Broken lines, broken strings, broken threads, broken springs

[moneymatters]

Today was a day for getting stuff done. There'd been some repairs backed up, so here Scrooge was in the garage to take care of them. This day it was mostly the childrens' things; at the moment he was completing the gluing of one of their books back together. He slipped his finger down the binding and wiped up the excess, then carefully set it aside to dry.

The garage was open, letting in plenty of light (especially when you considered the sun reflecting off the shallow snow outside). Scrooge himself seemed unaffected by the winter cold that drifted in, to nobody's surprise. But he did make sure to put the book out of the way of any errant wind, just in case, and then reached for the next repair.

Comments

[moneymatters]

"Ohh, kids bein' kids." He chuckled softly, and sat back to wave a hand at the spread before him. "And with two o' them, there's two times the broken toys." Another snicker.

"Jade launched her dolls into the trees the other day, and those that didnae outright break just tore on the 'rescue mission.' Noting that Jade undertook that herself; getting her down from twenty feet up was... a day." He shook his head, though he was still smiling. "There's some general destruction and hard use here, some torn clothing, and then Dunlin 'crashed' his Cloudkicker," he said, gesturing to a waiting rideable wooden biplane off to one side. "That'll probably take the most work, but it'll be good as new afterward."

[rippleonthewater]

Looking at the broken toys, she shook her head. "I'd be surprised if any of these will look good as new."

[moneymatters]

"You doubt my repair skills!" He waved a teasing finger. "I've been fixin' dolls and the like since I was knee-high to my father's kilt!"

[rippleonthewater]

"Oh yeah, I remember you telling me about that. You used to fix your sisters' toys, right?"

[moneymatters]

"That I did!" He chuckled some, and tied off his thread. "I got to use those skills on some adventures as well, and o'course while the boys and Webby were here. I'm an auld crafter and repairer."

[rippleonthewater]

She giggled. "Lucky for the twins, then. It's almost like you got to hone those skills all your life to prepare for when you needed them."

[moneymatters]

"That's certainly true. I'm almost glad I retired completely when they were young, I have hardly stopped movin' since they first hatched."

[rippleonthewater]

"Kids will do that to you. I can't imagine how it might've been if you had decided to keep adventuring while they were still really little."

[moneymatters]

"Neither can I." He glanced at her and smirked lightly. "Just you wait 'til you have wee ones o' your own, eh? I'm not the only one who's gotten in a bit of practice beforehand."

[rippleonthewater]

She blushed, clearing her throat a bit and glancing away, twirling some hair around her finger.

"Er...I guess so. Th-That's uh...still a bit of a ways off, though."

[moneymatters]

He laughed warmly, giving her a nudge with his elbow.

"Aye, I know, don't worry." As he returned to his next repair, a sly smile curled up his beak. "Still, it's on my mind from time to time."

[rippleonthewater]

She glanced at him, the blush still dusting her cheeks.

"How often is 'from time to time'?"

[moneymatters]

"I don't know, Dixie darlin'. But you know I think about the future of Clan McDuck."

[rippleonthewater]

"I know, I know," she said, gently patting his arm. "But sometimes it's just nice to focus on the present too."

[moneymatters]

He laughed brightly, and patted her hand back. "I know. And you know I'm only jokin' about all o' that."

[rippleonthewater]

She laughed softly. "I know...and honestly, it's not like...we haven't talked about it."

[moneymatters]

He paused at that, glancing up with a quirked eyebrow.

"Oh, you have?"

[rippleonthewater]

"Every once in a while. Since we both grew up as only children, we talked about having a big family someday. But it's always one of those things that sounds off into the far future, you know? Not anything that's happening any time soon."

There may have been the slightest trace of disappointment in her tone.

[moneymatters]

He did hear that note, though he wasn't quite sure what to do about it. At least not directly; there were always things to be said, as he gently laid his hand on her shoulder.

"Well, at least it's on the table, aye? And you two are both so capable, I know you'll find yourselves ready before too long."

[rippleonthewater]

Glancing at him, she smiled a bit and leaned into him. "I know...we've talked a lot about our future, but sometimes...I guess I get kind of impatient waiting for it, you know?"

[moneymatters]

"Have you talked to him about that part?"

[rippleonthewater]

"A little bit. But he's also been working pretty hard, and I don't want to add getting married to his list of things to stress over."

[moneymatters]

"Then perhaps make the idea less stressful. There's nothin' saying you two have to have a big, fancy wedding." He paused, drumming a finger on the tabletop. "In fact, as the father o' the bride I'd prefer it that way." He cleared his throat and continued quickly. "Maybe something small, a civil ceremony or even an elopement, like what Jinji and I did.

"Something more private, and certainly quicker, might help him ease intae it."

[rippleonthewater]

Glancing at Scrooge, she couldn't help a small giggle.

"As much as that might be nice, I don't think his mom would appreciate if we eloped."

[moneymatters]

He waved a hand. "So further do what Jinji and I did. Have a small wedding but a big reception."