toss a coin to your witcher (dumb duck trio)

[lifesa_witch]

"She used her dark magics on my husband, and now he sees her shadow in the mirror every night!"
"He killed an entire farm-hands livestock, all for his own twisted amusement."
"They have a garden full of statues that were once children, now frozen in time forever..."

As Scrooge McDuck - world's richest duck, famed adventurer, and also expert monster hunter - continued his research into the "mages of the mountain", he found each new rumor was more outlandish than the last. Sure, there were a few things that were consistent - the two were twins, beautiful in their own way, and fiercely loyal to one another - but after that, each new round of gossip could make them sound like petulant children or gods themselves. Whatever troubles the villagers were having, be it bad weather or failing crops, it was surely the fault of the De Spell family.

And yes, perhaps the manor of the twins - lofted right into the side of the highest hill, with decaying greenery entwined all around the massive stone steps - was a little something out of a gothic horror novel. Dark colors, eerie structure, and maybe a cracked gargoyle or two. The cry of a raven could be found in the distance. But if these twins were as powerful as so whispered, why couldn't they afford to fix the twisted rafters from the windows, or cover the drafts from moldy holes? The land itself was probably pricey property, and many would pay handsomely for it... if some particular vermin was exterminated.

Comments

[richestduck]

'It was my pleasure,' he thought in their direction, hoping they heard.

"Thank you but I need to get going," the employee said.

"Thank you, lad." He then looked to the twins, the awful box now carried on his back. "I'll be back in in a moment. I'm going to burn this thing."

[lifesa_witch]

"Please, allow us." Poe said, trying to take the box from Scrooge.

Ratface did a double take. Did Poe just say please to someone other than Magica?

"And we'll take care of burning it." Magica said, also trying to take the box. "You can have a seat, and once we're done, we'll make you some coffee and breakfast."

Ratface did a triple take. Who the hell was that and what had they done with Magica?!

[richestduck]

"Well, I won't deny you the joy of burning it but I might as well carry it outside. It's not too heavy." He then gave a yawn. "And after that I'll definitely take that coffee."

[lifesa_witch]

"Nonsense, we won't allow it."
"You've done enough as is."
"Look at you, you're straining."
"We insist you sit, put your feet up."
"Ratface, go fetch him something sweet from the pantry."

Ratface just blinked slowly, wondering what the hell happened down in the crypt to make the twins so suddenly slavish and devoted to this old man. "Uh... okay, if you say so...?"

[richestduck]

"If you're sure..."

He set the box down. Honestly it was a bit on the heavy side but he was used to carrying worse on his back.

Hopefully neither of the twins would break their backs doing that. Poe in particular looked like he'd snap like a twig if he tried.

[lifesa_witch]

Poe and Magica made identical flicking motions with their fingers, after which those fingers turned a light blue. So when they picked up the box, it was with ease - though with a closer look, it appeared the box was floating mere inches above those fingers, hence the easiness. Which is why they calmly strutted outside with ease.

Ratface watched them until they were the door, then turned to Scrooge with a befuddled expression. "... So, what do you want, new 'lord of the manor'?"

[richestduck]

"Ha! I doubt anyone could bring those two to heel even if they wanted to. They're just being polite." He grinned at Ratface. "Awful glad they've finally warmed up to me."

He headed towards the kitchen.

"Actually, how 'bout I put the kettle on while we wait for them?"

[lifesa_witch]

"Sir, I've been with them since Magica was in pigtails and bows. They don't do polite." But hey, if Scrooge wasn't going to listen, what did it matter to Ratface? He shrugged it off, moving to perch onto Scrooge's shoulder.

[richestduck]

Scrooge gave the raven a bemused look, waiting until the familiar was comfortable before he started to walk towards the kitchen.

"Suppose you'd know them better then. Still, I certainly wouldn't think I'd be becoming the laird of this manor. As pleasant as this all is, we all know eventually I've got to get back to Duckburg."

He filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove to heat up. In the meantime, he meandered back over to the table to sit down. He raised a hand to his mouth and gave another yawn.

"Might need a nap before the end of today. Or go to bed early."

[lifesa_witch]

Ratface had to wonder if the twins would let him go back to Duckburg... or even just let him sleep alone. But he kept that to himself.

"Well, I have my orders to feed you. What do you want?"

[richestduck]

"Whatever's easiest. Honestly I haven't eaten since yesterday." Pause. "I think."

[lifesa_witch]

"Then I'll get some of Magica's sweets. Good for short energy bursts. She usually eats them when Poe isn't around so he won't nag her."

He flitted off of Scrooge's shoulder to fetch a small box from the pantry. The twins were taking a bit longer than necessary out burning the box mostly over a small, stupid argument over who "should" have Scrooge - before ultimately realizing sharing was an option.

[richestduck]

"Much obliged."

Honestly, he hadn't even realized just how long burning the coffin-like box was taking. Probably because he was so tired.

[lifesa_witch]

Ratface placed the box in front of Scrooge, allowing him to open and have as many as he pleased. A few more minutes passed before the twins returned, having come to a few conclusions on their own.

"Now now, you'll never get full just eating those! I'll make you a proper meal!"
"You look so tired, have you slept? We can have a meal sent to your room for later."

Ratface chose not to look at them. As far as he was concerned, this was just plain creepy.

[richestduck]

Scrooge took a biscotti from inside the box, munching away on it. The kettle still hadn't gone off, so he was just trying to keep himself moving enough to stay awake.

"Couple of all-nighters won't kill me. Besides, it was worth it. I think you'd agree."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica wasn't even making a fuss that her secret stash was being snacked on! Instead she gently rubbed Scrooge's shoulders, in case they were stiff. "Of course, but now there's plenty of time to rest and relax."

Poe was already grabbing some meat and potatoes for a proper, hearty meal. "The knight has slayed the dragon, and now may lay down his sword within the castle."

[richestduck]

Scrooge chuckled. "Well, I don't know if I'd use the word 'slain'. But I did take a sizeable chunk out of his hoard." His eyes glittered with malicious glee. "I have good news, better news, and bad news."

[lifesa_witch]

"We're listening." Magica said, continuing to rub back and forth.

"With baited breath." Poe added, still cooking while he refilled Scrooge's cup. The meal would be be a bit heavy, to help Scrooge sleep better. Of course, he was Italian, it was in his blood to make meals that plumped up his skinny loved ones.

[richestduck]

"First the bad news: Your family doesn't own the town."

Scrooge took a sip of his coffee with a nod of thanks.

"The good news is that you own half of the town. And most of that land is where the proposed development is supposed to take place."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica stopped rubbing and Poe stopped cooking. Once again, they wore matching expressions, this time with opened, stunned jaws. When Scrooge had spoken of it in theory before, they assumed it was just part of a bluffing intimidation tactic. Neither of them had ever actually assumed there could be a grain of truth to it.

"You're kidding." Magica finally said, alerting Poe to the fact his food would burn if he didn't tend to it. "How is that possible?"

[richestduck]

"It's part of the bargain your ancestors made generations ago, actually. I've seen it several times."

He cradled the coffee cup in his hands.

"When a magical being takes guardianship over an area to protect the non-magic folk from the magic folk that would do them harm, the non-magic folk pledge to help support their guardians. This could be by paying you rent financially, with supplies you might need, or even medical care given how dangerous magical threats can be. It's supposed to be a symbiotic relationship, not the parasitic one this area's bargain became.

"And speaking of financials, now comes the better news: They owe you quite a significant sum in back rent including interest for what's actually on your land. Which leaves you two with quite a choice: You'd be well within your rights to seek payment (though given the amount it'd need to be in installments) or you could forgive the debt and just keep track of the rent going forward."

[lifesa_witch]

"Forgive?" Magica almost spat the word out. "After all they've put our family through, how can you even suggest we'd want to hear that word?"

"He wouldn't suggest it without good cause." Poe replied, getting out a plate and silverware for Scrooge's meal. He glanced back with a raised eyebrow. "By my guess, the rent is... quite high?"

[richestduck]

"Because it's more to your benefit if you do. Not everyone in that rotten little village is completely gone. Some of them recently moved here and unknowingly got caught up in the awful mess. But for the ones who've been tormenting your family for ages? Well, forgiving the debt, particularly when they know it, will eat away at them for ages because they'll have to accept that you could have destroyed them with the words 'pay up'."

He reached into his pocket and unfolded a piece of paper, a number at the bottom highlighted in green.

"This is how much you're owed."

[lifesa_witch]

Magica grumbled a bit at first, not really giving a damn about any moral high road. They'd just reburied her parents!

But they did look over to see the number and...

... That food was definitely going to get burnt.

"Forgive."
"Definitely forgive."
"Absolutely forgive."
"Forgiven all the way."

[richestduck]

Scrooge hummed to himself as he got up from his seat to get the food off the burner before the house burned down.

"Kindness really is the best form of revenge sometimes." Scrooge grinned as he plated up the food. "Besides, this'll be the first impression of you those newer villagers will have. You'll be scoring a massive victory in that they'll be more willing to stick up for you given them living on your land put them also on the hook of the village's debt to you."

He walked back over to his seat with his food, setting the plate down before sitting.

"Of course, as far as rent collection and investment goes moving forward, I'm obligated to suggest one of my accountants do that for you with a modest fee as payment."