When the implication of what he says hits her, it knocks the air out of Maria entirely. Her hands fly up to her mouth in shock as her eyes widen.
He killed himself, to be with her.
Maria is naturally speechless for a long moment, before she reaches over to smack Manolo in the shoulder. It's thankfully nothing too hard, but clearly Maria isn't happy. "Don't, don't you ever do something like that again, Manolo. Never again." She wants to yell at him, but she knows that won't accomplish much. He thought she was dead, he was grieving. She can already tell he feels guilty over it.
He winces, expecting much worse, he's fairly certain he deserves much worse. He can only imagine what it was like for her and Jaoquin, finding him dead and cold. He can't find the voice to promise her that he wouldn't do it again. Life without her isn't a life worth living at all, as far as he's concerned.
He accepts the hug all the same, pulling her close and resting his face in her hair, just breathing her in. She was alive, she was safe, these were the things that mattered most to him.
He's alive, he's safe, he's with her- all rattle through Maria as she holds onto Manolo. When the feeling isn't quite as raw, she'll likely prod at him not to be so reckless. To at least promise her he won't value his life so little. Though Maria has a rough idea she won't get much of anything from it.
That was, ultimately, the biggest flaw in La Muerte's blessing. Having a pure and courageous heart meant Manolo did things without thinking them through. Whatever his heart told him to do, he did, unflinchingly. It's a bit of a double edged sword.
He returns the kiss, so glad that he can do so, that she chose him. When he breaks it, he rests his forehead against hers.
"I love you so much, Maria," he says, softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
It was something that would likely get Manolo in more trouble down the line, with Maria in toe to try and keep her husband intact.
"Thank you- for telling me. I needed to know this." She brushes her fingers lightly across his cheek, through the soft hair of his sideburns. "I love you too. Much too much." Maria does smile a little at that, partially teasing him. But genuinely happy with Manolo. It feels like he understands her, like he wouldn't oppose to any of her ideas, any wild adventures she might want to go on.
He certainly would support any wild idea that took her fancy. He knows, already, that he is writing his own destiny, and he sees no reason why Maria can't do the same. She's smart, fierce and adventurous, and he loves these things about her just as much as anything else. Possibly even more. Besides, she's always been the unspoken leader of their little band, he wouldn't want that to change for the world.
He laughs at her little joke kissing the tip of her nose.
"You try making up lyrics on the spot, mi amor. It's not as easy as it looks, you know."
"You make it look so effortless though," She winks playfully in turn clearly enjoying this. "It's hard not to tease you about certain lyrics when I see the chance." Maria admits she was charmed by the song. Not enough to fully fall for him on the spot, but he was a charmer.
"One of these days, we should see Barcelona together. The music there, Manolo- I know you'd be inspired." The thought dances through her mind so easily. It's too early to make it happen, but Maria can dream of it.
Maria just kisses Manolo on the nose for his admittance, more amused than anything else. She easily moves to sit back up, brushing her fingers through her hair as her husband starts to get excited over the prospect. Her hair no better than Manolo's at this point. It's likely worse considering its length and natural curls.
"I'd be happy to give you a tour of- everything. Barcelona is so beautiful, so much music, so much art- music in the streets and dancing at night." That dreamy look in her eyes is about as much warning as Manolo will get when it comes to new ideas coming to her. "When everything is settled here, we'll go."
Of course, Manolo doesn't even notice. All he ever sees of Maria is her beauty. She could be wearing a paper bag over her head, and he'd still call her incredible.
"It sounds like a dream come true."
And it does, now he can truly embrace himself, the thought of going out, enjoying music, learning all he can about it - it's something to look forward to. His smile softens.
She gives up brushing her hair with her fingers for now, leaving her hair as is. When they're officially up, she'll brush it.
Mention of Joaquin makes Maria's expression soften to something more concerned, "We should see if we can drag him along- give him a break from being the big hero for awhile." She blows out a sigh already guessing Joaquin will come up with a million excuses as to why he can't come with them.
"The three amigos will take Europe by storm. They'll never know what hit it."
"We could always put a bag over his head and bring him that way. He'd never see us coming."
His tone is joking, but the concern is there. It's been too many years since their friend had to live like a regular person does, without the medal protecting him. He really does need time to just...be himself. To write his own story.
"I think it would be the perfect place for a new adventure," he chuckles.
Maria gives a thoughtful sound at that, "It certainly would keep him from saying no." She starts, briefly considering the thought before dropping it. It would be better to ask him normally, even if Maria was sure she could handle Joaquin hand to hand or sword to sword, she wasn't sure if it'd injury his pride any worse. "We'll wait until he's fully healed, then we'll see what we can do."
"The three of us, and Chuy." The pig bleated off to the side at his name being called but didn't move from the cozy spot in the corner of Manolo's bedroom, "We can start by train and work our way to a car when we reach the city." Unlike San Angel, Barcelona was more with the times.
"I would not like him to miss out on the opportunity to be himself for a change."
To get out of the shadow of his father. To write his own story. He laughs.
"A car? Now that would be something. I always wondered what it was like to ride in one," he grins, all heart and bluster as usual. "It would be an adventure like no other."
The brunette nods at that, more than pleased Manolo is on the same page about this. "Agreed- Joaquin, he needs to be himself. Not just the 'Hero of San Angel'." What letters her father wrote to her always consisted of describing Joaquin in just those terms. "It's a new start for all of us."
"A few people owe me favors, so getting one for a decent price shouldn't be too hard." She finally reluctantly rises from the bed. They'll need to start the day sooner or later. The loose fabric of her white nightgown fluttering along with her. "Do you have a hair brush I can borrow?"
He gives a happy, if reluctant sigh, stretching. He supposes they do have to get up eventually. After the last few days he's had, he feels he could sleep for a week.
"Of course, mi amor," he gestures over to table, covered in hastily scribbled sheet music. "It should be there...somewhere?"
Maria misses the first part, her hands having drifted back to combing through her hair. She does glance back over, smiling warmly as Manolo stretches. This is the most quiet time they've had so far.
"Somewhere." She repeats with easy amusement as she walks over to the table. Maria picks up some of the scribbled upon papers together for some sense of order. Manolo can sort them properly later, now it's more about finding the brush.
"One day, you'll have to finish these and play them for me." She lightly wiggles a half written song back at her husband before setting some of the papers aside to sort the remaining. Under them lay the promised brush, which she picks up to use.
It's much like organised chaos. Manolo knows there's an order to those things, or at least some semblance of it. His smile turns a little sheepish.
"I'd have to remember what I was thinking with most of them, first."
That is the problem with playing form the heart, they flow with whatever he's feeling at that moment, and once the moment has passed the tune flits away from him to be replaced by something else.
Maria has to laugh a little at that as she works on brushing her hair out of the mess it became overnight. The mixture of the fight for San Angel, the wedding and party proceeding it made for an interesting night. "Hopefully something will all come together." She isn't in a rush about it now.
She does move back towards the bed, pausing the brushing to give Manolo a quick peck. She has to admit, it does make her a little giddy. "I know you will." Manolo isn't one to break a promise. "I'm not going anywhere either, so we have all the time in the world."
"That is good to know, mi amor. Having some time to breathe sounds like just what we all need right now."
They need to rebuild the mess of San Angel, after all. Take stock of all their losses, and figure out how to move forward from all of it. More importantly, to begin to live their own lives; all three of them, write their own stories. It's terrifying, but he's looking forward to it.
"We're definitely going to be busy with everything else." Maria already knows they have the task of handling Manolo's father and great grandmother's burial on top of everything else. "So we'll need some time to breathe between everything else. Which means I'll get to hear more of your music."
She finishes up with her hair, passing the brush back to Manolo. Whilst he's brushing, she's moving towards the one trunk of hers they did manage to move into Manolo's home the night before. She suspects the clothes will be a little wrinkled, but no one will really notice. No one likely got much sleep last night.
There isn't hesitation on her part as she changes out of her nightdress into her normal clothing. Living in a crowded convent lead her to being less than body shy. Beyond that- Manolo is her husband. He'll have to see her undressed sooner or later.
The burial is one thing he has decidedly been trying not to think about. It was easy to pretend they were fine, after seeing them in the Land of the Remembered, and later in the battle. But now they have gone back to where they belong, the loss is significant, and if he thinks about it, it makes his heart ache. Perhaps if he hadn't been so reckless, none of this would have happened. They'd still be alive.
He's enough of a gentleman not to ogle, at least. Years of marriage probably wouldn't change that. He sighs, stretching and getting up himself. Time to face the day.
"I wonder how much of the tower they have cleared."
Maria already knows she'll have to take charge when it comes to the burials. When grief has time to settle in, the brunette knows Manolo will need her. She'll be here for him.
"If my father managed to round up more than just his soldiers, quite a bit more than likely." Maria already knows her father's militia, whilst good hearted weren't up for.... much of anything.
"We're going to need to pitch in, along with keep Joaquin from trying to be the hero." The thought warrants a roll of her eyes. If she catches him taking charge she'll throw the man over her shoulder and drop him off at their house to rest or sick Chuy on him.
And for that, he would be endlessly grateful. Even the smallest of help with the looming weight ahead of him. He chuckles, softly, at the mental image of Joaquin being a building hero brings up.
"He will be easier to live with if he thinks he can be useful. We just have to make sure he doesn't do any heavy lifting," a pause, considering. "Or anything that requires depth perception."
"He's still Joaquin. He'll over do it." She sighs unhappily back, eyes narrowing slightly. She's missed her boys, even if they both drive her crazy at times. "Remind me to sick Chuy on him. That should keep him from doing too much."
The pig bleats once again, rising from his bed with a low lazy yawn. Maria naturally pets the pig when he comes toddling over to her.
Whenever Manolo changes, he can expect to briefly be peeked at. He's a gentlemen, while Maria is not.
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He killed himself, to be with her.
Maria is naturally speechless for a long moment, before she reaches over to smack Manolo in the shoulder. It's thankfully nothing too hard, but clearly Maria isn't happy. "Don't, don't you ever do something like that again, Manolo. Never again." She wants to yell at him, but she knows that won't accomplish much. He thought she was dead, he was grieving. She can already tell he feels guilty over it.
It's why she moves over to just hug him.
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He accepts the hug all the same, pulling her close and resting his face in her hair, just breathing her in. She was alive, she was safe, these were the things that mattered most to him.
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A lot has changed, while a lot hasn't.
She only shifts in the shared hug to kiss him.
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He returns the kiss, so glad that he can do so, that she chose him. When he breaks it, he rests his forehead against hers.
"I love you so much, Maria," he says, softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
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"Thank you- for telling me. I needed to know this." She brushes her fingers lightly across his cheek, through the soft hair of his sideburns. "I love you too. Much too much." Maria does smile a little at that, partially teasing him. But genuinely happy with Manolo. It feels like he understands her, like he wouldn't oppose to any of her ideas, any wild adventures she might want to go on.
He's her partner, not her keeper.
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He laughs at her little joke kissing the tip of her nose.
"You try making up lyrics on the spot, mi amor. It's not as easy as it looks, you know."
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"One of these days, we should see Barcelona together. The music there, Manolo- I know you'd be inspired." The thought dances through her mind so easily. It's too early to make it happen, but Maria can dream of it.
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His smile brightens, sitting up a little. He still remembers the train taking her away, how he wished he could have gone with her.
"I would love to see all the places you have, Maria. And more besides, we could adventure together, take Europe by storm."
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"I'd be happy to give you a tour of- everything. Barcelona is so beautiful, so much music, so much art- music in the streets and dancing at night." That dreamy look in her eyes is about as much warning as Manolo will get when it comes to new ideas coming to her. "When everything is settled here, we'll go."
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"It sounds like a dream come true."
And it does, now he can truly embrace himself, the thought of going out, enjoying music, learning all he can about it - it's something to look forward to. His smile softens.
"And Joaquin is feeling better."
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Mention of Joaquin makes Maria's expression soften to something more concerned, "We should see if we can drag him along- give him a break from being the big hero for awhile." She blows out a sigh already guessing Joaquin will come up with a million excuses as to why he can't come with them.
"The three amigos will take Europe by storm. They'll never know what hit it."
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His tone is joking, but the concern is there. It's been too many years since their friend had to live like a regular person does, without the medal protecting him. He really does need time to just...be himself. To write his own story.
"I think it would be the perfect place for a new adventure," he chuckles.
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"The three of us, and Chuy." The pig bleated off to the side at his name being called but didn't move from the cozy spot in the corner of Manolo's bedroom, "We can start by train and work our way to a car when we reach the city." Unlike San Angel, Barcelona was more with the times.
sorry this is late my net died a horrible death
To get out of the shadow of his father. To write his own story. He laughs.
"A car? Now that would be something. I always wondered what it was like to ride in one," he grins, all heart and bluster as usual. "It would be an adventure like no other."
No problem! I'm happy to tag forever, haha
"A few people owe me favors, so getting one for a decent price shouldn't be too hard." She finally reluctantly rises from the bed. They'll need to start the day sooner or later. The loose fabric of her white nightgown fluttering along with her. "Do you have a hair brush I can borrow?"
Ahaha glad to hear it!
He gives a happy, if reluctant sigh, stretching. He supposes they do have to get up eventually. After the last few days he's had, he feels he could sleep for a week.
"Of course, mi amor," he gestures over to table, covered in hastily scribbled sheet music. "It should be there...somewhere?"
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"Somewhere." She repeats with easy amusement as she walks over to the table. Maria picks up some of the scribbled upon papers together for some sense of order. Manolo can sort them properly later, now it's more about finding the brush.
"One day, you'll have to finish these and play them for me." She lightly wiggles a half written song back at her husband before setting some of the papers aside to sort the remaining. Under them lay the promised brush, which she picks up to use.
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"I'd have to remember what I was thinking with most of them, first."
That is the problem with playing form the heart, they flow with whatever he's feeling at that moment, and once the moment has passed the tune flits away from him to be replaced by something else.
"But I promise I will try, just for you."
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She does move back towards the bed, pausing the brushing to give Manolo a quick peck. She has to admit, it does make her a little giddy. "I know you will." Manolo isn't one to break a promise. "I'm not going anywhere either, so we have all the time in the world."
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They need to rebuild the mess of San Angel, after all. Take stock of all their losses, and figure out how to move forward from all of it. More importantly, to begin to live their own lives; all three of them, write their own stories. It's terrifying, but he's looking forward to it.
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She finishes up with her hair, passing the brush back to Manolo. Whilst he's brushing, she's moving towards the one trunk of hers they did manage to move into Manolo's home the night before. She suspects the clothes will be a little wrinkled, but no one will really notice. No one likely got much sleep last night.
There isn't hesitation on her part as she changes out of her nightdress into her normal clothing. Living in a crowded convent lead her to being less than body shy. Beyond that- Manolo is her husband. He'll have to see her undressed sooner or later.
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He's enough of a gentleman not to ogle, at least. Years of marriage probably wouldn't change that. He sighs, stretching and getting up himself. Time to face the day.
"I wonder how much of the tower they have cleared."
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"If my father managed to round up more than just his soldiers, quite a bit more than likely." Maria already knows her father's militia, whilst good hearted weren't up for.... much of anything.
"We're going to need to pitch in, along with keep Joaquin from trying to be the hero." The thought warrants a roll of her eyes. If she catches him taking charge she'll throw the man over her shoulder and drop him off at their house to rest or sick Chuy on him.
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"He will be easier to live with if he thinks he can be useful. We just have to make sure he doesn't do any heavy lifting," a pause, considering. "Or anything that requires depth perception."
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The pig bleats once again, rising from his bed with a low lazy yawn. Maria naturally pets the pig when he comes toddling over to her.
Whenever Manolo changes, he can expect to briefly be peeked at. He's a gentlemen, while Maria is not.
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ach, sorry about that delay. Feel free to timeskip to wherever!
no worries!
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I thought i replied to this >_> feel free it ignore if you want to drop the thread