chef levi

levi reynolds. from new york but been all over. head of catering on the set of dead or alive. 

[levi-reynolds]

kieransparrcw:

Kieran shook his head as he looked around. Even the trees had fallen down here, their roots connected and twisted around the shattered props and equipment. He pulled a leaf out of Levi’s hair. “The curse?” he said. He was joking, but he didn’t sound like it. He was a scientist, but one some level, he didn’t believe it was possible for so many bad things to happen on one film set without some sort of… reason.

They began walking toward the source of most of the sound, hoping they weren’t going the wrong way. This wasn’t just a pit, he realized now, it was a tunnel of some kind. A series of underground hallways. “My best guess is a mine…” he said, just as he thought of it. “It would explain the metal, and the tracks, and the crash. I guess the weight of the equipment shattere what was left of the roof of it? I don’t know…” He looked over at Levi, who was limping a bit, and still had a cast from the night of the fire. “I’m impressed we’re still alive. We don’t have the best luck, you and me.”

Levi laughed only slightly when Kieran mentioned the curse, half-way between 'oh, it’s a joke' and ‘maybe I should pretend you’re joking.' It seemed silly to even give it much thought at the moment, but it seemed to be the only ‘logical’ meaning his brain could make sense of considering what had happened thus far. When he noticed the disarray of shattered filming equipment, his first thought was of Hallie. He hoped she was okay. It was already a big budgeted project, but that didn’t mean a hit like this would be without effect. Still, he had to remind himself that there were more important issues at hand like making sure all lives were accounted for and injuries treated. And well, once he found Emma, where was the way out? 

All he could do was nod really as Kieran explained his ‘best guess’ which felt more reality than estimate. It did feel rather obvious that the place was a mine once putting together the pieces. “Seems about right, “Levi agreed before wincing from his still-throbbing head. He would have made a joke about it at least not being the Twilight Zone but thought better of it. “We don’t, do we?” Levi replied with a laugh. Only Kieran would equate getting shot by saving kidnapped girls to Levi’s broken wrist from tripping over someone’s leg. Still, he was glad he had found company so soon after the crash, especially when it seemed help was desperately needed elsewhere. “Actually, I don’t- I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but do you think we should try to gather some things up here first?” He had no idea if any of the food would still be useable, but he spotted two of his crew members starting to move nearby. “What do you think the others have? Everything seems so...so scattered.” 

[levi-reynolds]

kieransparrcw:

@levi-reynolds

Kieran was on the ground, bleeding from his left side. Again.  Then he was up. Confused. Seemingly alone in a hole in the ground. The pain was the only thing telling him this wasn’t a nightmare. He could only imagine what it would be like when the painkillers wore off. He walked (hobbled) across the muddy ground, scattered with broken cameras and set pieces and props. He’d been in earthquakes in California, but nothing like this.

Minutes ago, he’d been on break from filming, grabbing a sandwich from catering. Now… this? Coughing and wincing, he found the caterer, doing the same, propped against a wall. A metal wall? He didn’t try to make sense of it, just held his hand out to Levi. “Come on, man,” he said, his voice raspy from inhaling the murky air. His stomach flipped as he thought of Maya. “Let’s find our girls.”

Levi’s head ached, and it wasn’t from the three cups of coffee he had thus far. They were shooting on an off-set location, so he had only brought a few crew members with him as well as pre-prepared meals and snacks. It wasn’t expected to be much of a hassle. If he wanted, he could have even stayed behind and let his crew handle it, except who would pass up any opportunity to see Emma (or rather,  Amelia) in action. And filming had gone unexpectedly well that day...but now, he was holding his head in his hands and taking deep breaths, feeling like he was breathing dirt. One of his first thoughts afterward had been of the supposed curse, followed by immediately wondering how it had gotten this bad he even thought of it now. 

It felt like a joke to still feel the cast on his left wrist while in the midst of possibly obtaining more injuries. The doc said he had one more week with it on, and Levi was depending on that happening. As soon as he knew he was able to move, he sat up and slid back against the wall, not having any idea where he was. But he heard Kieran’s voice, a reminder that it wasn’t just him in here. He lifted his head slowly to look up at the other man before accepting his hand and pulling himself up. “Thanks,” he replied quietly once standing. Levi’s knee hurt as he walked but not unbearably. He had to make sure Emma was okay, starting to feel like he had all the more reason to escape Galveston as soon as possible from any future catastrophes. Slowly, “do you know what the hell that was? Or this place?”

[levi-reynolds]

yael-moche:

Breathing was difficult. Fighting the urge to cry even harder. Yael was usually a very put together woman, not a strand of hair out of place but as she stood alone in an empty hallway, away from prying eyes and people she didn’t want to be around. Being with anyone was almost unbearable- even Hallie who was going through the exact same thing she was. Whatever makeup had been left on her face from the night before smudged under her eyes. Her stomach felt like it was going to eat itself, her throat burning from all the crying she had already been doing. 

How could she have failed as a mother this hard? How could she have let the most important thing? She brought the crumpled paper out of her back pocket once more, eyes scanning over it for the millionth time for anything that could help but there was nothing. No real sign of anything just a bunch of bullshit about curses and emptying their banks. This was the kind of thing that only happened to other people. To strangers that didn’t exist in her world. Not to her. Not to her family. “No problem disposing of our problems- fucking bullshit” as she read the words her voice cracked, not acknowledging the presence that joined her in her lonely hallway “Isn’t there something you could be doing right now?”  

If there was anyone else, besides Hallie, who knew what Yael was going through right now, it might have been Levi. He was all too familiar with the self-blame that soon followed after Claire went missing. It was a cycle that only seemed to grow with time, no matter how hard he tried to run away from it, to make sense of what had happened to his once-family torn apart by it. The wreckage only now coming together in pieces after all these years. Yet it’d only crawl back, gnawing on his sense of worth, sense of being. But he wouldn’t bring up Claire, not to Yael, not now. No one would want to hear about his still missing, probably dead sister when two other little girls were still to be found. 

When he had asked one of the make-up artists where Yael was, they had pointed towards the empty hallway, far enough away from the crowds of people huddled on set. She needed him, needed someone who knew her inside and out. The best of friends they were. They had supported each other throughout all these years, someone he had even before Emma came into his life. “No,” he answered quietly, unsure if she had saw him or only heard his presence, “I need to be right here. With you. I’m, I’m -- they’ll pay for this, I swear, when we find them. I’ll make sure of it.” The words came out in frustration, not letting himself become choked up again. Anger was an easier emotion by far to handle, and he had plenty.

[levi-reynolds]

emmawinslet:

Shit. He didn’t know. While moments ago she was hoping he wouldn’t have heard, she now realised it was up to her to break the news. To break his heart. In true actress form, she gave the crew her signature smile, walking over to the love of her life. “Mornin’, sugar,” she smiled, dripping with Southern Charm, which would signal to the crew members that everything was fine while signalling to Levi the opposite.

She never had to be Southern Charming Emma with him, she could always be herself so he would know this was dishonest. Taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, she tilted her head, “Can I talk to you outside for a sec, baby?”

She led him through the blur of cooks and dishwashers and walked a bit away from the doors once they were out before she said anything. Silently, she reached up on her tiptoes to give him a soft kiss. “I’m alright, please don’t worry about me. But… I do have something to tell you.”

There was a bench. It would be better if he were sitting down. She led him over. She took a deep breath. She wiped away a tear. “I don’t want to tell you this, baby…” she said, taking another deep breath. This wasn’t about her. She got herself together and just… said it. “Overnight… Yael and Hallie recieved… ransom notes. Naama and Sidney… have been taken.”

Her actions were particular as if carefully picked out and placed in the appropriate order. That much he knew. Any reasoning behind it he couldn’t quite perceive. Was it something with his parents? His dad was in the hospital? He wouldn’t have been too surprised if it had been that. He figured it would have happened sooner or later, his own doing mostly likely. Or it had to be someone else in the hospital or...guessing seemed to only worsen his nerves about the situation.

“Of course, Em,” he answered, wrapping his fingers around her hand. Levi trusted Emma though, more than he trusted anybody else in the world. She would tell him what was going on, and he would just have to be prepared. He couldn’t possibly know though what could make him upset enough for the reaction that Emma seemed to be bracing herself for, but he let her lead him away from the kitchen regardless. 

They were sitting. He knew most people recommended sitting before learning bad news, the type of bad news that might make one weak in the knees. He found himself bracing for the news just as much as Emma was the reaction. And then she spoke. 

It took a while for Levi to process the words, his mind focusing on each syllable. Naama and Sidney. Yael’s daughter. Hallie’s daughter. Yael’s daughter. It was Naama. His Naama that he knew since she was a baby, who called him uncle like he was a part of her family. A small girl with so much ahead of her. Levi didn’t register how quiet he had been in response this whole time. 

His thoughts drifted to the last word ‘taken,’ also the name of those cheap Liam Neeson movies. Those were nothing like the real thing because the truth was...he could fight so hard for her and still not...they never found her, did they? He had hoped her death instead of misery. What else could they do? And to think he thought, at least something like this wouldn’t happen again.  

Levi could feel the tears form in his eyes, his initial reaction to turn his head away from Emma; thinking if he made eye contact with her, he’d break down completely. His bottom lip trembled slightly, and he bit down hard. This wasn’t about him. This wasn’t about Claire. They could still find them. It hadn’t been 48 hours yet, right? They still had time. They could find her...find her this time. He had to find Yael. Levi squeezed his eyes shut, placed his hands together, trying to calm a body pulled back into the past he could not change.  If he had walked her home, it wouldn’t have happened. If he had been there...be there. He had to find Yael. 

Finally, he took a deep breath and said, “Tell me everything that happened.” The words came out shaky with desperation. Little time to spare. Wouldn’t let her down this time. “The l-letters, what did they say? What did they want?” he continued, still not able to look at her. Letters meant someone had them, and they were safe now, still safe, right? There was still  a chance. 

[levi-reynolds]

emmawinslet:

@levi-reynolds

This was awful. Levi was in the kitchens, cooking breakfast for the cast and crew that wouldn’t be coming to set today. She wondered if he knew. She hoped he didn’t. She knew he’d have to eventually. Her heart was breaking as she almost-ran to where she knew he’d be.

Levi had lost his sister just this way. And now Yael, who might as well be his sister, had lost her daughter. She didn’t know how he would handle this, but she intended to be there for every moment of it. They never let each other deal with anything on their own.

She burst through the doors and the catering crew somehow knew to get out of her way, but she didn’t move. She just stoof in the doorway, catching his eyes with hers, trying to read in them whether he knew yet, or whether she’d have to tell him.

A day of filming couldn’t start without a full breakfast buffet, of course with slight variations depending on the day and availability of produce. Today they’d have scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, french toast, freshly baked pastries, among other typical breakfast items. 

Upbeat music was playing in the background from when he picked a radio station earlier, and he had his cup of coffee, meaning he was ready for the day. Levi currently was helping with the scrambled eggs as that was a fairly easy task to do one-handedly when Emma burst through the doors. 

Some of his crew members must have known from the way they looked at Emma expectingly. Perhaps they hadn’t delivered the news out of respect or fear or a mix of them both. Most of them by now just knew he was close friends with Yael. 

When Levi saw Emma at the doorway, he smiled, handing the spatula to one of the people close by to continue the dish before walking towards her. “Good morn--,” he started to say before reading her expression of worry and distress. “Emma, what’s wrong? Are you all right?” he asked, his voice softening.

[levi-reynolds]

emmawinslet:

“You know, the kids in this particular class might have signatures that could get us a lot of money on eBay, honey,” Emma smirked, finally relenting and choosing to sit on the counter, watching him cook. She’d always loved to watch him cook. She loved watching him do anything. Read a newspaper, answer the phone, tie his shoelaces… silly, ordinary things that made her fall even more in love with him every day, even after all this time. “We could buy a house… get a dog… a white picket fence…”

She was joking, but only partially. Emma loved acting and singing and dancing and she was living her greatest dreams right now… but she’d be lying if she said there wasn’t a part of her that also dreamed of a little house in a small town. Levi could run a little restauraunt, she could have a dance studio. They could get married and have a baby and be normal and happy and secure. “Do you ever think about that?”

“That’s true, very true,” Levi laughed, “Remind me to get you, Kieran, and the rest of the cast to sign it, and we’ll go on vacation after.” He was glad when she chose to finally sit down. Knowing how busy Emma was during the day on set, any moment where she took time to herself to relax or even just sit down was a victory in his book. Sometimes, he had to remind her about having balance every now and then, all out of love, of course. Though, he’d admit in a heartbeat that she was the much stronger person out of the two of them. “White picket fence?” Levi replied, amused, as he finished chopping the last of the peppers. Joking, “and here I thought you’d be a fan of the stylish chain-link fences.” 

He truly did want all those things with Emma, especially the dog. Growing up in a New York City apartment and living in various other apartments there on after never gave him the opportunity to own one before. At least not the type of dog he’d want, one requiring much more space than 500 sq ft. could provide. Sure, some people did get engaged after two years, and he certainly wasn’t getting any younger. It was just the thought of having to rush to fulfill all their dreams before...before -- he couldn’t bring himself to even think of the possibility. Levi wanted all the time in the world with her. “Of course I do, Emma, I look at you, and I think how can anyone not hope for a future like that with you?” 

[levi-reynolds]

yael-moche:

“I’m always right, when will you learn this?” she teased, letting out a hearty laugh along with his. Usually, she was the type of woman who was hard to get to, a little high strung, almost always stressed to the point where her hair would start falling out. This shoot had begun that process but Levi always seemed to ground her. To help her relax and come out of that hole she buried herself in. Even when they were on the other side of the planet from one another, but in person was always so much better. Seeing his facial expressions, the language of his body as they spoke “Best roommates too. Do you remember the roommate I had in Manhattan? The one who refused to pay for toilet paper because she assumed that apartments just came with it” They had been through a lot together, would probably go through a lot more in the future considering the woman he was in love with was not well. Yael would be there for him through that just as he had been in the past with her. When the time came “Speaking of roommates, are you and Ginny Weasley planning on tying the knot anytime because you know, I look amazing in a tux. Best man material”

“You’re basically my magic 8 ball,” Levi joked. He took a sip of his strawberry smoothie, gripping the container with his left hand - one of the very few activities not limited by his cast. Although he figured the smoothie could use a hint of pineapple or something citrus, everything else as part of his evening was going great. Shooting had ended a little early, and for once, he felt like he had ample time to spend with Yael just relaxing. “Oh my god, I definitely remember that girl,” Levi replied, cringing, “I think she was the one who asked me to cut her toenails that one time after the second time I met her. I don’t think I’ve ever been as taken back by a request ever since.” Looking back at their shitty New York City living circumstances, it only made him thankful for the successes they had now. “Honestly, why didn’t we ever just live together? I think it would have saved us all that trouble.” 

Levi rolled his eyes at her next question, although it wasn’t as absurd of one to ask. It certainly wasn’t fear of commitment that put him off from the idea. Hell, if the circumstances fit, he’d propose tomorrow; that’s how much he loved Emma. “Best man material for sure,” Levi said with a smile before giving her a real answer, “Oh, you know, just not the right time. I’d always imagined putting a downpayment on a house first or, I don’t know, when things settle down a bit more.” Sure, saying his reasoning out loud still felt like an excuse at times. 

[levi-reynolds]

yael-moche :

@levi-reynolds

It wasn’t often that the two managed to find themselves in the same place at the same time. Both had relatively demanding careers and lives and at times it was hard to keep up with old friends. Being hired to work on the same movie was amazing, much more amazing that the woman initially thought. Having a friend to go to when she needed a break, someone she was close with, was such a stress relief she contemplated bringing him around for every movie she was on “Um, no” she stated, feet hanging off the dock they were sitting on “That was that shitty little place you had in Queens, not my place. I found the roaches- Lord have mercy I did, but it was totally your place” she laughed, reaching down and grabbing the iced coffee she had been sipping on for the past twenty minutes “That was such a good place until that happened”

For almost a decade of his life, Levi was used to being a bit of a lone traveler out in the world, making connections along the way. It wasn’t often he’d run into people from his past -- let alone, actually keep in touch on a regular basis. He worked at a restaurant in New York for close to two years and made some of the closest friends at the time working in the kitchen and serving food, yet funnily enough, the one person who managed to stick around in his life was a customer, his most loyal one perhaps. 

And Levi was definitely glad he and Yael remained friends long enough to be in the same place at the same time again by pure happenstance. “Oh god, you’re right. How did I even live there for so long?” Levi replied, laughing, “Right, because it was the cheapest place I could find. You know, in retrospect, cockroaches shouldn’t have been all that surprising.” True, it might have been a better financial decision to stay with his dad throughout culinary school, but it had gotten to a point where it was unbearable living with the man. “You kidding? The roaches were probably the best neighbors I’ve ever had,” Levi joked. “But definitely avoided cooking in that apartment for the rest of the lease.” 

[levi-reynolds]

@emmawinslet

        Despite everything, Levi was in good spirits for the day, and he had been for most of the week. Sure, he hadn’t planned on fracturing his wrist during the fire, but it was as if everyone else around him was preparing for just that from how quickly they adjusted -- Emma, his catering crew, even everyone else on set. He could focus more of his time on the business side of things for a while, but still, he missed getting his hands busy in the kitchen. Although the crew were a talented bunch and had all his recipes, there was nothing like cooking them himself. 

       So when Levi suggested making his close-to-authentic arroz con pollo recipe for dinner with Emma, it may have just been an excuse to get back in the kitchen, doing something other than tasting (not that he’d ever really complain about that). “Trust me, I got it,” Levi laughed, trying to get Emma to sit down. He was in the process of cutting up the red peppers for the dish. “It’s all in the wrist work, and thankfully I still have my right one for that.” At the moment, his left hand was only useful for holding down the cutting board. “I kind of feel like I’m in elementary school with this thing on. Do you think I can get all the kids in class to sign it?” he joked, referring to the white cast on his arm. 

[levi-reynolds]

camillatho:

‘ — – - you’ve been mingling…yet i don’t think we’ve met. that’s not right one bit. ‘ she mused. ‘ you’re very charming, thank you…i really could use one. ‘ she gave him a smile of relief. ‘ you can treat me to some sort of meal though…since this is an open bar and all. ‘ she offered moving to the bar area with the male. 

“Really? I’ve definitely seen you around set. Granted, you have a much more important role than I do. Levi Reynolds. I keep people fed, by the way. Cater the food on set and actually at this event too,” Levi replied, holding out his hand.  “Sure, let’s do dinner some time. It’d give me a chance to cook dishes I don’t normally make on set.” Levi took a seat at one of the barstools. It’d be his second drink of the night of his three drink maximum. God forbid Emma be put to the task of dealing with his drunk self coming home from the event. 

[levi-reynolds]

camillatho:

‘ — – - thank you so much for being here !! ‘ camilla greeted someone with a plastered on smile, one that was beginning to ache pretty badly. while she was near the bar she groaned rubbing her cheeks softly. ‘ jesus christ..i never knew smiling could hurt so much. are you at least having a good time ?? ‘ she questioned the other. 

“i’m actually having a really good time. i’ve been mingling as they say. met some interesting folks from all over,” levi replied, “seems like you could use a drink though. my treat. well, actually it’s an open bar i think, but still, would you like something?” 

[levi-reynolds]

emmawinslet:

“You never know, maybe Gordon Ramsey is sneakin’ around here someplace, askin’ everyone who made the glorious appetizers,” she beamed. She just stared at him, smiling brightly, taking both of his hands in hers. “It’s been two years, Levi, how are you still givin’ me butterflies every day? …And you look perfect. As always.”

Levi shook his head, but he was laughing. “Oh I doubt that. I’ve seen his tweets or whatever reviewing people’s cooking attempts. The man doesn’t give compliments away too easily,” he replied, but the idea of that happening still had him smiling. Besides, who would have thought he’d ever be able to feed all these famous Hollywood stars in the first place? “Because I love you, of course, and I’ll remind you of that daily, as I do,” Levi replied sincerely and gave one of Emma’s hands a squeeze, “Really? I thought you said I looked like a professor.” He laughed, raising an eyebrow. 

[levi-reynolds]

directorhallie:

“Ugh, Levi. Levi Reynolds. Moon of my life. If you and Emma were not so perfect for each other, I’d kiss your face right now, the food is incredible. All the… everybody… is raving about it. Especially those little things… with the eggplant? I ate about five,” she beamed. 

“You look so cute, did Emma dress you?” she smirked.

Levi laughed. “Moon of your life? That makes me curious who the sun might be. Sidney? I imagine it’d be Sidney,” he joked, “Ah, yes, ‘the little things with the eggplant’ is exactly what I had on the menu. Well, actually eggplant crostini, but close enough.” Levi looked down at what he was wearing at the comment and partially to make sure he didn’t spill something embarrassing on his jacket. “I actually dressed myself for the most part. I’m sure Emma would have wanted me to come in a full tuxedo, bow tie and all.” 

[levi-reynolds]

emmawinslet :

“Oh my goodness, everywhere I look there’s somebody famous or cool, what do I do with my hands, am I breathing funny? I feel like I’m not breathing like a normal person,” Emma giggled. “Ooh, this is so excitin’.”

Levi couldn’t help but grin looking at Emma giggle in her gorgeous dress. God, he loved his girlfriend. “I know very little about who is famous or cool. It’s likely I wouldn’t recognize them unless they’re a well-known chef,” Levi joked, “Before you know it, there’ll be people acting like this around you one day.” He smiled warmly, not being able to take his eyes off her. “Looking at you, I’m feeling very lucky right now and probably a little under-dressed.” 

[levi-reynolds]

directorhallie:

For Hallie, this entire night, was, is, and would be all about the press. She’d been briefed a hundred thousand times on what to say and how to say it and she knew she had to do everything in her power to make sure that everyone in this building agreed that this movie would be a hit. A lot of pressure on such a small person.

She got to take a break for a moment, and found a quiet corner to touch up her lipstick. She almost never wore lipstick, or dresses, or heels… but she liked it. Even if it was for work, it felt nice to look like a woman for once instead of just a boss or a mom. She smiled at her reflection in her compact and then smiled at the person watching her as she closed it. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”

This was definitely one of the biggest events Levi had ever catered, if not the biggest. His crew had been working around the clock, some of them still working. Sleep had been his least priority, and he was starting to regret it. Still, everything was going smoothly so far, and he was taking pride in that fact and that people seemed to be enjoying the menu he put together. 

Levi spotted Hallie nearby and decided he should well, talk with the woman who pretty much hired him, even if indirectly. “Absolutely,” Levi agreed, “And everyone is looking their best. I’d say we clean up well. You know, I hear the food’s good too. Thoughts?”

[levi-reynolds]

[levi-reynolds]

kieransparrcw:

“I’m fine, honestly. I mean, I’m left handed, so if I need to write anything, I’ll probably make you do it for me, but otherwise, all is well,” Kieran smiled.

“I’d be happy to help you with anything if I can. Though, I can’t say I have the most legible penmanship,” Levi replied,