happilyeverbeginning | toss a coin to your witcher (dumb duck trio)

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toss a coin to your witcher (dumb duck trio)

"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.

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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."

"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.

"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."

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?"

"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."

"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?"

"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."

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."

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."

What were they even going to do with all that money? Scrooge was already providing everything on their list. They exchanged a look, silently reminding each other of the oath not to "thank" Scrooge for at least a day. They could behave. Kinda.

"We'll follow your lead."
"Whatever you say, goes."
"You've more than earned that."
"Can we get you anything else?"

He now had a twin at each side, each one doing their best to not give him bedroom eyes.

"I think this'll do me for right now. Though I'll need to figure out if I'm going to risk a nap or just go to bed early tonight."

He pulled out his cellphone to check the time, clicking his tongue in disapproval as he pocketed it again.

"Battery finally died. Well, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised."

"In that case, you should nap."
"You can reenergize while your phone does the same."
"We'll keep the manor perfectly quiet for you."
"And have dinner waiting for you when you're ready."

It'd give them plenty of time to organize and plan the next night's fun. It'd been ages for one twin and never for the other, so there was plenty to discuss and learn.

"I might just do that. And I'd appreciate keeping things quiet."

Though he'd need to set an alarm so he didn't sleep so late that he ended up flipping his days and nights.

He ate his meal before giving a cavernous yawn.

"Sorry to skip out on the dishes, but I really do need that nap I think."

"Leave it to us."
"Sweet dreams, Scroogie."

It'd been Magica to give the nickname, smirking a little as she did. Poe eyed her as a small warning, but didn't really rebuke her.

Scrooge covered his mouth as he yawned, giving them a small wave. Honestly, the nickname didn't bother him. His sisters had called him that for decades.

He plugged in his phone and debated closing the curtains, deciding against it so he didn't sleep as deeply. The new pillows and mattresses weren't in yet but for now the slightly-lumpy mattress would do.

After the dishes were clean, the twins retreated to the library to plan.

Since they hadn't seen their immediate and deeply sexual attraction to him coming when they first made their list, they'd have to magic up sexy nightwear. It wouldn't be a real problem, since transformations were one of the earliest spells wizards and witches learned, but it did mean they'd be without their "real" clothes for a while if this didn't work.

But of course this was going to work. They were drop-dead gorgeous, and what respectable man wouldn't want an intense threesome with them? Scrooge was a man of taste! He might need a little... convincing, but stalking and cornering prey was its own kind of fun. Once that was established, so was the meal plan for the next twenty-four hours. They would take care of Scrooge's every meal in order to make sure he had plenty of energy to burn.

Honestly, he'd been going at full speed for quite some time even before the De Spells and the noonwraith. Despite his best efforts, he ended up sleeping late...though given he woke up still tired, it probably meant that he needed the extra sleep.

He came downstairs, stretching his arms over his head.

"Ach, I'm getting old and lazy. Sleeping a whole day away?" He clicked his tongue at himself in disapproval.

As if they'd been summoned, the twins were instantly at the foot of the stairs.

"How did you sleep?"
"Is there anything we can get you?"
"Dinner is warm and ready for you."
Poe gently nudged Magica so she wouldn't add 'And so are we'.

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toss a coin to your witcher (dumb duck trio)

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