#isabela your boyfriends here

[encantosimpshey]

❥ 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆

SOMETHING WAS VERY wrong with Camilo. His face constantly felt hot, small explosions would go off in his stomach, his heart would beat so rapidly he was afraid it would soon explode too, and a number of other concerning things.

At first he thought he was allergic to Eliana because all these symptoms were evident whenever she was around. But no matter how many magical arepas he gobbled up, HE STILL WASN'T HIMSELF.

"You're in love!" Mirabel screamed in excitement. It was finally happening! After all these weeks of scheming, all their hard work was starting to get rewarded! Milo was catching feelings~~

"NO I'M NOT!" Camilo shouted and stormed out of the room, making sure to bang the door to show Mirabel how annoyed (and flustered) he was at her response to his genuine concern.

He heaved a long sigh, relieved that Eliana wasn't around to hear his obnoxiously loud prima and her stupid assumptions. She went to the post office to deliver a letter to her dad, something she has been doing to keep in touch and make sure he was okay while she wasn't home.

Camilo wandered around Casita to cool off. But instead of cooling off, he just got more agitated as he came across the other Madrigal couples being all lovey-dovey with one another.

He saw his sister and Mariano cuddling on the couch for some well-deserved rest after staying up all night caring for those cute rascals of theirs. Isabela and Carmen were in the garden, with the musician playing a sweet song for her wife while the other leaned against her and made flower crowns for the two of them. He saw Mirabel sniffling and was about to comfort her when he noticed her esposo running faster and soon, the two were laughing and smiling in each other's arms. He retreated to the kitchen to get a cup of water and maybe even a plate of Eliana's Cocadas Blancas, and spotted Tío Agustin helping Tía Julieta out with her cooking duties. Even though the two weren't talking much, they seemed happy—like being in the presence of each other was more than enough.

When he left the kitchen, he saw his brother leaving with his girlfriend to go out and kiss or whatever... He even caught his Tío Bruno talking with a woman when he looked out the window! He recognized her as one of the few adults that attended Eliana's shows and supported the cast (especially Bruno) very much.

Though Camilo fake-gagged at each couple, he felt a pang of longing for the same whenever he saw how content and happy they looked. He couldn't understand it. He was happy by himself before. That's why he had never dated. But now...

He stopped at the sight of his mami and papi dancing together, love-struck grins on their faces as they celebrated the end of each dance with a sweet kiss. For once, Camilo didn't gag.

Pepa felt someone watching them and stopped dancing. She brightened even more when she saw her son. But her rainbow was replaced by a small cloud when she saw the look on her son's face. "Mijo! Come here."

Camilo snapped out of his trance. "A-ah... I'm okay with watching you and papi, mami." He smiled reassuringly, but his mama was stubborn. 

"None of that, mijo." Pepa grabbed his hand and spun him around, forcing him to join their dances.

At first, Camilo was a bit stiff. He felt it wasn't right to intrude between his parents' special moment. But after a few twirls, he forgot his uneasiness and started to dance freely, not minding the other Madrigal couples that soon joined in. He just kept moving along the beat Carmen was playing and spun round and round until he was lost in the dance.

The dance ended with cheers as each person complimented their partner. Suddenly feeling left out, Camilo started to retreat when his papi noticed him.

"Mijo! Let's get some refreshments for everyone!" Without waiting for his reply, Félix whisked him to the kitchen. Pepa watched them with a small smile. She hoped su amor would give the final push for her son to realize his obvious feelings for a certain magician.

✦ ✦ ✦

"Do you want to give them options or just make lemonade?" Félix turned to ask his son but he was spacing out.

"Camilo."

The said man snapped out of his trance. "Lemonade's good."

The other nodded and started to hum while taking the pitcher out. Camilo recognized the song right away, "Love grows where my Rosemary goes", and sighed.

Félix's humming stopped, "What's wrong, mijo?" 

Camilo shook the weird feeling off and smiled. "I'm fine, papi, really."

"Really?" He raised a brow at his son, who went quiet. "Is this about Eliana?" Camilo flinched, like the name had stung him. Bingo.

"She's leaving soon aye?" The shapeshifter's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten! He'd forgotten that she was only there for a visit because he had grown accustomed to her presence. For some reason, the thought of her leaving just dampened his spirits more... Wait- why was he upset in the first place?

Félix noticed his silence and chuckled, "Forgot? Thought you'd mark the calendar since y'know, you like her so much."

Camilo went pink at the assumption. Of course he liked her—she was pretty, witty, hard-working, caring, an awesome cook...—BUT NOT IN THAT WAY! He just liked her company.

Besides, if Camilo did like her in that way, what are the odds she'll like him back? She was an amazing person, albeit a bit shy and reserved... though by now he thought her timidness was kind of cute.

Meanwhile Camilo... he was just... well it was always better if he shifted to someone else or a taller, more muscular, better version of himself.

He doubted she would ever like him, and he wouldn't blame her if she didn't. He was literally an asshole to her the first time they saw each other after 5 years.

"How did you grow to like mami?" He changed the subject but Félix knew better than to call him out. Instead, he sighed dreamily and looked at the lemon, its bright color reminding him of her smile.

"Seeing her for the first time was one of the best days in my life, even though I didn't know it then. Your mami was running away from her responsibilities as a Madrigal when she bumped into me." He smiled at the memory. "Her cloud poured, making both of us slip and fall. Because she was in pain, the rain became worse. But I couldn't seem to bring myself to get mad at her for causing me to spill the wood chips—did you know how many were spilled? I was carrying a crate full of 'em."

He chuckled, "I found myself calming her down instead. And once the rain came to a drizzle, she gave me a small smile and..." Camilo watched as his papi sighed again, smiling fondly at the ring in his hand. "Her smile was beautiful. Even though it was still drizzling, I felt I was basking under the warmth of the sun."

Camilo's breath hitched in understanding. This was not the first time he had heard of his parents' first meeting, but it was the first time he truly understood what his papi was talking about.

The first time he met Eliana, they too bumped into each other, causing both to drop whatever they were holding. Eliana dropped the lunchbox she was holding while Camilo dropped his books. When they came to, they noticed the food spilling on the school books and were disgusted. "Knowledge is food, so they say." Camilo cracked a joke, making Eliana smile despite herself.

Ba-dump.

He forgot his books and stared at the woman in front of him. Camilo had seen and caused many smiles before but hers... She had a beautiful smile, even though it was a small one. And he wanted to see her smile again.

Months going a full year of more unfruitful attempts to make Eliana genuinely smile than not left Camilo disheartened and annoyed at her. After a few more tries, he finally declared her "boring and awkward" and distanced himself from her. Camilo had thought his feelings for her had died then, but as it turned out, it hadn't.

No wonder he never liked anyone else after her. Because he was still very much smitten.

When he first saw her again and noticed she was still the same, he grew annoyed and immediately made up his mind to avoid her as much as possible. He didn't want to have to waste so much effort on her again. But it seemed fate (and his familia) had other plans and he somehow ended up spending a lot of time with Eliana. 

And somehow, along the way, he finally saw her smile. Not once, but many times. Unknowingly, his heart swelled whenever he saw that smile, and it swelled even more whenever he knew he caused it. By default, he pushed his feelings away and forced himself to be oblivious to them, but they just grew even more.

He ought to be annoyed at Eliana for making him feel this way but he couldn't help but smile like a dork whenever he saw her and forget all about his supposed annoyance.

Camilo's throat dried up at his admission.

What now? It's not like I can just go and confess—she's leaving soon! How will she respond? 

He looked at the older man beside him, who was now pouring the squeezed lemon in a pitcher with some water and ice.

How do you know you have a chance? 

Félix looked at his son and Camilo suddenly knew he had blurted his question out loud. Well crap-

Before Camilo could even start defending himself, the other chuckled and continued pouring.

Félix was silent for a while, making Camilo shift uncomfortably on his feet.

 "You don't, mijo. But I took that risk with your mami because I love her."

Camilo's somber expression started to change as something in him stirred at Félix's answer.

Because I love her.

I love her.

I love her.

Dios mío.

Next thing Camilo knew was him kicking Mirabel's door down.  "MIRABEL! I NEED YOUR HELP-"

He stopped as he was met with the Madrigal girls™ staring back at him. They had gathered in Mirabel's room after she told them about Milo's talk with her a while ago. Since then, they had been discussing "Camiliana" and what could be their next move to bring the two even closer because goddammit! they were still "just friends"!

Suddenly, each shared a collective grin and left the room, but not without giving Milo an even wider grin, tousling his hair or shoulder-bumping him on the way out.

Although it seemed they were giving the two some privacy, they were actually going to eavesdrop with the help of Dolores. 

click here to read chapter 19 ! click here to go back to table of contents !

[gadriezmannsgirl]

idk if this is where you write the requests but i have one for pedri🫶🏼 so maybe they’re just hanging out at home and y/n does that tiktok prank on him where she pretends to be on the phone with her friends and she’s like “whattt ong no way” basically pretending her friends gossiping to her, and pedri being all like omg let me listen put it on speaker

Yes, this is where you ask anything or req something🤣 Celebration fic as I ended my semester✨🌻🫶🏼 got one week of vacation before I start again, also fic celebration for Barça's win and Pedri's goal, so here we go! (Cute Golden fact: Golden Boy, Gavi doing the last goal at CN and Golden Boy, Pedri doing the first goal at Montjuic in an official match🥹🫶🏼)

Working on it, right now, because I was inspired🤭 also @http-isabela SHISME FIC! 🤣🤭

Chismoso -P.G8

Summary: Your boyfriend loves some good gossip

You smiled at your phone watching a girl do a prank on her boyfriend in Tiktok where she pretended to be on the phone with her friends with some "gossip" and her boyfriend was trying to listen to it.

Pedri, your almost three years boyfriend, loved any kind of gossip and whilst you delivered to them nicely to rant about your day or get off any anger, he got his dose of gossip and helped you with your problems.

You loved it tho. It was nice the fact, you were lovers and at the same time the best of friends, trusting everything you have and own into the others arms.

"Amor, estás lista?" (Babe, you ready?)

You smirked. You definitely were going to do this one.

"Si!" You replied grabbing the tray with your food. You pushed your phone in between your shoulder and chin and walked towards your living room. "Help me, please?"

"Hostias preciosa, you could have told me you'd need the help" You shook your head smiling softly

"I had it done until now" It was his turn to shake his head with a smile on

"Who is it?" He asked whispering noticing you were in the phone

"Alexia, she's been texting me non-stop today, she told me she'd call me for something, don't know what it is tho" You replied in the same way

"Baby, it's starting" Pedro pouted as you kissed his plump lips repeatedly

"You can watch it while I'm on the phone, it'll be quick, hopefully"

"No, I'll just pause it. I don't wanna watch it alone"

"It'll be just for a few minutes"

"Venga, bonita" You never resisted his big brown beautiful eyes and that little nickname of his

"Stay quiet" He nods sitting on the couch and you taking a seat next to him, he was the one who pulled you closer by the legs to him "Yes, I'm listening" You said before humming a few times

"Ay joder" You said furrowing your eyebrows as Pedri looked at you "And like she never stops having a few problems with Cynthia..." You made up sighing before shaking your head "That's bullshit"

"Gossip?" He mouths as you nod "Oh, I wanna know that. Put it on speaker" You shook your head <no> "Why not?" He asks but you shook your head "Wanna hear some good gossip" You smiled shaking your head and did a demand with your hand for later "No" He whined, you shushed him up "Want it now" He whispered pushing himself onto you "C'mon, let me hear" You started giggling "Stop laughing, focus on the gossip so you can tell me the details of it"

And with that you bursted in laughter.

"Oh my god!" You said throwing yourself at Pedri who was confused "Oye, no seas tan chismoso!" (Hey, don't be such a gossipmonger)

"I'm not a gossipmonger, I'm just interested in everything you do, speak to or look at, 'cus you're my girl" He tries to defend himself as you shake your head shaking your hand as well

"You're a chismoso" You said in laughter as Pedri smiles

"Chica, the call" He said after a few seconds as you show him your blocked phone

"There's no call, mi niño. I'm pranking you and realizing I have the biggest gossip for Fer and your parents once they came back next week"

"No! They'll be going at it for the rest of our lives!" You laughed as Pedri went ahead and hugged himself into your chest

"I'm preparing everything then" You smiled

"So, it was a prank?" You nod humming once you both calmed down "So there's no gossip? Joder" He lamented and you laughed again, this time Pedri joining too as you leaned down and kissed his lips

"Ay 'jueputa. Mi niño lindo y chismoso" (My pretty and gossipmonger boy) You both laughed, you felt Pedri leave a kiss in your cleavage

"Sólo un poquito" (Just a little bit)

°°° °°° °°° °°°

Taglist: @gaviypedrisbride @stuckinaf4nfiction @elijahslover @azzpenswrld @http-isabela

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

just curious-- do y'all have romances in DAO/DA2/DAI where it completely elevates the experience you want from the game? And when you don't romance that character, the overall experience is actually weakened?

I want to know if others have this "If I don't romance this character this specific way, my game is ruined" thing like I do and over which characters.

I always consider branching out by making a separate timeline from my canon just to explore new choices and romances, and the only game I've been successful in doing that is DAI. But I try to romance someone new in DAO or DA2? I get maybe a few hours into the playthrough before I abandon it because I can't do it, it doesn't feel right!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Morrigan, Leliana, or Zevran, but if I don't romance Alistair as my Warden Tabris, I feel like DAO is just not nearly as impactful for me. Even though I know I would adore those paths!

Then there's Anders in DA2. There's lot about that route that upsets me, but does my Hawke always end up with him anyway? Yep. But, I've actually completed Fenris' romance, too, and honestly? Highly recommend it. Sometimes I think I should do it again or consider making it my canon- but it doesn't feel right.

My Hawke being involved with Anders elevates DA2 to an entirely different level that I don't feel I can get from the other love interests. And it's not like Fenris, Merrill, Isabela, or Sebastian aren't good options for my Hawke, but they're not Anders. Like what's even the point of DA2 if my boyfriend doesn't blow up a Chantry in the end?? Why am I even here, y'know??

Seriously, I want to know. This is a free pass to gush about that romance and why they make your game better.

[miracles-and-butterflies]

Good thing that Mirabel's alive. But when will we see the cold family beating the shit out of Camilo? And what others were doing? Does Dolores already know with her hearing?

Ha. What do you think everyone’s doing while Luisa does a one-woman retelling of A Christmas Carol?

Warning, potentially sensitive topics below.

~~~~~~

“Don’t talk to me.” Isabela snaps when Camilo opens his mouth. “Same for you,” she added, turning to an equally puzzled Dolores. “I’m trying really hard to keep myself under control.”

“What are you talking about, Isa? Are you okay?” Dolores asked.

“Dolores, I’m serious, if you want your boyfriend’s nose to remain unbroken, shut the fuck up.”

Isabela stalked off, after that.

“What’s up with her?” Bruno questioned.

“No idea. I’ve not been listening,” Dolores responded. “I was trying to keep an ear on Antonio. And our parents. They are on their way back.”

“That’s good. I’m sure they’ll sort this out.” Said Camilo.

“No need, Julieta and Agustín are already here.” Bruno pointed out, standing up.

Dolores and Camilo turned, watching their Tío and Tía slowly make their way into Casita. They both were walking backwards, seemingly guiding in a blood stained and half-dressed Luisa, who was cradling an unconscious Mirabel.

“Careful, Luisa. You don’t want to be too rough with her.” Julieta chided.

“I’m not being rough with her!” Luisa snapped.

She never took well to being accused of forgetting her strength, especially around Mirabel.

“No, but you are holding her quite protectively,” Agustín intervened. “Loosen your grip a bit, mija - gently. Yes. That’ll do.”

“Um,” Bruno announced walking over, he swallowed nervously. “I know this is a really stupid question, but I feel like it has to be asked, so I’ll just get it out of the way: is Mirabel okay?”

Julieta didn’t look amused; Luisa was ready to strangle him.

“No?” Agustín answered, unsurely.

“What happened?” Dolores asked next.

Agustín stepped aside to explain to Bruno and Dolores, while Julieta ushered Luisa along.

“Take Mirabel upstairs, Luisa, and clean yourself up. Your Abuela won’t want blood through the house.”

“You might want to clean the patio then.” Luisa advised before leaving.

Julieta signed, walking off to grab some supplies from the cupboard. She might as well get to cleaning. There’s nothing else she can do until Mirabel wakes up.

~~~~~~

While she’s scrubbing, she hears the sound of awkward footsteps and she assumes it’s Agustín and he’s injured himself. Or maybe Bruno and his rats are peckish.

But when she looks up, she sees her nephew.

She has to assume Isabela got at him. He’s got a severe rash over half his face and he keeps scratching at his arm through his ruana. And there’s a hand print on the other side of his face too; almost bruising his skin.

Maybe it was Isabela too. But she doesn’t think Isabela would have risked getting the rash herself.

Maybe it was Dolores who hit him.

Or maybe it was both of them.

He does look very rough and his clothes are more disbelieved than they usually are.

She doesn’t say anything to him.

It’s not her job to discipline him for his actions. It’ll be more devastating to have his parents do it.

Or better yet, it’ll be more devastating to rob him of the attention he so desperately wants and is so accustomed to. They should just ignore him entirely.

“I’m sorry,” he says, eventually. “It was just a prank.”

Julieta doesn’t have anything to say.

She just looks down at the ground. Soap, white and red mixing into pink, and the yellow tags.

Mirabel’s blood.

“She wasn’t meant to get hurt— I didn’t know about the trap, that wasn't part of it. I’d left by then.” Camilo continued.

“I’m not the one you should be apologising to.”

“I-I know that, but—”

“You want me to heal you?” She guessed. “I’ll leave that decision to Mirabel.”

Camilo choked.

“But she won’t— she won’t help me! She’ll say it’s a ‘waste of resources’ because it’s not a ‘serious’ injury.”

Julieta hummed in acknowledgment.

“Isabela has covered my room - all my clothes, my things - in poison ivy! And, like, a hundred other itchy plants! I can’t live like that.”

That explains why Isabela was keen to get home before them.

Sneak into Camilo’s room before he realises everyone knows and should be on guard, covering it in plants that won’t directly injure him but make him uncomfortable; she’s definitely inherited Pepa’s evil genius.

“Tía? Are you listening to me?”

No.

She doesn’t know how long it takes, but Camilo slowly sulks off.

[leastdatablebracket]

Here's the bracket for round 1! I intend to start posting matches tomorrow.

Group 1 (Matches 1-16)

Sam Wayne (Scarlet Hollow) VS Penny (Stardew Valley)

Joy Johnson-Johjima (Monster Prom) VS Vladamir (Moonlight Lovers)

P.S. Elle (Romancelvania) VS Saint Germain (Code: Realize)

Bram Galeborn (Tales of the Wild) VS Jumin Han (Mystic Messenger)

Edgar Morton (To Love & Protect) VS Zen (Mystic Messenger)

Nowi (Fire Emblem Awakening) VS Elise (Fire Emblem Fates)

Maison Talo (House Hunted) VS Sam (Stardew Valley)

Akihiko Sanada (Persona 3 Portable) VS Sam Dalton (Choices - The Nanny Affair)

Ota Kisaki (Kissed by the Baddest Bidder) VS Casavir (Neverwinter Nights 2)

Anna (Fire Emblem Engage) VS Yang (Piofiore Fated Memories)

Isabela (Dragon Age 2) VS Shuu Iwamine (Hatoful Boyfriend)

Liam de Lioncourt (Monster Prom) VS Sunder (Boyfriend Dungeon)

Cassandra Pentaghast (Dragon Age Inquisition) VS Curie (Fallout 4)

Cliff (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town) VS Sylvain Jose Gautier (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

Hanatsubaki Gorō (Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s First Love) VS Leliana (Dragon Age Origins)

Barbatos (Obey Me) VS Solas (Dragon Age Inquisition)

Group 2 (Matches 17-32)

Nightowl (Blooming Panic: Full Bloom Edition) VS Isako Toriumi (Persona 3)

Adam/Ava du Mortain (Wayhaven Chronicles) VS Drake Walker (Choices - The Royal Romance)

Taro Majima (Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 2nd Season) VS Vace (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Yoosung Kim (Mystic Messenger) VS Siren Head (Siren Head Dating Sim)

Rick (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town) VS V (Mystic Messenger)

Ken Amada (Persona 3 Portable) VS Lorenz Hellman Gloucester (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

Bigfoot (Dialtown) VS Damien Ramsey (Magical Diary)

Merrill (Dragon Age 2) VS Landon (High School Dreams Best Friends Forever)

Vyn Richter (Tears of Themis) VS Sumire Yoshizawa (Persona 5 Royal)

Sebastian (Stardew Valley) VS Triss Merigold (Witcher 3)

Rock (Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life) VS Morrigan (Dragon Age Origins)

Gray (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town) VS Calculester Hewlett-Packard (Monster Prom)

Harry Choi (The Ssum) VS Ichiko Ohya (Persona 5)

Sadayo Kawakami (Persona 5) VS Randy Jade (Dialtown)

Kevan (Long Live the Queen) VS Camellia (Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous)

Ace (Heart no Kuni no Alice) VS Rhea (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

Group 3 (Matches 33-48)

Ilessa (Romancelvania) VS Dolce (Rune Factory 4)

Sothis (Fire Emblem: Three Houses) VS Laito Sakamaki (Diabolik Lovers)

Cameron Conner (Wylde Flowers) VS Sera (Dragon Age Inquisition)

Elliott (Stardew Valley) VS Shane (Stardew Valley)

Mikah Hudson (Save Me, Sherlock) VS Harvey (Stardew Valley)

Towa Wakasa (Sweet Fuse: At Your Side) VS Shiloh Fields (XOXO Droplets)

Arsene Lupin (Code: Realize) VS Blackwall (Dragon Age Inquisition)

Vere (Touchstarved) VS Shiki (Togainu no Chi)

Sebastian Vael (Dragon Age 2) VS Toma (Amnesia: Memories)

Sakura (Fire Emblem Fates) VS Ethan Ramsey (Choices - Open Heart)

Warren (Life is Strange) VS Ryoma (Fire Emblem Fates)

Katherine (Catherine) VS Jonah (Boyfriend Dungeon)

Anders (Dragon Age 2) VS Dorian Grey (OZMAFIA!!)

Skye (Harvest Moon DS Cute) VS Tammy (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Fenris (Dragon Age 2) VS Dys (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Peter King (Your Boyfriend Game) VS Eisuke Ichinomiya (Kissed by the Baddest Bidder)

Group 4 (Matches 49-64)

Tharja (Fire Emblem Awakening) VS Jacob Taylor (Mass Effect 2)

Elanee (Neverwinter Nights 2) VS Megaricus (Kaichu - The Kaiju Dating Sim)

Joseph Christiansen (Dream Daddy) VS Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)

Mr. Pages (Mask of the Rose) VS Soleil (Fire Emblem Fates)

Baxter Ward (Our Life: Beginnings & Always) VS Ryouta Kazama (Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 4)

Colonel Sanders (I Love You, Colonel Sanders!) VS Kappa (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town)

Andy (Romance Club) VS Micah Yujin (Error143)

Anomen Delryn (Baldur’s Gate 2) VS Koolie Sterling (Tentador Leches)

Canus Espada (Cafe Enchante) VS Nah (Fire Emblem Awakening)

Doctor (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town) VS Lucy (Your Boyfriend Game)

Amber (Rune Factory 4) VS Marco (Lovelink)

Alfani (OZMAFIA!!) VS Makoto Niijima (Persona 5)

Haley (Stardew Valley) VS Azura (Fire Emblem Fates)

Zevran Arainai (Dragon Age Origins) VS Kai (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town)

Yuri (Doki Doki Literature Club) VS The Red Prince (Divinity: Original Sin 2)

Lucio Morgasson (The Arcana) VS Cullen Rutherford (Dragon Age Inquisition)

[yanderes-chaotic-lovers]

Yandere Isabela Madrigal x Willing Male!Reader

She’s always been under a lot of pressure to be perfect by Senora Madrigal and lashes out whenever in private so that she won't scare anyone away when you saw she lashed out the first time you feel hard for the nature-incarnated girl. When you’re around her alone as she vents her anger and frustration, you’re holding her in a cave behind the waterfall hugging her tightly in comfort, and kissing her whenever you can.

As her 7ft tall Greek god body boyfriend who’s loyal to her and her alone, she feels secure and comfortable knowing that you’ll protect her and everyone else and love her fiercely as she loves you. Sure that love potion didn’t work on you because you were already in love with her at 16yrs old just having a growth spurt from 5ft5 to 6ft7. The potion itself was difficult to make when abuela and the villagers were watching her whenever she was helping around to make everything pretty and perfect.

Isabela always noticed you, sure you were not originally from Encanto on how you treated her like a normal woman and everyone around you, but it didn’t matter at the time as you were 14yrs old, with your mother expecting another baby, and your father carrying her in bridle style. All three of you were covered in blood, sweat, and dirt, but you were covered in it more. Your front was covered in blood and rips in your shirt showed off your scars and muscles from obvious training and fighting, something about how you were covered in filth made you more attractive in her eyes.

Like those main love interests that sweep the main damsels off their feet in the novels she reads. Isabela knew right then and there that both of you are going to become husband and wife till death do you part and it didn't matter if she had to get her hands dirty to have you all to herself. There's a need to get along with your family, and it's important to get to know her future in-laws after all she knows how much your parents and fraternal twins see her as a family when they accepted her for her flaws.

Isabela remembered when she 'accidentally' got your shirt soaked and had to take it off of your body to ring most of the water out, she was 18 and you were 19. No matter how many times you go shirtless she'll always be openly checking you out with no shame, she traces your scars and kissed them like she's healing the scars with her love. Now here you both are hiding sweaty in a cave with you naked and Isabela wearing your giant of a shirt, cuddling and smiling with you after taking each other virginities'. The thought that runs through her mind is that she hopes that abuela thinks that you knocked her up so that you can marry her, while in her thoughts you slipped your families engagement ring on her ring finger

[adarafaelbarba]

Papa Joe, soothing his baby at night while his SO is asleep

Cries sounding over the baby monitor brought you both out of your sleep and you went to get up.

"Go back to sleep amor, I'll check on her", he whispers with a sleep-laced voice.

You wait until you hear him enter the nursery before drifting off to sleep.

~~~

The next morning you woke up to an empty bed. Putting on one of Joe's shirts you padded your way into the nursery to get your daughter out of her crib so you could feed her.

Surprised to find your boyfriend in the rocking chair, with the baby on his bare chest.

"Jose--did you sleep here last night?" You asked, waking him when you lifted the little one off his chest.

"Mmm must have, what time is it?"

You chucked softly and checked your watch. "7am. You should get going so you won't be late for work."

He hated leaving the two of you every day but knew he had to provide so you could stay home with your daughter.

"Tonight I'll go check on her when she walks up in the night, so you'll be able to sleep and wake up on time."

"No, I want to help when I can. I don't get to during the day."

He was so good with the baby, and you loved him dearly for it. "okay." A soft smile plays on your lips.

Joe got out of the chair and stretched a little, then leaned down to kiss you both. "I love you, both of you, so much."

"And we love you so much too, don't we Isabela?" The baby coed at that, smiling up at you both.

~~~

Tagging:

@plaidbooks @storiesofsvu @cycat4077 @thatesqcrush @alwaysachorusgirl @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @bisexual-dreamer02 @misscharlielulu @xoxabs88xox @muchadoaboutcj @beatrice-san @meetmeatyourworst @thats-jaywalking @cursedashes @mysoulisasunflower @crazy4chickennuggets @imaginelover88 @beccabarba @itsjustmyfantasyroom @detective-giggles @guitita @ladylionstar @achataa @nessamc @peauxheaux @silversprings-mp3 @polkadotpenguin16 @pepperbstark @im-a-slut-for-this-man2 @chickensarentcheap @irishavengersassemble

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[calswildflcwer]

Cop Car !

Pairing : Carlos × fem!reader.

Warnings : I don’t think any apply, other than a mention of a killer.

Plot : You and Carlos had been dating for five months and now Carlos had offered to take you on a date. However, this doesn’t exactly go to plan at all. And the police know that they shouldn’t mess with you.

Pronouns used : He/him for Carlos, she/her for reader.

Note : I am not a Spanish native and I don't know any Spanish, all Spanish nicknames mentioned in this story are translated from google. If anything is wrong PLEASE let me know and I will correct it.

Info : This is inspired by this song here! Also, this fic is kinda modern and there is also no magic in encanto at the time!

Carlos watched you from the alleyway, flicking his knife open and closed, as you crouched down and laughed with the children.

“You look adorable, Juancho.” You poked the little boys nose.

Carlos headed over, his slender shadow scaring off the group of seven year olds. You cocked an eyebrow, staring at your boyfriend, “You know, you really need to stop scaring the kids.” You said, standing up.

“It isn’t my fault. If they’re used to chico de oro, that’s not my problem.” Carlos shrugged.

You had begun dating him around five months ago, on his eighteenth birthday. Nobody expected it, you were the sweet good girl and he was the town's bad boy. It was a shock to everybody.

You planted a kiss to his cheek before grabbing his hand, intertwining your fingers with his as the pair of you walked together. “So, I wanted to ask you something.” Carlos began, ignoring the stares from the townspeople.

“Okay, go on.” You nodded, glaring at the townspeople as you noticed their stares.

“Would… Uhm… Would you want to go on a date tonight?” He asked.

“With you?” You questioned.

“No, with Isabela! Of course, with me!” He responded, cocking a brow at you.

A giggle escaped your lips, “I’d love to.” You grinned, staring at him before planting a kiss to his cheek.

“Meet me at the fountain tonight, after your chores.” He smiled, planting a quick and soft kiss to your forehead before disappearing off into the shadows, leaving you standing with a soft pink tint painting your cheeks.

You met Carlos at the fountain after all of your chores were over, you folded your arms over your chest as he approached you, grabbing you by the waist and placing a quick kiss to your cheek before dragging you towards his car.

“Where are we going?” You questioned, sitting in the passenger seat as he began to drive away from the small town.

“You’ll see.” He smirked, as he drove. You quickly noticed a sign that said ‘no trespassing’ and you were currently trespassing. Your eyes widened slightly as you looked over his features, his signature smirk still stood cockily on his lips.

He soon parked the car, the pair of you climbing out as you both sat on the bonnet and began to watch the planes take off. He had brought you to an airport, to a place where you could watch the planes take off. He knew you’d always had a fascination for planes.

He thought you’d have all night, there was no need to rush… However, it wasn’t long before the sound of sirens and flashing blue lights filled your ears. Carlos threw his head back, “Man, ain’t this some shi-” Carlos groaned.

You cocked a brow, “We could always run for it, that’d make the best story!” You grinned. Carlos smiled, shaking his head slightly. He was too busy watching you going wild, to be worried about going to jail. The blue lights shone, illuminating the freedom in your eyes.

The police approached the pair of you, you eyed them. They weren’t playing at all, they were quick to slam the cuffs onto both you and Carlos. Carlos watched as you tried to talk your way out of it with the police, one looked younger and the other much older. The younger one was definitely a rookie. Your mouth kept moving, trying to sweet talk them, they didn’t fall for it but Carlos? Oh, Carlos did, big time. Hearing your sweet words would always make him fall for you over and over again.

Carlos was pushed into the car, the rookie then pushed you in, reading you your rights. “Yeah, I understand. I just have one question.” You asked, the police officer stopped at the door giving you a pointed look. “Do you have a light? I’m due a smoke any moment now.” You questioned.

Carlos eyed you, biting back his laugh, knowing that you didn’t smoke. You smiled sweetly as the officers face contorted in anger before he slammed the door. Carlos watched you as you leaned your head back against the headrest of the backseat, a smile still painted across your lips.

“I swear your dad’s gonna kill me.” Carlos groaned.

“Maybe so, but if it makes you feel any better, you won’t be the only one.” You grinned.

“That doesn’t make me feel better.” Carlos chuckled slightly, shaking his head.

“Look Carlos, I want you to know that if we do both survive tonight, I wouldn’t change one thing.” You let him know, smiling as you tried to adjust your hands in the cuffs. It was the most uncomfortable sitting position, your hands cuffed tightly behind you.

“Not even this part?” Carlos cocked a brow.

A laugh sounded in the back of your throat, “Not even this part.” You grinned.

Carlos watched you as you stared out of the window as the police conversed with one another. You were so innocent but you were stealing his heart. Carlos couldn’t help the feeling within his chest as he watched you, something felt warm and sweet; a feeling he wasn’t used to.

The older officer soon approached the car, opening the door and allowing you to go. “You’re free to go.” He spoke.

“We won’t be so easy on you next time.” The rookie officer shouted out, causing you to stop walking.

You slowly turned back, “You should know better than to threaten me, Officer...” You glanced down at his badge, “Diaz.” You snarled. “Officers like you have gone missing for less.” You let him know, turning on your heel and heading towards Carlos’ car. The pair of you climbed in.

The rookie attempted to follow you, anger crossing his every feature but was held back by his partner. “Don’t.” He spoke.

“She just threatened an officer!” Diaz argued back.

“And legally, we can’t touch those kids.” The officer let him know.

“Who the hell are they anyway, Hernandez?” Diaz questioned.

“The boy? That’s Carlos Madrigal, he’s the grandson of one of the most powerful people this side of Colombia. The Madrigal’s are the most powerful family this side of the country.” Hernandez let the younger officer know.

“And the girl?” Diaz questioned.

“You don’t recognise her?” Hernandez asked, earning a shake of the head from Diaz, “That’s (Name) Fuentes. You might recognise the name. Her father is the biggest crime boss in all of Colombia.” Hernandez told him.

“Not Sergio Fuentes?” Diaz asked, his eyes almost bugging out of his head.

Hernandez nodded, “Yeah, Sergio is her father. We can’t touch those kids, many officers have gone missing or turned up dead due to Sergio.”

“Why hasn’t he been arrested?” Diaz asked.

“Nobody’s ever been able to prove it was him. He never gets his hands dirty, but myself and every other officer this side of Colombia know that it was him. We’ve been off his radar for a while, since his wife’s death. We stay off his radar, he’ll stay off ours.” Hernandez explained, watching as the headlights from Carlos’ car disappeared from view. “Sergio Fuentes is a dangerous man, and let me tell you, his daughter is just as dangerous.”

Carlos parked the car back up in the town, a smile plastering across his lips as the pair of you climbed out. “I hope you’ve been treating my daughter tonight, young man.” You suddenly heard your fathers voice.

Carlos jumped slightly, turning to the older man, “I did, sir.” He mumbled.

“I mean, we spent most of our night in the back of a cop car, but it was fun.” You laughed.

“WHAT?!” Your father yelled, his anger making Carlos jump as he turned towards him.

“Dad! Dad!” You yelled, grabbing the man by his shoulders. Your father scared everybody in town. Everybody, that was, except you. The older man stared at you, his eyes softening slightly, “It’s fine, they let us go. Plus, it wasn’t Carlos’ fault, okay? Now, go home and think about your cholesterol.” You told him, smiling slightly.

“You sure you’re okay?” He asked.

“Positive. Now go.” You told him. He nodded, planting a soft kiss to your forehead before sending a nod to Carlos and walking away.

You turned to Carlos, grabbing his hand and beginning to walk the street with him. “That was one of the best nights of my life.” You grinned, swinging your joined hands back and forth, “Watching the planes, getting arrested, messing with the cops…” You grinned.

“Falling in love in the back of a cop car.” Carlos mumbled, instantly stopping you in your tracks. Freezing.

Carlos was yanked back, almost dislocating his arm in the process as he turned to you, his eyes immediately widened as he saw the unreadable expression on your face and quickly realised what he’d said. You’d never once told each other you loved one another, in your five months of dating. “(Name), I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. I didn’t… I’m not… I-” he stuttered along his words before you lunged forward, throwing your arms around the taller boy.

He stumbled back slightly, quickly regaining his balance once again before wrapping his arms around your torso, “I’m in love with you too.” You smiled into his neck, running your fingers through his curls as you did.

Carlos stared down at you, a smile making its way onto his features as he leaned forward and planted a chapped kiss to your lips, “You’re my forever girl, (Name).” He let you know pulling away.

You grinned, dragging him along the street as you did, “And just think, if I’m not, we’ll always have the cop car.”

Carlos stopped, yanking you back into him so that your body collided with his, kissing you roughly on the lips, his hands gripped your waist so tight that they were bound to leave bruises,

“Don’t ever say that again, not even as a joke.” He snarled.

- Hey, hi, hello! Welcome back to another one of my fics! I’m baaack baby! Anyways, I hope y’all have been well and I’m sorry if this isn’t the best. I tried. I do have a little series coming out soon so if you’re interested, pls be on the lookout for that! Make sure to remember the drink something, eat something, please stay hydrated and remember you’re loved more than you’ll ever know! Mwaaah! <33

[yellowcry]

We don't talk about Julieta

Garish' version of 'We don't talk about Bruno'

There's only lyrical part, maybe I'll make a сhoreography/what happens on the screen later, but no promises as I don't really know how to put everything down

[Pepa:]

We don't talk about Julieta, no, no, no

We don't talk about Julieta, but

It was at Mirabel's ceremony

[Félix:]

It was your sister's ceremony

[Pepa:]

We were getting ready

And there wasn't anything wrong

[Félix:]

Nothing could be wrong

[Pepa:]

Julieta walks out with an angry face

[Félix:]

Thunder

[Pepa:]

You're telling the story or am I?

[Félix:]

I'm sorry, mi vida, go on

[Pepa:]

Julieta says, "I won't leave her, no matter what"

[Félix:]

Why had she lie to us?

[Pepa:]

In doing so she broke our hearts

[Félix:]

Abuela gets explanation

[Pepa:]

The next day we found her nowhere

[Félix:]

What a upsetting story, but anyway

[Pepa & Félix:]

We don't talk about Julieta, no, no, no

We don't talk about Julieta

[Camilo:]

Hey, I loved the sound of her planned steaming

I can never hear her muttering or mumbling

I can tell her food was always best

Hey, it's good!

It's a nice lift with a skill so valuable

Always left the village and me comfortable

Grinding with the passion that we couldn't understand

Do you understand?

[Dolores:]

Never is blaring, always in the work

Talks in a caring, and gets to the dark

Yeah, she sees your fear and knows what to do

[Pepa & Camilo:]

We don't talk about Julieta, no, no, no

[Dolores:]

No, no

[Pepa & Camilo:]

We don't talk about Julieta

[Dolores:]

We don't talk about Julieta

[Townsperson 1:]

She knew my fish would die, did nothing at all

[Ensemble:]

No, no

[Townsperson 2:]

She said I'll grow a gut, and just how she said

[Ensemble:]

No, no

[Townsperson 3:]

She didn't give me food, just look at my head

[Ensemble:]

Hey!

No, no

Your fate is sealed when Julieta's jury complete

[Luisa:]

She told me that she loves me so much

Just like a mother should love her child

She told me my strength would launch

More than my mind can imagine

[Abuela Alma:]

Óye, Mariano's on his way

[Agustin:]

She told me I won't be alone

That there won't be a capstone

That we'll be together and ever

It's like I see her now

[Luisa:]

Hey sis, can you stay out of this?

[Agústin:]

It's like I can see him now, I wish I could see her now

[Isabela:]

Um, Julieta

Yeah, about my mama

I really need to know about Julieta

Give me the truth behind it all, Julieta

[Felix:]

Mija, your boyfriend's here

[Abuela Alma & Dolores:]

Time for dinner

[Dolores:]

Never is blaring, always in the work

[Pepa:]

It was at Mirabel's ceremony

[Félix:]

It was your sister's ceremony

[Luisa:]

She told me that she loves me so much

[Dolores:]

Talks in a caring, and gets to the dark

[Pepa:]

We were getting ready and nothing was wrong

[Félix:]

Nothing could go wrong

[Luisa and Isabela:]

Just like a mother should love her child

[Dolores:]

Yes, she sees your fear

[Pepa:]

Julieta walks out with an angry face

[Luisa:]

She told me my strength would launch

[Dolores:]

Knows what to do

[Félix:]

Thunder

[Pepa:]

You're telling the story or am I?

[Félix:]

I'm sorry mi vida go on

[Luisa:]

More than my mind can imagine

[Abuela Alma:]

Óye, Mariano's on his way

[Pepa:]

Julieta says, "I won't leave her, no matter what"

[Félix and Isabela:]

Why had she lie to us?

[Dolores:]

Never is blaring, always in the workk

[Luisa:]

She told me that she loves me so much, just like a mother should love her child

[Agustin:]

She told me I won't be alone, that there won't be a capstone

[Pepa:]

In doing so, she broke our hearts

[Félix:]

Abuela gets explanation

[Dolores:]

Talks in a caring, and gets to the dark

[Agustin:]

That we'll be together and ever, and ever...

[Dolores:]

Yeah, she sees your fear and knows what to do

[Pepa:]

The next day we found her nowhere

[Félix:]

What an upsetting story

[Agustin, Luisa, Mirabel and Isabela:]

And I'm fine, and I'm fine, and I'm fine, I'm fine

[Ensemble:]

He's here

Don't talk about Julieta

[Isabela:]

Okay, what the hell does it mean?

[Ensemble:]

Not a word about Julieta

[Isabela:]

Maybe I shouldn't have brought Julieta...

[immabethehero]

A Jolly Holiday (WDTAJN - Song)

Finally have them all done! Here’s my last entry for @wdtajn! The song? Jolly Holiday from Mary Poppins!

(So a bit of context: I made a boyfriend for Bruno. His name is Matias, he’s an inventor who showed up in the Encanto after the events of the movie. His inventions are unpredictable, to say the least. They don’t always work and often end with an explosion. Think Dr. Doofenshmirtz, but if his parents were actually supportive and loving. He was kicked out of his hometown when his parents died, and has been hopping from town to town since. Until he ended up in the Encanto.)

PS. he also owns a grey cat named Alegria ^u^

*******

Bruno spends an extra hour in the bathroom this morning, washing his hair and shaving as much as he can. Thirty minutes are spent on teeth alone. He throws on his prettiest ruana (with extra embroidery by Mirabel) over a new green and white striped shirt and purple pants. A corsage tucked over his heart, he dashes downstairs.

His cheerful presence is not lost on the family, who watch him intently.

“Wonder what’s got him all cleaned up,” Camilo says.

“Matias is coming over,” Isabela answers as she walks out. Camilo blanches.

“Not with a new machine, right?” he whispers to his sister. Dolores simply stares at him.

“Not with a new machine, right?” Camilo squeaks.

Dolores rolls her eyes and strains her head to listen. “It’s definitely not his typical machine… it does sound awfully loud. Sort of like… instruments crashing together.” Camilo weakly whimpers.

“Don’t worry, Papá and I have been teaching him to play,” Mirabel says as she passes.

“Play?!”

Mirabel ignores her primo and runs out. “I’m going for a walk, see ya!”

Bruno picks up a small parcel wrapped up in a custom wrapping paper with little drawn gears shaped like hearts on them. He approaches his sobrinos and twirls. 

“How do I look?”

“Better than usual,” Camilo admits. “I can’t even smell your breath from here.”

“You look muy guapo,” Dolores says. “What’s the occasion?”

“It’s our anniversary today!” Bruno squeals. “A whole year! I can’t wait to show Matias my gift-”

Bang! Crash! Bang! Crash! True to what Dolores said, whatever invention Matias has brought this time, it’s going to be a very musical, albeit noisy one.

“That’s definitely not what I had in mind when he said he would surprise me today,” Bruno says. “Camilo, what do you see out there?”

Camilo peers out the window. Matias has put on a lovely suit, no doubt tailored by Agustín. His black dreadlocks have been tied up into a bun. However, his silver vest and new purple shirt hide underneath a shield of musical instruments. A horn hangs across his chest, a trumpet is strapped to his chest, an accordion is fastened to his belt, and on his back is a large bass drum, with crash cymbals on top of it. When he moves, a mallet bangs on the drum and the cymbals crash together. Mirabel stands beside him, trying to suppress her amused smile.

Camilo turns back to Bruno. “Do you remember that movie we watched together? The one with the magical nanny?”

Bruno nods. “Yeah?”

“That’s your surprise-”

Bruno dashes out before Camilo can finish his sentence.

“Good morning, hermoso! Happy anniversary!” Matias yells over his instruments banging together.

“Hey Matias! I heard you were coming,” Bruno says. “Literally. What are you wearing? What is all this?”

The inventor twirls around. “Do you like it? I thought I’d take a page out of the moving picture you showed us the other day.” He picks up the accordion and begins to play.

“You didn’t strike me as an accordion player,” Bruno admits as he listens to Matias. He’s actually holding the instrument correctly! And not butchering any notes! It’s a miracle!

“That’s because I’m not. Mirabel had to teach me,” Matias admits. 

“I did offer to play with him, but he wanted to do the whole act,” Mirabel adds.

“I’m dating an actual soap opera star. I need to have some credibility to my name,” Matias says. He takes a deep breath and begins to sing.

Ain't it a glorious day?

Right as a morning in May

I feel like I could fly

“Isn’t this from Mary Poppins?” Bruno asks.

“Shut up and please let me do this.”

Have you ever seen the grass

So green, or a bluer sky?

Oh it's a jolly holiday with Bruno

Bruno makes your heart so light!

“You have too much faith in me, mi vida,” Bruno says with a laugh.

When the day is gray and you feel low

The sky suddenly darkens before the sun breaks through once more.

Bruno makes the sun shine bright!

Bruno spies Pepa peeking out from behind a tree. How many Madrigals did Matias plan this with?!

Oh, happiness is blooming all around him,

The daffodils are smiling at the dove

Right on cue, daffodil petals shower Bruno. He catches Isabela high–fiving his sister.

When Bruno holds your hand

You feel so grand

Your heart starts beating like a big brass band!

Matias jumps to the beat, the instruments a rhythmic discord. Mirabel winces, but Bruno laughs.

It's a jolly holiday with Bruno

No wonder that it's Bruno that we love!

Matias grabs Bruno’s hand and pulls him through the town. Isabela showers flowers in their direction and Antonio stands by a fence with animals lined up. Matias joins them.

“We practiced on this all week! Take it away guys!”

“Baaaaa!” an older ram sings. Interesting.

“Baa! Baa!” a trio of lambs respond.

A horse whinnies the next part, followed by a cow mooing. Are the animals supposed to sing along? Bruno raises an eyebrow.

“You know this part sounded better in my head,” Matias admits. Bruno snorts. “Antonio said they sounded like a choir.”

“They do!” Antonio exclaims.

Donkeys bray the next line, and a large pig finishes the verse with two loud snorts. Mirabel and Antonio sing the translation, hoping to save the last verse of the song.

When Bruno holds your hand

You feel so grand

Your heart starts beating like a big brass band!

It's a jolly holiday with Bruno

No wonder that it's Bruno that we love!

Bruno applauds the “musician” and the animals (who honestly did their best). “Asombroso! Wonderful playing!”

Matias attempts to bow, the accordion pushing into his stomach. “Note to self: it’s hard to bend over when you have instruments strapped to you.”

“Need help getting all that off?” Bruno asks, gently knocking on the drum.

“Yes, actually, the local band needs all of these back before their next gig.”

Bruno freezes. “Seriously? How did you even get them to give you these instruments?”

“Your sobrina is a very persistent young lady,” Matias answers, nodding to Mirabel. She winks.

“He’s my best pupil! I’ve never seen anyone learn the accordion so quickly before,” Mirabel says. “Other than me, of course.”

“Your whole family is quite musical, so I thought it would be smart if I joined in,” Matias explains.

Bruno’s eyes widen. “Oh! I’m actually not that musical myself, you didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”

“Really? I always took you for a pianist, especially with those hands of yours.”

Bruno’s cheeks burn hotter than the sun. He shoves Matias playfully. “Come on, let’s get these instruments off you. That way I can show you the gift I got you…”

*

If Camilo hears the discordant cymbal crashing as he walks through town, he does not acknowledge it. He doesn’t hear the drum occasionally going thump. And he certainly doesn’t hear the rhythmic squeezing of a dying accordion squashed between two people. No. He won’t acknowledge the sound of the One (well, Two) Man Band!

*

Matias holds up his new notebook, running his hands over the pretty cover. Illustrated rats play with kittens, no doubt inspired by Alegria, Matias’ grey cat. “This is a wonderful gift! I definitely needed a new sketchbook! You have no idea how many new ideas I’ve got.”

“The last one looked like it was bursting at the seams. And look-” Bruno flips through the pages. Little sketches of cats appear, along with encouraging messages in Bruno’s handwriting. Matias freezes.

“My writing looks more like chicken scratches, so I hope you can actually read them,” Bruno rambles. “I did try looking for inspirational quotes from the future… but I don’t think you’d get any references, so I just stuck to basic stuff. Cheesy, right?” He stops when he sees Matias wiping away tears. Bruno winces.

“It’s bad, isn’t it? You can always rip those out or draw over them or-”

“My first notebook was a lot like this. Full of little motivational quotes written by my parents.” That catches Bruno off guard. In all their time together, Matias had never really mentioned his own family. Hell, he even arrived in Encanto alone!

“I think it’s still in my green toolbox. I always keep the most important stuff in that toolbox,” Matias says.

Bruno moves closer to Matias, motioning him to talk. From what he knows from the small tidbits Matias has told him, the inventor hopped from town to town, never settling in one place. He doesn’t think Matias has ever lived in a town for a whole year.

“After my first few ‘village incidents’, I started to keep all my precious things, stuff I didn’t want to lose, in that toolbox. Just in case I ever needed to get out of town quickly. I didn’t need to worry about a heavy suitcase.”

Bruno fidgets with his ruana, struggling to think up any comforting words. He finally decides to just put his hand on Matias’.

Matias turns to Bruno, smile slowly returning. He grasps Bruno’s hands. “But this time, I… I think I want to stay. I’ve never felt so welcome here! Everyone is so welcoming and encouraging. I’ve never felt more at home! So, if you’ll allow it, I want to live in Encanto permanently.”

No sooner has Matias finished his sentence does Bruno shower him with kisses. Matias chuckles. “Is that a yes?”

“Of course! You’ll always have a home here!”

[sing-you-fools]

something i hate about fandom, as both a fan and a writer:

i just read this post by @panbelle:

which evaluates the popular "actual disney princess age!" image against canon. one point they make:

Jasmine: Unknown - Jasmine's age has never been confirmed or even referenced in any of the Aladdin movies, television series, or other spinoff projects. In the original film, the Sultan declares that Jasmine must be married "by her next birthday", but never specifies how old she will become on said birthday. 15 comes from an early concept where the Sultan says "By your sixteenth birthday." This concept was scrapped when Jeffrey Katzenberg became worried about sending the wrong message regarding the idea that fifteen-year-old girls should get married. So Jasmine is actually explicitly not 15.

why is it that people take anything from an earlier draft as canon? it was taken out for a reason! if someone ever found my early drafts and spread the stuff in it as canon i'd be so upset. if you want to have a headcanon from an early draft that's fine, but drafts aren't canon!

for example, (and since the post that got me here is about disney princesses,) i have seen weird number of people insist Isabela from Encanto can't be a lesbian (despite her va saying she is) because she had a secret boyfriend in earlier drafts. they cut that out! it's not canon!

please let us leave our drafts behind us, and if we decide to share things from them, let it be as a fun fact, not a guide to the final piece! that shit should be assumed very specifically not canon unless stated otherwise!

[gadriezmannsgirl]

hi boo, could you write something about y/n having skin picking habits (picking at acne, peeling skin off her fingers) and frenkie or Pedri helping her during an episode of it?

sorry if it’s too specific/weird haha

I pick at my acne a lot!😭 I know it's bad but I can't help myself to do it whenever I'm stressed, hope you don't do this to your skin either.... However I need Pedri to help me out with it so here it is.

Btw...THIS WAS THE FIC WINNER!

Stop -P.G8

Summary: During an stressful morning, your boyfriend helps you out with your skin picking habit.

You groaned once more, passing your hands through your face trying to rub the sleep off of it, you stared at your laptop screen, fast-reading the words that laid on your essay document.

"Buenos dias, bonita" You heard your two years boyfriend, Pedro, come inside the living room

You yawned before replying "Buen dia, amor"

"¿Como dormiste?" (How did you slept?) You nod smiling feeling his lips on top of your head

"You know the answer to that" He laughed

"Have you had your coffee?" You shook your head yawning once more

"I got up straight to this laptop" He hummed going to the kitchen "You have training today?"

"I do" He says "in the evening though" His voice sounded far away

"Can we go outside to have some lunch?" Without realizing it, you started rubbing your forehead not being able to find how to continue your work.

"Claro que si, amor. Do you wanna go to that new restaurant?"

"Sure, let's try it out. Meli says it's nice and the food's good"

"That we have to prove it by ourselves" He came back with your favorite Mickey Mouse mug, a plate and a big smile on his face. You smiled back at him.

He sat down next to you, pushing his chair closer to yours and kissing your lips for the first time in the morning.

"What are you doing?"

"Ensayo" (Essay) You replied with your mouth full of the beard with strawberry jam he putted into them.

"Hablar con la boca llena es malo" (Talking with your mouth full is bad) He mocked your tone as you rolled your eyes at his teasing.

"De igual forma, me amas, tonto" (Either way you love me, silly) He smiled nodding kissing your full of food lips "¡Pedro!"

"What? I don't care about it!" You laugh swallowing your food, you turned your head to the screen shaking your head at your boyfriend's antics "Amor"

"What?"

"Don't pinch your face" He pushed your hand down and away from your face as you turned over to him

"What?"

"You're pinching your face, bonita. Are you already stressed this early in the morning?"

"Your comment didn't helped me"

"I'm sorry" He sighed "Vamos, bonita. Stop doing damage to your pretty face"

"I just can't help it! You know how I get!" He got up and grabbed something before showing it to you

"That's why I brought a hand ball for you to grip it tightly repeatedly whenever you get too stressed"

You sigh "I know you did, amor. I'm sorry, I completely forgot about it"

"Your nails scratch hard, que te lo digo yo" (I'm telling you that) He said as you smirked knowing what he meant from that "I don't want you to damage your pretty face and leave it with scars. It's bad"

"I just can't help it, Pepi" He pushed the ball into your hand

"Bueno, start helping it. You grab this little ball and grip it repeatedly over and over again" You smiled "If I have to stay at home and watch you then I will. We gotta take care of each other, you'll see you'll stop that lil habit of yours"

"Thank you, bonito"

"Don't worry mi amor; health is always at the top of the list, including your facial" You smiled leaning up to kiss him

"Te quiero"

"Y yo a ti" He smiled kissing you back

"¿Cuánto tiempo crees que esta pelota se me pueda dañar por estrés?" (How much time do you think thi ball will end up death from stress?)

"Knwoking you? In five seconds would be off"

°°° °°° °°° °°°

Taglist: @gaviypedrisbride @stuckinaf4nfiction @elijahslover @azzpenswrld @http-isabela

[foggyfanfic]

Dinner with the Family

Oneshot Summary: Future fic! It's Isabela's wedding anniversary and she has requested the entire Madrigal clan come together for a single meal in the stead of a party. Bruno begins to suspect something might be up when Bubo requests they sit next to each other. Or, the dinner where Bubo and Isabela come out to the family.

Preview: "The door opened again and Isabela stepped out, wearing her most stylish indigo jumpsuit and a few pink flowers in her hair that Bruno was pretty sure she hadn’t meant to make. She turned, holding her hand out, and waited."

Bruno hummed happily on his way into town, despite the ache in his knees and the stiffness in his back. He had been having a good day, and was reasonably sure it was only going to get better. After all, Juli (and whoever volunteered to help her) were cooking a special dinner for Isabela’s and Bubo’s anniversary. The couple of honor had requested Bruno invite his boyfriend, Heraldo, which left said boyfriend in a rather good mood for the past two weeks. And Bruno had it on good authority (Antonio) that his youngest rat was getting past her cold. So yes, today was a good day and would only continue to get better.

That wasn’t a prophecy, but he felt pretty certain of it anyway.

He reached Heraldo’s bookshop and cut his humming short before walking through the open door, in case anyone was trying to read. Thankfully, the shop was empty with the exception of Heraldo’s grandchildren, sitting behind the counter doing their homework.

“Hola Tío,” fourteen year old Flora greeted him with a distracted smile.

“Abuelooooooo,” eleven year old Fabian shouted, almost directly into his sister’s ear, she glared at him but he pretended not to notice, “your boyfriend’s here!”

Bruno quietly flinched, but didn’t shush the boy. It probably wasn’t a great idea to announce to the whole village that he and Heraldo were dating. Encanto was a paradise and people were much more accepting of him than they used to be, but still. Bubo had gotten chased out of the city when the wrong person found out a little too much about Bubo’s “private life”. Eventually, Bruno knew, people like them would be safe to live their lives out in the open, but not yet. The battle for their right to love openly had only just started in the more liberal cities. They were decades out from victory.

All that said, they were alone in the shop, and Bruno liked hearing that title be announced with so little fanfare.

The sound of Heraldo’s slow steps made it down the stairs long before he did. Like Bruno, he was in his seventies, and his joints didn’t always cooperate with him. Bruno leaned his weight on his cane, happy to wait as long as Heraldo needed.

Once upon a time, Heraldo had been a train conductor. He had taken a job as a station manager when he and his beard/best friend decided they wanted kids, then went back to conducting once those kids were grown. His “wife” had passed shortly after their youngest son was married, said youngest son had gone to the United States for work and sent Heraldo all the money the kids would ever need. Heraldo had retired so he could care for the two kids in his son’s absence. When Bruno had asked about their mother, Heraldo had smiled sadly, shrugged, and said “She’s a good woman, but life isn’t always kind out there”.

Bruno had no idea what that meant, other than, “Don’t ask.”

He emerged from the stairwell in his muted green suit. Something he usually reserved for church. His white beard was trimmed neatly, and he had his nice glasses on instead of the crooked bifocals that were usually perched high on the wide bridge of his nose.

Heraldo had once been a tall man, but the years on the go had caught up with him, hunching his shoulders and compressing his spine. In quiet moments before bed, Heraldo had confided in Bruno how it was actually a bit of a relief to be shorter now, he had talked at length about what it was like to be a large grumpy black man out there in the world beyond their paradise. He had spoken of years spent being feared, and loathed, and ostracized. And he had gotten a little choked up when he spoke about how different things were now that he was a hobbling Abuelo with two kids hanging off him, how he had almost thanked a woman the first time a stranger turned to him for safety rather than edging away from him in fear.

In turn, Bruno had spoken at length about what it was like to be The Bruno Madrigal, versus his new life as goofy Tío Bruno.

“Oh, you don’t have to get all dressed up for this,” Bruno immediately said, “i-it’s just a family dinner!”

“Exactly,” Heraldo gruffed, crossing the shop floor as quickly as his bad hip would allow, “this is a family affair, want to show how grateful I am to be included.”

They both glanced at the open door and shop window before clasping hands and briefly pressing their lips together. Fabian made an exaggerated retching sound, and was promptly smacked by his sister.

“Abuelo! Tío! Flora hit me,” Fabian cried in a nasally voice, and didn’t even bother trying to hide the smarmy grin he sent his sister.

“Because you’re being obnoxious!”

“Flora, use your words, not your fists,” Heraldo snapped, “Fabian, she’s right, you are being obnoxious.”

Fabian pouted, first at Heraldo, then when that got him nowhere, at Bruno. Bruno grimaced, but couldn’t help himself.

“Are you alright mijo?” he asked, he didn’t need his gift to foresee that Heraldo would tease him for being such a softy.

“No,” Fabian announced, sighing dramatically, “I can’t feel my legs.”

“I hit you in the shoulder.”

“Yeah, but really, really, reeeeeally hard.”

“Would uh, would a hug help you feel better?” Bruno asked, already knowing Fabian would accept just to keep the act going, but not sure how else to respond.

Fabian sniffed, pointing his nose in the air, “It would.”

“Alright then,” Bruno hobbled a few steps towards the counter, but didn’t have to go far. Fabian may have enjoyed annoying his sister, but he was still raised with manners. He ran out from behind the counter before Bruno had taken five steps.

Bruno hugged him, glanced at Heraldo, and could already hear his boyfriend telling him he played right into the kid’s hands. He shrugged sheepishly. Heraldo shook his head.

“Gracias Tío,” Fabian said, letting Bruno go, “I think I might survive through the night now.”

“Oh good, I’m glad,” Bruno patted his shoulder.

At the counter, Flora watched with a thoroughly unamused look on her face. She took after her abuelo in many ways, but most especially in attitude. All the same, she rose to the bait and asked Bruno for a hug as well. He accepted, not wanting to show favorites and she stared pointedly at her brother while she wrapped Bruno in her arms. Said brother loudly bemoaned Bruno’s apparent betrayal.

They lingered a while longer, so Bruno could ask the kids about their homework, and how their week had been since he last saw them on Wednesday. When Heraldo dragged him away, Bruno was doing his best to stutter his way out of judging which kid had doodled the better rat within thirty seconds.

“You know, those two make a game of trying to be your ‘favorite’, right? Still not convinced you ain’t dating me just for them,” Heraldo teased, when they were finally walking towards Casita, Heraldo carrying a wrapped present for the couple of honor.

“O-oh come on, it isn’t like I don’t already have plenty of kids at home,” Bruno argued.

“Hm, exactly, you’re an addict,” Heraldo said, anyone who didn’t know him well would call it grumbling, “can’t go five minutes without kissing a bruised knee.”

“Like you’re one to talk,” Bruno rolled his eyes, “I bet once we get there it’ll take less than fifteen minutes before you got a kid in your lap.”

“Slander,” Heraldo grunted.

“Oh?” Bruno eyed him slyly, “If that’s so, then take the bet.”

Heraldo didn’t say anything. Bruno chuckled.

When they reached Casita, his Má was sitting out front in her wicker wheelchair, enjoying the sunshine as Victor practiced on the violin next to her. Despite her limited mobility she was doing remarkably well for a woman who was coming up on triple digits; actually, the doctors were beginning to suspect that being around so many healers might have a few side effects. As a matter of fact, as Victor’s violin strings glowed, Bruno could almost see the cataracts in his Má’s left eye clear up a little.

“Heraldo,” Má greeted him warmly, “how kind of you to join us.”

“Not at all, Señora, just honored to be invited,” Heraldo replied, ducking his head politely.

“You didn’t bring the grandchildren?”

“Ah, no, not this time. Flora is too caught up in her studies, and Fabian is too caught up in distracting her.”

“Ah, sí, next time then,” Má nodded, “you’ve met my eldest great grandchild, Victor, by now, sí?”

Victor was Dolores’ first child, and at nineteen was the eldest in his generation of Madrigals. He was actually the first of the great grandchildren Heraldo had met, but that was years ago, and they seldom interacted since. Not for any particular reason, they just didn’t have much in common.

“I have, good to see you again mijo,” Heraldo said, making an effort to sound a bit less like he was growling than usual.

“And you señor.”

“Think I’ve met the whole collection by now,” Heraldo said, glancing at Bruno for confirmation.

“Um,” Bruno thought about it, there were a lot of Madrigals to keep track of these days, he sort of wished he’d bothered to make a checklist, “have you met all three of Mirabel’s sons?”

“Sí, and Luisa’s twins, and her newest one a few times.”

“What about Camilo’s new son?” Alma asked.

“Ah sí, unless he’s actually had twins too,” Heraldo quirked a smile, “I’ve only met one baby, but you lot tend to have them in bundles.”

“Hm, we do seem to have a lot of twins and triplets in the family, don’t we.”

“Some research supports that it’s genetic,” Victor interjected, as he switched to plucking, “there was this survey done of birth records that found-. Oops.”

The violin strings stopped glowing once the discordant note interrupted the melody. Victor flinched, cheeks red.

“It’s alright mijo, you’re doing very well, try it again,” Má gently patted his shoulder.

He nodded, taking a deep breath to calm his embarrassment as he put the bow back on the strings and took the song from the top. Victor loved playing, and he loved the thought of being a town healer like his Tía Julieta, but he had terrible stage fright. He wasn’t technically out here to practice playing, he was out here to practice playing where people could hear him.

Bruno quietly ushered Heraldo inside, gently touching his mother’s hand as they passed. She smiled up at him, briefly, then continued to watch Victor play.

Predictably, Casita’s courtyard was filled with kids, many of whom paused whatever games they were playing to greet Bruno and Heraldo. As soon as the two men had sat down to wait for dinner, Antonio’s eldest had crawled into Heraldo’s lap. Bruno grinned at him, while Heraldo pretended not to notice. The little girl made it easy on him, she happily distracted him with all the new things she’d figured out how to turn her hair into.

Bruno felt a tug on his pant leg, he looked down and found one of Luisa’s twins hiding behind the couch by his leg. All three of Luisa’s kids tended towards being shy, and weren’t sure how to handle Heraldo’s gruff attention, so Bruno wasn’t surprised that the little boy handed him a little clay bowl he had made then immediately ran away. As soon as Bruno looked up, he was met by one of Mirabel’s triplets. Specifically, the one named after him.

“Sí?” seventy-two year old Bruno asked.

“Má wants to know if my kitten can play in one of your mazes,” nine year old Bruno said.

“Oh, Mirabel wants to know that, does she?”

“Sí, she told me to ask you,” he nodded, then pulled the little black kitten out from under his ruana, “I promise she won’t break anything!”

Bruno pressed his lips together to keep from laughing at the idea that the tiny, squeaking, fuzzy potato in his grand-nephew’s hand was capable of breaking anything. Black cats may be bad luck, but there was only so much damage a fur ball that small could dole out. He schooled his features into a contemplative look, even tapping his chin a few times as he made a long, drawn out “Hmmmmm” sound.

“Por favor Tío!” 

“Maybe,” he said slowly, “she can play in the maze if you try one new food at dinner.”

“I can do that,” he agreed, nodding eagerly.

“Pinky promise?”

“Pinky promise!”

They shook pinkies, then nine year old Bruno ran off, yelling to nine year old Agustín and nine year old Félix, “Tío Bruno said my cat can play in the maze but your guys’ can’t!”

“Que? That’s not what I said,” he squawked, “I said your kitten can play in the maze if you try one new thing at dinner.”

“Ours too?” little Félix asked.

“Sure. If you each try something new.”

“No fair, I’ve tried everything,” little Agustín shouted. He was the most adventurous of the three, and probably right, he may very well have tried everything Julieta knew how to cook.

“Ah, that’s r-right,” Bruno paused, actually having to think about it this time, “umm…”

“What if he does something nice for his Má,” Heraldo suggested quietly.

“Oh! That’s good,” Bruno nodded, “your kitten can play in the maze if you go out and find a flower to match your Má’s dress.”

“I can do that,” he chirped, then used a great burst of wind to launch himself over Casita’s walls. Faintly, Bruno heard a few screams from where he would have landed. He exchanged a sheepish look with Heraldo, they probably should have known he would do that.

Thankfully, before anyone could come wagging fingers, Camilo walked downstairs with a kid hanging off his back, and his baby in the crook of his arm. He clapped his free hand against his thigh to get all of the children’s attention.

“Alright, time to start washing up for dinner,” he called, “let’s go, four at a time. Any volunteers?”

Nobody raised their hand.

He sighed, then started pointing at random kids, “You, you, you, and you! Into the bathroom.”

“Aaaaw, but I-.”

“No buts! It’s a special occasion, and anyone who makes me wait any longer than I have to, to have dinner is getting stuck with all the dishes,” Camilo said, the children took this threat seriously, running past him to wash their hands. Satisfied, Camilo turned to follow them, and Bruno had a startling realization.

“Camilo, that boy doesn’t live here.”

Camilo glanced over his shoulder at the kid on his back, “Do you live here?”

“No.”

“Are your parents looking for you?”

“Probably not, they both have to work late.”

“You want to stay for dinner?”

“Yes please. My abuela burns everything.”

“Alright, what’s one more kid,” that said, Camilo continued with his quest to get all the kids washed up by dinner time.

“Huh,” Heraldo said, and when Bruno looked at him, he was eyeing Bruno with an almost smile.

“What?”

“Just impressed you can keep these kids straight,” he said with a shrug.

“Oh,” Bruno chuckled a little sheepishly, “h-honestly, I’m pretty impressed with myself about that too.”

“Well, you should be,” Heraldo all but snapped, “pretty sure there are rabbits with fewer kids to keep track of.”

“To be fair, the rabbits are just one set of parents, and none of the baby rabbits have the ability to turn their hair into fire.”

As he said this, he gestured at the little girl sitting in Heraldo’s lap, and she happily obliged by setting her head ablaze. She grinned up at them and there was an empty space where she’d just lost a baby tooth. Heraldo stared at her as wide eyed as he ever got until she turned her hair into long shining grass instead, she’d been experimenting with weaving it into baskets lately.

Point made, Bruno shrugged, “I-it helps that all the kids can be broken down into groups based on who their parents are. Isabela has one; Dolores, and Antonio both have two; Mirabel, Camilo, and Luisa, all have three. Oh, and! A-and if you think about it, that’s only fourteen kids to keep track of.”

“Fourteen for now,” Heraldo said, “Your nieces are still young enough that-.”

Bruno accidentally cut Heraldo off by knocking on the wooden beam next to their couch. He certainly wouldn’t mind another niece or nephew, but pregnancy didn’t come without risk.

Camilo returned with the first four children and sent them off to the kitchen to see if they could help set the table, then rounded up the remaining three, including the little girl sitting in Heraldo’s lap. As soon as they were gone, a door opened upstairs and a blur passed around the courtyard, pinning up a simple banner as it went. The blur quite suddenly turned into Isabela’s son, Ferdinand, who stood in the middle of the courtyard, inspecting his work with a critical eye.

“On second thought, make that sixteen kids, that one counts as three,” Bruno murmured to Heraldo out of the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t that Ferdinand was a mischievous child, on the contrary, he strived to be as helpful as his cousin Victor. However, even the most helpful of children were a bit much to handle when they could run as fast as a bullet.

Fortunately, Ferdinand, the second oldest great grandchild, was getting close to adulthood, so if they’d managed to keep him alive this long, they were probably good.

“I bet,” Heraldo huffed, most people thought his huffs were a sound of irritation, but Bruno knew they were actually his laugh.

Ferdinand suddenly went from standing in the middle of the courtyard to standing right next to Bruno, “Tío Bruno, do you-, hola Tío Heraldo, do you think the colors work?”

“Buenas tardes,” Heraldo replied, “how did the relay race go?”

“Not bad, don’t think they actually needed my help refereeing though,” Ferdinand shifted his weight and put his hands on his hips. He didn’t like when he got invited places just because he was a Madrigal; unfortunately for him, he was the most social of his generation, and thus the most popular among the villagers. Lately, people had been inviting him places with a really thin excuse for why he was needed.

While they spoke, Bruno eyed the banner, it was midnight blue with red and gold bows wherever the banner was pinned, “Sí, I think your mothers will like it.”

Ferdinand looked briefly startled, and his head whipped around, checking for listeners. When he saw none, he relaxed, and smiled.

“I hope so,” he said, “they’ve been kinda on edge about something recently, I really want them to have a good anniversary.”

“We all do,” Bruno reassured him.

Ferdinand opened his mouth to say something else, when Agusíto came running back in with a flower grasped in his muddy hands. He held it up proudly for Bruno to see as he raced past, then gathered the wind around him and launched himself onto the second story. He knocked on his parents door and was let in almost instantly.

After a beat, Ferdinand tried again, only to be cut off when Casita opened the front door so Victor and Adelaide, Camilo’s wife, could help Alma wheel herself in.

Giving Ferdinand a sympathetic smile, Bruno planted his cane and used it to leverage himself up, greeting Adelaide with a brief hug, “Hola, how’s the food drive going?”

Adelaide and Camilo had recently established what they were referring to as The Shelter, for lack of a better word. Encanto was getting pretty big, and it was no longer possible for one person to keep track of who needed what, so Mirabel had put together a committee to take care of it. That committee happened to need someplace to operate, and somebody to lead it since Mirabel didn’t have the time. Fortunately, Adelaide was a clerical whiz; combine her skills using a filing cabinet, with Camilo’s people skills, and they had gotten everything sorted within a year. 

Currently, The Shelter was putting on a food drive for the families that were struggling to make ends meet this year. Camilo was handling the PR side of getting donations, while Adelaide had had her hands full figuring out how much food was needed and taking inventory of what was available.

Camilo’s eldest, Pepa (or Pepita to avoid confusion) followed her mother in shortly after, holding a bag full of her mother’s paperwork.

“We are quickly approaching our goal,” Adelaide said in her quiet, not quite monotone.

“Ah, bien, that’s great. Proud of you,” he enthused, and she quirked the corner of her lips up at him. She did not have a great relationship with her father, and had asked Bruno to walk her down the aisle, so he was going to operate under the assumption that it was his job to fulfill a fatherly role until somebody corrected him.

So far, in the nine years she’d been married to Camilo, nobody had.

“Go on, go be helpful,” Camilo’s voice drew her attention to the stairs just in time for the three children Camilo had rounded up to avalanche their way down the stairs and to the kitchen.

Adelaide gave Bruno another tiny smile, then sped walked to greet her husband, who grinned broadly when he saw her.

“Ah! Addy! Look, I got us another kid,” he joked, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder at the boy who was still clinging to his back.

“Where?”

“Hey kid, where’d I pick you up?”

“The rec center,” he said.

“I got him at the rec center.”

“So that’s where babies come from,” she mused under her breath, “huh.”

Camilo laughed at her joke, then pressed a kiss to her cheek. The boy clinging to his back wrinkled his nose and let go, dropping to the ground and trotting towards the kitchen. Bruno idly wondered how long it would take Julieta to notice he wasn’t a Madrigal.

“Here mija,” Camilo was saying, taking Adelaide’s bag off Pepita's hands, “I’ll take this up to your Má’s desk, you wash up. Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Gracias Pá,” she happily handed the bag over, she wasn't big enough to help with Alma’s wheelchair, and even the bag was a bit too heavy for her. She pulled the shawl off her back, exposing her iridescent wings, and flew up to the second story.

Meanwhile, Victor had helped Alma get to her room, which was now on the first story, for the obvious reasons. She thanked him and sent him off to stow his violin and wash his hands.

Finally, Adelaide and Camilo strolled to their room, talking about the food drive.

Once everybody was gone, Bruno turned back to Ferdinand, “You were saying, mijo?”

He glanced around, then started to say, “I think my Má might-.”

He didn’t even look surprised when Mariano entered from the kitchen with his and Dolores’ daughter, Helena. They were each carrying a basket, and quickly headed out back. Ferdinand just rolled his eyes and mumbled “You’ll see,” before racing up to the open bathroom.

Bruno watched him go with a sympathetic grimace, it was increasingly harder to get a quiet moment for a private conversation in the Madrigal household.

Heraldo groaned as he also got up, “I take it dinner with the whole family is not a calm affair.”

Usually, they did dinner in shifts, mostly because it was impossible to accommodate the differing schedules of all thirty three Madrigals (plus Luisa’s mother in law who had moved in so her son could care for her in her old age) in a single sitting. Isabela and Bubo had requested a real family dinner in the stead of a party, however, so they had all jostled their schedules around to make it work.

“Ay, no. Not at all,” Bruno sighed, glancing at his Má’s door to be sure it was shut, he picked up Heraldo’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it, “thank you for uh, you know, agreeing to sit through the chaos.”

Heraldo let out another one of those huffy laughs of his, shrugging, “Well, the alternative was a peaceful dinner with two of my three favorite people, so of course-. Oh, wait, I may have made a mistake.”

Bruno chuckled, “Come on, b-bright side, all the best cooks are in the kitchen tonight.”

“That’s quite the bright side,” Heraldo agreed, following Bruno into the dining room where the food was being staged.

Agustín, the seventy-one year old Agustín, was already in there, keeping the kids too young to help in the kitchen out of Julieta’s hair. He immediately enlisted Bruno and Heraldo into this endeavor. 

Meanwhile, Ferdinand zipped into the kitchen, then the dining room. Racing around the small children, he began trying out different place settings and seating arrangements to see if they could even fit everybody in the dining room. The last time they’d all eaten together, Camilo’s youngest hadn’t been born, Luisa’s mother in law was still able to live on her own, and Heraldo hadn't joined them. Nor had the kid Camilo brought home.

Eventually, he sighed and raced out. A few minutes later he came back with Luisa, who picked up the dining room table (food and all) and moved it out to Casita’s courtyard. Ferdinand began racing the chairs out as well.

“Gracias Tía Luisa,” he said, pausing long enough to bump amicably against her.

“Don’t mention it,” she waved him off, “I’ll try and find another table.”

He nodded once, then continued moving the chairs. Bruno extracted himself from the pile of small children listening to Heraldo explain how to play The Train Game. He popped his head into the kitchen, which was pure chaos.

“Uh Juli,” he called above the cacophony of preparations, “looks like dinner will be in the courtyard.”

He couldn’t even find her in the mass of little workers plating the food, rustling up the appropriate utensils, and washing the dishes, but her voice cut through it all, “I sort of figured as much. Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem,” he said, since he wasn’t sure she would see it if he acknowledged her words with a nod. He returned to the dining room and took up his designated role as the station of the Port of Panama in the game.

When everything was ready, Bruno found himself sitting between Heraldo and Bubo’s empty place setting at the main table. He had raised an eyebrow at that arrangement, since he usually sat next to Mirabel, Antonio, Adelaide, one of the kids, or his sisters, but Ferdinand had said something about Bubo requesting it.

Luisa had found another table and after some debate they had made a T shape with the tables instead of placing them parallel to each other.

Mirabel came down the stairs, talking about something or other with Dolores; her husband, Juan, followed just behind her with their, now clean, sons. Bruno did not get Juan. Or rather, he did not get why Mirabel had started dating Juan. Don’t get him wrong, Juan had turned out to be a devoted husband, loving father, and a dutiful family accountant, but he wasn’t exactly what Bruno would have pictured for his niece. Mainly, he wasn’t creative. At all.

Seriously, the guy couldn’t do a paint by numbers without a user manual at hand. Great with a budget, sure. Absolutely hopeless with a crayon.

But, Mirabel and Juan would be celebrating their eleventh anniversary next, so it was a bit late for Bruno to ask what the deal was. Besides, he liked the way Juan treated Mirabel, so it’s not like he opposed the match. He just… didn’t get it. Eleven years in and he still couldn’t wrap his head around them.

“-if we want to be ready in time, we should start shopping now,” Mirabel was saying, brow furrowed, “and honestly, we should probably put together a checklist to make sure nobody gets skipped this year.”

Bruno knew instantly what they were talking about. Christmas. The year before, thanks to a misunderstanding, little two year old Pedro hadn’t gotten a gift. Fortunately, little two year old Pedro was two, so they had thrown some of his favorite candy in a bag and acted really excited when he’d opened it.

“I can take care of that,” Juan said, pulling Mirabel’s chair out for her.

“Could you?” Mirabel asked, looking over her shoulder at him as she sat down, “I don’t want to put too much on your plate.”

“I’d have to do it anyway, to budget for it,” he reasoned, pushing her chair in for her, their sons took the next three seats, then Juan sat down next to where Adelaide would soon sit. 

Juan and Adelaide had been good friends long before either of them joined the Madrigal family. Bruno had once walked in on Adelaide confessing she liked Juan better than her actual sister, Juan had replied he liked himself better than Adelaide’s older sister too. Bruno was pretty sure the only person in the family that liked Adelaide’s sister was Adelaide, and that was only if you stretched the meaning of the word “like”. Jaun had an older sister that most people liked plenty, and she had apparently put up with Adelaide’s sister for years just so she would bring Adelaide over for Juan to play with.

Ultimately, Bruno did actually like Juan, the guy was good to the people they both loved. And he kind of got why Mirabel married Juan once they’d been dating for a while. He just didn’t get why she started dating him at all.

“Tío Bruno,” Mirabel interrupted his musings, “can you help Juan make a checklist for Christmas? You’re really good at making sure all the kids are accounted for.”

Hushed but excited chatter spread around the tables.

“O-oh, uh, sure,” Bruno glanced at Juan.

“I’d appreciate it,” Juan said.

Mariano returned with his and Dolores’ daughter, followed by Camilo, Adelaide, and their baby. Luisa’s husband helped his mother down the stairs while Pepa and Félix waited at the top, clearly trying not to look like they were waiting for the stairs to be clear. Agustín got the last of his grandchildren settled, while Julieta set down the last pitcher of water. Alma wheeled herself to the table, and surreptitiously accepted a tiny clay bowl that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Antonio led his small pack of jaguars out back to their food, then returned and sat next to the boy who Camilo had acquired from the rec center.

The only two people left to show were Isabela and Bubo themselves.

Ferdinand disappeared in a blur and reappeared at his mothers’ door. He knocked, it opened a crack, whispered words were exchanged, then he turned and calmly walked down the stairs.

Bruno exchanged a startled glance with Mirabel.

Ferdinand did not walk, not if he didn’t have to.

The children were still chattering happily, but now all of the adults were aware that something was up. Tension slowly built as they waited for the couple of honor to appear.

The door opened again and Isabela stepped out, wearing her most stylish indigo jumpsuit and a few pink flowers in her hair that Bruno was pretty sure she hadn’t meant to make. She turned, holding her hand out, and waited.

Under the table, Bruno gripped Heraldo’s hand like a lifeline. His eyes kept shooting from Isabela to his Má and back again.

A graceful hand with painted nails placed itself in Isabela’s, then Bubo stepped out of their room, face almost as pale as the silver earrings she (was it “she” now? Last Bruno had asked, Bubo hadn’t wanted anyone else to know so it was still “he”, but now it looked like Bubo didn’t want to hide it, so it must be “she”) wore. Despite her obvious nerves, she kept her back straight and her steps even.

With high heels on she was the same height as Isabela.

Heraldo’s hand tightened on Bruno’s, Julieta gasped, Félix took a deep breath and tried to look casual. Dolores sat poised, eyeing the rest of the table as if waiting for anyone to say anything. Camilo and Mirabel made brief eye contact, then Camilo got up and fetched another bottle of wine. He placed it in front of Bubo and Isabela’s plates.

The kids old enough to understand something significant was happening eyed their parents for guidance. Victor looked at Ferdinand and Ferdinand stared back, jaw clenched and eyes stony.

“Bubo,” Alma said when the couple walked past her.

They stopped walking and Bruno stopped breathing.

“S-sí?”

“That is a lovely dress.”

It was all Bruno could do not to collapse back into his chair. More than a few people breathed sighs of relief, and Heraldo loosened his death grip.

Bubo took a second to respond, she looked like she was holding back tears, “Gracias Senora.”

“Oh honestly,” Alma huffed, “how many times have I told you to call me Abuela? Where are your manners? Call people by the name they introduce themselves as.”

There was a pause, an expectant expression on Alma’s face, an opportunity for Bubo to give herself a new name. Bubo nodded, but didn’t say anything, pressing her pink painted lips together in a watery smile. As she and Isabela walked to their places next to Bruno, everybody tactfully ignored the flowers overtaking Casita’s roof.

Mirabel watched the couple closely, still as a predator waiting for the right moment. When Isabela gave her a pleading look, Mirabel pounced on everybody’s attention and started passing food around the table.

Bubo sat down with a shaky breath.

“You alright?” Bruno asked, in a whisper.

“Very,” Bubo said, voice a bit choked.

He smiled quietly and patted her arm, then turned away to give the couple the illusion of privacy.

“I’m so proud of you,” Isabela whispered.

“Mí amor, please, I-I’m trying very hard not to cry,” Bubo hissed back.

“Right, sí, sorry,” Isabela sounded a bit amused. Somewhat pointedly, she started asking Ferdinand about whether he had decided to take English or French for his foreign language credit in his final year.

Everybody politely ignored Bubo until her breaths had evened out and she could ask to be passed the avocado without her voice shaking. And even then, nobody pounced on the elephant in the room until Mariano stumbled into it with his usual good intentions.

“Oh, Bubo, can you pass the-. Is it still Bubo?” he paused, thinking too hard to notice the nervous looks shooting around the table, “Buba? Can you pass the tortillas?”

“B-Barbara,” Isabela corrected, checking her wife’s face for permission, “when we’re at home she prefers to go by Barbara.”

“Ah, got it,” Mariano nodded, “Barbara, could you pass the tortillas, por favor?”

Barbara did so, smiling breathlessly, “Of course.”

“Question,” Camilo announced, and both Mirabel and Dolores side-eyed him.

“Sí?” Barbara responded, looking not quite nervous but not quite relaxed.

“Are nicknames alright?” he asked, “Can I call you Barb?”

“Oh,” she blinked, then nodded, “uh yeah, that’d be fine. Barb is fine.”

“Barb it is,” Camilo nodded once, then was promptly distracted by his baby boy throwing a handful of Camilo’s rice at Félix, “ay, sorry Pá.”

“It happens,” Félix brushed the rice, and the apology off. Lord knows he’d seen a fair amount of thrown food in his day.

“Should I be calling you Tía?” Victor asked, sitting between Dolores and his little sister.

“Only when we’re at home,” Ferdinand said, then looked at his mothers, “sí?”

“Sí,” Barbara agreed, “I-I’m not ready to be out to the entire village.”

“Ah, understandable,” Alma nodded, “I would like to think we don’t have any of the wrong sort in our village, but it is better safe than sorry.”

“Wait, what’s happening?” Luisa’s daughter whispered to her father.

“From here on out, when we’re at home, call your Tío Bubo, Tía Barbara instead,” he whispered back.

“Why?”

“Because it’ll make her happy, and she’s our family so we want her to be happy.”

“But why only when we’re at home?”

“Because some people are rude and care too much about other people’s business. They might make life difficult for your Tío- sorry, Tía, if they know she’s uh-,” he cut off and looked to Barbara, “what uh…?”

“I-I’m a woman,” Barbara said, then blushed bright red, “a-at least I’d like to be. I know that’s complicated-.”

“Oh hush, it’s not complicated,” Alma waved the concern off, and looked around the table with a stern glare, “you want to be a woman, so you’re a woman. We're your familia and we love you so we will all be doing our best to support you. Got it?”

“Of course,” most of the adults said instantly.

“Sí Mamá Alma,” chorused a few of the kids, though many of them didn’t look like they knew what they were agreeing to.

“Sí Mamá Abuela,” said Antonio’s youngest, who hadn’t figured out that “abuela” was a title, not a name.

Bruno glanced at the boy who wasn’t, actually, a Madrigal. The kid was sitting there wide eyed, but nodding loyally. Bruno caught Camilo’s eye and gestured at the kid with his lips, Camilo raised a brow, then did a double take. He paled, then leaned over to whisper something into his wife’s ear; Dolores perked up, her eyes zipping to the boy. Adelaide also glanced at the unintentional interloper and nodded.

Unaware of the potential leak, Mirabel took the lead of the main conversation, “So! Speaking of supporting you, is-, are you comfortable talking about this right now?”

“Sí,” Barbara bobbed her head, even as she gulped, “I-I’m ready.”

“Wonderful, what can we do to show you-, how would you like us to handle this?”

“I-I would like to be treated like a woman at home, and uh-, honestly I would like to be largely ignored outside the house until, uh, until I’m ready to, y’know, be myself out there.”

“Would you prefer to stay home more?” Agustín asked, “If you’re not comfortable being…?”

“I-if that’s alright,” she gulped, “I mean, I still want to pull my weight, so I’m happy to continue handling the shopping-.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Pepa made a quiet “bah” noise as she swatted away the concern, “I’ve been going stir crazy lately, you can have my chores and I’ll take yours.”

“Má, your knees,” Antonio pointed out. Bruno squeezed his own bad knees in sympathy, apparently it ran in the family. That, or he and Pepa shouldn’t have spent so much of their youth playing their favorite game, Tackle Tea Party. Julieta didn’t have knee problems, and she never played Tackle Tea Party with them, but Bruno chose to believe that was sheer coincidence. Clearly their knee problems were hereditary.

“Ay, forget about my knees,” she shook her head, “my mind is about to dribble out my ears if I don’t get some real sunshine.”

Antonio’s brow wrinkled in concern, and he was about to argue more, but his mother crossed her arms and set her chin. Antonio sighed, and although it seemed like he was giving in, Bruno could tell that Pepa would find herself unable to leave the house without a furry escort to look after her in case her knees gave out on her.

“Barbara,” Pepa turned back to her niece in law, and commanded, “we’re trading chores.”

“Oh, uh, alright? Gracias? I mean, we could probably-.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Right. Ok. Thank you.”

“Great, that’s sorted,” Mirabel sent Pepa a slightly worried look, but apparently decided to let Pepa take her own risks, “anything else we should know?”

Barbara and Isabela looked at each other, having a silent conversation, eventually, Isabela shrugged, “I’m only attracted to women? I mean, I thought Barbara was the exception, but then uh-, yeah.”

“Ok? Do you want us to…?” Mirabel trailed off, shrugging a little. After all, Isabela was already happily married, to a woman no less, so it didn’t really seem like anything had to change.

“Nah, just wanted to let you know.”

“Alright! Noted! That everything?” Mirabel said, brightly.

Isabela looked back at Barbara, and shrugged, Barbara saw the shrug and returned it with one of her own.

“We uh, sort of thought we’d have to explain all this a little more, I mean, the basics of it, not-,” Isabela said.

“I guess we hadn’t gotten as far as considering what happens next in any real detail,” Barbara agreed.

“Well, you don’t have to decide everything right now,” Mirabel said, with a quiet smile, then looked around at the other adults for agreement, “you can talk to us as things come up. Right?”

“Absolutely,” Julieta said.

“We’re always happy to listen,” Félix nodded.

“Would you mind if we have more questions, later?” Luisa asked.

“Not at all,” Isabela reassured her.

Then Alma turned to Bruno and said, “What do you think, mijo? Any advice? You have the most experience with this sort of thing.”

Bruno gasped, surprised to realize his mother was talking about his own experiences dating men, he hadn’t thought his Má knew.

Unfortunately, they were at dinner, and as a result, Bruno was eating. When he drew in a sharp breath, a piece of chicken he’d been chewing on came with it. Bruno tried to cough it out, only for nothing to happen. The chicken was stuck. He grabbed his throat with one hand and gripped Heraldo’s forearm with the other, trying in vain to force the piece of chicken out of his windpipe.

“Tío Bruno,” Barbara apparently realized what was happening first, she gripped his shoulder and began smacking on his back, but the chicken didn’t move.

Suddenly, Heraldo shook off Bruno’s hand and stood, pulling Bruno out of his chair and wrapping him into his arms so Bruno’s back was against Heraldo’s front. Sharply, with the side of his fist planted firmly against Bruno’s ribs, Heraldo squeezed him. 

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

On the fourth squeeze, the chicken moved far enough that Bruno was able to start coughing. Heraldo and Barbara supported him while he bent over double and hacked the chicken out of his airway.

It landed on the ground between his feet. He sucked air in greedily, and coughed a few more times, his throat stinging.

Barbara adjusted his chair so Heraldo could help him sit back down. Somebody pressed a cold glass of water into his hand, he looked up to realize half the family was now on their feet, some gathered close, others comforting frightened looking children. Cheeks burning he chugged the water then took a few more, very deep, breaths.

For lack of anything better to say, he muttered, “Sorry.”

“Wha-?! Oh stow the ‘sorry’, are you alright?” Heraldo shouted.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he gestured at the piece of chicken, “look, see, it’s out.”

Julieta bustled up with an arepa, and after one bite the stinging in his throat went away. She gently rubbed his back and refused to stop until he’d finished the whole thing.

Almost desperate to rid himself of the attention, he turned back to his Má and asked, “What were you saying?”

“I uh, I wanted to know if you have any wisdom for Isabela and Barbara, since you uh-. Are you sure you’re alright?!”

“Fine, sí, totally fine. You just uh, t-took me by surprise,” he chuckled nervously, “d-didn’t realize you uh, you know, knew.”

Something funny happened to his Má’s face. First it screwed up in confusion, then went slack with realization, then screwed back up into even more confusion. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and reopened it a few times. Finally she sat back in her wicker chair and looked heaven ward.

For a second, she was still, and Bruno fidgeted with his sleeve. When it really seemed like she wasn’t going to say anything, Mirabel quietly cleared her throat and started to speak.

“What do you mean you didn’t think I knew?!” Alma burst, startling even Casita, which jolted around them.

“I-.”

“Bruno I’m your mother, how-?! You literally brought your boyfriend to dinner!” She gestured emphatically at Heraldo.

“He’s-.”

“Bruno, mijo, I love you but you’re as subtle as a siren, even when you’re trying to-. Wait! Have you been trying to hide it?”

“Sí?”

Alma gaped at him, then put her head in her hands, there was quite a lot of table between them but he still heard her breathe, “Dios, how did he manage to stay hidden for ten years if that’s the best he can do?”

Bruno’s attention was drawn to Camilo, who was beginning to “cough” into his hand. Bruno tried to glare, but that just made Camilo laugh more. Rolling his eyes, Bruno turned to look at Heraldo for support. Unfortunately, Heraldo was in the middle of draining his wine glass.

“Nevermind Barbara,” Alma said, “if you wish to keep this hidden, do not ask your Tío for advice. It will do you no good.”

“Hey,” Bruno said, as a few more people started smothering giggles.

Alma just gestured once more at Heraldo and said, “Bruno, if you truly believe I didn’t realize you two are dating then I am much more insulted by your estimation of my intelligence than I could ever hope to avenge.”

“She has a point,” Agustín said.

“Oh go trip in a river,” Bruno snapped before he could think better of it, crossing his arms and sinking into his chair as his cheeks burned so hot, it was a miracle they didn’t burst into flame. The children tittered.

“Sorry hermano, but she does,” Agustín insisted, not sounding even a little bit sorry.

Bruno huffed, turning to Heraldo, “You shouldn’t have saved me, I probably wouldn’t have to put up with anything like this in heaven.”

“Tío Bruno,” Antonio’s daughter called out, “you can’t get into heaven if you’re mean to your mother! The Bible says so.”

Bruno raised an eyebrow at the little girl, who could not yet read her chapter books much less the Bible, then turned that raised eyebrow on the girl’s mother. She shrugged sheepishly. One of the other women at the table, he wasn’t sure which, muttered “Using that”.

A graceful hand landed on Bruno’s arm, and when he turned to look, Barbara was smiling at him, “Actually, I don’t need to trouble Tío Bruno for advice, because he’s already helped me more than I thought possible. I uh, I never would have had the courage to come out to the family without the support you’ve shown me over the years.”

“Oh. W-well I didn’t do much.”

“Maybe it didn’t seem like much to you, but every pair of earrings you got me for my birthday, every time you slipped up and used ‘she’ instead of ‘he’, even just when you held the door open for me like you do all the other girls and women,” Barbara was getting a little choked up again, so he gently patted the hand on his arm, “you uh, you really made me feel like if-. You know. Like even if today went horribly I’d still have family that loved me. The real me.”

Quite suddenly, Bruno felt a little choked up himself, in a way that had nothing to do with chicken. He swallowed thickly and smiled tremulously.

“I do love you kid,” he said.

“Kid? Tío, I-I’m forty-three,” she croaked.

“Details,” he said with a shrug.

“Dios mio, Bruno has been calling her ‘she’ a lot, for years now,” Félix murmured to Pepa, accidentally drawing the whole family’s attention.

“Never could keep a secret,” Pepa responded, not even bothering to try and be quiet.

“Do you two mind?” Bruno asked, gesturing between him and Barbara, “W-we’re having a moment.”

“Were we really not supposed to know el Señor Heraldo is your boyfriend?” One of Luisa’s twins asked, suddenly cured of his shyness, apparently.

“Wha-? Has everybody known this entire time?”

“What else would he be?” Félix, the nine year old one, asked with just enough honest confusion in his voice to save his kitten from losing maze privileges.

“A friend, he could be a friend,” Bruno groused.

A few looks were exchanged, and many people avoided his eyes, but for a good ten seconds it seemed like nobody would say what they were all, very clearly, thinking. And then! Bruno was horribly betrayed.

“You don’t have friends,” Adelaide said in a matter of fact voice. Beside her, Camilo broke out laughing.

“My own daughter,” Bruno hissed, without thinking.

Camilo’s middle son, turned to Pepita and asked, “Wait? Is Tío Bruno our abuelo too?”

Pepita started to shake her head, then apparently decided she would rather have chaos, and nodded, “Yeah. Our parents are cousins.”

“What?!”

“No we aren’t, Pepa, don’t lie to your brother.”

“But he’s so gullible.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better Tío Bruno,” Mariano said, “I didn’t know.”

“Thank you Mariano,” Bruno smiled at him.

“Does he count?” Luisa’s daughter asked her dad, “You said he’s an id-.”

“Incredibly valued member of this family, sí, he is,” Luisa talked over her daughter, smiling winningly at Mariano. Oblivious, Mariano smiled back, and even thanked her.

“Wait, was I not supposed to know?” Mirabel asked.

“Um,” Bruno said, “well, I w-wasn’t actively hiding it from you.”

“Bruno, at this point I think it’s safe to say you weren’t actively hiding it from anyone,” Julieta said, she smirked at him as his family continued to betray him by laughing.

“My Má knew,” the boy who Camilo had brought home said, “she’s annoyed because if she knew sooner she would have used you to get her uncle to stop ‘moping around the house’. Apparently he thinks you're pretty.”

“Tell your Má’s uncle he’s not interested,” Heraldo all but snapped, putting an arm on the back of Bruno’s chair.

“Wait. Who is that?” Isabela whispered, pointing at the boy, then silently counting the kids at the table. She looked honestly concerned she may have forgotten a nephew.

“Camilo brought him home by mistake,” Bruno whispered back.

“Does that mean the entire village knows?” Isabela asked the boy.

“I don’t know, I just know my Má wants my Tío out of the house more.”

“Wait, so everybody knew about Tío Bruno?” Barbara confirmed, and a depressing number of people nodded, her shoulders slumped, “Alright Isa, you may have a point about my gaydar.”

“It’s alright amor, you don’t need a good gaydar, we’re already married.”

“Yeah, but I really thought I’d clocked somebody.”

The conversation fractured after that, some kids didn’t know what a “gaydar” is and had to ask, Mirabel and Alma were now discussing whether or not it would be safe for Encanto to get involved with the queer civil rights movement, and others started talking about their days. Bruno pushed his food around his plate, unable to decide if nearly choking to death, or discovering his entire family knew his secret, had killed his appetite more.

He managed a few more nibbles, because the food was really good, but when Mirabel corralled the kids into doing the dishes, he found himself handing a mostly full plate to Helena. Ferdinand zipped by and the plate was suddenly empty. Helena rolled her eyes, giving the blur a stink eye as he disappeared into the kitchen.

“I wanted some of that,” she grumbled, stomping away.

The kids rushed through doing the dishes, and Bruno heard multiple voices yell, “The sooner we finish, the sooner we get dessert” over the clamor of cleaning.

Bruno resisted the urge to try and find a corner to hide in, he knew that once he sat down he would have a cavalcade of nephews and nieces piled on top of him. Hiding in a corner was only comforting if you weren’t trapped in said corner.

Besides, he had Heraldo with him. It turned out hiding wasn’t really an option when your boyfriend was over.

So he sat back down on the couch, Heraldo next to him, and his Má on his other side. Mariano saved the half drunk bottles of wine from the sugar motivated tornado, while Luisa’s husband prepared two pots of coffee, one normal, one decaf. Bruno accepted a cup of decaf and nursed it for the rest of the night, even when he had to hold it high over his head to keep it away from a grasping toddler. Heraldo kindly took up the role of buffer between Bruno and the rest of the adults, gruffly answering any questions directed his way so he was free to sit in silence while one of his smaller nieces fell asleep on him.

Eventually, everything wound down and the niece was lifted from his lap. Bruno stiffly stood up, and offered a hand to Heraldo, who groaned as he got to his feet. Without needing to ask, Bruno knew that Heraldo was too tired to spend the night, so he patiently waited as Heraldo gave his goodbyes then walked his boyfriend home.

“So,” Heraldo said, as the hobbled their way through the empty streets.

“I can’t believe they knew this entire time,” Bruno sighed.

“Really?”

“What? Heraldo, not you too.”

“It’s just… you don’t exactly scream heterosexual,” Heraldo almost looked sheepish, a rarity for him, “honestly, when we first met I assumed you-. Well. That doesn’t matter.”

“You assumed what?”

“Bruno mi amor-.”

“No, no, go ahead, what’d you assume?”

“I thought you may have been born a woman.”

Bruno wasn’t actually annoyed, it’s not like he’d ever cared that much about being “manly” or whatever. But all the same, he squawked as if this was incredibly offensive to him. Mostly for the sake of it.

“What?! It’s a reasonable assumption,” Heraldo defended himself, “You’re a triplet, both your sisters are female-.”

“We’re fraternal. And I have a beard!”

“Oh come now Bruno, there’s nothing wrong with it, I would have fallen in love with you all the same.”

Bruno sighed, rolling his eyes while he admitted, “I know, I just-. You know how it is, I’ve spent my whole life hiding this part of me, or trying to. N-now I find out I may as well not have bothered.”

“Ah, sí,” Heraldo placed a warm hand in the middle of Bruno’s back, “I suppose I would have been a bit put out if my whole town had clocked me after I went through the trouble of marrying Belinda.”

“Do you think it’s the whole town?”

“Well, at the very least that kid’s family knows about us.”

“I’m sorry,” Bruno sighed again, “you probably could have passed if we weren’t-.”

“Bah, I passed for years, got everything I wanted out of it. And look at your niece tonight, she had a lot to lose if coming out of the closet hadn’t worked out for her, but the risk is worth it,” Heraldo waved Bruno’s concerns off, “I want to live now, I want to be loved for who I am. I want to be in love.”

Bruno smiled at him, he forced himself not to look around for whoever else might be watching, then gently, slowly, kissed Heraldo right on the lips. When they parted, Heraldo actually smiled. They walked hand in hand the rest of the way to Heraldo’s home, where they parted with another kiss.

When Bruno got back to Casita, he was sort of surprised to see Isabela still up, idly growing vines around the courtyard. When she saw him her smile was almost blinding.

“Hola mija, still up?”

“Just waiting to thank you again,” Isabela swept forward, and pulled him into a tight hug, then pulled back, keeping her hands on his shoulders.

“Ah, you don’t have to thank me. I really didn’t do much-.”

“The fact that you don’t see any of what you did as a big deal is exactly what I want to thank you for,” Isabela shook her head, “Barbara lost the life she had in the city because to them, her being a woman was too big a deal to handle. But to you, to you it’s just…”

“It’s just one part of who she is,” Bruno finished, “a-and the rest of her is the woman who has made you happier than I’d ever seen you. I really wasn’t trying to-, I just wanted her to know how much I appreciate her. For the way she’s made my niece smile.”

Isabela hugged him again, and he heard her sniffle a little, her head bowed so her face was pressed to the top of his shoulder. This time when she released him, she made for the stairs.

“I uh- I should go check on her, she wanted some time to-, well, she called it ‘privately celebrating’, but I’m pretty sure that just means ugly crying over the clothes she now gets to wear around the house.”

Bruno chuckled nodding, “Happy anniversary, by the way.”

Isabela grinned at him, “The happiest.”

Bruno watched her disappear up the stairs and into her room. He stood in the middle of the courtyard, tired, knee aching, and still a little annoyed that he’d wasted years failing to pretend to be straight. All the same, he had to admit to himself that he had been right.

It was a pretty good day.

[miracles-and-butterflies]

Okay, who comes home first, Isabela or Luisa?

Luisa was furious. Nobody has ever managed to get away from her before, or if they did, she caught them quickly afterwards. If there wasn’t a risk of drawing the townspeople, she would have set the whole place on fire. Let her sister burn like the witch she was - that’s what Mirabel said happened to people accused of witchcraft, wasn’t it? Burnt at the stake. Still happens in some places. Speaking of her younger sister, she is going to check in her.

Isabela had to have known. She doesn’t doubt that Dolores would have tried something after that warning. Since that warning, Dolores has been at her boyfriend’s side or Mirabel’s; she’s not had time to see anyone else. But, it was only a few days ago she caught Isabela by Mirabel’s bedside, didn’t she? Clever, little weasel.

“Hermanita?” She calls, letting herself in. She shuts the door behind her, taking a seat on the bed. She pats the spot beside her. Mirabel is sat on the window seat, reading, she carefully puts the book aside but she doesn’t move. “Mirabel,” she tries. “Come here, I’ve had a rough day.”

Mirabel hesitantly gets up, moving beside Luisa. Unlike before, where her sister would curl up against her like a cat looking for affection, Mirabel sits firm and tense. Even as Luisa pulls her into a hug, she doesn’t relax or hug her back.

“Are you not going to ask me what happened?” Luisa prompts, half-joking.

Her sister flinches a little. “Oh,” in realisation, not knowing she had to say anything. “What happened?” She never calls her ‘Lu’ anymore either.

“It was nothing I couldn’t handle, but it was still very frustrating. Something went missing, you see,” Luisa explained, lightly and almost smiling. She pulled her fingers through Mirabel’s hair, angling her head upwards. “Like it knew. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“N-no, I don’t know anything.” Mirabel answered.

Luisa wasn’t fully convinced. She tightened her grasp, watching as Mirabel gasped for air. She rested her head atop of her sister’s, ignoring her struggling underneath.

“Your talk with Isabela the other night. What happened? What did you say to her?”

“Nothing! I-I didn’t say a-anything, I swear!”

“So she just happened to work it out?”

“I don’t k-know anything, please! L-Luisa—”

She sighed, releasing the girl. She gently brushed her hand against Mirabel’s back as she tried to regulate her breathing again. “I don’t want to hurt you, hermanita, but I need to keep you safe. I have to protect you from these hurtful things. And you not listening to me is making it very difficult.”

“I am listening,” Mirabel weeped. “I haven’t said anything to anyone. I never said a word to Isabela.”

Maybe she really did know nothing. Mirabel can’t act or lie to save herself from anything. Just to be safe, she’ll have to do something to make sure Mirabel doesn’t fall out of line.

“I believe you, Mirabel,” she said, finally. Then grasping Mirabel’s hand, hard. “I’d never do anything to hurt you, you’re my sister. Just like you’d never do anything to hurt me. You remember what would happen to Dolores?”

Mirabel nodded slowly, pale and meek.

[toaverse]

MODERN AU WHERE MIRABEL GETS A BAYMAX BY ACCIDENT BUT NOW HER MOM DOESN'T HAVE TO SO HARD BECAUSE THERES AN ACTUALLY MEDICALLY TRAINED PERSON (BOT) IN ENCANTO

Thank you, anon!!

Mirabel felt lonely and left out of the family, to say the least. She felt unspecial and talentless...

You see, her Abuela Alma was a respected member of the community and school council.

Her Abuelo Pedro was an inventor before he died.

Her Papá Agustín was a bee keeper and sells honey the town, which was beloved by the community.

Her Mamá Julieta was a well known chef and restaurant owner, which the townspeople regularly visit to eat.

Her Tía Pepa was a known weather reporter who appeared on the news regularly. Her side of the family lived somewhere else, but Pepa was still close with Julieta and Isabela.

Her Tío Bruno was an aspiring author who had written a few books that were on the market. Though he got ostracized from the family after Pepa blamed him for "ruining" her wedding...

her Tío Félix was a beloved dance teacher who taught his students all well known dances, from the salsa to the tango.

Her oldest sister Isabela was a florist who ran her own small flower shop at 21, while also doing a model gig.

Her second older sister Luisa was a personal trainer at a gym at 19.

Her oldest cousin Dolores worked at a bookstore, while also writing her own telenovela. She was also engaged to her long-time boyfriend Mariano.

Her second older cousin Camilo was quite popular in their high school, partaking in drama club, and had gotten the lead in a school play.

Her younger cousin Antonio was still 5 years old, but he already knew he wanted work which involved taking care of animals.

But her? Mirabel Madrigal? She wasn't anything special. unlike her family, she had nothing to offer. What can you do with embroidery anyways?

Mirabel felt like she had no one...

But one day, that changed.

Mira was in her room, home alone again, her parents and sisters being busy with their beloved jobs and careers.

While she was working on a new dress, she accidentally hurts her finger with a needle.

She lets out an "ow", and so Baymax was activated.

"Hello, I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion." The robot said, waving at his patient. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how how would you rate your pain?"

Mira looked at the robot for a moment. Baymax must be one of Abuelo Pedro's inventions...

"A 1?" Mirabel answered, holding her hurt finger to sooth the pain. "I'm fine, gracias."

"I cannot deactivate until you say you're satisfied with your care." Baymax said on protocol.

An idea then popped in Mira's head. She didn't have any company, nor even a single friend. And this giant marshmallow was right here. So why couldn't Baymax keep her company until her parents and sisters come home?

"Say Baymax, what do you think of this?" Mira asked, showing the dress she's working on.

"It looks colorful." Baymax simply answered.

That simple answer made Mira crack a smile.

From that day on, the two became best friends.

Whenever the family worked or went out, Mira would activate Baymax to hang out, showing him her embroidery projects, even sewing a ruana for the robot with a marshmallow pattern! :D

But sometimes, Mira would break down in tears, letting out her pain about her feeling worthless compared to the family. In those moments, Baymax would always hug her, telling her it's okay to cry.

Mira was so happy to finally have someone to hang out with and talk to.

Until the family found out...