good for nothing | calli

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

summer, 2026

THE INCESSANT RINGING OF THE DOORBELL shocked Elijah out of a dead sleep. His eyes pinging open against his will, a great panic seizing him as he rolled out of his rumpled sheets and landed on the ground with a hard thump. Something about the sound of the doorbell had frightened him out of his sleep, awareness just hanging out of his reach as he stood on jellied legs. His eyes sticky with sleep as he rubbed at them roughly. The cracked face of a clock on his bedside read '14:38' and he blinked, as if he'd misread it.

Of course, Eli couldn't wander in disorientated sleep forever. The bell was still ringing - over, and over, and over again. He shook himself, realising that it was a Wednesday, and not a single soul was in the house bar him. There was a reason for that, he realised sleepily, clearing sleepy phlegm from his throat as he scratched his stomach and shook the sleep from his rumpled hair. Shit! He seized up, remembering all at once - and without mercy - that he had invited Calli over to his 'flat'. And of course, he had slept in, she was late, and he still hadn't answered the door.

Skidding on the wooden floor, Eli nearly tripped over a rug as he scattered out of his room at great speed. Arms wheeling and knees knocking, he ambled up the hallway and slid just a foot from the incessant ringing doorway. His ankles knocked together painfully as he collided at full force with the hard wood. Felt the bell ringing stubbornly as he groaned in tired pain. He'd knocked every hard bone he owned against the unrelenting surface, and it felt like it.

Pushing himself off it, Eli undid the lock and slid off the chain with a squinting, grumbling huff. "Calli! Okay, the bell works!" He half-laughed, pulling the door open to glare at his sister haughtily. "In my defence, I slept in, but you're late." He muttered sheepishly, stepping out of the way to allow her access. For a moment, once the disorientation had lifted, he'd thought Calli would simply knock her way through the nearest wall if he hadn't answered. It was quite plausible. 

Calliope Ivory Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Calliope Ivory Fleming]

━ if you ain't busy take a walk with me ━

FUCK, FREEDOM FELT GOOD. IT had only been a few months since Calliope moved out of her family home for good as well as the start of her Magizoologist apprenticeship all over again. She didn't mind starting from scratch, especially since things had changed from when she first initially started. Along with all the recent events, which affected her siblings and seemingly everyone across the UK, Calliope's life was pretty much...Good. She even...Even had a girlfriend. Girlfriend? Person she consistently went on dates with? Even the middle Fleming remained unsure of what to call her relationship with Cara ever since her dinner date with the Bainbridge in her new apartment.

Calliope had stopped by to see Cara at work before her arranged plans with her younger brother Eli. It was the first time she would see her brother's flat alongside whatever friends he had. But with the complete wet-wipe that the Metamorphmagus was - head over heels for this girl - made her extremely late when arriving at her brother's home. In fairness, she hadn't heard any call or text from the younger Fleming, so it was safe to say he had either slept in, or had completely forgotten about the day. Regardless, when the Fleming apparated nearby, yellow streaks took over Calliope's hair as she was suddenly fuelled with excitement.

Walking up to the address she had scribbled on crumpled paper just days before, Calliope began pushing at the bell over and over again, knowing it would catch Eli's attention and probably every other neighbour that had wandering ears and eyes. The more she pushed the button however, the more different shades and colours took over her features, going from excitement to anxiety that her brother wasn't home, sudden sadness that he had forgotten and right back to warmth and excitement because of her time with Cara. Merlin, she was a lovesick fool.

Hearing some tumbling noises from within the home, Calliope continued to aggressively push the bell until the door swung open and there stood her brother. Her lips grew into a wide grin there and as she ignored his words, stepping in once she was granted access, the Fleming waited for Eli to close the door before hugging him tightly - a giggle leaving her lips. "Eli. Please tell me today isn't a dream." She quickly released Eli from her tight embrace, not wanting to hear his squabbles or complaints that she was too rough and instead decided to ruffle his bed-head. Before swatting his arm shortly after of course. "Idiot. You should've called me anyway. Cara had to literally throw me out of the store because I was late."

| Elijah Theron Fleming |

hopefully this works!!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

summer, 2026

THE DOOR WRENCHED OPEN, ELI HAD JUST A moment to register Calli's riot of colour as it rippled like a blistering sunset. The next thing he was tackled as she wrapped skinny, but sinisterly strong, arms around him in a crushing hug. He hugged her back with the same enthusiasm, cinching her ribs until it hurt a little bit and smacking her back as he let go with a joyous laugh. Calli had a way of brightening every room she entered, Eli had always envied her for it. "How can I call when I'm sleeping?" He croaked through a sleepy throat. 

Swatting Calli's ruffling hand from his sleep tangled hair, Eli whined like a disgruntled cat as he pawed it back into submission. "How is the love of your life?" He quirked his brows at her playfully, giving her a gentle shove into the console table in the hallway as he passed her on his way to the kitchen. She had that sunny yellow look about her, features shifting to fit her riotous mood. "Tea?" He offered merrily, flicking the kettle on in the cluttered kitchen. He tipped a couple of scattered, nearby dishes into the sink with a casual busyness. Nothing was every tidy for long in a house full of young adults of varying competence.

Eli's tea was a bit of a disaster, and he squinted into the row of cannisters in mild confusion before he looked up at Calli. "Actually..." His smile was almost bashful, curling his chin into his rumpled t-shirt as he chanced his luck. "Maybe you should make it," He turned against the counter and gestured towards the kettle and containers hopefully. "I am, after all, your baby brother." He pressed a hand against his chest with a pouted bottom lip. 

Calliope Ivory Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Calliope Ivory Fleming]

━ if you ain't busy take a walk with me ━

AS CALLIOPE RELEASED HER BROTHER from the tight hug they shared and stepped inside without hesitation, Cal tutted at her brothers response. "Excuses, excuses! At this point you should know I'll always be on time." The Metamorphmagus was...somewhat infamously known for her terrible punctuality but it was something she was working on, especially now she had someone she couldn't imagine standing up. At the question of Cara as well as a playful shove from Eli, Cal's lips parted, ready to insult him before her cheeks flushed red instead. Cara was always on Calliope's mind, no matter how much the Fleming denied it. She simply couldn't stop thinking about her.

"She's...Good actually. Working still but its nice seeing her smile get all big when I visit her...Or when her cheeks go this pink colour.." Cal trailed off a bit, happy with the thoughts in her mind until Eli's request brought her back to reality. Every time her younger brother would offer the drink, the request was always followed by 'maybe you should make it'.

And that's how the middle Fleming became the designated tea-maker of the family. Walking towards the mess of the kitchen as her brother spoke, Cal raised her hand to hit the back of Eli's head, shooing him out of the way to prep the tea, waiting for the kettle to finish boiling. "You may be my baby brother but you're also a pain in the ass." Cal grinned, popping open the containers.

"How many of you even live here?..And did you all just magically forget how to clean up after yourselves?.." Cal knew she sounded like their older sister, especially since Temp always had an issue with even a speck of dirt. At least, that's how it felt. "Don't ever bring Temp here." The Metamorphmagus stated, lips turning upwards into a smirk while her hands got to work, making tea.

| Elijah Theron Fleming |

sorry for the wait!

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

summer, 2026

ELI SNORTED HIS REPLY TO CALLI AS HE PADDED down the hallway towards the kitchen. If there was one thing acutely reliable about his big sister, it was that she was going to be late. He'd never minded, Eli barely understood time as a concept as it was. They were well matched in that respect. As the kitchen provided new light, Eli cast Calli a look over his shoulder and saw the pink fading from her cheeks and the tips of her hair. He lifted his brows and flashes a toothy, teasing grin.

"That's... disgusting." Eli muttered, still grinning as he smacked her on the shoulder and turned toward the haphazard stacks of tea boxes and tins. An array of flavours and brands. "I'm happy for you, I think," He added distractedly, opening a box with berries on the front to sniff experimentally. "You told dad yet?" He knew the answer before he'd even said so, nobody told dad anything. He had an offhand, negative opinion about everything most days. Pets, cooking, life. Anything their father learned was entirely against their will.

Accepting the swat to his shoulder, Eli flinched and replaced himself on the nearest counter. Shifting a few errant pieces of detritus before he turned and hopped on top of it. Close enough to examine Calli's careful tea composing, but far enough away that he wasn't in her way. The kettle rumbled as it was set to boil. "That's what I'm here for." He told her with a hand pressed to his chest, that was in no way anywhere near his heart.

"Uh..." Eli was momentarily stumped by her question, his eyes casting around the kitchen and thinking it didn't look that messy to him. "Four, five?" He screwed his face up and shrugged carelessly, thinking their flat looked more 'lived in' than anywhere he'd lived. He loved it with a ferocity that neared madness. "It kind of depends on the day." He lifted one leg up to catch his heel on the counters edge, wrapping an arm around it to keep it in place. "I think it looks great." But his nose scrunched at the thought of Temp crashing into the front hallway, commenting on the stacks of dirty shoes and unopened mail. The collection of take out menus pinned to an empty frame. He snorted at the chaos of the thought, she'd surely drop dead. "Why do you think I go home every week?" He joked, lifting his brows and leaning his chin against his knee lazily. 

Calliope Ivory Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Calliope Ivory Fleming]

━ if you ain't busy take a walk with me ━

WHILE CALLIOPE DIDN'T EXPECT HER brother to pick up upon the flushed colour of her cheeks, she simply knew to expect some kind of teasing out of Eli. Any minor crush Calliope had on anyone in her younger days was always met with a quiet hum from Temp and a shit-ton of teasing words from Eli. No wonder why he was the shit-head of the Flemings. But he was just as loveable as the next sibling. The smack on her shoulder was met with a slight yelp and a jump out of Cal, resulting in the older Fleming swatting and hitting at Eli's back. "Shut up. We're not even..together-together..yet..I think?.." Cal sighed then, wondering exactly when she would get out of this confusing hump of a situation-ship?..relationship?..between herself and Cara.

At the mention of their father, Cal's hair soon stripped itself of all pink and light hues and instead turned fairly dark. "There's no need to." She bluntly answered. Cal didn't have the best relationship with their father, as all of the siblings knew, especially since the metamorphmagus felt like she was giving up the most in order to support the other members of the family. Of course, Temp would probably argue that statement, but when didn't Cal and Temp argue. As the kettle finished boiling, Calliope went ahead, lifting it up and pouring the water in a slight swirl. It always felt satisfying to do so. "True." She smiled, looking up and over at him. "Milk?" She questioned, wondering if there was any in the house before she went ahead to go check and only be left with disappointment.

As Eli trailed off, finding the answer to her question, Cal's eyes widened while she used her magic to steep the tea correctly, before turning to face her mess of a brother. "You don't know...How many people are living here?" She questioned, folding her arms while she laughed quietly at his addition of a response. "That's even worse than me couch hopping." Cal snorted then, looking over at the state of the hallway and then the kitchen once more before shaking her head.

It was sad to say, but the elder Fleming had actually seen worse. "You know she'd have a heart attack the moment she steps through the door right?" Turning back to their tea, Calliope rid the mugs of the tea-bags and reached out for the sugar. "No but really..How many people live here? Any cute girls?..Or guys? What are you into again?"

| Elijah Theron Fleming |

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

summer, 2026

DONNING HIS BEST SMARMY EXPRESSION OF manufactured belief, Eli nodded exaggeratedly and pinched his mouth so as not to laugh. He expected Calli would be fast in loose with her slapping hands if he did laugh as he wanted to. Her stuttered defence only proving his point all the more. "If you say so." He muttered after a moment, his grin pulled down at the corners in an effort to stave it off. Unable to help himself, he reached over and poked at her flushed cheek before scooting away for his own well being.

"I guess," He muttered, knowing he'd stepped on a land mine by mentioning their dad. He understood why Calli didn't care much for him, more than most. He never pushed her to visit, or take pity, like Temp. To find that elusive 'perspective' that was often mentioned. But, he still felt a well of guilt when she shrivelled under his name. He wondered if Calli felt it too, looking down at his knees with a frown. He hated the tension it shrouded them in, regretted mentioning it all when the visit was so welcome. When he was so at home in his own unkempt space.

"A little." He told her, feeling the tension ease as tea preferences was exchanged. It was the perfect segue from the darker shades of their conversations, Eli took it eagerly, grinning with fresh abandon. "Not really," He shrugged, as if not knowing how many people lived in their flat was entirely normal. It was true, Eli didn't even remember if he was officially on the lease yet. He just paid his rent, almost always on time, and slipped into Cordie's room whenever he could get away with it. "Are you still... doing that?" He asked with a slight frown, his cheek lifting as his face screwed up. "I could ask Cord if there's a room?" Though he loved his sister, he offered this with great reluctance.

"I told her I moved out." He revealed in a rush, watching the way Calli's eyes scanned the various heaps of coats and unopened mail. "She'll probably turn up uninvited sometime." He shrugged again, somewhat unfazed by the prospect. That was Temp's problem, and he'd take the heat when the time came for it. He was just too content to worry about something that hadn't happened yet. "I mean..." Eli leaned against the cupboard behind him with a sigh. "There's Blair and Jacob was here for a while. And..." He cleared his throat, wringing his hands restlessly. "I mean, it was Cordie's mom who found the place." He averted his gaze guiltily. "She sort of got me the room..." 

Calliope Ivory Fleming

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Calliope Ivory Fleming]

━ if you ain't busy take a walk with me ━

NOTICING HOW ELI WAS READY to burst into laughter, Calliope's eyes narrowed at her slightly taller, younger brother, taking into account how his lips pinched together as if he were holding it back. Just as Calliope was about to respond, she felt the poking against her cheek which only lead to her entire face flushing red and her hands raising in protest to slap at her brothers arm. "Oi!" She exclaimed as she managed to land a few hits, followed with a few giggles. It was true in..some sense at least, the two - being Cal and Cara - hadn't sat down to discuss...What it was they were. Well, they were truthfully dating one another.

"Hey." She began with a slight nudge, trying to relieve the tension that was brought around from the simple mention of their fathers name. "It's okay..You don't need to feel bad for anything. If you do feel bad that is." She added, trying to widen her smile simply to reassure him. Nodding as he replied, Calliope put down the sugar tin and went to the fridge to fetch the milk. With only one half-full pint bottle resting inside, Cal opened it up, giving it a quick smell for analysis. Staring down the small pouring hole, the metamorphmagus gave the bottle a small swirl and then lifted it in her brother's direction - not trusting her own judgement. "This smells okay right?" Oddly enough, smell wasn't one of Calliope's strong points.

With widened eyes and a quick colour change in the elder Fleming's eyes to signify her worry, Calliope cocked her head to the side slightly before repeating Eli's words. "Not really? Eli..What if you're living alongside a murderer?" She knew her brother was a lighthead in...certain cases, but Cal highly doubted her brother would overlook such an important factor. "I know you're...Slightly stupid but. Come on." Grinning cheekily, Cal continued to make her brothers tea, adding in a small fraction of milk before lifting up the tin she assumed had sugar inside. She then waved it his way with her eyebrows raised, silently asking if he wanted any.

Furrowing her brows as the discussion focused on Cal's couch hopping, the older Fleming let out a quiet laugh while her hair resembled her confusion mixed with amusement. "Didn't...I tell you I moved out? Winter just gone. Apartment in London..?" It clicked then, once Cal realised she hadn't actually invited any of her siblings over to visit. She had only brought Cara back and offered for her girlfriend-not-so-girlfriend to stay over. "I had a huge argument with Temp over it since she was working out bills and such..But I even managed to pick up my apprenticeship again."

"Oh?" She responded, nodding as she added some sugar to her own tea. "How..did she take it?" Cal could relate with being the bearer of bad news for her sister, especially since she moved out so quickly after finding the apartment. The elder Fleming liked to believe she was lucky, as during winter, things seemed to just..fall into place for her. Noticing how her brother cleared his throat and how his hands moved, Cal couldn't help but smile as Eli spoke about this 'Cordie' girl. "You like her, huh?" It was obvious, from the nickname Cal assumed Eli either made for her - or the girl requested to go by - and even the way he trailed off about her.

| Elijah Theron Fleming |