happilyeverbeginning | And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon... (scrooge and minnie)

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And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon... (scrooge and minnie)

It wasn't as if Minnie had intentionally gone through with this with the idea she'd do it alone, but after the first couple of people she asked for help seemed appalled and aghast at the very notion of what she was doing, she gave up and decided she'd go at it herself.

Although, to be fair, months ago she would have been appalled and aghast herself at the notion. Giving away things from the castle? It was unheard of. But that had definitely been Scrooge McDuck's influence, which not everyone approved of. One of the things Minnie had learned from him was the usefulness, and connected to it the uselessness, of certain material items. If she didn't need them, nor did any of the servants, why not hand it to someone less fortunate? (At least Scrooge had finally convinced her to stop calling them "commoners". Now that had been a struggle.)

It was a lovely day outside, so instead of being cooped up, Minnie brought the - rather heavy - trunk outside to rifle and check through, with paper and ink quill in hand. All employees of the palace were free to come and go in her gardens, so she wouldn't have minded any company.

Currently, she was finishing folding away some very unique, and sparkly, dresses that she could tell would never fit her. "Mm-hmm." She said out loud, jotting something down. "Away that goes."

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Sorry, Scrooge, but she wouldn't be so easily distracted this time around. "What were you thinking about?"

"Just some bad news I received," he said honestly. "Nothing relating to France. It's a personal matter."

"Oh." She hesitated, then tried. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Scrooge shook his head. "No, lass. This is a very personal, very private matter."

He liked the girl, but this was an old wound that had been ripped open and filled with salt. It was something he'd never shared with anyone, and the only reason his household knew about it was because he'd left the letter lying out in the open in the initial daze of the news.

"Oh..." She said again, her mind already wandering towards the romantic possibilities. Heartbreak? A lost love?

Thankfully, she shook her head to get rid of such notions. This wasn't the time nor the place. If he didn't want any prying from her, she'd be respectful.

"I understand. Of course, I'd never make you say anything you weren't comfortable with." But, then, how to cheer him up? "... I don't suppose you'd be interested in any of my father's clothes?"

Scrooge gratefully took the obvious change in subject. "I doubt it but I wouldn't mind a look through them. Maybe find something presentable for the next time you decide to stress the budget entertaining nobility."

He managed to keep a straight face aside from a small twinkle in his eye.

Minnie smiled, relieved that the mood was lifted so easily. "I think you'd look quite dashing in a few of his old things! Though one or two might object to you wearing the crown..."

Scrooge actually barked a laugh at that. "Oh, if I showed up wearing the French Crown Jewels, I'm sure the nobility would riot!"

Which in turn caused her own giggles. "I could tell them it was a birthday present!"

Scrooge waved the suggestion off. "As tempting as it'd be, lass, I think I'd like to annoy infuriating them in one smooth stroke. It's more fun to watch 'em squirm."

"If you say so, Mister McDuck... but the offer's always available." And it was clear she meant for more than presents.

"Thank you, lass. I do appreciate it," he told her, laughter quieting down.

A little smile. "We are friends, aren't we?"

"Aye we are. Just remember that the next time we're at loggerheads with each other," he teased.

"I could say the same thing to you." She teased right back.

"Oh I do. It's one reason why I go so hard on you."

He wanted her to succeed, after all.

"And the other reasons?" A little giggle.

"Someone's got to catch you up on how the game is changing before France is in over its head and you potentially lose yours," he said bluntly. "Your advisers think the old guild system is the dominant economic force in the world and I'm an outlier."

Yeesh. She had been thinking that they were in fun and games, for this conversation anyway, and hadn't expected the serious dive.

"Well, obviously neither of us wants that to continue."

"Obviously." He reached down to rub at his bad leg. "Now that things are starting to get less hectic, I need to walk more again or I'm going to need more than a cane to get around."

She sighed, but nodded, understanding she couldn't keep him around forever. "You're free to walk the entire garden, if you'd like."

"Very tempting." He gave her a wry look. "Would you mind escorting a feeble old man about to make sure he doesn't collapse in a hedge?"

Beaming, Minnie slid off the stone bench and took his arm.

"It'd be my pleasure."

She could probably feel the strength in that arm, proving that he'd probably be fishing her out of a bush before it'd be the other way around. Still, it gave a good enough pretext.

He picked a random direction and started to walk.

Minnie would have thought things would stay this peaceful for a long time - forever, if possible. Even with Scrooge's advice and changes, she didn't see any huge battles ahead of her.

But there will always be things one can't predict. After a particularly droll conversation with one of her council, Minnie was eager to speak to some lighter company. She went on a hunt for the boys, and spotted them outside of the palace, huddled together in a hushed conversation. They had rather serious looks on their faces... was something the matter?

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