#if I make another fic maybe I’ll write the reader more androgynous

[katiestardoodles]

So since I accidentally deleted my blog I lost the actually good fanfic I wrote of Ernesto de la Cruz qwq

Thankfully I still have it on my notes app so once again I hope y’all enjoy my simple cringe 🤍

“Marry you?!” Yn gapped in shock at the request of the skeleton, on his knees before her with a blood red ring in his boney fingers, having stopped a whole concert, one yn was asked to dance in just for this reason, Ernesto never did anything without a good reason or ulterior motive.

“Si Mi hermosa mariposa, you’ve blessed the land of the dead with your beauty and I’d be honored to have the most beautiful of butterflies as mine”

There was the tiniest twinge in his tone, like the living was testing his patience the longer it took her to answer.

Looking between him and the excited crowd it felt like time slowed down around her, would it be a good idea? Wed someone who was basically a king in this world?

But what of her family and the land of the living? And what would happen to her if she stayed here any longer? Would she become a skeleton too?

In a split second decision she ran off past the musician and other dancers, ignoring the shocked gasps and calls to her.

No there was no way! As tempting as it was she couldn’t stay, she had to go home-

He promised her he’d help her get home after she danced in his concert after all.

Running through the backstage halls she could hear Ernesto giving orders to catch her, he still had that charming tone as he called to her, swearing he wasn’t angry and they could talk things over but she had none of it, ducking into one of the dressing rooms and locking the door praying she could find a way back home.

Searching through closets and drawers for something, maybe some kind of shortcut back to the flower bridge?

The sound of knocking took her out of her thoughts and his voice rang through the door

“Now mi vida-“

She could hear him clutching the doorknob like he wanted to tear the door off it’s hinges, the sickly sweet tone hiding rage making her heart race, not sure if she was scared or excited by the tone

“I know I surprised you but there’s no reason to run off like that, I thought you’d like a public proposal!”

Panicked she looked around for something, maybe something she could hit him with but couldn’t find anything, she backed up towards the wall to get as far from the door as much as she could as he continued, the sweet tone in his voice slowly disappearing though clearly trying to hide his real feelings over being embarrassed by the living in front of the audience.

“Ay Mi pájaro cantor encantador.. if you come out we can talk this over, I could give you everything you’ve ever wanted!”

Yn huffed trying not to let the angry tone and sweet promises get to her, glaring at the door

“Y.. You promised you’d help me go home! You said nothing about a proposal!” She managed to get out despite her nerves.

While backing up she found herself against a window and got an idea.

While the lying musician went on she started tearing up clothes and tying them together to make a rope she could climb down, ignoring the banging and knocking on the door

“You’re being VERY unreasonable mi vida! If you come out now I’ll forgive you for making a fool of me out there!”

“It serves you right for pushing that on me outta no where you selfish entitled prince!” She shouted back, surprised when she didn’t hear him reply, only faint whispers and then footsteps that faded away, that was.. out of character for him…

A part of her wondered if he was up to something but shook the thought away and focused on climbing out the window, tossing the end of her makeshift rope made of sparkling clothes out the window and tying the other end to a dresser to keep it still while she climbed down.

Just as she had climbed onto the windowsill and about to repel down she noticed a few boney figures down below her, several skeletal guards and the smug man himself who looked very proud, smiling up her

“I must admit I’m impressed with your resilience, if only you used it for something more productive, I’ll forgive you for ruining my clothes and humiliating me if you stop all this.” He called up to her arms crossed, pleased with himself assuming she’d give up but when she didn’t even say anything back he gestured to the guards and they immediately started climbing up her makeshift rope.

“There’s no need to make this difficult Mi corazón!” He added with a chuckle watching her scramble on the rope

“I’m not gonna be your precious trophy to show off and hang off your arm!” Yn yelled back, panicking seeing the skeletal security climbing closer

Thinking fast she started swinging trying to shake them off before getting another idea, swinging harder she jumped off onto a nearby balcony, looking back at the small group of annoyed and scattered security along with Ernesto who grew more angry as his flower ran away

“Don’t just sit there get her-!”

Yn took off running from them, climbing from ledge to ledge before managing to get back onto the ground and thankfully away from security and her less than happy would be fiancé.

Hiding in an alley to catch her breath she was relieved when nobody came running after her, they must’ve lost her she thought, but knew it wouldn’t be long before they’d find her again, all of the land of the dead knew about Ernesto’s precious living woman, his “dancing butterfly” as he called her, she was nearly as famous as him now and as nice as everyone was she knew they’d take her back to him.

Digging around in the back alley she found some discarded clothes and (regretfully) stole some makeup she’d found and got to work on a disguise, hoping she could try and cross the flower bridge she’d originally crossed through that lead her to this beautiful place, where she’d originally run into and been charmed by the skeletal mariachi who offered her a place to stay and help, now those promises were nothing but fantastical words with no meaning like his sugary lyrics, fingers crossed anyways, Ernesto didn’t really tell her much other than it was used for day of the dead, probably keeping a lot from her so as to not give her ideas on how to leave, the clever bastard.

After finishing her skully makeup and throwing on the old dress and cloak she’d found she took a deep breath and stepped out of the shadowy alley, holding her breath for a moment expecting someone to notice she wasn’t a skeleton but no shouting came, nobody came running towards her, everyone went about their way and their usual afterlife.

With a small sigh of relief she started towards the end of town where the bridge was, she’d seen it from his tower, it was a beautiful sight even from far away, she still remembered earlier that day when she first crossed it, originally stumbling across the orange marigold petals in the world of the living and well as they say, curiosity killed the cat, or in this case caged the butterfly.

All seemed fine for awhile as she blended in perfectly, until she noticed a few cops wandering the streets, asking people if they’d seen her at all.

Yn tried to stay calm as she walked past them, pulling the hood of the cloak over her more just in case they saw through her makeup, one skeleton cop stopped her-

“Perdóneme señora-“ they grabbed her shoulder getting the woman to stop;

She flinched expecting she was caught but surprisingly,

“Have you seen the living woman? Señor De La Cruz is worried sick that she’s gone missing.” They explained, showing her a wanted poster of her own face, when did they have time to print these?

With a faux worried smile she shook her head “ah n-no I’m afraid not, I’m sorry

o-oficial…” she mumbled out shrugging trying to act nonchalant, as if nothing was wrong.

But luckily for her the cop didn’t suspect anything, only nodding and thanking her for her time before walking off to ask another person.

Yn pulled her cloak closer and walked a bit faster than before hoping to get to the bridge before someone else stopped her.

By some miracle she reached the petal bridge unbothered finally, fast walking through the fenced in line to the front where she was greeted by the woman running it.

“Hello, how can I help? Are you going to visit family?” She asked her with a kind smile

“Oh um yes! I almost forgot to see them tonight!” Yn lied smiling innocently

“Well first I need to check your photo, can’t get through if it’s not on your family’s ofrenda after all.” The skeletal woman said chuckling softly as she started the computer in front of her,

“All formalities but you’ll be on your way in a-“ she stopped when the computer beeped negatively, yn’s face dropping confused and worried

“Lo siento señora it says you don’t have a photo.” She said with a sympathetic smile to the disguised woman

“Wa- what? But..” after a split second of thinking she quickly wiped off the makeup with the sleeve of her dress, surprising the bridge guard.

“Okay listen- I-I’m not really dead, but I have to get back to the living world, c-can you just.. I don’t let me through?” Yn asked, practically pleading her

The skeletal woman looked at her shocked but quickly was amazed

“Oh! You’re la mariposa bailarina! What’re you doing here? Señor De La Cruz has been looking all over you!” She said excitedly

“Um y-yeah but he uh said it was my time to leave! I can’t stay forever..” she said laughing nervously

“Nonsense! I heard about the proposal at his concert today, felicidades by the way” she said with an innocently kind smile

“Well h-he said I could go to the living world one more time, gotta tie up loose ends with family and all ya know?” Yn said trying to think of ANY good excuse but unfortunately the skeleton didn’t have it

“Oh don’t be silly señora! That’s just wedding jitters! I was the same when I got married, here let me call you an escort, señor De La Cruz will be so relieved to see you’re okay!” She said as she began dialing the phone next to her.

Though before she could make a call yn sprinted off back into town-

Screw it maybe she could find another way home!

She rushed past people in the street ignoring their confused looks and calls until her running was halted, running into a set of ribs where a burly chest once was, a white charro jacket and a baritone voice,

“Ah there you are! I was worried something terrible had happened to you!” Ernesto said putting his arms around her, seemingly gentle to the growing crowd but yn could feel the possessive grip he had on her shoulders, if she looked up at him it would be clear he was hiding his rage for her running away with a sickly sweet, seemingly charming smile, mostly for the sake of the crowd that gathered.

“Yeah h-hey…” she mumbled with a cringing smile as she reluctantly looked up at him, despite her own anger she couldn’t help but blush looking at him, stupid charming smile, those annoying chocolate eyes, his soothing deep voice.. the feeling of his arms around her…

No- focus damnit!

She tried to subtly get out of his arms while he addressed the crowd,

“Thank you for your efforts trying to find her, the poor girl must be exhausted and she needs to get ready for the big event!” He said with a tone of grandeur, exciting the crowd while the two walked back to his home.

The tiny alebrijes greeted their owner and his runaway butterfly as they walked inside.

His charming tone from in front of the crowd was gone, roughly shoving her aside

“This little game of yours ends here- no more running or any of this foolishness!” He shouted while she walked away from him

“Sorry I don’t marry liars! Maybe if you’d kept your word I would’ve consider it.” She said in a sarcastic tone with an equally insincere smile thrown over her shoulder at the furious skeleton

“Ohh wait- if you kept your word I WOULD BE BACK WITH THE LIVING AND BACK HOME!” She shouted at him in return before she stomped off, only to have her wrist caught by his boney hand.

His demeanor had changed, seemingly more calm and his usual alluring charm was back as though they weren’t just fighting barely a second ago.

“Please mi joya preciosa.. I don’t wish to fight with you, perhaps it did start at first that I wanted you to dance for me but you’re a wonderful young woman, all I want now is the want to spoil you rotten, anything your darling heart could ask for, you’d be comfortable here I promise you..” he whispered gently pulling her closer, she hesitantly allowed it, giving him a skeptical look.

His promises did sound, well promising..

Sure she’d miss her family but her life was so boring.. she felt so plain and even ugly compared to most, but here he was, a celebrity practically begging her to stay..

Would it be so bad? Maybe if she made him apologize.. he seemingly would do anything if it meant she’d stay and was pleased, and he was handsome, as far as skeletons go..

———————————————————————

Ending 1

Good ending💍

She looked at Ernesto nervously, obviously thinking his words over as she looked into his eyes, eye sockets? Either way.

“I.. I don’t know, it all sounds.. honestly wonderful…” she said with a soft chuckle, wiping her eye with her free hand feeling tears well up, all of this felt insane..

“Mi corazón.. I’d do just about anything to bring a smile to your face, I.. I’m so sorry for everything..” he mumbled, surprising yn, she was sure she would’ve had to force him to apologize, even threaten him if it came to it.

After a quick moment of silence she spoke up “do.. do you mean all of that? I won’t give my answer unless you’re serious..” she said with a solemn look that tell him she was dead serious, no joking or sly remarks from either of them this time.

He gave her a faint, surprisingly genuine smile, and nodded, gently taking both of her warm hands in his, even without the warmth of skin she could feel some sort of coziness from him in that moment, different from the coldness she’d felt after her escapades after the concert.

“Sí I mean every word Mi vida..” he whispered in a tone that made his sincerity clear, no hint of sarcasm or lies this time.

She took a deep breath and looked up at him

“Alright, I’ll do it.. I’ll admit, all of this attention you’ve given me.. it’s more than what most people would wish for, most people back home never really pay attention to me..” yn admitted, looking away ashamed

“And even before coming here, I’d heard so much about you, I.. I’ve always sort of, wished I could’ve met you, I’d always visit record and thrift stores for your albums and movies..” she added laughing softly with a shy flush on her cheeks.

Ernesto picked her up in a tight but gentle hug excited by her answer, even spinning her around for a moment in the excitement

“This is wonderful! I swear on my afterlife I’ll make sure you’re happy!” He said before setting her back down

“Ah okay okay- one thing though.” She said giving him another stern look, but more amused this time compared to before

“I don’t know how all this works but.. I’ll only marry you on one condition-“

“Anything! Just name it Mi mariposa.” He said kissing her hands over and over, making her blush even further

“If you allow me to visit the living world every now and again, I do.. love you, a lot actually… but I don’t wanna become a skeleton, at least not before it’s really my time to go..” she whispered looking at him cautiously, worried this would be a deal breaker for him.

The mariachi was silent for a bit, worrying her further but she could see the gears were turning in his skull as he thought her request over.

“Very well, I’ll make sure you have free passage to the living world, how does every nine months sounds? It’ll right around dia de los muertos and everyone will be able to go to the land of the living, and don’t worry it’ll be enough time that you won’t change and lose your lovely plump body, you have my word.”

He swore to her with a genuine smile, a slightly less than innocent twist to it though, as if he was imagining her in certain situations, yn having her own thoughts for a moment before she thought his offer over for a few seconds, before returning his smile, blushing even more at his subtly flirty words

“Alright, I can work with that, I can be the Persephone to your Hades.” She said chuckling at the amusing confused look on his face at her mythology joke.

She leaned close and pecked his boney cheek, if Ernesto could blush he would’ve been at the gesture,

“Don’t worry big guy I’ll explain later, we have wedding to prepare right?”

He smirked softly and pulled her into a gentle kiss.

The very stage where this started was decorated for the occasion, flower petals spread all over and an arch of marigolds set up on stage with him waiting underneath the beautiful arch.

It wasn’t long until yn walked up to the stage, dressed divinely in the finest dress he could have made for her, different flowers put in her hair, blazing star, blue bells, bright red roses that matched the blood red ring he had for her, ready to put on her, and lavenders at her request.

Still feeling embarrassed she tried hiding her face in her bouquet once she was in front of him.

In a sincerely loving gesture he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek before the ceremony began.

True to his character the party after the ceremony was exhilarating, exciting music playing, food everywhere along with people around them dancing, though the now newly weds didn’t notice, happily dancing together ignoring everyone else.

It seemed so strange but yn grew to love the oddity of everything, she would be sure to whip the skeletal musician into shape and clean up his big ego, her spoiled little prince of a husband, but she truly grew to love him, as embarrassed as she was to admit it even now.

“So.. will you still dance for me?” He asked with a sly smirk as they danced, making her laugh softly

“God fine- I’ll be your little mariposa bailarina.” She asked smiling embarrassed

“Maybe for the next performance I’ll detect a song to you..”

“You better you boney meathead..” she replied with just as cheeky of a smirk.

———————————————————————

Ending 2

Bad ending🏃🏻‍♀️

She looked at Ernesto nervously, obviously thinking his words over as she looked into his eyes, eye sockets? Either way.

She pulled her wrist out of his grip, glaring at him, no, no she couldn’t- no matter how tempting his offer and promises were there was just no way!

“I.. I’m sorry Ernesto, but I can’t.. I won’t-“

She said with an angry but nervous glare

His charming facade dropped, giving her a glare in return

“So.. that’s your answer?” He asked in a surprisingly calm voice, yn nodded

“Yes, I’m sorry.. but I don’t belong here, you have to understand that.” She said pretty much pleading with him.

“Stay here any longer and you won’t have choice in the matter perra ingrata..” he said with venom in his voice, roughly grabbing her face, pinching her cheeks as he made her look up at him

“Now do I have lock you in the room I was so generous to set up for you?” Ernesto whispered, giving her a sickly sweet smile that didn’t match his angry tone.

In a rush of adrenaline she shoved him off her and ran, heading out to the front door and shoving her way into the shuttles that went up the tower, yn could hear Ernesto shouting for her, not bothering to pretend around the crowds this time.

Luckily the shuttle doors slammed in his face as he banged his fists on the windows

“How can you be so ungrateful?! I could’ve made you a queen if you’d said yes! No one says no Ernesto De La Cruz!”

“Well there’s a first time for everything!” She yelled back from inside the shuttle car before it took off down the tower, yn gave him a smug smile and a swift middle finger.

Eventually the shuttle stopped at the bottom and once again yn took off running back towards the flower bridge, hoping it wasn’t too late for her to get back to town.

Not far behind her she could hear the enraged mariachi shouting and calling to her, demanding she come back

“The wedding is off you spoiled talentless jerk!” She shouted back at him from over her shoulder, jumping over the railings that lead to the bridge, which started to fall apart.

Security tried to stop him knowing what would happen if someone tried to leave as the sun was rising

“Let me go! Stop her!” He exclaimed shoving them off him

“Get over it you fat headed ass! It’s over!” Yn yelled as she ran across the slowly collapsing bridge until that familiar boney hand grabbed her arm

“I’m not letting you leave after that you llave sin clase!” He said trying to pull her closer to him, how was he so strong without muscles?!

“Learn to write a proper song you fucking jerk!” Yn shouted kicking his face, forcing him to let go so she could run the rest of the way across, leaving Ernesto angry and stunned while getting dragged by security before he could disappear

She fell through onto the ground of the graveyard, behind her the marigold bridge had disappeared, only a few petals were left in its place.

A security guard walked up to her and helped her get up “señora are you alright?”

They said while she dusted herself off.

“Ah y-yes I’m okay, I was uh v-visiting family lo siento..” she mumbled nervously, though relieved to see another human instead of a skeleton finally

“That’s good, I’m afraid the cemetery is closed until later today.” They explained while yn followed them away from the gravyard

Turning around she could see her would be fiancé’s grave, topped with a bust of him in life, she gave a sympathetic smile to the statue

“Sorry amor, maybe we’ll meet again..” she whispered mostly to herself as she left the cemetery.