#this... went a direction

I can, but I wouldn't necessarily call it magical. It's actually pretty dark, all things considered. This is a sort of simplified version.

What I have so far is this: Because of a curse placed on the family, none of the Reyes family can leave their ranch property. They hire TK as, essentially, a messenger and errand boy because none of them can leave. Secondarily: No male child since Gabriel has lived past the age of 30, many of them dying much younger, and Carlos being the oldest still alive at age 28. (Referencing the plagues of Egypt, i.e. death of the firstborn.)

At the beginning of the story, Carlos believes it's because his grandfather had an affair and then ended it, the woman cursing him and his descendants in anger. He later discovers from Tia Lucy that it's something completely different, but that's besides the point.

He believes very strongly that the curse is placed on the land. I went down a rabbit hold picking native plants that had medicinal use or symbolic somehow, my favorite being anacahuita (mimosa) trees.

Carlos tries to satisfy the curse and save himself with offerings. Blood staves off the episodes the longest, so he develops a theory similar to Catholic tithing -- once a month, he gives a little blood and a little silver to the land, as if paying into a debt.

I'm sitting here debating what else to include, and whether I care enough about spoiling it anymore. Because I could just spell the whole thing out here. If you want that, please feel free to message me and we can chat about it.

BUT, if I can be real for a moment: the curse aspect of the story is the largest stumbling block to the story at the moment.

There is an immense amount of intricacy and nuance in Mexican folk healing practices, Tejano culture during the 19th century, Spanish Catholicism and imagery, and Victorian spiritualism as it was seen/practiced in Texas -- all of which I've been trying (sort of in vain) to coalesce down into one story, one blood curse, with a solution that Carlos and TK can actually solve for.

Part of why I've not been working on this story or posting any more of it is because I got cold feet. I love research, I've been learning absolutely fascinating things, but I am rather terrified of writing something like this badly. I don't want to misrepresent anything. That wouldn't be right or fair to the beauty, intention, and tradition of these practices, believes, and cultures.

I know that this fandom is full of people who care very deeply about details like these, and that it's this intricacy that makes Carlos such an important character for them. I don't want to do it poorly. So. If anyone's been wondering why I promised a lot and then gave nothing, that's why.

        there’s a certain way that the light catches albedo that makes him look ——— fragile. skin translucent, as though he were about to fall apart at the seams : it’s an utterly fascinating phenomenon, one that kaeya is half tempted to tell him to study along with the creation, purpose, and origin of life itself. they wonder what expression he would make if he were to say as much aloud, put into irrevocable words how BREAKABLE he appears, when the light hits him just so. perhaps albedo would grace him with a laugh, a raised brow, a quirk of his mouth in annoyance, a strange look. it’s hard to say which kaeya would prefer to see : any of them would be a treat, after all.

        it’s how he looks now, cast in clay / encased in light. not looking at him, instead staring down at a sheaf of papers, an expression on his face that’s nearly RUEFUL, a set to his mouth different than its standard neutrality. kaeya almost understands albedo’s desire to commit life to paper ——— he looks so very delicate and pristine that it almost seems a shame that someone isn’t capturing this moment. KAEYA WANTS TO REMEMBER IT FOREVER.

        luckily : he will.

        ❝ you know, albedo, ❞ kaeya suddenly wants, with an acuteness that sets its teeth into the back of his mouth / sinking into his larynx / blood pooling in his throat, albedo to MEET THEIR GAZE, but discards that want ( and it falls upon the pile of other wants, sending others careening further and further and —— further into the chasm ) because it’s silly, isn’t it? so childish, nearly juvenile, and he’s long since outgrown being the young boy who clung to his brother’s sleeve. ❝ you’ve managed to surprise me ——— quite the impressive feat. ❞

        ( it is because kaeya had half—thought that albedo would never even tolerate his presence, all but immune to his charms? but no, not quite : he had watched that NEUTRAL IMPASSIVE FACE giving way inch by inch by inch, bit by bit, passivity melting to make way for something that laid just beneath / something that stuck dirt beneath their nails as they unearthed what laid below and found ——— no, not quite. they suppose that they’re SURPRISED that he admits it so freely / so openly. )

        albedo manages to surprise him RATHER OFTEN, in fact, something that kaeya takes great pleasure in every time it happens because it’s a rare event, otherwise. it keeps them on their toes in regards to him ——— and it keeps albedo thoroughly interesting, he never quite knows what he’s going to get, and that’s the best part.

        and there : albedo’s eyes shift towards him and away again, quick as a gust of wind, easy to miss if only kaeya hadn’t been watching him LIKE A HAWK, taking in every last one of his movements. better and better.

        kaeya CHUCKLES quietly in response, as though being any louder would shatter this moment / would shatter albedo. or perhaps kaeya is the one who would shatter ——— how thick is the sheaf of ice that covers him, after all? ❝ worry not, albedo, ❞ the name rests in his mouth and tastes like salty earth, ❝ now that i know, i’ll be sure to increase my frequency of visits to your lab. your life should never know another moment without my presence, after all. ❞