Laced & Leather Chaos

Bureaucracy

"Um...we don't want you to think it's...a habit...", Julio began, smiling to the custom's officer, "But...well...". He and Coco made way to show Miguel (who's hoodie hood was down) and Trent (without one), "we have...uh...two this time...but we're fixing it!".

The jaw dropped off again, and the custom's official vaguely waved.

"Gracias", Julio shuffled the boys, and everyone, off.

"Do we need one of those...?", Trent asked, craning back to look at all the petals and before they walked in.

"Already ahead of it", Imelda held out a bunch of five, "we can't just count on Rosita picking them up again".

"Oh but I did", Rosita shook out her skirts. Imelda pushed the door open and Trent walked into another bustling scene he just had to stand and take in. Skeletons rushed or stood everywhere! Imelda strode forward, no nonsense like last year when she'd needed to speak to Someone in Charge.

"If we could find the one from before, what was his name?", she inquired of her family. There were head shakes. "I...I don't recall..." Julio said.

With a chuckle, Héctor grabbed Trent's hand as he just stood there, "Come on, she won't wait, trust me", he said. The group walked up to the desk Imelda had been pacing before last year. The woman behind it leapt up, and looked worried, "S-Senora...how may I help you?".

"I need to speak to the man that was in that office last year. I assume he still is? In that one?". The woman looked puzzled.

Héctor clambered his way to the front of the family, "Disculpe, mi amor let me...", he muttered to Imelda, then faced the woman behind the desk with a grin, and tried to be the patriarch he supposed he should start fitting. Imelda just crossed her arms and let him try. "How are you?", Héctor began, "we...have a slight problem. I'm told you were informed of it before, when my great-great grandson came through, well, he's...brought un amigo and...".

The door to the familiar office helpfully opened. "Rivera...and guest?", the man peeked over his glasses at the group, "This way...". He gestured. The Rivera's and Trent filed through, Rosita closing the door.

The clerk from before hopped up into his chair and swiveled it slightly, facing them, "Phew...you did it again", he said, glancing from a clipboard to them. "Stolen pan dulce...uh, why'd you steal it?", he glanced to Miguel.

"I was helping Trent", Miguel said. The man hummed and glanced back to his clipboard.

"We have the petals", Imelda said, "so, who do we call for the boy", she went back to titling and nodded to Trent.

"Well, just a moment, that's what I need to try to figure out", the clerk said, nodding to her and the family, "you see I was informed of what had happened, but not everything. So many papers, and...".

"Yes, well get to it", Imelda sighed impatiently, foot tapping.

The man gave a nervous chuckle and searched his papers, but only to move them a bit, revealing a computer. Imelda's frowned deepened. Héctor grinned, leaning over, "If it helps...", Imelda's look told him to shut up this time.

"Alrighty...", the squat skeleton typed and then turned to Trent, "We'll just look up who should come help you, or how best to get to them. Uh, full name".

"Trenton Larson", Trent said dutifully, still studying the skeleton and then room. The man typed.

"Last dead relative?" he asked.

Trent frowned, thinking, "Like...very last?", he asked.

"Yes, close would work, but that would be the safest bet", the man waved his hand, glancing to the child and then back to his screen, "if you can't recall, do next back".