I feel like Rodolfo comes from a big family. He has a lot of cousins and siblings. But one of the things I always think about is his siblings all have a name that starts with an ‘R’. His mother’s name starts with an R. So did his father’s. So they decided to keep the tradition going. Rodolfo feels like the youngest sibling. I feel like he’s the only son his mother had, he was the last child she had after five girls.
I also think his father died at some point. But his mama talked about him a lot and so does his sisters.
I also think Alejandro had a big family but they kind of resent him. Because being a colonel is a risk to life and they dislike that he chose such a life-damaging job. His mom is dead but he always visits her grave when he can. His dad is still around, and he’s old style, doesn’t email, he writes letters. I feel like he grew up as an only child and then his parents decided to have children, but he was already caught up on his own to really enjoy siblings. (This makes sense right?)
His family is the most important thing to him. He has annoying little brothers and sisters who show up to base when they want. They adore Rudy.
One more thing. I do think.. Rodolfo’s mother was like a Christian. She believed in god and she went to church every Sunday. So when Rodolfo came out to her, he was expecting to be disowned.
All she asked was to meet the man who made him happy. And when she did, she cradled her son’s face and told him to continue the path that made him smile the most.
(Sorry if that made part made you sob. Don’t worry, it made me sob.)
I'm glad the popular opinion seems to be that based on their vibes Rudy is the baby of his family and Ale is the cool big bro in the neighborhood. I also think they'd both be mama's boys, and coincidentally I hc a name scheme for Rudy's family, at least for him and his siblings, but instead of R names, everyone has to have an L in the middle. So like Mariluz, Julieta, Emiliano, Valentino, Rodolfo, etc.
This also gives me an opening to talk about one my own most insidious and devastating hcs for Rudy's fam in particular.
This stems from the scene where they're driving through Las Almas and Soap asks about the children being recruited by the cartel. Rudy's "especially the children" response felt very loaded to me, because obvi they all know someone who was recruited young but I think it hits different for Rudy since he was born into an awfully broken family, making them prime targets for cartel recruitment. His older siblings (some technically half-siblings, his fuckass deadbeat dad got around) urged him to do smth more with his life, especially his sisters who would tease that he was too sweet for cartel work. The gangs would eat him alive, and he’d get no respect. Of course they told him this when he was still young, and they expected he’d grow up to look like his tough older brothers, or maybe their unfortunately handsome nightmare of a father. But he stays sweet and doe-eyed like his mother, though she died when he was so small that all he really remembers of her is her warmth.
His oldest brother eventually gets too deep in the shit and has to cut them all off for their own safety, which was already devastating. His second oldest brother getting killed during a shootout was enough for his sisters to beg Alejandro to take Rudy and get the FUCK out of Las Almas before the same thing happened to their little Rudy. So you can imagine how doubly distraught, pissed, and a smidge impressed they are when Alejandro proceeds to drag Rudy off to join the army. Of course they were thinking more along the lines of marriage, and perhaps a big ranch away from the city where they could all live together, because older sisters are always several steps ahead like that, but Rudy being well-trained to defend himself on top of having Alejandro by his side gives them enough hope to cling to. And he does come back to them, taller and stronger and more confident but still as sweet and mild-mannered as ever. And although it takes another couple years, it turns out they were also right about the marriage part.
While they always worry about him, always will, they're glad he really was the one to make it out in the end.
As for Ale, whose home life was at least a little happier, I like your interpretation and agree that he's a big BIG bro. He finished boot camp just in time for his youngest sister's 5th birthday. He's motivated to keep the streets safe for all his little siblings and cousins but it also means he's always working and doesn't see his extended family much. He prob gave his parents hell when he was younger too but at the end of the day he still wants to do right by them and always tries to visit his dad during leave. He expects his dad to be old-fashioned regarding marriage, especially since he's brought girls home before and Rudy may be an unexpected choice, but his dad just sighs after a moment and says we love who we love. Now am I paying for the wedding or what?
