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Adam was very pleased with the way business was progressing; the Sultan of Agrabah was more than happy to come to an agreement about trade between their Kingdoms. Adam thought that they were off to a good start; at least the Sultan seemed to be a kind and generous man who cared about his people. Adam was not as fond of the Sultan's advisor; the lean man seemed to have a constant sneer on his face, putting Adam ill at ease when he was in the room.
Then again Adam thought that it could be the entire venture that was putting him on edge. He sighed as he finished another long meeting with the Sultan and decided that he needed a break. He briefly thought about asking Belle to join him but then decided better against it. Her quiet company was often welcomed by him, but he felt the need to be alone at this moment. Deciding this he left the palace grounds and made his way to Agrabagh's marketplace, after all he wanted to see what he was getting into.
Ms. Pots watched as her young master left. He seemed to prefer solitude a bit too much these days. Even in this beautiful country he still felt the desire to be alone. She sighed as she watched him go, for some reason he seemed just as burdened as when he had been the Beast. Though since he could not see what was bothering him Ms. Pots wondered if he was even aware of his heavy heart. She shook her head and muttered to herself "I wonder if they have tea here in this strange country."
Adam made his way through the Marketplace at a leisurely pace. He rather liked the hustle and bustle the calls and shouts of the stall masters as they tried to sell their wares. In a way it reminded him of home, though for some reason seeing the interactions between all of the people seemed more exciting. In the small town near the castle there were only the necessary items for sale: bread, eggs, in some stores wigs. Here there were so many things for sale it seemed as if there was an adventure around every corner.
Aladdin was lounging above one of the stalls pleased when Abu managed to distract the stall master long enough for Aladdin to steal a melon from him. He cracked it open and handed Abu his share. Aladdin was about to take a bite when something caught his eye out in the crowd. He stared curiously when he saw it was the same royal visitor from the day before. What was so strange was the fact that he was walking around the common people as if they were no different than he was. Aladdin wasn't even aware of it as he set aside the melon, intent on watching the strange westerner closely.
Adam smiled kindly as a merchant offered him some wares, the excitement was starting to turn into annoyance and it reminded him that he had been searching for solitude when he went on this adventure. He was polite and bought a few things, if only to make his way more pleasantly through the stalls. He bought a pretty necklace, he didn't know if Belle would like it, though she didn't wear much jewelry he thought she just might like to have it as well as some nuts for him to nibble on as he made his way through.
Aladdin watched as the stranger purchased some nuts and a necklace. Aladdin had to stifle a laugh when he watched the strange way the foreigner ate them. Instead of biting down with his teeth he picked it apart with his fingers. Aladdin shook his head and then narrowed his eyes at the necklace. He wondered if that was for the woman that was with him. He thought it might before the matronly one, but assumed it would be for the one with pale skin and dark brown hair.
Aladdin heard Abu give a curious sound in his ear as he leapt off the vender's stall and started to shadow the foreigners' movements through the market. Aladdin decided that he was only curious because he had never seen someone like this before. The westerner was obviously visiting royalty and yet he was mixing with the commoners as if it were an honor to be among them. Of course being wrapped up as he was in this Westerner he didn't notice that he had caught the attentions of the palace guards.
At the Palace Lumiere sighed as he wandered around the lavish grounds. It was fine with him to take a vacation, after all there were many lovely people in the palace whom he was sure could use some French styled entertainment. His brows rose with interest when he saw a striking figure moving around the palace grounds. A guard he assumed, he was taller and seemed to have more muscle than the other guards. Something which Lumiere could appreciate, he loved his women to be beautiful and delicate, but if he were to have a man in his bed he wanted one that was a man in every sense of the word. He licked his lips and straightened his hair, deciding that it was time to go…entertain the guard.
Raoul sneered as he surveyed the surrounding area. He knew that if he was looking for trouble than he shouldn't be watching inside of the palace walls but outside of them. "Speak of the devil." He muttered when he saw an all too familiar street rat trailing one of the royal guests. He suspected that the boy had turned to pick pocketing now and sent some of the guards after him. He smiled grimly; he was looking forward to finally getting rid of that pest.
Raoul turned sharply when he heard footprints coming up behind them. He wanted to snarl at the intruder but paused when he saw that it was one of the Westerner's servants. Instead he narrowed his eyes and said "Can I help you?" He hoped that they weren't as pretentious as the other guests the Sultan entertained. He was surprised when instead of a response all he got was a warm smile as the other looked him over in ways that Raoul was not sure he should appreciate. Before he could say anything however the servant said "How rude of me, I have been thinking of all the possibilities we could explore together and I have not even had the courtesy to give you my name. I am Lumiere now if I might inquire your name in return?"
Raoul put up his guard and said "I am Captain of the Guard, Raoul; if you need anything I'm sure that one of the Palace servants would be more than happy to assist you." He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise when the warm smile turned sly.
Lumiere decided that he liked this simple Guard; his simplicity would make him an easy bedmate to manage. Lumiere came forward, well aware that he was invading the other's personal space and said casually "Oh mon ami I am more than certain they would be happy to 'assist' me with my needs. However none of them are quite as able as I believe you will be."
He smirked and reached up cupping the Captain's face "I do hope we can run into each other again." He leaned in and brushed his lips against the Captain's before flitting away. He was experienced enough at this game to know when to let the prey come to him.
Raoul watched stunned as the strange westerner pranced away before he hissed and rubbed his lips. Shaking his head he wondered at the strange foreigners and their ways. He hoped that their stay would not be long, he wasn't sure he could handle any more of these customs.
The guards Raoul had sent were following close behind Aladdin, they wanted to snatch the boy but not in a way that would disturb the royal guest. They sighed and wondered why they had to do such annoying work. Still it would be nice to have the street rat out of their hair and rotting in the Palace dungeon.
Aladdin's dark eyes couldn't look away from the strong back of the westerner. Something about the way he moved seemed almost…primal, elemental. He was still convincing himself that the reason he was so obsessed was simply because he was such a strange man this foreigner. Of course if he had only been curious he would have heard Abu's warnings in his ear when the guards reached for him.
Adam wondered how long he would be followed before the pick pocket struck. He wouldn't mind giving such a determined person some coins, but he would rather it not be done with force. He tensed when he heard sounds behind him and turned. Expecting to see a thief charging towards him he was instead stunned to find the boy from yesterday struggling against the grip of the Palace guards.
Aladdin was cursing himself for being so caught up in the man that he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings, something that a street rat couldn't afford to do. Now he was caught in the grip of the guards and he knew what would happen next. Down to the Palace dungeons and that would be that, except he hadn't expected the westerner's response.
Adam recognized the boy in their arms as the one who had caught his attention yesterday. He narrowed his eyes angrily and stormed forward, reaching he took Aladdin from their grasp and demanded "What do you think you are doing?!" He all but growled the words at them.
The guards trembled as the furious blue eyes landed on them the stuttered their explanations but when Adam only narrowed his eyes in anger they merely bowed and left quickly raising a small trail of dust behind them as they left.
Aladdin was frozen in the foreigner's grip he was fully aware of the large hands that were gripping his slender arms and the fact that the westerner had pulled him back firmly to a strong chest. Aladdin was glad that his skin was able to hide part of his blush as the man turned him to look him over.
Adam looked over the young man critically "Are you alright?" He asked, hoping beyond hope that the boy was one of the many who could speak English. He got a slightly stunned nod in response making Adam smirk, it was then that he noticed he was still holding the boy and released him.
Aladdin and Abu exchanged glances before Aladdin cleared his throat and said "Thank you…very much for saving me…you didn't have to…" He wasn't used to thanking people, being rescued, or having someone inquire about his well being for that matter. He scratched the back of his head and said "My name is Aladdin…" hoping that he would be rewarded with the stranger's name.
Adam smiled and gave a courtly bow "I am Adam, pleasure to meet you Aladdin." Aladdin shivered at the way Adam's accent worked his name and he nodded, deciding that he had made enough of a fool out of himself he said "Well…see you around I guess…"
Adam didn't want Aladdin to leave so suddenly and so grabbed his arm to stop him from going. "They were after you because you're what is called a…street rat no? Perhaps they would leave you alone if you had honest employment? I would be happy to give you a job amongst my staff…And if you do not wish to leave your home you could only work for me during my stay here…"
Aladdin blinked at the foreigner, he'd get to live inside of the Palace as long as he worked for Adam, what he would do he didn't know, but it was certainly going to be better than dodging the guards all the time. He smiled brightly and held out his hand "It's a deal."
Down in Jafar's secret lair Iago was panting as he created a storm. Jafar smirked as he set down the blue diamond he had 'borrowed' from the Sultan into the snake setting and said to the sand inside as it began to twist and shape "Part the Sands of Time, reveal to me the one who can enter the cave." He smiled as Aladdin appeared and purred "Yes…yes…There he is…my diamond in the rough!"
Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter!