#She won't actually let isas plant eat a guy

[acewithapaintbrush]

If you're still taking prompts, how about some Alma being protective of Bruno once he comes back?

"I need a prophecy."

Alma takes a deep breath and folds her hands in front of her stomach. She is blocking Casita's doorway. Nonetheless she tries her best to look accommodating, while at the same time keeping the man in front of her from entering their home. 

She likes Emanuel well enough. His parents had been dear friends and good people, even though they have apparently failed to instill some manners into their only child. 

An uncomfortable thought enters her head. 

Maybe it isn't so much a lack of manners, but a sense of entitlement. An entitlement the entire village seems to share in regard to her son's time and services and his gift. An entitlement she had done nothing to curb in the last fifty years. 

'I need a prophecy.' 

That sounds so familiar. She has heard that sentence a lot over the years. Not a question. A demand. One she had been all too willing to fulfill. 

But that's not the truth either, is it? It hadn't been her dealing with the demands, but her son. Her son, who hadn't been willing at all, but who had done it anyway because years of guilting and insisting had whittled away at his ability to say no. 

He still has trouble saying no and that is Alma's fault. 

It's time for her to do what she should have done the first time a polite request had turned into an entitled demand. 

"I assume," she drawls and straightens her posture "that I'm supposed to translate this into 'Can your son give me a prophecy, please,'?" 

The last word leaves her lips like a gunshot. 

Emanuel looks taken aback by the vitriol in her voice. "Uhm… I guess?" 

"What do you need this prophecy for?" 

The man bristles and blushes and that tells Alma everything she needs to know. He probably wants to know if his wife will cheat on him once again. Alma wonders why he thinks that the answer will be different from the other dozen times he's asked. 

Odette is a passionate girl trapped in a loveless marriage. What answer does he expect? 

"That's private!" 

"Well, I'm afraid I can't let you in then. You see, Bruno doesn't give prophecies anymore unless it is a life or death kind of situation. And even then he might decline."

"This is life or death." At Alma's raised eyebrow he grows even more agitated. "She promised she won't do it again. I need to know what's going on between her and the baker." 

"How about you ask her instead of my son?" 

"No! I need a prophecy! I want a prophecy! It's your son's duty." 

Alma breathes deeply. 

'They need your visions, son. It's your duty!'

The nausea threatens to overwhelm her, but she won't show weakness now. 

"The answer is no." 

Emanuel looks like he might try to push past her, but Casita rattles the door menacingly and he steps back. He is breathing hard, but then a glint enters his eyes. 

"Guess I'll have to ask your son himself the next time I see him in the village. He'd always been so accommodating, I'm sure I can make him see reason." 

Bruno might see 'reason', but what Alma sees is red. 

"So you need a prophecy that badly, Senor?"

Emanuel winces at the stiff address. He knows he has messed up, but there is no going back now. 

"Si!" 

"This is apparently of utmost importance to you." Alma pats his arm and leans in. "So allow me to take care of this myself. Here is your prophecy: your wife and the baker will make a very cute couple once she finally finds the courage to leave you and pursue him."

Emanuel sputters and huffs. "That's not-" 

"You are right." Alma hasn't rudely cut off anyone like that in years and it feels good. "That's not really a prophecy, since everyone knows about their feelings except you. So here is another one. On the house, so to speak." She leans even closer and lowers her voice. "If you dare bother my son about this or any other prophecy, they won't ever find your body." 

Alma doesn't think she is that scary. How could she be? Over 70 years old and so much smaller than Emanuel? But the man blanches alarmingly and hurriedly puts distance between them. 

"The council will hear about this!", he shouts and runs away. 

Alma is not worried. Let him go to the council to tell them that the holder of the candle, poised and kind Alma Madrigal, has threatened him. 

Let's see how much they will believe him. 

She closes the door and upon turning around only jumps a little when she comes face to face with her grinning nieto. 

"Abuela!" Camilo exclaims with way too much glee. "Didn't know you had it in you!" 

"I have no idea what you are talking about, hijo." Alma sniffs and walks past him with her nose held high "And I expect you to keep this to yourself." 

"Sure thing, Abuela." After a short pause he adds "I'm sure Isabela would help you, though. I heard she's experimenting with flesh eating plants." 

Alma doesn't react. It wouldn't be appropriate. 

But it is something to keep in mind. 

****************

The way Bruno hugs her from behind and gently kisses her head at dinner that night reminds Alma once again that you can't trust Camilo with a secret. 

Her son's arms are tight around her and he shakily whispers 'Gracias Mama' into her neck. 

'Oh well', she thinks as she takes the hand of her son and kisses a sore knuckle 'I guess I can let it slide this one time.'