kitchen window, their father took a sip of his tea from the mug in his hand. He smiled as he dunked the teabag back into the steaming hot water, looking onward as his children played in the backyard. From the dimly sunlit side of the house, another adult sat across the way in the dining room table. She was shorter than their father by only an inch or two, maybe even less than that with her heels on. She was wearing a blue belted pant suit with her glasses on and her blonde hair in a bun. She looked as if she had just gotten off work, bags under her eyes and all despite her attempts to cover them up with makeup.
"Liby doing what she does best, ay Lincoln," The blonde haired woman said in a calm but firm tone that made it's way over to him, catching his attention. She spoke out as if she knew everything about the both of them.
"Sorry Lori. You know I can't help myself when Liby sets up one of her campaigns. She definitely knows how to put on a show."
"Mm, at least we know she got something from her father."
"Heh, maybe- Oh! Let me get you your coffee, this just got interesting."
Back out in the yard, Lemy, Lacy and Lupa were tied together by a loose rope at the hands of Liby and Loan as Lizy pranced around in delight.
"It was three on one! How the hell did we lose," Lemy shouted in frustration.
"L-Language in front of L-Lizy, lemy," Loan whispered as she revolved around past him.
"Right, Right, sorry. But seriously, how! Lacy this is your fault!"
"My fault? It was your two left feet that tripped me! If you didn't get in my way, I wouldn't have gotten tagged in the face by Liby's arrow," Lacy argued.
"Yeah Lumpy," Lupa chimed in. "You definitely blew it as usual."
"Oh shut it Ms. 'Hey I'm just gonna keel over and surrender'! Way to go!"
"Sure beats getting poked in the eye with a twig."
The three continued to bicker as Liby and Loan finished tying them up. Liby brushed the dust off her hands dramatically as Loan tried to mimic. Then they all jumped at the sudden crackling of the nearby bushes.
"Ah, that must be my forest tribe allies," Liby said proudly.
"Oh great, more lame elves," Lupa said as she rolled her eyes.
"That's the spirit Lupa," Lacy cheered. From the bushes, a tall, bigger young woman came out. She smiled as she held her hands together at her waist gracefully but nervously. She wore a long, simple white gown and a pair of antlers and fake elf ears on top of her platinum blonde hair and over her normal ears respectively. "Aw man, why does Liena get to wear the antler ears?"
"It's not her fault you thought some sticks and mud was enough to make you an orc," Lemy added while Lupa smirked.
"My goodness! It's the radiant Priestess Atnorra of the Silver Oak! Pray tell my priestess, where is Prince Gallowmere your escort," Liby asked. Liena stared at Liby with a smile on her face for a moment in silence. She then cleared her throat and looked over back at the bushes. "I said 'Pray tell my priestess, where is Prince Gallowmere'!" Liena gestured back over to the bushes, only for no one to come out. "Lyle!"
"I'm not coming out Liby," a gentle and elegant, but forceful voice spoke from behind. Liby looked onward in irritation as Lupa began to giggle under her breath.
"Come on Lyle!"
"H-Hey Lib? Not to put a pause on this track, but since 'Elf Boy' ain't coming out, you mind if we take five? It's… almost two and you know how Leia gets when I don't call on the dot," Lemy asked.
"You act as if you don't enjoy calling her more than she does," Lupa snarkingly remarked, causing Lemy to blush.
"Sh-Shut up!" Liby sighed and took her hood off.
"Fine, take 'five' everyone, let me get this situated."
Liby walked behind the hedge to look for Lyle. From the other side, she could hear Lemy shouting over the phone to who she presumed to be Leia on the other end while Lacy interrupted frequently. At the end of the line, Lyle crouched with his arms over his knees, dressed up in his regal, elven attire. The young man looked similar to his immediate older sister Liena, but with sandy blonde hair rather than her and their mother's platinum.
"Lyle come on, you're holding up the game," Liby said.
"With all due respect Liby, I'm not going out there dressed like this. It's completely embarrassing," Lyle uttered from under his arms.
"Why? Is something wrong with the outfit? We designed it ourselves."
"It's not the outfit. It's actually quite comfortable… but that's beside the point."
"Then what's wrong Lyle?" She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Well, forgive me if… n-no. Liby. I don't want to be the Elf Prince. In fact, I'm quite tired of the roles you give me for your campaigns!"
"What do you mean, you get great roles!"
"No I don't! You always cast me as the elf prince. Or the fair, unsuspecting shepherd boy or the dainty aristocrat! It's insulting!"
"Aw don't think of it like that Lyle!"
"Then how come Lemy get's to be an orc and I don't?"
"Because Lemy is… well, Lemy."
"I want to be an orc."
"Lyle please. This is the role you were meant to play! You just gotta play it to where you're comfortable!" Lyle looked away and stayed silent for a moment. Then he looked to Liby who gave him an assuring smile.
"…Very well. If this is the role meant for me, then I'll live up to it."
"Great, let's go," Liby said, projecting her voice over the bushes. "Alright everyone, places! We're starting again!" She put her hood back over her head with her frame peeking out and ran back out to resume where they left off.
"Leia I'll call you back, we're playing again…" Lemy whispered over the phone. "C-Can we talk about that later?... Yeah yeah I'll call back in an hour! Yes! Three o clock, I got it geez!" He hung up abruptly and put his phone back in his pocket as the three orcs got back in their ropes. Loan picked up Lizy and kept her in her weakening arms while Liena quickly resumed her role.
Liby cleared her throat and picked up right before she left off. "My goodness! It's the Priestess Atnorra of the Silver Oak! Pray tell my priestess, where is-" Liby was then cut off in surprise by Lyle who had finally emerged from behind the bushes, swishing his cape dramatically as he took his place by Liena. He got the jump on everyone in that moment, and a sudden chill brushed across everyone as he glared at them.
"So. This is the plainsfolk elf that had such nerve to ask for OUR aid, in OUR own forest," Lyle spoke, gracefully but it felt intimidating to the rest of the siblings.
"Oh-Oh! Of course your majesty. Thank you for answering my-"
"Typical. An elf of… your lineage lacks the proper courtesies when in the presence of true royalty." Liby stood there, frozen in intimidation. Lupa and Lacy looked at each other in awe, but Lacy could tell that Lupa was getting a real kick out of it. Liby caught on a moment later and snapped back to reality. She kneeled and bowed down to Lyle.
"F-Forgive me my liege."
"You are forgiven. Be sure it does not repeat. What is your plea ranger?"
"Uh… erm… yes! Y-Yes, I was tasked with escorting-"
"I am quite familiar with the Lady Fendaris and the future Brood mother of the Zard people. Continue."
"W-Well, that's when we were attacked by these three. I believe they are an advance patrol, scouting ahead of the main horde. We Plainsfolk do not kill without judgement, even in regards to orcs. So I've captured them to await your decision."
"Your honor is admirable as is your skill. However… I will not tolerate such foul cretins in MY woods! So they shall be… executed at once." All of the siblings immediately snapped to Lyle in shock, as he remained in character.
"D-Dude what," Lemy stuttered nervously.
"Game over already," Lacy lamented.
"Whoa… since when did Lyle grow a pair," Lupa asked rhetorically.
"Yay! 'Exution'," Lizy called out, frightening Loan and concerning Liena.
"Y-Your highness, I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that-"
"You dare make a fool of me? Prince Gallowmere of the Silver Oak! Ar Ninya Canwa Nehta te Sin!"
"Wh-What…" Liby mumbled, confused by what he had just said.
"By the ancient spirits, a Plainsfolk who doesn't know the ancestral tongue. 'By my order, kill them now' Ranger!"
"I don't want to die," Lacy screamed in terror as she forced herself up, pulling Lemy and Lupa with her as they were still bundled to her.
"L-Lacy! Cut it out," Lupa barked as she was being jerked around.
"Please your majesty! Spare us!" While Lacy was pleading for her imaginary life, Lyle stepped over to Liby who was still completely shaken off guard, and whispered in her ear.
"How's that for the role I'm meant to play." The two locked gazes and Lyle winked. He then smirked and walked over to the panicking Lacy. Liby gulped in nervous relief.
"… Let's just say 'to be continued'…"
AUTHOR'S EPILOGUE: THANK YOU FOR READING WHAT I CALL THE 'FIRST EPISODE' IN THIS SERIES. FOR THIS SERIES, AS I SAID, I WANTED TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE MORE CONCRETE FOR THESE CHARACTERS (AT LEAST IN MY OWN WAY THAT IS AS VALID AS ANYONE ELSE'S IS) BUT I WANTED TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT MADE THINGS FEEL IN THE SAME ORGANIC LEVEL AS THE REAL SHOW, AT LEAST IN STRUCTURE. EACH UPLOAD WILL BE ESSENTIALLY A STANDALONE STORY OR EPISODE, THAT CONNECTS TO THE OTHERS IN A LOOSE TIMELINE WITH A FEW OVERARCHING STORY LINES, AND THESE PLOTS WILL BE MORE LINED UP AND BACK TO BACK TOWARDS THE END OF THE 'SEASON'. AND IF YOU READ EULOGY OF LONELINESS SO FAR, THEN YOU KNOW THAT THIS WILL CONTAIN ALL SORTS OF ROMANCE AND SAPPINESS AS WELL AS THE HIJINKS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THESE CHARACTERS THAT'S FINE, AND IF YOU DO, THEN I HOPE YOU ENJOY WHAT I'M OFFERING AND HANG IN WITH ME. THE LOOSINESS OF THE CHRONOLOGY WON'T MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE PLOTLINES AND THAT WAY YOU CAN JUST JUMP IN AND ENJOY, WHILE I CAN RELAX A LITTLE BIT MORE. AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU AND PLEASE STAND BY.