WARNINGS: MATURE CONTENT, REFERENCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ED'S.

ARRIVING at Saltburn took a couple of hours, the sunset and the nighttime breeze blasted through Northamptonshire. Calypso hadn't slept, she spent her time texting her family, informing them of her whereabouts. Car games were played until Farleigh fell asleep. Felix and Calypso then sat in comfortable silence, she played with his ring-clad fingers until they rocked up to the vast estate.

Farleigh abruptly sat up like he knew they'd arrived and quickly exited the car, with the other two in tow, not thinking about their suitcases and belongings just their comfortable beds. The colossal doors swung open before either of them could knock revealing a beady-eyed man who lived and breathed the Saltburn.

"Good evening Mr Catton, Mr Start and Miss Danforth," Duncan's wry smile didn't dare reach his empty eyes. "Welcome home and welcome back."

"Thanks, Duncan," Felix said tiredly, greeting the butler with a nod as the trio dragged themselves through the archaic building filled with more artefacts than the country's museums.

Great paintings hung on even greater walls, showcasing the generations that stepped foot on the land. The same people who would've rather seen Calyspo and Farleigh slaving away than being treated like their equals.

"Night," Farleigh muttered as he carried his feet towards his room, leaving Calypso and Felix to yawn and stroll.

Their rooms were on opposite sides of the house, separated by yards of wooden planks and a spiralling staircase. She preferred that distance to how she felt wondering the lonely halls of her Upton estate. She was close to someone here, many someones and that was enough. Saltburn was a place where she didn't belong, but Felix pulled her in and made her feel like she was protected from the world he was born into.

"You have to share a bathroom with him?" she tiredly asked, irked that Oliver was only next door to Felix.

He hummed, "The other one is on the other side of the house. It's the least I can do."

"So I can't walk around naked when I'm coming to see you?" she quietly teased.

He snickered, "Of course fucking not. Well, not when he's there."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, before letting her go.

"Night night Lix."

"Sweet dreams."

___

It only took seconds before Calyspo swanned into breakfast for her to be overwhelmed by the presence of Lady Elspeth Catton.

"Oh, how beautiful you look. And these braids," she gushed, wide eyes analysing every part of Calyspo's face, "I once had them when I went to Jamaica, your mother was there, didn't I darling?" she turned to her husband who nodded along.

"You did. Absolutely splendid," Sir James grinned.

"They weren't for me, too tight."

"Too white," Farliegh mumbled as he read through his newspaper.

"I think they're nice," Venetia hugged the girl, "I bet the blokes at Oxford jumped at the chance to talk to you."

"They did, didn't they Felix?" Farleigh jabbed, turning the page.

Felix hummed, barely shooting a glance his cousin's way, deciding to focus on his eggs and stuffing his face until his mother insisted he slow down or he would choke.

"I have our bird-watching kit ready Calypso, and some snacks," Sir James said, very excited.

Whenever she dropped by they spent their time fascinated by the birds that soared in the skies. It was a shared interest no one really understood.

"I'll be right with you. I need to freshen up after breakfast," she informed, making him clap.

"No doves in sight," he added.

She frowned, "Hopefully we'll find them."

Sir James vigorously nodded before returning to his food.

Felix watched the interaction with a crooked smile, adoring how excitable she was about something mundane as birds, he knew her all too well which is why he gifted her the necklace she hadn't taken off.

"Such nerds," Farleigh remarked to an amused Venetia then received disapproving looks.

Calypso rolled her eyes, "Sounds like envy."

"Go find your birds, come find me when you want some fun."

"I'll go to Felix for that."

"And I'll be happy to help," Felix smirked making her snort.

As Calypso told Duncan that she wanted scrambled eggs, an eccentric woman walked into the room, with ulterior style and crimson-coloured hair.

Elspeth gasped, "Oh, Pamela this is Calypso, you know Desdemona's daughter?"

Pamela, who appeared more dazed than sober turned to the girl, "Oh yes, I remember her." she commented, sitting down next to a now irritant Farleigh, "Beautiful eyes."

"Beautiful everything," Elspeth countered, before introducing her to Calypso. "Darling this is my friend Pamela, who's been staying with us while she gets back on her feet."

"Hi," Calypso greeted.

"Hi."

Calypso thanked Duncan who provided her scrambled eggs and then rose from the table to get some French toast, sausages and strips of bacon.

Venetia had quite a small plate, she nibbled on things here and there but her mother was chatting away with her friend, her cousin had his eyes on his paper, her father rambled about various birds he couldn't wait to spot and her brother stared at the girl he adored.

Calypso noted Felix removed his piercing, a credit to his mother's phobia of... anything ugly.

He sent her a smile and she sent one back.

The morning was awfully eventful.

___

Sir James was unfortunately right. Calypso saw for herself, that there were no doves in sight, they spent an hour looking and couldn't find one. House sparrows and blackbirds came and went but that was it.

So they quickly returned to the library where Duncan reported the rest of the family apart from Venetia resided as she was spotted lounging around attempting to gain their new guest's attention.

Felix quickly joined them after showing an early Oliver around. He suggested to his father to watch a comedy called 'Superbad'. It was the new rage and everyone loved it. They quickly set it up and laughter soon followed, background noise to his mother and Pamela's conversation about about Oliver. Farleigh smoked as he opened his laptop and Calypso occupied her time with her nails, painting a red coat attracting Felix's attention.

"Need any help?" he quietly asked, fortunately, Sir James was thoroughly amused by the film to care.

"I don't want to distract you," Calypso murmured.

Farleigh clicked his tongue, "That's a first."

She hit his leg, "Shut up."

"It's not a bother," Felix ignored his cousin and took the nail varnish as she draped her legs over the back of his chair.

Elspeth caught the interaction with a smirk before turning back to Pamela, "Well, I mean, they probably don't have rehab in Liverpool."

"No, gosh, no. No, I can't imagine they do," Pamela agreed, both uncaring that the door was cracked open.

"No, see, everybody just goes to ruin, I suppose."

Pamela twirled her cigarette between her fingers, "Where is Liverpool?"

"I think it's on the sea, isn't it?" Elspeth glanced around to ask her husband, "Darling, where's Liverpool?"

Sir James didn't tear his gaze away from the television, "Er, north."

"North," Pamela repeated slightly perplexed.

Calypso stared at her painted feet, "I thought he was from Birmingham."

"You know he isn't," Fareligh laughed, whilst Felix focused on making sure he didn't mess up.

She innocently shrugged, "Slipped my mind."

"It's called Prescot," Farleigh informed his aunt.

Elspeth gasped, "Oh, it'll be some awful slum."

"Mmm. A sort of hellish squat," Pamela commented, just as Felix finished his job, smiling at the girl who pressed a kiss to his cheeks in praise.

His mood only faltered when his mother continued dragging his friend through the mud, forcing him to turn his focus to the television.

"And both his parents were dealing. God and his mother's a drunk. I mean, babies can be really affected. Traumatised."

Pamela shook her head, "Oh, they come out drunk."

"Is that right, that he had to put his fingers down his mother's throat to make her sick?"

Felix exacerbated, not turning around, "Farleigh, that's private stuff."

Farleigh took a drag of his cigarette, "Well, you told us."

Felix argued,  "In confidence."

"Bad Farleigh," Calypso nudged his leg, causing him to flip her off.

"It's awful, darling. Can you imagine doing that to me?" Elspeth voiced, concerned.

Pamela's brows pinched together, "I think that's actually rather normal when you're poor. I think, when you're poor, that sort of thing does happen a little bit more."

Elpsleth proposed, "We should give him the most wonderful time."

"Good luck, he doesn't smile much," Farleigh exclaimed, offering the cigarette to his friend who quickly took it as she fanned her feet.

Elspeth turned to her son, "Farleigh seems to think he's ghastly. Why are you friends with him, darling?"

Pamela listed, "Dirt poor, not attractive and his parents are drug addicts I can't actually..."

A head belonging to the boy in question poked through the door, preventing them from continuing.

"And here he is now! We were just talking about you," Farleigh stated, as they all stared at him, each wondering if the information was accurate or not. 

"Don't be silly," Elspeth quickly disagreed, rising to her feet to approach Oliver. "Farleigh, you just make up the most awful things. Of course, we weren't. Hello, Oliver, darling," she took his hands in hers as she marvelled, "Oh, what beautiful eyes. Oh, how wonderful!"

Felix laughed, "Yeah, I told you he wasn't a minger."

"Oh, but, darling, you're kind about everyone."

"He really is," Calypso muttered, earning a  pout from Felix.

"Calypso's right, you're kind about everyone," she glanced at her son, "you can't be trusted," Elspeth said looking directly at Oliver as she tugged his hands, "Oliver, I have a complete and utter horror of ugliness. Ever since I was very young. I don't know why."

"Maybe because you're a terrible person?" Felix exclaimed, amusing himself and his cousin.

His mother frowned, "Don't be mean."

Felix chuckled, watching her go over to lounge on the sofa.

"Has Venetia seen you yet? Oh, my God, she'll die," Elspeth continued, chuckling as she did. "She's been draping herself all around the house all day hoping you'll come across her."

"As it were," Farleigh added.

"Do stop. The poor boy's only just arrived," Sir James said disapprovingly as he greeted the boy, shaking his hand, "Oliver, how good to finally meet you. Trip all right?"

Oliver gulped, "Yes, thank you, sir."

Calypso moved from Farleigh and chose to sit between Felix's stretched legs, he welcomed her tugging her towards his chest as the pair watched Oliver who stared back with a twinge of irritation.

"Oh, God, don't with the 'Sirs'. No, no, no, we can't stand anything like that here. Go on, come and sit by me," Elspeth encouraged, making the redhead shift to the side as he sat down, "This is my dear friend, Pamela, who's been staying with us."

Pamela lazily lifted her and for him to shake, "Hey."

"Pamela, darling, will you go and find Annie and ask about tea?"

Startled by the question she just about responded, "Yeah. Yeah. Who, which... Which one's that?"

"You'll find her, darling. Annie," Elspeth insisted.

Calypso surveyed the interaction feeling bad for the woman who was obviously replaced by the new charity case of the summer. It was clear by her unsure tone she didn't know how to take it, knowing their attention was set trained on her but not anymore. She wasn't given a choice but to search for Annie, about when dinner would be ready and only left when Sir James repeated what his wife said.

Pamela wasn't out of the room for a second before the gossiping started, "Poor Dear Pamela. She's been staying with us while she gets back on her feet. She's had an awful time this year. Hideous," Elspeth's eyes widened in size as she touched Oliver. "But, oh, Oliver, so have you. God, I was so sorry to hear about your father. How utterly, utterly tragic. I've lost so many friends to addiction. So, so many dear, dear friends. It's the root of Poor Pamela's horrors too, I'm afraid."

Farleigh grumbled out, "And the only interesting thing about her."

Oliver took in all their comments, eyes darting between the Lady of the house and Calypso who was giggling at Felix's whispers. They looked so cute, and tight, but they weren't together.

"Farleigh! No, she is rather dull, actually. But she's so beautiful. You have to admit, she's very beautiful," Elspleth insisted, "But it's only ever really been a curse." Calypso winced at the fact. "I mean, the men. Oliver, you wouldn't believe it. The latest one is some ghastly Russian billionaire. Malignantly ugly, of course. And she's been holed up here for months hiding from him." She looked up to see her daughter saunter into the room. "Anyway, let's not talk about that.  Darling, tell me about your mother. How is she bearing up? Still drinking?"

"Stop!" Felix pleaded as his sister lit a cigarette, drawing Oliver's gaze to the bright light.

Elspeth waved her son off, "Ignore him."

Felix emphasised, "It's rude."

"Nothing shocks me, Oliver. Absolutely nothing. Tell me everything."

___

"Is that honey?" Felix's voice made Calyspo jump in shock.

She palmed her chest, turning up to see him wearing a nice tux for dinner.

"Christ Lix, you scared me."

"Sorry," he bashfully chuckled, then licked his lips at the sight of her. "You look divine."

The faint smell of her new scrub was in the air, honey, he was right, she changed it again and he loved it more than the last one.

"So do you," she agreed, standing up from her bed as she stared at him. "Here to escort me to tea?"

He held out her arm, "My lady."

She took it with ease, "My lord."

Journeying through the house, he continuously peeked at her, the lacy dress she wore had a train that was a few inches long. Her back was exposed, only slightly concealed by small threads that weaved to ensure her arse wasn't on show. Her sleeves were long and her hair was tied into a bun, insinuating her cheekbones.

"You might as well take a fucking picture, Felix."

"Trust me I will," he muttered, realising she braless and the thinnest of materials alluded to that. "Fucking hell."

"What?" she blinked innocently as they approached dinner.

"Fucking tease."

Calypso laughed as was escorted into the room, where she sat between Felix and Venetia.

Elspeth was the first to compliment her gown before Pamela informed Oliver – who wore a tuxedo provided by Felix — all about her boyfriend.

"We met in rehab, so... He was just so lovely at first, and then all of his business partners started, sort of, falling out of windows," she said softly, "You know."

"Right. Lucky escape," Oliver assessed, putting a smile on Felix's face as he ate.

"Mmm. I suppose so. But he spoke Russian all the time and it just sounded so romantic. And I don't know the Russian word for 'whore'," Pamela explained, missing Farleigh's smirk. "So I, sort of, thought it sounded like lovely poetry."

"Yeah."

Calypso's perplexed expression made a smile break out on Farleigh's face.

"Daddy always said I'd end up at the bottom of the Thames," Pamela went on.

"So far so good," Oliver remarked, gaining a smug smile from Venetia.

"I don't know what I'd do without Elspeth. She really saved me," Pamela added.

"Don't bang on about it, Pamela, darling. You know we're delighted to have you for however long it is you mean to stay," Elspeth falsely insisted as she picked up her drink.

"Forever?" Farleigh murmured, facing his uncle.

"Oh, no," Pamela spoke, "I think I might have, erm, found somewhere."

The Catton's were delighted to hear that.

"Oh, well done, darling. Oh, good," Elspeth smiled.

"Yeah, my cousin... My cousin has a flat."

"Oh, that'll suit you very well, a nice little flat."

"It's more of a... More of a bedsit really," Pamela continued, becoming less confident as she went on.

Elspeth grinned, "I loved living in a bedsit in my 20s. It's so freeing to live all in one room. And much less cleaning to do."

"Cheaper too," Calypso decided to add, knowing where this was going.

Felix playfully tutted at her.

Elspeth nodded in her direction, "Oh yes it is, but it'll be terrible when you're gone. How will I cope?"

"Well, I..." Pamela stammered, "I could actually stay for a little bit longer..." She trailed off hoping for someone to agree.

Elspeth softly gasped, "Oh, no, darling, no. You must be desperate to be rid of us and find your own place. I quite understand."

Pamela went back to eating, as did the rest of them, engaging in small talk.

It was only when Elspeth turned to Calypso did the girl placed down her fork, "Now Calyspo you must tell me everything about the boys in your college, your mother and I always had to fight them off when we modelled," Sir James agreed with her words. "But that was before your father so selfishly trapped her. So tell me, how were they?"

Oliver caught the dismay written over Felix's face as he abandoned his food and slid his hand under the table and judging from Calypso's flustered expression when she replied, it was clear what was going on.

___

"That wasn't an accident Felix, you can't accidentally finger someone – and don't bring up your cousin. And for Christ's sake, stop telling people about that," Calypso ranted, shaking her head as she dragged him back to her room, shortly after dinner finished.

He rolled his shoulders back, "Would you rather me listen to you go on about your university shags? I couldn't stand to hear what happened."

"So you thought doing that whilst everyone was eating was better?" she expressed as they stood around.

"You loved it," Felix recalled how she breathily spoke at the table, only alerting the young adults around.

"I had to cough loudly when I came, your mum must've thought I caught the plague," she groaned into her hands before he pulled them away.

"She didn't think anything of it," Felix reassured, "She wouldn't. She thinks you're perfect."

She wasn't convinced, "Sure."

Felix stared her down and decided to cup her face, forcing her to watch as he sucked his fingers dry, groaning at the taste lingering on his flesh until he was satisfied.

"You taste irresistible."

She pulled away from him, feeling her legs tremble as she dropped to her bed, slowly tugged down her thong and dropped it to the floor.

Felix's eyes darkened as he lowered himself onto the ground in front of her, pushing up her dress, and exposing her dripping arousal as she whimpered at his touch.

"You sure you want this? Once we start, you'll only slow me down for so long before I beg for more."

"Go ahead," Calypso breathed out, giving her the green light as he began kissing her thighs. "Fuck."

Her moans and his grunts as she gripped his hair echoed through her room. They were lost in the lust and sensual atmosphere, completely unaware that they were being listened to on the other side of her door.

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a/n:

no guys, they didn't have sex but they did more than expected. i mean really felix, jealousy makes you do that in front of your parents? i don't know why but i feel like that was in character for him, considering all the tales and references to the family's past. the two are getting closer, crossing those sexual boundaries and now oliver knows... yuck.

https://pin.it/4kZZbXCeF (how imagine cali's dress!) https://pin.it/6vmO0LUMU (how i imagine her hair)

the interactions with elspeth will feel borderline... microaggression-ish, very subtle to the point it'll fly over cali's head. it's a sad reality, considering she must've experienced it when she went to several private schools in her youth. i still experience shit like that to this day. throughout the film, there were many racial undertones, by the way, i know many people wouldn't notice, but it was brushed under the carpet as expected.