Fire-Flower Festival [ Open to All ]

[wishmadeinfire]

Who: Ashura & The Castle Residents
What: A mini, last minute festival
When: Saturday Night
Where: Castle Gardens
Rating: PG/PG-13 (for possible language)

Two days might not have been long, but with Cheese's help the little festival had turned into something quite lovely in the Castle gardens. It made Ashura think of home, which for a moment made his heart ache, for even having spent so many years away from his people he still worried for them and their fate. It felt good to bring a touch of it to this place, to let people see some of it, if not all. Cheese had done a marvelous job helping him capture it, and he reminded himself he would need to thank the pony profoundly when all was said and done.

They had placed out food and drink a plenty for any who wished to attend. There was some common faire for the less adventurous, but there was also offering from Ashura's own kingdom. Meats and vegetables cooked with spices that turned the items bright, their aroma a lovely blend - such things as saffron and chile. There were freshly cut fruit offerings, and some that had been sugared and even some that had been spiced themselves, though hardly so much as the meat. Water came readily available and sweet breads for those in need of cool mouths. Several wines were offered as well, ranging from thick and sweet to dark and as spiced as the meats.

Sitting areas were adorned with plush pillows and bright silks wound through the area to provide covering and color, the lanterns taking on the glow of the cloth. A small area nearby had been made to look like a performance area, and indeed a lute-like instrument of white and gold with purple and green flowers stood upon a stand to the side, as if waiting to be played. A sign invited anyone who wished to show off a talent or provide their own entertainment.

The center piece were the fire-flowers, though. Bright red buds with centers that glowed a soothing, enchanting yellow. When a breeze fluttered through, the centers waved and looked like tiny candle flames inside each blossom. Hence their name, and legend said they had formed from the tears of the guardian phoenix of Ashura's people. Later they would sever greater purpose than mere decoration, but for now the blossoms provided a center of beauty for the party.

It was no May Day, but it would do.

Food & Drink | Sitting Area | Stage | The Fire-Flowers

( ooc: Use one of the areas already set up or make your own thread! Enjoy! )

Comments

Food & Drink

[wishmadeinfire]

They had placed out food and drink a plenty for any who wished to attend. There was some common faire for the less adventurous, but there was also offering from Ashura's own kingdom. Meats and vegetables cooked with spices that turned the items bright, their aroma a lovely blend - such things as saffron and chile. There were freshly cut fruit offerings, and some that had been sugared and even some that had been spiced themselves, though hardly so much as the meat. Water came readily available and sweet breads for those in need of cool mouths. Several wines were offered as well, ranging from thick and sweet to dark and as spiced as the meats.

Self-serve and enjoy!

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Herr, have something unusual... Washington was actually bored enough that he decided it wouldn't hurt to come check out the festivities, after seeing the journal entry.

Though whether the castle's influence may have gave him an extra nudge to get out there is anyone's guess, to be honest.

[wishmadeinfire]

"If you're looking for something to try first, I suggest these," Ashura suggested to Washington, dressed brightly in yellows, oranges, and golds tonight. He offered the soldier bits of cubed meat rubbed with orange spice and stuck onto wooden skewers with vegetables between each. "Not to spicy, and they go nicely with the oranges."

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Washington was a bit surprised at the... Garish attire of his host, but he knew he shouldn't be. It suited the kind of festival this was supposed to be. "Thank you." Courtesy never hurt in these situations, at any rate. He accepts the offered food, not too worried. He's been in the castle for years, and been through many world changes. What's one more odd dish?

After sampling it, he nods. "Not bad."

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura would hardly call his attire garish. The yellow cloth was bright and beautiful, stitched with orange flames and bedecked with amber jewels and yellow topaz. By the standards of his people, for a king, he was actually quite underdressed. But to each their own.

He smiled at the compliment to his people's foods and took a plate, selecting some said oranges and placing a bit of the fluffy, but flat, bread on it, and then some chicken and a bit of rice.

"Here, try these next. They make a nice meal all together," he informed Washington, and maybe he had purposefully picked some things that were not to very spicy. He didn't want to set the man to tears right off.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Well, considering normal for Wash is combat armor... Yea.

Washington nods. "It's worth it sometimes to come to things like this, just for food that isn't the same as every other meal I've had here..." He smiles. "I appreciate the advice. The last thing I want is to set my mouth on fire by accident."

[radiantwingedone]

Guess who has never come across spicy fruits before? Guess who has rarely eaten spicy things?

It couldn't be Duke, who is coughing with watering eyes. Couldn't be him at all.

[wishmadeinfire]

"Here, here, eat this," Ashura soothed him, pressing a bit of bread into his hand. "It will ease the spice. Shall I pick something for you next? A bit less on the spices, I think." He felt a bit bad about it, but that was the reason he had provided food that was a bit less traditional from his people and thus had less spice.

[radiantwingedone]

He is a tiny bit wary of the bread when it is first pressed into his hand, but Ashura clearly knew what he was doing. "... Please." Duke has finally run into the problem of not really knowing what he picks out. "... I never really cooked with spices..." So that burning in his mouth, that isn't getting solved by breathing just so? Yeah, he really isn't used to that.

[wishmadeinfire]

"Apologies. Chew that slowly, and I will get you a plate of some things with less spice on them," he promised the silver-haired man and went to do just that, laying on a few more bits of bread, chicken, some un-spiced fruit, and a rice dish. He lay cutlery over it too and went to him, handing the plate into his hands.

"There we are. Nothing on there should make your mouth burn, but if it does, eat more of the bread or drink some of the hot tea. It will help."

[radiantwingedone]

Chew slowly. Okay, but that doesn't really make much sense until he tries and it seems to sap the heat from his mouth.

"I probably ought to try smelling before tasting..." But he might have inhaled the spices that way, and then his nose would burn worse, and there's no easy way to get that to stop, like eating the bread would fix a burning mouth.

"Thank you."

Sitting Area

[wishmadeinfire]

Have your food or are perhaps a bit on the tipsy side and need to sit down?

Sitting areas were adorned with plush pillows and bright silks wound through the area to provide covering and color, the lanterns taking on the glow of the cloth

Stage

[wishmadeinfire]

What is a festival without a bit of light entertainment?

A small area nearby had been made to look like a performance area, and indeed a lute-like instrument of white and gold with purple and green flowers stood upon a stand to the side, as if waiting to be played. A sign invited anyone who wished to show off a talent or provide their own entertainment.

[inafadingcrown]

Leave it to Galadriel to be drawn to the instrument. She does not take to the stage yet, but she does approach, picking up the instrument and turning it over in her hands, studying it.

[wishmadeinfire]

"Do you play it?" Ashura asked Galadriel, curious. He had not heard of anyone being able to play the instrument from his homeland, but then he had not very often brought it out for a public performance, though he tried to practice some in his room. It was soothing and mentally engaging at the same time, though he hardly compared to the experts in his world.

[inafadingcrown]

"I play something akin to it." Not the exact same instrument, of course, but she is more than familiar with the lute. It might be interesting to try to figure out. She glanced back at Ashura. "Do you intend to favor us with a performance?"

[wishmadeinfire]

"I thought I might, if everyone did not mind," he said, reaching out his hands for the instrument, but not taking it from Galadriel. "I know a few good pieces that I learned to play and have kept practice with."

The Fire-Flowers

[wishmadeinfire]

Revelers have been drinking and merry-making all night, and for just a moment Ashura calls their attention, picking up a flower bud, the center shifting like a flickering candle.

"At this time of the time, I wish to invite everyone to take a flower and take a small bowl of water," he motioned to said bowels set out - small, plain things, with a bit of water in each. "This is a ritual of my people, where on the last night of this festival, one plucks a fire-flower from the branch and makes a wish or a promise upon it. It is meant to signify that you have hope for the future, that you will continue to walk a path true to your own heart. None need know of your hope, your wish, your dream, but you. When you have made the wish, turn your flower upside down and put the center into the water, as if to extinguish a candle. But you are not extinguishing it, for the heart of it, that bright little flame, burns on in your heart and it is not your duty to keep it burning bright, even when the natural flame of the flower is gone."

That said, he closed his eyes, cupping his bright little flower, and then gently lay it upside down in the water, the water now reflecting gold as the center continue to glow, the flower the bright, glowing red heart in the center.

[preformthisneigh]

It's a strange custom, to Cheese. After all, ponies learn their true path in life very young, and have it emblazoned on their flanks forever. Straying from their true path is unheard of, and is almost certainly something nopony ever worries about. Still, this is an important festival in Ashura's world, so he does as is asked, carefully carrying out the actions required of him. After he turns the flower over with his mouth (morning a little for the loss of what tasted like it could be a delicious snack), he sits and watches it turn and drift in the bowl.

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura left his bowl near the main tower of flowers and came over to Cheese, his silks trailing behind him, his feet bare on the gravel. He smiled at Cheese and knelt on a pillow beside him, making himself comfortable.

"I must thank you for all your hard efforts, Cheese," he said softly as other people turned their flowers up. "Normally we set the flowers into the river and they float away, lighting it up gold. But the bowls of water serve well."

[preformthisneigh]

Cheese smiled up at him, giving a wave of his hoof to dismiss the thanks.

"Hey, any time, it's what I was born to do," literally. "I'm glad everypony here enjoyed it, and got to see a celebration from somepony else's world. I gotta admit, I'm loving learning about them, too."

[wishmadeinfire]

The king beamed in the red-yellow glow of the lanterns, reaching out and finding a flower that had escaped the mass and stroked the soft petals, watched the center shift and flicker.

"Well, I am happy to have taught you," he nodded his head. "I am like you in that - I enjoy learning of other people's cultures, their worlds. And I am very happy to share. It means a great deal to me that people came and participated."

Time for him to see Human!Sheena... :)

[rose_of_battle]

While it's a different custom to Sheena, it certainly has familiar overtones to it, and the ninja is pretty solemn as she follows the ritual and stands motionless for some time watching the flower float on top of the water. After a while, she turns and spots a familiar figure also watching his flower, and smiling, she approaches the pony.

"Hello!"

She hopes he recognizes her voice, otherwise, there may be problems.

Awww yis

[preformthisneigh]

He does, indeed, recognise her voice, and flashes her a friendly smile.

"Well hey, you got yourself all human again."

Re: Awww yis

[rose_of_battle]

Relieved, Sheena's smile widens to match his as she lets out a chuckle. "Well, I really didn't have anything to do with it. The Castle decided to change me back."

Is she a little wistful? Of course she is. She actually likes being a pony.

Looking around, she takes in the decorations before turning back to him with a questioning look.

"Did you plan all this?"