Caleb First Meeting - Rough Draft (Patreon)

The rough draft of a portion of Morgan's first interaction with Caleb. Again, roughs tend to be...well...rough. But here you go.

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Morgan: "Why not? I need to get home. I can't exactly hide in the alley forever. Even if you're standing sentry for me. Which, by the way, I don't think you can do that forever either."

Morgan: "Though I appreciate the sentiment."

"The scowl softened into a slightly less annoyed look. It was kind of nice to know he had at least two modes - irritated, and slightly less so."

Unknown Man: "I don't think it's wise to step back out in the open. The man from the fountain ran before the authorities caught him."

Morgan: "...I suppose that's not shocking.  Did you see how fast he moved?  He was clearly an Esper. And, potentially, on drugs."

Morgan: "The Safety Department will have trouble catching him on their own. "

"That said, I wasn't sure the man was really dangerous - I mean, he hadn't hurt me. Just dragged me around a bit...and scared the life out of me."

Unknown Man: "Another reason for you to stay out of sight. He fixated on you straight away - even though you were at the back of the crowd."

"I shivered slightly at the memory of those pale eyes staring right at me."

Morgan: "Don't remind me. I'm just lucky the sculpture broke when it did..."

Unknown Man: "That certainly was...convenient..."

Morgan: "Also terrifying. Thank you again, by the way. I completely froze up when I saw that thing falling toward me."

Morgan: "Um, I didn't catch your name."

Caleb: "It's Caleb. Caleb Zheng."

Caleb: "You should be able to get back to your house by sticking to these back alleys, correct?"

Morgan: "I think so."

"He was silent a moment, frowning as he stared out at the fountain and whatever was happening there."

Caleb: "...Maybe I should walk with you. At least part of the way."

Morgan: "I don't think I need an escort...but I guess it would be nice to have one."

"It wasn't as if Caleb wasn't also a stranger. But, at the very least, he'd saved me from having my head cracked open by a glass sculpture." 

"His presence would probably somewhat mitigate the paranoia of being attacked from the shadows by a raving maniac.  Though I didn't really know what sort of help Caleb would be if I was attacked by an Esper..."

Caleb: "I have nothing better to do right now. So...lead the way."

"(So if he had something better to do, he wouldn't offer to help?)"

"That was...fair enough, I suppose. Especially since he seemed like a very pragmatic sort of man. I just nodded and started cautiously toward the other end of the alley, checking furtively for anyone else lurking nearby before I started home."

"Caleb didn't walk at my side at first - just a few steps behind me. A quiet but constant presence that somehow reassured me a little just by virtue of being there."

"Still, I was a bit curious about him, and with him behind me, there wasn't much opportunity for conversation. The fact that he chose to walk there instead of next to me kind of indicated to me that he wasn't interested in talking..."

"But I slowed my step until we were side by side anyway."

Morgan: "I was thinking...that man. Some of the things he said--"

Caleb: "The things he said were ludicrous."

Morgan: "I'm not going to deny that. I was just intrigued because he was quoting an old Earth playwright at one point."

"Caleb's brow furrowed as he looked my way. I definitely hadn't expected him to recognize the quote, so I wasn't surprised."

Morgan:  "I pray thee, sing again. Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note..." 

Morgan: "I don't remember the play. But I'm pretty sure it's a quote from Shakespeare."

Caleb: "An Earth playwright? That must be pretty ancient history. How did you even recognise it?"

Morgan: "I've taken a lot of history courses over the years - one of them just last term."

"I shot him a sidelong look."

Morgan: "What about you? Are you still--"

Caleb: "What do you think?"

Morgan: "Don't look at me like it was a dumb question. A lot of people your age are still studying."

Caleb: "My age?"

Morgan: "I mean, I just assumed you're a lot older than me since you act like my dad."

"He scowled again and I couldn't quite keep myself from laughing a little at the sour look on his face."

"Bickering with him definitely helped ease the tension out of my shoulders. I sighed softly. Now that we were nearly back to my apartment, I was lamenting how I'd completely freaked out in front of so many people."

"I hoped recordings of that didn't make it to the news. That would be embarrassing."

"It did occur to me at some point that I should be wary of leading a strange man back to where I lived, but building security was tight enough I didn't think it was really going to be a problem."

"When we were a few doors down, I stopped and turned to Caleb, tipping my head toward the door."

Morgan: "This is me."

"Caleb nodded curtly."

Morgan: "Thank you again. I know I keep saying it but..."

"I gave him a helpless smile."

Morgan: "It doesn't get me back the quiet dinner I was hoping for, but I do appreciate your help today."

Caleb: "Don't worry about it. Just get inside. And, if I were you, I'd stay there the rest of the night."

Morgan: "I think I'll do that."

"He turned away and walked back the way we'd come without saying anything else."

"I watched him retreat back the way we'd come. He was very...abrupt. And kind of cranky."

"(But kind enough to walk me home...)"

"Definitely a strange man. I sighed and headed up to my flat wondering where I'd order take out from..."

"So much for rest and relaxation..."