... Amazing. Truly a crafted masterpiece, the way you capture the emotions and complexity of their relationship, masterful. May you continue to grace the internet with such treasures always.
Holy hell, I think I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw this updated! I read the pastebin, thank you for your kind words. I actually had to take a break from this chapter when Lincoln read the DMZ headline, the anxiety was real XD. Hopefully they don't read that trash in Royal Woods, or else Rita (and Lori? Luna? Who else did Leni tell about her un-sisterly feelings?) would have a coronary. Also Linc's phone call with Emily was pretty funny, especially the 'No pulling out when you're sleeping with your sister' comment :D.
I want you to know I literally exclaimed aloud when I read that you plan to continue this story- it's a hell of a feeling to go from expecting an Epilogue to learning this is the halfway mark. I eagerly await the next chapter of FTttL, or MIWC, whatever comes first they're both ace.
Amazing story... I find myself between wishing this is the end and wishing to see a next chapter... I really have begun to love your writing style, not only long but descriptive of what happens with every character. It's really like someone that truly knows the characters that are written and not only observes. Hope to see more!
Defiantly the best lenicoln fic I’ve read.
Like to know if you will update or not?
Just read your review from 10/30, I am happy to see that you intend to continue FTTtL. I agree that if you had posted your message as a new chapter it would've been a let down for everyone expecting an update (IE me). I am looking forward to what you come up with next!
Is there more?
An epilogue?
Interview with the stewardess? fling with the actress?
I feel like i'm looking for the last dark chocolate in my candy bag.
Hey there everyone. This is a super indelicate way of communicating but I can't think of any other besides making a new chapter, and I didn't want to trick you into thinking there was an update. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate all of your kind words (I'll thank you all more deeply in the author's notes in the next chapter!) and clarify that this story definitely isn't finished yet.
Chapter 5:
It's been over a week since I read this chapter, but I haven't had a chance to post a review until now. So here we go.
Favorite descriptions:
--"His mouth went dry, and getting the words to rumble out from his chest was like pushing a broken cart down rusty tracks."
--"the faultless, undisturbed blue of Leni's eyes"
--"his index finger gently rubbing a circle over where her womb would be" (I found this very erotic, probably because I'm turned on by the idea of Lincoln knocking Leni up.)
--The "like a key into a lock" simile is lovely, because it implies that these two are meant to fit together.
Other bits I liked:
--Leni's line, "We've been taking it slow our whole lives" made sense and yet seemed plausible for her. And her next line, "I want to take it fast," was hot. :-)
--I particularly liked the erotic detail of Leni getting turned on when she feels the chip of Lincoln's tooth on her nipple, making it clear that it's not merely the act but the fact that Lincoln is performing it is really what is turning her on.
--Leni watching Lincoln's face through her fingers as he pulls her panties off.
--Leni's perfectly reasonable assumption that Lincoln likes tough girls because of his relationships with Mary and Ronnie Anne.
--Leni realizing that that aching emptiness she feels when Lincoln pulls out of her is what she's been feeling every day of her life up to that point.
A couple of other comments:
--Man, Leni's been carrying a torch for a Lincoln for a long time. It makes me feel bad for her, but it also makes me glad that her deepest wish is finally being fulfilled.
--You mentioned that you are going to be taking some time off from this story, and I'd like to thank you for choosing such a good place to pause. At this point, you've fulfilled the promise of consummation that has been building over these 5 chapters, so instead of feeling frustrated, I'm merely pleasantly curious about where the story will go from here.
Love this story. No lying, it's probably my favorite Loud House fic, and the one above all others that prompted me into writing my own. The slow build and portrayal of Lincoln and Leni's relationship felt natural, as opposed to many other LoudCest fics where it just kind of happens. Overall it leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy, while others are just kind of hot. I can't wait to see the epilogue!
Chapter 4:
One thing I like about this chapter is that it shows us how much Leni has grown in the past 10 years. In the previous chapters, we saw that Leni the big sister is more or less the same person at age 26 that she was at age 16. But Leni the fashion designer has grown from a semi-competent hobbyist into a professional, and an artist. And I love the way you tie a bow around that by flashing back to Leni's mermaid-themed dress from her youth.
And now, some random comments:
Favorite lines:
“All at once the knowledge of where he was, who he was and where he needed to be all came galloping through the foggy morning haze like the horsemen of the apocalypse.”
“The name's Bond.”
“The same person sucking up to him had mistaken him for a lost daylaborer not an hour ago, trying to shoo him out of the hotel by claiming there was a payphone down the street he could use if he needed to 'call one of his cousins to pick him up'.”
Questions that arose:
--The line about Lincoln being treated like a hobo just for working a day in his life brought to mind a question: What is Lincoln doing with his life, when he's not helping out Leni? Chapter 1 mentions “studying” and “trying to find a real job,” but that seems to be all we know. This information might not be essential to the plot, but I feel like I need it in order to understand where Lincoln is in his life—and, therefore, what he would be putting at risk if he makes a life-changing decision.
--Are finishing schools still a thing?
--Wasn’t it mapled artichoke, not mapled apricots, that Lincoln ate the night before?
Other things I liked:
--Lincoln falling off the couch--a nicely cartoony opening for the chapter
--Leni over-explaining her color choices for Lincoln's outfit in her note
--the old style telephone, as well as Lincoln's confusion when he tries to answer it
--the name “Bongiorno Valenti,” which made me chuckle
--that Leni in work mode is a total taskmaster, in contrast to her otherwise usually demure personality
--Leni modeling the pièce de résistance herself
--that Lincoln seems to have become a Marco Diaz-esque nice-guy chick magnet
--when Lincoln suddenly thinks about the fact that Leni designed everything that he is wearing, and the thought makes him feel naked in front of her. I could totally see that.
--the whole idea of this famous starlet, who is used to being the center of attention, finding herself the third wheel in the conversation between Lincoln and Leni
Looking forward to reading chapter 5!