pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere

Rhythm's tender voice brought him back to her and he leaned down and closed what little space he'd made when annoyed with her choice of words. Over time his hatred of Rhythm's mongrels had mellowed to indifference before they had been forgotten entirely as their relevance faded from the world stage. Because of this he was unaware of Rhythm's grandchildren through that wretched line and his offense had stemmed from the belief that she had been referring to the children of Rhyme as her grandchildren and hers alone, which was not the case. Those children, while he thought their parents too foolish and soft to bear and raise Imperialis offspring properly, were still blood relatives. Though not in name they were still his grandchildren and it was only their father that stood between them an a relationship with their grandfather.

"I can't believe she's gone," said Rhythm in a small voice. "I know," he replied gently. He'd felt similarly when Cascade had died. It had been hard to wrap his head around the fact that one moment she had been so snappy and full of life, and then the next she had been gone never to harass, pick fights or counsel him again. Valentine knew what it was to be devastated. Though they didn't see eye to eye on most things Valentine was willing to admit that Shaye had been a good woman. She'd believed strongly in her pack and while she had been, in his opinion, foolish and naive about the true workings of the world, even he could admire her commitment and moxie.

Valentine sighed."I'm sorry, Rhythm. I know you two were close." She agreed it was time to go to Chaos and indicated she would follow him to his son. Valentine snorted a soft laugh and smiled gently before nodding to himself. One more date. "How's this for a game plan then: we see Chaos, we got to Abaven and then once you are settled, we have our date?"

-exit?-