he's down on his luck / he's down on his knees (scrooge x poe)

[nevermore_a_duck]

 This hadn't been the best plan, but for Poe De Spell, it was the only plan he had. He'd lost track of how long it'd been since that fateful day he ran away in the middle of the night, in a desperate escape to get away from his parent's clutches. The arranged marriage had been the straw that broke the camel's back.

What a sight he must be now, he mused. The high-class fashion he was once so proud of was basically in tatters. He had long since run out of the money he could use - he didn't bring his credit cards, that would have made for easy tracking. Anything he had managed to take had now been sold just so he could eat and maybe find a roof to sleep under, but even that wasn't made to be forever.

Where did one find work when your grades were bribed to As? Who did you trust, when his parents had a bounty on his head? 

He did keep his phone, but it was off. If he turned it on, his parents would find him. But it was a last chance deal - if truly all else failed, he'd use it. He prayed it never came to that. Even if it meant selling the last thing he had - himself.

He sat on the side of the road, ignoring his stomach growling for the umpteenth time, eyes distant and not really staring at anything. 

Comments

[nevermore_a_duck]

"Just because we're poor doesn't mean we can't turn heads." Poe sniffed after he unbuckled and opened the door. "First impressions are the same up and down the social ladder."

[richestduck]

"I usually work construction or some other menial job," Scrooge stated bluntly. "It's all I'm qualified for."

[nevermore_a_duck]

"But you don't want to stay there in that position forever, do you?" Poe asked, eyebrow raised. "Standing out too much makes you a gaudy eyesore... but standing out just the right amount makes you a notable figure. Someone they'll want to keep an eye on."

[richestduck]

Scrooge raised a skeptical eyebrow. For a long moment, he gazed at Poe before he rolled his eyes. "You're going to keep annoying me about this until I give in, so fine. I'll pick one nice thing to wear."

[nevermore_a_duck]

"I will pick it." Poe insisted. "I sincerely doubt in the years we've spent apart, you've suddenly picked up a sense of fashion."

[richestduck]

"What's wrong with how I dress? It's practical!"

[nevermore_a_duck]

"... That's a word for it." Not the word Poe would use.

"Come along, Scrooge. I'll make a looker out of you yet."

[richestduck]

Scrooge rolled his eyes but followed with huff. He had the money from the cash box with him, but he hoped they weren't going to be spending much.

[nevermore_a_duck]

Poe strolled into the store, with a bit of a hair flip - drama was one of the things he didn't sell - and began to inspect all the various items. Colors, length, stitching... these were the important factors. What could blend in with other pieces, what stood out in a good way?

"Where is the fitting room? We're gunna need it."

[richestduck]

"Um...in the back. There's a curtain for each stall," the girl at the counter said, playing with her hair. It'd been a while since two hot guys had walked in.

[nevermore_a_duck]

"Thank you. Try not to miss us too much." He gave the girl a playful wink, always able to tell when someone was checking him out. A little harmless flirting could help out every now and then - getting them to lower their guard, or lower their prices.

With that, he scooped up his choices and headed for the back. "Let's get started, Scrooge."

[richestduck]

Scrooge looked with some bemusement at the girl's reaction to Poe's flirting but followed Poe to the back.

"I still reserve the right to reject what you put on me."

[nevermore_a_duck]

"Thank you for your faith in me." Poe shoved an armful of clothes into Scrooge' arms. "Now. Try each one on."

[richestduck]

Scrooge hadn't even seen Poe pluck them deftly off the racks. It usually took him forever, looking through prices and styles and usually walking away with nothing to the annoyance of the person at the cash register. Or he might pick up something cheap with the intention of using it to patch holes.

He raised a brow. "I assume you want me to model them for you each time I put one on."

[nevermore_a_duck]

"Obviously." Poe leaned on the wall. "I can't trust you to make the right decisions just yet."

[richestduck]

Scrooge sighed and entered into the stall, shutting the curtain behind him. Honestly, what even was some of this stuff? They were supposed to be here for Poe, not him.

He put on the first item and looked down at himself. It wasn't bad, but the material would never survive the kind of abuse his clothes had to go through on the regular. Still, he'd agreed that he'd show Poe, so he opened the curtain to show the other duck.

[nevermore_a_duck]

Poe cupped his beak, looking Scrooge over. He did a full circle around Scrooge, then shook his head. "Mmm, no. Too subtle. Blends in too well. Toss it."

[richestduck]

"Blends in?" he asked, looking down at himself again. "What is that even supposed to mean?"

[nevermore_a_duck]

"If you're only allowing yourself ONE change to your wardrobe, getting something that blends in that well with what you normally wear is just... pointless. We're looking to make a small, noticeable change. Toss it."

He snapped his fingers. Come now, next one!

[richestduck]

Scrooge rolled his eyes but did as ordered, shutting the curtain and carefully setting the discarded clothing aside. (Just because it was second-hand didn't mean he had to be a jerk to the store people.)

The second article of clothing was a bright grassy green. He grimaced, not really enjoying the color. Plus the material was, again, guaranteed to get destroyed within a week.

He stepped out and spread his arms in a "well?" gesture.

[nevermore_a_duck]

Another "hmm" of inspection. A little too bright, but... depending on circumstances...

"Where do you do construction? Is it all... dirt and wood, or is there plants and such?"

[richestduck]

"Dirt and wood. And this shirt wouldn't last a week at that job," Scrooge stated bluntly. He grabbed the edge of the material. "Feel how thin that is? I'm guessing it's high quality, but the first time it gets caught on a nail, it'll be shredded."

[nevermore_a_duck]

"Too bright." Poe said, practically interrupting Scrooge's logical explanation. "We don't want you to come across as a needy wannabe." He clicked his tongue, rubbing Scrooge's shoulder to feel the jacket. "Shame, really. I didn't expect to find quality material in this place."

[richestduck]

"I figured you'd prefer this sort of place over the standard thrift shop. Pricier than a thrift shop, but they're more discerning about their merchandise. This one seems to also specialize in upcycling," Scrooge said. He then nodded to a cart parked beside Poe. "That looks like it used to be a small dresser."

[nevermore_a_duck]

"I think you mean 'recycling.'" Maybe it was the Scottish was of saying it? "And, yes, I'm very impressed. Now, back in the room with you." A little shove.