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Caulscott is the het ship between Max Caulfield and Nathan Prescott from the Life is Strange fandom.
Canon[]
Life is Strange[]
In 2013, Max and Nathan are both students at Blackwell Academy. Max witnesses an altercation turned violent in the girl’s restroom between Nathan and Chloe Price. Nathan pulls out a loaded handgun and ends up shooting Chloe in the abdomen, killing her. Prior in the day, Max discovers she has time-manipulation abilities. She uses her new-found power to rewind time, bringing Chloe back. Before the same event can occur again, Max pulls a fire alarm, alerting both Nathan and Chloe, forcing them to leave the restroom as other students and school faculty evacuate the building from the pulled alarm. Max is now aware Nathan has a ready-to-fire gun on school property. She speaks to Principal Wells, either snitching on Nathan or not.
Sometime later, Max is talking with Warren Graham outside in the parking lot. During her and Warren’s conversation, Nathan storms up to her wanting to know what she told Principal Wells earlier. If she told the truth by snitching on him, Nathan is furious that she told on him, as he was “dragged” into Well’s office. When asked if all he was given was a “stern lecture,” Nathan claims that nobody can lecture him, even though everyone tries to. If she didn’t tell the truth, by not snitching on him, Max claims that all she saw was a butterfly. Nathan deems her to be “full of shit,” saying that he’d “respect her more” if she told the truth. Max quips back that she doesn’t need Nathan’s respect, only for Nathan to tell her that she’s “clueless,” as she has no idea who he is or what he can do.
Their conversation becomes more heated, with Nathan getting more in Max’s face, trying to intimidate her. Warren steps in, telling Nathan to get away from her. At Warren’s intrusion, Nathan violently headbutts him, knocking Warren to the ground. Nathan goes back for Max, physically assaulting her, forcing Max to claw at his face to get him off of her. Moments later, Chloe shows up in her truck, with the girls recognizing each other. Despite the pain, Warren gets back up and tackles Nathan to the ground, yelling for Max to go, saying that he can handle Nathan. Max jumps into the truck and speeds off as Nathan gets Warren off of him, kicking the truck before it’s too far away.[1]
The following morning in Mark Jefferson’s classroom, Nathan is sitting with Victoria Chase on Max’s desk. Depending on Max’s previous interactions with both Nathan and Victoria will determine how their conversation goes when Max wants to sit in her seat. If Max didn’t snitch on Nathan, he’ll call her “mysterious” and a “pixie hipster” before getting up with Victoria, not before glaring wordlessly at Max. If Max did snitch on Nathan, he’ll smugly tell Victoria to be careful as Max is a “master snitch” and a “liar,” before getting up with her. As he leaves, he’ll step into Max’s space, telling her, “Shit’s just starting, Max.”
Later that day, Max’s friend and fellow student, Kate Marsh, either committed suicide or Max was successful in stopping her and saving her life. Due to the day’s events, Max is called into Principal Wells’ office, along with Nathan and two of the school’s faculty members. Between the three people brought in, Max can blame either of them. If she blames Nathan for Kate’s suicide or suicide attempt, as Kate was in a video that Nathan was very prominent in. Blaming Nathan will lead to an argument between him and Max, ending when Principal Wells speaks up and expels Nathan.[2]
The next time Max and Nathan meet is at the Two Whales diner when Max is attempting to steal Frank Bowers’ keys to his RV. If Max blamed and got Nathan expelled from Blackwell Academy, he’ll be hostile to her presence, insulting her and mocking her outfit for looking like Rachel Amber. If Max blamed Jefferson, leading to Nathan not getting expelled, he’ll still be hostile, but more willing to talk to Max.
Near the end of the episode, Max is in an alternate reality where Chloe’s father, William Price, was not killed in a car accident. In this reality Max is in the Vortex Club and friends with Nathan, as the two are seen hanging out in the same group.[3]
The entire time Max and Chloe are investigating the disappearance of Rachel Amber, their investigation takes them to Nathan’s room in the boy’s dormitory for clues with the intent on locating his burner phone. Checking to make sure Nathan isn’t there, Max breaks into his room. As Max searches around the room, she makes comments about what she sees, learning new things about Nathan, even complimenting Nathan’s photography, though wishing he put all of his energy into his photography.
Upon finding Nathan’s phone, she and Chloe proceed to leave the dormitory only to come face-to-face with Nathan as he’s entering the building. In rage, he yells at them, demanding to know what they’re doing in “his dorm”. Nathan makes an attempt to storm towards to Max when Chloe shoves him back and Warren comes out of his own dorm room when he hears the commotion in the hallway. He tells Max that “he’s got this” and begins to attack Nathan. As Warren beats Nathan down, Max has the option whether she stops Warren from his attack or lets him beat Nathan until his face is a bloodied mess and he’s begging Warren to stop. If she lets Warren continue in his assault, when Warren finally gets off of Nathan, she’ll briefly expresses concern at a severely beaten down Nathan. If Max stops Warren from his assault on Nathan, she’ll comment how while Nathan does “deserve” a beating, they all need to try to be better than that.[4]
Max’s photography teacher, Mark Jefferson, is revealed to be a serial killer of teenage girls. He kidnaps Max, drugs her and proceeds to take photos of her before attempting to murder her. Using her time-manipulation abilities Max is able to escape him with the help of Chloe’s step-father, David Madsen. As Max is driving away from the scene, she receives a voicemail from Nathan from the previous night. In the voicemail, Nathan states that he’s sorry, that he didn’t want to hurt Kate or Rachel, or anyone for that matter. He further claims that the people around him only used him and that Jefferson is now coming to murder him. He ends his message, telling Max to “watch out” and warning her that once Jefferson kills him, he’s coming for Max next.[5]
Moments[]
Episode 1: Chrysalis
- Max claws at Nathan’s face.
Episode 2: Out of Time
- Nathan glares at Max. (determinant)
Episode 3: Chaos Theory
- Nathan watches Max leave the Vortex Club hangout group.
Episode 4: Dark Room
- Max compliments Nathan on his photography while investigating in his room. (determinant)
- Max expresses concern at a beaten down Nathan if she doesn’t stop Warren from severely pummeling him. (determinant)
Episode 5: Polarized
- Nathan calls Max, leaving a voicemail, stating how sorry he is and warning her about Jefferson.
Quotes[]
- Nathan – “Max Caulfield, right? You’re one of the Jefferson’s photo groupies?”
- Max – “I’m one of his students.”
- Nathan – “Whatthefuckever. I know you like to take pictures. Especially when you’re hiding out in the bathrooms. You best tell me what you told the principal. Now!”
- — First formal meeting, Episode 1: Chrysalis.
- Max – “I told him the truth. A student had a gun.”
- Nathan – “No, you told him I had a gun. That’s why he dragged me into his office.”
- Max – “And do what? Give you a stern lecture?”
- Nathan – “Nobody, nobody lectures me. Everyone tries, though. They try…”
- Max – “You should talk to somebody, Nathan.”
- Nathan – “Do not analyze me! I pay people for that. Worry about yourself, Max Caulfield.”
- — Should Max snitch on Nathan, Episode 1: Chrysalis.
- Max – “Nothing but a butterfly.”
- Nathan – “You’re full of shit. I’d respect you more if you told me the truth.”
- Max – “I don’t need your respect.”
- Nathan – “You’re clueless. You have no idea who I am or what I can do.”
- Max – “Actually, I have a pretty good idea of who you are…”
- Nathan – “Do not analyze me! I pay people for that. Worry about yourself, Max Caulfield.”
- — Should Max not snitch on Nathan, Episode 1: Chrysalis.
- Nathan – “Max is such a little –”
- Victoria – “Shh, I think she can hear us.”
- — Nathan and Victoria talk about Max on her desk, Episode 2: Out of Time.
- “Here comes the mysterious Max, disguised as a pixie hipster.”
- — If Max didn’t snitch on Nathan in episode one, Episode 2: Out of Time.
- “Better be quite, Victoria, we have a master snitch and liar here.”
- — If Max did snitch on Nathan in episode one, Episode 2: Out of Time.
- Nathan – “Rachel? Whatevathefuck?”
- Max – “Uh…”
- Nathan – “Oh, look. “Max Amber”. Nice outfit. By the way, thanks for getting me fucking expelled, you twee bitch. You’re lucky this is a public place…”
- Max – “Considering we’re in a public diner with a police officer right over there, you shouldn’t advertise your rage, Prescott.”
- Nathan – “Oh yeah? You shouldn’t have bitch-snitched on me to that fucked up principal.”
- — Encounter at the Two Whales diner, if Max got Nathan expelled, Episode 3: Chaos Theory.
- Nathan – “Rachel? Whatevathefuck?”
- Max – “Uh…”
- Nathan – “Oh, look. “Max Amber”. Is that your “punk girl rock” outfit? That was classic watching you turn on your “everyday hero” Jefferson yesterday.”
- Max – “Considering we’re in a public diner with a police officer right over there, you shouldn’t advertise your rage, Prescott.”
- Nathan – “No worries. ‘Cause you’re the one trying fake it ‘till you make it. At least you were smart enough to keep your big month shut in the Principal’s office. ”
- — Encounter at the Two Whales diner, if Max didn’t get Nathan expelled, Episode 3: Chaos Theory.
- “Holy shit, what do you want now?”
- — Nathan to Max, of Max comes back to Nathan after already speaking with him, Episode 3: Chaos Theory.
- Nathan – “What are you doing in my dorm? You’re such a nosy bitch, Max!”
- Max – “Stop right there, Nathan!”
- Nathan – “Make me, ho!”
- — Confrontation in the boy’s dormitory, Episode 4: Dark Room.
- “Max… it’s Nathan. I just wanted to say… I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt Kate or Rachel, or… didn’t want to hurt anybody. Everybody… used me. Mr. Jefferson… he’s coming for me now. All this shit will be over soon. Watch out, Max. He wants to hurt you next. Sorry.”
- — Nathan’s voicemail to Max, Episode 5: Polarized.
Fanon[]
Caulscott is a small, though notable ship within the Life is Strange fandom, given how Max is the main character and Nathan acts as the game’s secondary antagonist.
Due to the heavy themes that the series is known for, mental health and other forms of recovery are common within Caulscott works. Throughout the course of the game Nathan is visibly struggling with his worsening mental state, under the manipulation of Jefferson. Fan works usually have Max helping Nathan through his pain and turmoil and often have Nathan developing a peace in her, sometimes resulting in fix-it works where Nathan lives.
A notable scene that fans of the pair especially love is the voicemail that Nathan leaves Max during Polarized, showing that even through Nathan knows he’s going to be murdered by Jefferson, he still takes the time to warn Max that she’s next on Jefferson’s hit list. In this scene Nathan also reveals that he never wanted to hurt anyone.
On AO3, Caulscott has 155+ works in its romantic/het tag, and 30+ in its platonic/general tag.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Max/Nathan tag on AO3
- Max & Nathan tag on AO3
- Max/Nathan works on FanFiction.net
- ART
- Caulscott tag on DeviantArt
- Max x Nathan search results on DeviantArt
- Caulscott hashtag on Instagram
- TUMBLR
- Caulscott tag on Tumblr
- Max x Nathan posts on Tumblr
References[]
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| Life is Strange Ships • Life is Strange Characters | ||
| SHIPS | het | Caulscott • Hampdenprice • Langfield • Luchen • Myerscott |
| slash | Chencan • Grahamscott | |
| femslash | Amberprice • Chenrich • Pricefield • Safield | |
| poly | Luchenrich | |
| friendship | Lurich • Matthewsprice | |