&. apuestas y muerte

steven universe lyric starters  //  ACCEPTING

❣❣  “  That is an answer that only you know from the heart.  ”

The kwami had come to her in distress, flopping sadly on her palm as she began to spill her worries out. The peacock & butterfly miraculous, in which both had been gone for sometime now, had began to cloud her mind as time became desperate for her. With Hawk Moth finding a new companion to assist out his deeds, it was becoming a challenge for the team of young heroes to take control over it.

She listened to her intently, providing her support as she steered the conversation into self-blame. It wasn’t her fault, that was without a doubt true, & she didn’t wish for her to suffer like this. Palm lifted up to lessen the gap between them, she kept a calm facade.

   As were the most INTERESTING OF PREY, truth be told. For while there were certainly humans that would so choose to retreat back to their little homes, there were others that have that desire to make their time… just a little more worthwhile. Ones who would wish to indulge in a little more outside of their tedious routines during the day itself. NEUTRALITY at its finest, it was for that rare moment that a breath of ease could be relinquished by the demon king himself. Especially when considering who it was that he was in the presence of.

   A BREATHTAKING SIGHT INDEED, for she was a GODDESS that appeared near UNTOUCHABLE. And yet, one who would so often offer her hand towards that of those that she would so fondly look over. No wonder they would all ADORE her so. Well aware of his nature and deeds of then and soon to be, she would hold no DISDAIN for him. While having no desire whatsoever to incur that of this Goddess’ possible wrath, it was no troublesome feat to offer his regards to one such as her.

   "I’m flattered~“ While it was not often that he would be found in such a position (Not since over a century, really), the king would offer but the slightest bow to the being before him, "You may call me Rire, and the honor is all mine.” Never faltering in his words of milk and honey, lips would however begin to peel back in the slightest of smirks. A glint of SHARP TEETH revealing itself for the briefest moment, before once more concealed away as it were but any little mere mortal’s ridiculous imagination.“And, a marvelous choice.” 

   So would he offer with some rare form of authenticity then, as he cast a brief gaze over to where the CROONER herself was, adorned once more in the most luxurious of fabrics and bathed in the warmest of lights. She would so easily blend into the background itself, but would offer the place that much needed ambiance. It was a glamorously soothing atmosphere that he had perhaps grown just a little too accustomed to himself. 

   By SILENCE, he would assume a brief respite from considerably more COLORFUL and RAMBUNCTIOUS FESTIVITIES. All to which was certainly befitting of the GODDESS OF LIFE herself,“It has certainly become that, yes. For why change something that already works?”

❣❣  How peculiar. For it may have been because he reminded her of her husband, someone who might have appreciated a demon like him, but she remained calm near his presence. Unless threatened, she didn’t have a reason to immediately attack an existence despite his reputation--although the exception might have been him stealing souls for his own amusement. That she wouldn’t tolerate, as it bend the laws of life.

“  Rire,  ” she repeated, “  a suiting name for a king.  ” She had only heard of what it was like in his realm, but never had she entered his kind’s grounds. It was too risky to take the chance of a visit, especially if it was reserved for specific individuals, & for her to terrorize the land with an unexpected invitation would have surely caused havoc one way or the other. Just like how it would have been if he came to the Land of the Remembered.

There was an unspoken boundary between them in which both of them were quite aware of while interacting, & for that reason, they chose to keep the conversation as casual as they can.

“And it was a very, very long list of things….that took all night to tell me…” She murmured, thinking of the entire paseo they had taken around San Ángel and how Joaquín hadn’t taken a breath in listing the many wonderful things he had done. He was going to make some girl very, very happy one day with those cuentos. It was just never going to be Maria. 

“Justice and balance?” Maria asked, her mind going to recent events, the bandidos, all of it, “Then how did it end up in the hands of someone like Chakal? If it was meant to be used for good how did he get hold of it?” She paused, “And how did he lose it?” He had burned ciudades to find it again so why had he been so careless with it in the first place?

“But it saved Manolo,” She added, “If the medal hadn’t been here, then Manolo would have died under that bell” Maria glanced at the medal again, “So maybe…it did do good. In the end, at least”

❣❣  “  Well you know Joaquín, he is a pleaser.  ” & by no means did she mean that negatively. Ever since as a child, he always sought for approval, as his own parents were absent from his life. It was natural of him to boast about his achievements & strengths when he finally had them, & without the medal, too, he was doing fine.   

So many questions, & yet, she could only answer so many of them. Half of the reason being she wasn’t the one that delivered the medal to Chakal. “  It was to test waters, I assume. I wasn’t the one that gave him the medal, so I can only imagine what sorts of ideas ran through the being responsible for it.  ” Entertainment from humanity, perhaps, but again, she couldn’t speak for another. “  He lost it to Xibalba, who kept hold of it until he gave it to Joaquín. Whether it was a bet or a duel--I’ve never quite asked.  ” & frankly, she barely had the interest of knowing.

❣❣  “  Your heart is filled with rage--but your soul is filled with sorrow. How interesting, don’t you think?  ”

Imelda was aware of his growth in popularity, sí. At first she had thought it was only in the Land of the Remembered, after the events of Día de Muertos, there were few who did not know the truth of what had happened that night. Even those who had not been able to find boletos to the Sunrise Spectacular had been given a retelling of events from those who had. While Héctor recovered from coming so dangerously close to the Final Death, it had taken all the familia, and especially Pepita, to keep the people and their preguntas at bay. Questions and curiosities and demands. Everything Imelda had hated about the idea of performing music for the world long before Héctor had left and long before Ernesto had stopped him from returning home. The way people demanded and wanted more, wanting ownership, wanted performances on command...it held no attraction for Imelda, con música o sin música

But she had not expected there to be the same popularity in the Living World. But even if she hadn’t noticed how much brighter Héctor’s bones were, how he walked better, had more energy, she would have noticed the new arrivals talking about him. More and more people who came through the gates at Llegadas were talking about Héctor Rivera, the secret composer, and about his story as well as his music. Her whole familia was slowly becoming the topic of conversation for everyone. Imelda was glad that it helped secure Héctor’s memory but…her familia was her familia. It was not for everyone to talk about. 

“Well, when it happens, I want to be there. Do not tell him, but I will find it amusing” To see him try some trick only to tug and tug and for it to hold as fast as Imelda’s own huesos. Quizás she should not be so amused by the thought, but he had made her jump too many times by placing limbs where she did not expect them, or leaving his cabeza on a worktop, that it was about time the joke was on him instead. 

“A few?” Imelda asked in shock. Quizás she could say Miguel was not afraid of a challenge and they had that in common, but….what else? She looked at La Muerte in confusion, eyes silently asking for explanations. How could a boy like Miguel have anything of her in him? He was all Héctor. It was what had made her worry about him each time she saw him on día de muertos and most especially when he had stolen a guitarra, willing to leave his familia to play it. Pero ahora...it was something that made her smile and feel confident that Miguel would do right by his familia. 

“Héctor….he spent so long in this place alone,” It was a hard truth, but one Imelda was forcing herself to face, “A long time before I died and a long time after….” Time in which he could have been with his familia, but she had only turned him away at every attempt. He had never even met Victoria, his own nieta, all because she had believed he could be capable of abandoning his familia. Una creencia estúpida she should have been too intelligent to think true. She had known Héctor better than that and yet…she had been quick to think the worst of him. Héctor may claim he had forgiven her, but she was not so sure she could forgive herself. “He must have have lived a life aquí...Did…he have amigos?” She asked, “People he befriended and could go to? Todos estos años..who did he spend time with?” A pause, “Did he live with someone?”

❣❣  It was like what humans had said to keep themselves assured--karma gets back at you, in life or death. Ernesto had been a sorry excuse of a musician & a person ever since he chose to do the unthinkable, fall into temptation & greed & let it consume him. Then again, why should she be so concerned about him? She wasn’t, but only amused by how the world worked. There was so much mystery that happened around the world, works that even gods didn’t have control over. Satisfying to say the least, & even more satisfying to watch the rightful musician grow.

She could see how this affected Imelda, & although she was delighted by the fact that her husband was being remembered, it was clear that many elements that came with it was...unpleasant. The matriarch never seemed to be the type to bask in fame, her eyes only being on her family & no one else. For several to try & snoop around her was a terrible idea, as they would have most likely met a terrible fate by either her or her alebrije. If only people understood to give others privacy, then none of this should have been a problem to be fixated on.

“  I won’t tell a soul.  ” A smile gleamed from her crimson lips, promisingly genuine. The goddess herself would be there to watch the occasion as well, as she would love to watch it all unfold.

She nodded confidently. “  A few. How do you think he managed to survive the night?  ” His determination, his stubbornness, his passion & wits--all of that was from her without a doubt. Although she understood how Héctor seemed to have more resemblance with him than her, she saw it to be a good mixture of the two. He was generous & sympathetic, but also headstrong & unafraid. He was a good balance of character, resulting in a good child overall.   

“  Yes & no--his amigos were also his familia in Shantytown, but I do believe you are aware of how short their lifespans are.  ” Unfortunate as it was, it was the truth. “  He has been one of the only few that pulled through, & as for the rest...they weren’t as lucky as him.  ” One disappearance after another, he learned how to let go, even accepting his own Final Death when it finally came around.

❣❣  “  Don’t you think that’s enough of it?  ”