revolutionary

sing you a lullaby where you die at the end

[basedealer]

When two bloodlines mix like that, either everything gets muddled or something takes dominance. 
Canice Accola as Josephine Clark (twin 1)
Trorian Bellesario as Cassandra Clark Miller (twin 2)
Ed Westwick as Jason Miller (3rd child)

[theravennestgifs]

We are at war…

[basedealer]

“I knew. We all knew.” Justus would make the case that even Felicity had known but decided to turn a blind to it but he could see Callum’s perspective. Perhaps they were great liars to themselves. After all Justus for the longest time had refused to accept that their family was as fucked up as everyone else made them out to be. “You think Felicity has ever listened to me? Besides the one time that I helped her because our siblings had fucked up. Niche. Nothing. Singer held priority over me and then it was Everett.” Whoop there it was. Why Justus always felt second best to the entire clan. Now why was he deciding to disclose to Callum was beyond him, though most of the blame was to be put onto the truth spell that was going around right now. “Felicity thinks we’re all idiots and we’re just here living in it. I told Felicity not to date Everett. Tried telling her it was too soon since Thea had come back and confessed she was still in love with. Told her that it was stupid to just run with love and forget the fact that she was dealing with Thea, a sister. Did she listen to me?” Justus wasn’t going to feel bad with how things had played out. He had taken Felicity’s side, he had told Thea she had fucked up the relationship with Everett and just to leave but he was well aware with who he was dealing with. He did his best to tried and protect Felicity, but you can’t protect someone that doesn’t listen and always thinks they know better than you. “At least Alejandro and Preston are both smart enough not to be involved in all this,” he hoped that they stayed wherever they had decided to go and not come back, he couldn’t take another family member coming back. “I am aware of that. Now you know that you have a war coming soon. Not to mention I’ve heard horror stories of Juliette pre Callum Miller – and yes they actually do use that as a history time period. With Mellie gone, who do you think got the transfer of power?”

“Hope is a great blinder,” Callum commented dryly. He had that before everything that went wrong in his own love life. The difference was that it had worked out in the end. But even he knew what an oddity that was. Callum was surprised to hear the conversation shift toward Justin’s real problem with Felicity. The hybrid avoided that topic like the plague. “Choosing people you love over each other seems to be a running theme with your siblings,” Callum pointed out, “but it seems to bother you more when Felicity does it. Why?” Maybe he was taking advantage of the truth spell but he couldn’t help but be curious. His own siblings were a hot mess of familial and romantic disaster. He knew Kiera would never forgive him for choosing Juliette, even if it hadn’t been his choice initially but rather his magic. "Personally I thought she should make sure he was over her too after the whole engagement to Thea and faking his death thing,” Callum said, “then again I did run off and elope with Juliette before we even went on a proper date so I suppose it was somewhat hypocritical coming from me.” Juliette had married Jacob and Everett had run off to marry Thea very close together. Which had put him and Felicity in a very odd set of similar circumstances of being left there holding their own hearts and wondering what the fuck just happened. “I just hope Felicity has the sense to properly walk away this time since we both know the direction this is going. Thea and Everett clearly trust each other more and rely on each other. Maybe the third time around their engagement will result in marriage and we can all put this to bed.” Callum needed Felicity as an ally. But not the woman who put a man who didn’t love her first, he needed the woman who created a new species to save a friend. Callum knew how to play by the rules, he needed the person who was good at breaking them. Everett was a distraction that he couldn’t afford Felicity to have at the moment if he was going to find a way to save his child and his wife. “You say that so casually,” Callum said shaking his head, “do you know what happened the last time the covens went to war? Not the skirmishes we’ve had for the past few centuries but actual war?” He looked down at his cup, “Even I don’t want my in laws dead that badly.”

[basedealer]

Juliette sighed as she sat up on the mattress before looking over to her husband, “The sparknotes are the following: Mellie is gone. Everett has a doppelganger, Jeremiah has feelings for Thea, and apparently our child is not going going to make it because I kind of shitted on Ester and Victoria’s plan on hurting your family by saving Ezri – though your brother has said that losing the child made no difference in their relationship so really me deciding to be a decent person has fucked us over – all caught up?” The frustration was in no way directed towards him but rather the situation. The fact that she had hoped Ben would’ve told her that the loss had affected them; that her action had meant something – anything but no it had meant nothing and now she was about to lose the second more important person without meeting them, “I think I can go around it but I can’t promise both of us. Right now they’re busy figuring out their love lives and I’m – I don’t know.” Then there was Thea’s friendship that was surviving so she decided to just put it out there, “Thea says she’s willing to help – of course with the truth spell in effect I told her we didn’t want it and that she should stick to being loyal to Ever – Jonathan.”  

Callum listened to the words that she was saying, quickly filtering the issues into things he didn’t care about and things that could be useful and things that needed to be taken care of immediately. “A doppelgänger? Does he have magic or is he just a doppelgänger in some other way?” His eyes narrowed at the notion that Jeremiah’s love life had something to do with this. Thea was always going to be in love with Everett and vice versa, so the point of that seemed stupid unless it could be used against him. “They cannot seriously be punishing you for that still,” he said, “don't forget Ben didn’t know about the baby until after Ezri had left him for Sam, I think there was a lot going on at the time.” He was stunned Ben could create a child and he’d be lying if he didn’t think that the child’s was Sam since Ezri had moved in with him briefly. Then again, he was equally surprised that he could create a child as well. “You’re not just dealing with this on your own. Millers are born with magic. We’re not particularly vulnerable to this kind of thing. I can speak to the rest of the Elders. Either way there’s a good chance we’re going to be at war.” Her death would create one just as surely as them going after the child. There was no avoiding that anymore. “I’m guessing you would be against using her to get Jeremiah to give up whatever is going on?” he said. Though he was sure the answer was ‘of course’. Juliette had profound loyalty to her blood relatives and friends. “I mean it’s clear she’s aways going to sell you out for Jonathan. I wouldn’t assume otherwise no matter what kind of help she’s offering.”

[basedealer]

Jeremiah and Everett were right about one thing – somehow for some reason she still ended up showing up whenever she was called. She was surprised that Justus had done so too. It was like Miller to not even let her just have a couple of moment of peace. “You can try to fight it if you want, I don’t think it was done by Jeremiah if that helps,” This entire time she had been ready to go to war with her brother and her cousin, ready to burn it all down and not ask questions and then she had dinner with these people that were her family, “People told the truth and we were informed,” How was she supposed to tell Miller that Jeremiah was in love with Thea without hearing an entire speech about how typical it was for her family to be this dramatic? Or that Everett was not a set of one but of two and that an entire other coven was in town? Or that Jeremiah had no intention of taking over the coven but wanted his rightful – ah that last thought made her chuckle, his rightful spot on the table as did Everett. “If that is what you want then you can. I was…” she trailed off as her teeth gazed on her lower lip till it reached the end and tugged her lip up, “I think you have to decide between me or the baby, Miller.”

Callum raised an eyebrow at her, “Even if I believed that, it doesn’t,” he said, “if the spell is affecting us, it’s done by someone in one of the great families.” Only they had the ability to do something like this. At Juliette’s remarks that people were told the truth and informed about things, he almost chuckled. Instead he tilted his head to the side, “how did we go from that to the entire town being under an honesty spell?” he asked, “honestly I thought my family dinners were bad but at least we just tortured each other.” Then again the Millers had always been intensely private, it had only gotten worse after everything in their magic changed from their greed. The Clarks and Abels were far more splashy and the MIkaelsons put all of them to shame. He looked at her sharply as the words came out of her tongue. “What?” he said, “Why do you think that?”

[basedealer]

“It’s funny you all think that and Everett and Thea haven’t kissed or fucked. This is why I don’t invite the opposite sex to my place because within hours there are rumors that I am engaged and planing my entire life already,” This town’s gossip mill never ran low on energy that was a given with how quickly everyone had assumed that Thea was back to fucking Everett. “And let’s say they do – I don’t see a foul. Felicity starting the switcharoo game. But since she listened to her heart than it’s all good right? Also takes two to break up a relationship. And I’m not saying it’s all on Felicity but Felicity has never own up to her shit. Sure she beats herself up but never admits it. Where do you think Thea learned it from or Alejandro?” He found some humor in how Felicity thought her actions were isolated and everyone else was to be blamed. Never had he mentioned this to anyone else – and as he thought about it Miller was the worst person to drop this knowledge with because of how quickly this was going to turn sour. Justus had seen her entire siblings dislike each other for being similar to one another, that tiny observation made him smile and when shit got tough it pushed him to think that things were going to be ok. “By unhappy I mean your union is the number one thing on his agenda,” he stated as he nodded, it was true. Miller would not be able to stop Juliette if she wanted to go and see Jeremiah she was going to do it. “Yeah, I guess we need to have faith that we know what we’re doing. I guess that is the new thing to do then. Because you’re right – you can’t control Juliette and I can’t control Thea and you can’t control me so at the end of the day we’re just going to have to see everything unfold and react. Once again Jeremiah has the ability of making all of us not have a damn plan,” tucking his hands into his pockets as he took a seat on the bench, “I guess we’re just not the dating types or some bs like that – yet somehow you and your brother both ended up getting married and it looks somewhat of a decent relationship so you might have the leg up on that one.”

“To be fair, I try not to think about any of your family members fucking. I like to imagine you all just appeared one day,” he said. Even though he said it as someone who had fucked a Clark, fucked and married one. He still didn’t like to think about the rest of them doing the nasty. “I don’t think you can blame anyone for assuming that the two of them are together again since you all have been running around hiding Jeremiah together,” he gave a simple shrug, “it baffles me why anyone would want to date Felicity. But it was obvious to anyone not blinded by that your cousin wasn’t over Thea,” he smirked, “don’t tell me you didn’t see it too. You’re smarter than that,” he folded his arms, “or did you know and just decide not to say anything so this would happen? That’s a level of manipulation I’d respect to be honest.” He doubted it though. Justin seemed to have to be pushed very hard to make moves against his own family in such a blatant way. Though his most recent actions would say otherwise. “Honestly the only other member of your family that I’ve met is Alejandro. Briefly. But I don’t see much in common between any of you.” He could see why Justin wanted there to be things in common with them. That lingering love of family. “Actually maybe all of you are just very good at lying to yourselves,” he offered, “I suppose that’s something in common after all.” Callum wasn’t surprised to hear that Jeremiah’s plan was to come after him and Juliette, it made sense in how Jeremiah acted. “I guess your brother does want a war after all,” he said, “since we both know if anything happens to our child, he’ll have killed the closest thing our covens have to an heir. And they won’t stand for that a second time. No matter what any of us say.” It would be unfortunate to go to war but Callum knew it was nearly inevitable at this rate and with the shit the Clarks kept pulling. 

[basedealer]

After her dinner with her entire family plus Thea she stopped at Ben’s office, mostly because if anyone was going to take an attack against Jeremiah it would be him, and he would be in the right then she came straight home. Changed her clothes as she slipped into a night gown and slid underneath their bedsheets, it was strange how she feared the next conversation that they would have. Saving Ezri years ago managed to kick her in the ass in so many ways that if she had to do it again she was not sure if she would. Trading spaces with the Banshee had messed with her and pushed her into a marriage with Jacob which almost cost her the man laying beside her, her husband – her happiness. Now as punishment from high above their child was facing the possibility of never being born and the threat was not even from Jeremiah himself. Not even a little; her brother apparently had been in love with Thea all this time and now was here to make things right? Whatever that meant. She didn’t have the heart to wake up Miller, not when he looked at peace and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide this from him – not like she wanted. They were always honest with each other even when they hated it. Needless to say Juliette didn’t get any sleep that night. It was until early dawn when Miller open his eyes and she caught them that she knew she would have to say something, “I love you.”

He had cautioned against going to dinner with her entire family plus Thea, but as usual when it came to them Juliette followed her heart over logic. He had done what he could but it was mostly platitudes and reminding people that the Clarks were tied to them now. Not that the Clarks ever acted like it or acknowledged that fact. It would make things simpler if they would. But even if they did, when push came to shove for most people blood won out. Juliette still called him Miller for godssakes. It was just how they were wired. Pushing himself up, he looked over at his wife. “What happened?” He said, cutting right to the point.  As much as he wanted to lay in bed with his wife, he needed to have some idea of what happened. And whether or not he was still going to be speaking to Justin when it was done. “I can feel we’re both under some kind of spell, can’t say I have missed those. Should I try to shield us from it?” Given enough time there was very little Callum couldn’t do with magic. But working quickly he could still do a fair amount. And he really, really did not like being put under spells without his consent. 

[basedealer]

“Thea is a friend – not family,” the standards were different, “Not only that but this deals with Everett the man she loves. Forgive me but if it came down between you or Thea, I would choose you over every single time. So not going to fault her for that,” That was just logic speaking because if she took minutes and forced herself to be honest with her emotions she would have to admit that she had been cut by Thea’s actions. “Justus is family – and I stupidly thought someone that had been betrayed by their own family member wouldn’t do that to their own – but I guess it’s just a vicious cycle.” Everyone just kept lying and asking for things that fit their own agenda and Juliette was so close to the line of just dismissing everyone and doing whatever she wanted. Life had been easier when she had gone that way, when she had never cared about the consequences that were attached to her decisions. The woman had never ran them but rather faced them and it never left her with any regrets. The only times she had managed to get regrets was when she did this. When she actually stopped and thought about everyone’s emotions and consequences started to fall onto her head. This had been right about the same actions that had led her to go to Esther and Victoria and take Ezri’s spot when things got that complicated. “Look at where we are Callum Miller – tell me how it could possibly be worse if I would’ve just killed Everett when I had the chance? Everett and Jeremiah dead is when I’ll be the safest and it has taken me this long to realize that but I can’t keep waiting for Everett to be done trying to clean his hands from the past he made and I can’t keep babysitting Jeremiah for the rest of my life. – the decision is rather simple them or me,” The ironic part was that the the choice was her as well as finishing the entire action as well. “Is there really much to think about it? Jeremiah change? Please, he’s just buying time to take the coven over or to create his own and then make everyone think I am some sort of nuclear weapon that needs to be put down and god forbid the child we have. He couldn’t stand it when he found out I could be more powerful than him and he sent me away and gave Esther permission to abuse me – what do you expect to happy to our family? Do you want a lifetime war with Jeremiah? Thought you would be happy with this? – As for Justus I will forgive him it’s just going to take time. I’m disappointed.”

Callum had been raised in an old witch family, he understood the school of thought. Family meant you got everything, but there were strings attached. Always. Friends were different. Life had taught him that friends could also be divided between those you trusted and those you didn't. “Yes but we’re family,” Callum pointed out, “now anyways. And besides we haven’t always chosen each other.” There was no malice in his voice, there was no need for any. He was aware of how life and people changed. Unlike most of the people he associated wth, Callum knew how to let shit go. “I guess if you look at it a certain way he was always going to betray one family member to protect another.” Callum had his own complicated relationship being torn between two siblings. He din’t envy Justin’s position and he didn’t like how it seemed familiar to his. “It’s not a great position to be in any way you slice it.” Juliette was the newer sibling but she had done more for Justin than most of his family. Though Callum supposed sometimes old loyalties trumped what you knew was good for you. “I’m not disputing that is a way out of this,” Callum said, leaning against the wall, “but I know you. You could regret doing something like that.” One of the great bloodline abilities of his coven was the ability to shield. However it only worked if they person stayed away from the other. He hadn’t even know he activated the ability because the second he turned his back from Juliette she went running to her family. “Believe me, no one wants to see most of your family dead more than I do,” Callum said, “but I know you. After everything Jeremiah did you still mourned for him. I don’t want to see him dead at a cost to you.” He couldn’t believe he was arguing at all for something other than just murdering the man who had caused so much trouble. “But Jeremiah is a symptom of everything. If you want to eradicate him you would need to be prepared to eradicate your cousin as well. And you would probably lose Thea in the process if what you’re saying is correct.” Losing a friend would probably hurt just as much considering how she valued her friendship to the Adolph, “I’d support you either way but I would prefer you not to get hurt in the process again.” 

[basedealer]

“Welcome to the club,” Juliette tugged her lower lip as she placed the pen she had been holding onto the entire time down. There was so many angles in this that she wished that Everett would’ve killed her instead, no one would bother to bring her back and all of this could’ve easily been avoided. Which was a selfish thought all around because it didn’t take longer than a minute to realize that this life that she was living was a blessing; it was a damn miracle. Having a husband that she was in love with and that he did love her and didn’t see her as a pawn to more power – never had she thought it was possible and now all that was at stake. Looking at him she clasped her hands together, “I know you are,” it was strange how comfortable she was in their relationship, how secure she felt in it even with this turmoil. Walking over to her fridge she pulled out two water bottles, sliding him one as she opened hers, “Thea was here not too long ago. I gave her a pass – her not showing face or a text all these years. Told her I had been the one that had changed and I understood her adventures and all – and she knew about Jeremiah then because she had just finished seeing Everett – she stood there and didn’t say nothing,” by this point she should be used to the low blows she was getting, it was nothing different, “Jeremiah wanted to kill Justus, you know? When everything blew up and I said no and Justus knew and met you for classes – but the cherry on top,” she laughs as she leans against the wall, “— the fucking cherry on top is everyone stopped me from killing Everett when I was ready to do it and now everyone wants me to play which family member am I killing while risking…” she didn’t finish it. To kill any of her Clark member she would need to go back, back to her roots, “I am going to destroy them all. Every single one.”

He was surprised to hear that she had forgiven Thea, given how close they had been. Or maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise at all and that was why they were friends. “ Well she’s your friend,” Callum said, “this also seems to be how she behaves when it comes down to it. Not a lot of surprises there.” He’d never spoken to Thea but it seems that whether she was here or not was always intrinsically tied to Everett. Given the history Ben had told him, he was surprised Felicity hadn’t tucked tail and ran when the man left. “I think people tell you who they are, you can be with them or not based on that. You’re one of the few who managed to surprise me.” There were a handful of others but Juliette willing to fight for her happiness had impressed him. “What about Justin? Does he get a pass for protecting Thea?” Callum was going to be in a bind if she said no. He wasn’t counting on family winning out this time, not after something like this. But even if you removed all the other factors, he felt some obligation to Justin as a pupil. Their friendship or as close as they had come had definitely taken a blow with the lying part of this. But Callum was a man who still followed his emotions and he wasn’t ready to dismiss the Adolph just yet. “I did know that,” Callum said, “or I made an educated guess after what he did to you. I figured Justin would be his next attempt, unless someone found a way to do this,” he said waving a hand about. Of course Jeremiah being back as himself was preferable but there was a trifecta with Justin and Juliette, Jeremiah would use that. “To be fair, I don’t think death I a punishment for your cousin. He’s been trying to die for years or at least go back to being undead.” Everyone knew Everett hated being a witch. To be fair, Callum had a feeling it was the same way Justin hated it. One of the Miller’s bloodline abilities was being born with magic, not having to activate it. How you activated it made all the difference. Callum’s power shift had happened unexpectedly but while he had lost everything in the process, Ben had stepped in. He’d had a place to land. His trauma had been emotional, not magical. “Maybe we should figure out what to do in the meantime and keep an all out war from happening. Then figure out a way to destroy them. After all if you’re forgiving Thea, there might be something with the other two that makes you change your mind. And I say that as someone whose first in line on the destroying your family train.” 

[basedealer]

“And if you went back further I am cleaning up Felicity’s mess too. If she would’ve left Everett and Thea alone then Everett might not had fucked up – granted he is responsible for his share but when he was with Thea he didn’t fuck up.” Jackass stayed a vampire and was actually – dare he say helpful, it seemed that the moment that he got his magic back he lost all the brain cells he had once had. But here was where Miller would say something to defend Felicity and everything would even out on who had whose back, it was pointless to get people to see that Felicity fucked up as much as Everett and Thea in this giant mess, that was Justus’s perspective and he was not going to be changed from it. “Probably will be the only smart thing I say,” according to him. People only thought what made them smile or all warm in all the right spots was smart it was probably why his best friends were animals and not people; at least they didn’t go around thinking they knew everything like everyone in this town. “Things might change soon when it comes to that regard, just have to make sure she kills the right Clark in all of this.” Or at least find out who had actually brought back Jeremiah, that was what was important but it was probably lost in the mess, “Yeah I didn’t get the Adolph trait. I rather be with someone that wants to be with me. Makes you know – the relationship work,” And it doesn’t violate anyone’s rights but hey each to their own apparently. “Well he is responsible for it. I already know that,” It wasn’t hard to connect the dots after Jay was having his mental breakdown which ended up bringing clarity about the two of them, “Jeremiah’s powers are pretty much equal to Juliette’s right about now – since she refuses to let herself go well you know –  is what I heard when I was snooping so probably best to keep her from going to see him by herself. He ain’t that happy about your union.” 

“I was just referring to you knowing Jeremiah was back,” Callum pointed out, “but obviously when it comes to Felicity. I think this has made it very obvious that Everett and Thea will always pick up where they left off. There’s no point in going down any other roads.” It was a pity because Callum had thought he and Felicity were in the same boat after they had both lost the Clarks they had feedings for at the same time. Of course in the end Juliette had chosen to be with him and Everett had chosen to be with someone else. Callum couldn’t help but smile at the idea that he might get a chance to kill one of the people he had desperately wanted to. Though if he killed Jeremiah he was pretty sure he’d never hear the end of it from Ben. Not that Ben would be able to kill him since Ezri would probably never speak to him again. That was the same reason Sam and Singer still had pluses. “Honestly, all the evidence I’ve seen, being with you lot is almost as complicated as being with my family. We should write guide books to dating our kind.” Callum could sympathize with that. He doubted anyone else could have made it work with him except his wife and even that sometimes was on rocky ground. But that made sense considering they were both super powered witches. “Of course he’s not,” Callum said rolling his eyes, “is your brother ever happy about anything? You know if you want to follow the trail of whose messes you’re cleaning up, it’s actually his. Without him you’d be completely removed from this Clark nonsense. And actually so would your cousin.” One of the things that Callum had always tried to stress to Justin was that the way he had become a witch was incredibly traumatic. That some part of him was hurt by it. He had thought that killing off Jeremiah would have bought them more time to figure that out but now it seemed that it was borrowed time again. “You know I cannot control your sister. If she wants to go and see him she is going to see him. No matter what I say to her. So I wouldn’t bank on me being able to keep the two of them apart.” She’d be upset that he was talking to Justin but trying to forbid her from doing something like seeing her brother wasn’t something Callum could accomplish. Everyone knew that. 

[basedealer]

When the last of them left she walked past Callum as she slammed the doors shut. She was aware that her husband was right, everyone was waiting for her to make a choice. After everything that they had gone through as a family; as a coven – she had thought that maybe, just maybe Everett wouldn’t make her life miserable again but once again even decades hell even centuries apart she was that same girl that watched Everett–Jonathan walk away and she was left picking up Jeremiah and dedicating her entire like to this coven. To this exact coven that now wanted her to decide between killing Jeremiah or taking him back and creating a division between them and Ben. Which put a real dent to everything because she actually did tolerate Ben. “I’m sure you have an opinion on all this. So why don’t you throw your two cents in here as well?” The entire day had been filled with tactic meetings and elders coming to advise her on what she should and should not do – or all the possible consequences that were about to unfold on everyone right then and there. Her palms set on the table as she looked at all the possibilities laid in front of her. Exhaling the stress of the day she kept her eyes on the docs, “I am fine,” It was the automatic response to give, everyone was looking for the tiniest sign to knock her off. “I think till I am going to spend the night here so you can go home. I need to figure something out that he won’t expect and I won’t regret.”

“I don’t think I have enough information to have an opinion past ‘this is bullshit’,” Callum said, “but we both know I think that about most of your family’s behavior.” Callum had never held a high opinion of anyone but his own family, and he didn’t particularly have a high opinion of them anymore. Not as a whole. But his opinion of the Clarks was very low. Which wasn’t his fault, they did a lot of stupid things and tended not to take responsibility for their actions. Leaning against the desk, Callum looked at her, “you know you don’t have to lie to me. I am on your side in all of this.” He could say his loyalty to her and their kid was on par for his loyalty to himself. He had to keep his eye on all the pieces but if he was going to follow someone with any level of blindness it was her. Her and his brother. Which would put him in an odd position if they were on different sides of this--but he would jump off that bridge if it came to it. “I’m not going home, I can wait outside your office if you would like to be alone,” he offered, "or I can help if you'd prefer that." 

[basedealer]

“And that is the problem. It was easier when I was an Adolph the messes I had to clean were Alejandro’s or Preston’s.” Things were similar, he knew where to put his loyalty in and who to protect against everything. Now everything was just a giant mess. “I think the only one that knows anything is Jeremiah and perhaps Thea,” That was perhaps the first comment that was not protecting Thea that he would say but how was it that when she came back everything else followed? Had the egg or the chicken come first? That was the question that was lumped in his head right now. “Well everyone is either pissed off at me or not talking to me so I can understand how that is lost.” Justus rubbed his head as he shrugged, there was nothing to lose here. He didn’t believe he knew that much but to be fair he was too busy running around and avoiding certain places that maybe he did managed to overlook some facts that she should not have, “Probably not. Just like she probably won’t let anyone kill him now that he is alive,” Though e didn’t think it would be the smartest decision for her to just go storm down to Everett’s place and demand to talk to Jeremiah. “Friend? – yeah well that is over.” Which sucked, but it was what it was – now he could understand why Alejandro didn’t chase Christal for the longest time. “When? It was when Everett was in Panama and then he got a call from a chapter in Peru and had to go there and check it out – a couple of months ago, almost a year. Why?”

“You know on paper it looks like you’re just cleaning up Thea’s mess now,” Callum said, “whether or not that is the truth, it is what it looks like. Since it seems like you are in a similar position as Juliette when it comes to trusting your brother and your cousin. You seem sure about Thea though.” It had always struck Callum as strange how adamant Justin was that he wasn’t an Adolph, but still acted like one. But maybe that was just because the luxury of being a dark Miller had been taken from him when they made it clear they did not want any part of him. He had no choice but to tell them to go fuck themselves instead of trying to get back. “Well not counting me among ‘everyone’ is the smartest thing I’ve heard you say in a long time.” Callum had been too scared of Juliette hating him to take too much joy in a spell well done. And too concerned about her well being to be glad that he got the chance to kill Jeremiah in some way. “No, she hasn’t let anyone kill your brother or your cousin. Believe me I’ve asked enough.” He respected her wishes but God if he didn’t want to off most of the Clarks. But he respected his wife and even before that he had respected her enough not to take action. Which was a pity now that he had the power to actually do something. “I thought you Adolph’s didn’t take no from your exes,” Callum said, “you might be a Clark after all if you’re taking rejection and just going with it.” Every Adolph he knew except Felicity was still pursuing some ex or dreaming about them in a less than subtle way. It was ironic, people had asked him once why he hadn’t pursued Juliette after she told him not to. She said no was apparently not an adequate explanation, which had confused him even then. “So around the time ‘your friend who shall not be named’ came back,” Callum said, “I’m trying to think of the possibility that Jeremiah has your friend’s power. Or is responsible for his powerlessness.” 

[basedealer]

Everything was crumbling right in front of her. Jeremiah was back, Everett had defied every law in the books, the elders wanted someone’s head on a plate, the coven was divided in half, and Justus – she didn’t even know how to feel about Justus. Juliette had gone out of her way to welcome him into the Clark family, had picked him up and then she got this in returned. Even though she had the wedding band and was married to Miller she knew that that Coven was ready to go to war with them just like the Abels. One wrong step and she would be in the middle of countless of wars and the stress, the stress couldn’t be healthy for the baby but she knew if she show any weakness she would be removed. Her authority was already in questioned the moment she married for love and not power and now her brother was back and she couldn’t even process that. Should she be happy to have him back? To be able to hold him or was he back to take her out and get what he thought was his coven? “Just get out there and tell them no action is to be taken unless I come down there and shoot the fucking shot myself, how much more do you want me to dumb it down for you?” she enunciated every single word and as soon as the last one came out of her mouth she gave the coven member a smile as she heard his grumble and watched him walk out. Turning back down to her notes she heard another pair of footsteps, “Just fuck off – all of you. Turn around because if you’re not gone within the next five minutes I will murder you and use your blood to decorate the nursery room.”

Juliette had been arguing for trusting her family and giving Everett chances, right up until Jeremiah had been revealed. She would probably still be arguing for it if this hadn’t happened. When Callum had been turned away by his family, he had sworn it wasn’t a lesson he needed to be taught twice. But Juliette’s faith had been inspiring. Most things about her were. Even her kicking everyone out, or maybe that was because he liked seeing her take charge and not be a pawn in their games. When the were around the Clarks he aways stepped back, he didn’t want there to ever be confusion about who was in charge. Not that his bloodline made it a possibility, but sexism still existed throughout the world. Even now when she ordered them out there were a few eyes that flicked towards him. Callum ignored them, his focus was on her. “I’m not sure the blood would go with the colors,” he remarked as they all departed, finally pushing himself up and approaching his wife, “you’re going to have to decide what to do with him sooner rather than later. I’m sure your Elders have their own plans they'll move on unless you head them off.” He knew Juliette was not doing well, but the question still needed to be asked, “while I’m saying useless obvious things, how are you doing?”

[basedealer]

“I can see why the running away option is as appealing to some,” It was easier, and by the time he would decide to come back half of them would be dead or would’ve already forgiven him. However, this was Justus and he really wasn’t much of a runner – minus the time that he had been given cancer and was ready to give up. “At least you knew who your fucking family was. I don’t mean it as me complaining I just – Juliette is my sister too and so is Thea and then there is Felicity and all those three are running in opposites directions. At least Alejandro is constant.” He was never there, he was learning to appreciate that now. His loyalty was questioned even by himself, even if Juliette didn’t want to talk to him right now he had to figure out where the hell he was going to put himself in. “You ask that like I know a lot i have limited knowledge on this whole cluster fuck. My info comes from Thea and then seeing Jeremiah myself and punching Everett – so yeah sure I’ll answer honestly but I don’t know how that will help you at all.” He hadn’t kept the information to himself to get ahead of anyone or try and make things better for anyone. He hadn’t told Jay because he knew how quickly he wouldn’t hesitate to kill him and was that even the right thing to do? Did Juliette want that? There were so damn variable that it made his head spin. “Juliette let you kill Jeremiah in that sense?” As he had always known Juliette was loyal to Jeremiah even with his flaws and errors she was the only one that had mourn him – at least without guilt being the motivation behind her grieving.

“An appeal, sure, but it never seems to make things better,” Callum remarked, “in my experience it just makes them worse. Your cousin and my brother had to learn that the hard way.” Callum said. Listening to Justin tick off family members, Callum couldn’t believe he would say that he didn’t know who his family was. “It sounds like you’ve got more family than you know what to do with,” he said, “I guess you have to decide which direction you want to go in--if you want to go in any direction at all. I’ve found that figuring out what you want in all this is helpful, but I’m getting the feeling you’re not quite there yet.” Justin had a very weak sense of self, which Callum could sympathize with. When he had lost his family and his magic had shifted, he had to learn who he was without the things that had defined him for his entire life. “You’ve been lumped in with the people who know a lot,” Callum pointed out, “but I guess no-one is taking the time to figure that part out. Nuance gets lost in situations like this.” It was much easier to draw a hard line in the sand when it came to almost war. And no matter how much the word was that they should wait to see what Jeremiah was going to do, that he was different, the underhanded way this had played out made it very hard to trust that sentiment. “I don’t know that she would have let me if she was in her right mind. Jeremiah was poisoning her until there would be nothing left of her. It was impossible to contain so I undid the things that were linking them together. I sent him out of her head. Your hybrid friend made sure he didn’t go into yours since you were the most likely next candidate. If his powers played a role in this, we might be in more trouble than we already are,” he folded his arms, “what do you know about when he came back?” 

[basedealer]

“Accountability, trying it out I suppose.” Nothing he said was going to make this better, and he had known that when he made the choice to not say anything. Justin half wished that Thea hadn’t told him about the information but he couldn’t blame her for trusting him, that was what siblings did with each other was it not? “My side? This is a first,” Not like it would change anything. As he scratched the side of his nose, “Nothing I say is going to make you think I was right – fuck I don’t even know if I was right but Thea is my sister and at that she’s my baby sister, even when she is misguided she is my sister,” And that truly was the entire reason that he hadn’t said anything, because she had asked him. Had it been anyone else and he would’ve spilled the beans right away he had no loyalties to Everett. “I gave my word to Thea I wouldn’t say anything till she gave me the ok.” He didn’t expect for Callum to accept that as a reasonable story but he figured it was best to just be honest, just like he had with Felicity. In a twisted way he had actually enjoyed the talk between the two but he knew that withholding the information would put that in danger and at the end of the day he did protect Thea more than he should’ve perhaps, but this is Thea – the one he protected since he was young. “I can get lost. Just – if you can tell Juliette I am sorry.”

“And what’s your verdict?” Callum asked, trying to take a minimum amount of pleasure from the strain in the hybrid’s voice. But he was allowed small pleasures now that he was back in the soup of family betrayal at this bold of a level. “You know it’s infuriating watching you sometimes, especially when I see you make the same choices I did,” the witch confused, “I’m a twin, I was always expected to choose my other half. And we were always expected to put the best interests of our family above everything else.” Callum had been born to fix Ben, to put him on the path that he needed to be on. He’d done a very good job, as the power flowing through his veins made clear. He wasn’t even sure he regretted it. Though at the end of the day when the great shift had happened and he had switched sides, those initial bonds had been fractured. Now he was closer to Ben than the person who had been the other half of his soul. “In order to get your brother out of Juliette’s head I performed some very complicated magic. From a purely scientific standpoint I am interested in knowing what went wrong. If I asked you questions about your brother’s resurrection, would you answer them honestly? Or should I not waste my breath?” Callum’s primary loyalty was to himself. The rest of his loyalties were more fluid than that, shifting and changing depending on how things went. From a very selfish standpoint, he was very interested to know how he had gone wrong. Everett may not have killed him properly, but Callum was very certain that between himself and Jay, the man had been gone. He was interested to know what had gone wrong. Or if anything indeed had. Either way it presented interesting possibilities that made his fingers itch to figure out. 

[basedealer]

Seeing Justin there was a surprise. Callum hadn’t been thrilled at the prospect of leaving Juliette but her patience with him was thin. Her patience with the world was thin. She had turned a blind eye to them meeting but after what Justin had done, the secret he had kept, Callum knew it wasn’t something that could be continued without risk. “You’re brave to show your face here,” Callum remarked, shielding the room behind him, “if Juliette said she didn’t want to see you, you know I’m not going to help you,” he said, getting that out in the open. It was the most likely reason that he had come. Callum had always known there was a chance Justin had been using their lessons for something else. Getting him to do magic had always been like pulling teeth. But Callum had learned the dangers of blindly trusting a long time ago. Just because something looked one way or people said it was one way, didn’t mean it necessarily was. Once Callum had been very good at picking a side in a family war and believing it with his whole heart. He had been blind and paid the price for it. In that price he had sworn to himself he’d never be so blind again. “Do you want to explain your side of things?” he asked the hybrid, “I won’t help you with Juliette, but I’d be interested to hear it before I decide if continuing to teach you is worth the risk.” @grootrps​

[olivia-crain]

Ready or Not (2019) dir. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett