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]

"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!

[richestduck]

"Of course."

He left the room, sighing softly.

Well, what had he been thinking? That she missed his company?

Why wouldn't this awful feeling just die already?

[lifesa_witch]

Magica resumed her studies, though at times this became difficult when Scrooge kept entering her head. Maybe there was a spell to make her get rid of these feelings... but she wouldn't go hunting for it.

As it was, her studies and notes were now split in two - locating Ratface, and healing his leg for good.

[richestduck]

The cold unfeeling numbers were actually a relief. He couldn't think about his emotions when going over the accounts. Buying, selling, trading. It helped clear his mind.

But when he closed the books for the day, he had to admit that he wished for things that wouldn't be: two perfectly-strong legs, Magica's attention.

"Might as well go for a dip to cool my head." True it was cold out but the outdoor bath would be a nice distraction.

[lifesa_witch]

Alas, fate did seem to enjoy picking on him in several ways. He wasn't the only one who wanted a soak as a distraction.

By the time he got to the open door, Magica was already submerged - thus, difficult to see. She sighed quietly, leaning her head on the rocks as the warm water settled. It was nice to sit normally, with her legs returned.

[richestduck]

Unfortunately, Scrooge didn't see her. Especially once his glasses came off.

He stripped down and hobbled into the open air bath, sitting down on the edge of the bath and letting his feet dangle in the water.

[lifesa_witch]

Magica had almost dozed off, but - was it just her imagination, or did she hear something? Hm... well, this was an outdoor bath, maybe it was just sounds from the forest. Still, if an animal got into the bath, that would be a bother.

She decided to wait it out, straightening up to look around.

[richestduck]

Scrooge didn't notice her, closing his eyes as he let his legs soak. He felt around with his good foot, trying to judge if this was a good place to climb in. The problem was that getting out would be difficult with his bad leg.