Mr Loud, aka Lynn Sr, smiled when his 21 years old son entered the room.
"Hi, Lincoln. Thanks for coming so fast."
As Lincoln remembered from his childhood his father's smile often meant that there's some really really hard job to do. Well, an optimistic parent is worse than a realistic one.
"So, what is it, dad?"
"Your sisters have their dates today. I am not some overprotective daddy, you know, but I thought it would be nothing wrong if I secretly went with them. And then I thought that it's really hard to follow two girls while being alone. So I want you..."
"Whoa, dad. How about move back a little? Why on Earth are you gonna go on your daughter's date, first of all?"
Lynn Sr blinked.
"Oh, let me say it this way. If things go too far and your sister says "no" but her boyfriend hears "yes", I'll come and show him that a girly "no" is actually "no"."
"Not overprotective, aha," mumbled Lincoln, "I see. Well, of course I am in. Who are the happy... um... winners?"
"Lana and Lucy." Mr Loud answered.
"Wha... Oh, well, how about me follow Spooky and you work with Lana?"
"That would be great! Er... don't get me wrong, I am not a chicken but all these..."
"Graves and tombs, yeah. Tell me something I don't know, dad."
A bit later Lincoln entered his room.
"How do you feel making deal with the devil?"
Lincoln jumped, turned around and stared at his visitor.
"Hi, Lucy. What are you talking about?"
"I don't know. About you joined the dad's plan, may be."
"B... but how did you... No, don't tell. I can guess it. You were in the room with us. And we didn't see you. The story of your life."
"Sigh. Now tell me please, big brother, Are you going to play an overprotective bully and stop my boyfriend sleep with me this night?"
"I actually could." Lincoln came close to his sister and kissed her on the lips.
"But it would be better to play a naughty boyfriend, I believe."
And then Lucy did what she did almost never in her life and almost always when Lincoln was nearby. She smiled.