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]

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?"

[richestduck]

Scrooge had not been surprised. With his carpet bag and valise held expertly in one hand and his cane offering support, he walked out of the mansion with his head held high. And only when his back was to the mansion and anyone who might have seen did he allow sorrow to break through his neutral expression.

He'd settled back into his position as the local bookman easily enough. He'd saved the vast majority of his salary so he would be more than comfortable during the lean times. As tempting as it had been, he had kept his finances staunchly separate from Magica's and had made sure that he hadn't included any clause he himself could exploit to obtain a share of her income even after his employment ended.

His return had actually been welcomed eagerly even as those who'd been working on restoring Castle McDuck had been disappointed by their abrupt termination of work. At least the castle was better off than it had been in decades if not centuries even if it was still unlivable.

He'd fully expected to hear nothing from Magica ever again, so seeing Clara enter the shop and greet him had given him quite a start. He was standing on a ladder, shelving a few books that he'd previously held for customers who had changed their minds.

"Here, Miss Clara. Good afternoon. Please give me a few minutes to climb down." He gave her a wry smile. "I'd hate to burden a young lady with hailing the local constable to deal with a fall."

[lifesa_witch]

"Of course, of course." Not wanting to block the doorway, she moved inside, but her eyes stayed on him.

Considering what she was about to say, maybe it was best to drop the news when he was solid ground. But the mansion was already so quiet, so she enjoyed "noise" where she could find it.

"How fare you?"

[richestduck]

"Can't complain too much. We're fixing for more rain so I admit I've been missing having a hot brick in my bed to ease the aches in my leg." It hadn't been a secret around the mansion that the blasted thing liked to torment him at inconvenient times. "However I'm glad I didn't have to buy new furniture for the flat upstairs or I would've marched myself back to the front gate to be quite cross at your mistress."

He finished his shelving as he talked. Best not to leave these books where they sat or he'd find it difficult to find the motivation to climb back up the ladder with his leg twinging as it was.

"How have you been?"

[lifesa_witch]

"Can't say it's been better or worse, I suppose." She fidgeted, unsure how to explain without giving everything away. So once he was on the floor, she was relieved.

"... The mistress is offering you a chance to resume your work with her."

[richestduck]

It was a very good thing that she'd waited until his feet were on solid ground. Quite frankly, the faintest breeze could've knocked him over at that announcement.

"Really, now?"

Given the way he'd been forced to depart, he considered himself lucky she hadn't burned the entire shop down out of pure spite.

"I must say that that surprises me."

[lifesa_witch]

"It surprised us all, really." She said as she spread out her palms. "Many have been fired or quit... but you're the first person she's actually made an offer to return."

A small shrug. "Whatever you said in that letter must have gotten to her."

[richestduck]

"She probably wants me back to laugh at me in person. I was half-asleep when I wrote the thing and just about as much were foolish ramblings caused by a sleepy mind."

He tapped his foot thoughtfully.

"If it doesn't trouble your mistress too much, I'd like to come talk to her about her offer this evening once I've closed up shop."

It would give both of them time to prepare for potential battle.

[lifesa_witch]

"It's no trouble at all," Clara said - was there a hint of amusement? "Because she said if I didn't come back with you, I shouldn't bother coming back at all."

[richestduck]

Scrooge gave her an equally amused smile. "Would me sending you back with a note promising my presence do?" He pulled out the old silver pocket watch to glance at the time. "It's still a few hours from closing, and I'd hate to force you to just wait around. Unless, of course, there was some shopping you were meaning to get done."

[lifesa_witch]

She nodded. "It's been some time since I've been out and about the town. It would be nice to be among normal people again."

[richestduck]

"In which case, I won't let you waste a moment longer in my dusty old shop."

Not that the place was dusty. True, it did have a bit of a musty smell but that was due to aging leather and paper, not actual filth. Scrooge was very particular about how he kept the shop.

He shooed her out. "Go enjoy yourself. I'll be closing in about three hours, so you've got plenty of time."

[lifesa_witch]

She nodded, headed to the door, but paused. She glanced back.

"If it's all the same... It would be nice if you came back. She was a little kinder with you around."

With that said, she walked out.

[richestduck]

Scrooge blinked in further surprise before he gave a soft smile. He had made it his business to try and ease some of the restrictions on his fellow employees.

Really, the most hideous part of Magica wasn't her new appendages: It was her personality.

'True beauty lies within, but so does true ugliness.'

He went back to the counter, sitting down on the stool. He propped up his elbows on the counter and knitted his fingers together, resting his chin atop them.

What to do, what to do...?

[lifesa_witch]

Three hours came and went.

Clara waited at the door, knocking twice but not entering. She wouldn't force Scrooge one way or another, but was it so wrong to have her fingers crossed?

"Oh, dear..."

[richestduck]

Scrooge got up to answer the door, exiting and locking it behind him. He didn't have his bags.

"I want to talk with Magica before I make a final decision," he told her bluntly. "However...I am inclined to go back."

[lifesa_witch]

Clara exhaled deeply, hand to her chest. "Oh thank god."

... That didn't sound quite too neutral, eh? She quickly cleared her throat. "A-hem! That is... entirely your choice, of course. We're ready to leave whenever you are."

[richestduck]

"Let's be off. The sooner the better, and I imagine Magica is already debating sending someone else along."

[lifesa_witch]

"Let's pray she doesn't send the entire mansion after you..." Clara said with a sigh, heading to the carriage with Scrooge in tow.

[richestduck]

Scrooge followed her to the carriage but offered her a hand to help her into it first. She was, after all, a lady. It would be improper to make her go second.

Once they were away, Scrooge folded his hands on the crook of his cane, resting his chin atop them as he frowned in thought.

"What's been the state of the mansion since I left?"

[lifesa_witch]

"Well, outwardly, things have remained the same." Clara explained. "We're all still doing our jobs and obeying orders. The only change was in the mistress' behavior."

Since that sort of thing led to questions, she decided to jump ahead and let him know.

"She didn't eat or... really move, for three days."