#sonny ith | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jiselleeeeeeeeeee · 2 years

Text

Life with Noctyx ♡ reader with Alexithymia

Author's notes: The actual writing is finally done ♡ as requested by @kaizen21 ♡

General tags: Male reader with Alexithymia w/Noctyx, actually some parts of it could be a gn/reader, lots of fluff! A little angst here and there but minor

Sonny Brisko ♡

I believe that Sonny would notice the mild symptoms of Alexithymia, the most obvious being being more sensitive to sudden movement, sounds and physical touches

He would actually spend time researching on it and learn how to communicate properly

I think Sonny would be really understanding. “It's ok if you don't know what and how you're feeling. Take your time, I'll always be with you.”

“Ah good morning y/n! How are you-” Sonny paused. “...right, sorry about that, were you frightened?” Sonny caught a glimpse of his sleeping boyfriend, and sighed in relief. “Sleep well my love” He whispered softly, and gently closed the door behind him.

“Sonny...there's something I want to ask you” You had this question ever since you and Sonny started dating, was he actually troubled by the fact that you had such a condition? “Hmmm y/n, were you about to ask me if I feel troubled by your condition?” Sonny knew that you would ask, and he already has the answer. “Y/n, we talked about this...” You don't know why, but the way he sounded...“I know it's not the first time, and I'm sorry if you find it troublesome, but I don't have a choice! I wasn't willing to find myself in this condition!” You didn't know what happened to you at that point in time, you couldn't think, what were you feeling? You don't know, there wasn't a word for it. You had enough and ran back to your room.

Minutes later, you heard a knock. “Y/n? I didn't mean to sound bad just now, can you please open the door and we can talk about it?” Sonny knocked again, wondering if you would open the door for him. “...come in, Sonny.” You needed to get things sorted out. “Y/n...what I was trying to say was, no matter how many times you ask me, my answer would still be the same. Y/n, I dated you because I love you for who you are, nothing will change. I'll always be proud of my dearest boyfriend, and that is you, y/n.” For some reason, you didn't know how to describe it, but it felt like time stopped for the both of you, and you just wanted to be in his embrace forever. “Y/n, my only y/n, take your time. Don't worry, I'll always be here for you, always.”

Alban Knox ♡

Alban would be a little confused at first, but will soon understand it

As loud as he is sometimes, he would try to soften around you to make sure that he doesn't startle you

“Whoever that stole your emotions, I'll be sure to steal it back! So don't be afraid, Y/n!”

“Y/NNNNNNNNN!” Alban was really excited to finally see you, having to not see each other in a long distance relationship was really hard for him! He really wanted to give you a big bear hug! What he didn't expect, though, was for his boyfriend he missed seeing so much flinch at his hug. “eH y/n did I scare you? gomen gomen heheh” “Alban~, so nice to see you again. But next time, try to refrain from surprising me like this, ok?” Alban stayed silent. “If that's what you want, I'll respect it, y/n!” Alban gave you his brightest smile.

The next few days, both of you had a lot of fun. However, Alban was still confused. Didn't google mention that there should always be surprises among lovers? Why is it not working? “...Alban? Are you ok?” You asked, he has been awfully silent today. “Ahhhh y/n, don't mind me asking but, do you...dislike surprises? Does it scare you? Do you...perhaps, expected better of me?” You were overwhelmed by the questions thrown at you.“Alban...I'll tell you when we get home, alright?” He was concerned, you could tell, and telling him about your condition was something that needed to be done sooner or later.

“Alban...I can only put it this way. You see, I have a condition, known as Alexithymia.” You spoke the truth. “Alex....ith...whA” Alban, however, needed a simpler explaination. “Well...you see, it's a condition where...I'm unable to recognise my emotions, and I tend to be more sensitive, you know” You looked at Alban, his gaze felt like it was piercing through you, but you didn't have a word to describe how you were feeling. Suddenly, you felt his arms wrapped around you, “Damn that Alex guy, it's ok y/n. I'll make sure to steal your emotions back! So don't be afraid, my y/n!” “Albannn, it doesn't work that way. But...thank you, Alban, for accepting me” You rested your arms around his waist. “I love you so much~Y/n.”

Fulgur Ovid ♡

I think Fulgur might not notice immediately, and sometimes MAY joke about it, a little

But once he finds out, I swear on my relationship status that he will be begging for you to forgive him, and he would definitely try his very best to make it up to you

“I'm sorry my little cyborg, but from now, you'll be safe with me”

“Remember our first date? you were afraid of physical touches, and whenever I asked you how you're feeling, you'll always respond with i doN'T kNow baBE” There he goes again, with his piping teapot laughter. It wasn't your first time listening to your boyfriend joking about your first date, and your condition that he doesn't know about. You just simply didn't know how to react to it, so you'll just brush it off everytime.

“Oi fu chan, I think that wasn't very nice of you” Alban loves his shits and giggles, but he knows when to be serious about certain things too. “Nahhh he doesn't mind, right babe?” He looked over to you. Normally, you would just force out a grin and agree with him, this time, however, you didn't give me a response as you weren't really attentively listening to the entire conversation. “Babe? Babe!” He called out, snapping you out of your own world. “wha, you scared me fu chan!” You were just thinking about your own things. “Oh yeah? How did you feel getting jumpscared by me babe?” He had a smirk, as if he knows exactly what he's doing. “I...I don't know...” “Scared? Worried? what is it?” “I really...don't know...” Were you truly scared? Were you worried about something? Were you upset about how his jokes offended you? You don't know. “Look...I'm tired, I'll go to bed.” You had enough overthinking about those, and went straight to bed. “Fu chan! I think she's actually upset with you this time.” Alban convinced Fu chan to end the discord call and comfort you.

“Babe? Are you awake?” He peeps over, finding you wide awake. “Listen, babe...I joked about you, and I didn't realise how bad things were. Will you...forgive me?” “Fu chan...I think I should be honest with you.” You sat up slowly. “Fu chan...don't laugh at me, ok? Well...I have this condition, Alexithymia, which...I am unable to recognise my emotions” You were expecting a huge laugh from him. But instead, he kneeled down to meet your eyes, held your hands and whispered “I'm so sorry y/n...I shouldn't have...I am unforgivable, right... ” “Fu chan...it was my fault that I didn't tell you sooner, and I have no rights to not forgive you” Fu chan looked at you, deeply, and cupped your face with his hands, “I'm so sorry my little cyborg, but from now onwards, you'll be safe...with me”

Uki Violeta ♡

Uki can definitely sense the symptoms that you are experiencing

I actually think that Uki might be the best person as I think that he's also the kind of person to not force upon you to speak the truth, although he probably already knows

“Shhhh, it's ok love, I'm here”

“Alexithymia...hmmm” Uki started to notice even the mildest symptoms that you're facing, although he doesn't ask, he has done a lot of research about it, leading him to the final conclusion. “Baby? what are you doing?” You got some water to help Uki sober up after his drinking stream, but can't help but notice him closing a search tab in a hurry. “Uki...?” “Ah baby, thank you for the water~ I'll end this stream really soon so that we can cuddle~” Uki was just too adorable for you to resist. “Alright~ I'll go take a shower first then Uki” Uki hummed delightfully and urged you to take a bath right now.

You were a little suspicious, normally, Uki would just acknowledge your presence and continue with his streams, but today...It went against your wills, but you decided to take a look at what exactly Uki was doing. “Symptoms...that's not it....no...” You couldn't see the screen, but you could hear Uki muttering about symptoms. “Maybe he's just looking at the symptoms of common cold, he's been sneezing a lot lately. What was I thinking.” You simply shrugged it off and quietly closed the door.

“Why didn't he tell me earlier...that stupid....” Uki can already confirm about his suspicion. However, instead of confronting you, he just sat by the bed edge, waiting for you to finish showering. “Oh you're done streaming Uki? Come over then!” You signalled him to snuggle up with you. After a long moment of silence, Uki stated, “Y/n...it must have been difficult for you.” “...huh...?” you didn't know what he was referring to, but at the same time, you made an assumption. “Uki...about my condition...” He interrupted, “You don't have to tell me Y/n, if you don't want to. I'm sure you had your reasons” “But Uki, aren't you mad...” He turned around and gave you a warm, tight hug. “Shhhhh, it's ok love, I'm here. I'm always here.”

Yugo Asuma ♡

As a DJ, I think Yugo would spend a lot of time with music, and sometimes he might get too engrossed that he doesn't realise how uncomfortable it can be for you

Yugo would try to refrain himself from touching this music at home and do it mostly at his workplace

Please comfort this baby he would be so scared to accidentally do something that agitates you.

“If I had to give up music for you, I would do it, again and again”

You couldn't sleep. Yugo had to work on a piece of music at home and everytime you doze off, something loud coming from his room will wake you up,again. You weren't angry, or whatever they call it, but you certainly had enough of frights. “Yugo Asuma! What are you actually doing?” “Eh? Y/n? I'm so sorry, but I really have to complete this by today!” For some reason, something felt like it was boiling in your body, and you couldn't help but lease out “YUGO ASUMA! ENOUGH!” “Eh?! Y/N!” You ran out of the room, dragging your body to the living room sofa. You didn't know what happened, but for some reason, you just wanted to cry so badly. “Why am I like this...” You thought to yourself. You went off at your boyfriend, now what?

“Y/n...?” Yugo approached you slowly, and settled beside you. “Y/n...please don't cry...you know how much it hurts me...” Yugo was extremely worried, he couldn't care for anything else. “Yugo...I'm sorry...” You had a massive breakdown, and flung yourself into Yugo's arms. “Y/n...it's ok...it's not your fault. You didn't choose this, it's ok. You're my dearest boyfriend, and if...if I had to give up on music for you, I would. No matter what, I would, again, and again.” Yugo held you tightly. “Yugo....” “I love you, Y/n.”

#nijisanji en #noctyx #sonny brisko #sonny brisko x reader #alban knox #alban knox x reader #fulgur ovid #fulgur ovid x reader #uki violeta #uki violeta x reader #yugo asuma #yugo asuma x reader

270 notes · View notes

elevator-to-mars · 1 month

Text

pondering

what if rtc ith au.

constance is nina

benny is ricky

graffiti pete is mischa

sonny is noel

usnavi is either penny or ocean

vanessa is either penny or ocean (i haven’t decided on either,,)

#robin rambles #ride the cyclone #rtc #in the heights #ith

11 notes · View notes

felizusnavidad · 3 months

Note

(hi not the hamilton anon but saw the tags i'm taking ith)

fave lyrics from in the heights (the song) ?

bahahaha, thank you so much! i hope you know you're gonna have to come back every day now to ask me about all of the songs... we are going with obc version, because of course, & i'm gonna pick three as well (although this is such a long & fun song, i love it so much):

a lottery ticket, just a part of the routine, everybody's got a job, everybody's got a dream - something about this line always makes me want to scream & i can't even explain

yeah, i'm a streetlight, chokin' on the heat, the world spins around while i'm frozen to my seat - once again, AAAAAAAAAA

cause my parents came with nothing, they got a little more & sure we're poor, but yo, at least we got the store, & it's all about the legacy they left with me, it's destiny & one day i'll be on a beach with sonny writing checks to me - it's just... lin talking about the legacy is something that can be very personal, you know... LOVE IT, i always fucking scream those lines

bonus (you'll be getting a lot of those! cause fun!) - this performance from 2008 tony awards - in the heights/96,000 - & this is of course the original broadway cast (LIN-MAN & C-JACK LOOK AT THEM THEY WERE SO YOUNG & CHRIS EVEN HAD HAIR WHAAAAAAT)... funny thing is that it says HQ but it's probably the worst quality i've ever seen lol.

#also the original usnavi is the love of my life #look how he raps!#look how adorkable he is!#AAAAAAAAAA #in the heights #lin manuel miranda #i illuminate the stories of the people in the street*

11 notes · View notes

fatalitysficbakery · 8 months

Note

hi there! hope you're doing well! can i get fluff #11 with Usnavi from ITH?? have a good day/afternoon/night! :]

𓆰♥︎𓆪 Nina’s Little Sister —

Usnavi De La Vega x Afro-Latina!Y/n

genre: fluff.

warnings: none, fluffy bullshit, halle bailey as faceclaim.

synopsis: 11. “d-did it hurt when heaven fell? I mean- when you…fuck. Anyway, i’m blank and that was humiliating. let’s start over”?

↳ 𓆰 Fatalitysficbakery navigation menu 𓆪

↳ 𓆰 Fatalitysficbakery multifandomed &&’ oc menu 𓆪

↳ 𓆰 Fatalitysficbakery rules + drabble menu 𓆪

⌫

Usnavi turned into a fumbling idiot the second she walked in, puddles of honey swirling in her toffee eyes. Her lips curl into a grin as she walks over to Sonny and ruffles his hair, her giggle turning Navi into mush as she greets his cousins with words he couldn't be bothered to hear.

The summer heat wave had business booming with classes out and the sun glaring bright, his eyes followed her to the frozen section, grabbing an ice cream, she walks over to the counter and this was his chance, his one chance, he figured.

She lies the ice cream cone down, pierced tongue coming out to lick over her bottom lip before she speaks, her voice matching her eyes, smooth honey, with an accent, Puerto Rican.

"Just this".

Benny waves his hand in front of a frozen Usnavi's face, eyebrow nearly touching the ceiling, quick to explain away his bestfriends strange behaviour, "It's been a long day. Navi"! He elbows his friend, whispering a rough, 'talk'.

The first words out of his mouth shock both Benny, Sonny, and the woman in front of him. Benny knew his best friend was awkward but this was humiliating, he just shook his head and grabbed the price gun, both he and Sonny deciding to work instead of witness whatever...this was.

"Did it hurt when Heaven fell"?

"I'm sorry"?

"I mean- When you- Fuck".

The pretty lady giggles and shakes her head, "Wanna try again"?

Usnavi is more than captivated, Benny and Sonny could've sworn they saw the grown man drool a little, it was like watching a puppy fumble over itself. Benny started to pity his dear friend.

"Sorry. Anyway, I'm Usnavi. That was humiliating, Can we start over? That'll be $1".

As she puts the money on the counter, sliding it towards Usnavi, she smiles sweetly, dimples denting her cheeks before she speaks to him in that soft honeyed voice once more. It's like an angel's called to him.

"You really don't remember me, do you Navi baby"?

When he hears the nickname, it all comes crashing back like waves to the shore. Little Y/n Rosario. He hadn't seen her in years, she was always three years behind him and Nina, her older sister. Always had a crush on Navi, he thought it was adorable how she'd trail behind him like a puppy. This. This wasn't Little Y/n Rosario, this was something different.

He blanks trying to come up with something to say, when he remembers everyone was supposed to meet up at Abuela's, for Nina's arrival. Nina's arrival...The youngest Rosario, who'd hailed in from PFW, and Nina were both known to be the ones who got out of the Heights, made something for themselves.

The weeks leading up to their departures were spent drinking and dancing, with celebratory parties all around.

Usnavi saw her off to the train, but back then she was just a pipsqueak, the woman that stood before him now seemed confident and sure of herself.

"Usnavi"?

"No, no, I know who you are. Just took a moment".

The young woman snorts, rolling her eyes at his attempts to act like her new appearance wasn't shocking. She was definitely a different girl than in her younger years, for one he takes notice of her piercings, and the serpent that wrapped around the length of her left thigh, eyes seeming to glow a soft pink.

"It's okay, I'm aware I look a little different than I used to, but...So do you". She cocks her head to the side, eyes running over the male curiously, "You gone be at Abuela's right? I know it'd be nice to see a familiar face".

He nods weakly, her eyes shift from him to Benny and Sonny. She waves a manicured hand to them, "See ya boys later".

"You know it", Sonny sends her awkward finger guns and they all watch her disappear out the front door. Usnavi knew what was coming.

A grin spreads wide across Benny's face, turning to Usnavi.

"You. ain't. got. no. SKILLS".

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

Usnavi was looking forward to the night ahead, dressing in a pair of jeans, cowboy boots, and a black button-down with two buttons left open.

That night, he couldn't stop picturing the youngest Rosario, drawn to her like moth to burning flame.

His eyes were quick to observe the room, searching for that midnight black in the sea of bodies, when finally his amber eyes landed on yours, greeting people as you entered the crowded apartment.

His eyes follow you around the room. Until finally your eyes land on him.

((read ALT text, image description.))

"Lookin' Sharp, Navi" You greet him, that same angelic smile making him weak in the knees. He'd drank a beer or two already, and blame it on the liquid courage but Usnavi could feel himself become confident in his ability to talk to you as the beer settles in.

"You flatter me, mama. Look at you, vision of perfection".

As he watches you, he manspreads in his chair, beer in hand and eyes low staring into your very soul.

"Whatchu drinkin"? You asked, walking up to him with deep brownie eyes gazing into his, he's not sure how he didn't faint then and there, that smile had him by the balls. She could make him do anything as long as those doe eyes stared all big and beautiful into his.

"Some nasty ass beer, but uh Dani brought whiskey, rum and shit. Said we could make our own drinks".

"And your ass is over here drinking piss? With free reign to rum and shit, plus the cognac and d'usse me and Nini brought"? Her hands clasped around his wrist and she sighed, "C'mon, We're gonna make this right and I'm making you some that'll knock you off your feet".

Looking you over again, he agrees. You've already done exactly that.

He follows behind you, and this time it's he who looks like the love-sick puppy.

When the two of you are away from the crowd, you grab two cups, exhaling airily, you begin to mix a few things together in concentration. He just watches you do your thing, the music playing in the background making it feel like a scene out of a movie as you playfully bumped your hip against his, the two of you laughing joyfully.

When it was finished, you presented him with a cup with a slushy-like mix in it, blue and smelling like a three-day hangover with some blue hawaiian punch to accompany it.

"Voila~"

He chuckles, taking the cup with a skeptical smile on his face. He sighs, raising a brow, "You're taking a sip first, ionno bout this, ma".

"You don't trust me"? You asked, pouting dramatically, "Fine, Give me the cup, coward".

"Ay, I'm not a coward. I'm just not a complete dumbass".

You roll your eyes, glaring at him as you move the cup to your lips, he's tuned in immediately, watching his favourite movie never seen before staring at those pouty lips of yours wrapped around the rim of the cup, gazing into his eyes with a constant, entrapping, eye contact.

His focus is broken when you scrunch up your nose at the strength of the drink, face relaxing when the flavour hits your tongue.

"Huh, strong but I like it. Here, taste".

You held the cup up to his lips, the two of you were in a house full of people and it'd started to feel like you were the only two in the room.

When it hits his tongue, the poor thing instantly coughs, his face scrunching up like he'd just eaten a warhead, but when your laugh fills his ears, it becomes all worth it. If he could hear that forever, he would.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

Let Carla and Daniela tell it, You and Usnavi had been inseparable all night, the roles reversed from your childhood. Anybody with eyes could see Usnavi De La Vega was head over heels, scurrying in front of Sonny when he was about to sit next to you just so he could sit there himself.

Sonny glares at his older cousin, sitting next to Benny and Nina whilst Usnavi just looks triumphant.

"Navi you nearly knocked the kid over" Cuca scolds, hitting the boy upside his head. You snicker, but the smile that threatens to come onto your face when you realize he's doing all this over you...

"It's okay, I'll remember that next time he needs me to pick up an extra shift".

Nina pops in with a quick but swift landing exposure, sending both you and Navi's cheeks blazing red, "Give him a break, he's just in looooveee".

The table erupts into hoots and hollers, a person on either side of you or Navi shaking you both by the shoulders in excitement, there's only one party at the table who hadn't decided to make a fuss about it. When the volume quiets down, you cross your arms over your chest and playfully chide in, "And you and Benny"?

Nina gives you the middle finger, and it's her and Benny's turn to be fussed over.

⌫

The table is lighthearted, everyone's joking around and having fun. Usnavi has his arm over your shoulder most of the time without even realizing it, but he doesn't have to notice, and neither do you. Vanessa, who'd been silent most of the time, was tired, quite frankly, the only Rosario she cared for was Nina. Her glare most of the night was on you and Usnavi, Carla was the first to notice, Daniela and Cuca took notice as well.

You and Usnavi stayed oblivious, as Carla leaned over to Vanessa to ask what was going on.

This is when it all goes downhill, The women of the barrio could be gossipy, they flourished within environments of drama, thrived.

"You okay, Vanessa"? Cuca asks, louder than Carla had. There's a devious smirk on her face as the table takes notice of Vanessa's obviously plummeting mood. You wanted to ignore it, truly did, but it dawned on you pretty quickly what Cuca was doing, why Vanessa seemed so pissy.

You glance up at Usnavi who, for once, catches on pretty fast as well. He and Vanessa went...back. Back, as in, it was never meant to work out, he had a schoolboy crush, they tried to make it work, but it just...didn't.

"Ah nothin', Y/n I was wondering how Paris went? Fashion week? I'm sure you're a pretty popular girl, Got a man waiting for you back home? Maybe 2? 3"?

The table looks at her as if she'd grown a second head, Usnavi is silent, the table is silent. She takes a sip of her martini and laughs it off fakely, "Just kidding guys, Just. Kidding".

This is what you'd been telling your sister about since you were younger; Nina never quite got the picture because Vanessa was her best friend, she wanted to believe she was a good person because that's all Vanessa allowed her to see. The angel of the barrio, the prettiest too.

Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Your sister raises an angry brow, she looks at you with a familiar questioning 'You got this' expression, and for once, for once since you'd found your voice, you nod.

"We broke up, bout 4 months ago, didn't work out with the two of us. But...I'm moving back, and that's all that matters".

Again, the table breaks out into a thunderous roar of hoots and hollers at the news of you staying.

Vanessa looks furious.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

After the party had died down, and thinned out. You and Usnavi stayed behind to clean up, help abuela to bed, and lock up.

When all is said and done, you head out onto the fire escape, drinks in hand. You felt comfort in the silence, looking over to see Usnavi felt the same way. It was nostalgic in a way, reminded you of the night before you left, sharing a beer on the fire escape, praying abuela didn't wake her ass up to see the two of you drinking, yet you never stopped or went somewhere else.

Abuela's place was the safest for all of you.

"You feel it too"?

"We was out here sneaking and drinking not too long ago". You nod, laughing lightly, your knees knocking with his just. like. then.

"And now you're in magazines, looking beautiful as ever".

"And now we're both a little older, little more in tune with who we are".

Usnavi smiles, his eyes leaving the night sky to look at you.

"And we know what we want now".

Your breath hitches, looking up at him now, his hand comes out to tilt your chin up, make sure you're looking at him directly. He leans in, barely a breath away.

"Do we"? You ask, voice soft, sweet.

Usnavi chuckles, his lips ghosting over yours.

"Mhm...I think we do".

Your lips finally touch.

Magic.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

A/n: I hope you enjoy, pretty!

39 notes · View notes

whenyourehome · 1 year

Text

BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE MEMES

#mike's ith memes #in the heights #musicals #in the heights musical #musical theatre #usnavi de la vega #abuela claudia #sonny de la vega #vanessa in the heights #jose in the heights #nina rosario #graffiti pete

9 notes · View notes

pika-ace · 18 days

Note

idk if you still do ith aus but if you do…nimona au (no pressure)

First of all, great movie, loved it dearly.

Second of all, I have NO IDEA who would be who, because this story, being about not judging people for the crime of being different could fit almost ANYONE in the cast. Nimona and Ballister could fit anyone really so I guess it depends on who you want that hilariously adorable dynamic with

Like, I could see it being Sonny and Benny or Usnavi and Pete, or even Vanessa and Nina if one was very unhinged XD

#in the heights #in the heights aus #nimona

3 notes · View notes

thisstableground · 1 year

Note

Hi, I'm curious about something and you're like the one person I know who knows both characters so what would a meeting between Usnavi and Bruno be like? Just wondering

(this is broadway usnavi btw, i haven’t seen the movie)

okay! so, i actually think that bruno and usnavi have way more in common than you’d think just from a quck glance.

usnavi is clearly deeply loved by his community, whereas bruno is shunned by his, but (at least before usnavi’s character arc in the show) both of them feel on the outside of things. it’s probably not a coincidence that usnavi’s the only one breaking the fourth wall in ITH. he’s really no more the main character than, say, nina, but he is the one who chats with the audience directly, and i think that reflects the fact that he feels, like the audience, that he’s watching everyone else’s lives rather than participating himself. the world spins around while i'm frozen to my seat. and isn’t that so similar to bruno, sitting isolated in his room, watching visions of everyone else’s lives but never getting out himself, or putting on his rat plays in his space behind the wall? they both view themselves more in the role of narrator or observer, not a character with their own arc.

it’s obviously got a different vibe. i don’t think usnavi realises quite to what extent he’s loved by the people around him (he seems absolutely baffled by sonny and vanessa being upset about him leaving) but he definitely does not feel unloved. i think bruno also doesn’t realise how loved he is, but in his case he also has very good reasons to feel unloved, and is much less welcomed by the wider community (though perhaps when he was younger, this was different). and i definitely get the impression that usnavi’s relationship with his parents was an affectionate one, not a fraught one like bruno’s.

but there is that sense, for both of them, of having lost the thread of their individual identity under all the pressure of legacy and lost parents and their role and duty to their community. and both of them are stuck. they're living a life that isn't where they want it to be, there are things they want and relationships they crave but they can't move out of the place they're trapped in. there is also the sense that some part of is their own subconscious doing.

i always interpret usnavi’s as a result of anxiety that largely comes from losing his parents, a past that he can't change but wishes he could: what if he makes a wrong choice and something else bad happens, what if he loses someone else or loses his memory of his parents? better keep things exactly the same, to be safe. and bruno's as a result of seeing futures that he can't change but wishes he could, and what if he is cursed? what if he is the reason things go wrong? better knock on wood, hold your breath, spin in a circle, to be safe. when your life throws you a pain that you can't control, you create a routine that you can control, even if it eventually takes over and controls you.

usnavi's goal for a long time is to go back to the dominican republic, apparently, but until abuela claudia wins the lotto it really doesn’t look like he’s got any intention of taking steps towards that. and bruno is very similar - doesn’t actually manage to run away, because he’s too connected to his home and his family, but he doesn’t know how to change things so he just hides, stays the same, watches everything else grow and change without him. i’d bet that usnavi and bruno have had similar thoughts so many times of like “oh i’ll ask vanessa out, i'll sell the store, i'll move to DR. one day. probably. not yet.” and “i’ll talk to my sisters, i'll leave the encanto properly, i'll go outside. at some point. probably. not yet.”

and part of that pressure is external circumstances, but part of it is self-imposed, as a defense mechanism. if you lose yourself in your work or your duty to that extent, if you hide behind the things that are honest about it, then you always have an excuse to tell yourself for the rest. someone does always need coffee or a vision or a stable job or to be protected, that's true, so you can pretend that you're putting that big plan off because you're just too busy with all that other stuff, not because you're scared to do it. stay in the store. stay behind the walls. part of it is kindness, or duty, or practicality, yes. part of it is fear.

oh and speaking of abuelas! (though, again with a very different vibe depending who we're talking abut) i think both of them are very led by their love and respect for the respective maternal figures in their lives, but that this clouds their own desires/goals. claudia says to her own mama, "i spent my life inheriting dreams from you", and i think that without meaning to, the same happens with her and usnavi about moving to the dominican republic. as soon as it was him making the choice alone, he realised that it wasn’t what he wanted. i think there’s always some part of him that does want that a little, i doubt claudia picked that up from nothing, but it’s possible that she read usnavi's vague ideas of going to DR more strongly through her own experience of missing where her family came from, the part of her that regrets not going back to cuba, and didn’t recognise that the indecision probably meant part of usnavi felt it wasn't right for him.

and that’s so similar for alma, though it's much more harsh and hurtful in this instance: she parents her children and grandchildren based on her own history and regret and fear and wishes. she wants a safe place to hide, she wants outsiders not to find them or cause them harm: bruno lives up to that and then some when he goes into the walls. and he convinces himself it's the best choice for himself and for the family, but it isn’t. they probably don’t even realise that it’s something he learned from her example.

neither claudia nor alma mean any harm by this, they try their best, and they sacrifice for it: alma locks away her own grief and her trauma to build a whole community from the ground. claudia could use her lotto money to go back to la vibora after days into weeks into years away from home, but it’s puerto plata that they’re getting a plane ticket for, usnavi's island, not hers. they’re both misguided, their own pasts biasing their perception, but they do love their kids.

anyway!! you asked what it'd be like if they met, not for a list of things they have in common or for an extensive meta about abuelas. tough shit i guess you got that too.

so. i think that usnavi may see the similarities between himself and bruno, but he doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who dislikes people who he can see his own flaws/insecurities in. if anything it just makes him reach out to them more. i think he would want to help. he’s been scared and lonely and saddled with too much responsibility from too young an age and felt like he lost everything before, too, but he’s doing so much better now, and he'd want to extend that hope to anyone else who is struggling similarly. and what bruno needs more than anything is to be shown kindness and acceptance, both things that usnavi can very easily give. i also think usnavi has absolutely no concept of people being weird, he’s extroverted and makes friends easily but he’s not exactly Mr Social Cues himself. bruno could say the most absolute batshit thing you’ve ever heard and usnavi would just be like “lmao yeah i get u :)))"

bruno, on the other hand, probably would struggle to like someone who he felt was too much like himself, but i don’t think he’d see usnavi that way. someone who has struggles, fears, insecurities that bruno does relate to, but who unlike bruno is also bubbly and bouncy and chatty, and who is trying so, so hard all the time to be positive (even when it would be healthier to let themselves feel angry, or sad, or hurt, even when it's blatantly obvious that they are feeling those things), someone who helps other people when they're in the middle of their own crisis and who thinks of themselves as just a totally unremarkable, ordinary, nothing-special person because they don’t see the way that everyone gravitates towards their warmth and kindness. he’s not going to see himself in usnavi. he’s going to see mirabel.

they’d get along great.

#character: usnavi #character: bruno #fandom: in the heights #fandom: encanto #ended up just character analysis instead of what a meeting would be like sorry #the meeting would be a lot of coffee and conversations with 20 different tangents that neither of them are quite following #but theyre having a nice time. neurodivergent solidarity #usnavi would love the rat telenovelas #mirabel and usnavi would also get on so well #this does however increase the risk of sonny and camilo meeting and i think that would be hell for everyone else #edit: i just realised too that i think the way i characterise my versions of usnavi's parents #have kind of a julieta and agustín vibe #usnavi should hang out with the madrigals i think he'd have a lovely time

12 notes · View notes