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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 21, 2009 13:18:41 GMT -5
Djali looked up, as if he knew they were talking about him.
"He's very intelligent," Esmeralda said with wide-eyed certainty. The fact that she was counting on a goat to... what? Bring someone to them?
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 21, 2009 21:22:20 GMT -5
She went through a mental tally of the rooms of the harem, trying to think of anything that could be used as a way out.
"I wonder if we could get him over the garden wall somehow."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 21, 2009 22:19:12 GMT -5
"Maybe," Esmeralda said doubtfully, "but we'd have to know there was a way for him to get down the other side." She wasn't completely ignorant after all, just rather naive and innocent.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 21, 2009 22:29:06 GMT -5
A gleam entered Anastasia's eye.
"I could scout around. The others would have to distract the eunuchs somehow."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 22, 2009 13:47:24 GMT -5
Esmeralda was silent for a moment, biting her lip in an unconscious gesture that nevertheless managed to look fetching.
"I..." She paused again. "I could distract them," she said.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 22, 2009 13:53:05 GMT -5
She smiled.
"I would truly appreciate it. Maybe one of your dances?"
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 22, 2009 14:02:07 GMT -5
Esmeralda smiled shyly. "I've been told they're distracting," she said, as if only half aware as to exactly why. "I'm sure I could keep them occupied for long enough."
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 22, 2009 14:05:50 GMT -5
"Perfect! Now all we need is the right time...maybe we could do this during one of the outdoors lunches..."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 25, 2009 13:15:19 GMT -5
Esmeralda nodded. She was feeling better now, distracted-like. She knew dancing. She was comfortable with it, perhaps ironically, considering how much unwanted attention it often brought her.
"Good," she said softly, smiling appealingly at Anastasia.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 26, 2009 16:24:58 GMT -5
She smiled at Esmeralda, then reached out to pat Djali on the head.
"We've got a lot to look forward to tomorrow..."
((We can totally fast-forward to that))
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 26, 2009 17:03:50 GMT -5
Esmeralda agreed, and could hardly sleep that night. She knew tomorrow she'd need to dance as she'd never danced before, with far more on the line than a few sous and bread for Djali.
The next morning, she surprised the handmaidens by allowing herself to be dressed as they wished, and perfumed and her eyes darkened with kohl. It wasn't that she could stop them otherwise, but today she merely sat, trembling with anticipation. She kept glancing at Anastasia, especially when they were informed that the court was lunching outside.
She would be ready.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 26, 2009 17:13:55 GMT -5
Anastasia couldn't sleep much, either, but she tried her best--she'd need the energy if she was going to be doing much in the way of physical exertion tomorrow.
When she dressed the next day, she tried to get an ensemble that wasn't as elaborate in the usual, and somewhat succeeded. She'd need something easy to climb around in, and that wouldn't catch on things.
There were butterflies in her stomach by the time the call to lunch was sounded.
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 26, 2009 17:28:43 GMT -5
Esmeralda was nervous, too, but she concentrated on the dance to come. There, she could free her mind, and let her body move as it wished.
"When?" she murmured, coming close enough to Anastasia to do so though she'd been casually avoiding the woman for most of the morning.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 26, 2009 17:42:57 GMT -5
"I think, when lunch is winding down. Everyone will be full and feeling too lazy or sleepy to notice me missing and they will react more slowly if something goes wrong." She whispered.
"I'll start to drift toward the banana trees when it looks like it's time."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 26, 2009 17:48:33 GMT -5
Esmeralda nodded, her eyes wide though focused on nothing in front of her. She would not be able to eat, she knew, but that was all right. She'd gone without before.
"I'll watch, then," she said. She smiled briefly at Anastasia. "Do you think..." she trailed off, then tried again. "Do you think we've a chance?"
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