Prompt Post 4!
The first, second, and third posts are now shut down for prompting. All new prompts must be posted here. Any new prompts posted to Prompt Post 1, 2, and 3 will be deleted without warning.
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Part One
Esmeralda was strong and vivacious, her exotic beauty illuminating the gloomy London streets she called home.
She was an untamed creature, a wild thing with bare shoulders and brown skin, hitching her skirts to reveal slender ankles as she danced in the rain, whirling upon the grimy cobbles for coins and any small kindness, any at all. She danced for pennies, read the lines in a stranger's face or hand for just a little more.Cross my palm with silver and I will tell your fortune, mistress. Harmless hocus pocus. She sold herbs and trinkets but she would not sell herself, would not stoop so low, not for love nor money. Men would stop to watch, devouring her with hungry eyes as she danced, and afterwards they would approach, fumbling in their pockets for something to offer her. Some, one or two perhaps, bold with gin and lust, would attempt to pull her away to some dark corner, hoping for a furtive grope under her skirts. She fought them, eyes flashing green fire, sending them to their ( ... )
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Part Two
Bedlam was vast, a sprawling place of misery. An oubliette, where the outcasts of society were buried alive and forgotten.
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here, Esmeralda thought dully, closing her eyes as the pitiful cries of the inmates echoed around her ( ... )
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Part Three
It was evening when they finally came for her, two men who refused to answer her questions and ushered her along the corridor to Frollo's room with firm resolve. He smiled at her when she appeared in the doorway, that intimate smile she already detested, and sent the men away.
"I think it is time for you and I to talk, my dear. Sit, please."
Esmeralda eyed him warily, ignoring the invitation and his outstretched hand.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Frollo set his book aside, watching her closely, "You are not of sound mind, Esmeralda. I want to help you, if you'll let me."
She laughed hoarsely, "I am perfectly well but I appreciate your concern, sir."
"Allow me to disagree."
"I am not mad ( ... )
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I lovvvvve how dark this is, and how you get such an atmosphere across with a minimum of description. The little touches about how female 'madness' was actually treated ring very true, as well, which just manages to make it seem all that much creepier.
And though sex wasn't usually prescribed, orgasms sometimes were. Strange how they could at once consider hysteria a common female problem, and basically invent vibrators to 'solve' it.
Solidarity fistbump regarding mental health issues. I've had some vested interest in the stuff that I've read over the years.
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*fistbump*
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