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]

Clara chuckled again, heading for Scrooge's room. "Maybe so. You do have such lovely penmanship."

[richestduck]

Scrooge snorted. "I doubt it was the penmanship that convinced her to have me come back."

[lifesa_witch]

"The goddess lines might have helped."

She might have peeked at the contents of the letter.

[richestduck]

"Please tell me that not everybody knows about that."

[lifesa_witch]

"I should hope not." Although there were a lot of servants listening in on that door for the last argument...

"It's just surprising she reacted to it," Clara added quickly. "When her body was normal, she always dismissed her suitors and rolled her eyes at their compliments."

[richestduck]

"Of course she would. She took those compliments for granted."

After all, when you had plenty of something, you didn't think too much about it.

[lifesa_witch]

"Perhaps so... I never liked them." Clara admitted. "They really came running when she had money... it was obvious they weren't after her. But she always said the same thing - she was a 'committed bachelorette'."

[richestduck]

"Well, that'd be a good reason to be one."

If he became rich, he'd never be able to be certain if someone loved him for him and who just wanted his money.

"I imagine once her fortune's secure, they'll come back."

[lifesa_witch]

"I hope not. I do hate to see love treated like a fashion accessory." Clara was a bit of a romantic.

They made it to Scrooge's room, and Clara gently began to set everything down. "Would you like anything, Mister McDuck? A late night meal?"

[richestduck]

"That'd be grand. Then probably a hot bath before bed."

[lifesa_witch]

"Right away, sir." A diplomatic curtsy before she went to fetch his meal - which, thankfully, was still affected by the changes he'd made during the last time.

[richestduck]

Thank the gods. Real food. And it was hot, too.

He sat down at the table in his room's parlor. "Honestly, I feel like this place spoils me rotten."

[lifesa_witch]

"If it does, it's in part thanks to you." She pointed out as she went to prepare his bath.

[richestduck]

Scrooge snorted. "Thanks to me?"

[lifesa_witch]

"You're the one changing things around here, like the kind of meals we're having."

[richestduck]

"I'm introducing common sense," Scrooge noted wryly. "That's all."

[lifesa_witch]

"Try not to mention that to the mistress." With the bath set, and knowing it would keep warm, she walked back out. "Anything else I can do for you?"

[richestduck]

"Just the hot bricks in my bed, and I'll be happier than a pig in mud."

Scrooge had simple wants.

[lifesa_witch]

"Right away, sir." Which came with a simple smile as she fetched them.

[richestduck]

Meanwhile, Scrooge happily went to the bathroom to climb into the water. He sighed in with relief, leaning his head back as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth. His leg's aching eased.

This was heaven.

[lifesa_witch]

Clara returned, tucking the bricks into the bed. "Don't forget, 6 in the morning, you start all over!"

With that chirp, she left for the night.

[richestduck]

He remembered.

He stayed there in the tub for some time before he finally got out and emptied the tub. It was near ten when he climbed into bed, the bricks still blissfully warm, as he settled in. Gods, he'd almost forgotten how sinfully soft everything was.

'I could definitely get used to this.'

He closed his eyes, dropping off into a deep sleep almost immediately, and he'd sleep soundly until it was time to get back into the old routine.

[lifesa_witch]

And indeed, it seemed like the same old routine in the morning - woken up at the same time by the same servant, with the same meal at the ready.

When it was time to get to the task at hand, Magica was once more in the library, as dignified and prim as usual. As he entered, she stuck her beak up, snooty as ever.

"I trust you remember where you left things?"

[richestduck]

"Refresh my memory?" he asked with dry sarcasm.

Even as he said that, he climbed the ladder to pull down the appropriate book along with the next two on the shelf. He didn't expect to get through that many in a day, but he didn't want to have to climb up and down the ladder more than necessary. Besides, she might tell him to skip the rest of a book and move on.

[lifesa_witch]

"Bah, what do I even pay you for?" She replied with a dismissive wave of her "arm" - this was a bit new. Before, during these reading sessions, she often stayed as still as possible. Probably an attempt to hide any hint of her body.

Now though... no point in hiding what he knew, it seemed.

"Let's get started. Start from the beginning, and don't skip anything."