Donald & Daisy - First Meeting - Ducktales 2017

[allfortheloveofyou]

 With many of Scrooge McDuck's recent adventures being public, reporters were constantly hounding down McDuck Manor to try and snag a hot interview with the bajillionare himself. Daisy was still an up-and-comer, although she was often treated more like the "go fetch me coffee" girl. But she didn't just want news that was right this moment and didn't hit everyone. She believed that every single member of the McDuck exploration team had a story, and the world deserved to hear them. Why just go with McDuck when single fathers would love to hear about Donald, or aspiring kids wanted to see themselves in the triplets?

That was the totally legitimate reason she'd snuck into the mansion and was trying to climb into Donald's house boat. She wasn't a crazy person. Really. After all, she didn't think anyone actually lived in the boat - why would they, when you had a mansion? Time to find some newsworthy clues!

Comments

[allthebadluck]

Even now, Donald was still a bit unsure about being back here with his uncle Scrooge, roped back into a world of treasure and craziness. But - and as much as he hated to admit it - the boys seemed much happier now, getting to travel the world on adventures rather than just having to come with him on his never-ending job hunts.

And that...well, he was just glad to see them enjoying themselves. Even if the adventures were still dangerous. But Scrooge was always good at getting out of danger, and Donald helped most of the time.

Still, not wanting to completely depend on the old man, he still set about trying to find a job. He.....had yet to have one stick, but he was trying. And it gave him something for himself, like his boathouse.

Speaking of, as he was heading out to the pool to get a bit of alone time, he was just able to catch a figure on the boat. And, realizing it didn't seem to be anyone who actually lived in the manor, he ran over.

"Hey!"

[allfortheloveofyou]

Welp. Five minutes in and she was already done for.

NO! There was no way Daisy Duck would let her career die so easily! She shoved her hands deep in the pockets of her skirt to pull out the weapons for any necessary reporter. She whipped around and yanked out - a pencil and a pad of paper.

"Daisy Duck, undercover reporter for Channel 6, all the news that's fit to quack, are you the owner of this boat?"

Just keep it professional, and maybe he won't yell at you. Maybe. Hopefully.

[allthebadluck]

As she turned around, Donald was momentarily struck by the figure, his eyes widening just a bit.

Oh...wow.

Swallowing, he quickly shook himself out of it as he marched up the ramp onto the boat.

"Yes, this is my boat! And are you crazy? Do you have any idea what Scrooge will do to you if he catches you here?"

[allfortheloveofyou]

Daisy began jotting down every word spoken, every action taken, no matter how short or inconsequential. "Well, if he cared that much, he would have hired better security! ... or, any security, I honestly didn't see any bodyguards at all."

A one armed shrug. "Anyway, that must make you the Donald Duck!"

[allthebadluck]

He scoffed a bit, a hand gesturing to the mansion.

"He doesn't have any security because he doesn't need it. You better get out of here, because between him and Mrs. B, you're bound to get hurt if they catch you on the grounds."

[allfortheloveofyou]

Scribble scribble scribble.

"I can't leave, I just got here! If they see me, just... tell them I'm a friend!" A pause. "You do have friends outside the family, right? The people would love to hear about them."

[allthebadluck]

He paused at that question, blinking. "Well...I, uh..."

He actually had to think about it. And honestly, he actually couldn't come up with an answer.

[allfortheloveofyou]

Scribble scri... ble... scri...ble?

"...You don't?" That made her raise an eyebrow. "That's a depressing angle that I didn't see coming..." She lightly tapped her pencil to the pad in thought. "...Oh, I've got it! You're such a devoted family man that you don't have time for friends! That's going to tug at so many heart strings! Guess that means a big no-no on the girlfriend too, right?"

... Funny, that hadn't been on her list of questions she planned to ask. Oddly enough it kind of popped out nowhere. Weird.

[allthebadluck]

...Sure, let's just go with that.

"Uh y-yeah! That's right!" He nodded, as much to assure himself as her. "Taking care of the boys and making sure they're safe is a full-time job."

The last question still caught him off-guard though, and he sputtered a bit, trying to figure out an answer. He didn't get a chance to when the sound of his name in a familiar Scottish lilt rang across the manor, causing him to tense.

"He's coming! Quick, you gotta hide!"

Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her - urgently, but still gently - into the boat.

[allfortheloveofyou]

"But we had a perfect - " Wait, why is she complaining? There's plenty of stuff to make a good story within the boat! So she shut her beak and eagerly walked into the house.

Once the door was closed, Daisy walked around, making observations out loud. "Quaint, cute, a bit of clutter, but with triplet boys that's expected... It reeks of history! ... And fish. A lot of fish." A glance back. "The sailor outfit's not just for show, I take it?"

[allthebadluck]

He frowned a bit, looking down at himself. "Actually, my old one got ruined, but..."

His name rang across the grounds again, and Donald shook his head, looking to her. "Look, I'll go take care of Scrooge. Just stay here, be quiet, and don't touch anything!"

With that, he quickly headed back out, shutting the door and going down to meet his uncle. As he was heading down the ramp, though, he tripped, and with a startled yell he bounced off the ramp and fell into the pool with a SPLOOSH.

[allfortheloveofyou]

There had been a rumor - or maybe more of a funny jingle - that Donald Duck had "all the bad luck". Maybe it was more true than she first thought. Daisy chewed on her pencil - she wanted to help him, but he had told her to stay in and be quiet.

She tried to compromise, lightly poking her head in a window to try and see what was going on.

[allthebadluck]

From her angle, she'd only really see Donald bobbing in the water, conversing with someone standing at the edge of the pool, just blocked by the window. The words would be hard to make out, but the voice was unmistakable.

Eventually the figure walked off, and Daisy would be able to catch Scrooge McDuck walking back to the mansion as Donald swam around. A moment or two later, the door burst open, and Donald stood there, breathing heavy as water dripped from his soaked form to the floor.

[allfortheloveofyou]

A few hints of guilt began to drip down Daisy's back, and she ducked her pencil in her feathery hair. "You're going to catch a cold like that." She looked around, trying to find what this place would call a bathroom - ah-ha, towels! Surely he wouldn't bark at her for touching them.

"Here, dry off. It must be freezing at this time of night."

[allthebadluck]

A bit surprised, he took the towel a bit warily. "...Thanks." There was no reason to be suspicious, it was his towel after all. But she was a reporter, trying to get the scoop on him and his family. The gesture didn't mean all that much, did it? He kept an eye on her as he dried himself off, not entirely sure what to say. "...What did you say your name was?"

[allfortheloveofyou]

"Daisy Duck, undercover reporter for Channel 6, all the news that's fit to quack!" She repeated word for word, having memorized it so much she even wound up saying it in her sleep a few times. "So, back to the questions... If you're living it up in McDuck Manor, why is there a house boat in the pool? ... Aesthetic?"

[allthebadluck]

...Huh. That was a pretty name.

The thought was gone as quick as it came, but it still brought a blush on his cheeks, and he quickly shook his head, trying to focus on the situation at hand.

"Because it's mine. Everything here is property of the old man, except this boat. And I'm keeping it that way."

Then he pointed at her.

"Either way, you're trespassing!"

[allfortheloveofyou]

Daisy began scribbling down, as if ignoring his justified shout. "Donald Duck is a proud man, sticking to his principles no matter what comes his way." She said out lout as she wrote. "It's a rare, even noble trait that is surprising to see in this day and age. He won't accept anything that he didn't earn with his own two hands, even when his uncle is rich enough to buy a million better boats."

A pause. "Which sounds better, a million or a billion?"

[allthebadluck]

He let out a frustrated quack, pushing down her notebook a bit. "Forget the story! You need to leave, before someone else catches you here!"

[allfortheloveofyou]

"I'm not leaving without a story!" Daisy protested, placing the eraser of her pencil between Donald's eyes to push him back. "The world knows Scrooge McDuck, but nobody knows Donald Duck! Wouldn't you like everyone to know about you and all you've done?"

[allthebadluck]

He stumbles back a bit, but recovers enough to look at her; surprised at first, but his expression soon hardened a bit.

"No! All I'm trying to do is take care of my family! And the adventures and dangers are all bad enough without having to worry about...this!" He gestured to her notebook.

"I may not be able to keep them out of trouble, but I can darned well make sure that the news keeps out of our family's privacy!"

[allfortheloveofyou]

At this rate, she was going to be out before she had anything juicy. The big problem was that he was entirely justified, and if he kept this up, the guilt would overwhelm her. That left Daisy with one option in order to stay. Not the most dignified option, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

She was a pretty girl, and she knew it.

"Can't I stay for just a little, itty bitty while?" First, the cutesy talk. Then, leaning on his shoulder, with fluttery eyelashes. "I won't be any trouble at all." With a sing-song melody in her tone.

[allthebadluck]

The anger quickly subsided as a shiver ran down his spine at her touch. The blush returning to his cheeks, he stammered, pulling a bit on his collar.

...Gosh, it was suddenly hot in here, wasn't it?

"W-Well, I-I uh..." He swallowed, all the words suddenly leaving his brain.

...Shoot.

[allfortheloveofyou]

It was almost too easy. It definitely helped that he was pretty cute.

"I promise I'll leave when I learn all about this handsome fellow right here." Daisy lightly traced a heart shape on his chest, enjoying the squirming in his eyes. "So can't I stay for a while? I bet a big strong man like yourself would have no problem making sure we're both safe and sound..."

[allthebadluck]

Another tingle went up his spine, causing his feathers to fluff out a bit.

It was almost too easy, as his heart pounded in his chest. Except -

He reached up, stilling her hand.

"No. If Uncle Scrooge catches you, I might not be able to stop him."

If she tried to argue, he cut her off.

"You shouldn't be here. So..." Glancing off to the side, he heaved a sigh. "If you really want something...maybe we should talk somewhere else."