Kushiel was used to strange things happening. He had, in fact, come to expect them. If nothing strange were to happen he would consider his existence a particularly large waste of time. He couldn’t just stand around contemplating the meaning of the universe. For one, it gave him a headache, and for another, it was an exercise in futility. Kushiel didn’t like to exercise, especially when it was futile.

Kushiel was standing around, looking at the Chamber’s tree, when the girl began to shimmer into existence. He didn’t realize it was a girl at first, just that it was something. He blinked stupidly at the spot. When a form began to emerge his interest was piqued and the large gray stallion made his way over, his steps fast with anticipation. He was standing very close to the spot when the girl began to take shape as a girl. He grinned for a second, but the expression quickly turned to a scowl when her emotions began to come through. She was panicking, and Kushiel could feel it as an uncomfortable knot in his stomach. Some gift, being able to read emotions you didn’t want to read.

“Oy!” He called through the fog that still seemed to cling to her. His expression of welcome was now tainted.

“Calm down you’re giving me a headache.” Kushiel was unaware that yelling at someone to calm down as not the best way to make them do so. As always, his needs took a front seat even though he could be privy to other’s emotions. If anything his new power made him less sympathetic. Now everyone else’s bad moods affected him directly. It was a heavy burden he had to bear. But still, it could be worse. At least a girl had appeared instead of some stodgy old man. Kushiel looked her up and down with a critical eye.

“Are you from the future or something?” In Kushiel’s expert opinion, this was the most likely scenario. Perhaps she had come back in time to warn them that they were headed down a path of destruction? Yeah, that would be interesting. Kushiel looked at the newcomer expectantly, eager to hear her ghostly prophecies.

As much as Kushiel hated it when his mother read his mind, it tended to annoy him when other people could not. Explaining himself was a difficult and cumbersome process and he didn’t like to do it. That wasn’t to say that he expected anything less than complete understanding. Assuming lenience would be a mistake. So, it was a vague sense of annoyance that Kushiel fixed the girl with an exasperated look. He opened his mouth, fully prepared to say that her presence was enough to give him a headache before he looked at her again and decided against it.

He had better things to do then torment the new girl. Or, at least, he really should have better things to do than torment the new girl. He didn’t, at the moment, but that was all just details. He was still looking at her with a strange combination of curiosity and misplaced grouchiness when she spoke again. He couldn’t help the tiny, reluctant smile that tugged at his lips.

“Well excuse me for keeping an open mind.” He said it was some level of sarcasm, but couldn’t fully fight down his improving humor. Kushiel could now see that his theory was a bit outrageous. Still, he wasn’t about to admit that, and stranger things had happened. She obligingly supplied him with a stranger theory not a minute later. He laughed aloud at her words, and his sense of righteousness came flooding back.

“Oh ho, so I’m crazy for thinking you’re from the future, when in fact, you’re just saving the word.” He affixed her with a withering look.

“Hello Ms. Pot, I’m Mr. Kettle.” Yes, because she was most certainly the pot calling the kettle black. If one of them were crazy it was most definitely her. He was still gloating, obviously and flamboyantly, when Straia appeared. He grinned widely at her, not at all ashamed of the childish conversation he had stooped to. It would never occur to Kushiel to be ashamed. At her introduction however, the gray stallion did deflate a little.

“Ms. Pot is your sister? Well that is…unexpected.” He glanced back at the new mare, Lucrezia as it turned out, and tried to see the family resemblance. He could not find any similarity, partly because he couldn’t imagine Straia ever endeavoring to save the world. It just didn’t really seem like her thing. Kushiel let the awkward pause go one for a little too long before jumping back in to make it more awkward.

“So are you hoping Straia will help you save the world?” Again, he asked the question with no small amount of doubt. The whole situation seemed to be missing several pieces. Lucrezia was attempting to valiantly save the world single handedly and just happened to materialize in her sister’s kingdom? And where did Kushiel fit into all of this? Was he the dashing antagonist or the fumbling, unwilling sidekick? He was fine with the former, the latter was completely out of the question. He looked at both the mares, hoping one of them would fill him in promptly.  

Kushiel’s head tilted to the side like a strange, confused doll. There were several things he had not been expecting to witness today. An unexplainable appearance, a family reunion and a falling out were all high on that list. He was, clearly, very out of the loop. That much, at least, he was comfortable with. He tended to be out of the loop. He did, however, have enough tact not to interrupt the sisters for an explanation. This seemed like one can of worms he didn’t need to root around in. He quickly wore out his limit of skepticism and the gray stallion’s attention began to wander.

Saving the world, yes very good. Unexpected was an understatement for their family, yeah he could see that. Kushiel was still nodding along half-heartedly when things got a little more heated. The gray stallion’s mouth popped open when Lucrezia made her bold declaration about Straia. She is only capable of breaking promises and forgetting you exist. The already large stallion seemed to grow even larger and he huffed angrily. He fixed the girl with a withering look, the fire on his mane popped ominously.

“Now wait just a second, missy —“ He huffed for another moment, looking between Lucrezia and his queen. He couldn’t allow that kind of disparagement, could he? He had forgotten for a second, and then quickly remembered that Straia could take care of herself. He was now in the awkward position of defending her honor, knowing full well he was probably not the best man for the job. Still, he was already offended, and in this moment, at least, Kushiel was keen to finish what he had started.

While the Chamber’s Governor marshaled his thoughts, the women traded several heated words. Kushiel’s face went from confused to rather pained. He would never admit it, he had a reputation to protect after all, but somewhere along the line he had developed something similar to loyalty. He sighed gratefully when Straia gave him an opening. He nodded smartly and puffed himself up again.

“I think that’s a good idea. Here we go —“ He stomped and huffed around Lucrezia, attempting to herd her to the border without actually touching her. She was Straia’s family after all, despite whatever may have occurred. He swished his tail, stamped, and generally tried to look intimidating.

“Thanks for stopping by, please don’t come again.” More stomping and bluster. Kushiel couldn’t help but think of his own sister, and wonder if there would come a day when she came around accusing him of all sorts of travesties. In his case, they would probably be true, but he couldn’t help but hope she stayed cute and naive forever, at least as far as her opinion of him was concerned.