Brothers

Once upon a time Hordak would spend his time in two places. First and most prominently his sanctum, from which he would mostly work on getting his portal machine to work, along with a few other technological terrors that he would win the war against Etheria. The other would be his Throne Room where he would hear reports from Force Captains, Shadow Weaver and later Catra as second in command. Never in his life would he ever find himself spending time at a local coffee shop. Nor would that coffee shop called the Winding Gears be in the middle of the Kingdom of Dryl, after a war his side technically lost, and him essentially being a mostly free clone. But here he was, sitting at his usual table with a mug of hot coffee in hand.

It didn't happen overnight of course. Entrapta pretty much had to pride the both of them out of the castle as they tried some 'social experiments' with others around the Kingdom of Dryl. As Princess she needed to interact with her people, something she wanted to be better at now that the war was over. Hordak had come to find this place as they had taken one of there walks and was encouraged to try one of the drinks. One sip later and he found the drink of coffee quite pleasing and relaxing. Thus he would make it a habit of attending here once a week, normally on his own to sit and drink in peace.

Honestly the view from the coffee shop was quite peaceful. Entrpata said it was very optimal for people watching and making social observations. It would allow him to learn a bit more about the people of Dryl from a somewhat safe distance without having to directly interact with them.

"Brother!"

Well...Almost all of them.

Hordak looked up from his cup to see a familiar white skin looking version of him with green eyes running toward him. Kadroh, or as used to be called Wrong Hordak, a fellow Clone and friend of Entrapata and the princesses arrived to sit down with him.

"Oh hello favorite brother of mine" Kadroh said with a smile.

Hordak frowned, "Isn't every brother your favorite"

"Oh yes, because you are all unique and remarkable in your own individual way"

"Of course" Hordak took a sip of his drink, "So, what brings you here brother?"

Kadroh shrugged, "Oh you know, just enjoying the lovely view of Dryl, enjoying a nice walk before I head over for my job"

Being the most well adjusted of Prime's Clone Kadroh had become a bit of a therapist and a counselor for all the Clones, although he had thought about expanding his clinetell to non Clones and to just regular Etherians as well. Entrapta said that he could give Princess Perfuma a run for her money, although the two had become good friends since the war ended.

"Ah, well, has it been an enjoyable brother?" Hordak asked.

Kadroh nodded, "Oh yes very much, it gives me inspiration for ways to help my fellow brothers"

"And how is that going?"

"Good so far, although we do have a few troubled souls" Kadroh sighed his ears flopping down a bit, "One called Yundi is still very ...un adjusted"

"I see" Hordak raised an eyebrow, "How so? Does he believe Prime will return"

"Well no, he's just...Quite negative towards the rest of us, saying that we should continue the fight even without Prime" Kadroh continued, "I hope I can dissuade him but he is very stubborn"

"I know that feeling" Hordak muttered taking another sip of coffee, "Well at least he is lucky to have found help early, otherwise he would be taking the remains of Prime's technology and forging an Empire in his name

Kadroh gave Hordak a confused look before saying, "Oh now brother no self-loathing in front of me please, you had no help and no support system to cope and you know it"

"I suppose…." Hordak took a deep breath, "The Princesses did have a good influence on you"

"You should know first hand," Kadroh winked.

Hordak gave a soft chuckle, Entrapta did have a way with him that no other person on all of Etheria ever did. She opened him up to the idea that he did not have to perfect. That the standard set by Prime was toxic and that imperfection was beautiful. That had been his montra ever since.

"So...Brother, why are you here?" Kadroah asked, interrupting Hordak's inner thoughts.

Hordak blinked, "Oh, I come here often these days, I find the view relaxing and the drink calming. Although today I was asked to leave the Crypto Castle for a few hours while Entrapta insures that all the radiation has been removed safely and she's detoxified"

"Oh, I see her experiments with nuclear fusion are still going well"

"Indeed they are" Hordak replied, "She was able to save some of the old data from the Fright Zone, back when she was going to make a nuclear warhead...whatever that is. It was one of her more confusing ideas, I didn't understand it, but back then I thought, well if it wins us the war, why not use it"

"I see"

Hordak nodded, "Yes...Plus I enjoy the drinks here"

"Ah yes...Coffee, a fascinating drink" Kadroh replied, "I have tried the herbal teas that Perfuma offered a few times, they are too quite refreshing"

"Indeed" Hordak nodded, "Plus I used it to observe the people of Dryl, observe social patterns and acquire data for me and Entrpata to go over"

"Oh fascinating"

Hordak nodded, "Indeed, apparently this place hosted main Horde Soldiers during the occupation. I am grateful though to learn most of them behaved themselves and showed some courtesy, although a few were a bit...demanding"

"Oh dear?"

"Indeed, but I suppose i have myself to blame, authority can drive people to power madness"

Kadroh frowned, "Oh brother from what I've been told you hardly had power madness during your time as Lord of the Fright Zone, perhaps some of your underlings did though"

"Yes, Shadow Weaver especially, I think she reveled in it from what i have begun to learn" Hordak took a sip "Catra from what she has told me, got a thrill from time to time, but it destroyed her more than invigorate"

"Ah, have you spoken with Sister Catra as of late" Kadroh asked.

Hordak looked taken aback, "Hardly, we barely speak at all, why would I?"

"Oh, that's a shame"

Again Hordak seemed taken aback, "Why? You know our history...Entrapta seems to forgive and forget. I...Well I don't forget easily"

"Well because you two have shared experiences" Kadroh said quite matter of factly, "Both of you wishing to please someone who will never truly accept you and prove yourselves. Not to mention your both dating princesses...So that's something"

"What are you getting at" Hordak rubbed his forehead.

"I'm just saying that you and Catra are very similar and perhaps you two could well…" Kadroh seemed unsure how to phrase it before saying, "Help, heal together"

"Like what? Come to your therapy group sessions?"

"Well that's one thing" Kadroh replied, "They aren't necessarily for Clones only, I am more than happy to take anyone who needs help, or maybe Perfuma would be happy as well…

"I'm fine brother" Hordak said perhaps more angrily than he meant before saying, "I mean...I am coping quite well as of now thank you"

"I'm glad" Kadroh remained silent before asking, "So do you hang out with anyone here or just by yourself"

"Myself"

"Ah…" Kadroh said, "Brother you really need to expand your social circle perhaps…

"Brother!" Hordak sneered, "I am fine, I have Entrapta, you, Emily...Imp is always around when not with those three old Horde Cadets"

"I know, I know" Kadroh tried to calm him down, "I'm not forcing you to socialize with anyone that makes you uncomfortable, but I do think being dependent on Entrapta for your social interaction will in the long run will not be healthy for the both of you. Even she wants to be closer to the other Princesses"

"If they accept her" Hordak grunted.

"Pardon?"

Hordak eyes narrowed, "I've seen those Princesses, some mean well but I fear they do not truly accept her for her, and want her to conform to their...Standards...No worse than Prime"

"Oh brother that's not fair" Kadroh frowned, "They don't chip her or anything or have a Princess Hive Mind" there was a pause, "Do they have a Princess Hive Mind"

"Sometimes I wonder," Hordak muttered, "But I observe no they don't, though I try not to pry. What happens between Entrapta and the other Princesses is her business until she tells me otherwise".

"Good, Entrapta is her own woman"

"Indeed she is, she is strong, she survived Beast Island"

"Indeed...Remarkable"

Hordak nodded, "I concur"

Again another silence.

"Still brother I…

"Kadroh" Hordak scowled before pinching his forehead, "Okay...Perhaps I do...But how can I mean...I'm exactly popular among Etheria's social circles. Feared, loathed, but not liked"

"Well that's because they haven't gotten to see the real you" Kadroh explained, "This you, the one sitting down and having a coffee like all the other patrons here"

Hordak looked around, he did notice that he was just another patron of this coffee shop. Along with all the other strange creatures that made up Etheria society, he was just one in a million right now. Enjoying his free will, in a coffee shop, with brother who is chatting his ear off. Right now he was just as normal as any other Etherian. Although he did notice a few eyes glaring at him, for the most part, no one paid him any heed.

"Okay...So what are you saying? Invite people to the coffee shop to sit?" Hordak said.

Kadroh shrugged, "If you don't want too...But perhaps if you recognize someone who is a friendly face, offer them a cup and time to sit and chat with them like we are now, in a calm and relaxing environment"

"You have been spending much time with Princess Perfuma have you"

"Indeed, she is quite wise" Kadroh then noticed the time and got up, "Oh I must be off hate to be late...Goodbye Brother! May we do this again?"

"I suppose we could brother, I suppose we could"

Hordak took a sip of Coffee as he said goodbye to him, perhaps having coffee with someone would be more appealing then being alone.

Then again...He did still enjoy the quiet.