exonym | don't you think there must be a reason--

i. the swamplands

[ here is the thing: Leviathan isn't used to to having the wool pulled over his eyes. he isn't used to being the one that isn't in control, isn't the one that has all the cards, all the power. so when he wakes up in a muggy, warm as all fucking hell swamp in southern Florida instead of his delightful icy palace in Dis, the creature is fucking furious. this has Lucifer written all over it and that means-- well that means that there is nothing that he can do actually except fucking deal with it.

which means that, if you happen to be outside, you are going to hear a lot of exceptionally vicious growling noises coming from the swamp area, as well as some noises of destruction (sorry about the trees, Hyunki, only not really). there are also fissions of ice that crackle across the surface of the swamp, steam coming off them and they are clearly not natural.

neither is the coiled sea serpent monster thing in the swamp but you can totally overlook that, right? right.

Leviathan's temper tantrum lasts for less than an hour though, if only because he refuses to give anyone that might be watching the satisfaction of that emotional outburst. so, if you happen to have edged towards the swamp at the noise and chaos, you will be surprised to see an immaculately dressed Creature of the Abyss wandering out of the darkness and making his way to the house.

clearly this is where he was supposed to be going. or something.]

ii. swamp house

[ he is stuck here.

or you are all stuck with him, maybe that is a better way to look at it.

someone (an asshole) has decided that Leviathan needs a fucking timeout because apparently plotting and carrying out the murder of a fellow Cardinal is something like treason and honestly, why is anyone even surprised at this point? he is a demon. the demon actually. he is composed of envy and pride and at what point was rule following in either of those?

they weren't.

but still, he is Pit-born and therefore easily bound to places and forms.

and this house (or this swamp at least) seems to be where he has been bound to, and he is not able to sink into his usual monstrous form of the Creature. that latter one-- well it doesn't bother him as much as he is sure that Luci thinks it does but whatever. he isn't gonna tell her that.

in the few days that Levi has been around, he has claimed himself a familiar looking couch (Rook's, the Creature can smell him on it), and has put far too many holes in the wall thanks to a combination of opalescent daggers and his claws.]

Ya might not wanna stand there, doll face. Yer right infant of my makeshift target.

[ which is, if you should turn around to look, an ancient looking piece of papyrus that contains the original transcript of the Book of Revelations.

don't give him that look.]

iii. wildcard it

[ stumble across the lanky bastard anywhere. ask him to taste your tea. share a book with him. stab him with a fork. taunt him about something. but be aware, he will go for the throat literally. ]

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[oh, you know what jiho finds interesting? the fact that you're not moving.]

This doesn't have anything to do with him.

[maybe it does a little, but jiho doesn't feel compelled to share that bit of information. he vanishes again, taking a step closer when he re-manifests, little magical ninja that he is.]

A lot of us live in this house. You might as well learn about common courtesy and the rules from the get-go. Rule one [he holds up a finger] that's Rook's couch. There are plenty of other places where you can lie and put holes in the wall.

[ did you want him to move? because that means that he sure as fuck ain't gonna move. ]

Mmm, but I think it does, doll.

[ does the Creature seem to get more comfortable on the couch, sprawling a little more and sinking into the cushions? maybe he does. honestly, it isn't the most comfortable thing for him, he is a bit, ah, longer than this couch is build for, but hey, it is pissing you off so he will stay here.

and smirk, a great deal when you try to tell him about rules.

cute.]

Mmhmmm, ya see, rules an' I get along famously [ in a terrible horrible no go way]. But Rook an' I get along even more famously, so I'm sure my little demon is gonna have no issues sharin' with me. He might even join me.

Don't.

[the 'doll' thing. jiho hates it, because he's small and his hair is the color of cotton candy, and that makes it easy for people to think him cute and soft and dismiss him entirely.

he uses it to his advantage sometimes, but he hates the drawl of it coming from this guy's lips.

maybe he won't think it too rude if jiho ignores him for a moment, back pressed against the brick of the fireplace as he fires off a few quick texts. or maybe jiho doesn't care. he glances up between them, sliding his phone back into his pocket right before the warning comes.

just when jiho thought you couldn't say anything worse than 'doll', you go and find something: my little demon.]

What if I joined you?

[ oh, well that is an interesting reaction indeed. it wasn't a term that Leviathan used with any kind of meaning, not because he thought Jiho was small or cute, but it was just what he said. but now that he had that reaction under his belt, there was a good chance that the Creature would be calling him that on a regular basis.

even when he was ignored. Leviathan doesn't care, just huffs a laugh and throws another dagger into the papyrus, calling it back with a curl of his wrist. sure, there are so many other things that he could be doing, could be getting to know the other beings in this house, could be looking for a way to get out of this fucking binding, but nah--

that's too much like admitting he was wrong.

so instead, he keeps throwing the daggers, huffing a little when Jiho offers to join him. he is a prideful shit, but he isn't stupid. Levi just points a dagger towards the assassin, not looking at him.]

Then I'd have t'tell you that ya aren't my type, doll. 'm not Wrath, I don't like those that are covered in blood, though it does make me wonder about what ya see in Rook. Boy is soft between his fuckin' ribs, shitty fucking demon too.

[there's that fucking word again, this bitc-

jiho lets the fantasy of kneeling on a cushion that's pressed over levi's face play for a little bit longer. and then decides to stick with what he knows - no pun intended.]

I told you, this doesn't have anything to do with him.

[because he doesn't want to draw attention to rook, doesn't want to paint a target on his back. he hates every time this guy says rook's name, every insult that leaves his lips. but it's better if he can get levi to think that someone covered in blood simply doesn't care about a little bit more - that's not exactly untrue.

neither is the next thing that jiho says, after he vanishes for a few seconds and reappears on the back of the couch, dagger of his own in hand. hissing the words before he brings it down.]

I just don't like you.

[ honestly, this is the kind of welcome that Leviathan expected. craved if anything. and maybe that is what has him laughing even as the assassin vanishes from in front of him to appear behind, knife in hand.

the Creature doesn't stop the blow, lets it strike true and even when he chokes a little on his opalescent blood, he is still laughing. sure it hurts, he isn't immune to pain, but he has dealt with so much that this? this is like a mosquito bite at worst. so, the Creature tips his head back, twists to drive the knife deeper, and smirks at him.]

Nice try, doll, but yer gonna have t'do better than that. Didn't Rook tell ya?

[ not that he cares, nope. Levi is reaching over his shoulders, claws sliding out of finger tips the same swirl of colours in white as his blood and digs them into Jiho's shoulder, hooking in to fling the assassin across the room without a care. or much effort for that matter.

it is clear with how Leviathan's smile gets wider at the sound of impact that this is something he revels in. he unfolds himself from the couch, pulling the knife from his skin with a hum before walking over to Jiho, he drops the knife next to him and couches down, licking blood from his fingertips.]

Ya tried, sweetheart, ya tried. Maybe ask yer precious Rook for some better ideas next time, huh?

[his control slipped. jiho wouldn't be able to explain why, might blame it on this being who and what he is, and he's been idle for so long. some kind of withdrawal for someone who's more comfortable with violence than real feelings.

real feelings like he feels when levi talks about rook the way that he does. the suggestions, the insults, the way that it gets under jiho's skin to know that there's more to the story between them without knowing exactly what it is, but sensing that it's not good. even if jiho doesn't like him, even if he was provoked, having this reaction so quickly-

he went too far.

he didn't know his enemy either. and he pays for it all with a sharp pain that lights up his entire body when he hits the wall. his shoulder burns where levi's claws pierced deep, and jiho can feel the stickiness of his own blood making his shirt stick to him. he pushes himself up on his good shoulder, eyes lifting to levi's.]

Tell me what?

[ there's another soft hum, Leviathan licking the last of the blood form his fingers before he stands up, mostly ignoring the assassin on the ground.]

Tell ya who an' what I am, doll. Maybe ya wouldn't have been so stupid, mmm?

[ he looks down, smile sharp as he kicks the blade closer to Jiho.]

Not that I'm all that upset, you were almost amusin' there fer a minute.

[ a soft sigh, wistful almost, before Levi is gone, bloodstains and all.]

don't you think there must be a reason--

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