brighter tomorrow | eli

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

30TH MARCH 2025

AH HOGSMEADE WEEKEND! CALLIOPE HAD been in contact with her brothers over the past few weeks, begging to see the cuter younger boys during a weekend up in the famous Hogsmeade. Well. After its destruction back in December it wasn’t as famous anymore and the Fleming was almost twenty percent sure she had seen more aurors than usual. Scouting out the place for protection and all that shit. She had no idea what time of day the Hogwarts Professors would allow the students to head over to Hogsmeade, so Calliope saw it fitting for a day drink. Or a few. Hogs Head had originally been her place of choice, but with a flirty bartender complimenting the Fleming every five seconds, her hair sporting a darker pink shade as he did, she felt it was best to leave. With a stomach filled of fire-whisky and a hand holding a gifted bottle. Surely this was illegal.

Once the slight rays of the sun hit the Fleming’s face, she raised up her hand that held the bottle, the sun now reflecting off the brown colour of the bottle. Merlin, where was Eli?! Luckily, because Calliope was the only smart Fleming in the family (Temperance truly didn’t count.) the Metamorphmagi brought sunglasses with her, covering her eyes with them. ”Thank fuck.” She muttered, still squinting her eyes behind the shades. As she walked along…Whatever street, the now-blonde looked around, trying to discover where on Merlin’s grace she was until a family face caught her eye. ”Eli!” She yodelled in calling, the strands of blonde quickly shifting to a bright yellow. Calliope truly had no control when she was on the verge of getting pissed.

She smelt like alcohol as she rushed over to her brother’s side, tripping up on her own feet as she walked. ”What time is it?” She blinked, tired eyes hidden behind the large frames. Surely it was the evening now. Merlin, how many drinks did she have?

Elijah Theron Fleming & HELLO

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

HE SAW HER COAT BEFORE HE SEEN HER. AN electric blue piece that made her look like a very magical emu. Hogsmeade Weekends were supposed to be a time for older students to unwind, but Eli had known the minute his older sister had planned to meet him that it would be anything but. Calliope was like a walking weather warning. He'd always admired her beyond good reason because a. she wasn't at all afraid of their father. And b. she was impossibly confident.

For a moment, Eli drew in his breath, but he jumped when she called his name. As if she'd sensed his presence across the cobble stoned street. "Calli!" He sang back, edging past a thundering cart full of strange, purple fruit. She met him halfway, her fluffy blue coat enveloping him in a dizzying sent of whiskey and smoke. "You smell like booze and cigs." He told her sourly as he pulled back, staring at his own reflection in her dark sunglasses. "It's not even 11 yet."

There were a lot of things Eli admired about his sister, but she'd changed a bit since their mom disappeared. She used to love adventures, dragging Eli along and filling him with a childlike wonder. But now it was more like a love for danger. He hardly saw her since they'd moved to London, and when he did it was usually accompanied by some scathing remark about their dad's burdening incompetence. But, she still had an incredible glamour he couldn't deny. And when she told him to do something, he almost always did as she said. She had that kind of oozing influence over other people. Plus, she could change her appearance at will.

"Have you even been home?" Eli laughed nervously, his face still scrunched at her heady smell. He already knew the answer to that, but he had to ask. "Where've you been?"

calliope ivory fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

CALLIOPE KNEW HOW TO STAND out in a crowd. Doing so was one of her many specialities, given the basis of who and what she was. She stood out daily just from the rush of different colours of her hair and eyes, changing with every emotion. While she was young, the Fleming grew, learning how to control the shifts but ever since graduating and carrying the family solely with her decent paying job and her elder sister’s…Who cared what a dead-beat Dad said? Day-drinking was now included in the daily schedule and emotions would be flaunted. Behind the dark shades that covered bag-filled eyes, Calliope only felt joy once she found her brother, jumping the moment she called his name.

She heard hers, and once the two met halfway, their embrace was short-lived. She pouted then at the comment, even if it were true, Eli had a tongue that loved to state the truth too often. ”Not even eleven?” She repeated in disbelief, extending a hand from the oversized blue jacket to stare upon a watch-less arm. ”Says seven pm there.” She said, pointing down at what was just her skin. Merlin, she was imagining things already? She giggled, hiccuping along with it. Eli had been the sibling that had changed the most. Merlin, had puberty hit him nicely! She looked up at him, considering he had shot past her own decent height, smiling wide. He hadn't changed since their Mom disappeared and that was always a plus.

At his questions and even the slightest ease of nervousness, Calliope patted at his back. ”Home, Smhone.” She said, waving it off with her hand. ”I only ever go home when I’m sober.” Cal being sober was a rare sight anyway. ”Or when I’ve ran out of friend’s couches to sleep on. I swear by Merlin, I’m unsure why I still have friends.” She grinned, reaching up to pinch at her brother’s cheek. ”But I’ve mainly been at that dreadful place.” Dreadful being St Mungos anyway. ”Do you know how frightening it is to go to the back when you’re claustrophobic? I swear…My colleagues think I’m joking.”

Elijah Theron Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

MAYBE SOMETIMES ELI WISHED HE WAS MORE like his sister. To him, it didn't seem like she cared about anything at all. That had to be a really freeing way to live. He wanted to be like that. He wanted to care less. But, it had always looked better on her than him. Her loose posture, the sticky soft feel of her blue fur coat. She was the epitome of everything Eli was not. He tugged at his hooded sweatshirt self-consciously as she drew away from him.

Barking a laugh, Eli felt stupid as he'd looked down at her wrist with surprise. Of course he'd believed her. When did he not? "Invisible watch?" He asked with a quirk of his brows, but in a way he wondered if she really was wearing one. But, her mischievous expression said otherwise. She was poking fun at him. If their dad could see them now... well, he probably wouldn't say very much. He doesn't really say much at all these days.

"I think your friends love you," Eli said with full confidence. He couldn't imagine her being unloved. She was too... effervescent. Although she often annoyed him - she was forgetful and sometimes mean. He figured that was just something her friends must like about her. "But their sofa's... probably don't." He'd smelled her after all. "Are you going to drink inside?" Eli asked with a crease between his brows, they were almost to the doors of the quaint little pub. "Will you buy me one?" And then he realised he was 18 now, and he didn't really need her permission any more. At least while attending school in Britain. "Actually, I'll buy my own." He said triumphantly, reaching in to a pocket of his sweatshirt to fish out a worn, cracked leather wallet. "Got my ID card now." 

calliope ivory fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

BEING CAREFREE WAS THE ONLY thing Calliope had going for her in this day and age, aside from arguing with her father and colleagues, and covering up her identity in the Black Market. It was fun….At times, mainly until the stress found its way back to the Fleming and required her to start from the beginning up again. She was glad Eli was different from her and even their elder sister. If he was too much like Temperance, she would hate him. Or if he was too much like herself…Well. They’d butt heads more than they do now.

Her brows furrowed while her lips curved up at his question, and with a gentle shake of her head and a gentle pat on his arm, she responded. ”Exactly that..! You know. I wish more things were invisible — Wait. Do you think I could be invisible?” Merlin, Calliope felt more of a lightweight than ever before. With Eli’s confident comment, Calliope grew soft and if Eli could see from her dark shades, her eyes were changing colours with emotion. ”You mean that?” She slightly frowned then. ”That…might be true!”

With the two of them near a little pub now, Cal had completely forgotten about the opportunity of drinking with her little brother. ”Mmmm, if they don’t kick me out then most definitely!” She smiled up at him then, suddenly determined to enter the pub despite her…unconvincing appearance. ”I’ll still buy you one despite your age you nerd. You’re my little brother after all..!”

Elijah Theron Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE RAPID CHANGE IN SUBJECT WAS A HABIT every Fleming spawn possessed, but Eli still struggled to keep up with Calli. She had broken the record far more than he had, and his brain just didn't work as fast as hers. His mouth swung open, his face dumb for a second as he tried to answer at least one of her questions. "Probably...?" He laughed after a second too long, and when it really sunk in she was already thinking about something else. "I don't think there's anything you can't do." He snorted, but he was serious. She was a chameleon.

Excited at the prospect of a drink, or just anything other than standing cold on the street, Eli was beaming. He looked young when he did that, shiny pale cheeks creasing and dimpling at the chin. Eyes twinkling. "Can you afford that?" Eli joked, both squeezing through the tight doorway, his hand still wrapped tight around his second-third-fourth hand wallet. "Thought you were sofa surfing?" His brows quirked, unapologetic. "Maybe I gotta buy you a drink." He said charitably. 

calliope ivory fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

WITH HER MOUTH DROPPING OPEN in surprise, Cal pushed up her dark sunglasses, forming a small grin. ”You’re boosting my ego Eli!!!” Merlin she was excited now, her hair burning a bright orange to show off her excitement with a few strands darker than the other revealing how completely wasted she was in the early morning. ”You think I could fight off bad guys and win that pretty girl’s heart?” The pretty girl referring to the girl from the ice cream shop. Cal was always nervous to get served from her so she always avoided eye contact. But Merlin, she was pretty.

Gasping loudly, Cal put a hand over her chest as if she was offended — she really wasn’t — and starred down her younger brother. If these blasted shades weren’t on and looks could kill….Well Cal would feel guilty for killing her sibling. ”I can afford anything!” She exclaimed, maybe a little too loud for his ears. ”I may be couch surfing but its to avoid coming home…” She revealed, hmphing quietly to herself. What a child she was after a few…quite a lot…of drinks.

Elijah Theron Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

SOMETIMES, THAT WAS ALL ELI WAS GOOD FOR. An ego boost. He admired his sister's carefree attitude so blatantly that it overshadowed any flaws that might peek through intermittently. So, he laughed heartily at Cal's theatrical swoon, eyeing her stylish sunglasses as they were parked on top of her head before they hid her dark circles once again. Maybe she'd let him wear them, she had a way of swanning in to his life and leaving him little gifts. Like a favoured fairy.

"Oh." Eli felt a flush of embarrassment. He'd never considered that Cal simply didn't feel welcome at their little British flat. But, then again, it made perfect sense. When Cal was home she and their father were often at blows. The house bursting at the seams with tension and aggression. 'Too much same', their mom used to say, tutting as she defused each fight before it blew the roof off. But, now their mom wasn't there and none had thought to learn her peacekeeping ways. Even Temp struggled.

"It's not so bad, you know?" He said, his brow pulling together in defence. The pub was quiet and he felt the need to lower his voice while they found a seat. "Dad- he's... he's really trying." It's what Temp said, right before she sighed and did something their dad was supposed to do, like cook dinner or give him money for school supplies. She was always patching up wounds, but just barely, so the stitching still showed in places. 'I'm not a miracle worker' she'd say, so weary. Sometimes, Eli felt like a burden to her. Just like dad.

"What am I getting you?" He asked, switching the subject without tact as he dropped his bag by the chair and flounced off to the bar to get too double strength butterbeers with a shot of firewhiskey thunking in to the bottom of the tankard. They foamed over when he clumsily clattered them both on the table, no change in hand - he'd told the bartender to keep it, because it seemed the done thing to do. He'd been due a whole handful of sickles, but he'd never been very good at math. "Guy called these trollmaker's?" He laughed heartily, landing heavily in his chair opposite his sister. 

calliope ivory fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

CALLIOPE KNEW SHE WASN’T DRUNK enough to hear a conversation about her father and his improving attitudes. Of course everyone would defend him since he’s done enough for the family since their mother’s disappearance. But also had things been considered when he exactly done nothing? While Eli was still in Hogwarts and how Cal had to give up her own life to maintain her families funds? Since Temp sure enough wasn’t giving enough money of her own anyway. Besides, living under a roof with that man only made Cal grimace at the thought. They were too similar and others who were too similar to the metamorphmagi made her uncomfortable. Annoyed more like.

”Not so bad…For you maybe.” Calliope mumbled, pushing up her glasses from the bridge of her nose. At Eli’s next question, she shot him a sly grin. ”What else is there to drink besides fire whiskey?” The best and only drink that got Calliope completely and utterly shattered. She was trying to forget her name by one o’clock you see. Cal was more than happy to see the mug with overflowing liquid return in her midst and with greedy hands, she began to chug on it. ”Trollmakers, butterbeer with firewhiskey or a childs drink…All of the above!” She spoke, taking a breather from drinking.

Elijah Theron Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

IT WAS AWKWARD TALKING ABOUT THEIR DAD with Cali. She immediately sided with aggression and judgement. It was Eli's natural instinct to see the good in people, in their father. Despite the fact that he had sneered at his oldest son's hobbies. That he had dubbed the home 'pet free' to shackle the boy from his creative desires. To try and 'straighten' him out. It hadn't worked, and Eli had always felt as if his father had disliked him. But, he didn't want to think badly about him, either.

"Not for me," Eli muttered, dropping his chin with a forced laugh. "I just mean... I dunno." He shook his head, sick of talking about it already. He didn't want to fight with Cal about this, or anything really. That hadn't been why he'd wanted to see her. With their drinks clattering back on the table, Eli treated it like a peacemaker. His butt hitting the seat heavily as he licked foam from his knuckles. "Exactly," He grinned with triumph, grabbing his by the handle and lifting it to see the shot glass bob at the bottom of the glass, streams of dark liquid fizzing to the top. With a shrug, he talk a slug of it.

The taste wasn't what he expected, sweet butterbeer marred with a kick of heat that sizzled at the back of his tongue. "Shit-" He said hoarsely, letting the tankard down with a laugh that made him snort. His eyes watered slightly and he blinked as he watched Cal chug on it like it was water. "'Course you would like it." He mused, grinning with a shake of his head. "Your taste buds are dead." And then he took another drink, because it grew on him and he'd used a good chunk of his allowance to even buy it. "How's work?" He asked, folding his hands on the table top and leaning forward to rest his hands. 

calliope ivory fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

CALLIOPE WISHED THE TOPIC AT hand wouldn’t continue any further. But knowing Eli and his desperate need for conversations and to continue to string them along, her request was definitely short lived. The older Fleming sighed, sipping at the drink before her as her younger brother scrambled for words, but it was as if Merlin had heard the Metamorphmagi and granted her a wish! He stopped! Bright orange hair with tips of red and yellow took over the drunk’s appearance as she was more than delighted. Buzzed and happy.

Droopy eyes peered up, watching how her younger brother drank his drink and even…snorted? In response, Calliope laughed a little louder with a snort of her own before a little pig nose took over her appearance, snorting out for fun before disappearing moments later. ”I beg your pardon..!” She bellowed, placing her drink down and placing her hand over her chest in dramatics. ”My taste buds work perfectly fine thank you! I had a terrible meal yesterday and they informed me!” Cal grinned then, returning back to her drink and finishing it swiftly after.

A groan left her lips at his following question, and the bright colours of her hair mellowed out, taking on a darker shade to show the significance of her emotions. ”Alright…I guess…” That is if you count talking to yourself for at least fifteen minutes before entering the back when you needed a file alright. Or…Changing your appearance every minute someone passes you on the black market in hopes no one recognised you. Perfectly alright.

Elijah Theron Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

BENDING TO REST THE EDGE OF HIS CHIN ON the rim of his tankard, Eli laughed in to last of the foam. She pretended to be offended, but Eli knew he could have been harsher. That if their older sister had been there with them, she'd already mentioned Cali's 'inappropriate day drinking'. Dead taste buds was a tame joke, and about as rude as Eli was willing to get. "In three-to-five business days?" Eli retorted, taking another brave sip from his glass, nose wrinkled.

Cali drained the last of hers with spiteful enthusiasm. Eli watched, disgusted and fascinated all at once. "This is why we don't drink with you." Eli muttered, shaking his head ruefully. She was a force to be reckoned with. Though his perfectly innocent question dropped the smile from his face. Watching as her hair took on a muted tone, differing from the sharp silver before. "Yeah, right!" Eli scoffed, pushing his tankard aside. "Hairs ratted you out once again." He pointed, lips pulling down at the corners. "Try again. What's up?" He asked seriously. 

calliope ivory fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

BEING BUZZED AND HAPPY EVEN for a moment was enough for Calliope to realise her happiness and even Eli's happiness will always be temporary. Their family had a lot of drama of its own, drama she refused to live through despite suffering under it for most days in her life. But spending the time now with her brother was more than enough, and even the laughter that left his lips was enough for Cal's own to turn upwards, slightly wider into a grin of her own. Genuine but brief, that was Calliope's style. "More like three to five business minutes." She smirked as she slightly slurred her words, the alcohol that sat heavy in her stomach/liver from earlier in the day meeting the new consumption she had been gulping away at.

Downing drinks had always been a perfect skill of Calliope but compared to her friends and siblings, it was always evident she drank too much a little too fast. Picking up his mutter, Cal's smile remained wide, knowing in a broader perspective he was just kidding with her. But with the mellowing out of the bright colours in her hair came the questions she truthfully didn't want to answer. He was right though, her hair had tattled on her before she had the opportunity to look up and even blurt anything out. "Same old." She answered truthfully, hoping he wouldn't press on. But knowing Eli and all of his younger Fleming glory, pressing on was one of the many things he'd do. "Claustrophobia, lack of friends..Crappy pay..Do I need to continue?"

Elijah Theron Fleming | definitely not late...no...

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE SHARP SPEED OF CALI'S RETORT BROUGHT an abrupt laugh from Eli's chest. His shoulders rolling back as it rattled in his throat. Cali had an uncanny ability to make him laugh. Their older sister often picked on them both for it. Cali being the bad influence, Eli being the naïve enough to follow along without a second thought. 'Easy led' she'd say, but Eli preferred to think of him and Cali as somewhat similar. Cali understood his desire to escape monotony. They just had different methods of doing so.

Listening carefully, Eli's blinding smile softened at the edges. His chin dipping as he nodded gently. "I can't wait to graduate." He teased, trying to lighten the load of the serious conversation. Neither of them were very good at expressing negativity. It didn't suit either of them. "Can if you want." He spoke in to his tankard, taking another drink that decorated his upper lip with foam. "Long as you don't ask me about my grades." He shrugged, snickering slightly, elbows leaning on the table. "How about we talk about something that won't make us both miserable." Eli suggested soberly, licking the foam from his lip and sitting back heavily. 

calliope ivory fleming  do you wanna finish this up in the next post or two? so we can do something more recent! eli's a big boy now lol. 

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[calliope ivory fleming]

the price for silence.

A SMILE ROSE TO CALLIOPE'S lips as Eli laughed. She loved knowing that her brother was 'okay' or somewhat decent and that their relationship would always be the best amongst their siblings. Or at least one of the best. The colour of her hair softened as she watched him laughing, and while the Fleming knew she would blame her softness on the alcohol, she genuinely loved her siblings. In light of their serious conversation, Calliope's smile rose at Eli's teasing, gently nudging his arm as she leaned closer to him. "So you can get out of the house as fast as I did?" She found herself asking, looking at him seriously. Calliope's brief freedom from their trapped home barely lasted a year or so before she was forced to give up her dreams and get a part-time job just to clear out their home bills.

Cal felt herself nodding in agreement, and with a raise of her hand, she ordered another round for the two of them. "Tell me more about graduation then. Are you leaving as sooooon as or what?"

Elijah Theron Fleming | end it with your next post!

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!