cantfightmoonlight

[cantfightmoonlight]

A sigh broke from her lips as she motioned to the chair across from him as she asked, "May I?" waiting for some acknowledgement on his part before she sat down in the seat across from him. "You don't have to try to fake friendliness with me, you know," She told him flat out. Her dark eyes meeting his as she told him transparently, "You don't even have to like me. Most don't. But, I'd like to think I know a thing or two about death and, while celebrating what you are now is probably the last thing on the face of the planet you want to do, one of the many tragic things about being a vampire is that our deaths and our lives before often go without being remembered. There are no funerals. There is often no closure and, because we heal or appear fine at first glance, the wounds we carry go unnoticed. We celebrate the dead. We cry and grieve together. But, not the undead, because for them, there is no loss. But, it is not the same for you and I. So, you can ignore it," She motioned to the slick package tied together with a silver ribbon and a wax seal. "If you'd like. But, I choose to remember the you, you used to be, before you became the you, you're discovering now. Take that for what you will." What happened to him, as much as he was clearly trying to still avoid it, was real. Saying it out loud or acknowledging it wouldn't make it less so, not matter how much he put off doing so.

A raise of his eyes was the silent greeting she was first met with, his brow furrowing at the box being shoved in his direction. Julian stared at it, at the intricate wrapping, and for a flash of a second he wondered if this was some kind of bitter joke. She got him a gift. On his first anniversary. Happy Death Day, Jules. Drumming his fingers on his thigh, he looked up at her for a second too long before saying, in an even and relatively friendly tone, “Hello, Meena.” His eyes danced between the box and her. “What’s this?” He knew what she’d come to talk about, and he fought against squirming in his chair. Instead he readjusted and rested his forearms against the table, hands hovering on either side of the present. He wasn’t sure if he should accept it, he also wasn’t sure what was in it.

#julian ft. meena #c: meena

[cantfightmoonlight]

@lunarcovestarters

Option A: Leyla

TW Blood

Shit. A shaky breath left her lips as she placed the heavy bucket of soap and water down with the thud. Every muscle in her body was begging her to curl up into a tiny little ball, to pull the covers as high as they would go and stay in bed for the next eternity, or even worse, do what the Selvi's did best- run without ever daring to look back. Her best friend was in the hospital thanks to her biological sister who, from the not so subtle message sprawled across the windows of her coffee shop, had used Aiyla's own blood to write it. She felt she was going to be sick, but rather than letting herself break down into tears, Leyla did the only thing else she knew how to do. She threw herself into task, scrubbing away at the horror scene of vandalism before her rather than let anyone feel the gut-wrenching sensation that she currently did. She had gotten nearly all of it but 'think again' cleared up before she felt the presence of someone behind her. "Fu-dge," She jumped, spinning around on her feet to catch the other's glance. "You scared me," Leyla mumbled out, ringing out the sponge in her hand and trying her best not to wrinkle her nose too much as she watched the blood run down her hands into the bucket.

Option B: Jasmine

"Mhm," Jas winced slightly as she rubbed her sore wrists. The metallic cuffs glistening in the sun almost could be mistaken as a fashion choice. Almost, except for the fact that they were latched onto her skin. The distinct and ancient charms cut off any access she had to her magic. Now, as she sipped her cup of coffee, attempting to reschedule all of the ghost tours the Seen It Route was having this week, the cuffs, besides the relatively hefty weight for bracelets, weren't much of a bother. They were clunky, for sure, but they no longer hurt. Though, the immediate pain she had felt when they had been placed on still lingered in her thoughts along with the fact that for the first time in weeks, the world seemed silent. While, she hadn't exactly been looking forward to paying the cost for something she had done over six months ago, she'd be lying if the fact she couldn't be harassed by the dead or overwhelmed by the coven's judgements that she had 'gotten off scott-free' while Rohan had not, had been nice. And now, hopefully, her name wouldn't be able to be thrown around as a weapon against her sister, the Supreme, or her boyfriend, the Alpha's character. The only problem remained, how the hell was she going to rebook five different tours and how many refunds was she going to have to give? A groan slipped out as she rubbed at her temples. "Who knew scheduling would be so complicated."

Option C

PTSD, Depression tw

Meena sat at the end of the bar. It was one of the first times she had sat, period, after the past few days. Aaliyah was finally healed up and headed back home. The emptiness in her house was hardly lost on her. Her eyes drained of even the slightest hint of a spark as she milked the glass of wine in hand. Her thumb and forefinger swirling the stem back and forth as if she was completely and utterly memorized by the red liquor. She was more angry than anyone could possibly imagine. The Catalyst had hurt her own and one who was older and, by proxy, physically stronger than even she was. But, on top of ever fiber of her being being filled with rage, she also felt entirely drained. The typical curve of her lips, her signature smirk, was no where to be found. Instead, the clan leader was entirely and utterly numb. Too exhausted to even bother to fake it anymore. It wasn't until someone slide into the open seat beside her that she finally took a moment to glance up. "I'd say care to join me, but I take it you already have?"

Option D: Elif

"Oh hey, come in, come in. Please make yourself comfortable," She assured them as she ushered her next client into her office. She'd be lying if she said business hadn't been slow recently, which one likely wouldn't expect with a therapist's office given how much had been going on in town these days. From the attacks to a witch getting their magic stripped to a death curse, you would think, now, more than ever, her scheduled would be booked solid. But, instead, the office almost felt like a ghost town. As if people were too afraid to attempt to start to process what they had collectively gone through, let alone talk about it. The chill in the air these days was unsettling to say the least. But, thankfully, there was one brave soul who had come to see her today and maybe that alone was hope.

#blood tw #depression tw #ptsd tw #c: elif #c: jasmine #c: meena #c: leyla #just way too much going on with all of my bbies rn so have a ton of starter options

[cantfightmoonlight]

Fuck. It only took a tilt of her wrist to know that she was running late. The tilt of the hands beneath the glass face of the diamond encrusted watch were practically taunting her. Tantalizing her for having lost track of time.

She hadn't expected the 'quick stop' by the Country Club to take so long, but it seemed that a pent up wolf had taken their frustrations from their failed rounds on the green out on one of the golf clubs and, while Meena put up with a lot, she had zero tolerance for disrespect. So, after one unnecessarily tedious membership revocation, she was strutting her way across the lawn in five inch stiletto heels with a glass bottle of O- from a user who had been high off their ass on cocaine. It might not have had the same ring to it a bottle of an 1869 Chateau Lafite would, but given that it was essentially a perfect bottled up high that could help reduce any vampire's heft tolerance, she figured a certain vampire would appreciate it and hopefully forgive her for being a few minutes late. Tossing her purse over into the passenger seat, she slipped behind the wheel of her Aston Martin and was off. Speeding through the empty streets of Celestials with the car's top down and the music blasting.

She should have known better. After the attacks on J.C. and Royce, she should have fucking known. She should have been on guard. She should have never put on the radio of all of the idiotic things. But, it had intended to be for Poppy. The fire. J.C. attacked because Nico had left the meeting early. They had been repeating the Council leaders murders, so obviously the intended targets had to be them. It had to have been her. But, the truth had been glaring at her all along and she had missed it.

Having been running late, she had chosen to pull in through the back entrance. Something she rarely if ever did and, yet, it had to have been tonight. If she had pulled in through the front- if she had driven down the windy driveway, past the ostentatious front gate, she likely would have spotted them. But, no. She pulled in through the hidden entrance around back. Her car slipping through the garage, where she had been just out of reach to hear any scream let alone the faintest of cusses.

She hummed like a god damn fool as she wandered through the many halls of the west wing. The bottle dangling between her fingers as she made her way towards the Grand Foyer. Placing the rare procurement of blood on her bar cart, she was about to wander over to the door to offer Aaliyah up her sweetest of smiles and pleading doe eyed look in the hopes of being forgiven for her tardiness. But, one step forwards and her stomach dropped.

The distinct thud sent her blood running cold. In a split second, she was across the room. The vervain dipped dagger kept tucked away on her hip drawn as she pressed her ear against the edge of the door. But, rather than being met with silence, she heard the weight of footsteps followed by a sound that sent chills down her spine. The sound of someone choking on their own blood. No. The door flung open. The dagger thrown. The sharp blade made a beeline towards the assailant, but the masked figured vanished into the shadows. The blade clattered onto the grass in what was once their stead.

No. She sank to her knees. Now was not the time to be sentimental. It was not the time for her hands to be shaking. Her chest clenching up at the thought of how it was all happening all over again. While Meena had managed to parade around town better than the best of them after she had received what she had believed to be Theo's heart in a box, the truth was that night broke her even more than she already was. She never let it show, not once, but when she had opened what she had believed to be an apology gift from her husband- some ill-thought out, but relatively charming grand gesture in an attempt to appease her and allow him to come home rather than spend the night god knows where with god knows who- to see a still beating heart starring back at her, she pulled herself inside. Locked the door into place behind her and sank to the floor. The trophy wife who always managed to wear a smile, the cold hearted bitch of Lunar Cove- it hardly matter the title or what they called her. The fragile girl who spent far too many hours of far too many days wearing a perfectly crafted mask wailed. She weeped as if her insides had been the one to be torn out. She sobbed and sobbed alone. Not a soul would ever hear. Not a soul would ever know. But, she curled herself up into a frail little ball, back pressed up against that same goddamn front door, and shattered. The already cracked pieces splinted into a million different shards upon the floor with no one there to pick her up but herself.

The days would repeat like that for weeks. She'd dress from head to toe in the most chic white clothes as she planned her own husband's funeral. They'd call her insensitive and point their fingers with only a small handful realizing that white, for her, was the color to wear out of respect when mourning. She'd run for Mayor. Through herself into her campaign and be 'the leader' the town needed in a time of crisis. All while she was dying bit by bit every passing day. Shut the door and allow yourself to break. Over and over again. Always being the one to carry the burden and never let anyone ever see her sweat.

She had been through this before. She had dealt with panic and the pain. Even if the love she had held for Teddy had hardly been romantic, she had already lost the last person she had ever thought would see her for her worst and stay and, yet, somehow, opening that door again to see her advisor helplessly there, chest carved open, heart still beating as the blood pooled around it- there was no doubt in her mind that this was worse.

Fuck. Carefully, Meena swept Aaliyah fragile frame up into her arms. Her thumb tracing soft circles against the skin that had been seared with vervain as the words "I'm sorry" broke from her lips. Two words that were no more than a faint murmur that would be swept up in and lost in the wind as she sped them inside.

She had been staked before. Plenty of times actually and Meena knew from experience just how much of a pain in an ass it could be. But, Aaliyah wasn't healing which could only mean one thing. Laying Aaliyah gently down against the bed in the room that once was her's husband's (though it had been entirely redecorated), Meena was gone and back once more with a blink of an eye. This time with a pair of tweezers that had been sanitized and a bowl for the splinters in hand. Gently lifting Aaliyah's head up into her lap, Meena did what she did best. She became completely and utterly desensitized and, after a promise that she was here and a squeeze of Aaliyah's hand, she began. She meticulously pulled out every damn splinter, knowing far too well that Aaliyah would hardly remember any of it. Pain like this would be far too unbearable to be able to pay attention to anything that was going on. Though, her free hand still combed its way through Aaliyah's matted curls as she hummed the faintest tune of a lullaby as if to keep her mind on anything that wasn't the state she was in and the newly added chandelier above their heads.

When ever last bit of wood was removed, she brought the blood to Aaliyah's lips, thankful that she had grabbed this specific blend, if only so that the high may be able to dull some of the pain. It would only be after her chest had finally closed up, her wounds cleaned, her bloody and torn garments changed and her eyes fallen closed that Meena would even notice the note. Slipping the crumbled up piece of paper out of Aaliyah's fingers, she'd dip into the hall. Her stomach would drop once more and she'd slip away up the stairs to her room on the other side of the house. It would only be for a moment, but she'd crumble up into a ball in her closet. Knowing fully well that Aaliyah wouldn't be able to hear her in the insulated room, she'd break once more. Her lungs would close up. The tears would stream down her face and she'd sob. Allowing the weight of the world to come down upon her all at once, Meena would let herself truly and entirely feel. To let the weight of the Catalyst's words sink into her skin and know that this was all her fault.

Your husband and his Council let me take the blame for their misdeeds and now your advisor will take yours.

If she had only not been late, If she had never asked Aaliyah to be her advisor, if she had never married Theodore Moore, then she wouldn't be here right now and neither would the girl downstairs. She had known for a long time that she had made her bed. She just hadn't realized the extent in which she'd have to lie in it and so she'd cry and sob and clasp her hands over her lips as she screamed. She'd let it all in and then, when it all seemed to be too much, she'd forced herself to stand up. Even though every fragment of her being was begging her to stop, she'd let out a deep breath and then another. She'd clean the blood off her hands and wash away the evidence. Even though her skin was still stained, no longer would you be able to tell. Not after she changed her clothes and retouched her face. Amber eyes meeting her reflection with an almost solemn exhale before she'd transcend back down the stairs. She'd climb into the bed beside Aalyiah. She'd, so gently that Aaliyah would hardly even feel it, lift her head once more as she'd wrap her arms around the other and give her the smallest of squeezes. She'd lay there for a while. Her fingers gentling brushing her way through Aaliyah's now clean hair as she went back to humming out some versus of some lullaby and it would only be once Aaliyah began to stir once more that Meena would turn to her and whisper, "I'm sorry I was late. It will never happen again, I promise."

Self-Para the night of Aaliyah's attack that fades into...

Closed starter for @cantfightmoonlight (Meena) Where: Outside Meena's Manor

Even though Aaliyah knew that Meena had plenty of booze, she wanted to bring over her own bottle instead, an older vintage she'd carried with her for years, now, before she was Aaliyah Rose, even. It was a bottle of champagne that had been rescued from a shipwreck, of all things. She'd bought two bottles on a whim using someone else's money and drank the first bottle in the midst of a rather bloody bender, but she'd carried the second with her all this years after being so pleased with the first. She thought it might be nice enough to share, and it was nicer to have someone to share things with. It had been enough to make her go back to her apartment to retrieve it on the way over.

Aaliyah parked her bike and began the walk to Meena's door, humming as she went. Now, here's the thing about old vampires; they're rather hard to sneak up on. She knew someone was there far before they made any attempt to harm her. The misfortune on Aaliyah's part, tragically, was that she was expecting a blow. Tragically, her assailant was just a little bit smarter than that.

As Aaliyah whipped around, something wet and stinging splashed in her face, the acrid sweet stench of vervain overwhelming Aaliyah's senses. Instinctively, she covered her face, trying to wipe the liquid away from her eyes as she got tackled to the ground. She dropped the bottle of champagne, and, in that moment, that was truly the most annoying thing in the world to her. "Son of a bitch," she snarled, her fangs long and ready to snap. She really hated the thought of making a mess on Meena's lawn, but some things just couldn't be helped.

She couldn't see or smell well, but Aaliyah's hearing was just fine. She struck out in the direction of her assailant, satisfied at the sound of pain they emitted as her fist made contact with their jaw. But she was distracted and annoyed, and this wasn't her attacker's first rodeo. She wasn't the oldest vampire to be attacked in front of this house, and look what had happened to him.

Something sharp slid into her skin like a knife to butter, pinning her abdomen to the ground. Wood. It was long and wooden, and, god, it hurt. It was so fucking unexpected. Aaliyah thought there'd be a few more punches, some kicks, maybe a bit more vervain as a distraction. Her hands fought against the one's holding the stake, but it dug in deeper, all the way to the grass under her. She felt like a bug in a glass case, pinned and waiting to be examined.

Or cut open.

"This is going to hurt," a voice rasped in her ear, and the figure looming above her was still blurry in her vervain stained eyes. "Try not to struggle." There was the vervain, more of it poured over her face, trickling into her eyes and nose and mouth. Aaliyah sputtered, unable to cry out loudly as it burned her throat. Her strength was drained with it, her hands clawing uselessly at thick clothing as she attempted to push them away. But she couldn't. Of course she couldn't.

A stake to the abdomen is a nuisance; it won't kill, just irritate and annoy. The best way to kill a vampire is a stake to the chest. Aaliyah knew this, had feared it most of her life. She'd never been truly staked. She'd never thought it would happen to her, not after almost three hundred years.

But a second stake joined the first, this one sharp like a blade and splintered around the edges as it cut through her shirt, exposing her chest. To kill her quick, it would have been slipped between or under her ribs and into her heart. But this wasn't about quick. This was about slow, agonizing pain, wretched and lasting. This was about carving in and opening up.

In the torment of it all, unable to really cry out, Aaliyah was struck with the startling revelation that even dying hadn't been this painful. Even having her fangs ripped out, which had been excruciating, hadn't been this painful, nor had the constant ache of regrowing them. No, nothing was as painful as her chest being opened by a sharpened piece of wood, her body so wracked with it that she couldn't even lift her arms to fight her assailant off. Her flesh was torn, her ribs broken, all in an effort to expose her heart from the cavity of her chest, each new, stuttering beat of it exposed to fresh night air in a way it was never supposed to be.

Hearts were never supposed to be exposed. It beat so wetly, each thud of it echoing in her ear. She'd ripped out people's hearts before, but she'd never done this. She'd never heard a heart beat so loudly outside the body. Aaliyah's heart was still in her chest, but only just

She felt fingers wrap around her it and squeeze, and Aaliyah couldn't help the tears that sprung to her eyes, the pathetic, feeble sound that left her lips. One tug, and it'd be over. Someone literally held her heart in their hands, and they had no intention of being gentle with it. "Are you afraid?" she heard. "Because you should be."

The stake in her stomach was removed, no longer necessary to pin her to the ground. Aaliyah was too weak to fight back, blood gurgling up in her throat and leaking from the giant, gaping wound that used to be her chest. Hands went underneath her arms, and she felt her body being dragged back towards the house. She coughed blood again as she was pulled over the steps to the door, gasping for breath. Something paper was placed in her hand, loosely gripped between her fingers, the doorbell was rang, and without another word, Aaliyah was dropped on the doorstep with a thud.

She felt like a cadaver that had been opened up to be studied, or a dead animal dropped off by a cat in front of someone's door, her insides exposed, her body broken. She couldn't really manage to feel any sort of shame that she'd been overwhelmed, any kind of embarrassment that she'd lost the upperhand yet again. She could barely feel anything at all that wasn't pain, endless and gripping and very, very real.

#drugs tw #blood tw #choking tw #xenophobia tw #panic attack tw #violence tw #gore tw #torture tw #aaliyah ft. meena #c: meena #assault tw

[cantfightmoonlight]

@nicocastillo

Fate was a funny thing. It bobbed and weaved in mysterious ways often leaving a path of reckoning in its place. For Jas, fate had never done her any favors. Fate was the last breath her mother gave as the light flickered out from behind her eyes. Fate was electric pain shooting up her veins as her father wandered back into town the moment things had finally started to calm down. Fate was the loss of her best friend she begged not to stick around. The loss of one life for another again and again and again. Fate was the echoes of a whisper about her, the tasteless thoughts she had no choice but to overhear and the universe's twisted laughter in the face of her own remorse. It was awful thing- fate. It was a being far beyond her control and the worst kind of reminder of how fragile the most precious things life seemed to be and, yet, in all of its tantalizing torment, had brought this man- this beautiful man who was currently struggling to loop the tie properly over around his neck- into her life. She didn't know what she did to deserve it or him, but she'd be damned if she let this moment slip through her fingers.

"Here," She whispered out as she stepped out from the bathroom where she had been getting ready. She wore a white silk dress that clung in all the right place, dipping in to accentuate her waist and the softest smile that had been etched across her lips since the morning, when Nico had noticed the first flower in the backyard bloom. Today was the day. There was no overthinking it. No grand over the top proposal or extraordinarily detail itinerary. They didn't even have rings. But, it didn't matter. It was simple, right down to the suit he was wearing and the subtle dress that fit her frame like a glove, and it was perfect. Just them. Just a boy, a girl and an impulsive, albeit romantic promise to spend the rest of their lives together for however long that may be. "Let me get that for you," She hummed out, her words no more than a faint murmur as if speaking too loudly may shatter the magic that the morning dew had seemed to bring. "There," She beamed up at him and the now fixed up tie. "I'm the luckiest girl the world, you know that, Wonderboy?" She told him breathlessly. Her arms wrapping around his torso as she lifted herself up on her tiptoes. Resting her chin on his shoulder as she couldn't help, but sneak a peak at his reflection in the mirror. "Though, you may just be too good looking," She teased.

#nico ft. jasmine #c: jasmine

[cantfightmoonlight]

Bri's eyes narrowed in on the wolf beside her as she watched Kitty growl in her direction. Fuck. Slowly she reached into her pocket, she dialed her emergency contact who used to be Dilan, but now was Ben, and, thankfully being way too attached to her phone meant that she instantly knew where the speaker mode button was without having to fish the phone out or cause too much movement. "Hello?" She called out, her voice shaky as she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that someone would pick up. "Quick, how do you calm down a wolf who seems rather irresponsive and hungry?" She gulped out, really hoping she didn't end up getting his voicemail. Her gaze shifting back to Kitty's as she pressed her back ever further up against the wall, knowing that she may have to make a dash for it in a moment's notice.

The words really had no meaning on her anymore. They were just incomprehensible, human language, too complicated to really reach her ears in a way that mattered. The sudden burst of speed had been startling though, as well as the hiss, the scent of pain and something close to fear. She growled a the sudden shift of speed, her eyes narrowing as they glowed blue, locking in on her target. She felt afraid, too. She recognized her surrounds but had no true idea where she was. There was something so human to her fear, too, something alien in this form. She craved the woods. More than that, though, she craved the hunt, something to take away this fear, something to make it fade like a distant memory.

#kitty ft. brielle #c: brielle #Bri hates everything rn I hope you know haha

[cantfightmoonlight]

@moonglowmagic

"Hey," Her fingers curled into a loose fist as she knocked lightly on the edge of the already swung open door to her sister's office. The deja vu not lost on her that just a few days ago she was doing the same thing, only with a box of donuts at Poppy's apartment. Before the fire had broken out at Starlight that is. "I know we have do this all, but before we do, I have something to tell you and wanted to see how you were doing with the whole fire and everything? It really is one thing after the other these days, isn't it?"

#poppy ft. jasmine #c: jasmine

[cantfightmoonlight]

END.

"Wow, Elif really goes hard, doesn't she?" Jas noted, peaking up from where she had been nuzzling into the nape of his neck to watch the other wolf dunk another pack member into an icy wave followed by an eruption of laughter behind them. Jas wished she could be more like that. Carefully and unbothered by a sense of impending doom or the goosebumps that littered her skin at the present causing her bottom lip to quiver ever so slightly. But, at the mention of tattoos, Jas brow titled up. A hint of a laugh escaping her lips as she rolled her eyes lightly over. "I'm sorry, but permanently marking your body forever is less important than driving a race car? Did I hear that right, Wonderboy?" She teased, a smile breaking across her lips as she caught the towel he tossed her way the moment he placed her down onto the ground. But, as his eyes softened, Jas found her own cheeks flushing a shade of pink as she cleared her throat to clarify, "You know I was joking about the list and the getting hitched right now part right?" She asked, lifting her hand up to shield herself from the water he shook her way. Moving to wrap the towel around her shoulders, She took a step forwards so that they were only a few inches away once more. "I wouldn't want to share it with novelty bears or naked cupids either," She mumbled out followed by a scrunch of her nose. But, as he mentioned 'every year', her face seemed to fall. "I just, uh," Jas squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment as she admitted, "I think if we do ever want to, you know, we may want to do it sooner rather than later?"

She had been trying to shake the pit in her stomach that had formed the moment Nico had told her that he had bite Silas. It was why rather than allow herself to spiral, she had been honest for once. Yes, the idea of a bucket list was in part a distraction, but it had also been her way of telling Nico that she didn't want to let another minute of her life go by not truly living it. She had spent so many years pushing people away out of fear. She had pushed him away, terrified that he would drop dead any minute and now? She was pretty certain they were still going to die, but for the first time her life, she found herself actually wanting something for herself. She wanted him in every facet of the word. She wanted the life he had mentioned building together and she'd even be over-the-moon to have a damn picket fence. She didn't want to run anymore, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that brought her to whisper out, "I just don't want us to miss our time."

#nico ft. jasmine #c: jasmine #I LOVE HIM I CANT

[cantfightmoonlight]

A scoff broke from her lips. Her eyes rolling over as she took a step inside so that she could blatantly knock against the door, before her gaze snapped back towards his as if to say 'there, happy?'

Jas had no problem ignoring JC's rather childish grumblings, but when he told her that there were worse things around here to fear than losing me, those dark piercing eyes of hers narrowed in on him. Her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth as she shook her head in disbelief, "And?"

"So what if there are? Who are you to diminish someone else's fears?" She shot back, not bothering to hold back as she told him point blank, "You have one! You have your alpha, but guess what? He's also your friend and your brother, so while it may seem silly to you that losing you may just be the one thing that will break him, it doesn't really fucking matter because it doesn't change the fact that you mean everything to him! You mean everything to him and, you said it yourself, the pack needed an alpha. You couldn't do it on your own, so how can he?"

"Did I say that you haven't? For god sakes, J.C., I'm here because the two of you are a fucking team! So, rather than act like there are worst things around here to fear than losing you, why don't you ask yourself why the guy who always manages to smile and put others at ease even after loosing both of his parents, watching his best friend die , being kidnapped, tied up and tortured and looking death in the face time and time again- why is he cracking now at the thought of loosing you? None of the rest of those things shook him, but, I mean," Jas tried to fight her voice from cracking as Nico's fears and regrets flooded back into the forefront of her mind. "You saw him. It's the first time I've seen him scared. Ever." She shook her head once more. Turning her gaze away, not wanting to give JC that satisfaction of seeing her eyes beginning to well up because she knew fully well, "He's screaming, J.C. The only way he knows how and I can't help him, but you can, so I'm asking you what are you doing? Because he needs you now and, you may not think that's fair or may not see why and I'm not even saying you did anything to hurt him, because you didn't. But does it matter when you are the only one who can make things better?"

"No," She told him after a prolonged pause. "He didn't have to. I could see it. But, what-" Her chin tilted back up as she looked him, caught off guard by his question. "Look, I, um, I'm not really the best person to ask when it comes to family, but if you want my advice, just be there. Advisor or pack or not, it doesn't matter. He just needs to know that he won't loose you too. Even if he fucks up, especially when he fucks up, he needs to know that you be in his life no matter. That's what family is. Unconditional love," She admitted with a small shrug. Only as the mention of witches, a deep sigh broke from her lips. "Though wow. Got it. You know, you may be family now too, but-" She flipped him off.

"Yeah, maybe you should," JC grumbled back, although even he knew that was a stupid fucking response. Maintaining his stance, however, he met Jasmine's eye, annoyed that she had come out here to bother him. He had no patience for it; he had so little patience left for anyone these days, it seemed. And, in truth, he saw no point in hiding this irritation, physically or mentally, seeing as both possibilities seemed to fray everyone's nerves anyway.

"There are worse things around here to fear than losing me," he retorted, his own anger flaring at this suggestion. Nico had no trouble sending him out the Council room like a scolded schoolboy despite apparently needing him so goddamn badly. This thought made his features scrunch up, and Júlio César found himself frustrated with himself for still feeling badly about it. "The pack needed an Alpha. This is so much bigger than either of us. And for the record, I have been there for Nico. I don't appreciate that suggestion that I've done anything less than that."

Family was a challenging word, however. He had no family, not really. For a time, he thought the pack was filling that need, but these days, even those ties he once held so sacred felt like their were slipping through his grasp.

He would step down only for its benefit, if his presence and his insistence were hampering it. He did not mean to harm the pack. He did not mean to harm Nico. "Of course I care about Nico. I would never do anything to deliberately hurt him. I get no pleasure out of...causing him trouble, alright? That's not what this is about. This isn't me setting out to make Nico's life more difficult."

A frustrated hand came up to grip his head, his eyes clenched tight. "Did he say something to you?" This question came weakly. "Like...what does he want? What does he need? I'm trying here to be those things, godammit." And failing, it seemed. JC raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and...you know, witches." This remark carried no real confrontation, but Silas was not the one standing at his door just this moment.

#jc ft. jasmine #c: jasmine

[cantfightmoonlight]

"I wouldn't really know?" Elif admitted with a small shrug. The only good thing she had in Lunar Cove was Nico. But, she had a feeling that was attributed more to the person than the place itself. "But, I also haven't been here for too long. Though oh. Are you?" She asked. Her eyes lighting up in amusement at the thought. "I'm not," She passed Efe an innocent enough smile as she popped the cherry from her drink into her mouth. "I feel like I use rules more as guidelines, which might not be for the best, but hey, work in progress, right?"

"Sort of, yeah. We went to the same college, but it was a big school," She mumbled out, giving him another small shrug before making a pass at a subject change. "I did mean a motorcycle. But, wait- why couldn't you? I bet you'd look great on one!" She attested. A light laugh breaking from her lips at the thought. "They're not that different, but I'll make a deal. How about one of these days, I'll take you for a drive on my bike and you can take me for a spin in the fire engine?" She teased, shooting him a playful grin at the thought. "What do you say, Fireman? Think I may be worth breaking a rule or two over?"

And when he took a moment to take in the sky, she found herself smiling like a idiot. "Smooth," She mumbled out, as her feet slowly touched back down to earth. "And okay. Bubbl it is then," She nodded as she looped her arm through his.

#efe ft. elif #c: elif

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Right? But, you're welcome," A soft smile broke across Jas' lips as she gave Billie a small nudge. "And we do, yeah. Though, uh-" She choked up on her words. Clearing her throat, Jas found herself rubbing her hand awkwardly across the back of her neck as she remembered what all was on there. "Um... Hm. I'm not sure how to answer that? No, it's not something that only came about due to the end of the world scenario. Yes, it's something we've both genuinely considered, at least I think we both did, though, I guess, the end of the world scenario sort of gave us the push we needed to talk about it out loud and to each other? Does that make sense?" She offered up with a small shrug. "And yeah, well, I mean if we do only have a year left, we might as well do as much as we can, right? But, you do make a good point. Maybe we do all of those before adding more... So, outside my stuff though, what's going on with you? Anything new?"

"Oh, no, I agree, the probability has probably increased exponentially for most people in town," Billie said. She liked to think that she was right back to where she'd started, in terms of how close to her near death she constantly was. Perhaps she should consider a list, but she wouldn't even know where to begin. She ducked her head a bit, never able to get used to being called someone's friend, much less a good one. "Thank you," she said softly. "You're a good friend, too." She took the paper, reading it over. "You two have a joint list?" she asked. "Is 'getting hitched' something that's only come about due to the end of the world scenario, or something you've both genuinely considered before?" She knew what the phrase meant, actually. "That's a lot to complete in a year. And you want to add more?"

#billie ft. jasmine #c: jasmine

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Yes, well, I take you haven't exactly been properly trained, now have you?" She pointed out with a knowing tilt over her brow. "Well, I did say properly. Now, didn't I?" She tsked, having a fair idea of exactly how badly Safiye had hurt those humans in question. But, thankful for the other, those attempts to feed had been out of town which made it a tad bit easier to wipe one's hand clean from the past. "Well, that's a start. Care to share me?"

"There is no need to thank me, love," She promised her, holding her hand up as if to stop her from saying a train of needless sentiments. "You're one of us and we look out for our own. Now, how about we start with you showing me how you hunt?" She proposed. Only for her brow to tilt up as she gaze fell down to the sleek black pumps with their distinct red heels. "I assure you, they'll fair just fine. Now shall we?" She offered up, extending her hand out to motion towards the door. This would hardly be the first time Meena was caught wandering through the woods in a pair of immoderate stilettos and it would certainly not be the last. Not that it would hold her back. The Clan Leader could strut in heels better than most skilled trapeze artist could walk a tightrope.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Giving a laugh at Meena’s words and she just shrugged at her words. Unsure if she really wanted to go through this all again and potentially hurt another human like she had before with Daniel. She wanted control, but the unknown and going through this all again felt so tiring and repetitive. “I want control, but it’s the whole losing control that makes it a little difficult for me.” She attempted to joke, figuring it would fall flat anyways. “You’re right I haven’t tried with you, but I have tried in the past. A few times in fact and every time I hurt the human, badly, at that.” She explained softly. She’d killed her fair share of them with attempting to train, the last thing she needed was another life on her conscience. “I do want it.” She confirmed. It wasn’t until Meena’s words sang in about it being like an addiction that her feeding made sense to her, the fact that there was others like her. “Oh…” Letting out a sigh of relief even though she did feel Daniel had tried, just maybe he wasn’t the right teacher for her. “I mean you’re not wrong.” Giving a laugh. “I could only imagine the politics that would happen on the council if I hurt a human here in Lunar Cove, it’s why I avoid using my red card at all.” She could only imagine the shit show that the council already was with all the attempts on the leaders lives again. “I’m okay with baby steps.” She explained with a nod. “Oh I’m fine with animal blood.” She reassured. “It’s the one thing that somewhat helps with cravings and doesn’t send me into a black out.” Tucking her hair behind her ear and she looked over at Meena with a smile. “Thank you.” It was reassuring that Meena wasn’t just going to throw her in a room with another human and leave her to her own devices. “I’m in.” She nodded. “So where should we start? I can prove I’m good with animals, but I don’t think those heels look like they’re down for walking around the forrest in the hopes to see Hopper or Bambi.” 

#safiye ft. meena #c: meena

[cantfightmoonlight]

“Dilan," Leyla's gaze softened as she moved to rest her chin on her sister's shoulder. Wrapping her arms around her waist as she gave her the smallest of squeezes. "It's not silly and if going will give you the redo you need, then I'm in full support," She promised her. "Though, it seems to me like you had a lot of what ifs when it came to both Chai and Song, so maybe rather than wonder what if, maybe you find out? I mean you wanted a redo right? Now is your chance to take it?" She pointed softly out, unraveling her arms from Dilan's as Dilan sprawled back across the bed. "I know, but somethings are meant to happen. I mean if we were able to rewind the clock back every time something bad happened, then truth be told, I likely would have never met you and you likely would have never met me and wouldn't that kind of be a tragedy?"

“And? Ken's one of mine and I still put myself out there with him and look how great it turned out?" She pointed out with a small shrug. "You can if that's all it is. But, it isn't all that it is, is it?" She mumbled softly out, pulling her legs into her chest as she rested her chin on the top of her knees. "Okay. Look, it's your life and while I might never understand why you hate allowing yourself to be vulnerable at times, even with me, I respect it. All I was saying, is do you know for sure he doesn't view you like that? I mean have you ever asked him or are you assuming rather than putting yourself out there? Because, well, because if it's the latter, then I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you don't ask the question, then the answer will always be no, won't it?" She tilted her head the smallest bit to the side as she looked over at her sister. But, if Dilan didn't want to know the answer, she also didn't have to. Leyla wore her heart on her sleeve. That was who she was. She was more than happy loving someone who might never love her back, if it meant that she was lucky enough to know them and lucky enough to be in love. But, she knew she was more of anomaly in that regard, all too use to never having been loved back to worry about whether or not her feelings would ever be reciprocated, at least until Ken that was. "Okay, you want to talk about it, then fine. Let's talk about it. Yeah. Skye and I probably would have hooked up and either it would have meant nothing or he would have gotten tired of me like everyone else did back then and that would have been that. He would have never joined our makeshift family. You and him would have never been best friends. You would have never known what it was like to like him and you two would either be distant from each other or passing strangers. Is that what you would have wanted? Things happen for a reason, Dilan, and dwelling on what ifs, as normal as it can be to do, doesn't get us anywhere. If anything, it just hurts more."

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

At Leyla’s words Dilan just sigh heavily, she wasn’t sure how deep she wanted to dig into her failed attempts at relationships, especially when she’d had two missed shots in less than a year. “Yes, it’s about balloons.” She confirmed to her sister as she rolled onto her side and looked at Leyla. Propping her head up on her hand, she just nodded. “I just— “ She stopped as she tried to think about what to say next to explain herself correctly. “I just wonder if I had stuck around last year if things would have been different with Chai and I wouldn’t have blown it up.” Looking down at the mattress and she shrugged at her words. “I know it’s silly, but maybe this Valentine’s Day would be different if I had done that or if I hadn’t pushed on the whole kiss thing with Song.” Which still stung that she’d been rejected but here she was single and alone on Valentine’s Day. “I don’t want a chance to confess my feelings because there’s no feelings Leyla. Just— I guess I’m stuck wondering what if.” She tried to explain to her sister despite how stupid she knew she sounded. “I just I don’t know what I want.” Rolling back to her back as she laid out with a sigh of annoyance. “I just want to go rewind the clock and make every choice I’ve ever made differently.” Maybe she wouldn’t be here, but a part of her doubted that anything would actually be different. 

“I’m trying to just this isn’t easy for me.” She hated talking about her feelings and especially her regrets. “It’s not about Skye and a do over. I mean I clearly know what balls are going to be thrown at me by him.” It was clear they were just hook up buddies and friends, there wasn’t any clarity that throwing painted balls with Skye would bring her. “He’s one of my best friends Leyla.” She confirmed to her sister. “So? Am I not allowed to have a friends with benefit? I mean I sleep with the same person it’s not like I’m just sleeping around with anyone. Plus, I feel comfortable with Skye.” At Leyla’s actions she just rolled her eyes. “Leyla, I had feelings when I was like fifteen. I don’t still have feelings like that now. I mean I like Skye, yes, but also when someone doesn’t view you like that you don’t hold out hope.” She explained. “I’m just saying.” She shrugged once more with a laugh. “You know it’s true though.” 

#dilan ft. leyla #c: leyla

[cantfightmoonlight]

A smirk couldn't help, but toy at her lips as she watched Ronnie try to find a place to focus before finally deciding on her face. Though, at the motion towards the now vanished deer, Elif's eyes momentarily widened. "Oh. I guess I didn't have you pegged as the hunting type," She admitted without a hint of judgement in her voice. It wasn't as if she and Nico hadn't resorted to hunting before to get by. Though, for her it had always been a last resort situation rather than a hobby. But, to each their own.

"And I scared them off, didn't I?" She pointed off in the direction the deer had taken off in. "Shoot. Well, you know, if thirsty," Elif took a small step closer to the vampire. Her lips tilting up ever so slightly as she offered up, "I'd imagine I'm way more fun of a snack to have?" She teased, her fingers all the while moving to casually brush a stray strand of Ronnie's hair back behind her ear. "Though, if you have your sights set on Bambi, I could always go track them down for you."

Ronnie should have expected a wolf, what with the large werewolf population in town, but she couldn't have possibly expected Elif, especially as she moved away and came back as Elif, a very naked Elif. Which Ronnie had seen, obviously. Several times at this point. Not exactly with this backdrop. It was nice, though. Yeah, yep, nice, Ronnie thought, not quite sure where to put her eyes before finally focusing on Elif's face.

"I'm hunting, duh," Ronnie said, motioning towards where the deer had been and clearly no longer was. Which, damn. A missed meal, but it was fine. She'd get over it.

#ronnie ft. elif #c: elif

[cantfightmoonlight]

This is not good-

The wolf barked as if to be in agreement. Their tail wagging happily back and forth as they waited curiously for the fae's next move. Their bright blue eyes that could only symbolize one thing stared back at her. Their head tilting to the side as they watched the fae queen. But, at the ask to stay, a growl reverberated from deep within their chest and they lunged forwards, chasing after the fae at full speed only to stumble forwards the moment the portal closed right before their face.

END.

As Aiyla had gone into the air, the wolf paws caught her off guard, causing her to spin out and hit the ground with a muffled thud. Her shoulder took the shock, and she passed a displeased look to the wolf, a deep-set frown. "This is not good-" She looked hard at the wolf, trying to discern which of the pack the wolf was, but noting the look in her eye, Aiyla didn't sit still long enough to untangle it before she was pulling up a portal to dive through. She needed to make sure no one else put themselves in danger as the eclipse obviously had it's own rules. "Stay-?" She made the passing comment with a shake of her head not turning her back on the wolf as she stepped through the portal closing it as quickly as she was able.

#aiyla ft. elif #c: elif

[cantfightmoonlight]

She found herself pursuing her lips. A coy smile toying at the corners of her mouth at his rather clever quip. Amber eyes continuing to study him from just above the edge of her glass, eyeing the advisor with a catlike gaze as she waited, almost as if to see if she could predict his next move. "Hm," She murmured, her voice as soft as a honey bee's flutter and as smooth as butter as she swirled the stem of her glass between her thumb and her forefinger. "I might take you up on the offer," She decided. Her eyes locking in on his as she gave him an eased shrug. Her tone remaining all too light and playful with a cool distance that was hard to master and, yet, she moved from one word to the next with a rare sense of ease. "If you were offering that is. Though, while the verdict is still out on whether or not you're strange, I wouldn't exactly consider you a stranger," She mused. A glint danced across her eyes as she watched in amusement as his eyes remained hooked on her. "Though it's as if you took the words out of my mouth. So, you want to get out of here or?"

“As molasses,” he quipped, resting his forearms against the bar. It wasn’t a surprise to run into the clan leader, Madame Mayor herself, at the country club. This was technically her domain, yet Royce walked around like he owned the place. Maybe that was just the rich boy effect, the unfounded belief you were some big man on campus no matter where you were. He dismissed his companion with a wave of his hand, because he would much rather not have a mouth breather hanging off his shoulder while he was drinking with the mayor. “And what if I was?” He asked in a hum, crossing his ankles and sitting tall on the bar stool, glancing over at Meena. “Tempting,” he said with a sideways grin, “Are you always so up for sharing drinks with strange men in bars?” He took the drink and took a long sip, holding eye contact until he placed the glass back down on the bar top before her. “You know… I don’t think we’ve really spent time together outside of that stuffy council room. Real shame, by my account.”

#royce ft. meena #c: meena

[cantfightmoonlight]

Jas lips remained pressed together, sealed tight as her shoulders lifted and fell. She didn't exactly want to discuss Nico any further so rather than offer up some rebuttal, she let the conversation slide.

Jas' squeezed onto Briar for a moment longer before her hands fell back to her side. "I'm not blaming myself. I am to blame. There is a difference," Jas countered as she took a step back. Moving to wrap her own arms around her chest as she reiterated, "I did though. Briar, I pulled the trigger knowing the cost. It doesn't matter if other people were onboard or the fact you were advocating for me to do it. You didn't perform the spell. I did. I was the one holding the gun and, no matter what you say, it doesn't exempt me from that and, yeah, Poppy could have, but she also was pressured to say yes. We put her on the spot as a room full of people were sobbing for her to come back. I don't blame her for saying she wanted to. How could you not? I mean you don't what its like to be on the Astral Plane, but I do. I interact with the dead more than I often do the living and, for those, who stick around? There is not much of a choice. There just isn't."

"I'm sorry not to be-" Jas blinked over at Briar, assuming that she was joking but still. "You're joking, right? Because, Briar, people leave all the time. That's just life. People find their partners and they move away for a bit or start a family or maybe they go to a different state for a job. But, they're alive and they're still in your life. A couple miles isn't going to change that, but death? Death is more permanent than you'd think. I mean," She pressed her lips together, pushing the pain in her voice away as she told Briar point blank, "My mom isn't in the Astral Plane, you know that? Or if she is, I can't find her. I'm haunted by the dead every fucking day and yet I can't see the one person I love most. She's gone, forever and, those who manage to escape death? I mean Poppy didn't just die. She lost your mom too and has to stare her damn killer in the face who is there, just watching her. She can't hear him. There is no point in yelling back, but he's there, where ever she looks. She can't have kids, if she ever wants to, and, even if she doesn't, that choice has now been taken from her. She hated that her and my life were tied together so badly that she got Silas to break the fucking bond. I don't even know how she's alive right now. So, dying isn't some in the park okay? So, maybe don't toss it around like it is, because, even if you managed to come back, you would be irrevocably different and, whoever brought you back, will carry the burden, whether you like it or not, of the struggles you can't predict that are bound to come."

"I'm happy you're happy, Briar. I just want you to be careful, okay? You see the world in a beautiful way and I admire that about you, but I also, um, I sometimes worry that it can be more nuanced than you might think?" She admitted quietly. Reaching out, she gave Briar's arm a light squeeze followed by a small tilt of her head in agreement. "I don't know. How about let's start with that drink and go from there maybe?" She attempted to jest. Though as Briar spoke, Jas could feel her blood run cold. Her smile falling as a haunted look fell across her gaze.

"Fuck." One word. It was all that managed to slip off her tongue. Fuck. She had spent seventeen years in debt to that man from one simply promise that she had made in a moment of panic and tears. She couldn't sugarcoat it to Briar. That promise would likely haunt her more than the actual favor would itself, but whatever the favor was, he'd come to collect. He always did and there was no way to prepare for when.

END?

Briar cut a semi-guilty look up at Jasmine, "Blame the hopeless romantic in me, but the message is clear." She mimed zipping her lips and tossing away a key. She wouldn't bring it up again without far more reason. She'd jumped the gun; maybe it was the wistful hopefulness for something worth looking forward to and not the impending doom that hung over her like a storm cloud. Briar couldn't help waiting for the other shoe to drop. She knew it was a matter of time before something else heinous rocked Lunar Cove and gave them all something terrible to focus on- a girl had hope, fading hope but she was hanging onto the last little tendrils.

Her head dropped heavily into Jasmine's embrace for the moment it lasted when she looked to her sister with tears welling in her eyes; they were both motherless. She wished they hadn't had that in common. It was too soon for them to be without mothers. There was still so much she wanted Alyssa to be a part of, so much she still thought she needed her for- "Stop blaming yourself." She said earnestly, running a soothing hand down her sister's arm before hugging her arms around herself. There was a lot to respond to, but Briar picked the one she had anything to do with directly. "You did not kill our mom."

She spoke adamantly of her mother, "The coven made the choice and that is not a burden on your shoulders alone. We knew she didn't agree. We knew what we were waging and we all chose to gamble with our lives. It's a freak of fate that it was my mom. I don't blame you. I blame myself. I should have voted no, but I don't believe I would even knowing what I know now. The grief..." She swallowed not sure how to explain it, "I've been splintered by it- haunted but I place no blame on you. As for Poppy, she could have said no." She said point blank. "We would have hurt to mourn her. I'd mourn her forever. But it is not fair to resent you for a choice she had and maybe she felt like she had to for us and I love her for loving us enough to do that. But that's not on you. I can't speak to the rest of it- but I can't imagine anyone who loves you would want you to tear yourself a part over things than are largely out of your control. You don't deserve that."

She gave a watery laugh, "Not to be dramatic but I'd rather die than you leave to protect me. Life no matter how short- it's better because I have you and our siblings. I'd rather have that." She explained with a short nod, "Well I'm afraid I may be softer than I like to admit. Even so a rage room it is. I think it could be cathartic." Briar tilted her head towards her sister a warm smile, "You think you could stomach it better if I buy your drinks?" She wrinkled her nose, "Does it it help to know I am happier than I think I've been in a long time?" She asked leaving it at that. She was in love with the man and while she had loved others before him this was something that consumed her and brought out parts of her she'd spent years burying to be more palatable. Briar nodded adamantly, she wanted that. She wished wanting it could come with letting go of the love she had for their father, it wasn't so easy. "Draw it up because it's all I have ever wanted." She wiped cautiously at unfallen tears and sighed a heavy weight settling over her- she needed to tell someone or implode. "I think I fucked up, Jasmine. When that curse fell over us all I went to him angry. I asked him to not involve Julian in anything again. Not to hurt him...I didn't like what the lack of empathy did to him. I was so afraid of what could happen to him." She frowned, "He promised he wouldn't harm him but made me promise some unknown favor...I don't know what it would be but I can't keep it to myself in case."

#briar ft. jasmine #c: jasmine #we can probably end this here?

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Not really," She admitted. Her teeth grazed her bottom lip as she nipped lightly down. "Impending death will do that to you," She admitted, knowing that they had all been through so much recently, from the spell and Silas and now the recent attacks. It felt like it was one thing after the other these days without any sense of reprieve. "You know I'm still a telepath though right?" She hummed out under her breath as she picked up on some of Julian's thoughts. "It's not about being in our thirties. It's that it's you. You're basically my brother, Jules. I mean we grew up together and, while Briar and I only met a few years ago, she's my sister. So, she's not really just some girl you're with and it's all a little too close to home to want to dwell on the details of," She explained as if it was obvious. She had been fine when he was asking for advice on how to hit on a girl a few Valentine's Days ago, because that girl wasn't related to her. But, now, any mention of Julian in a sexual capacity couldn't help, but be associated with her sister, so it was a subject she'd rather not touch with a ten foot pole, if she could help it. "I did. I'm just trying to understand how you could picture me, of all people, choosing to swim with sharks? And as for Sky Diving, not really all that thrilling when you're an air witch? I mean I guess I could try to scare Nico by jumping out of the plane without a parachute, but- on second thought maybe I will add it," She murmured to herself as she grabbed her pen to scribble it down. "I mean, hey, if Megan Fox wanted you, all the power to you. I'm just saying I don't think your girlfriend would like knowing that little tidbit. You might want to pick a different celebrity crush to say out loud. Likely a redheaded one, you know, for your own benefit and all."

“I mean I don't know how hypothetical it is? Especially now... with the coven. It feel like it's coming. Just a matter of who. Though, I guess yeah. How are you by the way? Honestly? Since, you know, coming back and all?" She asked him quietly. Her thoughts momentarily flickering back to Poppy as she told him genuinely, "Oh, I don't know about that, we'll see, but you can tell me by the way, if you're struggling? You know that right? I know Poppy is. She kind of regrets coming back and I don't really blame her. But, I know, you've been pretending like everything is fine, but you still rarely even use the word vampire and haven't joined the clan, so I guess I just wanted to check is all."

Julian’s brow furrowed before he shrugged. “Hm, I guess we haven’t talked much in a while.” He and Briar had gotten far out of that phase, and he rolled his eyes in half amusement at her following words. Being in their thirties, he thought it was odd to think of each other as celibate. Then again, he didn’t give much thought to his loved ones’ love lives in general outside of the overall “are you happy” kind of vibes. He supposed he wouldn’t want to know much else if he were close to either of his brothers’ significant others. He guessed it was good there wasn’t closeness there to begin with, but he tried not to think too hard about it. Julian raised a brow at Jas’s following words. “Did you just not pay attention to the part where I suggested, like, sky diving and swimming with sharks? I’m beginning to think you actually do wanna hook up with Megan Fox, since you’re so fixated on that little bit there.” He smiled with amusement.

“Yeah, I’m aware,” he sighed, nodding. Briar had clued him into everything involving the Chamberlain-Reed-St. Clair patriarch sometime ago, though Julian preferred to keep Silas out of conversation. He knew the guy was coming back, he knew what he was coming back as, he only hoped this time they’d be prepared. He couldn’t bear to see Briar hung up over her father again, see that wicked man messing with the few people he cared about in this godforsaken town. But he didn’t speak on the man or that situation. Instead Julian slowly nodded his head, a warm grin softening his features. “I think that’s a good idea, the best way to spend even hypothetical final days. And now’s as good a time than ever to redirect, focus on what really matters. It’s good for the soul, right?” He had wished he’d been better during his human life, especially now in the uncomfortable limbo he’d left himself in. Feeling half a live, but mostly (and truly) dead. His mother’s face flashed across Julian’s mind in response to Jasmine’s words, and an ache swelled in his chest. Still, he kept a smile on his face and moved past the short moment of melancholy. “So does that mean you’re game for more brunches? Assuming I get to be on the list of people you’re gonna spend all the time with.” He flashed a cheeky grin at her. “We can even watch Transformers, since your selective hearing is all about Megan Fox right now.”

#julian ft. jasmine #c: jasmine