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

[lifesa_witch]

"Only if you don't mind giving me yours... so I can recognize who's calling." She replied as she fished out her phone from her bag.

Success! This day had gone really well, in terms of victories!

[richestduck]

"'Course not," Scrooge said. He smiled. "The satphone's not just my work phone, so don't be surprised if I periodically have to cut you off to answer someone calling me for work. I text when I can usually."

[lifesa_witch]

"Fine by me." Magica held out her phone, offering it to Scrooge. "And you can get another good look at my baby."

No surprise, her lock screen was Ratface, playing with a small toy.

[richestduck]

"Handsome as ever," Scrooge said as he typed in his number into her phone. He took a snapshot of Magica with his own phone when he created a contact for her. "I like having people's photos to go with a name and number. That way if I don't see the name for whatever reason, I see the face."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica was startled to have her photo taken! "You could've warned me, first..." She mumbled, embarrassed. If she'd known she was going to have her picture taken, especially by Scrooge and for Scrooge, she would've dressed much nicer.

She slowly took her phone back. "Don't worry about texting me whenever... 'm a bit of a night owl."

[richestduck]

"I don't usually stay up too late because of early morning chores, but I'll keep that in mind." He winked at her. "And you've currently got your hands full of Yukon's nose. Perfect picture of you."

[lifesa_witch]

There was no stopping the blush this time. It came full, fast, and flushed all over her cheeks. She could feel the heat on her face, and turned her eyes away. "Just don't go showing it around..." She mumbled, knowing full well he wouldn't.

[richestduck]

"I won't ruin your reputation. I'd hate for Ratface to find out you've been seeing Yukon on the side through the grapevine."

[lifesa_witch]

Thankfully that eased her embarrassment, at least a little bit. "Thank you for taking part in the conspiracy." She giggled, finally pulling away from Yukon.

[richestduck]

"I am the king of discretion," Scrooge said as Yukon snorted unhappily at Magica pulling away. Then Scrooge turned his head to one of the two box stalls behind them. "Evenin', Miss Ivy. We'll be along in a minute so you can get your beauty rest."

When Magica turned around, she'd see a large brown horse whose size dwarfed Yukon blinking curiously at her.

[lifesa_witch]

Magica nearly jumped - the horse was gigantic! "How does anyone climb on her without a ladder?" She asked, nearly craning her neck to see the new horse.

[richestduck]

"I have no idea how Casey manages it. I suspect he uses a mounting block and then never gets off her back until he's back at her stable," Scrooge said. "She's staying here while he's getting her stable fixed up and cleared of mice. A bunch of teenagers decided it'd be funny to make a hole in the wall and then release a couple of mice into the feed room." Scrooge scowled. "Casey hadn't done a damned thing to them either. They did it because they were bored and his place was the first place they saw."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica shook her head, hoping the mice hadn't been trampled. "I'd have sued the little bastards for every penny they had... I'm just glad she came out of it all right."

[richestduck]

"I told Casey he should've pressed charges, thought he was being gentle on them for making sure their arrest records stayed clean." Scrooge then gave an evil grin. "Turns out that Casey set up a deal with their parents: He wouldn't press charges so long as they paid him back for all the damages with interest. Drew up a whole contract as if it were a loan since he was paying for the damages himself to get the work done immediately. Those kids can't claim to be bored anymore: They had to get part-time jobs to start paying him back. The rest of the local teens avoid his place like the plague now and are as polite as you please when in his store."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica raised her eyebrows, impressed. "So, are you on Casey's PR team, or do you just enjoy sharing all his tales of both quiet and loud revenge?"

[richestduck]

Scrooge laughed. "Sorry, sorry. Around these parts, everyone knows everybody else's business and will gossip about it at the drop of a hat." He grinned. "Casey's become a good friend of mine, too. He gives me all the townie news when I come in."

[lifesa_witch]

A part of Magica wondered if Scrooge was trying to create more than a friendly image of Casey in her mind, but shook her head to dismiss it. "I guess if he's the head honcho around here, you'll inevitably have to tell him about me... and maybe if it goes well with him..."

It could go well with everyone else, having such an important figure in town say she was "okay".

[richestduck]

"He's not the head honcho. Not by a long shot," Scrooge told her. "He might manage the weekly market, but he's not the mayor. He's like us: Big name in the community but no formal political power."

[lifesa_witch]

She lightly nudged him. "And we both know that while Fergus may be the head in title, Downy's the true powerhouse of this place. Let's not underestimate the power of big names in small places."

Every little bit counted, and if Casey earned that much respect from people, it could go a long way if she got on his good side.

[richestduck]

"True. Though I wouldn't be surprised if Mummy managed a silent coup and took over the town while we weren't looking."

[lifesa_witch]

"Until I see proof that says otherwise, that's what I'll believe." She managed to give her own wink to him.

[richestduck]

"Soon all will serve her gleefully," Scrooge intoned with mock seriousness.

[lifesa_witch]

"You speak as if you don't already." Magica slowly began to walk out with Scrooge, taking her sweet time with each step.

[richestduck]

"Oh, we do. We have accepted and embraced our fate." He gave the biggest, most unsettling toothy smile he possibly could. "Join us, Magica."

[lifesa_witch]

That sounded dangerously close to his father's proposal idea. She glanced away still smiling but shyness in full swing.

"I feel like I won't have much say in the matter, at this rate..."