#I think abt the Scarabia boys a lot they are beloved

[oddberryshortcake]

Kalim’s lack of self-preservation and his over-abundance of care towards others

Something I noticed and was always interested in when it came to Kalim is the sort of underlying context to just how nice he is, and his perceptions of himself vs others. 

Usually when it comes to characters who have a vast amount of wealth and the ability to have whatever they want, you’d think of characters who are entirely self-obsessed and believe the world revolves around them, but that isn’t the case with Kalim. 

Yes, he is out of touch and does things without thinking, but it’s not because he values himself over others, it’s more of him not understanding how other people think but still trying to make them happy somehow. 

Kalim’s VA explained it very well and has a good grasp on his character, and I think his take is quintessential- 

“His desires have always been granted, so he doesn’t need to think that much. He doesn’t have that much longing for his desires, right? That’s why he makes people around him happy. Seeing that instead makes him happy. He doesn’t think too much (for himself) because he’s enjoying seeing other people happy.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwHMphJkLr8&t=68s)

Kalim has rarely felt unhappy, his needs were always met by his loving family and he was very protected. He had his share of terrifying experiences with attempted poisonings and kidnappings, but those were not things that shook him. They are bad experiences, but ones that Kalim can talk about in passing without feeling too unhappy. He generally regards himself as very hard to scare/upset despite going through all of that.

It’s not his own safety or life that he cares too strongly about. Either be believes nothing bad could happen because he’s survived so much and has been kept protected from harm well (like how him almost falling to his death in his dorm uniform SSR vignette wasn’t too much of a big deal, Jamil saved him as he always manages to)

Much like his interest in making other people happy and seeing them happy, his concern that very well could be used for himself is projected onto other people- Primarily Jamil. 

In his dorm uniform SSR vignette he reveals that Jamil almost died eating something poisoned that was meant to kill him, the way Kalim recites that story is so drastically different in tone from his other stories, that event undeniably shook him to the point where he can’t eat curry and bans it from his own household. 

It’s unfair of him to do that, but it shows how he can move on from his own poisoning with hardiness but it’s Jamil’s poisoning that brings back traumatic memories. It’s so much different to see it happen to someone else, especially when it was meant for you. 

I’m sure the people in his household were more relieved that Kalim wasn’t poisoned, they probably told him it was a good thing that Jamil ate the curry and not him. 

Despite likely being surrounded with assertions that his life is more important than Jamil’s, it clearly didn’t do anything to make him believe so, because he doesn’t think about himself or view himself like that in the slightest. 

His unyielding empathy and compassion for others, the source of what makes him happy more so than being happy himself, is also what caused him to be so much more affected by what happened to Jamil than what happens to himself. 

This plays directly into how Kalim doesn’t care much for his own safety but  cares a lot more for others, with Jamil also being the main subject of this concern in a lot of instances (I’d say MC also is included in this, but Jamil tends to be the center in a lot of vignettes and story in a lot more examples)

It’s interesting how Kalim will generally partake in dangerous things, but the moment he thinks Jamil could be in danger he changes his approach and becomes more aware like in Jamil’s ceremonial robe vignette.

He even becomes more firm and stern when it comes to getting Jamil to do as he says. He rarely ever asserts his authority over Jamil in this way unless it’s in regards to his safety, and to other people as well like in chapter 6 when he snaps at Jade for implying that Jamil and others might be dead after their kidnapping. 

I do actually love how Kalim doesn’t use his wealth, power, and authority over people for his own selfish gain, but rather to (try to) lift people up, protect others and to put a stop to something that could be dangerous and bad. 

He really gains nothing for himself, he doesn’t want that, what he wants is for people to be safe and happy, and I adore that about him. He doesn’t always go about it the right way but it’s so genuine. 

Does this also mean there’s something even deeper behind not thinking about himself past his needs always being met? Maybe, especially for angst reasons. Because especially after chapter 4, it feels awful to be told you’re at fault for someone’s misery, even if that isn’t entirely true. That hurts so bad. Because knowing Kalim he’s absolutely more upset his friend is miserable more than his friend betraying him and his trust.