#ts2CrimeEmpire

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The Crime Empire - 2 - 1 - Noticing oneself

Meredith Finally got home, after a long and draining work day. Done for today with her a mess from pulling and messing with it. Some days, the disrespect she had earned today, wasn’t it. Nobody has a clue what she has done behind the scenes to make it so they had work, had people believing they would be so safe, making it so easy to ask for help. She dreaded hearing of her father's success, just as she hated working under him, but she wasn't him. That might be the problem, but as old fall, new rose with the new.

Meredith adjusted her hair, preparing herself for bed, her mind had better ideas. floating with thoughts of today, thoughts of Robin's words. Thought of the past. She stud there, wondering where she went wrong. She sighed, seeing how, even as boss, she had so much to do, so much stress on her shoulders. Her eyes narrowed to her legs and arms, bruised and battered from roughhousing with Benjamin Tsang, one of the youngest members, practising and training with him. He packed a punch, despite his structure not showing it, despite those fun moments of messing around with the other members, they were like a family to her, a family that she couldn't give up or let down. No matter what. A sigh left Meredith, as she scratched the back of my neck, let out a sigh, walking away from her mirror to the bathroom but the thoughts still linger.

Meredith pushed the thoughts of doubt to the back of her mind, not allowing them to have any place in her head. She still had work to do, The Mayor's dirty work had to be done for the up and coming vote. His continued power or a new chap in the political scene. Bright eyed boy. Despite all of that, her body weighed heavily and her eyes needed rest. Nothing can be done without any sleep, even if sleepless nights was what she did most of the time, to keep control. If she wasn't on top of everything, she might fall to the bottom again. Or that's what she thinks. It bared a toll on her, on her body, which at this point was just on auto mode. No food before bed, no moment to even set up her office. Still never getting a chance to turn her home into a home. She walked, dragging her feet into her bedroom. A hope. Tomorrow would be better, but there was still doubt about that. She laid herself under her covers, sinking into sleep at the slightest touch of her head touching her high quality pillow, made with finest material that she doesn't experience often.

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Crime Empire - 2 - 3 - A person to rely on

Meredith woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavy, as her heart and head raised and head raised. The pounding that accompanied her was not only her head that pounded ran through her body, thought her pulse, that it drowned out the sound of her own heartbeat.

A jolt ran through her, shooting her up from her bed, with a rush gasped that through out body. Mind running wild, breathing unstable but all she could grasp was that she couldn't be alone.

Without thinking, Meredith threw herself out of her bed, quickly, dashing out of her room. Down her stairs to the her living space. There was no thought, just do, just pure nerves with her heated blood rushing through her with remanence of fear that spread through every part of her body.

She called the only crazy enough to come over at the hour, Elizabetha, knowing she was always down to pop over for a chat at 4 in the morning. If she was lucky, she would just got back from out partying or something.

The phone rang for a while, before there was an Answer. "hello?"

"Betha! Hey, It's Mer, are you up to anything?" Meredith nervously said. Her body stiffened, once everything became slow, hearing her voice. Thoughts finally kicked in and her nerves slowly simmered down, once she realised what she was doing.

"Hey Mer, why are you up this hour?" Betha's Voice tiredly yawned. What could she even say? She was scared of a silly nightmare? Oh how could she be Scared, she was big bad Meredith. Nothing should instailed such fear in her than that night, that nightmare of the past. Why was she so Frightened by that night? Them. Those men. The Night lurkers. There was no lie that could be worth why she needed someone to talk to and not once has so gone straight to someone before, but this time was different. She couldn't be alone.

Not now.

Not anymore.

"Sleep is overrated," Meredith fear stuck voice let out tight laughter. "I just got done with some work, Would you want come over." She lied but her voice didn't hid that.

"Oh my way." She hummed.

And as soon as Betha got home, Meredith wrapped arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. Her face into her shoulder.

"Thank you for coming here at this hour of the fight,"

"Is everything okay?" Betha rubbed her back, holding her tightly. It was warm and caring, as fear wasn't the reason why she was nice and friendly to her. Betha could never fear her, and had an air of knowing about her. Knowing what? Meredith didn't know but like that about her.

"I don't know why I could you over, I didn't want to be alone, I'm not giving away my home address to someone I didn't trust"

"Darling, We can talk any time about anything. You know that."

Meredith sat on the bed with her bestie, betha, on the bed. "It's not so often, I get a call from the big scary Mer, with her sounding like she just witness a complete mass destruction of her empire." Betha jested, grinning with her eyes side eyes Meredith.

"har har, very funny, It not that bad. It isn't even anything at all. Once again, I am sorry about causing the hassle of dropping by, I don't know what I was thinking, honestly." She down played herself, laughing off sadly. with a small smile that slowly twisted into a frown.

Meredith sighed, frowning. "it's stress of being human and living. the feelings and everything in between. I wish I could just cut it all out and be more like my father..." Her mind went back to the dream, the words others spoke. The years other's doubts, other words that built up over time crowded her mind. She couldn't let the words go even after the years of proving them wrong, they still bombard her mind, 'too weak to be boss' , 'too dependent on others' , 'only got where you are due to family relations' they all held her down. Work consumed her life and the belief that she wasn't keep up with everything, then she'll soon find her end.

"Living is a luxury, is it not?." Betha asked, tilting her head to her with a raised brow. "I mean, having warm blood, passions, dreams and these emotions that let you know, through all of the blood shed and gore, you are still human. You still are you and sadly imposter syndrome is also a part of anything we do in our life."

"Well, The downside likes to bring up the past a lot. 4 years ago. I lost someone close to me. His death was a mystery, his body wasn't found and all the was left at the scene was his blood, unknown blood. I don't remember the attackers, other than. Stupid night workers." "Love is stupid, Don't dwell on dead lovers, when you, my darling, can have anyone."

"Is that why your going on that date with Makoto? Love isn't clearly stupid if you are still having him around and it isn't just for the kind at this point." Meredith hummed, lifted up off her bed, to stench her legs, Betha stood up as well.

"It's weird and complicated." Betha sighed. "The date is this Friday, but I got a gig at this new club, preforming at a grand opening or something tonight, but I saw, your friend, Robin, with the young's heir."

"The Youngs'?" She titled her heard, never hearing any family name of important around these parts.

"In the kingdom of Moonlight falls, where I am from, They're a powerful family, titled and everything. My parents were closely connected with the duke and duchess Young. Most of the upper class were all the same thing, Nightly balls, feasts and mask balls. Riveting stuff."

"How fancy were you?" Meredith laughed.

"I'd advise you to keep away from any of them and there club, it isn't for those that don't know. who knows knows, who don't are what they try and lure in. Keep your business, away from them." She warned her with a rare softness in her eyes.

"I don't know about any club being opened, but I'm sure, there wouldn't be any problems." Until morning, the two women chattered and gossiped, all that helped with Meredith calm down and regain her natural calmness. The nightmare had shrouded into faint memories again, waiting for opportunity to spring again.

To better clear her mind after everything, in the day of light, Meredith changed into her and sports where, preparing for a jog. She stretched her body, passively going through her daily routine. Jog before breakfast, and before going to work with a clear mind than before.

She found a few side task, Who are the Youngs? What is this new club? And why wasn't she not informed about a 'Grand opening'.

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The Crime Empire - 2 - 2 - The Attackers

(Flash warning - One gif contains flashing)

A younger Meredith, fine in her looks, and still as chatty as ever, walked along the street with her boyfriend of a year. Heading from work to his home, laughing and smiling more than she could ever have in her entire life, shining through the winter darkness that coated the city.

It wasn't odd for her to walk him home, after all, she knew downtown like it was on back of her hand. She knew exactly where everything was, knew who was who, and knew practically everything one could know about a place, and she was very prideful of that, and that she felt untouchable.  

"I believe this is reverse?" He laughed, bringing a smile to Meredith's face. She was in love with her heart throbbing at his laugh, at the way he looked at her, the way she felt so perfectly happy, despite all of her father's warnings, she wanted this. This love, this happiness. It felt better than what she had. Better than being feared, being on top of the law, on top of everything.

"You won't last long if you walk me home, you know my father would flip if he knew I was with some laky."

"laky? I am more than that, aren't I? toots."

"Of course you are. Once I'm boss, You'll be my right hand man, I couldn't ask anyone else to do that job, but someone I trust."

"As if you have the heart to be the boss. You're too soft." He softly laughed at the dream. It wasn't a dream, but it must be. It wasn't a choice she had, but yet he took her words as a joke. Like her, being boss one day was never in her future. She wasn't like her father that treated everything the same, she knew the difference between work and her personal life, unlike he, and maybe that's will probably one day be her downfall but work was work to her, It go her where she was now.

You're too soft - Those words echoed into her mind.

"Well, I should go."  She backed away from him.

Meredith's boyfriend brought her into his embrace, holding her close.

"Alright, stay safe and promise to ring me when you get home, just in case." He smiled boyishly, pressing his face into her shoulder with, gentle kiss brushing the skin of her heck.

"You forget, who my father is sometimes." She parted from him, looking at him softly, still slowly, sliding her hand down his arm to his hand.

"You forget, you can't hid behind your father's name forever, at some point you got to make it your own."

"I'm not hiding, I'm-" The two stepped back from each other, noticing the cold bitter air stilled as the snow flakes started to fall. Footsteps approached with pride and steady with some grumbling off in the distance. It was odd to have people around that part of town, considering it wasn't close to the centre of the city. That oddness, shoot suspicion thought Meredith's nerves. She quick turned to see-

-ln the distance, where two men, strolling towards them without skipping the pace in line with each other. Causal unsuspecting clothing wrapped there figures perfectly the space around them with rotten vibes, with their hunger filled eyes piercing towards the two of them, eyes of famine effected animals, on the hunt for something, anything.

The glares, sent fear up her spine, as her body froze. Fuck flight or fight, her body didn't react the feeling of danger, not even after many years of her fight to keep alive. In this moment, She succumbed to the paralysing fear that wrapped around her, and fingers. Her mind scrambled on what to do. They were heading their way, quickly. She was afraid. "Hey!" Meredith swallowed her fear and called out, remembering the figures from earlier that day at work, snooping around the warehouse that she had be giving duty of keep watch that day. Again early on in her date with her boyfriend, walking the same directions, as them, at a normal distance to behind someone, at night. She didn't chop it off as anything more, but seeing them there. It rubbed her the wrong way, with rush of fear and what the fuck was she meant to do, rampaged though all reasoning in her body. Normally she'd love the rush of Fight or flight response, but today was different.

Something wasn't right about them, this time of seeing the two men, they seemed more more animalistic, no sense of humanity in there glares. She tried to act trough, knowing nothing bad was to happen to her. No she was too strong and besides, who'd try and do anything with her, when everyone in MoonBridge and it's downtown knew who her father was. He practically owned half the place, with the level of fear he brought with him, in every meeting, every encounter with him and every run in. Even at home, it was like walking on eggshells. She was confident, too confident for her own good, that she could sort the situation out.

Suddenly within a blink of of an eye, one of the men, had grappled Meredith's boyfriend, as he fought though his life to escape the man's grasp. Back against the attacker's chest, his nails digging into the young guy's face, causing blood to drawn. The attacker's face buried his face into his neck, biting down on it carelessly. Her boyfriend yelped and yelled helplessly, struggling for his life, while Meredith watched without doing anything.

It happened so fast, that Meredith had no time to react, nothing could of explained what happened, and how helpless she felt in that moment didn't help. She just froze in complete fear, her heart pounding in her ears as everything felt so slow. She saw, her own lover screaming out in pain, begging for her to help.

"Mer, please!" His haunting screams burned themselves into her mind, as she just stood, trembling, no amount of years could prepare her of the sight she saw, to a person she loved so dearly. So helpless. It wasn't the first time she saw, blood, gore, violence, but sight of her lover's throat being torn out by the attackers teeth, was enough to leave her tearing up and completely consumed by terror. How was any of this fair?

Thud. His body fell to the cold frosty ground, lifeless. While she couldn't do anything but stand there, watching. Her life racing before her eyes with all of the things that made her not worth anything. For the first time, she felt completely helpless, completely unable to do anything and too her own actions. No amount to flaunting her father's statues could save her now. Act or Die.

The two men approached her. Cornering her.

"aw, little girl is scared, no rocks to throw and no one around" Mocked on of the to the side, smirking with pride. Blood dripping from his mouth, coating his face and teeth. Her body moved though forward, without her or directing it to do anything. Tears brimming to corners of her eyes, her body trembling, overcome with terror and yet there she stood before the two mean, trying to be brave. She was her Father's daughter, She had to prover herself at some point, but a fight at night wasn't how she planned for it to be.

"Excuse me? scared? Don't be stupid." Meredith's voice let out unnatural with a confidence that she didn't have, but fear was a wild thing when the threat of death loomed around her. choking out any hope of talking her way out of this. "What do you think you both are doing, messing with me. checking out the somewhere you aren't allowed to be. Following us."

The unspoken one, chuckled, finally letting out a word. "Brother, I think we found a new member."

"Excuse me! I was talking to you!,"

She swung a punch but the man dodged and-

-her, pulling her closer to him. his hand gripped her face, forcing her into his eyes. No matter how much she fought against him, her body loosened and all ability fight or think, became a fight in its self. A fight to not lose herself in his hypnotic gaze. Her body boiled by the gaze of him, as if a spell encased her body and mind in a dreadful limbo, slipping her into a deeper limp state, empty mind and a blanket of numbness ensuring she couldn't escape. Like a snake, wrapping it's pray before making the consuming. Despite all attempts to fight, she only pushed herself more into a state of paralyse. Enforcing her into his cold and dreadful embrace, which was oddly warm and careful. She became a empty shell of herself, relaxed in the attacker's arms as if in a form of sleep but she was wake. Her legs gave in as his face snuggled into the her neck, feeling the heat of his breath against her neck, before she clasped to the ground.

The for a moment, single thought appeared as the man loomed over Meredith, leaning in to try to continue what he was to doing. Her gun. it wasn't something that she enjoyed using, but it was no better time to use it. she used all her strength to point into let it trigger, regardless of how it will hit him.

BANG!

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[purplerocker-thesims]

The crime Empire - 1 - 4 - The typical outing

Once night fell, She found herself at the night club again, her typical location, which the her criminal organisation practically owned that this point, with how much money was being paid for protection. (Ignore the random child.)

Tonight, was no different than other night, with with her typical group of people. Betha, Makoto Walter, Zaitrarrio Graham, Marlisa Bennett and Emma Cox.

The night was typical, dancing, drinking and chatting. The same things different night, and yet Meredith might seemed unquiet.

Emma and Marlisa took turns flirting with Makoto While, Elizabtha wasn't working, as if she couldn't care, but Nothing escaped Meredith's eyes, spotting the sight of Elizabetha's baby daddy, knowing it was a complicated situations.

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The crime Empire - 1 - 3 - Business

Once Bella left, Meredith took care of her needs, before starting her day, from breakfast to bathroom usage, pushing aside the loneliness to one side.

To get off late night thought, She delved into her hobby, fixing cars. This care being for her good friend Betha.

"Robin, What have I told you? Why did I see you hanging with those lurkers!" "They aren't that bad." Robin dismissed Meredith concerns, as if she didn't go the ends of the land to keep her out of trouble, every time. Never held it upon her to repay her, like she did with greedy people looking for more money and power. There was a different, Robin McClellan was a just a kid, a homeless kid in the system. "Aren't that bad! They are night lurker, they are monster, and -" "What makes you different from them? You do all of the same stuff, but yet they are the bad ones?" She raised her voice at Meredith. Her words pricked Meredith's nerves, What makes her different? From them? "They kill and they hunt, they are ruthless to anyone. Regardless, It isn't a world you need to get involved with." "How does that mattered? They nice and welcoming with there meeting. Friendly and not forcing me to what they want me to be. I fucked up get that! They are my mistakes to fix not yours." "I get that you are looking for a family, a place to call home, but this world you want to be part of isn't as flashy and cool as everyone idiot things. I lost family, I lost friends, People that meaning the world to me to those things! I lost more people to them than to the line of work we do." Meredith scowled.

"They are different." Robin sighed, glancing down in shame. "But you can never see different, It's you, the Mistress of crime vs everyone else. You and they are the same." "Really? Don't forget who got you into a good school, who got that job you work and who ensures you aren't struggling in life. They gave you cookies and you think that is better than what I gave you for most of your life! They have no life, no remorse, room in their heart to care. but If you join the night lurkers, than there nothing I can do to help you, with.."

"Fine." She took the her leave, Leaving Meredith alone to her own thoughts. Maybe she got too soft for her line of work. Not harsh enough. She had work to do, to even consider thought she became soft. Too soft.

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The crime Empire - 1 - 2 - The after Morning

In the morning, Bella was the first up, at the first sign of light. Seeming fine, more better than before, but unfazed about what happened the prior night.

She stood before the window, checking herself prideful within the window, seeming unaware of the woman within the bed behind her. Doing her, fixing up her make up and keeping herself in check. Meredith notice notice this, and just didn't have to to deal with sudden hook ups, and it felt weirdly different. It wasn't fun or whatever she got from other hook up she had in the past. She longed for something more than being a boss, being feared, but those thought where dismissed.

They said there finally goodbye, knowing what happened wasn't anything more than for old time sake. Meredith had a busy day a head of her, knowing she had an meeting event with her underlining involving a problematic little girl and there wasn't no need to be unwell with unrealistic thoughts.

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The Crime Empire - 1 - 1 - A night for fun

On a nightlike no other night dawned in darkness with stars more beautiful than no other night. The air filled with a lucky chill to it at the downtown area of Moonbridge, Where we find our Mistress of crime, Meredith Byall, wondered to her favourite place, after a mysterious call informing her a place and a time, knowing the familiar haunting voice of her past. A woman that was long gone from her life, but a woman that got her to do what she does. There was her voice, same as it had been when she was younger, more foolish.

She approached her, taking in the moment to realise it was really bella Goth, the ageless being of gossip and even made it into a book, called tales of Pleasantview, telling the tales of murder and aliens, some may or may not be true.

Meredith took her hand kissing. "What brings you around these part of the world? Was exporloring the world not good enought for you?" A small chuckle left her lips, looking curious at the older woman. Bella, the first person that done wonders for her career. If Bella never came to her for help escape life in pleasantview, never asked for a second chance to explore the world outside of pleasantview. Meredith won't even be where she was to day, faking a death, covering it up and blaming aliens wasn't an easy job, to do, but it had a huge pay out.

"Just visiting and who better to hang out with than, The lady herself, they tell tales of your family."

"Bella, you know not all Tales are true, but my reputation isn’t faltered by those dull down tales.”

"But that's because you aren't like your father, you have a heart and the kindness to help those in need, even if not all can pay the price, you are an goddess to some." Bella held her hands with a soft smile.

"It's nothing, don't mention it, lets spend our night having fun, not thanking for the past, because the past is the past and the future, is well, unknown." Meredith pulled her hands away, unsure what bella was trying to do.

So their night together being with dancing and teasingly flirting as if there was no problem in the world.

Dancing to the beating music, that bleared through the room without an end. No limit. A beat that led their bodies though the motions with grace, tuning out others. There was no end to their night. No sight of stopping. and no way to tell how the it might go, what was in store for them, the night progressed.

Drinking their hearts out, with meaningful chatter that felt like a year long, quickly turning a friendly night out to a moment of lust and love. How the groove of the club mingled their mood and pushed them closer, knowing after that night Bella will never be seen again. Meredith was certain that she missed the woman she got to know, the elegancy and class Bella once held, with an air of power in her stride as she knew what she wanted, it inspired her when she was a teen, now the woman who got her where she was, aged and less elegant. It left her, saddened to what the world was done to her, but yet this Bella seemed more fun and out there. It was like she wasn't like the Bella she knew long ago.

Meredith and Bella chatted for while, drinking wine for Bella and rum and coke for Meredith, time just passed with ease, finding comfort in the lonely heart of Meredith. How nobody really chatted the way Bella did to her, made her laugh and chattered endlessly. Well, Elizabetha does, but she's odd and confusing to talk to. Her ways are odd like the night lurkers. God, How they caused so much trouble for her family and friends trying to only do deals.

After a few drinks, too many for Meredith to care, her affection for the woman before her become noticeable. Kissing and hugging the woman, showing her, lonely she truly was for someone treat her to fun night out. No one has been engaged with her as a honest friend. Nobody really saw her as a normal person that wants to be loved and not looked as someone that would be trouble if they associate with.

During their dancing, A thought appeared in Meredith mind, but as song it came into her head, out it went from her lips.

"Do you want to come back to mine, afterwards?" She paused for a moment, "I don't mean for woohoo, I mean like, you know it's night and things lurk in darkness of this place that nobody really can't explain. Night lurkers roam at night"

"It's so sweet that you care for my safety." Bella giggled at the younger woman's offer, but not saying no to the idea.

"I mean it, come over and in the morning, I could drive you to where ever, I don't mind."

"If you insist but, I doubt these Night lurkers that that bad? Are they just a different gang or something?"

"Not really, it's hard to explain without sounding crazy." A voice of sadness left her lips.

As they arrived back to Meredith's place, She notice Bella's soft glances, that seem to never end. Her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

With one look, they both understood the moment to tension, which had appeared over the course of the night, even in the taxi home. There they were, standing, not a word said. But a world of understanding of what they both desire. What Meredith desired. Company. Someone to be near her and there was bella. Here for the night. Even if it was a mistake, she couldn't be expect to be perfect. SO with that, they headed inside and-

- The night continued with bliss.

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