fucking absurd that this shit isn't scripted.
rotating this and Caleb's belief that he & Essek will separate when Caleb is older in my mind.
i don't think this was ever a consideration, or at least wasn't at the forefront of Liam's mind when he was playing Caleb, bc the PCs understandably try to avoid racism/xenophobia, but I think it's interesting to think about all the things that Caleb would have to unlearn to be with Essek (and vice versa, since theres plenty of propaganda in Xhorhas too). And like, how when Caleb ends their romantic relationship, he's viewing Essek as an elf first & his partner second and giving his human perspective on their lifespan differences more weight than Essek's.
like I don't think the smut novel itself has any bearing on Caleb's feelings, but I think it speaks to the environment he was raised in, & specifically how he was trained as an assassin to kill people like Essek. And while consciously, he knows those views were wrong and believes differently now, I think there will be parts of that upbringing that he'll be unlearning his whole life, and the same goes for Essek.
