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]

"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?"

[richestduck]

"...A few times," he admitted, "but it's nothing I can't deal with. Besides, you need to find Ratface now that you have your powers back."

[lifesa_witch]

"Yes, and I will find him... but..." She fidgeted. After a lifetime of selfishness, she didn't know how to offer help. "After that, there's always a possibility."

[richestduck]

Scrooge looked at her in surprise. "Honestly, I...I don't know how I could repay you for it if you did."

Being able to walk unaided. Running for the first time in his life.

He'd be able to swim properly. Maybe even learn to ride...

[lifesa_witch]

She turned away, playing with a lock of hair. "It's no guarantee of course. Most healing magic is for basic wounds and injury, not something you were born with. I could disguise it, but it would still be there."

[richestduck]

"Disguise it?"

He wasn't sure what she meant. If she meant make it look like he was walking normally, well, he appreciated the thought but it wouldn't matter.

[lifesa_witch]

"Disguise magic is one of the most basic magics that all witches and warlocks must master."

As a demonstration, she snapped her fingers - blonde hair. Then red. Then green.

"No matter how I looked, the true nature of my body is the same. So I could make your leg look normal, but you'd still feel pain and it'd still affect your walking. Unfortunately, right now, that's the limit of my knowledge."

[richestduck]

So just as he'd thought.

He smiled and shook his head. "In that case, I'll pass. My pride's not so tall that I feel like I need to hide my limp."

[lifesa_witch]

Another snap, and her hair was back to normal. "That being said... If I so happened to find something related to a cure... would you be interested?"

[richestduck]

"I might be, but that's a big 'if'," he told her.

[lifesa_witch]

"Then... I'll keep my eyes open, if I feel like it." There, it was out in the open and done with! Being nice was exhausting.

[richestduck]

"Thank you."

He got up from his seat to take the basket.

"I suppose I should stop pestering you. It was nice."

[lifesa_witch]

"Just... remember to keep me updated. About the finances." She couldn't possibly badger him for his time, that would just be embarrassing! Make him make the effort!