Feeling like a burden on his family and a pall to the villagers of the encanto, Bruno Madrigal leaves home and settles down in another village. There he makes a living using his gifts and talents at drama to become a Fortune Teller, eventually meeting someone who would give him a daughter: Mirabel Madrigal.
where the dandylions play is an Encanto fanfic by Penstills that can be read on Archive of Our Own here
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This fanfic provides examples of:
- Adaptational Angst Downgrade:
- For Bruno, while his canon-counterpart lived alone (except for rats) within the walls of the Casita, unable to interact with a family he believed hated him in a village who dreaded his gift, here he managed to leave and develop a less toxic social life amongst villagers who don't see him as a villain. He was even able to meet a girl who gave him a daughter that loves him. It is zigzagged to a degree as said wife had an unpredictable temper that made her abusive, and he struggled to raise his daughter as a single parent when she was an infant because of their poor economic conditions. Their home is also later destroyed by a fire.
- For Mirabel, she doesn't know about her family legacy and thus doesn't have the lingering feelings of doubt and inadequacy that they bring. She even has a circle of friends her own age, something that was absent in canon.
- Berserk Button: Alma believes that her family's magical gifts are a divine blessing that must only be used altruistically, so when she finds out that Bruno was using his gift to make a living, she is absolutely livid.
- Birds of a Feather: Bruno is one of the few villagers that gets along with the Crazy Cat Lady that runs the local thrift store because they're both Hermit-like and he respects the way she runs her shop.
- The Call Knows Where You Live: The instigating factor that leads Bruno and Mirabel back to the Encanto is when he has a vision of Casita Madrigal collapsing, the vision causing him to knock over a candle and burn their home down.
- Dead Guy Junior: Bruno names his daughter after the midwife who first cared for the infant while he was struggling with his newfound status as a single father.
- Death by Childbirth: Mietta bleeds to death right as she's in labour, and dies without even gazing at her child's face. Bruno isn't too broken about it, mainly because he feared his wife would abuse Mirabel just like she abused him.
- Domestic Abuse: While Bruno loved his wife Mietta, his meekness mixed with their hard economic conditions left him to suffer whenever her temper went off, so much so that a part of him was glad that she died giving birth to Mirabel out of fear that she would raise her fist at her too.
- Fat and Skinny: While Bruno is tall and thin, his wife Mietta was short and stout.
- Fortune Teller: Bruno uses the trappings of one (crystal balls and tarot cards) because his clients won't take him seriously otherwise.
- Grew a Spine: When Alma accuses Bruno of being selfish for running away and using his gifts for personal gain, it doesn't go unnoticed when the normally meek Bruno argues right back at her. That is, everyone but Alma notices, his mother too livid to really notice.
- Karmic Jackpot: Mirabel was able to get into a good school after Bruno's gift confirmed the prosperous marriage between a doctor's daughter and a wealthy colonial, Bruno having either made a deal with the doctor or the doctor paying him a small fortune for his prediction.
- Like Father, Like Son: Just like Pedro gave his life to protect his wife and children's lives, Bruno is ready to sacrifice his morals to ensure his daughter will grow up healthy and happy.
- Normal Fish in a Tiny Pond: Back at his home village, Bruno was feared and disliked because his gift made him out to be a Harbinger of Impending Doom. After moving away, the village he settled down in came to look to him with less vitriol, Bruno being able to make an honest living as a fortune-teller and patron in his own Botanica, his daughter living a relatively normal life. He was even invited to a wedding for a couple whose marriage was confirmed to be a success from one of his visions.
- Not-So-Phony Psychic: While Bruno actually can see the future, he avoids actually using his gift and uses more "conventional" forms of divination (Tarot Cards, Crystal Balls, etc.) to make his living.
- Parents as People: Bruno struggled a lot to bond with his newborn daughter, outright wondering if it wouldn't be best for him to abandon her. He later decided to keep her and did anything he could to see her safe, happy and healthy.
- Related Differently in the Adaptation: While Mirabel was Bruno's niece in canon, here she's his daughter.
- Riches to Rags: It's implied that Bruno's Fortune Teller job can just barely keep him and Mirabel afloat, a far-cry from Familia Madrigal's arguably modest affluence. With that said, they seem comfortable enough with what little they have, Bruno managing to get her a high-quality education through sheer luck.
- Struggling Single Father: Bruno was so desperate for money after Mirabel's birth he became a Fortune Teller in order for people to pay for glimpses of the future, and he's still hinted to not win a lot of money. Still, he and Mirabel are comfortable enough.
