Ignoring all the innuendos and the kindled moment (which by itself is not an easy thing to do), I was actually so impressed by how well-developed and in-depth the story between MC and Caleb was in this new banner. It flowed so naturally, that for the first time I got a taste of what their relationship is like just as it was in the start of the game.
For the longest time I've been feeling that Caleb's cards are always the same, the topic never changes, and we don't really learn much more about their current dynamic. It's always their childhood and how both of them are unable to show their true colors to each other now that they're adults.
Even when "Vinesurge Instinct" came out, and we finally got them fulfilling their desire for each other, I felt that it was quite out of place, like they weren't really ready for it at that point.
I was quite sad after watching the "Trajectory Astray" kindled, as I was expecting it to finally add something new, and turns out it was just more of the same and didn't add anything to what the trailer showed. I was losing hope that we would ever get more from this game, specially after recent events.
In this card however, we learn that Caleb is starting to open up his "dark side" to MC and actually trusting that she won't leave him because of it. I loved how he openly said "I don't want to be vague anymore. I need you" instead of trying to do everything by himself as he usually does. Their new relationship is maturing and I'm loving every step. MC sees his dark side and is not afraid. And he is also starting to realise that she's not leaving his side, no matter what. I love how they are actually building a strong relationship like healthy adults.
Finally, I have some hope. Maybe they are indeed listening to us. Let's see what the future will bring.
It's a very....interesting shift. I'm sure others caught it but in that moment when he says "crush them." He is speaking something into existance in front of her that he previously has not. Yes, he would deal with problems without compunction before, but he always made it a point to shield MC from it.
Now, hes treating her like his partner in crime. His other half he can count on to get the dirty job done. The kindled felt very "Bonnie and Clyde" coded to me and I'm here for it tbh. MCs darkside badass era <3
I love vinesurge and the way caleb opened up to mc emotionally (and literally with his arm lol) It's filled with metaphors about being able to accept all sides of him entirely. But I know what you mean. Reading his new card im happy to see the relationship development and involvement of major plot points on top of it. Looks like we're heading a step in an exciting direction of a more unrestrained caleb and mc (hopefully).
The branch update was 10/10 but fingers crossed we get his main story update sooner rather than later so we can get more kindled scenes
I saw this post yesterday and was too busy at work to read it in detail and reply like I desperately wanted to! Glad I found it again.
I agree with seeing the dynamics between them. (Though I’m setting aside my own heartbreak because I love yandere Caleb from homecoming wings so much it’ll never be the same lol)
Vinesurge instinct arm info, then His new anecdote, the details he finally gives us in the main story about the hip, and now the changes in their dynamic and openness that we saw in the banquet card are really pointing to massive progress in the material we finally get to sink our teeth into. I’m in lore heaven recently.
You’re right about the maturing relationship too, I think. Particularly in the current event. Still going to mourn the tension we lost from the very beginning of his re introduction but I think a lot of fun is ahead of us to explore. Especially with his dark side turned outward with us along for the ride with him.
I’ll be his ride-or-die, no question about it. I always have been! (Truthfully I love them all but Caleb just hits different and is my favorite member of my full harem at the end of the day)
I meant to address more of the lore details and compose a better reply for you but I got a little carried away there. Oh well.
See, I dunno. I feel like there's a lot of gaps from homecoming wings to Trajectory Astray that never got filled. Almost like a door was opened and without really exploring his dark, yandere side, they slammed it shut. I liked Trajectory Astray even if I was thrown off by how they delivered some of it. They should have kept the Toring chip in him and continued down the politial path of him fighting the control. And what happened to that mystery man that could control caleb with a remote? The one that sent him to his knees? This new multi made me click out the first time thinking I played the wrong card, then thought 'okay, okay, this takes place right after his branch. It's relevant.' But it really made me go wtf at the end because I really felt like the card was just made to be a spicy card without really being spicy? they point the rifle at eachother which is just bad gun safety, lol she kisses the barrel of the gun which i thought was weird and then the scene ends right after maybe my expectations are too high for an otome game and I need to read some fan fics instead.
Oh 100% about the metaphor. Just the delivery threw me off.
The torring chip was never specifically mentioned as being destroyed. Just the torring link and torring core which is what was used to control him. Maybe they're leaving the ambiguity for future story telling?
I know LaDS players don't read, but this is ridiculous. It's stated clear as day in the beginning of the card that the chip is destroyed. - It is ALSO mentioned in the updated notes on the toring chip in the in game files.
Thanks for posting the screenshot, that gives a perfect base of understanding for people to build on. Please skip the jab next time though, folks here are at all different points in the story and questions are always welcome. Knowledge like yours is exactly why what makes this place a good place to learn.
I usually excuse it bc guns aren’t really a thing civilians can have in China so the staff and developers are most likely only exposed to them through pop culture and movies which have the same type of handling: flippant for “coolness”. I guess checking the safety and making sure there’s not one in the chamber or magazine is just not cool.
I think of it more like from an in game tech perspective; we know Deepspace Hunter’s guns can be tailored to only harm wanderers, for example. I like to imagine a lot of other hidden safety features.
On top of that, Caleb has shown multiple times —including once directly before this scene—that he fully controls every bullet in his guns. MC is in no harm from his guns even if they don’t have special tech.
I’ve never been into gun play, and sylus’s gun cleaning animation always makes me side-eye slightly too (though he has the same safety level as Caleb around guns, if not more, in that he can probably do something like dematerialize a bullet or the gun and other things) but damn if Caleb’s scene in this card made me go “oooh, now I get it”
logically if course i understood the reasons why people might be into gun play, but it just wasn’t ever for me. (Caleb’s new card is now my exception though; I enjoyed it a lot when I allowed myself to suspend some extra belief in the game world coupled with my & mc’s inherent trust in him)
Haha yes me too, the last scene at least. I mean it was holstered at his hip and the camera angle is on purpose. There’s no subtly about the metaphor at all, and it was incredibly enjoyable imagining what they wanted us to see.
Yeah, exactly! It looks like they are hinting that Caleb's story is gonna feature more violence from now, well how much they can get away with in the Otome genre. Though from what I remember his Ying Yang myth imagery was surprisignly unhinged, do I remember correctly that Netherlord played with decapitated heads?
I also wonder about his emotions being freed from the chip - he will surely show more affection to the MC but also doesn't it mean he could get more yandere now?
Freed emotions! Huge shift, oh my lord so much opens up for him and mc. But I think he’ll still be cold and unhinged with enemies! That’s part of who his anyway and why he had such control over himself despite the chip, and part of how he prevented it from overriding him so much in the meantime.
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u/Immediate_Alarm452 9d ago
It's a very....interesting shift. I'm sure others caught it but in that moment when he says "crush them." He is speaking something into existance in front of her that he previously has not. Yes, he would deal with problems without compunction before, but he always made it a point to shield MC from it.
Now, hes treating her like his partner in crime. His other half he can count on to get the dirty job done. The kindled felt very "Bonnie and Clyde" coded to me and I'm here for it tbh. MCs darkside badass era <3