He like a knight in shining armour with them blue jeans on (scrooge x magica)

[lifesa_witch]

Brigitta meant well. Magica had to repeat that mantra to herself over and over as she pulled the hood more over her face, readjusting her sunglasses. Brigitta really did mean well... but did she really think a simple stay at some ranch would lift Magica's spirits after all that happened? That it would erase the devastation her parents gave her, the fear she had every time she was in public, the panic of a new job, the loneliness of moving to a new place? It was incredibly unlikely... but Brigitta also had a hard time accepting the word "no". She'd keep agitating Magica no matter what.

So in all honesty, Magica was only there to shut Brigitta up. She'd stay a day, maybe two, and then retreat back into her hole. The bus began to pull to a stop, and Magica got up, clutching her small suitcase tight. Right now, she just hoped no one recognized her.

Without making a sound, she walked off the bus, and began the slow, steady uphill walk to the ranch. It did look nice, at least. Perhaps if Magica was in a better state of mine... or, she thought, if she was anyone but herself, she could appreciate it more. It was wasted on her.

At least she came at a good time, it seemed, for there weren't too many people around as she approached the front desk. She cleared her throat. "Excuse me... I'm here to check in."

Comments

[richestduck]

Fergus looked up at the young woman, raising a curious eyebrow. "Ah'll need yer identification so we can get ye properly checked in." He paused. "Ah'll need tae see yer face, too."

[lifesa_witch]

She sighed, but nodded, removing her hood and taking off her sunglasses. "... Magica De Spell." She said once her face was exposed, inwardly clenching, hoping the name wouldn't bring disaster.

[richestduck]

Oh, he recognized the name. "De Spell" was all over the news.

However, he made no comment, checking her ID before swearing at the computer system as he searched for her reservation.

"One moment, Miss De Spell." Fergus brought out his satphone and hit the walkie talkie button. "Ah need someone tae get this churlish collection o' circuits tae do its job!"

"Hold on, Daddy," Matilda said, her voice strongly implying that she was trying not to laugh. "I'll be there in five minutes."

[lifesa_witch]

Another sigh, but this one of relief. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be treated like a villain here...

"Take your time." She said, pocketing the sunglasses. "I don't really plan to stay here too long."

[richestduck]

"All the more reason tae get ye checked in so ye can enjoy what time ye have here," Fergus groused.

Matilda came into the lobby and walked over. She giggled as she leaned over the desk. "Here. It's simple."

"If it's so simple, then why does the blasted thing always break?!"

Matilda shook her head. "Sorry for the delay. Miss De Spell, right?"

[lifesa_witch]

Another face that didn't show contempt when saying the name. A good sign. Even if they were masking their disgust, it was better than showing it. "Yes... my friend Brigitta made the reservation. I take it she's here already?"

[richestduck]

"I can see that. She has you paid for on her account." She then squinted at the address. "Oh! You're a townie! Or did you just move here?"

[lifesa_witch]

... Wow, she must really not know. How long until that secret got out? She rolled her shoulders uncomfortably. "I... I moved into town about a week ago."

[richestduck]

"Welcome to town then," Matilda said cheerfully. She prepared the electronic room key before making a call on the walkie talkie portion of her satphone. "Need someone to take a guest to Sugar #3."

"I'll do it," a new voice said. Scrooge walked in through the doorway.

"You sure? It's your lunch break."

"It's fine. Won't take me ten minutes." He smiled at Magica. "Welcome to the McDuck Ranch."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica looked up and...

... Wow. She blinked slowly, mildly stupefied by the stud standing still. If all the ranch hands looked like that, no wonder Brigitta highly recommended the place.

"... Oh!" Right! Words! "Yes, uh... thank you."

[richestduck]

"Here. Let me take your bag, Miss...?"

"De Spell," Fergus provided.

"Miss De Spell." He smiled at her. "You're lucky: The Sugars are some of our best cabins."

[lifesa_witch]

"I'm not surprised." Magica admitted with half a shrug. "Brigitta tends to spend her money on whatever is the best of anything."

[richestduck]

"Well, Miss MacBridge initially wanted to switch to one of the two-bedroom cabins so you two could share, but Aspen and Sapphire were both full." He picked up her bag and took the key from his grumbling father. "She's in Sugar #1." He paused. "Though we need to remember to start calling them by their 'proper' names, not their numbers anymore. She's in Sugar Loaf. You're in Sugar Bear."

[lifesa_witch]

"How... quaint." It was really taking a lot of effort not to roll her eyes at these ridiculous names, but no doubt Brigitta found them adorable.

[richestduck]

He chuckled. "It's what we get for drawing names from the suggestions hat, I suppose."

He continued walking. "All food and drink are included. Tipping is not required. And you're close enough to the lodge where you can just walk over if you'd like meals but room service is available at no extra charge."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica just nodded, offering no questions or commentary. As nice as the staff was, she still couldn't really see herself cheering up here - or being distracted from her own dreary thoughts. Even now, part of her was drifting away, thinking of the hate and vitriol she got on a daily basis once her parents were exposed for the criminals they were. She began rubbing one arm, silent.

[richestduck]

Scrooge noticed and decided to slip in a little joke as he continued rattling off the amenities. "...and if normal horses aren't your thing, we also have very lifelike robots."

[lifesa_witch]

Those very un-ranch-like words snapped her out of her stupor. "What?!"

[richestduck]

"Welcome back to Earth, Miss De Spell," he teased.

[lifesa_witch]

She pinked a bit, embarrassed. "Was that really necessary?"

[richestduck]

"Not really."

He walked up to a cabin with its own hot tub on the outside deck and slid the keycard into the lock. Then he opened the door. "Welcome to Sugar Bear."

The interior was almost like a small studio apartment: one large room divided up into a sleeping area and a generously-sized bathroom with separate soaking tub and large shower with a bench to sit on and just steam. The sleeping area was dominated by a king-ssized bed. In place of a kitchenette was a wet bar which had a menu for room service sitting on it. The large couch sat facing the window overlooking the deck and hot tub, a fireplace and flatscreen TV sitting in the corner to warm and entertain.

"I'll get the fire started for you. If you need someone to stoke it after I leave, feel free to call the front desk."

[lifesa_witch]

This place was nicer than the one she was actually living in! It almost seemed unfair - teasing her with something so nice, only to be reminded of what she could no longer afford. Could she have even gotten a chance to stay here if it wasn't for Brigitta's money?

More and more negative thoughts clouded her mind, and she hated herself for it.

"... Don't bother. You've got other work to do. I'll be fine."

[richestduck]

He waved a hand carelessly. "It'll only take a minute. I get plenty of practice here. I'll go get some firewood."

[lifesa_witch]

"... Fine. Do whatever you want." She shook her head, and then moved to the bed to unpack her suitcase - two changes of clothes, a swimsuit, and... that seemed to be about it. As if she only planned to exist and do nothing else.

[richestduck]

He went to retrieve the firewood. True, there was already some in the grate, but this way she could feed the fire if she so chose.

He came back inside and walked over to the fireplace, kneeling down and starting to get to work lighting the fire. Of course, this meant Magica got a perfect view of his tailfeathers.