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 glanced back. She wasn't foolish enough to say the words that could get her fired, and instead made an empty gesture with her hand.

"... Do you really need to ask?"

[richestduck]

"...Ah. Right."

Scrooge had almost forgotten who exactly had hired him.

[lifesa_witch]

She shook her head, and headed out. "Good luck today, sir."

[richestduck]

"You, too," Scrooge told her.

Re-reading a book wasn't something he was looking forward to but if it helped the situation, then so be it.

[lifesa_witch]

When Scrooge came to the library for his duties, things seemed the same as ever. Magica was ready to pretend the more embarrassing parts of last night's conversation ever happened. But as he entered and searched for the book they last left on, she kept rolling her shoulders with a grumble.

"Ugh..."

[richestduck]

He didn't say anything for several minutes before he asked her, "Shoulders giving you trouble?"

[lifesa_witch]

A sigh. "As you can very well imagine, my body wasn't exactly equipped to have these gigantic, heavy wings... my shoulders and back sometimes get into awful aches. Nothing to be done about it." Best to get to business.

[richestduck]

"I might be able to do something. Want me to try?"

[lifesa_witch]

She glanced back at him, blinking. She was eager to get her body back, but... well...

"Only if it's quick. Have at it."

[richestduck]

Scrooge walked over behind her and rubbed his hands together to warm them. Then he reached out and began kneading at her shoulders. He'd massaged his bad leg countless time, so he knew how to deal with sore muscles.

[lifesa_witch]

Magica initially jerked - she only allowed certain servants to touch her, such as when she needed to get dressed. "W-what are you...?"

[richestduck]

"Just relax," he told her. "I find this helps when my leg gives me trouble."

[lifesa_witch]

"I..." Even before her body was cursed, she'd never let people get so close to her. She would have thought something like this would be repulsive - but instead it felt like his fingers were sinking into her skin, even with the cloth between them.

... Plus his voice felt a little tingly on her neck.

"A-All right...?"

[richestduck]

He carefully kneaded away at her shoulders, careful not to hurt her. Well-practiced fingers began releasing more and more of the tension.

[lifesa_witch]

Wow... that felt amazing. She hadn't been this loose in years, even before her body changed. She bit down on her lip to keep herself from making any embarrassing noises, but... It was only a few minutes, yet it felt like ages.

Her head drooped a bit. "Mmm..."

[richestduck]

"Better?" he asked, a pleased smile on his beak.

[lifesa_witch]

"Much, actually..." She tried to glance back at him. With magic hands like those, the women of his world really were missing out on a treat.

... Maybe once she was cured, she could keep him on as a masseuse.

Eventually, she mumbled a "Thank you."

[richestduck]

"Glad I could help."

He got up and went back to the bookshelf to search for the book.

"I forgot to ask: How did you like the scone?"

[lifesa_witch]

Done already? Aw, phooey... all good things must come to an end.

With a sigh, she straightened up, trying to get back into her haughty, superior stance. "It was all right. Normally I only have liquid meals, but... exceptions can be made now and again."

[richestduck]

Well, that explained what she was eating.

"At least it was a treat you could enjoy." He finally located the rogue book, plucking it up off the shelf before he went to sit down by the water glass and pitcher already waiting for him.

[lifesa_witch]

"Start from the beginning," she ordered, wanting to get right to work. "We'll see if I get this translation right."

[richestduck]

Scrooge nodded his head, opening the book and beginning to read. He made doubly-sure to keep the translation as close to the original as possible, odd phrasing and all.

[lifesa_witch]

Long hours passed as Magica passed. But mere moments before lunch would arrive... she jerked her head up.

"Read that last passage again... the part about the sacrifice of time."

[richestduck]

Without hesitation, he skimmed his eyes back to the beginning of the passage. As he read it aloud, he slowed down so she could hear it as clearly as possible.

[lifesa_witch]

"It's the same ritual..." She said out loud, thinking. "But... if used another way, instead of sacrificing a part of my body, it could be saying a sacrifice of something I created instead..."