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

[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."

[richestduck]

Scrooge felt a stab of remorse. It hadn't been healthy for her to do that, and likely she'd only done that due to his thoughtless curiosity.

"And after that?"

[lifesa_witch]

"She tried to do her reading on her own... it didn't go well." After all, she had no hands to grab books or turn pages. "But she refused to hear the idea of hiring anyone else to do it."

[richestduck]

Likely out of fear that someone else's curiosity wouldn't have the courtesy to obey closed doors. Once again, he felt a stab of shame.

"When did she read my letter?"

[lifesa_witch]

"A few days ago..."

Clara looked away innocently.

"... When I jammed it into one of her books."

[richestduck]

Scrooge snorted with amusement.

"And after that?"

[lifesa_witch]

"After that... well, here we are. After dinner, she gave me instructions to come and get you as soon as possible."

[richestduck]

"Thank you for catching me up. How have you and the rest of the staff been doing this whole time?"

The front gates of the De Spell manor grounds were in sight, but he might as well find out what precisely he was getting into. He hadn't had that luxury when Magica had first hired him.

[lifesa_witch]

"It's been like walking on eggshells," she admitted, reluctant to give him more guilt. "Nobody's sure what to do or say so they don't upset her further."

[richestduck]

Scrooge flinched a bit with regret but looked to the house as they pulled up to it.

"Well, let's see if I can't do something to ease that at least."