((Unpopcorning Scrooge))

[richest_duck]

Scrooge eyes the large castle with some wariness. It has been a while since he was here last. He remembers being sorted, and a large snake being strangely interested in him. He also remembers that a hat decided he was a Slytherin, whatever that means

Comments

[sbisawesome]

Strong Bad's walkin' through the castle, mindin' his own business, when he sees someone ... someone he hoped never to see again!

"...Fhqwhgads?!?!"

[so_strong_sad]

Just as he turns a corner, Strong Sad hears a familiar voice saying a kind of familiar word.

Darn. Strong Bad. And that freakin' duck...which, as far as Strong Sad could remember, was something The Cheat had created on his own computer, not an actual living thing.

"Strong Bad, did you get another virus on your computer? Have you been using the Internet irresponsibly again? Is that why that thing is here?"

He turns to the duck. "How do you pronounce your name, anyway? It sure has a lot of consonants in it."

[richest_duck]

Scrooge shouldn't be surprised that the first people he meets aren't entirely sane.

"My name is Scrooge McDuck, and not that gibberish that friend of yours said."

[so_strong_sad]

"Ohhhhhhh," says Strong Sad. "Well, that's a relief. So you didn't come out of Strong Bad's computer, then? You're not one of those stupid comics characters he made up to please the people who e-mail him every week? Or something The Cheat made up to please Strong Sad?"

Although Strong Sad's face doesn't tend to register much expression, he seems more relaxed. "My name is Strong Sad. Are you a new applicant?"

[richest_duck]

"I'm not from anyone's computers. I came from an egg, just like any other duck," Scrooge says.

"And well, not so much new as more back after a long time. I applied a long time time ago. Can you tell me what a 'Slytherin' is?" Scrooge seems a bit embarrassed at the following. "I seem to be one, and I don't even know what it means!"

[so_strong_sad]

"An egg? Strong Bad collects eggs and keeps them in our couch. Did he hatch you?" Strong Sad says in a slightly surprised voice.

"Let's see, a Slytherin is.... Um, well, it's one of the houses here. Unfortunately for you, it's Strong Bad's house, too. It's down in the dungeons." Strong Sad pauses and then adds, "I was a bit confused when I first got here, too. I didn't even realize this was a school for learning magic. It was just some strange place that I got sucked into through Strong Bad's computer. What brought you here?"

[richest_duck]

"No, my mother did. In Scotland," Scrooge said, not going into detail. "And yes, I am very very certain that my mother is not Strong Bad."

"A House, eh?" He remembers that from some of the posher schools where he grew up. Of course, he never got to go, but he understands the principle. "And mine is in the dungeons? Hmm, I hope it's heated." He really did, but he wouldn't be surprised if the castle was chilly. There tended to be draughts all over the place. "Well, I heard about it from a friend of mine, and it seemed useful enough, learning how to do magic." He shrugs. "So, who's in charge of the Slytherin House then?"

[so_strong_sad]

Strong Sad nods, relieved. "Well, that's good. Strong Bad would make a terrible mother...although he does seem to be very protective of his stash of eggs."

He continues to nod, now in agreement. "I haven't learned much yet, but it does seem pretty useful. I'm hoping to work my way up to a The Cheat-repelling Charm, or maybe a Pummeling Protector Hex. What do you want to learn?"

Then he remembers that Scrooge asked him a question. "Ohhhhh, I don't know who's in charge of Slytherin, but it's got to be somebody very patient, or perhaps very impervious, to put up with Strong Bad."

[richest_duck]

"Hmm, now there's a good question. I'm very interested in protection spells that can keep burglars out. You could say that I have a stash of eggs of myself, and I'm also *very* protective of them," Scrooge says with a smile. It probably isn't that great idea to reveal that he is incredibly wealthy. Rumours spread like wildfire, and before he knows it he'd have people begging for some cash. No thank you. He was going to avoid that here.

"Maybe I should ask your friend Strong Bad about it, if he ever comes back. So, what House are you in?" Scrooge asks.

[sbisawesome]

Strong Bad peeked around the corner. fhqwhgads appeared not to have left yet. "That thing did NOT hatch outta my couch."

[so_strong_sad]

"Speak of the devil," Strong Sad says. "Or at least a guy in a wrestling mask. I guess you guys have a lot in common, then, what with your egg-hoarding habits and all that. Well, if you learn a good spell to keep The Cheats out, let me know. I'm sure he'll end up here soon enough - " Strong Sad actually casts a slightly sympathetic glance at Strong Bad " - and then it'll only be a matter of time before all my calligraphy supplies or my Morrissey CDs are destroyed. Or something."

He leans in and whispers to Scrooge, "I'm in Gryffindor. But don't tell my brother."

[sbisawesome]

Luckily for Strong Sad, the wrestling-masked one had not heard the whispered identification of his dorm. He wandered off, grumbling. "Tryin' to play like U NO ME..."

[richest_duck]

"That's what I told him!" Scrooge yells at the strange man. "And I'm a duck, not a thing!"