Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie / If you put me to the test, if you let me try (ot3)

[lifesa_witch]

The Spell twins had rarely been told "no" their entire lives, even to one another. If, by rare happenstance, one got a "no", the other would do all in their power to make it a yes. As a result, when they landed on Scottish soil during an on-and-off rainy day, they weren't expecting any obstacles in the way of what they wanted. Everyone had a price, and this lucky man would have the fortune of working for them. It was a win-win.

Still, they did have some sense to them. After all, there was a reason they needed a mage in the first place. Getting this wealthy had a price tag few knew about it, which was the enemies attached to it. So they had booked their flight and subsequent travels under false identities, even lying to their own employees about where they were going. Very few people knew where they really were and what they were actually doing.

At last, with the rain picking up again, they arrived at Castle McDuck. Poe opened up his umbrella to hold it over his sister. "How... quaint."

"I was expecting something more elaborate. Maybe something out of a fairy tale."

Poe chuckled. "Not to worry, sister dear. You won't have to kiss any frogs to get our prince out of there."

Magica rolled her eyes. "If you could stop treating me like a child for a solid minute... how are we supposed to get his attention from within? I don't exactly see any doorbells to ring, and this... entrance is so huge, I doubt they'd hear us knocking."

"Fair question." Poe lightly rapped his knuckles on the door anyway. "But we'll figure something out. We always do."

Comments

[richestduck]

Downy flicked her wrist again, the phones returning to their owners' pockets. "Now that you understand that it's not safe roaming Dismal Downs at night, you can have them back."

Scrooge led the way out of the kitchen. There were portraits everywhere along the walls, tapestries depicting the history of Clan McDuck starting from ancient times. A museum curator would probably weep if just one of them made it into their collection.

"Admittedly, it's not much, but during renovations a few generations back, each of the rooms received its own bathroom, so there's that. You won't have to worry about waiting in line. Also there's outlets for charging your phones."

He opened one of the doors. "Mr. De Spell, this is your room."

You know how you were expecting peasant lodgings, De Spells? While not sporting anything like gold accents everywhere, the wealth of a successful thousand year-old clan was on clear display: finely-crafted furniture, bed clothes, and so on. An intricately-carved fireplace with a crackling fire warmed what might have been an otherwise chilly room. Even the simple nightshirt draped across the bed seemed to be of fine woolen make, delicate embroidery accenting the piece without providing any discomfort.

"Miss De Spell, your room's fireplace shares the same chimney. There's a wall between both fireplaces to keep the noise down."

[lifesa_witch]

... All right, not too shabby. They'd had better, but that was mostly their snobbish instincts talking.

Magica began taking a few photos with her phone, noting she could use such designs and ideas for lodgings in other places in the world. How much would people pay for an authentic Scottish feel? Very nice. "This will do." She said in-between shots. "When we get a roof over your own head, we can try to replicate some of the décor."

"Depending on your comfort level," Poe added, "We can get you lodgings in Duckburg, or you can stay within the mansion. There's always room to spare."

With business out of the way, Magica could get to what was really important. A few button presses later... and she was cooing. "Aw, who's mommy's pretty baby? You had a good din-din, didn't you? Did you like what mommy left you? Mommy's going to get you a nice big shiny when she gets home!"

Poe this time stepped further away so he could eye-roll without a cracked rib.

[richestduck]

Scrooge blinked in confusion. He looked towards Poe. "Her pet?"

As for where he'd be staying, he wasn't sure what sort of choice he should make. After all, it was going to be the middle of a city.

Lots of casualties if things went wrong.

[nevermore_a_duck]

Poe sighed at the death of his sister's dignity. "Her raven, yes. Named Ratface, for some reason." He rubbed his temples, still not getting how his sister saw rats as cute. "We actually have a small aviary connected to the mansion. There are a few other birds that live in there, but Ratface is the king, so to speak. He's been with us for years."

[richestduck]

"...Do both of you like birds or is it just her?"

[nevermore_a_duck]

"Just her. I'm... not as fond of Ratface as she is." Which was putting it lightly. Not that he was jealous of a bird. No sir.

But since Magica was sufficiently distracted, maybe he could get away with something else. "Speaking of fondness... I expect you to have a civil, business relationship with my sister and nothing more. I wouldn't blame you for wishing otherwise, but she's off limits."

[richestduck]

Yes, Scrooge could tell: no jealousy here.

However, Scrooge shot Poe a confused stare. "She's going to be my employer. Of course she's off-limits. Why would I think otherwise?"

[nevermore_a_duck]

For some reason, this didn't comfort Poe. "I just understand how great the temptation would be, with someone as beautiful as she is. But as wonderous as her looks are, you must never fall to hrrk-"

That would be the noise of his crushed larynx as Magica now had him in a head-lock. "I thought we agreed you were going to stop giving that speech."

[richestduck]

"Besides, I've no interest in Miss DeSpell. There's no reason to give the speech in the first place."

Honestly, what was with these two?

"If you two will follow me back to the dining room..."

[lifesa_witch]

"No interest?!" Poe sounded appalled through a broken windpipe. "How dare you - HRRRRRRRK-"

Crush, crush, crush, and then Magica finally dropped him. She calmly stepped over his body as she went to Scrooge's side. "He'll join us in a minute."