Donât Fear the Future
Bruno Madrigal x FtM Transman OC (Desi)
Fandom: Encanto
Length: Many ChaptersâŠ
Warnings: Mentions/Depictions of Dysphoria, Family Trauma, Spicy Content- but thatâs later.
Written: by @GalacticKaz on Twitter, @DapperDragonDesigns on TumblrÂ
Notes: Desiâs experience is strongly based on mine as a Transman- I know itâs not everyoneâs path/feelings but I wanted to share one aspect of what it can be like. Iâm also rusty at writing soâŠsorry about that. I just wanted to share, writing this has given me a lot of joy.Â
Also: This is a multi-chapter story, to follow it you can of course, follow my account or find chapters under the hashtag #Bruno x Desi
âDesi? You in today?â Luisa called out as she ducked down into the doorway of the villageâs pottery and clay crafts shop. She looked around for the Artisanâs familiar face, while surveying the warm interior of the shopâs open foyer.Â
The floor tiles she walked on were intricately designed with warm browns, reds and greens- weaving a large circular design on the floor of the Main entrance to the shop. The windows were filled with succulent plants and an oversized couch rested under the window. The walls of the room were lined with shelves which displayed the work of the man who lived here- Various plates, pots and ceramic goods of multiple colors and designs, all shining with a soft varnish of glaze met her eyes. The wooden beams above her had chimes dangling down which she carefully avoided stepping further in, the wind from the window made them clink together in a soft, melodic manner as they glinted in the shafts of sunlight.
âIâm in the back, Luisa!â Came a deep reply from the doorway that led to the work space âGive me a minute, Iâll be right there!âÂ
From the framed doorway came the figure of the Artisan Himself, He wore a collared shirt covered by oversize work overalls which were smeared with dried bits of clay, and fresh smears of wet earth. He wiped his hands hastily on the sides of the garment. His thick wavy hair was tied back, even if a few errant strands fell across his forehead, the pitch-black color of his youth had given way to a peppering of grey, mostly on the sides and a prominent streak of white that if his hair was let down, would frame the left side of his face. He adjusted his glasses, clear deep blue eyes peered from behind them at Luisa.Â
âGood Morning Luisa, do we need more floor tiles already? Dios MioâŠyou all work quick! Give a man some time to keep up with demand!â He said with a grin. It was the hum all about the village for the past few weeks, of the famous Casita crumbling violently apart, the cracks themselves still ran through the village even- but they had all banned together to help the Madrigal Family with repairs, food, and housing in the meantime. It was expected from such a tight knit community, it was the least they could do for a family that helped so much. He, also, was part of the efforts to bring the house back to its former glory. He wasnât one for working on scene, but a house needed tiles, pots, roof shinglesâŠand he was the only one who could make them in the village- He solemnly promised to get an apprentice after all this was said and done.
 âCome on, letâs go to the back yard and load some more to the cart which I hope you bought over again? No more carrying them girlyâŠâ He said as he waved for Luisa to follow him through the messy crafting room and out through another door into the back yard of the workshop. Here he kept various tiles heâd made in stacks, along with the extra supply of pots and a few other items.Â
âHow goes the repairs anyhow? Do we need roof tiles yet?â He said jokingly, he knew they werenât that far along just yetâŠthank gods, he didnât know if his back could handle the demand that quickly.Â
Luisa laughed âOh we are not that far along yet Desi, just more floor tilesâŠmaybe some pots for Isa, I think she misses her plantsâ She remarked ducking through the door to the back yard after Desi.
âOhâŠthatâs a relief for my poor backâ He remarked placing his hands in the small of his back and giving an exaggerated weary back cracking motion, leaning into them âIâm not as spry as I was in my youth, I need the time of you all building the walls to make roof shingles.â
Luisa grinned in response, sheâd always liked Desi out of all the villagers. The old man had a good sense of humor and was one of the few who would thank her with goods as opposed to just a kind word. That was his way though, Desi wouldnât have something done for him without doing something in return. He had a philosophy almost of equal exchange.
âIâll get the boxes for you thenâŠâ Luisa remarked- she may not have her powers but she was still far stronger than the average person, including Desi. She began to load the boxes of tiles into the cart as they made small talk about the housing repairs, about how the family was doing, about the good weather despite Pepa having lost her power to hold blue skiesâŠ
âSo Everything is going well as it can be then? Good, good to hearâŠâ Desi asked filling another box with tiles in the meantime
âOhâŠwe are holding up pretty well all consideringâŠâ Luisa stated âItâs a lot to handle, but Iâm used to it. Although there are some problems with my Tio Bruno.â
âOh?â Desi remarked casually- Heâd heard about Bruno. The whole village was abuzz with the Misfortune Tellerâs return. Desi hadnât been in the village when Bruno was around, heâd travelled in over those impossibly high mountains a bit after his mysterious disappearance. To hear he had been living in the familyâs walls was- well- it was a choice for sure.Â
âYeahâŠA lot of people still seem nervous around him. Heck, even the family is getting used to him being backâŠâ she said shifting another box into the cart. âNo one in the village really wants to put him up, even if none of us have any powers any moreâŠthey are justâŠâ
âSuperstitious?â Desi finished for her.
Luisa grunted âYeah, Superstitious. Not so sure where Tio Bruno has been staying reallyâŠalthough since he was living in the walls, I meanâŠhe shows up every morning still...avoids the topic really.â
Desi hummed thoughtfully, going over to look at his extra supply of pots to pick out a few for Isabella. He was not a superstitious man himself, and had no idea why the whole village blamed the man for the fortunes he told. Really, one lady had blamed him for her goldfish dying, as if that wasnât a regular occurrence with fish. He did have an extra couch and well, if the Madrigal family ever got their powers back, it wouldnât be a bad idea to be on the good side of a fortune teller. Desi felt a spike of curiosity for what might be seen in his own future, were that day to come.
âYour Tio Bruno can stay here, if he wants, Iâm not a superstitious man.â Desi offered
Luisa blinked in shock at Desi as he was weighing various pots in his hands, so long as sheâd known the artisan- he wasnât one to offer his home, or anything personal out to others. He was one of the moreâŠmysterious figures in the village- Heâd come from outside first of all and only talked about a history of hard travelling that leant him the ability to climb the mountains. Not that his presence wasnât welcomed, especially since the previous Pottery Craftsman was working his way up in years with no apprentice- Desiâs talents were easily welcomed. Even her sister Dolores, when sheâd asked about him before, didnât have much to add aside from that the shop always sounded beautiful with all the chimes hanging from the rafters.
âIâmâŠsure heâd be happy for that!â she exclaimed, quickly loading the last box of tiles into the cart. Desi held up a pot for her to load up too, followed by another heavy one.
âIâll travel to the Casita with you as wellâ He said hopping into front of the cart, leaving room for her âI need to see how many more tiles Iâll need to be making these coming weeks, and how tired my old bones will feelâ Luisa grinned sliding in next to him
â-and we can tell Bruno he has a place to stayâ She chimed in as the donkeys pulled the cart down the cracked dirt road heading to the house.Â
--
As the cart pulled into the ruins of the house, everyone seemed busy on one thing or another. Laying out sand linings for digging new foundations- and for spacing out rooms- Clearing away debris or pouring cement and setting tiles. Bruno himself was currently waring a bucket, lending spackle to a man on a ladder working to repair one of the old columns.Â
âAh, it seems to be coming along magnificentlyâŠand rapidly!â Desi remarked seeing his own handywork in the tiles being laid down in bright patterns over the foundation in what would be the new foyer. He hopped out of the cart as it slowed to a stop pulling out a notebook from his side pocket and getting ready to note new quantities of tiles to be madeâŠnot only for the floor on the foyer, and various rooms, but also for the walls in the kitchenâŠHe hummed to himself scratching some notes down before greeting the house elder, Alma, warmly. He caught in the corner of his eye Louisa going off to tell her sister Mirabel something, probably about his offer to house Bruno- He watched as the word passed from Luisa, to Mirabel, toâŠthe man with a bucket on his head who immediately gestured and jumped back in shock.
â- the help has justâŠexceeded anything we could have asked forâ Alma continued as Desiâs attention was bought back to his conversation with her.
âOh, yes well, the Family has done so much for usâŠit would be neglectful to leave you all in your time of needâŠâ He quickly stated, pretending he had not been distracted at all- even though he could feel a foreign gaze boring into the back of his neck.Â
Eventually after his discussion with Alma ended he turned around to immediately be greeted by the hazy, questioning, soft green eyes of Bruno. The man stood at about the same height as Desi, if not perhaps a bit shorter, but he did seem to be slouching. A rat seemed to be peering from under a curtain of hair.
âHello, uh, Good MorningâŠâ Desi said with a grin towards the other man, holding out his dusty hand
âOh, yes, morningâ Bruno said taking Desis hand and giving it a nervous shake, He did not have a strong grip, Desi noted.
âHmâŠdirty.â He remarked at the residual red clay dust on Desiâs hand
Desi laughed âWell, typical of one who works with mud all day. Bruno? I assume?â he stated, the man noddedÂ
âAnd I see you have ahâŠpetsâ
âOh yes, well, friends, from living in the wallsâ Bruno laughed awkwardly. His eyes darting off, then back to Desi. Everything about his body language said that while he initiated the conversationâŠhe also wanted to leave it right now, Desi cleared his throat- my as well get to it then.
âWhen you go into the village, my House is the one on the outskirts, left side, five houses past the church. It has an ornate door, backyard full of pots, hard to miss.â He said, gesturing with his hands as he gave directions.
Bruno blinked dazedly- was this man really affirming he could stay there? He had known what most of the village thought of him and has bounced to and from a few houses before just figuring out his own thing to do- it had been a bitâŠawkward.
âAre you sure? If you arenât, Iâd be fine, wouldnât want to put you out, or make you uncomfortable, or unpopular orâŠ.â Bruno stammered out already stepping back from Desi. Desi cut him off before he could go on-Â
âItâs not a problem, Iâll have a spot set up for you in the main foyer, hope you donât mind a couch, itâs about all I have to offer- Donât even mind the pets.â Desi stated casually, waving his hand to dismiss Brunoâs stammered excuses. He looked back to his list to give the awkward man a chance to escape the conversation- He heard a muttered thanks and when he looked up again he had disappeared, almost as randomly as heâd appeared.
He saw Mirabel and Luisa give a small high five from behind the pillar, he was glad he could give them something to be happy about. Desi shook his head while walking off, the family had always beenâŠinteresting and eccentric. There was no reason to think Bruno would have been any different, in fact, ten years in the walls had made him even more so than the rest, Desi reasoned.Â
He finished his notes about what else was needed to repair the Casita and then began the longer walk back to the village to set up a spot for the Madrigal he said heâd house for the time being.
