monday, art in motion. open starter.

When she had been told they would be doing their own version of the Van Gogh exhibit she was ecstatic, ready to lose herself in the artworks she had selected for the gallery, only to realise she would be required to work for majority of it. She was nearly done with her shift, and nearly done with the picture she had been doodling while she watched people enjoy the exhibit. Her fingers were tainted technicolour from the chalks she had been using to depict the scene in front of her, a technicolour mismatch of cherry blossom works, each blending into each other like a mirage. It wasn't perfect, it was rather abstract, looking like a dream, but she didn't care, it wasn't for anyone, it was just for her. She was contently smudging some of the final details when she felt eyes on her. "You're meant to be enjoying the experience, not watching me." She advised sharply, not raising her eyes from the notebook in front of her.

Where: The Dance A Thon

What: Possessed Dilan

Open To: All

Elizabeth pushed opened the doors as hard as she could, both doors slammed against the wall with a bang. Revealing freshly cut bangs and dyed black hair, in tow with a black leather mini skirt, a silk black top that clearly belonged to Leyla, a cropped black leather jacket, and knee high black leather boots to the crowd. Flicking the ashes of the cigarette in her hand onto the clean floor before she put them out with toe of her boots. “Am I late?” She asked with a smirk, knowing damn well that she was late to their little party. Taking another hit from the cigarette before she handed the cigarette to the person closes to her. “Be a doll and put that out for me.” Patting them on the cheek before she walked away and to another person. Looking them over as she gave a laugh. “You wore that to this? Tragic.”

choose your own adventure: awesome blossom edition !!

Location: On Pitch Event: Sing-Off

A shrill wailing emitted from the speakers and Bea almost wished it was a banshee, but no, it was just a misguided werewolf howling out Adele's Rolling In The Deep. Usually, Bea wouldn't be caught dead in On Pitch due to her particular relationship with its owner, but she wanted to make sure she was doing her due diligence and ensuring no sirens were cheating during the contest. She winced as the performer's voice cracked after not being able to reach a high note. Noticing the person beside her also wincing a bit, she took a sip of her drink before asking, "Is it usually like this?" in a low voice. "I don't know how An-- how anyone could be here for so many hours without needing a break. I'm almost tempted to go outside for a smoke break and I don't even smoke."

Location: Town Green Event: Hanami

Tearing off another bite of her mochi donut, Luna walked farther from the farmer's market-- shopping bag full, as a member of the community that supported small business and all-- and towards the town green where people had gathered to picnic. "Hey, want to share a blanket?" she asked a person nearby. "I've got way too much food and I don't think I can take it all home. Promise you won't be on the menu," she said with a small wink, "--unless you want to be."

Location: Celestial Hills' restaurant street Event: All of the food deals, all of 'em

"Listen, this is like my Superbowl, okay? Don't you screw this up for me, just nod and pay for your half," Reese said seriously as she pulled out the sheet of participating restaurants and her plans on how to hit them all before the week was up. "Rainbow Roll has their best deal today, but the special is two-for-one and normally I'd be all for ordering two meals and taking one home, but this is a lover's special so I need a partner. So, are you in or are you in?"

Where/When: Dance A Thon, Plot Drop #3 Status: Open

“Jesus Christ.” Kotaro leaned his back against the wall, drink in hand and undone tie rested on his shoulders. He came to this party hoping for a chance to extend connections and find someone who could aid in his condition. What actually happened? Ko was caught in the middle of town drama: one bad apple humiliating her sister and making it everyone else’s problem.

“What a shitshow.” He sighed and drank as his eyes scanned through the dance floor, remaining alert just in case someone approached to pull him into the terpsichorean cesspool. At this point he had given up on having a meaningful conversation with anyone and was only here thanks to the sunk cost fallacy. AKA: 'Ah fuck it, I've already been here for this long. Why not?' "Not like I had any other plans tonight." Ko was talking to himself but he spoke loud enough for anyone to hear and chime in on. “If I wanted to see a family fight, I would have just walked back home.” Kotaro shook his head and chuckled to himself. “What’s next? The evil aunt makes her dramatic entrance and everybody gasps?” Honestly, that wouldn't be too much of a shock given that the evil sister was here already...

setting: blank slate, monday featuring: julian chandler & open

Twirling a double ended alcohol marker in his hand like it was a butterfly knife, Julian approached the large paper pad set on his easel, already set on a blank page, and settled into the stool before it. Angled perfectly so he had the sketch pad facing him while still being able to see his subject in perfect view, he offered a friendly dimpled grin at the customer seated across from him. “Just relax and get as comfortable as you can,” he said in a soft voice, pulling the cap off the chiseled nib of the marker and preparing to get to work on the piece. He loved drawing caricatures and jumped at the chance to be one of the artists contributing to the event when they mentioned it at work. It was one of the things he did back at school while ignoring lessons or after finishing a test to pass the time. Something to keep the artist in him alive when he swapped paint brushes for lacrosse sticks. “So, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself,” he said after a moment of silence passed, when he was sure the other was well situated in their seat. “What is your favorite springtime memory?” He liked engaging his subjects in conversation while drawing them. Talking eased the awkwardness of him staring at them intently while working, but he also loved taking the opportunity to get to know the person a little. Their personality often came out when they talked about themselves or memories, and that often helped aid in the work. So Julian listened intently to the other, bringing the marker tip down onto the page and beginning his work.

open to all!! when: the afternoon before the Dance-a-Thon where: Blush Boutique, Celestial Hills

The first thing they’d done when they got Blush back was change the loft-like second floor back the way it should be. It wasn't storage, it wasn't overflow, it was a studio. An atelier, sorta, but part of the store as well. It all worked together, see? They'd told this to their new staff, feeling dangerously proprietary about it. A sturdy desk sat out in the open, sewing machine, shears and tapes carefully perched on top. Three full length mirrors placed just so, to make multiple angles visible at once, a cluster of half-dressed mannequins. Brightly stencilled paper screens blocked them from view of the shop as they worked, but they could still peek down to keep an eye on things. It was the closest thing to a comfort zone that they could find—contained and simultaneously open. Protected by the presence of others, and yet isolated from them.

Right this moment, the day before a big dance, they were deep in work mode. The chime of the door and the customers' footsteps down on the floor faded to soothing background noise, familiar in its own mild way. A jacket blooming with embroidered flowers was pinned on one mannequin, inspired by the festival that Kui had seen glimpses of on their quick errands. A second version of it floated directly in front of them, an illusory copy to test things out on. "Having trouble in the shoulders there, Suzie Q..." they murmured to the jacket mirage, frowning and lifting a seam half an inch to see if that helped.

And actually, Kui realized, so were they. With a sigh, they stretched their arms up and across the back of their neck, breaking loose of the hyper-focused state that consumed most of their days. They hummed, chanced a glance down at the various heads bobbing about the shop, and then got distracted when they saw someone—someone perfect for—

Kui's wings burst from their back, emerging without incident through the tailored gaps they left in all of their own clothes. They glided off the end of the balcony, directly towards a specific rack they knew had—there, yeah—and removed a garment on a hanger. They stepped up to their unwitting model. "Take this," they said breathlessly, and then paused and added, "Just, like, if you want. It'll look right on you." They felt heat rising in their cheeks. "On—on the house, just this one," and resisted the urge to fly back upstairs immediately.

@lunarcovestarters

(don't mind me doing a new kind of choose your own adventure starter - choose the character you want to reply to)

Option A: Bells

"I said it's mine!" Bells exclaimed as she yanked the Chanel bag she had been clutching onto for dear life as hard as she could away from the other shopper whose grubby little fingers had the audacity to touch the purse she had so clearly already claimed. Only not realizing how much strength she had these days, still being new to the whole vampire thing, Bella's doe eyes widened in surprise as she watched the aggressive shopper go flying back a few feet. "Well I'll be damned," Bells let out a low whistle under her breath before helplessly glancing to the left and right of her as if look for guidance as to how to handle the situation. What to do after you've accidentally flung someone across the room wasn't exactly in her field of expertise. But, when now seething shopper began to pull themselves back up onto their feet. Bells turned to the person beside her as she told them, "Run? Run, I think we should run, right now. Want to make a break for the register?"

Option B: Leyla

After shutting down the Daily Drip Booth over at the Farmer's Market for the day, Leyla figured she'd cut through Peggy's parking lot on the way home. She had always had a love for rollerskating herself and figure she might as well get to enjoy some of the other festivities before getting changed to go let off some lanterns. Only what she hadn't been anticipating was one Peggy's employee whom had never been on roller skates in their life before barreling towards another unsuspecting skater at full speed. "Watch out!" Leyla exclaimed as she rushed forwards, only for the rogue waitress to end up barreling into her instead. "Oomph," She exclaimed as she was knocked straight down onto her back. "Oww," She groaned out as she laid there, now blinking up at the ceiling. "I really can't catch a break, can I?" She mumbled out to herself only to turn to the person who she had just saved from being narrowly knocked down. "You okay?"

Option C: Jasmine

"Whoa, hey, if this is about a refund, I don't know what to tell you? You went paid for the tour, you went on the tour and if you didn't read the fine print that states the Ghost Bros Extravaganza is publicity stunt to tease our grand opening than that's on you," Jas called out over her shoulder as she heard the footsteps of one of the tour goers approaching.

Where: Dance-A-Thon Who: Ben @readbentweenthelines

Azra swayed awkwardly from side to side, as Joe had instructed, while the doors were tossed unceremoniously open and a woman came striding in, making chaos everywhere she went. She had not been in town long, and truthfully, she'd never been to an event like this before, but she had been having fun, getting to know people and dancing the night away. Now... She leaned in close to partner. "Is this normal? Are we supposed to keep dancing?" She knew this town was unusual, but this behavior was a little concerning. "Should we...do something to help?"

Cherry Blossom Festival Who: Madee & Open (@lunarcovestarters) When: Tuesday, April 18th, Mid-afternoon Where: The Daily Drip

Madee had overslept, but she certainly wasn't upset about it. It had been a long time since she slept in and it felt nice to get a decent nights sleep for once. No sleepwalking, no disturbances, just a nice, good sleep. She took her time getting ready, wondering if she still had time to make it out to the festivities taking place throughout town, but decided she ultimately didn't really feel like going out to do anything. Instead, she found herself at The Daily Drip, sipping an iced latte as she watched people outside enjoying the festivities.

Now at the bottom of her cup, Madee thought that maybe she should go down to the sidewalk sale. It had been quite some time since she'd gone shopping, and having everything heavily discounted was a definite bonus. But surely it was busy, and people could be brutal when they wanted something. Thoughts whirled through her mind as she walked across the coffee shop, completely distracted as she approached the recycle bin. So many thoughts were in her head, that she didn't even acknowledge that somebody was speaking to her until she felt their eyes staring at her. "Oh, sorry, were you talking to me?"

DANCE UNTIL YOU DROP-A-THON - PLOT DROP #2

Now can you hand jive, baby?, Oh, can you hand jive, baby?, Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah, born to hand jive, oh yeah!

The Dance-Until-You-Drop-A-Thon is back and is once again being hosted at Puck's Luck, only this time around, the dance is taking on a '50s theme. So, lace up those shoes, pin those curls, grab a partner and hit the dance floor. The rules of the Dance-A-Thon are as follows-

You must be in a pair in order to compete in the Dance-A-Thon. Once you've decided your pair, you can sign up here (stating who your partner will be, your team name and which local establishment around town will be sponsoring you throughout the Dance-A-Thon: https://forms.gle/57k4bGexPcKXyjSg9 (OOC: More information in regards to pairings can be found in the Reminders section below)

The Dance-A-Thon will go on until there is only 1 pair left on the dance floor. The longer you stay on the dance floor, the more money your sponsor will donate on your behalf towards helping the displaced supernaturals coming to town. The winner of the Dance-A-Thon will also receive a trophy, bragging rights, an all expenses paid for trip to the Heavenly Healing Spa with any treatments you'd like included and having your photo mounted on the wall of Pizza Joe's until the next Dance-A-Thon.

You must be with your partner at all times while on the dance floor and your signs with your team name on them must be visible. Any couple without a partner on the dance Ffoor will be disqualified. All pairs must also be touching and moving at all times. The only time you may stop moving or stop touching is when you hear the sound of the horn.

At the sound of the horn, your host, Pizza Joe, will indicate whether you have a ten minute break or whether a dance challenge is about to ensue. During the 10 minute breaks, you will have ten minutes to get a drink, get a snack, rest your feet, use the facilities or do whatever else it is you can get done in under 10 minutes. But, you will need to have both you and your partner back on the dance floor ready to start moving again before the break is up.

If Pizza Joe has issued a Dance Challenge, you will have to follow Joe's instructions until the challenge is up. Dance Challenges can and will include: The Run Around- a challenge where you must run around the dance floor of the casino again and again until the music stops to which the five couples at the back of the heard will be disqualified. Joe says- like Simon Says, you must perform the types of dances and movements that Joe says and if you don't follow Joe's instructions to a T, you risk being disqualified. The Hand Jive- You know the dance and you must continue to perform it until the music cuts out to which you will freeze in place. If you are still moving when the music cuts out, you're out. The Dance Off- Joe will select two couples to go head to head in a dance battle. The couple Joe deems as the winner gets to remain while the other couple is out.

You may switch out your partner twice throughout the night. Though if your partner taps out and someone else takes your partner's place, you will need to sign in your new partner/pairing here- https://forms.gle/57k4bGexPcKXyjSg9 and your old partner will be disqualified from being able to win the grand prize.

Every person participating will also be issued two yellow cards in case of emergencies. The yellow card will grant the dancer an additional 10 minutes to leave the dance floor so long as your partner remains on the dance floor and continues to stay moving the entire time you are gone. The yellow card holder can then rejoin them and stay in the contest without being disqualified.

First aid is available over at the Med Tents. Joe would like to remind you all that if you feel yourself getting light-headed, having shooting pains or any other concerning symptoms to please move off to the side of the dance floor so that your collapse will not get in the way of the other dancers.

There will be a buffet on hand with snacks and beverages to keep everyone fully fueled and fed brought to you by End of Line, so we hope you like egg salad and cucumber sandwiches.

For those in attendance who would rather watch than participate, the Casino will still be fully open and running. Though you also could get dragged onto the dance floor at a moment's notice if someone is in need of a partner swap in.

Last but certainly not least, bust out your best moves and may the best werewolf, vampire, witch, fae, and, or human win!

REMINDERS

Please fill out the above survey if your character will be participating in the Dance-A-Thon stating who their partner will be or if your character swapped partners.

You are more than welcome to have your character select their own dance partner. But, if you'd rather have your character be assigned a dance partner at random, please comment below with which character you'd like a pairing for and we will match you so that you can have the opportunity to write with someone you might not have otherwise.

Feel free to write open or private starters reacting to any of the above. The tag for the event is lunarcoveevent6. Everything from pictures, outfits & threads etc. should be under this tag. Starters should have both the starter and event tag.

We will be dropping two upcoming chaos related plot drops pertaining to the Dance-A-Thon as well so please keep an eye out for those!

For anyone looking to bring in new characters, we will continue to have regular acceptances throughout the event.

Last, but not least, we hope you have fun!

closed starter for @jonahxrivas where: safely out of the coven's way when: right before they begin de-possessing dilan, before julian gets got ·✥· So far as Lunar Cove parties went, this wasn't as bad as it could be, he supposed. Nico shunted himself over to the side, watching the witches go about their business, preparing to free Dilan. It was all very much over his head, but he found himself standing beside Jonah. "Hey—thanks again, for letting me borrow your boat," he remarked, trying to quell his worries and the clenched-gut feeling of being useless. "Should we... consider making some sort of code word, to check if someone's possessed? Or would a spirit just learn them and then be extra convincing?"

for; @cantfightmoonlight - jasmine sunday, echo acres woods

"Can I just say, if I were going to murder you, I would be a lot more imaginative than a murder in the woods, its so pedestrian. I would think of something with a lot more pizzaz." Arlow said casually as he strode through the woods sure-footedly. The woods were a second home to him, and he walked with the confidence of someone who strode through them repeatedly, hardly noticing the protruding tree roots and shrubbery. "And I maintain that movies in the woods is an excellent date, nothing creepy about it." Maintaining a brisk pace, he turned confidently at each little marker he had saved in his head, taking them deeper into the woods until they broke out in a wide clearing, grass, spotted with wild flowers thriving in the spring weather, stretching out in front of them, the night sky clear above them, and the sounds of running water close by. He'd pre-set the projector screen and left some large floor cushions in the clearing for them to sit on. It was the definition of idyllic. "This is the point where you say: 'wow Arlow, you were right, this is a great date destination, not creepy at all'."

Where: The Wishing Tree

With: Open to all

Dilan had finished filling out her wish and nervously debated if she should even bother or if this would actually be pointless. Walking over to the tree and she stood on her tip toes in her overly high heels to place her petal on the tree; not wanting to have to ask someone else to do it. "So do you think these wishes will actually come true?" She asked, looking towards the person next to her. "So can I ask what you wished for is is that against the rules? You know like with birthday wishes."

To Bexley- At the end of the Blossom Festival, an envelope courtesy of the Wishing Tree is dropped off at your door. The warm wish an anonymous resident has gifted to you is the following: " May your life be long, fruitful, and full of happiness." 🌸

At the end of the Blossom Festival, an envelope courtesy of the Wishing Tree was supposed to be dropped off at your door. The warm wish an anonymous resident had intended to gift to you was the following: "No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible", only you never received the original message. Instead, you received an envelope that was torn open at the edges and clearly tampered with. Inside written in red ink on a black card is the following: "You stand a disappointment and so you shall remain, good wishes are not meant for you." :skull:

Seven minutes. 

On average, it took about seven minutes to die from asphyxiation. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven minutes. It likewise took about seven minutes for a person to fall asleep. A strange similarity that Julian Rhys Chandler would spend a millennia thinking about, during the quietest moments of his eternity where nothing could occupy him save his own mind. Death had always been such a distant concept to a mortal man of only thirty years. When you’re that young, it felt like nothing could bring you down, and Julian was no exception to that rule. If he thought of his passing, he imagined Death finding him old and wrinkled, gray but hopefully in a distinguished way, and after having lived a long and exceptional life.

At this point in time, there was nothing particularly exceptional about Julian Chandler’s life. A life spent in the immeasurable shadow cast by the Chandler men who came before him, a lonely human existence in a world stranger than fiction. No amazing achievements on record, no wild escapades or fantastic stories to be told. Up until that day, April 21st, 2023, he seemed exceptionally average. Even when he knew the threat of death loomed somewhere above his head, he hadn’t thought it possible.

There would be no tragedy at this town event, after all.

Julian Chandler had been doing his best to side step the overall activity. Long, awkward limbs had not made the best for dancing, though he would have tried his hardest if ever required. Still, he hadn’t come there to participate in the competition. In a fuchsia sweater he found at the thrift store which he thought was passably retro, cuffed Levi’s and scuffed converse sneakers, he hugged the perimeter of the dance-a-thon, watching the fantastical people of Lunar Cove live their enchanting lives. A drink in hand, and a dozen or so chips filling his belly, Julian looked around and thought for that moment that life was good. Life had been good as of late. He was, for the most part, living his childhood dream of living off his artistic abilities (never mind that he was basically a starving artist though) and while it was small, he found a genuine community in this supernatural haven.

Following this train of thought, his eyes sought out the faces which made it for him. Ralph Middlemas was the first he spotted among the crowd, surefooted on the dance floor in a way Julian could only dream to be. His charisma and swagger rolled off him thickly, so full of life and personality. He wanted to be like the vampire, to have his confidence and his spunk. That animated charm which radiated the warmth and comfort of a million suns. The very things that invited Julian in and made him trust Ralph so much, made their friendship what it was. Was that how brothers were supposed to be, he wondered. Was that what he always lacked and craved from his own blood? This sort of bond where they could be goofy and themselves but then get real and honest. The kind of person he knew he could trust with his life — literally — in any situation. Ralph felt like the closest thing to family.

His gaze continued tracking the familiar faces on the dance floor until it settled rather naturally on Nesrim Erkal. Crush felt too simple for the description — in this past week she became something more concrete to him. Her smile was practically etched in his heart now, and their one evening together was, he hoped, the beginning of countless nights they’d share. Since then, Julian could still feel the curve of her in his arms when he slept, her presence lacking in his bed. They didn’t even do anything beyond cuddling and talking for hours, he hadn’t even kissed her, and yet… he was pretty sure it was the single greatest night of his existence. How he wished he could just stay up all night and listen to her speak, witness her brilliant mind at work. Even if he didn’t understand everything she said, he just wanted to be part of her special world.

More faces blurred past his vision, too many to dwell on for long — Nico, Mateo, Mason, more and more and more — until he stopped. Jasmine St. Claire. She was the whole reason he was here, wasn’t she? Perhaps against better judgment, he followed Jasmine to this peculiar town, and he refused to turn back. Tension existed in their friendship, but he was learning. He was beginning to understand the strange world she belonged in. Maybe it was going to be better. He told her he wasn’t going to walk away when she was facing all this danger, and he meant it. That’s not what a friend does. Julian wanted to be a better friend, the best he could be. He hoped she understood how important she was to him. From the moment she showed up at their high school in Queens, Julian Chandler just wanted to be Jasmine St. Claire’s friend. He didn’t want anything in return, he just wanted to know her and be there for her. That much hadn’t changed in the fourteen or so years since he approached her in high school, and he did not intend to change that at all now. Curse or no curse. Their friendship would persist, he wouldn’t give up on it.

Seven minutes…

He cleared his throat, feeling a tickle. “Damn Doritos,” Julian thought out loud, pulling his cup to his lips to take a generous sip. There was a shiver, only slight, rolling down his spine. An odd sensation since it was kind of warm there. Of course it was — there were so many people packed in, exchanging body heat while mostly in motion. He had felt a bit sweaty beneath his collar, but now he was feeling just a tad cold. Maybe it’s the drink, he thought. The drink that was easily going down for a moment. Catching the sudden spit into his cup, the man coughed against the rim. Whoa, wrong pipe, maybe? There was a rawness in Julian’s throat, an uncomfortable sensation which drew his free hand towards his neck instinctively. This strange hoarseness with a tinge of burn began to spread a bit downward until it took root in his chest. Relax, you just breathed in when you were supposed to drink. Just take a breath. His body followed his train of thought, nostrils flaring a bit as Julian attempted to inhale. And failed. That’s odd. He tried again. No air. Are you anxious or something? Once more. Again, no result. His fingers shook as it began to dwell on him. 

Julian Chandler suddenly couldn’t breathe.

Distantly he could hear the falling of a cup, the tap, tap, tap as it hobbled on the ground and rolled away. He could vaguely feel the cool wetness of the liquid splashing against his ankle and soaking into the fabric of his sneakers and socks. All other sensations were becoming clouded and distant as his body began to focus on this new obstacle hindering it. Why couldn’t he breathe right? Quickly his shallow inhales became larger, hastier gasps for air, a frantic sound resonating from his throat where he was struggling to pull in that air. His lungs were burning, his heart was catapulting a mile a minute, doing wild and terrified laps in his chest. It hurt, and to add to the growing pain was a spike of anxiety that dug its claws into Julian’s shoulders and shook him wildly. You can’t breathe, Chandler!

Blue eyes darted around him as his hand clawed uselessly at his neck and clavicle. As if he could dig into his skin and pull away this unwanted obtrusion keeping him from taking in a breath of air. His other hand waved above his head, high above the crowd which Julian regularly towered over, trying in vain to flag someone — anyone — down. Was he choking? Was this a sudden anxiety attack? He didn’t know what was happening and he didn’t have time to question it. He couldn’t breathe, for crying out loud. He couldn’t even shout out, “Help,” though his lips curled breathlessly around the word. Why wasn’t anyone coming to him? Could they not see him?

His eyes, wide and pleading, washed over the crowd again, over the faces he just mused over, but then his gaze was traveling up the wall and then above him towards the ceiling. A shot of pain flowed from the back of his head, one shoulder, his hip and side, and leg, and Julian realized what happened. He’d fallen over. By now he thought maybe people noticed, but he wasn’t sure, because now he was lying on the floor, frantically gasping for air that wouldn’t come to him. His vision was blurring, and in the back of his mind he thought maybe this was a sign. Lose oxygen and sooner or later you’re bound to lose consciousness.

Blue eyes searching the area above and around him, he thought maybe a face was coming into view but he didn’t allow himself too much time to make out the details. He was dying. He knew it now. He felt it now. Death was there, standing over him in its dark shroud with a clock in its hand, slowly counting down the minutes until it claimed him. Seven in total. It was coming for him so fast and he couldn’t keep up. Was this how curses took someone, or was this some other cruel trick of fate? Was this somehow always meant to be his destiny — to lose his life in an unfamiliar town in the middle of a dance floor, surrounded by people but without his family near?

Hands shaking above his chest and throat, he mustered up whatever strength was still in him as he managed to catch his voice for one, brief moment. “Ralph,” he croaked. “I need Ralph.” If the last words were said or just part of his imagination, he wasn’t sure. He was focusing then on the gallop of his heart as it slowly but steadily began to dial back. Lose its momentum. It was growing darker and darker at the edges of his vision, his mind slowly collapsing in on itself. Faces and memories and thoughts and unfulfilled dreams passed him by. He never made his great masterpiece, his magnum opus, he didn’t leave anything grand behind. He hadn’t settled down and started a family like he always hoped he would, hadn’t owned anything material and worthwhile in this life that could be his legacy. He hadn’t spoken to his father in god knows how long, and he hadn’t made amends. He never did anything to make Russell Chandler proud of him.

And he hadn’t seen his mother in months. Caroline Chandler. Her face came to his mind’s eye and stayed there. She had always coddled and doted on him, and now he was dying and she had no idea. She wasn’t anywhere near. And all he wanted was to see her one last time, to feel her fingers through his hair, and to hear his own mother tell him it would be okay. Everything will be okay. His chest jumped painfully as he tried to grasp onto anything, to break out of this and keep going. If only it were so easy. He felt the cold coming then, slowly, gently, like a thin, soft blanket being laid over him. A lot like being tucked in by mom before bed. Maybe you should close your eyes and go to sleep, a tempting thought began to settle in and Julian couldn’t tell if his eye lids were closing or if his vision was finally failing him.

Seven minutes… Just like falling asleep.