[i own nothing. MY OCs are to me and me alone]

CHAPTER 10: Discussions and a Dinner Plan

At Alzatico's house, Alzatico and his sons were having dinner.

Oscar was telling his father and his brothers about his day out with Mirabel.

"...and Mirabel told me all about how she discovered her tio Bruno hiding in the walls of her house - it was where he makes up telenovelas with his rats." he said. "you should check it out, sometime."

"That sounds amazing, bro." Gustavo said. "I helped Luisa with her chores today - rounding up the stray donkeys. They get out quite a lot, they do. She's such a nice woman, isn't she?"

"I'm sure she is." Alzatico droned, then he turned to Oscar. "Anything else you learnt from Mirabel?"

"Well," Oscar said, "She told me about what happened with a disastrous proposal dinner involving her eldest sister, Isabela. You know, the one that can grow flowers?"

"Si." Alzatico said, "I've seen her brightening up the gardens round the village. Her plants are somewhat... intriguing."

"Me too." Russ said, "I saw 'em whilst entertainin' the kids."

"yeah, we saw you too, bro." Oscar said to his brother. "And Papa," he added, "She explained that there was an incident where her house collapsed, and her abuela found her by a river. She said it was where her abuela's husband died in the war."

Zachary gasped, and nearly choked on his meat.

"You know; The war Russ mentioned before we came here." Oscar added.

"Oh yeah," Alzatico said, "that war."

"Her Tio Bruno found them, and then, the village came together to help the Madrigals rebuild their home." Oscar said.

"Hmmm." Alzatico said. "I need to launch investigations into this myself."

Around the same time, in Casita, the Madrigals were having their dinner. Mirabel was talking about her day out with Oscar.

"So," Julieta said, a twinge of anxiety in her voice, "How was your day out with Oscar?"

"It was great, Mama," Mirabel said. "Oscar's a really nice person. We even saw his older hermano, Russ, entertaining the kids in town."

Julieta & Agustin looked at each other, concerned, and at the same time, Pepa & Felix looked at each other, concerned. That made Mirabel feel concerned. "Mama, Papa, Tio Felix, Tia Pepa," she asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I'll say there is." said Abuela.

Mirabel jumped upon hearing her Abuela's voice. "What do you mean, Abuela?" she asked. "I mean, you did leave before Alzatico's familia came, and-"

"Si." Alma interrupted. "Mirabel, your mama came to me whilst i was helping Mariano prepare to move into Casita-"

"Dolores' boyfriend's moving in with us?!" Camilo said excitedly. "Alright! I can't wait to show him how everything in Casita works!"

"Camilo." Alma said with a stern expression. "Let me finish, por favor."

Camilo immediately sat down.

"As I was saying," Alma stated, turning back to Mirabel, "Julieta came to me whilst I was helping the Guzmans. She told me about what Alzatico said, about letting his sons help us in the Encanto."

"I also saw that young man with the puffy hair in town with the kids." she added.

"You mean Russ, don't you, Abuela?" Mirabel asked. But she really hadn't needed to.

"Si, i do." Alma said. "Dolores told me."

"Me and Oscar saw him too." Mirabel said. "He's real nice, especially with his gift of super speed."

"I agree." Camilo said. "I sure wish we'd had one of Alzatico's sons' gifts-"

"DON'T YOU MENTION HIS NAME, CAMILO!" Alma shouted, which, of course, took everyone quite aback, even Mirabel.

Some meat Agustin had in his mouth fell out and landed on his plate.

"Wow." said Mirabel to no one in particular. "That was not the reaction I expected from Abuela."

Everyone was now giving Alma shocked looks.

Alma looked shocked at her own outburst, experiencing the feeling that was kinda similar to Mirabel in her argument before Casita collapsed.

There was silence for about a minute or two.

Alma stood up. She sighed. Then, she took her plate away from the table. "I'm gonna finish my dinner in my room. Alone." she said, whilst leaving the dining room.

The Madrigals looked puzzled. This was not like Abuela Alma at all.

'And here I thought Abuela had changed ever since what happened with losing Casita before.' Mirabel thought, picking away at her food.

Later, after the dinner, Mirabel was helping her family with the washing up.

"I enjoyed the day with Oscar today, Mama." Mirabel said. "He's very nice, and we talked about everything that happened."

"I know." said Julieta. "I gave you and him some arepas."

"He liked them, Mama." Mirabel said. "And then he created a magical flying carpet, and we flew over the whole Encanto."

Julieta nearly dropped the plate she was holding in shock.

"We know." Agustin said. "Armando, the local drunk, he saw you from the bar. and so did we."

"The same bar that you once smashed the table of when you found out that Armando and his friends bullied Mirabel when she was young?" Pepa asked.

"Si." Agustin said. "that bar." he remembered that moment too well.

there was a bit of silence between the family, as they set to cleaning.

"I've been thinking." said Julieta suddenly.

"What is it?" asked Mirabel.

"I think maybe we should have Alzatico and his family come to Casita for dinner tomorrow," Julieta said, "and discuss their plans on helping us in the Encanto; so they get a true grip on how things work here."

Everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing, so they could look at Julieta.

"Espara." Isabela said suddenly. "Mama, do you mean to say that we're having Alzatico and his family meet ours in Casita?"

"Si." Julieta said. "I just think it'd be nice if we gave them a bit of our hospitalidad."

"I... guess it's a good idea." said Dolores anxiously. "As long as Abuela agrees to this - i mean, she does have a habit of leaving when Alzatico comes near us."

"Great." Julieta said. "After we've finished cleaning, we'll talk to Mama about this and see what she says about the idea."

"Absolutely not." Alma declared.

"But Mama," Julieta began, "I think it's a good idea. We need to give Alzatico and his familia a proper chance to see Casita-"

"Out of the question." Alma said firmly. "I don't think we could have unauthorized guests in Casita; especially since they're helping people in the Encanto without my consent."

"I know, Mama." Julieta said. "I mean, Si, we have only known them for a short time, but Mirabel has already spent time with Alzatico's son, Oscar, so I think maybe if the rest of us could get to know Oscar and his hermanos, they would know more about things here."

Alma sighed. She was still very unconvinced that Alzatico would be a good guest for them - due to her 'history' with him. [More on that later] And especially with Alzatico's sons that she didn't even know.

"Abuela," Mirabel said, "Mama's right. It'd be nice for them to see Casita for themselves. Oscar told me he would like to check out Casita for himself. So, will you let Alzatico and his familia come to Casita for dinner tomorrow?"

Alma paused for quite a while, glancing at her daughter and granddaughter. Then, Alma sighed in reluctance. "Ok." she said, giving in. "They can come."

Mirabel quickly hugged her abuela, and Julieta followed.

"But," Alma said firmly, "they stay for one hour, and Alzatico is NOT to be anywhere within 10 feet of me."

"Ok, Abuela." said Mirabel.

"Gracias, mama." Julieta said, releasing her hug.

Feeling much better about things, Mirabel and Julieta left. Alma then slowly sat on her bed. "Pedro." she whispered to her locket, "I hope I'm doing the right thing."

of course, she didn't know about Alzatico's plot to steal the Encanto's magic for himself... yet.

Or that she was the key to it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Seems the dinner idea has come to fruition. so it looks like The Madrigals will be greeting Oscar and his family properly, and giving them a view of Casita.

Mirabel: Alright!

Me: Still, Alma is not so keen about Alzatico being in her house, more so that he and his sons are helping people in the Encanto without her consent. It's much to bear, especially with her upcoming retirement.

Alma: Ay. I hope I live long enough to regret this.

Me: Even more so, she still doesn't realize she's part of Alzatico's wicked plot. Now, in the next chapter, Alzatico and his family have dinner with the Madrigals. Will this dinner go smoothly? Or will it turn into disaster, like Isa's proposal dinner from the movie? You'll just have to wait and see.

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