2x02 / 2x07 / 3x04 / 3x09 / 4x01

With Soren growing to be so much more protective of Ezran this season (even paralleling some prior broyals scenes from S1) and Rayla choosing Callum in coming back at all, but not enough to not go after Viren again… Given what Aaravos said in S4 and that he saw Rayla be the only one to approach Callum in the antechamber / her worry as she caught him, I think we’re going to get a scene at some point where Aaravos pits Love vs Duty against each other as much as they possibly could be, with Rayla. She wasn’t even willing to cut a deal with Claudia for a safe transfer for the coins. But for Callum?

We know that Aaravos can puppet Callum with very little fuss. We know, despite his serious fears and reservations, he’s held onto the cube. We know that Rayla is far more cynical and jaded than she was before (“We can’t save everyone. There’s too much at stake”) while maintaining a strong optimistic thread with Callum, in spite of all his anger (“It’s okay Callum. Whatever you have to say to me, everything will be fine”). 

Which is to say: if it’s Callum’s life vs the world, the safety of the world vs Rayla having to kill him - what could be a greater Test of Love than that? And we know of course that Rayla would never, even if Callum was begging her to. She’d choose him over her mission in a way that can’t be taken back 

Her Heart or Xadia, and we all know what she’ll choose

i have been continually emo about this the past couple of days because like, god, sometimes it just hits me how lonely callum and rayla must’ve been before they met each other

like i was rewatching some of 1x01 and 1x02 yesterday for screencaps for a meta and like, callum is so often just flat out uncomfortable in his home, with his friends, with his family. we know from s2 that sarai died when he was little, around four or five, so harrow has been his primary parent for at least close to a decade, for most of his entire life that he can remember, and callum still doesn’t feel comfortable around him

soren knocks him around and puts him down (and thank you s3 for the apology scene, because it was important and good and gratifying). everyone stops and stares to watch hi get his ass kicked in the courtyard, which is already embarrassing enough, and then you have soren hit callum in a sore spot by talking about the thing the kid is already insecure enough in: his relationship with his stepfather and his failures as a prince, all in one go. 

even with claudia, who callum is closer to, his flustered nature verges into being vaguely uncomfortable too.

because claudia enjoys his crush on her, but doesn’t quite encourage him and/or go to lengths to make him comfortable about it. and we see in s2 that he considers them to be two of his oldest, closest friends: one a girl he can’t be fully open to (although that’s mostly on his side of things rather than something claudia can control, but we also see her fully willing to manipulate his trust, so…) and the other someone who is regularly a jerk to him.

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I WAS HOPING FOR A S4 RENEWAL AND THEN FIGURED “NAH” AND THEN NOT ONLY THAT BUT RENEWED FOR THE WHOLE SAGA!! FOUR MORE SEASONS!! B I T C H 

welcome to the newest source of my tears

rayllum doesn’t feel fast if you know they’ve been pining since 1x03

If she is not useful, get rid of her. She’s worthless. She’s not worthless. 

janai: don’t do anything stupid

amaya: *spits at the sunfire queen*

janai:

rayllum doesn’t feel fast if you know they’ve been pining since 1x03

no but like rayllum’s romantic development was so good in s3 i could cry, like, episode by episode

• 3x01
• reaffirms how much rayla values and cares for callum, who has probably never been this highly praised in his life
• causes callum to begin to confront the very real fear of losing her: “this is the worst idea you’ve ever had, he’s gonna burn you to a crisp!”
• shows how well they can problem solve and communicate silently
• “my best friend.” 
  
• that fact that callum is absolutely ecstatic to be called that
• 3x02
• shows them having just having fun together in xadia with shared enthusiasm
• teasing but all in good nature, even about appearances: “no, that’s a good look for you, really”
• rayla telling callum more about her childhood and sharing a special place with him
• and proving just how well she knows him: “i thought you’d like them.” “i love them!”
• them laughing together added ten years to my lifespan
• 3x03
• rayla sharing a magic custom with him that includes adorable dancing, and her unbridled enthusiasm at showing off where she grew up that again, he fully matches
• “i want to show you everything! […] i can take you where they make the best moonberry surprise! i can show you where i grew up, where i went to school—”
  
• callum meeting and remembering her remaining family
• “tall? pointy? aimed a bow at me. mmhm, he seemed nice.”
• “hey! ethari was it? you didn’t even give rayla a chance to explain herself.” listen to me! rayla doesn’t deserve this!”
  
• 3x04
• making decisions together and weighing the pros and cons of trusting nyx
• callum telling her about his childhood/family and trying to get her to open up
• the fact he can make her laugh even when she was crying just a few moments ago
• running after her and not letting her push him away even when she snaps at him because he knows she’s hurting
• “rayla, you’re the most amazing person i’ve ever met.” 
• and saying all of those things just because he believes them and needed her to know and wanted to cheer her up
  
• 3x05
• proves that these two work as friends and teammates first and foremost, and regardless of any romantic mishaps, they would stay friends
• her saving his life without question
• him waiting until she gives consent/permission to touch her
• callum trusting rayla when he jumps on the ambler
• the look on his face when he decides that now is the time to confess
• the way rayla hesitates after she grabs his scarf and their eyes meet for a moment, like she’s double checking. “i’m going to kiss you now… okay?” and his soft little wow, because he really loves this girl
• 3x06
• them having fallen asleep together in such a simple way with his head on her shoulder, but it says so much about casual physical intimacy and how safe and comfy they feel with one another
• rayla listening and supporting callum when he talks about the dragon king and his family.
• like she dismissed his “i hear your big feelings” thing before, but that’s exactly what she does now: “of course it does. it’s painful. how could you feel any different?”
• for that matter, callum opening up about sarai and telling rayla about his mother, which was something he closed up about in s1.
• 3x07
• the casual flirting and teasing and being able to make fun of themselves
• how casually affectionate and comfortable they’ve become with each other and their soft smiles when they pull away from their kiss
• holding hands when they go to make ibis
• like really, they’re just best friends who are dating now, and it’s the best thing ever
• 3x08
• callum being there for him when she’s in a place that hurts the same way she was for him in 3x06. him taking her hand and tugging it closer to him
• rayla giving him the pendant as a symbol of her love for him to hold onto 
• callum refusing to just let her go and watching what happened to her parents alone, because he knows she wouldn’t agree and if they really did run, watching them do so would break her
• “it’s your choice,” he says, letting her move on. knowing she may still make the same choice as before, but having had time to process it. “no one else’s.” 
• and rayla choosing to include him anyway, now that she’s let go of her past, because he’s a part of her future. “we should decide together.”
  
• 3x09
• rayla calming him down with just the touch of her hand (like in 2x03) and them appreciating the sunrise together.
• callum wanting to tell her he loves her just so she knows, even if they’re already a couple
• “go to her.” god bless you ezran
  
• the sheer anguish on callum’s face and his scream when rayla goes off the edge
• and him deciding he’s either going to save her or die trying
• her hands in his hair when they kiss and soar upwards 
• them lacing their fingers together and holding hands, all smiley in front of the dragon queen

like all the casual arm grabbing and hand holding, the way they could make each other smile and reassured one another like no one else, callum being there while she dealt with the loss of her family the same way she had for him, making each other laugh and all the teasing, them still always being best friends at heart even if they’re giddy and excited about this new stage of their relationship.

them making each other the happiest they’ve ever been even while on the hardest part of their journey warmed my heart so much

they’re so perfect i love him