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Lupercalia Festival

The Festival (February 15th) CLOSED TO WEREWOLVES AND EAST END ALLIES

James has been anxiously anticipating this holiday ever since last year. Not out of excitement. But terror instead. Ever since their Alpha's abandonment of the pack, James has been steadily rising in the pack's esteem as the next potential Alpha and it has not been easy to do so. Greenwich went over well with the pack and he was hoping the good will from the territory claim would allow him some liberties with this festival but... as it is, he's afraid of falling out of their good graces.

Lupercalia is about change. Growing up and sacrifice are the themes but it's a surprisingly jovial holiday for anyone who has grown up with the tradition. James is not one of those few but he wouldn't dare try to change things too much.

For those that have been waiting to activate their curses; those that would oppose or hunt werewolves have been gathered and held for the express purpose of killing them. Up until now, they have been well taken care of and even before their death they're plied with drink and food and generally they're too drunk to fight back. It's considered good manners to make sure they're well fed and plenty sloshed before being killed.

Vampire allies, the few humans involved in the organization of the rave and werewolf hunters are all game. Traditionally, the elderly of the pack would be included in the list of sacrifices. Especially those directly related to the young wolves who are activated their curses, in the belief that the closer relation would be better for the sacrifice. In the interest of modernizing an already bloody holiday, James has arranged it so that is off the table. The move hasn't gone over well with the more conservative and traditional pack members, which makes James even less likely to step on toes today.

The activation of ones curse is considered to be a highly intimate moment and in the interest of keeping it more private, the sacrifices are taking place inside the house. When the time comes those with inactivated curses are ushered inside along with their sacrifice and they're left alone to complete it together.

Once the new werewolf emerges, they're integrated back into the festivities as a full fledged member of the pack.

The festival is also meant to honor those who have activated their curse since the last festival. And for just one night they're treated like kings and queens. (It isn't exactly kosher for women to activate their curses as natural born werewolves are hard to come by, but should it happen they are not frowned on).

Games, food and dancing are accessible to anyone who is eligible to attend. In the interest of safety the festival is being held in the courtyard of a beautiful home - some say it belongs to one of the oldest members of the pack, but no one is really sure - and there is enough security to ensure that only those that belong are present. Allies of the pack are welcomed just as easily as werewolves might be but if you're a vampire or even remotely smell like one you'll be getting grilled before being allowed in.

Wake (February 16th-17th) OPEN

In honor of the dead and their sacrifice (willing or not) James has elected to have there be a wake of sorts after the festival. It's in the same courtyard as the festival was but it's far more upbeat than any wake was thought to be, thanks to the liberal amount of alcohol and food. But should one wish to pay their respects to the dead, there is a less frivolous corner of the courtyard that has many candles and pieces of paper meant to write good wishes to the deceased. A candle can be lit in their memory and there are a few objects strewn about that look like offerings to their memory.

This little change from the norm is teetering on not going over well with the more established families in the pack. But so far everything seems to be going swimmingly...

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Kyle hesitated, uncertain whether the man intended intended to cut him free or just chop off his hands for funsies. After a beat, he seemed to accept that the former was more likely and did offer his bound hands to the man. Though his eyes kept an eye out for a hatchet or machete, it occurred to him that a werewolf might not need one. He wasn't really sure what all powers they had, but assumed they weren't all that removed from vampires if the two normally fought each other.

"Is that confidential?" He asked curiously, wondering if he should be keeping his mouth shut about it. Kyle was, after all, a soldier.

"Do you care?"

James wasn't taking into consideration just how good soldiers were at keeping their ears open and their mouths shut. To him, people would talk eventually - it was just a matter of motivation: money, love, fear, whatever.

Everyone had a motivator that would get them to spill it.

The only question was what was Kyle's?

James sprouted a claw and shredded through the ropes that were binding his hands with a few quick percise swipes. Benefits of Moonlight Jewelry.

He wasn't sure how to answer that. It seemed like a trap question. But it wouldn't be Kyle if he stopped to think too hard about it or choose his words. Instead, he shrugged and resisted the urge to flinch as the man freed his wrists. "Would I ask if I didn't?"

He gently rubbed at one wrist and then the other, as if physical contact would make the chafing any better. It seemed like the thing to do. After dropping his hands, he straightened and then offered a hand in proper greeting. "Kyle Sutton."

"Wish it was under better circumstances," he grimaced, hating having to admit he was wrong but not being too proud to avoid doing it.

But James shook his hand nonetheless. He also avoided answering Kyle's question himself. Mostly because he didn't know how to answer it. But he had more pressing questions to ask.

"I don't suppose you remember the name of the wolf who brought you in. I'm going to have to do something about that. If you're telling the truth, that is."

Kyle didn't need to be reminded of the circumstances. He was trying to be the bigger man in offering the handshake, because at least the guy freed him, but there were still way too many questions and too much prodding at his anxieties to simply walk away in high spirits. The soldier wanted out of this place pretty much as fast as possible.

"I am," he replied defensively. "I didn't even get your name, I don't know how you expect me to remember his."

"Weren't you told to ask for James Memon?"

He asked with a quick smirk. The soldier boy wasn't too quick on the pick up was he? Still, James saw an opportunity for good publicity with Kyle.

"Besides, I can't simply let this sort of accident just pass without any reprimand."

The wolf that brought Kyle in would have to answer for his mistake.

"Oh. So you are him." Kyle rolled his shoulder into a shrug of sorts. He hadn't known for certain that the lawyer he was told to ask for and the man who actually showed up were one and the same. Apparently he was important too, although something about the idea of James Memon as a Commanding Officer annoyed him. Not that he could put his finger on it.

"I don't know his name. He was around my height. Short blond hair, kinda shaggy. Preppy kid, looked like he belonged on a yacht. Probably his dad's." Not that Kyle was biased against the wealthy who rarely seemed to face the consequences of their actions.

James can't help the snicker at the description - not being from a traditionally wealthy family, he has plenty of resentment for those entitled types. And by the sound of it James knows exactly who this is...

"Thompson Grey. Old wolf family."

Normally, James would be dreading bringing the hammer down on someone with influence. But this was a little different. This is how he could show his teeth. An opportunity to really show off without hurting anyone who couldn't defending themselves.

"Great. Look, I don't care if you punish him or not. You have to deal with all the political bullshit. I just want to walk the fuck away right now and not stay at this damn genocide any more." Kyle frowned in the direction of the party he knew was going on outdoors, resenting the celebratory nature of this entire event while he knew people were being murdered. It was hard to ignore that and, had he not been brought here as a goat to the slaughter, he probably would have put up a bigger fight for everyone else. Right now, he was in too much shock to understand the weight of it.

The soldier looked to James Memon, eager to end the conversation. "That alright with you, or is there going to be another problem?"

He laughs, exhaustion cutting through it but he laughs nonetheless.

"Maybe don't make that opinion known outside. This is part of the culture here."

From the sound of it, he's not too crazy about this either. The humanity he was born into balks at the savage nature of this festival but being a werewolf as he is now, he sees the necessity of tradition when it came to saving face.

Kyle holds the man's gaze a moment, uncertain whether he senses an empathy and kindred concern in James Memon or if he's misreading the lawyer's tone and looking for something that's absent. He assumes the latter. If the alpha disagreed, wouldn't he do something to stop or curb the festivities? Instead, here they are. At least a little less likely to die now, in Kyle's case.

"Sure. I'll be all rainbows and puppies out there," he remarks, turning towards the door. For some reason he can't quite explain, Kyle waits to ensure that the man is walking out with him instead of leaving James Memon behind. He offers a sincere, albeit almost begrudging, "Thanks for believing me."

"I appreciate it," he says wryly in the face of Kyle's sarcasm.

As Kyle begins to turn towards the door, James keeps in step with him - it would be best if they were seen leaving the building together and parting amicably. That way no one would dare to lay a finger on him.

"You had someone to vouch for you. Strongly - I might add."

He starts to smile as he thinks about how fiercely Alex demanded he be safe. It pays to have friends around here.

Kyle's eyes dart over to James at the remark as he walks congenially with the man out towards the party. He adopts a smile the second they're out the door, used to playing the tough, happy guy even with the situation was a shit show. Football had drilled that into him enough that he recalls it fairly easily.

"Who?" He asks. He can guess, but he's not sure between Alex, who's apparently a werewolf with the group, and Skip, who he knows is involved and who might be looking out for him. The last thing the ex-soldier wants to do is offer the wrong name and give away even more information about himself than James already knows. Not in this situation.

James, however, is practically an open book after tonight. Idly, he wonders if he's fueling some teenage drama - because that actually sounds fun - before shrugging all cavalier.

"Alex had taken a shine to you apparently."

Yes, she hadn't completely and vehemently opposed the whole evening. Just yours.

"Thanks for the tip," he murmurs. Although grateful, Kyle's still pissed about the mix-up and kind of wants to punch James Memon in the face. Instead, he turns to face the man and offers a hand, more because he's pretty sure it'll save his own skin than for any kind of amicable parting. Maybe he can be cordial later. For now, he's angry.

"Hope I never see you again," he offers, once ensuring no one's listening to them over the noise of the event around them.

"Charming."

James comments wryly as he shakes Kyle's hand. He'd love to say the same, but he has an image to uphold so he simply smiles and releases his hand.

"Enjoy your night."

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Lupercalia Festival

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