paradisa | Dinner for Two

Good plan. Should I put on the pony suit again, or go for something a bit more formal this time?

_{[ He laughed heartily on his end. ]}

If you wish to come as a pony, I shall not stop you! Really, just come comfortable, my friend.

Sure thing- just want to make sure there's not any sort of protocol I should be following.

It is a dinner between friends, not a formal state affair. I am long past making people stand on ceremony.

Well, that's a relief- I wouldn't want to be a stuffy peacock. ... wait, I shouldn't have said that, I don't want to give the castle ideas.

Peacocks are quite lovely. As lovely as unicorns, in my opinion.

They also have a reputation for being prissy. Being known for the unicorn thing is bad enough- I'd have to go around with a paper bag over my head after turning into a peacock.

_{[ He laughed. ]}

Well, you could hide in my suite, if you like. I happen to like peacocks, after all - and jesters.

Well, I'm glad. I'm not quite sure my fiance would like me being covered in feathers, though.

I am sure she could get used to it. They say one will do anything for love, no?

Now, I did say a time for you to come, did I not?

Well, she never got over the pony costume til it was gone, so we'd have to see.

I'll be there. Need me to bring anything, or just my fine self?

Just your fine self will do.

_{[ And with that he closed the journal and went about preparing things,
turning his main living space into a proper dining area and wishing up a
new table since his old was... not presentable. He laid out spiced fruits,
breads, and specially rubbed meats that had been roasted over open fires
for hours. Chilled juice and sweet rolls tempered things, along with
vegetables. All was arranged on a low table with pillows set around it as
Ashura's people would eat, as Ashura regularly ate himself. He had adopted
the high chair because of Felix, but since... no, best not to sour his mood
so early.}

Everything prepared and Agni and Bacon put into his room for the evening, he waited for Castle. ]

[Castle was still unsure of what to wear to such a gathering- Ashura was obviously royalty, and yet he didn't demand kingly respect and titles. Aside from the jibes about being the court jester, Castle might not have known that fact at all.

So he dallied for a while, before finally showing up in his usual blazer and dress shirt, but wearing dress slacks instead of jeans. It would do, he figured, and when he knocked on his host's door, he could smell delicious scents from within.]

_{[ Ashura had chosen to a simple robe of red and gold, his hair nearly
braided and minimal jewels in his ears. It was a meal between friends,
there was hardly need to stand on ceremony. He opened the door and smiled
when he saw his writer comrade, standing back to let him with a jingle of
his anklets. ]}

Good evening, Castle. I do hope you brought an appetite.

_{[ He motioned him in and shut the door behind him, walking past him to
the table and beaming at the spread he had laid out, quite proud of
himself. ]}

[Castle took a look around the room, obviously impressed with the decorations. He noted the low table and took a seat before it on a pillow, sitting cross-legged, but didn't help himself quite yet, waiting to be invited to do so. His stomach did growl, however.]

Oh, believe me, I did- as you can hear, my stomach is prepared for the challenge. And it smells quite lovely in here, too- I can't wait to dig in. Anything special on the menu?

_{[ Ashura settled on the cushions, artfully crossing his legs beneath
his robes in a lotus position. ]}

Some of my favorites. Chicken, fruits, desserts.

_{[ He did not bother to say their names, not wanting to give away to
much about them in said names. ]}

Why don't you try some and tell me what you think?

_{[ He was already loading a plate with some of the chicken, the fresh
vegetables, and put the fruits into a smaller bowl that had been laid out
beside the chilled glasses for the juice. ]}

[Castle reached for the chicken first, his face lighting up.]

... I taste heat, but nothing quite like I've had before. What's it called?

_{[ He rattled off a name that was musical and full of heat itself.
]}

The spices are from my country, so I do not think you would have tasted them before.

_{[ His eyes sparkle, clearly delighted with this. ]}

Mmmm, shame. Sounds like a pretty place.

[He took another bite, savoring it.]

... So what's is like? Your kingdom?

That is not so easy a question to answer. My country is many things.

_{[ He chuckled as he picked at his fruit, letting the sweetness and the
spice flow together on his tongue. ]}

I suppose, a place to start is that my country is very much like what you might know as a rain forest. We have many trees, a great river, and plenty of rain and sunshine, and it is regularly quite hot.

Mmm, guess that would be a complicated question- rather like me trying to describe where I came from.

[Castle reached for the juice next, not willing to show that the heat of the food was getting to him a little already.]

That's pretty much the total opposite of where I live. It's a gigantic city, and the temperature varies from around "surface of the sun" to "2 feet of snow", depending on what season it is.

_{[ Ashura laughed at that, sipping his juice as he thought on how to
explain his culture to him. ]}

My people - we farm and we fish, as one might expect. But we love color and music and dancing. I was trained in both areas, actually, growing up. My palace is very open and built into a tree, and we try and be as much with nature as we can given that many people in my nation are blessed with Talents. You know I control Fire, but there is also Water, Wind, Earth, and Light.

Into a tree? Wow...

[Castle sounded impressed.]

Sounds like a place I'd like to visit, even if I don't have any Talents with a capital T. I've been a city boy all of my life, so I couldn't farm or fish if I had to. I do dance, but it's mostly when I'm alone in my apartment and nobody's around to make fun of my lack of grace.

_{[ He let out another laugh, switching back to protein and vegetables
now as he ate. What? He had a big appetite, all right? His Talent consumed
calories at an amazing rate, and he ate constantly to off set it - and also
never gain weight because of the same. ]}

Dancing in my world is about story telling, playing out legends and tales of my people, the same with our music. I have been trained in the basics of both, and by no means am I master. I had to focus more on sword and fire, unfortunately.

Ah, my people also like color. We are not a drab race by any means. I try and be a good indicator of that.

_{[ He smiled, motioning to his own clothing, and his usual jewel bright
attire. ]}

[Castle nibbled on some of the fruit this time as he listened.]

Oral traditions, right? In my world, songs and stories were how tales were passed from person to person before writing developed. They're an important part of history.

[He grinned.]

I did notice. Nothing wrong with wanting to look colorful, I say... especially if you had to do some fighting before.

The fact that we do battle has no bearing on the colors we wear. They are born from houses and also from nature and the seasons and what we wish to honor and emulate. I admit, I have to be more careful about it considering my position.

Well, I like it. Where I live can be... well, a little drab and dull. There's cars everywhere, so there's lots of pollution in the air... I like my city, but reconnecting more with nature is something we could do more.

I... cannot imagine being without nature. It is the core of much of our culture and our Talents - even if mine is not always a welcome one.

_{[ But that could be said of any of the others. Fire was just more
readily villainized than the other Talent elements. But it had its
redeeming qualities too, though often it was forgotten. ]}

Hmm, but what else do you want to know? I could go on and on, after all.

[Castle nods sagely].

I do own a house in the mountains, but it's not really the same...

[Castle ponders, nibbling again on the meat.]

What about your people? I mean, obviously they're all different, but... how many lived in your kingdom?

I am not really sure of the exact number, but a number sufficient to fill a kingdom and keep men on the battlefield. Make of that math what you will. I do not.... see all of them, not really. It is difficult for met to travel back home, though I try and see the people in the town beneath my palace at the least. It is something.

Yeah, I bet... come to think of it, not a lot of rulers can meet all of their subjects, much as they'd like to be able to. Even elected ones like in my world- one person can only do so much.

I met more when I was younger, but when my parents died I had to stop. Especially with the war, my being away simply isn't a possibility. I can manage a day, perhaps two, but nothing more. It is simply not possible.

[Castle nods sagely.]

Protecting them is just as important, though. I'm sure it meant a lot to them that you wanted to keep them safe.

If that's what they think I'm doing...

_{[ He sipped his juice, not elaborating on that cryptic comment. ]}

For the most part though, yes, they seem to not hate me so I take it as a good sign my rule is going well.

[Castle's interest piqued at that comment; however, as Ashura chose not to elaborate, he decided to let it slide.]

Well, that's good. It's a lot harder to keep a handle on things when the people aren't satisfied. You know... sometimes I think about what it would be like to be a king, but I'm not sure I could handle the responsibility. I think I like being the court jester a lot better.

Dinner for Two

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