#toymaker!au

Headcanons, I guess? Idk, people can add on to it. Most of these came from conversations with @heyheyitsjuju (who writes awesome fics and is writing an amazing story for this AU)

1.) Héctor works primarily in wood but, he can also make toys out of tin, fabric, and steel parts.

2.) Ernesto does most of the bargaining when buying materials and will try to get the lowest possible price for high quality goods. He's a shrewd business man and will will charm his way through deals. Ceci is one of the few people in town who won't fall for Ernesto's tactics (though occasionally she'll lower her prices because she has a soft spot for Héctor.)

3.) Héctor's favorite toys to make are musical ones, like music boxes and wind-up figurines. He composes songs and then creates the mechanisms that play the tune. Toys that play songs like The World Es Mi Familia and La Llorona are created for market but, music boxes that play Remember Me and Un Poco Loco are one of-a-kind.

4.) Once Héctor was married to Imelda, the Twins fashioned a leg brace for him to aid his bad leg. It's made with leather from their shop and scrap metal they found. Héctor was honestly touched by their thoughtful gift but, his pride gets in the way of wearing it in public. Don't need the town gawking at something else when they already consider him a simpleton. He will wear it around the house on occasion when his leg begins to act up.

5.) During their courtship, Imelda made Héctor a pair of shoes with hidden height in the left sole to help even out his walk. He cried when he got the gift. Héctor gave Imelda a beautiful music box that has a dancer under a glass dome twirling to Un Poco Loco. Imelda, flustered, thinks her gift is inadequate by comparison but, Héctor just smiles and writes that it's the most wonderful gift anyone has ever given him.

6.) Ernesto, the Twins, Coco, and even Imelda will model for Héctor sometimes. He'll make quick sketches of them for new toy ideas or use specific traits inspired by his family (like Coco's braids on a ragdoll.)

7.) Héctor has a hidden scar on his head from his accident on/near his left temple. His hair hides it and people won't notice it unless they run their hands through his hair.

8.) When she's old enough, Coco spends time in both of her Mamá and Papá's workshops though she eventually grows up to be a shoemaker like Imelda. When Victoria and Elena are born, Elena will follow in her Mamá's footsteps but, Victoria (along with Rosita) will help Papá Héctor in the toyshop. Rosita loves to embroider flowers on doll clothes and create stuffed animals. Victoria enjoys creating figurines and wooden game boards. She will also help Héctor keep track of his account books.

9.) Héctor would 100% give toys away for free if children asked him too, especially if they use the puppy dog eyes that all kids seem to know. Ernesto makes sure they actually make a profit and aren't run down into the ground.

10.) Coco is still an only child, Imelda has trouble conceiving a second child due to complications from Coco's birth. Just like Héctor, Imelda feels like she is broken for not being able to give him the large family they've always wanted. Héctor comforts and reassures her that she and Coco are more than enough.

11.) Héctor was inspired by silent films when he was developing his way of communication.

More headcanons! These were inspired from conversations with @heyheyitsjuju and her revised chapter of Palabras de Amor. These headcanons jump around the timeline.

- Miguel is still a musician in this AU but, since there was never a music ban he is able to pursue his passions without fear. He is a creative boy, however, and has Héctor's knack for creating music boxes. He created his first music box after baby Socorro was born and it plays Proud Corazón.

- Ernesto acts like an overprotective parent 24/7 despite Héctor being a fully grown man capable of taking care of himself.

- Héctor always carries a satchel with notebooks and pencils in case he's inspired to create music or he needs to write to communicate.

- When Coco dies at 100, the music box that her Papá made her is restored and put on the ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos

- Some other offerings include Imelda's Un Poco Loco music box (along with her boots), a chihuahua alebrije for Ernesto, and Héctor's skull guitar and whittling tools.

- Despite Héctor usually looking like he just rolled out of bed, his workspace is actually pretty organized and tidy. However, if he isn't able to sleep the workshop will look like a tornado ran through it by morning.

- During their courtship, Héctor would play guitar under Imelda's window and would leave little gifts he made for her on the window sill. She would act like she was ignoring him at first but, she was listening to every note and chord. She has a shelf in her room dedicated to his gifts.

- When Héctor is inspired to create new music or a new toy he'll stay awake for days working while neglecting his own needs, like eating and sleeping. Eventually, Ernesto (and later Imelda) would have to forcibly remove Héctor from the workshop so he'd bathe and rest.

- Because Ernesto never became a celebrity, the only ofrenda he is on is the Rivera Ofrenda. He's been known as Tio Nesto for years.

- After Héctor was able to speak again in the Land of the Dead, he and Ernesto will play in plazas during days off. They've garnered a bit of a reputation.

- After Héctor and Ernesto's deaths Julio, Rosita, and Victoria ran the Juguetería. When they died Franco, Berto, and Carmen took over. Coco oversaw the Zapatería when Imelda died and later passes on the responsibility to Elena when she grew too old. The kids take shifts between the shops.

- When Coco was a young girl, she would sometimes get into fights with kids who would make fun of her parents. Some would call Imelda a witch of a woman who had no right running a business. Others would claim that Héctor is a simpleton and that Ernesto is the one doing all the work behind the scenes. Both remarks would cause Coco to swing her shoe at someone's head.