Pass the test, t-taste the flesh (scrooge x magica)

[blackmagicduck]

 One of the disadvantages of immortal youth was that it sometimes limited her options. If she wanted something fresh and young, she needed to be where the fresh and young people where, and gods, their music was awful. What happened to the good old days of violins and organs?

So imagine her surprise as she viewed the buffet to find one snack that looked older than most. She raised an eyebrow - he didn't seem to be in any midlife crisis. The exact opposite, in fact - like if he had any real choice, he wouldn't be here. Well... she could fix that for him.

She licked her lips, and then made her way across the room. A gorgeous beauty like her, it was like parting the ocean waves with a hand. She was by his side within seconds, sizing him up.

Nice, very nice. He even smelled delicious.

"Congratulations, you're the most miserable person here, and I think that includes the janitor."

Comments

[blackmagicduck]

"Everyone is their own worst critic... so I can't tell if it's any good or not, because I've never shared it."

[richestduck]

"If it's anything like your descriptions of roses and fall, I think you're likely pretty good at it," Scrooge told her. "Then again, you're talking to someone who reads stock reports on the daily, not poetry, so take my opinion with a grain of salt."

[blackmagicduck]

"Ah ah ah." She waved a finger at him. "No business, remember?"

Then, with a casual turn of her head. "... Though I suppose I could be persuaded to share a verse or two."

[richestduck]

"No business," he repeated, blushing a tad sheepishly.

At her offer, he told her, "I'd like to hear it if you'd be willing to share it."

[blackmagicduck]

She hummed slightly, getting a mood going.

It wasn't entirely false - enchantments were a form of poetry, if one looked at it from a certain point of view.

So she made sure to meet his eyes with every word.

"An empty vessel, adrift at sea.
There is no land, love, or leave.
Wandering with each softer wave.
Darkness becomes a willing slave."

[richestduck]

Scrooge found himself transfixed on her eyes as she spoke, listening to the poem that seemed to creep into every corner of his mind where it found fertile ground.

He'd been abandoned by his own kin. "An empty vessel, adrift at sea" was certainly an excellent way to describe his situation.

[blackmagicduck]

Magica could feel the spell slowly seeping in, not taking over but making itself comfortable. The first chain in what would be a cage.

"What do you think?" She asked sweetly, as if she hadn't done a thing. "Too dark?"

[richestduck]

"No, but...it is quite sad," Scrooge said softly. "Given how successful it is at that, I'd say it's very good."

[blackmagicduck]

"Well, life can't all be smiles and sunshine. The darkness makes you appreciate the light."

She resumed walking, hand in hand. "I could try to come up with something fluffier next time, if you prefer."

[richestduck]

"No, it's beautiful. Sad but beautiful," he assured her. "There's no reason to force something to be cheerful if it'll only be mediocre by comparison."

[blackmagicduck]

"My my. I may be the poet, but you certainly have a way with words yourself." A flirty little eyelash-flutter.

[richestduck]

"Well, I'm certainly no poet, but I suppose I picked up a few things over the years," Scrooge said with a shrug.

[blackmagicduck]

"Must you be so hard on yourself?" A little arm squeeze. "Do you ever take a compliment that's not related to the world outside?" In other words, not related to business or riches.

[richestduck]

"It's been a while since I've heard anything else, really," Scrooge admitted without thinking. "I told you I'm kept busy."

And if he was busy enough, he wouldn't dream and remember.

[blackmagicduck]

"Guess it's up to me to make up for it. Where to start, where to start..."

A coy smile. "Can you deny that you're quite handsome?"

[richestduck]

Scrooge blushed a bit. "Well, no, I suppose not. It's good to see I got the good parts of the McDuck blood."

[blackmagicduck]

"He can be taught!" She cackled. "There's the man I enjoyed the other night."

[richestduck]

"Modesty goes out the window when one has a few whiskey and Cokes," he said with a chuckle.

How much had he actually drunk that night?

[blackmagicduck]

The sun was setting, and the entire area was becoming dark.

"Can't say I've ever been a big fan of modesty. I prefer reality, in every ugly form."

[richestduck]

Scrooge chuckled. "You prefer the direct approach, not beating around the bush."

[blackmagicduck]

"Exactly. We've only got so much time on this planet, why waste it?"

[richestduck]

"It definitely makes things simpler: No guessing games about what someone actually means versus what they said."

[blackmagicduck]

"And it's easier to trust someone." She glanced over at him.

"I won't butter you up. I won't feed you any lines. I have nothing to gain from you... but you."

[richestduck]

He squeezed her hand without thinking. "Which is incredible. And nice. Very nice." He looked over at her. "And your company is very valuable to me."

[blackmagicduck]

"Then why don't we make this a more... permanent arrangement?" She walked in front of him - they were far from where they started, away from people, deep in the darkness.

"Let me be your escape."
Trust in me.
"I give you my word. I'll always be there for you."
Only me.