Laced & Leather Chaos

Plans in Motion

He had to work quickly, Ernesto knew. The boy before him frowned, "W-what are you talking about?", he asked, sizing him up, in his long tattered coat and hood. Yet he didn't run. Ernesto glanced to make sure they were still undiscovered; it was only a matter of time before the Riveras came scouring the place for the kid they lost.

"Héctor Rivera's a criminal, you can ask anyone", he said. Well...not anyone...the anyones Ernesto could find if he had to. He wasn't sure if it was safe to give a name yet, and...he would need to admit to his own at some point...again, if safe.

"But...his family...", the boy began.

"Oh you know mothers, and wives are the same, wouldn't your family stick by you no matter what you were like?", Ernesto said. They were wasting time! The boy nodded though, realizing this was true.

"M-Miguel trusts him...", he went on pitifully. Just trying in the presence of doubts now.

"Poor boy's been deceived like the rest of them, and he just can't believe it, that his grandfather...well why don't I explain all this in further detail back at my place", he whistled, taking the risk of the sound, and a cart pulled by Chihuahua alebrijes Ernesto had still managed to keep rolled up. Trent blinked at it.

"In you go", Ernesto placed a hand to his shoulder.

"W-wait...hold on...", the boy wiggled free, sizing up the man before him again, "and who are you?". So not as clueless as Ernesto had thought.

He sighed, there was nothing for it now, "Ernesto de la Cruz, have you heard of me?". He waited, tensed, the first sign of a bad reaction and the hand would go back over the mouth and he'd shut the kid up however he had to...

"Uh...yeah...yeah...", the kid said, but didn't raise any alarms. "You're that musician who's statue is...well...".

"Yes", Ernesto kept bitterness from his voice as he acknowledged.

"But, Miguel didn't really tell me why yet, I...meant to ask, then mom called me home and...", the boy went on with the magic words. Good. Very good. Ernesto couldn't care less what he was explaining, a reason he wasn't there for Dia de los Muertos? Whatever! He didn't know him. That was the important part.

"Ah, yes, and I'm glad you're getting the story from me", he really was, "poor Héctor's grandson is as confused as he is. They...they think I poisoned him", Ernesto gave a disbelieving and hurt laugh, "Me? His amigo! His band partner! You understand that, Sí? Being band partners?". Trent nodded. Ernesto went on, planting seeds where they needed to go. "Why, it was food poisoning yes, from that chorizo, I told him it looked off, but I was running for the hospital as fast as I could! And when I got back", he shook his head.

"I...I thought you said he was a criminal?", Trent questioned.

"Oh that was after he came here, with all his delusions and feeling hurt", Ernesto explained. "You see...", he began trying to lead Trent toward the cart again, "I know a quicker way to your grandparents, we can intersect them at the next stop before here, you can get home faster, and...my boy...". He nodded down, and Trent frowned confused before following the look. To one finger that was mostly skeleton now! He'd been here so long!

"That will continue until the end of the day, and by then", Ernesto shook his head, "Your poor Mamá will have to...mourn you as if...dead...because you will be". The boy looked appropriately horrified. "So, all haste, yes?", Ernesto put a strong arm around the shoulders and continued the frustratingly long walk for such a short distance.

"But...but...", the boy could only verbally protest, Ernesto had managed to tighten his grip and make it seem concern, "Miguel...I...I can't leave him...not if he's also...".