A forward-dated birthday post...s...

[nonmagical]

WHO: Mirabel and the network
WHERE: The network
WHEN: Forward dated to March 6th!
WHAT: Mirabel has an announcement
WARNINGS: Shirtless dude's chest in the second image

[There's a Mirabel on the network! She has a Very Important Announcement:]

The kid version of my app disappeared! I'm not sure why, maybe it has to do...

... WITH THE FACT THAT I'M SIXTEEN NOW!!!

[She means to link this image:https://c.tenor.com/w6860KTKCLYAAAAC/birthday-its-my-birthday.gif but instead links this one: https://www.muscleandfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Male-Chest-Open-Zip-Up-Hoodie.jpg

She doesn't seem to notice.

The post stays up for about 15 minutes, until it's deleted. Huh! Wonder why.

Instead a new text goes out:]

So we're all just gonna pretend we didn't see that last post, right?

More importantly, I'm sixteen now!

[JUST IGNORE THAT LAST TEXT IT DOESN'T EXIST. She wasn't googling dude's chests because she can now ok ok.]

Comments

1/?

[pan_acea]

[Julieta had every intention of just happily making a birthday feast and Mirabel's favorites and of course, making a Torta de Tres Leche cake for the festivities in Casita.

When her daughter posts she clicks on the link.]

2/?

[pan_acea]

[Oh.]

3/?

[pan_acea]

[OH!]

4/?

[pan_acea]

[Mirabel was...]

5/?

[pan_acea]

[And she didn't have Agustín here to help with the Talk.]

6/9

[pan_acea]

[Well, whatever, Julieta has helped with plenty of deliveries and other... problems. She IS basically the Encanto's doctor, after all, and that included more... personal matters.]

7/9

[pan_acea]

[Okay, now, how to approach this...

Should she play dumb and like she didn't notice, or dive head first into the Talk? Maybe a middle ground?]

8/9

[pan_acea]

[Still, Mirabel clearly inherited her tastes from her. Agustín had been the same way when they were younger, all slender and tall and built.

Focus, Julieta!]

9/9

[pan_acea]

[She clears her throat.]

Happy birthday, mi amor, I'm almost done with one of the cakes. [Yes, ONE of the cakes.]

....

[And then...]

So is that a boy I should know?

[nonmagical]

[For a moment she thought she got away with it. Her mom mentions a cake and then…

Nope. Nope she saw.

She’s going to go bury herself in the backyard now thanks.

She turns the camera away from herself so she can’t see how utterly red she is right now.]

No mamá, it’s not…

[Her voice comes out like a squeak.]

[pan_acea]

Now Mira, this is all perfectly natural, okay? You are a growing girl.

There's nothing wrong in noticing someone.

[nonmagical]

[God she is dying inside. Her soul is leaving her body.]

No one was supposed to see that…!

[pan_acea]

Ah sí, I am not surprised you didn't want anyone to see.

Exploring our desires is very personal and individual!

Now, we should talk in person about what we should do if these... individual desires start involving another actual person.

[nonmagical]

[OH? MY GOD??]

Mamá... I'm literally - I'm literally going to die. Please don't give me the Talk on my birthday.

[pan_acea]

Okay okay okay. I won't give it on your birthday.

.........

I will do it tomorrow.

[nonmagical]

What - what about a week? A month? Years?

[pan_acea]

Years? Months?

Mira, don't be silly! As soon as you had the means, you sought out other bodies.

And there's nothing wrong with that but clearly it's something that interests you and I just want to make sure you understand what your body is going through and how to safely go about things!

Everyone goes through this around this age! I've had this conversation dozens and dozens of times.

[nonmagical]

[Sorry Mirabel, you brought this upon yourself.]

O-okay, tomorrow... without anyone listening in, right?

[She's succumbing to her fate.]

[pan_acea]

Of course, and you can ask me any questions you may have or concerns or just things you want to know.

[Julieta is both mama right now and the Encanto healer. She is treating this no differently than if it was someone else's child.]

[nonmagical]

[Since this is inevitable, Mirabel starts to come around... a little.]

I might have... some questions? But in person. Only in person.

[Not here. She's not gonna ask them here.]

[pan_acea]

Only in person, I promise, mí amor. We can discuss it in my room. And there's nothing you can ask or say I haven't already heard asked or said.

[Well that's not ENTIRELY true but Julieta's been doing this AWHILE.]

[nonmagical]

O-okay. I guess... I can live with that.

[Still internally screaming though and kicking herself.]

[pan_acea]

You're a very strong and incredible girl, I'm not surprised.

[The gentlest of teasing.]

Not Here

[neverbreaks]

[ Luisa, meanwhile, is feeling so much sympathetic embarrassment.

She so does not envy you right now, Sis. Good luck. ]