thisismadfreaky | Character Studies

Family

Things weren't always exactly as they are now in the Ramon family. There was a time, however brief and fleeting it seemed to look back on it now, when they were happier and closer and more like everything that a family is supposed to be. Once upon a time, Dante was thrilled to have a baby brother to teach all the things he knew to. Cisco remembers it sometimes, at the least opportune times, the way things used to be. How excited he was to get to hang out with his big brother and play.

When Dante fell in love with music, that was when everything seemed to change. His parents praised their eldest for his talents. When Cisco tried to do what he always does--follow his brother and do everything just like him--he didn't do so well, and even with practice, it always seemed like their parents just saw Dante.

He couldn't help it, his mind didn't work that way. He was more technical and curious about how things worked and wanted to take things apart to see if he could get them back together properly again. At least his science projects were always fun, even if his madre didn't agree when it meant her kitchen was covered with them.

He doesn't remember exactly when he started resenting his brother. Probably right around the time he felt like he was barely background noise in his own family. By then, the only one he ever felt like he could really be himself around was his abuelita. She didn't mind it when he talked too much or took her toaster apart because he wanted to know how it worked. She took the time to understand him, and to teach him things he didn't understand in ways he could and even showed him the science in cooking and he learned a lot of things from her that way.

Friends

Growing up in a family that missed the mechanical genius in their youngest son and seemed always far more interested in his brother's music, Cisco sought out friendships with his peers in school.

For a kid who just wants to be noticed and liked, it was easy to fall into a role once he realized what people responded to the best. Being the funny guy was something that came all too easy with his playful nature and penchant for sarcasm and jokes. So, he thrived socially in school by playing the part people wanted and it just sort of stuck until it was as much an act as it was genuine. He needed the acceptance something fierce, and any way he could garner it from people would suffice.

Eventually, though, he realized the schtick could only carry his friendships so far and more than just a few of them seemed to disappear when high school was over.

Not until later in his life did Cisco find people who truly accepted him for who he is, flaws and all. Sometimes he still doesn't know how to handle that--it's all he's wanted for so long, it's just hard to believe he's finally found it.