First Ari Meeting - Rough Draft

Annnnd finally, the rough draft of Morgan's first meeting with Ari. All of these meetings can happen right after the same event (which people have probably picked up on by now) so they all involve the LI walking Morgan home.

---

Morgan: "Thank you..."

"I didn't even know what I was thanking him for. Scaring off the other man? Shielding me? All of the above? I took his hand and pulled myself to my feet."

Unknown Man: "Are you alright? You fell..."

Morgan: "I'm alright. I don't think I'm hurt."

"My ankle was a bit sore from having tripped, but I didn't think it was sprained or anything."

"I gave the man another curious look, eyes going wide when I saw the small cut on his face."

Morgan: "But you are! Because you shielded me from that glass, probably. What even happened there?"

"I looked up at the shattered window one story above us worriedly."

Unknown Man: "You were just attacked and yet you're worried about a stranger?"

Morgan: "Well...you're hurt. And I'm not."

"He touched the cut on his face, his expression not changing."

Unknown Man: "This is nothing. It's only a scratch."

Morgan: "Let me see!"

"I pulled him down to my level by his collar to inspect the cut on his cheek. He lifted an eyebrow and gently removed my hands from his shirt as he straightened again."

Unknown Man: "Looking at it isn't going to help. I can have it treated at a clinic later if necessary."

Morgan: "Still, you got it from helping me. I just wanted to see if there was still glass in it."

Unknown Man: "Because I got it from helping you doesn't make you responsible. It was I who chose to jump in at that moment."

Morgan: "Where did you even come from? I didn't realise anyone else was around."

Unknown Man: "I just happened to be nearby and heard you cry out."

Morgan: "Well thank you for intervening. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't. That man..."

"I glanced worriedly over my shoulder."

Unknown Man: "He appears to have fled for the time being."

Morgan: "The time being??"

Unknown Man: "I can't say he won't be back. Which is why you should head home if you're otherwise alright."

"Yeah. I wasn't much in the mood for dinner out anymore anyway."

Morgan: "Do I at least get to learn your name?"

Ari: "I'm Ariel Vaughn. Most simply call me Ari - you may as well, if you wish."

Morgan: "I'm Morgan Leone. And I just want to thank you again for helping me, Mr. Vaughn."

Ari: "That makes the third time you've thanked me."

Morgan: "I can thank you as much as I want."

"He didn't smile at that, but merely cocked an eyebrow again as he studied my face."

Ari: "Can you get home safely?"

Morgan: "I don't live far. As long as I don't get accosted again on the way home, I should be fine."

Ari: "It's the potential for being accosted again that's the concern."

Morgan: "Generally speaking, yes. That would be a problem."

Ari: "Perhaps I should go with you at least part of the way."

"I hesitated. I mean, I didn't exactly know this Ariel Vaughn. But...he had helped me, and it seemed a bit weird that he'd help me only to try to assault me himself."

"Besides, he didn't seem the type. I wasn't really much for reading vibes or whatever, but he didn't really give off a threatening one."

Morgan: "Alright. If you don't mind?"

Ari: "I wouldn't offer if I minded."

Morgan: "...Fair enough."

"And with that, I awkwardly wove my way back through the alley in the direction I'd come."

Ari: "Wait."

Morgan: "What is it?"

Ari: "You're limping. Were you injured?"

Morgan: "No! I'm fine. Really..."

Morgan: "I just turned my ankle when I fell. And I'm pretty sure I bruised up both knees. It's nothing serious."

Ari: "You shouldn't be walking on that."

Morgan: "It's fine - it just hurts a little. I'll put it up for the rest of the evening when I get back."

Ari: "Let me have a look at it."

"I gave him a slightly teasing grin, amused at his concern when he'd been so dismissive of mine for that cut on his face."

Morgan: "Looking at it isn't going to help. I can always get it checked a clinic later if I need to."

"He frowned, still not cracking even a hint of a smile."

Ari: "If I see that it's swollen, I could try to hail a cab for you instead of walking."

Morgan: "I literally live two blocks from here."

"He took my elbow and led me to a nearby step, motioning for me to sit. I hesitated, then did so just because it seemed like he wasn't going to let it go otherwise."

"He crouched in front of me and pulled my foot onto his knee, gently easing off my boot. I winced as he started poking around on my ankle in a decidedly not doctor-like way."

"I studied his face as he examined my ankle, amused by the serious expression. My gaze landed on the cut again, which already had a thin line of crusted-over blood."

"Without thinking, I slid my fingers under his jaw, forcing him to look up as I leaned a bit closer just to check if there was any glass still lodged there."

"Fortunately, it didn't look like a bad cut - he'd been right about that. And no shards of glass that I could see. Though I wasn't exactly a doctor."

"I realised he had completely frozen, and was staring at me with eyes that were a strange shade of pale grey. His face was still expressionless - as if waiting for me to explain."

Morgan: "Sorry! Um...the...uh...cut. Doesn't really look that bad."

Ari: "...Neither does your ankle. I don't believe it's sprained."

Morgan: "I told you that much already."

"He looked away as he bent to put my shoe back on. Then he quietly stood and offered his hand again."

Ari: "If you're fine walking, you can at least lean on me for support if you need to."

Morgan: "I think I'll be fine." 

"I started to lead the way again, and Ari fell into step beside me. I could feel his eyes on me as if making sure I wasn't limping too much. I did my best to not limp at all."

Morgan: "So...Mr. Vaughn...what do you do when you're not rescuing women in alleys?"

Ari: "Not much."

"...Really? So did that mean he led a really boring life...or a really exciting life saving people all the time?"

Morgan: "Sounds...interesting? I think?"

"We walked in silence until we were back out on the street. There was still a bit of commotion down by the next intersection, but the crowd had dispersed. "

Morgan: "What were you doing in that alley anyway?"

Ari: "You heard the incident down there?"

"He nodded toward the roundabout with fountain at the end of the block."

Morgan: "I heard it. I didn't see what happened - I was trying to get around it."

Ari: "I see. Well, the cause of it was that man."

Morgan: "What did - wait. Were you chasing him!?"

"He wasn't in uniform so I didn't think he was from the Safety Department. But I suppose he could have been an investigator instead of an officer. "

Ari: "Not exactly."

"...What did that mean??"

"It didn't seem like he was going to give any more information than that, though."

Morgan: "Do you think he was, um...on drugs? His eyes looked a little strange."

Ari: "He was an Esper."

Morgan: "What!?" 

"Wait...that could explain why he was so fast. Not to mention strong."

"And, at least to others, maybe even the broken window..."

Morgan: "That might also explain some of the odd things he was saying about The Court and everything..."

"I sighed softly."

Morgan: "I suppose I should send in a report when I get home. I hope they catch him. He probably should be put somewhere that he can get treatment."

Ari: "I'm sure they've already gotten a clear description of him whether you send a report or not. There were many witnesses to the incident at the fountain."

Morgan: "Even so..."

"It was easy to say things like 'Cessolis is a safe city' until you were confronted head on by its problems..."

"It didn't take us long to reach my building. Ari stayed with me the entire time despite saying he would only walk me part of the way. Though neither of us said much else the rest of the way."

"I stopped a short way from my door."

Morgan: "You really didn't have to walk me all the way back.

Ari: "It's fine."

Morgan: "Thank y-"

Ari: "Don't forget to elevate your ankle Miss Leone."

Morgan: "I won't forget. And you don't forget to properly clean and doctor that cut."

Ari: "I won't."

"He just nodded and turned on his heel, heading back the way we'd come without another word."

"He was kind of an odd man - kind, but also sort of quiet and remote. I watched him for a few minutes before shivering and heading inside."

"It was distressing how rapidly this evening went completely to hell."

"(And I'm still hungry, dammit.)"

"It looked like it was going to be take-out for me..."