Chapter Text
‘Where Do You See Yourself In Twenty Years?’
Looking down at the essay prompt sheet for his Homeroom homework assignment Lincoln thought about how the question was putting the scope of his future into perspective. Not just college but a few years into gaining experience in a career, he had a path that he considered ideal sure but he wondered if it was the best to pursue. Having always prided himself on being the man with the plan, he wanted to be sure he had a great one for himself too.
“Hey Lincoln? Oh, still thinking about Miss Muller’s essay assignment?” Clyde said.
He had meant to get his friend’s attention to ask about his thoughts on the latest David Steele movie but he could see how focused Lincoln had been on scrutinizing the requirements for their assignment.
Putting away the sheet into a notebook Lincoln tucked it away into his backpack. Focusing on walking the school halls to the lunch room and talking to his best friend about the things on his mind.
“Yeah, I just haven’t really had the chance to think about my plans for the next twenty years. College still feels far away, and don’t get me started on what comes after,” Lincoln said.
“Does it really feel so far off? Hasn’t Lori been at college for two years now and Leni there for her first?” Clyde said, then hesitated to say more once he saw Lincoln look downcast at the mention of it.
Lincoln held the right strap of his backpack with both hands as he answered.
“Yes, even then it’s. Well a whole five years away, and I gotta figure out where I’ll be at thirty-three.”
“Well, how’s that magician apprenticeship going?” Clyde said.
Lincoln sighed before using a few sleight-of-hand tricks to slip some coins between his fingers and made them move between them before making the coins look like they disappeared before doing the same with a few playing cards.
“The Amazing Brailster is still a great mentor, and he’s taught me a lot, but magic tricks are great for putting on shows. Not something to do forever. It takes years to learn the big tricks like disappearing at any time. No one can really do it like Lucy anyway,” Lincoln said, saying his sister’s name while smiling fondly.
“Do you like being scared by her?” Clyde said, smirking as he noticed Lincoln’s smile at the mention of Lucy’s famous disappearing ability.
“It’s not being scared by her suddenly appearing that I like, it’s knowing she might be there watching over us,” Lincoln said.
Clyde let it be to just feel happy for Lincoln, most people called such a thing creepy. Another reason to be terrified of Lucy but despite practically being part of the family he knew there were sentiments unique to the Louds formed from living in the household everyday itself.
“How’s the drawing going? Are you still working on that?” Clyde said, figuring he should start with some more reliable passions to get Lincoln back on track with forming a plan for his future.
“Yeah, I get paid for a few commissions a month. I’ve even got a few sketches for my plans for an Ace Savvy fan comic,” Lincoln said having been glad to have had Luna and Lucy’s help for setting up a page of his own on DeviousArt for showing off what he could do and drawing the attention of people who wanted to pay for his work. Even if some requests he was more excited about taking on than others.
“Could you see yourself doing that like a pro in the next twenty years? Being someone like Bill Buck making comics of your own?” Clyde said.
“That would be great, and I’ll do my best to make it happen but there’s a lot of artists who will want to do the same thing. Better than me too. I should have a backup plan,” Lincoln said.
Clyde stayed quiet about his friend’s artistic ability, it was great now and he was confident it would just get better. To say nothing about Lincoln’s ability to make a good pitch and lead people, but it was better to make him confident in the stability of his prospects rather than insisting he would be the one in a million to make it.
“For actually planning out your life, yes but you should focus on that plan to write about something you’re passionate about. Just do the research on what will get you there,” Clyde said.
“Thanks Clyde. Hey where do you see yourself in twenty years?” Lincoln said.
“Following in the footsteps of Roman Fuentes. Running a five star restaurant and having just sold millions of recipe books to people who want to cook my dishes themselves,” Clyde said.
“I’ll be the first one to buy them,” Lincoln said showing his friend some good hearted support in return.
Since he was able to handle the assignment with confidence now, Lincoln and Clyde’s conversation became much more casual with conversation focused on their usual interests and those they were finding to be new while walking to the lunch room to meet with the rest of the gang.
“What’s up everyone?” Lincoln said once Clyde and he met up with Rusty, Stella, Zach, and Liam.
“Hey,” the group greeted them in response.
With the group talking with one another at their leisure there was still some curiosity as to where everyone saw themselves in twenty years if even just to remember and see if their friends would reach their ambitions.
“I’m going to apprentice with a tailor for awhile, get some skills for helping my dad and taking over when the time comes for that,” Rusty said.
“You really do like making fellers look good don’t you?” Liam said.
“I‘d like to help the ladies with looking good too. I see marriage to a beautiful babe in my future too,” Rusty said.
“It’s good that you’re looking to expand the business,” Lincoln said.
Anything more to be said was kept quiet with the opinion on Rusty’s prospects of finding a wife being doubtful even in the eyes of his closest friends.
“I’m hoping to work somewhere I can design and build advanced robotics. Definitely something that will take twenty years,” Stella said.
“It’s probably why the stretch of time is so long, to account for people who plan to become doctors and get into other high profile positions. I’d like to be a researcher in SETI myself,” Zach said.
“You fellers sure have big places you want to go. I’m closest to Rusty’s boat. I’ll be happy carrying on with taking care of everything on the farm,” Liam said.
“Of course you will,” Rusty teased.
“The actual farm work, not just the oil as hard as it might be for you to believe. It’s not gonna be much good when everything goes green anyway,” Liam said.
Saying that brought the truth to the forefront of their thoughts and though some were more confident in their goals they were each nonetheless looking forward to obtaining that future which they envisioned for themselves.
Going home Lincoln still had plenty of homework, most of it due the next day as opposed to the essay which he still had until that Monday to work on. Time he would need to find out the requirements to go from illustrator to comic creator. Even to start off as an illustrator he knew would have its own prerequisites he would need to research. Though now that essay question was starting to make Lincoln think about much more than just what he’d be doing for work in the future. He was thinking about what his own home would look like in twenty years.
With Lori and Leni having gone off to college Luna and Luan had moved into their older sister’s former room letting Lucy and Lynn take up that room. Now Lincoln had a proper room to himself by moving into their former room, but with that space left open there were things fundamentally missing without the oldest sisters around all the time. Not having Lori, her leadership even with the bossiness that came with it was an adjustment and now Leni’s presence was just as rare. Her airhead moments were now remembered fondly as her glowing presence of kindness and warmth had become a rare treat.
Lincoln looked at the upcoming weekend with fondness because of that. Happy to know they still put time aside to come back and see them every now and then, their family. In Lori’s case her arrival also meant being able to visit the Casagrande’s. To see Ronnie Anne. His own future with her was something he gave thought to too, their relationship wasn’t so simple. Not just friends, but they still had to put in the effort to make it something more. Even so, looking around he tried to imagine what the house would look like in twenty years when even Lily reached the age to go to college when it would just be their parents if even them. It was like trying to imagine the unknown depths of the ocean, and already the house was becoming much less loud.
“Something bothering you, dear brother?” Lucy said
Lincoln jolted a bit, his sister had more than kept her touch but he was now more used to her showing up when his emotions veered on melancholy. It was comfortable how if he was ever feeling down she just might be there ready to comfort him.
“Hey, Lucy. It’s nothing to worry about. Just some homework about where I see myself in twenty years. It made me think about what the house will be like then,” Lincoln said.
Lucy placed her left hand over her right and nodded.
“Silent like a tomb, holding within it the death of memories,” she said lowering her head.
“Yeah,” he said in agreement. Frowning, looking towards the door imagining the rest of the house knowing he had been imagining it just as Lucy said.
Raising her head up Lucy looked at Lincoln with concern before speaking up again.
“Are you still taking well to the room? I hope you rest in peace every night. I did my best to take the spirits with me especially if you placed your bed where mine once was as you decided to do,” she said.
“Huh? Oh yeah. No spirits there, I know I thanked Lynn and you plenty but I really appreciate you guys moving into Luna and Luan’s old room and letting me be able to move out of the lining closet,” he said.
Lucy put both hands behind her back smiling shyly.
“It was best for all of us in the end, though we all miss Lori and Leni’s unique presence here it has allowed us to have a much larger room because of it,” she said.
“The weekend can’t come soon enough,” he said.
“Do you promise you’ll do the same as them when the time comes for you to have to go too?” Lucy said.
“Of course, Lucy. I’ll set aside every other weekend at least too for coming back to visit you, Lana, Lola, Lisa and Lily. I hope I’ll see our older sisters here too during their own visits,” Lincoln said.
“Good,” she said with a sense of ease.
That promise comforted her, an assurance that she would get to see her brother often even if she would not always have him near.
“By the way, I know it might feel a long way off but do you have an idea for where you see yourself in twenty years?” Lincoln said.
“For that we’ll see what fate has in store for me. I would like to write solemn and macabre tales for the world to enjoy, but if I don’t get that chance I could become a mortician. Give everyone who comes to me a peaceful rest, and if needed give the living a chance to speak with their departed loved ones,” Lucy said.
“It’s a good plan, Lucy. A lot of authors settled into a steady job before making it, but keep writing and publishers will see your talent one day,” Lincoln said.
Lucy kept her hands behind her back, her fingers twiddled with one another as she leaned down to hide her blush.
“Keep doing the same with your art. Draw and draw until the world sees your art,” she said.
Lincoln and Lucy smiled at each other encouragingly, two artists who loved one another encouraging each other to work on becoming the best they could. After the encouraging talk Lucy could feel her brother’s spirits lifted so when he focused on his homework again she disappeared. Following Lucy’s advice Lincoln took out his drawing tablet to practice on a few drawings after finishing some research for his essay and his homework assignments that needed to be done that day.
Lucy knew full well her own personal ambitions, but her own future in the broader scope was a private concern of hers. Luna had for all intents and purposes become the head sister since Lori went to college. Leni was nurturing and still looked out for them but wasn’t a precise organizer. Luna was much calmer but she emphasized organization with them and that baton was going to keep passing down until Lisa was watching over Lily before she’d go straight into research and inventing in the private sector. Lori and Leni’s occasional visits set a precedent for the family so that besides coming together on holidays and events they were expected to meet and see each other again. As often as they could. She kept thinking about how she would lose the closest of her siblings. Lincoln, the kind hearted older brother who she was willing to turn every corner of her heart to because he’d always treat it with care. She hoped to find someone like that to marry. Sensitive, kind, selfless, even if not an artist themselves to at least have the heart of one who could be a muse. It was the next best thing she could hope for, even if by some miracle her brother shared her feelings for him the scrutiny from their family and the world at large would be a challenge to contend with. Only in her diary could she put it somewhere besides her mind.
In my heart it’s love for you I keep
Only there you still hold me close
In the dark could you let me have more?
Lucy only got as far as writing a few lines when Lynn came into their room and she closed her diary, putting it away to work on a few charms instead when she saw Lynn putting on her gloves she used to get ready for practicing her strikes with her punching bag. A new addition allowed with the bigger room that would have been a point of contention in their smaller space.
“Hey Spooky, how’s it going?” Lynn said as she started practicing her boxing.
“Sigh. Dreary.” she said
Lynn chuckled before saying.
“Same as usual then,” being quite used to her sister saying something to that effect she considered it Lucy’s version of saying everything was alright.
After securing the final string around her magical charm Lucy took a few more seconds to watch Lynn concentrate on her training before sharing what was on her mind.
“Lynn, do you still plan on coming back to visit us when you’re at college?” Lucy said.
Lynn stopped wailing on her punching bag to look over at Lucy a little surprised by her question. Surprised that she was worrying about her still coming around, it was kind of adorable. Making her laugh warmly when she went over to ruffle Lucy’s hair.
“Of course I will, Spooky. If I go somewhere close I can come around a few weekends. Even if I go to a school far away I’ll still come around for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and all that stuff,” she said.
Lucy bristled when Lynn ruffled her hair, feeling uneasy when hearing Lynn’s answers. She was glad that Lynn did plan on making it a point to still come home and visit but felt less comforted by how her sister was fine with those visits not exactly being common. To Lynn she looked clearly unimpressed which made it clear to her sister that something had come up to make her worry about the subject and so ask about it in the first place.
“What got you worrying about this?” Lynn said.
“I’ve missed Lori and Leni. Everything feels a little more like it used to when they visit,” Lucy said.
Lynn took off her gloves and sat down next to Lucy on her bed thinking about what to say. She understood it felt odd, two years should have been enough to get accustomed to their new norm but their oldest sisters had been with them for most of their lives. Even if she hid it, Lynn felt it too with them having been in her life even longer.
“Don’t worry Spooky. We’re still going to see each other plenty, and not just for holidays. We’ll be around for each other in good times and bad times,” Lynn said.
“Is that a promise?” Lucy said.
“I promise,” Lynn said.
Lucy brightened up sitting in silence with Lynn comfortably, glad that she at least had the heart to put in the effort to keep the family together. It was all she could expect for now from her older sister who tended to prefer letting her actions do the talking and show off her conviction. Having just given as much of a comforting assurance as she could muster, for her sake.
It was the next day in the afternoon when Lincoln and Lynn were playing football with one another. The star athlete was rather surprised that her brother readily accepted joining her without insistence or prodding, and so she was making the most of it. Practicing her best throws with him, making the ball spin and even seeing if she could make it come at him at a different angle. Though Lincoln was struggling somewhat especially when Lynn was putting in all her effort to make her throws as challenging as possible. Only years of playing with her and knowing her habits made it possible to keep up or catch up.
“Go long, Stinkin,” Lynn said getting to the furthest side of the yard as possible and pointing at the opposite side for Lincoln to go to. Once he did Lincoln kept a lookout and managed to grab a hold of the ball and pull it in wincing as he felt the impact of the ball smacking into his hands strong enough to feel like a burn.
Lynn laughed with excitement, rushing over and smacking him on the back.
“Nice one on that catch,” she said.
“Thanks, where have you been learning these new throwing tricks?” Lincoln said.
“Just lots and lots of practice and wanting to find new ways to throw it,” Lynn said.
“Could you show me some of those tricks?” Lincoln said, pressing the ball into his palm as he walked over to Lynn.
“Alright, here let me show you how to make it spin,” Lynn said lining herself besides Lincoln pressing her hand over his with her arm pressed up on his as she started explaining how to angle and make the throw.
Lincoln had expected a fully verbal explanation, Lynn suddenly going in and comfortably pressing herself against him caught him off guard. Even wrestling and tackling she had laid off on, so now in the moment Lincoln reminded himself to get his head back into focus and listen to his older sister to pick up on the trick that he had asked how to pull off.
“You got it?” Lynn said.
“Yeah, I got it,” Lincoln said with hesitation moving away from Lynn to focus on the throw. Taking in a deep breath he tried the throw only for the ball to move in such a way that it looked like it wobbled and then plopped right back to the ground.
“Aw, come on Stinkin. That totally sucked, come on try it again. Put in the spin with your hand this time,” Lynn said after picking up the ball and shoving it hard towards Lincoln’s chest and made sure he got a hold of it in his hands before letting him try again with the throw.
It took two more tries, each one Lincoln doing a little better to actually pull off the spinning trick. Once he had pulled it off successfully a few more times Lynn started showing Lincoln how to pull off more of the tricks she knew. Making it easier for them to have fun making unique throws to one another and talking.
“Lynn, you seem to be good at almost every sport. How are you going to decide which one to actually get into for the big leagues?” Lincoln said.
“There’s no one sport I like more than another. Maybe, some less than others. Anyway, when it comes time for competition I’m going to try out for everything I can until one puts me in the Olympics,” Lynn said.
“Wow, well you don’t call yourself Lynnsanity for nothing. I can’t wait to see you win the gold medal,” Lincoln said.
“Thanks Stinkin, what do you plan on doing while I’m competing one day in the big leagues?” Lynn said.
“Becoming a comic book creator. Doing the drawing and the writing, but I’ll just be doing the drawing for awhile,” Lincoln said.
Lynn laughed, teasing him affectionately with no malice behind it.
“You really are such a geek, but I really hope you go for it and be the best at something you love so much,” she said.
Lincoln grinned.
“Thanks,” he said, glad that despite her first remark she was being genuinely supportive.
She softened her expression before saying.
“Lincoln, can I ask you for a favor?”
Lincoln became quite serious, knowing it was warranted when Lynn called him by name with purpose and just hoped that Lynn didn’t need him to do something too embarrassing.
“What is it?” he said.
“When I go to college, and you’re the oldest sibling here. Promise you’ll take good care of our little sisters. Make sure that they know they’re loved and cared for every day, that they can count on their family. They’re going to feel like they’re seeing one sister go one after the other, but with you it’ll be like they can still have you around for another year,” she said.
There was no question about it, Lincoln was more than ready to agree. With Lynn seeming so tough and independent he thought she was just fine with the way things were changing, but now it seemed she too was in tune with the change in mood. How her siblings felt about the near future in which each of them would be leaving, and she hoped to help alleviate that sadness. Make things just a little more easier to handle, and reminding him to make the time count.
“I promise,” he said.
“Good,” she said with a sad smile only for her gaze to become intense.
“Wait, Lynn what are you-” Lincoln said knowing what it meant when Lynn crouched and got ready to pounce.
Even so she was too fast for him and launched herself at him in a tackle hug.
“Keep being the best brother ever,” she said pressing her head into his chest snuggling into him for a moment.
Lincoln wrapped his arms around Lynn, stroking her hair enjoying the rare moment that Lynn was being affectionate in a softer manner than the rough and tumble sometimes violent way she more usually showed her care for him. Ignoring his racing heart and the strange emotions felt from her pressing her body into his to appreciate the moment they had together. Not knowing how many more chances they’d get, and knowing that a few things had to come together to incite those moments in the first place.
“I will,” he said.
Friday afternoon had come around, and as soon as Lori and Leni had wrapped up their classes they loaded up everything they had packed for the weekend into Lori’s car.
“Alright, let’s go through everything one more time,” Lori said prompting Leni to pull out the checklist on essentials that she made sure Leni went through each time they were going to make the trip back home.
“Okay. Soaps, sponge, toothbrush, toothpaste, clothes. Oh wait, clothes,” Leni said before going back to her dorm room. Though the clothes she would wear while away from her closet were already packed it was still a good way to remind herself to bring along her homework to work on if she was working on a physical design.
Lori herself accessed some of her notes on her phone, reviewing some of the information for her classes while she could give it some focus. Only to be snapped out of her focus and instead switch to happily texting with her beloved Bobby when she saw a text show up from him.
‘Hey Babe I hope u have a safe trip
Are u going 2 come 2 the city this weekend?’
He texted.
‘Hey Boo Boo Bear
Thanks! You have a safe trip 2!
Yes I’ll see u in the city tmrw’
She texted.
Leni had come back down and packed up her newest work in progress into the trunk of the car before taking shotgun and buckling up, keeping an eye on Lori who had put away her phone and had been getting herself adjusted into the driver’s seat once Leni had come back down. In a few fluid movements Lori put on the first song of the trip and started the car looking straight on at the road now that she was able to navigate the way from campus back home from memory.
“Lori, are you going to see the Casagrandes this weekend?” Leni said.
“Yes, Leni. We’ll go spend tonight with mom, dad and all our younger siblings. Tomorrow I’ll take Lincoln with me to the city and you can have fun spending the weekend with everyone,” Lori said.
“Next time you’re going to Great Lakes City could I come with you guys too?” Leni said.
“You want to come and visit the Casagrandes with us?” Lori said.
“Like yeah, I want to drop by and say hi and hang out with Carlota,” Leni said.
“Right! I mean, of course. You guys literally hit it off so well helping each other out with your portfolios,” Lori said trying not to berate herself for not realizing it made sense how Leni was close now with the Casagrandes through her friendship with Carlota, their bond even surviving them getting into different colleges from having competed for the spot at Fairway University’s fashion program. Between Leni, Lincoln and her bonding so closely with at least one member of the Casagrande family as well as having every other Thanksgiving with them she could see the two families tangling together even more in the coming years.
“So?” Leni asked still waiting on an answer from Lori.
“Of course you can come with us next time. I’d literally say go right ahead with coming with us on this trip if you didn’t have to work on your homework while home,” Lori said.
“Yay! I can’t wait to see what Carlota has been making and to show her my designs too!” Leni said looking through her sketchbook wondering what she’d show off first.
Glancing over at the sketchbook Lori waited until Leni flipped the page to something she thought would be best for showing Carlota first.
“How about that one? I think it kind of looks like something she would wear,” Lori said.
“You’re right it does, I think it’s like the full button up style that I probably made from being inspired by her old look,” Leni said.
“Hm, that, makes sense,” Lori said realizing that it might not be the foolproof pick she thought if she was just thinking of one of the last times she saw Carlota and judging by Leni’s phrasing not a look she was still going for.
Once Lori’s pick for a song was over Leni took her turn with putting on her own pick as deciding on the first outfit to show Carlota became a conversation on how classes were going. Which professors were the best in their respective year, how much they missed their father’s cooking, and whether Luan was waiting for them ready to toss a pie into their faces or if she’d hold on until at least the second day they were home to welcome them back in the way only she could.
A few hours into the drive Leni had made a sweet spot pick for the music, a song that she liked that Lori was now singing along to as well. Soon they would both synchronize into a perfect duet with each other, brightening up the otherwise long, boring drive, even if just a little.
Once the long trip was over Lori drove into the usual parking spot, and from within the house Lynn Sr. was the first who came to the window and spotted the red car with an excited gasp just as happy as the first time his oldest daughters had come to visit.
“My babies, they’re back,” he said.
Soon the Loud family were at the door pulling in Lori and Leni into a group hug.
“Welcome back you two!” Rita said while her husband was crying tears of joy glad to have them back home.
“It’s literally great to see you all again too,” Lori said adjusting herself to hug as many of them as she could while Leni more naturally found a way to get her arms around her younger siblings while happily settling into their affection. It would take a few more seconds before the family were willing to pull away and let Lori and Leni go.
“Dudes, I got your guy’s beds ready in your usual spot,” Luna said then leaned in to add, “And made sure Luan didn’t set up a welcome home surprise for you two.”
“Thanks,” Lori whispered back.
While Luna and Luan helped with getting their sister’s belongings out of the car Lynn Sr. and Rita brought Leni and Lori into the dining room to ask them about how college was going leaving their siblings waiting to get their own time they could spend with them.
Once they did, Lori went straight to Lincoln to make sure she had nothing to worry about when heading for their trip to Great Lakes City.
“Lincoln, did you make sure to have everything ready for the drive tomorrow?” she said.
“Don’t worry, I have it down to a routine at this point. I’ll be ready to get going with you first thing in the morning,” he said.
“Good, so how has school been going?” Lori said, glad to be home again.