PARADISA

I am sure this has happened to others, but... it seems there is some change coming to the Castle. We have received gifts - I for one never thought to see this item again, personally, so I am unsure what to make of this. Or the key. 

But at the least, I think we should all think carefully about what we do with these keys. Past experience would suggest there is equal chance of this all being a horrible trick, after all. 

Having partaken of the fruit gifted to us and not having come down with some horrid disease or hallucination, I thought it might be fun to try all the ways one might enjoy these apples. The library was most helpful, and I have commandeered the kitchen for my experiments. If anyone would like, I invite you to come down and try them. I have everything from pies, to tarts, to some sweet candy coating the books have declared a delicious treat when paired with an apple. 

[ His invitation made, Ashura put the journal aside and went to gather himself a plate and partake of his creations. Well, he had not really created them, he had wished them up because Ashura was not really a good hand at things like baking. He had learned, over the years, to make a few small meals for himself, but the delicacy of a pastry was beyond him. But no need to tell anyone, correct?

If anyone stopped in, they would find the main table of the kitchen covered in sweets of all sorts, with apple as the main ingredient, and the king happily munching away with bits of more than one on his plate at a time. He seemed to be favoring the pies, though. ]

( Filtered to Castle ) 

[ Winter was not Ashura's season. He preferred to stay wrapped up somewhere warm, and if he could have hibernated, he would. That there was an interruption to the heat-soaked bliss that was summer, well, that did not sit well with him, irritated him in fact. It almost felt like this prank was a personal attack on him, though he knew that was foolish. His agitation moved him up the stairs and out into the cold on the roof of the Castle, which seemed to be going against his want to stay warm, but he had reasons.

It was easy enough to use his Talent to melt the snow around him in a large circle, making a damp, but clear space for him to practice. He took a distinct sort of pleasure in melting the snow besides, putting a whole different fire in his belly. 

Ashura spent the next several hours working through the movements of his sword style - dance-like, but precise and deadly when used in combat. That he paired it with flashes of fire - whips, bursts of heat, walls of flame, even claws on his hands, was all part of that same dance. That he had on winter clothing made it a bit harder, but he was glad for the practice in such clothes, just in case something happened turing this little twist the Castle had thrown at them. He would be more surprised if nothing happened than not, though one could hope...

When he had finished, he turned and headed back down into the Castle, his body steaming as the heat from his fire dried out his clothing and hair, moist from the falling snow and the continuous puddle he had been working in. Not at all abnormal, was it? Maybe a little. 

As he walked he brought his journal, for of course it would be there, even if he had not wanted it to be there. ]

I think I shall take tea in the library with a rather large, warm fire if anyone wishes to join me. I could always use new book recommendations.

[ ooc: voice or action, your choice! ]

[ Ashura's voice comes on over the journals as the last rays of day are turning red and purple covers most of the sky. ]

If anyone is hungry, I've managed to make up a bit of dinner in the kitchens. It is nothing much, but I think it is good enough fair. From the way things have been, we'll need what energy we can get.

[ Let's ignore the fact he very pointedly picked his way through the halls with his sword at his side, and has been in his battle attire since this began. Or at least has not been dressing in his fancier robes. ]

Also, if anyone on the other side is hungry, I am sure we can figure out a way to get some simple things over to you as well.  

[ He knew it was a terribly small thing to offer, but the way things were he wasn't even sure what to expect around the next corner. It was not as exciting as one might hope, certainly not in a good way. 

At the last, he was sitting in the kitchen, sword at his hip, biting into a sandwich and his eyes flicking about the room, watching... ]

To all who cared for him, after much searching, I think I can safely say that Thorin Oakenshield has been sent home. Perhaps, in remembrance, you might drink a beat of dwarfish mead in his stead. Hopefully one day we get to see him again - or is that cruel wishing someone back here? I can never quite figure it out. 

[ But there, the announcement was made. Someone had to make it. Maybe someone already had, but he had not been paying attention lately. He was becoming a recluse, he thought, but if so, so be it. Maybe after this many years here he deserved to be a recluse, the lonely king inside the false suite he'd made for himself. 

But after the spirals, being so frightened of them, and now finding someone he had found great comfort in gone... it was to much. He left his suite, wandering the halls, still so new and shiny after their transformation, bare feet padding on stone and sometimes carpet. He wasn't sure where he was heading, just following the path his feet took in a weary way, like someone to far from home and tired of the journey. Wandering. Thinking. Thinking to much inside his head.

Eventually, though, he found himself before a door he knew well, but that he rarely approached. He reached up, knocking on the door, hoping the red headed mage was in. ]

[ ooc: Feel free to stop Ashura as he wanders or respond to his initial announcement! ]

[ Good afternoon, Paradisa. Today, you might hear yourselves a bit of musical rendition. 

There would be a few tones of someone whistling, and a few seconds after it finished, a bird's sweet little trill followed in the same tones. This would repeat until they had completed a song that bore some resemblance to a children's cantrip, and a clap of hands. ]

Very good! Oh, I have missed your singing voice!

[ There is a little chirp, followed by two different barks, and that seemed the signal for their to be quite a bit of fussing, moving noises, and after a bright chirping, quiet. 

The quiet was caused by Ashura heading out and towards the gardens so that Bacon and Agni could come and play, and on his shoulder, perched  and snuggling up to the fur of his robe, was a beautiful green, yellow, and blue bird. It chirped and twittered, repeating the musical rendition from earlier, Ashura every now and then adding his own whistle to it as he followed his playing pets. ]

( Private to Felix Harrowgate )
[ That completed - or not, since so much rested on Felix simply knowing what Ashura meant, but he had not the strength to spell it out in flowery language - the king returned to his book. But, rather than being in his room, he was ensconced in the library, near the fire place, which kept merrily glowing in part thanks to Ashura occasionally feeding it some extra power. 

He was flipping through a large book that detailed Italian Renaissance fashion, art, and court life, and also delved into the religious contexts of the time. One might think he would stay away from such things given what had just happened, but his curiosity had only been piqued. It was an intriguing time, if you discounted the terror instilled by men of the Christian faith. He was sincerely glad it had never appeared in his own time... ]

What an intriguing place Earth always turns out to be when we are made to visit. I think, for the first time, we were sent to a world about as extravagant as I am. I admit I almost miss the dresses I was afforded there, but I much prefer my people's robes. 

[ He is going to politely ignore the atrocities witness and delivered, because sometimes that's what you did. You cut out the bad, remembered the good, and moved on. ]

[ This would come in the early morning, when most people should be up, and about, around. He had spent the wee hours attempting to clean up the mess he had found in Sheena's room, wanting to give her the dignity that the Gentleman had denied her (though Ashura did not know it had been the Gentleman, only that someone or someones had done this). When she had been cleaned, properly dressed, and laid out, only then had he found the strength to open the journal and pen this... ]

Sheena is dead. 

I found her early this morning in her chambers, cut with some sort of sharp instrument. Whoever did this had... no care for what they left behind. I do not know who did it, or why. I cannot say that Sheena had such enemies as to have such a terrible thing fall on her.

I have her resting in the best state I can manage if you wish to pay respects, though I think time might be better spent figuring out whom among us committed such a crime, and bring them to justice. Also, I would advise all to be wary and keep your wits about you. It is likely this could happen again.

[ He had nothing else to say, setting his journal aside and breathing shallowly. So much tragedy... ]

( Cut for Sad Feelings )

Eventually, his feet stepped off grass and into sand, his robes dragging. The water hissed in his ears, a siren call, but not strong enough, not here, not for this. Another passage to death called his name, and it would wait patiently, he knew. He stopped several feet from the water, gazing at it, and inside he began to release the holds he had on that churning feeling, the emotions to myriad to put to words.

So he burned them.

Fire roared around him, a circle of heat that screamed with the pain and ache he couldn't properly voice. The circle bounded higher and higher, forming a tornado of swirling heat that groaned and howled as it at the air and his magic, flushing his skin. The pale yellow of morning was no more for him, just a single, swirling mass of red, gold, and at his feet white and blue. Above, the tornado shifted, grew higher, taking the form of a bird with its beak spread and screaming in denial and pain.

This continued for many, many minutes, but even Ashura's power and control had limited. The bird leaned forward over the water, falling in a death throw, hissing as it dissolved. With the tornado of flame gone, it revealed Ashura, skin flushed, the edges of his robes crisp, kneeling in a circle of molten glass, his whole body shaking from the expenditure, almost as if he would start seizing. And yet he didn't seem to care. He simply knelt in the circle he had formed about himself, shaking uncontrollably...

[ ooc: This takes place early in the morning, so catch him at the beach or if you want to, you can catch Ashura later returning to the Castle that's fine too. He'll still be shaking and look pale and his clothing crisped at the edges. ]