( Lincoln )

Lincoln finished wiping down the last table in his section, and started on the floors. He had become really good at working in the restaurant. While he had experience at many jobs, most of them were very physical. While this one did have physical requirements, it also had need detailed work. Which some of his odd jobs required dexterity, this one required a blend of his many jobs.

When he was finished with his section, Luan had taken over for the next customers. He made his way to the kitchen to help with the dishes, because he still had half an hour left. So, he figured that he might be able to help with some of the dishes.

Though, as he walked into the kitchen, the dishes were already cleaned, and new stacks were very low. He looked around to see what else he could do. The vegetables were already prepared for the evening. Most of the baking had already been started. So, he wasn't entirely sure what he should do.

He looked around for Mr. Loud, not seeing him, he walked over to a large pot of soup that was starting to bubble over. He turned down the heat, as he had seen Mr Loud do numerous times. Though, it smelled different than usual. He looked around at the ingredients, not sure what had been added, and what hadn't. Lincoln's eyes landed on a recipe book. It hadn't been opened, but he pulled the book down and thumbed through the pages. Mr. Loud wouldn't need the hand written text, as he had made it so many times. But Lincoln assumed that he kept a copy for if someone else needed to prepare something he had created.

When he had finally found the recipe, and found the place that seemed to be where the soup was, he continued the recipe from when it was left off. Adding the last seasonings, giving it a stir, before turning off the heat. It was enjoyable. But he continued to the walk in. It had already been cleaned.

'Oh yeah.' He thought, he had cleaned the walk in a couple hours before.

"Lincoln." Mr. Loud had walked in behind him. "How are you doing, sport?"

"I'm alright, I was looking for something to do before I head home." He said turning to he older male.

"Did you finish the soup?" Mr Loud asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm sorry. It was starting to boil over." Lincoln looked down, wondering if he had messed it up.

"I had gotten distracted with a delivery, and I had worried that it was ruined. But because of you, it turned out perfectly." the older man put his hand on Lincoln's shoulder. "Maybe I'll have you help me out more in the kitchen more often."

( Lucy )

Lucy had been watching Vampires of Melancholia, since Lincoln had left a couple hours before. She had never thought about watching television for that long before. Considering she had never had access to a television before, she didn't know what she was missing. Imagining what was going on was great, but being able to see visuals allowed her to focus more on the story. The television adaption was not exactly the same as the books, but they were very close, and gave more details that she hadn't been able to imagine before.

The castle was visually appealing, and even bigger than she had imagined. She sat up on the floor, then got on her feet. She picked up her cup that she had, and carried it to the kitchen, placing it into the sink. She wondered where the water came from. Had Lisa turned it on? Would the water company know, or had the place been empty for so long that no one ever checked it's meter? That was something that she wondered about, she would have to ask Lisa. Until then, she would only use the water sparingly, just in case.

There was flapping sounds coming from above her, then she felt something land on her shoulder. She knew that it was Fangs, so it hadn't startled her. She went to the refrigerator looking for herself a snack, and something for fangs. She decided they would share a snack, as she gathered up an apple, blood orange, and some grapes. Since Fangs was a fruit bat, and not a vampire bat, a fact that she wouldn't hold against him, these things were in his diet, and she hadn't gotten a chance to have fresh fruit much before this.

"Do you approve of this offering?" She glanced to Fangs, who was perched on her shoulder, who looked excitedly at the food, as she carried the fruit to the counter. She pulled out a plate, and sliced the apple and blood orange. She picked the grapes off the stem, and put them on the plate with the sliced fruit. "I thought you might."

"C'mon, Fangs, let us return to Vampires of Melancholia..." She was interrupted by knocking on the back door.

"Sigh, must be one of the sisters," She said to her furry friend. "You go ahead, and and start eating without me."

After putting fangs on the table, she handed him a grape, which he took eagerly, she went to the door. She didn't bother to look since no one knew they were there except the Loud Family. When she opened the door, and came face to face with Haiku. The slightly older girl looked down at her, a slight smile on her face, though it was barely noticeable.

"Greetings, my friend." Haiku stood there, obviously waiting for something.

"Haiku, it's a pleasure." She was a little shocked, but it passed quickly, as she realized that she was waiting to be asked in. "Please, Haiku, join me inside."

"My gratitude," The older girl answered as she walked inside the kitchen. "This place looks delightfully deary."

"Yes, thank you Haiku." She walked over to Fangs, and the snack. "I fixed a small snack for myself and Fangs. But, I could make something else."

"If it's no trouble, I can help with making a snack. Fruit just has a lot of sugar." Lucy had remembered that Haiku couldn't have too much sugar. So, they set out to make something different. "So, I assume Fangs is a new companion, or else I"m sure you would have mentioned him"

"Contented Sigh, Yes. I found him when we moved in. He lived in the attic, now he lives next to my bed." She reached out and petted the munching bat.

"He seems to be quite content here, it seems to be a perfect fit." Haiku reached out to pet the bat as well.

"Fangs has adapted well. Curious hum. Did Lincoln tell you about the house?" Lucy was curious, because Lincoln was usually very careful about what to told to people. Yes, the whole reason they knew the Loud family like they did, was because Lana had followed him back to the junkyard. But that was different, he hadn't told her. He had just been followed.

…

They had decided to make a salad, with cut up chicken on top. Haiku had cooked the slices of chicken, since she had little experience with a stove, while she prepared the salad, and cut up the tomato. It was delicious, and even Fangs had tried a bit of lettuce, he didn't seem to hate it, but still preferred his fruit. It was an enjoyable lunch.

As it turned out, Haiku had found out about the house from Lynn, which was why they had donated items, and paint for her new room. Which Haiku was interested in seeing how it had turned out. Lynn had sworn her to secrecy, and seemed to have threatened with bodily harm if she told. Even if the thought of being tortured was appealing, she said that she would refuse to betray her new friend.

"Even with her threats, Lynn does seem to care in her own way. Not that I would have said anything about this place to anyone, aside from the Mortician's Club, whom we can trust." Haiku took another bite from her salad. "So, what have you been doing."

"I had started watching Vampires of Melancholia," She took another bite of her salad. "It has become quite a bit more addictive than I imagined. Not that I'm complaining."

…

After they had cleaned up from lunch, placing the plates into the sink, with her cup from earlier, they went to check out her room. Lucy had carried a sleeping Fangs to his cage next to her bed, while Haiku admired the room. She seemed to be surprised that it had turned out so well, considering the Loud sisters had completed it. None of them actually being gothic.

"This room is completely dismal. Those normies actually did a good job in here." Haiku ran her hand over the desk. "It's nice to see how well these turned out. The Mortician's Club helped paint these. I didn't get a chance to see the end result. I am pleased that the furniture turned out so well."

"Normies?" Lucy asked, even though she was sure what it meant. She wanted to make sure.

"The more cheery people. Normal people." Haiku sat on the bed.

Lucy could understand that. Everyone else did seem more cheery than she was, or her new friends. And while normal was subject to change based on who it was about, it seemed like there were more people like the Loud sisters, than there were like her and the Mortician's Club. She started to think about it in detail. Her brother Lincoln was more like the sisters.

"Does that make Lincoln a Normie?" Lucy asked.

"Lincoln? No. While he is not like us. He is also not like them." Haiku seemed to think for a moment about Lincoln. "He is different. He is a tortured soul. Lucy, you and Lincoln have almost identical pasts. It is no wonder that you started to see the world for what it was. That you became like us. Lincoln. He sees the world for what it is, but refuses to let it control him. He stands against it, with a smile. I hate to say it, but it is endearing."

"Lincoln is resilient. ." Lucy looked around her room. While he had help, Lincoln had set it in motion.

…

Lincoln walked around the grocery store looking for something for their dinner. He wished that Lucy was with him so that he would know what she wanted for dinner. These last few days he had brought home food from the restaurant, and while it was delicious, and healthier than regular fast food. He missed his time with his sister. Maybe they could cook dinner together, she had showed interest in cooking before.

"Lincoln?" a surprised voice called out behind him. He turned to the voice, ready to greet whoever it was. When he turned the greeting he'd prepared had caught in his throat. He stared at the women before him. She was in her early twenties. Not much taller than he was, long red hair, and pale complexion.

"Miss Parker?" What was she doing here? This wasn't even the same state she should have been in. She was one of the workers at the orphanage. She had been one of the nicer staff members. But she was still a staff member, and one that wasn't supposed to be around.

"I haven't seen you in almost two years!" She moved in swiftly wrapping her arms around him. "Sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye before the orphanage closed. I moved back with my parents. Oh... Sorry, I didn't mean to mention... Anyways, it's good to see you!"

"Oh... Uh..." Lincoln thought. He and Lucy hadn't been there the last week, maybe Miss Parker never knew they vanished. "It's okay. So, Miss Parker, you're living here in Royal Woods?"

"Yeah! What are the odds that you'd get adopted by a family here, in my home town. And call me Amy. It always was awkward to be called Miss." Miss Par... Amy said finally releasing him from his hug.

"What are the odds?" Lincoln mumbled to himself, as he was released. "I mean... It is great. And yeah. Royal Woods is a great place."

"Y'know, I thought I saw you a few months ago. Working outside of Spunk E. Pigeons, y'know the pizza place. But I thought it was just some other kid with white hair." Amy smiled.

"Yeah, I was doing odd jobs. I... am... Um... saving up for a present for Lucy. And the... adopted parents, they offered money, but I wanted to earn it myself." Lincoln thought as fast as he could.

"Lucy is here too?" She smiled bigger, and Lincoln's heart dropped. All this time without spilling the beans, and I bring up Lucy. Endangering her. What a horrible brother I am. "Oh, I'm so glad. Lucy always did enjoy being with you. No one else understood her. She tried to hide it, but I could see how happy she was with her 'Big Brother', as she always called you."

"Yeah, she loves her new room. And the new house." Lincoln said truthfully, at least that wasn't a lie. He could work with that.

"So, I guess you finally saved up enough for that gift, since I haven't seen you doing odd jobs anymore." She smiled.

"I've been helping out at Lynn's Table." Lincoln said again truthfully.

"Great idea. Lets grab lunch there and catch up. How's tomorrow? You can bring Lucy! And your new parents! I'd love to meet them, and I'd love to see Lucy again."

"Uh... Yeah. Okay. " They parted ways, Miss Parker seeming ecstatic, and he felt like he had lead in his stomach.