#(Isabela WILL leave if she doesn't like you enough)

[death-rebirth-senshi]

I tend to just push "mean-spirited party banter" into the "things I don't like about da2" jar which is a little lazy of me

[vaguely-concerned]

listen I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore but on this playthrough of DA2 I found myself once more entranced and heartbroken to see hawke reenact their relationship with their mother with the entire cursed city of kirkwall. you can never do enough for leandra, and you can never do enough for kirkwall. leandra is proud of you, and kirkwall uplifts its champion, but no matter how hard you try for them you can't fix everything there that's broken, no one could, and even the fact that anyone would feel the burning responsibility to take that task on is a huge warning sign on its own. leandra will easily allow you to sacrifice yourself on the altar of the family's continued well-being again and again, even when she'll beg you to spare the twins from the same thing. it's such a sad, painfully realistic thing because I truly don't think leandra meant to fuck up her kids, and yet she primed her oldest for an abusive toxic codependent relationship with an entire ongoing dumpster fire of a city state better than she ever could have if she had meant to.

I think what leandra actually, deep down wants from you is something you can never ever give her and that is cruel to ask of anyone, but especially your kid -- to bring her back to a time when she was happy. to reclaim when you were all happy, when nothing was broken that couldn't be fixed, before malcolm died, before you had to leave behind bethany or carver's broken body on the ground. to get her childhood back from where she left it and found it all gone and in ruins when she returned. 'this is all your fault'. this is the tragedy of parenthood sometimes I think, that capacity to define a life: she said that once, in a moment of profound pain, and she probably wouldn't have said it under other circumstances and she apologizes later, but now hawke has to live with that forever. leandra can't bear her own emotions without letting them spill over onto someone else so she won't have to hold the discomfort of them anymore, and hawke is left to shoulder that burden and responsibility again and again, handed the impossible task of making it all okay again, somehow -- of stopping anything bad from ever happening again in the Nr 1 Bad Things Constantly Happening capital of thedas.

and then at the same time there's the mirror of how varric's whole family wants orzammar back (and to him orzammar is just a ghost he's seen in their eyes -- there's something in his voice when he says 'That stupid plate was the whole city of Orzammar to him' that gets me every time, how much he understands that he doesn't understand and how lonely that makes him among them, and on top of it all he's frustrated and ashamed and sad that he just doesn't get it and can't meet them on it -- like it's a betrayal that he actually belongs up here, when varric wants so badly to be loyal), just as the hawkes want happiness back. (I don't think it's Lothering in itself that longing is for, it's for being together. Lothering was just the place they stayed the longest.) they're all in exile, even as they try to make a new home out of that exile.

(varric and hawke's real 🤝 quality across all personalities, affinities and choices is 'parentified child' lmao. so much of varric's character makes perfect sense once you know he grew up supporting a mother who was an emotionally volatile alcoholic, honestly. between varric, the hawkes, isabela, seb if you have him and merrill's whole Situation with marethari I feel like DA2 covertly is to mommy issues what ME2 is to daddy issues fjsdjfa)

basically I think I'm trying to pick apart exactly why the fact that leandra is clearly proud of hawke and tells them so several times doesn't feel like it helps at all, almost feels more like a cage even though it's clearly meant well? and what I'm getting is that it's because my sense of what hawke actually needs, in general but especially from a parent, isn't admiration or approval but to be loved and supported and understood. I don't believe leandra ever quite understands them, and it scares her because it makes her think she maybe never even understood malcolm. (that's the subtext of a lot of what leandra will say about him in legacy, at least. he's slipping away from her as the years pass after his death and she fears she never really had him in the first place, if he had secrets like these.) she consistently treats her oldest more like a partner or peer than as her child, which considering hawke is always described as being very similar to their father… I mean I totally see how that could be easy to slip into for her after he died especially, but it doesn't make it any less fucked up or unfair.

the real leandra in legacy is. she is SO absurdly self-centered, if you really pay attention. I don't want to keep dunking on her because I don't think she's like this on purpose, but it boggles my mind. if you do the quest in act 1 she gets so upset and overwhelmed that the kids just sort of sit there like :( at the end, which adds to the trend that through the game you constantly see hawke comforting leandra, and you pretty much never see leandra comforting hawke, beyond some light vaguely encouraging comments in passing. if you do legacy in act 2 while she's still alive hawke comes to her, tentatively asking if malcolm ever spoke to her about any of it -- clearly requesting some sort of emotional support or help to make sense of it. she then expresses her side of it, but never once does she say anything to the effect of 'hey that was a lot to go through, are you okay after all that?'.

instead she essentially hands them the responsibility of having a good life, to repay what malcolm did for all of them. and in theory that's not the worst takeaway I suppose, malcolm probably would want them all to be happy, but in the moment it only feels like more expectation heaped upon you somehow? especially since you don't really get to express anything about how it made you feel before she goes to the 'ah no use complaining' zone (after SHE got to express her grief at feeling like she's losing more and more of that old life, and hawke barely got to say anything fhsfalkjfs). in general she really doesn't do much like. parenting, does she haha. there is so much love there in that relationship, and yet so little comfort. Oh, those days. All of us, in that simple place. Well, that's neither here nor there, is it. This life, we have to make the best of it. And thanks to you, and him, I will. Oh well, mum, I'm uh. I'm glad you feel better after that, at least. Nice to be of service.

it's varric's ghost-leandra who actually acknowledges what a burden hawke has taken on, that shows an understanding of why they're doing it, acknowledges the loss they've been through and also reassures them in their sense of belonging that still can't be taken from them, despite it all -- The best of him is still with you. The best of all of us. It's what makes you try so hard. You'll always have that. We'll always be family. (you can't take 'loved' away, huh.) you get a bit more of a reconciliation/reconnection between hawke and their dad's memory by being reminded he got like this too, you know (implicitly you're not alone). varric through leandra is the one who tells them what they probably would have wanted and needed to hear from a parent right then -- It's going to be alright. that's what Hawke, The Champion means to everyone else, and for once they get to be the one to hear it. except only in a kind dream that never really happened. I. it. hmmmmmm. crushing. that is crushing. but also so incredibly tender from varric's side, and so moving to me that he's seen all this stuff and so desperately wants to give them that comfort. anyway DA2 is about love in some of the realest and thus messiest and most human ways I've ever seen and it makes my brain go wild it's my favorite game of all time goodnight

[rosemarytales]

Why I think the Madrigals believed Bruno to be dead

The adults only speak about him in past tense. "Bruno didn't care about this family". As far as she knows, if he's still alive and not back it means he actively still doesn't care about the family, so why not say that? Félix also speaks in past tense ("You better figure it out, because it was coming for you"). Julieta's "My brother Bruno lost his way in this family" makes sense regardless of whether she thought he'd died or not, but to me it does sound very final. Pepa cannot even hear his name without thundering. With the amount of love she has for him, the thought that he might have made himself a happier life in a town that does not shun him should bring her at least a bit of comfort, but she's inconsolable even after so much time. I'm sure there are more examples of this and if I can think of them, I'll add them in the replies.

The door going dark. Now, we know it stopped being lit because he had decided not to use his power anymore, but it makes far more sense for it to be because he couldn't use his power anymore (because he was dead). Casita, much like Bruno, can tell the future, so she knew he was going to use it again, the vow did not really count for anything. Are you telling me that anytime a family member leaves their room and considers not using their power for a while their door goes black?? It makes a lot more sense for the family to have thought he had died. The same applies for Casita not being able to help inside the room: it sounds like a metaphor for the Madrigals not being able to help Bruno anymore.

The deleted scene. In the "Chores!" deleted scene, Félix talks about a fight Bruno had with the family (possibly even the moment he left the family?). In this scene, Bruno displays actual suicidal tendencies ("I wish I was dead!"), and, when he leaves, his room starts rotting and decaying. This scene was removed in the final movie, because it is clearly too dark for kids, but we have no reason to believe that it is not still canon in the universe, as we can see that his room is actually decaying and falling apart. If a family member tells you they wish they were dead and then disappear leaving no trace, it is not a crazy jump to think they are not still alive, especially considering the next point.

Bruno left behind most of his belongings. We do not know how much stuff Bruno had in the first place, but when he leaves his room after the vision, we do not see him holding a bag (or anything really) and even if it's there, it is definitely not a bag big enough to sustain someone leaving their home for good. The stuff he has in the walls was likely gathered long after his family had stopped searching for him. He also has no money and the social skills of a rat, where was he even going??

The room falling apart. Not entirely sure about this, but I think the characters' rooms reflect somewhat the emotional state of their owners (Isabela's room in What Else Can I Do + if I'm not mistaken, Camilo's room is supposed to change colour based on his mood like a chameleon). This is further demonstrated by the stairs, which had been growing for years before Bruno actually left. This is a bit of a stretch, but I think the family could have seen one of two alarm bells in the decaying room: a) Bruno's room was decaying like him (kinda gruesome, but it makes some semblance of sense); b) it did not change at all for 10 years. I don't think rooms change only when their owner is in them, so Bruno's emotional state supposedly not changing for so long is alarming. But again, this point is the one that convinces me the least.

Dolores. Dolores mentions hearing Bruno in the walls three (3) times, in the movie alone: in We Don't Talk About Bruno, at breakfast ("and the rats talking in the walls") and in All of You. It's been ten years and she still mentions him constantly, so she's probably been talking about it since the very beginning, but no one believed her. So, a child keeps hearing their relative who disappeared without a trace in their family home, without seeing him and with everyone saying it wasn't possible. Logical conclusion? It's a ghost.

The family's reactions to him returning. Alma is the most striking. It takes quite a long time for her shocked face to wear off. Julieta is equally shocked as well, like she'd never expected to see him ever again. It could also be she just didn't expect him to come back. Pepa looks relieved, like she'd been on edge for 10 years and can finally know peace. Why would that be? The fact that he's back does not mean they are going to rekindle their relationship, but it does mean that she gets a new chance to show him she loves him, being the first to run to hug him. Her eyebags also show many a sleepless nights tossing and turning, maybe feeling guilty because she hadn't shown him her love enough and she thought she never could again.

Bonus: "The mountains around the Encanto are pretty tall!" In this scene, after Bruno says this sentence, he makes a weird face, like he's already considered how tall the mountains are and he's trying to understand if Mirabel caught onto that.

[venvellan]

da2's arishok is a good villain. if you have a fundamental understanding of the qun and listen to his thought process, the things he does makes sense. he uses the qun to justify slaughtering kirkwall's people, which is utterly inexcusable and what makes him a villain, but his character is complex enough to make dealing with him that much more thought provoking. he sends agents to kill petrice because she was killing his people, he doesn't give up the elves because they committed their lives to the qun, no matter how recently they converted, and he refuses to leave without the tome (and isabela) because his idea of justice hasn't been done. his logic makes sense, generally, though it is wrong on more than one occasion. he isn't moral, but he is methodical.

i feel this way about solas, too. i like da2's arishok for the same reasons that initially draw people to solas, i think. when we meet them, i find them interesting and educational to talk to, someone worthy of respect, and someone very honorable in their own way. similarly, many of my issues with solas compare with flaws in the qun/the arishok.

solas asserts that all of his beliefs are correct, and we're never allowed to challenge him on any of it. if he has high enough approval, he'll approach you to go, "yknow, i thought you were all [insert prejudice or stereotype] but YOU showed me that some of you guys are actually okay," which is NOT what it looks like for someone's beliefs to be challenged.

brief aside, i want to be fair in that we don't get this opportunity with many of the companions, and it's not even an inquisition specific issue. the dialogue format is agree, joke, be mean, and it's flawed, but it works in the majority of interactions. we don't really get to engage in nuanced discussions with characters, but there are positives and negatives to the system overall. it is possible to challenge and shape a character within this dialogue system (i.e., garrus vakarian) but in dragon age that really only comes in the form of harden/unharden. it was a little more doable with origins' system, but it really hasn't been a huge part of any dragon age game. most characters' beliefs remain largely unchanged by you regardless of how you play.

solas also possesses a strong sense of duty and purpose, though what duty he has, what his true goals are, he keeps hidden as long as he can. the most damning comparison though, to me, is how willing he is to destroy the world and bring back "his people," while the qunari fight to conquer the world and homogenize society into "their people."

in any case, with both him and the arishok, you can see the wheels turning in their heads. you can see why they do what they do, even if it's wholly immoral. it makes their threat a lot more personal, a lot scarier, psychologically, that a "normal" person, who doesn't want to cause suffering, can hold such specific beliefs and such strong conviction that knowing that they'll hurt people doesn't give them any pause. the root of their motivation is understandable. solas wants to right his wrongs, at his core. the arishok implicitly believes that the qun is safer, better for its people than life outside the qun. we can see that they're taking it too far, but they don't care. it makes them good villains.

"i am not corypheus, i take no joy in this." sure, which is a very similar sentiment, emotionally, to the qunari sense of duty. you can say you don't enjoy it all you want, you're still committing genocide. you can hate the qunari all you want, but you fight with their ferocity, their unshakeable faith in their own cause. their need to "do what's right," no matter who's caught in the wake.

i understand why people like solas, i go back and forth on it myself, but i don't think he's all that different from the arishok in method and motivation. they're each thrust into a world so different from what they believe is "right" that they demand it change around them. if we had to kill the old arishok, then if solas refuses to give up, he will have to die. he doesn't get to do genocide just because he's romanceable. he's a good character, he's a good villain, but he's not a good guy, and unless he stops before he does any real harm (which he will not do), he should share the arishok's fate.

[axlerica]

CANARY ISLAND ~ PART 4

-Sorry for going MIA, everyone. I just got back from my vacation. Here’s part 4 for you all. Sorry to keep you guys waiting. Thanks for your patience, and I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you guys think!🫶🏻

PART 3

As Y/N walked away, she couldn’t stop crying. Her heart hurt so much. She just knew that her relationship with Pedri had ended and she would never forgive him for what he did.

Pedri stood there, his mind filled with regret. His thoughts raced as he reflected on Y/N's words. He couldn't shake the truth in what she said. Y/n was right. She was the one who had always been there for him. Through ups and downs. When he was sick, she stayed up all night taking care of him, making sure he was comfortable and getting better. She was there when he was injured, giving him the support he needed and always trying her best to help him recover faster. She was the only one who can put up with all of his nonsense and she never once complained.

“What have I done….? I have to fix this.” Pedri started to realize that he’s going to lose her forever because of what he did.

Pedri ran after Y/N and held her hand and said “Amor please wait, don’t go…”

Y/N was furious because Pedri called her "amor," and she responded, "You don't get to call me that after what you did. Don't you ever call me that. I'm not your 'amor.' Now let go of my hand!! I don’t want anything to do with you anymore! Go away you cheater!”

Pedri: Y/N, please, you don’t mean that right? just listen to me for a moment.

Y/N: Oh yes, I mean every word I say. What’s there left to say, Pedri? You hurt me! You fucked up!

Pedri: I know I fucked up, and I can’t even begin to apologize enough for how I treated you. It was unfair, and I should have trusted you. But.. please amor you have to understand…I…

Y/N: What? You trusted Isabela over me, Pedri! She manipulated the situation, and you fell for it, then you slept with her! NOW LET GO OF ME!!

Pedri: I was a fool, Y/N. I let my anger cloud my judgment, and I see that now. You mean everything to me, and I don’t want to lose you, please.. Sleeping with her was a mistake. I don’t know what got over me… Please, it didn’t mean anything to me. Please trust me..

Y/N: Huh? Trust you? You think I should trust you, Pedri? After what you did? You have got to be fucking kidding me right? You didn’t even trust me when I told you I didn’t do all those things yesterday! Now you’re asking me to trust you?FUCK YOU PEDRI! HOW CAN I TRUST YOU?! A MISTAKE MEANS YOU FORGETTING MY BIRTHDAY NOW THAT’S WHAT WE CALL A FUCKING MISTAKE. CHEATING AND SLEEPING WITH SOMEONE IS NOT A MISTAKE! IT’S A CHOICE!! YOU MADE THIS CHOICE!

Pedri: Please, Y/N, give me a chance to make this right. I didn’t cheat on you…I thought we were broken up already…

Y/N : So our relationship is going through a rough patch, and you immediately break up with me? And then you go and sleep with someone else? What makes you think that's okay? Huh. You’re unbelievable. Goodbye Pedri.

Y/N managed to slip away from Pedri's grip and walked toward the house's gate. Just as she was about to hop into the cab, Fer, who had just come back from the restaurant, noticed her teary-eyed face. He rushed out of his car and asked with concern, "Hey hey, Y/N, ¿Qué pasa? Why are you crying? Are you okay?"

Y/N, still upset, replied, "Hey, Fer, sorry... I'm not okay. Ask your brother." She then said goodbye to Fer and entered the cab, ready to leave.

Fer barged into the house, he was extremely upset. He confronted Pedri, "What the hell hermano? What did you do to Y/N? Why does she look like a wreck???"

Pedri stayed silent. But when Fer spotted Isabela coming down the stairs, wearing Pedri's shirt and collecting her things, he pieced it together. "No way….bro…you slept with Isabela, didn't you?"

Fer looked disappointed and said, "You messed up big time, bro. Y/N doesn't deserve this. I'm really disappointed in you."

Surprisingly, Pedri didn't try to catch Y/N. He didn't fight for her. He let her go because it seemed easier for him than trying to convince Y/N to forgive him. Deep down in Y/N's heart, she was hoping Pedri would go after her and fight for her, despite what he did.

There was a part of her that wanted him to fight for this relationship, to prove to her that she was worth fighting for. Sadly, he just let her go, and with that, she knew she was replaceable.. It shattered her heart to see how easily he let their relationship end.

She told herself that she wouldn't forgive him and decided to cut him off along with everyone around him. She truly wanted nothing to do with Pedri. It felt easier that way, deleting him from her life and acting like she never knew him. So, she went on every social media platform and blocked him, Fer, and everyone associated with Pedri. She went MIA for weeks, distancing herself from it all.

Pedri returned to Barcelona and entered his house, only to realize that all of Y/N's things were gone. It was as if she had never existed in his life. Y/N must have taken all her belongings and moved out of the house. On the coffee table, he saw the spare key that he had given her, which used to be adorned with a custom-made keychain from their vacation in Paris. But even the keychain was missing now. Pedri was heartbroken as he realized that Y/N had left him forever, and he knew there was nothing he could do to change it.

Still, Pedri attempted to call Y/N, but all he heard was a message saying that the number was no longer in service. He also tried searching for her on Instagram and Twitter, but it seemed that she had blocked him on all social media platforms. It was clear that Y/N had made a clean break from him and had no intention of keeping any contact.

————————————————————

As the weeks went by, Barcelona's team was dominating La Liga, and Pedri was in top form, contributing significantly and scoring goals. His performance seemed to reflect a happier and healthier version of himself.

Y/N caught glimpses of this on the news before quickly changing the channel. Her roommate asked, "Don't you miss him?" Y/N replied, "Why would I miss someone who treated me like shit? It's not worth it."

Her roommate said, "I'm sorry… but you know…he's Pedri…He's got so many fans, especially girls. I can't imagine how you're managing to move on from someone like him."

Y/N replied, "Well, it's easy when that “someone” cheated on you. Your perception of them completely changes. Besides, I have to move on. It’s the right thing to do when someone doesn’t treat you well, no matter who they are.”

Her roommate said, "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry for asking you that. Anyway….do you wanna go to Ibiza next week? We can party and enjoy the whole week. It's time for you to get out there and enjoy being single instead of moping around here and crying every single night. Yeah, don't think I don't know that? I heard you crying, babe. Come on, let's go with me!"

Y/N hesitated, "Well….I'm not sure. I've got a lot of work to catch up on, and I've barely unpacked my stuff. Plus, I'm not really in the mood for a party right now…”

Y/N had just relocated to Sevilla. She didn't want to stay in the same city as Pedri, so she made the choice to leave her apartment in Barcelona. She requested a job transfer to Sevilla and was fortunate that her transfer request got approved. Without delay, she moved to Sevilla. That's when she met her roommate, who happened to be her high school best friend. They talked, and her friend offered her a place to stay since she was working in Sevilla too. Y/N was really thankful because everything worked out well, and at least she had someone she knew in the city, so she wouldn't be alone.

Her roommate still trying to persuade her, "Come on, just ask for a few days off from work, I'm sure they'll be fine, right? Just use your annual leave, please, please."

Y/N replied, "Well….I do have a lot of annual leave I haven't used, but I don't know. I'll think about it, okay? I'll let you know."

————————————————————

It was Pedri's day off, he chose to stay home and play video games with his brother and his friend, Gavi and Fer. After a few games, Gavi accidentally asked, "Hey, where's Y/N? I miss her making us churros or caramel flan. She used to cook for us when we played, right?" Fer nudged Gavi and said, "Come on, man, they're not together anymore! What's wrong with you?"

Gavi then exclaimed, "Oh, mierda! My bad, sorry, bro. I keep forgetting that you guys broke up." Pedri was upset, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he went upstairs to his room and sit on his bed. The truth is, he still misses her. He hadn't gone out partying or enjoyed himself since the break-up. All he did was go to the gym, train, and play his matches. It was all over the news how well Pedri was performing now, getting better and better. But he still felt empty without Y/N by his side. It was like he was missing a part of his life, and it hurts so bad.

He would occasionally scroll through his phone, looking at old pictures of him and Y/N together. He missed their late-night conversations, her laughter, and the way she used to surprise him with little acts of kindness. He remembered the times when they cooked together, made each other laugh, and shared their dreams. It was all gone now, and he couldn't help but regret how he had let things spiral out of control.

Pedri tried to distract himself with his football career, and he was excelling. But even on the field, there were moments when he wished Y/N was in the stands, cheering him on. He knew he had messed up a good thing, and the pain of that realization never left him.

Ferran arrived at Pedri’s house and found Gavi and Fer sitting on the couch. He asked, “Guys? where’s Pedri?”

Fer responded, “This cabron made him moody. He mentioned Y/N’s name. You know him, once he hears her name, he’s immediately not in the mood anymore. I don’t know why he’s acting like that. He’s the one who messed up.”

Ferran nodded. He said, “Hmmm…. I think we should do something. Maybe let’s bring him to a club? Let him enjoy a bit? It’s been a while since he’s been to a club.”

Gavi chimed in, “Well, I’m down, but I don’t know if Pedri is. You should go convince him.”

Ferran agreed, and he knew he needed to help Pedri take his mind off things, even if just for one night.

Ferran decided to go talk to Pedri. He found him in his room, looking at some old photos on his phone. Fer said, "Hey, hermano, I know things have been tough since the breakup, but maybe it's time to get out and have some fun. What do you say we hit a club tonight? Just like old times."

Pedri looked up, a bit surprised by Ferran’s suggestion. He hesitated for a moment but then nodded, "You know what, Fer, maybe you're right. A night out might do me some good. Let's do it."

Fer smiled, relieved to see Pedri willing to give it a try. “Cool, let’s go!”.

———————————————————

Y/N was scrolling through her Twitter feed when she suddenly came across some tweets about the Barca boys having a great time at a club. She decided to ignore the tweets and kept scrolling. However, one picture of Pedri caught her eye. The tweet said that Pedri was seen having a blast in a club, surrounded by some Instafamous girls. He had his arms around them and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

Once again, Y/N couldn't hold back her tears, but she quickly wiped them away. She decided to put her phone down and switch to her iPad to watch a movie instead, trying to distract herself from the painful picture she saw just now.

Then, Y/N's roommate came home and asked what she was watching. Y/N replied, "Oh, just some old rom-com movie, '10 Things I Hate About You.' I love this movie. Wanna join?" Her roommate agreed, saying, "Yeaaah, sureee I'll join you."

Then, Y/N hesitated for a moment and said, "Hey, about the Ibiza trip...on second thought, I think I wanna go." Her roommate was thrilled and exclaimed, "Yay! Perfect! We'll go next week."

———————————————————-

It was the La Liga final, Barcelona was set to face their rival, Real Madrid. It was quite a big match, so Pedri's family had flown in from Tenerife to support him. Pedri felt grateful because his family is so supportive of him.

Before the game, his mom and dad wished him good luck, and they shared a hug. Then, Pedri stepped onto the field. When the whistle blew, the game began.

In the 44th minute, Joao Felix scored, and the team celebrated their early lead. The match became intense in the second half when Jude Bellingham equalized with a goal, making it 1-1.

However, in the 87th minute, Joao Cancelo scored a crucial goal, securing Barcelona's victory as the "Campeon de la Liga." The stadium erupted in cheers as they celebrated their hard-fought triumph.

After winning the championship, all the Barcelona players went near the stands to thank their fans for their support and celebrate the victory with them. Pedri walked over to the stands, scanning the stadium in hopes of seeing Y/N at his big game. Unfortunately, he didn't spot her in the crowd.

But the celebrations continued as family and friends were allowed onto the pitch to celebrate with the players. They took pictures and videos together, capturing this special moment of victory.

Pedri took pictures with his teammates and then with his family. As he was celebrating, a woman poked his shoulder, and he turned around to see that it was Isabela. Pedri greeted her, saying, "Oh hey, Isabela! I didn't think I would see you here. You came all the way from Tenerife?"

Isabela replied “Hey, Pedri! I couldn't miss this important game of yours. It's a big moment for you, and I wanted to be here to support you! Anyway…congratulations on winning La Liga! You and the team played amazingly.

Pedri then replied “Thanks, Isabela. It's been a great season.”

They share a warm hug and continue chatting about the game and celebrations.

Y/n and her roommate were at the airport when the match was on. Y/n has always been a culér, watched the game at the airport while waiting for her flight. When Barcelona won, she couldn't help but feel happy, though she refrained from congratulating Pedri because she didn't want him to think she was still thinking about him. Instead, she let out a sigh, put her phone back in her pocket, and prepared to board her flight as her roommate urged her to go.

———————————————————

Back at Pedri’s home, his mother wanted to celebrate his big win and invited some of Pedri’s friends over, including Isabela. It was a great party, and everyone congratulated him, calling him "campeón." Pedri was having a good time until he tried to go upstairs to his room.

He overheard Isabela on her phone with her friends, saying, "Yeah, I'm at Pedro's home in Barcelona. She's not here anymore. There are no pictures of her in his room. They've broken up already. It's so easy to get rid of her. I just created a little conflict, and boom, he broke up with her. He didn't even trust her, can you believe it?" She then laughed.

Pedri was shocked when he heard what Isabela had said. At that moment, he knew he had messed up. Big time. He didn't trust Y/N, let alone saying hurtful things to her and even sleeping with Isabela, the one who had created all this conflict.

He was so mad that he confronted Isabela and said, "What the hell?! So it was you?!!! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO PUT PEANUT BUTTER IN FER'S DRINKS? YOU SAID Y/N SLAPPED YOU, BUT SHE DIDN'T TOUCH YOU AT ALL, RIGHT?!"

Isabela stammered in her response, saying, "Uh….Pedro, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt Fer, but you have to understand, I'm doing this because I love you. We've known each other forever, and you're supposed to be with me, not her. Please, I'm sorry…”

Pedri then said, "You're not my friend anymore. You don't get to choose who I can or cannot be with. You wrecked my relationship, and you made me let go of the person I love the most. What kind of person are you? What kind of friend would even do that? From now on, you don't know me, and I don't know you. Now, get out of my house and never show your face here again!"

Pedri went downstairs to find Fer and asked for his phone. Fer was confused and said, "Yo, hermano, what's wrong? Chill." Pedri replied urgently, "I need to find Y/N. I have to get her back. It wasn't her, Fer. She didn't do all those things. It was Isabela. I caught her, and she just admitted it to me just now. I messed up, bro. I need to find her back. I've hurt her so bad. Give me your phone, let me try to call her or DM her. Maybe she will reply if it's from your account."

Fer handed over his phone, and said, "Brooo, I told you Y/N didn't do all that stuff, but you were such a dick to her at the time."

With Fer's phone in hand, Pedri tried to find Y/N's account and called her using Fer's number. Sadly, there was no answer, and he couldn't find her online. It was clearly she had cut ties with everyone in his group because of how much he hurt her. It was that much that she didn’t want anything to do with anyone around him.

Pedri wanted to bail on his party, but Fer said he shouldn’t do that. It would be rude of him to just leave like that when everyone was there for him. Fer told him to find Y/N tomorrow, so he stayed until the party ended.

————————————————————-

The next day, Pedri went to Y/N's apartment only to find out someone else was living there. He asked for Y/N, and the new tenant said there was no girl by that name living there. Pedri then asked Y/N's old neighbor, and she said Y/N had moved out four weeks ago after coming back from vacation with him in Tenerife. She mentioned that Y/N looked miserable and asked what had happened between them.

Pedri: “Do you know where I can find Y/N or if she mentioned where she's gone?”

Neighbor: “I'm sorry, but I don't know. Y/N wasn't really talking to anyone when she left. She looked very sad, with puffy eyes, so I didn't think it was the right time to ask her about her plans.”

Pedri: “So, she really didn't say anything to anyone before leaving?”

Neighbor: “No, I'm afraid not. She seemed like she needed some space, and I didn't want to pry.”

Pedri: “I messed up big time, and I need to find her. She means everything to me.”

Neighbor: “I hope you can work things out. Maybe you could try reaching out to her friends or family? They might know where she went.”

Pedri: “Yeah, that's a good idea. Thanks for your help.”

Pedri was feeling desperate to find a way to reach out to Y/N. He knew that her few close friends had also blocked him, making it even harder to locate her. At this point, he felt like he had hit a dead end in his efforts to make amends and apologize for his mistakes. He wished he could turn back time and change the way he had handled things with Y/N.

Then, he had the courage to call Y/N's mom. He greeted her warmly and inquired about how she was doing. Y/N's mom, who had always liked Pedri, reciprocated the greetings and asked how he was holding up. Then, Pedri couldn't help but ask about Y/N.

Pedri: “Hi, it's been a while. How have you been?”

Y/N's Mom: “Oh, I've been alright, dear. How about you?”

Pedri: “Hanging in there. I, uh, was wondering about Y/N. Do you know where she is right now?”

Y/N's Mom: “Well, Pedri, I know you care about her, but Y/N has made it clear that she doesn't want anyone to know her whereabouts, especially you. She’s been through a tough time.”

Pedri: “I understand. I just want to apologize and make things right. But if she doesn't want me to know, I'll respect her wishes.”

Y/N's Mom: “That's thoughtful of you, Pedri. Just give her some time. Maybe someday, she'll be ready to talk.”

Pedri: “Yeah, maybe. Thanks for understanding, and please tell her I'm truly sorry.”

Y/N's Mom: I will, Pedri. Take care of yourself too.

Y/N's mom had always liked Pedri because she thought he was a good guy. She didn't know the details of what Pedri had done to Y/N, as Y/N didn't want her parents to hate him. So, Y/N simply told her parents that they had broken up. Just that.

——————————————————————

Meanwhile in Ibiza, Y/N had a wonderful time with her roommate. They spent their days at the beach, soaking up the sun, and listening to the calming ocean waves. Y/N really enjoyed these peaceful moments, reading a few books, and temporarily escaping from the stress and heartache she had experienced recently.

On the third day of their trip, Y/N's roommate suggested going to a local club for some nighttime fun. Y/N was excited about the idea and agreed. She began to prepare for the evening by choosing an outfit and applying some makeup. Everything seemed to be falling into place for a great night out.

However, just as Y/N was about to finish getting ready, she suddenly felt unwell. Her stomach started to churn uncomfortably, and a strong headache throbbed in her temples. It was as if her body was objecting to the idea of going out for a night of partying.

Y/N turned to her roommate and said, "I'm really sorry, but I don't think I can go out tonight. I suddenly feel unwell, and I think it might be because of the food I had earlier."

Her roommate, understanding and concerned, replied, "Oh no, that's not good. Don't worry about it, your health comes first. Just take some rest and drink some water. We can always go out another night."

Y/N however insisted, "You should go, seriously. You’re all dressed up and ready to go. You look amazing, and I don't want you to miss out because of me. I'll be fine here at the hotel."

Her roommate hesitated, asking once more, "Are you absolutely sure?"

Y/N nodded with confidence, "Yes, of course! I can handle myself. Go and enjoy!"

Her roommate smiled, leaned in, and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Alright, babe, take care. I'll see you later!"

Y/N's roommate left for the club, leaving Y/N alone in their hotel room. She immediately rushed to the bathroom and couldn't help but throw up, her condition worsening with each passing moment. After drinking some water, she lay down on her bed, feeling utterly drained.

As she lay there, something hit her.

She haven’t got her period this month. Her period was overdue by a week, and she hadn't experienced any signs of it arriving. Panic welled up inside her, and she whispered to herself, "Oh no...no no no no, fuck no….”

Y/N vividly remembered that her last time being with Pedri was a day before they went to Tenerife, precisely a month ago. Y/N felt more and more worried, thinking about the chance of being pregnant.

PART 5 !?????

[strawberryblue-blog]

Love again. Part 2 —Pedri

summary: You and Pedri were best friends since you were little but then you grew up and things changed between you two.

warnings: none. jealousy, love triangle, angst, friends to strangers, friends to lovers.

word count: +3.5k

#SEXYNOTE: dedicated to you @http-isabela and all the people who follow me and support my work. THANK YOU SO MUCH 🩵

It wasn't how you imagined coming home for the vacations. Lying in bed, not even going out of your room. Thinking about what an idiot you were to think that if you went back to see him it might have been different.

You left with a broken heart and you had come back for Pedri to break it again. Maybe even he didn't know that. Why couldn't he see you with different eyes? With those eyes that used to see you when you were growing up. When you ran along the beach at sunset, when you fought in your backyard or when you walked home after school.

Even their families were friends. They had lived in the same neighborhood all their lives. His house was next door to yours, that's why you had never left your house. You knew her family might see you and you didn't want them to know you were here, it would be more painful for you.

His chat was open when you looked on your phone. The last few messages had been from you but there was no reply. Pedri had ignored them. He hadn't even taken the time to reply to you. That was what you meant to him.

A sob came out of your mouth as you slammed the phone down on the mattress.

Had you scared him? Did your relationship mean so little to him? Maybe you should never have kissed him. Maybe you should never have told him how you felt but you didn't imagine he would completely ignore you afterwards. You were about to lose him when he was leaving for Barcelona and you wanted to tell him how you felt because it was important to you, but you had completely ruined it.

Your sheets were already wet from crying. Even your eyes were tired and your head hurt. Nothing was going to be like before, he had asked you to stay away. He didn't even want your friendship anymore.

You sniffled when your doorbell rang. Your head still tucked under your pillow when it rang again.

"Mom?" you shouted calling out. No one answered.

You snorted as you had to get out of bed and out of your room, screaming your mother's name again but no one answered. You wiped your tears a bit and rearranged your hair as you walked vaguely to the door.

You half-heartedly opened it ready to kick out anyone who interrupted your wailing nap.

"But what the fuck are you doing dressed like that?" asked your friend, Ana. Lucrecia was behind her, coming in with bottles of alcohol.

Oh no.

"Look, Y/n. We forgave you yesterday because after what that idiot did, we understood that you felt bad but not today" she said pushing you to enter your house. Lucrecia kissed your cheek and you whimpered a little.

"Stop crying!" she shouted from the kitchen. "We don't cry for men, remember?" she walked towards you with the glass and bottle of champagne.

You reached out your hand to take it but instead grabbed the whole bottle snatching it away from him. Lucrecia looked at you in surprise. You shuffled over to the couch and plopped down on it, taking a sip from the bottle.

"I-I c-can't!" you sobbed tearfully. The two of them ran to you. "He hates me, I ruined everything!" you continued to cry.

Your friends quickly hugged you. You were a mess. You couldn't stand the pain in your heart, literally Pedri was everything to you.

"You don't understand," you said. "I've known him since we were born and I thought we loved each other."

The sad looks from your friends made you feel worse. You hated feeling this way for that reason you had left but deep down you knew going back was not a viable thing to do.

"That's enough" Lucrecia said grabbing you by the shoulders. "He's not worth it, he ignored you, he dumped you, he doesn't care about you."

"He's an idiot who thinks he's the center of the world!" continued Ana. "You have to get over him or he'll have won."

You let out a sigh. They were right. He had already decided, ignorant for years, forgetting about your existence, asking you to stay away from him. You were not going to be his puppet, letting yourself be driven by his power.

"Life is one and Pedri can shove his life up his ass" Lucrecia spat taking the bottle from your hand to drink too.

"We'll go to the party. We'll ruin his night" you said trying to believe it. Your eyes stopped leaking tears and your friends jumped around you.

Pedri wasn't going to ruin your life any more than he had. It was time to put it all behind you and move on with your life. He had done it somewhere else. With other people.

Now it was your turn.

Your friends took care of finding the perfect outfit for tonight. It consisted of a light blue silk dress and your blue sandals, and they had even done your hair and makeup for the occasion.

During all the preparation, some others had joined you and had cheered you up while they were doing the preview at your house.

You arrived at the beach after midnight, almost everyone was already there. It was decorated with lights and bonfires, although it was not cold, but it gave life to the night. Your friends did not stop cheering you on and making you have fun while dancing and laughing.

You could not avoid looking for Pedri with your eyes. Even if you did so in disguise, Lucrecia had already scolded you with her gaze several times. It was inevitable. But you were here to enjoy your homecoming and you weren't going to let your heart ruin your evening.

"Hey ladies!" someone shouted nearby. Your body turned to see the group of players arrive.

You cursed as your friends started greeting and chattering to each other.

"Hey cutie" someone said behind you.

"F-ferran" you called out to him as you turned to see him. "Hi" you greeted. You moved closer to leave a kiss on his cheek and he wanted to do the same too, making your faces so close.

"Are you better?" he asked smiling. You looked at him confused. "Lucrecia said you were sick and that's why you didn't come last night" he clarified.

"Oh yes" you replied. "It was just discomfort. Thanks for asking, Ferran" you thanked with a sincere smile.

Your eyes fell to two people watching behind the boy. You swallowed saliva when you saw him arrive. He was not alone. Someone was holding his hand as they walked towards the group. Pedri looked haughty and the girl next to him was gorgeous, definitely not from around these parts. Was that why he had asked you to stay away? Why did he have a girlfriend now? You didn't expect him to reciprocate your feelings, just to go back to the way things used to be, long before what had happened. Friends.

"I've been looking forward to seeing you," the chestnut said, leaning closer for you to hear. You sighed nervously, giving Ferran your full attention. Your cheeks flushed red. "You look beautiful tonight."

His words made you choke on your own saliva, had Ferran just called you gorgeous? You blinked in surprise. And for a moment you forgot the couple behind you.

"Buy you a drink?" you asked cordially.

He nodded.

You took his hand fearlessly, interlacing your fingers. Ferran looked at you smiling and you smiled back as they walked away from everyone. You reached the bar and ordered a drink, waiting for Ferran to order his to hand over the money.

You started talking about yourselves. Ferran listened attentively about your life in the US, then he told you about his life with football and it was so cool. Talking to Ferran Torres was amazing. You couldn't believe it that he would come up to you.

"Shall we dance?" you asked as bodies rolled on the beach.

You were finally distracted, not even thinking about Pedri (Or his new girlfriend). Ferran made everything more enjoyable, he was a nice guy and super fun. You walked laughing to the dance floor, where he took your hand and spun you around in a circle. The music was perfect and they quickly adapted to it, dancing and having fun while being joined by their friends.

Ferran's hands held your waist and pulled you closer to him, making you blush a little. It was clear he had other intentions and you weren't going to let it go. Your back was pressed against his chest as you moved your hips to the rhythm of the music, smiling at the feeling of freedom. You were enjoying his company and anyone who saw you would notice.

Even Pedri.

That when you opened your eyes, you saw him far away from you. His face was serious, his deep black eyes shone in the darkness of the night and on his lips there was a distinct grimace. Your body set off your alarms as he continued to stare at you.

The memory of his words came to your mind and moved you, resonating in your chest. But you were interrupted when Ferran turned you on top of him, pressing your chest to his. A nervous laugh escaped your lips.

Would he still be seeing you? You wanted to know.

Ferran smiled at you, pressing his fingers into your body. Your hands took his strong shoulders and you moved close enough to brush your lips against his, asking his permission. Ferran took your face with one of his hands and kissed you.

It was slow, soft and warm. But you didn't feel anything special. Not like that time.

There were no butterflies. There were no shivers or electric currents. Just the desire and need of the moment.

They broke apart after a while of kissing. You turned your head a little, seeking his gaze and when your eyes met his, your breathing stopped.

There he was, again, staring at you.

His face now looked harder, as if he were angry, his jaw tense, his eyes blacker than before. You had ignored his request and he was probably angry. But you weren't going to listen to him, who did he think he was to tell you that?

You were no longer related, why would you listen to him? Why would you walk away when Ferran was the one who approached you? You were going to take advantage of the opportunity.

You wanted him to know that you had also changed and that now you were not going to listen to him, you were not the same as before, he had said it himself.

He had ended everything between you, so you owed him nothing.

His girlfriend danced around him and he just ignored her, drinking from his bottle and looking at you as if he wanted to say or do something, yet he did nothing. You swallowed in confusion.

Now he was seeing you, why was he still seeing you, wasn't it that he didn't want you around? Fuck him.

Your mind filled with thoughts and confusion. With pain in your chest, you turned away from him. You crashed your lips against Ferran again, this time, being rough and dangerous. You knew he was still watching, you could feel his gaze burning into your body.

Your hands took his hands and directed them to your teasero, Ferran squeezed it and you gasped into his lips. You didn't care that you were surrounded by people, they were all drunk and partying enough to see you. His lips moved to your neck and when you stretched your head, you opened your eyes staring at him.

Pedri's teeth clenched and his eyes narrowed, the vein in his forehead had swollen and his neck was turning red. His reaction surprised you but you didn't think anything of it. His girlfriend was still dancing, trying to take him with her to dance but he refused, staying right where he was.

[butchvamp]

okay i finally got all the companions last night. gonna write my current thoughts about the game under the cut (sorry it's long lol)

so far i've really enjoyed the gameplay the most. i like the combat (im playing as a dual wield rogue) and i really like all the new ways to move around in-game (ziplines, climbing, etc). i really love the maps and the way we can explore all the areas, this is what i've spent most of my time doing lmao and in general i'm having fun playing!

but this tone change in this game is Rough. there's a real lack of depth, there's no friction at all (for some reason every faction just loves Rook and trusts them completely) and so many characters and groups have just been completely defanged. there's this weird vibe of like... GOD i hate pointing it out cus it feels like i'm complaining about the game being "woke" but there's such a weird vibe right now where it feels like the factions arent allowed to be "problematic." the crows act like a found family rather than the brutal assassin organization we've learned about previously that buys slaves and tortures their recruits into perfection (in any previous game Rook's mistake as a crow would have resulted in their death or extreme punishment. but this time it doesn't even feel like it matters, you go back to the crows and everyone there automatically loves you. jacobus is being babied and protected when before they would have just let him get himself killed. there's just no power struggle, no competition, no urgency.)

i also noticed it with the lords of fortune. Taash making a point to emphasize that the lords aren't Thieves and they're sooo correct and return cultural artifacts to par vollen (and Isabela is a part of this for some reason despite the fact she can run off with the book she stole from the arishok in da2...?) there's this weird over-correction happening where past companions are having their flaws completely ironed out. you find various codex entries all written by Dorian arguing against slavery now (and to be clear. i have my own criticisms of his weird pro-slavery rant in inquisition, but this just feels so forced)

Varric has been completely stripped of his role (and personality tbh) and relegated to a mouthpiece that just constantly gives Rook positive affirmations and almost treats them like a child despite Rook at the very least being established in whatever faction they've come from. and then there's also Rook themselves...

there's barely any roleplaying allowed, Rook is just a Good Guy and everyone loves them and trusts them immediately and you're forced to be invested in fighting Solas no matter what, you can't even choose your own motivations. and you can't really be aggressive or "mean" (at least in inquisition you could resist the herald title and question the inquisition's existence). which i don't necessarily have a problem with on its own but why am i allowed to play a crow then? and why is Rook so naive and insecure when they clearly were headstrong enough to go against their faction in their origin? the first few hours are so "the power of friendship!!!" and it's very bizarre considering Rook doesn't know any of these people except Varric and Harding. if you choose to leave the mayor in dmeta crossing, Neve challenges Rook's decision (good!) but this causes Rook to go running back to Varric and suddenly be extremely insecure about their choice (bad!) my Rook is an assassin and has no qualms about letting some guy die regardless of whether Neve likes it or not.

but it's like the game won't allow there to be any kind of tension or friction between characters, no disagreements or disapproval... it's all just so BORING!!!!!! it feels so silly!!! why are we so worried about these factions being Right or our characters being Correct but then you still depict the qunari as this faceless bloodthirsty monolith that only want to Kill. the venatori are all evil and abuse their slaves (but dont worry, none of US have slaves now!!!)-- it's SO black and white. this is like, the opposite of what i play these games for... everyone is toothless and inoffensive and boring. and nevermind the fact that the game is still racist, anyways 😭

also . not as serious this is goofy but i can't even imagine how they're going to do the romance scenes in this game. so far everything has felt geared towards a younger, new audience (which doesn't make sense, this game has to feel nonsensical if you've never played any other dragon age game, so little is explained properly) and i can't even imagine romance scenes happening like they have in previous games. are there even any? lmao

[floredaqueen]

"Mirame"

Billy Hargrove x OC (Isabela Wheeler)

♡

⚠️WARNING(s)⚠️: 18+ MINORS DNI, Mentions of Sex, Descriptions of Sexual Activity Smut, Cursing, Billy being a D!CK, Cunnulingus(Female Recieving Oral), Dry Humping, L!ght Spank!ng, Mentions of Overstumlat!on, Squ!rting Billy being a HØRNY B@ST@RD

♡

After they started dating, it was a while before Isa even let her rougish boyfriend see her naked. As tempting as Billy Hargrove was, Isa was a stubborn nut to crack. He wasn't surprised, though. It took him forever to get her to go on a date with him. Isabela just didn't want their relationship to be built off of sex... and she's wasn't ready.

She has been siking herself up for Billy's libido for a minute. In the meantime, she makes him wait, and obviously, he protests and teases the hell outta her.

When they're spending the night at Nova's, he'll take that opportunity and freely walk around in the nude hanging dong for a while or in just a towel. When he's in just a towel, Isabela always struggles to look even a little. Her face would always heat up, and she would be able to form a full sentence without choking up.

While he found that to be cute, much to his annoyance, she'll glance away as quickly as possible if he's wearing nothing, but not before throwing his own clothes at him.

When Billy's studying with her, sometimes the schemeing horndog will just glare at her with the most prominent bedroom gaze. He won't say a thing. Just eye fuck her until the shy girl got flustered under his gaze..

He'll leave lingering kisses on her lips, neck, face, shoulders thighs, whatever he can get his addictive lips on. Isa always dismissed it if it got to be too much for her. Even when they're cuddling and Billy has got his hands comfortably on her back, his would slowly hand travel down to that pretty ass or her breasts whatever was in his reach. She'd shy away and curl up on him so he wouldn't be able to tease any further. It's never really affected him, Billy respecting his sweet girl's boundaries for as long as he possibly could.. until he couldn't.

One day, Billy decides that he's had enough with the constant cockblocking...

. . .

It's Friday, and Isabela is walking through the Hawkins High halls. While walking to her locker, the Guatemalan's thoughts are on finishing her work for the week. As she's grabbing her books for her next class, someone awaits on the other side of hall only to pin her up against her metal locker once she closed it. The larger figure hovered over the studious girl, only to lift her up by legs wrap them around his waist. He'd pin one of her hands against the set of lockers beside her own. It took her a millisecond to realize who it was once he spoke.

"Miramee.." Billy teases and playfully whines, his free hand taking her chin to bring her face up to meet his sinister gaze. She's let out a soft whimper to him. She was used to his handsy affections; his hands would wander around her body, and his lips would peck at places to tease or comfort. This.. this was different. Isabela wasn't prepared for his actions like at all.

"What the hell are you doing??" She spoke in a loud whimper in response, then she began to ramble on and on about how she had to get class and turn in her work. Her delinquent of a boyfriend knew she hated being late, but he didn't care in the moment, his natural half-lidded eyes moving from hers to focus on her plump, trembling lips. Next thing she knew, Isabela was being silenced by the lock of his mouth against her own. He doesn't stop either. Not until he's got her dazed and her cheeks are stinging. Not until he could hear the peeps from her escaping those sweet lips. She tasted so much like grapefruit Bubblegum. It made Billy's head tilt and his hand free hands travel up to the back of her head.

Only when Isabela had dropped her text book, and was gripping the back of Billy's leather jacket in need did he pull away. He grinned at his girl in satisfaction at her now dazed state. Isa's breathing was now erratic, and her chest was rising and falling dramatically. Her eyes were dialted, a mix of their saliva her currently coating her kiss-bitten lips. Temporarily satisfied, Billy willingly put her down, his hands going to her waist while she's sheeplishly hiding her pretty little face from him again.

"We still on for that study session at your place?" He asked all nonchalantly, knowing full well she'd be baffled by his simple question considering what just happened. She reluctantly pushed him off of her, huffing and puffing as she struggled to gather her materials for her next class.

"Go to class!" Isa storms off to her own class all flustered, leaving Billy chuckling to himself as he turned to walk the other way. The rest of the day was a lot more calm, Billy giving a light apology to Isabela when he saw her in the halls again. She forgave him, still not completely able to look at him because of her lingering bashfulness. After that, though, until later that night

♡

When Isabela finally gets home, she almost immediately pulls out her own homework. She was working on it for a while, her mind still clouded with the thought of Billy's lips clinging to hers with so much desire.. then her thoughts shifted somewhere else... somewhere deep, dark and red. His lips were now wrapped around her shoulder, his grip on her thighs to keep them spread as he pumped into her with great force. Next she envisioned his lips wrapped around her clit, sucking on it for friction as his hands held hers with compassion. The sweet girl could hear her own moans in her head, her thighs squeezing together as she turned her focus back to her homework.

Around seven p.m., Isa hears a knock at her window, walking to it and opening the curtains to find Billy holding himself up on the rail. She opens the door, shaking her head with a soft smile.

"You know you could've just used the front door..?" She protests, helping him through the window and closing it almost immediately after. After her hands swiftly lock the window and close the curtains, Isa tuns to see her handsome boyfriend oh-so swiftly remove that leather jacket she was gripping onto this morning.

"Where the hell is the fun in that?" The insufferable bad boy responded back with his classic grin. He tossed his favorite jacket over the spare chair she had, bringing it over to the desk and near the chair Isa was sitting. Billy then pulled out his own homework and sat in the chair that has his jacket on it. Isa sat back down as well, handing him a pencil and pen as a choice before she continued her own work.

It's silent for a hot minute, Billy pretending to know what he's doing with his homework as if his mind isn't plotting to eat his girl out on top of her desk. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't stop asking himself why she probably wouldn't let him. It took some courage, but he pulled through and managed to pull out a question.

"Why won't you let me touch you?" He asks with concern, like he's been WAITING to ask her that for a while. Isa had to thinking about if she heard him right, slowing down her writing before she looked at him.

"I-..I'm sorry..?" She asked him, finish setting down her pencil altogether to face him.

"Why can't I touch you..?" He leaned in, waiting for her answer with anticipation.

"Billy-" She starts, immediately being shut down by her sexually frustrated boyfriend.

"I'm serious.." His eyes expressed his concern, but also his annoyance at her sustained avoidance of sexual intimacy.

"Because I'm not ready.." Isabela's cheeks began to betray her again, tinting a soft pink as she admitted her fault. Billy sighs, his eyes closing for a moment to push aside his growing impatience.

"But why? Was it something I did or that I'm doing?"

...

With his verbal expression or concern to her came a quick heartbeat, Isabela's own eyes softening while looking at his.

"What? No! Billy, you're fine.." Billy fully turns to her when she says that.

"Fine?" He asks. "Just fine?" He teased, his thick eyebrow raising slightly as be smiled to her warmly. She snorts at his attempt at teasing, lightly shaking her head while her dainty hands sat on top of his. Her eyes found his again, compassion dressing her doe orbs to the nines.

"Billy.. You're perfect," He'd wouldn't admit it to her yet, bit hearing her say that melted something iced inside of him.

"Well, what is it, then? You think you aren't perfect? I know girls overthink like that.." Considering how many girls he's been with prior to her, he thought it might have been that. Maybe she thought he wasn't gonna like what he was, but to him, it was nothing but a guarantee that he would. Isa would scoff, almost offended at his statement.

"Wha! I am perfectly comfortable in my body, sir!" She folds her arms, playfully pouting I'm directly only for there to be a genuine smile turning up on his face.

"I know you are! I've seen you ballroom dancing and shit! I've seen the way you move with precision, and it's like fucking buttery smooth, and I want you to move like that on me," Isa felt her cheeks start to swing again at the confirmation from her boyfriend.

"Billy.." Isa spoke breathlessly to him. The latina remembered when he suggested to the driver to dance practice. She agreed, getting into his car later that day and rocking his world when he decided to stay and watch. All the things he imagined doing with and to her as her hips swayed sharply to the beat of whatever music played in the background.

"So, what is it, Isabela?" It's been a while since he said her name. Her real name, that is. She's been called all differently kinds of names for the last month. She's gotten "babe," "baby," "sweet girl," "hun," "mamacita," and maybe "Isa," here or there. It's been a few months since they started dating, and throughout that, he's only said her name a few times, and it's only been when he's serious about something but trying to be sweet about it too.

"I just.. I'm not.. I've never.. been touched like that before.. you were my first kiss, Billy. And I know you've teased and bullied people for stuff like that before.. and I thought you'd tease me too, and I know I wouldn't be able to handle it. It's also why I was hesitant about dating you, too.. "How could Sex King Billy Hargrove be with someone who has never had a" carajo in her life??"

He'd start laughing, Isa immediately feeling a pang in her heart from it at all.up It's exactly what she was afraid of. But he's not laughing at the fact that she's a virgin. He's laughing because she would think she thinks he would care about that... like at all. He kisses her sweet tears as they come down like the freak of nature he is.

"I only bully people who deserve it, I wouldn't purposely hurt your feelings.." and those addicting lips of his would start kissing her. Her lips, cheeks, nose, forehead, then back to her lips until he's gotten her to crawl on his lip. He'd take a slow whispering to her

"If it makes you feel better," kiss "you can set the pace." Another kiss. Isa's pink lips find his once again, locking them together in a loving kiss. She'd kiss him and kiss him, again and again until Billy's arms were wrapped tightly around her waist while she was comfortably in his lap. The kisses got slow and methodical. She didn't mind a good make-out session, plus the taste of mint gum and cigarettes in his tongue was always homey to her.

In contrast to him, she tasted like cinnamon, honey, and peaches. She was always sweet. It continued for a good five to seven minutes before her picked her up and traveled over to her made bed. Billy sat down on it gently so as not to freak her out while she's tonguing him down. Soon enough, her boyfriend is tugging at her shirt and almost getting off before Isa stops him. Of course, Billy groans, and in habit, she apologizes, even more so when she starts to pull herself off of him. His sweet Isabela takes a few steps to her tallest dress, opening the second highest one.

He watches her pull out that silk gown Nova got her for her birthday. He saw her in it once, and in that time, he couldn't stop kissing her, trying so hard to stop himself from going further. It was like when she put it on, all of his senses heightened he realized how soft her skin was, as well as how good she smelled. Just think about it was putting a strain on his pants. Isa held it out before setting on top of her dresser. She then takes a breath, her brown doe eyes finding his siren blue ones.

"Babe.." He starts, and she stops him by taking her shirt off on her own and dropping to the floor before immediately going for her bra. His jaw almost dropper, but then those piercing eyes of his would stay at her hands before those same eyes settled on the fabric thay was hiding what really wanted to see. I her brassiere was black and white with pink lace embroidery traveling through some of the parts of hem and stitch.

"Mirame, novio.." She softly speaks to him, immediately his eyes divert to hers, the bra gone and breasts are exposed! He looks down after a few seconds, leaning back so he can really look. They look so smooth, and they've got soft freckles near her areolas, which were pretty normal sized considering all the areolas he's seen.. and yet they were the prettiest tiddies he's ever seen.. because they were hers. They were just right. They were small but perky and looked good enough for him to let out a heavy sigh.

"God.." Billy muttered under his breath..

Next was her skirt, which was long and flowy, so that was easy to get off. The girl was just doing a little shimmying downward to pull it off and with that he could see her strawberry pattern panties. She didn't think much about them, but he did, snorting and appeared that shit eating grin as he looked.

"Cute..♡" Billy spoke openly, Isa shooting her head up.

"Stop," She would mutter as she grabbed her skirt and shirt from the floor. Even the way she bent down to grab her clothes was elegant wuth sensual undertones. Isa quickly grabbed her nightie after she hat her previous clothes in a neat clothes bin. Billy would head tilt and bite his bottom lip as she was pulled over that pretty night gown, and finally, she was back in his lap, giving him more kisses and melting into his touch willingly.

Isa would pull off his shoes for him, whispering to him to lay back on the pillows. She then walked to her door, putting her hand on the knob and turning it to make sure it was locked.

"We've got thick walls.. even then, I don't wanna be screaming, " She half joked, looking back at him with those same dazed eyes she had this morning when he trapped her in a love bomb.

"I can't make any promises.." He grins proudly, knowing he's gonna get her to yell out at least a few times.

Soon enough, Isa was once again back on top of him, holding his tanned calloused hands with her own caramel fingers intertwined with his. These kisses were sloppy and needy, and he noticed, especially with the soft peeps escaping her lips almost every time. She was hesitant to go too far, obviously nervous to do what he could tell she wanted to, so he gave her a little push, his hands escaping hers only to caress her waist, hips and grip them before pulling until she found the rhythm he was trying to meet. Her breathing hitched as she moved with him, her quickly finding their place at his clothed chest.

"That's it, Mama.. you can grind on me," and she sooo diiiid, her body rocking back against his all needy and filled with want. Those sweet lips of hers parted, and she began to pant for him. He was eating it up, too, squeezing her waist a little more before moving back to her hips and groaning softly with every stroke he felt from her. She's whimper now, the pace quickening, and he notices something. His jeans are hella damp, borderline soaked. He slowly brought up the silk fabric, Isa not even noticing because eyes kept fluttering closed-- that is until she hears him say "holy fuck.."

Isa stops almost immediately and looks at him, her face is red because she's all hot and bothered but now she's nervous. He glanced back at her quickly before his eyes resorted to glorious sigh before him.

"What? What's wrong?" She looks down, seeing the massive wet spot on his jeans, and then she covered her mouth..

"Oh my gosh, I did that" She slowly slid off, now alight embarrassed at this new revelation. Billy met her eyed with genuine confusion. How does someone not know they're body is able to do certain things?

"..You didn't know you could squirt?"

"..no, I don't really.. touch myself- but I heard it was normal." he looks up at her, then back at her panties. He can see her curly patch and how blushed she was all over.

"Yeah, lose the panties." Isa, immediately getting more nervous and excited, shot her gaze at him.

"Wait, why?" She slowly moves back off of him.

"I want you fuckin' soakin' me" And with that, Isa sheepishly slid off if him all of the way and pulled down her underwear only to feel how soaked they were, enough for her sweetness to be dripping on the her fluffy rug that covered some of the polished wooden floor. Billy couldn't ignore that. How could he? He can't put aside this new revelation. He couldn't wait for the water works to really start.

It didn't take her very long to get back to feeling that delicious friction. With her grinding on him, Isabela's whimpers got a little louder with Billy egging her on with filthy encouragement. He pushed even hard as he laid a swift one on that pretty ass that he called his. He brought her even closer, that same hand sliding up to grip those luscious coffee bean colored locks. That really got her whining for him, her own hand gripped his bicep while the other went for his neck.

He could finally see how pretty his girl was while melting for him. He pants seemed to get tighter the more her sensitive vurgin folds grinded agaisnt his bulge. At some point, she was close, slowling down so it wouldn't be so harsh, but Billy being the freak he is, he shut her plan down almsot immediately. He was more than eager to see her come undone from his touch, and so he pulls her down, kissing her softly but demanding she continue.

"Keep that same pace before, babe. I want you squirting all of this dick.. marking your territory, yeah?♡" He's speak hotly against her lips, Isa moaning back against him in pure reaction.

"Billy..♡" She speaks breathlessly, his eyes not changing. It wasn't a request, and so she continued, sitting back up to get that specific angle from the metal button to her sensitive bean. Soon enough, Billy was getting what he wanted, her smooth caramel legs shaking, and Isa sliding herself mostly off of him and drenched tent in his pants. She lifts up her gown and gives him a clear view of what he's been craving more months and the geyser it was turning into. She whined, her voice getting hallow and light as her fingers pushed up against her clit. He was mesmerized, and she's slightly exhausted.

"God, you're so fucking pretty," While currently spent, Isa smiles at him. It was heartwarming to hear him say that, for some reason, her legs quickly closed.

"No, keep 'em open.." That made her pout, which he found to be adorable.

"But-" She started to protest, Billy only endind up shutting her down once again.

"You can either touch yourself, or you can let me touch you.." He'd demand, sitting up slightly. He really was considering getting out of his stuffy ass pants.

"But.. what about you?" She asked him, her head slightly tilting to the side. She got on her knees, resting her soaked fingers on her broadness of them.

"What about me? I'm not the virgin here.." She hits his thigh, pouting even more. That caused him to laugh.

"Billy!" She huffed, her eyes furrowed as she looked at him with that cute embarrassed expression that made his broken heart mend and melt little by little.

"Which one will it be, sweet girl?" Isa would think about it, but she'd also think about what he's looking like right now. She had only gotten glimpses of her boyfriend because she refused to look every time he was bare to the nines... which means any images in her head are blurry as hell.

"...can I at least see you first?" The timid gal gulped, really thinking about what she just asked him. Billy himself seemed slightly confused by that question. His eyebrows even raised at the request.

"Haven't you seen my dick before?" He was now seated up completely, his strong arms keeping him up while he eyed is girlfriend with a steady amount of perplexity. Her hands seemed to fiddle with themselves as she thought how to respond. Her head shook slightly, her eyes shifting to the mattress.

"Not really.." She even shrugged before her does eyes shifted back to his in their full form. At the sight, his own expression softened..

"God, this girl is so cute," he thought to himself while responding back.

"But I've-"

"You know I look away as quick as possible.." This time she cut him off, the small pout he enjoyed so much persisting.

He rolls his eyes, that smirk coming back to his face as he gets off the now damp sheets. He starts unbuttoned his jeans and pulling them done. He wasn't even wearing underwear, his peen flipping as if it was trying to strike her. She peeped, covering her mouth. Goodness was he hung as all hell. He had to be 8.5, maybe even 9 inches and pulsing with a curve? He looked at her with a concerning look, knowing she'd be freaking out about his size... which she was. It was like the tip, leaking pre, was boring into her very soul..

"..I can't take-- there's no way.." Isa's spoke softky, hrer voice muffled in her own hands that hovered over her mouth.

"I know.."Billy nodded, accepting her expected reluctance at his length. He didn't blame her either.

"Why me..?"

"Why- it's not gonna kill you, Isa,"Isa knew that of course, but even so, she was still nervous about it, although her cheeks were burning from how wild her imagination was going just from ogling at the monstrosity that was Billy Hargrove's manhood.

"Well, I don't know that! It's long and fat and curved and veiny, and it's staring at me. It's like a snake- it can smell fear." Okay now she was being a little silly, a smile even pulling at Billy's lips before he shook his head to resort back to his perplexed offense.

"That's not funny, babe,"

"..it's a little funny." Isa smiled at him, Billy stepping closer, which immediately had her lightly freaking out again. He brings her closer, serving her loving kisses to her lips and nose... until he's fighting her for her own breath again. His firm grip finds its way to her dainty little wrists, slowly pulling her soft hands to his abdomen.

"Y'know you want to.." He says in a lower register than normal, her torso shivering as Billy continues teasing her bottom lip with his teeth and guiding one of her hands down to his length. Her dainty little hands flutter over it, which causes his breathing hitch, and then she'd slowly massage at his tip, which has him moaning into her mouth.

Soon, her boyfriend got greedy, surprising Isa by laying her down and spreading her legs, only to bend down and devour what he was supposed to about 45 minutes ago. He was lickin' and suckin, sucking and licking at her petals and flower bud until she was puddy in his hands, all the while massaging her thighs for more pleasure.

"¡Qué bien se siente, amor! Por favor.. no pares♡" Billy lost it at that point, fawning at the Spanish whining she was doing as she shivered from his grasp. One of his free hands grasp his cock, stroking it with the equal precision while he tended lovingly to young Latina who was currently soaked puddy in his hands.

With her struggling against his grasp to close her legs soaking his mouth and chin, he continued his feast and ate her up effortlessly. He drowned himself to the sound of her moans and whimpers, and whatever else she let escape her tasty lips. When she started to tremble again, he knew she eas getting close. Billy stood back up rubbing her sensitive little clit before tapping himself against her, slapping her slit with his own essence until he saw and felt her juices starting to gush. He chuckled and she squealed, his breathing getting heavier as his lean blue eyes glared at his sensitive latina come undone once again.

Leaning forward, Billy would place his hands back on the prosterior compartment and pushing it back until her knees were near her underarms. He'd then begin grinding himself against her and letting her feel the overwhelming friction of being over the edge, letting out his own moans for Isa to hear while continuing his over stimulating until he felt his own climax.

"Holy shit, Sweetness.." Billy would mutter under his breath, the delinquent placing his head against hers. Next he locked lips with her in a deep embrace, letting a grunt out into her mouth while his semen landed on her stomach again against the silk of her nighty. He kept kissing and grinding, feeling the flutter of her sweet little flower and it driving him insane. It was also overwhelming poor Isa who couldn't differentiate overwhelming pleasure from a harsh orgasm. It also didnt help thay with each stroke his cock fave to her clit, Billy was rewarder with more and more squirt.

Her legs shook, releasing a weak whine for Billy to hear and react on. He heard it, takimg the intiative to stop some time after she had herself another harsher climax, kissing her nose and cheek and leaning back to see the damage he's done. He smiled, his eyes focusing on everything from how her was gorgeously displayed under her, to her night gown was hiked up, and how blushed her body was near the end of her torso. Her ass, her addictive blooming flower, and her God her soft inner thighs.

"Can't wait to fuck that pretty pussy" Billy spoke breathlessly, slowly letting go of her legs and caressing her petal like folds. She winced, still reeling from the intensity she had just experienced.

"Billy!" She loudly whispered once more, slowly sitting up to begin cleaning up. His brows furrowed, confusion and satisfaction on his face.

"What? I can't say 'pussy'?" Billy asked rhetorically, his shit eating grin becoming even more prominent. When he said it again, her cheeks seemed to burn. Isa continued her protest and shook her head in disagreement.

"It's a gross word,"

"It really isn't.." Isa rolled her eyes at his nonchalance. Sure, Billy was a vulgar person, although he was courteous enough to tone it down around with how flustered it made, but right now was different. While, she knew that Isabela still wasn't used to hearing him be extremely blunt.

"Is so!" She says sheeplish as she moved herself up a little more.

"Oh, but I can say 'dick'?" He objects, letting out a slight scoff as he let her go, going to grab his pants.

"Please stop," She's snorting as she's getting up slowly pulling off her sheets, but not her comforter since that was still clean. He stops her, picks her up, and sits her back onto the bed. And while she was perplexed, Isa soon understood when Billy came back with a clean towel from her bathroom closet. While plugging her blow dryer so he can start drying his pants, Billy watched as his now slightly experienced girlfriend got up to light a few candles around the room, as well as grab a few wips to wipe herself off.

He was staring a bit too long that she caught him, only giving him a sweet, timid smile and flip him the bird. He chuckled, nodding as he turned back to his still damp pants. It took him a while but he got them to be dry once again. He walked over to Isa who was fixing up her bed, and neatly tending to her desk.

"Babe, can you hand me one of those wipes?" Billy stood fairly behind her, Isa turning to face him only to hand him a few wipes and planting a kiss to his nose before she wearily returned back to cleaning her room. It didn't take him long to freshen up and be done, his pants were back on and not causing him any more trouble, as well as his white tee.

On the other end, Isa was still working, brushing her hair back in a slick bun so she could sleep, perfecting the bun while she felt the familar sentiment of her boyfriend's calloused hands snaking around her thin waist. Isabela glanced back at Billy, giving him the perfect opportunity for a sweet kiss. She gladly kissed him back, those soft, heart warming peeps returning with each peck to the lips he gave.

"Thanks.." He mutters, his girl setting down her animal printed hair brush while directing her attention to him.

"For what?" Isa blinked, her smile becoming a little brighter, already know the answer to her question.

"For trusting me, I guess. I know I can't be in all aspects.. and I'm working on it.. but you can trust me to please you the you want to be pleased? You know that, yeah?" He eyes softened while hers beamed. She nodded, turning all the way around to embrace him.

"Of course I know that, Billy.. thank you for not being a dick," The Latina girl's arms would tighten themselves around her boyfriend's waist, feeling the stroke of his hands on the back of her head and shoulder.

"Ah, so I can say 'dick'?" His smirk was back, Isa looking up at him with a stern expression. She sighed, and shook her head.

"Billy," He grinned at the monotone call his girlfriend said of his name.

"Isabela," Billy mocked her in return with a similar tone, except when he said her name, it had her melting, he eyes fixed on his as she was silently cradled by the guy who thought pushing her up against the locks this morning was a good idea.

♡

Thank you for reading! If you guys have any suggestions, I would love to know! Since this is my first time writing and publishing smut for other people to read, I wouldn't mind any feed. Once again thank you so much and enjoyyy♡

And thanks to @buckysgrace for helping me put with this ;;♡

[miracles-and-butterflies]

In honour of Antonio’s birthday, you may have this fic. For nobody in particular.

Mirabel stresses about Antonio’s sixth birthday and making it more than perfect (to make up for last year), to the point she completely crashes when the day finally rolls around. Antonio doesn’t want to spend the day without her.

Mainly fluff!

The Best Gift of All

Chatting idly, Dolores and Luisa made their way into Casita, each carrying crates of decoration and treats and other supplies. The Madrigals were hoping to get everything prepared for when Antonio returned home for school for his birthday party. They both winced as Camilo suddenly pushed between them, grumbling under his breath and tearing up a streamer in his hand.

“¡Ay! Careful, Camilo! You almost made me drop this,” his sister chided.

“You know, the party is happening in Casita, Camilo. You’re going the wrong way.” Luisa teased. “Aren’t you helping us with decorations?”

Camilo made a face at them, “I was! But if I’m in a room with her any longer, I’m gonna actually punch her!”

Luisa raised an eyebrow curiously at him, while Dolores rolled her eyes. She settled her gaze on Isabela, who was busy conjuring up piles of amber leaves in the courtyard - there was already a thick enough layer that covered the tiles, swishing and crunching under foot.

“Isabela Cristina Rojas Madrigal, you better be behaving yourself in there,” she muttered, just loud enough to be heard.

“I am.” Isabela insisted.

“Uh huh, you mean to tell me you haven’t messed with Camilo or anyone else at all?” Dolores challenged. She was very unconvinced, even if Isabela sounded innocent.

No sooner had she said those exact words, had she and Luisa crossed the threshold, only for a massive pile of leaves to be dumped on them.

Dolores scowled. Isabela burst out laughing uproariously at the reaction, collapsing onto the floor. The mass amount of leaves breaking her fall. Luisa shook herself off, chuckling a little in amusement at her fellow prank victim. Camilo, who clearly hadn’t walked off in this time to see the prank, was also laughing along, bracing himself against the wall.

“I despise you all.” Dolores hissed.

“No, you don’t, you liar,” Isabela scoffed at her. “You love us and our antics.”

Luisa nudged Dolores playfully, “Come on, it was just a little prank. And the look on your face was priceless. I can’t believe you fell for that, as if Milo would ever be mad at Bela.”

“What?” Camilo piped up. “That wasn’t part of anything - hell, I didn’t even know Isabela was gonna do this. I am actually about to punch someone!”

“Right, so what else am I telling Isabela off for?” Dolores inquired.

“Not her! I’m talking about Mirabel!”

“Mirabel?” Dolores and Luisa questioned simultaneously. They shot each other a confused glance.

Isabela nodded, “Oh yeah, she’s been wound up all morning.” She gleamed off into the dining room, presumably where Mirabel was. “It’s actually insane. I think her mind has finally snapped, like a brittle stem. She keeps yelling at everyone.”

“Don’t say that about my hermanita!” Luisa snarled. “She’d never do anything like that!”

“It’s true! She’s an actual nightmare!” Camilo exclaimed, pulling at his hair in frustration. “Every time I try helping, she immediately starts yelling at me! ‘Primo, that streamer doesn't go with the palette of the room. Don’t you know basic colour coordination? You need to use orange’! ‘No, that’s not orange, that’s tangerine’! ‘No, that’s not orange, that’s mango’! Like, for fuck’s sake, it’s all fucking orange!”

Everyone turned to Luisa, who winced under the pressure. “Okay, yeah, maybe she would do that. A little… But she wouldn’t yell if she didn’t have a reason to yell!”

“Enough, I’m not dealing with you lot arguing all afternoon.” Dolores quickly intervened, stepping between them. “Camilo, why don’t you head into town and calm down? See how Tío Bruno and Agustín are getting along? Isabela, you can get rid of the rest of these pranks that I’m sure you’ve set up throughout the entire house.”

“How have you come back to being mad at me?” Isabela pondered aloud.

Dolores ignored the comment. “Luisa and I will finish the decorating and preparations here. And deal with Mirabel. Isabela can help when she’s done.”

Camilo huffed but didn’t really argue, disappearing down the road. Isabela tried to convince Dolores to let her leave her pranks in place, as Antonio would find them funny, but lost that debate and was made to remove them all. Which Dolores supervised. Luisa set the crates aside for the time being and was very disbelieving of the whole Mirabel thing. She was constantly babbling away at how Camilo had probably done something to upset her or was being overdramatic as usual.

With the pranks gone, they finally made their way into the dining room to where Isabela had said Mirabel was. The younger girl had been charged with the present wrapping - something Mirabel enjoyed way more than the average person for whatever reason. And, to her credit, the gifts she had already wrapped looked wonderful.

“See?” Luisa whispered to the older two. “Look how happy and peaceful she is. She’s so precious. I knew Camilo was lying.” She grinned, crossing her arms smugly. “Don’t you two look stupid?”

Dolores opened her mouth immediately - she never did like being made to look less intelligent than she believed she was - but Isabela simply held an arm out stopping her. Isabela being oddly calm and not immediately also trying to argue with Luisa was strange, and maybe for a second, some doubt appeared in Luisa’s face.

Isabela waved her hand, creating a tiny pink flower of some kind. She flicked it with her fingers, sending it directly towards Mirabel. Only for it to be immediately and harshly crushed under a book, with a force and speed that was very unlike Mirabel.

“Isabela Madrigal, you incompetent twit!” She screeched. “Fuchsia is not part of the colour scheme! It isn’t even a complimentary colour! You need to learn how to use your eyes properly, young lady.”

“Still seven years older than you, sis.” Isabela reminded, lazily.

“Then act like it!”

The others stood quietly taking this in. Dolores hummed in satisfaction that Luisa hadn’t been proven right, while Luisa was immediately trying to excuse her previous statement.

“That’s what she’s been like,” Isabela concluded to the pair beside her. “I don’t know why Camilo got so mad about it. I think it’s funny. I’m just proud that she does have a backbone in there somewhere - and, to be honest, if it only comes out for Antonio, that’s fine by me. As long as she actually has one. I was starting to worry it broke in Casita’s fall.”

“How sisterly of you, Isabela.” Dolores commented.

“I know, I’m such a good role model.”

Luisa shuffled out from between Isabela and Dolores, stepping closer to Mirabel, reaching for a hug as usual.

Mirabel shifted away from the hands. “Don’t you dare touch me, I’m in the middle of folding a corner! It needs to be even!” She explained, pointing with her lips to the book that she was now wrapping.

“I mean, does it really matter? It’s gonna be ripped off in seconds, Antonio won’t even notice what it looks like.” Isabela said.

“Isabela is right. People don’t care about wrapping. You are fussing over nothing,” Dolores added.

“How dare you? This is very important!” Mirabel countered. “And I’m sorry if you don’t care about the little things as much as I do - it is honestly your mistake - but I am not going to be the reason for Antonio having another ruined birthday!” She stopped, taking a breath to calm herself. “I would rather die.”

Mirabel clearly intended for some of that to be quiet, or maybe not even heard at all. But given how close Luisa was and Dolores’ enhanced hearing, and Mirabel not thinking clearly, it was heard. Even Isabela, who did not have the benefit of the other two, seemed to work it out, judging by the silence that fell over the room.

As soon as the corner was folded over and stuck down, Luisa made her move again, closing her arms around her sister. Too quick for Mirabel to pull away again. She was horribly tense, not that Luisa was by that - something had to be upsetting her for her to be so unlike herself. Bony joints poking into Luisa’s sides. She didn’t even move to reciprocate the hug, but she was too tired to fight it. Instead, she rubbed a hand at her temples, glaring slightly.

“Hermanita, I think you need to stop for doing this and take some time calm down, okay?” Luisa attempted to console Mirabel, however, seemed to have the opposite effect as Mirabel burst into tears.

“How can you even suggest that?” Mirabel sobbed. “At this rate, his birthday is going to be a disaster, Luisa! He’s going to hate me! Everything needs to be perfect but there’s only an hour until school ends and we haven’t finished decorating Casita! I’m staying to help! I could be on death’s door and I am still going to work my last breath into this. I haven’t finished wrapping the presents because I have to keep fixing everything Isabela and Camilo do because they keep doing it wrong! I haven’t even had the time to make the arequipe I promised Antonio yet!”

Luisa eyed her sister sadly, sympathetically.

“There isn’t even enough ribbon for the presents. How can it be a real celebration without ribbon?” Mirabel weeped into her hands.

Isabela blinked in confusion, “Don’t you have a shit ton of ribbon in your room—”

“Now’s not the time, Isabela.” Dolores hushed her before Mirabel could shrug off this defeat and immediately go back to working.

Luisa broke from the hug, crouching down beside Mirabel’s chair. She lifted her sister’s head up gently, slowly - she is going to assume that Mirabel has given herself some kind of headache from all this stress. And, knowing Mirabel, it won’t be as simple as headache or migraine. She’ll have been worrying about this for months - as early as the 15th of November, as soon as Luisa’s party was over because Antonio’s would have been next important birthday for Mirabel; she wouldn’t have given a care to her own.

“I get that you want the best for Antonio, we all do, but you are taking it a little bit too far, okay? You are hurting yourself over this, Mirabel, and that’s not okay. And somewhere inside you know you’re overthinking and overworking yourself.” Mirabel just glanced away, stubbornly. At least, she had stopped arguing, that accounted for something. “I’m gonna take you up to bed now, so you can calm down and try sleep a little. And before you say anything, it’s not up for debate. I will carry you up the stairs and put the piano in front of your door if I have to.”

~~~~~

Mirabel wasn’t sure what time it was.

She hadn’t fallen asleep but she wasn’t paying enough attention. Luisa had covered the windows, so there was no natural light to disturb her supposed sleep, and took the alarm clock so Mirabel couldn’t just set it for when Antonio would come back from school.

She felt ill. She had all day. Okay, fine, maybe the whole week leading up to Antonio’s party, but she didn’t want to say anything. The attention shouldn’t be on her. Not again. (And she was sure it would just pass. A couple of restless nights of poor sleep and a few skipped meals wasn’t too bad, right? Heck, half of her family barely sleep the recommend amount for her age! Who were they to talk?) In spite of her effort, she’s done it anyways. Ruined everything, like always.

Too engrossed in her own misery, she hadn’t noticed the opening and closing of her door. In her defence, the party seemed to be going on loudly downstairs - chatter, music, her father twisting his ankle while dancing, laughter, a food fight started by presumably Camilo or Isabela. It was only their family, but it might as well have been the whole town with how loud they were.

“Mirabel?”

Carefully, she lifted her head to find Antonio stood at the end of her bed, wearing a party hat embellished with a big number six. In his hands, he was holding a glass of juice and a plate with a slice of cake.

Of course it was him to check on her. He was sweet like that. But it hurt her more than just having her mother come and confront her about not taking care of herself.

“Dolores said you weren’t feeling well enough to come to the party, so I brought the party to you.” He explained.

Well… this wasn’t going how she thought it would.

Antonio shuffled around to the side of the bed as Mirabel adjusted her pillows, sitting up. He handed the glass to her. “I remembered you said apple was your favourite, so I had Papa make that. Is that right?”

Mirabel was still trying to catch up. “Y-yes, you are. But you don’t need to know that—”

“And Tía Julieta said to bring you some food because she doesn’t think you’ve eaten.” He gestured to the plate, which he placed on her bedside table, pushing her glasses aside to make room. “Oh, she says she’s going to speak with you later about that.”

Ah. There it is.

She was expecting Antonio to leave after that, he had given her a drink and some food like he’d been encouraged to do by the adults - he was free to go now - but, instead, he clambered up onto the bed, sitting across from her.

“Wait, I’m confused,” Mirabel said. “I don’t get why you’re up here with me. I’m fine. You can go downstairs and enjoy your party.”

“I want to be here. I want to be here with you! I don’t care about the cake and the balloons and the music, I want to be here.” Antonio insisted, offering his best puppy dog eyes. “I didn’t get to spend my last birthday with you.” Because she left as soon as the camera made an appearance and was losing her mind the rest of the evening about the cracks in the walls. She’s a terrible cousin. “I wanted to make up for it this year because you are my bestest friend!”

Mirabel just stared at the boy with tears in her eyes.

“But if you really want me to go, I can.” Antonio offered. He was fiddling with his sleeve nervously, as though expecting to be turned away.

She placed the glass aside, reaching over for Antonio’s hands. Wiping tears from her eyes with her spare hands, “Of course you can stay with me if you’d like, primito. It’s your birthday, you can do whatever you’d like.”

His eyes practically lit up. He clambered over to her, hugging her tightly. She returned the embrace, pulling him into her lap, hoping to hide some of her tears. She didn’t even know what was making her cry so much at this point. Perhaps just the sheer relief that she hadn’t disappointed him after all? The clarification that it was just a silly anxious thought in her head, rather than some fact she’d been dreading coming true?

When they pulled away, Mirabel was still rubbing at her eyes. “Well, what would you like to do first? You can tell me all about your day at school—”

“Can you read to me?” Antonio asked. “Like you use to do? In the nursery?”

She nodded, “I’d be more than happy to read to you. You’ll have to go get something though, I don’t have anything here for you in my hundreds of books. I mean, I doubt you’d be interested in reading An Analytical Study of Needlepoint or Colombian Philosophy and Morality Through the 1500s.”

Antonio bit his tongue, thinking. He agreed that those books did sound a bit boring - he didn’t really understand some of those words in the title anyways. A lightbulb flickered in his head.

“I know, I’ll go get the book you got me!”

Mirabel watched him jump off the bed fondly, skipping towards the door. She can’t believe she ever thought he’d be mad at her.

“Happy Birthday, Antonio,” she smiled.

[shaperaverse-brainrot]

A little Han Mi doodle in exchange for me rambling about my headcanons please?? Specifically ones about her physical appearance because I've been thinking about it a lot??? Thank you.

She cuts her hair short after cabaret - Just walked out of her tent at the carnival one day with hair she cut with kitchen scissors and very patchily dyed bright blue and absolutely no one questioned it.

(She won't tell anyone but it most certainly was a way of proving to herself that no one had any control of her life anymore, other than her. She wasn't stuck in a cabaret loop, she didn't have to look presentable to anyone, she could simply exist as herself)

Second tallest postie, beaten only by Raven. (Lloyd does not like this fact). Doesn't quite wear big heels as much as her grandpa does, but when she does, she enjoys being a good few inches above everyone else.

I rambled about this before in an ask game but despite not looking like Raven or Isabela, she's got very similar mannerisms. Lloyd has a picture somewhere of her and Raven looking at him with the exact same expression.

(the lack of resemblance does not stop Raven asking everyone he can if they can see the resemblance between them. Han sulks if they say yes. Raven sulks if they say no. It's a lovely game)

When she starts growing more comfortable around the others Raven drags her out clothes shopping. She does find some things she likes, but has to iterate to Raven many times that she does indeed value comfort over style and that those shoes, despite being pretty, do in fact make her trip, and that jacket does not have nearly enough pockets-

(They also come back with Claire's piercings)

(Han also steals Raven's jacket a good bit. She's the only postie it fits apart from him. It has over a hundred different pocket (dimensions) that she once found a picture of the old playhouse in. It was a whole debacle)

(Michael saw this and tried to leave his jackets lying around in case Han wanted to steal some. He did not take into account that he is significantly shorter than both Han and Raven)

She's not a jewellery person, but that doesn't stop her from collecting and keeping what she gets. She may not wear them, apart from a few rings on her hands, as she deems bracelets and necklaces far too breakable, jangle-y, and annoying, but she keeps them next to her bed in a box.

(And she gets gifted a lot)

(Seriously she doesn't know why Raven didn't call himself magpie given how many shiny things she gets)

(Is he wanted for committing a heist on a jewellery store or something?)

[yellowcry]

All eyes are on you

Fifty years ago, Alma and Pedro lost their lives, protecting their children. That's how Casita was born. A pure wish for the babies to be safe away from danger.

Casita will make sure in it.

TW: Eating disorders

Mirabel groaned, stretching inside her bed. Ahh, another morning. For a moment, Mirabel concindered just turning over for another minute of sleep. Before realization hit her through the dreamy fog, smapping her mind open. Antonío's birthday! OH, OH! Mirabel junped off the bed faster than ever before. She's better go get ready to help the family. Anything is better than sit in one place doing nothing. Pull on the daily outfit, decorated by fine enbroidery. Mirabel made it herself. Sometimes planned, sometimes just because she was dying of boredom.

She was about to go out, check if anything needed her help. Before Casita pushed her back in the middle of the room. Oh, right. Casita doesn't like when Mirabel (or anyone else) is going anywhere without its knowledge. The house was alive, always moving. Clicking tiles, watching them. Every movement was strictly defined by Casita itself.

"¡Oh, buenos días, Casita!" Mirabel knocked on the edge of the bed. "I just want to check if the preparation for the birthday has started. Maybe wash the dishes?" She knew there was no reason to. She did it yesterday after the dinner. Several times.

The house pushed Mirabel to the door, accepting her reason. Okay.... She wasn't punished. She didn't fail completely. The bringht light blinded her vision, morning is just beginning. Quiet. Mirabel was always one of the first to wake up. Just at the morning with the first signs of the sun. The portrait of Abuelo Pedro and Abuela Alma swayed at the middle of the staircase. Always young. Sometimes Mirabel finds herself wondering what would her grandparents be like if they didn't die that night many years ago. Nobody really knows Abuelos at all. Not even Casita, and it knows everything about everyone.

Arrange the plates. Put the coffee boiling. The usual routine. Never changing. Mirabel isn't sure if Casita had changed even a little since the day she was born.

"Awake, Corazon?" Julieta croaked, she wasn't very good in talking out loud. None of the triplets was. Mirabel assumed it came with the fact that for years, until Tío Félix and Papá broke in, their only companion was Casita abd eachother.

Mamá smiled at her, crouching for a cheek kiss. Eww, gross. Mirabel rubs away the wetness. "Antonío's birthday is coming!" Of course, she knew she wouldn't be able to leave the house. Casita didn't like, didn't want them out of it's control.

Part of Mirabel felt bad for Antonío. He had a way too big age gap from everyone else. Dolores and Isabela were born like twins, Mirabel and Camilo did too, even if he was annoying, seeing someone abd know you aren't the only one with those changes was helpful. And while Luisa didn't have anyone the same age as her, she was only two years apart from the older girls, which wasn't a big age gap. Antonío was ten years younger than Mirabel. This put him on a completely different stage of development. Leave him alone like an outcaster out of their family.

Papá said there were a lot of kids if their age outside to play with. Which had caused enough arguments where Camilo begged Casita to let him out to meet other kids. The only thing he got was being locked in a small room as punishment. Mirabel wasn't sure if she should believe it. She knew Papa and Tío Félix broke into Casita one day when they were teenagers from the outside. As well Mirabel knew Casita didn't let them out. No matter what they were doing, Casita's control was inescapable. House is always here, an all-knowing observer. Make one wrong move and Casita will know. A little mistake and everyone will hate Mirabel because she failed because she can't be as good as everyone else. And she couldn't hide and the whole family would know.

Patío was the only way Mirabel could see the outside world. A cold blue sky rising above them. Sometimes a naughty sun would show up. Or black ink patching it at night. With the dots of starts breathing hight above Casita.

"Hey, sis?" Luisa once asked, back when they were kids. The middle child loved to stargaze and knew so much about these cosmo-aliens. "Do you wonder what it's like to be free like these?"

Casita clicked its tiles, threatening. It didn't like the family speaking of an idea of being out of this.

Luisa's eye twitched. Mirabel shook her hands. "Casita, Luisa didn't mean it like this! Just a possibility!"

Luisa groaned, pulling the cupboard against the brick tiles of the patio. Casita had allowed to make a little permutation and swap some of the room in their places. Which Luisa was busy doing at the time. Of course, she had technically did it with every combination several times already. There was no real need to draw furniture from one corner to another. But it kept Luisa busy. And becides she loved to be helpful. (Even if she knew that from objective view it was not helpful to anybody.)

Just keep herself distracted. Busy. Anything would be better than spend her time doing nothing at all. And she was the strongest out of her family, so moving furniture would be easier for her. Just make sure to ask Casita first. It didn't like them moving without its knowledge. Much less moving anything that belonged to it. (Tho, maybe the family also counts into this category. Luisa isn't sure if Casita actually counts any of them as living beings who can have their own opinions and wishes).

"Luisa?" Agustín called out, making Luisa wince. What's else? Did he need her help? "What are you doing? Do you need some help?" She placed his palm on Luisa's tricep, looking up at her.

"Ah, nothing!" She waved her hand. "Just some moving!"

Dad blinked at this explanation, fixing his glasses. "Didn't you move this cupboard less than a week ago?"

Maybe? Luisa didn't really count. "Well, now I'm moving it back!" She announced, rubbing her palms, chafing the cold sweat.

Becides, Luisa loved working out. So why wouldn't she treat this as one big exercise. And for a proper work out you have to lift heavy things. Which she was doing right now. What would be wrong with that?

Well, maybe Luisa kept feeling this inescapable agony in her muscles, the pain like her bones would just snap from the pressure. Maybe she collapsed from exhaustion once she entered her room. Because her muscles were all strained, unable to hold herself. But it was distraction. And as long as Casita didn't have any problems with it, a house couldn't fully understand the concept of biology, Luisa would be fine.

Antonío's birthday would give her a lot of moving for today. Place the table in the patio, set the dance zone. More work than in any normal day. It's not like she had anything better to do anyway.

Isabela flipped another page of the plant encyclopedia. She didn't actually read it, but the pictures were facinating. Yellowish from time, telling about what would be beyong Casita. At least to Papí's explanation.

"Do you think it's real?" Isabela turned her head. Luiza looked up from whatever she read at the time, something about mythology that she found a few days ago. A demand of their parents to read a book. "Like, the world beyong Casita?"

Casita questioned with the slide of a book. Luisa clentched her fists. Of course, a daddy girl she is would argue to defend their papá. "Papí wouldn't lie!" She pouted. And Isabela wanted to believe it. But, sometimes it was hard.. Casita didn't let them out. It had never let them out. No matter what. Which was stupid! Sure, Isabela loved Casita, and she loved her bestie cousin. Maybe even her annoying sisters on a good day. But it's not like Isabela could actually say it out loud.

Isabela pushed the plate away from her. Hot breakfast steaming with wonderfull aromas. So appetizing that she can feel her mouth watering.

"Bela, you haven't eat anything?" Her mamá asked, concerned.

Isabela smiled, her gace didn't twitch. "Sorry, ma, I just don't have appetite." She tucked a staggler back behind her ear.

Now that was a lie. Her stomach wretched. Nothing new. Isabela was used to it anyway. Her head feels a bit dizzy. Alright, the last time she ate was was.... she didn't really remember.

Isabela didn't know at which point she stopped eating. She just... needed control. She couldn't control where she was, what she was doing. Casita was always here, always watching. Controlling every aspect. And Isabela grew sick from it. This constant feeling when she couldn't say a word without a painful ring of the furniture. Without a fear of being locked in a small dark room all by herself.

So she grabbed onto the only thing she felt was possible to control. How hungry she was. How much she ate. (She couldn't really choose what to eat too.) And so she did. Of course, Casita tried to interfere. It was trying for years probably. But it couldn't really shove a spoon into Isabela's mouth. And asking her parents to do it instead would mean a defeat.

Casita was solid. Never changing. Isabela could swear she learnt the house up to every millimeter. It never changed. Every moment, every second was the same. Sure, Luisa did rearrange rooms sometimes. (why? Isabela didn't really know) But with time it became just as normal part of routine. You can move an orchid into new pots all you want, but it won't become a cactus. (And Isabela would die to see both)

Isabela hated this lack of control. She felt like a caged animal, confined in a small place. Going round from isolation. Ahe wanted to escape. To have her own life. One that wasn't defined by Casita. Where she could do something without asking first. Where she could take a step out of her room without asking if she's allowed to.

She knew better than assume it would happen.

[whereismywarden]

I debated whether or not I should post this because ultimately I liked the game, but the decision to only import 3 choices left a really bad taste in my mouth, especially since a lot of things in the game are pretty clearly going to contradict some people's past decisions (sometimes even mine).

(under a read-more for length, spoilers, and negativity)

Choices that should have been imported into Veilguard because the game invalidates some past decisions (either explicitly or implicitly):

Which companions were recruited in DAI. Multiple optional companions are mentioned (one of them even appearing) in the game as if they were recruited: Dorian, Sera, Blackwall, and Cole are the ones that came up in my playthrough, some of them multiple times.

Whether or not Blackwall's arc was completed. He is called Rainier at some point, even though you can play the entire game without ever learning the truth. (Yes, you can learn about it in Trespasser in a codex entry, but imo the way it comes up in Veilguard wouldn't make much sense if that was how the Inquisition learned about it.)

Who drank from the Well of Sorrows. While it ultimately doesn't matter in your confrontation against Solas, banter between two characters all but states that Morrigan is the one who drank from the Well. Sure, they call it a rumour, but rumours don't come out of nowhere. Why would people assume Morrigan turned into a dragon if that's not something she's ever been capable of doing?

Whether or not the Dark Ritual was performed. The way Davrin talks about the ultimate sacrifice required to kill an Archdemon leaves little room for interpretation: no Grey Warden has ever survived striking the killing blow. If the Warden had survived, it should have come up in conversation.

Whether or not Morrigan had Kieran. DATV Morrigan's behaviour is more in line with the version of her who had a child in DAI. Sure, there are certain... circumstances that might explain her change in behaviour, but certainly not enough to justify her near-complete 180.

Who became Divine. When Harding brings up Leliana, it would have made sense to comment on her now being Divine if that were the case. Likewise, a codex entry about Cassandra doesn't make a lot of sense if she became Divine.

Cullen's ultimate fate. When Harding talks about him, it's pretty obvious from her tone that he stopped taking lyrium.

Isabela's fate. I can get behind her referencing DA2 companions since they lived in the same city and could realistically know each other even if she was never recruited. However, the way she talks about her past, it's pretty clear that she was not only recruited, but she stayed in Kirkwall for the long run.

Choices that could have made Veilguard more enjoyable, had they been imported into the game:

Whether or not Morrigan and Isabela were romanced. Like, come on, if you're going to bring back past romanceable companions, the least you could do is give players who did romance them a line or codex entry acknowledging that relationship.

Which characters became Grey Wardens and which are still alive by DATV's time frame. Some of them could have come up in background lines or codex entries, especially if every warden in Thedas was meant to be at Weisshaupt.

Who died killing the Archdemon (if anyone did). There are supposed to be monuments in Weisshaupt commemorating each Blight. Think of how much more emotionally impactful that quest could have been if you'd stumbled upon your Warden/Alistair/Loghain's memorial.

Who rules Orlais and Ferelden. With the game being set in Northern Thedas, these choices shouldn't really matter, and yet they're brought up in a conversation with the Inquisitor, so why not actually name these rulers?

(I haven't gone through every codex entry in the game, so this point might actually fit better in the previous category:) Fenris' and Zevran's respective fates. Based on their epilogues (should they survive), Fenris went back to Tevinter to hunt down slavers, and Zevran returned to Antiva to fight the Crows. You'd think this would be important since DATV features both locations and the Crow faction heavily.

Who was sacrificed during Here Lies the Abyss. It's been 10 years so yeah, they're most likely dead by now, but it's still a hanging plot thread. Fans who sacrificed a beloved character deserve a proper resolution. Why not a codex entry (or series of entries) the players could find in the Fade?

And these are only the things that I can think of off the top of my head! There might be more!

[thequeenofthedisneyverse]

Antonio Madrigal's Journey - Chapter 1: Only the beginning of the adventure

Pepa paced around her room as wind swirls around her feet and a cloud drips water on her head. She dreaded this day, as did Felix. Yeah, Pepa, her hermana, and hermano did this at his age, but that doesn't mean she won't be any less worried. Today was the day after Antonio's twelfth birthday. A day where he finally sets out on his own to earn the right to keep his gift.

Their journey wasn't all that unsafe, it was rather pleasant. Save for almost getting drowned in a mudslide. But hey, they still kept their gifts in the end and met amazing people that they are still friends with till this day.

And it's not like all the other madrigal journeys were unsafe, heck most of them barely even got a paper cut on theirs. Mirabel didn't get a gift, but she still went out on her own anyway when she turned twelve.

It was unexpected but everyone understood her need to go. It was her birth given right regardless of a gift. Thankfully she was able to find a witch on her journey who taught her everything she needed to know about magic. In the end she still had fun and met amazing people like all the other madrigals did.

But still, Pepa was worried. Something in her soul told her something was legitimately wrong. Maybe she could ask Bruno for a vision? Yes! That was perfect…why didn’t she think of this earlier?

While Felix was sleeping Pepa snuck out of their shared room and quietly stepped over to Brunos. She wasn’t sure if Dolores was awake or not but she surely did not want to wake her up. Her room wasn’t all that sound proof as it is.

So slowly and quietly, she crept to Bruno’s room and knocked on the door five times. After a few moments or so, she knocked again…and again. Soon enough, Bruno opened the door.

“Jeez Pepa, I heard you! And I already know why you're here so come in.” Bruno blue a raspberry as he let his sister in his room.

“Did you have a vision?” 

“Yes”

“What did you see?”

“...do you want me to tell you or do you want to see for yourself?” Bruno looked at his sister worriedly. He already saw what was on the vision tablet and therefore, wished he didn’t have one at all. 

“Why are you asking me that…is…is something going to happen to Antonio?” She looked her brother straight in the eye as she asked this. 

Bruno nodded.

“I’ll ask again, would you rather me tell you are see for yourself, Pepa”

-

Antonio had been awake since 6:30 this morning. He was so excited. How could he sleep? This was such an amazing experience...but he was also a little scared. And sad.

He was leaving his home for the first time. He was leaving his family for the first time. Pico has been listening to his endless ramblings since 6:30 this morning as well. Much to his dismay.

"I don't know how to feel about this Pico, on one hand. We're going on an adventure. On the other we're leaving home! Leaving the family behind and...I just don't know...I-"

"So, sleep is not on our schedule today, huh?" The bird had a flat semi-annoyed expression. Simply sitting on a branch above him.

Antonio looked over to the toucan with furrowed brows and the same irritated expression. "This is serious Pico! WE'RE LEAVING HOME!"

"Which is why WE SHOULD'VE SLEPT! Now, we're going to have to be awake and sleepy the whole way."

"I'm not tired"

"Yeah, you're saying that NOW"

Antonio rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. The nerve of this bird. The young boy looked around his jungle room. Still as beautiful as it was when he first laid eyes on it when he was five.

Man... that was such a long time ago. Ok, it was only seven years ago but still. A lot of time has passed. His Hermana Dolores got married and is expecting two babies. His Hermano Camilo is now engaged, Mirabel owns her own seamstress shop, Isabela teaches a paint class and is currently helping Mirabel with new types of fashion ideas, and so much more.

He'll be gone missing all of it but thankfully he could send letters through steam airship mail services. And Pico volunteered to send letters back and forth if nothing else was available. And unfortunately for the poor bird, that will soon happen.

Antonio didn't know how to feel about this but no use in worrying about it now. It was time to go, and he had to get ready. The boy huffed and puffed out his chest. Here he goes.

"Here I go again, I'm gonna go to a world outside the world I'm in. No more day dreamin again, I finally got the chance-"

Pico perked his head up and stared straight at Antonio with a 'are you serious?' expression.

"No, no, no, no, no, NO! Don't you start! This is not a singing mom-"

"When I feel my fears starin’ at me, I tell it just wait and see"

Antonio got off his hammock, hopping from branch to branch down to the center of his treehouse.

"I know who I’m gonna be, I know who I’m gonna be. The worlds half asleep it’s gonna wake up and see"

He ran over to a nearby waterfall and began his morning routine. Shower, brush his teeth, and get dressed. There's not really much else.

A light brown vest, white button shirt, and dark orange pants. Finished off with a light-yellow ascot and simple brown shoes. Can't go wrong with simplicity. Once that was done, he took a large travel backpack next to the chest and stuffed it with all the clothes from inside the chest.

Pico, looking down at the singing boy, rolled his eyes and flew down a few inches away from the boy's feet.

"He's doing this...he's really doing this right now" The bird thought to himself.

Antonio went all over the place adding any and everything he could without overstuffing it.

"If it’s a million to one, I’m gonna be that one and if it’s a shot in the dark I’m gonna be the sun"

The sun was rising in his room, a beautiful orange glow shining over the prospering jungle. All the flowers, the ones Isa helped him plant and just the ones that were already there, started to bloom beautifully. The animals in his room were beginning to wake up and skitter about.

It was beautiful, honestly. But at the moment, it's something Antonio couldn't focus on right now.

“And I just can’t afford to be wrong, even when I’m afraid…You’re gonna know my name. You’re gonna know my name”

Antonio thought back to all the stories his older siblings and cousins told him about their journeys. With every single one they all helped so many people in different ways. Some towns know them by name from all their efforts. 

He couldn’t wait for him to go out and finally get to do all that stuff. Not to mention, the Miracle always promises new additions to his gift like all the others did. Something else he couldn’t wait for.  

His mama can make any weather appear with her emotions, sense when storms are coming, and can semi-remove them. However, the third one can take a lot out of her. Dolores can hear all things but also silence everything around her if she wants, as well as using sound waves to push away anything deemed as a threat. However, the third one can tire her quickly so she doesn’t do it often. 

Camilo can shapeshift into humans, animals, and can partially see into the memories of the person. But just like his sister and mother, he can only do it partially and it takes a lot of energy from him.

“I can barely sleep ‘cause my heart is always racing, chasing, pacing ‘round the room. Livin’ carefully is something I don’t wanna do”

Tonito was always the adventurous type. Albeit a little shy and quiet, but still up for adventure. Pepa could count on many fingers about how many times he disappeared to go explore a new area. 

Not only that, but there were occasions when Antonio would swing Isabela’s vines while they were both out foraging. He was never afraid of heights, quite opposite actually, the higher the better for him. So, when he got the hang of swinging on vines in his room, he would swing as high as he could to see above the canopy.

You have no idea how many times he got hurt doing that..and how many times he had to run from his mother and father’s belt.

Now all he had left to do was say goodbye. And that…was surprisingly the most scary part. Antonio looked at the clock on a small section of his tree. It would strike at 7:30 in twenty minutes. Time for when he would have to truly say goodbye to his family and leave…for a year.

“When I feel my fears staring at me I tell it just wait and see, I know who I’m gonna be…I know who I’m gonna be. The world's half asleep it’s gonna wake up and see…If it’s a million to one I’m gonna be that one…”

“...you are a very dramatic kid, you know that?” Pico asked

“And you are a very annoying bird, ever think of that?”

After packing everything he could, the young boy sat in front of his tree with his animal friends all surrounding him. All giving him their best wishes of course. 

Antonio heard a familiar guttural yawn behind him and turned around. There was his old jaguar friend Parce. Now standing at thirteen years old, which is old in Jaguar years. He technically only had two more years left but…that’s something Toni didn’t like thinking about. 

“Good Morning Antonio, did you sleep well?” The old cat snuggled up against Tonito's side, causing the boy to lift up his arm. 

“I did old amigo, did you?”

The old creature nodded as it stretched its legs and arched its back. “I slept well thank you, I see I made it before your departure”

“Yeah, I’m just waiting for the others to…to…say goodbye I guess.” Antonio looked down at the coati in his lap in sorrow. Slowly petting it as he got lost in thought. This was finally happening. REALLY happening.

“You are scared, young cub” The jaguar bluntly let out. 

“What? No, pssh, I’m not scared! Just nervous is all but it’s all good really.” Antonio tried to play it off but he knew it was true. He was scared.

“Hmm, alright then” Parce wasn't one to pry so he let it go. But he could feel that his cub was nervous. All of the animals could, they just chose not to acknowledge it. To not make him close off any of his thoughts. 

Antonio was a quiet kid when he was upset, so it was best to keep him happy so he can always open up.

Some more minutes passed before he heard Mirabel’s signature knocking at his door. The tween gently took the Coati off of his lap and sat it beside him. After that he quickly got up and began to walk toward his door.Pico and Parce followed closely behind him. 

Last breakfast he’ll have with his family for a year. Better make it count. He breathed in a deep sigh as he touched the doorknob. A quick flash of his ceremony day flashed before him. It made him smile. 

He shook off all the negative emotions and opened the door. Ready to greet his family for the last time. The boy quickly ran downstairs and to the backyard where the breakfast table was already set up. 

As always, the food smelled good and delectable. When he was about to say something, he felt a hand ruffle his curly hair. Ugh, Camilo. 

“Hey Hermano, sleep well?” 

Camilo had the audacity to act like he wasn’t worried or scared about today. Just as chill as any other day huh, Milo?

“Stooop, you know I hate that!” 

Antonio smacked his hand away and glared at his big brother. Camilo, in return, stuck his tongue out at him. And Antonio did the same, a smile creeping into his lips right afterwards. He quickly took a seat next to his papa, with his mama on the left of him. Dolores sat next to her husband, Mariano, and Camilo sat next to his Fiance, Miguel. 

Mirabel sat on the other side of the table, on her right was Luisa, and on her left was Isabela. Sitting next to Isa was their mother Julieta, and on Julie’s left was her husband. The whole blue family looked happy and peaceful. No pressure or unhappiness of any kind. 

 And as always, Alma sat at the head of the table. Now at eighty two years old, still the strong matriarch she used to be. Albeit a little slower, but that just comes with age. And trust me, she doesn’t let her age get in the way of her fun.

Bruno sat at the end of the table, in no way did that mean he was excluded or left out. That was just his favorite sitting area. His hands were nervously clasped together while looking at Pepa. Oh boy….

Pepa had a noticeable heavy black cloud over her head. Rain was coming down upon her as she looked at Felix. He put his hand on hers and squeezed, offering a sympathetic smile. Felix saw the vision tablet too…and he knew what was about to come.

“Antonio, familia, I have something to share with you. It’s something that none of us want to hear but it needs to be said,” Pepa held a somber look as she stared at her plate. Unable to look Antonio in the eye. Not willing to see the heartbreak in his eyes. 

“Antonio will not be going on his journey. That is final.” 

The table was silent as they all looked at her in confusion and shock. Antonio even more so. What the hell is she on about?

“What…?” Tonito quietly asked, unsure if he really heard what he just heard. Pepa wouldn’t look him in the eye so he looked at his father. Felix thought it would be best if he spoke up. 

“I’m sorry Tontito but…your place is here. Not out there, this is for a reason son. Please, understand” 

Bruno covered his face and groaned, this was not going to end well. He could feel it in his gut. The family looked in Bruno’s direction. This has something to do with him. Dolores had already heard the information from the early morning. She was just quietly waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop.

Bruno…..did you have a vision?” Alma asked and adjusted her green glasses.

Bruno simply hummed and quickly grabbed a cup of juice, filling his mouth with it so he wouldn’t have to explain anything. Alma saw right through that and narrowed her eyes with a raised brow. What was he hiding?

“I…I don’t understand. I’ve been preparing to leave for weeks I don’t- ” Antonio shook his head and looked up at his mama, who still couldn't look him in the eye.

“Antonio, this is for the best. I’m not arguing or taking any “buts” or pleads from you.” She said sternly and thunder could be heard from the cloud over her head. 

Alma looked at her daughter and decided to speak up, “Pepa, what is the meaning of this. Why can’t he go?”

“I’ll explain later mama, not right now.”

Oh Antonio wasn’t about to let this slide, not by a long shot. “No”

Pepa looked up at him, Tonito has never been defiant or rebellious before, so this was new. “I’m sorry?”

“You heard me mama, NO! I’d at least like to know WHY I can’t go” Tonito demanded. In the back of his head, he was sure something probably went wrong in the vision tablet. But still, he would at least like to know the details. Maybe it was avoidable if he just SAW it.

Pepa felt a little flabbergasted and appalled that Antonio had the audacity to do this. She understood why he felt the way he felt, but she wasn’t ready to tell him. 

She took a deep breath to come herself, “Antonio, I’m not going to argue with you. My words are final.”

“But-”

“NO ANTONIO! DO NOT ASK ME AGAIN!” Thunder rang out through the house. Pepa glared at her son for dominance of the situation, as did Antonio. The sound made everyone jump and caused Dolores to wince from the impact.

Antonio growled and pushed the table away from him and stormed off to his room. Parce and Pico followed soon after just for some support and comfort he will likely need.

Pepa counted from 1-10 in her mind, Felix helped by coaxing her to breathe in and out. They both knew this was for the best. They could take Antonio’s anger and oncoming silent treatment over his inevitable end. 

The rest of the family was told what was in Bruno’s vision, one vision showed him in a situation that was very confusing and concerning. The other was where Antonio was in a situation that showed…something very terrible regarding his life. 

Now, they all understood why Antonio could just not go out there. Hopefully in due time, Tonito would be of age where they could tell him why he couldn’t go. And hopefully, he’ll understand. 

The day passed on as usual, everyone doing their daily duties and chores. Antonio however, stayed in his room all day. Never even coming down for lunch or dinner. Not like he needed to, there were fruit trees of all sorts in his room. So, he had no need to come down whatsoever. 

On the inside, he was seething mad. His intuition screamed at him to go, but he didn’t want to go against his mother’s wishes. All day he was fighting with himself to no end. It was honestly infuriating.

His animals attempted to speak to him as maturely as they could. In which they all took his mama’s side, much to his dismay. 

“She just wants you to be safe, young one”

“Mothers always know what’s best”

“Don’t be so upset, little cub. She’s just trying to protect from something terrible”

On and on, and on. None of them really made him feel better but he did see things from her perspective. But he just wished he saw the vision tablet, maybe it’s something he could avoid if he thought hard on it. 

Soon nightfall came, and everyone headed off to bed. Some concern was there for Antonio, but they thought it was best to just leave him alone. It was getting late and Antonio decided to finally take it down a notch. He climbed up his large tree, hopping from branch to branch, to his hammock bed.

After he laid his head down, he slept for a couple hours. Irritating slumber as his dreams showed him out on the open road. But everything would switch from calm beautiful scenery, laughing with people he couldn’t fully see, to monsters chasing him away.

Until he heard it…a small symphonic tune that called for him, again, and again. His eyes shot open at the fourth “call”. He sat up and looked around, no one but sleeping animals and fireflies were there. 

Tonito shook his head and laid back down, putting his pillow over his head to ignore the sound. 

“Go…go little one…you must go”

Antonio’s hand lifted the pillow ever so slightly to his angry face. A groan escaped him as he sat up again.

“Go little one, you must go”

Out of irritation, Antonio made his way off his hammock and out of his tree using the mushroom steps and across the little bridge. After stepping over a few animals, he made it down. The tree he had was illuminated with many lanterns sitting on tree branches. All of which would turn themselves off when the sun came, and come on when the moon came. 

It made everything look so surreal and calming. However, Antonio wasn’t really in a calm state. More so anxious and confused. That damn sound would not leave him alone. 

“Go now, you have the chance-”

Antonio got so frustrated he decided to speak to it, “I can hear you, but I won’t. Some look for trouble, while others don’t.” The teen boy walked further into his jungle home, far behind the tree to clear his head. 

He looked up at the moon and sighed, “There’s a thousand reasons I should go about my day, and ignore your whispers which I wish would go away ooooh”

He heard the sound again and rolled his eyes, mocking the sound “Oooooh”

And there it was again, irritatingly, there it was again. Antonio began to walk faster, as if the faster he walked, the farther away he could get from the sound. But that was untrue because it just kept coming. 

“You're not a voice! You're just a ringing in my ear, and if I heard you, WHICH I DON’T! I’m spoken for, I fear.”

He looked around the jungle, expecting to see the thing calling out to him. All small, look at the hot air balloon that was still sitting behind his tree.Still waiting to be turned on and used for adventure. Unfortunately, there was nothing there. But he could hope. 

“Everyone I’ve ever loved is here within these walls, I’m sorry secret siren but I’m blocking our calls. I don’t need an adventure…I don’t need something new…” Antonio thought about his words, how he was lying to himself. He longed for an adventure for the longest time. 

Ever since he learned about Madrigal’s going on adventures when they were 12.

He thought about the sound calling out to him to go. How it could be just himself or…maybe something that’s trying to get him to go out there. To see the world and all it has to offer…or something that wants to hurt him. So many possibilities.  

“I’m afraid of what I’m risking if I follow you, into the unknown!”

The symphonic call sang two more times. Urging him to follow his intuition and HIS instincts. He wanted to do it so much. He needed to. But…what if he was going to make a mistake and mess up? What if he leads himself to his own demise…or what if discovers something amazing?

He walks down the hill to a river and stares down at himself. Seeing his reflection and the moon above shimmering in the water. 

“What do you want? ‘Cause you’ve been keeping me awake…are you here to distract me so I make a big mistake.” But then he thought more about it, maybe this could be something great. “Or are you someone out there who knows what’s truly me, who knows deep down…I’m not where I’m meant to be…”

All the madrigals had their adventures and lived to tell the tale. Lived to see new places, new people, and the thrill of experiencing something new. Antonio wanted that, he wanted all of it. Every single bit of it. 

“I want to feel my power grow, don’t you know there’s part of me that longs to goooo” 

All of a sudden, an orange wisp appeared to him. A magical little flame that swirled around him and flew off poofing into beautiful glittering smoke. The teen boy walked into the smoke and images started appearing before him.

“Into the unknown…”

The dwarf kingdom, the Elf kingdom, the orc kingdom, and the dragon kingdom. All four places are what Antonio is aware of but never been to. Only heard about them in stories from his parents or tio’s elven and dwarf friends. 

Then…the rulers appeared tall and strong, standing above him. All looking down at him and smiling. The rulers of prosperous kingdoms were smiling at him. But how could that be? Was he going to meet them? 

But if that were true…what didn’t his mother see? Was there something wrong?

“Are you out there? Do you know me? Can you feel me? Can you show me?” 

The wisp took all of the magical images away and showed new ones. Ones of stone giants, trolls, Wargs, Rhosgobel Rabbits, Orcs, Elves, dragons, dwarves, were-beasts and beings, walking trees, creatures of which Antonio did not recognize but it still looked awesome!

Was this his journey? How could it be so fantastic? What was waiting for him when he left.

Most of the beasts shown were creatures Antonio should have been afraid of. However, he has never been afraid of anything. His family could literally kill with the gifts they had, even him. So why should he be afraid of anything?

The wisp showed new images; A sword, armor, a bow and arrow, a what looked like a whip sword. And in an instant, the wisp took all of the pictures away and swirled around Antonio again. Leaving him to chase after it. 

“Where are you going, don't leave me alone! How do I follow you-”He follows the light up to a cliff, running as fast as he can to catch it.

And then, it disappeared…puffing into smoke that dissipated into the air. 

“Into the unknown…”

Antonio panted as he tried to understand what just happened. What the actual hell??? As he thought about it. He realized that…he couldn’t be here. He can’t be here. And with a look of determination, Antonio ran back to his tree and started to pack up again. To hell with his mothers fears, he was needed for something important. 

He didn’t know what but he knew somewhere in his gut that he needed to GO. So, that’s what he was going to do.  

Some spare clothes, books, and the gold coins he saved up from doing his chores and helping out around the village. Which was about 20,000 coins give or take. Enough for him to buy whatever he needed along the way. 

All that moving around caused Parce to wake up, a little irritated that his slumber was disturbed. 

“There better be a good reason you have woken me, little cub.”

Antonio looked at the cat and whispered, “of course there is, we’re leaving.” The boy said, leaving no room for argument.

The jaguar looked puzzled at that statement, “But I thought we weren’t. Your mother had said so herself.” 

“Yeah well…now we are. I’m needed out there for something important, I just know it.” 

Parce didn’t quite know what to say to that, what could he say to the determined child? 

“Alright…” the creature stretched its limbs and back, “Should I step into the flying balloon then?”

“No, we’ll sleep until early morning, right now it’s only-!” He looked at the clock, “it’s only two thirty , we’ll wake at six PM.”

Without any more words, the jaguar walked into the hot air balloon, laid down,  and attempted to go back to sleep. Antonio stopped moving around to think about what he needed. He got it and walked down the mushroom steps attached to the tree and made his way out of his room.

He needed some memorabilia from everyone in his family. Something that he will just “borrow” for the time being as well. The first room he snuck into was his hermano Camilo’s room. As soon as he stepped inside he heard his brother snoring loudly. It made the teen chuckle. 

When he further stepped into the room, spot lights shined themselves on him. Causing the boy to jump in fear. But he needed this, needed light to see where he was going. 

Quietly, he speed walked up to the stage of his room and to the right, walking up some steps. After that, slowly he stepped his way over to Camilo’s closet and opened it. A creak was heard but nothing more than that.

Once opened, Antonio quickly snatched a ruana from the closet, closed it, and ran off the stage. Meeting the floor with a thud and running toward the bedroom door. One item has already been achieved. 

Next room was Mirabel’s. Why didn’t he go to Dolores’ room? Because that would be the dumbest thing he could do. He was praying she didn’t hear his steps as it is. Going into her room would wake her up instantly. And he already had a sewn ascot from her anyway, he’ll wear that on the journey. 

When he made it to Mira’s room, he slowly crept inside. It was dark so the only thing he could do was get on his knees and crawl toward Mirabel’s bed. His hand reached for a basket, somewhere he knew her knitting needles would be.

And just like he hoped, they were there, as well as some yarn. The next thing he needed was her sewing needles. But even if he made it over to her dresser, there was no way he could find the needles. 

So, in an act of courage, he stood and walked over to her window. Removing the hatch and opening it ever so slightly to illuminate the room. After that, he tip-toed over to the dresser and opened it, quietly moving the objects in the way. 

After a few seconds of searching, he found them as well as some fabric. Items three (knitting needles), four (yarn), five (sewing needles), and six (fabric patches) are archived. These would come in handy if he ever needed to patch a hole or make a quick shawl or something of the like. 

The next two things he needed were a vest from his tio agustin, Luisa’s wrist guards, Isabela’s signature colorful waist scarf. Some random fabric she liked to wear for some reason that Antonio only understood as a style choice. It has smudges of paint and powder on it from so many projects of hers. The guards were too big for his tiny wrists but he could cut and sew them into a size that he could fit into, same for the vest. 

So, just like he did with Camilo and Mirabel’s rooms, he snuck in and out of all three rooms with ease. The last item he got was from downstairs. Juelita’s cookbook. Antonio was aware that she had tons more locked away somewhere. He overheard a conversation that his mother and aunt were having. 

Something something, “if a fire ever happened, my signature cookbook as well as the family photo album would be like in a fireproof chest under my bed”

So, the one he was taking from the kitchen wouldn’t affect her too much. He swiped the book and quickly but quietly ran up the stairs to his room. Stuffing all the items into his backpack once he got a hold of it. 

Antonio grabbed a lantern from his tree, which he cursed himself for not thinking of earlier, and went back out for six more items. Three shirts from his father, his mothers head scarf, Tio Bruno's ruana, and his abuela’s shawl . There was no way those things weren’t going with him. 

As he did all of the others, he snuck into his parents room and took three shirts from his fathers closet. Antonio had to sit the lantern down to stuff the shirts under his arm, then pick up the lantern again. 

The next item was his mama’s scarf, which he took from her dresser. He stuffed the scarf from his arm and was about to leave, but something stopped him. 

Antonio lifted up the lantern in the direction of his parents’ bed. He looked at them sadly as the realization of what he was doing finally kicked in. He was leaving them. When both of them told him to stay for his safety. 

He made his way over to their bed, Pepa’s side specifically. He bent down and kissed her on the head, then he went over to his papa and did the same. 

“I love you both but…I have to go. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can” He quietly whispered. Truly saddened that he couldn’t stay for them. 

After that he left to get the two other items and went back to his room to put the last of them into his backpack. 

“Don’t cry.” Antonio thought to himself, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, this is for the best and it’s happening for a reason. They’ll understand in due time.”

Once everything was packed, Antonio set his alarm clock and crawled back up to his hammock. Sighing as he closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber. Today will be a day of adventure, something he will NOT let slip through his fingers. 

Six thirty came about rather quickly, and Antonio hated that. The quicker time went by, the faster it came time for Antonio to leave his family. 

“Whatever, let’s just get this over with.” 

Antonio did his daily morning routine and ended it with getting dressed in most of his family’s clothing. His father's gold button up shirt with triangle patterns on the ends of it. It was a little big on him but something he could deal with by just tucking in the shirt.

His mother’s orange scarf wrapped around his head and Dolores’ sewn ascot around his neck. On top of his shirt was Camilo's orange ruana, on his waist was Isabela's waist scarf, and lastly Luisa's wrist bands that he edited to fit him. 

After that, he wrote a letter to his family.

.

“Dear familia, I know I was told to stay but I simply cannot do that. I’m needed somewhere out there and I must follow my instincts and intuition.  If fate permits, I will see you all by my thirteenth birthday. I love you all so much, so please forgive me for what I have done.

With love, Antonio Madrigal”

It was short but what else could he add? He was hearing voices so he decided to go out into the wide world on a hunch? Don’t think so. Antonio left the note on a mushroom step, a spot someone should see when they enter his room. 

Pico was still asleep so Antonio carefully held the nest he was sleeping in and took it to the hot air balloon, where Parce was sleeping, and placed it at the bottom of the wicker basket. The bird would be told the news when he awoke. 

The envelope (balloon part) of the contraption had patches of red, orange, yellow, and brown reinforced fabric. Colors that show his side of the family. The basket that Antonio stood in had blues, purples, magentas, and greens to show the blue family, his abuela, and uncle.  Personally weaved by a dwarf friend of Pepa and Juleita. The only dwarf Antonio has ever met in his life.

Dwarves, Orcs, Elves, and dragon borns were a rarity to find among people. They were only seen out of their kingdoms when they had business overseas or left their kingdom as a way of escaping someone.

Simply seeing the colors almost made the boy cry but he remained strong and stern, he had a purpose in this. He just didn’t know what it was yet. But he soon would find out, and oh boy, would part of him had wished he stayed home. 

-

Pepa woke up in a cold sweat, she saw her youngest baby in a state of peril, and she could do nothing to help. And before she could see him fully slain, she woke up. What on earth did she just see? No…no…no…no, that wasn’t going to happen. Her son was safe in his room…holding a grudge.

She needed to talk to him. To get him to understand why she said no. Maybe then he’ll understand, and possibly it’ll scare him into staying home and never stepping outside until he turns thirteen. Yeah, that should work. 

As she sat up she noticed that she was drenched in water and a heavy black cloud was above her head. Great, she more than likely drenched the bed. She looked over at her husband, who was also wet, and he was still sleeping. 

So slowly and quietly, she got off her bed and snuck out of her room once more. As she made her way to his room, she noticed that his door was open. That was strange, surely he didn’t run away…right?!

She opened the door and walked inside to see no sign of her son. Not even in his hammock. Her heart skipped a beat. Thunder clapped in her dark cloud. Quickly, she ran over to the tree and walked up the mushroom steps, into the middle section of the tree. She looked up and her son was not there at all. Pepa started to panic. 

“Antonio!” she yelled in fear, where was her baby?!

As she was about to make her way down the steps again, she saw an envelope on a mushroom step. She walked down a few steps and picked it up, opened it, and read it. 

A storm will be approaching Encanto very soon….

-

The people who inspired this au and just my mutuals!

@thefourchimes

@miracles-and-butterflies

@gamerbearmira

@evostar

@honeybeebytheseaa

If you have questions about anything my asks and comments are opens and reblogs are appreciated

[bettydice]

Okay for the kiss prompt I NEED #17 (I think that's the kiss to hide from bad guys one), but I will let you choose the pairing based on which ones would be either the most awkward at it or the most like "this is the stupidest thing you've ever come up with"

Patsy was in the middle of a long internal debate over whether she should have frozen pizza or an entire box of cereal for dinner, when Fenris suddenly rushed into L3v3l Up, looking distraught.

He looked around, spotted her in her bean bag chair, and walked up to her, eyes slightly crazed. The urgency made him even hotter, if that was at all possible.

"Help me," he pleaded in a hushed voice.

Patsy immediately sat up straight, slightly alarmed. Or straight-ish, she was in a bean bag chair after all. "What's going on? How can I help?"

Patsy usually wasn't high on any "People to ask for help" lists, so she felt honoured that Fenris had come to her. But they were making out on the regular, maybe that had moved her up on the list. She could practically hear Bobby yelling You're not just making out, you're an actual couple, Patricia! in her mind, but she immediately smothered Mind Bobby with a pillow. What did Blobster know - nothing!

"He is here..." Fenris looked around with a haunted look. Was someone chasing him? "My boss... Alistair... and he wants to ask me for, and I quote, 'relationship advice'."

"Alistair wants relationship advice? And he's not asking me or Bobby? How dare he, what an ungrateful little bastard! We spend all this time rezzing him in multiplayer and now he finally has something not-boring going on in his life and he doesn't come to us?"

"Patsy, please, he's looking for me!" Fenris bent over and put his hands on her shoulders to make her focus.

And indeed, out of the store window Patsy could see Alistair standing in front of the Brewmother, turning in a circle and looking like an abandoned puppy. Then he looked straight at L3v3l Up and his face lit up like someone set the puppy on fire. She'd be tempted to help him if it weren't Fenris in front of her and if Steve (or Alistair, whatever) hadn't betrayed her by withholding important information from her. Granted, she already knew he had a crush on Warden; it was about the principle!!!

"Don't worry, you came to the right person," Patsy assured him. And she meant it, Steve-wrangling was easy.

She stood up, smiled at Fenris who looked at her full of hope. He really believed her that she could help him! Why was that so... ugh, no time for feelings, get it together Paste!

She pulled down her t-shirt as though that would show off her cleavage, even though the neckline really wasn't low enough for that. Isabela would still be proud. "Kiss me."

"... What?"

"Trust me." She smirked at him and cocked her head a bit, hopefully in an inviting way.

Fenris stared at her for one, two seconds - possibly wondering whether he'd made a mistake coming here - but then he nodded, pulled her closer by the hips (fuck, so hot!) and kissed her.

Patsy had the best ideas!

Alistair had almost reached the door, so Patsy wrapped her arms around Fenris' neck and murmured against his lips:"Put your hand on my boob."

Fenris obediently grabbed her tit and just in time, because just then Alistair entered the store.

Patsy made sure to make some We're Kissing And It's A Really Good Kiss noises for him to hear.

For a moment, Alistair didn't say anything, didn't seem to move as well. Then: "Oh Maker, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to- Enjoy your - Well, I'll be leaving."

Fenris hummed his approval, which made Patsy hum her approval. Mhmmm.

Alistair made a few steps backwards, turned around and then retreated to the Brewmother.

When he was sure that Alistair was gone, Fenris breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. "I can't believe that worked."

"As I said, trust me," Patsy grinned, very pleased with herself.

"I do." Fenris grinned, too, but sounded like he actually meant it.

For a moment, they just stared at each other. No, no, no, what was this mood shift, where was it coming from, BEGONE! Patsy cleared her throat. "You know, I think we better keep kissing. Just in case he comes back... "

"Ah, I see that you really are an expert when it comes to these situations. I would be a fool to not follow your advice here."

Luckily, it turned out that bean bag chairs were excellent for making out in and they were only walked in on by one (1) scandalized customer!

[nathanialhowe]

Dragon Age OC Lineup

Richter (Ricky) Cousland. -> Human. Sword & Board Warrior. He / Him. Bisexy. -> Lawful Good/Stupid to Neutral Good pipeline (still stupid) -> Romance: Morrigan but there was a lil something homosexual happening with Alistair for a bit if i'm not mistaken. In the end pragmatic and probably evil coochie won out sorry brother. -> Meat? There's heft. Really big. but hes like shy about it hes like omg? am i packing 12 inches of uncut beef? whaaat. ermmm. do u still like me? 😳

Ricky is ignorant, naive, a little classist, dumb, self-sacrificing, trusting, loyal, brave, spineless in his beliefs cus he thinks he's stupid, and will trust people in positions of power more often than he should. He likes it when people tell him what to believe cus then he doesn't have to do any hard thinking. This changes a lil bit in that he loses faith in a lot of the institutions around Ferelden and the greater world but he still doesn't like to do any big deep thinking about stuff <3 He's also a deadbeat dad and Idt he knows how to parent Kieran very well lmao. he used 2 be rlly uptight abt his appearance/cleanliness until oggie called him a stupid rich pussy and now hes like eh whatever abt being waist deep in hurlock cunt or whateever

Batman Hawke. -> Human. Mage. Iforget what kinds there r in da2. She/Her. -> Chaotic Neutral to Chaotic Good probably probably but shes reluctant to do "good" shit cus she doesnt really want to deal w ppl being like omg youre ms nice woman cus she's a bit of a self-hating poor who will not examine her freshly minted privilege ): I wouldn't say she's easy to manipulate thru appeal to pathos but if you're annoying enough with your sob story she will probably Consider. -> Romance: all of them like i literall had anders t posing in the back of the hawke estate while isabela and hawke rawdogged in the next room over lmaoaaa....Like canonly id say its like BatmanxFenris and Fenris and Batman are also with Isabela and Isabela is ALSO with Merrill. anders is there. idt batman actually recruited anders i think he got all intense on her and she was like damn lets ball ok but then he got too extreme and she was like dude im literally; strugling to care abt mage rights rn can you put a lid on it and then he was just following her around to mansplain why shes wrong. fair. she learned like nine new slurs from him. -> Meat? Biggest. like so big shes like which staff do u need tonight babygirl 😂😎 heyoooo and then gets left at the hanged man

Batman likes money and having stuff. <3 She likes beaing rich but she's really tacky about it. shes grubby and gross and is like im bringing wolfcuts BACK adn its like a shitty mullet <3 she goes into situations like ok explain why this involves me? and leaves while u r talking about ur missing wife or whatever. real "i dont want to talk abt politics at the table" type of shit shes on. i havent thought too hard about batman hawke but shes like passively suicidal but very cool about it and is 6ft and buff and has huge boobs and huge meat. she wants to be mr steals your girl but goes in for the high five at the worst possible time and doesnt realize shes actually the biggest failgirl of all time. i cant stress this enough she is NOT cool. "fake it till u make it" shes saying as shes applying 50lbs of eyeliner in the morning and shes crying but doesnt think u can see and she lies abt why her eyes r all red and says shes just smoking pot again. she should just be working at a waffle house but shes here.

Kronk of House Trevelyan. -> Another Human. Big Surprise. Rift Mage. -> Lawful Neutral to Lawful Evil pipeline but probably he was always a schemer and a social climber. -> Romance: Josephine and Dorian do not make me choose between them but if I'm being honest I don't know who'd want him. probably he fronts as way more kind and charming than he actually is and i DO think when kronk is loyal to someone he is ferociously so. but it takes a lot like that dude had half the inquisition hate his pussy so bad lmao. -> Meat? Yeah He's Got It but also if Kronk could cease to be a person and become, like, god? he'd do it. then meat wouldnt matter. (hes on some crazy copium) Actually he's thick as hell and chunky and all and is built like a brick wall but im going to be brave and say he's probably not packing a crazy amount like ricky and batman and if they ever found out theyd tease him abt it cus hes such an asshole lol

Kronk does bestieship with Vivienne and would destroy people's lives to see his allies in positions of power. he'd declare himself divine if it was possible. he's a self-hating mage and loves the circle. he doesn't necessarily have Faith in the circle OR in institutions but he wants to make it so they benefit Him and doesnt gaf about if theyre hurting other ppl who aren't in his #crew. (his crew is very small cus most ppl cannot stand this dude btw). he threatens to make ppl tranquil for the fuck of it and follows thru most of the time. he'll lie and cheat to make his way to the top but he wont get his own hands dirty <3 he loves knowledge and learning and power <3 he doesn't actually care abt money but he cares about status cus it will create avenues for him to pursue evil magic or whatever the fuck this dude wants. type of guy whos like yeah world domination sounds fun i could do that then he's in control and hes like FUckckkkkkkkkkkk im so bored. ok public execution time! or something. mostly he's a nihilist and doesnt have faith in his fellow man. he wants all the secrets of magic revealed to him <3 he doesnt like templars but hes like fine whatever we can deal if they wanna keep all other mages (NOT ME) under their thumb. "circles are great but u wont catch ME going back to mine!" type of guy. i resent that inquisition suggested the inquisitor was a huge Hawke fan cus kronk would fucking hate her new money ass. like shes just so stupid about things. ricky hates this dude btw their first meeting would come to blows and i think he was like morrigan can u just blow this dude Uppppppppp and she was like erm no. we cannot blow up the inquisitor and ricky was like farkkkkk ok. i just dropped kieran on his head again btw honey what do i do ):

Mingus R. Shepard.

Mingus.

[melvinthedepressedrobot]

11, 17, and 26 for Wyn please :)

11) What was your inspiration for your OC?

Wyn started off as a joke that Ollarum's mother was a deadbeat horny monsterfucker bard, so that sterotype was the initial inspiration for her basic concept. Character-wise, I somewhat subconsciously put a lot of Isabela from DA2 into her, as well as the eponymous character from the song, The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington

17) If your OC has kids, are they a good parent? Do they ever feel guilty if they have to leave them?

man you picked that question on purpose didn'tcha when she was actually around, Wyn was a pretty good parent, particularly for a single teen mother who didn't exactly have any good examples to go off. She genuinely loves Ollarum and wants what's best for him, she doesn't care that having him could damage her reputation, doesn't see him as any different from any other child, and would never hurt him, which makes her a damn sight better than her own mother.

She didn't leave him because she didn't want him, but because she couldn't see a better choice. She didn't feel like she could keep him safe on the road by herself, but the longer she stayed with him in Waterdeep, the more she felt pressured to get married, which is, frankly, her idea of hell. So she went with the best compromise she could find, leaving him in a place where he'd at least be safe, fed, educated until she felt he was old enough to leave with her.

And, much as she tries to shove it deep down and pretend everything's fine, she does feel a lot of guilt around it, especially once he disappears in his teens - she knows she didn't make the right choice for him, but she also doesn't know what she could have done differently for him to have had a safe, happy childhood, without sacrificing her own freedom.

Tav!Wyn is a little different - she goes to get Ollarum almost immediately after saving BG, having Halsin among others to support her, whereas canon!Wyn has a lot less means and a much smaller, looser network until after it's too late, and Ollarum's already gone.

26) What flower do you associate your OC with?

Wyn's middle name is Amarante, which comes from the amaranth flower!