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]

...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?"

[lifesa_witch]

"An hour on the dot." Magica growled, blaming him for finding the "truth". "We won't be stopping our work."

[richestduck]

"Of course not."

He bowed his head to her before leaving the room with Clara, blowing out a breath the moment the door was closed. That woman was a piece of work.

[lifesa_witch]

Things continued in their usual matter for several days - until one day before dinner, Magica straightened up. "The supplies arrived today, but it will take a whole day to set up the ritual for the ceremony. So tomorrow... I suppose you can consider it a day off."

[richestduck]

"Thank you for your generosity but are you sure you won't require an extra set of hands?"

He didn't want to insult her. Thus "extra set".

[lifesa_witch]

"It's not terribly complicated, the servants will have it all set up." She turned to face him, trying to gesture with her wings as best she could.

"One of the rooms will be emptied out and used. It has to be painted down with the right symbols, and then the ingredients set up." She tried to make a circular motion. "A cauldron placed right in the middle, in order to boil and melt the amulet, mixed with my blood - all when the moonlight reaches the water."

[richestduck]

He nodded his understanding. "All right. Just let me know if you change your mind."

[lifesa_witch]

A brief pause.

"... You can watch. If you want."

[richestduck]

"You wouldn't mind?"

He'd never seen a magical ritual performed before. To be honest, he was quite curious about the whole thing.

[lifesa_witch]

"I mean, if you've got nothing better to do." She added quickly, not wanting him to get some foolish idea that she wanted him there. "Besides, I'll be so deep in concentration, I won't even notice you're there."

[richestduck]

He could take the day to visit his family again. Still, when was this opportunity going to come again? Particularly since if this worked, he'd be out of the job?

"I promise not to disturb you."

[lifesa_witch]

"I know you wouldn't, you're not that dumb." A defensive huff. "It'll take place after dinner. What you do with your time 'til then is up to you."

[richestduck]

"I'll probably stop into town to visit my family. I'm sure Mummy will be baking more scones for me to bring back."

[lifesa_witch]

"Don't go spoiling my servants now." As if she wouldn't be eagerly gobbling them up.

[richestduck]

"I'll make sure there's plenty for you," he told her with a smirk.

[lifesa_witch]

Knock-knock on the door. It was time for dinner.

"I'm not asking for them." She said quickly on the defensive.

[richestduck]

"OF course not. I'd just hate for you to go without."

She wasn't fooling him in the least.

[lifesa_witch]

She turned her head away, snooty. "Go and have your supper before I change my mind."

[richestduck]

"Of course," he said, fighting down the urge to chuckle at her expense.

Honestly, one of these days he was probably going to push too far but...well, he couldn't resist sometimes.

[lifesa_witch]

The night ended, and the day of the ritual began. While the other servants were quick to set up the room for the ceremony, Clara was chosen to stay near Scrooge's room and at his side, should he want or need anything.

There was a bit of excitement in the air. Would this really be it? Even if not, an actual magical ceremony, in front of so many mortals - it was unheard of!

[richestduck]

Scrooge visited his family and had brought back another large basket of scones and other sweets. As he returned home a few hours before the ritual, he handed over the basket to Clara and asked her to wake him an hour before the ritual.

The weather turning cold had made his leg ache especially fiercely. A nap would help alleviate some of it.