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]

Magica had to wonder if he was being obtuse on purpose.

"The point was you didn't need to hurt yourself at all." She pushed herself off his desk, walking to the window. "If I just wanted to bite you, I would have done so right away."

[richestduck]

"You wouldn't let me go hungry. Do you really think I wouldn't do the same for you?"

[blackmagicduck]

Magica glanced back at him through her long hair.

"... It seems there's still a lot we'll need to learn about one another."

Then her eyes were back to the night sky. "I'll be waiting for your text."

[richestduck]

He nodded his head. "Fly safe, Magica."

[blackmagicduck]

"Be well, Scrooge."

In puff of smoke and wind, she was gone, flapping away back to her lair... which, she now realized, no longer needed to be hidden. Did she ever have to enchant him again?

[richestduck]

He watched her fly off before he got up from his seat to close the window. He doubted she'd come back around tonight or at least until he next texted her.

Then he went to his bathroom to clean up his hand, bandaging the cut, and returned to his chair to resume working.

[blackmagicduck]

Two weeks passed, though this time they felt longer than ever. Even though they were in agreement of what to give each other, it still felt as if so many things were up in the air. She meals, wine, movies, all ready for him if he wanted it - but would he want any of it, now that he knew the reason for it all?

And why did she care? That bugged her most of all. She had exactly what she'd been aiming for since she first met him, so why wasn't that good enough? Why was she staring at her phone at all hours of the night worrying about him?

[richestduck]

And two weeks later, his text came:

picked up modern vampire movie

not sure how bad it is

might b good 4 laugh

u want me 2 bring anything else

[blackmagicduck]

Relief flooded through her for unknown reasons. She smiled, lightly touching the phone before replying.

I think we could both use some laughs.

I don't need anything else but you.

[richestduck]

b there soon

Scrooge snapped his phone closed and pocketed it. He then headed to the address that had been ingrained into his memory over the past few weeks.

When he arrived, he found himself momentarily queasy as his brain tried to tell him that he was seeing a Victorian-style house, not an old library. He shook his head and walked to the front door, rapping his knuckles against it.

[blackmagicduck]

She was there in seconds, but she could see the confusion and nausea in his eyes. She sighed, and then touched his cheek.

"I won't need this anymore." With one slow, steady blink, she undid the enchantment.

[richestduck]

Even though his memories would always tell him that his previous visits were to a Victorian house, at least now his brain was accepting that he was seeing a library.

He glanced around. "I know I've probably said this before, but you have a lovely home. Somehow this suits you more than what I was previously seeing."

[blackmagicduck]

Magica raised an eyebrow. "You know... you can ask questions if you want." Did he seriously not want to know anything?

She stepped aside to let him in.

[richestduck]

"There isn't much I want to ask besides why you picked me," Scrooge stated as he entered the library. "The rest of it is more or less self-explanatory."

[blackmagicduck]

Very well, truth might as well beget truth.

"At first I picked you since you were an interesting target. But you wound up being so delicious, I wanted to keep you for myself."

[richestduck]

"I'm delicious? Do I taste better with or without the marinade?" he asked dryly.

[blackmagicduck]

"It's difficult to explain. All mortal food is disgusting to my kind - it's like eating ash." She walked in further, expecting him to follow.

"So typically we go from victim to victim, changing it up. Too many bodies in too short a time raises suspicion. But you're different."

[richestduck]

"Ah. That explains why your fridge was always empty," Scrooge commented. "None of the classic literature on vampires has any details on your kind's views on mortal food. Though why am I different?"

He paused.

"Also I'm reminded that there was never a definitive answer on if you can survive in sunlight or not. Should I be worried about you bursting into flames if I open a window when the sun's up?"

[blackmagicduck]

"You just... are." She flimsily closed and opened her hands. "I can't put it into words. I've been alive for centuries, but your blood is the best I've ever had. I haven't been able to go after anyone else."

Rather, she didn't want to.

"As for the sun... it's an exaggeration. It makes us uncomfortable, but it won't kill us outright. A lot of the tropes you see in those stories and movies is completely made-up."

[richestduck]

"Good to know. On both counts."

Because the first meant she wouldn't likely pursue any other sources of a meal. (Because that protected others. Right. That's why.)

[blackmagicduck]

She led him to the same projection room they used the time before, although it actually looked like one now. "Crosses and holy water do nothing. A stake would kill us, but then, who wouldn't that kill? I don't sleep in a coffin, but I also don't have a reflection."

[richestduck]

"And you don't have a heartbeat," he mused, remembering when he'd put his head to his chest. Apparently it hadn't been his pounding head blotting out the sound.

After a moment, he realized, "You're putting a lot of trust in me."

She had to have seen that he'd hunted dark creatures before. (Though did a vampire like her count as "dark"?)

[blackmagicduck]

"You put a lot in me." She countered, taking a seat among the blankets and pillows.

"We're both dangerous for different reasons. Wealth can be just as powerful as magic."

[richestduck]

He loaded the DVD into the disc tray for the projector before settling in beside her. "It can." He glanced at the food and drink. "Do you want me to start paying you back for this? Or bringing my own?"

After all, she wasn't going to indulge.

[blackmagicduck]

Now that she didn't have to trick him into drinking, she... didn't need to do much of anything, really. She could just sit back and relax. How novel.

"I have my own resources," she said without really admitting anything, "You don't need to pay me anything. This is our world without business and money, remember?"