- ̗̀ 𝒹𝑒𝓋𝑜𝓊𝓇.

it wasn’t unusual for lucien to have small gatherings of his friends , but on occasion the old vampire liked to pay tribute to a time long gone. a time of immaculate , glamorous parties that was open to the public and after the loss of a young vanderbilt he assumed it wouldn’t go unappreciated. there were plenty here to drown their sorrows or looking for some sort of distraction , he sat on a couch in the humble library of his home and as someone pushed the door open he almost snapped at them to leave until laying eyes on said intruder. he arched a curious brow and lolled his head to the side as he regarded the other , shifting his drink from one hand to the other , “ welcome , cher , care for a drink ? “ 

SHE   WASN’T   SURE   WHAT   ATTRACTED   her   to   the   party   —   the   promise   of   drinks   or   the   promise   of   another   night   to   forget?   either   way   meredith   had   pulled   the  red   flapper   dress   from   her   closet   and   pulled   it   on   —   a   remnant   from   a   1920′s   theme   night   eclipse   had   put   on   back   when   she   first   began   dancing   there.    she   had   supposed   at   the   time   it   would   fit   the   ‘days   of   past’   soiree   that   was   being   thrown   (   vampires   were   so   sentimental   ),   and   even   if   it   didn’t,   it   did   showcase   her   legs   quite   nicely   and   that   was   always    a   bonus. 

meredith   had   let   herself   get   lost   in   the   party   as   soon   as   she   arrived,   throwing   back   nearly   any   drink   that   crossed   her   path   —   however,   this   only   managed   to   amuse   her   for   a   short   period   of   time   before   her   curiosity   overwhelmed   her   and   she   decided   to   explore   instead.   poking   her   head   into   room   after   room,   she   let   herself   absorb   the   glamour   of   the   home   until   she   could   almost   deceive   herself   into   believing   it   was   her   own   and   not   a   strangers.   she   didn’t   give   pause   until   she   opened   a   door   with   a   man   inside   sitting   in   a   chair   surrounded   by   books   with   aging   binds   across   nearly   every   wall.   meredith   entered   the   room,   bolder   with   alcohol   flowing   in   her   veins.   “ something   tells   me   that   whatever   you’re   having   isn’t   something   i   could   ingest. ”   she   leaned   against   the   doorway,   arms   crossed   over   her   chest.    “ but   i’ll  take a   glass   of   scotch   if   you   have   some. ”

ivy was sprawled out on her couch idly scrolling through her phone, a half-empty glass of cheap merlot sitting on the coffee table she got off from a friend from college when she received meredith’s texts. a grin pulled at her lips, and she sat up, sinking into the cushions as she typed out a reply. netflix might have been calling her name, but the call of the night was louder. 

[ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:40 PM ]: you read my mind [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:41 PM ]: lbr we walk around vampires every day in this town and we’re not dead yet, so def can take our chances [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:42 PM ]: who has the time to be scared of a murderer anyway i have things to do people to see [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:42 PM ]: where should i meet you?? quarter moon? 

friendship had always come easy to ivy, satiating her need for affection and attention through the company of others. strangers became familiar if only for the hour, the night, the week; you see, the problem wasn’t making friends, it was keeping them. at first, she’d assumed meredith would become one of those fleeting friendships, a connection forged by similarities and a knack for bad decisions but not by time, yet in the short period she’d known the other girl, ivy had found she stuck around. even if she’d taken a bit longer to warm up.

A   FEELING   OF   TREMENDOUS   RELIEF   swept   through   meredith   as   her   phone  buzzed   on   the   comforter   of   her   bed.  it   wasn’t   that   meredith   needed   ivy’s  company —  she   had   gone   out   drinking   solo   several   times   by   herself,   always   finding   a  good   time   regardless   of   whether   she   had   started   the   night   out   with   a   companion.   it   wasn’t   need   that   drove   her   to   seek   the   other   out,   but   a   want.   she   wanted  ivy’s   friendship,   a   sentiment   she   wasn’t   accustomed   to.   perhaps   it   was   only   their   similarities   that   brought   them   together   and   perhaps   they   would  only  be   friends   for  a   brief   amount   of   time,   but   meredith   wanted   to   enjoy   the   time   they   had   for  however  long   they   might   be.   and   going   out   to   get   shitfaced   sounded   like   the  perfect   night.

[ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:45 PM ]: you’ve got a point there [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:46 PM ]: for real. we’ve got drinks to drink and parties to crash [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:48 PM ]: very important business related things that can’t be pushed off another night [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:48 PM ]: yeah, lets meet outside the club. meet me here in an hour??

AN   ALMOST   ANIMALISTIC   GROWL   leaves   full   lips   as   she   eyes   the   children   running   w i l d   through   the   cafe   ,   squealing   and   yelling   as   they   pleased   .   it   wasn’t   just   her   that   was   annoyed   either   ,   their   were   many   faces   throughout   the   venue   that   shared   her   look   of   annoyance   .    “   you   know   i   love   kids   just   as   much   as   the   next   person   ,   but   why   do   parents   let   them  run   wild   and   not   watch   them   ,   take   them   to   the   park   .   ”   she   grumbled   leaning   towards   the   person   beside   her   as   she   muttered   beneath   her   breath   .

MEREDITH’S EYEBROW QUIRKED, amusement flitting across her features as she shoved her hands into her pockets. “right? back in my day we’d run outside and chase a hoop with a stick down a hill to get our energy out. we didn’t run around crazy in businesses.” she grinned, watching the children run between the tables. “you’re the sherrif’s daughter, right? baines?”

       her knuckles are split, bruised. they’ll heal. his face will take longer. "next time keep your hands to yourself-“ she hisses, lurching forward to take another swing. there is red behind her eyes, in her veins, thundering in her chest. red, everywhere. she won’t stop. and then a hand grips her shoulder, pulling her back. "hey !! get off, get off me-”

"HEY, MAN, CHILL. jesus christ, listen, if you’re that from me of all fuckin’ people then that’s pretty fucked up.” meredith pried the other girl away from the man, hauling her back towards a bar stool. it was then, and only then, that she let the girl go. “if you don’t put ice on your knuckles soon, they’ll swell. and i mean, really swell. unless the pain is your thing, i won’t judge,” she said with a grin waving at the bartender to capture their attention. “you’re one of the tennenbaums, right? you run with the southside pack. i’m meredith, you might’ve seen me at the fight ring in the back of quarter moon. want a drink?”

@araliaceaes​

MOST DAYS, IVY LANGSTON, WAS THE ONLY PERSON who seemed to be on the same wavelength as meredith. they both sought similar things in unconventional ways — through sex and violence, through impulsive actions where the consequences were never a factor. ivy was quite possibly, the only true friend she had. it was embarrassing; something she’d never admit aloud — what kind of twenty-three year old only had one friend? then again, it wasn’t as if either of them were well adjusted adults either. meredith wasn’t sure that was a simple life goal she could ever achieve. 

it took her two days to convince herself to text ivy, and two more days still to think of what to say. they had known each other for a short period of time and meredith was still adjusting to having someone she could label as a friend. 

[ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:35 P.M. ]: hey, wanna get some drinks tonight? [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:36 P.M. ]: i got tonight off from work [ TEXT DELIVERED AT 7:38 P.M. ]: i know everyone’s probs heading in earlier at night bc of that vanderbilt’s death but i figured we could take any asshole vamp who tries to take a bite out of one of us

             through  the  corner  of  his  eye  with  his  back  towards  his  coworker,  dion  watched  meredith,  wary.  standing  in  front  of  the  full - length  mirror,  her  reflection  revealed  mottled  purple  bruises  under  the  harsh  light  of  the  dressing  room.  she  hurriedly  applies  make  -  up,  in  an  attempt  to  hide  her  latest  brutal  exchange  away  from  view.

            how  unsightly.  what  would  their  handler  think  ?  

            but  at  least,  meredith  compensates  for  her  battered  appearance  with  her  attire  for  tonight’s  show.  the  silk  left  little  to  the  imagination  as  it  outlined  the  slopes  and  curves  of  her  lithe  frame.  there  was  a  slight  upturn  to  his  lips,  as  the  blond  moved  closer  to  her  from  behind.  a  pale  hand  made  its  way  to  the  hem  of  her  lingerie,  idly  playing  with  the  fabric  between  his  fingers.

            “    who  knew  you  looked  so  appealing  in  red,  mer’  ?    ”    

            his  motions  slowed,  pressing  in  and  touching,  fingers  grazing  across  bare  skin.  the  corners  of  his  mouth  turned  upward  some  more,  not  yet  a  smirk.    “    but  you  would  suit  anything  i  am  sure,  any  colour  would  go  to  accentuate  your  beauty.    ”    @burningism.

BRUISES AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT HUES lined her body — to anyone else they were unpalatable, a marring on her otherwise faultless skin. meredith viewed them as badges of honor; badges she had been earning and collecting since she was fifteen years old and had first stepped into the fight ring. knowing others didn’t view them the same way however, called for meredith to get creative with covering up the deep purples and blues on her skin. her money was made from her body, and it wouldn’t do to drive that source of income away by putting clients off by showcasing her bruises.

MEREDITH GRANT ( CIS FEMALE & SHE/HER )? oh, aren’t they the TWENTY-THREE year old HUMAN who works as a DANCER at ECLIPSE? word on the streets is that they are VIVACIOUS & RESOLUTE, but they can also be FOOLHARDY & APATHETIC. by the way, they look eerily similar to CINDY MELLO, don’t they? ( admin ciel / 21 / est / bun/buns )