01 November 2023.

Hi guys!

Yes, I'm a little late. I'm trying to determine myself to write at least 1 hour a day, but even that is hard.

I'm starting to think there's no such thing as "creative block." The most important thing is that the writer works daily, and not just on the day he feels inspired. At the moment, I have several Loud fanfic ideas popping up in my head, and I need to take it slow, otherwise I'll start a lot of things and not finish anything.

In this chapter, Lucy will meet Clyde and gain a new perspective on Lincoln Loud from him. Lucy will also discover that she can't always be in control of everything.

Seanrudin: I don't know how your Sep 09 review is marked as being for chapter 1, if it refers to chapter 5. But anyway, this site is buggy a lot lately...

Your Saving Grace is Here: You gave an interesting new perspective. Maybe Lucy is going crazy. Let's see what happens. For you, is No Such Luck the "Voldemort" of the cartoon? Also, thank you for the ideas you gave me for this chapter!

Guest: Lana may need someone to look after her pets when she is at an event. And Lynn may be a bit of a brute, but Lucy still needs to exercise.

Enjoy!


Chapter 06:
Goths and Nerds

RING!
"Hello?" The 11-year-old black boy answers his smartphone. "Clyde McBride speaking."
"Hello, Clyde, it's me, Lucy Loud."
"Who?"
"The Gothic."
"Oh, I know. How can I help?"
"Look, Clyde, I know we're not very close, but you were Lincoln's best friend and I need your point of view. Do you have 1 minute?"
"Hmm... Of course. I was going to debut my model airplane at the park. If you want to go with me..."
"Accepted."


As they walk through Royal Woods in the afternoon, Clyde asks:
"Hey, Lucy, why those sunglasses? Are you regretting removing your bangs?"
"No, no. But before, it was as if I was forced to always see the world from a dark perspective. Now, without the bangs, I can control the way I see."
"But do you always wear sunglasses when you're walking around town?"
"Yes. Because the city, for me, synthesizes chaos, disorder, bedlam... And that, for me, is not life. So, it's as if the sunglasses showed me the city as it really is."
"Oh. Anyway..."

They enter the park.

"Then I advise you not to wear sunglasses in the park," Clyde suggests.
"Why?"
"Because we are in nature. The trees, the birds, the lakes and - why not? - the visitors... Everything here shines with life and health!"
"Hmm… You have a good point."

Lucy stops to raise her glasses.

"What do you think?"
"You have such a beautiful face..." Clyde admires. "But Lori is much more beautiful, with all due respect."
"I think so."

As she follows Clyde up the highest hill in the park, Lucy reflects on what she just said.
In fact, she doesn't have an exact reason for wearing sunglasses in the city.
Her mind simply creates a plausible scenario that justifies what she does.
All people do this: they rationalize the illogical.

When they reach the top of the hill...

"This looks perfect," Clyde sets his lemon-yellow model plane on the grass.
"Do you buy it ready-made or do you have to assemble it piece by piece?" Lucy asks.
"I glue it together piece by piece."
"You love this. Just like Lincoln. But it must be a lot of work."
"Of course. Everything we love to do involves hard work."
"But love and effort are not enough. You have to know how to do it right."
"For sure."

Clyde presses a button on the joystick and makes his plane take off.

Lucy looks on with real interest.
"You did a great job," she smiles lightly.
He also smiles, without taking the focus.

Lucy starts thinking that it's like a son: you raise him, mold him and set him to fly around the world.

After landing the plane for the first time, Clyde offers her the joystick:
"Here."
"Do you want me to drive?"
"Sometime you were going to ask."
"I don't know how to deal with this."
"I show you. It's not so hard."

As she follows Clyde's instructions, Lucy manages to fly with remarkable precision.

She sees that it's not enough to send your child flying: you also need to follow the right rules to be successful in life's adventure.

After landing again...

"Yes!" Lucy punches the air, satisfied.
"See how easy it is? By practicing you will get far."

Clyde instinctively puts his hand on Lucy's left shoulder.

"Ugh," Lucy mumbles.
"Oh, sorry," Clyde embarrasses. "You don't like touch, right?"
"I like," Lucy assures, not knowing if she's saying that out of politeness or if she's trying to delude herself. "Keep going."
"OK."

The two remain standing, contemplating the masterpiece of model aircraft.

Lucy insists on seeing Clyde's toy as a son, who needs love, care and protection.

If she ever has children (maybe even with Clyde), she promises to try hard enough for them to have the success that Lincoln didn't.

"Opportunities, for him, were never lacking."


Sitting by the lake, eating corn dogs with Clyde, Lucy finds the right moment to talk.

"Clyde, can we talk about Lincoln?"
"Hmm... Of course," the boy concedes, after hesitating for a moment.
"What made Lincoln so special to you? Besides, of course, you guys like the same things."

"Ah, he was more than a friend: he was a brother... a mentor... an unconditional ally... who would always try to help me, no matter how bizarre he thought I was. Of course, his methods also irritated me from time to time, but he had an extraordinary gift for solving problems that I still miss."

"And for me too," Lucy acknowledges. "He knew how to end conflicts—well, most of them—and he preferred his brains to his fists. And how did you receive the news that he was going to die?"

"Well, for me…" Clyde thinks for a moment. "First was the shock. Then denial. Until reality slowly dawned on me. Imagine that you live in a perfect world that you think is the real world. But suddenly something happens and you begin to discover that the reality you have built is not solid. That the real world was right there, happening beneath your nose, and you hadn't realized it. Until you get out of the Matrix."

"Exactly," Lucy confirms, pointing at Clyde with her corn dog stick. "I always saw death as a beautiful thing or, at least, as being the logic of life, however paradoxical that may seem. But then, when I discovered that Lincoln was dying, it was as if death was stripping away her beautiful image and revealing what she is."

"And what is she like?"
"She is…arbitrary. Sneaky. Selfish. No empathy."
"Is that what you really believe?"
"Well... I believe so. At least that's how I see her all the time."
"Then why are you still goth?" Clyde wants to know.

"Why?" Lucy repeats, looking at a fish jumping out of the lake. She crosses her arms over her knees and rests her head on them. "I don't know. I want to know too."

"Do you still feel the need to be goth?" Clyde insists. "To embrace death? As if she still gives you warmth?"

"I'm not a goth," Lucy says, fixing her eyes on the lake. "I'm Lucy. Lucy Loud. I do whatever I want, I wear whatever I want and I feel good about it. If I want black, I wear black. If I want pink, I'll wear pink. If people are bothered by me being more or less dark, that's their problem."

"I didn't mean to offend," Clyde retracts.

"It's okay, it's not up to you," Lucy reassures him. "It's up to others. If people want to be scared of me, let them be scared. If they want to be my friend, then accept me as I am. I don't have to pay a toll for anyone, not even for death. If she tries to seduce me, I'll step on her foot, stick my tongue out at her and tell her that my black dress and striped socks are not a monument to her, but to myself! That I live independently of her and that I owe her nothing, absolutely nothing! I'M NOT A GOTH DEATH LOVER! I'M A GOTH LOUD LOVER! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

She suddenly stops laughing.

She slowly turns her face to Clyde, who's eyes are wider than ever.

"WOW!" He says finally.

"Sorry," Lucy wipes her forehead with her right hand. "I don't know what I'm talking. I'm confused. It must be this strong sun on my head."

"No, it's alright," Clyde holds Lucy's left hand. "You were just venting. Throwing out something that you had trapped inside your chest for a long time. I'm glad you took this liberating step. In fact, you are Lucy, and for me it doesn't matter what you do from now on. Whether you love black or love pink, you will always be the same sweet, curious and fascinating girl that I know. One thing Lincoln said is that we can always change our iPhone case, but what really matters is that our internal software works."

Silence.

Clyde and Lucy get serious.

Suddenly they burst into laughter.

"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

No comments.

Clyde is still laughing when Lucy grabs his right hand and makes him stroke her left leg.

"Lucy…" Clyde blushes.
"Don't like?" Lucy smiles.
"I…" He chokes. "I don't know what to say."
"If Lori doesn't let you... I will," Lucy winks.
Clyde smiles as he breaks into a cold sweat.

Lucy brings her face closer to the boy's.

"Thank you for your kindness. And for the strength you gave me today."
"You're welcome, but…" Clyde tugs at the collar of his sweater, trying to maintain his composure. "I already have a girlfriend."
"Lori?"
"Yes."
"But she doesn't even know that."
"Well, one day she will know."
"And what stops me from running her over?"

Lucy crosses her arms and smiles enigmatically, leaving Clyde astonished.

The girl has fun.

Who said she can't be bold once in a while?


After saying goodbye to Clyde (promising to go out with him again soon), Lucy returns home alone.

She feels lighter and more peaceful. She doesn't even bother to reinsert her sunglasses. In fact, she needed someone like Clyde, who would just listen and understand her.

For a long time now, she has not been able to feel this complicity with her sisters, or even with her Father and Mother.

It's as if lately, all of her family members have become a little strange to her.

And now they're going to get more strange.


When she is approaching home...
"What ambulance is that?"
As she quickens her pace, she discovers that no one was hurt.
It's not a hospital ambulance.
"Zoonosis Control Center?!" She reads, amazed.

When she arrives at the front door, she finds her parents talking to several sanitary agents.
"What is happening?!" She screams, wanting attention.
Everyone shouts at dread!

"Who are you, girl?!" One of the agents asks, clipboard in hand, dropping the pen to the floor.
"She's my daughter," Lynn Sr. confirms. "You can let her pass."
"Lucy, come in quickly," Rita pushes the shadowy girl towards the front door.
"But..."

After entering the house, Lucy is supported by Lynn Jr.:
"Oh, Raven, we have some bad news for you."
"It's about the bats," Lucy quickly reasons.
"Yes! They came to collect your bats from the attic!"
"What about Fangs?! Where is he?!" Lucy despairs.
"We don't know. He remains missing."
"And what are we waiting for?!" Lucy runs to the second floor staircase, but is grabbed by Lori.

"Where do you think you're going, young lady?"
"I need to save my bats from death!" Lucy clarifies.
"No way!" Leni refutes, very seriously. "Our family comes first!"
"By the way, Lucy, you should be happy," Lola scoffs. "It's now that they will be sent to their deaths."
"That was cruel, Lola," Lana acknowledges.

Lucy gets angry, but ignores Lola and turns to her right-hand girl:
"Lynn! Do something!"
"I can't," Lynn Jr. surrenders, avoiding looking at Lucy.
"You promised you wouldn't hurt my bats!"
"Yes, and I reaffirm. But I can't go against Mom and Dad's decision. Better to let zoonosis agents do their job."
"I thought you were my ally!"
"I am your ally. But I don't want to see our family be infected with rabies."

Lucy kicks Lori's leg.
"OUCH!" Lori screams, letting go of Lucy.
The goth girl, quite angry, looks closely at her sisters and declares:
"You all got rabies a long time ago!"
Leni's eyes widen.

"And you passed it on to me!" Lucy kicks the television table, almost knocking it off balance.
"Lucy!" Lori protests, clenching her fists.
Lucy makes raspberry to Lori and goes down to the basement.
"Lynn, watch Lucy in the basement!" Lori orders.
"Yes, Sergeant!" Lynn salutes.
"And don't let Lucy bite you!" Leni prevents her.

While Lynn follows Lucy, Leni suggests naively:
"On second thought, wouldn't better zoonose agents take Lucy too? If Dad and Mom say to ban all the bats of the house ... "
"Leni!" Lori scolds her. "We will never expel Lucy from home!"
"But she's full of anger."
"Leni, for last time: Lucy is not a bat," Lana remembers her. "Neither a vampire."
"We don't need another 'squirrel' in the family," Lola assures, very serious.
"Squirrel? But here we don't create squirrels," Leni doesn't understand the irony.

After flipping the switch, Lynn meekly descends the basement stairs.

When she finish going down the basement...
"Lucy? Lucy?"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Lucy demands, materializing herself in front of Lynn.
"AAAHHH!" Lynn loses her balance and falls into an open cardboard box full of old papers.
Lucy doesn't care about helping Lynn and walks away.


Exchange of messages on WhatsApp:

The worst happened...

Your bats?

Yes. They took them all.

Sorry much.
Are you sad?

Devastated.
But they didnt find Fangs.

Does he still missing?

Yes.

If I find Fangs he comes to live with me.
So you can keep seeing him.

Excellent.
I dont know what I would do without you.

Want come here and talk?

No thanks. Ill be fine.

Anything tell me.

Okay. Kiss. Bye!

Kiss.


Lucy spends the rest of the day locked in her room, in a permanent state of rage.

She doesn't even come down for dinner, because she doesn't have the courage to look at her traitorous family.

Lynn Jr. goes upstairs to deliver her plate, but finds Lucy already asleep.

In Lynn's bed.

Instead of complaining, Lynn thinks it's cute.

Next to Lucy on the bed is a pencil and her black notebook of poems.

Lynn collects the notebook and silently reads the poem that Lucy composed to vent all her anger:

A lonely little bat
Longs to run to the air
But with her wings clipped
No more strength to go anywhere

To some, she's a stranger
To others, a depressed
For a few, a mere pretender
To herself, almost passed

She feels so alone
Even in a loud crowd
The pain she carries in chest
No one else understand around

She wishes to journey afar
A beautiful kingdom arrive
And live with her dear brother
No other hassles for all life

A tear falls from Lynn's eye.

Moved, she puts the pencil and notebook on the desk.

She removes Lucy's shoes, covers her with the blanket and kisses her forehead.

She collects the plate, turns off the light and leaves the room.


KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

The little gothic lady continues her gentle sleep.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

Slowly she opens her eyes.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

She suddenly gets up from the bed.

It sounds like someone is banging on the bedroom window with a rock.
And according to the stone's password, it can only be one person.

Knowing that it isn't a thief, the girl sits on the bed, stretches, caresses her neck and lifts the transparent curtain that surrounds her bed.

Walking calmly, in her black nightgown and dark gray socks, she goes to the window and opens it carefully.

She takes advantage and receives some of the light rain that falls outside.

The nocturnal visitor stands there, waiting for her host to finish freshening up.

Until she was silently invited in.

Lucy enters through the window, which is then closed by Haiku.

"Did you change your mind and come here to talk?" Haiku asks calmly, looking for a towel.
"Yeah," Lucy confirms, with her black bag over her shoulder, keeping the melancholy tone. "I couldn't bear to spend the whole day living with those accomplices in the slaughter of my bats."
"And what do you intend to do?" Haiku asks, as she wipes her best friend dry. In fact, she already knows.
"I want to live here with you. At least until the dust settles."
"Of course," Haiku hugs Lucy affectionately. "My home is your home."

The two friends smile slightly.

Lucy and Haiku kiss each other on the lips, like they always do.

SMAC!

"Do you want to eat or drink something before bed?" Haiku offers.
"No thanks," Lucy refuses. "I just want to sleep in a warm bed as soon as possible."
"So let's go," Haiku guides her to the closet. "And don't worry: you will learn to forgive your family."
"I hope so," Lucy assures.

Haiku opens the closet and pulls out a dark purple sweater.
"Here."
"Thanks."

Lucy removes her pink sneakers and white socks.

Haiku's eyes widen.

"I warned you," Lucy reminds Haiku, while taking off her black dress. "If you are my ally, then you will support me no matter what colors I wear. I wear black, I wear pink and you have nothing to do with what I wear."

"Okay," Haiku agrees, hanging the black dress to dry.

After getting dressed, Lucy kneels and says her prayer. Haiku imitates her.
Then Haiku lifts the bed curtain and lets Lucy enter first.

As the two lie together...

"You know what, Haiku?"
"Speak."
"I always felt like I wasn't part of that family. That noisy and chaotic environment. My sisters always fighting, creating conflict and accusing each other. I would think the same of them if I weren't goth."
"I know. But despite everything, you love your family."
"Yes I love. But is it wrong for me to suspect that I was mistakenly changed in the maternity? As if my correct family was lost out there, just waiting for God or destiny to bring us together at the right time?"
"Lucy, there is no correct family. We embrace what life gives us. You have a giant family. Feel blessed for that. In fact, you look a lot like your great-grandma Harriet."
"Yes. When I die, I want to be buried in her grave."
"Wouldn't you rather be buried with me?" Haiku pinches the nose of Lucy, who laughs discreetly.
"Good sleep, Haiku."
"Good sleep, Lucy."

Each one turns to one side of the bed.

Then Haiku thinks better and hugs her friend around the waist.

Lucy feels good about that.

"If I could choose a second family, I would choose Haiku."

And they both sleep cuddling.

TO BE CONTINUED...


Here it is! Lucy sought relief in her best friend Haiku! But will it be enough?

In the next chapter, Lucy will spend few days with Haiku, and the two decide to call on the Morticians Club to help.

Review, leave your criticism, your suggestion... participate!

See you soon!