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Cruella looks up at the ceiling and then around at the people in front of her, her expression bored.

"Don't tell me that the thug was the intelligent one of the group."

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a1enzo

"He's smarter than he looks," Enzo says coldly.

He is perfectly well aware that his older self is something of a thug, but crashed if she gets to call him that.

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Laying a gentle hand on her brother-in-law's shoulder, AndrAIa sets Cruella with a neutral expression.

"Careful, that's my husband you're talking about."

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"No, he is just one man and all of us will see that Boo is returned safe. Don't let her get to you, its what bullies like her always do, my brothers are all the same way except they have more style."

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Coreen, however, is shifting her weight and fiddling with a few tension knobs on her potato launcher.

No one'd mind too much if she accidentally whacked Cruella with it as she moves a few dials, would they? It is about three feet long, after all.

(Not saying that she has, but...the look on her face probably reads that she wouldn't be upset if it happens.)

"Style really is something this woman is lacking, Demeter. And apparently she can't get someone to dye all of her hair properly either...I didn't know 'skunk hair' was ever really in vogue."

From:

a1enzo

Enzo, hoping to recover some ground, grins and says casually, "Dani's brother did it a few months ago. 'Course, it was a side effect of getting caught in an explosion, it's not like he would've done it on purpose."

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Cruella chuckles. "Is the little boy trying to be clever?" She smirks at him. Looking from him to AndrAIa, "Well, I guess weird martian people have to stay together."

She tries to move (not too quickly, seeing as they are surrounding her) toward a seat. Studying the faces around her, "All of you were close with the brat, I assume?"
Her tone changes to include an air of mocking, "Did she hold a special place in your heart?"

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Demeter puts her hand on Coreen's potato launcher as a reminder,

"We are in front of everyone, dear, please control yourself or else we will end up in the cells instead of her. Every child is precious and we all have a great love for her as you already know. Now, I am tiring of this talk which is not getting us anywhere. Tell us where she is."

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Cruella's lip twitches into something similiar to a smile. "You do not have as much faith that she can be found as the vigilantes who stormed through my door?" Her tone approving, "Smart witch.

As smart as you are, I'm sure you can understand why I would not want to give up that information. I am not one to underestimate the value of information, you see."

She tilts her head, her tone conversational. "Tell me, darlings, if you care so much for your - Boo, was it? - how was I able to keep her for so many months without anyone noticing? I have come in a few times to check and make sure no one had noticed her gone and as as best I could tell, no one had."

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"Doors sometimes stop working for people for a while," she replies with forced calm. "We were worried, but we knew it could happen and there was nothing we could do about it."

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"Mmm." Cruella nod thoughtfully. "Is that how you live with yourself?

Abandoning a child you care for.." she shakes her head and makes a 'tsk'ing noise. "That's almost worse than any physical harm."

She looks at Demeter now, "Wouldn't you agree?"

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The floor of the Bar trembles and the air smells heavy as it would before a summer storm and when she speaks again, her voice is old and full of power,

"You abducted a child, mortal, you have nothing to speak of."

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Cruella may look startled for a moment, but it passes remarkably quickly.

Slowly, "Perhaps.

Then again, maybe what I did was in the best interest of the child. Why it just doesn't seem right that someone can come in and take a child so easily.

Think of this as a test of your security."

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Coreen leans down, eyes bright and whispers. "I have no qualms taking you out side, duct taping you to a tree, pelting you with potatoes until you're nice and squishy on the inside and leave you for the demon bunnies once they find the little girl. So, I'd keep the bitchy and..really not witty comments to myself."

She leans back up, and smiles easily to the group.

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Cruella tilts her head.

"My, my. You are all so passionate. It's unfortunate that you aren't as aggressive about keeping you children safe as you are about getting them back once they've left you."

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AndrAIa splutters as anger and the overwhelming urge to throttle the woman in front of her wells up. Her grip on Enzo's shoulder tightens, and vaugely, she's aware of the spines digging into her other palm.

"You have no right to say that. You're the one that kidnapped an innocent child on a crazy whim."

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Green starts to creep up and around Cruella as Demeter calls to the plants in Greek to wind and wind about this kidnapper.

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Cruella looks down calmly and then back up at Demeter. "Did the witch lose her temper?" Her tone becomes slightly condescending, "I thought you wanted everyone to stay calm. You wouldn't want to be a bad example for the other mortals would you?"

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"You'll be lucky if she just wraps you in vines enough to shut you up. She's got a lot more patience not to choke you to death."

Which...given the correct timing, Coreen would be all for.

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Demeter doesn't bother answering and soon the vines completely twine around Cruella especially over her mouth,

"I tire of your talking and you will stay here until Boo returns."

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a1enzo

Enzo isn't speaking anymore. If he does, he knows, he will snap. He's taking deep, steady breaths instead. 1... 0... 1... 0... 1... 0...

AndrAIa's fingers on his shoulder are starting to hurt. Good. It's something else to focus on.

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Coreen shakes her head. It's a little easier to think now that the woman is quiet. She checks the time, and realizes that she needs to at least have something to nibble on for the baby; it'd also do a lot of good to distract everyone right now.

"Snacks? Anyone want some snacks, something to drink? Something to do with your hands?"

Besides punch Cruella of course, guys!

From:

a1enzo

0... 1... 0... okay, shoulder really kinda hurting now...

Coreen is talking. Snacks! Yes! Snacks are a nicer distraction than pain.

"Uh, sure," he says, wriggling in AndrAIa's grasp. "Spicy microchips? And a code cola."

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