#and BH just assume this drow fugitive is two timing ziemnian boyfriends

[mariuslepual]

honestly I don't know which option is funnier

1. essek keeps relating to caleb as bren because of the awkwardness of having to explain the caleb/bren situation after using the name bren with astrid. if essek doesn't want to have to disclose some of caleb's traumatic backstory, bringing up bren in the first place is not an... ideal choice. this is also funny because it's not really important to BH to know that bren that sends his regards is also essek's partner. they could just think essek knows two ziemnian guys.

2. essek wants to obscure the nature of his relationship with caleb from people he doesn't fully trust. this is funny because as far as we know anyone in the vanguard who directly wishes caleb harm also knows him well enough to know who bren is. this conceals nothing. you could've just given them a completely fake name, mr hot boi.

2a. this is also funny because his arrival as seth suggests essek may be hiding his true identity from the alliance but had to reveal it to BH later for practical reasons. so currently BH could reasonably assume caleb doesn't know his acquaintance seth's true identity.

3. in the years following the end of c2 caleb just decided to start using both names interchangeably. the grand caleb/bren dychotomy is a lie. essek just hasn't realised someone has to mention it to new people.