ghost detectives solving a case at a haunted drag bar? well obviously they have to get into disguise!!

Edwin was just killed, probably a couple of times. He just found out that the guy, who doomed him to Hell actually had a crush on him. He lost his notes, he was alone in this again, so scared, hiding, but not having enough powers to run away again.

And then Charles barged in, this idiot barged into Hell, threw a bomb at Edwin’s torturer, grabbed him and ran. No doubts. No fear. Pure determination. The force that has been pushing Edwin for thirty years.

And they are on the stairs, so close, so close, but Edwin doesn’t know what will happen when they’re back. He knows that Crystal and Niko will be there, maybe the Nurse, and he looks up at this ridiculous boy and decides then and there, that Charles needs to know. On this damned staircase. Because it doesn’t matter, who will catch them, if anyone - he just went down to hell, has seen Edwin shaking from fear and did exactly what he knew Edwin needed him to do - got them out. Together.

And what I loved more than Edwin’s confession? The reaction.

No worries, happy to answer this one!

Basically, at its core, CHET (Cube Hostage Exchange Theory) initially was describing something very specific - Callum would surrender the Key of Aaravos in exchange for Rayla's safety, directly enabling Aaravos' release from his prison. This was a clear prediction with aspecific outcome in mind.

However, this core prediction proved incorrect. The cube exchange never occurred, and later seasons revealed that Aaravos' manipulations of both Callum and Claudia are far more complex than just a narrow-minded means to an end for either one.

And instead of acknowledging this and devising a new theory, the main supporters (or supporter) of the theory just "adapted" it to become more abstract, more vague, to the point it's unrecognizable. Almost like a sleight of hand - the theory then meant "Callum will doom the world for Rayla," "Callum will use dark magic for Rayla," or simply "Callum will do something morally ambiguous for Rayla."

Essentially the theory now means Callum choosing to do anything for Rayla over the "greater good."

Which very quickly stopped being a thing that is true or false - instead the theory's main backer just started pointing to every discrete thing Callum does as "actually about Rayla" (even the finale of s7, which was more logically about Callum choosing to save the world even if it hurts Rayla personally). The theory is now so elastic that it can accommodate any possible outcome. A catch-all explanation for literally everything. At that point, you can basically explain any possible outcome as actually "part of the theory," and at that point what you have isn't a theory. It's a worldview.

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This was an idea that emerged via collective shouting on discord and I can't remember who came up with what but definitely significant credit goes to @regretsofaghost, @waywardsonsandaughters, @dryadgurrl, and @lutheban.

Edwin is a stray cat who found Charles in the attic freezing to death. He tried to warm him up, and when that wasn't working ran and got help for him. He's the reason Charles survived.

Charles in turn bonded hard with Edwin and tracked him down once he got out of the hospital. He basically adopted him, hiding him in his dorm and in his room at home, sneaking him scraps to keep him fed and scrounging for cash for vet bills.

His dad found Edwin in his room one time and physically threw him out of the house and Charles was terrified he was going to kill him, or that Edwin would never come back. (He was back the next day but it definitely gave them both a scare.)

Charles pretty much swore then and there that he was going to give his cat a safe home and got them both out of that house as soon as possible. This is them in their own place where Edwin is unquestioned lord of the manor and has cat toys and perches and climbing equipment everywhere

Edwin is famous at the vet - he doesn't tolerate much physical contact from anyone but Charles and anyone who has tried to restrain him for a procedure is gobsmacked the first time they see Charles casually scoop him onto his shoulders. The older vet staff have a huge soft spot for him because they remember little 16 year old Charles, all brittle determination, coming in with this scrawny raggedy cat in his arms asking how much to get it vaccinated.

At some point Crystal found herself in a bad situation after leaving an abusive relationship, and Charles, knowing what that's like, offered to let her stay. She was not used to cats, especially not touchy former strays, and she and Edwin did not get on at first, but after a while she starts learning about what he needs and why he's Like That and they end up being great friends. The first time he falls asleep on her she feels like she's won the lottery.

Crystal runs an instagram account that starts off just being her making fun of her flatmate's cat and ends up with her doing a lot of education and outreach on cat behaviour.

Some time later a new neighbour, coincidentally named Edwin, with a PTSD service dog named Charles, moves in across the hall