Because, you know, I'm a pirate

Rhyme seemed to have a good idea already of which of his cousins had been shacking up with Ash - which was good because Chaos had no idea - and raised his muzzle to call her there. "I think Vana had the market cornered on inreaaonability before any of the three of us were even a twinkle in Dad's eye," Chaos retorted dryly to Ash's joke, then tilted his head toward Rhyme in acknowledgement. "I didn't know what to expect anymore," he admitted as his voice deepened in seriousness to a low rumble, though a faint, crooked smile still tugged his lips. "I watched one of your lead warrior's take a man's pups hostage. I watched you and Shaye condone his actions when you both stood back and refused to return his children to their father. So yes, I was prepared for unreasonable."

His ghost of a smile vanished, though, as his mismatched gaze bore intently into Rhymes. "Mark me, though, Brother, I am not Tyranis. I do not roll over and show my belly when someone keeps my blood from me. Look what happened to you, to all of us, because you were taken away from the family. No more of my blood will be raised where I can't protect them. I have nieces and nephews I will never...

Movement as a pale young woman approached them shattered the tension of the moment, and Chaos glanced away without finishing his sentence, feeling slightly queasy from the intensity and uneasily aware he had revealed more of his inner self to Rhyme and Ashmedai in that one moment than he had to anyone since... well, since before Cascade had died. He had grown up alone, with just her, desperately missing the siblings he had all but worshipped as a young pup. Abandoned and lonely, cut off suddenly from the companionship he had craved, like an addict cut off from their drug - was it any wonder he'd grown up to be so fucked up? Well, never again. "Well, there's our girl," he said, the sudden light, casual tone jarring after the deep growling rumble.