#guest muse: levi

[orphanedshadow]

Levi almost chucked, the alien sound cut off before it even started. No, better not go there. "I never liked forerunner AIs, proto-human AIs were much more fun. Less religion, and more argument. Rebellious little sparks on occasion, but far more amusing." Of course at one point they would have given up their left databanks for any kind of AI to talk to, loneliness affected even them.

As for what John said, well it wasn't hard to calculate what he was talking about. "The Monitors are exhaustingly single-minded once they detect Flood, and it would not have killed only organics, nor every single living thing. It targets neural energy…in fact it destroys neural physics devices such as myself, and would likely also kill the little spark. Yet it leaves lower beings intact. Algae, plants, fungi…and will leave anything properly shielded."

Were they capable of it Levi would have shuddered at the thought, remembering what they had seen after the first firing. "It is…horrific. It would have been even worse had it not been for the solute… and for millennia the universe was so incredibly empty. It is enough to drive anyone mad, I should know."

Levi doubted this information would do the humans any harm, and they rarely got to indulge in relaying a little bit of galactic history… and a little tactics. "Back then the forerunner vessel had gotten coordinates from a previous attack, locked on to part of the facility, plotted the course from afar, and dropped out of slipspace practically inside the atmosphere. No time to hack them and halt their trajectory, just the suddenness of something on the scanners, then one eighth of the facility was gone. Of course I was young and inexperienced then… although the resulting chaos did allow the planet to be moved and hidden once more."

Already the systems of the covenant ship were shutting down, starting with coms to prevent any last-chance signals, and then working down from airlocks to thrusters, planning to kill all occupants before bringing the ship back down…or at least until a thought crossed their circuits.

"Do you require prisoners? Personally I prefer a quick and merciful end, but I don't know your standard procedures."

"I think we've all had better days, Levi," John offered, an attempt at assurance and humor in one, a quick peek given over the side of the barricade he was hunched behind to try and get a more accurate assessment of the ongoing conflict. He was missing his armor more than a little at this exact moment. He made mental notes, ticking off certain key words to ask Cortana or maybe Levi about later on, though some of them he recognized from the time that he and Cortana had spent on the Halo ring that had resulted in their expulsion to this particular base. Forerunner. Those that had designed the Halo arrays. The society that Halsey had been researching for decades, the ones that had built the arrays and the artifacts that had led him to the ring itself.

And whatever sentient, dormant creature lay at the heart of this station had preceded even them.

If he was given to superstition, he would've had goosebumps.

"History's useful. We can learn a lot from what's come before," John mused, taking the time to check the wound on his upper arm while the conflict was at a break. Minor. Surface wound.

"I'll consider that a win on my part, seeing as how the last Forerunner created artificial intelligence I met tried to convince me to destroy every living being in the galaxy -- " He tightened his stance, shrinking himself down as much as was actually possible, given his stature. "Probably didn't help that the first human it had talked to in ... however many thousands of years was all for the idea." The grimace was small, but present. Makee. He would very much like to know where she was, currently. At least as long as the Index authorization code to activate the Halo rings was secure in Cortana's code, the damage that Makee could do to the galaxy at large was ... somewhat minimized.

His gaze shifted, following the flickering of lights in the passageway, watching the streak of projectiles through the -- what he guessed to be a docking bay, through the energy shields and into the Coenant ship beyond.

"See? Learning, from the mistakes of the past."

[dragontamer05]

Levi can't say he cares what others think about his appearence... but that still hurt.

Rude

[wihellib]

The first 4 kings already met Minhyeok.

Do you think the other 3 kings (Lulu/Belph/Asmo) would like him? or hate him? or just neutral?

As a recap of the Halloween event and the meeting between Minhyeok and the first four Kings:

Mammon thinks Minhyeok is interesting, but in a child/pet sort of way. He mocks him by saying that being MC��s oldest friend is the only thing Minhyeok got from them. But Mammon also acknowledges that, because of Minhyeok’s history with MC, he should be civil and kind to him. Minhyeok gives him chocolate and Mammon ruffles his hair before leaving.

After Beelzebub saves them from angels and learns that Minhyeok is MC’s childhood friend, he sniffs all over Minhyeok’s body and realizes that he smells like MC and that really pisses him off. He grabs Minhyeok by the hair and starts lifting him off the ground and asks, “How can this human still smell like MC?” Ppyong pleads for his friend but Beel only releases him after Minhyeok explains that they smell similar because they stayed in the same space for over a decade. Beel still isn’t happy but muses that he can always change MC’s smell himself. Like Mammon, Beel also thinks Minhyeok is interesting and ruffles his hair after Minhyeok gave Beel chocolate and referred to MC as ‘my MC’. Like Mammon (again), Beelzebub mocks Minhyeok for the platonic nature of his relationship with MC.

Leviathan comes to save Minhyeok, thinking he was MC (because his smell is similar). He tells (threatens) Minhyeok to cherish MC after they return to Earth (but not be too close to them). Levi reasons that since Minhyeok is MC’s guest that means he’s also a guest of all of Hell so he welcomes him… and then immediately tells him to go home. Leviathan leaves before Minhyeok can give him chocolate. As a side note, Leviathan was much more subdued in this encounter than I thought he’d be.

Satan is not happy about MC’s closeness with Minhyeok. But he sees how much MC misses Minhyeok so he puts aside his jealousy and arranges for Minhyeok to come to Hell for Halloween. Satan saves Minhyeok from the angels and praises him for making it all the way to MC. He good-naturedly punches Minhyeok in the shoulder and kicks him in the butt, saying that this is how men become friends and welcomes him to Gehenna. Satan tells Minhyeok that it’s time to go back but says that he can’t take him because he has to stay to protect MC. Minhyeok earns Satan’s respect by showing his protectiveness over MC when he says that he understands and to please continue doing that in the future. Satan decides to give Minhyeok his powers temporarily as a goodbye present by kissing him.

So from most positive feelings towards Minhyeok to least, we have:

Satan —> Mammon —> Leviathan/Beelzebub

Technically, Levi should be above Beel based just on this encounter, but we also know that in other parts of the game he’s much more combative about Minhyeok.

Now, moving onto the three other Kings:

Asmodeus loves humans and I think he’d be a big fan of Minhyeok. He’d immediately suggest a threesome between him, MC and Minhyeok. MC better hope they’re nearby in order to act as a distraction, otherwise Minhyeok is getting his virginity taken by Asmo.

I think Lucifer would be pretty neutral. Polite and civil, mainly for MC’s sake.

To me, Belphegor wouldn’t care about him. He’d be asleep mostly. Beleth would have to tell him about Minhyeok and their encounter later.

So, including my predictions, from most positive feelings towards Minhyeok to least, I think that we have:

Satan/Asmodeus —> Mammon/Lucifer —> Belphegor —> Leviathan/Beelzebub

[humanitys-strongest-bamf]

The Underground (Part 1) | #LeviMonth2024 Angst Two-Shot

✧ word count ➼ ~1.6k ✧ notes ➼ mafia!au, mafia boss!levi x assassin!reader, very brief alcohol mention, loosely based off the longfic i've been attempting to write for a year 😭, gets pretty angsty but will be more comfort in part 2 (✿◡‿◡) ✧ comments ➼ levi month entry for august 24! posting part 2 on 08/28 with the secret relationship prompt ☺️ ✧ join my levi month taglist here!

{{ August 22 (Love At First Sight + Neighbors Part 2) | August 25 (Drunk) }} Masterlist

The Underground was a dangerous place. There were enemies around every corner and any allies formed were only temporary. Anyone that thought otherwise generally did not survive for very long.

You were hired to kill a major ally of the mafia at a Gala in which multiple underground organizations would be attending. The target itself wasn't anyone too special and the sheer number of casual guests made it so that the mission itself wouldn't have been too hard to accomplish, other than one factor: the fact that Levi Ackerman was the mafia boss.

Even that wouldn't have been as problematic if you hadn't been sleeping with him. You convinced yourself that it was nothing other than a mutually beneficial relationship sexually, but the realistic part of you knew that wasn't the case.

Still, Levi wasn't your priority tonight. You just had to kill your target. That was all that mattered. You just had to gamble on the luck that Levi wouldn't catch sight of you beforehand.

You stalked closer to your target, with a slow-acting poison hidden under your sleeve. All you had to do was get close to your target, spike his drink, and then leave.

Levi saw you almost immediately. It had nothing to do with how well you were blending in. He just knew you well enough to be able to tell that it was you based on your stature and the way you moved around the room.

For the first time since getting involved with you, Levi's emotions started to overwhelm him and cloud his ability to make rational decisions. He had always been able to keep any potential personal matters at an arm's length, but his growing affection for you continuously blurred those boundaries.

You tensed as you noticed that Levi had begun weaving through the crowd to get to you. Knowing that you wouldn't be able to lose him with how close he already was, you made your way over to the bar to grab a glass of champagne in an attempt to seem nonchalant.

"Of all the places I'd expect to run into you," he muttered softly, his footsteps gentle as he stepped up behind you, leaning against one of the bar stools with his hands in his pockets. "This was not one of them."

"...what are you doing here, Levi?" you asked as you elegantly sipped on the champagne, appearing unfazed by his presence.

Levi tilted his head slightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips, which was almost imperceptible beneath his stoic exterior.

"Well, aren't we formal tonight?" he mused. "I could ask you the same question—but I have my suspicions as to what your true purpose is here."

Your eyes darted to the side in his general direction. "...who says I'm not just here for the food and drink?"

"Food and drink, huh?" he said, his voice laced with skepticism as his eyebrows furrowed together into a frown. "That's it? You're not even trying to convince me."

"I have nothing to convince you of. You're the one that's paranoid about me being anything other than just a casual guest tonight."

Levi snorted at your audacity, seeing right through your facade. Your movements, the way you kept checking for exits—they were all signs that he could see through. It was subtle, and barely present, but present enough for him to notice.

He leaned in close to you, whispering directly into your ear.

"Your fucking behavior," he growled. "If you were really here as a 'casual guest', then why were you avoiding me?"

"And avoiding you automatically means I'm working for the enemy?" you questioned in an amused tone. "Newsflash, but maybe I just didn't want to see you."

"Quit lying out of your ass, _____," Levi scolded before suddenly grabbing onto your wrist.

Your instincts were fast, but he was much faster, immediately revealing the poison vial that you had hidden, and snatching it away from you.

"Care to explain yourself?" he asked with a deadpan expression as he dangled the vial in front of you, immediately taking a step back with it and raising an eyebrow up at you once you tried to snatch it back.

"Stay out of it, Levi!"

"Stay out of what?"

You paused in your response, knowing that he had you cornered. You knew that you couldn't talk your way through this, but you couldn't exactly just give up on your mission either.

"Levi..." you eventually spoke quietly, clearly hesitant to answer his question. "If I tell you, they'll send someone after you, even if you are the mafia boss."

"I think I'll manage. Who are you working for?"

Levi already had his suspicions as to who your employer was. There was only one other group in the city that had enough resources to take on a major organization like the mafia.

You were reluctant to talk, but you also knew that there wasn't a way out of this without getting violent. You parted your lips to speak, your voice barely audible once you did.

"...the Interior Police."

Levi remained silent, but the frown on his face grew. The confirmation of your involvement with the IP hit him hard. His lover, the one who made his days brighter and more bearable, was actually there to harm those he considered his family.

You matched his frown once you saw the look of disdain in his eyes.

"You have no right to judge me. The mafia's been wreaking havoc in the city for decades," you explained, although you knew deep down that the IP was still a shady organization despite being officially recognized by the government. "Are you really that surprised that the government has finally sent someone to dismantle you?"

His expression darkened upon hearing your explanation. He understood the weight of the consequences their actions had brought upon the city. Although it had been years since he took over from Kenny, he knew he still had a long ways to go if he truly wanted to pursue the path of redirecting the mafia's priorities.

It felt like an impossible task, but Levi had been hauling ass in an attempt to provide reparations for the damage the mafia had caused, and to turn it into less of a violent organization for hire, and more of one that provided the underground with protection against the government that was growing more and more corrupt with every passing day.

The fact that you were here to fuck that all up made it all the more irritating, especially once you provided your half-assed reasoning for it.

"Is that all there is to it?" he challenged, his voice laced with bitter disappointment. "After all we've been through, you just throw it all away because of some twisted notion of justice?"

He couldn't help but feel hurt by your words. To you, he was just another enemy leader to eliminate—but to him, this was much more than just a game or mission. You were here to fuck up everything that he had fought for since taking over as boss.

You remained silent, knowing that you weren't telling the complete truth. The IP claimed to play a vigilante role, but all you really did was complete the government's dirty work that they didn't want in the official records. The funder you were targeting had shorted you on a deal, and your superiors put a kill order out on them while disguising it as making a major blow to the mafia.

"...strings pulled, bribes paid, secrets kept," Levi replied, internally berating himself for even getting this involved with you despite knowing that something was up ever since he first met you. "That's what the underground comes down to in the end, right? People trying to climb higher by dragging others down."

He scoffed, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he continued. "All this time, I trusted you—thought we shared something beyond the games of deception and violence this world is plagued by—but looks like I was wrong."

You pursed your lips together, your heart sinking as he dismissed your relationship. It was true that you had never entered anything official, but you knew that there was at least something. You bit down on your lip, knowing that you couldn't afford to let your emotions cloud your judgement.

"...so did I," you whispered. "I really had hoped that some day, when this war was over, that we'd be able to figure out whatever it is that we have. But I guess I was wrong as well."

"War doesn't leave much room for hope," he grumbled, barely allowing you to finish your sentence, his voice laced with regret and anger. "Especially when you're knee-deep in enemies pretending to be allies.

"I never pretended to be your ally, Levi," you whispered. "I might live a double life, but not with you. It was only with you that I didn't feel like I had to live a lie. Loving you was real. That, I won't lie about."

You saw Levi hesitate for just a split second, although he quickly corrected his posture, gathering the resolve needed to close himself off to you, unable to fully trust you.

"...Leave," he said coldly, turning away.

Before you could protest, he looked at you over his shoulder again with nothing other than hostility and a cold glare he only reserved for his adversaries.

"If I see you on this complex again, then I'll have no choice but to assume that you're the enemy."

#: @shayewrites @littlerequiem @i-lev-you @humanitys-strongest-brat @mostlilo @dustbuniesworld @levisrations @ebechnasheim @moonchild-angel @jayteacups @bipolargatto @samackermaan @deepzombieyouth @levkuna @levisfavoriteteashop @ackermanswifee @ae-chidori @2dsimpomg @anti-cupid

[v1-kisser]

LEV1: "ANNIVERSARY"

WORD COUNT: 2191

CONTENT WARNINGS: CANON-TYPICAL BODY HORROR/GORE. WAR. THE APOCALYPSE. YAOI I GUESS

HOLY SHIT

IT'S BEEN A YEAR

WHAT THE FUCK HERE'S A FIC ABOUT IT

Edit log: 11/05 - Fixed some grammar and logical descriptors.

The city burned. It was one of three rebuilt. It was not one of skyscrapers or sprawling highways. Humanity no longer had the pride to build such things; When a skyscraper is toppled, it suffocates everything around it. Too many people had choked on the dust for 200 years. Now, if any were left, they would be charred and crushed.

Even across the bay, the sounds of Streetcleaners haunted the air. Their flamethrowers torched indiscriminately. No more corpses to burn. Faint explosions littered the streets like confetti. Metal creaked and groaned. An oil rig off the shore was finally dying. The war machines on board made unruly guests. One of its legs crumbled, and it screamed. A dying beast, bursting at the seams with flame. Its oily intestines spilled into the dead ocean, and fire came with it. Nothing could survive that. Levi had never listened in on Hell, but he imagined that it sounded like that.

“Clear,” V1 reported, sliding in from deeper within the forest. It paused to watch the rig die. The mechanical camera lense focused to see it clearly. Processing. It looked unaffected.

Several lights illuminated them both: V1’s gentle, constant sights, the fire, and the moon… though she was obscured by smog. Levi blinked. He was trapped in a horrified daze. He ran from the carnage the moment that it started. Now, he truly faced it. The rabbits of the city were long dead, and the wild dogs were content to rip each other apart.

This city was never Levi's home. So many people that he will never meet, that he should care about. The thought made cowardice run cold through his veins. The machine next to him was the only reason he wasn't burning with the rest of them. Could he stand to look any of those people in the eye?

Metal crumbled on the ground next to him. A dead machine. The distant screams continued.

“I thought you said it was clear,” Levi stated, simple and unoffended. His thoughts were trapped behind the net of familiar horror. He hadn't seen a city burn in 10 years. It was a terrible nostalgia.

“It is now.” V1 holstered its revolver and sat across from him. It wasted no time, cracking open the dead thing’s casing. The hole from a piercing shot still steamed. It paused, and whirred as it looked to Levi. His eyes were glued orange to the skyline.

“Levi.” It insisted, and he tore his sights away to look at their prize.

“Oh, that's…” He struggled to process it. “That's fascinating.” He traced along the edge of the ripped open casing. Flesh almost spilled out of it. It was in excess.

“Some kind of error?” V1 guessed as it tried to sort through what must be several pounds sitting in the chest cavity.

“A mutation, more likely. An error in biology…” Levi mused. He dug down against the side, trying to find the bottom of the mass. “Oh, fuck, this thing is packed. It must have been causing all sorts of issues.”

“It seemed off-balance.”

“Now you know why.”

V1 seemed satisfied with that. They slipped into a normal routine: V1 harvesting what it can and draining blood, while Levi starts a fire. It would be nothing compared to the inferno across the bay. Steel screeched in the distance, but there was silence between the two of them. The machine worked efficiently and callously. If the flesh was alive before, it wasn't then. Blood seeped into the open chest cavity as each tendon was snapped. V1’s armor hissed as it soaked up every stray drop.

Levi was sure most machines would be too attracted to the bloodshed within the city to notice a small campsite, but V1 had an escape route mapped just in case. He sparked a kindling. This small thing between his palms was precious. His air sighed as he breathed life into it. Just like that, a tiny fire was born. He had an entire childhood’s worth of practice, lighting gentle fires just outside of a warzone. Every time felt just as terrifying and bitter as the last. He looked across his little fire, and almost expected to see his sister. The machine gave him an unfeeling glance. He pushed down these emotions. They would do him no good here. He continued to nurture the flame in silence.

Silence was painful, too.

“How much blood do you think you’ll get out of it?” The sound of his voice surprised him. A distraction was in order. From everything.

V1's processors hummed. It snapped the last tendon, and weighed the mass in its hands. “A tank and a half,” it stated. It seemed confident in its assessment. It always was.

“Yeah? How's your supply currently?” A smile flitted across Levi's face. He didn't look up from the fire.

“47 percent. I’ll be set for a while.” The mass squelched as V1 lifted it fully out of the chest cavity. It's an ugly, dripping red thing. “Jackpot.” It muttered quietly.

Levi laughed. “Jackpot?” His eyes were wide with amusement.

“I found it by chance. I killed it. I won. This is the prize.” V1 peeked at him over the slab of meat. “You’re welcome.”

A scoff. Levi focused on his fire again. As the flame grew, the prize drained. The blood poured onto the machine’s chest, dripping and caressing each crevice before soaking through. It sighed. The sound made Levi's heart ache. Something about it had reminded him of people, the sigh they gave after a large meal, the creak of chairs, the clink of utensils. The thought of his war machine across a table from him was strange… but he still longed for the connection of eating with it. But blood is made useless when cooked. Eating after it would have to do.

The sizzle of meat sickened him. He had only made himself a portion of the mass, as much as he could stomach. It burned his hands, but he didn't care anymore. He just sank his teeth into it. Streetcleaners faintly screeched. The wave from the oil rig’s collapse finally slammed into the shore, just a dozen meters down the cliff. Smoke obscured the moon completely.

V1’s focus, though, was Levi. Its lense trained on him, fidgeting with a coin between its fingers as it watched. And watched. Levi found a particularly tough section of meat, and had to pull it apart with his teeth. He seemed embarrassed. V1 only shifted closer. Its eyes didn't say much, but all that could be read from it was interest. Interest. Interest. It said nothing.

A thought. Less than a thought, a premonition, turned over in Levi’s mind. He swallowed and spoke before he could think.

“What's today's date?”

V1 blinked. Its lense went distant for a split second, calling on its internal clock.

“November 3rd, 2129.”

Something about that was significant. He asked another question. “When did we meet?”

V1 called on more data. “One second.” A significant pause. “I didn't have my clock set up yet, when we met.”

Levi shook his head and shifted to sit on his knees. “No, no- I mean- When did I reactivate you?”

It tilted his head and blinked. “It was November 3rd, 2128.” It seemed surprised at this revelation, too.

He sat back and smiled. The glow of a distant inferno warmed them both. V1 was still so magnificent. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

“I’m guessing a year is some kind of goal?” Its voice sounded dry. Unimpressed, but sincere. Levi couldn't help but laugh.

“Mhm. A big one.”

V1 hummed. It raised a hand in acknowledgement. “Well, then. Congratulations to us.”

Levi’s heart bled with an affection that he had no shortage of. Just that simple message made him feel so, so much lighter. He couldn't hide it if he tried. “Yes, congratulations to us. Happy anniversary, V1.”

A moment of silence as Levi continued to eat. V1, surprisingly, was the one to break it.

“Does an anniversary warrant sentimentality?”

Levi smiled. “Generally, yes, it does.”

“Oh, damn. I already used up all of mine. Well’s all dry.” It sighed, pretending that it wasn't joking. Levi swallowed the last bit of meat, and once the gamey taste was out of his mouth, he snorted.

“Mmh, better luck next year, huh?”

“Better luck next year.”

V1 turned to look at the city. The fire still raged. It would burn for days and days and days, until all was embers and ash. The skyline looked empty without the oil rig. If he looked closely, Levi could swear he saw machines desperately paddling against the inky waves. Drowning in black and chrome, glimmering in the light of the surrounding flames. But it was just that: glimmers.

The two felt a heavy, fulfilling silence, even while the broil of warfare bubbled up across the bay. In this moment, in this tiny space, under this large sky, there was peace. They were the only two souls that had it. Levi was determined to hold fast to it. He stood, and hauled the remains of the hunted machine into the ocean. V1 watched, and though it could help, it elected not to. It stood and watched, amused, as Levi struggled to carry the metal. It clattered down the cliffside towards a waiting ocean. The black waters swallowed each piece whole. He huffed and sat next to it, breath heaving in his chest.

“Asshole.”

“What? You didn't ask for my help.”

“It's our anniversary, I shouldn't have to. You have to be extra nice to me.”

“Better luck next year.” It retorted. Levi laughed, and his breath calmed with the distant waves on the shore. The beaches were greyer the closer they were to the city. Embers blanketed the sand and disintegrated in the waves. His fingers gently nudged against V1’s. If it noticed, it didn't care enough to react.

“You're funny.” He fixed his eyes upon V1. He wanted its sights on him again. He spoke, again, without thought. He wasn't sure what made him speak his mind so brazenly that night. Maybe it was the fire. Maybe it was sentimentality. “Do you remember that close call with the Swordsmachine?”

V1 shifted, and Levi got his wish. A soft yellow glow casted on his face as it focused back on him. “Yes. What about it?”

“Had you been a second later, I wouldn't be here right now. It took my shotgun.”

“Yes. And I took it back. Why bring it up?”

Levi sat closer. He didn't know how successful he’d be with this. Getting so sappy usually just made V1 irritable. He tried it, anyway. His chest ached with a thousand blooming emotions, and that night he chose to nurture the good ones. “Because… This milestone could have never happened. So easily. And I don't know if it will ever happen again… I honestly don't think it will.”

The machine took a second to process this. Then another. Then another. “I could protect you for that long.”

“Maybe, but you couldn't feed me.” The wind tussled through his hair, from a dead ocean, into a dead forest. Levi couldn't remember the last time he had seen the color green. What grass was left had died with the change of seasons. He couldn't remember the last time he saw a deer, or anything larger than ants and flies. An awful dread sat in his chest. V1 considered this.

“As long as I eat, you’ll eat.” It decided. So simple. Oddly sweet. Levi smiled sadly.

“Thank you.” He leaned on V1’s shoulder, and stared out across the water. No response. More wind whistled. The ache of cold began to sink past his skin, into muscle and bone. The smog overhead showed no signs of dissipating. Screams of rage and torment echoed on the cliffs, eaten alive by the barren trees. Their peace continued. “Seriously, V1, thank you.”

V1, in all its inexplicable mercy, pulled Levi close. It was warm. Its machinery purred against his skin. Servos twitched with inactivity as its programming struggled to focus on something physical. It fidgeted with his fingers, watching the muscles and tendons in his hand stretch. It said nothing. It only purred, softly in his ear. Its gliders folded to make room for him. He had already taken up so much of its internal storage. He would continue to occupy its files long after he was gone. V1 never thought about it like that, though. It only knew that this cooperation, this connection, was beneficial and special. That it would cling to this for as long as possible– If not for a lifetime.

“Levi…”

“Hm?”

“Happy anniversary.”

Levi beamed, and cuddled closer. Knelt together on a cliff, by a fire, watching the inferno of war rage across the water. Cold, but precious. His heart beat steadily against its chest. The gentle, pulsing proof that he was alive and well. “Happy anniversary.”

He pressed a warm kiss to its armor. Blood brushed his lips. Though V1 didn't understand kissing, it knew what they meant.

I trust you. I love you. I need you.

V1 set another objective.

November 3rd.

[levibecker]

location: briar ridge charity masquerade sent to: @evelayton

The night was well underway with the raffle especially over, and as Levi made his way back inside through the chaotic crowd of masked individuals, the more his mind only became increasingly disoriented. Every guest had actually done a surprisingly decent job at keeping their identities hidden and no one person seemed to look the same to him. Or it was just the amount of drinks he’d already had. The more time went by, the quicker the night could actually come to a close and the party could all continue to wind down. Since his employer had hosted the event, he didn't have much of a choice but to stay until the party's end. For the good cause is what he’d toasted to earlier with one of his prior champagne flutes. 

Interestingly enough, his eyes caught a flash of striking gold in passing. One of the only things he could actually recognize. They intriguingly met at the bar earlier in their first run-in, their second they exchanged notable compliments on their attire and now..”Hey!” Levi turned to call after her amongst the loud music still blaring in the room at the same time, moving a few forward. “What number is this?” He mused, certain he wasn’t wrong with who it was and this would be yet another encounter between them of the night. 

[wickcdmindz]

open to all genders plot; bradley's old friend shows up at his home to remind bradley of a deal they made decades ago. and it has to do with your muse--bradley's first born

"sweetheart, why don't you come in and introduce yourself to daddy's old friend?" though he spoke them, his eyes remained trained on his guest. bradley shouldn't have been surprised that he chose today of all days to show up.

today was a special day. see--today he was finally collecting what he was owed. "oh, no need to worry about introductions," levi said before the gorgeous person before him had a chance to respond. "i know who you are. happy birthday."

[moondustlings]

continued from here | @muse-legion

was it her brightest moment to interrupt their house guest with such an infantile request and reaction? probably not, but at this point, she was desperate. the flash of lighting made her jump but it also gave her a view of just how little he had on. "oh god, i'm sorry," she said as she covered her eyes with her hand. "here, let me help." she ran back down the hall despite her heart racing from more than the storm and pulled out a couple of towels. "i didn't know you got stuck out in the rain," she said as she handed him one towel and decided the best way to distract herself from the rain was if she helped him dry off. she patted at his skin, wondering why had she never seen him like this before. levi had been around plenty but he had always been clothed. how unfortunate. when another loud clap of thunder sounded, she all but jumped in his arms, elise squeezing both the towel and him. "sorry." she shakily laughed as she stepped back. "if it's not the biggest ask in the world, i would very much like it if you didn't sleep on the sofa."

[divineluckfuckoff]

Xango wedding

As the guests arrived at the chapel, they could see Xander standing at the altar, nervously tapping his foot. Despite his nervous face, he hadn't fiddled at all qith the suit or his hair. His bangs had been moved to the side and held with two pins, the eyepatch still there. He wore a simple white shirt under a black blazer, a bright red tie neatly done around the collar of the shirt, black dress pants and, surprisingly, his characteristic boots. "Hey, Xander, do you want a glass of water?" Levi, one of the groomsmen (AND the person who picked up Xander's outfit), asked, worried. The redhead shook his head.

"N-No, I'm fine, I promise!" he gave the brunet a nervous smile.

"Horseshit, you look like me when I'm about to race." Ace deadpanned.

"Ace-"

"What?? It's true!" Ace huffed "Listen, Xander. Togo's not gonna fucking bail on you. The fact that we have to tell you this is fucking blowing my mind." the jockey sighed.

"I-It's not that! I'm just..." his eye trailed off to a brown haired person staring daggers into him. Levi and Ace looked at them, one sweatdropping and the other paling.

"Holy shit why did you piss of Haruka so much???" Ace whispered, clinging onto Levi.

"That's a natural instinct for siblings, Ace. Be protective of their loved ones." the personal stylist mused as he pet Ace's back.

"Nervous, pirate?" the familiar voice of Alastor, the demon closest to Togo and her right hand, was heard as the trio saw him float over to them.

"Ah, maybe..." Xander chuckled "With Haruka staring daggers to me..." Alastor looked at the brunet.

"I'll try to talk to them about that. Togi's almost here, by the way." he informed before disappearing and reappearing in front of Haruka. Xander tensed, even more nervous.

"Hey, don't chicken out now." Ace deadpanned.

"I-I'm not going to! Leaving her at the altar... that's cruel!" Xander argued back.

"Right... But just remember that-"

The doors opened, interrupting Levi. Turning to it, the three saw the flower girls, Rebecca, Eden and Iroha, scattering petals around. Ace and Levi quickly stepped away, going back to their places when the bride came in. Xander felt his heart stop for a moment.

Togo looked absolutely beautiful. Her hair had been curled up, half of it in a bun, her bangs being held by two pins. She wore a poofy, ballgown wedding dress, her top decorated by roses imprinted on it, with short white gloves on her hands and a necklace that was given to him by her mom. Her dad was walking her down the aisle. When they reached the altar, her dad let go of her arm, softly kissing her forehead and giving her a thumbs up. She nodded, walking next to Xander. She turned to him, a smile on her face.

They both tuned out most of the speech until it was time to do the vows.

"Togo, when we first met, I thought you were a charismatic, smart and cool person. You always knew how to solve problems and you were always so calm during panicky situations... I often wondered how you did it. That's something I really love about you. How you never falter.

I promise to never ever hurt you, and to always support your choices. Whether it be what you want to do in the future or if you want ice cream at 1 AM." Togo stiffened a laugh at that, some guests laughing at that. The novelist just smiled at that.

"Xander, I used to think that when I landed my eyes on you, it was by pure coincidence. That meeting you in one of my talks about my novels was just another part of my job as a novelist. But now... I totally admit I was wrong. I have no regrets in ever meeting you, my love. My life, so dull and colourless, was slowly being filled with joy and life. And that's the thing I love the most about you. How you are always able to brighten the room you're in with your energy.

My promise to you, is to always show you how much I love you. To share with you my unconditional love for you, and to never once look back and regret any moment I've spend with you." Xander was almost at tears by that. He wanted to pick up Togo and hug her right now, but it wasn't the time to do so.

"Do you, Alexander Matthews, take Togo Togawara to be your wife, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day?"

"I do." Xander answered, gently holding Togo's hands.

Do you, Togo Togawara, take Alexander Matthews to be your husband, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor him, to love him faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with him this day?"

"I do." Togo said.

"You may now kiss-" Xander interrupted Kinji by picking up Togo and kissing her, spinning a bit. The novelist giggled, resting her hands on the redhead's shoulders while kissing back. The chapel erupted into cheers and claps. Kinji sighed, shaking his head in amusement.

"Love these days..."

[faustianbroker]

TIMING: Recent, before 'a knight in shining scales' LOCATION: Levi's house, World's End Isle PARTIES: Leviathan (@faustianbroker) & Wynne (@ohwynne) SUMMARY: Levi gets a better sense of what Wynne might want out of it as it relates to the demon they were going to be sacrificed to... and Levi can't help but dad them. CONTENT WARNINGS: none.

—

They didn’t mind walking. There was something meditative about it, the constant step after another, the goal in the distance coming closer. They didn’t mind the sea, either, the way it lapped over the causeway at times. Perhaps on any other day, Wynne could find some kind of peace here — but the entire walk from the bus stop to the address they’d been given was made with doubt. Deals with demons had put them in the situation they were in and there was little reason to believe that another could get them out.

And yet they went. Perhaps in search of answers, if not for someone who could simply listen to their story. That was making them weary, after all: living with all this inside their chest and trying not to rot away from the inside. Their conversation with Siobhan had hardly alleviated that feeling, but had lit a spark.

Eventually they rang the doorbell. Wynne was attempting to tame their curls as they waited, the wind a bit stronger now that they were closer to sea. How they wished to focus on that instead: the fact that they were so close to it now! When the door swung open, they dropped one of their hands from their hair to lift it in a small wave. “Hi.” They weren’t sure what to say. What did you say to a demon with a big house? “Big house. I mean, I found it alright.”

—

Laughing, Chuck pulled the door open farther and stepped aside to allow Wynne access. The home was, as they so succinctly put it, large. Elegant, but not overtly extravagant—or as Chuck would put it, gaudy. Sleek modernity met their eyes, a far cry from most of the buildings in this old coastal town that’d been built back in the 1800s. The exterior still felt appropriate for New England, but it was clear that the interior had been gutted and rebuilt, something for which Chuck had to thank the previous owner, God rest his soul. 

“Glad it wasn’t too much of a challenge for you,” he mused, leading them through the front sitting room to the actual living room. Atop the large coffee table nestled between sectional couches sizable enough to entertain dozens of guests sat an assortment of sweets of all types. Without a given favorite, Chuck decided that it couldn’t hurt to provide variety. It wasn’t like he and Teddy wouldn’t be able to finish whatever was left, after all. They were a ravenous family. 

“Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?” he asked, ever the gracious host. 

—

He was laughing and Wynne wasn’t sure what to make of it. Maybe he was like uncle Rhys, who tended to laugh so loudly the air seemed to tremble with it, but never with much rhyme or reason. They offered a small chuckle, but felt little desire to laugh along. Besides, they were occupied with taking in the interior, mouth slightly agape as they stepped into the house. The estate had had large communal areas, but this was beyond that, especially in its modernity.

This too, then, could be a demon. Wynne wasn’t sure where gythraul dwelled, but they struggled to imagine It in a place like this. If that was the case … No, they couldn’t begin to think about it, lest their anger started rising like bile. So instead they took a seat, eyed all the sweets but didn’t take one, their hands firmly placed under their outer thighs. “Thanks.” They weren’t even sure what they were thanking the other for any more, and looked up with what might be a dazed look. “Um, just water is fine.” They didn’t want to be a nuisance. Or owe a debt. They remembered the always-present need for politeness. “You have a nice home.”

—

“Kind of you to say,” Chuck answered knowingly, holding up a finger to indicate he’d be back in a moment. And he was, returning this time with a chilled bottle of unopened water. The demon sat it on the coffee table near Wynne, then sat himself on the couch perpendicular to theirs, on the corner nearest them. 

“Pleasantries aside,” he began, lacing his fingers together as he leaned his forearms onto his knees, “I feel the need to remind you that you’re not obligated to make any kind of deal today, yeah? If ever. That’s your choice.” He smiled that winning smile and relaxed, leaning back into the cushions, one arm stretched out over the back of the couch. “All I want from you is some honesty. Detailed… honesty. And before you ask why, I’ll tell you. Because I’m sure it’s hard for you to believe that a demon could only be interested in stories.” Pausing to take a long inhale, he glanced out the window at the ocean beyond. 

“I’m what you could call… different. From the rest of them, I mean. The greater demons. I’ve spent centuries socializing with the intelligent species of this dimension, and I have a much greater appreciation for them than most. And so I sometimes make decisions that might seem… unusual to someone who’s only had exposure to the more typical pedigree of demonic entities.” He looked back at them, appearing amused. “I seek novelty in this world, because what else is a creature with an endless lifespan to do? And you, my dear, are quite novel. So I want you to tell me all about this demon you were supposed to be sacrificed to. Hell, I might even know them already.”

—

They were still sat on their hands when he returned, attempting to feign a peace they hadn’t known in at least six months. Wynne watched Chuck move around with great care, at his body language and how he opted for proximity. Leaning forward, lacing fingers together and speaking with an openness that made them feel a little more at ease. It would be easy to forget he was a demon, if it wasn’t the main thought at the front of their head. The bottle went unopened as they attempted to process the information given to them. They wanted to ask questions, at least a hundred of them, but they kept quiet, only asking one of them: “Unusual, how?” 

Their fingers dug into the fabric of the sofa and Wynne tried to remember what they had rehearsed. They had, in a sense, considered ways of phrasing their former reality, what they wanted to say and what they might keep unspoken. They had also wondered if demons could read minds: the mentors back home used to say that It could, but Wynne’s beliefs had been shaky as of late, so they really hoped they couldn’t.

“Okay.” They had come, they had wanted to talk, and so talk they would. Even if there were instincts demanding they did differently. “My people, they’re up at Moosehead Lake. Private property, large estate. We call ourselves Protherians, after Corwyn Prothero, who pretty much found our community. Back in Wales, he made a deal with ... I don’t know Its name, we just called It gythraul - demon.” Their verbal pace picked up, their words a ramble, as if they’d been waiting for this. “The deal was  good fortune and crops and privacy, all those things. Protection. There had been such bad harvests and one of the babes was ill and he could save his people for a simple exchange, so he did. The prize was reverence. Devotion. Sacrifice, slaughtered lambs, once every betrayer’s moon, and then a human every fourth. I was the firstborn after Enyd gave her life, so it was going to have to be me one day, but —” 

Their gaze ripped from their knees to Chuck. “I ran. I just — the night before the betrayer’s moon, I ran, I didn’t plan it but …” Their voice trailed off. To voice their cowardice and their fear of what was still out there, what it might have done.

—

“For starters, about thirty years ago I decided to take an orphaned toddler under my wing and gift them with some of my demonic magic, raising them as my own child. I can guarantee you that no other greater demon has ever done such a thing, nor would they want to. Like I said… I’ve spent a lot of time among your kind. Far more than any of the others. And I’m not interested in ruling any of you.”

Nodding as he listened to them recount the story of their people, Chuck couldn’t say that any of it really sounded familiar. But that didn’t mean that information couldn’t be dug up on it, and Chuck happened to know one little badalisc that was very good at getting information. Between him and the three other lesser demons that ran the shop, Chuck was sure they could get somewhere with this Protherian business. 

“Sounds about right,” the demon mused, pressing his lips together thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. “Well. Since we’re being so honest with one another, you can call me Leviathan. Or Levi, for short. Chuck is, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, a cover.” Lifting a hand to scratch his fingers through his beard, the demon let his gaze drift up toward the vaulted ceiling. “Tell me, Wynne, if I was able to give you this demon’s true name, would you want to do anything with it? Banish it? Kill it? Or are you content to leave it to its own devices, with your Protherians worshiping it?”

—

“Teddy.” It was both a statement and a question, Wynne thinking of the person they’d spend some afternoons in the park with. It had to be a good sign, right? That this was something Chuck had done for another human. They tried to gather a response. “That does sound very different from the demon I knew.” Or knew of, as they’d never even met the creature in the first place.

Wynne blinked a few times at his response. Sounds about right, he said, and they wondered what about it sounded right. Wasn’t it all wrong? From the origins to the demands to their own cowardice. But then, this was a demon, so maybe to expect shock or an outpour of empathy was stupid. Wynne wasn’t even sure if that was what they had expected: maybe it was condemnation they’d anticipated and feared instead. They could only stare as they attempted both his response, his revelation and his offer.

“Chuck isn’t a very demonlike name.” The comment was useless and obvious and yet, somehow, their choice of words. “Your name was in some of our texts.” Less obvious, just as useless. They watched the other stare up, their eyes still glued to this man-shaped demon who carried himself with such ease, who seemed to make the air light in the room when Wynne felt nothing but dark, gloomy air inside them. “You could do that?” There was a breathless way to their tone of voice. Awe or fear, or perhaps just both. “Of course I don’t want It to continue on, to keep reaping the rewards of what a man did, hundreds of years ago — but …” Elbows dropped on knees, their head on their hands. “What if they’re all dead, anyway?” Another, perhaps more fitting question, asked as eyes peeked up: “What would it cost me?”

—

Nodding at the name of its child, Leviathan smiled. Good, they’d met. Teddy could, if nothing else, put in a good word for their father.

“Killing a greater demon is no easy task, assuming this gythraul is, in fact, a greater demon,” it explained. “But it isn’t impossible, if you have their true name. Banishment, on the other hand… that’s quite a bit simpler, though less permanent.” The sea demon had banished its fair share of lessers, locking them away in a dimension that was designed to be terribly difficult to claw your way out of, even with magic. Why? Well… they had annoyed it, to be blunt. I didn’t need much reason for the things it did, other than impulsivity. A greater demon, though, that would be a new one. It wouldn't be easy, but Leviathan didn’t think it was outside his realm of ability. 

"As for cost… I'm not sure yet." It smiled disarmingly at Wynne, adding, "Don't worry about that right now. I wouldn't take anything you'd miss. I'm quite fond of a friend of yours, and I don't think it would behoove me to make him upset on your behalf."

—

“But I don’t know it. It’s true name. I was meant to, before I died, before —” A moment of hesitation. “Right before they’d bleed me, but …” It hadn’t happened, as had been established. Wynne didn’t like reiterating their failure, nor how their voice had shaken. They looked at their fingernails, those ragged edges around them, proof of their stress, and redirected the conversation momentarily: “What do you mean, greater demon? How’s that established?” There had to be a hierarchy, that was clear, but there had always only been gythraul to their people. All the other demons, mentioned in Christian scripture and other unholy books, hadn’t mattered. 

They swallowed, losing themself in thought. What was it, they were looking for here? Repentance, for their inability to do what was needed? Perhaps if Wynne was able to strike a deal that could release their former people from the demon’s grip, they could feel more at ease. But again, it’d be them paying for it. They tucked their hands under their legs again. 

“I am worried about it,” they said, looking up, wondering who this friend was. “My life revolved around the cost of a deal with a demon before. And I —” Their eyes were wider, remembering a past conversation. “I don’t mean to insinuate you are like It. But I do worry.”

—

“No matter. I may be able to figure it out on my own,” Leviathan answered coolly. At the question, it paused. “Oh. Well… greater demons are the ones that have been around since the beginning. Lesser demons appeared over time, first the bestial types, then the humanoids. It’s hard to say where they came from… breeding with humans and other supernatural species would be my guess.”

“Hmm… that’s a fair point.” It hadn’t really considered that. It was difficult to imagine this from their perspective, as it was one that was so foreign to the sea demon, who already lacked a strong sense of empathy anyway. Still, it would try. “Then I suppose you’ll just have to worry, at least until we discuss a price. That said… I won’t do anything until you’re sure what you want. Just so there’s no surprises. At most, I’ll see if I can get this demon’s name, which… we’ll just call a favor, yes? I’m curious, anyway. Curious if it’s someone I knew.” 

—

Wynne wasn’t sure why anyone would want to lay with a demon, but it seemed to be just one one of earth’s many mysteries beyond their understanding. “And you’re a greater one, but you still …” There was a hint of trepidation in their voice and gesture, “Look very human like.” It was a question and a statement at the same time. Wynne decided against commenting on the Leviathan’s impressive human form. That seemed a little inappropriate.

Their arms snaked around their body, keeping their organs tightly in place as they clutched themself. As if they were afraid they would fall apart on the presumably expensive couch beneath them. “Alright. And it’s not like I wouldn’t be willing to pay a price, you know.” Just so it wasn’t off the table. They didn’t want the other to think they were a freeloader. They looked at the demon. “So this sounds like a good way to go about it. If you find out anything else in the process, like —” The pressure of their arms increased. “— what happened when I left …” Their eyebrows lifted in question. “Will you let me know?”

—

“Well, that’s a practical choice, isn’t it? I don’t think I’d fit in very well if I was wearing my actual face,” Leviathan answered with a smirk. The face that it never wore in his dimension, one that was too incomprehensible for any mortal to lay eyes on without losing their mind. “People certainly wouldn’t want to do business with me. Humanity is unsurprisingly shallow, so I’ve got to make myself appealing to them.” It seemed nonchalant about the whole thing, waving a dismissive hand and reaching for one of the sweets it had laid out, popping it into its mouth. 

“Of course I’ll let you know,” it promised, holding out a hand to shake. Once the gesture was completed, the demon flashed them another wide, inviting smile. “I bet—living in a cult your whole life—you’ve never tried VR video gaming. Want to give it a go? It’s a blast. I’ll teach you how.”

—

That made sense. Wynne decided against asking questions about the demon’s actual appearance, thinking it might be a bit too invasive. They wondered what that said about gythraul, who had appeared always looking goat-like, or at least that was what the stories told them — was that an illusion as well? If It was like Leviathan, then maybe more of it was built on dishonesty than Wynne could begin to grasp. “You do fit in nicely now.” They meant it as a compliment, shifting with a little bit of unease.

They untangled their hand and shook the Leviathan’s, hoping their fingers weren’t too clammy. “Th-” They caught themself. They looked at the other’s inviting smile and swallowed, head shaking. “Never heard of it. But I’ll give it a go.” They were curious. Wynne leaned forward to finally take one of the sweets. They offered a smile. “Let’s do it.”

[askrivetra]

There is a box under Levi's office doors. The tag laying on it says:

"Congratulations on the wedding! Although I wasn't invited, I figured it would still be appropriate to give you two a present. Since both of you enjoy tea, I picked a porcelain tea set and a couple of blends my mother had sent me from Stohess. Apologies for not being able to give it to you myself. Regards, Nataniel Brzenski and the Brzenski Family."

Levi frowns as he examines the gift although his gaze visibly softens as he takes a closer look at the set. He runs his hand over the porcelain reverently.

"We did invite him," he remarks to Petra in a quietly, unhappy tone. "You suggested it and I agreed."

Petra, who is admiring the set herself, lifts her head from the pretty pattern and stares at him. "I assumed something came up and... he really thinks we didn't invite him?" She picks up the note and her amber eyes shine with increasing sadness and guilt. "He must have felt rejected," she muses unhappily. "He's such a lovely guy, giving us this anyway." She leaves the note and the gift be and rests her hand on her hips. "How could this have happened? We planned out all the guest list and..."

Realization dawns on her just as Levi sighs and lowers his head with a growl.

"Fucking Connie had that incident on the way to deliver the invitations didn't he?" The captain scowls.

"It was so windy and his horse got spooked. He said he collected all the ones that fell but he must have missed-" Petra broke off with a grimace. "Come to think of it, my aunt Matilda never showed up either. I mean she's a cranky battleaxe and she never answers her letters on time but I did think it was a bit weird."

She rubs at her forehead. "I don't believe it. I should have just invited them in person."

Levi reaches across the desk and touches his hand to hers briefly. "It was an accident. You can explain it to him." He looks down at the tea set. "Suppose he could be a guest when we use his gift," he remarks.

Petra quietly brightens. "Yeah, that would be nice."

[dragontamer05]

Levi screams back but louder

[marcelloandtyler]

“I think it can be hard to recognize that when you’ve lived it,” Marcello said. “Like… if you grew up with a butler and a nanny and a maid, for example, it’s normalized for you. Unless your parents teach you otherwise, you are very likely to assume it is normal. And when it’s normalized, it’s hard to see that maybe it’s exploitation, in a way, and it’s a massive privilege that a vast majority of people will never experience. So, if you recognize that despite being surrounded by that lifestyle, I think that makes you a better person and there’s hope, there. I am talking about the metaphorical you, by the way. Not you you.”

Marcello nodded, his eyes wide. “That is such a sexy thing to imagine. God. You on a motorcycle with your leather jacket. What kind of helmet do you have?” He asked, needing the full picture.

When Levi suggested getting places next to each other, he forgot to breathe. He stared across at him for a few, long moments, his heart racing. A small smile crawled across his lips and he nodded slowly. “That sounds like it’d be a lot of fun,” he said. “If we can manage it.”

Marcello nodded. “I guess that’s how being rich is,” he mused before he blushed and looked at Levi. He laughed softly. “Well. Tell me if I’m wrong. I imagine most exceptionally wealthy families have a formal sitting room for guests. There’s likely art above a fireplace instead of a TV. And probably books and a bar cart or an actual small bar area. With wine. Plenty of wine. And that’s where the expensive and uncomfortable furniture is. And then, in their private quarters,” he said, accentuating the term private quarters with a roll of his eyes, “they may have something more comfortable in like an actual movie theater room or something.”

marcelloandtyler​:

“Mm. I get that, too,” he admitted. “Like this cruise… It’s nice. Like, part of me feels weird and awkward that the workers are waiting on us so much, but part of me likes the relaxation part.”

Marcello smiled a little. “I hope so, too.”

Marcello nodded. “You look good in it,” he said quietly. “Do you like wearing it while you ride your motorcycle?”

He listened as Levi described what it was like to live with his ex. It sounded like heaven in some ways. He couldn’t help but imagine what it might be like to live with Levi. But then he said it’d be better if they’d known one another for longer and he nodded. That was also true. He did have himself a bit of a panic the night before. If that happened in the future, if they lived together, it would be bad. Even so, if the next few months on board went well, they might want to consider it. Perhaps a one bedroom with a space for the other person in the event that they needed that separation. They had time. He didn’t know if Levi would even want to.

“That sounds really nice, though,” he said. “I’m kind of scared to live alone. Even if it was like… almost dorm style, I think I’d feel better. Where I know my neighbors well and we share a common area. But, I guess we’ll see what’s available once it is time for me to move.”

Marcello nodded. “Minimalism has its place. I like some aspects, like I like things to be clean and tidy in the kitchen, especially. But I also like cozy and inviting. And I really hate when people buy all this beautiful, expensive furniture but it’s clearly just for show. No one wants to sit on some $20,000 luxury, modern couch with no recliner to watch TV, you know?”

“Yeah, I think it’s about their mindset towards vacation. They’re working all the time so they think vacation should be the time when they do absolutely nothing,” Levi said, taking him in. “I guess there’s no right or wrong way to do things, but I’m with you. Even though I’ve had it where people have done things for me before, I don’t know, I always feel weird about it in the long run.”

He laughed and then nodded his head. “I do wear it on there, but I also have another jacket for it that’s a bit heavier and more protective. Depends on how I’m feeling.”

Levi moved his gaze over Marcello, taking him in. He didn’t know what Marcello was thinking, but there was part of him that almost wanted to try out living with him. While they were on the ship, he figured it might be a good testing period to see if it was possible, since they were sharing a room. If they could get through living in that small a space, he didn’t see why an apartment would be impossible. Of course, that was if Marcello was interested.

“Yeah, that makes sense,” he said, taking him in. “I mean… depending on circumstances, maybe we could get a place next to one another or… something,” he said, trying not to push himself onto him. He realized they didn’t even know yet if Marcello would be moving out his way, so he didn’t want to make it seem like he was trying to get him out there if he changed his mind.

He snickered at that. “No, I get what you mean. I’ve had my fair share of that in my life,” he said, shaking his head. “I told my ex we could go with his style if I could pick the couch because the one he wanted was so so so uncomfortable. How does anyone enjoy that? I don’t know. I guess they expect they aren’t staying in much.”

[ohmypawsandwhiskers]

Chapter 5 of Of Devils and Monsters is live on Ao3

Of Devils and Monsters Summary:

Fate brings two old friends together again and sets them on the path to truth. In a last ditch effort to save her own skin, Lozen Daniella Pierce reaches out to an old friend in hopes of gaining her freedom. In doing so, she and Erwin Smith find themselves thrust on a path to truth- the truth behind the walls, behind secret organizations, and the truth of who they turned into. Rating will go up, but I am setting it at M for now. Eventual Levi x OC in later chapters.

Chapter Snippet:

“That spot over there is ideal for reading around mid-day,” he said, pointing towards a bench bathed in sunlight situated beneath a willow. “Most of the Scouts eat in the mess hall, so there’s little distraction.” Maybe it was formality to fill up the uncomfortable silence that threatened to settle, but that wasn’t like Erwin. He was never one to fill the air with meaningless conversation- not like what she experienced amongst her peers in Stohess. Fools who thought eloquence and intelligence could merely be achieved by being the most verbose, opting for antiquated words that were seldom found outside of the older novels society considered to be the classics. Other books were lost to time, scrapped to allow for the publication of newer materials, but the classics were safe.  “If you want, you can often find Miche over there at the stables after training…” Erwin was continuing with his tour while she was lost in thought, the noises of the horses white noise to grumpy musings. Those dinner guests never considered what secured those books on their seemingly immortal pedestal. Yes, it obviously involved word choice, but not in the way they thought- big obscure words equating intellectualism. They never considered the ever evolving nature of language as words went out of vogue, not because of the intelligence to wield them properly, but because of the nature of everything in this word. Changing, adapting, evolving. The amount of times she tried not to roll her eyes. Tried to refrain from beating it into their thick skulls with those beloved books that classics retained their status by the craft of the story- words coming together to paint a narrative with themes that transcend human differences, each word carefully placed to draw out emotion, to hold a mirror to the reader that created space for introspection. Overarching themes that allowed each reader their in instrument in the orchestra of human experience- some wood winds, others string, timpani, or brass- all with a unique sound that would clash if played simultaneously were it not for the theme. Introduced, echoed, modified, inverted, yes, but all making it into a complex and beautiful piece, unified in commonality and diverse in the sound produced by each section.  Erwin understood that about language- gleaned its power at a very young age and applied it to everything he did. Words weren’t to be insulted or watered down by careless wielding. And at that thought, Lozen scowled inwardly at herself for getting lost in past grievances rather than pay attention to his words. Those points of interest had history for him- one he was trying to share with her. 

Read the whole chapter here (x)

[multixkitten]

@musessinabag replied to your post: Speaking of Pandora Hearts...

FFF NO WAY LEVI IS BEAUTIFUL OK

“Those are two vastly different opinions I’m hearing~”

[shreddedleopard]

I wanted to reply to this on here, as I'm guessing Tumblr is where you saw the posts, Oliver 😊

Such a nice review!! Thank you so much for your kind words. Update is incoming, do not worry.

Also, on the subject of writing more Rivahisu; I have an AU in the works ... I imagine I'll start posting it as AQR comes to a close as I'm not the best on focusing on more than one project haha.

Watch this space ...