#caleb spoilers

[ruinfinity]

also when you choose the option of “shoot and kill caleb” or whatever. he still doesn’t kill you/attack you btw. lets you go btw. <3

[villainbait]

So I finally started the main story and saw Caleb’s immaculate entrance, but after the initial introduction with MC I can 100% understand why many people are deeply uncomfortable with the realism infold brought to Caleb’s character.

I am the first to stand up and say I love manipulative, greedy, possessive, obsessively in love men. My history and ao3 is littered with them, but this was a different level and I think it’s because of how realistically infold portrayed the emotionally abusive and manipulative behavior Caleb initially exhibits. As a DV survivor, this definitely should’ve had some trigger warnings imo (without spoilers of course), because I was unprepared and had to take a break after their initial scenes due to how it made me feel. It’s been a while since a character has made me feel nauseous as I feel I’m largely unfazed by the majority of darker themes and archetypes.

My hat is off to infold because I’m not even finished with the story and Caleb had me visibly recoiling from the screen and yelling at MC to run. His initial impression and personality is so polarizing and insincere, but I love it because it means there’s more complexity there to unravel. I just wasn’t prepared for how accurate it would be to how real life abusers are, and that was jarring. I look forward to seeing how Caleb and MC develop, though, and can’t wait to see how things turn out in the story.

[heartlesscorpse]

Yeah cant tell me infold based that on this meme lmaooo

[armysantiny]

Predictions and thoughts about Caleb's future interactions below, spoiler warning

I feel like a lot of Caleb's dialogue is going to revolve around him realising and coming to terms with the fact that MC/you have become almost hyper independent in his absence. He has a very clear craving to be needed by MC for so many things, he's practically made it his entire purpose.

In the phone call "Dilemma", MC tells him that they learned to stop calling for him, because they'll eventually sort out their problems, and Caleb is audibly not happy with that. He's now having to play catch up so that he can be part of their life.

The combat dialogue lmao, he literally says he wishes they'd use him as a shield, meanwhile MC is a highly competent hunter who's kicking ass and tells him they don't have enough medical supplies if his health drops.

I came to the new chapters thinking MC would be the one stuck in the past, but they're already moving forward, moving on. Sure, they're rightfully shocked and overjoyed that he's back, but they've got a job to do. Caleb's the one stuck in the past.

The only version of MC that he knows, is the one from before the explosion.

[halebobgr]

“Well, if this isn’t extremely curious...” (Yes I know Wall of Force is not actually visible but c'mon lemme have this one)

[willowingends]

Oh gods someone talk to me about Caleb and how bright and hopeful he was when he first joined the academy. The passion of learning the wonder of finding minds like yours and feeling like you finally belong. That you're going to be different from your parents. And having that all ripped away. And not in a forceful tearing but the soft disconnect of someone else sinking their hands in to your future and taking it from you with your permission because that's what you think you want.

[mollymaukerytealeaf]

Hi, on this fine day I’m crying over how Astrid we know as a poisoner and Eodwulf I’ve been picturing as a dagger user in Caleb’s backstory and those are two VERY stereotypical rogue things but... not rogue things Nott often does, and I think that’s beautiful.

[psychoinnocent]

All I’m saying is Caleb is probably unwelcome in his hometown considering his backstory.

-He, along with Astrid and Eodwulf, were from the same hometown.

-Presumably, they’d be allowed to occasionally reach out to their families- which in a small town where Caleb’s parents probably started a “crowdfund” to send him to the Solstryce Academy. (If it’s mentioned in canon lmk I haven’t gone back to listen to it)

-The night when the students execute their parents, all three sets are killed, and they all have a similarity: their kids that attend the same Academy.

Theory 1: Trent sticks around post-Caleb’s break and lies to the townsfolk. Tells them that something happened and Caleb made his way to Blumenthal and went “trigger happy” so to speak. Trent and the other students went after him but it was too late.

That way, Trent and the other two are kept in a good light, and Caleb would never be believed if he managed to escape the asylum and tell the town what happened.

Or,

Theory 2: Trent manages to drag Caleb and co away from Blumenthal before the other townsfolk notice. Astrid and Eodwulf could possibly have the opportunity to play “bereaved” kids when they come back for the funerals or w/e, but Caleb, again, due to being locked up, is Silent.

So there’s Caleb, who never finishes his Academy training and doesn’t come home after his parents are killed. His reputation in Blumenthal probably plummeted really really low.