#mirabelle is sweeping

[beneathsilverstars]

(isat fan voice) love siffrin. would hate to spend a day with him.

[rbtlvr]

you could, however, easily make an argument for the change god using ao3. if you wanted to

[jacarandaaaas]

I am so SICK of people saying mirabel was a doormat that “forgave abuela immediately” she didn’t even forgive her?? “nothing can ever be broken that we can’t fix together” seems more like a wow this is a bad situation but I’m willing to let you help me fix it and fix our broken bond too. Like idk I never interpreted that as forgiveness. Some argue that the hug was the forgiveness but I’m pretty sure alma initiated that not mirabel. Also she hugs almost everyone in the movie hugs can have multiple meanings it’s just a form of support.

[coreofgold]

"Tell me a story" (mirabel to dizzy)

This Meme || @strangersxxworld

"A story? Like any story?" Dizzy's not a storyteller, but she can try!

[loop-lover-central]

At least one(1) person asked for it. SO-

We'll start with some stuff from the isat spoiler Q&A

Let's get started!

-There is only one canonical straight shot timeline that technically erases the prologue from existence. When looping back the previous timeline is completely overwritten, like saving over your save file in a game! It's all gone! Despite this, when you start a new game you're making an entirely new Siffrin to torment. So at least you're not making the same Siffrin go through hell again and again! *sweeps Loop under rug* Don't look at that. Don't worry about them. They're fine.

-While wish craft and other craft types are described to have a smell, time craft does not! I mean, what would time craft even smell like anyway? Clocks???

-Mirabelle's time freeze immunity will wear off eventually!

-Loop could actually be still comfortable with He/They. While the time loops did put them through it, the They/Them was mostly for anonymity. But there WAS some sort of identity shift. So you can and should have fun with Loop pronouns. Do it! Do it!!!

-Despite the island being forgotten, it's still physically there the entire game and before that! So it being lost is purely anti-memetic fuckery. It is just censored out by the universe.

-Loop and Siffrin sitting quietly together was originally a bug where ID5 accidentally softlocked Siffrin and trapped him at the tree. They thought it was a sweet moment of respite and implemented it.

Let's Switch it up! Reddit AMA

-There was originally a love triangle between proto Mira, Isa, and Sif before Mirabelle was made aroace. It probably would have ended in an OT3/polycule situation. So QPR MiraIsaSif truthers out there, enjoy this one.

-The idea of Loop being Siffrin came about during saap's developement. Originally the guide for isat was going to be one of ID5's ocs.

-Change God knows everything about meta because they are a God. Loop only gets a smidgen of meta knowledge, however.

-Loop's ability to see what Siffrin is up to works the same way their calls work! The farther Siffrin is, the harder it is. So Loop calls stop working past snack break 3, and Loop can barely see past the King.

-Isabeau wouldn't play video games. He touches grass.

-Siffrin was subconsciously inspired by Snufkin, from The Moomins. So we wouldn't have Siffrin as he is if everyone wasn't rabid over Moomins a few years back.

-Sadnesses ARE are a constant in the world of isat. They only become more common and poweful during times of great duress, like war or Insane False Monarchs with timey wimey powers

-The doppleganger wish in the selfcest book happened "a long time ago" and is only a child's tale now.

-Odile's name is her given name. Kinda. (No elaboration on what the fuck THAT means.)

-Siffrin only got memory issues after leaving home. They were not a forgetful child.

-At one point before they had names, Isabeau was just called "dude".

-While only called scrawny in game, Adrienne calls Siffrin "deathly thin". Metabolism monarch out here. (Probably all the casual wish craft.)

-The reason the party stops reacting to Sif's poking is just because it's tragic and makes things worse for him. That's it. The universe just hates him.

-Everyone but Odile would like rollercoasters.

-Just... this. This is so funny. Also Loop being the final boss while Siffrin is the secret final boss... Also Loop confirmed deity looking!!!

-"comic!siffrin is a whole different siffrin than game!siffrins sadly. rip to them. still stuck in time" WAY TO FUCK ME UP ON A MONDAY? Comicfrin is still stuck in time.

-The characters have official voice claims but not a single one is serious except for the King's. Mira sounds like Animal crossing isabelle(isa.belle. hm.). Bonnie sound like a inkling from splatoon (ID5 specifically used the female inkling as example). Odile sounds old. Isabeau quantum mechanically sounds flamboyantly gay or like All Might from MHA. Loop sounds like stock glitter sound fx. No Siffrin voice claim. Siffrin has video game protagonist voices which means they sound like whatever you want.

-Loop's glow is comparable to a lamp. Not enough to hurt the eyes.

Siffrin and Friends Q&A time!!(Beware these are SEMI-CANON)

-Siffrin isn't really a trap master. They're just fast enough to activate and dodge the traps.

-Odile doesn't like fennel.

-Fave flowers! Bonnie=Sunflowers, Odile=Orchids, Mira=Lavender, Isa=Roses, Siffrin=None, dubiously answered with dandelions however.

-Sif is a night owl, Bon and Mira are early birds, and Odile and Isa are average.

-Siffrin and Odile have probably eaten crabs and would tempt Bonnie with their sinful ways of consuming crustaceans.

-Odile has been traveling for about 2 years.

-Odile knows how to play a shamisen. It's one of her favorite instruments as well.

-When prompted with competition Loop and Siffrin stare each other down like "kids about to throw hands".

-Loop would like to eat a pastry if they could. GIVE THEM YOUR BAKED GOODS NOW!

-Kill the King day is a Tuesday.

And finally random trivia I found while sniffing through the wiki!

-Salty broths actual cure 6 cooldown, instead of 2 like the dialogue implies.

-Chateau means castle. The cursing of castle castle...

-The Change God face with six eyes and a cat-like mouth is inspired by ID5's oc Eye Gal

-The only time tears can freeze Siffrin with no warning is in saap. By using the second Star Crest to clear one of the rows of Tears, you can just walk into the second row and freeze.

-The dev's older notes mention specific shades being used for hair dyes but they're never mentioned in-game because of the an unadded event.

-In ACT 2, there's a small chance Siffrin says "Heheh… Bonk." when activating the switch for the rock trap

-Saap Bonnie thinks nuts are gross according to some unused dialogue, but enjoys raisins.

-During early development in saap tears were originally intended to be spike traps. A left over sprite of Siffrin being impaled does exist, including minor blood spurt. This was probably changed because it was a little too gruesome, ID5 definitely tried to reel in the darker concepts and has stated they went too dark sometimes.

-Loop turning back into Siffrin was considered long enough for them to get an entire animated walking sprite.

[foundfamilyhq]

Mirabel Madrigal has been adopted into the tumblr found family

[biocrafthero]

(Not including Change God because I have a feeling they would sweep LOL)

Also I'd really like to know when exactly you'd have the character swear it'll be funny as hell

[fictodreamer]

What is the rest of the family’s reaction that you and Bruno are having a second child?

Sorry it took me a while to answer this!

Of course you saw the comic of Dolores finding out at Mirabel’s birthday party! Well, the same day I found out that Julieta already knew.

I was suffering from morning sickness so Casita kept trying to quickly sweep me away whenever I needed to be sick or just take a moment. In the hopes nobody would notice! I headed to the kitchen & found Julieta in there making some herbal tea. She then pushed it my way with a big grin on her face.

I asked her how she knew & she said “because Bruno has been looking at you the same way he did when you were carrying Alba” 🥹💚

We then decided to tell the whole family together at the end of the night! It was very magical. They were all so happy!

The best part was when Félix teased Bruno “you’ve been busy amigo!” 😂💚 He then got dragged into celebration drinks with the boys!

The baby shower will be next 🥹

[auncyen]

Jouvente's most awkward lunch is finally underway.

"So you're still traveling around, huh?"

"Mhm."

"Any special reason you're in Jouvente?" you ask, and try not to get your hopes up.

Siffrin doesn't answer for a beat, cutting off another small piece of the croque-madame he ordered after you reassured them that you were going to pay and didn't mind. The poached egg yolk oozes over the ham and cheese sandwich; Sif moves his fork around to sweep the few drops that run down to the plate back up on the bread. "Um. I...wanted to look for jobs."

Oof. Feels like your hopes got up without your permission. It's fine, they've been put back in place. "Oh! That's right, you used to do odd jobs, right? Any luck?"

"It's going alright! So...what about you? With the..." Siffrin trails off, their brow furrowing in a frustration all too familiar to you. You quickly finish chewing through the broccoli and egg in your mouth to bail them out.

"With the tailoring? Well, I could say it's only sew-sew, but actually, I'm really enjoying it!"

Okay, you had to wedge that pun in there, but still, you thought it'd get a smile out of Sif, maybe a chuckle. Instead, Siffrin looks confused before giving you a smile best described as 'polite'. Sure, his mouth turns up and all, but you don't think he got it in the slightest. "That's good!"

...Probably your mistake for going for sewing puns right after they forgot the word for your work. Yep. Move on, Isabeau. "Yeah! I really lucked out--the store was owned by a seamstress who's retiring. Well, still is owned, but we've got a contract for me buying the store from her. She already moved out to live with her bonded partners, but she stops in twice a week to teach me what I still need to learn about making clothes."

Sif...nods, encouraging you to go on.

"She's cool! She pretty much worked as a seamstress all her life, so she really knows her stuff. Tells me right away when I'm making a design way more work than it should be." Sometimes all the fiddling details were necessary, but other times, you could get the right effect a simpler way.

Siffrin nods, still smiling politely.

Huh. You scoop up another bite of your quiche as an excuse not to talk for a minute, noting that Sif goes for another cut piece of croque-madame at the same time. You never thought a lunch with Sif could be awkward, but...

Boy, is this awkward!

Why is it awkward? You and Siffrin were thick as thieves during your adventure. Sure, it's been a while, you couldn't expect things to be the same right off the bat, but...

“M’dame Odile and Mira will be glad to hear you’re doing okay.”

Siffrin nods. Then he looks confused. Then...you're not sure what that expression is.  “Wait, are they here too?  In Jouvente?”

“No, no, but we’ve been writing!  The last letter was a week ago, they were going to see...aha, apparently there's a play about Mirabelle? She said it was embarrassing, but she and Odile were too curious not to go. Hopefully they liked it!" You weren't all that curious yourself. After all, you'd already lived the adventure. You knew the real story, the real Mirabelle! You hoped the play portrayed her and everyone else well, but you were pretty sure there was no way they had all the details.

Also...you had a bad feeling you were probably portrayed as a jock through and through. Since that was how you acted. You could picture the cast: determined Mirabelle, leading the way; clever Odile, strategizing against hordes of Sadnesses and then the King himself; fun-loving Sif, raising everyone's spirits with jokes and protecting them from traps; brave Bonnie, keeping everyone healthy with good food; ...meathead Isabeau, whose good point was being too dumb to fear the danger.

You're jolted out of that extremely unhelpful thought by Siffrin's next question. “They’re traveling…together?”

...That's a weird tone. “Housemaidens usually go on at least one pilgrimage, not sure if you knew that.  Since M’dame was interested in seeing a little of what Vaugarde's like when it's normal, Mira asked her if they could travel together. So they spent a few months in Vaugarde, and right now they're in Poteria. I think they're planning on Lichtland next? Eventually they'll get to Ka Bue, but it sounded like both of them planned on taking their time.“

Sif's brow is furrowed again as he looks down at his plate. Is he jealous? You were jealous too when you found out. But you get it! Of course Mira and M'dame didn't ask you. You were busy being a sad sack about Siffrin. Well, and even without that, why should they have invited you? It was their trip. Not like you had a good reason to tag along, just...

It would have been nice to.

You can't complain--Jouvente's been good to you. You were the guest of honor at a party hosted by the city, your family is so proud of you (though you know Guy is just happy to boast that he's a Savior's sibling to his partner of the week, which keeps making you secondguess how sincere everyone else is when they reach out to you), the neighbors in your new place have been warm and friendly, you got to start on designing clothes so much faster than you thought you would.

You just miss Mira and Odile a whole lot. You miss Bonbon. You miss what you had with Siffrin, because everything about this lunch feels so off, and at this point you have to ask.

"Sif...you are doing okay, right?"

They immediately smile brightly enough that their eye closes. "Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?"

[itstheval]

Happy Birthday, @vulpixisananimal !

[Loop] {Mal Du Pays} <Null> |Asterion| +Rosmarinus+ =Socks=

It had been a week since they saw Perci last, and no one trusted it.

Yes, they were safe. Yes, everyone now knew what Mental Craft was. And yes, Merlon had thanked them for their help. But it was more apparent than ever that enemies could be anywhere, no matter what they did.

Which was why Loop thought what they were doing was perfectly logical.

" 'Oop, you can't go out like that! It's weird!" [Bonnie seemed to disagree.]

"I…Don't mind you expressing yourself, but maybe something less obvious?" [And Mirabelle.]

"I could probably find a way to make that work…Give me a couple weeks, though." [Isabeau was trying to find the bright side?]

"Loop, you look absurd." [And Odile. That made it almost a full sweep…You glanced over at the newest member of your (Still present) party.]

"I get it? And…Sure?" [At least Ramos was on your side.]

[The outfit in contention seemed to be a full-body wrap. You'd had the design, at first, to help handle the cold, but after that situation had been handled you thought about what other ways you might be able to use it. This was, if you dared say so yourself, a rather brilliant solution to a very sticky problem.]

"See? Ramos understands. As much as I adore fashion, sometimes we must compromise our art for our life. With this ensemble on, I don't think even that Historian could land a single finger on me."

[Not that it was comfortable. First, it was mixing no less than three different fabrics - linen for most of the wrap, cotton for the face-mask and the tall socks, and silk for the scarf and gloves. Secondly, it was a mismash of what spare clothes your entire system had brought to express themselves - hastily improvised into something that was useful for a barrier. Finally, you couldn't imagine the way you looked, with everyone's shades clashing against each other - all of you preferred lightless, but it was a rare enough shade, and traveled poorly enough, that all of them wound up slightly darkened, and that led to a clashing cavalcade of shades.]

<But it worked, more importantly.>

[Shut up, Null. It'll work.]

=This sucks! Get rid of it! Clothes are annoying enough already!=

[Shut UP, Socks, it'll work.]

+Wasn't Siffrin's usual outfit pretty concealing anyway? All you really needed was the facemask.+

[Shut UP, Rosmo-okay, they may have actually had a point there. You let your shoulders slump, and gave a sigh.]

"Fine. Fine, I'll go change." [You allowed, stalking off to the other room. It's like you were the only one who gave a damn about the mind controlling duo who were threatening to attack you! Or…whatever that guy who came for Merlon was about!]

[You closed your eyes, let out your breath, and shook your head again. This time, you didn't open them right away.]

"Okay, group huddle."

---

[The mental space was big enough for all of them, even though it still felt like a tiny island with only a single tree on it. You decided to not worry about it.]

["You nixed my plans. What's yours? We can't just sit here and wait for them to make the next move."]

<"Easy. Find them. Kill them. If anyone protests, remind them what they did." You were direct as ever.>

{"No. Dangerous. Can't win a straight fight. They beat us once already." You understood, and you spoke Null's language.}

+"We could just…look into it? Like Odile was, already! If they're that strong, someone's got to have noticed them already, right?"+

["If only their power wasn't to make people forget them~" You intoned in a sing-song, dryly amused. "So nobody could write about them, after all!"]

+"You could just say it wouldn't work…"+

= "Hey!" Socks, of all creatures, piping up in the meeting! That was unusual enough that everyone paid attention - the little kitty cat usually found a catbed and curled up in it while everyone else thought it through.=

="We don't need to worry about it. In fact, we shouldn't! If you all learn to relax like me, it'll go better!"=

{"Hm." You started to see some virtue in the kitty's idea. "Explain."}

="Eaaaaasy." Socks gave the sort of stretch only a feline can, all spine and shifting and working down nyan's body a motion that made you more than a little jealous. "If they think they've already got you, they're not gonna try again! So if you all learn to relax, it'll make them think you're me!"=

["I don't think Socks is the right one for that, but nya has a point…" You didn't want to concede it. You definitely didn't want to get mentally one-upped by a cat. But. If you could pretend to be each other, or pretend to be under some sort of control, that might give you the opening you need. You looked around, and saw that everyone else seemed to be on the same page, with one little problem.]

["So, who are we going to pretend to be?"]

---

Isabeau recognized Null in an instant. The bland, almost empty look was distinct from Mal du Pays' flat stare, and he did admit, he had a decent amount of practice. Which is why the words he heard next, in a tone that almost sounded cheerful, were terrifying.

"Hello, Fighter."

---

Odile had been hoping to talk to Rosmarinius for a while now, and finally had her chance. Pinning down the memory-holder was difficult, but always rewarding, and the distinctly un-faked, un-feline smile showed that now was one of the rare chances.

"What can I do for you today, Researcher~?"

…She was wrong, then. Well, another day, maybe.

---

Bonnie didn't mind when 'terry was in the kitchen with them. He knew a lot of different stuff, even if he spent way too long washing his hands. You only needed to do it at the start, when you got them dirty, or when you were swapping between dishes! The rest was just putting the ingredients back on the food! It was alright, though, as long as he didn't cry into the soup. "Hey, could you pass me the olive oil?"

"Sure thing, bonbon~!"

" 'oop, get out of my kitchen!"

"But-!"

---

Mirabelle and Ramos were studying, as they often did together. Both of them had a lot of work to do to keep up with the others, but having a buddy made it fun! More importantly, a third had joined their little group, and both of them were willing to skritch nya ears and play with nyan hair while they worked. It was surprising when nya rolled over and looked up at them, and even more when nyan used nya words.

"Little lower, please~"

Watching them both jump was funny!

---

["Okay, this isn't working." You had to admit it. As fun as the idea was, and as useful as it would've been, none of the others were good enough actors. Or maybe they were too good of actors?]

["Let's just…let's just let it go for now."]

[honeybeebytheseaa]

Mirabel and Félix?

WOOF okay I’m back I had a busy day today.

MIRABEL AND FÉLIX

They make a good pair! Both high energy and very loving people.

Félix is also a very loving Tío in general so he’s always looking to find any interests him and Mirabel share.

They often end up doing house-centric chores together since they both lack gifts, and usually during those times they bond.

Pre-casita collapse, before Mira was out in the town helping out, her and Félix would create games with the boring chores they got to make them more bearable.

Who can sweep and mop faster? Who will get a compliment from Alma? First one to find a blue petal from Isabela’s flowers gets the others desert! 

Usually Maribel wins but honestly Felix is likely going easy on her…. Or that’s what he says she is very good at mopping.

This was in a cut scene but he’ll occasionally try to give some advice about being giftless in the same way Agustin will do. Mirabel has to very gently get him to stop, but it’s the thought that counts.

I’ve seen this headcanon elsewhere, but I really love the idea that Félix taught Mirabel how to dance.

Félix often seeks Mirabel out to help him with gift giving since it’s her love language.

Though he doesn’t just take her ideas, they’ll work on something together.

Félix and Mirabel are a very good pair. High energy and very family oriented. Not to mention their borderline tooth rotting optimism. I hope in a sequel series we see these two interact outside of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”.

[beneathsilverstars]

How about chore distribution if they were in a Roommate situation? Assuming everyone had a private space

Obviously Bonnie cooks! Prep cook is Odile for breakfast because she wakes up early, Isabeau or Mirabelle for lunch, and Siffrin for dinner because he's more of an evening person. Dish washer is Isabeau for breakfast bc he's energetic in the mornings, Siffrin for lunch, and Mirabelle or Odile for dinner. (But if anyone is out and about at their assigned time, someone else will happily step in.) Nille was really reluctant to let Bonnie be in charge of most meals because kids shouldn't have to do that, but she was won over by how much Bonnie enjoys it, so she only takes over as head chef when they ask her to. Otherwise, Nille does all of the grocery shopping, because it stresses her out to not know what food is in the house and how much it cost.

Odile likes having her own space just so, so she mostly just takes care of her own room and bathroom and cleans up after herself, and sweeps the floors so nothing gets tracked around. Sometimes Siffrin helps her, though, because he likes to quietly complete tasks with his family. But only Siffrin no one else is allowed to. :|

Siffrin, Isabeau, and Mirabelle share laundry; Isabeau usually washes it (3 people's is nothing compared to like 8+) (and he knows how to treat various fabrics and has strong laundry-hefting arms) and they all fold and put away together. Nille does hers and Bonnie's — unless Isabeau gets to it first. Nille keeps trying to get him back by doing his but he's always one step ahead. :/

Mirabelle cleans the bathrooms (except Odile's) because she thinks washing and scrubbing is super satisfying. Nille and Bonnie clean the kitchen because they're in charge of it anyway. Siffrin does the yardwork because they like methodical repetitive tasks, and being outside, and watching things grow. Everyone takes turns helping with the small garden, though!

People try to tidy up after themselves for the most part, but everyone has their own things they're more particular about and tend to fix if they notice it's been left messy: Mirabelle makes people's beds if she's hanging out in their room (perfectionist parents), Nille likes the shoes to all be lined up neatly by the door (paranoid about losing them), Isabeau brings people's stray belongings back to their rooms (siblings who sometimes borrowed/lost/broke items left in communal spaces), Odile brings stray dishes back to the kitchen (depressed dad). Bonnie is immune to this effect because they're young enough that they have to be coaxed into cleaning up even just their own stuff, and Siffrin is immune to this effect because they don't have any pre-existing house-living habits.

And, once a season everyone pitches in for a big deep-cleaning weekend!

(Loop is kinda in and out, and physically exempt from some human functions, so they don't have official chores. But they like helping Nille with the shopping/kitchen, and they usually let Isabeau wash their clothes, and they sometimes take on home improvement projects.)

[di-daynamic]

For @jilytoberfest's 31prompts

[2.6k words, rated G]

To understand the true scope of her torment, it should first be made clear that she was the type of girl who didn’t believe in romance. Not because she was particularly cynical – she didn’t think so, at least �� or someone who thought emotions and love were silly. But because the existence of crushes and romantic feelings was utterly bewildering to her, as fictional as wandless magical prodigies or tame nundus or on-demand seers.

She’d rather enjoyed those sweeping romances before she realized people actually felt stuff like that in real life and that she was expected to fall in love as well.

Which was to say she watched Jade sob over Tommy Jenkins getting Mirabel Fawcett flowers, or Anna jump for joy over Chrissy Ford asking her out with nothing more than polite bafflement.

And that she ended up having to eavesdrop on James Potter and Lily Evans with unending misery, because these two were even worse than her dormmates.

Read on Ao3 here.

[jacarandaaaas]

AND OUR QUEEN OF THE DANCE FLOOR IS…………

MIRABEL VALENTINA ROJAS MADRIGAL !!

so happy for her!! she deserves to win something and I’m glad we all agree she truly is “gifted” when it comes to fancy footwork! anyways Mirabel dancing appreciation gifs!

CONGRATS TO SECOND AND THIRD PLACE THESE ICONS!!

I’m bored so poll time! todays topic: best dancer!

In my opinion it’s mirabel because we see her doing many different styles of dance and not only is she quick to pick it up but she nails it! But I’m curious to see what u guys think!

[blairefrances]

I have nothing else to post here, but here is my Fundamental Paper Education Cast Meme!:

Oliver: Randy Cunningham (Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja)

Zip: Cold Finger (SheZow)

Edward: Christopher Pierre (Ghost and Pals)

Petunia: Yonaka Kurai (Mogeko Castle)

Lizzy: Knives Chau (Scott Pilgrim)

Kevin: Sunny (Omori)

Cubbie: Kanna Kamui (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid)

Robby: Melodii (Scratchin' Melodii)

Riley: Chimbley Sweep (Law of Talos)

Ruby: Annie (Skullgirls)

Skell: Tomoko Kuroki (WataMote)

Claire: Madoka Kaname (Puella Cure Madoka Magica)

Engel: Homura Akemi (Puella Cure Madoka Magica)

Bubble: Issac (The Binding of Issac)

Lana: Kim Possible (Kim Possible)

Abbie: Basil (Omori)

Now for the Teachers!:

Miss Thavel: Baldi (Baldi's Basics)

Miss Circle: Mr Sys (You Cannot Beat Us Nintendo Commercial)

Miss Bloom: KinitoPet (KinitoPet)

Miss Emily: Mirabelle (In Stars and Time)

Miss Grace: Jackie Chu (Sml)

Mister Demi: Dr D Light (It's Not Me It's my Basement)

Miss Sasha: Miss Delight (Poppy Playtime)

And last but not least.....

Princess Δlice: Theresa Fowler (Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja)

[brumiramybeloathed]

They Both Leave AU Snippet 9

Bruno dreaded having this conversation. He preferred to not bring up serious issues and would rather quietly change and sweep the issue under the rug without ever bringing it to light. This time... this time is different.

Bruno tried to quietly pull away from Mirabel, tried to not be in physical contact with her, tried to not be as affectionate. Mirabel always looked confused and sad when he did so, however, and some of her mannerisms from the beginning of her stay in Santa Laura returned. Retreating into her room, looking around as if making sure there is no one to criticize her, taking on all the responsibilities of the household. She had noticed his changed behavior and not knowing why he changed had really hurt her. It probably reminded her of her family changing their behavior towards her after her failed ceremony. Mirabel doesn't talk much about the Encanto, neither does he, but she did mention it in passing.

So Bruno took a deep breath and entered the apartment they shared.

"Hey, Bruno! Welcome home from work!" Mirabel greeted him as she put dinner plates on the table.

"Mirabel. Dinner looks good, as it always does."

They sat down and ate in silence. It was awkward and strange, and it distracted Bruno from his thoughts, especially since Mirabel looked so sad.

"Mirabel, I would like to explain why I've been so distant lately."

Mirabel's full attention and stare rested on Bruno's face as he continued, his own eyes dropping to the table, unable to meet Mirabel's.

"Some members of the community have talked with me and made mention of a rumor that you and I are... in a romantic relationship. At first, I did not put stock in these rumors. It... it was only with watching couples in the town and examining our relationship that I noticed that there might be reason for these rumors."

Bruno paused, not knowing how to go forward and not willing to look up.

"While part of our closeness can be explained by the fact that we are family and shared very similar experiences with our family, as well as the fact that we live together, some of it... some of it can't."

"You're worried that the nature of our relationship is outside what is normal for an uncle and niece," Mirabel's soft voice finished the thought he had been struggling to convey.

Bruno nodded.

Mirabel sighed. "Anna mentioned the rumors to me a few days ago. I see the concern, but I truly do not see anything wrong with it. What exactly is leading you to pull away from me?"

Bruno had hoped Mirabel would not ask this. But he cannot tell her the full truth.

"Because I fear that by being as close as we are, we are inviting trouble and the potential desire to go further than long hugs and long glances."

Because he can see it going further and, on some levels, wants it to go further.

"Bruno, please look at me."

He does. Mirabel's eyes are soft, not hard as he feared, and there is both a sadness and a peace on her face, a type of caring look, that makes his breath stutter.

"If it eases your fear, we can cut back on the physical affection. Spend more time apart and with other people. I do not think there is anything to worry about, but I understand wanting to cover all our bases. Thank you for talking with me about this. I know these types of conversations are difficult for you."

A weight is eased from Bruno's shoulders and he smiles for the first time that week.

They finish dinner and clean up. Bruno sits on one end of the couch to read and Mirabel sits on the other to work on a personal project. At the end of the evening, they say goodnight and head to their separate rooms.

Bruno laid down to sleep, satisfied that he has prevented a horrible tragedy of incest and sin and yet...

Bruno fell asleep cold.