"The shooting may have something to do with the particularly heightened pitch of the festival, but it isn't the reason for all of it. It is Pride, and there is a Cajun music festival being held, and I think down in the markets there is even a festival for tomatoes, of all things," Yrael chuckles, grinning at Jim.

Humans celebrate some weird things.

"If there are haters on the margins, they hopefully will be aware enough to keep themselves to themselves. They may provoke more than they wish to face," Yrael remarks, waving with a smile for the next small but varied group of individuals to come along the parade. They all are bedecked with the bright colors of Pride, waving and handing out strings of beads (Yrael gets shiny green beads of his own), but their banner is specific. Mutant Pride.