Encanto: After

Anti-Childish

Location: Antonio's Room
Time: 10:35 AM

Timid, ticklish; turning and twisting, Desirae spurted out laughter as tapirs, coatis, toucans, scarlett macaws and grey rodents swarmed and trampled her in the hurly-burly of the room.

Antonio, who had been spinning his pencil in between his fingers, stopped his little motion and sighed, letting an exchange of worry in, "Guys, please don't trample Desirae!"

Desirae flung herself up into a sitting position, "It's fun being trampled on, Antonio!", Camilo and Mariano came up from behind, both gripping one wrist with one hand and pulling her up on two feet and puffing out strained grunts.

Mariano slowly shook his head, "I'd digress. Seems painful."

Antonio shrugged, "Depends on the size of the animal. Whether they have claws or not also changes it. And, well - they are my animals. None of them would dare hurt anyone."

Camilo turned his head to meet his dark eyes. He let out a disgruntled "What?"

"Well-"

Camilo scoffed, "Antonio, she's three! Forget the likelihood for a second and do a hard focus on the could; the can - in fact. It should override all logic when the right cards are at play. Any and every animal has something painful they're hiding. It just depends on the who who triggers it.", Camilo squatted down to Desirae's height, "Look, beautiful - last time I checked, getting trampled on is only fun when you aren't the one getting trampled on."

"So...watching it happen to others?", Desirae asked.

Mariano gave the two a nervous smile, "That's still painful to watch."

Camilo shook his head, "Nah.", he smirked and aimed two finger guns at him, one on each hand, "That's painfully fun to watch.", he corrected.

Antonio didn't bother with him anymore, going back to count the crew, "Alright, everyone is hopefully here. Um...rodents? We've gotten some complaints from Bisabuela about ingredients disappearing, so I am sorry to say that you guys will be banned from the kitchen to further notice. Also, can we stop eating the rats? Coatis, toucans - please!", he growled at the animals workers, who all froze at the burst of his chilling outrage, "Rats are dropping like flies right now and I have no use crying over every single one!"

Camilo drifted his eyes back to himself, "Okay. Someone has to deal with some stuff."

Antonio clawed his afro, accidentally pulling out tufts of his curls. "Sorry."

Mariano quickly dropped his arm down so his and Desirae's fingers would touch and intertwine, "I think we should go."

"Yeah, yeah, sure. Of course.", Camilo blurted, already fast-walking to the door and opening it. He bowed, "Ladies first."

Desirae skipped out the door, with Mariano stumbling behind, but getting out the door successfully too. Camilo shot out behind them, almost lunging himself down onto the ground floor if it weren't for the railings.

Félix, who was just happily sweeping till now, swerved to the side and pinched Camilo's ruana, "Yo, Camilo. What's got you in a rush?"

Camilo grimaced, "Antonio's getting through some stuff with his friends."

Félix patted his shoulders, "So I've heard. He'll be back shortly."

Desirae bounced up to his height, "Hi, abuelo!", and back down she went.

Félix picked the little one up and spun her around, "Hey, cristal!", he stuffed her in his chest, "Now, what are you doing hiding in Antonio's room?"

Desirae giggled as she was placed back done, "We were just playing with Antonio's animals!"