Frollo: Not once looking back, Frollo stormed off down the path, the rainy winds sending his cloak to swirl around behind him. Images of what he witnessed continued to flood his mind, filling him with a whole array of emotions. He was yanked from his world before any of it fully occurred and yet, in some form it did. Did this mean he was dead? All this time he thought he was doing the Lord's work, removing the evil from the world, but watching that film, seeing how he was not protected when plunging to his death...A cold shudder shot through him, but it was not from the icy elements. The feeling that even God had turned His back on him left him horribly numb inside. All because of that gypsy girl, it sent him spiraling down the path to death. He should hate her, blame her for feeling anything, but yet, he could not. There was really only one person to blame for all the madness that he was forced to witness...himself. Admitting that outside his ignorant mind was something he could not bring himself to do, but deeply seated at the very core he knew it to be true.
His aimless wanderings brought him back over towards the medieval village once again, the castle loomed before him through the mist and rain. His soddened tall form let out a sigh, but then trudged forward, not at all realizing that once he entered the castle it would be not too long after the gypsy would follow behind. Walking as far the one section that showed the princess sleeping on the bed, his darkened form crouched down to huddle in the corner. He appeared as only a shade, no one would take notice of him if anyone passed by. Both of them would be locked inside for the night...
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Esmeralda: Esmeralda was frozen; she could not remember a time when she had been numb from the cold...not since she first arrived to Paris so many years ago. Her finger tips were painfully sore and she could not feel her toes. Her teeth chattered and she was so bloody cold! Tears blinked in her vision as she tried to will herself to stay warm, but the wind outside howled against the stone walls encasing her in for the night. Esmeralda had survived cold winters in Paris before, but she had never been wet and without her cloak before; all she had was the clothes on her back. She was suffering.
Pushing to her knees, she hardly felt it, but rose to her feet and numbly walked through the castle, before she had to stop in another room and sank to her knees once more on the stone steps. She was going to freeze to death unless she got some heat. Looking at the Princess sleeping so warm in her bed, Esmeralda was about to do anything for heat. And there, fate was playing with her again as she saw the crumpled figure of Frollo in the corner of the room. God damn her luck! How could she have missed him when she walked in?!
Esmeralda had half a mind to turn away, but the stinging reminder in her toes and finger tips caused her to stop where she was and looked at the warm body in front of her. She would do anything to survive...even dance with the devil in a sense. So long as her virtue was intact and her morals not put to the test...she would suck it up and use his emotions against him to her advantage. Now that she knew for sure he desired and wanted her...she could twist it to her aims.
Esmeralda slithered up and went in front of him, her cold hands seeping into the warmth of his chest as she sighed at once feeling the heat radiating off of him. "It seems I cannot elude you, judge..." Esmeralda said, her height in this position towering over his own as she felt his warm breath on the top of her chest. Esmeralda leaned into him more, "You are warmer than the fires of hell, but since I am destined by your hand to feel such fire and heat, will you not burn me a second time?" Esmeralda asked almost in a riddle-like form as she held up her courage and leaned in a little closer to him.
"I am frozen, Frollo and so are you...I cannot feel the tips of my fingers or the toes on my feet...and you are chilled as well." Her lips danced close to his ear as she smirked a little, her emerald eyes shining in the darkness. "Will you not help me if I help you?" her breath slithered along the sides of his neck, her hands locking onto his shoulders as she pressed into him with her body, sighing at once at the heat. No...she would not bend to his will...but she could use and manipulate him for herself.
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Frollo: The castle had long since become locked for the night. Frollo shivered a little while huddled in the corner. His garb was soaked. He could not bring himself to remove it, but at the same time if he remained in them he could very well freeze to death. His mind began to slip further down into delirium. It was at that same moment he felt icy fingers touch his soddened chest. His skin was radiating a small amount of heat, more from within. At hearing Esmeralda's voice his breath caught in his throat, heart beating faster. This could not be real, could it? Perhaps he had reached the state of hypothermia causing his mind to play tricks on him. Her touch felt very real however, did she possibly wander her way back into the castle as well?
"You wish to seek warmth and shelter from the likes of me...a murdering, cruel tyrant...who is already dead? I no longer exist, Esmeralda...my desire for you was my downfall."
He heard a moan in the distance, but realized it was his own. The dancer was cuddling herself in closer against him. Her words were warm and inviting, matching her breath. Her body was indeed cold, the peasant blouse clinging to her mocha skin. Every curve was shown for him, proudly displayed. His head was spinning as he stared at her. Both of them needed each other to survive this night. The heat of their bodies would save them. There was only slight hesitation in him before he took that plunge. "Tempt fate and damn it all to hell!"
His voice whispered through gritted teeth against her, peeling off her soggy blouse. His cloak and tunic immediately were removed within the same speed. The gypsy now sat before him bare-breasted, while he faced her with only his thick stockings and boots. His eyes danced over her beautiful body, admiring her before bringing her in closer, their bare chests both pressed against each other. Their body heat intermingled, his hungry lips sought out hers. The heat of her tongue swirling with his, warming his very core. The thought of what the Lord would think of him behaving in such manner did not even enter his mind. God had already turned His back on the both of them, it was time to take matters into his own hands.
Not breaking contact from her once, he grabbed at his cloak, flinging it down, the inside lining facing up. While he continued to allow his lips to explore hers, he gently laid her back onto the cloak. Through a small growl he kicked off his boots, wriggling his numb stocking-covered toes. His legs tangled with hers, rubbing a little to bring warmth. He gazed down on her, his dark silvery hair appeared even darker from being so wet. Perhaps this was all but a dream, a beautiful dream in which he would never wake from. In the morning they would find his cold wet body dead, a blessing for all...or, this pagan beauty was sent to save him from the cruel life he had been destined. A life interrupted by a mere simple twist of fate...
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Esmeralda: All at once it seemed power shifted and Esmeralda found herself without her top. No! This wasn't supposed to happen! Esmeralda felt fear at once as she felt his lips on hers, before his hard, well defined bare chest pressed onto her own. The dancer had to get control back and as she felt him place her back onto the cloak he once wore, Esmeralda draped one arm across her chest, the other keeping Frollo at a distance above her. "I am not some whore." she snarled and wrapped an edge of his cloak around her chest so she was free to use both hands.
He had more strength than she had given him credit for and Esmeralda glared up at him. His legs were toned and hard against hers, his eyes wild with desire as the droplets from his hair splattered onto her bare collar bones. "I asked for heat, not to be played with for your desire. My virtue is my own and I would rather burn than give it to you." When he moved against her however, Esmeralda was unable to hold back the moan she felt, his warmth seeping into her skin. Her eyes slithered close for a moment, her hips arching for more warmth as she then looked at him, "Don't you dare take what is not freely given...this is for survival, nothing more."
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Frollo: It would be expected of him to take what he wanted...what he desired. That is how it had always been for him. His powerful status was utilized to the highest level. It would be so easy in this moment. He had merely to pull down his hosiery, lift up her damp skirts and...but something prevented him. Things were different than before. The pleading look in her eyes, mixed with both fear and anger made him pause his kisses. He watched her pull part of the cloak over her chest. All these years he had trained himself to restrain from such pleasures, he would continue to do so now...but good Lord, to be sprawled out upon such soft beautiful flesh as hers, it would take all his inner strength.
Panting softly, his head dipped down to the top of her now covered chest. He lightly kissed her fingers that gripped tightly to the fabric.
"I give my word, Esmeralda...you have nothing to fear."
His words came out half strained, but he genuinely meant it. After all they had been through, to ruin things now would be foolish on his end. His arms encircled her, bringing her in closer against his chest. For the moment he simply just held her, his stocking-covered legs twined with her bare ones. Their damp bodies clung to each other, warmth continuing to surge through them. He allowed himself to purge all thoughts, a skill that he had ingrained into his head for many years. His breathing slowed as did his heart rate. At this point he began to drowse with the gypsy in his arms.
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Esmeralda: Esmeralda began to recoil the moment she saw his head dip down towards her chest, but he just kissed her fingers. His eyes were alive with fire, but she heard in his voice he would honor what she asked of him. What the hell was wrong with him?! And more, what was wrong with her to believe him? The gypsy dancer was rigid in his arms when he pulled her in close, his legs wrapped with hers, but he did nothing more, not even when she felt his hardness pressed into her belly.
The dancer remained still as a board for a long while, before she believed him to be sleeping. Relaxing in his warm embrace, the gypsy closed her eyes and breathed in his husky scent. She nuzzled her nose into the nape of his neck before pressing into him as if she was cuddling with a lover. Her emerald eyes slid shut and Esmeralda knew no more.
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Frollo: While the half naked French pair slept on the floor of the castle, neither had any inkling that they were being watched. With these modern times all attractions were outfitted with surveillance cameras. Cast members were highly enjoying the exchange between the two. The higher officials of course were turning purple, afraid their behavior would turn extremely carnal. Much to everyone's shock, Frollo behaved himself and chose to only sleep with the object of his desire nestled close to his chest.
"I suppose being faced with one's immortality and cruelty can actually change a person...even someone like Frollo."
All chuckled as a switch was flipped for the heater. The vents throughout the castle stone walls pumped heated air, gently caressing and warming the pair. In the wee hours of the night, the judge stirred a little. Glancing down he saw the dancer was still cuddled in his arms. His fingers lightly brushed aside her damp hair from her sleeping face. He could feel the air around them had grown quite warm. Reaching a hand out to the discarded blouse of hers he found it to be a little drier than before. Where was the heat coming from? Was there perhaps a roaring fireplace somewhere? He knew they would need to get up before the morning and be dressed. Being caught like this would not be good, especially by the general public. Looking back down on her, her face was so peaceful, he did not wish to wake her just yet. His legs stretched out a little on his cloak, which now was also felt drier than before. There was an urge to kiss her, but he knew that would most certainly wake her. This was a rare moment and one he might not be so fortunate to experience again. No, instead he just continued to hold her in his arms, enjoying the feel of her body against his for a few more precious hours.