and some by virtue fall; Namaah/any

[Kushiel]

Kushiel heaved an exasperated sigh. The child was spending, way, way too much time with Gallows. Just as he had and continued to do. At this rate not a single one of them would be well adjusted and accepted into mainstream society. An intervention was needed, and before Namaah got much older.

“The tree,” Kushiel said in his most patient voice, namely, one that wasn’t very patient but was a little better than his normal tone.

“Is not my girlfriend. It it is simply a tree I enjoy a great deal.” Truth be told, Kushiel wasn’t sure if that was significantly better. He turned pensive for a moment. Was it possible that he was just as crazy as Shaytan? Kushiel remembered their last meeting, when they had just about come to blows over the tree, and shook his head. No, no he wasn’t.

Namaah spoke about love and Kushiel tried hard to keep a look of distress from his face. She didn’t care about power? Where the hell had that come from? Certainly not from him, definitely not from her father of all people. While Kushiel wouldn’t call Gallows power hungry per say, you didn’t become queen…twice, without something like ambition. Still, the stallion could admit that Namaah’s wishes were sweet, and he could see the merits. He looked at her sternly.

“Well…okay. Just so long as you don’t join a herd.” Kushiel shuddered, imagining his baby sister having to follow the deranged wishes of some fool of a stallion. It was enough to make him want to hit something. If she was going to follow any fool’s wishes it would be his, and she had yet to do that so a herd was simply out of the question.

“No sister of mine is going to be bossed around by some backwater nobody from…” He trailed off slowly, realizing that his colorful iterations were perhaps inappropriate for her age. He cleared his throat meaningfully, glad that she changed the subject. This subject, however, was hardly easier for him to discuss. Oh god, what exactly did he do? He spent a good deal of time avoiding work. Did that count as work? It was certainly difficult.

“Well, Peanut.” He said, stalling for time and trying to sound important.

“I’m a diplomat, so I talk to other kingdoms and negotiate our relationship with them.” Yes, yes indeed. That sounded very professional. It wasn’t even a complete lie. He’d gone to the Dale that one time. She didn’t need to know that he’d flirted with a pretty girl the whole time and hadn’t actually done anything that could be considered diplomatic. Quite the opposite actually.