RADIANTE ; ETERNO.

I truly think he was considering the option, there was a hint of affection and sadness as he held Héctor’s photo off to the side but I think there is a hesitance there at the same time because he DOES hold some contempt for his old friend ( and it shows when you consider the words he says to him when he’s being outed in front of his fans: “you think i’d let him go back to the land of the living with your photo? to keep your MEMORY alive? NO.” ) and i think the root of that contempt is that Héctor would NEVER love him as much as he loves his family and ESPECIALLY his daughter, so to him, ( remember, Ernesto is very narcissistic and self - centered ) letting him return to the land of the living to visit Coco is… him essentially letting go of that.

But that’s just the thing about Ernesto and Héctor - he doesn’t WANT to let go of him. Keeping him confined in the land of the dead is a comfort to Ernesto because Ernesto does not have any family to visit in the land of the living; no connection like that - and he both envies Héctor and wishes to keep him as a person similar to him in whatever aspect he can.

The most important aspect to Ernesto in achieving this is isolating Héctor. He’s lonely and miserable despite his fame, and because he cannot give actual shape to his emptiness and believes he’s done the right thing, he believes that keeping Héctor lonely would ultimately have him running back to him in some way.

  ❛ … 𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑬 𝑯𝑼𝑴𝑨𝑵 𝑺𝑨𝑪𝑹𝑰𝑭𝑰𝑪𝑬 𝑾𝑰𝑳𝑳 𝑭𝑰𝑿 𝑰𝑻 . ❜

❛ DON'T LET YOUR HEAD GET TOO BIG , señor , ❜ says ernesto ⸻ smiling from ear to ear , he leans in close , a hand slowly coursing down a thigh , working its way back up ; letting it wander between his legs .

such boldness could only come from a man well accustomed to hedonistic pleasure ⸻ unabashed and ignorant , even , to the idea of rejection . so long as his teeth remain sharp , he would make sure that he would be the flytrap coaxing in his prey .

and speaking of prey , there is nothing ernesto enjoys more than a loyal dog . why , he could all but imagine this one with a collar 'round his neck , thrashing about in silence with no way out ... goodness , if only someone would put him out of his misery already ... what is a poor , woefully power - hungry man like ernesto de la cruz to do ?

❛ you'll get my mouth by dint of my own will . because ... oh , you just make my heart flutter , i suppose , ❜ he says ⸻ palms mariano through his pants ; traces his elegant jawline with kisses . ❛ you make me hungry , mariano . ❜