So stay away from me / the beast is ugly (scrooge x magica)

[lifesa_witch]

 The carriage ride was so long that by the time the horses stopped, night had already settled in. It was a full moon, allowing the stone pathway to be illuminated. The rider said nothing, simply taking Scrooge's bags and walking on ahead. With any luck, this wouldn't be a return trip - but luck had died long ago in this place.

In the distance, one could hear the caws of several ravens, far away in the dark forests. It was difficult to see the house in the darkness, but it was certainly large and grand. Definitely belonging to someone of high class and lots of money. After all, it was part of the reason Scrooge was here.

Another servant was at the door, waiting for them.

"Either look her in the eyes," he warned, "or have them stay on the floor. Never anywhere else. Just keep your introduction and qualifications short. it is..." He hesitated, glancing backwards. "Often too easy to stoke her anger. And lastly... never ask questions."

Some of these things had probably been told to Scrooge before - he'd been recommended the job, after all. Granted, the recommendation came with the mysterious woman buying up his shop like it was nothing. Still, it seemed at least the servants wanted this to go well.

Whatever "this" was... it was about to begin, if he was ready to enter.

Comments

[lifesa_witch]

A nod. "... Mostly she's making sure we don't write about her, at all."

[richestduck]

"That is a level of paranoid I feel like I should've expected from her."

[lifesa_witch]

Another sigh, smaller this time. "A place this big, yet she chooses to shut herself off from the world... She was like this before 'it' happened, but 'it' made that part of her far worse."

[richestduck]

"If she was going to shut herself away, this would be the place to do it."

Scrooge glanced sideways at Clara.

"You don't have to tell me specifically, but were only her hands and feet affected by...whatever happened?"

[lifesa_witch]

Clara hesitated again. This time, she took extra long to make sure they were far away from the library, and any other servants.

"...All of her arms, and all of her legs. But I beg you, never ask any more of this."

[richestduck]

"I won't."

That actually explained a lot. It made sense that she'd want to cover her hands and feet, but the way her arms and legs moved at times didn't look right.

[lifesa_witch]

Not wanting to risk anything further, Clara began to back away. "I'll have your meal brought to your room. You're free to go where you please, and sleep when it suits you best."

[richestduck]

"Thank you, Miss Clara. I just have one more question: Is there a list of expenses kept somewhere?"

[lifesa_witch]

That was something she actually had to think about. "There should be a room of her paperwork on the second floor... goodness knows the last time anyone's been in there."

[richestduck]

"I'll have to look after dinner then." He sighed. "This is going to be a long night."

[lifesa_witch]

"... Good luck, Mister McDuck." She had a feeling she'd be saying that a lot during her time here. So she was off to fetch him dinner.

[richestduck]

"I'm gonna need more than luck," Scrooge muttered with a sigh.

Still, dinner first and then he'd go see what he was up against. Depending on how much of a disaster the paperwork was, he could just shuttle it all to his room to sort out over meals and before bed.

[lifesa_witch]

The dinner was the same fancy nonsense as before, and the mansion was quiet. Occasionally there was the sound of servants moving, cleaning and tidying up, doing their best to mind their own business and not even look at another.

For all of the warnings given to him about closed doors, there were surprisingly very few of them. Many open ones were brags about her wealth, useless trinkets made to show off, treasures only bought to be shown off. But there were no portraits of the mistress, all clothing of hers hidden away.

The office was dusty, although there had a been a few efforts to clean it up now and again. It was hollow, dimly lit - not a personal place the mistress visited even when she was normal. The last person assigned to her finances had kept the paperwork in order, at least - but whoever it was had clearly left a long time ago.

[richestduck]

Well, that was some relief. Though it looked like that newer receipts were just thrown about willy nilly. That was annoying but not impossible to deal with.

He ended up doing about two hours of sorting before retreating to his room for six hours of sleep, numbers still dancing in his head.

[lifesa_witch]

Morning came with Clara, knocking on his door to announce the time and the meal.

Again, Magica would be in the library - the entire day would likely be repeated for a while.

[richestduck]

Eventually Scrooge would fall into the routine. He was an early riser by habit, but he hadn't had this much to do in his old life. Too many tasks to accomplish and too few hours in the day.

Well, at least within two weeks he was getting a proper breakfast.

He wrote regularly to his family. Nothing about Magica specifically (other than once or twice directly calling her out in the letters to stop being a voyeur since this wasn't what they had agreed upon) but just how he was getting along.

All the while, he gave instructions of where to place investments, what commodities to buy up to sell, etc. Electricity was starting to catch on, and investing in what was required to get it running was already turning quite a profit.

[lifesa_witch]

Magica was initially bitter whenever the opportunity presented itself - snarking at his letters, barking at him to reread or to go slower, and snapping at any of his decisions no matter how small. Sometimes it seemed like she was arguing just for the sake of arguing - for the sake of using her voice.

But day by day, little by little, there was less for her to fight over. Any tiny suggestion made to Clara by Scrooge always seemed to find its way to Magica and thus implemented - better seating for him, stronger candles for light, cloth to clean his spectacles next to his glasses of water.

Things were peaceful, for a time.

And all good things must come to an end.

Six o'clock came, and Scrooge was dismissed to eat and do his other duties. But that night, one of the usually closed doors was left ajar, no doubt by accident. Streaks of moonlight filtered through, as well as the smell of the forest, and the sound of water. The door led to outside, but for what purpose?

[richestduck]

Scrooge had been told that he was barred from all rooms with their doors closed. He'd seen this one before and hadn't so much as touched the knob as much as he wanted to explore. He'd made a deal and would keep his word.

The door being open...it might've been an accident. Or maybe it was him being mute permission to enter now.

He walked to the door to peek inside, not wanting to cross the threshold without express permission. One didn't want to piss off a sorceress.

[lifesa_witch]

One peek was all it took.

Maybe the outside bath had been built when she was swimming in riches and needed dramatic touches everywhere - or perhaps it was a necessity of her new body. The hot water was surrounded by rocks, the entire design another nod to the Orient. But it was very possible Scrooge wasn't noticing that.

After all, Magica was naked.

Granted, her back was to him, and her long hair was covering anything scandalous. But of course, these weren't of great importance compared to what the spell had done to her.

Her arms were black raven wings, feathers long and rigid, a sheer miracle her shoulders had survived. Her legs were thin with sharp talons on the end, one "foot" in the water to test the temperature. It was like taking in the image of the vicious harpies from Greek mythology.

[richestduck]

Scrooge turned bright red. This...this was a massive violation of her privacy. He should leave.

But simultaneously he had to admit that the features gave her a dark and deadly beauty. He wondered what had happened to cause such a transformation even as it explained some of the things he'd been reading to her.

[lifesa_witch]

The water appeared to satisfy her, and she stepped around, needing to walk in backwards to fit in.

Which meant she had to turn around and... see him.

Shock came on her face first, then horror, grief, and anger, all smashing together into one awful batch.

"GET OUT!" She screamed, one hard claw stomping into the open ground. "GET OUT AND NEVER RETURN! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!" Each scream came with a stomp, clawing at the ground, tears building up in her eyes.

[richestduck]

Scrooge yelped and scrambled away, hurrying back to his room. He slammed the door behind him, heart pounding.

Idiot. Idiot! Standing there like a slack-jawed idiot...!

[lifesa_witch]

Magica's screams continued for some time, echoing off into the hallways, until they dissolved into agonizing sobs.

Disgusting. Monster. Pitiful. Pathetic. Why hadn't the spell just killed her? It was a better alternative than being... this.

In the morning, there was no Clara and no breakfast. The message was clear - get out.

[richestduck]

Scrooge had not been idle. In fact, after taking fifteen minutes to curse and compose himself, he'd repacked what little he owned and then gone to the office.

She was throwing him out, and he needed to get as much done as possible before he was forced out the door.

There he'd stayed the entire night, bent over the desk as he put the finishing touches on the grand financial scheme he'd put into place. It would've been better to have had a bit more time to work out the finer details, but the groundwork he'd already laid would ensure that other than having smaller than anticipated rewards, the bounty would ensure that she wouldn't have to so much as think about using the Midas Touch for at least a decade. The trends he'd foreseen were already starting to pick up, and Golden Raven Investments (the company name he'd chosen weeks ago for his own amusement that he'd forgotten to mention to Magica herself) was perched above fertile fields that would produce rich harvests for years to come.

The sun was rising as he finished the last task he'd assigned himself. He read it over carefully before signing his name and sealing it with the red wax that announced that the envelope's contents were of great importance. He pressed his own seal into the cooling wax so she would know precisely whom had left it for her.

'If she throws it out, that's her business.'

He gave the letter to one of the maids -- Miss Jessie -- and went to his rooms to collect his things.

And when Magica opened the letter, she would find this message:

Miss De Spell --

I beg your forgiveness for my uncouth behavior of last night. When I found the door ajar, I should have left it alone. You had given me express orders not to enter any room whose door was closed to me, and I had passed by that closed door many times. I should have realized that it being partially open was a mistake and I should have treated it as if it were closed, but I foolishly allowed my curiosity to lead me into the temptation of taking a peek.

Please understand that I had no idea that the door led to an outdoor bath. I saw little aside from your back and the features you sought to keep covered, but I fully acknowledge that that does not excuse my staring. However, pray forgive my impertinence when I say that your current situation is far from repulsive though I understand just why you should keep them covered. Likely it is for your own protection from other witches and wizards who might see your abilities as hampered and might think to harm you. Still, it is quite unfortunate. While many would compare you to the Grecian harpies, I found your form more akin to that of the Egyptian goddesses Nekhbet, protector of the pharaohs, or Isis who -- among other things -- was the goddess of magic.

I pray you also forgive a foolish man his thoughts of fancy, for I fear that in choosing to wait until near-dawn to write this letter that my exhaustion is allowing my thoughts to wander. My things were packed within an hour of you ordering me gone, but I had much to finish with your financials before I went. As per our agreement, I've managed to arrange you a regular income of a generous sum so that you will not need the Midas Touch for a significant amount of time.

Thank you for your past generosity,
Scrooge McDuck

[lifesa_witch]

No one was there to greet him goodbye, nor even a carriage ride to help him home. It was almost like the home was dead.

When Scrooge returned to the bookstore, it was still owned by Magica, but Scrooge's job was secure. He could work there as long as he wanted. As far as it appeared, this was the end of the story.

Until two weeks passed, and late afternoon at the bookstore was a familiar but still unusual customer - Miss Clara.

"Mister McDuck? Are you in here?"