Separated.
This was something Lucy Loud really couldn't stand. It just made her want to kick down the front door and then bolt like a jack-in-the-box in the hopes of finding a way to reach Lincoln, who was away with their father on a father-son trip.
Except it's not possible. That's yet another thing she can't stand. Before, being with her lover was impossible because of the very nature of their blood, bound by brotherhood. If it weren't for their hearts beating as one, none of what she'd experienced in the past year would have existed.
Their secret meetings, their kisses that transport her to another world, their moments spent just being there for each other even if it meant being discovered by their family, who had long since become accustomed to seeing them glued to each other's hips.
Her blue eyes watched the bored expressions of the rest of her sisters, who had decided to organize some sort of day for all the Loud sisters. Already irritated by the absence of her soulmate, Lucy felt even sadder to see that, without her white-haired protector, she was more bored than a vampire in its coffin. None of her daughters could understand her love of literature, the world of dark magic, or even her unique love for Lincoln, and she was relieved about that, because even though their relationship would surely have shaken a church to its foundations, Lucy didn't feel she could bear the thought of one of her sisters confessing her love to Lincoln.
"Fine," said Lori suddenly, standing up with an annoyed expression on her more mature features. "We waited patiently, but now I've had enough! Lucy!"
Confused to now be in the spotlight, Lucy turns her eye to her older sister to try to understand why it was her fault that everyone was bored.
"I beg your pardon?" she asks politely, while straightening her posture with dignity.
"We finally have a sisters' day and you don't seem happy!"
Despite herself, Lucy felt like laughing because it was so obvious that her happiness was limited to a young man with white hair, who should be in her presence and not out fishing.
"Sorry for not expressing my amusement during our glorious game of Monopoly," she said in her old, monotonous voice that stood out without her brother. "Besides, I'm playing the bank, so there's no reason for anyone to pay attention to me."
"Stop sulking, dude," said Luna, grabbing the dice. "We're all depressed about Lincoln's absence. That's why we're playing together: to try and pass the time faster until he comes back."
Seeing the dice roll double sixes, the rock star shouts with joy as he moves his token onto an unoccupied space. Lucy, however, doubts that all the women gathered around the board can understand what the absence of a loved one can do to your heart. Instead of bursting with joy, it seems to shrink in on itself, leaving you wanting only to moan with sadness. In the end, Lucy was just another damsel in distress waiting for her prince to come and rescue her from her loneliness.
"Besides, it's been a long time since you spent time with us," adds Lola, annoyed at having been ruined after Lana and Lynn secretly conspired against her. "Don't take it the wrong way, but you're going to end up like Lincoln."
Lucy's gaze upon her gave her the impression that a sword had just been drawn from its sheath with sadistic slowness.
"Pardon ?"
"Um… I meant to say…" said the diva Loud timidly, "You know… no girlfriend…"
Incredulous. Yes, Lucy was.
"Yes. By hanging out together so much, people start to think you're a couple," adds Lynn nonchalantly, not noticing the blush creeping up the goth girl's neck. "That's why no girl makes the first move towards him."
"Well, well," said Lucy softly with a haughty sniffle. "So these little brats don't have the guts to come and talk to Lincoln? Tsk... I'm rather glad they're not bothering him."
"But don't you want Lincoln to be happy?" Lana asks, chewing an old piece of gum.
If she could, Lucy would tell them without any shame that Lincoln is much happier with her than with all those hens cackling about her boyfriend.
"Yes, but since he hopes we will find a good boy for each of us, I want the girl who spends eternity with him to be good too," replied Lucy with a rather satisfied smile, knowing that she would be that woman.
"You're not wrong," said Luan with a thoughtful look. "But then... What kind of girl would be good for him in your opinion?"
If she hadn't been preoccupied with counting the correct number of bills in the bank, Lucy would undoubtedly have studied her next answer a little more carefully.
"Someone calm, who would take the time to listen to him. She would also have to be strict with him when he does something wrong," she said, finishing her calculations with a slow sigh. "But above all, he would need someone who is always honest with him. Lincoln really needs someone he can confide his darkest secrets to, without fear of being exposed by just anyone."
The silence that followed wasn't really awkward; it was simply that a certain realization dawned without anyone needing to study the matter. Even five-year-old Lily understood what her older sister had just said. In fact, she didn't hesitate to say it herself, in a simple and innocent way.
"Lucy, you just described yourself."
If she could, the goth Loud would immediately go to her mirror and call herself an idiot. No. In the end, she would agree to play the cliché role of the dumb blonde from horror movies, because she and her big mouth had just secretly admitted that she would be the perfect woman for their brother.
Not that it's false, but it shouldn't have been disclosed.
"I understand her," said Lola suddenly, as she was helping Lisa organize her properties by color. "If Lincoln brings us back a girl with no class, unlike me, I won't accept it."
One after another, each of the women in the family began to imagine the perfect sister-in-law who would of course share their passions, all this under the relieved gaze of a brunette who no longer paid any attention to the rest of the game.
After all, without Lincoln to cheat at this game, she's bored.