Barrios Sisters Revisited

Last night I had trouble sleeping, and when you're tossing and turning in bed during the witching hours you let your mind go to creative (and sometimes horrible) places where you normally couldn't/wouldn't stray. Tapia has become rather a more significant character in the WwF ensemble than I thought she might, being Mantiski's closest pal who isn't Agnes; ergo, the bespectacled tapir really needs a proper origin. Sleeping is important but fleshing out a tertiary friend of a friend is priority stuff!

I debated keeping Tapia's sister Eloisa in the narrative (and indeed Tio Oskar, not shown), as the ENCANTO inspiration is thick as wet sand...I had to decide if I cared, and I don't. 19 year old college student Eloisa and 14 year old high school freshman Tapia live in a Bradydale apartment with their work-from-home programmer uncle Oskar, and have done ever since the girls' parents and older sister were killed in a violent car accident. Eloisa was present for the crash and was the only Barrios who lived; she oppresses her survivor's guilt under body building, classwork and parenting her little sister Tapia. Oskar, for his part, is a sweet guy who does his best for his nieces, but he doesn't understand them, leaving Eloisa to do most of the heavy lifting (as it were). I cut the grandmother character because she wasn't providing anything to the narrative...forgive me, Abuela.

Tapia is a smarty pants who scholarshipped her way into the prestigious Mercyfurs Prep, where she fumbles adorkably with her love for stoic tough girl with a heart of gold Beck Stomp. Eloisa attends St. Charlies University and works part time at Roughnecks gym; popular as she might be with the salivating sapphic population, Eloisa longs for a sympathetic boyfriend. No luck thus far, as most of the dudes she meets are put off by her height and her muscles. Never settle for less, queen!

My exhausted mind, free from the restraints of sanity and good storytelling, came up with a tsunami of events for Tapia, Eloisa, Oskar, Beck and Mantiski. Time will tell what sticks and what should be relegated to the land of dreams and pain medication. Stay tuned, fam!

When We Fly (c)Kae