AN: A little later than I'd wanted, but here's the new chapter. I tried a few new things, and I may have had a little too much fun with certain parts.
Zeobide274: Ace already has his harem. As for Lincoln...well, that remains to be seen. :)
JRC1700: Yep, that is exactly what Lynn's dialogue was implying. I have ideas for Lucy, but I'm not sure if I can pull them off, given what I'm already juggling. We'll see.
Mr. Perv: I mean, its not a full on chapter, but keep on reading...
I'm really glad you guys liked what I did with Lynn's chapter. It was my first time writing her, and I'm pretty happy with how it came out.
And with that, on with the show!
Lincoln paced the length of his room in what had become a well-trod pattern. He looked to his walkie-talkie, so as to ensure it hadn't suddenly winked out of existence, sighed at the expected silence, and resumed his circuit.
This had been going on for quite some time now, but the pale-haired boy had failed to find an activity that would provide sufficient distraction. So he paced, he sighed, and waited.
Lincoln had nearly managed to convince himself to go downstairs for a snack when he suddenly heard it. A familiar hiss of static. He bounded across the room, snatched up the communication device and thumbed the talk button in a single motion.
"Talk to me, Clyde"
"We're good to go, Lincoln. Check your email."
Lincoln let out a loud whoop, and scrambled over to his desk, eagerly snapping his laptop open. There was the notification he's been waiting for, one new message.
Lincoln opened his email and quickly scanned through the new arrival. There was a lot of what appeared to be largely unnecessary padding, but he eventually found what he'd been looking for towards the bottom of the message. He read it once, then two more times just to be safe. Then, with a sigh of satisfaction, he leaned back, and allowed the sweet sensation of relief to roll over him, as he replayed the words in his head one last time.
...And so, it is our pleasure to welcome Clincoln McCloud Publishing to our event. Information pertaining to the placement of your table will be forthcoming, as will your badges. We hope you enjoy your time at Savvy-Con.
"A Comicbook convention?" Lynn asked, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "Isn't that something only super dorks do?"
"That's right." Lincoln affirmed wryly, "Like reading comic books and being a fight scene consultant for those comics. Pass the peanut butter".
Lynn struggled to think of a suitable comeback as she passed her little brother one-half of his favorite snack. "Fair enough", she said at last, shrugging.
The two siblings had met in the kitchen and struck up a conversation as they each went about preparing their sandwich of choice. Spicy Meatball for Lynn, Peanut Butter and Sauerkraut for Lincoln.
"Besides" Lincoln continued, "We're not just going to the convention. We got a table for our group, and we're going to be selling merchandise and stuff"
"How'd you manage to swing that?" Lynn asked, surprised.
"Clyde's dads filled out the paperwork for us. It took a little doing, but…"
"But you're the master of convincing." Lynn said, shaking her head and smiling at her little brother's antics.
Task completed, Lynn transported her snack to the nearby table and sat herself down, waiting for her Lincoln to join her.
"So…" Lincoln ventured, pulling up a chair for himself. "Vendors get a few extra badges for their staff, and we're going to need some extra hands to handle the table. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come with us."
Lynn's surprise was so great that she nearly spat out her mouthful of sandwich. However, her athlete's instincts kicked in and caused her mouth to clamp down extra hard on the precious protein, until she was able to regain control of herself.
"Y-you want me to come with you?" She asked, surprised.
"Well, yeah." He replied. "Clyde's not much for heavy lifting, so I'm gonna need some help with that."
"Oh." She said, flatly, already preparing to reject the offer.
"Plus, I know you can be trusted around the merch, and you won't have any trouble with unruly customers." Lincoln hesitated, suddenly nervous. "And also…"
"And also…" Lynn prompted, hating how adorable her little brother looked when he was nervous.
"Also…we don't get to hang out very much. I thought it'd fun if you were there. With me."
"O-oh." Lynn said again, her cheeks coloring ever so slightly, suddenly unsure of what to say. The thought of being surrounded by nerds wasn't particularly enticing in and of itself, but with Lincoln there…well, that was different. She allowed her imagination to wander ever so slightly. Lincoln and her, together, holding hands, making memories. From a certain, very specific point of view, it'd almost be like a daaaaaaa…"
"SURE" Lynn squeaked as she suddenly vacated the fantasy, her cheeks now as red as the sauce in her sandwich.
Lincoln seemed surprised at her response, but surprise quickly turned to elation as her acceptance sunk in.
"Great!" He exclaimed, an enormous grin on his face, which Lynn found herself returning.
Business concluded, the pair returned to their meal, eating in companionable silence.
"Say…" Lynn said, as a potential concern occurred to her, "You're not one of those guys who goes to these things in in costume, right?"
"What? No, of course not."
"Good." Lynn said, silently sighing in relief.
"We're both going to this thing in costume".
"I'm not doing this" Lynn growled, equal parts angry and embarrassed. The pair now stood in Lincoln's room, watching as Leni slowly circled Lynn, mumbling to herself and occasionally poking the smaller girl.
"Come on Lynn." Lincoln pleaded "We're selling a product here. And that means making things fun for the customers."
I'm going to be dressed as Ace", he said, pointing to himself, "and Leni's going to be dressed as Eleven of Hearts".
"Leni of Hearts" the girl in question corrected him as she continued her examination. The remaining siblings exchanged a quick look of confusion, before returning to the matter at hand.
"Then you dorks can entertain them", Lynn replied, slapping Leni's hand away out of frustration and instantly regretting her hasty act, due to the hurt look that suddenly appeared on the older girl's face.
"Please Lynn?" Lincoln implored. Dang it, why did he have to look so cute when he was begging?
"Strong Suit's one of the most popular characters, and you're the perfect fit for her. Plus, Leni's going to make you an amazing costume."
"Totes!" Leni assured her, still looking a little hurt.
Lynn groaned, her resolve wavering in the face of her siblings' enthusiasm.
"Fine." She said at last, sighing despondently. "But on one condition!" She continued, interrupting the forthcoming exclamations of gratitude she was certain to be showered with.
"…You have to stay with me." She said, quietly. "Promise you won't leave me alone at nerd fest, looking like a super dope".
Lincoln paused, as if to consider her offer, then took her hand into his, causing Lynn's heart to leap into her throat.
"I promise I won't leave you alone, Lynn", he affirmed to her. In spite of everything, Lynn found herself smiling at how genuinely grateful her little brother seemed. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
"Yay!" Leni squealed, clapping her hands in excitement. Then she grabbed Lincoln by the shoulders and shoved him towards the door, surprising her siblings.
"Hey!" He exclaimed trying to get back into his room, but failing to circumvent the considerable amount of Leni that was suddenly blocking the entryway.
"I need to measure Lynn for her costume." Leni said firmly, before slamming the door on Lincoln's face.
"…but why in my room?" Lincoln asked the empty hallway.
Sam Sharp sat in the Loud's garage. Waiting. Pondering. She glanced first to the door, then at her watch in irritation, then resumed her vigil. Through her surveillance of the sole, male Loud, Sam had determined that this was the time of day that Lincoln was most likely to venture out of his sanctuary and down into the kitchen for a snack. That was why she'd made sure that Luna would be there to meet him.
Sam sighed, and rapped her knuckles on her thighs impatiently. She loved Luna with all her heart, but the Loud girl was starting to try her patience. It had been a few weeks since Luna and Lincoln had that emotionally charged sibling moment, which had so thrilled Sam to her very core. The blonde had assumed that the event would represent a climactic turning point in the sibling's relationship. However, ever since that day, Luna had gone to school, played her music, and hung out with Sam. The exact same things she had done before confessing her undying love to her little brother. It was…frustrating, to say the least.
Sam bit her lip as she reminisced about the day in question. There had been Lincoln, standing there, capturing Luna with his strong arms and his piercing gaze. And Luna herself, soft and elegant, lips aquiver as she spoke the forbidden words to her soulmate.
Sam sighed as the memory sent shudders of delight coursing through her body. The resemblance to Ace and Nightclub was so obvious, how had she not seen it sooner? She had dearly wanted to join the moment herself in a show of support, but she'd resisted, knowing that particular moment was for Lincoln and Luna alone. Her own moment would come soon enough.
…at least, that's what Sam had thought at the time. And yet, in the days that followed, Luna had made no effort at all to stake her claim on her clearly willing sibling. And for the life of her, Sam simply could not fathom why.
Luna and Lincoln were made for each other. And for Sam herself, obviously, to a lesser degree, but she wasn't so insecure as to take offense at that. The term "star-crossed" came so readily to mind when those two were around, and Sam had never seen it more appropriately applied than to her beautiful moon and surrogate little brother. She merely needed to help them realize how inevitable it was that they would end up together. And, consequently, with Sam. Then they'd all be one big happy trio. She and Luna would get their music career off the ground (with Lincoln in tow for support naturally), the three would eventually move in together, and then…WAFFLES!
The sudden pain in her jaw clued Sam in to the fact that she was doing that thing again. The "smile". Luna always looked a little put off when that happened, so Sam made a concerted effort to rein it in. No need to scare Luna…again. Because any second now her girlfriend was going to march through that door…sweet, wonderful little brother in tow, and then they'd…
"Got you some juice, luv"
Catch her completely off-guard. Sam let out a squeal of surprise at the sudden appearance of her girlfriend, nearly falling out of her chair.
"Everything alright, Sam?" Luna asked, concerned.
"Everything's fine!" Sam shouted, trying to regain her composure. "I'm just so happy to see you…and…" Sam trailed off as she looked around, noticing a distinct lack of any adorable turkey-tailed little heartbreakers.
"Where's Lincoln?" She asked.
"Hanging with Lynn, I think." Luna replied, perplexed.
"Why didn't you bring him with you?" Sam pressed, seething, "It's been so long since I've seen the little dude".
"He and Lynn are busy, something about an Ace Savvy convention" Luna shrugged, clearly unbothered that she'd been forcibly separated from her better third.
"Luna!" Sam growled in annoyance, "We've been over this! You can't keep letting Lynn monopolize your Lincoln time!"
"My Lincoln time?" Luna deadpanned.
"Yes!" Sam shouted. "You need to march back in there, and tell Lynn that you are the older sister, and you…" Sam once again trailed off as her brain finished processing Luna's previous statement.
Luna yelped in pain and surprise as Sam leaped onto her, pushing her girlfriend onto the ground.
"…What was it, that you said they were doing?" Sam asked. An idea was beginning to take shape, but she needed confirmation first.
"Ace Savvy Convention?"
The pain in Sam's jaw returned, but she couldn't find it in herself to care. A convention! Perfect!
"Um…Sam? Honey? You're doing that thing again…"
"No time!" Sam roared, "We have to go, right now!"
"A comic book convention?" Lori asked, looking at her friend incredulously.
"Yep" Carol replied. "And you're coming with me."
"Hard pass", Lori returned "Hardest pass, actually."
"Come on Lori." Carol pleaded, "I need you to come as my wingwoman."
"For a comic book convention?" Lori deadpanned. "Pretty sure you won't need my help there."
Carol rolled her eyes in frustration. "Obviously not under normal circumstances, but this is different! Look!"
With that, Carol shoved her phone into Lori's hands. Sighing, Lori dutifully glanced down at the screen. Okay...seemed to be Lincoln's web site. Still weird that Carol followed that thing, but not too unusual, except...oh dear.
"That's right" Carol said, smugly. "I'm gonna get me a prince".
"Geh?"
Lori sighed as she tromped up the stairs of the Loud House.
"Leni? Are you around? I need your help with something!"
"In here, Lori!" Ah, Lincoln's room. Again. Great.
Lori prepared herself for the worst and opened the door.
To her credit, Leni was fully clothed this time, and Lori was exceedingly grateful for that. But she was considerably less enthused to see that Lynn, Luna, and Sam were all standing around in her little brother's room, stripped down to their underwear, expressions ranging from embarassed, to confused, to...oh dear.
"Did you need something, Lori?" Leni asked with her usual brand of innocence, interrupting Lori's train of thought.
"Um...yeah" Lori replied, "I need you to make me a costume."
An expression of unbridled joy errupted across Leni's face.
"Of course!" She squealed in delight. Then suddenly she was behind Lori, shoving her into the room and closing the door behind them.
"Now take off your clothes!"
Lincoln looked upward at the thumping noises that came from above. That kept happening, for some reason. Normally he'd be inclined to check it out, but he had the strangest sense that doing so would not only be incredibly hazardous to his health, but also extremely cliche, for some reason.
Lincoln shrugged, and put the finishing touches on his second sandwich of the day. He trusted that Leni knew what she was doing, so there was nothing left to do but to wait. And that is exactly what he did.