#parent mariano guzmán

[hannahhook7744]

Poetversary;

Summary: Mariano is struggling to write a poem for his and Dolores' sixteenth wedding anniversary. And that's where the kids come in. Encantober 2024: Poetry. Trigger Warnings: self deprecating thoughts, guilt, anxiety, and mention of the flu.

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“Oh, my sweet Dolores,

Your voice is such a lovely chorus,

And there is no one I adore-as

Much as I adore-us—”

Mariano was stuck.

More than stuck, actually. 

He was suffering from a complete and utter stagnant of writer’s block where he could hardly get the words together in his head, let alone write them down on paper.

Which, normally wouldn’t be a problem because normally Mariano would have all the time in the world to step back and take a break, and come back to it later after taking a siesta and getting a bocadillo (like Señora Julieta’s Guava and Cheese Mini-Bites or Home Sweet Home Rice Pudding). But normally, it wasn’t a week from his and Dolores’ wedding anniversary. 

And normally on their anniversaries, Mariano had more than enough gifts and a lovely date night planned to excuse not being able to have a poem done on the rare occasions where he couldn’t write one in time for his and his querida musa’s special nights. 

But this time Mariano didn’t.

This time Mariano had dropped the ball.

At least, in his own opinion.

He didn’t have a gift bought for her (yet anyway).

Didn’t have the time to make her something more than a poem (paper mache or crocheted flowers and stuffed animals were timely to make if you wanted them right).

There was no way he’d be able to book a reservation for any of the good restaurants that Dolores liked (and that wouldn’t hurt her ears) in time for the event and he was a terrible cook so making her favorites himself was out of the question and there was no way he was going to be putting any more work on his beloved’s aunt. 

And well, as bad of a cook as he was, he was an even worse dancer so taking her out to dance (especially after last time) was also no.

Which just left him with the option of writing her a wonderful poem that was better than all of the ones that came before it to buy him time to make it up to his encantadora esposa—which he was now apparently incapable of doing. Great.

Just great. 

Dios, Mariano Guzmán era el idiota más grande de todo Auradon.

What kind of husband didn’t remember the sixteenth anniversary of their wedding?

Bubo, Mariano’s best friend and cuñado, said that he was being too hard on himself and that “Dios, amigo, of course you forgot! You have six kids and all of them had la gripe, you and Dolores and the familia have been exhausted for weeks. Calm down and we’ll figure something out—”but the guard and poet wasn’t having it. He knew that his mejor amigo would be just as stressed and would feel just as guilty in his shoes if he was the one who had forgotten his and Isabela’s anniversary. 

So, his words were an empty comfort for once and now Mariano had to fix the mess before it became an even bigger mess and careened into a disaster without alerting Dolores. 

Now, if only he could find something that rhymed with Dolores. 

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Of course, being a parent meant that Mariano didn’t get much alone time. And being an uncle as well, that meant his alone time was even more scarce. 

Which meant it didn’t really surprise him when not only his seven year old son, Oscar, interrupted him but one of Isabela and Bubo’s eight year olds, Miguel Jr (or Smiley or MJ as everyone called him) as well. Both peaking over his shoulder to see what he was working on, like usual. 

“Papi, ¿en qué estás trabajando?” Oscar rested his chin on Mariano’s shoulder, squinting at the parchment with a furrowed brow and a small frown. Noodles the snake wrapped around him as usual. 

“A poem for your Mami, cariño.”

Miguel Jr leaned even further over Mariano’s shoulder and probably would have knocked him over if the man wasn’t used to his sobrino’s lack of personal space awareness, already. “Can we help, Tío.”

Mariano paused in his writing. He seriously doubted that they’d be able to help with this particular problem of his, but if he’d  learned anything from being a padre, tío, and cuñado mayor, it was to never underestimate what children—Madrigal children, especially. So he decided to bite the bullet. “¡Claro! Know anything that rhymes with Dolores?”

There was a moment of silence. 

Then another. 

Then—

“Laurice?”

“Norris?”

“Dorris?”

“Horace?”

Mariano sighed. Not sure what he was expecting. “Very good, niños. Gracias.”

“You’re welcome!”

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Madrigals, even the children, could not keep a secret for the life of them. 

Which is how Mariano found himself being bombarded by nearly every child in the house, all of which had suggestions. Some more helpful than others. 

“Boris” Cornel, Bruno's sixteen year old son, had suggested. 

To which his brother, Cesare—nineteen years old—, had immediately protested. “Boris? Boris? Absolutely not, that sounds too close to Bore-us.”

“Well I don't see you coming up with any ideas—”

“There's plenty, like forest and tourist—”

Which caused their brother Cyriacus, fourteen, to snort. “Oh sure, call Prima Dolores a tourist. That's very romantic and I'm sure it'll go over well.”

Mariano regretted not locking his door. 

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“Does Acorn rhyme with Dolores, Papi?” Leta, his three year old, asked yawning as she rested her head on his knee. 

“No, temeraria. No, it doesn't.” Mariano ran his hand through her hair. 

He was never going to finish this poem.

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“Why did you decide to make everything rhyme with Mama’s name anyway?” Princesa, his lovely eldest, asked. Judging him with a scrutinizing stare and all the tact of a ten year old. 

But…

Mariano had to agree that picking to end every line with something that rhymed with Dolores wasn't his brightest move. 

“I thought it'd be romantic.”

“But it's not very practical is it?”

Elmira, Princesa’s twin, squeaked quietly at that—in agreement with her sister but clearly not comfortable enough to voice these thoughts.

Mariano found himself sighing again. 

He had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last time he found himself doing so this week.

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“Pour-us? Poorest? Poorest rhymes with Dolores!” Ligera, his five year old, pointed out excitedly. Happy to be helpful.

And well, it did…. Kinda?....depending on who you asked, anyway, but Mariano wasn't sure how to include poorest in his poem. He also wasn't sure Dolores would be pleased if he did. 

“Fairest rhymes with Mami!” Fuega chimed in, very confidently.

It didn't but Mariano didn't have the heart to correct her. 

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Mariano did end up getting the poem done and done on time. 

Dolores loved it. 

She also loved the dinner ‘he'd’ apparently helped Bubo make and the flowers with musical notes that ‘he'd’ given Isabela the idea of making and the dress he'd bought her months ago that he'd forgotten about.

(Okay, so maybe Mariano had been a bit worried over nothing after all.)

[igetthedisneybox]

In your next gen Encanto au, who gets along with who the best and why?

(Between the cousins, their parents and grandparents or whatever you'd like to do).

Decided to format it where I say their friend group, their "favorite" kid/grandkid/sibling/cousin.

Of course, by "favorite" I mean "person they get along with best/ spend the most time with" but that's long and complicated to say.

No one actually has "favorites" is what I'm trying to say (except for a few of them lol)

Alma: She hangs out with the other elders of the village, including Señora Guzmán. Once Raimi and his side of the family get introduced into the Encanto, she also spends a lot of time with them. Out of her kids, Bruno is the favorite, no question. She spends a lot of time making amends with him. Similarly, her favorite grandkid is now Mirabel. Great-grandkid wise, I'd say her favorite is either Zoe or Mariana.

Julieta: She has a handful of friends in the village, but she seems like the type of person to focus on having a small circle of close friends, rather than a lot. She's close with Augustín's mother, but not so much his father (they have a terse relationship). She claims not to have a favorite child, but like...it's Mirabel, come on. She also claims to not have a favorite grandchild, but she and Fuega bond over cooking.

Pepa: Pepa has a lot of friends from the village, including Félix's brother, Gabriel. Her favorite child is Camilo (he's a mama's boy) and she's...less subtle about it than Julieta is. Her favorite grandchild is easily her "twin" Leta, the first grandbaby, no matter how many heart attacks she gives her.

Bruno: Bruno slowly but surely acquires a small friend group upon his return (mainly with Pepa and Julieta's help). It's only about four or five people (which includes both Amelia and Sofía's crushes' parents), which is just fine by him. He also claims not to have a favorite child, but he empathizes with Sofía a lot.

Augustín: He's kind of a nerd, and so doesn't have many friends outside of the Madrigals. He mainly spends time with Julieta and her friend group. He doesn't have a favorite child, he loves his girls equally, but his favorite grandchild is probably Lidia. He likes her sass, okay?

Félix: He's very popular among the townsfolk, and has more friends than even Pepa. His favorite child is Dolores, but the only two people who know are Pepa and Mariano (because he threatened Mariano with death if he ever hurt his baby girl). His favorite grandchild is José. They have the same personality.

Isabela: She has many friends around the village, including Maria (Fuega's mom) and Lili. Most of them were made either after she dropped her "Señorita Perfecta" persona, or from before she felt pressured to be perfect. Her favorite parent is actually Augustín, and her favorite sibling is probably Mirabel, let's be real. Her favorite cousin is Dolores (I would DIE for their friendship). She actually doesn't have a favorite of her girls, not even a secret one.

Dolores: Poor Dolores doesn't have many friends. It's hard for her to be social with her gift, and she's gained a reputation for being a snitch. She is close with Mariano's sisters and brothers, though. Her favorite parent is Félix, and her favorite sibling is Antonio (Camilo's not offended, as Antonio is also his favorite sibling). Her favorite cousin is Isa. Her favorite kid is Andrés, and she is not subtle about it.

Luisa: She never really had a lot of time for friends pre-Encanto movie, so all of her friends were made post-Encanto. She's kind of socially awkward, like her dad, so she doesn't have a lot of them. Her favorite parent is Augustín (I loved their few interactions in canon) but she refuses to have a favorite sibling. Her favorite cousin is Antonio though. Her favorite child is Zoe, just because she gives her less heart attacks than the twins.

Camilo: He had tons of friends pre-Encanto, but lost quite a few of them when he started using his gift less. He made some more (including his future husband) when the city joined the village, though. His favorite parent is Pepa (Mama's boy Camilo is sacred to me). His favorite sibling is Antonio, and his favorite cousin is Mirabel. Everyone thinks that Camilo's favorite kid would be José or Héctor, but it's actually Hugo.

Mirabel: She has a little friend group, mainly consisting of the older siblings of the Encanto's children and Mariano's family. Her favorite parent is Julieta, favorite sibling is Isabela (now, anyway) and her favorite cousin is obviously Antonio (cue offended Camilo noises). She tries not to have favorites, but she can't help but sympathize with Óscar.

Antonio: He's friends with Little Alejandra, Juancho, Cecilia, and some of the other kids in town. His favorite parent is Félix, but he doesn't have favorite siblings. His favorite cousin is Mirabel.

For the next gen, I already put who they like best from each generation in their profiles, so I just copied those from them. (because I got lazy)

Miranda: She is very popular with the Encanto's kids, as she likes to babysit them. Her favorite parent is Alejandra, just because she knows how much she's sacrificed for her. She doesn't have a favorite sibling, she loves Amelia and Sofia equally. Her favorite cousin is Antonio, over their shared love of animals, and her favorite second cousin is Héctor, because he always sticks to her while they do their chores.

Amelia: She has many, many friends in the village, including her girlfriend, Rosana. She doesn't have a favorite parent, but Miranda is her favorite sister. Her favorite cousin is Camilo, due to their shared love of performing, and her favorite second cousin is Princesa, because they both are more girly.

Sofía: She doesn't have many friends due to her gift, but she hangs out with her crush, Tristán, and his little friend group. Her favorite parent is Bruno, since they're so similar, and her favorite sister is Miranda, since she doesn't think Amelia likes her very much. Her favorite cousin is Dolores, as they like to be quiet together. Her favorite second cousin is Óscar, as they like to bitch to each other all the time.

Princesa: She is very popular in the Encanto, mainly due to her gift, which makes a lot of her 'friends' flaky, at best. Her favorite sister is Mariana, due to her being afraid of Fuega. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Mirabel, over their shared love of sewing and embrodery, and her favorite cousin is Beatriz, because they like to gossip to each other.

Fuega: She doesn't have many friends, mainly due to her gift. She does hang out with Felicidad and her friends, though. Her favorite sister is Mariana, due to Princesa being afraid of her. Her favorite pf the grandkid generation is Luisa, because she's tough and Fuega isn't afraid to burn her, and her favorite cousin is Andrés, because he helped her and Felicidad get together.

Mariana: She is popular in the Encanto, mainly with the younger kids. She doesn't have a favorite sister, she loves them both equally. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Mirabel, because they are VERY much alike, and her favorite cousin is Rómulo, because they like to do crazy stunts with their powers together.

Leta: She is popular in the Encanto, in part due to her gift. She doesn't have a favorite sibling, though many would argue that it's Carlos. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Luisa, because they are VERY much alike, and her favorite cousin is Lidia, because they like to wrestle and be idiots together.

Andrés: He has almost zero friends, due to his shyness. His favorite sibling(s) is the twins, just because they're so cute. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Antonio, due to their shared quietness, and his favorite cousin is Fuega, mainly because they just match well. Firey anger and quiet shyness.

Carlos: As the resident black market dealer, he is very, very, very popular in the Encanto, especially with the younger kids. His favorite sibling is easily Leta, though the twins are a close second. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Camilo, because. Obviously, and his favorite cousin is José, because they're like two peas in a pod, despite the age difference.

Avila: She is mildly popular in the Encanto, despite her odd gift. Her favorite sibling is Carlos, because he gives her free stuff. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Antonio, because ANIMALS, and her favorite cousin is Héctor, because they like to play futbol together.

Amada: She is pretty popular in the Encanto, along with her twin. Her favorite sibling is Carlos, because he gives her free stuff. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Isabela, because FLOWERS, and her favorite cousin is Tomás, because they like to watch each other do tricks with their powers.

Tomás: He is pretty popular in the Encanto, along with his twin. His favorite sibling is Zoe, because he and Rómulo are both in agreement that she is their favorite. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Isabela, since he likes all her weird plants, and his favorite cousin is José, because they both like playing mind games (of a different kind, but still)

Rómulo: He is pretty popular in the Encanto, along with his twin. His favorite sibling is Zoe, because he and Tomás are both in agreement that she is their favorite. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Antonio, since he lets Parce and the other big cats race him, and his favorite cousin is Mariana, because they like to do crazy stunts with their powers together.

Zoe: She doesn't have many friends, mainly due to her gift. She doesn't have a favorite between her brothers. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Isabela, because she loves her bright dresses and plants, and her favorite cousin is Hugo, because of all his buggy friends.

Hugo: He doesn't have many friends, mainly due to autism. He doesn't have a favorite between his brothers (it's Héctor). His favorite of the grandkid generation is Dolores, because they're both quiet, and his favorite cousin is Zoe, because she is adorable.

José: He is unpopular with adults, but popular with the kids. He doesn't actually have a favorite of his brothers. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Isabela, because she kinda sorta encourages his gambling, and his favorite cousin is Carlos, because they're like two peas in a pod, despite the age difference.

Héctor: He is pretty popular in the Encanto, mainly because of his gift. His favorite sibling is Hugo, because he looks up to him. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Antonio, since their gifts are similar, and his favorite cousin is Miranda, because she acts so kind and motherly to him.

Óscar: He has almost zero friends, due to his scary gift. He doesn't have a favorite of his sisters, he loves them both. His favorite of the grandkid generation is Dolores, due to their shared...odd quirks, and his favorite cousin is Sofía, because they like to bitch to each other. He acts more like a protective older brother to Sofía.

Beatriz: She is mildly popular in the Encanto, but her gift stops her from being truly liked. She has no favorite sibling (for real). Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Dolores, because their gifts and the reaction their gifts get are similar, and her favorite cousin is Amelia, because they like to dance and sing together.

Lidia: She is pretty popular in the Encanto, although some of the adults are nervous at her behavior. Her favorite sibling is Óscar, and Beatriz is slightly bitter about it. Her favorite of the grandkid generation is Luisa, because they both act tough, and her favorite cousin is Leta, because they like to wrestle and be idiots together.

[gamerbearmira]

In your new au, what happens when all the kids realize their parents are gone?

Ummmm I guess building on that one idea (the only one), the Encanto is essentially run by the kids. The oldest kids among them are like 13, and everyone else is younger. One of the other things about this idea I had was that they were stuck in time.

Closest they have to an adult is Casita

At first, it's like a giant party. No adults??? That means they can do whatever they want! But they quickly realize that there are no adults...anywhere in the Encanto. They're just gone. It doesn't take long for them to flock to Casita, cause everyine knows the Madrigals can solve anything. They basically have to adapt, and it takes months to do so. Thankfully most of the older kids can cook, so they weren't just going hungry.

Most of, if not all of the kids pretty much uprooted their lives and brought them to the houses closest to Casita. The older kids realized it was WAY too risky for all of them to be soaced out like that, especially with the toddlers and few babies that there were.

They essentially take over whatever roles their parents, grandparents, older siblings, ANY adults have. Say what you want about kids, but they can smart when they want to, and they spend a lot of time outside and are very observant. And they can read. Follow instructions. And while kids are hard headed, they learn after failing the first few times.

Yes they dress up as the adults. What else can they do?? Not many of them know how to sew, and they can't wear the same clothes everyday, when so few kids know how to wash clothes.

Antonio will likely just spawn in the nursery, idk. Idk he'll be a baby or automatic 4 (before his ceremony). If so, then basically he'll be pumped with Camilo and Mirabel and they'll just be the new triplets ™

Also, it's not just the "Madrigals" anymore. Because they're such close friends, the Guzmán's, meaning Mariano and his younger siblings, basically move into Casita to help out the other Madrigal kids.

That's all I've got so far. I was toying with the idea that the doors for the adults also disappear. They're replaced with other doors for the Guzmán children (because it's pretty much Madrigal-Guzmán after a certain point).

[almamadrigalfanclub]

In the vampire au, does Julieta, Pepa and Bruno exist? Also are the guzmans vampires too?

Ok so I assume you meant this for the au on my other blog <3333

Uhhhhh so they do exist. But Julieta and Pepa are dead. Along with their husbands <\\\333 killed the massacre that went through the village, hunters thought they were vampires (ironically the hunters also thought they were protecting Alma and the grandkids from them).

Bruno may or may not be alive, it's not really know (aka, I haven't decided yet). If he is alive, he's living on the very outskirts of the village, and is under the impression his entire family is dead. Though he will eventually go back to Caaita and learn they're alive. He was turned in this scenario as well lmao. How, I have no idea, but unlike the grandkids, it wasn't by Alma.

And yes, the Guzmán's are vampires❗❗ Very close friends to the Madrigals, and they help each other out in surviving in the tough times 🙏🙏many families within the village have friendships and alliances that date back centuries, and the Madrigals and Guzmán's are one of those.

Mariano is close friends with the grandkids. Like a lot of other vampire kids in the village, they are sheltered. They also feel like they can't fully connect and befriend the human children because a lot of them are the children of hunters, some of the hunters that killed their parents. While Mariano's parents are still alive, his older brother and tia didn't survive the massacre <\\\3

[miracles-and-butterflies]

In the Modern AU, how have the family roles changed with the grandkids? Is Mariano involved with anyone in any way?

In the Perfect Twins AU, who's the black sheep of the family? What's their relationship with the twins like?

Modern AU:

Pepa’s children aren't under any expectations, pressure, etc, because Pepa and Félix moved away and don’t have contact with Alma. Isabela is very much still Alma’s favourite and the perfect Madrigal. Luisa moved out as soon as she could and doesn’t keep contact with anyone besides Mirabel. Mirabel is relatively okay, as she is completely ignored by grandmother and her parents are often too busy to be around - however, Mirabel sets a ton of expectations on herself.

Isabela and Mariano have been best friends since their first days of school, creating the connection between the Madrigals and Guzmáns (the most respectable families). After finishing school, the pair started dating - this was a ruse so their Abuelas would leave them be - which has become way too deep to stop. They are soon to be engaged.

Perfect Twins AU:

There isn’t really a black sheep. Everyone pretty much has a similar role to what they have in canon. Nobody is ignored the same way Mirabel was, partially because all of the grandkids have gifts this time around.

[madrigaljail]

Ok so this morning in the shower I had a lot of Thoughts about the Guzmáns (at least...my Guzmáns) and did some blabbing elsewhere, but wanted to share the lore/headcanons/whatever here as well:

Mercedes and Mariano (the elder, canon!Mariano's grandfather) totally had separate bedrooms. it's how rich folks do and also they were over each other.

Them going to Senor Ortiz (Osvaldo's father, the designated builder/architect of the Encanto) with building plans for Casa Guzman and him losing his entire mind. "Why four bedrooms?" "Well the children will obviously need their own when they're older." "...obviously." "And that's not a bedroom, that's my husband's office." "Which has a bed in it." "Yes." "And what's this on the ground floor?" "Oh, that's for the serv- well, perhaps there are some people who don't want the responsibility of their own home, so they can stay with us. And....help around the house. And with the children."

You cannot tell me the boys (José and Caesar) did not have a nanny until they were old enough to hold a civil conversation. Can you imagine either of them going to Mercedes after a nightmare? Actually Mariano might not have been horrible for that stuff, his parents came up not rich, he's a bit more...idk, grounded. More familiar with the real world. He does his best and his best isn't that great but he's there. EDIT: no he's not there, like....forever, but when they're little. He goes more distant, Mercedes gets closer (for some value of closer).

.....Caesar wooing and marrying the least threatening/most nurturing woman in the village within two years of his father's death. This whole family needs to go under a microscope and also to therapy.

I also had shower thoughts about Mercedes and Jose's last conversation before he left and she 500% knew he was gay gay homosexual gay and also I may have teared up a little.

Ok byeeeeee.

[dragoneyes618]

I want to know more about Mariano's family.

The only family member of his shown is Señora Guzmán. Now, we don't know if this is his mother or his grandmother. The script refers to her as "Abuela."

Really I think it could be either way. She's certainly old enough to be his grandmother.

On the other hand, suppose Mariano's mother had him late, like Pepa with Antonio. Two decades or so later and she'd only be about ten years younger than Alma, but with a son approximately the same age as Alma's eldest granddaughters. Dolores' line of "you take care of your mother" would make sense in this context if Mariano's mother was on the elderly side.

But, mother or grandmother, she's the only family member of Mariano's we see. No father or grandfather, no siblings or cousins, nothing.

Mariano was proposing to Isabela. This is an important occasion for both families. The entire Madrigal family is gathered together. Shouldn't all of Mariano's family be here too? 

Even if not his whole family, surely at least both of Mariano's parents should be here with him, not just his mother. Unless, of course, his father is dead - perhaps Alma sympathized with and saw herself in Señora Guzmán.

If she's his grandmother, however, than both of his parents are absent from their son's proposal, which might suggest that they're both dead. Why else wouldn't they have come? Except we know his mother, at least, has to be alive, thanks to Dolores. Maybe she's ill or something, and his father died too.

But how likely is it for both of his parents to have died of something besides old age - which, given his grandmother, clearly they didn't - in a town with Julieta Madrigal living in it?

There's also the line of "the union between the Guzmáns and the Madrigals," which suggests that the Guzmáns, like the Madrigals, are a family of some prominence in the village. 

[brave329]

Nieves Guzmán

Elsas parents abandon her at the mist barrier with a letter basically saying they were giving the magical spirits their child back

While trying to get through the mist Elsa follows a golden butterfly and ends up in the Encanto

She’s found playing in a giant patch of snow a week after Milagros (male Mirabel) ceremony by a young Mariana Guzman (genderbend Mariano)

The village is baffled a week after the failed ceremony an eight year old girl with a gift appears who doesn’t know a word of Spanish

Alma prayed several times in the week for a way to stop the miracle from fading and comes to the conclusion that Elsa was sent to save it somehow

Señora Guzmán takes her in and renames her Nieves (since that is literally the only Spanish name that has anything to do with winter)

Alma becomes friends with Señora Guzman due to how often Nieves is over for help learning to control her powers

Nieves is very shy but that sometimes gets mistaken fo haughtiness She’s obviously called an ice queen

She sees Pedro (Pepa) as a father figure he’s the one who usually helped her with her powers when she was younger

She has a lot of admirers but none of them approach her since she’s “reserved for a Madrigal”

Very close to her adopted big sister

Her mother has been trying to see which Madrigal grandson would be best for her before making a match

She makes ice sculptures to decorate for Parties

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hello. So, I wanted to ask you something that I am too embarrassed to ask. I am developing a Encanto universe fanfic, in which I created love interests (OCS) for some characters (being Mirabel, Luisa, Isabela & Camilo). The problem is that I made all the OCS as Guzmáns, i.e. cousins of Mariano (who is/will be Dolores' romantic couple). The real problem is my insecurity that whoever reads it will think it is an 1nc3stu0us story because it has, for example, two brothers who date girls who happen to be sisters (besides the fact that I developed all the family dynamics and stories between them and am super lazy to create other families and dynamics for them).

In**st is between people who are closely related genetically or have adopted what would normally be a genetic relationship:

-- parents/adoptive parents/step-parents/parents-in-law -- siblings/adoptive siblings/step-siblings/siblings-in-law -- grandparents/adoptive/step/in-law -- aunts & uncles/adoptive/step/in-law -- cousins (up to 4th or 5th degree)/adoptive/step/in-law

It's not that rare for siblings from one family to marry siblings from another family. It happens, and I think if you looked at dating rather than marriage, you'd see that number go up quite a lot.

Everyone has their own standards for what's weird. I know someone who dated a guy for several months in high school, then years later went on to marry his older brother. Some people thought it was a little weird, others didn't. The high school relationship was never consummated, so that is why it wasn't weird in my mind. They never went beyond kissing, cuddling, and hand-holding. Plus, it was quite a lot of years that passed between the two relationships... at least 10. Either way, by no stretch of the imagination does that qualify as in**st, because there was no genetic relationship between my friend and the siblings, nor was there any adoptive relationship. When my friend was dating the first brother in high school, they didn't think of the second brother as their adoptive brother or brother-in-law. However, if that sort of an adoptive relationship had existed, that would be weird territory again.

So, with the Madrigals and the Guzmáns, I think the key is how the two families have interacted in the years leading up to these relationships, In canon, at least, there is no indication that they are anything more than acquaintances and members of the same community. There's no indication that these families have been super close for years and have operated as a single family unit. There's no reason to believe that the Madrigal and Guzmán children grew up together, thinking of each other as adoptive siblings. For that reason, I think you're probably be fine. It doesn't mean some people won't find it weird, again because everyone is different, but I don't think most people would have an issue with it.

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[ladysunamireads]

The Butterfly's Blessing

The Butterfly's Blessing by RarepairKai22

There is only so much a person can take before they snap.

When Abuela accuses Mirabel of hurting the family, a decade of self-repressed pain, anger and sadness explode like an overheated pressure cooker.

Mirabel rips Abuela apart, blowing her wrongdoings out for everyone to see, and it is the final straw.

Casita begins to collapse, and while trying to save the candle, Mirabel accidentally falls off the roof. In a desperate bid to save her, the magic grants Mirabel her own miracle, but not without great cost.

Waking up in an unfamiliar city with no memories of who she is, Mirabel navigates a world of heroes and villains, superpowers called “quirks”, finds a new family and creates a new identity, all while the family she left behind grapples with her loss and everything they once knew.

Words: 1284, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Encanto (2021), 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Mirabel Madrigal, Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Inko, Bakugou Katsuki, Todoroki Shouto, Class 1-A, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Yagi Toshinori | All Might, U.A. Faculty, Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Kurogiri, Shirakumo Oboro, Sensei | All For One, Eri, "Abuela" Alma Madrigal, Julieta Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal, Pepa Madrigal, Félix Madrigal, Bruno Madrigal, Isabela Madrigal, Luisa Madrigal, Dolores Madrigal, Camilo Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal, Mariano Guzmán

Relationships: Mirabel Madrigal/Shirakumo Oboro, Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto, Mirabel Madrigal & Midoriya Izuku, Mirabel Madrigal & Midoriya Inko, Midoriya Inko & Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Inko & Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Eri, Félix Madrigal/Pepa Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal/Julieta Madrigal, Mariano Guzmán/Dolores Madrigal, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic

Additional Tags: Amnesiac Mirabel Madrigal, BAMF Mirabel Madrigal, BAMF Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku Does Not Have One for All Quirk, Midoriya Inko Adopts Mirabel Madrigal, Good Parent Midoriya Inko, Midoriya Inko Adopts Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Yagi Toshinori | All Might Bashing, Bakugou Katsuki Bashing, Married Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead Adopts Eri, Kurogiri is Shirakumo Oboro, Kurogiri Becomes Shirakumo Oboro Again, Todoroki Shouto is Bad at Feelings, Todoroki Shouto is a Dork, Guilty Madrigal Family (Disney), "Abuela" Alma Madrigal Gets Better, Fall of Casita (Disney: Encanto), No Incest, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Crossover, Crossover Pairings, Canon-Typical Violence, Non-Canonical Character Death, Age Regression/De-Aging

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48444280

[hannahhook7744]

The Pressure Cracks In That Old Wooden Floor, Still Creakin' Ever So Softly, And Just Barely Off-key.

Summary: The start of Fuega and Princesa’s (mostly) one sided feud. Encantober 2024: Build. Trigger Warnings: minor violence, minor death threats, and etc.

------------------------------------------------------------

If there was one thing that was able to calm Dolores and Mariano's fourth daughter and fifth child, Fuega Alba Guzmán Madrigal, down it was building. 

More specifically, it was building blocks. 

The now one year old redhead adored building blocks and could spend hours upon hours laughing and playing with them. Especially if her Abuelo Félix (the family’s handyman) was the one building with her. 

Like now.

Félix and Fuega were sitting on the floor of the courtyard on a rug Félix’s own father, Alroy, had gifted Dolores and Mariano recently. Making a miniature version of Casita.

And it was a pretty good replica shape-wise, if Félix had to say so himself. 

Which, considering that he was letting little Fuega do most of the work, was surprising. 

Of course, it was at that exact moment something just had to go wrong—because of course, as anyone who'd been a parent, grandparent, or an aunt/uncle would know, was that when you were in a house full of people—most of which were children— things were bound to go wrong at some point. 

Like a fútbol flying right into the miniature Casita they had been building, causing it to explode everywhere as Fuega's eldest sister, Princesa (age 6) ran over trying to stop it. 

Everything went quiet as Fuega stared down at the remains of her Casita. 

And stared.

And stared. 

Before her lip started to quiver. 

“Aw mi pequeña gasolina, don't cry—” Félix cooed quietly as he tried to pick her up, only to be cut off by the loud wail that escaped her. 

Another thing to know about Fuega Alba Guzmán Madrigal? She had the loudest set of lungs in the family. 

And when she started screaming or crying? The whole Encanto could hear. 

“Lo siento, Fuega, Lo siento! Lo lamento—” Princesa held her hands out, trying to sooth her little sister. Only to be cut off by a big wooden block to the face. 

And another. 

And another. 

All while Fuega escaped Félix’s attempts at capture—screaming and shrieking and wailing as she grabbed block after block and launched them at Princesa, Elmira, Oscar, and her primos. Living up to her name. 

“¡Morir! ¡Morir!”

[igetthedisneybox]

Amada Madrigal

Inspired by @hannahhook7744's Encanto AU, and her own character headcanons.

Third image made using https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1558575

Fourth image made using https://www.dolldivine.com/la-colombiana

Fifth image made in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Amada’s full name is Amada Rafaela Guzmán-Madrigal.

Her first name means “beloved” and her middle name means “heal”. 

She is the fifth child of Dolores Madrigal and Mariano Guzmán.

She has her father’s lighter skin tone and straight hair. She has Dolores’ facial shape and ears. Her hair is lighter than her parents, probably from Pepa. She also has Pepa’s teeth. She looks almost identical to Avila, but is slightly shorter, and has slightly lighter skin.

She is eleven years old.

She has an older sister by eight years, Leta, an older brother by three years, Andrés, an older brother by two years, Carlos, and an older twin sister by thirty seconds, Avila.

She is currently uninterested in romance or sex.

Her gift is water manipulation. She can control and breathe underwater, but can’t conjure it. She loves her gift, and likes to blast people with water for fun.

Her door portrays her smiling with her arms in the air. Small water droplets fall around her, with one large bubble of water hovering above her head.

Her room resembles the nursery, with pale blue walls and wooden floors. The front part of her room is normal for visitors, but the rest of it is completely underwater. Her bed and other amenities are floating in the water, all anchored to the floor with ropes. There’s another rope on her bed she ties herself to so she doesn’t float off in her sleep.

His symbol is a water drop.

She and Dolores get along alright, but she is much more active and loud than her mother. They do share a love of bows, and Amada always wears a hair bow in her honor.

Both twins are Mariano’s pride and joy. They are his babies, and can do no wrong.

Leta is a horribly great influence on both twins. They often act as her sidekicks when she does stunts.

Andrés is the sibling they go to when they’re upset or scared. He always has comforting words for them.

Carlos gives the twins free stuff from his store, and encourages their wild antics.

She mainly hangs out with the other younger kids, Mariana, Tomás, Rómulo, Zoe, José, Héctor. She also spends time with Princesa.

She gets along best with Pepa, Isabela, and Tomás.

She’s more girly than her twin. She’ll go to Princesa to get her hair done, and cares a lot about clothes.

Unsurprisingly, she likes to swim. She spends more time in the rivers and canals around the Encanto than outside of them.

She plays the piano, but isn’t as good as her cousins. Even so, she, José, Beatriz, and a few others have a ‘band’ of sorts.

She got her ears pierced when she turned ten, and almost caused a flood in the Encanto with how freaked out she was. In the end it didn’t even hurt all that much.

She and Avila like to consider themselves like the ‘younger’ versions of Amelia and Sofía.

Her favorite colors are light blue, navy, turquoise, and light yellow.

[ao3feed-tododeku]

The Butterfly's Blessing

The Butterfly's Blessing by RarepairKai22

There is only so much a person can take before they snap.

When Abuela accuses Mirabel of hurting the family, a decade of self-repressed pain, anger and sadness explode like an overheated pressure cooker.

Mirabel rips Abuela apart, blowing her wrongdoings out for everyone to see, and it is the final straw.

Casita begins to collapse, and while trying to save the candle, Mirabel accidentally falls off the roof. In a desperate bid to save her, the magic grants Mirabel her own miracle, but not without great cost.

Waking up in an unfamiliar city with no memories of who she is, Mirabel navigates a world of heroes and villains, superpowers called “quirks”, finds a new family and creates a new identity, all while the family she left behind grapples with her loss and everything they once knew.

Words: 1284, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Encanto (2021), 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Mirabel Madrigal, Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Inko, Bakugou Katsuki, Todoroki Shouto, Class 1-A, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Yagi Toshinori | All Might, U.A. Faculty, Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Kurogiri, Shirakumo Oboro, Sensei | All For One, Eri, "Abuela" Alma Madrigal, Julieta Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal, Pepa Madrigal, Félix Madrigal, Bruno Madrigal, Isabela Madrigal, Luisa Madrigal, Dolores Madrigal, Camilo Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal, Mariano Guzmán

Relationships: Mirabel Madrigal/Shirakumo Oboro, Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto, Mirabel Madrigal & Midoriya Izuku, Mirabel Madrigal & Midoriya Inko, Midoriya Inko & Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Inko & Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Eri, Félix Madrigal/Pepa Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal/Julieta Madrigal, Mariano Guzmán/Dolores Madrigal, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic

Additional Tags: Amnesiac Mirabel Madrigal, BAMF Mirabel Madrigal, BAMF Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku Does Not Have One for All Quirk, Midoriya Inko Adopts Mirabel Madrigal, Good Parent Midoriya Inko, Midoriya Inko Adopts Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Yagi Toshinori | All Might Bashing, Bakugou Katsuki Bashing, Married Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead Adopts Eri, Kurogiri is Shirakumo Oboro, Kurogiri Becomes Shirakumo Oboro Again, Todoroki Shouto is Bad at Feelings, Todoroki Shouto is a Dork, Guilty Madrigal Family (Disney), "Abuela" Alma Madrigal Gets Better, Fall of Casita (Disney: Encanto), No Incest, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Crossover, Crossover Pairings, Canon-Typical Violence, Non-Canonical Character Death, Age Regression/De-Aging

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48444280

[adventuresbyjd]

Finishing a fic is such a great feeling, especially when it has almost 100,000 words and 40 chapters involved. I might start posting it here if anyone’s interested! Here’s the synopsis:

Code Word Chameleon

Chapters: 40/40

Fandom: Encanto (2021)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Camilo Madrigal & Mirabel Madrigal, Camilo Madrigal & Pepa Madrigal, Camilo Madrigal & Madrigal Family, Félix Madrigal/Pepa Madrigal, Camilo Madrigal & Dolores Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal & Dolores Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal & Camilo Madrigal, Mariano Guzmán/Dolores Madrigal, Dolores Madrigal/Original Male Character(s)

Characters: Camilo Madrigal, Dolores Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal, Pepa Madrigal, Mirabel Madrigal, Félix Madrigal, Original Male Character(s), Mariano Guzmán

Additional Tags: Camilo Madrigal and Mirabel Madrigal are Twins, Mirabel Madrigal Has a Gift, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, After Rebuilding of Casita (Disney: Encanto), Will update tags, No Incest, Get out of here with that, Family Member Death, lots of them - Freeform, Survivor Guilt, Gunshot Wounds, Hurt/Comfort, Pepa Madrigal is Mirabel Madrigal's Parent, Not Beta Read

Summary:

When the mountains around the Encanto don't seal back up after Mirabel and Abuela make amends, the village is put in horrible danger. After a devastating attack by horrible people who sought to steal the magic, what remains of the family Madrigal must negotiate a new country, a new home, and a new job.

Rated T for violence

[miracles-and-butterflies]

For @time-for-a-grandkid-round-up, based on the prompt: “camilo cheering up his family.”

I’m only going to do one person as doing everyone would take forever. And as Camilo cheering up his (side of the) family is a little overdone at this point, I’m going with his favourite cousin. Enjoy!

~~~~~~

Throwing Away the Dry Petals

“I win.” Dolores exclaimed, placing down her ace card.

Camilo groaned. “You win every time. You’re clearly cheating.”

“I’m better and smarter than you, Camilo, that’s hardly cheating. You can’t be mad just because I wasn’t dropped as a baby.” She said.

“Hey! I wasn’t dropped as a baby! Tío Bruno caught me! He just let go for a little…” Camilo trailed off. “Besides, Tía Julieta would’ve healed me. I’m her favourite.”

“You’re nobody’s favourite. You’re a pain.”

“Not true! It’s Mirabel whose nobody’s favourite.”

Casita’s front doors swing open almost hitting both the siblings as Isabela storms through, barely noticing them at all.

Dolores is unfazed, she no doubt heard Isabela coming. She doesn’t even flinch. And Camilo would be lying if he said he wasn’t amazed by how well his sister can keep herself so poker face, even when she hears everything. And almost got hit by a door.

“Hey, Bela! You wanna play with us?” Camilo asked.

There’s no response. Isabela just continued walking away.

“Isabela? Hello? You okay?”

Still nothing. Though, to be fair, she’s probably go far down the path to town to hear him now.

“What’s wrong with her?” He turned to his sister. Her gift was annoying most of the time, but it did mean she knew everything about everyone and it came in handy.

“Ramona broke up with her last night.”

Camilo was speechless.

“Isabela, Isabela Madrigal, was broken up with? But she’s always the one that breaks up a relationship!”

“Exactly,” Dolores said, dealing the cards. “She’s been distant all morning. I don’t think she’s slept either.”

“I really liked Mona. She use to give me and Toñito sweets.”

“Isabela did too.”

“But… why? Things were going well, right? It wasn’t like Viviana, who just flirted with Luisa the whole time, right? Or Sola, the one who just wanted to date a Madrigal? Or—” Camilo cut himself off with a gasp. “Tell me it wasn’t like Gabriela who didn’t like cacti.”

Dolores sighed. “No, it wasn’t like Gabriela. Gracias a Dios, ella no quería tener que lidiar con eso otra vez. Well… Ramona didn’t really give a reason. Just something about Isabela not meeting expectation.”

“Sounds like something Abuela would say.”

“Why do you think Isabela has been acting this way?”

Camilo stood up.

“Wait, where are you going? Don’t you want to play?” Dolores inquired.

“I’m gonna cheer up our cousin,” he answered, determinedly.

“If it’s egging Mariano’s house again, I swear to God I will tell Abuela—”

Her statement fell on deaf ears as Camilo was already sprinting away and laughing at the thought. It was always a good idea and it did always brighten Isabela’s day.

However, he really doesn’t wanna have to deal with Abuela or his parents making him clean the entire Guzmán house again. That thing is huge!

They always could throw eggs at Ramona’s house. Or anyone of her other exes. They could plant cacti outside of Gabriela’s. But he suddenly had a different idea in mind as he began searching for her in town, amongst all the chaos and people.

Camilo found Isabela sat by herself on a bench, staring off into the distance.

She watching a group of young adults, laughing and having together - though Isabela didn’t seem to be looking at them at all. Rather staring straight through them.

“Hey, Isabela? You doing anything?”

It took a moment, but Isabela did turn to him. Shaking her head, as though she’d been pulled from some vision like Bruno.

“What do you want, Camilo?” Isabela asked, not sounding angry but not friendly either.

“You know Eduardo Rodriguez? My age, plays football? Anyways, his older brother, Miguel, is getting married today.” He said.

Isabela blinked. “Um, congratulations? What does this have to do with me?”

“I promised Eduardo that I would go to the reception with Dolores, but she has a date with stupid Mariano and I don’t wanna go alone. So I was wondering if you wanted to go to La Hora Loca with me?”

His cousin didn’t immediately reject the idea, even looked to be considering it. A wedding wasn’t Isabela’s ideal way to get over a break up.

However, Camilo was nodding his head eagerly and encouragingly that she couldn’t bring herself to disappoint him again. Why Dolores didn’t just take Mariano to the wedding, she didn’t know - wouldn’t a wedding be a better date than dinner with the family? Never mind, this would be a distraction for Isabela and it wasn’t like she had any plans of her own.

“Okay, I’ll go. But you better change. You’ve split something on your ruana.”

“What? You of all people can’t seriously be complaining about stains! Have you seen your dress? It’s covered in who knows what!”

“Alright, I’ll change too.”

Camilo smiled, satisfied. He was going to get his cousin to smile too before the night was over. Isabela got up and grabbed him by the shoulder as he turned to walk.

“Insult my dress again and I will plant belladonna in your stomach.”

“Noted.”

~~~~~~

An hour or so later, having changed several times over based on the other’s complaints, they finally arrived at the wedding reception of Miguel and Vanessa Rodriguez.

The lateness was definitely the fault of them both considering themselves style experts.

It was times like this that made Isabela realise how many people were in Encanto and how few she actually knew. There were a few faces she recognised but she couldn’t associate them with any name or memory. While Camilo was effortlessly smiling and waving as he pulled her through the crowds of people.

He hadn’t really conversed with anyone though or even congratulated the bride and groom, but she didn’t really think about it. There was plenty of time for that.

Camilo was distracting her with a story of the last wedding he had attended - an old school friend of Félix’s. An event he ruined by sneaking off into the kitchen and eating the entire cake.

They’d been laughing and drinking for almost two hours at the bar when Isabela hopped out of her chair and extended a hand to him.

“Right, let’s go. We’re not sidelining this party, we aren’t Mirabel. Introduce me to Eduardo and the rest of your friends or the random people you know here from babysitting.”

“I don’t know ‘em. We’re crashing.”

Isabela stumbled backwards a little. From shock, not the cocktails she’d been enjoying.

“You don’t know anyone? I thought you knew Eduardo. You said he’s your age and plays football.” Isabela demanded, whispering.

“Yeah, he’s in my class and on the other football team, but I don’t know him.” Camilo shrugged in response.

Isabela raised an eyebrow. Then she snickered. “That’s a lie. You’re just trying to piss me off.” But Camilo’s signature smirk, usually one given to Dolores, made its appearance. And Isabela paled.

He wasn’t joking. He had invited her to a stranger’s wedding.

She quickly started downing a series of shots that some other guest had ordered and regrettably left unattended.

Camilo was all but losing it, clearly enjoying himself. Though he did lean over and say, “We can leave whenever. Just have fun and relax. What’s wrong with your cousin trying to cheer you up?”

Though Isabela wasn’t yet drunk enough to completely abandon her moral compass, she grabbed Camilo’s hand - a little tighter than necessary - and dragged him to the dance floor.

They weren’t hurting anyone or ruining anything. They were having fun. And goddam, they were good drinks.

So as long as they kept to themselves and nobody caught on, it was okay.

For the next few hours, the pair danced and definitely outshined everyone in the process. Pepa was an excellent teacher.

They took breaks every so often to return to the bar - Camilo did keep Isabela from getting herself totally drunk, which was just as challenging as Dolores complained it was. Though Isabela’s alcohol tolerance was impressive. In turn, Isabela did her best to keep Camilo from drinking alcohol altogether.

They partook in the snacks and cake, and even several photographs. Quickly heading to the bathroom when someone started to question them.

It wasn’t until Camilo ended up chatting with the groom himself that their plan had totally fallen apart.

“You must be a friend of Vanessa’s, how did you meet?” Miguel had asked, innocent enough.

“I’m not. I don’t know her at all.”

Camilo hadn’t meant to say that. He might have been able to save himself, claiming he was someone else’s child, but the way he flushed red and his eyes widened with guilt, there was no chance.

Meanwhile, Isabela had found herself chatting with the younger sister to the bride, Elena.

So when Camilo suddenly sprint by and pulled her away by the hand, she was confused but not particularly surprised. It didn’t take long before she matched his pace and they ran out the building, with several angry family members chasing after them.

They continued running until there was no sound of footsteps and shouting, and they were safely hiding in nature. They stumbled along a clearing overlooking their town under the moonlight.

For a few moments, they were just panting and laugh every time they caught each other’s eyes.

“We got kicked out of a stranger’s wedding,” she wheezed.

“And we had fun while doing it,” Camilo retorted. “Don’t tell the adults though.” He added, just to be sure.

“Why?”

“Why? So we don’t get in trouble?”

“No, I mean, why did you take me? You could have taken one of your actual friends.”

“Because you were upset and I wanted to cheer you up. Dolores told me about Ramona.” He admitted, gently. “You wanna talk about it?”

Isabela just returned to being distant at the mention of her ex-girlfriend. She had almost forgotten about her. The memories of last night resurfacing as she watches the stars.

Ramona had liked stars, was planning to go study them abroad. Isabela had ransacked her Abuelo Sancho’s collection of books to find some about constellations and astrology to impress Ramona with facts and things, and it had worked.

But she hadn’t changed or hidden any part of herself. Ramona was dating the Isabela she had always known.

Which is what made the comment about her not meeting expectations rough. They hadn’t discussed any expectations for each other - relationships didn’t require them. So how on earth did Isabela fail to meet something that didn’t exist?

Fuck. Dating Mariano was simpler than this. At least Isabela knew where she was screwing up: hiding herself.

She gasped when Camilo threw himself into her arms in a hug. Immediately, she pulled him tighter.

“What’s this for?” She asked.

“For you, duh.” He mumbled. Camilo was trying not to cry, laughing as a cover. “Fuck Ramona. It’s her loss, you’re brilliant. And you don’t deserve to be sad because she’s a loser.”

“Poetic.” Isabela said, sarcastically.

“I try,” Camilo flipped his hair dramatically. “I mean it. Fuck Ramona and her expectations, whatever they were. You don’t have to meet expectations. Expectations are just stupid. You’re you and you’re amazing. You’re one of my closest friends and role models—”

“That’s concerning.”

“Stop making me laugh. You’re ruining the moment.”

“Can’t help it.”

“I’m trying to be serious right now.”

“Good luck with that.”

He almost laughed, genuinely, that time. But he wasn’t going to let himself be distracted - this was too important. For good measure, he put a hand over Isabela’s mouth. She was smirking underneath; he could feel it.

“I know things about perfect expectations are still kinda hard for you, but don’t let this one idiot bring you down. Ramona doesn’t know you like we, I, do. There’s nothing about you, on the inside or outside, that needs changing or hiding, just because some random decides it’s not good enough for them.”

Under his hand, there’s a muffled, “There’s nothing wrong with my outside. I’m gorgeous.”

“Great! So apply that same logic and confidence to your inside. You can’t really believe that someone knows how you should act better than you do. Trust me, I’m an actor.”

“I can’t. It’s different.”

“Why’s that?” Camilo asked, removing his hand. Isabela was no longer smiling. He wasn’t asking to catch her out or tell her she’s wrong, but just willing to offer an ear— God, he’s more of Dolores’ brother than he realises, isn’t he?

“I don’t know. It just is…” she shrugs a little. “My inside was the part I changed, the part I believed was wrong. People are forming real connections because they like or dislike me, not my appearance. I’m not bothered…” she sighed, turning away. “We were doing so well and it just came out of nowhere. Mona couldn’t even give a reason. If it’s something I’ve done, how am I suppose to fix it for my next partner?”

Camilo nodded in understanding.

He couldn’t relate to his cousin, but what she was saying made sense. He could see why it upset her and why she blamed herself.

“You can’t,” he said. “You can’t fix it. Someone will come along and maybe they will like you or maybe they won’t. Not everyone likes everyone. I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong. If you had then Ramona would have an actual reason to break up, right?”

“I guess.”

“So whatever it is, it’s on her and it’s out of your control.”

Isabela nodded. She smiled a bit.

“Do you feel any better?” Camilo asked. Admittedly, a little hesitant.

She snorted. And for a minute, she looked like she was about to say no. Then she softened, “Yeah, I do. Thank you, Camilo.”

“Good, I’m glad,” he said. “It’s my job to make people happy, but I care about you. So it’s from a place of love, not work, okay? But, uh… Did you have fun tonight? Or last night? I’m not sure what the time is.”

From the grin covering Isabela’s face, he could already guess the answer, but being pulled back into a hug was the real confirmation.

“The most fun I’ve had in years.”

An idea crept into Camilo’s head, just as they started making their way back home.

“Hey, are you tired yet?” Camilo asked. He stopped and Isabela looked at him, strangely. “I’m not tired and I’ve got an idea how we can make this night even better.”

“I’m listening.”

When the pair awoke the next morning, they were instantly questioned by the adults of why they had been out so late and why there were several angry townspeople waiting outside Casita. They shrugged it off and laughed, claiming they had no idea. Ultimately, nobody worked out it was specifically them who had crashed the wedding. But the town was ripe with gossip about two infamous wedding rashers, and Dolores seemed to be suspiciously glancing their way.

And, well, watching Ramona clean eggshells off her roof was just the icing of the cake.

[madrigaljail]

😈🤡🤲

😈 Has there been a point in a story where you did something just to be playfully mean to your readers?

Not really. Playfully mean to myself and then by extension them? Yeah. The whole situation with Roberto proposing to Alma and then me turning it on its head to...wait, that was to be playfully mean to Bruno. It all comes back on itself, ok.

🤡 What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh?

So. Many. (Mis)calculations, start to finish. El Brujo Loco being hideous at Vittoria's quince in Prophet. José's apparently bottomless well of deadpan snark. This bit with the kids in Talk of the Town (which I will get back to someday s2g):

“No, Cami, they’re not,” Isa assured him. “But apparently she did, and that’s interesting. And Abuela Beatriz said one time your papá threw our papá in the river for stealing a bottle of aguardiente when he was sixteen. And that when Mariano’s Tío José broke his leg our mamá would only feed him extra spicy food because he broke up with your mamá on her seventeenth birthday.”

“...Mariano’s Tío José dated Mamá?” Camilo was so shocked he shifted back into himself. Then, with growing horror: “Mamá went out with guys that weren’t Papá ?”

“Mariano has a Tío José?” Mirabel yelped.

Isabela rolled her eyes. “One guy.” Beside her, Dolores flinched. “And yes. Abuela Beatriz says he left about twenty-five years ago.”

During the brief pause that followed none of them looked toward the dark archway, the dusty steps, and the dead door just around the corner from their hiding spot. Camilo very badly wanted to because the moment pretty much demanded it, but he refrained. Proving to Isa that he could be sneaky overrode his drive for narrative satisfaction.

Which in Same Boy led to...

“Ay, you didn’t say the priest was José Guzmán!”

“The priest is who?” someone squawked, then a different voice called “Mama went out with a priest?”

“He wasn’t a pr- Camilo, how do you know that?”

And

“Oh-ho!” A young man in a yellow ruana approached them and slung his arms around Mirabel and Antonio. “Did Tío Bruno go out with the priest too? Escandalo!”

In other news I need to write more Camilo.

🤲 Would you please share a snippet of a wip?

The night before he’d had to choose between following Julieta and Bruno to ensure they were alright or going home with his family. He’d chosen the latter, and Pepa had come with them and graced his bed for the first time.

(Of course he’d been a gentleman and spent the night in Vittoria’s while she stayed with her parents, but Félix had made sure to take a moment to appreciate the sight before waking her to tell her the plan he and Ricardo had come up with.)

Emojis here!