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]

That did sound very yummy. "What did she do that for? Is it some sort of special occasion?"

[richestduck]

"I've been telling Mummy how much you all enjoy her scones, and her hobby is feeding people," he told her. "The jam and clotted cream are her way of saying 'thank you' for keeping me on."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica closed the book she was reading to come over, intending to fetch scones for herself. "How much do you tell her and your family about me, anyway?" Thankfully the tone was curious instead of accusatory.

[richestduck]

"That you needed my translation skills for a project that I couldn't give specifics on," he told her. "I told them that once it was completed, you kept me on to manage your finances so you wouldn't have to rely on the Midas Touch."

[lifesa_witch]

She flipped the basket open, ready to rifle for herself. "And no mentions of sneaking peeks at the naked goddess twice over?"

For the record, she was never going to let those things go.

[richestduck]

Scrooge buried his face in his hands. "No."

[lifesa_witch]

Found one! She pulled out a scone and began to nibble.

"If you didn't react that way, it wouldn't be as fun to tease you."

[richestduck]

He wordlessly grumbled. "How's the scone?"

[lifesa_witch]

"Delicious, what else would it be?" She said in-between chews.

[richestduck]

"Nothing less than that given it's Mummy's cooking," Scrooge said. A fond smile crossed his face as he watched her enjoy the treat.

[lifesa_witch]

She sighed happily, the scone entirely devoured. "Eating solid food again has been fantastic... feeling textures, using forks and cups..."

[richestduck]

"There's another scone in there if you want it."

Hearing her enjoy such simple pleasures was actually quite nice. It was good to see her smiling.

[lifesa_witch]

"Of course I want it!" She made another dig through the basket.

"Maybe I can hire her on as another chef, if she keeps this up."

[richestduck]

"Make her an offer. She just might take you up on it if she gets paid to indulge in her hobby," Scrooge said with a laugh. "Though get ready to lose your figure in the process."

[lifesa_witch]

"I would hate to lose my goddess-like-qualities." She chirped after finding the scone and nibbling again.

[richestduck]

Scrooge groaned. "And you'd likely tell my mother about that if she worked for you, wouldn't you?"

[lifesa_witch]

"It would be difficult to resist." She said with a grin. "Would she burst into tears, or bend you over her knee?"

[richestduck]

"Bursting into tears would be worse than over the knee, to be honest."

He hated making his mother cry.

[lifesa_witch]

"Always a sap." And the scone was sadly gone. She was tempted to steal the ones that would be given to the rest of the staff.

"Mmm. I don't know how you don't gobble all of them on your way here."

[richestduck]

"Mummy makes sure to stuff me like a turkey first," he told her wryly. "I always eat light the day after visiting home."

[lifesa_witch]

"It's a wonder you've kept your own figure." She looked him up and down.

[richestduck]

"Oh stuffing everyone she can silly is a new hobby for her. We were very poor when I was young. Besides, I do a lot of walking around to burn off the excess weight."

[lifesa_witch]

"Even now?" She questioned. "It's not like my mansion is made for exercise."

[richestduck]

"Even now." He tapped his bad leg. "If I don't exercise this, it stiffens up even more than when the weather turns. When that happens, I can't walk."

[lifesa_witch]

Her eyes fell onto his leg, and she swallowed. She hadn't really planned on asking him, but...

"... Have you considered that... I could possibly fix that?"