#int ft. jasmine

[julianrchandlerx]

setting: jasmine’s apartment

who: julian chandler & jasmine st. claire @cantfightmoonlight

“Now I know this is much delayed,” Julian started with a lopsided grin on his face, “But I did not come empty handed. After all — late or not, it’s only right to bring a house warming gift!” At that, the vampire held out a medium sized bag, one with the words “Happy Birthday” in glittery cursive on the front and brown paper sticking out of the top instead of tissue paper. It was his first time swinging by her new apartment, so he made sure to come prepared. “Ignore what it says on the bag… It’s the only one I had. And, ah,” his cheeks rouged at the contents, a fake snake plant he found while running some errands the day before, “I had a real plant originally, but it didn’t last the ridiculous amount of time I’d been hoarding it before coming by, so… I think fake is a good way to go, right? I mean it looks just as nice. And hey, neither you or your roommate will have to worry about watering it — win, win.” He shrugged, keeping his dopey smile on.

Julian had not spent as much time with Jasmine as he would have liked, and now that he was getting more and more used to his new life he wanted to fix that. He did come to Lunar Cove to recuperate their friendship, after all, he felt determined to keep to his original goal. It helped him feel more like himself again. Well… and there was another topic of conversation to be had. He tried to keep Briar-Rose Reed from flashing across his mind, not allowing Jasmine to get a sneak peek to what he was anxious to discuss with her. Swaying on his feet at the entrance to her new place, he quirked a brow at Jasmine. “You gonna welcome me in? Unless you wanna go grab a coffee or something. It’s been a while since I think we’ve been able to chat without a big ol’ elephant in the room, so to speak.” The man had long since let go of any weirdness over his demise and her curse. “And look, we got through a holiday in town without any scary shenanigans, so… What do you say to a little friendly catch up? There’s actually something I’d like to, er, I guess share with you.” He tried not to let his nervousness show, but then again who could blame him? How’d you tell your childhood best friend you were dating their little sister? He had no clue, but he tried not to just blurt it out. Contain, Chandler, contain it.

[julianrchandlerx]

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.”

Jas blinked over at Julian, not knowing how to even warrant that comment with a response, though she did make a mental note to ask Nico later if he too had wanted to loose his virginity to Megan Fox growing up or if he was not straight enough for that growing up. "It is, but I'm glad you figured that part out. Last we chatted about it, ya'll were still in the awkward will they won't they crush phase," She pointed out with a small shrug. "For good reason. I prefer to think of you as celibate," She admitted, followed by a light laugh at the thought. "Especially now more than ever. But, I'm sorry. Classic suggestions? You think fucking Megan Fox is helpful for me?" She rolled her eyes lightly over, another genuine laugh leaving her lips at the thought. But, at his question, her laughter dwindled down and she grew more serious.

"Yeah, kind of?" She admitted as she fidgeted slightly in her seat. "I know you already know about Silas, so I don't think I really need to explain the why part, but he's going to come back. It's only a matter of time and when he does, Nico and I will likely be public enemies number 1 and 2. Though, yeah I've been thinking about that too. Not the skydiving shit. Fuck that. But, the spending time with everybody? I don't know. It might not happen. I might be paranoid for nothing, but I also don't want to just wait around in fear for when he inevitably comes back, you know? I've spent too much time wasted on pushing people away. So, I figured maybe I'd try something new for a change?"

[julianrchandlerx]

setting: jasmine and nico’s home, a day or so after the chaos time has been blending for him

featuring: julian chandler & jasmine st. claire castillo??? @cantfightmoonlight

The sky was a pale gray, covered in a thick blanket of rain clouds, and Julian thought there was something poetic to its dreariness when compared to the broken, mangled state of his heart. Distant rumbling of storms, and the gentle fall of rain only added atmosphere to the terrible fog he’d been in since the night at the Emerald. Between triggering his own PTSD at the edge of the dance floor, the horrific events that raged on in the hours after midnight, to Briar-Rose’s hurtful confession, absolutely no moment gave him rest. His every waking moment felt haunted by everything that happened — phantom spasms that caught him gasping for air whenever he heard any form of dancing music, and the ever present searing heartache at the thought of his beloved being kissed by another. It was the worst part of it all, after everything that happened, to finally have a moment to the two of them after barely seeing each other all night, only to find out what had happened between her and her ex-fiancée while he’d been hyperventilating elsewhere. He tried to bury the thought as he noticed the house up ahead. The last thing Julian wanted was for Jasmine to hear it in his mind long before there was a proper moment to talk and explain. So he quieted his thoughts as he walked up towards the front door, no umbrella or rain jacket to shield him from the elements. Just a corded gray sweatshirt, shoulders dappled by the rainfall, and soaked through hair, looking just as solemn as the weather.

Knocking at the door, he waited quietly until she would arrive to greet him. This was the first time he’d been to the home she shared with Nico, and he would need a proper invitation to enter. Julian had wanted to visit sooner, but he’d stalled. This time of year brought back strange memories, buried trauma, and sensations that he didn’t want her all seeing eye always privy too. There was enough turmoil in this town, hers and her loved ones’ lives constantly at stake. The last thing Julian wanted was to burden her thoughts with his own dreadful wallowing. Not when he died for her curse, that wasn’t quite fair of him to be upset about. He made sure to not let these, or any thoughts, show as he waited at the door. Instead, he thought back on grocery lists and random song lyrics, math equations which stumped him into a stupor. Anything but the trauma, his problems, the aching sadness that at this very hour he would usually still be wrapped up in that pretty redhead of his, instead of wordlessly leaving her favorite pastry and go to coffee order on her stoop and dashing just before she opened the door to see him there as he’d done that very morning. He may have been heartbroken, that didn’t mean he’d stop taking care of her as he always did.

Unfortunately that was in his mind when the door finally opened. “Hey,” he said quietly, waving a hand awkwardly. “…I heard you got hurt, I wanted to stop by and see if you were okay. I-I’m sorry I didn’t check in on you that night, I just… So much was happening. And so many people were around you… I didn’t want to overcrowd you.” He soured when he remembered that the unwelcome guest into his relationship had been there with Jasmine too, but he squared his shoulders and tried to give his brightest smile. But it didn’t work, his usual ability to be as pleasantly optimistic as ever was gone. Instead his smile faltered, and he didn’t try to reclaim it. “Can I maybe come in? Chat or something, I could… I could use a little slice of home, ya know?”

[julianrchandlerx]

He couldn’t tell what was better: the fact there would be bottomless mimosas or the fact that somehow Noel and him managed to get Jasmine to match the two of them for this special occasion. Wearing a pastel pink tracksuit (because of course he color coordinated for the holiday), Julian thought he was absolutely pulling off the look. Six foot four in all pink and with some baller red heart shaped sunglasses? Yeah, he felt like a stud even if he likely looked like a douche. Leaning forward on one elbow, he let the sunglasses slide down the bridge of his nose as he turned a rather serious gaze on Noel. “I’ll tell ya what I want… what I really, really want,” he quoted Spice Girls, because of course. The 90’s girl group playlist in this place was too much, he had to pay homage. “…and that’s just a drink, because food doesn’t really hit anymore, ya know? But I’ll order something you can pick at if you’d like? ‘Cause like what are friends for? But also, always go sandwich.” The thought of a blood jelly on a sandwich crossed his mind, but he tried not to think about it. Poor Jasmine was already privy to his stupid boy thoughts, that one was just gross. “Oh I’ve got something big planned for Briar and I, real romantic and special,” he started but paused, blue eyes flickering to his best friend. Who was also Briar’s sister. He broke all the friendship rules, but he didn’t wanna rub it in and make things weird. Especially since “panty dropping” was likely the next comment to come out of his mouth. “But yeah, uh anyway, are you and Nico doing anything special?”

closed starter with: julian & jasmine ( @julianrchandlerx & @cantfightmoonlight ) where: rose tinted during: galentine's brunch

Walking into Rose Tinted with Julian and Jasmine in matching pastel tracksuits was not going to be the weirdest thing that would happen today. Noel knew it was only a matter in time before some other nonsense occurred. They were fully engulfed in the menu of the place since they didn't frequent it enough, but any previous knowledge was hidden away by the throbbing headache they had, thanks to their drinking the day prior on the Polar Plunge. "Okay, so I'm thinking a tower of pancakes. Are you like going to eat? Because if so, we gotta share." Noel was going to try his food even if he didn't agree to share. Family tax. "Or a tower of french toast? I mean, that's rough. Or do we wanna go sandwich, a french toast sandwich?" Noel put her heart shaped glasses on, now truly fully matching with Julian. "Did you both plan something romantic for your partners? If it's gross, I don't wanna hear it. If it's family appropriate, I do wanna hear about it."

[julianrchandlerx]

setting: shadow lake, jasmine’s rv featuring: julian chandler & jasmine st. claire @cantfightmoonlight

Courage, my dear boy. Julian repeated the words to himself quite a few times as he made his way over to the RV he hoped had in fact been the home of his best friend. It seemed like a good guess; how many RVs were being used as residential homes in the area? He suspected not many. If there was one thing he’d learned quick about Lunar Cove, it was that people seemed to really plant their roots there. In fact he’d been told some people had been around forever and while it seemed silly to say, he’d never fault someone for being hyperbolic. After all, he could be dramatic if he tried.

Case in point; he kept stalling reaching out to the childhood friend he had quite literally followed to this town. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Jasmine — contrary to the idea, he had made a whole point of hunting her location just to reconnect with her — but he was weirdly nervous about the whole thing. The longer he’d been there, mostly alone in his rickety basement apartment, the more Julian was beginning to question if maybe, just maybe, he made a really dumb decision to drop his secure life and follow a friend he hadn’t spoken to much lately. Was that, like, kinda stalker-ish?

Approaching the RV, he awkwardly tugged at his collar as he contemplated proper RV-door-knocking etiquette. Julian wasn’t sure if a tapping of his knuckles upon the door could be heard from within, or if he should just ditch the package in his hand at the entrance and run away as fast as he could. He was currently on his way to an ugly sweater contest, dressed in a lightweight knit with a stocking pinned below the phrase “well hung”, and was really just wanting to stop in quickly. Or really to drop off a gift he was likewise second guessing all along the way. In his hand, wrapped poorly in colorful paper, was a journal he’d spent a few days repainting the cover of, a former plain cover now adorned with the flower of her namesake and with gold foil initials to signify just who it belonged to. A simple gift made personal, one he hoped could be kinda useful. She was a journalist, right? It was in the name. Now he just needed the courage to just give it to her.

Oh, and to say “hello”.

Sucking in a deep breath, and readjusting the stocking hanging from his chest, Julian walked the short distance from where he’d left his bike and marched right up to the RV’s door, barely thinking as he reached up to knock. For all he knew, she wasn’t even home. He could just leave the package at her door and be off and maybe come around to say hello on another day. Or maybe she’d come by and see him — he had left a note in the package with his new address and where he was working, just in case. Letting out an anxious breath, he decided to be absolutely sure she wasn’t around before just jogging away. “Jas?” He called out, raising his voice just enough to hopefully be heard inside should anyone be around. “Jasmine St. Claire? It’s… It’s Julian. Are you there? I come bearing gifts… Or, err, just one, but the statement still stands.”

[julianrchandlerx]

setting: jasmine’s rv featuring: julian chandler & jasmine st. claire @cantfightmoonlight

It takes a lot of bravery to admit when you were wrong. Julian repeated back the words his mother had said to him after a particularly lengthy call a few nights prior. It was a bit of a tradition, a weekly call home to check in, see how the family was doing, and appraise mom of how life in Lunar Cove was coming along. Not that he was incredibly truthful about what happened as of late — he was vague and discreet where it mattered, avoiding the whole scope of reality when explaining to his mother how things were going. Ralph the mid century vampire was the eccentric retro enthusiast he became friends with. Valentine’s Day was just another boring holiday where things were dialed back and lowkey (and to his mother’s dismay, dateless for the young artist) instead of the scavenger hunt from hell. And Jasmine, well… When she asked after his friend, he admitted they were not on the best terms. What his mother didn’t know was Jasmine was a witch, and so was her family, and Julian had not handled this new reality graciously. In fact, he’d been absolutely pigheaded in response. His fear and irrationality won the battle that day, and it seemed his best friend was the casualty. And that broke him up inside. He came to Lunar Cove to reconnect with his best friend, and during a dark and bleak time for her he pushed her away. And in a vague way he’d said as much to his mom. A two hour long phone call, compete with the softest delivered lecture, made him realize just how stupid he’d been, and he needed to fix that. He needed to fix it now.

For the second time since he’d found himself in that strange town, Julian Chandler stood before Jasmine’s mobile home with a gift in hand — this time a peace offering in the form of baked goods that were a little outside his budget from the local bakery and a couple beers because he wasn’t sure what else to bring along. Beer goes great with apologies. Taking a deep breath, and swallowing up any lingering pride, he reached out to knock on her door. He didn’t realized he’d held his breath until Jasmine opened the door. “Hi,” the greeting escaped him in a drawn out exhale. Blinking, because he almost forgot the words he’d practiced in front of a mirror earlier that day, Julian extended the hand holding the peace offering to her and stuttered out, “before you think to maybe close the door on me, I come bearing gifts in the form of alcohol and sugar.” A shy sort of grin formed on his face, dimpled and small. “And if it’s possible, I was hoping we could talk… like actually talk this time,” he sighed softly and gave her a truly apologetic look, “Because I owe you an apology.” Humble yourself and just admit you were wrong. “I’m sorry about the way I acted, after everything that happened. I just…” Don’t make too many excuses for why you lashed out, remember you are in the wrong here and you’re apologizing for it. “It doesn’t matter why, what matters is you’re my best friend and you’re going through something I can’t really imagine, and instead of being there for you I let my fear get in the way. This whole thing is so much bigger than anything I’ve ever had to face, and you’re in the thick of it. I wasn’t being very fair to you.” He let his gaze drop, feeling a bit ashamed but what else was to be expected when admitting you were being a real shit head?

“It would have been very easy to leave this town and forget everything, but I can’t leave things like that. You’re like… The closest thing to family for me around here. I can’t leave things sour between us.” He paused, before looking back at her. “I came to Lunar Cove because I missed our friendship. I missed you. Despite how I’ve acted… you mean a great deal to me, and I don’t want to lose you. Whether that’s because of some murderous maniac, a curse,” he paused, because that new revelation was still difficult to wrap his mind around, “or just because I’m letting my fear get the best of me. I can control that last one, and I don’t want it to get in the way of the longest lasting friendship I’ve ever had.” Julian sighed softly before shrugging. “Anyway, that’s what I came by to say. I get it if you need some space or something, but… I’m ready to be here for you, in whatever way I can.” No, he couldn’t stop this killer, and he had no power to reverse curses, but Julian knew how to be a good friend. Maybe he hadn’t been his best recently, but he knew he could do it now. He had to. There was too much at stake in the world now, and he had a part to play in it. At least, he thought so now. And if her words about a curse that would take the life of someone close to her were really true, well… There was so much to lose now. “…And while these gifts are technically yours, I request to have at least one of these drinks and maybe one bite of the dessert.”

[julianrchandlerx]

“All I got to say to that girl, whoever she may be, is a big ol’ ‘yikes’. …but hey if ya meet a charred tomato lover, give her my number,” Julian joked back, swaying as he fell into step with Jasmine. He went as far as twirling his umbrella like a little kid in his hand as they walked, looking every bit out of place in that beautiful late summer day. “Well those other vamps just didn’t have the pizzazz I’ve got, Jas. I mean, c’mon, you’ve known me long enough — you know how absolutely totally cool and not at all lame I am! Who else to finally cement this trend better than Julian ‘New York Fashion Week’ Chandler? Yes, that’s my new middle name. And just like it this new trend will be so fetch,” his words were dripping in sarcasm, the wide humorous smile on his face giving him away. “Why do I need a reason? Maybe I’m just postponing the inevitable for the hell of it.” He wasn’t even sure of the reason himself, Julian just felt a little indifferent towards the clan currently. “‘Sides, I’ve been told you have to be invited.” He shrugged. “You know I was hoping being a vampire would be kinda like in the Underworld movies — with a Kate Beckinsale lookalike in black leather with the guns, and a cool toned filter over everything — but it turns out it’s kinda just… normal, and involves fancy cocktails at a country club apparently. I guess I’m just waiting out my disappointment.” He kept his tone light and sarcastic, though he was maybe only half-joking about Kate Beckinsale. A man could dream.

“Has it been that long? My how the time flies,” He said in a sing-songy voice. Deep down Julian hated how she referred to what happened as her killing him. He understood why she thought of it that way, but he didn’t. It wasn’t like she intentionally harmed him, or suffocated him with her own hands. In his perspective it was his own stubbornness that kept him there and lead to it. If anyone was at fault here, it was him for not heeding her warnings. “I would expect nothing but brutal honesty from you,” he quipped. “My next thought was to wear one of those full body suits. You know, the color ones you can get at the Halloween store? I think that’s enough coverage, right?” Trailing off with a chuckle, the vampire shook his head and decided it was time to be a little more serious. As much as he could be anyway. “Alright, so it’s been a real hot minute since we last just hung out. What’s new in the world of Jas — working on any great stories? Or, even better, any hilarious drunk fails on recent tours?”

“Just a bit," She muttered quietly out under her breath. "Though, I don't know. There has to be some girl in this town whose attracted to the burnt tomato look," She said, the sarcasm rolling off the tip of her tongue as she shot him a teasing look. "Wow. Well, for one thing, you're hardly the first vampire to walk around these parts with parasols in summer and it's still not catching on, so at the risk of sounding like a cliché, stop trying to make fetch happen, Jules. It's never going to happen. And another thing, why don't you want to join? I mean I get having reservations. I held off joining the Coven for a bit cause of the whole half siblings and dark magic thing which... we've seen how well that's turned out. Apparently, I've gone corrupted a whole coven. But, for you, it kinda seems like you're punishing yourself for no apparent reason? No offense. I just, I guess I'm just trying to understand is all?"

"And okay then. Yeah, you mean since I killed you?" She mumbled out, deciding she might as well acknowledge the elephant in the room while she was at it. "Do you want my honest answer or?" She asked, curving her brow over at him. A hint of amusement finding its way to the corner of her lips.

[jroycethethird]

The game was done, victory in the hands of their team. And yet Royce did not feel particularly victorious. He should have, the win felt almost impossible and yet his team secured it. But this tasted bitter, and by god did Royce need a drink to chase that away. He was getting ready to leave, to head home to his well stocked bar and leftovers from this week’s dinners curated by his personal chef, only to bump into Jasmine. The furrow between his brows deepened, and he pursed his lips momentarily before a jovial grin found its way onto his face. “Brava, vecchia,” he said in his most perfect Italian accent, dropping the showboat-y smile and his voice by nearly an octave as he added, “And that’s the best you’ll get from me.” He could have complimented her on a fine job, but then that would require actual compliments and oh look at the time — closing time, and he was all cleaned out.

@jroycethethird

"So anything you have to say to me?" Jas tilted a brow up at him as she twirled the flag she had nabbed with the help of J.C. around her fingers. "A congrats if you will?" She hummed under her breath, waiting to see if he'd actually throw a compliment her way given how the two of them hardly, if ever, got along, but somehow managed to work together to win the game.

[julianrchandlerx]

Politely helping up the intoxicated patron, Julian gave them a small smile before guiding them into a seat, his attention turning back to his childhood friend and her comment. “Can’t account for a lightweight, though,” he joked with a light chuckle. Slightly hypocritical since human Julian was a poster boy for the term, but he’d since gotten quite the upgrade. Sidling up to his friend — as close as was comfortable for the new vampire who was still getting accustomed to all the heightened abilities — he watched in slight amusement as she pulled out an article of all things and began commenting on the latest town news. They were at the bar, and the journalist was concerned with a good story instead of a fun night out. “Well, the only time I think I’ve ever interacted with her she hinted she had never seen a romcom before this year, which I would say is criminal behavior,” a joke, and he was sure she caught it in his tone and lopsided grin. He wanted to point out that just about anyone or anything in this town wasn’t exactly as they seemed, but thinking about the person in question he ultimately shrugged and said, “She does seem a bit too harmless for this kind of stuff.” Leaning onto the bar, skipping on a drink because nothing hit the spot quite like the red stuff, Julian sighed, “I know it’s not what anyone wants to hear, but the truth has a tendency to make itself known eventually.” He nodded at the article in question, “In the mean time people will sensationalize it for good measure.”

@lunarcovestarters

"And that right there is why the tour only offers one free drink per place," Jas hummed out under her breath glancing back from her seat at Starlight Bar to catch one of her tour goers stumbling over before face planting the ground. She knew she likely should check to see if they're okay, but given that this was the final stop on the tour and she was now officially off the clock, she figured the drunk patron was now her sister's problem. While she moved to pull out the article from her bag so she could go back to attempting to find any shroud of evidence in Billie's case to make her friend seem... well a whole lot less guilty than the article from the LC Times was making her out to be. "I swear if I was still working full time for the Times an article like this wouldn't have been printed. I mean I get it looks bad, but it's Billie? She's not a thief."

[julianrchandlerx]

He shrugged his shoulders at her question before motioning around the apartment. "Go out with her, mess that up with my stupid boyish ways, and then what - lose this amazing bachelor pad? Nah, I'm good," he snorted and shook his head. Returning home was also very much on the table, so it didn't make sense to even try and build more relationships in Lunar Cove, right? And then she went off and Julian stared at her with a somewhat dumbfounded look on his face. Was she serious? Maybe he was being a stupid, naïve human boy, but he found it kind of ridiculous that she was lecturing him about not noticing things when she had the ability to just be honest with him from the beginning. Not even from the day he arrived in Lunar Cove... They'd known each other for longer than that. And she said nothing. His jaw set tight, his gaze shifting away towards the unfinished painting because when he saw her he was starting to see red and frankly he didn't want to be in that mentality right then and there. Not with his supposed best friend.

"Did you come here to lecture me or to check in on me?" he asked when she finished, turning his attention back to her. "No, I'm not looking for an apology... I'm looking for honesty. Because that's what friends are - they're honest with each other. You're acting like it's my fault for not knowing what was going on around here. Maybe I wasn't looking for it, maybe I didn't 'put two and two together', but you - I've known you practically half my life, and you had so many chances to just be honest with me, before and since I got here, and instead you've been vague, distant, and right now? You're just being cruel. No, Jasmine, I wasn't supposed to just figure this all out. It would have been nice to have my best friend help me through this, but instead I'm sitting here alone replaying the events of the weirdest night of my life and I'm trying to piece together this new normal and you come in here to, what... Patronize me, because up until now I had no idea the supernatural existed? Because I come from a world where that's not at all obvious, but you just expect me to go along with this like it's a fact of life? Like it's the equivalent of the sky being blue?" He shook his head, "I get more honesty and compassion from a weird vampire who I just met, that talks like he hopped out of an Archie comic book, than I do from you. But fine, Jasmine, I'm sorry I'm so stupid I didn't just know about this and I'm sorry if I'm not handling it the way that you want me to."

"So you guys are..." He paused as he tried to frame the question in a way that didn't seem too ignorant. "Is 'witches' the correct term?" He finally just asked, figuring now was the time to get the details if he could manage it. The mention of her mom made Julian's gaze drop. He didn't know much of Jasmine's life prior to when she came to New York, but he knew the broad strokes. He knew her mom died. It was one of the first things he'd known about her before he even saw her, because the kids at school gossiped and that was all that mattered about this new girl to them. At the time he didn't care too much about it, it wasn't any of his business after all. Now he hated that his mind drifted to so many questions about what actually happened. It still wasn't his business. Julian leaned back against his kitchen counter and stared at the ceiling a moment, a soft sigh slipping past his parted lips. "Maybe this wasn't supposed to be some kind of 'battle to be won'. Maybe this was just to serve as a reminder... Like, 'we're here and we're an ever present threat and we can invade your community and harm anyone we please and you'll never truly be able to stop that.'" He shrugged, because who was he to know what was going on or to understand any of this? "Maybe the resulting fear was the whole point, and maybe that means they actually did win." Maybe, maybe, maybe...

Julian just hummed in response to her words, moving back into the living room area and towards the painting he had been working on, effectively putting his back to her for a moment as he tried to settle his mind and piece everything together. "Can we just lay it all out on the table, then?" He finally asked, his voice tired and low. "Now that I know about this town... What else am I supposed to know? What other hidden truths are there that I should be aware of?" He just wanted her to be honest with him, and to not vaguely dance around whatever the hell was going on anymore in some weird threat to get him to leave. He was tired of being danced around. "Now's a good a time as any, right? And what does it hurt in just being straight forward about it. The vamp-" He paused, closing his eyes a second before continuing, "Ralph told me that if I leave town, I'll forget everything anyway." He wasn't sure how true that was, but it seemed like he may eventually come to find out the validity of that sooner or later. "So, like... Is Sasquatch real, too?" It was meant to be lighthearted, an amusing question from the silly human to lighten things up.

“Okay then... that still doesn't answer my question though?" Jas pointed out, raising a brow up at the other expectantly. "And ah. That explains it. And you don't want to go out with the granddaughter because?" She asked him curiously. "Yeah. That's the one. Your point?" She retorted, tilting her head to the side as she hardly bothered to chalk up an apology for him not pieces together by now. "Look, Julian, I don't really know what you want me to say? I mean you've been in town for how long now? Three going on four months? I mean you were at White Elephant. People have been teleporting each other and performing magic all around you. If you didn't put two and two together at this point, don't you think that maybe you just didn't want to believe what was right before your eyes? And they're not just targeting supernaturals by the way. They murdered the previous Coalition leader last Fourth of July and look at Efe. He was locked in a freezer and nearly died of hypothermia. They're targeting everyone who lives in this town. Only while the rest of us have no where else to go, you have other options. You could go back to New York or be with your family? You could be safe if you want to be. Not, that I'm trying to convince you to leave. I learned my lesson the first time. I just, I don't know. I don't see the point in apologizing for the obvious, either?" She admitted, not trying to be mean about it, but not feeling the need to sugarcoat it either.

"They're not human, if that's what you're wondering?" She explained with a small shrug as she rocked lightly back and forth on the balls of her feet. "They were friends of my mom before she, well... passed," Jas' jaw tensed ever so slightly at the thought of her mom's death and more importantly her own personal involvement in it. Before she offered Julian another small nudge. "No. No casualties, which don't go me wrong, is a huge relief and all, but even more strange? I mean did we actually defeat them because there is strength in numbers or are they simply taunting us, enacting their own personal vendetta?" She posed, the reporter in her not able to let the story slide as much as a part of her wished her brain could simply focus on the present.

"I get it? Well, I don't entirely? I've known about, well, this town and supernaturals and all of that, my entire life. But, I guess I can understand where you're coming from? I get complicated."

[julianrchandlerx]

"Jasmine St. Claire, I am but a simple man. Of course I would have preferred that. Hot blonde I am not best friends with and who doesn't know what I looked like before I had an active skin care regime? Not to mention, she did say she was a gymnast, so..." To anyone eavesdropping this may have sounded rude for him to talk about preferring a different date but Julian's tone was lighthearted and full of amusement, clearly just joking around with his best friend. Even though it was a little bit true. "As adorable and charming as I am... I'm pretty sure that guy could snap me in half without much effort."

He let out a fake sigh and quipped, "Yes, it's my one fatal flaw I'm afraid." He followed the direction to the guy and his brows rose. "Why wouldn't you want to hang out with that guy? He's like ridiculously good looking. And his name is one of my favorite beverages, what's not to like?" Julian snorted at her question, leaning over to bump his shoulder lightly against hers. "Because it's so much more fun when it's a little weird. And also you have to admit it's a little weird." Throwing his arm casually over her shoulders, he looked in the direction of the restaurant owner and shook his head back at Jasmine. "I'm too pretty to get into fights, these broad shoulders are only for show. Nah, let's just go find our table and make fun of all the other pairs trying to find love at a pizzeria." Never mind that the idea had initially crossed his mind. "Story, eh? They have you reporting on these activities? What about your serial killer?" He dropped his voice to a whisper at the last question.

"Sorry? Would you have preferred if I was her?" Jas quirked a brow over at her friend as she watched the blonde he had previously been talking to wander off with someone else. "Cause if you want to go try to steal the girl, I'm hardly going to stop you?" She pointed out as she bite down on her lower lip in a poor attempt to hide an amused smile at the situation they seemed to currently find themselves in.

Only at Julian's mention of a latte, Jas found herself rolling her eyes playfully over. "God, you're so white sometimes. No, not a latte. Chai, as in that dude right there," She explained tilting her head to the side as if to motion towards the man currently still trying to find his match over near the far right wall of the room. "And would you look at that," She mused as she tested out the key which happened to be a match, figuring if she had to share a slice of pizza with anyone, she couldn't say she exactly minded being stuck with a friend. Only at Julian's look of surprise, Jas couldn't help, but roll her eyes over once more. "Why do you have to make this so weird? " A light laugh breaking from her lips as she shook her head the smallest bit back and forth. "Relax, Lover Boy. I'm just here for my story and the pizza, so shall we? Or do you need a minute to go fight Joe for clearly have exceptional taste?"

[julianrchandlerx]

“Like every other straight boy in 2007 felt a certain way about Megan Fox when Transformers came out,” he said, an amused grin on his face. Maybe he said it just to elicit that kind of response, maybe he liked getting a reaction out of his oldest friend. His grin softened considerably at the mention of Briar. “I love Briar very much — yeah, I know, ‘gross’,” he rolled his eyes, “But childhood celebrity crushes don’t factor much into our conversations, ya know?” He blinked, “Yeah, and I gave you classic suggestions. You think the cage and the sharks were for me? That’s a negative, Ghost Rider.” Leaning back in his chair as the subject changed towards him, Julian raised a brow. “I thought we were talking about you,” he said, evading a direct response. “You really think you have a year or so left to live? Are you okay? Is something going on?” Legitimate concern crossed his face, dropping any sense of amusement or sarcasm for a moment. That was a heavy thought, though as the days pulled closer to his one year anniversary of undead life Julian found himself thinking a lot about how he was left unchanged and people around him were changing every day. Jasmine included. Granted, he didn’t think he’d lose his best friend any time soon, and it frightened him and filled his mind with a dread he didn’t think about often. He got quiet a moment before speaking, “If you really only have that long left, or even just hypothetically you might, I’d say forget about the ‘crazy worthwhile adventures’… spend time with your loved ones, leave some good memories behind. Isn’t that all we have at the end? Your legacy, whatever people remember of you. But hey, maybe I’m just sentimental like that.” He swallowed and lifted his shoulders in another shrug, “Or go skydiving. Yolo, am I right?”

“What in the- gross," Jas scrunched up her nose in displeasure. "Does Briar know about your love for Megan Fox?" She asked with a curve of a brow. "Though, you know I was talking more about me right? The very mortal one of us in the room?" She pointed out rolling her eyes lightly over. "How are you feeling though, while we are on the subject? About being a vampire now? Decided to join the clan yet? You know that offer isn't going to last forever and one day I'm not going to be around to look after your sorry ass the way other vamps might."

[julianrchandlerx]

Option 1

“Well, if we ask teenage Julian when making his first ever bucket list, then worthy entries to the list are things like…” He paused in thought, recollecting exactly what a teenage Julian wanted to do before he died, and resumed with a shrug, “…Losing your virginity to Megan Fox and owning the Mets. Number one may be out but hey, in a century or two, maybe I’ll have accumulated enough of that sweet vampire dough to actually own the Mets.” He flashed a toothy grin, clearly just messing around (though at least one of them was probably, actually very true). “No, but in all seriousness, places you’ve always wanted to travel to? Crazy activities like… Sky Diving, Bungee Jumping, the thing with the cage and sharks? I don’t know…” He frowned, “I sure as hell hope I have more than a year or so left to live. That would be a pathetically short tenure as a vampire.” He didn’t answer the question, given he hadn’t done anything particularly interesting before he himself “died” last Spring.

Option 1:

“What do people even put on a bucket list?” Jas asked with a curve of a brow as she turned back towards her notebook in hand. Her pen lightly tapping against the surface of the bar as she continued to milk the drink she had in hand. "If you only had, let's uh say a year or so left to live, what would you top five things to do before you hit the bucket be exactly?" She asked, lifting her gaze up from the page in front of her to the person beside her out of curiosity.  

Option 2:

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Leyla apologized as she stepped out onto the street of the Daily Drip having just put up the closed sign for the day. "We're actually closed right now," She admitted, motioning over with a tilt of her head to the sign that distinctly read 'Gone to plot some revenge. Be back soon.' "Don't worry about it. But, I should be back in an hour or two though, if you can wait until then?"

[julianrchandlerx]

Option B

His brow furrowed beneath the shade of the ridiculous large umbrella he carried around with him, even as Julian skirted the shadows the building cast on the sidewalk. “…I just said, ‘hey, Jas, where ya headed?’” he responded, frowning a little at his friend. Maybe she was so occupied in her own thoughts, she hadn’t noticed him calling out to her or something. Which was valid of her — there was likely a lot going on in her life and on her mind as of late, he couldn’t blame her for not noticing the awkwardly tall vampire using a damn umbrella to keep himself from burning on the spot approaching. “I was gonna see if I could tag along, but if you need to be alone that’s totally fine,” he said with a small smile. “I just… wanted to see how you’re doing.” He figured she had no warm feelings for Mrs. Reed, especially with all the arguing that happened before the big resurrection, but… Now he saw the kind of act that lead to her curse, and saw the consequence of it happen. Again. Of course he worried for her after that. She was someone he cared about. He thought maybe after dying from her curse himself he maybe understood whatever complicated feelings could come from the whole necromancy thing. To a very, very small and not entirely relatable degree anyway. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to sympathize.

@lunarcovestarters

Option A:

Meena let out a deep breath. To say she was not okay was an understatement of a lifetime. But, she had spent enough time curled up in a ball in bed writhing in pain from the sire bond breaking and now she was in desperate need of clearing any trace of Theo from her house. She had once upon a time, been known for her lavish house parties, but over the past year she had hardly invited anyone over to the manor and that little fact ended today. Swinging her front door open after a prolonged moment, her signature smirk found its way back to her lips. "Welcome! Come in, make yourself comfortable, help yourself to a sledgehammer and a hard hat," She offered up, motioning to the long line of destructive tools and safety gear that lined the far wall. "Feel free to destroy or take anything in the West Wing. I want everything but the structure gone," She explained, having already roped off her side of the house that would remain untouched. "Designer clothes, furniture, light fixtures- you want it, its yours, and before you ask, there is all you can eat food and drinks too."

Option B:

"Boo," Jas said, rolling her jet black eyes over, the temporary consequence from the necromancy, as she watched the kid run away from her screaming. Bringing her arms into her chest, Jas moved to wrap them around herself. It had been less than a day since everything at the Pendulum had gone down and she could feel the dark magic still there, just beneath a skin. A reminder of exactly what she had done, bringing her own sister back from the dead and killing someone in the process. A fact she was hoping the Council would let slide given that two other people had taken lives that night too. But, even if they didn't, she had plenty enough on her plate to focus on. She could practically feel the town's eyes on her as she forced herself to leave her place, wanting nothing more to retreat back inside, but unfortunately, she was out of coffee and groceries for that matter. So, here she was fending off the looks as best she could as she made her way towards the Caffeine Crypt. "Can I help you with something?" She finally asked, followed by an irritated huff as she turned towards the person to her left who had been watching her all this time. She knew she currently looked like she was possessed, but the stares were really starting to grow tiring.

Option C:

"No, I am not having a good day. Do you know how many flambéd rats and insects are in the Pendulum right now? The top of the stage? Completely burnt. A light fixture fell and put a dent in it. Doors were exploded to smithereens. Oh and after spending the entire day on the phone with the insurance company, I had to go to the doctor and get tested for rabies," She exclaimed with an exasperated sigh. "I want a life redo. Preferably one that doesn't involve so much death and destruction. Now, can you please pass the sugar?" She asked as she clenched her hands tightly around her currently bitter coffee in its styrofoam cup.

[julianrchandlerx]

“Totally fair, I’m sure you’ve got a lot on your mind right now,” he said sincerely. Of course she did, there was no question to it, and he wasn’t about to fault Jasmine for not noticing his approach. “I was headed home originally. Didn’t wanna risk sunburn and looking like a red lobster, or ending up like a really bad charred marshmallow. I don’t think that’s a good look for me,” he joked. It was the middle of summer, but Julian was wearing long layers of clothing including a trench coat, sunglasses, leather driving gloves he totally “borrowed” from his landlord, and hiding beneath a large umbrella — the stubborn attempts of a non-clan-affiliated vampire trying to still leave his house during the daylight hours instead of getting one of those daylight rings from joining the clan. Which she pointed out. He rolled his eyes dramatically behind his shades. “So they all tell me,” he quipped, “I thought maybe I could make it a new trend. Parasols and trench coats, all the summer rage.”

He grew quiet, knowing full well that she probably wasn’t doing so great. But just like when they were teenagers, Julian didn’t press. If she wanted to open up about her feelings, she knew he would be all ears, but it had always been his way to not pressure those out of her. Instead, he fell into step beside her just like he had in the school halls and motioned forwards. “You lost the chance to get rid of me the moment I walked up to you. Onwards to much needed caffeine,” though he actually didn’t need caffeine. “‘Sides, it’s been a while since we just kinda hung out, so you’ll have to endure me for, oh… at least, like, twenty five minutes. At the least.” He was quiet a moment before speaking up, the usual joking schtick coming out as he asked, “Do you think I could rock one of those like obnoxiously huge sun hats, or should I stick with the umbrella? I was thinking fedora too for a moment, but then I realized straight white man in a fedora, sunglasses, and umbrella maybe kinda equals douche bag.”

"Oh," Jas mumbled out, moving to wrap her arms around herself as she gave Julian a small and apologetic shrug. "Sorry. I didn't hear you. The, uh, the Caffeine Crypt. You?" She explained, a little awkwardly. "You know if you join the Clan, you won't need to carry an umbrella around anymore right?" She pointed quietly out, giving the edge of his umbrella a light tap as the curve of her lips tilted up ever so slightly, only to fall again when he asked how she was doing. "I'm doing as well as I can be," She muttered out, which in her case was not well at all. Becoming a shut-in these past few weeks was more like it. But, she also didn't know how to begin to broach the topic of how she was doing or how even he was doing after her death curse had claimed his life. Another life that had been altered by her hands to add to the long list of mistakes she had made over the years. So, instead she simply gave him a small nod and said, "Yeah, yeah, you, um, you can tag along. If you want?"

[julianrchandlerx]

“Ah yes, I can see it now — you, old and gray and on your deathbed, me, still stunningly youthful and gorgeous, and your very last words to me are ‘plantslaughterer’.” He shrugged, “I think it’s a permanent fixture to the apartment. I guess I’ll have to find a big boy job and move onto greener, fresher pastures. Or just deal with it. Air fresheners may help, though.” Julian watched her carefully a moment. He didn’t exactly envy her telepathic abilities, but he wondered what it would be like to listen to someone’s thoughts, to know what went on behind their eyes when they spoke. But that was also a little too Twilight for him, so he shook the idea away and smiled. “Weird, huh? Two kids from the big city and we’re both settling in a place like this.” He had thought of Lunar Cove like his grave, a permanence he didn’t personally love. Lately it had more appeal — between the handful of people around he began to care for. But a small part of him ached for something beyond this town.

He accepted the drink with a wide grin, but it faltered just a bit at mention of the clan. He occupied himself with a long drink before letting out a sigh. “That’s a negative, Ghost Rider,” he fought back a roll of his eyes, “Last I heard, Madam Mayor has to invite you to the clan. I doubt I’d get on her bad side either — I’m a good, law abiding citizen. It’s what makes me so boring. And I’m fine. I’m well taken care of.” He spared a fond smile as he briefly thought of Ralph. He chose his sire for a reason. That was the hand that fed him… Well, and the squirrels in the park, but he didn’t talk about that kind of unsavory meal in most company. “I guess I should start checking my mail in case she sent over an invitation. Though, I imagine initiating into it is more like a weird and gothic fraternity or something — kidnapped in the middle of the night and finding yourself in a crypt somewhere surrounded by people in cloaks and forced to drink a cup with the blood of the clan members or something.” His mouth watered ever so slightly and he took a substantial gulp of his drink. “If it’s not like that I’m certainly not joining.” His eyes narrowed at her a moment, before traveling around in some hopes there was a copy of the paper nearby. No dice. “Jas, what did it say in the papers?” He asked, this time a little more forward. He had the sense it wasn’t just nonsensical town gossip. His brows rose at the name, but didn’t comment. Honestly, he liked it. “I guess it could get confusing for a puppy, but I think as long as you’re both around it’ll be okay. Big step though — puppies aren’t too far off from, like, a baby, right?” He bit his tongue to keep from making a comment about werewolf babies being puppies; he liked Nico, he would swallow a perfectly good joke for the sake of a pal.

Julian blinked, realizing Jasmine had a number of sisters around. “Uhhh,” was all that came out of him in response, but he soon after named the object of his affections. He held up a hand in a defensive stance. A part of him thought it could go either well or bad, telling his best friend he was pursuing her younger sister, but he didn’t realize how his words could come across. Especially when Poppy came into the mix. “Now hold on, a couple quick things. For starters, I did not tell Poppy first — she ran into the two of us while we were hanging out and deduced we liked each other. Actually, she figured it out before we did, which is both hilarious and kinda sad at the same time. Like, up until just before Halloween we hadn’t even realized there were mutual feelings, we both just assumed everything going on between us was platonic. In hindsight that seems ridiculous, but we started hanging out shortly after… You know, what happened in July,” he had no reason to be so vague about the tragedy on the Fourth of July, but he was anyway, “I thought, given what went down with her mom, she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, and she thought I was just being nice to her because of that. We hadn’t realized we felt the same, so I didn’t think I had to ask you at all. I mean, I didn’t want to ask you if it’s okay before knowing if she just saw me as a friend or returned my schoolyard crush on her.”

He frowned, looking genuinely sad and apologetic, at the words that followed. His beer long forgotten on the closest available flat surface, he began wringing his hands uncomfortably in his lap. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, “But, really, I didn’t tell the rest of your family anything. Actually, you and Ralph are the only people who I’ve told directly that I have feelings for Briar and that we’re seeing where this goes. So technically speaking, you are among the very first to really know what’s going on. Or to hear it more directly from me. And for what it’s worth, we haven’t really crossed any big steps so far. I mean, I haven’t even kissed her yet, or taken her on a proper, romantic, actual first date.” The former was something which probably would have seemed ridiculous to an outsider, but he figured Jasmine knew him well enough to know he never made definitive moves until he felt completely sure things were progressing in a certain direction. Namely, Julian did not kiss until he was very sure of his feelings and them being returned. Typically not until after a few dates. Call him a prude, he liked to take his time with things that mattered to him. He looked at his hands a second, trying to still them. “If you aren’t comfortable with it… Well, I don’t know if I can stop it, but I would understand. But I want you to know about this, and not just because this involves your sister. I just… I really like her, Jas. Silly as it possibly sounds, this is one of the most exciting things that’s happened to me since moving here. Since dying. I guess I just wanna know if it’s gonna be weird gushing to my best friend about it.”

“And I'm going to continue to call you a plantslaughterer until the end of time, I hope you know. Best friend privileges and all that," She admitted, the corner of her lips itching up despite herself as she watched him throw back a laugh. "And that is some conundrum you've found yourself in there. But, you know you could always invest in air fresheners right? Maybe pay for a deep clean? And I, uh, I figured it was time? I had been here long enough, might as well make it a bit more permanent, but now-" She trailed off. She loved living with Efe, she did. He was pretty much the perfect roommate. But, the permanency is what she was finding herself quickly regretting. Lunar Cove had somehow managed to sneak its way into her heart. Her mom used to always say she'd love it here and a part of her hating how much her mom had been right, because now her dad was out. And finally having a home? Having a place and people you love? Was just a long list of things he could now use against her and he would. Attachments are weaknesses, little gem. You best remember that, he used to always tell her and she knew pretty soon she'd have to pay the price of not heading his warning.

"A beer it is," She offered up with a grin, popping the top off of another glass bottle before she handed his drink over to him. "You still haven't joined the Clan yet, have you? You've got guts, you know that? I sure as hell wouldn't want to get on Meena's bad side. Especially not if it got in the way of well being able to eat and all. What's that saying, don't bite the hand that feeds you? Especially not when that hand just so happens to be our unhinged mayor? Something like that?" She teased as she took another sip from her glass. Only for her smirk to falter at the mention of the paper. "Nothing. Just gossip. You know how small town's can be and I guess, yeah? It's name is Thunder and, before you say anything, I didn't name him. He came like that and who are we to change it? But, the plan is for him to go back and forth, which logistically doesn't really make the most sense to treat a newborn puppy like we're in some sort of divorced duel custody situation, but we're still just trying to figure it out, I guess? And thanks. I thought so, but okay then? So what's this good news, hm?"

"Hm," Jas pressed her lips firmly together as Julian told her the news. "Which one?" She asked, seeing that it now needed clarifying with Noel living in town as well as Briar and all. "I'm sorry, late summer? And you're only telling me now? What the hell, dude? That's something you ask before hand. You know, like hey, I'm into your sister, mind if I ask her out? And you say that like the guys I dated in high school weren't kinda douchey in a let's get high behind the bleachers sort of way, but, you told Poppy before you told me?" She asked. Her brow curving up even more, this time not bothering to hide the offense. "Wow, okay. And not really?" She admitted, still trying to process the news. "But, that's not because your dating Briar. If you two want to be together, who am I to stop you? And everything to do with the fact that you told the rest of my family before telling your childhood best friend? You know the one you moved to town for and ended up dying for? That one? Like I get killed you and all, but common courtesy, Jules."