#Mirabel is just trying so hard to be important

[jq37]

Seeing you describe your opinion on Wish (the movie itself) as "def do have oh boy" just has me curious now. What is it?

OK, so I let this sit in my inbox for a while because I planned to see Wish and I figured that it would be more fair to wait until I had a full picture of what the movie was before I started talking about it and...yeahhhhhhh having seen it my opinion has not changed. It's just intensified. 

MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW (lol, this got past 7k words)

And, fair warning, it's pretty critical so if you don't want to read something critical about this movie then this is your exit.

tl;dr: I think the movie Wish fails at basically everything it sets out to do and it's an absolutely awful 100th Anniversary movie for Disney. 

When I say it fails at everything, I mean EVERYTHING*. I'm going to break this into sections for organizational purposes. 

*The one thing I'll give it a slight pass on is the art style which I don't love but also wasn't like make or break for me. I would have preferred true 2D or a better implementation of the blended 2D/3D style, but if the movie was otherwise of the quality of something like Spiderverse or Puss in Boots, the animation wouldn't have bothered me. Like, I watched S1 of The Dragon Prince with no problem. I can forgive janky animation--and it wasn't even super janky. Just odd. What I can't forgive is literally everything else about the movie. 

Characters

How is this movie so full of characters and yet devoid of characters that matter? There are a million characters in this movie and basically only two of them matter: The King and Asha. But neither of them are compelling in any meaningful way.

There's a lot of to do about the last batch of Disney protags being very same-y in a quirky, all fluff and no substance way and I don't really buy into that. I don't think that Raps, Anna, Moana, and Mirabel are palate swapped carbon copies of each other. They have unique backgrounds and struggles and motivations. I feel like they're all quirky, sure. But they all also have an identity BEYOND being quirky. 

I do NOT get that with Asha. I don't feel like I have a good idea of what makes her tick at all. Like, she's kind. She wants her grandpa to get his wish. She wants to be the King's apprentice so she can help people. The queen (we'll get to her) exposits to us that she cares about people. But being kind isn't in itself an entire personality. The way Mulan is kind (defying the law to spare her father the ravages of war in his old age) isn't the same way as the way Cinderella is kind (making clothes for her mouse friends and protecting them from the cat). Asha just has a generalized want to help people, which is an admirable trait, but doesn't give us much to latch onto. It's so telling to me that in a movie called "Wish" our main character's wish is just, "To have more than just this" And yes, Disney princesses wanting "more" is literally their whole thing, but it's always more specific than that. Mirabel wants to prove herself to her family. Rapunzel wants to experience life beyond her tower. Even Snow White--the Disney princess with the flimsiest story--wants to find her true love. That's a concrete motivation! Asha doesn't feel real to me as a character. It feels like the thing that drives her is that the plot needs to happen and that's it. 

The other important character in the movie is King Magnifico who was supposed to be a return to form for Disney in introducing another classic villain but he just fails at that so hard. The idea that he could stand toe to toe with any of the OGs like Lady Tremaine or Scar or even the latest villains like Dr. Facillier or Mother Gothel is laughable. He just doesn't have any gravitas. And his characterization is so odd. You can tell that they were trying to give him a "reasonable man doing unreasonable things for a good reason” backstory (both because of some images in the film and some stuff in interviews I read) but then they just...don't actually give the backstory? Like, they imply that the backstory exists but I don't remember them going into it at all. Which like, he doesn't NEED a tragic backstory. He can just be doing what he's doing because he's evil. Ursula didn't need a reason to want to rule the seas. She's just a boss bitch and she wants power. I don't need to dissect that any further. BUT if you tell me there’s a reason your villain is doing something, I need to see that reason. I don't understand why they would include that in the movie, just to do nothing with it. 

Beyond that, he's written in such a weird way. Like, despite the "maybe he has a point" angle they seem to want to go with, he's very obviously a self-absorbed ruler--like he'll say things like, "Yeah, I am super handsome" to his wife--which immediately dumps him into the camp villain category. But he's doing the controlling things he does in the movie of his own accord to get people to stick to the status quo he set up. Fine. That's a fine thing for a camp villain to be doing. But then, at a certain point in the movie, he just uses a forbidden magic evil book (which he has for some reason) that just fills him with evil, green magic and makes him 100% unhinged all of a sudden. And that's just...boring? Like, anything interesting you might have been able to do before that point about power and control and how sometimes you make a wrong choice with good intentions is just gone at that point. It sucks because there were a lot of right answers here. You could just make him evil because he's evil. That works. You could have him be seriously convinced that what he's doing is right and be willing to do whatever he needs to do to keep things that way. That works. You could say that he started out trying to be morally upright and then slid into enjoying the praise and control just a bit too much--and I think maybe that's what they were going for. But it does not come across that way. He just seems like a dick to the point where you're kinda questioning how he's pulling any of this off. Asha asks him one question and he flies off the handle. How does everyone not know he's an asshole if it takes so little to fluster him?

So I don't like our main hero or villain. But there are still SO MANY CHARACTERS in this movie. 

You've got Asha's SEVEN FRIENDS. Yes, SEVEN. they're based off of the seven dwarves, which is cute enough but do you know what happens when you give the hero seven sidekick characters? None of them get developed at all and you have to treat them like a unit. Only two of them matter at all--Dahlia (her best friend and the one who actually does more than just make dumb jokes or, worse, nothing at all) and Simon (the one who betrays them--more on that later). There is no story reason for them to have shoved in this many sidekicks. Especially since she also has…

Her animal sidekick, Valentino. Who is a very cute goat until he gets sprinkled with stardust and boom. He can talk. Which immediately made me like him less. Flounder he aint. The whole joke with him is that he's a baby goat with a rich, deep, baritone voice. That's it. Almost every joke he makes is either about that or his butt. Boo. 

Then, there's the Queen--Queen Amaya--who is such a NOTHING character. There's no effort made to build up her relationship with the king so that her flipping on him later has an emotional impact. I have no idea what she cares about or desires. When she shows up, she's basically acting like the king's secretary, which is weird. I don't think that's what a queen does. There's a moment during a later song when she joins the "revolution" and it just has zero impact because again, it's like, I don't know who you are in any significant way! She seems nice, and I would love to live somewhere ruled by someone boring and benign, but that makes for an awful movie character. 

I almost wrote "lastly, there's the star" because I totally forgot about Asha's mom and grandpa. They're in this movie too but even though Asha's whole motivation at the start of the movie is getting her grandpa's wish granted, we never get a good idea of what their relationship is. They have like, one quick scene at the top which tells us nothing, then they're in a crowd scene later, then Asha has dinner with them later the same day and that's it. And, again, we get nothing significant. Compared to something like Mulan where you have a good idea of what Mulan's relationship is with every member of her family by the time the military order comes in or Encanto where between the musical number at the top and the first group scene, you get an entire picture, this is really weak. Again, so weak that I completely forgot that they were even in this movie. 

And NOW lastly, there's the star. Who is like, cute enough but he really makes me annoyed because I've seen the original concepts and they would have been so much more interesting! That's the case for the queen too, so I'll talk about both of them together here. 

I am sorry to inform you if you didn't already know but the queen was originally supposed to be evil too.

She was supposed to be a part of an evil power couple with Magnifico and how dope would that have been? We've never gotten that from Disney before. Imagine! Disney Villain Song Duet! A Hot couples costume for next Halloween! An actual relationship that's developed in this movie! But nope. They unflavor-blasted her into the paper thin, placeholder of a character we have in the movie. 

And the Star went through a couple of concepts. One, was the spirit of her dead grandpa, taking a younger form, which isn't my fave one but it at least would give her a relationship with this person who is supposedly an important person in her life, something we don't have in the movie right now. My favorite alternate concept is that originally, the Star was supposed to be her celestial love interest. And listen, anyone who's followed me for long enough knows that I am a big advocate for platonic relationships and FRONTING platonic relationships. I don't think that a story needs a romantic relationship to be compelling and I think forcing one in almost always makes it worse. But there is NO central relationship in this movie to carry it. Asha has too many friends for any one of them to make a serious impact so it's not a friendship story. Her mom and grandpa are nothing characters, so it's not a family story. She interacts with the star a lot, but that's basically just her talking to herself because the start doesn’t talk. So nothing is really there to latch onto. If they'd decided to go with the romance angle, it would have forced them to focus on at least ONE relationship and it would have been a nice way to throwback to classic Disney movies from the past. Much better than just sticking her with SEVEN WHOLE USELESS FRIENDS. Literally, all they provide is backup vocals in the fight song. Special Dishonorable Mention to Gabo. Man I hate that dude. 

So, to recap this section, Asha's personality is only sketched out in the loosest possible way, King Magnifico is entirely half-baked, and there are so many side characters that no one can form meaningful relationships with each other. And it's really a shame because (1) they very easily could have pared down the cast and (2) very recently Disney put out Encanto which handles a large cast beautifully. There are a ton of Madrigals but I can tell you what the deal of each and every one is. This could have been done well and they fumbled so hard. 

Concept

OK, so next up is the general plot and concept. This story takes place in the city of Rosas which is ruled by King Magnifco. It is supposedly a paradise, but much like a YA dystopian novel, it has a twist: When you turn 18, Magnifico takes your wish away from you and puts in in his wish room with the promise that it might be granted at one of the monthly wish granting ceremonies. Once your wish is taken from you, you are "unburdened" and you're "free" from having to pursue it. You don't even remember what it was. 

There's a kernel of something interesting there. A ruler making his subjects docile, placid zombies that won't challenge him by taking away their ambition? That's interesting. People willingly giving away a part of their heart to dull the pain of trying and failing? Interesting. Someone doing this with no ill intent, but rather genuinely thinking that this half-existence is better than the heartbreak of the alternative? Interesting!

But the actual implementation of this idea? Ughhhhhh. 

So first off, just logistically, Magnifico grants one wish a month more or less (Asha says once a month and in his villain song, he said he granted 14 wishes "last year"). So like, realistically, most of these people have to know their wishes will never be granted, right? Because of like...how math works? Asha acts like it's a big shock when she learns that most wishes won't be granted but like girl...math. 

Secondly, there are two moments that are meant to imply that having your wish taken away turns you into a shell of yourself. Asha's friend (who betrays her) Simon is said to be all sleepy and more boring since he turned 18 and had his wish taken. And then, later in the movie, we see two new residents have their wishes taken, and they look a little disturbed after it happens. But, here's the thing. NO ONE ELSE IN THE MOVIE ACTS LIKE THAT. Asha's mom and grandpa act like normal people. So do all the other characters. It’s not consistent enough to establish that this is what’s on the line. Does taking your wish away make you a robot or not?

And does everyone just have one wish? I know I could fill a full sheet of paper, front and back, with things that matter very dearly to me. If you took away my wish to write for TV someday, that would still leave my wishes to travel the world and get a comic book adaptation of one of my novels and a whole lot of other things! Does taking your main wish away make you lose your ability to form new wishes? Logistically, how does any of this work? And you can't just say, "It's a metaphor. Don't think too hard about it," because there's a scene where the citizens start asking these questions. Like, "What happens if we have a new wish than from when we initially made it?" As if having unnamed side characters ask the questions first will alleviate the need to answer them. It's not lamp shading at that point. You're just being lazy. 

Also, this is more a me thinking about the implications too hard than an actual plot problem but if he's taking the wishes at 18 I feel like a lot of peoples' greatest desire at that stage in their life is, "I want a romantic partner." And if the central conceit of this premise is that once your wish is taken, you stop wanting to pursue it then the city of Rosas is gonna have a population Collapse problem very soon. 

The characters--especially Asha--get so emotional about wishes. It's like they're giving a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic speech every time they talk about it (except MLP has MUCH better writing). It's bizarre to see Asha's mom get her wish back and be like, "Oh my wish. My precious wish!" when she doesn't act any differently than a normal person before or after she has it back (Sidenote: She says this and she's holding the wish ball but we never see what that wish is and that's maddening. Why do I know what the dream of every patron in the Snuggly Duckling is, but they didn't show that? Ridic.) It almost is like, being in contact with a wish ball is a quasi-religious experience that drives the characters’ actions (Asha and the King are both totally enraptured while singing together in the Wish Room), but because we, the audience, are very much not in contact with the wish balls, we're not getting ANY of that. 

Anyway, to recap this section: the central premise of how wishes work and how taking them affects people is not treated consistently or explained well, which makes the stakes feel very undefined and sloppy. 

Pacing

This has to be its own section, because it's the thing that baffled me most when I watched this movie. So, here's the setup. Asha is going to interview for the internship with the king. She wants to help people and she has the secondary motive of wanting to try and get her 100-year-old grandpa's wish granted because he's not getting any younger. 

Here is the entire sequence: Asha is led into the interview by Queen Amaya. Asha is awkward but makes a good enough first impression that Magnifico is moved to show her the wish room (for some reason). They sing a duet about the wishes where they’re both dazzled by the Wish balls. During the song, Asha finds her Grandpa's wish and after the song, she asks him to grant it. He looks at the wish and says while she has good intentions, it's too dangerous to grant--as are most wishes. She asks why not give them back then and he immediately flies off the handle and starts ranting about how HE decides which wishes get granted and what everyone deserves! 

Their first meeting and him showing his true colors happens in the SAME SCENE. It's like 7-10 minutes and they just RUSH through all of that. And it's like, why? Did they really need to get to that dumbass star song (we'll get to that) faster? 

I know that he isn't a twist villain so we don't need to keep the fact that he’s the bad guy under wraps. And, the way the story is structured, she needs to learn what he's doing before she can rebel against him. But it's not gonna be a big, impactful moment if you're rushing from beat to beat like this is an essay that's due in twenty minutes and you started five minutes ago. 

And it really makes you wonder, if Asha can blow the whole lid off this conspiracy within ten minutes of meeting this guy, why is this not happening more often? Between how obviously smarmy the King is, how paltry the wish granting system is, and how easily Asha was able to start asking questions and get him to blow his top (something that happens again later when the citizens start asking question–it literally drives him into his villain song) I don't believe that this wouldn't have happened earlier (Sidenote: Finding out that it HAD happened earlier and that Asha is the latest in a line of failed apprentices who questioned him? More interesting premise). 

So to recap: I have no idea why this movie is paced like this but it's not doing it any favors. 

Humor

Humor is very subjective so you can take this with a huge grain of salt but I think this is a deeply unfunny movie. 

The jokes fall into about three main categories:

(1) Quirky Humor: This is like Asha babbling and tripping over her words. The scene in the trailer where she's like, "Is my face drooping?" is a good example. It's not really a joke but it's clearly an attempt at humor that I don't think meets the mark. It's also in the songs with, for instance, the animals or the King saying slang that doesn't match how they talk or you'd expect them to talk at all and it just feels deeply incongruent, not funny. 

(2) Referential Humor: This is probably what bothered me the most because it was just so so very eye-roll inducing. And listen, I love a good reference. Enchanted is my favorite movie of all time. I don’t begrudge them for putting a few references in their 100th Anniversary movie. But ugh. There is a scene after the king's gone crazy where he's destroying wish bubbles for power and he's like, looking at the wishes and making a quip before he crushes them. And for the second one he goes, "Oh you want a nanny for your kids? Definitely  POPPING this one!" And he might as well have looked at the camera and said, "Get it? Get it?" and it took 6 months off my lifespan. (Sidenote: He he does a direct ref with the first two wish bubbles--Peter Pan and Mary Poppins–and then he just makes a general ref to the concept of true love with the last one and it's like, come on at least rule of threes this if you're gonna do it. Commit to your awful bit!)

(3) Kiddie Humor: This is where things get especially subjective because maybe a little kid would find this stuff really funny and they are a part of the target audience so that's valid. But it doesn't add much substance to the movie. This is like the goat being like, "I found a secret passage with my butt" or leading a chicken choir or singing the line, "So that's where all the balls of gas come from" while sticking his butt in the air--a lot of these have to do with the goat and his butt now that I think about it. 

I think I only laughed at one thing in the movie that was meant to be at least partially funny--when the Queen interrupts the fight song and everyone is like "Oh shit, we're busted!" before she starts singing along. 

So to recap: Sometimes a movie has a weak story but it's super funny and that makes up for it. This is not one of those movies.

Music

This is the one thing I already knew before I watched this movie: The music in this movie is bad. 

Like, fullstop, no qualifications bad. Not bad for a Disney movie. Not bad for this story. Just bad.

I was a little confused by the choice to pick a pop artist instead of someone who specializes in musical theater style music for this project, but a more pop-y musical doesn't automatically mean a worse musical. Sure, maybe it's a weird choice to pay homage to the past 100 years of Disney movies, but it could be good. I love Six the Musical.

But that's the problem. The songs aren't just unfitting. They're not just un-Disney. They're fully BAD. They feel so half-baked and God, I've never been so assaulted by slant rhymes in my life. Like, this bothers me to the point where I have to go through the entire tracklist. I can't just make a blanket statement, I have to show you what I mean:

1) Welcome to Rosas: This whole song sounds like someone listened to “Where you Are” from Moana (the "consider the coconut" song), “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast, and “The Family Madrigal” from Encanto and was like, "I could do that". And then they couldn't. It's not really catchy and it's pretty repetitive. Super forgettable. 

Worst Line: Honestly, this song is too boring to have a worst line. 

2) At All Costs: This is the duet that Asha and Magnifico sing. Before I saw the movie, I thought it was going to be Asha singing about a wish and Magnifico singing to his wife to set up the eventual rift between them but that was before I realized that this movie doesn't believe in relationship building. Some of the movie's worst musical sins are on display here. Turns of phrases that seem like they were written by AI and bizarre syntax. 

Like what does, "You pull me in, like some kind of wind" mean? That's not what wind does. Why would anyone ever say, "Felt this? No, I haven't" instead of "I haven't felt this?" That's so awkward. 

Worst Line: "Leave you here, I don't wanna. I wanna [promise as one does]." My feelings about this line could be a whole other essay, but I've been writing this for 2 hours already so I have to move on. 

3) This Wish: This is the big "I Want" song and it fails on several levels. It fails in comparison to all the songs it’s standing in the shadow of--like the last “I Want” song we got is, I believe, “Waiting on a Miracle” and man! How can you not feel for Mirabel after watching her go through everything she goes through at the start of the movie and it getting topped with her being excluded from the family portrait? You see all the build up (including the implied build up from before the movie started) and you see why it's all bubbled up to the point where she has no choice but to sing about it! With Asha, there isn't a whole lifetime of angst that's bubbling up to make her sing this song. Everything that's happened to her has happened over the hour of like eight hours tops. She meets the king, finds out about the king, realizes the whole system is bad, and then gets into an argument with her family who's drunk the Kool-Aid and doesn't wanna hear what she has to say (which makes no impact on us because we have no idea what their relationship is). That's it. It doesn't feel like the movie has earned the song.

And then with “Waiting for a Miracle” the music itself is plaintive and soaring. Like, I just paused writing to listen to it and I couldn't help but sing along and pour a little of my actual IRL "I Want" energy into it. It's a song that feels very real. “This Wish” isn't any of that. And it's not the actresses' fault! She's pouring her whole heart into it and she consistently does all movie. But the song is just, bland. Like I said, "I want to have more than this" is too weak a hook to hang your whole song on–especially when it’s the song that’s supposed to be the thesis of your whole movie.  

Worst Line: "So I look up at the stars to guide me/And throw caution to every warning sign." That's not a thing people say and also it doesn't mean anything. If anything, it sounds like she's saying that she's being extra cautious at the warning signs! You can't just throw words together haphazardly and expect them to retain their meaning!

4) I'm a Star: This is, imo, the worst song on the whole track. A friend of mine described it as sounding like a song from a preschool science show and that's exactly it, but there's more to it than that. 

First of all, a big part of the reason this song exists is to set up the fact that humans are made of stardust because that's a plot point in the climax. But there didn't need to be a song about that. That would be like if Frozen 2 had a song about how water has memory. But like, OK. If the song was a bop, it wouldn't matter that it was superfluous. Haus of Holbein in Six does NOT need to be there, but I enjoy it! I do NOT enjoy this song however. 

This is something I alluded to earlier, but this soundtrack in general and this song specifically sounds like it's trying to do LMM's schtick but poorly. And I know some people don't like his whole style of music (I personally like it) but love him or hate him, his style without his skill? Awful. The presentation of fun facts in the middle of a fun song makes me think of his "Look it Up" in “Shiny” or "That's true" in “A Winter's Ball”. And there's a part where a turtle (we'll get to the talking animals) sings "See we're all just little nebulae in a nursery/From supernovas now we've grown into our history/We're taking whys right out of mystery, closure/Now we're taking in all the star exposure" And it really sounds like someone doing their best to emulate Lin's flow in things like Mirabel's aside to Mariano in “The Family Madrigal” or any number of songs I could name from Hamilton. But it just falls so flat here. It sounds so preschool and cheesy. And not preschool in a fun way. Backyardigans would never. 

Also, this song is sung by a bunch of talking animals (the Star gives them the ability to talk) and I find them so obnoxious. They say stuff like, "Did we just blow your mind?" with the "boom" sound effect and I hate it. Maybe kids will like them, I dunno. I refuse to get into it further. 

Worst Line: This song completely misuses the word allegory, which I hate, and it rhymes it with "excitatory" which I hate more (and I am saying this as someone who has made peace with the fact that Schwartz rhymes "nasty" with "flabbergasty" in Disenchanted) but there is only one line in this song that can be considered the true worst line because it's my least favorite line in the whole movie. A dumbass, stoner-sounding deer named Bambi (boo) sings, "Ooh, I'm a star! Watch out world, here I are"

They rhyme the word star--not a hard word to rhyme at all--with HERE I ARE. 

I firmly believe someone should go to jail for that. 

5) This is The Thanks I Get?!: This is the much anticipated and extremely disappointing villain song. There's just no gravitas and it's not clever enough to be very fun. It's just kinda bopping along which is eh, kind of fun at best, but like everything else in this movie, doesn't leave an impact. A musical number doesn't have to be obviously sinister like “Be Prepared” or, the holy (unholy?) grail, “Hellfire”, to be impactful. “Mother Knows Best” is bright and filled with false cheer but it still works because we can see the manipulation that Gothel is doing and she spins Raps around in mental circles to keep her docile. This is just an egotistical rant--and not even in a fun, Gaston kind of way! (Sidenote: Gaston is a good example of a villain who is preening and pompous and kind fo campy, but who you see why he’s beloved AND he can be menacing when the scene calls for it). 

Also, it's so full of weird slang that Magnifico doesn't use at any other point in the movie. "Peep the name", "Ungrateful much", "Mmm, are you sure you're not the prob?" It's like he suddenly got possessed by Urban Dictionary. It's bizarre. 

It also comes weirdly late in the movie, which isn't a complaint, just an observation. 

Worst Line: I think "peep the name" is my least fave but, because I already said that, the opening lines of this song are, "I can't help it if mirrors love my face. It's genetics! Yeah, I got these genes from outer space" and that's such a weird thing to say. I got these genes from outer space? He wasn't even there for the star song so what the hell does he mean by that?

6) Knowing What I Know Now: I feel like this is the song that had the most potential. But for all its build, it never builds to anything. It starts and ends so abruptly (which is the case for multiple songs on this list). We don't really get to know any of the characters well except for Asha so them joining the revolution has no impact. The Queen turning on Magnifico really doesn't have much impact. 

(There's a line in this song where a character sings, "I was sweet but now I'm something else" which is so funny because we literally know nothing about her except that she surprises people when she's in a room which, lmao, me too. Fully forgot you were in this movie, girl). 

Worst Line: "The good in him, I've watched it melt". There's technically nothing wrong with this line but I hate it because melting with regard to emotion is never, "Oh, his goodness is melting". It just hits the ear so wrong. You can watch the good in him disappear or fade or vanish. Not melt. Hearts melt. 

There's also a reprise and a credits song but I have talked about the music for too long as is so to sum up, there is not a single song on this list that I will ever purposefully listen to for enjoyment ever again and there are a few lines that I feel calls for someone being forced to go to whatever the musical version of the Hague is to explain themselves. 

MISC

This is just a section for things that annoyed me that didn't fit anywhere else. 

There's a moment where Asha sees Star which is a star that has fallen to earth and is shaped like a star and she's not able to put together than he's a star until she looks up at a ball of yarn that's tangled in the trees and sees that the yarn is shaped like a star...which again, Star is ALSO shaped like a star! Baffling. 

Gabo at one point makes a comment to the effect of, "Wishing on a Star? Grow up Asha, this isn't a fairy tale." And it's like, dude shut up. Your king is a sorcerer. This movie isn't funny enough to pull off that kind of wink to the audience. 

The actual funniest part of the movie is when a talking mouse (not a thing that usually exists in this world) runs onto the Queen's shoulder during a big speech in front of a crowd and not only does no one notice, but she has no stronger reaction than if a messenger was telling her that her dinner was ready. And not in an underreaction for the purposes of a joke way. Like, in a they forgot to write in a reaction for her way. It's so unintentionally hilarious. 

They specifically set this in the real world–off the coast of the Iberan Peninsula–but I didn’t get any of that influence in any significant way here. It could have been any generic island town. Rosas sounds like a Spanish name and “Welcome to Rosas” there is some dancing that looks like traditional Spanish dancing. But on a whole, it feels pretty bland. When I think about studying abroad in Spain, one of the big things I think about are all the moments with food–patatas con bravas, pan con tomatae, paella, and so so much coffee. The only food I remember from this movie are the novelty cookies Dahlia is always baking. Which is wild to me because their last big musical was Encanto and you could feel the cultural influences in every scene and it was seamless. This wouldn’t even bother me if that hadn’t made a point to set it in a specific part of the real world and call it out. 

A lot of the dialogue is super expository in a way that both makes me think the writers think we’re stupid and that they realized at certain points that they forgot to establish things but instead of fixing the script they just shoved in a line. Like, to the first point, there’s a part where Magnifico crushes a wish and it’s very clear that he’s getting a high from it. But instead of letting the moment stand he’s like, “Oh yes. Who knew crushing wishes would feel so good? I must continue to crush wishes so I keep feeling this good feeling,” and it’s like…why did you need to say all of that? Old Power Rangers episodes have their villains monologue less than that!

This movie opens on a storybook–just like Snow White–and it has a voice over of Asha narrating the history of Rosas as the pages flip. Not a bad idea–until you push into the scene and realize she’s telling all of this to…her grandpa? Who is 100 years old and lived through all of this? What? Why not have that scene be a kid flashback and the story is being told to her? Or have her be doing the little kid thing of telling a story to an adult? Either way, that would help establish their relationship which is ostensibly very important to this movie. Or, wild thought, just have her be telling this story to kids! Like Mirabel explaining all the Madrigal gifts in Encanto! Like, if you’re gonna take cues from that movie, at least go all the way so your movie makes sense. 

It’s very unclear how Star’s magic works. It seems like he mostly just gives wildlife the ability to talk. I thought he was just granting wishes but he never does that to any of the humans. And I find it hard to believe that the wish of every animal (and mushroom)  in this movie is just to be able to talk.

Easy Fixes

And all of this is compounded by the fact that this isn’t just any random movie or even any random Disney movie. It’s the *100th ANNIVERSARY*. You only get one of those and this is what they wasted it on. My hopes were really high here! I was expecting a lot of love and care to be put into this one, but it just fell absolutely flat. It feels so rote, so by the numbers, so lacking in care. It feels like the shell of an outline of a movie that relies on the fact that we know what a movie of this sort should be and can fill in the blanks. 

And the worst part? The absolute worst part?

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY EASY MOVIE TO FIX. 

Like, I’m serious. If you watch this movie, you will be able to, off the cuff, name tons of things that would have solved problems without breaking a sweat. 

For instance, just cutting her friend group down from seven to two would have helped immensely. If she, Dahlia, and Simon have a Three Musketeers relationship, then when he betrays her to the king, it actually means something now! 

For a bigger but still obvious change, why not have Asha have an existing relationship with Magnifico? So then this story can be about her losing faith in this relationship she’s had for a long time after she’s seen behind the curtain and become jaded over time and not a 7 minute “Don’t Meet Your Heroes” speedrun.

And making it clear what taking a Wish from a person means–and following through with that portrayal all movie–would all be a game changer. Show that Magnifico’s magical wish granting still leaves the people hollow. Show that Asha is a vibrant, bright person amongst a sea of robotic adults. Show me some worldbuilding! 

Also, just hire a musical theater person to do the music. Seriously I can’t believe I have to say this? How is there not a single good song in this movie? There are DCOMs with more bangers than this. Almost every song in High School Musical is a bop. How are you getting outshone by High School Musical?

And these are just changes that preserve the bulk of the story as is. This movie could have been even better if they’d change the direction to go with some of their scrapped ideas!

This is just a movie that absolutely baffles me. I wouldn’t think it would be possible for a movie with this high of a profile to be this bad. You would think that even accidentally they’d have to get SOMETHING right. But they really don’t. I can’t recommend this movie, even for a fun-bad watch. It’s like eating unsalted saltines while you have dry mouth. Just watch a better movie. And here are three movies I think are more in the spirit of Disney’s 100th anniversary than Wish:

(1) The Princess and the Frog does literally everything that this movie is trying to do but better. You’ve got a movie that used a 2D style in the 3D era. You have integration of cultural elements–in this case New Orleans in the 20s. You have a classic princess story with the classic trappings: romance, villain, fairy godmother. You have a rocking villain song. Hell, you even have a wishing star motif! 

(2) Encanto is the latest Disney movie of the modern era to have that classic Disney magic, imo. It sidesteps a lot of the classic Disney tropes–no princess, no serious romance (Delores and Mariano end up together but it’s very much a side thing), no villain beyond generational trauma–but it still feels musical and magical and full of character and life. It shows that you can keep the big emotions that we expect from Disney even with more modern sensibilities. 

(3) Enchanted is my favorite movie of all time so I’m biased, but I still firmly believe that it stands as a better movie in general and tribute to Disney specifically than Wish. THIS is how you do an homage. The whole plot is a loving roast of all the quirks of classic Disney movies, but it’s also a sincere story that stands on its own. It has references to old movies, but they’re integrated very naturally. And it’s funny enough to get away with things like a character mid-musical number being like, “What the hell is happening? Why is everybody singing?” without it feeling like lazy, “Well that just happened” humor. And the music is so good! 

(A quick note on the music btw: Most of the songs in Enchanted are musical theater style songs but there’s one song near the end called “So Close” which is like a pop ballad. And it totally makes sense why they’d depart from the musical theater style in that moment in context but, even if it was jarring and totally unfitting for the movie, it’s still objectively a strong song. Out of context, it would be a great, sad, romantic song. And if the music in Wish was all like that–good but unfitting–this would confuse me less than it does.)

Anyway, I would shell out a LOT of money for a making of documentary for this movie in the style of the Frozen 2 one because as writer and a fan of a lot of Disney’s past stuff, it is completely beyond my comprehension who a team of accomplished people get together to create the 100th Anniversary project with their vast resources and produce this. It just doesn't feel like a movie with any serious care put into it. Which is separate from quality, btw. I don’t like the movie Raya very much but I think it’s obvious a lot of care went into it and I respect this. Wish feels like a movie that was made to fill some kind of contractual obligation and it makes me sad because I really wanted to like it. 

#disney's wish #asks #jamiebluewind #sorry this got so long I just find this movie so fundamentally flawed #idk what the current tag etiquette is for stuff like this so I'm gonna cover my bases #disney criticism #disney critical #wish criticism #wish critical #if you liked the movie this isn't an attack and I'm glad you had a good time

[thegirlking]

Mother and son shaped by trauma: a deeper look into Alma and Bruno's damaged relationship

Alma and Bruno's mother-son relationship seems like such a minor aspect of the movie, but when you give it some thought, despite the limited focus, it's not only a very complex relationship, but also a narratively significant one.

Obviously we don't have a lot of information on it, but let me reflect a bit on the things we do know, while trying to fill in some blanks. Long post ahead.

Back to the start - how did it go so wrong?

There's one particularly interesting detail that Jared Bush shared on a podcast some time ago. It mostly comes down to the reason Bruno's visions were usually so negative: because that's how he was taught to use his gift by his mother, who would ask him to look into the future for any possible dangers to their home.

Now, this makes perfect sense for Alma's character and gives a great insight into how her trauma affected her. It's a completely natural consequence of the tragedy she experienced - of course she would be gripped by fear and desperate to protect her home from another tragedy at all cost. And the power of foresight is seemingly the ultimate key to preventing tragedy, so of course she would rely on her child's gift for that...

...and yes, that's a great burden to put on your child's shoulders and something that clearly had troubling consequences. The particularly frustrating thing being that those consequences could have been largely prevented only if Bruno had proper understanding and emotional support.

The thing is...the understanding and support probably were there for some time. Some bonus materials suggest that Bruno was not always the black sheep of the family, but quite the opposite. He was apparently once the golden child of the family - until people began to believe his gift was actually responsible for bad future events.

Which brings me to the important question: why did it go so wrong? If Alma herself believed Bruno's gift could help prevent disaster, how and why did this belief that it's actually causing disaster came to be? Didn't she try to protect her son from his gift being horribly misunderstood?

Well, I'd like to give Alma the benefit of the doubt that she did try to protect him, at least when he was a child. But I do wonder if she simply grew exhausted by Bruno at some point, as he grew older? Exhausted by his unclear visions, which were hard to control and not that helpful after all (I think Dolores' verse in WDTAB kinda suggests it). Exhausted by Bruno's eccentric personality that was so far away from the "perfect image" she wanted for the family. And maybe that frustration led to her ultimately neglecting him emotionally and enabling the negative attitude to his gift, even if it wasn't intentional on her part.

Broken trust

Again, this is all just my interpretation and I don't want to assume the worst without any proof... however, I do think it's reasonable to believe that Alma did fail Bruno in some way.

And she might have not realized it, but I think Bruno himself very much felt she failed him. That would also explain his evident lack of trust in her. I talked in one of my previous posts how Bruno not trusting Alma with the vision about Mirabel is a big red flag that something was very wrong in the family. Ideally, he should have been able to trust his mother with the vision, but we were as far from the ideal scenario as we could be - Bruno choosing to hide the vision is a clear sign how damaged his relationship with his mother was at this point and how broken his trust in her was.

Ironically, if Bruno's decision was a result of broken trust in his mother...the same decision also broke her trust in him.

Let's look at it from her (sympathetic but misguided) perspective for a moment. Bruno's gift was something she had relied on in order to protect her family. And so many years later, no matter what the present attitude to his gift was, she still went to him in a difficult moment. So the fact that he essentially denied her that help would definitely feel like a huge betrayal - for Alma it probably looked like Bruno had betrayed the family and betrayed the miracle.

Those would be the understandable feelings of a traumatized woman who probably couldn't stand losing someone she loves yet again - believing Bruno betrayed and abandoned them because he doesn't care was likely a kind of coping mechanism to numb the grief.

Regardless of how understandable those feelings might be though, this coping mechanism was deeply unhealthy and harmful. What's more, the choice to paint Bruno as the bad guy shows horrible lack of self-awareness. And that lack of self-awareness only intensified the unhealthy environment in the family.

Because in the end, Bruno leaving the family should have been the wake-up call that the "perfect" family might have some issues to work through and something needs to change to avoid driving away anyone else. Alma might have not known Bruno's motives to leave, might have been understandably angry and hurt about him hiding the vision, but she definitely should have reflected on her own mistakes as a mother that led to Bruno making this decision.

Protecting the family and understanding the true miracle

But beyond how trauma shaped their relationship, I think there's something else at the core of the issue: their love for their family and their different understanding of what it means to protect it.

I talked about how Alma went to Bruno in a difficult moment, when she feared for the future of the miracle - and that the fact he never gave her the vision and simply ran away must have felt like a betrayal to the miracle.

In some way Bruno did betray the miracle - he betrayed the miracle in the way Alma understood the miracle at that point, as a source of magic more than anything else. And ironically, by doing so, Bruno showed that he actually understood what the miracle was truly about.

Alma was so fixated on protecting the miracle that she ended up losing sight of what was truly important and hurt the family. On the other hand, Bruno saw a threat to the miracle and yet still chose protecting his young niece's well being over anything else - one "giftless" little girl mattered more than the magic.

My point here isn't "Alma bad, Bruno good", that's a huge simplification. Both of those characters were very damaged and were going to unhealthy extremes to protect what was important to them. I'm not saying Bruno's decision to hide the vision was the "right" one or something to be glorified - I mostly think that it's a decision that should have never been made and again, the fact he felt he had to do that shows the deep rooted issues within the family.

But ultimately, he did have the right priority there - of course Mirabel's well being matters more than the magic. Every member of the family matters more than the magic. That's the whole point of the movie and the core of Alma's character arc - realizing that the family itself is the greatest gift.

And one detail I particularly like is that Alma and Bruno are the two people to tell Mirabel she's the real miracle in the end - it shows their values are finally on the same page and there's finally hope for mutual understanding between them.

#Encanto #encanto meta #bruno madrigal #alma madrigal #my meta #long post #bear with me writing long encanto meta again #a lot of this has probably been discussed before

[domxmarvel]

Encanto preferences- Protecting them when Casita breaks

Masterlist  

A/N:I wrote this a while back and forgot to post it. It was heavily inspired by this post X

Bruno

As you were walking over to Isabela's room,you were caught by Abuela. You hadn't even made it upstairs,she immediately started screaming at you,Bruno and Mirabel. As the three of them were yelling at each other,you felt Casita rumbling and the cracks under your feet. Seconds before you could tell them to stop Bruno yelled out.

"I didn't leave because I don't care about this family,I left because I care. I couldn't let you see that vision,I couldn't let you treat Mirabel like you treated me!" There was a brief moment of silence before Casita broke. Everything was breaking apart. Everyone was rushing towards the candle but almost all of them got pushed out by Casita,the only ones left inside were you and Bruno. "Y/N get out,I'll get the candle" He ran off before you could stop him,you ran after him. He got the candle but tripped,you ran and caught him. There was no way you’d have enough time to get out,you pulled him closer to you covering him with your body. You could feel everything crumbling around you,some pieces of rubble hit you causing you to flinch. Once it was all over,he quickly looked up at you. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Don’t worry about me,are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine” You both looked down at the candle,it had gone out. “Bruno,everything will be fine. You’re way more important than some miracle”

“Not to them,I’m not”

“You are important to them,even if they don’t wanna admit it.They’ll find a way to live without the magic,but not without you,I know I wouldn't” You could see tears forming in his eyes before he kissed you. 

Camilo

“Camilo,don’t” You tried to stop him,but he pushed past you and towards the candle. He was just a few seconds away from it when his powers stopped working. Casita was trying hard to push everyone out,but you managed to stay inside. Camilo quickly got up,trying to reach the candle again. “Camilo” You ran up and grabbed him “We need to get out of here”

“I can’t leave”

“Camilo,I can’t let you die for a candle!”

“Then you don’t really love me” He broke from your grip as you were too shocked and heartbroken to react. You froze in place,until you heard.

“Y/N! Get out of there!” Pepa yelled at you. Camilo reached out for the candle and that’s when the roof crumbled under his feet. Casita was too weak to help out,you were the only one who could save him at this point. You caught him but it was too late to get out at this point,you were trapped inside. Everything was breaking apart,you knew you had to protect him. Once everything settled you were trapped under the rubble,your whole body ached. Your leg was really hurting you and every tiny movement caused you incredible pain. A bigger piece of rubble was lifted,revealing Luisa behind it. You gave her a smile before looking back at Camilo.

“Did you get hurt?” Everyone gathered around you.

“No,I’m fine,” He mumbled. You tried to stand up,only to immediately fall. “Y/N” You could barely hear him,everything was getting blurry and soon it was completely black.

***

When you woke up again,you were in Pepa’s room,was that all a dream? You tried to get up and immediately Camilo walked in. 

“Y/N” He rushed to your side. “Don’t stand up,your still injured”

“So that wasn’t a dream” You mumbled to yourself. 

“Y/N” He sat down on the bed. “I wanted to apologize,about what I said,how you don’t love me” 

“Camilo,it’s okay”

“No,Y/N,it wasn’t okay. What I said to you wasn’t right,regardless of the situation. You proved just how much you do love me,you saved my life. And I choose that candle over you. I just hope you’ll take me back”

“I never let you go” You laughed,pulling him into a hug

Isabela

You were looking for Mirabel,suddenly plants were popping up everywhere. Not just roses but all kinds of plants. You got back to Casita to see Isabela and Mirabel on a bed of flowers,Isabela's dress was covered in flower dust of all different colors,it looked way more beautiful than her regular one. You were about to call out to both of them but Abuela walked just that second. Isabela's whole demeanor changed back to her 'perfect girl' and she quickly moved aside as Mirabel and Abuela started arguing.  When everything started breaking,you were panicking. 

“Isa,we need to get out of here”

“No,we need to get the candle”

“Help Mirabel” She looked a little confused. “Use your plants to give her a boost” She nodded and did as you said. Mirabel got the candle,you noticed a piece of rubble that was about to hit Isabela. You quickly grabbed her and pulled her away just in time. She used her magic to pull Mirabel out of the house. Thankfully everyone made it out,but the candle still went out. “Are you hurt?”

"No" She stood up as you did the same. "You?"

"I'm fine" You moved closer to her "I like your new dress" You whispered. 

Luisa

Luisa was trying to hold up a bunch of falling debris,she was clearly struggling with her gift slowly fading. You were the last two in there along with Mirabel,Luisa refused to leave without Mirabel and you refused to leave without Luisa. You tried your best to help her,even if you weren't very strong. Finally Mirabel made it out,but at the last second even more debris fell and it was far too heavy. Immediately your instincts kicked in,pulling her down you covered as much of her body with your own. Which wasn't exactly easy since she was a giant compared to you,but you made sure to cover her head and neck.

"Luisa,I think this is it for me. If I don't make it out alive I don't want you to blame yourself,this isn't your fault and I'd gladly die for you. But I need you to know that I love you" She was silent for a moment,but you soon heard her sobbing. You closed your eyes,waiting for everything to fall on you. There were so many pieces,it felt like they were never ending,but eventually they stopped.

"Y/N,I love you too" finally with that you closed your eyes,the pain was just too much but you kept her safe. When you woke up again,you were out of the rubble but still in Luisa's arms. 

Mirabel

Both you and Mirabel raced towards the candle and got to it just in time. When the roof under her started collapsing you quickly pulled her against you before jumping down. Casita caught you just before you hit the floor,there was no time to get out. You held onto her as tight as you could,casita used the last of its strength to move a bunch of the furniture around you to protect the two of you. When everything went silent,the furniture that was protecting you fell. The candle had gone out and Mirabel looked completely defeated. Her expression quickly changed when she noticed you bleeding from your arm. She tore off a piece of her dress and tied it around your arm.

"Thank you" You kissed her cheek and stood up,reaching to help her up. "Are you okay?" She only nodded,she hadn't said anything since the candle went out. 

"Mirabel,Y/N" Julieta rushed over to the two of you. "Are you hurt?" 

"Y/N got hurt" Mirabel broke her silence,but her gaze was still on the ground.

"I'll be fine" You put your hand on her cheek,forcing her to finally look up at you. "I'm more worried about you. '' She just hugged you without any other word,in seconds you heard her sobbing. 

"This is all because of me,we lost the miracle and you got hurt because of me"

"Mirabel,none of this is your fault. I'd do anything to protect you"

#bruno madrigal #bruno x reader #isabela x reader #isabela madrigal #luisa x reader #luisa madrigal #mirabel madrigal #mirabel x reader #encanto preferences #encanto x reader #encanto imagine #Encanto #camilo x reader #camilo madrigal #encanto bruno #bruno imagine #encanto isabela #isabela imagine #encanto luisa #luisa imagine #encanto mirabel #mirabel imagine

[tobiasdrake]

I expected to be dead by now and that locked door is starting to make me curious. So I guess I'll just go jump on a timedrop.

Using made-up words for an openphrase is a pretty good idea, but I've been told it's best to include numbers and symbols too. Have you considered "stostorage roomoom five ampersand"?

See, that's why you should always change your openphrase away from the default. Now malefactors of unclear intent have complete access to this person's shed. I could be stealing their personal information to sell to the shoshop keepeeper right now and they'd have no idea.

But I'm not that wicked, so I'll just take whatever this is instead.

Length implies value. This seems more than valuable enough to burgle. I will take this and be on my way.

Let's see, what else do I want to do in town? Oh, right. The flower.

First time, I panicked, flung it at Mira for being a great team leader, and fled for my life.

Second time, I tried to use it to bury the hatchet with Bonnie and only succeeded in weirding them out and making things awkward.

This time. This time, I have a plan. I'm going to pry Isa's secret love confession out of him. Right in front of the Favor Tree. Where my Lemonfriend is stalking me. Hm.

...

CAUTION TO THE WIND!

Oh my god he's so goddamn precious

Yeah. I didn't spoil my appetite with pain du chocolat this time so I was ravenous and prepared!

Then I got up to refill my drink and suddenly I hear a sickening CRRRKKK and then the goddamn bread was broken in half. How!? How do you people always know that I'm watching for that!? Which one of you is temporally screwing with me!?

I feel like I'm losing my mind. This is literally worse than dying. I will find you, Breadripper.

But I gave you a pretty flower and everything. Come on, man. Find your nerve!

*sigh* I'm going back to sleep. Enjoy your face pillow.

Good night, Isa.

That feels like it's going to be important to remember for later. Typically, if trying to read it causes physical pain, it's probably some sort of horrifying eldritch text from beyond time and space. Which usually means it's definitely worth the effort to figure out how to read it! It might hold the secret to unlimited happiness.

It means a person of slim characterization and very limited expressiveness, designed to allow the audience to easily project themselves.

Our reality's principle form of violence is playing Rock-Paper-Scissors. What are you even supposed to do with a spear?

...I mean. I guess I have this knife I use to form Scissors. Mira's got a rapier for the same purpose. Isa gets Rock out of his punching gloves while Madame Odile's Tome makes Paper.

Not sure how Mirabelle's doing Paper attacks with a sword, though. That's kind of weird. Mira, where are you getting the Paper from? Do you have a motivational brochure for the Change religion as a sidearm?

Oh my god she uses a rapier.

Mira's weapon is a blade made from thin folded steel. That's where the Paper comes from. That's genius. Mira, you're a goddamn genius.

Okay. I get it now. I understand how weaponcraft in our world of Jankenpon Combat works. So yes, this spear would be a Scissors weapon. But since it's a spear, you could also use it as a bo staff. Would it then qualify as Scissors/Rock?

Hmm....

I appreciate your pragmatism. Contextually speaking, in times of crisis, it's not stealing. It's requisitioning.

Now let's requisition whatever isn't nailed down.

Oh shit, that's the traditional Rider-Waite Eight of Pentacles.

The Pentacles sign typically pertains to commerce, labor, and material affairs. This particular card usually symbolizes slow and steady skill progression at a menial craft. The man depicted is practicing his trade, carrying out the repetitive but necessary task of crafting his wares - and in so doing, developing his skill and becoming more capable in the production of his craft.

It's not hard to see the relationship between this card and the timey-wimey mission we're on right now.

There it is. We've found the key with diagnosed and well understood gender dysphoria.

Just because the egg has cracked, that doesn't mean this key is necessarily comfortable with announcing itself yet. Cracking the egg and coming out are very different experiences. If the key doesn't feel safe or ready to do the latter then it's fine for it to remain in the drawer for however long it needs.

...

Or it would be fine except we need to unlock a door. So. Uh. We'll just ignore that for the purposes of the metaphor.

Do not force people out of their closet even if the world is in danger.

#in stars and time #drake plays in stars and time

[yellowcry]

As long as I'm here

Luisa jumped on her feet, realizing that she was nowhere to be found. Caught in a middle of a woods. The only person around her is Mirabel And why does she act so odd?

It's an au union fic.

Luisa's from Pedro and Alma swap au

Mirabel's from Fracture Au by @miracles-and-butterflies

Luisa blinked several times, the place was unfamiliar. She jumped on her feet a second later, looking around frantically. The place seemed unknown, huge trees were towering over her. It didn't seem like jungles, the greenery wasn't thick enough, but it looked like some forest foreland. Luisa narrowed her eyes, gazing all over the place  Her hand instinctively grabbed the hilt, dragging the cold sword out of its scabbard just in case.

Mirabel starled from her place on the ground, but her face didn't change. "Luisa, you can not carry this thing around, it is dangerous." 

The older girl blinked, her sister's voice was completely bland, devoid of any emotions.  Luisa had no idea how to react to this. On one hand, it was important to stay collected in case of possible danger. But this? Luisa knew everything about hiding her emotions, but Mirabel acted like she didn't have them at all.

Luisa took a deep breath, calming down her jumping senses. "Are you alright?" They both stared in an awkward silence for a while. Luisa had to admit that her hermanita was able to hide her emotions extremely well, to a worrying extent. "Mirabel?" She reasked, her tone got to be colder, the same way Abuelo usually did. 

"I am fine," Mirabel replied in the same monotone voice she had before. "And you should return this sword to where you bought it. You can cause harm by accident." 

Luisa winced, she knew that weapons can be dangerous, but with how many years she had been training, she was entirely sure there would be no problems. "I've learned to fight for years, I know perfectly well how to handle this." She muttered, more to herself than to Mirabel.

Mirabel blinked, looking up at Luisa, for a moment her eyes flinched, before the same nothingness returned to them. "I am sorry, I did not know that."

Maybe, hiding Luisa's abilities would be useful, the enemy wouldn't expect her to be as good as she is, giving her a huge advantage, but she was pretty shocked with how good Mirabel was in pretending. If Luisa didn't know better, she would assume that Mira really had no idea.

Luisa sighed. "Stay close. We'll check if anyone else is here." Or, rather, it would be Luisa to check, Mirabel would just stay in front of Luisa.

Mirabel kept staring into her soul. "There is no one except us around." The older girl just shook her head, she trusted Mirabel, of course, but they had to be careful. Considering that they had no idea how they came in here there were endless possibilities of what was going on all around them.

Luisa had to admit that Mirabel was right, her sister was always really smart and observant, still, she was in awe of how the younger girl was able to have a correct answer immediately. They were walking in an unknown direction, according to the sun it was north. 

—

A hard, awkward silence hung over them. Mirabel was usually the one to start chatting, lowering the tension. But currently, she was unnaturally quiet, even moving like a ghost, almost inaudible. It was making the situation harder, not like there was anything wrong with staying quiet, but Luisa had to watch over Mirabel all the time to make sure she was safe and also keep alert about their surroundings.

"Do you know how we ended up in here?" Luisa asked unsurely, trying to break this strange suffocating hush.

Mirabel didn't answer and it only made Luisa worried a little bit more. It wasn't a normal behavior for her, and the lack of an explanation made it look extremely bad. But interrogating Mirabel right now was a bad idea as they could be spied on at the very same moment.

"How's been school?" Luisa sighed, changing the topic to something else.

"It has been okay." Mirabel nodded, still devoid of any emotions.

"Is there anything interesting in general?" Luisa asked, getting closer to Mirabel, throwing a shadow over her head. "Just something you want to share."

"No, there is not," Mirabel replied blankly. Something was definitely wrong.

Luisa sighed, tightening her belt. "Are you upset because I've been busy lately?" The younger girl just shook her head saying that she wasn't. And it wasn't like anything new. Luisa has been spending most of her time training since she was five. Still, she knew that Mirabel didn't act like this. Did something bad happen? Why didn't Luisa notice it before?

"You are worried." Luisa winced at her sister's emotionless question. Was it that noticeable? Abuelo would be so disappointed if he found out. She inhaled through her gritted teeth, forcing a calmer expression. 

"Thanks for telling me." Luisa nodded. Mirabel's eyes shifted to her side for a second. 

They kept walking, both didn't talk much. Luisa was busy keeping track of their surroundings and also making sure Mirabel was close. The younger girl just seemed not to be in a mood to talk. Luisa could respect that, besides, it wasn't a good time for chatting, they could actually be in danger right now. They did speak occasionally, but it was some brief talk. 

The wind rushed across the area. It wasn't a real problem for Luisa as her hair was never out of her bun unless she was sleeping. Mirabel's hair, however, fluttered in the breeze, the younger girl cowered from the cold air. Luisa could give her her coat. It would be obviously too big, but Mirabel needed to stay warm. But, as the wind pushed Mirabel's hair to the side, just for a brief second, her neck got open. Luisa froze, seeing bits of pink-colored skin. Her years of trainings didn't come only as an ability to handle different kinds of a cold weapon and strategy on a battlefield. She knew something about medicine too.

"Mirabel, stay still." She ordered, grabbing her sister's shoulder. Mirabel flinched, feeling a strong grip on her body, Luisa could swear she did inhale sharply.

"Lui-" Mirabel's voice was cut off as Luisa gently pushed her hair from its place and lowered the collar of her shirt, freezing dead.

Luisa's breathing started to shake in terror as she saw tons of deep cuts all over her neck, pink, faded white, big and small. Some of them were still fresh, unhealed; some were old and turned into scars.  

"Who did this?" Luisa whispered, as she finally managed to suppress her terror. She did not doubt that there were more injuries under the shirt

"It is nothing..." Mirabel gasped as Luisa turned her around, forcing her younger sister to face her.

"Mirabel Rojas Madrigal," Luisa said strictly, she probably sounded like Abuelo when he demanded an answer on something. "Who did this to you?" And, as far as Luisa knew, Mirabel wasn't allowed to leave Casita without accompaniment. Had someone from the family done this?

Mirabel flinched, before looking at Luisa with begging eyes. "It was my fault, I was getting emotional and deserved a punishment." Luisa felt her blood running cold, Did Mirabel really assume that anything could justify this?

Luisa's mind was running wild, how did this happen? Who would even...

She froze. The words 'I was getting emotional' had finally got into her head. In their family, Luisa knew only one person who demanded her to stay calm and not show her emotions to everyone. Because emotions would make her more vulnerable.

"Did Abuelo..." She cut herself off, not willing to finish this sentence.

Abuelo, who had always said that Luisa should protect this family, that somebody could die if she would let her emotions take the best of her, had harmed Mirabel. All this time her grandfather was the one from whom Luisa should have protected the others.

The girl's coldness broke for a moment, she stepped back. "It was to make me better."

Luisa's fist clenched. "He was saying that I was supposed to protect everyone from harm since the day I got my gift," She hissed under her breath. She knew it wasn't the time, but she was too pissed off, too hurt and betrayed right now.

Mirabel was startled, looking up at Luisa. "Do you have a gift?"

The latter winced in surprise. "Why are you asking this?" This question made zero sense.

"You are not my Luisa..." Mirabel clarified, calm and emotionless again.

She blinked in surprise "What?"

"You have a gift, you do not act like she is nor look the same way." 

Luisa felt her mind getting ready to blow up. She had to admit that this Mirabel also didn't act like hers. "Okay..." Luisa sighed in exhaustion. "Did your Abuelo hurt you?" She asked unsurely, kneeling in front of Mirabel. This situation was really bizarre.

"As I said, it was my fault." Mirabel's voice sounded as if she was reading a fact from an encyclopedia. A second later some strange realization appeared in her eyes, but her face stayed expressionless. "Did he hurt you?"

Luisa gasped, shaking her head rapidly. "Gosh, no."

Mirabel blinked, clarifying. "But Abuelo was your first guess."

"He's just..." Luisa closed her eyes, trying to find the right words. "My Abuelo scolded me when I was getting emotional, but he never harmed me." 

What would happen if he did? Would Luisa turn out to be like this Mirabel? Bland and emotionless?

If she ever met this other Abuelo, he would be dead.

Mirabel nodded. "This proves it was my fault."

"No, no!" Luisa interrupted her quickly. "Your Abuelo had no right to harm you."

"He would not do this if I was good enough."

Something in Luisa's heart shattered. "Mira, it doesn't excuse him. No one can do this to anyone."

"Yours Abuelo did not harm you. You are definitely better than I am."

Luisa thought for a moment, before asking. "What would you say if he did harm me?" Mirabel blinked and looked away wordlessly. "Would you think it was my fault?"

The younger girl did not answer.

"What about the rest of the family?" Luisa finally asked, breaking the silence. Mirabel's gaze shifted back to her.

"They are scared of me. I can not feel." Her voice and face stayed expressionless, but the deep pain was visible in her eyes. "I did not have relationships with anyone for years."

Luisa's face got pale in terror. Was it why Abuelo managed to abuse her? No one had actually contact with Mirabel. She took (not) her sister's hand gently, but let go immediately as she felt more injuries, not wanting to make it worse. "I'm so sorry, you didn't deserve this." Mirabel had opened her mouth, probably to disagree again, but Luisa interrupted her before she could even start to speak. "No, Pedro had no right to do this. No matter what he was saying." Mirabel blinked, still staring at her with a blank face. Luisa wanted nothing more than to squeeze this girl in a hug. But she didn't want to unintentionally touch any of the slashes under her clothes. "Do you want a hug?" She asked unsurely.

Mirabel just shook her head. "No, thank you." Luisa gently patted her forearm. "What about you?" Luisa winced at the question. "You said that yours Abuelo scolded you for emotions as well."

The older girl pursed her lips, staring at the ground. "I can't let my emotions control me if there's a danger. Somebody could get harmed if I am distracted," Thinking about it, saying to a five-year-old that someone could die because of her was a messed up thing as well. 

"I do not think it works like this," Mirabel admitted, clutching her skirt, "Surely there are a lot more people who can help in case of emergency.

Luisa was about to disagree, saying that she was the strongest and very resilient before she realized how much she would sound like this Mirabel. "I think we have something in common." She sighed

Mirabel sat next to her, leaning her side against Luisa without saying a word, before admitting. "You were good at hiding your emotions." Maybe it was why Mirabel had opened up so easily, it made her more comfortable.

Luisa wrapped her arm around Mirabel gently. "I love you, Mira," Mirabel's eyes flinched away. "You don't have to say it back, you just needed to hear this."

"I'm sure your Mirabel loves you too." She finally whispered under some silence. 

#encanto #ao3 author #fanfic #mirabel madrigal #luisa madrigal #pedro and alma swap #encanto fracture au

[faislittlewhiteraven]

Undertale/ISaT crossover thoughts 3

(aka the 'Sif and family explore The Island' edition)

Had a lot of Undertale/ISaT crossover thoughts (here's the post for how I'm crossing them over in general, and here's the post for an overview of each of the three major plot lines) but most of my actual thinking has been about Sif and family exploring The island so I'm gonna go into some depth for once rather than overview and hope this is useful for ideas for anyone writing any sort of 'Sif and family go to Sif's homeland' fic rather than the Undertale crossover centric stuff most of the other posts have been.

Side note: Location names in my notes is very minimal at this point as I generally look up names last when plotting anything. But er, working name of the Island is The Isle of Chara (because Undertale's Chara is kind of a big deal in this actually and good odds the final name will probably have Chara in it) so please keep that in mind in case I somehow end up typing that somewhere here in my notes.

---

Start:

Sif and family's plot starts with the return of colours and memories (caused by the breaking of the Barrier by the monsters). A day is spent kind of just 'emotionally reacting' to all that (Sif's kind of overwhelmed and in tears) but next day the group actually sit down and discuss whether it's worth them going or not because, yes they are the Saviours of Vauguard and yes they're right next to Bambooche but well, who knows what state the Island is in right now and if it turns out to be... Unpleasant, it is definitely going to hit Sif hard.

Siffrin, naturally does want to go, but am definitely having Sif mentally going over all the potential horrors of the situation (everyone just... Vanished without a trace leaving empty streets and homes? Piles of skeletons because everyone died in an instant? His parents completely untouched by the passage of time wondering why he, an adult stranger covered in scars is claiming to be their missing child?) before confirming with the others he's up for this and that they'll need his Island language skills in case of survivors and for reading signs and records anyway.

How do they get there:

At first the think of taking a boat but well, turns out the Island wasn't the only thing erased from memory and as they reach Bambooche it becomes apparent that- Oh! That 'spooky hill everyone just avoids' is actually a really big and complete with steel, concrete and 'our world modern' tar road bridge, that goes all the way out over the ocean and clearly extends towards the Island.

Cue Party stopping by Bambooche's harbour and the local House of Change to get an idea of options: The House also wants to send people to Vauguard's new/old neighbours (in general all the Houses in Vauguard are very curious and there's a ton of messengers and 'Message Craft' going back and forth everywhere right now) and they promise to get the word out to everywhere (including the press) that the Saviours of Vauguard are investigating so no one has any reason to worry. Cue awkward/nervous Mirabelle laughing and trying not to freak out at the pressure of being so important... Again! While many local sailors are willing to make the trip but well, prepping the ships for an unknown landing will take a while and everyone is nervous about the 'was apparently always there' giant bridge looming overhead (what if bits of it fall?).

So after a bit of back and forth the party go for the bridge. It needs people to check it for structural damage and Sadnesses anyway and the party have people capable of handling both (gives Nille construction analysis skills) so welp!

Bridge:

Actually approaching the bridge the party spy some weird 'metal lumps' that as they approach several members of the group (not just Sif) recognise as long abandoned cars. Which are everywhere, to the point its genuinely hard to get around them, and the group realise the 'little building next to the bridge' is actually the entrance for an underground car park. Cue the group finding a 'building' built into the base of the bridge; sadly the door is locked and despite Isabeau and Nille's best efforts they can't smash it open, but Sif's pretty sure it's probably the door to a train station judging by the glass and metal tube they can see running from the side of the building base all the way under the bridge.

Cue talk on what the crab a train even is as they make their way back onto the actual bridge and start climbing and hopping over the sea of cars (Odile wants everyone to know she hates all this jumping btw), but the silly vibes stop dead when the groups starts seeing the remains of car wrecks and some never buried corpses left at the wheel/caught between two lots of crumpled metal (it's been like 18 years so they're pretty much all picked clean skeletons but yeah, Bonnie is definitely having their eyes covered by Mira). ...Isabeau points out that all the cars and remains here very definitely indicate that the people of the Island were not instakilled/frozen in time by whatever happened and, most likely, they were hit by the memory erasure effect and those who could remember how tried to flee the Island for places less detrimental to their psyches but... It's honestly kind of amazing that there aren't more crash wrecks and bodies given how mentally distressed everyone driving must have been.

It doesn't help cheer anyone up but the observation is noted (Sif keeps getting shoulder pats from everyone since well, this isn't the worst case scenerio but it's pretty bad), and the group continue walking until finally they reach a 'Craft' Station (think gas station but like, magic wish stuff for fuel or something. Thinking there's a favor tree 'tank' next to the building and everything) where they find a few scribbled notes in Vauguardian from the last worker there (bilingial type, lived on the island, trying and failing to remember the island and 'something, someone?' important they left there, decided to head for Vauguard but only after noting down everything they can and making sure all the 'time preserving seals' on the food storage containers are working properly. Just in case someone needs them) and a whole heap of fridges and 'glass cases' with somehow still fresh food inside them. Sadly the cooking implements in the building weren't nearly as resistant to the flow of time but the group decides they'd rather spend the night outside in their tents anyway so they set up camp, Sif shares more of what they do and don't know about all this weird stuff they keep encountering (some but not a lot; Sif recognises the appliances and roads but their coastal hometown was much more 'traditional' and they don't have a clue how all these high tech craft machines actually work outside of making sure they're set up right and flicking a switch) and have a nice dinner before going to sleep.

Next day is walking, with a side order of more walking. Mood is a bit better after talks and rest, but most of this gets skipped (during which the precipitation that collected on the bridge during the cold night evaporates into a thick fog, and then starts slowly clearing up under what looks like strong sunlight) until the group finally see the actual island itself for the first time and- Oh wow. That's an actual city (for an idea of the visuals please imagine the city in the background of the Undertale credits scene where Papyrus is driving along a bridge in a car). Group are blown away because, damn, somehow they weren't expecting that (this is waaay too big a place for them alone to explore, thank goodness the Houses will be sending teams in soon) except for Siffrin who promptly recognises the place as something of a tourist/heavily Vauguardian influenced city that he used to visit on rare occasions with his parents: Usually for big events like going to see a big theatre production on his birthday or to attend the Island's biggest Change festival (brought over by the large Vauguardian immigrant population) which his mom's family always loved attending.

The City:

Takes the group another hour or two to actually reach the city itself (walking takes time alas) but when they get there, yep there sure are a lot of signs in Vauguardian and little Change God statues everywhere. ...Also a lot of signs of looting and unchecked plant growth and 'feral' animals everywhere but most of the buildings look pretty good (Odile is still instantly 'none of us are entering going up or down any floors past ground level in any of these without good reason before Nille/other professionals can check them over for instability' though), and though it takes a bit of awkwardly trying to read a rotting signpost map, Sif is able to guide everyone to the central train station...

Which still has its automated trains working!!! (Sif takes a moment to brag about how 'of course they're still fine! All public transport systems are safe guarded by the best protections applied Wish craft can manage' before wondering why they feel so proud of that something their dad used to say a lot?) Cue party quickly finding the 'Vauguard line' which, yes is working and is just waiting for passengers, and (before proper discussion of 'do we take the train back to Vauguard and unblock the station doors on the other end' can be had) a trainline that stops by Siffrin's home town down by the Island's Southern coast.

...Needless to say, they go for Sif's hometown first (they're 100% planning on unblocking the Vauguard station's door at the nearest possible opportunity afterwards though).

Cue silly scenes of everyone boarding the train, comments being made of the silly 'mascot' figures in black and white everywhere (thinking I may cameo Ingo and Emmet in setting), Odile mentioning that she remembers riding trains -much less sleak and automatic than these ones- in Ka Bue during her youth (presumably their use being associated enough with the Island they were forgotten about when the Event happened), Isabeau turning out to be majorly freaked out by the closing doors and general nice vibes before whooosh they're off to Sif's hometown.

Siffrin's hometown:

Party get a nice scenic view of the coast and a lot of 'old fashioned if fancy' looking coastal buildings as the train zips along and pulls into an elegant if overgrown looking station (I'm thinking greek column/smooth plain stone everywhere vibes and IDK why).

One side of the station leads away from the coast in the direction of what looks an actual town, while the other goes towards the coast and in general seems like a much quieter 'district', with lots of more old fashioned looking buildings (some clearly more damaged by the years without care than others), lots of trees, boat houses and cobbled pathways.

Naturally Sif immediately heads in the direction of the coast, at first slow then running ahead as he recognises the streets and houses before finally stopping at a house in very good condition. Party catch up and yeah... This is Sif's home. That tree had a swing, the marks on the door are from when Siffrin got it into his head to try carving 'stars' on everything for 'good luck', that over there is the 'public door' to Dad's observatory he left open to the public because all Islanders deserve to have unrestricted access to the stars but just as often people from town would just walk right through the house to get there because Mom loved having so many guests and their 'private family rooms' all had locks so letting people freely wander their home was fine and-!

...Yeah Siffrin is terrified of going in alone but fortunately their family of choice is there and well, in they go.

Everything inside is in equally good nick (the place itself is simple and homey but also clearly high quality stuff everywhere) and somehow only very barely dusty, though the group are quick to notice that all the cupboards are bare, there's clear signs of someone searching and packing away things (books all over, things left open, scattered things like bowls and cups -someone trying to decide what to take?) and well. There's a bunch of notes, written in Vauguardian on the kitchen table. Odile reads it out:

The writer cannot remember her name, or where she is, her family which she knows she must have because there's three plates here, just as there are three bedrooms and one of each is for a child she can't remember she can't remember but. She can think enough to write things down, to check on her neighbours and get them to eat. ...No one can stay here. She remembers Vauguard so it must be safe, and... There's a boat, in the warehouse, she and others can take. She and the friendly boulanger she can't remember he's her friend but she can't remember know how to rig and sail it and they're more coherent than most everyone else so... If they head there, maybe things will be fine? She's always liked Vauguard and the Change religion, always thought about changing herself a little even if he likes her as she is She can't read that last line and Changing would be nice, she thinks. ...though, if the family she must have are looking for her, she'll need to keep some things the same. Darkless kinky hair is unusual isn't it? Especially with the darker skin she inherited from her Vauguardian mother so she'll keep those, but... Oh what if she makes herself really stand out in other ways? Then. Then maybe they'll notice and be drawn to her even if they can't remember any better than she does! She lists the things she does remember about herself once more, where she plans to lead everyone (Dormont is a nice place. The quiet slow pace there might help the others adjust), all the supplies she plans on taking (a porcaline doll. Her 's favorite. Hugs it constantly even though it feels awful), a few complaints about people who absolutely refuse to leave even though they're every bit as mindblanked as the rest of them and leaves an end note inviting anyone who reads this account to please enjoy their rest in her home but to please, please please not damage anything because- Someone else might not want it damaged and. She can't remember, can't handle even entering some of these rooms it hurts too much but. Please. She wants everything here to remain where it is, until the people who belong here can return.

...

So um. Yeah.

Big group hug and tears are had but Sif being Sif tries to push on quicker than they should, group reluctantly accept that he might just need some time to process and with Sif's blanket permission ("It's my family house. You're my family, so you can go wherever you want") most split into smaller groups inspecting all the rooms and things, with Odile and Isa checking out Sif's dad's study, Bonnie immediately poking their nose into Sif's childhood room dragging Sif along to tell them all about everything in there (Sif is having like all the nostalgia, heart ache and 'genuinely wanting to show Bonnie all the cool things, oh! The toy aeroplane that actually flies =D' moods right now), and Nille and Mira giving the more rummaged areas a quick look over since well. Good odds they may be here a while and knowing where stuff is might be handy.

During this period thinking Mirabelle should have something of a mild freakout for many reasons over the thought that Euphrasie -her mother/mentor figure- could possibly be Siffrin's mindwhammied birth mother because Dormont was mentioned, and the Head Housemaiden never really talks about her past and she knew of Wish Craft, and has that genuinely really rare darkless kinky hair and the hand writing on the note seemed familiar and aaaaaaa!!!! Cue giving Nille a scene of trying to help calm Mira down' mostly by pointing out there's no way they could possibly know the truth right now, pointing out that post the return of colours they can't really be sure what 'darkless' they're even talking about here, and Sif still flinches whenever Euphrasie is mentioned due to how much he associates her with the loops so if they ARE related... It's probably going to be a good long while before they can even consider reconnecting anyway so Mira has plenty of time to sort through her feelings on this, talk to the related parties to confirm if her suspicions have anything to them, and Euphrasie would probably need even more time to process it all than Sif and Mira will put together (good odds she'd currently be going through a massive breakdown/freakout back in Dormont over realising she has a kid she has no idea the identity, well being or anything of).

Mostly out of direct 'scene to scene' stuff at this point but thinking the group end up spending the night in the Observatory, which is MASSIVE and Siffrin sort of manages to awkwardly get across that observatories not directly used for study are always like that because they're basically public churches for Islanders since viewing the guiding light of the stars with others is a holy/community kinda thing but... Also Sif's family on their Dad's side have owned this observatory/the 'star viewing area' on these cliffs for generations and it IS totally normal to spend every other night stargazing with random strangers and to be given near constant lessons on stars and proper behaviour by your Dad so all the other families know you're being properly pious and- Cue everyone being like: 'hey Sif, I think your family might've be a little less 'humble coastal folk' and more 'stupid rich' than you might've realised from the perspective of being a 13 year old, also the notes and diaries in your Dad's study scream political work and someone who arranges a lot of religious stuff' and Siffrin trying to wrap their brain around essentially being the Island's version of Mira but with like, a lot of money on top of that.

Other:

They 100% find the body of someone who killed themselves recently when looking around... Somewhere. (too many days ago for them to have possibly stopped this person but definite confirmation that survivors of the Island might've been hit hard by suddenly remembering and having no support)

Probably meet Undine on the rail system while looking for pockets of survivors still on the island - Undine is doing the same on behalf of the monsters trying to set up a new government so um. Yay happy first contact?

Once Sif's group has met up with the Undertale characters there' definitely gonna be some Sif and Frisk friendship stuff, though probably not before Frisk and Bonnie (and MK?) friendship causes mild craziness.

(...Must have Sif, Isa, Toriel and Sans pun off. I can't write for beans but I MUST! For the PUNS!!!!)

Scene where Siffrin learns the Elder guy who's been looking after all the kids in the Village by Mt Ebott (main area the monsters have set up shop so it'll probably be renamed by Asgore 'Home Town' soon), is their grandfather on their mother's side and a bit of family history. - namely that Sif's mother was half Vauguardian (grandma was sickly and died before Sif was even born), that travelling to other countries and marrying 'outside the island' was seen as something very odd (slight xenophobic attitudes to outsiders?) back in Grampa's day, and a lot of little tidbits about Sif's parents like how his mom loved fishheads so so much, it was Sif's dad who cooked amazing Malanga Fritters with green peppers, the two of them had something of a whirlwind romance bonding over making enchanted things together (dad better at ritual work while mom could just boom! Make things off the cuff without thinking too hard about it) and... yeah. Just... Sif finding one living relative who never, ever expected to see any of his relatives again to boot (also Elder immediately being all 'introduce me to your family- Ah so just like your mother you favor big handsome men! Oh and your little one Bonnie is precious!' the second he gets over the weepy 'I cannot believe it' awkwardness because dang it, Sif deserves to find some additional family on this otherwise incredibly heavy trip)

The exploration into the space warped and Sadness filled Island Capital eventially leads to a lot of weird/heavy revelations about the Island for Sif:

Sif on his dad's side is basically the heir to one of THE big families of the Island (they don't like royalty but the Asterion and Chara families were arguably that in all but name).

His dad was very concerned about the heir of Chara because they were never really seen in public despite the Chara family living in/basically owning the Capital.

There was a genuine fear of the Monsters returning and waging war for the sins committed against their ancestors and a union between the Asterion and Chara families was seen by many as 'Universe ordained' protection against this (Cue Sif having a lot of 'trying not to wonder if my country practiced arranged marriage' squick and really appreciating their parents' choice to keep them well away from the Capital/the really religious types here...)

The Chara family was apparently in charge of protecting and aiding any Monsters found outside Mt Ebott (of which there were actually quite a few!) but according to the official paperwork all of them requested to join the rest of the Monsters under Mt Ebott? (All monsters helping the party point blank state that no one, monster or human, entered the Underground from the Surface before Chara fell)

...Notes on how Monster dust is raw Wish Craft in physical form in the Chara house...

Notes in the Chara house on how the Chara heir wasn't particularly liked, to the point they weren't being given a personal name until they did something to earn it.

Horror lab eventually found in the Chara house. Lots of dusty cages, notes on how people injected with monster dust react to it, etc.

Chara's room. Bare and empty aside from a few potted golden flower plants, a few letters and pictures stuck up on the wall (cue Sif doing a double take recognising their childhood name on some of them -Chara was that penpal of theirs that never responded?), and a few loose floor boards which underneath have scribbled escape plans, very expired food rations, carefully drawn and folded pictures of non human figures crying in cages, and bandages.

--- And... yeah. That last part is very much the 'Chara plotline' stuff kicking in hard but trying to think of little puzzle pieces for Sif and Co to find and slowly piece together into a big old ball of 'Wow, I DO understand why this otherwise very nice and did not deserve this country got accidentally ERASED by this kid actually' hints so um yeah.

Hope you like all the world building/stuff before it gets all 'period horror/drama' at the end there and do feel free to use any of this/give feedback as well. I've spent too long typing this out, my brain is pudding and I'm done on this thinky think train for now XD

#isat #in stars and time #undertale #ut #undertale spoilers #isat spoilers #fais fanfic rambles #post game #fusion fic #writing stuff about the island #fanfiction #worldbuilding #having too much fun with the 'what else did everyone forget' thing #islander euphrasia theory brought up in universe (and set aside because yikes that's heavy given the circumstances) #Siffrin is not having a great time (learning a lot though) #Lotta horror aaaa stuff in the last part for Chara backstory #cw suicide mention #...I need stuff for the non Sif parts of the team to do. Outside of Sif I mean #Like Bonnie running off and uncovering 'kid secrets' with Frisk is easy #but still brain blank on the others mostly #eh got nothing for the undertale cast and loop either so later I guess #for now i sleep #oh apologies if bambooche is misspelt. forgot to look it up and too tired to edit it now so hopefully you all know what I'm on about anyway #cw car accident #cw mention of death #cw implied abuse

[im-just-a-br0adway-baby]

Encantober 2023 Day 16: Grief

The end of January was always a hard time of the year for Julieta and Agustin. January twenty-sixth was the original due date for the child they were supposed to have when Luisa was two years old. Julieta and Agustin were so excited that they were having another child together, but their lives would come crashing down that spring. She got several tests done at the hospital and it was confirmed that she miscarried.

The months after the announcement were the most devastating months for Julieta and Agustin. They saw the door disappear slowly before getting a confirmation from the doctor, which made them anxious. That was when they went to the hospital to get the confirmation. The entire family grieved the loss of their potential new child, sibling, cousin, grandchild, and nibling, but Julieta carrying the child made her the most traumatized.

Now, every year on January twenty-sixth, the Madrigal family hosts a private memorial service to remember the life the child could have had with them. Alma would tell the story of the would-be Madrigal to Mirabel, Camilo, and Antonio and have a yearly candle ceremony by the lake. While they also celebrated the life the child could have had, Julieta and Agustin could not get themselves to even try to celebrate their child’s potential life.

When the child’s would-have-been eighteenth birthday approached, Alma decided to hold a ceremony at Casita and have Julieta make a cake for them. As much as she did not want to, she agreed anyway because they would still be an important part of the family, and it would have been her child, after all.

While she was baking the cake, Mirabel came into the kitchen to see her mother clearly upset while baking. She could not help but walk in to see her mother crying and see how she was doing.

“Hola, mami; I couldn’t help but notice you still crying while baking. Are you still upset about the miscarriage?”

“Si, Mirabel; I really hope you never have to deal with this when you get to my age. It’s one of the most devastating things any mother could go through. That’s why we always say how you were our miracle baby, because we didn’t think we would be able to have any more children after that.”

Mirabel sat at the kitchen island while Julieta continued gathering ingredients. “I hope you don’t mind, mami, but could you tell me about your pregnancy a little bit? I know it didn’t last long, but I wanted to know how it felt.”

Julieta signaled Mirabel to come near her. “I was so excited about having a third child. Your tia was visibly upset and jealous since she was trying so hard to conceive and knowing I was able to do so twice after her made her visibly upset. But she still supported me and was just as upset when I announced the miscarriage.”

Mirabel hugged her mother once she told that part of the story. She wanted to learn more about the older sibling she could have had, but she also knew there was not much information to be revealed since her pregnancy did not last very long.

“You also have no idea how excited your papi and I were when I was pregnant with you two years later. It was also why I got so emotional when you were born. It also made me worried because of the last pregnancy. So I was kind of overprotective of you when you were born. I didn’t even let your tia Pepa or tio Bruno hold you for a couple weeks because I was too scared of losing you.”

Mirabel began helping her mother with the cake by taking out some flour and sugar from the cabinet. “Do you remember how you felt after the miscarriage was announced?”

“It was the most devastating news your papa and I got. We went to the hospital that day because we saw the door fade and we needed to do some tests at the hospital to see if we didn’t miscarry. Once we did the test, they diagnosed the miscarriage and that was when we and the rest of the family got the news.”

Julieta put a bowl on the counter and Mirabel started to scoop flour into it. Julieta got the milk and the butter from the refrigerator and put it on the counter. “Do you still sometimes wonder what kind of gift they would have had if they were born?”

“We sometimes do; we wonder a lot of things about the child if we ended up having them. Like, what their interests would have been, or which one of the adults they would have been the most attached to. Bruno liked to joke about how they would have been the most attached to him just to tease me, since Isabela was the most attached to you abuela and Luisa was the most attached to your papi.”

Julieta took two cups of water and put it in the bowl of flour. Isabela and Luisa came into the kitchen to see their mother and sister working on the cake. “Hola, Mami and Mirabel, we just wanted to see how the cake was doing,” Isabela mentioned.

“The cake is getting done. I just needed to give Mami some motivation to make it,” Mirabel replied.

“What’s been going on?” Luisa asked.

“I’ve just been thinking about the child I would have had, like I always do when we have these ceremonies,” Julieta explained.

“Mami, I know that this is the hardest day of the year for you and papi, and you’re not wrong for still grieving for their potential life. But you still understand why Abuela holds these ceremonies every year, right?” Isabela explained.

“Si, because the life they would have had would still be special and to teach us that even the potential life is precious.”

Julieta’s daughters hugged her excitedly once she mentioned the reason. “So you still understand the meaning of these ceremonies,” Mirabel mentioned.

“And besides, you still have three amazing daughters that fill your life with joy everyday,” said Isabela.

“And you still call Mirabel your miracle baby and express how grateful you are that she’s here, alive, and healthy,” Luisa added.

Julieta hugged her daughters back. “Do you want to help me with the cake? Mirabel offered and we would need this done in a couple hours.”

“Si, mami, we would love to,” Luisa replied.

The cool-colored sisters gathered more ingredients for the cake and helped Julieta finish making the cake. They put it in the oven after gathering the ingredients and helping Julieta mix them in the batter. After a half hour, Julieta took the cake out of the oven and Mirabel got the icing out of the refrigerator, and all three girls iced the cake. Each daughter then decided to be in charge of one decorating process for the cake and it was done within another half hour. The four women looked at the cake in awe to see how great it looked.

“I’m sure it’s going to taste as great as it looks,” Mirabel pointed out.

“And it’s all because I got my three amazing daughters to help me out,” Julieta added.

Alma came into the kitchen to see her elder daughter and her three cool-colored granddaughters finishing up with the cake.

“Is the cake almost finished? You have been in here for several hours,” Alma pointed out.

“Lo siento, mama, I was just thinking about the grief this miscarriage has given me and was telling Mirabel about my pregnancy at the time. I understand that I’ve been dreading this day every year for eighteen years, and I’m still going to in the future, but I’m starting to find some more positives on this day too,” Julieta explained.

Alma smiled and gave Julieta a hug. “I knew you would one day see the good in these ceremonies. You know that we celebrate all the Madrigals in this house, even the ones we lost and never got a chance at life.”

“I understand now, mama. And now, even Mirabel understands too.”

#encanto #disney #disney encanto #disney's encanto #encantober #encantober 2023 #day 16 #grief #julieta madrigal #mirabel madrigal #miscarriage #isabela madrigal #luisa madrigal #abuela alma madrigal #family tragedy #cw mentions of miscarriage #cw miscarriage #la familia madrigal

[gamerbearmira]

HELLO I AM BACK! So sorry for being gone so long I got busy with work and my sister had a baby so I've been super busy but I am back now so... BABY MIRA PART 4!

'Casita did this?!' the feeling of betrayal was overwhelming to Mirabel as she wailed in the crook of her papis shoulder ignoring the way her abuela started to argue with Casita getting no response also ignoring when her mama started to argue with her abuela for being so loud. Casita was one of her closest family members and to hear from her own tiles that she did this HURT. Mirabel didn't understand why? Why would Casita do this to her? Did she not like her anymore? Did she ever like her? Did Casita want her to be different from how she was? What did she do to deserve this?!

"Oh Miraboo its ok Papi's here everything is going to be ok Casita... Casita is bringing food and then you'll be full and then we can go back to sleep you must be so tired Mi pequeña mariposa." Her father says all this in a hushed voice and he starts bouncing and swaying slightly trying to soothe her. The combo makes her stop crying as hard but she was still whimpering 'No, No sleep I need answers! I need-'

"CASITA YOU ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DID THIS!" it seems her abuela has lost all patients as her anger yell cuts through her internal ranting before it really started. The loud noise makes her flinch and she starts to cry softly she feels her papi start rubbing her back as well as the bounce/sway movement he has going comforts her in a way she can't really understand but she stops crying and stops whimpering "Mama I know you're angry but lower your voice you're scaring Mirabel!" Her Mama hisses at her abuela clearly near the end of her own patience.

before her abuela can respond the sound of rushing tiles pushing something can be heard and at the still open door is a serving tray with a bottle of milk it's pushed forward and Casita claps her tiles together saying 'there we are! food for mi pequeña mariposa especial!' Casita pushes the serving tray towards her mama who is right next to abuela near the door as she got closer to her when she started to argue with her about her volume. Mirabel isn't paying attention to that though. She is paying attention to what Casita just said, what Casita just called her, her special little butterfly.... Casita has never given nicknames before.... So Casita does like her? She isn't disappointed and doesn't wants her to change who she is? Then why do this? Why make her restart her life all over again!

Before she could think about it any longer she feels herself being passed from her Papi shoulder to her Mama cradled arms with a rusty ease that showed that though it has been years they never truly forgot how to take care of their baby. Before she can really register the change in position and start crying (why she doesn't know but she's been doing a lot of things for reasons that are unknown to her sooo...) she finds the bottle in her mouth in a rush and a small bit of warm milk in her mouth she finds herself sucking it down on instinct just now realizing how hungry she was. She finishes the bottle quickly almost too quickly causing her to spit up on her mama a little bit as she almost choked herself "oh Mira I'm so sorry you must have been so hungry." Her Mama sounds a little upset but it's not like she knew her youngest would turn into a baby and need to be fed every few hours.

"What do you mean you did it Casita?" She hears her abuela ask Casita in a forceful and angry tone. Casita wastes no time to respond this time

'I mean I used some of the power given to me to undo the mistakes of that." She gestures to the candle with a wooden plank from the door 'Idiot who thinks it's a good idea to hide important information from people. Like the fact that Mirabel apparently does have a gift! Which it still won't tell me what it is!' there's a small angry rumble from the tiles in front of the door they stop after a moment and perk up a bit 'But I have made it agree to a redo! Yes a redo is exactly what we need!' the tiles clap happily together like Casita has just revealed something wonderful. There's a moment of still silence as the ones who can understand what was said soak in what was just relayed to them. Her abuela looks from the tiles to the candle shock on her face opening and closing her mouth unable to say a word.

'I have a gift......' the thought brought Mirabel a tingling feeling all over like butterflies kissing her skin, like ants crawling all over and biting her, like ice and fire coming together to create a burning cold that hurt and soothed all at once 'I have a gift.... Or had? What is my gift! Does it not count now that I'm a baby? Do I have the gift now?' the thoughts were confusing and it all was hard to wrap her head around. This whole situation is confusing and overwhelming and hard to wrap her head around honestly. Her mama starts rocking her slightly, anxious by her own mama's behavior she hears her mama start to ask her abuela what was said but with her belly full and the night's activities the act of rocking quickly starts to lull Mirabel to sleep. Right as she closes her eyes she looks over to the candle and sees in the smoke two little words. Two little words that she's waited 10 years for from that candle.

'I'm sorry.'

OMG HIIIIIIII I MISSED YOU <333

Really I did. Hope you’re doing well and taking a rest from work AND CONGRATS ON THE NEW BABAY⁉️⁉️⁉️

Ok so i read it. SO COOL OMG <3 Ngl I can kinda understand why Alma is yelling, I mean it’s a pretty stressful situation and no one’s clued in BUT then again, you can’t go around screaming. With a baby present, in the middle of the night no less. Aside from that, shout to Julieta and Agustín. They’ve managed to (somewhat) keep it together. Personally, I’d break down crying in confusion 💀

Also Mirabel was so lost. Handling emotions she couldn’t even control. And then they shoved a bottle in her mouth, but you know, she was full and it made her quiet down so whatever. She was probably relieved when Casita didn’t randomly start hating her. And then. The candle. Mf in a redemption arc (as far as I can tell) and I’m all for it.

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MORE (if you have more <3) RAHHHHHH‼️‼️‼️

Mirabel to Casita:

#my asks are open #my asks #encanto #encanto au #au #encanto mirabel #encanto alma #encanto julieta #encanto agustín #de aged mirabel au #de aged mirabel

[allthingsencanto]

I really love Julieta, but not just because she’s caring and well….just an amazing person, but also because even she herself is a flawed person, and I think it’s perfectly represented in the kitchen scene.

I myself have said that I really like flawed characters who are good people at the same time, because it really makes you feel more for the character, they feel real, and part of the fun is understanding where they’re coming from. In the kitchen scene, she confronts Mirabel about the crack situation. Once Mirabel shows that she thinks she doesn’t believe her and says she would never ruin Antonio’s special night, Julieta responds with “I think tonight was hard for you”. It’s clear to the viewer that Julieta obviously doesn’t believe Mirabel regarding the cracks, nor really hears her out, but I just love that regardless, she tries to shower her daughter with love and appreciation. You see Mirabel clearly frustrated because her mother isn’t listening to her, even though what Julieta is doing is that….well you clearly see she’s a character who tries her best at all times, and that’s what I appreciate about her. Throughout the movie you see her worry and try to help Mirabel, saying she has nothing to prove, saying she’s special the way she is, telling Abuela to be easy on her, so Julieta to me, came off as one of those mothers who loves their child very much and tries to shower them with love, doing everything in their power to give them support and appreciation, even though at the same time, they can’t really understand just exactly what their child is going through, and they can’t really see through their eyes. She reminds me of a parent who tries their best to help, but in some situations isn’t really, even though you can tell they’re trying and that they love the other very much, and this is a GOOD thing. I love layered and complex characters so much, and it’s especially emotional to think about Julieta’s point of view.

In the official Encanto Art book (and yes I own one hehe), in the words of director Jared Bush himself, regarding Julieta, he states:

“She really tries, and her kids are her number one priority. She is the most empathetic member of the family, and while she is still imperfect, she tries her best to defend her daughter.”

Like I said, it’s one of the things you can appreciate about her. She really loves her daughters, and the fact that she’s trying her best despite being imperfect herself, is a really good thing. 🥺😭💕

Finally, I think the most important thing worth mentioning about Julieta is that in the official behind the scenes Encanto featurette titled “Familia Lo Es Todo”, an animator by the name of “Jorge E. Ruiz Cano”, had this to say about her:

“I know many Julieta’s, she’s trying to recognize Abuela’s traditions, but also validate and see the next generation coming in. She wants to please Abuela, she understand Abuela. She wants to please Mirabel, she understands Mirabel, and she loves them both. It’s beautiful to see the interaction of three generations!”

I absolutely love this fact about her. You have her loving her mother truly despite her mother being a heavily flawed person, and while Julieta is part of the members who stick to Abuela’s expectations and follow her traditions, she also has three daughters to love and care for, so she’s sort of trying to make sure the next generation knows they’re being seen, and that she’s just…giving them the comfort that she thinks they all need. She feels like a real person you’d meet in real life, not just simple and shallow, but deep, emotional, and complex herself, and that’s what I love about her. We stan a healing mother! 🥣🫓💙

#encanto #disney’s encanto #jared bush #walt disney animation studios #disney animation #mirabel madrigal #bryan howard #encanto mirabel #lin manuel miranda #walt disney #julieta madrigal #Encanto Julieta #Abuela Alma #alma madrigal #disney #encanto concept art

[sweet-beezus]

Iliana's the one that gets to travel the most out of the three, but that doesn't stop me from spinning fun stories about their potential adventures in my head!

I had a hard time picking what world(s) I wanted to talk about for this prompt of @khoc-week simply because the possibilities are endless and I have way too many I want to send them to...

So I just narrowed it down to a few and wanted to talk a bit on my ideas plus the lessons it teaches each of my chosen sacrifices- erm. Blorbos, yes blorbos!

Lets go~

Day 2 - New World

Sonic Frontiers

Following the events of Sonic Frontiers, our heroes find themselves stranded in an unfamiliar place, the Starfall Isles, filled with glitches and weird robots! And weird creatures. And talking animals. Just a regular Wednesday afternoon-

They meet Sonic, a highspeed hedgehog, who's looking for and rescuing his friends scattered across the isles, and they team up to figure out how to get out of here by any means necessary - even if it means losing yourself to [Sora voice] bugs.

I picked this one for Iris!

While she may not match the same energy as Sonic, she faces the same dilemma where she takes on a lot more than she can handle at times. She's always going with no break, and oftentimes finds nothing more than hurt in her efforts, more towards herself than anyone else.

Here, she gets to learn that even in times of strife sometimes it's alright to admit that everything is a little too much, but that you also have others you can trust to help you stay standing! And, maybe even a bit on how to loosen up and trust that things may end up okay.

♡♡♡

Encanto

Finding themselves in a humble village in Columbia, our heroes stumble into attending a lavish fiesta held at the encanto of the Madrigal Family, where they meet an interesting cast with much more power than expected!

Things go awry when their beloved encanto begins to fall apart, losing its magic in the process...

They team up with Mirabel to investigate some uncovered family secrets, while also snuffing the darkness that is plaguing the family in hopes to repair damage done by one person's grief, as well as return their guiding light back to full flame.

This one is for Irene!

She and Mirabel, to some degree, share a similar position of being unremarkable. They're the last people to be considered for important tasks except in certain situations, yet they both know they're still important regardless! They just have to stand off to the side is all! ... Right? No!

In assisting Mirabel, she is learning better how to accept her lack of magical talent, as well as picking up new techniques on how to creatively handle situations magic can't touch. She's not as quick witted as her young charges, but it does serve her well when combined with her kindness, and in turn helps Mirabel learn some techniques to better connect with her relatives and accept herself for what she can't control.

In contrast, Irene learns more about how it feels to be singled out, to think you're ruining everything despite it all not being your fault, something she never experienced herself but saw in one of her companions. This will help her with some important bonding later.

♡♡♡

Brave

By accident, our heroes managed to walk into a very interesting situation at just the right time! ... Disguised as men? It's the Land of Dragons all over again-

They meet Merida, who enlists Iliana's help in rigging a competition for her hand in marriage. The whole plan is to allow Iliana to win, though with some characteristically accurate interference from her, so she can be free to live her life, putting her family under the assumption that she gave up and finally picked a man, even when trying to cheat to win. Despite the fact they still cheated, but anyway-

Iliana, being well versed in passing as a dude by now, agrees to this wacky plan, since it may lead them to whatever it is this world brought them for. The rough part was that they were total nobodies, so this would take a lot of improv to pull off. Skill? Not an issue for now... hopefully-

However, things get a bit... hairy, and needlessly complicated no less-

I picked this one for Iliana because... Hmm-

On one hand I could give a joke answer and say it's because she learned something valuable in the ways of conning people out of an actual win, but...

On the other hand she learned plenty about controlling your destiny on your own terms, helping others achieve who they want to be despite other's expectations (though the bears were a bit much in her opinion), as well as received another nice lesson in body positivity because sporting a beard has never been a bigger nightmare...

♡♡♡

Honorable mentions include:

▪︎Persona 5: Insight into learning how rigged the system can be against you, and that even the most unassuming person could be harboring something much darker. This is a given, but they also get to see first hand that when confronting that darkness there can be redemption, even for the blackest of hearts. This will later lead to sheer disappointment.

▪︎Moana: Perhaps breaking the boundaries, no matter how terrifying, may lead you to where you need to go. On a different end, winning everyone's admiration may lead to disaster for yourself and others.

▪︎Undertale: Not everything is a monster you need to slay, except for the version of you that you refuse to face. And perhaps kindness and mercy for the innocent can go a long way.

▪︎Tinkerbell: There's always magic in discovering where you fit, though reaching beyond conforming may be daunting, perhaps that's where you need to be.

♡♡♡

Honorable joke mentions include:

▪︎MCU: Don't bother moving here unless you want awful insurance and weekly evacuations

▪︎The Caribbean (PotC 5 edition): Barbossa's a dad??? And who did Cap'n Jack piss off now- GHOSTS???

▪︎Pokémon: This is just how you bring home free pets, there's no escaping that-

▪︎Barbie: Make them have an existential crisis and slay in pink while doing it

♡♡♡

My main goal for all of them in the end is for them to learn to accept themselves, as well as enjoy the time they have to be young and free. Y'know, despite the interference of a bald old man and his 13 copies, as well as the ghost of fried chicken past-

I think it's fun seeing what all sorts of places can do to change how you view yourself, especially when residents and friends open your eyes to things you never truly saw!

The fun part? INFINITE amounts of these places to see and learn from! Imagine the possibilities...

I digress though! Hope y'all had fun, see y'all on Day 3!

#sham's art #shamsbabs #iliana #irene #iris #reixen #khoc week #khoc week 2023 #i'm not gonna tag the canon characters just for sanity's sake lol #however i've been rotating these fools meeting sonic the hedgehog for a while #and it's truly a treasure to me #it's my fan content and i get to pick the silly worlds!!! #kh oc #kingdom hearts oc #khux oc #digital doodles

[beantothemax]

Onto Mirabelle! (And then I'm going to sleep it's like 2 am here-)

Mirabelle, to reflect what I said with Sif, IS the main character of this world. Chosen by the Change Divinity, being immune to time stop....just like you said in another ask! And it all makes for an interesting, if a little cliché character. It is something that I will be saying a lot in these analysis, because I believe the devs managed to make a believable rpg party while still putting their own stuff.

She is the chosen hero, but she really doesn't act like one. We need to remember that everything we see is in the context of the end of the journey: and so, it wouldn't be ridiculous to expect the characters to have grown into their roles. Yet, Belle is constantly unsure, and constantly downplaying her abilities. It's seen across the game: she panics and need to be reminded of battle strategies, is struggling to stay positive, and a simple lack of enthusiasm from sir "I constantly look like I just woke up and don't understand what's going on" Sif is enough for her to doubt herself. It's obvious that the fact that she wasn't supposed to be the chosen one is weighing on her.

In her relation to the others members, she feels like the most passive in the interactions (though were I am right now, it is slowly changing for the better: a book club project with Dile, venting her frustrations about book thieves and noisy roommates...). She still seems very close to everyone else, but rarely is the one in front of the situation, which I just thought about, is an interesting parallel with how Sif is the one leading the way instead of her, even though she's the classic RPG MC.

Beau and her have a relationship of uplifting each other: almost every time they talk, it's to support the other's ideas, or simply encourage them. It is apparent that they were the first two in the team (as implied in game I'm pretty sure, by the fact that she went directly to ask the guardians for help). Dile seems like she plays a big sister role to Belle, rather than the mom or grandma that the game describes. They have a few interests in common, and Dile loves learning while Belle loves talking about her beliefs. Belle is to Bonnie a big sister, and it's pretty apparent. She is kind and caring, while also being able to scold him and play the role of adult when need be. Finally, I already talked about Sif, but it would be unfair not to say that the supportive role he plays, she plays too. She is the one taking care of waking him up, reassuring them when their joke didn't work...it's a mutually beneficial relationship.

The fact that the dungeon we explore is the place where she lived her whole life makes for very important and interesting evolution to her character. At every turn, there is someone she knows, something she remembers. And so I believe we will see an evolution of the passive hero towards a more active personality, while keeping what makes her her.

Conclusion: pretty. Makes ding ding when she walks. She's the embodiment of cool noise appreciation.

And also I love her very much.

@jayandthejets THERE BE MORE

weh……… miribelli spaghetti………….

mirabelle is SUCH a character!!!!!! she always trying so hard to stay positive no matter what!!! her interactions with the others make me want to explode!!!!!! She [REDACTED] and doesn’t feel [EXPUNGED] AND [POURED APPLE JUICE ON MESSAGE SORRY :(] they all care so much about each other it hurts!!!!!!

ding ding indeed…

#asks #younes-geek #crab dni

[inthishousewestanspiderpunk]

Encanto Christmas headcanons!

Hey everyone! Wow, what a year, huh? Yes, even the obvious bots that just follow for the sake of it, this is for you too! Okay, first up, I want to wish y'all a merry crisis, whatever you're doing or not doing this time of year! This year, I am in my parent's caravan celebrating with them and going to the races tomorrow which should be fun.

And seeing how it's the season of giving, I am giving you more Encanto Christmas headcanons! Last year's still remain, especially with Camilo and the church (there's a reason the priest loses his hair and it ain't Bruno!) but I wanted to write and share some more and write and share some more, I shall! Now, you may notice a name that is definitely known amongst the Encanto tumblr fandom, that being the lovely Elena who is owned by @prophetic-hijinks and has been my hyperfixation for the past week. Elena is the wife of Bruno and easily one of my favourite ocs. Having worked as a singer in a bar for years, she's heard it all and can throw back just as much as she's given, but she has such a soft and gentle side from her childhood and it is her dream to become a mama. She's a total firecracker in the best way and compliments Bruno beautifully.

So, I wish you all a pleasant holidays, be merry and bright and please be careful!

Lots of love,

Charlotte x

Alma announces that the town is to have a special visitor for Christmas. Mariano deadass asks if it's Santa as 'special visitor' and 'Christmas'. It's Father Francisco from a neighbouring church. This is based on something that happened last week to my twin sister. It was announced at her work that there'll be an important visitor and as its Christmas, she thought 'oh, Santa!'...it was safeguarding.

It is on Christmas day that Pepa finds out she's pregnant with Dolores and Julieta announces she's expecting Isabela. Congratulations all around the table but the ladies later have a laugh at the coincidence.

Dolores is desperate for a baby brother or sister. To the point that when she is three, that's all she has on her list and steals the baby Jesus at the nativity that year and refuses to give him back. Neither Pepa nor Félix imagined they'd have to put 'negotiating with a three year old over a baby that's not even theirs' on their parenting resume, yet here they were.

When Camilo is five and his first Christmas with his gift, he turns into Santa and convinces the kids of the Encanto to give him their presents. If it wasn't for Alma and Pepa interfering, then the likelihood of Camilo being the leader of a tiny cult of kids was rather high.

Julieta and Agustín find out the hard way that Agustín is allergic to mistletoe.

Speaking of mistletoe, Elena gets some from Isabela and with help from Casita, she hangs it on the doorway of Bruno's room. It takes him a few minutes for him to notice and then a few more to comprehend the meaning.

Elena pursed her lips up to the plant with the pearlescent berries that was hanging delicately above the doorway. She gazed at Bruno through hooded eyes, hoping he'd get the hint. "Huh, mistletoe." "Mmhmm." He frowned for a moment. "Um, pretty?" Elena mentally facepalmed. He is so lucky he's cute.

Favourite Christmas songs

Bruno - Santa, Baby *clutches his vinyl record of Elena's version tightly* "It's a nice song, is all," he squeaks, trying desperately hide his boner with his ruana.

Elena - Santa, Baby "I may have a few tricks up my sleeve for mi pájaro carpintero," she purrs with a wink when asked. Cue Bruno with a nosebleed not too dissimilar to anime.

Mirabel - Step Into Christmas - "How can anyone hate this song? STEP INTO CHRISTMAS, LET'S JOIN TOGETHER, WE CAN WATCH THE SNOW FALL FOREVER AND EVER!"

Luisa - Lonely Pup in a Christmas Shop *in between sobs* "The...the puppy! It needs a home!" Augustín proceeds to comfort her and reassure her that the puppy is fine and it does find a loving home at the last minute.

Isabela - Grandma Got Runover By a Reindeer "Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?"

Alma - Do They Know It's Christmas time? "It's about helping others with what we are blessed with!"

Julieta - Christmas Wrapping "MOOD."

Agustín - Mary's Boy Child Hums to it whilst prepping dinner, with Casita making sure he doesn't injure himself. Casita swears that that man will be the death of it one day.

Pepa - Christmas time (Don't let the bells end) "It helps release my emotions!" she shouts over the music as it blasts out of the speaker. Dolores tends to avoid these times.

Félix - Feliz Navidad "I wanna wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heeeeeeeeart!!!!"

Dolores - All I want for Christmas "All I want for Christmas is mi amor. And some earmuffs. Oop!"

Mariano - Last Christmas "It's the perfect love story! Drama, betrayal, heart, its beautiful! Just like Dolores." Blows a kiss to Dolores and she giggles. Camilo and Antonio gag at this.

Camilo - Fairytale of New York "Where else would I be able to call someone a gusano?"

Antonio - Hippopotamus for Christmas "I love any song with animals!"

#encanto headcanons #encanto Christmas #felix madrigal #encanto thoughts #pepa madrigal #camilo madrigal #dolores x mariano #bruno x elena #elen madrigal #family madrigal

[casitafallz-a]

Decay AU | Cracking Familia Façades 

Isabela was buzzing as she got out of bed; her excitement was on the sole fact she was now able to leave Casita.

Freedom.

Well, freedom with a leash but still, freedom.

In the two weeks that had past since her cactus mishap, Isabela had been counting down the days until she could go out and get her own things than rely on Tio Felix or even Luisa and Dolores to bring her things she had wanted. She had tried not to complain when they brought her the wrong thing because they were actually trying, but now she could go out and get the right things.

At breakfast, she hurriedly helped her mother set the food down though anxiously waited for Abuela to be done with her morning talk before they were allowed to start eating,

“Eat slower, Isa,” Mama spoke as she began to wolf the food down. “I don’t want you to choke.”

Isabela glanced up to Julieta. “I know, I wanna get going into town. Today’s the day I’m allowed to leave.”

Tia Pepa looked to Tio sharply though didn’t look displeased. Mirabel—who Isabela had tried to phase her existence out—at the other end of the table seemed to pause in her food though Isabela moved her gaze to Abuela’s face instead, it seemed like Abuela had forgotten that but she wasn't sure. 

“I hope you’ve remembered everything?” the warning in her tone wasn’t hard to miss but Isabela know what she meant by that; they still had an image to maintain in the Encanto’s ignorance of her actions; why she was away and everything.

“I know. I’ve been running through everything last night. I’m looking forwards to going as soon as breakfast is done.” She just hoped her escort of the day would finish just as quickly then they could go.

“No, you still have to help with mopping and washing first, then you can go,” Agustín spoke up, his face looking a little apologetic as he spoke.

“You’re kidding me?!” Isabela couldn’t help the look that passed over her face as she looked to her father. “I spent the last month inside, and the first day I’m allowed to leave, you’re making me stay in do chores.”

“Would you rather not go out at all today?” Abuela proposed sharply.

Isa’s face blanked but she felt the grip on her cutlery tighten but forcibly kept her attention down to her plate to avoid eye contact with the blatant shut-down. That had been becoming far more recent from Abuela; this. No reasoning or airing her side of things but a “do it or…” scenario. Of course, Abuela would threaten to keep her in a day longer to prove a point. Why weren’t her parents doing that or at least trying to see her side for these small things?

“Aww, like your chore are suddenly going to go just because you’re allowed out,” Camilo remarked. “What did you expect?”

Isabela inhaled deeply, though forcibly made herself take a few more bites before she collected her plate together and rose to her feet than rise to his bait.

“Isa, what are you doing? Breakfast isn’t finished yet?”

Isabela turned back to her Abuela though smiled softly, if a little forced. “My breakfast is, Abuela. I’ll get the washing soaking first then start the mopping.” Abuela always did her speeches of the day at the start so it wasn’t like she was missing anything important either.

Tio Felix hummed. “The quicker you start, the quicker it’s done. Smart thinking.”

“Thank you, Tio. Excuse me.” With a flick of her hair, Isabela hurried out before she could be stopped.

 -

 Isabela was…relieved if a little if Tio Felix somehow managed to cover a lot more of the floors than she expected when she helped with the mopping, and promptly took her bucket and mop with a warm smile and let her leave while he cleaned up the last few bits and pieces.

She switched out her chore’s skirt and shirt with one of her old, lilac dresses because appearances back to the town mattered; she had to look perfect—or at least how the town remembered her. A month was forever and… well coming out after so long was going to be odd; she had to retain her public image.

She already had her excuses lined up why she couldn’t use her gift, the ones Abuela had told her to use or the ones Abuela had subtly told a few while she had started her punishments.

What she had wanted to do was shop.

A few new dresses and skirts, and a lot more books… and she wanted to get more gardening tools and seeds; not that she couldn’t make them herself but she wanted to get back into more personal, gift-less growing outside her room; why not start from its beginning too?

Of course, with the books Tio had given her already, it was ever prudent that she’d needed shelves and a proper desk. She vaguely knew of the carpenters, Señor Marquez’s family; he and his son ran the carpentry with a few apprentices while his wife and daughter than the flower shop- that in recent times had become more popular in her absence which was to some relief. People still had access to flowers.

At least now, she’d have a somewhat more pleasant conversation; less personal and more about…topics she could enjoy. No treading around so many eggshells like she had been doing for the last month here.

With a final look in her mirror, and putting her bag around her shoulder, Isabela hurried down excitedly as she saw Luisa waiting by the door.

“You’re the one taking me down?” Isabela asked, looking through Casita’s door, bouncing on her heels.

“Si.”

“Good! Let’s go!” she took the lead, forcing Luisa to walk brisk paced with her. “I’ve got a shopping list. It’ll take a few trips back and forth from Casita.” She only had little arms and she certainly wasn’t going to ask Luisa to get involved; she didn’t want Luisa to feel like she was using her when she was already forced to be her escort on this trip.

“What do you plan on buying?” Luisa asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise.

“Clothes, books… some furniture.”

“Can’t your room make that for you?”

“I want to get out and buy it. That’s where the fun is.” Isabela waved her off about that, taking the route down and straight into a shop.

 -

 Isabela made a few trips back and forth from Casita and crossing off each thing off her list, passing Antonio running around with a group of kids and she didn’t even notice the alarm on a few of his new friend's faces as she and Luisa passed on her last trip towards the carpenters.

There had been a few things she had noticed on her second and third trip was the slight change in atmosphere and the few looks given to her. But she had brushed it off as nothing as she had her list to complete.

But the spindly looks were hard to miss, the sense of contempt and even disdain that hung in the background that made her nervous by the time they reached the carpenters.

The carpenters were a bigger building, much like the blacksmiths down the road, out front was the store side, their hand-crafted goods were out on the street on display from small decorative jewelry boxes to huge cabinets, doors, and bookshelves. From nice painted finishes to a simple varnish finish; there was a lot of hand-made beauty that Isabela found herself appreciating. So much work was put into carving wood.

Isabela swallowed thickly as she looked at the cabinets and bookshelves with more interest, trying to ignore the whispers and looks of those in passing. What were they even talking about? Were they angry about her absence?

“Perhaps we should go home?” Luisa whispered, looking around.

“Not yet.” Isabela argued, “These are our last few items.”

Movement from the corner of her eye pulled her attention to see Señor Marquez’s son head their way, dressed in his workshop apron though looked drastically more cheerful and warmer than the rest of the street; easing her anxieties considerably.

“Hola, nice to see you here. It’s…been a while. I hope you’re feeling better, Señorita Madrigal” he directed to her with a clear professional edge as well. Though gave a nod to acknowledge Luisa hanging back.

“Gracias, I’m...better.” She smiled. “Please, call me Isabela.”

“Certainly, you can call me Mateo.”

Isabela nodded softly, “I was looking at your bookshelves?”

“Ah,” he turned and directed them. “These ones are our more recent creations. At the moment, its style is unique. If you don’t like the colors, we can recolor but that does come with a re-paint fee.”

Three shelves of three different designs stood out, the first was a simple varnish, large, and stood with ornamental edging that looked very…British. A few books of Europe had survived this long and Tio had let her borrow to read through; to why she could recognize the sublet touches. The second was a blue shelf of 6 with beautiful woven patterns like roots as it’s back-paneling and softly carved plant-like designs carved into its side and decorative edges. Isabela didn’t give the third a glance at the beauty of this one

“Do you like this one?” Mateo asked, his eyes lingering on the shelves she was examining.

Isabela nodded thoughtfully, “I do like its design. Did you make this one yourself?”

Mateo seemed to brighten up at her question before he nodded tough held himself back to something more professional. “Yes. Have you heard of strangling figs?”

Isabela snorted in the back of her throat but nodded. “I’ve grown a few.”

Mateo’s ears were the only thing to turn a little red but he simply nodded to the bookcase and to the woven design. “I was inspired by their design once they’ve encased a tree; the natural woven look It can look stunning. I used to think they were the tree’s skeletons when I was growing up.”

Isabela’s eyes returned to the shelving pattern but she could see the clear work put into it by its delicacy and intricate design that did look…natural. Concerning so given the nature of those trees and of course, she did trust that as a carpenter, he knew what was safe and what wasn’t to use, let alone to sell for people to have in their homes…

“You…didn’t make this with Stranger Figs? Some of these fig tree species can be toxic.”

Mateo shrugged, “I didn’t, as much as I wanted to. My father talked me out given how horrible the grains are to work with and the latex sap is…sticky.”

“He’s not wrong.”

“How much?” Luisa was the first to ask, almost discomforted by their pleasant conversation as she shifted from one leg to the other. Isabela tried not to feel irritated. What did Luisa think was happening here?

“She’s not buying anything from us, Mateo.” Another voice echoed.

All three head’s turned to see Mateo’s sister, Sara in the doorway that clearly led the outback to the workshops and her once pretty face was morphed into a shrewd, unpleasant expression with an ice-cold steel edge.

“Hermana, she is a buying customer,” Mateo informed, his face turning ridged and arms crossed over his chest. “And a Madrigal. It’ll be unwise to refuse service.”

“I think it’ll be unwise to us to sell to a woman who almost killed her sister. I won’t tarnish our reputation by selling to a girl like that.”

Isabela felt the word freeze over as the words echoed in her mind… words that should never have come from anyone’s mouth outside of Casita… words of her actions that should never have been made known to people outside their family.

Despite the shock, Isabela masked her expression behind a blank mask, her arms coming around herself but her mind began to churn again…

“Sara!” Mateo hissed.

“What? Like it’s a secret anymore?” Sara scoffed.

If Sara continued talking, Isabela didn’t hear it as she felt the blood pump through her veins as the familiar heat of rage flooded her veins and the adrenaline pushed her to move, storming away from the carpenter’s to the main road.

It hurt as much as it angered her to see a few parents pull their child away from her, as if she was about to lash out; as if she hadn’t learned her lesson here. She hated that; that they would jump to conclusions without the whole story.

Isabela could feel Luisa struggling to keep up as she stormed back up towards Casita, ignoring her calls but every part of her continued to raged; flowers puffed up into her hair, thorns too but her mind was already spinning; the only person who’d have the audacity to do something this petty, even against what Abuela wanted no less….

Isabela was seething.

Casita door’s opened all too willingly before she turned and her eyes locked onto Camilo who was in the courtyard with an armload of material. She didn’t even notice Mirabel shrink away in alarm behind him or even notice Dolores’s presence as she stood heavy strides toward him.

“You mother fucking bastard!” She shrieked. “What do you do?!”

Camilo’s cheerful face dropped a little to something warier and stepped back. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You are the only person petty enough to do this, Camilo” Isabela snarled, wanting nothing more than to close the distance and punch him in the nose. “You know that this was the last thing Abuela wanted to get out! You know that was the last thing Mirabel wanted to get out?” and the last thing she wanted to get out to the town about because she knew damn well how this town was going to act now.

“What is going on here?!” Abuela’s voice rang out but Isabela didn’t break her glare to the teen as she heard Abuela’s hurried steps from the balcony with a lot more haste than she expected from Abuela but didn’t care to think of why.

“Camilo told the town of what I did.” Isabela spat as Abuela stepped between them, pushing them both back but Isabela didn’t care. “The exact thing you didn’t want him to do.”

“What?” Abuela looked at Camilo sharply. “Is this true?”

“What—no, she’s making that up. She’s just trying to play the victim here.”

Isabela let out an indignant sound. “Why would I tell the town? There is no benefit to me whatsoever!”

“That’s enough, Isabela.” Abuela reprimanded, “go to your room.”

“I didn’t do anything!”

Abuela sucked in a breath, clearly to calm herself. “No, you didn’t but you’re far too angry to be part of this conversation. Go to your room and calm down. I will handle this my way.”

Isabela glowered but forced herself to nod and with a dark look at Camilo, she stormed away and up towards her room, slamming her door after her…

 -

 Abuela felt relief as Isabela was in her room, her heart thumping too fast for her liking as she stamped down onto the anxiety and fear that had arisen to seeing Isabela so enraged, so much like a month ago… but at someone else.

A vivid reminder of how close to the surface Isabela was…if she snapped again.. Abuela dreaded to think what would happen but what had revealed… Abuela felt reasonable anger was somewhat justified.

If the town knew… if Camilo had—

“Dolores,” her head turned to her second eldest nieta who was wide-eyed and looked anxious that only grew as she pulled her attention, “is what Isabela say is true? Did Camilo spread the incident about?”

Dolores swallowed thickly, “I… I can’t be sure.”

“Dolores.” Abuela hardened her tone, “Only the family knew what happened. It just doesn’t slip out in normal conversation.”

“He…may have shifted to… to one of the town kids.” Dolores didn’t meet her eye.

“Dolores!” Camilo snapped with a blatant look of betrayal but that was enough to sell it to her that he had done it.

She needed to get things contained… but with this town, she knew gossip spread faster than wildfire so she had to do her best to control the damage here. She couldn’t have their family in the firing line and… what was already complicated was now going to be so much more harder to balance.

Here she had the desperate hope that Camilo could be trusted… that he could keep a secret for the family’s sake… It was crushing. Now she was going to have to go downtown. Where had this incident started

“Dolores, get your parents. Camilo, go to your room. Now.”

The shapeshifter didn’t need to be told twice before he shot off up the steps though she pulled her shawl tighter before she noticed Dolores hadn’t moved. Her mouth opened to remind her before her eyes fell to Mirabel who was clutching Dolores’s arm with a shaking grip, her face deathly pale and her eyes a little glazed behind those green glasses.

Abuela moved forwards, her heart sinking as she recognized what was happening. Mirabel had been in the full front of Isabela’s anger once; this was too close… too raw to be exposed to again so similarly.

Abuela put her anger to the side, as much as she knew she needed to go into town, she couldn’t walk away from this.

“Mirabel, you’re okay.” She spoke, calmly and carefully and made sure to step into her line of sight. “Can you look at me?” Abuela held a hand to stop Dolores from pulling her arm away for now; clearly something Mirabel needed to keep grounded. “Isabela’s in her room. You’re safe.”

“Her heart’s really fast.” Dolores breathed.

“Mirabel, you’re having a panic attack. You need to breathe, slow and evenly.” Abuela instructed and slowly began to talk Mirabel through it, getting her to finally take breathes to function and gently took Mirabel’s hand from Dolores before the teen suddenly pulled her into a hug. Abuela blinked but didn’t fight it

Dolores quickly hurried off with a firm look. She needed either Agustín or Julieta to help Mirabel, so she hoped Dolores had the intuition to get them too.

“Let’s get you to your room,” Abuela encouraged softly, peeling Mirabel off her front but kept a supportive arm around her and began to lead her towards the steps, Casita’s tiles shifting in sympathy.

“Okay…” Mirabel’s head was bowed, sniffling though her breath was still shaking. “Sorry…I got your dress wet.”

Abuela shook her head, “It's fine. It’ll dry.”

 -

 Camilo was seething as he stalked around his room for the last twenty minutes. Morphing between himself, Abuela, his Mami, and now, Isabela. He was furious that Isabela had blamed him for this. He knew far better than to betray Abuela’s trust in him when he could see it wouldn’t be worth the punishment. Was he aware Abuela didn’t entirely trust him, yes; he was a prankster, and sometimes, he like to have fun but this… he knew damn well that this would hurt the family if he slipped up. He didn’t want to validate that he was untrustworthy and yet…

He turned and kicked a pillow from his bed.

A small knocking on the door but he turned to face his, glaring headily as Dolores came in with an apologetic look.

“What were you thinking?” Camilo hissed quietly, “You sold me out on a lie!”

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

Camilo inhaled deeply but that didn’t do much to calm him. “Why? You knew it wasn’t me!”

Dolores looked to the floor, her head turning to the door. “Antonio doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation…”

Camilo’s anger at his sister came to a pause at her insinuation, shifting back to himself from their mother with a frown appearing between his eyebrows.

“Wait…Antonio spilled?”

“He didn’t mean to!” Dolores whispered, “he…he was just trying to make friends and thought if he told them something secret about the family, it’d make them like him. It was a game the other kids made to find out why Mirabel is so quiet now. He didn’t know they’d tell their parents.”

Camilo’s heart sunk, letting his rage simmer away but as angry as he was… he supposed he could take the blame. Antonio was still a baby… no one would think he could sell Isabela out. Of course, Isabela did always naturally assume the worst about him. Not that he cared what Princess Isabela thought given what she had almost done. He knew she certainly deserves a lot more than what Abuela dished out and…he supposed telling the town was the final touch to humble her to the fact that actions had consequences…

“I’m going to be so punished…” Camilo groaned out, sinking his face into his hands, and slumped down to the bouncing mattress.

“You can take it…Antonio can’t.” Dolores’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”

Camilo shrugged. “what…what do we tell Antonio?” Antonio was such a bright and compassionate soul… no doubt if he thought—he would feel so guilty for taking the heat for him.

“I’ll tell him you told before him when the rest of the family knows. Okay?”

Camilo peeked through his fingers, glowering grumpily but bobbed his head. “We need to tell Mirabel… I don’t want her to think the worst of me. She’s already stuck with Flower-head as a sister.”

“I will!” Dolores nodded rapidly. “Just… I—“ She hesitated. “I’m sorry.”

“Sneak me seconds and we’ll be good.” He bargained. If he was going to be punished, he already had an inkling of what his parents were going to propose for his punishments; he defiantly deserved something out of it. His body required a lot more food to use his gift….which meant he had to use his gift sparingly. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. Ugh.

“I can do that.”

#encanto au #encanto #decay au #decay isabela #isabela madrigal #luisa madrigal #mirabel madrigal #alma madrigal #julieta madrigal #agustin madrigal #agustín madrigal #pepa madrigal #felix madrigal #camilo madrigal #dolores madrigal #antonio madrigal #decay madrigals #decay alma

[yellowcry]

Gluing the broken glass

(Tell me what to do to make it all feel better)

Mirabel had never cooked for such a big fiesta before. No, there were celebrations, often including the whole village. But usually, it didn't have such importance, unlike the gift ceremony. And, obviously, Mirabel hadn't cooked for a one ever before. The last gift ceremony was hers, and no one would know about her wonderful healing abilities that she would get. The other ceremonies that Mirabel lived through were Camilo's and Luisa's, but the latter didn't really count, taking into account that Mirabel was about eight months old at the time. So she was somehow excited. Mirabel made sure to create the best table for tonight.

The old stove sizzled as Mirabel placed another portion to bake, then she ran off to place the aborrajados in a decorative way. It wasn't any normal meal, so arrangements must be appropriate for the occasion. Then Mirabel got back to cooking for a bit; there were still a lot of repast she had to make until the evening.

"Mi amor, how are you doing?" Mirabel looked up and saw her mom standing next to the pedestal table. "It seems like a lot of work..." Mirabel just nodded, not looking up from the dough she was kneading at the moment. "It's good; I should make it in time." She rubbed her hands against her apron before getting back to the kitchener and turning the baked goods over. 

"Don't push yourself too hard," Julieta asked, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I know you want to help, but you have to take care of yourself."

The girl just sighed, looking up at her mother for a bit. "I know, mama, I promise I'm doing great." Maybe she was tired a bit, but the thoughts of Antonio finally getting his door were enough to shave her tiredness off. In a way, this ceremony was way calmer than Mirabel's ten years before, as far as she could remember it. After all, she was the younger sister of a giftless Isabela, so there were questions about her getting a gift, even despite the fact that Luisa already had one. Antonio was in a better position. And, after four gifted grandkids, everyone just assumed that Isabela was a strange mishap, for whatever the reason. Abuela herself had always been saying that Isabela was just like she was. In a way, Mirabel felt bitter. Abuela was spending almost all her attention on Isabela, despite the lack of a gift. And, probably just to add herself even more attention, Isabela was always dressing the same way Abuela did in her youth.

Julieta took a place next to her, now helping with the cooking. Mirabel smiled kindly but still spoke out. "You don't have to help; I can do this." Having somebody to share the work with was a nice feeling, but Mirabel wasn't a child.

"She's right, Mija," Agústin interrupted them. Mirabel looked up at her father and let out an exhausted groan, seeing another dose of swollen bee stings on his face.

"Papi...." She sighed, taking one of her fresh-baked pandebonos and passing it to him.

"No, don't worry, I can take the rest of the menu on myself!" Agustin announced this after he finished his healing. Julieta and Mirabel looked at each other, knowing how bad of an idea this would be.

-

After what seemed to be hours, Julieta managed to convince Mirabel out of the kitchen for ten minutes. She agreed to that, mainly because she wanted to see preparations in her own eyes. The patio was filled with people, decorating it, placing benches for the elderly, and just generally trying to help. Mirabel paced a bit faster, as she saw Isabela with a notebook, she most likely was leading the process again when Abuela got distracted. Honestly, Mirabel didn't want to do this in front of her sister at all. Still, a stinging jealousy pinched her heart. Isabela was most certainly the favorite among the grandkids, despite the lack of a gift. Mirabel never quite understood why. The only thing she actually knew about her big sister is that she was usually with Abuela. And Mirabel had been busy with her cooking, trying to do her best to help.

Her thoughts were drowned in the townspeople's noises, and Mirabel didn't want to get struck with dozens of questions that she couldn't even answer to. So she walked upstairs, where the amount of people was smaller. Casita usually didn't allow outsiders on the second floor. From far away, she could already see Luisa's big figure standing in front of Mirabel's door, covering her carved picture. Noticing Abuela took a bit more time.

"Where's Osvaldo? He promised to deliver the rest of the decor half an hour ago."

Luisa pursed her lips, looking to the side. Her face muscles were strained a little as she filtered out the sound she needed. "He's almost here." She'd finally breathed out, turning her attention back to Abuela.

Their grandmother sighed harshly. "You needed to check on him once he didn't come in time." Mirabel bit her lip awkwardly; she knew that Abuela was strict and always demanded to do their best all the time.  Luisa just nodded wordlessly before turning her attention to her younger sibling, who was standing on the other side of the second floor. "Hermanita, do you need anything?"

Mirabel winced; even she sometimes tended to forget that there was nothing that could hide from Luisa's cat-like hearing. 

Abuela looked at her as well, finally noticing the fact that she had been spied on for a while. "Mirabel, why aren't you in the kitchen? You have to prepare for the night." She demanded, now staring at her across the patio. Mirabel looked down, clutching the railing tightly. She didn't mean to get distracted; Mom just wanted to do some cooking as well. "I'm sorry, Abuela; I decided to go out for some fresh air. Mama is replacing me right now." She knew it didn't excuse her, but at least it was some reason to slack off on her chores.

Luisa tilted her head before nodding in confirmation that it was true and that their mom was, in fact, in the kitchen instead of her youngest daughter right now.

For a moment, Mirabel looked down, not looking at her hermana and Abuela. "Is there anyone who would miss the ceremony?" If anyone didn't come, the amount of food would be slightly less, so Mirabel wanted to be sure of who would be at the party.

Luisa bit her lip for a second before replying. "Not as I know about." Mirabel tilted her head from the echoing voice. Why wouldn't Luisa know who wouldn't come? Mirabel was pretty sure Luisa could hear who had mentioned this. On the other hand, there's a chance nobody said it out loud, and Luisa was most certainly unable to listen to the inner thoughts. Well, it seemed that Mirabel would have to make her full plan.

Abuela lifted her head to look over Luisa. "Check if everything is going on time. Tonight must be perfect."

Luisa nodded, just like she always did at any request. "I'm..." Mirabel knew that her sister would most certainly going to say that she was on it, but she had suddenly trail off, wincing before she had covered her ears, hunching over the handrailing.

A moment later, Tía Pepa rushed upstairs like a crazy wind. The floor almost shook from her footsteps. Or it actually did. It was loud enough even for Mirabel to startle for a moment, not even mentioning Luisa, who didn't say anything but looked at Pepa with a face that said that she would gladly rip off Tia's legs to make her quieter.

Tia Pepa muttered in a yelling tone of voice, visibly trembling. "Tonight must be perfect, but if it's not perfect, then..."

"Mi amor, be careful." Tío Felix ran after her. 

A second later, Dolores had gotten upstairs too, joining this little family meeting. "Oh, mama, don't worry. Antonio will definitely get the best gift ever." The warm couple looked at their daughter, who waved her head slightly, creating another ark of flowers that wrapped around the barrier. Pepa looked down at her child, now running to her. "Ah, how much did you grow up!" She mumbled in awe, squeezing Dolores' cheek slightly. "Mama, please..."

Mirabel looked at the other side and noticed that Luisa was gone already. Alright, it was probably time for her to get back to work as well. There was a whole night ahead.

#encanto #ao3 author #fanfic #encanto au #gluing the broken glass au #mirabel madrigal #julieta madrigal #luisa madrigal #alma madrigal

[sharkhead43]

Okay but why does nobody talk about how Mirabel is just like Abuela.

Especially in the beginning of the scene with Isabella. I know part of it is from her general dislike of her sister, but she shows a complete disregard for Isabella as a person and immediately tries to get a hug from her even though she is very upset. Even during the beginning of the song, Isa is talking about her issues and going through a major life development and all Mirabel cares about is the miracle.

She doesn’t care about Bruno until she begins to think that he had something to do with the deterioration of the miracle. Then he starts being important.

All the rest of her family. She seems to try so hard to fit in, but she’s not trying to fit into the family, she’s trying to fit into the miracle. The only people she seems to have a somewhat well developed relationship with are her parents and maybe Antonio (which I’m pretty sure is just her vicariously living through him). Of course this is partially because of Abuela’s separation between Mirabel and the “special” people in the family, but she has had opportunity after opportunity to relate to her family and deepen relationships but refuses to do so because all she really cares about is the miracle.

The reason she can’t get along with Abuela is because she is the new Abuela, and if the theories about her being the new protector of the miracle are correct, lord help La Familia Madrigal.

[themountainsays]

So does Pepa's family not exist in this new AU or do they like live somewhere else since it keeps Camilo from causing problems with Mirabel's plot but allows Isabela to text and talk to her best friend and cousins Dolores when she needs to. Also so does Lusia not exist or is she say going to uni somewhere maybe were Pepa lives so Isabela is the only one to take care Mirabel. And I assume Abuela is dead you no magic food old given her age good chance she smoked so passed away and not having her around not necessarily dead is better for Isabela since Julieta and Agustin strike me as less controling and would be fine to have a gay daughter or two or three and would be open to it. (There was this incorrect quote I saw a while back like Isabela: Mom I'm gay. Julieta: About time you noticed. Though she would be like sweetie I already knew and it's okay I'll love you no matter what.) Also now that my brain is working what do Agustin and Julieta do like I can sss Julieta as either chef/baker or Doctor and or Nurse depends which is more important her healing or food I am inclined to nurse since they do most of the work I see her doing and Agustin in some office job. Damn why is my brain now laser focused on this I have homework, a pile of books and tv and a fanfic I need to try and write I don't need something else to distract me.

-RM

Ahhh RM study is important dw we'll be here w the inc3st waiting for you ;-; but yeah ok I think they're all still alive, all living in the same house for the past 50 years just like in canon, only they probably live in the outskirts of a big city, possibly Bogotá, like in a nice-ish middle class neighborhood, with a big ass house with space for everyone, but they all mosly work and study near the center of the city, where it's a lot more urban. Idk I'm totally inspiring this in my early childhood living a nice-ish area in Zona Sur of el Conurbano Bonaerense, I went to school for a year in Capital for some reason so it was like a two hour drive to school every day, and there are a lot of people who live in el Conurbano but work and study in Capital soooo likeeeee idk how it's like in Bogotá, idk shit about Bogotá, but this is kinda what I imagine. I assume that, being the capital of the country, Bogotá must have a bunch of universities. I'm checking out the iberoamerican universities rankings to see what the girls' best options would be and apparently la nacho is ranked 14 according to the QS iberoamerican uni ranking, idk what la nacho is like but sure let's say they all study in la nacho, idk what that doesn't matter. I keep finding conflicting info on whether or not university education is free over there??? If any colombian followers/mutuals are reading this please tell me what's up (blink twice if you need help) and if la nacho is cool or nah. But anyway the point is that yes they all live in the same city, same house, all the girls study in the same uni (different careers tho, idk which), and yes Camilo indeed is around and Mirabel works very hard to keep him quiet. Either he's in on the joke, she's blackmailing him, bribing him, desperately keeping the secret from him (that she's telling all her classmates that she has a hot older girlfriend in uni) or they go to different schools, which is totally possible if they're looking for different orientations, or if, say, one school is more convenient for one family and another for the other because it's eaier to drop off and pick up the kids on their way to and back from work etc etc. I imagine they all take care of Mirabel in one way or another, but Isabela is usually the one burdened with the responsability because she's the oldest, and I assume she just happens to have more time? Luisa is totally working while she studies, and maybe Dolores is just taking more demanding classes? Or her classes have a different schedule and Isabela's juuuuuuust happen to match up with Mirabel's schedule this quarter so she's the one on babysitting duty. She's totally blackmailing Dolores into making some time and taking the saturday night classes next quarter tho, no way she's doing this alone ever again.

I can see Juli as a nurse! And Agustín has office employee vibes but I can also see him as a piano teacher at some secondary school with a musical and visual arts orientation. Speaking of arts, Pepa is a bit hard but I can see her as a dance teacher? Same as Félix. Would be very cute if they met because they were teaching at the same place and they fell in love etc and their students totally watched the whole love story from the front seats uwu. Bruno is a cryptocurrency and NFT investor who hasn't left his room since age 35. Just kidding, he may or may not have an esoteric shop which he inherited from his mother, performing amarres, reading your future, magically bringing money your way, being super catholic but in a cool witchy way, man i should ask my friends who are into this stuff about it for ideas.

Speaking of, Abuela is very much alive in this AU, mostly because I think it would be funny if she thought Isabela's homosexuality is part of the great gringo conspiracy to weaken and diminish the latin american population so they can colonize us, which is something old people who hate gringos say, it's kinda funny asdkjndjdsjkj she's like "this yankee internet imperialism trend again 🙄🙄🙄" and juli will be like "it's ok mom go to sleep".

#lmao looking up info about colombian unis and i keep finding out about this leftist president winning the elections #i wanna say i'm happy but after the b0ric fiasco i'm sus ;-; gonn go read a few newspapers see whats up #madrigalcest #shipcest #isamira #what do i call this one #de esos que llaman embriones au #<--- it's a reference to a parody of a song #about a woman who likes older men #it goes like ''a ella le gustan mayores de esos q llaman señores'' #which means ''she likes older men those whom they call sir'' #and the parody is about a woman who likes younger guys so it's like #''a ella le gustan menores de esos que llaman embriones'' #which means ''she likes minors those whom they call embryos'' #and i totally imagine isabela's friends singing that to her #i mean dumb kids will sing that to each other when a friend dates someone one (1) year younger than them #so like it's established as a dumb joke #i promise it's not that creepy #most of the time