н is for н o l y

Leviathan James Age 17

[leviathanjames]

braylon-the-ta:

“Hey,” Bray furrowed his brows when Levi dodged his attempt to kiss him. That wasn’t something the boy usually did, and it worried the man that something had happened between them that he wasn’t aware of. It worried him even more when Crow debated jumping up into Levi’s lap and walked away. Levi was one of her favorite people. “Yes?” He lowered himself to the couch, still hesitant. “Levi,” he whispered, now frightened, he knew the boys mother was dead. “Are you ok?”

He’s treating him like there was something wrong and it bothered him greatly. With his smile slipping, Levi let go of his hands and planted them on his lap instead, rubbing his thighs over ripped jeans.  “I’m fine.” Were the first words out of his mouth. It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself instead of reassuring Braylon; maybe it was a mix of both. Drawing his tongue over his pink lips, he attempted to be as sunny as before. “I’m okay. I’m not...I’m not delusional. I know she’s dead,” his eyes looked around for the kitten instead of staying on his boyfriend, “I’ve also had a lot of time to think. A lot of time-- like, just.. a ton of time when I’ve been gone and-- now, this sounds bad at first but give it a bit-- I like you a lot and I want to continue further with my relationship with you. Which means.. I’d like my mother to meet you.” He blinked. “...Does that make sense?” He asked slowly.

[leviathanjames]

He just arrived at the apartment, dodged a kiss, and planted himself on the couch with one leg crossed over the other. Hands poised, eyes searching for the kitten he knew would clamber up on top of his thighs in order to say hello-- the imagery would’ve seemed normal, except Levi’s smile was a bit too... excited. “I have news,” the blonde chirped, waiting for Braylon to sit down before he took his hands and leaned closer.  “I want you to meet momma!” @braylon-the-ta

[jesusscrying]

[leviathanjames]

@braylon-the-ta

[cutegaymer]

[leviathanjames]

“You’re looking at me funny, like saying something is going to set me off,” he stated, blue eyes trailing the other individual in the room. Right now, his knees were pressed against his chest and the plastic medical bracelet hanging from his wrist was the only reminder of where he’s been. Furthermore, he looked thinner, with dark circles completing the ‘tired beyond all means’ complexion he seemed to radiate. They did pluck him out of school and settle him in a residential psychiatric facility without telling his siblings-- hell, did he have the time to say anything besides a quick goodbye when Jonah walked in on him packing? But he’s back now, more mentally clouded than before.  Harper pressed his cheek against his knee, thick lashes hiding his tired gaze as he sniffed. “I’m not crazy. They wouldn’t have let me leave if I was crazy.” @jonahbjames

[leviathanjames]

im finally back from vacation ~~

and i seem to have missed an ic plath vacation as well, yike

after i go through the fuss of following/unfollowing the people i’ve missed, i’ll reply to some starters c: as for IC’s sake, this is where my babies have been:

Levi: I’d like to imagine that he was partially hospitalized in the psychiatric ward of the hospital close to Plath after he’s admitted that previous delusions he’s felt are more vivid in the past few weeks. He’s been mostly secluded.

Scarlet: Probably went home for a bit after school’s done, but got sent back because she hasn’t exactly gotten ‘better’

Sterling: Still a doctor, dealing with all yall grumpy asses

xoxo

[leviathanjames]

missmercyjames:

“Easy for you to say. Someone could call you a cunt to your face and you’d probably take it as a compliment. I don’t have the gift of your eternal obliviousness; I notice when people hate me.” She gave a shrug. “They’d have to say something. They’d decide I was hurt and as soon as they had to do something, rumors would spread.”

“I still don’t think he should be allowed to get away with what happened,” He said softly, “I don’t want to fight with you, Mercy. I just wanted to give you options for trying to save your grade..”

[leviathanjames]

missmercyjames:

“It’s a horrible fucking idea. I get stuck in more therapy. He gets fired and maybe even arrested. If he gets arrested, I get to deal with him being mad at me and probably going to court. Rumors go around and I either get turned into the school slut or the poor tragic victim. I’d rather not go through any of that, so no fucking thanks.”

“I don’t think you should sacrifice your grades all for the sake of a reputation, Mercy. Also, there has to be confidentiality things at a place like this, right?” He said hopefully.

[leviathanjames]

missmercyjames:

“I didn’t say it was good. I just said sometimes things need to be done, even things that seem bad.” Mercy let out a laugh, though there was little humor in it as she looked at him. “Great idea. Hey, Dr. Fox. How are you today? Today I thought we should talk about the fact that a staff member I screwed got me drunk in the middle of the night so he could bang me and now the idea of being in the same room as him makes me feel sick. Yeah, totally. That’s not way more trouble than it’s worth.”

“I don’t know why you’re knocking it as a bad idea when I think it’s actually good. I’m not sure why he’s still authorized to be in the profession if he could be so predatory.”

[leviathanjames]

missmercyjames:

“I’m not saying all of them. I just know Gabe is good, alright? People do shitty things but that doesn’t make them automatically shitty.” Mercy let out a sigh. “You do know what Adrian taught, right? He was my math teacher. So I’ll give you three guesses as to why I wasn’t going. It’s an F. I’m failing.”

“People can do terrible things and it doesn’t make them terrible people, but their actions are still terrible. I believe in goodness, Mercy, but that does not erase their actions,” He ran his fingers through his hair, “If you were done with the relationship with him, why did you not go to the counselor if you weren’t comfortable with staying in his class?”

[leviathanjames]

unrulyrojas:

   “i mean, it’s not exactly supposed to be nice. if we were fighting, the goal would be to hurt you.” this stranger continues to puzzle him the more the conversation goes on, and for once Nick feels like he’s at a loss of what to do with him. he could throw some hands, but what’s the point? he’s just said he doesn’t fight back and that he’s overly-reasonable to the point he’ll point out the counselor after he’s gotten his ass kicked. “so… if someone was beating the shit out of you, you’d just turn the other cheek instead of defending yourself? what kind of policy is that?” it doesn’t surprise him that most other students don’t agree with him there. reasonable, his ass.

       if someone comes for him, you better bet that he’s biting back twice as hard.

   he lifts a brow. “you’d actually give half a shit if i went and got myself killed?” he doesn’t even know why he’s surprised at this point, given Levi’s strange demeanor. it’s almost like talking to a children’s book character! just… with better vocabulary. he raises his arm to reveal the tracker on his wrist, gesturing to it lazily with his free hand. “stole some shit and got busted for it.” among other things. “what about you, dude? they think you were too nice for public school?”

“I know, but I don’t understand why you would want to hurt me. I hope I haven’t upset you so far, and if I have, I really do apologize; that’s not my intention at all,” He replied, tone just as soft as ever, “I would defend myself, of course, but I wouldn’t hit anyone back. Maybe try to run away. I’ve been told several times I have giraffe legs and I can outrun a gazelle, though I don’t think I’m the athletic one in the family.” A laugh bubbled from his vocal chords as he crossed his legs now, finally allowing his body to take a temporary break as the result of ten minute long elbow grease stared back at him. At the other’s question, his blue eyes flickered up towards the brunette. “Of course I’d care if you got hurt or killed! You’re still God’s creature and everyone on earth deserves some sort of compassion. If I could help you in any way, to ease your pain or minimize your suffering, I would try to to my best abilities.” He wiped the bubbles off of his hands and hummed, “Mm, I was married. I think it was illegal, and my community got raided by the FBI. I have a brother and a sister here, as well as a friend who was married to the same man as me. Have you ever met Jonah, Mercy or Eve?”

[leviathanjames]

braylon-the-ta:

“Done to you, or do to other people, yes,” Bray wasn’t ashamed of his sexuality, his kinks, or his thoughts, but he was nervous that it would make Levi uncomfortable. As long as the blonde seemed ok, or had questions, he didn’t see the harm in talking about it. “With you, or in general? The question doesn’t matter I guess, because the answer is yes to both. For me…it would be weird to not have thought about it, but I’m not going to push you into doing anything you don’t want or don’t believe in doing.”

He pushed himself onto the desk now, his long legs dangling on the sides as he watched the man with a curious cock of his head. “I don’t know what I don’t want to do if I have no idea what people like to do, Bray. I think you’d have to explain to me first,” He said carefully, “Does that make sense? I’m still... a bit set on not having sex before marriage, I apologize, but we can do other things if you’d like!”

[leviathanjames]

rowancelis:

– “Nah, not hunt, study and observe!” Rowan says with a big grin plastered on his face. “Oh, well… I mean, that’s fair. He is a little stick dude. Like drifting pants! And no special talents needed at all, you just gotta be excited to be there and willing to partake in some more than silly theories. I’m Rowan, it’s really nice to meet you, Levi.”

“Ohh, like in a movie I watched! Or was it real life? It’s a bug, isn’t it?” He smiled warmly, giving his hand an eager shake despite Rowan not offering it at any point in time, “I’m very interested! I’m very excited, too; I always wanted to go into the forest but people tell me ‘Levi, you really need a accountabiliabuddy’ and I tell them ‘but I’m 18!’. Now I do! Are there more people in this club? Do you guys have meetups?”

[leviathanjames]

braylon doesn't love you. you're just another idiot in his long list of people to screw.

“I’m sorry you feel this way, but unless he is incredibly dedicated to this list and plans on an extremely long and fulfilling relationship with me that leads to marriage, I don’t think he will be satisfied soon.”@braylon-the-ta

[hummingbirdisms]

SINK MY CHARACTER’S SHIP!

[maxbronte]

hummingbirdisms.

Make my character insecure about their love life. Tell them all the reasons why it would never work out between them and their beloved, why they don’t deserve them, who their loved one belongs with instead. Break their heart. SHOW NO MERCY.

[leviathanjames]

@sterlingclover @scarletknott

[leviathanjames]

lessons in g l o r y

in collaboration with @jonahbjames​​ [who wrote me a drabble i asked for and now i have to do Levi’s POV in because it was actually quite amazing] @evesnow​  bc when you have jonah, you have eve

——j o n a h——

One of the rules of the commune was “Keep sweet.” It was something Prophet Ezekiel reminded them of often in Sunday school. If they were doing something they shouldn’t be doing, he would come over, grab them by the back of the neck, and whisper in their ear, “Are we keeping sweet?”

It always worked, usually causing the troublemaker to scramble. In short, it meant “follow the rules and remember your faith,” something that were easier said than done, especially when most of the numerous rules were never explained.

Sundays were the most important day of the week, which meant that Saturdays were the busiest. The whole family had chores to do in preparation for the following day’s mass. If they completed their chores today, it ensured they could focus on the Savior tomorrow.

Jonah, as the oldest, was always designated to chopping firewood. Little Mercy was appointed to washing the white clothes for Sabbath. And when Levi came of age, Mama instructed him to assist her with the basic meal preparations for Sunday dinners. Normally that job went to the eldest daughter, but little Mercy lacked the maternal instinct that cooking required.

But Levi didn’t like to do chores. Instead, little Levi preferred to sit outside on the grass and make flower crowns. He would pick the unwanted dandelions peeking up out of the grass and braid them together into something beautiful. When he was done, the yellow petals would sit atop his golden hair like a halo.

“Mama! Mama, look!” Smiling—always smiling—the boy ran up to his mother with a beam. “I made a crown!” He removed it from his hair, pieces of green still littering his head, and held it out to her like a prize. She would be so happy.

But instead, his mother’s face contorted into one of anger. “Leviathan James! Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” His expression shrunk, and she smacked his handiwork away. “You were supposed to be helping me an hour ago. And boys don’t make flower crowns.” She tugged on his hand with a sharp jerk. “You need to learn how to behave. Come with me.”

For the first time, Levi was punished by her hand. She told him “Perfect obedience means perfect faith,” over and over again. It was something that he needed to learn: the more that children were punished for their wrongdoings in their youth, the more obedient adults they would become. When children understood the consequences for their actions, when the fear of punishment was instilled in them, they learned. But they needed to be broken-in early.

When her hand came down on him the first time, he cried that he would never do it again. The second time, that he was sorry. And the third, when the pain really started to set in, he cried for his brother, Jonah.

Jonah was older and stronger. He would surely protect him from this pain, save him from this hurt.

But Jonah never came.

Afterward, Levi’s pale, sensitive skin still stung: red, irritated, and surely to bruise. He wiped at his teary eyes with the back of his hand, looked up at Jonah, and asked him why. He must have heard him. Why hadn’t he saved him?

His older brother merely shrugged. Desensitized. Broken-in. “You did something wrong,” he told him calmly. “If you don’t do what the Elders tell you to do, you get punished. Keep sweet, remember?”

With a sniff, Levi nodded. Anything to avoid getting hit again.

At Plath Academy, Leviathan James was the sweetest boy that anybody knew.

——l e v i——

The first time he felt the sting of her long fingers on his cheek, he could’ve sworn his world grew dizzy. It must’ve been what Jonah felt like every time he fought a boy over a ball, or what a fish felt like when it was suddenly dragged from the depths of the lake by an excited child and their proud father. The temporary lapse of understanding, of where solid ground was, of catching colors blowing past his gaze as he stumbled back and caught himself on the back of their sofa. 

The flower crown was on the floor. It didn’t near his mother’s angry whispers as she said, again and again, that boys don’t make things out of flowers. But Levi was dumb. Out of all the children, intelligence blossomed in every single James except for the second boy, yet doubled over as kindness instead. It took him three beatings to truly understand what her mother meant, and by the time dandelions had gone, bluebonnets arrived. Her nails were longer during Spring, it seemed. It hurt more.

And so he ran, round the counter and out of the house until he stopped, breathless, tears still prickling his eyes and his mother’s wails coming from the kitchen. He didn’t remember the words, but his mouth moved like a puppet without subtitles, staring at the taller, stronger boy who peered down at him mercilessly. Swinging the axe onto his shoulder, Jonah tilted his head.

In the sunlight, he could’ve sworn he saw two freckles next to the blonde’s blue eyes. Didn’t Eve like freckles?

You’re wrong, he was told. You didn’t do what you were told. You weren’t being good. You weren’t obedient. Why would you not listen to Mama? Mama is the world to us. Mama protects us. Mama loves us. You’re disrespectful. You’re not keeping sweet.

The flavor in his mouth wasn’t sweet, it was copper. Drawing his tongue over his bottom lip now, Levi could still taste the sawdust peppering his skin as he licked the misguided tear his eight year old self wiped away with dirty hands. Still scrambling, he called out before the other could leave.

Did he know how to hug?

He’s never hugged anyone besides Mama, who’s taller, and Eve, who’s more frail. Did brother hugs feel different? Nevertheless, when the boy didn’t come closer, the little blonde ran up to him and wrapped his arms around his waist instead, giving him a squeeze. In his mind, it’d make his stinging cheeks hurt, but the reality wasn’t quite as sweet. Jonah’s arms were stiff. He looked annoyed. He wasn’t moving. 

It was like hugging a dead body, except this dead body could brush him off, grab the firewood and walk away with a mutter and some heavy eye rolling. Levi stood there, cheeks tinged red, eyelashes soaked, and his arms slowly falling back to his sides. Alone. 

And so he looked, peering over his shoulder at his brother now. He was smiling, locked in some conversation with the girl who he’s been in love with for longer than he’s been able to write the alphabet. His callused palm reached up to stroke a bit of chestnut hair away from her eyes with delicate precision. His skin, sunkissed and bronzed, seemed to contrast her heavenly features, yet guarded her delicate hands with his own as they laid upon hers. 

Levi turned back to the flower crown on his lap. It was taunting him; could flowers taunt? With their colors, their beauty, their whispers of the past. The blonde boy got up and passed his brother, his arms stiff at his side.

However, he left the crown to decorate the girl his brother loved. 

[leviathanjames]

missmercyjames:

“I’m not planning on becoming a serial killer. I’m just saying that sometimes extreme things can be justified at least a little. Gabe isn’t a bad person, no worse than most around here,” she said with a shrug. “Well, I’m going to math class again, so that’s something. Pretty sure I’m gonna fail anyway though.”

“I don’t think most people here kill others due to their perceived sense of justice. I believe most people here have psychological problems, but I would group him with those who have killed, I suppose,” he furrowed his brows, “Why haven’t you been going? How bad are your grades right now?”