#mirabel collecting apologies because her family wants their damn house back

[sparklykatt]

Part 4 of casita kicks everyone out

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The next few days led to family reconnecting as the madrigals tried to rebuild a daily schedule. Camilo ran back and forth every once in a while, updating his parents on Antonio and himself while checking on the rest of the family still left out of the house. Of course he gave the occasional passerby in the town assurances and told them that madrigal chores are on hold for now. Julieta of course would offer an arepa for anyone injured enough, but other than that the doors of casita stayed closed. “Thanks for helping in the kitchen again.” The three sisters grinned at their mother. If it was just a regular meal they could make the whole thing themselves. Julieta refused to sit back enough for that though. “It’s nice to do these kinds of things together.” Isabella said, having finally got the hang of the kitchen. Shocking what the other kids couldn’t learn while busy doing chores in town. Mirabel herself had too much time and noticeable skill in all home making. “We really should help you in the kitchen more often. This is a lot.” Luisa commented, having been the one prepping ingredients. “I’d appreciate it.” Julieta said, smiling as she set the table. That chore was usually mirabels, but they’ve all been switching things up recently. Even right now Camilo is listening intently on the plot line of Bruno’s rat telanovelas. He only got hooked after the plot twist at the end of season 5. “Isn’t Dolores visiting today? Do we know when?” Mirabel asked, turning towards the rat telenovela fanatics. “Lunchtime I think. More than enough time for everyone to get ready.” Camilo looked at his cousins for one second before turning back to Bruno. “I think this telenovela is gonna be a menace.” Mirabel commented, turning back to setting out the freshly made food.

As if on clockwork, Dolores appeared at the front door tilting her head as she was met with a jovial atmosphere. “I didn’t expect Camilo to tell the truth about it.” She commented, earning an offended gasp and a laugh from mirabel. Of course after some quick catching up on what was going on around the casita, mirabel lead Dolores up to her new room. “I never thought I’d get to see your room. I think it was worth the wait.” Dolores commented, looking at the progressively messier looking room. “It suits you.” Mirabel smiled sheepishly. “Dolores, have you… been alright. I mean I have to imagine losing your gift was probably most shocking to you I mean you were constantly hearing everything it must be so strange for some quiet and I-” “it’s a bit complicated.” Mirabels ramble was cut off by the blunt answer. Dolores turned to her with a furrowed brow and dragged the teen to sit with her. “I want to start with my own apology. I could hear everything, every comment said about you, every time you where pushed aside, every time you couldn’t help but cry or curl up into a ball. But I chose to ignore it, and ignore you. I should have stood up for you, and comforted you. Even if I just told someone else who could help it would’ve been better than what I did. I’m sorry mirabel.” Dolores clutched mirabels hand as mirabel squeezed back. “When I lost my gift… at first it was kind of relieving. Like a decade long headache had left, but suddenly I became anxious. I couldn’t hear people approaching me from far places. I couldn’t hear the people who work dangerous jobs bustling. And I couldn’t hear my family. I couldn’t listen to figure out if everyone was safe. I couldn’t even hear if you were crying or celebrating. I… I was so worried. Even with Camilo checking in on us.” Mirabel let Dolores pour all of her emotions out. This may be the first time the woman talked about her own feelings. To mirabel, Dolores was a rather distant cousin. “Dolores… I had no idea. You care so much for this family and I never saw it.” Mirabel brought her into a hug. “If… if you ever need someone to talk to, to get some worries off your chest I’ll be here. Okay?” Dolores nodded. Outside of the room, another door began to glow.

So the rat telenovela epidemic gained a third victim. Dolores had apparently been invested for years in the plot and now was bursting at the seams with the new buddy to talk to about it. The entire family was subjected to the conversation as they tried out their next family bonding project, sewing. Embroidery was next, but Julieta advised that they might want to know the much more practical skill of patching up small tears as a start. She was of course right as Luisa, Isabella and Dolores poked their fingers on the needle continuously. The boys of course were encouraged to join, but only a stitch was being done between each rat plot line discussed. Mirabel, who had already run out of tips to give her family and was now holding a finished ruana to replace her tio’s, excused herself.

For the first time in a while mirabel took a step outside casita. She wasn’t up to going to the village, but just a few feet outside the door was a nice place to clear her mind. Surprisingly though, she caught a glimpse of a yellow dress hiding. “Tia pepa?” Mirabel leaned over the small brick wall placed on the lower part of the hill. It was supposed to be something like a fancy fence or something. “Ah, mirabel i, uh, I was just you know… admiring the view?” Mirabel nodded at Pepas flimsy excuse. “You wanted to check on your kids huh?” Pepa curled up in slight embarrassment for being caught. “You know I wouldn’t blame you for stopping by for something Mille that.” “I know, but it just didn’t feel right. I mean I wasn’t ready to talk to you, really, about everything. I do know I should own up to my attitude towards you in the past I’m not denying, i just was nervous, couldn’t find good words…” pepa wrung out her hair as if it was soaked in rain. “And you know I didn’t know if you’d want to see me, you really went all out that night. Let us know how you felt and the conversation afterwards kinda drove that lesson into me, and ma hasn’t really come out since then so I didn’t just want to…” “it’s alright Tia.” Mirabel soothed her aunts hands out of her hair before hopping the small wall to sit next to her. “Let’s just talk normally. You don’t need to script any apologies.” Pepa nodded. “…so abuela hasn’t left her room after that night?” Mirabel asked. She hadnt heard that from anyone. “Well after we were… thrown out… she was still trying to blame you for everything, but nobody really listened to her at all so she shut herself away and has only come out to collect the food we give. I can’t really tell how she is.” Pepa explained. “She doesn’t look angry any more, but I can’t tell what she’s feeling so…” mirabel nodded, having experienced her abuela’s empty or hard to read stares many times. “I can never tell when she does that.” Pepa also nodded solemnly. “I didn’t want to be shut away with that anymore so I left the house but I don’t know why I came here. I thought about seeing Julieta , checking on Antonio, I also… thought about sucking it up and apologizing to you without a plan. None of those plans are going very well.” Mirabel almost snorted. The two sat in silence for a moment, looking at the uncharacteristically quiet town. “I’m sorry mirabel. I was… cold to you. Ignored you as if you weren’t still a part of the madrigals because you didn’t get a stupid gift.” Pepa huffed. “I must have set a bad example for my kids too. They seemed to just follow suit, though Camilo tried his best back then.” Another short silence. “I should’ve tried at least. Assure you that you were the most blessed of all so you didn’t need a gift or something cheesy like that. Though, I’m beginning to see that these gifts don’t seem to have helped us. Just stress us out while the village relied on us.” Pepa sighed as the two stared into the streets. It was silent because most of the town didn’t know what to do with themselves. They could do plenty on their own but not nearly the things the madrigals did for them. Mirabel leaned against her Tia. “This entire thing sucks huh? From the gifts to how our family ended up and the village…” pepa chuckled. “Why don’t you go get tio felix and come back to the casita? At least to visit. I need to show you my very own room.” Mirabel invited, earning a warm smile.

The door they saw that day was welcoming. A gentle smile on mirabels face matching a strong, slightly relaxed posture as she stood in front of a glowing casita, small figures peeking out of its windows.

The last part is next. Honestly I’m getting more and more distracted from these by other au’s and stuff because I do like to put characters in different positions that make their lives worse (or better!)

#encanto maribel #ecanto #encanto luisa #encanto camilo #encanto fanfic #encanto one shot #encanto abuela #encanto au #mirabel encanto #encanto #camilo madrigal #isabela madrigal #bruno madrigal #dolores madrigal #madrigal family #mirabel collecting apologies because her family wants their damn house back