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

[richestduck]

Scrooge really was working to keep his alcohol consumption under control, but he wasn't expecting Magica to refill his glass when he wasn't looking. His focus was on the screen as the vampire stalked his prey.

[blackmagicduck]

"I've always found vampires to be pitiful creatures," she said once they were a good way into the movie. It was time to test the waters.

[richestduck]

"Pitiful?" he asked, looking over in her direction, intrigued. "How so?"

[blackmagicduck]

"What choice do they have in these worlds?" She gestured to the screen. "Without blood, they'll die. It's all they can eat. Mortals have choices... if they don't want to eat the product of suffering, they can stick with fruits and vegetables and still survive. But a vampire can only live if another person loses something essential."

She glanced back at him, gauging his reaction. "Spending centuries like that... it's bound to drive them to wicked acts, if not insanity."

[richestduck]

Scrooge tilted his head to one side, considering.

"I hadn't thought about that," he admitted, "but I always felt it was best to live and let live when possible."

He thoughtfully looked at his wine, slowly swirling it in the glass. "There was a unicorn that was causing trouble a while back for a rancher. Fine stallion he was, but he was attacking the rancher's breeding stallions. I went to check things out and realized that the unicorn was looking to claim the area as his territory and the rancher's mares as his herd of potential mates. I could've killed him, but instead I took him back with me and gave him his own little plot he could have as his territory. He helps protect the area and in return he's got plenty of food, water, and nobody bothers him."

He took a slow sip of wine.

"If a vampire found somebody willing to give them their blood to survive, I'd have no issue with them so long as they weren't harming anyone."

[blackmagicduck]

Here she thought that story had been a myth, especially since she thought unicorns were made-up creatures.

She was aware of the irony.

She laid her head on his shoulder, dropping the big question. "It's easy to think about it, so long as you're not involved... but what if you were the one being asked to donate?"

[richestduck]

Scrooge tilted his head to one side, considering.

"...I don't know," he admitted. "I guess it depends on the situation and who exactly was asking me."

[blackmagicduck]

Too much might be pushing it, so she eased up.

"That's an honest answer. I admire that."

[richestduck]

Scrooge shrugged. "I've learned that 'what if' scenarios are easy to make a decision in a vacuum, but reality isn't that clean."

[blackmagicduck]

"What about the flip side?" She gestured to the screen. "They offer you immortality. Is that any easier?"

[richestduck]

He went very quiet as he turned it over in his mind.

"I suppose that if there was a reason that I'd want to live forever for, I might be more inclined to at least hear the vampire out."

[blackmagicduck]

"But no immediate reason comes to mind."

So she'd have to give him a reason - her, perhaps.

"Your honesty is very charming.

[richestduck]

Scrooge looked at her before he sighed, turned his head, and took another sip of his wine. "I've lived for one hundred and fifty years already, much longer than everyone else around me.

"Watching the people you care about die while you keep living...it's not something I like."

Though now he didn't really have many people he personally cared for left in his life. They were alive out there, yes, but they wanted nothing to do with him.

[blackmagicduck]

"Being alone is a terrible thing," she agreed, noting she'd have to fill his glass once the movie took back his attention.

She wrapped herself around his arm, snuggling in. Having done her research, she knew about his family, where they were, and what ties had been broken. "Especially when it's undeserved."

[richestduck]

He closed his eyes and tilted his head towards her to try and lean against her at least a little.

"Depends on who you asked about whether it's undeserved or not."

[blackmagicduck]

"I'm biased in favor of you." She said with a bit of teasing.

"I can't imagine leaving you for anything."

[richestduck]

"You sure about that?" he asked, his tone revealing his emotional exhaustion at that. "Everybody has a breaking point."

[blackmagicduck]

"I have no need of your money. I have no family. You can't take anyone from me, or anything. She said, eyes on the film, fingers curling up with his own.

[richestduck]

"What about close friends?" he asked, eyes focusing on the film.

[blackmagicduck]

"I have you. I need nothing else." Friends was an abstract concept in a world of greed and betrayal.

[richestduck]

"Selling yourself short," Scrooge told her.

[blackmagicduck]

"I prefer to think of myself as priceless." She waved a dismissive hand.

[richestduck]

"You are."

Which was why she should have the best.

[blackmagicduck]

"Good answer." She kissed his cheek before resuming watching the movie.

And filling his glass.

[richestduck]

He heard the liquid being poured into his glass, but at this point he really could use a drink.

At least Nosferatu was interesting.