But allow me to finally ask a much simpler, more to-the-point question: does Callum ever actually show any sign of actually caring about any of these women as more than potential penis-receptacles?
It feels odd to call the little toerag by a first name when beyond the default he doesn't have one, but on the other hand repeatedly typing 'the MC' is kind of... I don't know. I'll probably waver back and forth. Anyway.
I couldn't tell you about Mabel, because I haven't gone down her path past the first two or three or so beats. Other than that?
It depends on how you prefer to see it or think it should be expressed. Callum to my knowledge never comes straight out with a "I know I'm acting like an utter lech right now but I actually care truly and deeply about all the people I interact with *wink*" but also never expresses that anybody is disposable or forgettable, or that he's trying to powderize his own pelvis out of greed. So now that we've covered the extremes... I do have an example or two of him not acting in his immediate sex-centric self-interest.
Elphaba, the witch in the woods, is kind of a magical segregationist. The magic beasties have their world, we have ours, it just works. There's an event on her route that lends a lot of credence to her thought process. Pixie does small-scale agricultural business outside of her world, which puts her in direct conflict with Elphaba's ideals. Callum would like to put his penis in both women. Elphaba
catches and near-fatally drains the energy out of Pixie, which Callum puts a stop to by being very loud and whiny. Naturally, this does lead to a sex scene. But he wasn't angling for that by acting out, he just wanted Pixie safe.
Douie is married to an asshole, Mr. Carter, who cheats on her in the vineyard with some random ho on the weekends. They're both
really bad at sex talk. Anyway, Callum hears about this from Mae, who doesn't really react too negatively to it. She's not happy about it, but since it works for them, it works for her, I guess? Callum doesn't share this line of thought, and thinks it's kind of fucked. It's not going to stop him from trying to pipe down Douie, naturally; I doubt he'd refrain from trying even if the marriage was healthy and Carter wasn't a dickhead. I can't blame him.
This one is more thought than action, but it counts for something that (unless I forgot, it's been a hot few minutes) he isn't trying to manipulate Douie to cheat because her husband does, he just wants to fuck her.
While I would be somewhat interested to hear how this theory is substantiated - that is, what evidence points to this being the case
I'd forgotten about the circle. It's a thing! It is a thing that is in the game. Pixie tells you about it, but it's a part of the script where the ESL hits a little harder, so the explanation seems kind of garbled at points. What I got is that it seems to soften inhibition and aversion to the odd, and that since Callum was away for a while, he's resistant to it. But he makes up for it with spirit.
