Caleb hissed, at the touch, no matter how gentle. One short, sharp inhale of breath as Essek pulled him along. But he stepped. He did not pull away. The coat covered a multitude of concerns, like whatever extra hurt existed that Essek had unwittingly found.

He stepped with him toward the elevator, attempting to cover the noise with idle banter.

"I'm glad you've taken to it," he said, meaning it wholeheartedly even as he noted the tremor of strain in the very bass of his voice while he spoke. "There is so little good in this place--I wish you could have seen the gardens in Mammon's domain."