A/N:
This one is actually entirely written by Nuuo (saving some minor edits and suggestions from myself), but it carries out a vision of his based on my 'Loud New World' scenario. Be sure to leave any reviews addressed to him :)
"Polo, check."
"Blue jeans, check."
"Clean socks, check!"
"Victory undies, check! Ready to start the day!"
A young man is seen taking inventory of his new outfit for the morning. In the 1216 Block of the Royal Woods #645 corridor, we have Lincoln L. Loud, unremarkable from any other boy except for his white hair, and big family. Granted nearly half the population has white hair and big families too, but he's still different! He wears white shoes and mousse to cover his cowlick, unlike other Lincolns! He goes by Lawrence, his middle name. Brushing his teeth and dancing to the beat from the music coming from his upstairs neighbors, Lincoln gets ready for the day. Studio apartment might be the size of a closet but it was cheap! He was even offered a discount if he helped the Lori Landlord, but she has wandering eyes so Lincoln doesn't trust her. Who know what sort of help she needs and Lincoln is not that kind of boy even if he is a Lincoln. He has to look his best for his interview today, that's why he's wearing his Dry-Clean Only polos and jeans! He can't count how many neighbors he lives with, he can hear the Lisas and Lolas and Lanas fighting and causing explosions as well as the Lunas playing their music on blast. He's not going to stay in all day though when he's got a career to start with!
Loud Citadel neighborhood number 645b, part of the metropolitan business capital. The hustle and bustle of the crowd include Loris on their way to the office. Lolas and Lenis on their phones with their agents. Blue collar Lanas and Lynns making everyone look soft by comparison, the laughter of Luans talking loudly can be heard and if you look closely, you'll see Lucies darting around on their way to the offices and coffee shops as well. It can be hard for a Lincoln to navigate through the sea of Loud Women, it's a Loud World ruled by Loud Girls and can be harsh to a Loud Boy from the midwest. It takes all of Lincoln's energy to keep up and study the address and street signs to make sure he knows where he's going. Lanas can be seen cordoning off roads for construction crews fixing potholes and directing traffic for another construction site of a building nearby, favoring cement trucks and annoying drivers. No one here is afraid to flip the traffic officers and orange vest workers, yelling out their car windows at the Lanas and odd Lenis for making their lives inconvenient. Who cares if they're building a new garage, apartment complex or corporate office? Lincoln respects construction workers and Lanas, except for when he's walking by them.
"HEY! CAN I GET A SHAKE WITH THOSE FRIES!?"
"HEY HOT STUFF! WHY DON'T YOU COME BY, MEET A REAL WOMAN!"
"I TELL YA I LOVE LINCOLNS! I KEEP ON GETTING OLDER, THEY STILL STAY THE SAME AGE!"
Lincoln just walks more briskly by, hiding his embarrassment from the catcalls. Their foreman getting the Lanas and odd Lenis back to work. Lincoln daydreams turning around and giving those Lanas a piece of his mind, but it's normal city living being a boy and attracting the attention of creeps. It's a privilege living in a society, back home there isn't as much to do, two cops for two thousand people. Lincoln didn't go to college, get harassed by Lisas and Loris just to stay in a small town his whole life. Not to mention the bar exam. Which brings up where Lincoln is getting his interview at.
Lori, Lori & Lori, one of the biggest law firms in the city. If the interview is a bust, Lincoln would have to try applying to Lori Lori & Lisa next. One of the largest buildings in the metropolitan district, Lincoln can't count how many floors it has or the people coming in and out of the building. And a very sleek building it is. Glass doors to see into the lobby, LL Security guards in suits and sunglasses by the doors, a few more behind the receptionist's desk and by the elevators. Lynns always intimidated Lincoln, always looking for excuses to put their hands on you, even his own sisters used him as a practice dummy for her wrestling moves. They just smirk as they see Lincoln walking up to the receptionist's desk, a Luan behind it in a business dress and headset.
"H-Hi, I'm here for an interview for Lori, Lori & Lori? Law firm?" Lincoln manages to choke out, trying his best not to look nervous. The receptionist just smiles.
"No problem sweetie, just take the elevator to the 8th floor, suite 19, you can look at the directory and map by the elevators."
"T-thanks, and where are the bathrooms?"
The Luan just smiles, "We have one on the ground floor, take a left, my left, you'll see them by an exit sign and staircase."
"Ok, thank you!"
"You single?"
"W-what?"
"Lori, Lori & Lori is a 'Family Oriented' law firm, everyone has a family working there, single people either don't get hired or don't last long, word of advice."
"O-oh, ok, thank you." Lincoln says, hating the awkwardness he felt he created. The Luan just smiles.
"Here, here's my number, in case you need a girlfriend, cutie!"
"T-thank you, uh-?"
"Lauren, Lauren Luanne Loud, got it?"
Lincoln just takes the card and turns away. blushing red. At least he doesn't have to go to the bathroom anymore. Lincoln might be getting there at his age, but no one told him he needed a family already before getting a job, none of his other jobs cared if he was married or not! Lincoln thinks to himself and tries to calm down. He's in the elevator and he remembers floor 8 is where his interview is at. He gets off the elevator and sees a hallway, remembering suite 19, Lincoln looks at some of the office doors down the side of the hallways to find where to go. Exhausted, Lincoln finds some chairs and people sitting down, thinking they're here for the interview too.
"Is this Suite 19?"
"That's what the door says." The applicant sighs, looking at her phone. A Lori, looking at them, the other applicants are Loris too. Making Lincoln a bit nervous. Work places aren't supposed to discriminate, and these are Loris who are always good at their jobs, but Lincoln has to assure himself he is too, his resume will speak for itself, unless the other Loris had jobs at other firms. This is Lincoln's first Professional job at a firm that wasn't an internship. The girl looks up from her phone and smirks.
"Oh, a Lincoln! You here for Lori, Lori and Lori? Sure you're not lost? If you're delivering food go ahead!"
Lincoln steels his nerves before responding back, Lincolns always get the worst kinds of discrimination.
"No, I'm not delivering food, I'm here for Lori, Lori and Lori interview." The other girls look at the Lincoln and smile too. "Don't be afraid, sit down then! They'll call for you based on your texts."
Lincoln takes his own phone out out of panic. No new texts yet. He's safe. Lincoln sits down on a nearby chair ands sighs out of relief.
"So, you worked at other firms before, Lincoln?" The first Lori sitting next to him asks.
"No, first firm I'm applying to."
"So you're a virgin then?" The other Loris giggle at this, making Lincoln beat red for the third time that day.
"Y'know that's really inappropriate! That's harassment! And by the way-"
"It's a joke only, Lincoln, don't blow a gasket." The other Loris laugh out loud at Lincoln's reaction. Afraid of the professionalism the job requires but afraid if these kinds of jobs are "girls clubs only" kind of places. Hoping all the sweat he's making hasn't undone his cowlick and feeling underdressed compared to the other Loris wearing suits. His attention smacks back at the door to Suite 19 opening.
"Loud! Is there a Mister Lincoln Lawrence Loud here?" A Luan calls out to the hallway.
"Here!" Lincoln jumps up, almost tripping over himself as he approaches the door. The announcer beckons Lincoln inside another small office, he sees a desk for her and another doorway to his left. Initials LL written in gold on the door. The Luan goes back behind her desk and clacks away on her keyboard.
"You're being interviewed today by Mrs. Loud, she's one of the Partners to Lori, Lori & Lori. She's Lori."
"Oh! Ok."
"You can go in ahead, she's expecting you." The Luan sighs and returns to her computer, doing that things receptionists do. A placard on the desk reading LU M. ANNE sitting on it. A respectable but not a respectable enough job for ambitious Loris or Lisas. Lincoln is surprised another Lincoln isn't the receptionist but doesn't want to dwell on sexist ways of thinking. Lincoln shakes his head and approaches the door. Entering, he sees a Lori behind a much larger desk, the room the kind of room you see in movies with power brokers and million dollar lawyers working in. Red wine colored carpets, bookshelves lining the walls, a small bar and wood globe decorating the room. Couches and chairs around a small table. The Lori beckons Lincoln to the chairs closest to her and her desk.
"Mr. Lawrence Lincoln Loud, am I correct!"
"Ye-yes."
"Don't be so nervous! This is just a formality! Tell me, you're from a big family?"
"Yes, ten sisters, I'm the middle child."
"Wonderful! I have a little brother too, almost your age!"
"Thank you." Lincoln panics internally. Thank you? Why are you saying 'thank you' for? Just nod and smile!
The Lori just returns to her papers and casually restarts asking questions. "Says here you made the Dean's List and graduated Cum Laude. From what school did you go to?"
"Princeford."
"That's a very good school! You had Professor Lisa there?"
"Y-yes, she's on my references too!"
"She must really like you if she's on your references!"
"Y-yeah." Lincoln nods nervously. The tests were tough and Professor Lisa always undressed him with her eyes each day he saw her, always called on him in the classroom full of other Lisas and Loris, singling him out. Offering "Extra Credit" to make up points on a test. Had to go to her house just to pick up her recommendation letters, politely refusing to stay or drink anything. She may have been trying to help him only, Lincoln's friends say. Her attention didn't do him any favors from his classmates though. The professor finds you in a cafe once and sits down and talks about class isn't a "date".
"You have a record, Mr. Loud?"
"Huh? No, no criminal record."
"Ever did anything illegal?"
"No!"
"You smoke, drink alcohol, have a prescription for marijuana or other opiates?"
"No! I don't do drugs!"
"Don't get worked up, we're gonna have to do a drug test and credit screening if we're moving forward, standard procedure I hope you understand."
"Oh, ok, yes, I'll take the test."
"And, you married Mr. Loud, have a wife or any kids?"
Lincoln hesitated before answering deciding on the truth. "No, no kids, I'm single."
Lori shuffles some papers on her desk and sighs. "You know Lincoln we're a Family firm, we take care of each other here. We're family people here."
"I understand." Lincoln looks down disappointed.
"It's not a problem, it's not a requirement or anything, just letting you know Lincoln the job can be hard and takes up a lot of your free time. We're on retainer for over a thousand clients."
"Ok?" Lincoln responds confused but feeling better.
"You graduated Cum Laude, is there a reason you didn't graduate Magna Cum Laude?"
"Uhh, well I, had a job and was supporting myself and my parents and sisters back home-"
"You know Mr. Loud, Lincoln, can I call you Lincoln?"
"Lincoln is fine?" Lincoln says, back to being nervous as Lori walks around and leans on her desk, closer to him.
"Other candidates here today? Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude. Even have Valedictorians working here, making the Dean's list? Basic. The janitor was on the Dean's List. We hire the best to be lawyers here."
Lincoln looks away dejected again. He knew he was hoping for too much and over his head working here. He might be lucky finding a job at Lori & Lori or Lori & Lisa or else settle for a Funny Business Injury firm.
"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking of going to Lori, Lori & Lisa or Lori & Lisa Law, but they're going to say the same thing I'm telling you now." Lincoln just falls into his chair more.
"Don't give up hope! Like I said, we're a family law firm." Lori bends down closer to Lincoln to pat him on the leg. "Question is, if you want this job, how far will you go for your family?"
Lincoln just looks up at her in horror, seeing her hand is still on his leg, rubbing it. He should be mad, jump up and leave. But he really wants this job.
"Don't you have your own family?" Lincoln gestures to the pictures on her desk, a taller man with tanned brown skin and white hair standing next to Lori with two children in front of her resembling her and her husband. Lori simply lays the picture facing down and takes a ring off her finger.
"This isn't my desk." Lincoln just looks on defeated, knowing what comes next.
"Now, how about you unbutton that cute little orange shirt of yours, and lock the door?"
"It's mandarin..."
Hours later
Lincoln gets walked out by Lori back to the hallway, seeing the other Loris again with the same smirk on their faces. Only now does Lincoln panic in embarrassment if he was too loud or not. The lipstick still isn't on his shirt is it?
"Now, don't call us, we'll call you."
"Huh? But-"
The door just closes behind Lincoln, unceremoniously telling him the meeting was over. The other Loris are laughing and Lincoln just starts the walk of shame back home. He sees two other Lincolns in wait, here for the interview too and tries not to look at them.
"Hey man, how was it?"
Lincoln jerks back and glares at the other Lincoln.
"How was what?"
"The interview! How'd it go!"
"It, I don't know."
"Oh, thanks anyway man. Hope we both get in!"
"Yeah, hope so, good luck."
"Thanks! You too man!"
Lincoln just takes the elevator down and exits the building. Couldn't even bring himself to look at the receptionist as he was leaving. Lucky he didn't run into any Lynns and suffer the consequences. I just want to go home and do nothing, Lincoln thinks to himself as he finds a bench. He walked all the way here before, but he wants to avoid the construction site. Pulling up maps on his phone, Lincoln plans a route. Until a notification popped up, a message!
Lincmeister: Yo Linc, how the interview go? You still coming out tonight?
Lincoln totally forgots he had plans with his friends who live in the city. Some he met online in Ace Savvy Comic forums. Meister had friends he's bringing along to introduce. Lincoln just has to make it home, shower, burn his clothes, and make it to the bar.
LawfulLoud: Yeah! Just give me the address again and will meet up tonight
Lincmeister: See you then!
"Sigh, I'm going to have to get ready soon." Lincoln thought aloud.
Later
Evening time in the downtown district. Bars and restaurants line boardwalk. Lynn's Diners competing with Lynn's Asian Fusion and Lincoln's Diners dot the walkways, full of families and couples eating outdoors and in. The bars lining the district however, are more varied. You have your coffeehouses and sports bars, wine bars, dance clubs, fight clubs, comedy clubs, "micro breweries". Enough to make your head spin. Lincoln sees the families and couples on the streets, Lincoln's original hometown was only a couple thousand people, here it's at least a thousand people in this district eating and drinking alone.
"This is it." Lincoln looks at the address on his phone and the neon sign above the building in front of him. The Zoo. One of the many popular bars in the city, caters to all guests of different walks of life. At certain times it's filled with Lanas getting off work in the afternoon, Thursdays it's poetry night for Lucies. Sundays are sports nights, the television hanging over the bars plays the latest games live. Tonight is Lincoln night, 1 free drink for Lincolns, rest of the drinks are half-off. One of the few bars with the best deals. Lincoln checks in with the Lynn bouncers before heading inside. He didn't have to wait in a line long. Good bouncers keep the line moving and work to make sure there's an even ratio of Lincolns to girls. He's been to bars before but not many with this kind of security. Worried if the bathrooms will have custodians that don't bother cleaning and ask for a tip just to hand you a paper towel or push a button for an air dryer for you.
Lincoln enters and see the place is packed. Lolas and Lunas sitting with their own groups. Even see Lupas and Lucies and Lienas at the bar with a Lincoln bartender mixing drinks. Still, half the place is a sea of orange with all the different Lincolns here. But despite all that, Lincoln can see his group at a table, corner of the club, opposite of the kitchen and bathrooms. Best seats in the house.
"Hey Lincoln! Find the place alrigh?" Lincoln's friend waved him over to their table. White hair and wearing a red and orange jersey and blue jeans, Meister is a friend from college, got in with a sport's scholarship, can mix it with the best Lynns on any team he's on. Constantly overshadowed and compared to his sister though. Now in the minor leagues to the Metropolitan Smashers. He's happy not being recognized but he's competing to make it in the major leagues. A real fit nut but that's normal for an aspiring turned professional athlete now.
"I found the place alright,"
"N-no one gave you trouble did they? The bouncers here are scary! I think she winked at me before I got in." Blake Linc Loud is an old friend of Meister's. He's lived in the city the longest but doesn't go out much. He works in the mayor's office as an aide. Lincoln is worried if Blake is just a gofer. It pays well though, his friends joke if any of the tabloids are true about Mayor Luan being a pervert or a nightmare around those she's worked with. Blake is a bit effeminate, even for a Lincoln. The flower hairpin he wears on the left side of his white hair? Says his girlfriend doesn't like it when he takes it off, it was their anniversary present and it was expensive she says. Makes him look like a dweeb but Lincolns know how women can be. The orange shirt he's wearing is a bit long and untucked, reaching down above his knees and a bit frilly looking, like a girl's blouse Lincoln thought funny enough. Lawrence won't judge, he had sisters who didn't stop dressing him until he was ten. Blake just looks like his sisters still dress him. He's wearing blue skinny jeans and black slippers too to complete his look.
"The city has done a lot to reduce crime in the city Blake, you should know how much Luan has done to support police unions and create crime watch efforts." Meister mentioned Blake was inviting a work friend with them. Lincoln "Luke" Loud, only child, lucky him. Blake vouches for him so Meister vouches for him. Luke is still wearing his office clothes of a white dress shirt, orange tie, black dress pants and black dress shoes, a pair of glasses complimenting his look, white hair combed neatly.
"Happy Hour still on?"
"It's on all night here! Ordered you a beer already!"
"The apple-tinis are sweet here too! I don't think I could drink too many though."
"It's the weekend for us so you shouldn't worry"
Lincoln can see Meister finishing his beer and asking a nearby waiter in orange shorts and white tanktop to get his group another round of drinks. Lincoln remembers another thing he was gonna ask his friend.
"You got a game coming up, right Meister?"
"Yeah! West Coast Tigers, they're gonna be tough."
"Why? What makes them so special?"
"Their coach is Lisa O'Malley Loud, just signed in with them last year and she already made the Tigers one of the top ten best teams."
"Aw man, good luck."
"Luck doesn't have anything to do with it, coach is making new plays and running new drills, the Lynns on the team still insist on the budget for the mascots increase which is infuriating. You wouldn't believe how superstitious the other players are-"
"I hope you're not talking bad about me here."
The boys now see a Lynn joining them at the table, hair cut short, wearing a red and white jersey along with short red shorts, the boys don't know her except the one she's dangling off of. Arm around his shoulder as if she's about to put him in a headlock.
"Boys, meet Junior Lynn Jr. Jr. She's my senior."
"THE Lynn Jr. Jr.!?"
"No, that's my sister, I'm just Junior, call me June"
"You're a fan Luke?"
"Well, we have alot of celebrities that live here, you'll see them if you've been around here as long as me."
"Well, I'll leave you boys for now, meeting some girlfriends here." Junior pinches Meister's cheek and finishes the rest of his beer much to his chagrin. The boys return to their talk.
"So that's June Jr., not Jr. Jr."
"Yeah"
"So is he, or she-"
"She's a she"
"And you guys ever-?"
"No, you don't shit where you eat. You and Mayor have never, have you?"
"No." Luke just finishes his drink and stays quiet; the boys aren't going to bother or judge Meister or Luke anymore. Lincolns have to get ahead somehow.
"Hello M'Lincolns, can I offer you lovely gentlemen a drink?"
The boys crane their necks up to see a Lisa, a very tall Lisa. Green baggy sweater, dirty brown pants, greasy dark brown hair nearly black and squinting behind a pair of glasses, fedora adorning her head. She looks half asian. Lawrence clears his throat and speaks up.
"Uh no thanks, we can get our own drinks."
"I insist! The drinks are very expensive here and I can help you! I am a business owner, so I help a lot of people! I'm what you call an Alpha-"
"The drinks are half off here, it's Lincoln's night." Luke deadpans. Blake just smiles nervously and plays with his hair. Doesn't this fool know he's sending the wrong signals!
"I-I know!" Lisa stammers. "But I'm a nice girl! I can help and buy you a drink, my treat!"
Lawrence, Luke and Meister just look at the Lisa with disgust and pity, Blake just continues to smile nervously and laugh a little bit out of nervousness. Lisa tries to ignore everyone else and looks straight at Blake.
"I can buy you a drink! I'm a very nice girl and-"
"He has a girlfriend!" Meister just stated a bit louder at the Lisa making her flinch. The lady just walks away to her group of friends all wearing fedoras, talking under her breath about how she's an alpha lass.
"Blake, stop smiling."
"She was trying to be nice!"
"You can't let strangers walk all over you and smile back, they'll think you're going to help them."
"I-I was just nervous and I laugh when I panic."
The rest of the party return to drink.
It wasn't long before more girls stopped by the table to try their flirting game. Lunas bragging asking if they liked the song that just played, it was one hundred percent them singing it. Whispering to Lawrence if he's ever been with a girl with piercings. Luan's coming up to the table, making polar bear jokes, before getting the hint they weren't interested. One Lana going up to them and getting shot down ("Hey! Know why Lanas are the best? Spell Lana backwards!"). Even Luke had one Lola trying to start a fight with him before another unhappy similar looking Lincoln in a suit pulled her off and apologized over his girlfriend mistaking them for him. Luke was flustered so Blake calmed him down and took him to the dance floor to dance. Lawrence just sighs and gets up.
"You ok Link? Didn't drink too much?" Meister sees his friend and asks.
"No, I'm just going to the bathroom, I may be calling it a night already."
"So soon? Don't want to dance?"
"No, I would, but I gotta find another job tomorrow, I don't think I got the one today."
"Dude, sorry man, you want me to help you or call you a cab?" Lawrence just smiled and shook his head. "No, I'll be fine. Tell Blake and Luke I had fun."
Lawrence turns and heads to the little lincoln's room. Only happy and slightly disappointed the bathrooms don't have a custodian. It was a really dirty and seedy looking place, he does not envy the janitor who cleans up at the end of the night, if they even have a one. It's empty so Lawrence is happy over that at least. Place could use better lighting, the stink of ammonia heavy in the air. Lincoln checks and sees there are indeed urinals in the bathroom, this is a Lincoln's Only restroom. Checking the mirror and washing his face, Lincoln hears a creak and sees from the reflection one of the stalls behind him opening, just to see a Leni in a short dress and heavy mascara walk out. Fishing a lighter from her purse to light the cigarette in her mouth, she spots Lincoln's gaping face as the boy is shocked a girl is in here. She smiles and stumbles over to Lincoln.
"H-hey, little boy! You lost? You're in the wrong bathroom!" The Leni drawls out, Lawrence thinks to himself she's either drunk or high now.
"This is the Lincoln's Room! You're the one in the wrong bathroom."
Leni just sways as she's standing and shaking her head slowly.
"No, I don't think so! I think you're in the wrong bathroom!"
Lincoln just blushes more furiously and responds back.
"Check the door if you don't believe me!"
Lincoln sees the Leni go to the door through the mirror's reflection, her high heels clacking on the linoleum, almost looking like she's going to stumble. He hears the music from the bar, then the door closing again muffling all the noise. Pretty nice they made the walls soundproof even in the restrooms. Lincoln hears a *click and sees Leni walking back, smile on her face.
"You're right! This IS a Lincoln's only bathroom!"
His back to her still, Lincoln finishes up at the sink and turns to leave.
"That means you have to leave! I'm going to get security." The Leni just pulls at Lincoln's arm to stop him.
"Don't do that! I'll be a good girl! Say, you're a good boy, you won't tattle on me?" Lincoln just rolls his eyes at the Leni and turns back to the mirror to finish up. The Leni hanging close by him giving him the creeps.
"So, you're pretty cute! Come here often?"
"Not to public bathrooms, no."
"Hee hee, funny and cute!"
The Leni grabs onto Lawrence's shoulder to whisper in his ear. "I bet I can make you come more often!"
Even more flustered, Lawrence turns to leave only to be pulled back again by this Leni. Disgust turning to panic when Leni's hand claps over Lawrence's mouth stifling his cries. "Let's have some fun, c'mon!" Leni coos into Lawrence's ear as he's fighting for dear life, being dragged into the stall the girl came out of before. Leni had her arms wrapped over the boy's chest, constricting him, one hand over his mouth to keep him from screaming. Lawrence for his part, kicked and screamed as his legs were the only limbs free. His cries muffled, he kicked at the stall doors to keep them from closing until Leni's other hand snaked to his throat squeezing. "You make any more noise then I'll really hurt ya. I'm just gonna show you a good time, baby. I know you want this."
Leni sat down on the toilet, using it as a seat, with Lawrence on her lap facing the door. Tears were beginning to leak and blur Lawrence's vision now as he felt Leni's breath on his neck, her hand leaving his throat as she closed and locked the stall door before her hands returned to explore his chest. Her greasy tongue lapping the sweat off his neck was starting to make him nauseous. Her other hand was starting to snake to his pants to molest him there. He should have run, he should have asked Meister or one of his friends to come with him. He didn't want any of this.
Harassed by Lanas, coerced by Loris just for a chance to get his dream job, Lawrence can't help recalling every moment of his life he was manipulated or bullied. That time he lost a bet to a Lynn back in middle school, tutoring lessons from his neighbor Lisa, that one other Luna who was selling candy from her van, except she didn't have any candy. He should have listened to his sisters, except Lincoln didn't trust even his sisters. They were as bad as anyone else, starting with little things like eating all his candy that led him to the other Luna in the first place. All the times his sister Leni brought her friends over for a sleepover and being forced into playing "adult" games with them, dragged to birthday parties with Luan and being betrayed for a couple bucks. He was never even safe from Lori. Seeing her on her phone made Lawrence glad, she was distracted. But once her attention was on him? She was no different than the Leni biting into his shoulder now. This was the norm but Lawrence just wanted to be left alone.
Neither of the two heard the door of the bathroom jiggle during their initial struggle, now hear it kicked open and voices shouting for Lawrence's name. Crying for help, the stall door is ripped open and the two see Lawrence's friend Lincmeister as well as two bouncers behind him. Yanking Lincoln off, the other Lynn bouncer hauled then slammed the Leni on the linoleum, shouting for help in subduing the squirming party girl, crying they were just having fun. "I got him, thanks," Meister told the first bouncer as he hugged Lawrence. Nodding, the Lynn bouncer turned to help his friend. Elbow dropping the creep as the other binds her with zip ties.
"Hey, Larry, you ok?" Meister is snapping his fingers at Lawrence's face as he's still stunned. Getting out of his stupor, Lawrence nods his head. "Y-yeah, I'm ok, how'd you come find me?" Lincoln looks up to his friend.
"Came to the bathroom to use it myself, found the door locked, thought I heard something, called the bouncers since they had keys. Had a nagging feeling and told them you were gone for forever and heard a girl's voice in the Lincoln's room." Meister rubbed Lincoln's shoulders to keep him from shivering. Lifting a red faced Leni with bruised and swollen eyes, the bouncers turn to the two boys.
"You want us to call the cops to press charges or-"
"Obviously call the cops!" Meister shouts back at the two Lynns.
Blake and Luke soon found and regrouped with the two. They went with them to the club entrance to meet the cops and sirens. Several cop cars pulling in and an ambulance to check on Lawrence. Lawrence assured the tiny Lisa Paramedics that he doesn't need emergency care or to go to the hospital. Refusing to be tested, his attacker only groped him, she didn't get into his pants. The night was a blur after that. Blake's girlfriend came to pick him up after hearing about the attack. Luke exchanged numbers with Meister and told them he had to leave to wake up early for work the following day. Meister stayed with Lincoln to give reports to the cops. Lori and Lynns, Lana and Lola's in mirror glasses, chewing on toothpicks asking questions about what went on and if Lincoln wants to press charges. Even an emotional support Lulu was on scene. Strangest end to the night was one Lori and Luan in business suits were arguing with one another, pushing business cards onto Lawrence and Meister, about choosing their firms to press charges on the Leni, Club, the city and cops for not asking enough questions. Lawrence didn't look up, but he heard the one Leni hollering she was a victim and didn't do anything as she was being pushed into the back of a squad car, an attack Lulu barking at her heels.
"Hey," Meister patted Lincoln's hand, "You want me to walk you home?" Lincoln just shook his head no, just asked for help getting a cab.
Lawrence couldn't even remember who the cab driver was. His friend paid for the fair plus extra to the driver. Getting out of the taxi, Lincoln gets inside his building, thanking heaven he didn't run into anyone on his way to his studio apartment. Peeling his clothes off drenched in sweat, Lawrence was about to turn in early until his cell phone went off scaring the boy's already frazzled nerves. Fishing his phone from his pockets, Lawrence sees a text. From Lori, Lori & Lori Law.
"Hello Mr. Lincoln Lawrence Loud, we have reviewed your resume, references and interview and are interested in hiring you for our firm. There will be an orientation and a health screen on the 20th", Lawrence sees it's two days from now. "Documents will need to be signed for a credit screen and starting salary agreements. Lori, Lori & Lori Law is a family owned and operated firm and we wish to welcome you to our family. We expect great things from you in the future."
Lawrence couldn't believe it, he got the job, it was like a dream. He cringed thinking about his references being called, and just like that, Lawrence sees he's got a new text message from his old Professor, a long winded "Congratulations" and "Knew you could do it" and how she lives nearby the city and would like to "Celebrate" her getting the job. Complete with kissy face and clam emojis. Lawrence was gonna have to change his phones now. Lawrence went to charge his phone and turn in sleep tonight. Not hearing the following ping of another text message from a different number, from the Lori, Lori & Lori Offices. a text message making a follow up interview mandatory for the next day.
