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]

Here she thought it'd be the face, like the first time - so she was startled to see him go after the wing, exposing her feathers. Clara backed up and covered her face, expecting Magica to yell and shriek after "exposing" her... but that didn't happen.

Magica swallowed, but looked away as the blood dripped down into the cauldron. The water turned crimson, and the amulet began to dissolve. The water began to bubble more intensely, faster, hotter, and then spilled over the cauldron, flowing into the floor...

Magica's eyes took on a dark, blood-red color, and she cried out, arching her back as her whole body took on the same color. Her "arms" began to shrink back, her "legs" wobbled, and then she fell to the floor, the light emitting from her body temporarily blinding.

When it faded... she was on her knees - actual knees - as her robes fell off, as they no longer fit her.

[richestduck]

Scrooge recoiled in horror as her entire form turned that dark red. Oh gods. They should've waited. Tried something else first.

But then she had arms instead of wings and proper webbed feet. It took him a moment to realize that the robes had fallen off. He hastily whirled about, keeping his back to her.

[lifesa_witch]

"Mistress!" Clara grabbed the robe, trying to hastily cover Magica with the remains of the robe. "Are you all right?"

"I..." Magica said softly, holding out her... hand...? Her eyes widened as she stared at her fingers, eyes filling up with tears. "It worked...?"

[richestduck]

"Glad to hear it, lass," Scrooge said, very deliberately not turning to face her. Should he leave? He should leave, right?

[lifesa_witch]

Magica stared at her hands... and began to sob, openly. It was finally back. All of it was finally back. She could earnestly try to find her beloved Ratface again.

Clara fidgeted, unsure what to do. "Oh, dear, um... oh! You need your old robes! I'll go fetch it!" She fled for the door, not thinking clearly.

[richestduck]

Scrooge internally panicked. Clara couldn't just leave him here to deal with Magica alone!

However, her sobs made him slowly walk backwards. He still wasn't looking at her to keep from invading her privacy, but he could still offer some level of comfort.

He placed his hand on top of her head, the only safe zone he currently knew about.

"It's all right. It's okay."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica continued to cry, but then slowly reached out and took the hand that was touching her hair.

It took a few tries, but she managed to choke out - "Thank you. Thank you so much."

It came out so soft and gentle, like maybe the woman she could have been before her family and her wealth ingrained bitterness in her.

[richestduck]

"Happy to help," he told her.

However, his smile was somewhat sad. She was back to normal now.

She wasn't going to need him to read to her anymore.

Well, that was as it should be. He'd known this couldn't last forever.

He just...didn't want to leave.

[lifesa_witch]

"I'd almost forgotten... what it was like to touch anything." She whispered as she linked her hand with his, taking in the warmth. "I took this kind of stuff for granted..."

Slowly she looked up at him, perhaps coming to the same conclusion he did. She must have looked a wretch, with her make-up running due to her tears.

[richestduck]

"Well, that's something good to take away from all this then," he said with an awkward smile. "You won't make that mistake again."

And likely once she'd found out the fate of her familiar, she'd treasure the raven's presence all the more for it. It had been a terrible wake-up call, but perhaps that was what she'd needed to remember to value the things and people she cared about.

"Here." He reached into his pocket with his free hand to retrieve the handkerchief. "Let's clean you up a little, lass. Clara should be back soon with a change of clothes that'll fit you better."

[lifesa_witch]

"Thank you..." Clara might be a little while, since all of Magica's old clothes were probably stored away. Magica didn't want to look at them as a painful reminder of what was missing. But she'd find what she could get, and then Magica wouldn't be...

... naked.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE SEEN ME NAKED TWICE!" She suddenly yelped, grapping the way-too-long robe and trying to wrap the stupidly long sleeves around her.

[richestduck]

He turned bright red and turned his face away. "It wasn't like I intended to!"

[lifesa_witch]

She turned away as well, cheeks burning. A moment of silence.

"... So. Without the wings, am I still a goddess?" There a Little bit of embarrassment to pay him back.

[richestduck]

Scrooge made a strangled noise deep in his throat. She really was never going to let him live it down.

"...I've not seen much magic in my life, but...you were quite magnificent."

[lifesa_witch]

She expected him to get mad and make a snarky comeback - not make it worse. Or better. Honestly, what was with him?

Maybe restoring her body had restored some other good parts of her as well.

"... Do you want to know why I was surprised you were still a virgin?"

[richestduck]

"It'd be enlightening." He started to turn his head to glance at her but stopped before he could fully do so. "It's typically expected that I wouldn't find anyone, after all."

[lifesa_witch]

"First, if you tell anyone this, do remember I have magic now and can curse you up to your eyeballs."

With that out of the way...

"Your leg can't be the first thing people notice about you. I refuse to believe it. You are..." A sigh, but it was easier to say this since she wasn't looking at him. "... Incredibly good-looking. I'm not really good at describing this sort of thing, but you have a very appealing face, and your eyes have a sort of rich color... plus you dress well, despite you social status, and the way you care about your family is something... other people... might find endearing."

Funny, once she got started, it was hard to stop.

"You're clearly intelligent, not just in retaining memory but using a quick wit, you can be stupidly kind even when it doesn't benefit you, and obviously you've got know-how with money. If a woman wanted to find a good husband but gave all of those qualities up in favor of one leg, she's got to be the most foolish creature alive."

[richestduck]

"Not entirely, lass," Scrooge countered. "This isn't some childhood accident coming back to bite me years later: I was born like this and any children I have might have the same issue or worse. While others may or may not see the same virtues in me that you do..." Here she would see a full-body blush at the admittance. "...but that hanging concern is likely to turn someone away. It's expensive to raise a child with a deformity and it puts a strain on everyone."

He'd seen that first-hand.

[lifesa_witch]

She glanced at him every now and then, trying to act as if she wasn't.

"Bah, children. What's so great about children? Why can't anyone just marry for the sake of enjoying the person they're with? A marriage without..." She couldn't make herself say 'love', hell no. "... affection... is doomed to fail."

[richestduck]

"Who says those things are mutually exclusive?" he asked with amusement. "My parents adore one another and love their three children just as much. Mummy would say that children simply means more love in the home overall."

[lifesa_witch]

"Then if someone really feels... affection... for you... then they'll want your children, defects and all. The world's a big place. Surely there must be at least one person in the world like that."

What was even happening in this conversation?! She began to play with her hair, an old habit that came back with her body.

[richestduck]

Scrooge chuckled. "If they're out there, they've never spoken to me about it."

He glanced towards the door. "Where's Clara? You've got to be getting cold right now."

[lifesa_witch]

Now that he was looking at the door, he'd see the maid poking her head in. How long had she been there?!

Clara cleared her throat, quickly walking inside, pretending she hadn't been spying. "Here you are, mistress."

"It's about time!"

[richestduck]

Scrooge began walking. "I'll leave you to get changed and then settled in for the night. Goodnight, Magica."

[lifesa_witch]

"... Goodnight, Scrooge." She caught one more look at him before he was gone for the night.