ᴅᴇᴠ ɪʟ

Maleficent turned her head just enough to catch Regina’s eye when she spoke, a sidelong look of ‘I’ve got this.’ being conveyed; or so she thought. It wasn’t long though before she’d disappeared further into the shelter, likely to employ some of that Mayoral clout of hers, a pity that Maleficent wouldn’t be there to see it. She did so enjoy seeing her fiancée at work.

Eyes finding Cruella once again, she smiled half snidely; in truth she had partly been putting on a good face for Regina’s sake, though she really had not the energy to go to war with her two-toned friend, despite how she may have deserved it. Maleficent was not living in the past any longer. Or at least she liked to tell herself so.

Her gaze narrowed and then widened once again, eyes bright and brows raising as a corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk, her voice light and lethal all around. ❝ Of course I have. ❞ It was half true, at least. Let bygones be bygones and all that. She had Lily now, for the most part, and that was really all that mattered to her.

      ❝ In fact, I asked Regina to stop when we saw your car. I thought maybe we could extend an olive branch to you. Since your playmate went back to the ocean I know you must be lonely. This town has little to offer people like you and me. ❞

She would be damned if she was letting that woman get her hands on anything that would be dependent upon her, yet she had quite the feeling that Cruella would also not take no for an answer. So as she spent her time lingering past the swinging doors that led to the kennels and offices, she did not seek out the hiding clerk, rather she used MAGIC to conjur a canine companion befitting the woman. Small, yappy, and practically hairless. Should she leave the thing to die or starve, then no true harm would come. And unless she learned magic in the next few months, she doubted Cruella would ever know the difference. Scooping up the shivering dog with its large pointed ears, Regina almost felt sorry for it even despite the illegitimacy of its existence. It was quite a good copy if she did say so herself, and as she pushed back out to greet the pair she’d left behind, an over exaggerated smile pried back her lips as she held the dog out in offering, both oblivious and disregarding to anything the two had been discussing.

          ❛ I’m afraid that this is all they had, but the girl assures me it should be just perfect for you, dear. ❜ She doubted Cruella would see past the false veneer of her smile, but she knew that Maleficent would, and so it was with a warning stare that her gaze flitted over to meet her fiancée’s, silently insisting that she play along. Stepping back then, eyeing the kitten still cradled in Maleficent’s arms, she raised a brow in her direction.  ❛ Am i to assume you wish to keep that in our home as well? ❜

          ❛ You can keep your pity, darling -- you know as well as I that it’s hardly genuine. ❜ Nor did she care but that was beside the point. She refused to admit even to herself that Ursula’s sudden and thankless departure had bothered her in the least; much less did she want Maleficent speaking into something which she hadn’t the faintest idea about. ❛ But if it’s your company you’re offering, that I will accept. Especially if that company happens to be accompanied by any sort of alcohol. ❜ She cooed. stepping a bit closer once more, hand deftly going in to brush past the kitten and lay on Mal’s arm. ❛ Life’s far too short to live sober, wouldn’t you say? ❜ Her flirtatious grin was cut short by the doors swinging back open, and even she in all her audacity pulled back her hand before the queen could see it. The thing in her hands looked more like some mutated rat than a dog but she supposed it did have its own sort of hideous charm. Still enough to get the job done.  Smiling as if it had always been her intention, she reached out to take the mutt and immediately cradled it with surprising tenderness inside her arm. Kissing at it, and tell it how much fun it was going to have with its new mummy, she merely assumed her look of lacking disdain would pass as gratitude.                     ❛ Right, so. Now that that’s sorted, where are we going, hm? ❜

A brow raised toward the ceiling when she caught Regina’s eye, and had she not known better it easily could have appeared as though she was the more reformed one, with how Regina looked more than ready for a fight. Her smirking gaze only dragged away from her fiancée once Cruella had approached, nearly squishing the kitten she held against herself, though she didn’t seem to notice in the least.

After the woman’s small tirade, which even went so far as to involve dragging Maleficent over to the counter, which did make the dragon’s eyes narrow perceptibly, though little else, mostly due to how Cruella kept rambling on so much she couldn’t get a word out if she tried. However when a hand threatened to disturb the sleeping animal she suddenly felt a need to react, her own hand blocking that of the other from touching the small thing, her lips curling up in an amicable smile as she spoke before her friend had the chance to rebut.

❝ Cruella, darling, I’d be happy to help procure whatever it is you want here, but this one — is mine. ❞ Her voice was sweet but also predatory, honey laced with brimstone, treading near enough a threat without actually drawing a rift between herself and the other woman. Maleficent had always liked her, in some ways, though not near so many as in the reverse.

Cruella never had tried to hide her attraction, even when she and Regina had become an item once again. And even though it amounted to little more than nothing; the woman’s interests were wide and many (even moreso than her own) Maleficent had learned, barely a stone left unturned. Still she had an inkling that there was some small seed of jealousy that had brought about how shameless she was when Regina was around to see it, and how now with Ursula gone too and her left alone in the cabin, what else did she really have to do with herself?

Maleficent’s smile turned a touch more wicked; for effect, mostly — though she knew behind her her fiancée would soon be the one left feeling both smug and wholly validated by her words.

❝ Besides — kittens really aren’t your taste are they? I’m sure they have something small and spotted back there somewhere, unless you’re looking for something more companion worthy? ❞ There was only the slight air of cattiness behind the question, she’d always rather enjoyed their sparring as it were.

❝ You’ve never been good with isolation, have you dear? ❞

         ❛ You can’t be seriously considering helping her get her hands on some — innocent and unsuspecting animal! ❜ Regina scoffed incredulously, feet swiftly following after the pair, hand reaching out to forcibly remove Cruella’s grasp from her fiancée. She had no qualms that Maleficent could both handle herself and that her devotion to Regina herself was true, but that hardly meant she trusted CRUELLA at all. Standing close behind Maleficent, arms crossed over her chest, she fixed their friend with a glower, practically daring her to try anything at all.  She only briefly regarded the fact that Maleficent had called the kitten hers, assuming that it was only in effort to keep the creature from the deadly grasp of the tasteless tart, rather than any sort of affection for the pitiable kitten. It was only Maleficent’s words that turned her lips up into a smirk, eyes daring Cruella from where she stood, just outside of Maleficent’s view. In truth the whole situation between them was rather juvenile, but she saw no reason to apologize for her temper when it was Cruella who had such ill-intent.  ❛ And I suppose a puppy is going to solve that, ❜ Regina muttered, her smug stare going a bit sour. She knew she ought to be more lenient and understanding, having once been the one condemned to isolation and disdain, but she hardly could imagine herself ever having been as bad as this. Sighing audibly, mostly in acceptance that it was probably the right thing to do, she dropped her hands to her side only to march past the pair and invite herself into the back of the shelter, off to hunt down whoever was supposed to be running the place.

Unlike someone Cruella hardly let the words or implication of others bother her at all, in fact it made her smile that anyone thought her a worthy use of their time. Fools. Didn’t they know she was impervious to practically everything? She especially found delight in the way a simple touch on the fearsome dragon had the Evil Queen all spun up in a tizzy. She wondered what more she might do if she knew the whole truth of the matter.... Ignoring the heinous and ( what might be, had she any care at all, ) hurtful remarks from Regina, Cruella instead kept her focus on Mal, stubborn and itching fingers daring to at least reach out and pet the puss, in clear irreverence for the threat her friend posed.  ❛ Well it is true you always have favored them more than me, ❜ she spoke shamelessly, grinning to the blonde, hoping desperately that Regina would hear and understand. If Maleficent’s words were meant to hurt her anymore than her horrid situation already had, then she had failed at that as much as she had in proving herself a threat to this tiresome town of heroes. Where they had come to destroy, she instead chose to settle down and get herself entangled with the ex she spent far too many nights complaining of rather than enjoying the premium quality company Cruella and Ursula had offered. 

Watching Regina go by, and laughing at the sight, she turned theatrically to Maleficent, fur draping precariously off one shoulder. ❛ Tell me darling, does all this concern for my loneliness mean you’ve forgiven me then? ❜ She asked with a hopefulness that she knew would only antagonize, her smile bright but disingenuous. ❛ Despite what your little trophy in there thinks, I truly do want the mutt for something besides its fur. Not that the rest of it is any of your business. ❜

Maleficent had no chance to respond at all before Regina had already made her way into the building, and the dragon was left to her own devices to try and pry the animal off herself. Little claws had clenched their way into her skirt, kneading at her as it stayed content on its makeshift bed. She chanced to pet the creature once, which only served to draw a tiny but long yawn out of it, its eyes opening once again as it rolled over half a turn. Her brows knit as she looked down at it, its sleep ridden eyes blinking up at her, beckoning more attention.

   ❝ Surely Regina is right about you, and some child will take you home within the week. ❞ She spoke again as though it could understand, using the side of her finger to scratch against the kitten’s stomach. It stretched a longer stretch then, holding the odd position as if it was asking for more of the same, and she obliged it another time. The rumbling grew louder once again, only moreso the longer she scratched at the little thing, before remembering herself and where they were, and who was inside waiting. Clearing her throat she looked up to see Regina and Cruella seemingly alone in the building, which likely wasn’t going to end well for — well, anyone else in the vicinity.

Glancing down at the animal one last time, she gave it a soft smile, finding it was actually becoming difficult to think of letting the thing go. ❝ You’ll be fine, ❞ she said aloud, though it could be interpreted one of two ways just who she was saying it to. Gathering the kitten up again she finally exited the car, and made her way toward the shelter, walking in just in time, it would seem.

      ❝ Dare I ask how it’s going in here? ❞

         ❛ Drop the charade, puppy mucnher, and tell me why you’re here. ❜ Impatience clipped her tone as she glared at the woman. In any other scenario she would never believe herself the type to care at all about the welfare of animals in Cruella’s clutches, but she supposed there was some responsibility to be borne by her as mayor, even if the job barely constituted a job at all anymore. It was no secret that she disliked the woman either. Not only was she a severe annoyance, she also found herself occasionally jealous that there was anything about Maleficent that Cruella knew more of than Regina herself. Of course going down that particular road only led towards the inescapable fact that it was only REGINA’S fault that she didn’t know the dragon as well as he desired, and it was a road she desperately tried to avoid at all costs. The fact that they associated with the other woman at all, (on her part an act of begrudging pity,) was truly a display that miracles could still happen. Regina’s own ability to find the patience chief among them.  Stepping forward with sharp eyes glaring around in accusing scrutiny for any evidence of a harmed pet, Regina’s gaze then narrowed upon the woman. She opened her mouth to speak, an insult hot at the tip of her tongue when she heard the bell jingle once more, and turned to see Maleficent standing there, kitten in hand. Sighing out a touch of her tension, she gave a tight smile to her fiancée and took back her step towards Cruella.                                     ❛ Why don’t you ask her that? ❜

             ❛ Oh you know darling, can’t let myself run out of fresh meat. ❜ She hardly missed a beat in her retort, eyes flashing with challenge towards the queen. A false queen if you asked her; quite the waste of potential as well. Who squandered their entire royal riches on hunting down one measly girl? Were she the one with the crown, certainly she would have enjoyed every last amenity afforded her. Yet, despite her lacking respect for the brunette’s regal status she could not confess it was entirely too much fun riling her up. It was just too amusing to watch the vein bulge from her forehead, an ever looming threat that it might one day just pop right off her face all together. HONESTY had never truly been something she’d been much good at. Rubbish, in fact she’d tell you, and it was only fitting that she allow both the women to continue to believe whatever hog-wash story these modern movies had propagated about her. Unlike her friends she knew the VALUE of being underestimated. Let them think her a fur obsessed drunkard; not as if they’d be at all wrong.  It was only when Maleficent entered that Cruella smiled, moving to brush ( in truth bump ) past Regina to drape herself across the taller woman. ❛ Thank heavens you’re here, perhaps the shop keep will listen to you, ❜ she complained, having no power whatsoever to harm the girl into giving her what she desired, but knowing if anyone was capable of it, Mal was. Gripping the woman’s arm and attempting to drag her to the counter, Cruella slammed her hand down on the bell sat there five times in succession before whipping around to look at Maleficent once more. ❛ The service here is dreadfully bad,  I’m afraid I might never get my hands on what I want ---- ❜ she had been so lost in her own need somehow she’d missed the cat  in the woman’s hands. Laughing at the sight, she reached out for it, slender fingers eager to get a feel of its tender young fur. ❛ What a darling little puss, let me see him... ❜

Maleficent’s eyes narrowed in response, at her wife-to-be’s clear amusement toward the subject or perhaps the dragon herself. Her behavior wasn’t as covert as she would have thought afterall.

Wordlessly she took a seat back into the car, rousing the kitten just long enough to set it down on her lap, where it proceeded to try and nuzzle itself against her stomach as much as possible. She found herself laughing faintly — an oddly light sound to come from the belly of a beast — but she quickly hid the smile it brought when Regina opened the driver’s door.

The drive wasn’t long, and the silence they sat in was more or less comfortable, despite her attempts to look at the sleeping ball of fluff without it being noticed. Looking up only once Regina had pulled the car to the side of the road, she spotted some all too familiar red fur.

         ❝ I don’t know why I’m surprised to see her here. ❞

         ❛ I guess witches aren’t the only thing still threatening the pets of Storybrooke… ❜ A frown creased her brow as she stepped from her sleek black Mercedes Benz, quite the contrast to the oversized  Panther De Ville. She didn’t even care to begin comparing their drastic choices in interior. Unease settled in her gut as her pace quickened just a touch, her hand gripping the handle and giving it a rough jerk open. Perhaps she was more reformed than she cared to admit, and despite having never been a pet person she would be damned if she simply stood by and let some innocent and oblivious animals be turned into another fashion blunder by Cruella. Whether or not Maleficent was still trailing her with their new found donation to the facilities was lost on her the moment her eyes settled on the thin and wirey frame that sported a thick fur coat draped carelessly over her shoulders. Clearing her throat, interrupting what seemed to be a clear altercation between the woman and the girl behind the counter, Regina could only grin when Cruella turned to see her, and her would-be-victim vanished into the back offices. 

It was ridiculous, really. She only wanted a mutt to keep her company in that dreadful cabin she’d been abandoned in. What with Mal opting to take up with the so called queen. Yet the little tart running this sham of an animal shelter refused to sell her anything based on some absurd story of Cruella’s intentions being anything less than absolutely loving and well intended. Last she had checked a person’s intent had very little to do with their eligibility. Leave it to a town like this one to be chock full of nothing more than pathetic heroes. It was only the SNIDE cough behind her that had a slow glare being tossed over her shoulder, eyes fixating on the only person who could ever manage to be so smug without speaking. Sneering at the woman, she glanced back to give the girl a whats for, only to see she’d scampered off. How lovely.

With an exaggerated sigh she turned back to face the queen (not that she’d ever regard her as such) with arms crossed. A pleasant, but not at all pretty smile turned up her lips as she forced herself into an air of nonchalance.      ❛ Horrible timing as always, darling. Tell me, where is your better half? Certainly she             would be a more pleasant surprise than you are.  ❜

Cruella out of her furs

                                   ɪғ sʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ sᴄᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ,  ɴᴏ ᴇᴠɪʟ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡɪʟʟ                                    ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇsᴏᴍᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ                                                    ᴄʀᴜᴇʟʟᴀ, ᴄʀᴜᴇʟʟᴀ ᴅᴇ ᴠɪʟ

               “ whatcha gonna do about it                      whatcha gonna dO    ellaaaa “

              “Well for starters, darling, I could introduce you to my PETS.    Perhaps you’ve seen them? Two very unfriendly rottweilers by the     names of Horace and Jasper. I like to keep them under fed. Makes    them especially VICIOUS when such a tasty little treat toddles along.”