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]

"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..."

[richestduck]

Scrooge stopped reading. "Does it specify what it would have to be?"

He assumed her simply putting together a pot on the spot wouldn't do.

[lifesa_witch]

"Something I put a lot of time into, something that means a lot to me, something that cannot b replaced..."

This was starting to sound familiar.

[richestduck]

Scrooge frowned. "A shame that the amulet is gone then. It'd be perfect." He sighed. "Do you want me to keep reading?"

[lifesa_witch]

Magica decidedly didn't answer right away.

Nor did she look at him.

Instead, she made an awkward, throat-clearing sound...

[richestduck]

Scrooge waited before his eyes started to narrow. "The amulet is gone, isn't it?"

[lifesa_witch]

"... Your contract was not entirely... detailed, about the specifics of the amulet..." She mumbled, still keeping her eyes away.

[richestduck]

...Damn. She had a point: The contract had only specified that she not use it, not that she had to destroy it.

Still...

"Well, that's fortunate," he said dryly, both of them knowing she'd violated the spirit of the contract if not the actual terms. "You can use it for the ritual and get rid of it in one fell swoop."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica huffed. So much for keeping up her lavish, fancy lifestyle once her body was back to normal.

"Fine, fine, fine." She grumbled. "It's still not a guarantee, but it's worth a try. I'll need some time to gather all the ingredients and set up the ritual for the ceremony... Until it all comes together, we'll still keep reading."

Maybe if lucky was on her side, she could still keep the amulet.

[richestduck]

From that reaction alone, the Midas Amulet would make the perfect sacrifice: Likely she was going to do everything in her power to keep it.

'And last night she was ready to give away her virginity. Honestly, I'll never understand this woman.'

He resumed reading, focusing on the words on the page successfully keeping him from rolling his eyes.

[lifesa_witch]

Moments later, Clara arrived for lunch, knocking before entering.

"Clara," Magica instructed, "Bring me one of the messengers, I'm going to have some things delivered here."

"Yes, mistress. I... take it we no longer need to send word to Lord Rosolio?"

"Exactly." A growl. "The same instructions about him are in place."

[richestduck]

He shot Magica a quizzical look. She'd been planning to call for her fiance?

'Well, she'd said it was between me and him.'

He got up from his seat. "I'll see you back here in an hour?"