Gathering of friends

[survivesitall]

It had taken a lot to convince Clayton this was a good idea. He didn't like having people around his home he didn't need to, and liked crowds even less. But Elena had insisted, some of the people invited as close to Pack as they'd have here, and others hopefully trusted friends. He'd even coughed up a name or two when she pushed, something that made her happy. She found she had a lot of leverage since she'd agreed to start trying for children, even if that was something that scared her no matter how much Jeremy had told them of their future.

The setup was simple enough. They'd opened up the doors to the barn and set tables around in front of it. Clay had set up a spit with a deer, and it was likely better if no one asked how they'd caught it. There was a regular grill sizzling with sausages and for whatever people brought, and a bowls of salads for anyone who wanted them. Elena wsn't sure of how much others ate, but she knew she and Clay could pack away enough for three humans. There were pies inside the house for later, once they'd all eaten their fill of everything else.

There might have been a chill on the air, but that just made the day more special to Elena. There were only a few more weekends they could do this before it got too cold for most.

Comments

[notaretriever]

Such a thing is difficult for Luke and even here he hasn't really made the attempt. There's Derek, Jason and Ron, but beyond them there are few people Luke trusts. He's never been given much reason to trust people, even other wolves.

"Did your packs have leaders where you're from?" he asks curiously. "I was a pack leader for a long time and that position... well, it's different."

[thelocalpsychopath]

Clayton didn't know half of the people who had come to Elena's party but he was playing nice. It helps a bit that he could smell other wolves. Sure, the age old instinct to growl and protect his pack (well, Elena) is there but he was learning not to look at every wolf as a Mutt and therefore a threat.

Hearing someone approach, he glances up at the young girl with the bright blue eyes and grunts in agreement. "It does." A slight pause. "How much do you want?"

[thelocalpsychopath]

Clayton understands being somewhat of a loner. Even with being an anthropology professor, he prefers to avoid crowds and anyone who isn't Pack. If it wasn't for Elena and Jeremy, and a need for money, he would probably refuse to leave his home and be perfectly fine with it. But Elena needs people, she even likes them, and so he tries for her benefit because it makes her happy. And Elena being happy and safe is pretty much his driving force these days.

So he accepts that she wants a party and he has to admit that he is somewhat curious about the people she invites. Especially the man he doesn't recognize who looks nervous about being there.

Drawing close, he studies him with an inscrutable gaze as he lifts his chin in greeting. "Hello. Are you a friend of Elena's?"

[thelocalpsychopath]

Clayton doesn't normally like parties and, honestly, he isn't sure that he likes this one yet. Still, it makes Elena happy and that is enough for him even while he wonders if she is trying to build herself or the both of them some kind of Pack. He doesn't feel the need for that sort of thing but he can see how she would.

So he is there and he is even being polite as he keeps an eye on the food. There is a lot of it, of course. Probably more than they actually needed too but Clayton knows all too well how much a werewolf could eat and he knows there is at least a couple of them coming which is why he makes sure there is lots of food to be had.

Standing near the spit, he glances over the party again as he searches for Elena. There is a lot of people that he doesn't know but maybe that will change.

[notaretriever]

There are a lot of wolves here, enough to confuse Luke's sense of smell a little, but when he man approaches he still knows easily enough that he's not human. He smiles a little and nods, his chin dipping. Elena had been good to him his first day where when he'd been bloodied and bruised, aching from his broken leg and heartsick at having been taken from Jocelyn and Clary. If this man is here, if he's a friend of Elena's, Luke sees no reason why he shouldn't be honest.

"Hello. And, yes, I suppose so," he says. "I met her my first day here and she... she helped me out." Wolf's honour, she'd promised, an expression that still makes Luke grin. "I think she sensed a kindred spirit."

It's vague enough that it might not mean anything, but he hopes significant enough that the other man understands what he's saying. He's like them, a wolf, too. "I'm Luke Garroway."

[thelocalpsychopath]

Clayton relaxes a touch when the other man tells him about how he met Elena. "Right, I think she mentioned something about that." Most likely he had been reading or working on a paper which meant he wasn't always paying as much attention as he should be when she was talking. Probably something she knew all too well.

Reaching out to take his hand, he nods again. "Clayton Danvers. Nice to meet you." He adds the last part as he remembers that it's usually nice to add a statement like that when meeting someone.

[notaretriever]

Luke smiles, shaking his hand and he knows he looks nervous, but he relaxes a little, feeling slightly less anxious now that someone is speaking to him. "And you know Eleana from... before?"

He's used to tiptoeing around certain topics, having been unable to tell anyone but Jocelyn that he was a wolf for such a long time. It's the same here, asking people if they're from Darrow or if they've come from somewhere else.

[thelocalpsychopath]

The corners of Clayton's mouth twitch at the question as he nods. "I do." He actually starts to smirk. "Elena is actually my mate." He only says it so easily because he is pretty sure that his nose is right in telling him that this man is like him and Elena. He could be wrong but he was pretty sure that wasn't the case.

[survivesitall]

It's later in the day when she goes over to him, wrapping her arms around him from behind and resting her cheek against the back of his shoulder. Most of the day has been spent talking to people, but she's never been far from him. A quick look and smile, or a touch when she passes has been her way of keeping him in her focus and letting him know how much she appreciates all of this.

But now most of the food is gone, and people are saying their goodbyes. The light is fading, and the wedge of the moon hangs over them fighting against the remaining sun. "It was a good day. Thank you."

[survivesitall]

"We had an Alpha. Jeremy, he was here for a little while." And then just as quickly he'd gone, making them miss him all the more. "He said that I'd be Alpha someday, succeed him. I'm still not sure I believe that."

[survivesitall]

It may be abrupt, but it's welcome too. Elena hugs back, fairly sure she understands. She grew up in foster homes, and the Pack had been her family - a real family, no matter how complicated things got with her and Clayton.

[huffanpuff]

Bigby's not sure at all what the fuck he's doing here. Sure, there's food and beer, but that's never been much of a motivator for him; he can get his own food if needs be, and he's not nearly as fond of booze as he is of his smokes. Wolves might be pack animals by nature, but Bigby's never had one. Mostly, he was here because he was curious.

Food didn't suck, though, so there was that.

It was a party, but still, Bigby kept to himself. He ate, he drank, he spoke when spoken to. And, most importantly, he observed.

[not_crazy]

"I'm sure it'll taste fine," she said. And yes, she meant it. She was pretty good at trying new things. Glancing at her, she smiled. "It sounds nice. The big family, I mean. I sort of had a small one, but they meant a lot. It's hard here sometimes being without them."

Nathan, Audrey, Duke. Especially Duke. They'd welcomed her in and it meant a lot to her. Maybe that was why it was hard to let go.

"Did you live in a place like this back home, too?" she asked, not wanting to get all gloomy. Really not her intention. "Sort of out of the way, I mean."

[notaretriever]

It's an interesting concept, one Luke's pack had never really adhered to. He'd spent three years with another wolf, he'd loved her in his way, but she hadn't been Jocelyn. Most wolves in his pack had been the same, forging relationships much in the same manner as humans despite spending most of their time in their wolf form.

But that was a long time ago. With the exception of the full moon, Luke doesn't spend much time as a wolf anymore and hasn't for thirteen years.

But he nods his understanding and resists the urge to say he left his behind. Jocelyn has never been his mate. "And so you live here together," he says with a smile.

[notaretriever]

Luke's gaze drifts away then, knowing the only way his pack would have found a new leader was with his death. "It's different where I'm from," he says with a faint twist of a smile. "Pack leaders have to die to be replaced. Die or be challenged for the role."

And even that almost always resulted in death.

[thelocalpsychopath]

It is honestly the little touches, the quick looks and the smiles that keep Clayton centered and calm as he deals with a bunch of people that he doesn't know. A lot of them were actually pretty interesting and there was a couple that really stuck out in his mind which meant he wanted to talk to Elena about them eventually but not right away. Right now he just wants some time alone with her without a bunch of people around.

So he is relieved when the time comes for people to go home and to leave theirs empty once more except for the two of them. Glancing over his shoulder as she presses herself against his back, he nods as he slides a hand over her arms. "You're welcome."

[thelocalpsychopath]

"Yes." Clayton nods as he glances over his shoulder at the house behind them. "It's a lot better than living in the apartment building where we were living before." He looks back. "I don't really like small spaces like that. At least here I don't have to worry about anyone seeing me naked if I misplace my clothes."

Which had happened to him at least once when he had first arrived in Darrow. "People tend to freak out a bit when they spot a man walking around naked in the middle of a city. Or anywhere, really."

[thelocalpsychopath]

Clayton took notice of the other man pretty much almost immediately because of the fact that he was keeping to himself. He wasn't throwing himself into the party and being all chatty like some of the others. No, he was actually acting...well, much like Clayton did.

So, eventually, he made his way over because the curiosity got the better of him. Something that didn't happen all that often.

"Hello." He said by way of greeting though it was short and rough with his southern accent. "See anything interesting?"

[survivesitall]

"We did. I mean, not always. I grew up in Toronto," she explains, knowing that the city would always be a sort of home for her. It was a touchstone in her life, a constant no matter what else had been happening. "But we had a house in Upstate New York. Bigger than this, but this is enough for just the two of us."

[survivesitall]

"They do as far as I've known too." Not that Elena has known another Pack leader than Jer, but she's read the histories. "Apparently he plans to retire. Things changed a lot, I guess."

[survivesitall]

"Was it so bad?" It's his opportunity to grumble, her smile not faltering. She owes him that much and honestly she doesn't mind that he's happy with just the two of them because understands - somewhat - that she needs friends too,

Elena catches his hand with one of hers, twisting her fingers through his. "Think we can leave clean up until tomorrow?"

[survivesitall]

"You came," she says with a smile, making her way over to him. The deer has been served up and it's good to see people eating and enjoying. Even if some still lurk around the edges. "Welcome."

[rulesofthewild]

She blinks the blue away and looks up at him with human eyes. "All of it," she says, bluntly honest. "But that's probably not allowed, so. As much as you can spare?" She shifts slightly. "O-or maybe you could even take me hunting so I could get my own and keep it for later!" She likes the prospect, even though she doesn't know Clay as well as she does Elena. But she can't take a deer down on her own.

[rulesofthewild]

After a moment, Malia tenses and eases away. She looks shy, more than uncomfortable. "Sorry," she mumbles.

[notaretriever]

Luke's mouth twitches at that, another smile, and he nods his agreement. He remembers that first time he'd turned, stumbling back home to Alicante, pounding on his sister's door and begging to be let in, naked and streaked with dirt and blood.

It hasn't happened like that since then.

"I've had to be fairly careful," he says. "I have a place in the city and I don't mind it, but..." He trails off and nods again. "Well, it's a challenge at times." But he'd managed it in New York, he can manage it here.