#guitar alebrije

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: January 22, 2025

Reworked Character #7: Ralf Jones

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to divorce, death, and crime.

Real name: Rafael Paul Jonesbury

Esper title: Avatar of Flaming, Renewal, Forceful Blows, and Physical Destruction

Aliases: One-Man Army and Marauding Lupine Carnivore

Occupation: Colonel of the Ikari Warriors

Retirement plans: To open his own fighting tournament and experience all thrill-seeking activities that society has to offer

Special skills: Driving military vehicles, close quarters combat, orchestrating stress relief programs, proficiency in all weapons, and training recruits

Esper abilities: His go-to esper ability is the Vulcan Punch, a rapid-fire series of punches capable of obliterating everything from humans, riot shields, bulletproof armour and glass, cars, all known Slugs, small to medium-sized tanks, and smaller helicopters. His second go-to esper ability is the Galactica Phantom, which he activates by leaning back, rearing his arm, and then flinging himself forward to unleash an incredibly powerful and explosive haymaker. His arms possess radioactive power, which he can concentrate in his fists. By harnessing this energy, he can unleash an arm-sized nuclear explosion when using his Galactica Phantom ability.

Despite his belly being constantly bloody and inflamed, he experiences surprisingly little pain due to his exceptional pain suppression, increased blood vessel density, resistance to extreme temperatures, and rapidly regenerating organs. This unique combination, coupled with a secondary esophagus lined with razor-sharp, spiky hairs, enables Ralf to harness the inflammation and blood to vomit a controlled stream of scorching, burning red liquid that incinerates his enemies. The sole drawback of his perpetually bloody and inflamed belly is impaired digestion, leading to difficulties in processing food, which in turn causes persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

Ralf can manifest up to twenty quasi-invisible arms composed of solidified telekinetic energy, which can be utilised to move around easily as well as bludgeon and slice through people and objects with precision. These arms can extend up to 20' 5" (622.5 cm) in length, appearing emaciated and twitching with erratic movements. He possesses the durability of a tortoise's shell, the acute hearing and smell of a wolf, and the swift agility of an otter. He can also unleash small, explosive blasts of red and orange flames with a normal punch or the touch of a single finger.

Whenever Ralf is killed, his body rapidly transforms into a cocoon adorned with serrated shell plates, as his corpse dissolves into a mushy, visceral substance. This cocoon then violently pulsates before rupturing, giving birth to a new, fully formed Ralf, covered in bloodied slime and emerging stark naked with no visible injuries or scars on his body. Whenever this occurs, he experiences blindness, dizziness, and intense, bitter coldness for sixteen minutes.

Hobbies: Baseball, participating in the biennial fighting tournaments that the Ikari Warriors host, taking his friends to carnival rides, camping trips, and science and art museums, rewatching his favourite anime movies and shows, and playing arcade games and iconic riffs on the electric guitar

Likes: A medal awarded from the President of the United States, the natural sounds of the jungle, collecting blades that look cool in his eyes, alebrije sculptures, and Clark

Dislikes: False rumours, venomous snakes, abuse of power, children being killed, and people hurting and insulting those he considers as “family”

Favourite food: Intestinal sausages and bubblegum that taste like watermelon and blueberry

Favourite drink: Root beer floats and brandy

Sexuality: Biromantic asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 25 (in 2022), 31 (in 2028), 33 (in 2030), 35 (in 2032), 37 (in 2034), 44 (in 2041), 46 (in 2043), 47 (in 2044), and 50 (in 2047)

Blood type: A+

Weight: 243 lbs. (110 kg)

Design: He's a 6' 2" (187.96 cm) American mesomorph of Latino, Ojibwe, and British descent with a robust build, decently chiselled musculature, broad shoulders, and a bit of a beer belly. He has almond skin, sunburst amber-sage green eyes, toes tipped with black wolf claws, and bear-like teeth. His hair resembles Ralf's from KOF XII and KOF XIII, but it's slightly tousled and a shimmering ash brown, and often tied into a long braid that falls to the middle of his back. His back and armpits are covered in golden brown otter fur, accented with streaks of olive green and tan. Additionally, his back features distinctive white spots outlined in black.

On his left deltoid, he has a tattoo of a stylized red otter playfully escaping the jaws of a black-furred wolf with piercing yellow eyes, clutching a ball of purple fire in its forepaws. On his right forearm, he has a tattoo of an alebrije with undulating cerulean horns, an orchid purple eagle head, languid lavender eyes with aquamarine pupils, a fiery mane, a forest green elk body, and a hot pink salmon tail with red-orange tiger stripes. Sprawled across the right side of the creature in a vertical line is a Spanish phrase in silver: "La sangre nos fortalece", which translates to "Blood strengthens us" in English.

Ralf's military gear consists of a chrome orange bandana with shaky rifle green spots and cinnabar fingerless driving gloves with four ivory spikes on the knuckles. He wears a waterproof dark green vest with the Ikari Warriors logo emblazoned on the back, and a coyote-fur trimmed collar. He wears cargo pants with an army green, brown, and silver-grey camouflage pattern, which aren't tucked into his beige jungle boots. He wears an asparagus-hued sleeveless shirt paired with a yellowish-tan belt featuring four black pouches for bullets and a holster for his handgun.

Attached to his belt are two swords: Harpe, a khopesh-like sickle sword with a flint-encased adamant blade, and Yawarakai-Te, a double-edged katana featuring a green-grey hilt and a hardwood sheath adorned with iridescent crow feathers. When the air gently blows past Yawarakai-Te's blade, it produces a soft hissing sound. Yawarakai-Te's blade is unnaturally frigid, able to cut a leaf in half with ease, and compels its user to spare the innocent and undeserving from attack. Ralf dons a cardinal red waist pack that holds two cans of root beer as well as black elbow and knee pads. On his left, he wears the same drop leg holster as Ralf in The King of Fighters XV, but it holds a Zantetsu Sword.

Over his shirt, he dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries around his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. Above his belt, he has a dark brown bandolier for holding sticks of dynamite. Ralf carries around a yellowish-tan load-bearing backpack that contains camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, maps for all continents, an extra pair of clothes, and a bag of THC-infused box gummies in light orange (mango peach), red (strawberry), and pale yellow (pineapple). His backpack contains an army Medal of Honor, a silver milagro charm in the shape of a fiery heart for good luck and protection, a bottle of his chosen brandy, an empty spotted turtle shell, and a dreamcatcher adorned with a grey web design, song sparrow feathers, and colourful beads in red, white, yellow, and black. It also contains a faded photograph of him and Clark, taken in their twenties, crouched down in a South American jungle. Clark isn't wearing his iconic sunglasses, and they're both smiling at the camera, throwing peace signs.

During downtime on deployment or off-duty hours, he sometimes brings his prized copper-hued Fender Jaguar electric guitar, which is adorned with a curved blue jay tail feather painted on its left side. The guitar's goldenrod-coloured pick holder is stocked with a rainbow of picks—though he jokingly claims to dislike the purple one the most. He wears hook earrings, each featuring three porcupine quills tipped with gaspeite beads, and a Jocla necklace made of alternating white wampum beads, copper beads, and raven feathers.

Thanks to Tarma, he owns a key to access his red-violet Matchless G3/L motorcycle, which has a purplish-black sheen. The gas tank features a sky blue fish scale pattern with malachite green dots at the centre of each scale.

Super Devil form: He's a 15' 7" (474.98 cm) draconic entity with a grotesque musculature and scaly rifle green skin that shimmers with a vibrant hot pink iridescence. He has a cerulean coyote-shaped head with sunburst amber-sage green eyes, hot pink slit pupils, a cardinal red nose, and a wispy ash brown goat's beard. Ralf also has horse ears, an orchid purple snout, two rows of olivine shark teeth, and a slimy, pointed tongue. His arms and legs are enveloped in a thick layer of otter fur, matching the tufts found in the armpits of his human form. He has undulating cerulean horns, a fiery mane, spiked knuckles, eagle-like feet, and razor-sharp wolf claws that tip his fingers and toes.

Three rows of symmetrical, deadly sharp, conical spikes are positioned on his back, running from the base of his neck to just before the start of his tail. He has two massive bat-like wings, boasting an impressive wingspan of 21 ft (640.08 cm). Despite being dull and tattered, the wings' membrane displays silvery spots and a striking gradient from grenadier red to flush orange to selective yellow. Additionally, Ralf has olivine thumbs tipped with copper claws, and his forearms, wrists, and five fingers are dark green. He has a long, winding, serpentine tail, twice his height in length, with fur and colouration matching the fur on his human back. The tail culminates in a silver arrowhead-shaped tip.

Character summary: He's a rowdy and outgoing individual who inspires others to step out of their comfort zones and discover new reasons to live. He's a sassy, stubborn, and refreshingly honest thrill-seeker with an unrelenting passion for action and living dangerously. Unlike Clark, who’s very mature, he tends to act immaturely and come across as arrogant and aggressive, often attacking without thinking. However, he’s self-aware of these tendencies and makes a conscious effort to present himself as more approachable and laid-back. He prioritises relaxation and makes sure those around him take time to unwind and recharge regularly. He strives to maintain an optimistic outlook and is frustrated by pessimism and cynicism, wishing others could focus on the positive and appreciate life's blessings.

After forming a new connection, he rapidly becomes emotionally invested and starts to regard the person as a close family member. He's extremely protective towards new recruits under his command, comrades, and friends, viewing them as family. Thanks to his positive attitude, sense of responsibility, and sincere communication, many people trust him immediately, and he's committed to upholding that trust. Ralf is willing to go to great lengths to ensure their safety and the security of innocent lives, even if it requires taking bold action or putting himself in harm's way. However, he harbours a deep-seated hatred for betrayal, particularly among those in the Regular Army or whom he considers family.

He often enjoys teasing Clark, playfully poking fun at his serious nature while showing him brotherly affection, but also treats him with great respect and compassion. The thought of potentially losing his brother-in-arms, Clark, through unfair circumstances is unbearable to him. He secretly resents being scolded for harmless fun, but Clark's disappointment stings the most, filling him with remorse. Ralf is captivated by Hyakutaro's enigmatic past, pioneering status as the first known esper of contemporary history, and his free-spirited nature. He finds Tarma and Nadia to be absolutely hilarious and has a soft spot for Trevor's nerdy and laid-back demeanour.

He deeply cares about children, recognizing their importance to the growth and future of humanity, and is appalled by those who abuse and harm them. The thought of inadvertently causing harm to a child or being forced to do so is utterly devastating to him. Whenever possible, he enjoys connecting with children through entertaining storytelling sessions and lively games of baseball. Many people describe him as having an "uncle-like" demeanour when interacting with children, yet he can also come across as surprisingly fatherly at times.

Notably, he shares a surprisingly close bond with Heidern, with many speculating that he views him as a father figure. This connection likely stems from Ralf’s gratitude for the opportunity to train under Heidern after being accepted into the Ikari Warriors. He regards Leona as a younger sister, frequently joining her in playful pranks and good-natured teasing of their friends. He goes out of his way to lift her spirits and offer comfort during her most challenging moments.

He’s close friends with Nathalie Neo, and relishes the opportunity to work alongside her on missions. He holds her in high esteem as a skilled and proactive member of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, admiring her willingness to boldly take initiative in battle without hesitation. After discovering that she was the daughter of 2nd Lieutenant Cook, he made a promise to protect her and keep her safe from harm. This was because she was the only thing left that reminded him of one of his deceased superiors and best friends.

He strongly disapproves of Gimlet's misogynistic behaviour and objectification of women as well as his aggressive tendency to provoke physical confrontations with Tarma and Marco. Ralf has a tendency to speak passionately about his interests, which range from his favourite anime movies to his admiration for Marco's team and Division 6. As a confident, self-sufficient, and resourceful individual, he thrives on hard work, deriving a profound sense of fulfillment from completing challenging tasks. When not fuelled by excitement or anger, he exudes a calming presence, often serving as a mediator to resolve disputes among friends and comrades as he detests conflict. His insatiable curiosity drives him to explore thought-provoking questions and his surroundings, usually alongside those close to him.

Similar to Marco, he has a habit of concealing his deepest emotions, particularly those related to the many people he has lost during countless wars and terrorist attacks. Instead, he often tries to drown his sorrows with a few drinks, seeks comfort in the company of friends or indulges in reckless activities. Whenever he gets drunk, he exhibits forgetfulness, clumsiness, mild paranoia, excessive joviality, and loquaciousness. He has a habit of frequently mistaking people's names, often using similar but incorrect variations (e.g. calling Marco "Mark" and Fio "Fia"), which greatly embarrasses him, prompting him to profusely apologise for the mistake. 

He tries his best to avoid water activities like cruising and canoeing as they make him prone to seasickness. He loves his entire blade collection, but he has a particular fondness for those specialising in combat. Additionally, he enjoys a few multi-functional blades in his collection, which offer versatility. He's a deep sleeper, periodically punctuated by soft snores, but his restlessness is evident in his frequent tossing and turning.

He believes that immortality is unattainable for espers and humans, reserved for the psyche and most powerful deities. He's an animist who believes everything is interconnected, and everyone has a vital role in stewarding the earth. He's a devout believer in manitou, which represents the mysterious power of life and the universe. He loves participating in Talking Circles as it gives him an opportunity to connect with friends and comrades through shared stories. Surprisingly, Ralf is a skilled storyteller, often recounting his past experiences and sharing entertaining moral stories his father once shared with him. Although he's a fun-loving, hot-headed enthusiast of arcades and classic anime with a great sense of humour, he possesses remarkable wisdom and generosity. He dislikes the false rumours that surround global events and people's personal lives.

Backstory: Rafael Paul Jonesbury was born on August 25, 1997 in North Dakota, United States. His father, Gabriel Jonesbury, was an Ojibwe shaman and owner of an arts and crafts shop with a spirit name of Kechewaishke. His mother, Javiera, was a British-Latina mercenary who served in the Regular Army’s former private free company, the Phantom Strike. Like Ralf, she was an esper with the esteemed title of the Avatar of Physical Decay, Luminosity, and Fogginess. Gabriel would often share moral and entertaining stories that connected various figures from Ojibwe spiritual beliefs, such as the Thunderbird, Great Serpent, Mishipeshu, and Nanabozo. He also taught him about other important beliefs valued among First Nations peoples, including the Grandfather Teachings and the Medicine Wheel. He sparked Ralf's love for nature and encouraged him to fearlessly explore his identity and interests.

Javiera taught him numerous Latinx cultural values, the importance of family, and how his faith in God would be greatly rewarded. She often crafted wooden alebrije sculptures for him when she was away from home. She usually encouraged him to be proud of his cultural heritage and not let others bring him down for being different. While she appreciated his fondness for nature, she found his love for arcades and anime perplexing. She would unknowingly spark his interest in the military, particularly the mercenary lifestyle, through her stories and experiences.

At age 7, his parents decided to get a divorce due to their differing spiritual beliefs, which were starting to clash more and more. He lived with his father for the most part but was allowed to visit his mother whenever she was between assignments or not away on mercenary work. He also began to take up baseball, which became his favourite sport to play and watch on the big screen. He also developed a passion for extreme sports, often watching them on TV. Meanwhile, Gabriel would take him on extensive trips across the western, northern, and midwestern United States, exploring America's natural wonders, visiting First Nations communities, and attending conferences focused on Indigenous issues.

At 12, with the support of his father and his Ojibwe community, he embarked on his spiritual quest. Due to the extreme fasting, it put relative strain on his body, which activated his esper abilities. Ralf recalls that it produced visions of his future life as a great warrior and storyteller, revealing that he's an esper and teaching him how to harness his powers and access his Super Devil form. After a period of isolation and fasting, it revealed the spirits of his ancestors and his three guardian animals: the wolf, turtle, and otter. Through this experience, he developed his survival skills, gained maturity, and strengthened his connection with nature and the divine forces of life.

At age 14, before embarking on a mission against mysterious terrorist cultists, Javiera gave him her silver milagro charm for safekeeping, telling him it would bring him good luck and protection. Tragically, that mission proved to be her last, as she was captured and tortured to death. When Ralf received the devastating news, he struggled to come to terms with it and felt overwhelming guilt, as if her fate was his fault because he possessed her milagro charm. Although his parents were divorced, Gabriel was deeply saddened by the news and did his best to support Ralf through his emotional turmoil.

Contrary to rumours, Ralf didn’t drop out of high school and become addicted to LSD after losing his mother. Instead, he channelled his energy into his education, using it as a focus for his future. During this time, Ralf briefly explored dating, going on a few outings with both women and men, but eventually stopped searching for love when he couldn't find the right match. Ralf did experiment with LSD once, but the intense anxiety and hallucinations dissuaded him from ever trying the drug again.

When he turned 20, his father was killed during a robbery at the arts and crafts shop he owned. To make matters worse, he was facing financial difficulties at the time and struggling to find a stable job. In his desperation, he turned to an illegal fighting ring, drawn by the promise of cash prizes likely funded by other criminal activities. He participated in numerous fights, both in the ring and on the streets, for profit, eventually becoming the most skilled fighter among them. Ralf also discovered a fondness for THC-infused gummies, which provided relief from his emotional pain and served as a pleasant indulgence.

All of that changed when the Ikari Warriors discovered the famous street fighter's true identity as an esper after he joined their biennial tournament. With little convincing needed, Ralf joined the Ikari Warriors, driven by a desire to carry on his mother's legacy and explore the world. He excelled in all aspects of his military training, particularly in utilising his esper abilities effectively and mastering hand-to-hand combat techniques. Following a mission against a corrupt politician attempting to seize control of Cambodia, Ralf and Clark formed a strong bond, becoming fast friends. During his time with the Ikari Warriors, he formed close friendships with several comrades, including General Kawasaki, 2nd Lieutenant Cook, Eikichi, Leland, and Byron. Leland gifted Ralf his copper-hued electric guitar, complete with a pick holder, as a birthday present and a symbol of respect—a treasured keepsake Ralf still holds dear.

Ralf has been on numerous missions for the Ikari Warriors, rising through the ranks to become a colonel due to his natural leadership skills and courage on the battlefield. He and Clark played a crucial role in defeating a secret society, referred to as the Serapion Fellowship, that had infiltrated and influenced much of Latin America's political and religious landscape, a group that would later evolve into the Ptolemaic Army. During a battle against the Serapion Fellowship on Ilha da Queimada Grande, Ralf narrowly escaped being bitten by a venomous golden lancehead viper. Later, in the Ecuadorian Andes, he had a harrowing encounter with a fer-de-lance, but in a panic, he managed to deflect it towards a group of Ptolemaic Army guerrilla troops. These two chilling incidents instilled in him a deep-seated aversion to venomous snakes.

Rumours have circulated that Ralf and Clark, while returning to base from their battle against the Serapion Fellowship by aircraft, encountered a mysterious storm that catapulted them through space and time. They allegedly became trapped in a parallel dimension, where they fought their way through legions of demons and aliens ruled by a malevolent being. Additionally, rumours suggest that they may have also clashed with a group of invading Martians in the Baja California desert. However, they haven't addressed these claims publicly, despite knowing they're entirely false.

In another notable operation, Ralf, Clark, and a few comrades successfully rescued Elise, the U.S. President's daughter, from a massive criminal organisation that had planned to exploit her to gain access to the President's funds and harvest her organs. Ralf fondly recalls this mission, as it earned him a Medal of Honor from the U.S. President. He acquired Harpe during a mission in Greece where terrorists had raided a recently discovered catacomb. Additionally, he obtained Yawarakai-Te during a separate mission in Yamagata, Japan where a cult with illegal weaponry had taken over an old village, intent on instigating a nationwide war. Rumours have spread that Harpe and Yawarakai-Te once belonged to the Tuatha Dé Danann, which he considers to be legitimate, but for the most part, he remains skeptical.

Ralf has endured numerous tragedies, fueling his determination to improve and protect the innocent. He witnessed the devastating loss of General Kawasaki during a battle against a cartel in Mexico, where he was tragically crushed and burned alive by flaming debris from a missile strike. 2nd Lieutenant Cook fell victim to a traitor within the Ikari Warriors, who ratted them to a bioterrorist group during a mission in Czechia, resulting in her assassination. While investigating a town ravaged by a guerrilla army in Saudi Arabia, Byron was horrifically devoured by a swarm of Man Eaters. Leland met a brutal end during a mission on a stolen submarine, where he was fatally gutted by a criminal. Eikichi suffered a terrifying fate when a bomber variant of a Mutated Soldier latched onto him while investigating an abandoned laboratory and exploded, causing him to be torn into a million gory pieces.

During the Great Morden War, Ralf made a name for himself as he single-handedly successfully defended the United States against the Rebel Army's invasion. Notably, he destroyed The Keesi II, which had been using captured civilians, including men, women, and children, as hostages and human shields, transporting them to various conflict zones where Rebel Infantrymen were deployed. However, upon destroying the aircraft, Ralf was met with devastating news: there were innocent civilians on board, and they had all perished in the attack. This heroic yet tragic act caught the attention of the Regular Army's high command, who subsequently approached the Ikari Warriors to propose a strategic alliance. The offer was readily accepted, and as a result, the Ikari Warriors were integrated as the elite mercenary branch of the Regular Army.

A few months after General Morden formed an alliance with Doctor Amadeus and Rootmars, Ralf was deployed on a mission to assist Nathalie Neo. Their objective was to track down and eliminate a rogue cell of Rebel Army soldiers planning to spark chaos for unknown reasons. During a nighttime operation in a dense forest, they discovered that the Rebel soldiers they had neutralised were, in fact, robotic and biomechanical in nature. Upon inspecting the bodies, they noticed a suspicious logo on the necks of each one, which Ralf recognised from Clark's accounts of being experimented on by a notorious organisation. This revelation led them to realise that the Amadeus Syndicate was behind the sinister operation. They promptly reported their findings to the Regular Army and continued to combat the rogue cell, aiming to disrupt the Amadeus Syndicate's plans.

After Ralf's Vulcan Punch and Galactica Phantom obliterated the Hellfire, their battles raged on through treacherous landscapes. He and Nathalie navigated a jungle waterfall, where they clashed with the Arachnid Bot. They raided an underground base containing numerous cargo crates of trafficked weapons and drugs to launch a daring assault and destroy the Cyclops. Taking to the skies, Ralf and Nathalie eliminated the Mega Laser Turret, cleverly disguised as a Rebel Army plane. While Nathalie fought soldiers on the wing of the plane and attacked the aircraft's weak point, Ralf broke into the aircraft and battled cyborg Rebel Army troops. He stole classified documents, but they turned out to be decoys, containing only basic information on genetics and brain psychology in serial killers and soldiers. This made the reason behind the Amadeus Syndicate's operation a mystery. After destroying the Mega Laser Turret, Ralf swiftly rescued Nathalie using his own Slug Flyer because hers had been obliterated by the aircraft’s laser beam.

As a way to support the Regular Army and show his respect, Ralf frequently trains new cadets to hone their melee combat skills. Due to his mercenary work, he rarely had the opportunity to meet members of the Regular Army's other special forces. He had always heard heroic stories about Hyakutaro and the elite members of the P.F. Squad and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., especially those from the Great Morden War and the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash. He sincerely hoped to meet them in person, fascinated by their tactical prowess and teamwork.

[gae-bug]

A slight hyper fixation is forming on the movie coco so here are some things I jotted down while rewatching it last night.

-We first see Dante next to a shop that sells a bunch of alebrijes

-miguel commenting on how cool de la curz’s guitar is And how his fav song is remember me little does he know that that's hectors guitar and the song he wrote for coco, also he knew they were connected in some way

-they keep up with the dimple only on one side thingy

-the talent of this kid for being able to make a functioning guitar from scraps lying around is fucking amazing, even if his shine for de la curz is a stong fire hazzard-

-learnt by just watching and hearing without actually being taught!!!?!?!?! Bro is insanely good

-"I'm gonna play even if it kills me!" The universe took that a Lil to literally lol

-oh Dante, he shall always be my favorite animal character in a movie

-the collective gasp

-at least Miguel's dad showed some sing of 'okay this is a little to far’ when she went to smash the gitaur

-the way he folds the picture the opposite way, so instead of Hector being the one left out its Imelda

-just casually stealing from the dead, smart move tho with the fire work.

-I like that the petals start to flicker

-how did people realize it was missing so fast bro

-"oh hey Miguel.….😨😨😨😨”

-the city in the land of the dead is so pretty but would also be terrifying as someone who is afraid of heights.

-Hector has no eyebrows, he does got some sick move tho

-I love that everybody's afraid of imelda lol

-imaging still having to work a service job in the after life-

-again Dante is my favorite

-Hector has a broken rib

-I also love Hector's confusion, he's like tf u mean that asshole has KIDSS!!!?!?!!?!??!

-Hector’s guitar has a golden tooth just like him!

-Dante being the best count like 15 lol

-would all these dancer s also get in legal trouble for faking unibrows or do they get a pass bc it was a celebrities idea?

-coresction, Hector had SEVERAL broken ribs.

-"what do you know" alot buddy, A LOT.

-bro took his femur, and DIDNT RETURN IT-

-okay, ik I said Hector had no eyebrows and that is true but basically nobody else really does either but it's more noticeable to me on Hector because of him taking off the fake eyebrows.

-the fucking detail on Miguels face, you can see his skin through the face paint as if it was real.

-the foreshadowing from looking at the shot glasses, one dunk, one still full.

-the nuns are also playing remember me before they even said that everybody is playing it

-one of his arm and one of his leg bones are also being held together by what I think is gauze? Idk it's blue it might be ribbon.

-I love hectors excitement when migeul stars playing poco loca, especially considering that it was most likely a song HE wrote about Imelda

-he called Miguel's musical fantasy stupid bc his got him killed.

-skeleton horses have been spotted, plus 10 points(I say as if I'm keeping a point counter lmao)

-him laughing and genuinely having fun with people who actually enjoyed his music

-he looks better as a skeleton low key- (de la cruz)

- yk there's a thing called stairs Miguel…

-the shock on del la curz’s face bc he knows he DID NOT have children, but he sees this as an opportunity to get more famous so he runs with it

- notice how he doesn't mention him leaving his family bc he didn't leave a family

-can't believe this dude has pools in the shape of the gitaur that he murdered his best friend for.

-he murdered his best friend, stole his guitar, stole his songs AND profited off his death by putting in a move and making himself seem like the victim in that situation.

-all Hector cares about is seeing his daughter one last time

-takes his guitar before Hector even hits the ground.

-when Imelda says I give you my blessing the petal lights up but when de la curz says it the petals stays normal

-as soon as de la curz is meant to be seen as the bad guy you see him in green and purple lighting, colors Disney like to use for villains.

-even though he is fading hectors first priority was comforting miguel

-THE DETAIL ON EVEN THE TINIEST OF THINGS BRO

-seeing Hector with skin is weird to me for some reason, maybe it's just because I'm so used to seeing him without it.

-Dante very well has over a hundred points for being the best at this point

-hector holding his hat like a sad wet cat.

-Imelda has earings but no ears-

-"she’s talking about me! I'm the love of your life!?" One of my favorite moments lol

-bro was stupid enough to keep the photo in his pocket.

-"I don't know what I said" "that's what I heard 🤭😏"

-'that's interesting yk why,’ 'why?' 'Because- *runs away*' seriously tho the run he does lmao

-this entire family got moves bro, and are also very good at avoiding the cops.

-I hate this fucking asshole

-YES! PUT HIM ON BLAST!!!!!!

-dont you fucking call him 'old freond' you fucking bitch

-yes boo him off the stage! Throw your tomatoes!!!!

-bell: 2 Ernesto: 0

-you can start to see Miguel's skull through his skin

-her earrings are just pierced through her cheekbones-

-he follows the petals home

-"not all of us" STOPPPPP.

-I'm glad they didn't try to make it seem like he was singing perfectly and instead had it so you can hear the tears in his voice

-it's dirty gauze and duct tape that's holding his bones together btw

- it's been a year and bro has not gotten better clothes.

Edit: ok hector actually did get some slightly better clothes I think but like they are very similar to his old clothes and seem a lot worse compared to the rest of his family’s

[juliedrawz]

Guys! My heart! Yesterday evening something happened that I didn't expect AT ALL!

So it was my cousins birthday. No biggie. Just another small family get together at my aunts. Some cake, some really good dinner, boring chit chat. You name it.

And, of course, eventually, I sat ... and sat ... and got bored. So I took out my Ipad and started drawing Coco stuff, when all of the sudden I hear my Dad go in a whisper to my great cousin (She's almost 7, mind you) "Uh oh ... don't let Julie hear that!"

Too late! Sweet familiar melodies I've engraved in my heart reach my ears and I'm immersed in the movie I love more than anything! I hear Héctor talk to Miguel and that's it. I Turn my head, the child giggles and grins and boom, I scuttle closer next to her and before we know it, we are BOTH deeply in the movie. Dad shakes his head grinning, Mom beams from ear to ear as my great cousin showers me with a huricane of questions and facts.

"Did you know Ernesto's guitar is actually Héctor's"?

"Yes, sweety! I know 😂"

"Why is Imelda angry at Héctor?"

"Because she was very sad when he didn't come back."

My great cousin loudly - "But he wanted to come back!! Ernesto kept him from going!"

Me - 🫠 "Yes, sweety! I know!!" 💪😭 *so proud!!*

And she literally proceeded to ask me questions and I answered them all! Why do alebrijes look so colorful? Why does Pepita turn back into a cat? Why does Miguel turn a skeleton? Why did Ernesto snap?

She also wanted to know my top 3 and DUH, did I say, Héctor, Imelda, Ernesto! Héctor being nr 1. And she agress but says, "Héctor, Miguel, Ernesto!" And I'm just 🥹💘 (She said, Ernesto folks!! She's a clever one! She doesn't put the "Villain" stamp on him but understands (as far as child can at that age) that something went wrong with him. One day, when she's old enough, she'll get to read my book! That's for sure!

And further more, speaking of Héctor's guitar, her Dad comes around singing un poco loco and asks, "Why can't you play her un poco loco?"

Me - "Because I've only been playing for 10 months? I'm not that good yet! 🥲"

He - "Well then learn faster!" 😂

Me - 🥲 "I wish I could! Believe me ... it's not that easy!"

And great cousin asks when I will finish Héctor's guitar. OF COURSE, Dad had to tell her what I'm up to!

Me - "Soon, I hope!"

Fast forward, un poco loco comes on, we sing! My aunt comes, hears and you can see the sneer in her face 🤣 but I already have the multitude on my side! So we settle in an agreement to turn the music down slightly!

And then Imelda comes and sings, and my great cousin goes "Imelda sings sooooo good!"

And I 🥰 "Oh yes she does!"

We keep watching the movie, kid keeps asking stuff, I answer and feel like the greatest nerd ever 😆🤓 The movie ends, we clapp and cheer, and kid proceeds to ask me to draw the characters. I show her my works and she's in awe! "Wow! You can draw them like in the movie!" And I'm 🤧❤️‍🔥 (you guys know kids are darn honest, no?) It went down like oil! I felt SO good! 🤣

Anyway, we drew a little, had dinner and then she fell asleep.

Will I continue to turn my family into Coco-fans? Heck yes!

[shoppinghauer]

I hate when "well meaning" people try to frame Día de Muertos as an exotic, philosophical or even pagan tradition. It's a Catholic holiday. Older and rural people go to mass. They go to the graveyard and sometimes eat there. But this is a Catholic Holiday the same as Holy Week or Easter. It's not a whimsical Coco adventure where alebrijes and marigolds rain from the skies while we play guitars and eat enchiladas.

There's some secular stuff like the eating sugar skulls and putting cut out paper everywhere, or the Catrinas (skeleton ladies) and that flashy parade that came into existence thanks to the James Bond movie. I mean, the government defictionalizated the parade because they thought it was a nice idea. Before that there wasn't one.

We also celebrate Halloween the very stupid way americans do. People make horror movie marathons, throw costume parties and call october "spooky season" (not translated). Since the 90's Mexico has become increasingly americanized. Get a grip.

[paused-waterfall]

Missa and Tallulah come up with a Coco AU

Here, have a silly little scene I wrote that should definitely be in Spanish but isn't. (it will take a LOT more studying before I can invent miscommunication that works in Spanish lol)

Missa was walking through Rose's Sanctuary when he heard music drifting out of the treehouse. The song fit the feel of the place. It was pretty, a little uncertain, and a little sad. Missa was sure he knew it from somewhere, but he hadn't quite nailed it down. He climbed up to see who was playing.

Tallulah was sitting cross-legged in the nest, holding her guitar. She froze as she saw Missa. He froze at the top of the ladder in turn.

"Tallulah! I should've guessed that was you." Missa gave his best nonthreatening smile, and Tallulah gave a little wave. Missa climbed the rest of the way up the ladder and sat awkwardly on the floor next to his... adoptive stepgranddaughter? Or was it stepdaughter now? Was "step" even applicable? He wasn't sure.

"You play super well!" he told her. "I was sure Chayanne was playing a record up here or something."

Tallulah shrugged and nodded, looking shy.

"Was that the song from Coco?" Missa asked. Tallulah gave another nod, more enthusiastically this time. "I love that movie," he said. "The animation is just so beautiful."

Tallulah set her guitar aside so that she could sign, "It's one of my favorites, too. It reminds me of family."

Missa blinked a few times, mulling over the connection. "Oh. Yeah, I can see that." He laughed nervously. "It's the story of a foolish musician who let his dreams lure him away from his family." Missa smiled wistfully, looking over the railing and out over the sanctuary. "And who was too much of a fuckup to make it home for them. But I don't have any fancy designs on my skull like Héctor does."

Tallulah looked up sharply at the last few words. "What? You aren't Héctor," she signed rapidly, looking annoyed. "My papa Wilbur is Héctor."

Missa winced. Of course it wasn't about him. After all, he and Tallulah barely knew each other. But it was weird to think that he wasn't the only Héctor in their little family.

"Wait," he said. "If Wilbur is Héctor, does that make you Miguel, or Coco? And is Philza... the strict Abuelita?"

Tallulah rolled her eyes and signed, "It's not an exact match!"

"Quackity must be Mamá Imelda, and El Quackity can be Ernesto de la Cruz and--"

Tallulah jumped up, trying to gesture emphatically enough to interrupt him, "None of those make sense!" She was visibly trying not to break into laughter.

"-- somehow Pepito has to be Pepita!" Missa made little flapping motions with his hands to represent the giant alebrije. Both of them started laughing in earnest at that.

Maybe it wasn't a perfect metaphor.

[uchihanobourei]

Film review

Coco 🍂💀

Year: 2017

Director: Lee Unkrich

Music: Michael Giacchino

Main cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal

Characters

Miguel

Héctor Rivera

Ernesto de la Cruz

Mamá Imelda

Abuelita

Papá

Papá Julio

Tío Oscar

Tío Felipe

Mamá Coco

Tía Rosita

Tía Victoria

Mamá

Dante 🐕

Ooohh this animation is sooooo gooodddd!! Also the vibrant colours specifically it's yellow spectrum I also love orange colour, the characters, Miguel, the songs, the guitar songs, DANTE OFCC, the alebrijes, musics, scores, all of them made me emotional, especially Remember Me. To this day, I can't not crying watching the ending

I think this about don't let your personal trauma influence your family, even if you're being protective to them, you must control it. Also never ever forget your family lineage/kin, ancestors (exceptions when they're morally problematic)

[konradnews]

The long-awaited arrival of Urupocha from Alebrije Pepita!　Miguel and Dante are here too!

The Disney Store will add characters from the Disney & Pixar film “Remember Me” to its Uru-Po-Chan plush toy series on August 13. Joining them are Miguel, who strums a white guitar, and Dante, with his long tongue. The other three characters are Alebrije Pepita, who appears in the “Land of the Dead” and has a unique coloring that is very appealing. All of them are deformed into a chubby body…

[indoraptorgirlwind]

ANT-MAN COCO AU PART 2

Peter tried to get the suit with him but just when he grabbed it, he got back to the land of the dead.

"Only five seconds and you're already breaking my rule!" Hope snapped

Peter tried to get the blessing from Kate, Natasha, Pietro, Wanda and Harley but they were all too scared of Hope's shoe to give it. They tried to convince him to accept the condition mama Hope put, but Peter wasn't listening

"I have to go to the bathroom" he invented as an excuse to escape and search his great great grandfather to get his blessing and be able to turn into a superhero, because it was his dream and he knew his family wouldn't understand. Some guards saw him, but he evaded them all. He entered a room where he heard a conversation. In there, the same guy who failed to cross the bridge was being scolded by a police. The police explained him his charges and after leaving him go with a warning. Peter discovered the guy was a friend of Cross.

"Hey! You know Cross?" Peter reached him and turned the skeleton towards him

"What do you want?" The skeleton scoffed thinking it was a guard, before looking at Peter, shocked "ay ay, he's alive!"

Peter locked both of them on a phone cage and explained him

"Yes i'm alive! And i have to get a blessing from him!"

"That's weirdly specific!" The skeleton added

"He's my great-great-grandfather!"

"H-he's your great-great-what!" At this, the skeleton's eyes fell to his mouth and Peter let out an "ew"

When the man returned his eyes to his sockets, he went thinking for a minute, and he let out a happy "yes"

"You're from the living world! And you can put up my photo!" He softly shaked Peter

"Now that i think of it, it may not be a great idea" Peter left the cabine, but got the skeleton reached for him

"No no no, i'll help you! And you can help me! We can help each other!" He told the boy, who got spotted by his family that were behind the skeleton

"I'm Scott!" The skeleton -Scott- added

"Nice to meet you!" A nervous Peter interrupted, pulling him out to the exit. When Hope and the rest of the family arrived to the exit, they lost sight of Peter, so Hope had only one option. She whistled and suddenly, a giant ant alebrije named Ant-thony landed just on her side, smelling the petal Peter had touched to track him down. On another place, Scott was painting Peter's face like a skeleton.

"Look Peter, on the day of the dead everyone puts up your photo so you can cross the bridge, unless you're me" Scott pauses

"You haven't crossed?" Peter asked

"Well, nobody puts my photo, but you're gonna fix that!" Scott gives Peter a photo of him, when he was alive. He had the same long fluffy hair and the same shiny green eyes, but still, he looked kinda different.

"Muy guapo, eh?" Scott said, smiling proudly "so anyways, you don't have family here?" Scott asked

"Uhhh nope!" Peter answered nervously. The pair proceeded to walk through the town, Peter looking at all the stunning things and trying to blend in, when he saw that there was an anual show at sunrise where Cross would made a perfomance. Scott took the kid to a building, where he got scolded by a woman who was working on some dresses. Meanwhile, Cosmo decided to explore the place, chased by Peter, who got to meet the artist Ramonda, who asked him to give her his opinion of her perfomance for the show.

When Scott found him, they asked where to find Cross, only for him to get mocked by dying due to "choking on some orance slices" Still, they told Scott that there was a music contest to meet Cross at his pre-show party. Luckily, Peter knew to play the guitar.

Scott decided to get Peter the guitar. They arrived at a different place from the other houses. This place was very unkept and people wasn't as happy as the ones on the colorful side. After Scott met with some ladies and they gave him a bottle of whisky, he guided Peter to a shack, where there was another skeleton in even worse conditions than Scott.

"What's up Billy?" Scott said to the man

"Go away" The guy who looked nothing like a Billy but like a grumpy man said

"Ay Bill, i need to borrow something" Scott continued

"I need to borrow your guitar"

"My guitar? My precious guitar?!" Billy scrambled his guitar from Scott

"I'm gonna return it back" Scott answered

"Just like you returned my lasso Scott? My femur?" Bill revealed his whole leg, showing that he had a stick instead of a femur. Suddenly, Billy's bones glowed, and he fell away tired, worrying Scott.

"You're okay amigo?" Scott asked

"I'm fading Scott. Play a song for me"

"No no Bill, you know i don't play anymore, the guitar is for the kid"

"If you want that guitar, you must earn it" Bill quietly snapped.

Scott sighed and took the guitar to sing a soft song about a girl called Juanita. When Scott finished the song, Bill just laughed and suddenly, his bones glowed yellow again, slowly dusting away.

"What happened to him?" Peter softly asked when Scott was already taking him to the exit door

"Pete, when there aren't people who remember you or tell your stories, you fade away and nobody knows where. They call it, the final death. And there wasn't anyone left who could tell Bill's stories..." Scott was silent for a moment, but shaked his head "ah, it happens to everyone all the time. Keep going kid, you have a show to win"

[dogbearinggifts]

His Guitar

A/N: So after reading up on some headcanons and theories regarding the guitar alebrije  by @im-fairly-whitty and others, I started thinking about why Ernesto didn’t have a copy of the skull guitar, despite it being his signature. The result was a drabble that turned into something more. So….yeah, here’s my take on Hector’s guitar alebrije.

*********

In life, Ernesto could always count on his fans. Thus far, death was no different.

His mausoleum was as grand as a mausoleum could be, all white marble and fluted columns, stretching up to the sky, towering over everything else in the graveyard. On sunny days, Ernesto liked to think it would act like a beacon, reflecting sunlight like the moon and drawing every eye in Santa Cecelia to its greatest treasure. It wasn’t what he’d expected to find when he returned to his place of burial.

It was more.

“Oh! Oh! It’s de la Cruz!”

Ernesto smiled as the cry was echoed across the graveyard, heads turning toward the bridge some distance behind him. He raised a hand in greeting, catching additional comments tossed like flowers at his feet.

“Señor de la Cruz! You must visit mi familia—they’ll have put your picture on their ofrenda!”

“Later, perhaps,” he replied with a chuckle.

“Ay, is there some special lady waiting for you?”

“Too many,” Ernesto said, returning the man’s sly grin with one of his own.

“Here to play in the plaza again?”

Ah, now there was an idea. “Once I have my guitar!”

The dead moved aside as he dodged graves on the way to his mausoleum, forming a path as clear as the cempasùchil guiding souls to their loved ones, though even less permanent. He returned smiles, offered waves, called out short greetings, but never slowed his pace. He could bask in their attention once he had his guitar again.

A set of steps led to the door, lined with candles and festooned, as the rest of the structure was, with cempasùchil. But he could enjoy the sight later, when the guitar was in his hands and he could glance fondly back at the final resting place his fans had built for him. Once he could relish the attention of his family, living and dead, as he played and sang for the latter before the thinning veil between them both.

Anticipation nearly made Ernesto step through the door the moment he reached it; but reason prevailed, and he turned around, gave the dead in the graveyard a grin and a wave, winked, and slipped through. Whistles and applause followed him in.

The interior was just as opulent as the exterior, but Ernesto scarcely noticed the flowers, the oil painting of his likeness, the marble casket they’d buried him in. All he saw was the guitar. It rested on a set of metal hooks beneath his painting, gleaming faintly in the moonlight filtering through the wide windows.

Ernesto smiled. Once again, his family had taken care of him.

Perhaps he could have stepped through the casket, but the thought of standing inside his own remains made him shiver. He went around to the side instead, awkwardly placing one hand on top and the other beneath, hoping to gain a better grip once he’d lifted it off its hooks.

It didn’t move.

Ernesto stepped back and then hoisted himself atop his casket, kneeling before the guitar. He held it properly this time, one hand on the body and one on the neck, and lifted.

Again, the instrument did not budge.

Frowning, he slid off the casket and went to the front window. Departed spirits were everywhere, standing before this grave or that, fawning over loved ones or reaching for offerings. As he watched, a middle-aged woman grasped a bottle of wine, the bottle duplicating in her hand. The original remained where it had been set; the faintly glowing copy went into her basket. Ernesto turned his attention elsewhere and saw the same thing repeated with a young couple and a mildly unsettling number of churros, one of which they handed to the small boy who had accompanied them.

Returning to the casket, he climbed atop it and tried lifting again. Once more, nothing. The guitar might as well have been part of the wall. He sat back slightly, trying for another plan, and happened to glance at the instrument’s head and the gold-toothed skull painted there. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say it was smiling.

Ernesto had thought, upon seeing his skeletal form for the first time, that he might no longer feel fear. It was something that settled in the pit of your stomach, after all; how could one feel it when one lacked a stomach? He had learned quickly that this was not the case. Fear still existed in the Land of the Dead. It could still send a jolt through one’s very being—and when he saw that smile, that was exactly what shot through him.

No.

No. That was impossible. The guitar was just that—a guitar. His guitar. He’d taken it just as he’d taken Hèctor’s life; by rights it was his. There was no reason why it shouldn’t respond to his promptings. He lifted the guitar again.

Again, nothing but that smile. No, not a smile. A trick of the light—or darkness, rather. The skull’s face, the teeth, were the same as ever. They did not move, they had not moved, they would not move. It was his proximity to his own grave, he reasoned. Kneeling atop his own decaying remains had warped his perception. Emboldened with that thought, he grasped the guitar once again.

A jolt, like a shock of electricity, shot through his hands before traveling up his arms and down to his core. He yelped, yanking his hands back—and that was when he felt something else, radiating from the guitar like warmth from a fire.

Satisfaction.

All pretense of reason, all excuses and justifications, fled his mind. There was nothing else for it. There was only the jolt, the emotion that wasn’t his, and the guitar at the center of it all. Smiling.

Fear nearly drove him back to the graveyard, but it transformed quickly, fading to anger. “You’re my guitar,” he whispered. “And I need you for the next show.”  

He tried to lift it again, but a similar jolt made him yank his hands away. It was stronger this time, so strong that he needed a moment to shake the pain out. As he did, a memory came to his mind, unbidden: Hèctor, downing a glass of poisoned tequila in a single swallow.

“Yes, he’s dead,” Ernesto hissed. “For twenty-one years, if you haven’t noticed.”

Dios mio. He was arguing with a guitar. He had argued with some ridiculous people in the past, but never an instrument. He grasped it again, and the jolt was so strong this time that he staggered backward, tumbling awkwardly off the casket and onto the floor. His own words echoed through his mind: Twenty-one. Twenty-one. Twenty-one years, if you haven’t noticed.

He stumbled to his feet, clenching his jaw as he stared down the guitar. That infernal smile was still there, a smile that somehow did not distort the painted teeth at all, but he could no longer dismiss it as an illusion.

“Twenty-one years,” Ernesto repeated. “That’s how long you’ve been mine.”

Another memory surfaced: Hèctor strumming the guitar in a rented room, singing “Remember Me” to his distant daughter.

“That isn’t how the song goes. Not anymore.”

The memory played in the back of his mind until the song concluded.

He exhaled, long and loud, casting a glance out one window and then another. No curious onlookers; nevertheless, the graveyard was full of fans. Of his family. And his family would want to know why he hadn’t yet emerged with the guitar in his hands. “You’ve traveled the country. You’ve been in movies. I’ve held you on every cover of every album I’ve made, and you want to stay here?”

Hèctor again came to mind, smiling as he kissed his wife, one hand on her arm and the other on the guitar.

It was Dìa de Muertos. The one time of the year he could return to his fans who still lived, the one day he could retrieve what belonged to him, and he was arguing with a guitar. A guitar that only wanted to reminisce about Hèctor. Not all the shows they’d played. Not the movies, the fans, the critics. A man who would have left his closest friend, his brother, to languish in obscurity two inches from fame.

“He isn’t coming back for you.” It came out closer to a growl than Ernesto had intended, but no one was around to hear him anyway. “You’ll never leave this place.”

A mixture of satisfaction and spite radiated from the guitar.

Ernesto wanted to tear that guitar from its hooks, but he’d only get another shock for his trouble. He’d have to leave, to go back out into that graveyard and face his fans emptyhanded. Show them all that he couldn’t take his prize, his signature. Show them that he’d lost.

To a guitar.

“If I were still living, you’d be in my hands. You wouldn’t have a choice.”

He turned on his heel, but another memory surfaced. Hèctor again, smiling on his birthday, not long before they’d left for their tour. “Twenty-one today, mi amigo!”  

Ernesto rolled his eyes. “What now?” 

Twenty-one. His own voice again. Twenty one. Twenty-one, if you haven’t noticed.

Then, another memory.

A crowd in love, gazing up at the stage from candlelit tables.

The final strains of “Remember Me,” as he sung it, as everyone now sung it.

The guitar, growing heavy in his hands. Slipping it off and passing it to a stagehand.

The bell.

Twenty-one. Twenty-one.

“Twenty-one today, mi amigo!”

Twenty-one, if you haven’t noticed.

“No,” he whispered. “No. That….no.” The bell was an accident. A tragedy. That his guitar had no longer been in his hands when it struck was a coincidence. A fortunate happenstance that such a valuable instrument had not been crushed alongside its owner. The number of years between the guitar’s survival and its transfer of ownership was simply another coincidence among many.

Against his better judgment, Ernesto turned back to the guitar. If he wasn’t mistaken—if he wasn’t seeing things, like he’d seen and heard and felt them since walking into his mausoleum—the guitar’s smile had widened.

“Ay, rough crowd.” Hèctor’s voice again. Another memory, from that tour, from a show that hadn’t gone well, to say the least. “Best not to go through this place again, I’d say.”

“I’m dead,” he snapped. “What more can anyone do to me?”

Hèctor’s voice, paired with a wry, mischievous sort of smile. “Do you want to find out?”

*******

The first Sunrise Spectacular followed a year later. 

People talked. They bemoaned the posters, the signs, the lack of the skull guitar on all of them. They accepted Ernesto’s excuses—”Ay, there’s only room for one beautiful skull onstage!” “It’s not the guitar that makes the music, mi familia, it’s the musician!”—with an air of resignation. They would have liked to see the guitar, would have liked to hear it played in more than a recording. 

But they accepted his excuses. That was what mattered to him. They accepted his excuses and didn’t push him to return to the Land of the Living. Ernesto  never would have said as much, but he was grateful. Even after he convinced himself that first Dìa de Muertos was imagination or a nightmare or a story he read long ago, his gratitude remained. 

In death, as in life, his family cared for him. 

******

Second A/N: I’d originally planned on making the guitar more sassy than scary, but then I started writing it and…well, the opposite happened. 

[im-fairly-whitty]

Hey, can you point me toward more posts on the guitar alebrije? I'm intrigued now.

Ahhaha, let me introduce you to my favorite musical sass child:

Alebrije Guitar Masterpost: The Skull Guitar 

My stuff:

- Why the guitar was cursed, why you can’t steal just anything off an ofrenda to get to the land of the dead, the guitar was special

- Why the skull guitar is the most important character in Coco

- Why the skull guitar never let Ernesto take a copy of it to the land of the dead

- Coco as told by the skull guitar

- The skull guitar assassinates Ernesto

-The skull guitar is the original Imector shipper

- The irony of a musical instrument killing with the help of another musical instrument and then it gets ridiculous

Other things I’ve liked on the subject as well:

- The skull guitar is cursed and killed Ernesto after being owned by him for the same amount of years that Hector lived, a post by @eccentwrit

- An excellently illustrated fic about the skull guitar as a sentient spirit done by the lovely @theghostlymuse

- A neat Marco AU involving the skull guitar’s cursing ability by @demonoflight

[ftvs-cm45]

Battle of the Bands at the Plaza de la Cruz

We’ve seen worse, haven’t we?

[hectic-hector]

So I cut through the mall yesterday to get to the bus station and was distracted by the window display at a store called Box Lunch (it’s a lot like Hot Topic, only with more Disney stuff).  Of freaking course I went in, and came back out a few minutes later, the proud owner of this awesome keychain. ^_^

[unfortunate-development]

hHEHEHEHEEEEE

[mrzizz]

Rattlesnake/Armadillo Alebrije for the Character Design Challenge. Theme of the month: Alebrije Creatures

[odd-cinderella]

I strongly believe this!

My other headcanon is the Guitar is his alebrije.

What if Dante was Hector’s alebrije?

[edgxrramos]

Seguiremos haciendo los que nos gusta, para los que están y no están en este mundo 🌎 amor y música por siempre 🇲🇽❤️🔊 #electricguitar #guitar #background #dj #design #symbol #stringedinstrument #display #djlife #remember #nation #diademuertos2020 #alebrijes #art #technology #djedgarramos #musicalinstrument #artemexicano #arteoaxaqueño #quedateencasa (en CDMX) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG9IB99jClf/?igshid=o9w8kq5tafwa