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dragon-born15 · 1 year ago

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This!! I know this post is old by now, but I hope it‘s okay if I give my own opinions to the mix!

I read The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck obsessively when I was around 13 and the relationship between Scrooge and Goldie fascinated me every time. They had so many flaws, but also so many things in common. Both eager for success, cold on the outside, trying to seem unattainable and both too stubborn to admit their feelings.

The fact that, of all the people, Scrooge didn’t have the self-confidence to think Goldie actually loved him ads so much depth in his character. He’s not a cold hearted bastard. He is just- incapable of putting his feelings into words? (This hits home, whoops) I feel like his I-need-to-make-money-to-be-appreciated-mantra shows how little he cares for his own well-being. Like this man straight up said “I’m not hungry, I ate last week.” and waited for the fire to fucking freeze until building himself a house. I think Scrooge didn’t love himself at the time, his body seemed to be more of a tool to get to his goal. So, by his logic, the idea that Goldie might like him seemed absurd, because no one liked him. He didn’t even like himself.

(Also I recently read an interview with Don Rosa where he stated that the letter for Goldie in „The Last Sled To Dawson“ was a marriage proposal. I really, really wish there was a backstory to this, how Scrooge‘s feelings changed, how he thought about his life, his future and his happiness and decided to sit down and write this letter to Goldie. And how he felt after the sled and with it the letter was lost. Did he see it as an omen? That Goldie and him shouldn’t be? Arghh curse you Mr. Rosa for writing way too good stories.)

Anyway, Scrooge is not the cold hearted, untouchable man he at least wants to seem like being. So many people did him wrong in the past, so many betrayed him, so many wanted him dead. He built up these walls so he won’t seem vulnerable, so he would survive in this cruel world. He had to rely on this fake character for so long that I think he slowly grew into it. With the combination of his growing greed this resulted in “The Empire-Builder from Calisota” where he at least partly started to realise how far he went astray from his goal to make it square. However, he still kept the image of a greedy, cold hearted asshole so people wouldn’t think he’s gone soft. He admits this in “A Letter From Home” to Mathilda. He is ashamed for having sent away his family in the first place and, once again, was too stubborn to apologise, to realise how he had lost his true goals during his long journeys. As for his reputation, I think this snippet speaks for itself.

Scrooge’s character goes so much deeper than the “he loves money and is mean to Donald” trope he’s often portrayed in. Fair, I might have projected on him a bit but nevertheless, Bark’s and Rosa’s Scrooge is quite the complex character.

(I’m going on a tangence here, but my hyper focus has kicked in and also it’s almost 4am and I got out all my Rosa comics, bare with me)

I think this is the reason I’m not too big of a fan of DT17 Scrooge. That sounds a bit harsh, so let me explain. The lessons he teaches are mostly family comes first no matter what, no money can weight out the importance of family ect. Naturally DT17 is targeted at a younger audience than my 22yo ass and Scrooge is one of the main characters, meaning he has to appeal to them, so I get the choice they made with him. And honestly I enjoyed seeing his character being presented in a fresh and extremely positive light! He has his heartwarming scenes, I won’t tell you how much I cried during some of them lol

ANYWAY, now that some of you hopefully won’t come for me I can say this: that version of Scrooge is about as diluted as his tea bag he reuses for the tenth time. Sure, Scrooge cares for his family, after all they’re the whole reason he got out of retirement and back into adventuring in the first place. However, especially Rosa‘s Scrooge is a morally very grey character. This Scrooge might still put his family first, like DT17 Scrooge, but only at the last possible moment. His desire for fortune is still massive, almost costing the lives of his family and his own.

In „Quest For Kalevala“ he fills the boat they’re all sitting in during a storm with gold, so the ship is sinking. The only reason for their survival is a mere miracle. In „The Treasure Of The Ten Avatars“ he only lets go of the treasure he’s holding because he realises he won’t survive if he held on to it. In „Attack Of The Hideous Space Varmints“ he literally almost stayed in space forever, reliving his Yukon days and would’ve send his nephews back to earth without him, if the space police hadn’t appeared. This Scrooge puts his family one inch above money and still cuts every expense they might bring with them.

(Okay this is a sidenote, but DT17 Scrooge emptying his money bin to search for Della doesn’t make sense? Like he has money in banks and businesses all around the world, the bin contains the money he’ll never spend.

Also Scrooge being canonically a 150yo is so fucking funny to me— Anyway)

The dynamic between Scrooge and Goldie in DT17 also differs a lot from the original one. I really like how they made Goldie more of the adventurous type while still staying kind of close to her character. Interestingly she now kind of seems like a female version of Scrooge, if he hadn’t taken the making-my-money-square-route, wich, in Barks and Rosas version, would be the role of Flintheart Glomgold. Just like Scrooge, she appears to only care for money, is hiding her true feelings and stepping in her own way.

What I find fascinating is how Scrooge kinda takes the role of the credulous fool (although he still doesn’t fully trust her) and Goldie almost seems to be the sole reason for her relationship not working out. She’s portrayed as manipulative, always agitating people against eachother and being fully aware of the effect she has on other people, including Scrooge. She seems to know he’s is in love with her and takes advantage of this fact. I feel like this hits closer to Barks‘ Goldie, who was a bit more ruthless than Rosa‘s version. (Then again, she has her wholesome moments as well)

Of course this is only my impression and I kind of lack the vocabulary to fully express my thoughts (English isn’t my first language, so apologies for possible mistakes), but it seems to me like Scrooge is essentially portrayed as the good guy, who really wants to make it work, and Goldie as the bad girl, who constantly uses and betrays him.

Anyway it’s almost 5am now, so I‘ll close this post with one last snippet of my absolute favourite Don Rosa story „A Little Something Special“!

Scrooge is still too stubborn to admit his true feelings and Goldie has accepted that- but she knows. And she’ll wait for him💔

Anyways if you’re still here, thanks for reading through my 4am hyperfocus gushing, hopefully my translations were somewhat understandable :D

Why I Love Rosa’s Scrooge and Goldie Romance the Most

Veering completely out of my lane for this particular blog, but. I’ve always been a huge fan of Don Rosa’s portrayal of Scrooge McDuck and Goldie O’Gilt. I know some wanna deem them “problematic”, and they are indeed less than perfect - which is one of the reasons I am a sucker for their dynamic. They ruined their own chances at a healthy relationship by being too stubborn, too selfish, and too callous with one another.

Now, with that said, as much as I understand Scrooge’s choice not to open the letter Goldie had sent him - conditioned to expect the worst, and thus willfully choosing to cast aside the note in favour of telling himself Goldie might have loved him.

We, the audience, know that she does and thus it hurts all the more that he would believe he could never earn her fancy. We understand why he doesn’t read the message, despite the fact that he ought to and it might have made him happier than his eventual fortune ever could.

As much as that hurts; Goldie’s side of things is ever more bitter.

Imagine pouring your heart out to the man you love, being dead certain he will return if he only gets to read the letter in which your confessions are penned - only for him never to return. Imagine waiting, pining, longing, anticipating. Imagine the days turning to months, to years, to decades. And he never comes. He read the letter, yet he never comes back for you.

So, while Scrooge’s inherent self doubt and low self esteem (his I’m nothing unless I make money and become someone worth admiring mantra) - I believe Goldie took it the hardest. She was the saloon girl, with all the implications behind the profession at the time, and she was turned down by the one man she believed could see past her flaws and what she must have believed had - as a sordid past of sorts - tainted her value as a reputable woman.

Scrooge, who couldn’t care less for Goldie’s social standing or past once he noted what a diligent and hardworking woman she was and what she had sacrificed to get where she was.

Goldie, who couldn’t care less for Scrooge’s empty wallet and stubborn attitude once getting past his rough exterior to the softer core.

They could have made a great couple, their differences and pigheadedness set aside. Instead, they spent fifty years believing the other didn’t love them back; worn down by unrequited love. That’s why their story is so compelling to me, as it is presented in the comics by Don Rosa.

Does that mean I don’t like any other Goldie and Scrooge portrayals? Absolutely not, but the tragedy makes the Rosa (and consequently Barks’) iteration my favourite. I like the tragedy, the chaos, the trauma, the deep seated sadness of it all. Is it dysfunctional? Perhaps, but it’s fiction. And I prefer deep, layer characters that are morally gray above strict whites and blacks.

Also, the drama is on another level - and I find, the older I get, the more I enjoy Rosa’s works (although I did as a teen as well) because of their slightly more mature angle, and the more mature themes. The same reason I enjoy Tintin, I’d recon.

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janetbrown711 · 5 years ago

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‘ i missed this. ’ Della Duck cousins

Insp. Credit goes to @hey-erika and her wonderful piece of Duck cousin fanart

.o0o.

"C'mon Cousin Donnie! I wanna see the guiatar!" Fethry pushed against his cousin's stubborn palm.

"You'll probably just break it," Donald huffily blew his edgy bangs out of his eyes.

"Oh c'mon Donald, what harm can Fethry actually do?" Della rolled her eyes alongside Gladstone as they sat on a nearby swinging bench.

"Hey! I can throw some punches," Fethry put his hands on his hips and huffed. It would have been threatening had he not been wearing his giant oversized winter sweater and hat, despite the fact it was mid june.

"Not like D-squared and Dumbella can Feth," Gladstone said as he sipped lemonade. Della laughed.

"Well yeahhhh," Fethry blushed and buried himself in his sweater.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over that. You have other things to work with," Della got up from the seat and punched him lightly on the shoulder as Donald went over to his own spot on the grass to tweak with his guitar and semi sulking to himself as well.

"Really?" Fethry beamed at his female cousin.

"Of course! You got lots of things for your advantage! Like..." she snapped her fingers, trying to think.

"You're more likable than Gladstone," Donald snarked.

"And more understandable than Donald," Gladstone stuck his tongue out. Della and Fethry laughed.

"You're also able to crawl through holes me, Gladstone, and grumpy can't crawl through. Plus, you're much cuter and Grandma lets you get away with anything," Della added, and made even Donald laugh and nod in agreement.

"I am cute!" He acknowledged.

"Oh please, you'll fill his head with air," Gladstone joked.

"Can't be any more than yours," Donald crossed his arms and Gladstone threw one of the pillows from the seat to hit Donald square in the face. Donald scowled playfully and got up and began to chase Gladstone in circles, round and round while Della and Fethry cheered both of them on.

"Do you think he'll catch him?" Fethry asked.

"With Donald's luck? Never," she chuckled.

"So why does Gladstone allow him to in the first place?" Fethry asked genuinely.

"I think they just find it fun to hate each other. Such opposites make it feel natural," Della shrugged, placing a hand on the red cousin and watching Gladstone scramble up a tree just for Donald to run right into it with a thud.

"You'll get him next time Don!" Fethry shouted.

"Next time," he growled as he rubbed his head.

"Next time..." Della said solemnly. A hush fell over the cousins as they came to a realization.

This would be the last time in a long time.

Donald and Della were moving in with Uncle Scrooge, Fethry with Elvira, and Gladstone with Mathilda in Scotland.

They wouldn't see each other for a very, very long time.

"Yeah," Gladstone swung himself down safely. "Next time." He offered his hand and helped Donald up. He took it with a huff.

Donald and Gladstone slowly walked back to the other two and none of the cousins really spoke for a bit since the mood felt quite killed.

"W-well," Fethry cleared his throat, "We may not know when that may be... but let's just be happy and confident in our next time, ey?" He gave a weak crooked smile.

"Yeah! Fethry's right. Today is a day of fun. Let's enjoy it cuz it's all we'll have to savor til next time," Della agreed. Gladstone smiled and nodded.

"Alright!" Gladstone put his hand in the middle, Della and Fethry copping his motion. They all turned to Donald.

"Alright, fine. Even I can't say no to that," he reluctantly smiled and put his hand in the middle.

"One, two, three, DUCK COUSINS!" The jids shouted and lifted their hands into the air.

"WOO! Now let's go have some fun!" Della shouted and ran off, the rest of them running after laughing all the way.

.o0o.

Donald and Della sat together outside McDuck manor on the rim of the cement circle that surrounded the giant gold sign Scrooge kept in his parking area. The kids were off running around somewhere and it felt kinda good to get a break from people asking them questions and for them to just... be next to each other. Things were starting to settle down and the general public, superheroes and news reporters had all left so there was some peace in that too. However they weren't alone for too long as two familiar faces came and approached them.

"Heyo Dumbella. I don't believe we ever got a proper reunion," Gladstone grinned.

"Ah! You're so right! Its been so long!" Della got up and gave the lucky duck a strong hug. Fethry grinned at Donald and he rolled his eyes and gave Fethry one too, before they switched (except Donald and Gladstone didn't hug, they just nodded at each other and chuckled a bit to themselves).

"So what've you been doing for all these years? And what's the thing with the giant krill?" Della asked Fethry.

"I became a scientist! After being Uncle Scrooge's keeper for his underwater facility, Huey convinced me I should pursue the path of science! It is quite fascinating!" He beamed.

"Still energetic as ever I see," Della snickered.

"Oh yes! Being mostly alone under extreme water pressure for years is not good for the brain," his grinned widened and Donald scratched the back of his neck and gave a short nervous laugh. Della shot him a quickly look before moving on.

"I'm sure everyone else missed you too. I know I missed you guys, little cousins," she noggied both of them.

"Hey!" Gladstone freed himself, "last I checked I'm your age," he put his hands on his hips.

"Older by a month!" Della stuck her tongue out. Donald laughed.

"Take that," he mocked. Gladstone rolled his eyes.

"Yeah yeah, tell me that when you miraculously find twenty dollars and don't end up arrested cuz of it," Gladstone sneered. Donald scowled back. Della and Fethry laughed.

"I missed this... a lot," Fethry admitted, though mostly to himself. Della nodded along.

"I... I missed this too," Della felt her eyes begin to water but she laughed it off, but the other cousins noticed and started to feel their eyes water too.

"Della, don't you dare get me started," Donald pointed a finger, wiping his eyes with his sleeve and fighting laughter.

"Yeah, once you cry you know we all cry," Gladstone kept hiding his chuckle too but soon they all gave in and started crying tears of joy and hugging each other.

"I really, really missed this," Della cried.

"We all did cousin Della," Fethry bobbed his head.

"We all did."

#gladstone gander #della duck #donald duck #fethry duck #ducktales #my fics #ducktales fanfics #dt fanfics #duck cousins #cute #feelios #right in the honey nut feelios #insp. from that one piece of art from earlier #the one with the duck cousins

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