#I have another drawing with mirabel isabela and luisa that i was hoping to have done by now but my brain stopped working | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gamerbearmira · 6 days

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How do I sound witty in this title

Well. I finished the drawing two days ago but did do the writing till today 💀💀 I don't really have much else to say.

I just wanted to write and draw the sillies <\\33

LEH GEH IH

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Antonio sat on the floor of the nursery, staring into the mirror. Wide, bright yellow eyes stared back at him. His eyes, obviously. They weren't the usual brown they were when he was born. He was still reeling at thw whole thing, but he was getting used to it. Well, as used to it as he could, he had just discovered all of this a few weeks ago. Luckily he had his primas and his siblings by his side though.

He continued to stare. His hand reached up, touching the thick fur that covered the sides of his face and most of his neck. He could feel more of it rubbing against his shirt and pants. It made him feel warm, too warm. Almost hot. It was getting to be spring, and frankly the extra hair all over him wasn't doing him any real justice. He yanked on his collar, trying to relieve the feeling but it didn't do much.

As he pulled on his shirt, he heard a small sound, a tearing sound. Of course, it wasn't very hard, not with the ears he had. They twitched as he stopped, looking down.

He had accidentally ripped a hole in his collar.

"Uh oh," he mumbled, quickly trying to oull away his hand. He tugged just a little too hard, his hand finally coming away...along with a piece of fabric. Antonio's eyes widened at the yellow piece stuck to his hand, his claws, and he flailed his hand for a moment before it fell away.

He looked at his hands. They were covered in fur, short, soft fur that was a similar color to his hair. He flexed his small hands, feeling the long nails that had grown, and frowned. What was he going to do? He already ruined one shirt, now here goes another one, ruined. He thought back to the last shirt he ruined.

He had transformed for the first time. He didn't know what was happening. He was so scared, and freaked out. And hungry. He tore his shirt apart, chewing on it and ripping it. He didn't even know he was capable of that, but apparently he was. And when Isa and Lola found him, they had to practically wrestle it away from him and give him real food before he calmed down.

Antonio leaned forward, opening his mouth. He had four sharp teeth that stuck out like sore thumbs. No hiding them. His bottom ones were longer, jutting out even when his mouth was closed. He used his tongue to feel them, wincing when he accidentally pricked it. He pouted bringing his knees to his chest as he looked in the mirror, his tail curled around him. He felt so lonely. Sure, there was his older siblings Dolores and Camilo, and his older primas Isabela, Luisa and Mirabel. But he still felt so alone.

He didn't know what to do.

He sat on the floor for a while before he heard footsteps. Typically he wouldn't be able to hear them, at least not with the door closed and from the nursery, but he could now. He panicked looking around. He yanked the blanket off of his bed, covering his head with it as he moved away from the mirror. He faced away from the door, pretending to read a book that had been laying near the toy chest nearby.

"Antonio?" He heard a voice. His oldest prima, Isabela. He stayed hidden, though he knew that she probably already knew what he was doing. "Antonio, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Antonio said, a little too quickly and his voice a little too high. He shifted under the blanket, hoping that his tail was still hidden.

"I can see your tail," Isabela said.

Dang it.

Antonio quickly tried to tuck it in but it was already too late. Isabela sat down next to him, gently pulling away the blanket. Antonio hesitated, pushing the book away and looking toward her. "H-Hola...Isabela."

Isabela gave him a sympathetic smile. "Don't know how to change back?" She asked knowingly and Antonio looked down in shame and nodded.

"No...A-And I did try, I did! When when I tried, but it only made it worse!" Antonio said and Isabela urged him to calm down.

"Ok, that's ok," Isabela said reassuringly. "But...what happened to your shirt?" She asked, finally noticing the tear in his collar.

Antonio looked down at his shirt, seemingly to remember what happened and fiddled with the ripped collar for a moment before sighing softly. "I...I got hot, amd kept yanking on my collar. But I didn't wamna roll up my sleeves and get caught cause of my fur, and I didn't wanna do undo all the buttons and change and..."

Isabela looked at him expectantly. "And...?"

"And I...I ripped the collar..." Antonio mumbled, but Isabela heard him loud and clear.

Isabela hummed in understanding, pulling Antonio closer. "It's ok. We'll ask Mirabel if she can mend it, hm? I mean it's only a small tear. It's not nearly as bad as your other shirt incident," she said teasingly.

"Isaaa!" Antonio whined, pushing her away and she laughed.

"I'm sorry! It was right there. I'm sorry Toñito. But seriously. That shirt was beyond repair," Isabela said, staring off into the space for a moment. "How are your teeth anyway? Do they still hurt?"

Antonio hummed for a momemt, in thought before he looked in the mirror, pulling his bottom lip down a bit. "No, ut I ink ey're owing," Antonio said, his words slurred due to his lip being pulled. He stopped, turning to Isabela. "How come mine aren't as big as your yours?" He pouted.

Isabela shrugged, leaning forward. Her form began to shift, taking on a similar form to Antonio. Her dress seemed smaller, but Isabela didn't seem all that phased as she leaned forward, pulling her own cheek for a moment. "I dunno. I guess as I got older, they grew more."

Antonio leaned forward again, looking at his teeth. "I hope mine get as big as yours. Or Camilo's."

Isabela snorted, leaning back. "Camilo's are only that big because he eats so much meat all the time. And he eats it raw. I'm surprised he hasn't blown our cover yet."

Isabela wished she hadn't said that because Antonio had stars in his eyes as he rushed out of the nursery and towards the kitchen. Isabela's eyes widened, and she quickly shifted back, flying out the door after Antonio, her vines rushing after him. "Antonio, wait!"

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I'm so tired it's not even funny 💀💀 and I still got a presentation due on Sunday 😭😭

ANYWAYYYY THESE GUYS HAVE VEEN ON MY MIND...among other aus. I mean my mind is a constant of Encanto aus. There may just be one section if my mind reserved for that.

But I did draw this and decided to turn it into a omeshot. Horrific I know 🌚 besides that I'm very excited for Mermay in a couple days❗❗ Hoping to draw a lot of mer aus <33

#my asks #my asks are open #encanto #encanto au #au #encanto antonio #encanto isabela #werewolf au #werewolf grandkids au

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ginnyweatherby · 2 years

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I was thinking about how after Casita fell, we got to see Julieta's fear when Mirabel disappeared, and her relief when she comes back, including their sweet hug... That being said, she's Agustín's kid too, and I wanted to see his reaction to his baby's reappearance. This is that scene.

Dedicated to @magicalmadrigals who keeps us so well fed with fluff, and I thought deserved some in return.

Word Count: 1400 and some change.

*****

Agustín couldn't remember the last time he had one of his daughters in his bed. The older they became, the less they sought the comfort of their parents' room.

Isabela was always too fussy about her pillows, and Luisa needed her special double-length bed to even begin to be comfortable, so he supposed it was just a matter of growing up.

But now that the family was crammed into his small family home, Mirabel being in bed beside him was less about a little kid wanting their parents, and more out of necessity, since there wasn't another room.

Still… after the day they'd had, Agustín was more than thrilled to have her close by and in sight.

He glanced to his right, peering over the rims of his glasses to see Mirabel snuggled into the pillows, nose buried deeply in a book she'd found on his old shelf.

It was surreal, being in his childhood bedroom again. It had been nearly twenty five years since he'd left it, and he never thought he'd return - much less with his entire family in tow.

Unfortunately, now that Casita was more a pile of rubble, rather than a house, they would have to make do. For awhile, at least.

"I read that book a lot when I was your age," Agustín said offhandedly, picking at a small hole in the quilt.

"Yeah?" Mirabel licked her finger and turned the page, clearly more interested in the words in front of her than holding a conversation.

Still, Agustín wanted to hear her voice.

"Mhm. I'm almost surprised it's still in one piece, I read it so many times."

Mirabel didn't respond, her eyes flitting across the page in rapid fashion, she was devouring the novel in record time.

Agustín stared ahead, looking around the room. Not much had changed since he was her age… the same books on the shelves, the same drawings tacked to the walls. Had the wallpaper always been that ugly?

He didn't know where Julieta had wandered off to, but he was getting tired and hoped she'd be back soon so they could blow the candles out and go to sleep.

The day had been unbelievably long, spending every waking moment (and there were many of them - they'd barely slept a wink the night before) hunting high and low for Mirabel.

Now that she was found, safe and sound beside him, he knew he'd sleep like the dead and wouldn't wake even if a train crashed through the window.

He twiddled his thumbs, trying to find something to keep his mind occupied until his wife returned, and Mirabel finally tore her eyes away from the novel, lowering it into her lap.

"Are you alright, Papi?"

"Wonderful," he said. "Why do you ask?"

"You're acting funny," Mirabel said. "Very… fidgety."

"I'm always acting funny," he said, with a wink. "Just ask your mother."

Mirabel chewed on the inside of her cheek, a horrible habit she'd had since she was a toddler. She didn't look convinced.

"Why, are you okay?"

Mirabel closed the book and laid it on the nightstand opposite of where he sat. "I'm sorry, Pa."

Well that wasn't what he'd expected to hear.

"Sorry?"

Before he knew what was happening, Mirabel threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own tightly around his neck. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Mirabel, you didn't do anything wrong. Nothing that happened was your fau-"

"I'm sorry for scaring you."

Agustín let out a breathy laugh. "Well, that you did do." He squeezed her, while she clamored into his lap. "Scared me a lot, actually."

"I know," Mirabel nuzzled her face further into his shoulder. "I didn't mean to, I promise… I was just so upset."

"Shh, I know," Agustín ran a gentle hand up and down her back. He could hear a tightness in her voice, and he hated when his children cried. There had been far too many tears shed in the last few days.

The last few weeks, really. Even before Antonio's birthday, tensions had been high.

"It's alright, amor. Everything is okay now."

Mirabel moved her head, although he wasn't sure if she was nodding, or using his shirt as a tissue. He supposed it didn't matter.

They sat there for awhile, just clinging to each other, processing the emotions the last couple of days had brought forward.

He hadn't mentioned it to anyone - not even Julieta - but for a brief time, when they couldn't find Mirabel, he wondered if he'd ever get to hug her like this again.

It was a horrible thought, but one that made him press a hand to the back of her head as he snuggled her closer against his chest.

"You know," Agustín began slowly, continuing to rub her back as he spoke. "Even though you scared the absolute hell out of me-"

He smiled when he heard Mirabel giggle at that. He didn't curse often in front of the kids, but he knew it always amused them when he did. "Even though you scared me, I'm still very, very proud of you."

Mirabel pulled back and looked at him through watery eyes, her glasses slightly foggy. "Really?"

"Extremely." He removed the glasses from her face and wiped them with his shirt, before placing them gently back on her nose. "You stood up for yourself. It was overdue, honestly."

Mirabel wiped her eye with a knuckle, leaning back on her knees. "I don't like fighting with Abuela but…"

Agustín sighed. "It was a long time coming. I lost my temper with her too."

Mirabel stared at him. "You're the most patient person I know!"

"Even the most patient people have their limits," Agustín pressed a kiss to her forehead, a sad smile on his face. "I think we've all reached our limits this week."

Mirabel nodded.

"That being said, while I am extremely, extremely proud of you," Agustín leaned back against the pillows, Mirabel curling into his side like she had when she was much smaller. "Please never scare me like that again. My hair is gray enough, thank you very much." He accentuated his point by running a hand through it, making it stick out on one side.

Mirabel snorted. "Got it."

They quieted again, and for a time all that was heard was the sound of Mirabel's sisters snoring through the wall.

"It will all work out, I promise," Agustín said, a firm hand on her shoulder. "It'll take time, but everything will settle down eventually. We'll rebuild the house, finally get you your own room-"

"Ooh, can I pick the color?" Mirabel perked up at the thought, a brightness to her eyes that had been lacking lately.

Agustín chuckled. "Any color of the rainbow, amor." He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "But I'm serious. Soon enough, no one will even remember any of this."

Mirabel laughed. "I have a hard time believing that… but I will say, it'll be nice not to have to listen to Isa and Lu snore all night."

"I'll have you know, you snore too." Agustín brushed his nose against his daughter's, eliciting a small giggle.

Just then, the door pushed open to reveal Julieta, with a tray and three steaming mugs on it.

"What's so funny?" She asked, sidling up to the bed and sitting on the edge.

"Papi says I snore," Mirabel said.

"He's right," Julieta agreed. "But you get it from him."

Agustín threw his hand over his heart, aghast. "I would never."

"Why do you think I drink so much coffee in the morning?" Julieta teased, handing each of them a mug of warm tea. "It's impossible to sleep with you in the room. Now with both of you in my bed, it's going to be doubly impossible."

Mirabel laughed again, blowing on the cup. She settled comfortably between them, nestled deeply in the pillows against the headboard.

They stayed up just long enough to finish their tea, chatting about what color Mirabel was going to paint her new bedroom.

(It seemed she was taking up his offer to paint it any color of the rainbow… and was choosing all of them.)

But it wasn't long before Agustín was blowing out the candle on his nightstand, looking over at his wife and daughter, both sound asleep beside him.

Yes, he thought as he pulled the blankets higher over their shoulders. He might not have remembered the last time one of his children shared his bed, but he certainly wouldn't forget this one any time soon.

#this sort of parent fluff is right in my wheelhouse #disney #encanto #encanto fanfiction #mirabel madrigal #agustín madrigal #agustin madrigal #julieta madrigal #encanto fan fiction #otp: ay agustín #weatherby writes #random ramblings

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casitafallz · 1 year

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LTRL AU | Glimpse of the Child

Bruno watched the tablet with some reverence of the image that laid upon it. It was not an...In-depth vision, just to scratch the itch of an incoming future for a little longer but he’d probably do something proper when he felt…like he needed to make sure things would be okay…or that they needed answers they couldn’t get otherwise.

But this, he felt glad.

A good, pleasant vision. He couldn’t help but drink in the picture with a smile, skirting a finger to touch over the little face before he tilted it to allow his rats to have a peek first though he liked to imagine they were just as happy to see it as he was.

“Come on, let’s go show Isabela.” He set the rat into his pocket, holding the vision to his chest, and dusted the sand off himself, though it didn’t do much in the long run, and padded out from his room happily.

Casita shifted their tiles with an inquisitive rattle but… he was no expert to read them like his mother or Mirabel, he knew a little to know this was a curious sight; him happy with a vision. He rolled his eyes.

“Relax, Casita.” He assured, patting the nearest banister though he paused as Antonio seemed to burst out of his room with a new picture in his hands though Pico squawked, Antonio looked to the bird first then to him.

“Tio!” Antonio lit up happily, the sight that anyone was so happy to see him, even 7 months along still seemed startling but Bruno was glad to see him happy.

“Is that another picture for Isabela?”

Antonio shook his head, “No, this is for Luisa. She’s been looking very sad about something so I thought this picture would make her happy.” He said as if it was obvious that his drawings were magical mood-changers but who was Bruno to change his thought.

“Well, I hope she loves it.”

Antonio nodded happily. “I’m sure she will. What are you got there, Tio?”

“Er…” He looked down to the tablet hesitantly “Well, I had a vision so I was going to show Isabela.”

Antonio cocked his head at it curiously, “Can I see it?”

“I…wanted to show Isabela first…” Bruno didn’t like saying no. Not to Antonio and those puppy eyes.

“Please.” Antonio pouted, going full-on with those begging, puppy eyes that Bruno crumbled instantly.

With a soft sigh, Bruno gently knelt down and flipped the vision around, and watched as Antonio’s face lit up in full wonder, his hand coming to his cheeks first, dropping his drawing to the floor in his excitement before Bruno felt the tablet leave his hands.

“Is this him!!? My new best friend!” Antonio bobbed up and down, upsetting Pico a little who flew off his shoulders. “He’s so cute!”

Bruno laughed softly, unable to help himself really. “Yep, this is the baby but he will be a tiny baby, so when you see him, you will have to be very very careful.”

“Oh, I will be!” Antonio grinned down but before Bruno could take it back, Antonio shot off.

“Mami!”

“Antonio!” Bruno struggled to his feet for a second but pelted after the five year old who seemed to weave effortlessly down the steps and into the kitchen.

Bruno tipped after him but froze in the doorway as he realized not only was Pepa in the kitchen glaring Julieta down but also his mother and in-laws. Clearly, they had interrupted another disagreement.

Antonio was oblivious in both his young age and single-minded excitement as he ran straight to the thundering Pepa with the tablet hugged to his chest.

“Mami, look what Tio saw!!” He pushed the tablet straight into Pepa’s hand, the cloud lightening up, in mostly confusion and break in tension but there was some uplift in her side-tracked emotions to cater to her son’s abrupt arrival.

“Oh?”

Pepa pulled the tablet from his hands though her body turned ridged as she sat the image.

“Pepi?” Felix noted in concern as the cloud turned an array of weathers before settling to heavy clouds; bordering to rain. He went to his wife’s side though he almost seemed to light up at the vision.

Bruno staggered in nervously.

The reactions pulled the remaining three to look over. Julieta gasped, her hands coming to her mouth first but Abuela was the one to take it from Pepa’s hands first to look at it.

“Is this him?” Agustín spoke, “He so small!” He leaned down over Abuela’s shoulder.

Abuela's eyes seemed to well up a little, but Bruno hoped it was for a good reason, not out of shame. “He looks just like her.” Her tone was…calm.

“He’s gonna be my best friend!” Antonio declared, tugging on his mother’s dress excitedly. “I can’t wait!

“Look, he even has the same mole as well, just…reflected onto the other cheek.” Agustín smiled, touching the left side of the vision.

The vision itself showed the top view down of a baby’s cradle with its little owner inside, not fully wrapped up as the baby’s arms was free of his blanket, hands curled up into little fists beside his cheeks and the baby was staring up out, almost at them really. There was no color in the vision but there were enough details regardless to indicate the features the child had. Bruno could only guess like the rest the baby shared the same skin tone and hair color of Isabela. Alongside the baby, there was a crotchet blanket around him, his little straight hair was mostly hidden under a little knot hat. Beside his head, at the teetering edge of the vision was a wooden leaf was there with a hole cut out for a ring of balls.

“Excuse me.” Pepa pushed her way through though Julieta took her spot to get a proper look at her grandson, Agustín’s arms coming to slip around her. Bruno eyed Pepa for a moment before he decided to let Felix hurry after her then get involved. He’d rather avoid an ice burn or a hurricane to the face.

Julieta took the vision from their mother, though Bruno itched to take it back… and you know, deliver it as he planned to. He knew is anyone deserved a peek it was Isabela; it was her baby.

“So, did you see how long we had to wait, Tio?” Antonio asked, staring up at him with wide eyed as if expecting him to know.

“Sorry but… there was no clock or calendar for me to see.” Bruno smiled at the very least, even as Antonio pouted, “But, we should estimate at least two months, okay?”

“So…” He counted on his fingers, “March?”

“I hope so.”

“Ooh, what if the baby has the same birthday as Mirabel? That would be an amazing gift for her!”

“I’m sure but… it’s Mirabel’s big day too. I don’t think we should forget that.”

Antonio paused in thought, “I suppose…” He pouted a little, “but, I guess I have to wait.” He sighed, if a little dramatically before Bruno felt a shift before his rats poked their heads out, squeaking though Antonio perked up then held his hands out, allowing the rats to jump ship and potter off.

“Bruno…”

Bruno jumped a little as Abuela appeared at his side.

Her eyes were still a little red-rimmed but she had a very…unnerving demeanor of calmness that he was…unfamiliar with. Did she want something?

“Can...can we talk, Bruno?”

“S-Sure?” He didn’t but he doubted that would be overly accepted. He rather go back to his room or…actually deliver the vision to his target like he planned to…once he wrestled it from Julieta.

Abuela led him away, back towards the steps and upwards until they got to the front of her door but thankfully, didn’t go in. He hated going into her room like this; he always felt like he was in trouble.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorr-“ Bruno echoed then paused, “What?”

“I’m…sorry, Bruno,” Abuela spoke. “I…put a lot on your shoulders growing up because…I justified that by thinking we were protecting the miracle and the family’s magic. Your…gift was something I couldn’t help but push you to use so we didn’t have to leave with that same fear.”

The words look hard to speak, but not dishonest but Bruno wasn’t sure if this was really happening. At Nochebuena, they had to do a lot of convincing to get her to talk about their father… this was unprompted even.

“Are you okay, Ma?” he asked, to be sure that she wasn't sick or dying... he couldn't deal with that right now.

Abuela blinked in surprise at the question. “Of course?”

Bruno faltered a little, not sure where to go with this. “Am… did you need something?”

“No.” Abuela’s face turned into a frown. “I’m not apologizing to get something out of you, Bruno.”

Again, Bruno didn’t know where to go with that. “Why are you apologising now, Ma?” He asked, “You don’t tend to apologize without a good enough reason.”

Annoyance passed through her face but it was gone in a heartbeat. “I’m trying my best to….do better, Bruno. I’m not deaf to what I’m being told to. I know I’ve been harsh but I’m not heartless. Our family is so close to breaking and I can’t let that happen without trying to get the family together again. I know I have much to blame for that. Will you…at least let me try?”

Bruno eyed her for a moment with uncertainty. “I… I want to believe you… but it’ll take more than an apology.”

“I know.”

“Can you… give me some time to think about it…Mama?”

Thankfully, Abuela nodded.

Pepa looked to be….very mixed emotions by the time Felix was able to catch up with his wife in their room. The fog around the edges, sleet and wind mostly fluttered at her dress. She was nervously grasping her braid and more or less tugged on it to soothe herself.

“Clear skies, clear skies.”

“Mi Vida…” He started, “Why did the vision upset you?”. Pepa ignored him for a good moment but Felix calmly took a seat on their bed. He could wait all day, she knew that. But he decided to keep going to push for more. “Was…seeing the baby something you didn’t expect?”

Pepa tittered at that. “Of course not, Felix. I thought the whole pregnancy was a kind of a ruse!” Pepa snapped with a clap of thunder. “I was just going along with it just…to keep things peaceful.”

Felix’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would Isabela joke about something like that?” Isabela barely liked jokes, let alone lies so he damn well knew this was a serious matter. Not to mention, Dolores wouldn’t have miss-heard for over seven months.

“Why do you think? Sympathy? Guilt… Make us feel sorry for her?”

Felix inhaled deeply, trying to retain his cool. “Pepi…Isabela was in denial about the baby for months before it was confirmed. She may have been petrified to tell anyone. Having a child, unmarried might I add, is not a small thing, my Amor...”

“I know that now!” Pepa shook her head, trying to soothe her clouds away. “I hoped of all people, Isabela wouldn’t have actually caved to carnal desires because she’s just a little upset about what she did.”

At that, Felix stood up, genuine anger flooding his veins. “Stop with the hypocrisies, Pepa. You blame Isabela for what happened and yet you turn a blind eye to our son’s actions that could have killed her or that tiny little baby boy.” He spoke firmly, pointing a finger out to the door for his point “There’s a reason Isa got into bed with a boy and that has everything to do with that our family's failures. Take a look at Antonio’s birthday photo for the proof, my Vida.”

“Failures?” Pepa shook her head. “Our son thought he was going to die, it was self-defense!”

“Why does he think that? He chose to ignore the fact that Isa was remorseful and continued to believe she acted against Mirabel with malicious intent! I failed him in that regard Pepa. I should have done to try and see him get rid of his negative behaviors that does nothing for his benefit.” Felix admitted.

“He has the right to defend himself, Felix! He was scared!”

“That doesn’t mean it’s okay to set a jaguar onto her!” Felix argued back. “How far are you willing to condone his actions? Her death? The child’s death?”

“Stop it!”

“No, because like it or not, Pepa. He still attacked a pregnant woman in the middle of town with Antonio’s best friend. Yes, he can defend himself. I don’t disagree with you there but he had to be held accountable for the damages he inflicted.” This was no new argument, a recycling one that Pepa was hardly going to absorb when she felt she was in the right. One Felix was tired of repeating.

Again.

“I can’t just let everyone push him away.”

“We won’t abandon Camilo, Pepa. But condoning his actions means he thinks what he’s done is right and undeserving of punishment. He has no remorse…Isabela did. Can’t you see the difference here? Isabela learned and accepted her punishment.”

The flurry of wind chilled down his spine but he relaxed his posture than to let her reel off his own mood. Well, he knew in most cases now that with Camilo under punishment, it wasn’t as heavy but there was his lack of accountability that needed the work for now.

“I won’t argue about it again, I’m too exhausted to keep repeating it.” Felix shook his head, “I’m going…to finish off my present to the baby and hope Isa allows me to be around him when he’s born.”

It was a hint if anything that with Isa not living at Casita, it won’t be convenient for the family to dote over the baby, or for Isa, it allowed her to restrict those to the baby as well… he could already anticipate Camilo wasn’t going to get a glimpse but he didn’t want Pepa to be the reason she didn’t get to hold her great-nephew.

“I’ll be in my workshop if you need me, my amor.”

Isabela lay against her side, idly watching her potato potter about her room with some entertainment though every part of her itched to go to Fran’s house and see Mateo. She knew she couldn’t again without raising suspicions. Her last visit had been with a visit to examine how far she had healed and now she was allowed to let the wounds breathe without it being bandaged. So, she only put on fresh dressing when she went to bed, in case she pulled the skin too much in her sleep.

Of course, the peace didn’t last for too long as a sharp knock echoed through her home. Tiredly, Isabela got up, half hoping it wasn’t important before she slowly opened the door.

“Tio Bruno?” Her voice was laced with surprise, closing the door in her Tio’s face for a moment she quickly unlatched the door chain and opened it wide. He smiled brightly as her though flipped the vision to face her.

Her eyes widened before her jaw dropped as she saw the plain image inside the emerald sheen that made her heart skip a beat. “This is him?” She couldn’t help herself but take it from his hands, nodding him in as she wandered back to the privacy of her home.

“Yes. I… wanted to make sure he was born healthy. I didn’t see the birth itself—to both of our relief’s there—but he seems to be okay. I watched him getting cleaned up and put into his cradle.”

Isa hummed, though she couldn’t help but smile next, noting all the different details she could see. “He’s so small!” If that cradle was standard at least, then he was for sure a small baby. Well, he wasn’t even giving her a baby bump so it made sense.

“Indeed,” Bruno agreed, “he’s adorable… though he does seem to frighten easily so he may be a fussy baby.”

“He’s got Mateo’s nose.” It was such a small difference, though she could see but the baby otherwise had a lot of her likeness. Clearly, she had strong genes if Mateo’s nose was all the baby got from him. Who knew, maybe the baby had his mannerisms? Personality?

“Probably…I don’t know.” Bruno shrugged, awkwardly shifting on the spot.

Isabela remained quiet for a moment, “He’s got Abuelito’s blanket… Mirabel probably made that hat…” She cooed down, tracing her finger down the little cheek, pausing over the mole the baby had on his cheek. Sure, why not. It looked very cute on his little face. It was a shame there was no colour; that would have made this…perfect. All his little details like his hair and eyes…

“I think she gave it to you for Nochebuena?”

“She did?” Her head rose; it was probably in the pile of presents she hadn’t yet touched. “Oh, I’ll open it later.”

“You didn’t open any of your presents?”

“Not all of them. Only the ones from Mirabel, you…Pa, Oh, and Tio Felix.” Isabela shrugged though she set the vision down on her lap, not quite ready to look away from her child.

It was weird to have dreaded the idea of having a child when now, she felt happy for him. Maybe it was the basis of an unhappy marriage that she had that dread most with the expectation to have children because that was what Abuela wanted, not her. She was happy with Mateo… happier to marry him before the baby was born but… god only knew when that was a possibility. Sara Marquez would certainly try and kill him again if she saw him again for his escape.

“Not even from your Ma?”

“My issues with her aren’t resolved.” Isabela’s voice turned a little stern. Sure, her mother could start being there but she didn’t want her mother’s love and care on the basis of her injury or the baby. She had relented into letting her’s mother pestering help a little and it was…nice to spend some time with her but…that was not a resolution. A step in the right direction, nothing more.

It would take time.

“She really does care for you, Isa.” Tio tried.

“Last nine months of absence won’t be cleared up with a few nice chats and presents. She started to care after I got hurt. After she found out about the baby. Until she starts to show me her care without those as a factor, maybe I’ll forgive her properly and move on.” Isabela took a deep breath, turning her eyes back down to the vision. “Give me time, Tio.”

“I understand.” His voice was…odd though he looked far more understanding than what she expected.

“You do?”

“Abuela… apologized to me about…a lot of stuff. It’d… confusing. A little out of the blue… I don’t know how honest Abuela’s being but…I think she’s starting to listen?” Bruno awkwardly sat in a spare seat. “I…told her I’d think about it. Feelings… are hard.”

Isabela chuckled softly, not disagreeing with him there. “She’s given you…45 years with of issues. It’ll take time for sure.” For her, pretty much her whole life and then the mess of the last year was what Abuela had to sort through. She was not ready for talk to her. Nine months of hell with no reprieve and she didn’t know if she could finally have the rest of her punishments dropped.

“Still, thank you for this, Tio.” Nodding down with a smile. “It’s nice. I worried he’d be…deformed with stress.”

Tio nodded, “well, I wanted to make sure as well he was healthy. While I’m…not good with babies. I don’t mind trying to baby sit when he’s chubby and eating solids.”

“That’s very specific, Tio.” Isabela chuckled.

“Means they have a layer of protection and are less fragile. All I’d need to worry about is getting banana in his mouth than stress over a bottle of milk or… have anyone go for my flat chest.”

“No babies going to go after your chest, Tio.”

“You did!”

“When?!” Isabela flushed. She hadn’t been told this story…

“Three weeks old and your mother left me and your papa looking after you while she helped your Tia’s labor with Dolores.” Tio Bruno spoke, “You weren’t the only one. Camilo was the last one to try.”

The slight mood soured at the mention of him, her eyes turning away. “Has he been punished properly?” She asked tightly. She hadn’t really been told much but she had hoped his absence from town was a sign.

“He has…. But I don’t wanna…talk about it myself. It’s… everything that I know is secondhand.” Bruno flattened down the front of his ruana. “Don’t worry, your parents aren’t letting things slide. Your Tio isn’t either.”

Isabela lifted the vision from her lap and gently placed it down beside her. “Let me guess, Tia’s all on his defense about it?”

Bruno hesitated to answer which was enough of an answer in itself.

She rolled her eyes. “Good to know.” It certainly gave her an idea on who to avoid further… maybe avoid letting her near the baby; that belief could have killed him and she wasn’t going to allow for rewarding that belief with her child. Harsh but… she had to think of him as well.

“Oh, one thing before I go… most of the family has seen this vision. Not…Camilo or Dolores for obvious reasons. Only the adults really.” Bruno spoke nodding to the vision, “Antonio gave me his puppy eyes so… I let him see it.”

“He ran off with it?” Isa guessed.

“Yep.”

Well, at least Camilo didn’t get to see it, then it was…alright. Maybe it…wasn’t a bad thing but she could guess the other would try and get more snuggly with her. More than she was willing to accept.

Caring more for the baby, not for her. What a nice feeling….

It was light evening when Isa began to head towards down town to the Lopez’s house. It’d be good; she could leave this with Mateo to love until he decided on what he planned to do; she knew he wasn’t planning to live under a bed all day so… she had to wait and see what he wanted to do. This, she hoped would benefit him.

Her grandparents had melted and cooed at the sight of it for hours as they had dinner, Abuelito had officially gifted her the blanket and Isa had even dug out the hat from the present pile ready; to make sure she had it for him.

As she walked, she noticed a few people out and about still, the closing of a few stalls and the happy chatter, though she felt the looks and stares; more to the scars on her arm but no one came to talk to her about it.

“Isabela.”

“Oh fuck.” Isabela immediately changed from her casual walk straight to a fast pace down the street. “Leave me alone, Marquez”

“Where’s my brother? You got him stashed anywhere?”

Her name was called again but Isa ignored Sara Marquez with every fibre of her being up until she felt a harsh yank on her healing arm. There was a slit second hot flush before she realised the second half of that second that at least one of the three scars on her had reopened.

Immediately, Isabela turned and punched the woman directly in the face, cracking her in the nose with a hot spurt of blood.

“Oh you fucking bitch!” Sara roared falling back, her hands coming to her face as blood seemed to splatter down the front of her white blouse, “You broke my nose?!”

Isabela didn’t even entertain her beyond a “Don’t fucking touch me without my consent!” She hissed loudly; so people close could hear hurrying down towards Lopez’s house for another reason.

Fuck.

#lest the rot lingers au #isabela madrigal #julieta madrigal #alma madrigal #bruno madrigal #antonio madrigal #dolores madrigal #camilo madrigal #pepa madrigal #felix madrigal #mirabel madrigal #luisa madrigal #agustin madrigal #agustín madrigal #encanto #encanto au

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