Not One Of Us (Imperialis Family)

Chaos was the first to arrive. He bumped Valentine’s shoulder as he passed by and Valentine reciprocated by bumping his shoulder playfully against Chaos’s hip hard enough to hopefully cause him to sidestep a little bit. He would be damned to ever let any of his children think age had weakened him - and if he’d known Chaos was thinking something along those lines he would have had something to say about it. “Good,” he groused. “I don’t want to repeat myself all damn day.”

Next was Aerndis who received a gruff, “Morning.” from him. He had a reputation as a sourpuss to maintain. Valentine’s eyes trailed those who arrived silently but he didn’t offer more than a nod as a greeting. Lyra, his granddaughter, who it seemed was about as cheerful as Rhys had been at that age, offered him a chirpy greeting. As it had been with Aerndis, his response to her was gruff. “Hey kid.” Again, his reputation.

Finally he could stall no longer. It was time to get down to business. “I know this is short notice so I’m glad you all could make it. As a family we’re not a pack so normally I wouldn’t ask everyone together like this, but I made a decision recently that affects you all and I think it only fair that you be made aware of it, and that you have a chance to decide if you can live with it.”

“I think most of you were at the battlefield for the fight between...” for the life of him he couldn’t remember their names. A crazy wannabe god and a demon’s dirty bitch. Head cases, both of them. That part he remembered clearly. “Those two strange fuckers so you remember what happened with Rhyme. His embarrassing behavior that day cemented something for me that I couldn’t shake. Some of you may not know so I’ll repeat it: he fathered children with Shaye Destruction, a cousin he grew up with, and some weak slave mongrel.”

Valentine briefly paused to gather his thoughts. “His behavior has concerned me for sometime. After escaping the slavers I thought he needed time to adjust, but I don’t believe that’s the case anymore.” His thoughts drifted to when Rhyme had agreed to co alpha Abaven with Shaye. Initially Valentine had brushed it off, but now he realized it was the first symptom of many. “It’s for those reasons that I’ve taken the name Imperialis from him. He’s made it clear he struggles with making decisions and upholding this family’s values, and I believe he is a danger to the Imperialis name. I refuse to let this name be worn by inferior specimens; history has shown that tolerance for weakness leads to the extinction of a family.” How many in Boreas had heard the name Armada and thought anything of it. Valentine was willing to beat few had. Why? Because it meant nothing - because that old white bastard had knocked up every man, woman and goat he could get his paws on regardless of whether or not that individual was a strong one, and he’d allowed his children to do the same. He’d both made and destroyed his name in a single generation. Valentine wasn’t about to let that happen to the Imperialis. He wasn’t going to let his family crumble while he still walked the earth. If that meant making sacrifices, he had to be willing to do that.

"Let me be clear: I don't regret my decision. I didn't call you all here to admit my failings and beg for forgiveness for what I've done in our name. I stand by my decision and I'll maintain it was the right one even if each and every one of you leave here today having forsaken the Imperialis name." He may have been old, but Valentine wasn't afraid to go out, make more heirs and try again. "I called you here because all of you either share my name or my blood and you deserve to know why Rhyme and possibly Abaven might hate you." They deserved forewarning should Rhyme seek to retaliate and get back at his old man by targeting those Valentine thought worthy of the name Imperialis.

"Most of you are aware of my opinions and what I expect of those who fly the Imperialis banner. I thought it only fair to tell you how far I'm willing to go to protect it from those who would harm its legacy - and it's for that reason that I also called you here to give you a choice. If you can't live with what I've done, what I'm willing to do and what I expect of the Imperialis clan, now is your chance to give it up and take up a name and make a legacy you can live with." If there were any who took up his offer Valentine wouldn't call for their shunning. He would much rather they live their lives under a name that suited them than struggle to fit his expectations - and fail.

Valentine sighed and briefly looked over the heads of those gathered and into the distance. There was one last thing he needed to say. Quieter this time, he said, "I don't expect you to cut Rhyme from your lives. I understand my decision may have harmed your relationship with him irreparably, but know that if you choose to pursue a relationship with him it won't put you at odds with me. While he may not share your name anymore, he is still your family and many of you did grow up with him."

He'd run out of things to say so after a beat, Valentine cleared his throat, shrugged, braced for impact and said, "That's all I got. Hit me." He'd take whatever they threw his way.