Esmeralda: Esmeralda slept for the entire night ill-free, as she awoke early in the morning. Her eyes glanced up to see Frollo sleeping, and she knew this would be her chance to get up before him. Slipping from his arms, Esmeralda grabbed her blouse and corset as she quickly donned them both, looking at a half naked Frollo before she slipped out. That would, and could never be repeated again. She did what she had to, to survive, and now that she had, there was no way she would ever let him touch her again.
He had even removed her blouse without her permission! How dare he! Esmeralda fumed a little as she headed out into the crisp morning air, some of the cast members already out and about. Esmeralda simply kept walking as she noticed a area far off to the side, and traveled down a cobblestone path, which soon began to lead into a more western-like era. Her eyes scanned the water and saw a huge ship! She could return home by water!
Esmeralda raced down as she came to the dock and said, "Pardon! Please- I seek passage to Paris." But when the man turned around, she realized it was a pirate. And a very handsome one at that...his grin made her blush a little as he sauntered over as if drunk, wrapping his arm around her bare shoulder. He introduced himself as Captain Jack Sparrow.
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Frollo: Rolling over onto his back, Claude allowed his eyes to slowly flutter open, gazing up at the high ceiling. His bare arm stretched out, expecting to feel the gypsy, but was met with only empty space. Eyes narrowing, he glanced over to find he was alone. A soft groan passed through him as he pushed himself to sit up a little, running his fingers through his slightly dry hair. There were no windows in this castle attraction, but he knew he needed to get dressed soon. Rising to stretch, he allowed his tall, sinewy form to release any kinks from sleeping in one position the whole night. The castle was unnaturally still, the gypsy dancer must have slipped out already. Damn that girl!
Gathering up his velvet tunic and cloak, he placed them back on, along with his leather brown gloves. Even though the attire was much drier than before there was still a slight coolness to them. It sent a small shiver through his body. The boots were also slipped back on, stamping his foot to fit them in snugly. Snatching up his hat he then made his way down through the exit of the attraction. Pushing open the door he was met with an over-cast sky, causing his eyes to blink a little. It appeared as though the clouds would behave...although if another storm sent the gypsy running back into his arms he would not mind in the least. His mind kept replaying the previous night...peeling away the rain-soaked blouse of Esmeralda's to reveal her chest would forever remain with him. She truly was beautiful...stubborn with that gypsy pride of hers, but still beautiful none the less. His wanderings led him over by the villain area he had encountered the day before. That Jafar person was there again as were a few other cast members. There was an unmistakable smirk upon their faces, an almost knowing smirk that is. Frollo scowled a little as he made eye contact with them.
"Ah, Judge Frollo, how good of you to grace us with your presence this morning. Sleep well?"
A small chuckle rose from Jafar and the cast members that stood near him. What the hell did that mean? It is not like they could possibly know anything could they?
"By the by, Claude, your little gypsy has already been seen much earlier. The rogue pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow is slithering around her. Loves to leave a string of broken hearts that one does, but I'm sure Esmeralda is too smart to fall for that."
Frollo could feel his blood literally boiling at the taunting words of Jafar. The smirking faces of the male cast members did not help the situation any further. Letting out a small exhale, Frollo waved a gloved hand in the air. "She is not my little gypsy. If she chooses to make a fool out of herself with some pirate that is her affair!"
His words spat out as he took a few steps back. It was clear he was only fooling himself, but he would never admit to that, not especially to these non entities! Not letting them taunt him further, the judge strode off further down the path. In front of him was a large white attraction. It was noisy and had a clock in the front. The sign listed it as "It's A Small World". Rather juvenile, he thought with a slow eye roll, continuing on. Further up the path was a medieval stage arena. It gave the appearance of a woodsy-like atmosphere. Cast members were dressed as page boys, keeping the general public in line...a line to meet princesses. Frollo's brow arched a little, rather curious as to who the royalty was of this world. As he drew near, his presence caused quite a stir, those people started in with their annoying flashing contraptions again. The cast members nodded and grinned towards him in a welcoming manner. The way the area was set up was rather difficult to see who was available to meet. Frowning a little, the judge stood off to the side, trying to glance around the stone wall, but then began to turn to leave. Once doing so he bumped right into someone...a young girl dressed in a gold fancy gown. She gasped a little, recognizing him and even addressed him by name.
"Oh, Judge Frollo, you startled me! What are you doing here, shouldn't you be over in the villain section?"
Staring blankly for a moment, he bowed stiffly towards her."Forgive me, mademoiselle. You who who I am, but I am afraid I do not know you."
The princess induced herself as Belle, explaining she too was from France. Frollo found her to be quite charming and beautiful, he even allowed himself to smile towards her. Belle invited the judge to follow her back into the princess arena. The two other princesses that stood there were introduced as Cinderella and Snow White. They both gasped a little from shock at having the judge in this area, but soon warmed up towards him. All three ladies were quite friendly towards him. It was refreshing to speak with not one, but three females who did not glare at him or spat out in a stubborn manner; he could definitely become accustomed to this kind of attention. The cast members however wished to continue poking some fun for both the judge and the gypsy since these two were highly entertaining for them. Word of what Frollo was up to spread all the way out towards the Waters of America, bordering Frontierland and New Orleans where Esmeralda was with Captain Jack.
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Esmeralda: After a while, Esmeralda began to realize that this man was simply playing with her, and nothing more. He would try to use his good looks, and charming personality towards her. For a moment she was reminded of someone from back home. It was clear to her now that he had no way for her to get home. This was only flirtatious fun on his behalf, and although he was more than handsome, Esmeralda could not fall for this trick. "You really don't have a way out of here do you? If you didn't, you should have spoken up." Esmeralda replied irritably, looking off to the side. Great...so it appeared she was to be stuck here.
"Luv, you really think if there was a way out of here, that I, Captain Jack Sparrow would still be here?" He asked of her, as the gypsy dancer sighed. Jack draped his arm across her and began walking with her. "Besides, old sag face seems to be doin' alright for himself, eh? Talkin' and mingling with the princesses I would imagine would bring a man's spirits up after being so shattered from a fire cat like yerself eh?"
Princesses?
Esmeralda didn't understand what he meant, so, Sparrow took her to see Frollo along with some of the most lovely ladies she had ever seen. The most beautiful of them all, was seen in a golden ball gown dress, speaking to Frollo. "This, is their world love, you and I are not part of the binds and bonds of nobility. We are free. Oy, though Belle, that stunning lass there, hooked herself a beast in the beginning."
Beast?
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Frollo: The judge had himself at the center of all three ladies, hanging on his every word he drawled out. Oh, yes, quite the dark charmer he could be! Chuckling with them they all began to depart from the arena, three other princesses were being brought out to take their place in a rotation schedule. Just as he stepped from around the corner of the stone wall he caught sight of the gypsy with the rogue pirate in the distance, it was clear they had been observing. Eyes narrowed slightly, but he immediately glanced back towards the ladies, pretending he did not see them. With a polite bow, he indicated he should be on his way. All three pouted, voicing how they did not wish for him to leave. This made Frollo smirk proudly, just the reaction he wanted to be on display. Yes, Esmeralda, do take note...not one, but three lovely ladies are actually enjoying my company.
Striding with a most proud air, Frollo headed out from the medieval staging area, passing Jack and Esmeralda. A smug grin was etched across his lips while gliding down the path. That was rather enjoyable, what else could he involve himself in next?
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Esmeralda: Esmeralda did not miss the smug look on his face as he walked away from the three girls of nobility. Her eyes followed his black image until it vanished; it seemed he was doing well here. As Jack suggested they head back, Esmeralda followed him as he spun tales of his adventures, but she was hardly paying attention. It seemed everyone got used to life here after being taken away from their own place and own time...could she adapt the same? Without Phoebus, Clopin, Quasimodo and even her goat Djali, Esmeralda felt like there was no possibility that this was going to end well for her. At least, a happy ending.
As she walked with Jack Sparrow back to his place at the dock, Esmeralda watched him take his leave to mingle with the guests here, as she watched how easily he took to flirting and talking with the people who came to meet him. Was this to be expected of her? Emerald eyes cast down low as she walked around the pavement paths, leading her to a place called New Orleans. It reminded her of the Court of Miracles in a sense, for there was a huge crescent moon with stars hanging above in the branches of a tree. Instantly, Esmeralda felt...alone. Abandoned.
She had done nothing to deserve this! To be left alone in a strange time and place with the only man who wanted her blood spilled for making a fool out of him. Esmeralda knew she must have looked awful to the people who were staring at her, but she couldn't take this anymore. Be damned if Frollo was making friends in high places, she was nothing more than a common gypsy! What chance had she here?
Her stomach grumbled and the dancer was starving...slipping past the trees filled with the moon and stars, Esmeralda tapped her tambourine on her hip and knew she would have to work to get some food. But her dancing, was not full of life and happiness as it had been the day before...it was still beautiful, hypnotic and enchanting, but if anyone were to look upon the face of the gypsy dancer, it was filled with deep sadness and heartache.
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Frollo: Glancing only briefly over his shoulder he had caught sight of the gypsy still in the company of that pirate captain. There appeared to be no sign of her wishing to leave his side. Once disappearing around the corner a small frown darkened his features. And yet, for the time being he felt he was at an impassé. His feelings could not be shown so publicly towards her, regardless of how many already suspected and even teased him about it.
His wanderings led him back through the medieval village and then further outward through a path of a wilderness setting. The judge stopped at the bridge to gaze out into the stream of water. The scenery was quite breath-taking, except of course for the occasionally screams of that runaway train attraction that would fly by every so often. At a leisurely pace, Frollo continued to stroll along the path, the view of the Rivers of America swam into view. A large white boat with paddles ferried along the water. White steam billowed from its smoke stacks. Many of the locals were assembled on all three levels of this boat. Another ship was docked nearby, it appeared to be a pirate ship titled The Columbia. That pirate captain, Jack Sparrow, was standing in front of it, entertaining the locals. Frollo frowned again, dipping his hat down slightly lower in hopes to just pass by unnoticed.
"Oi, you there, Judge What's-his-toes...erm, FROLLO!"
No such luck! Frollo gritted his teeth in annoyance, whipping back in the direction of Jack. A quick observation of the area indicated the gypsy dancer was no longer with him; most strange! The pirate heathen swaggered his way towards him, arms rather flaying about in a half drunk stupor. What a mockery this man was!
"What you seek has already come and gone she has. Poor little thing was looking rather down too, but she 'urried off before I could console her."
Frollo stood stock still, feigning any sort of emotion, especially of the image of just how this rogue would console her. It was none of this pirate's business what he felt for the gypsy girl.
"I have no idea what you are referring to. I am not seeking out anyone or anything."
"Oh, come now, judgey! You ain't foolin' anyone, lest especially yerself. Now if you don't mind, I 'ave entertain' to return to, and you need to go back to not seeking anyone in that direction, savvy?"
Jack flashed him a gold toothy grin as he pointed in the direction further down along the water. Before Frollo could even consider uttering another word, the pirate captain turned on his booted heel to allow some females to flank him for pictures. Granite eyes glanced again down the path, slowly wondering where Esmeralda had wandered off to. The statement that was made of her somber appearance stayed within his thoughts. Her gypsy pride could only handle so much, but deep down he knew she was hurting from this new change they all were placed upon. Still, he also knew to approach her with caution.
Tambourine music began to faintly prick at his ears while walking along the water's edge. A gathering of people was up ahead, up the stairs nearby a restaurant titled, The French Market. It was there he caught the glimpse of the gypsy, twirling slowly to her music. The pirate spoke the truth on her crestfallen countenance. This was in no way a happy dance he usually witnessed of gypsies in general. He lingered more towards the back, merely observing in silence. He did not want the locals to cause a stir at his arrival, interrupting her dance. It was only when it appeared she had finished did he approach her.
"Beautiful, but sad, Esmeralda..."
Letting his words drift off, he stepped past her towards the restaurant. A gloved hand extended out back in her direction.
"If you wish, you may join me for lunch. No strings attached, just a simple meal."
The offer was placed at her beautiful, arched feet if she wished to seize it...
A/N: Just a small update on resurrecting this older story of ours. I will update some more later, enjoy for now. ;)