[Coldsaturn]

- why is she being kind of obtuse here?
My biggest issue with Caleb's MC is that she really reads as more naive. Every LI gets some variation of this theme (with Sy she's gullible, with Raf she's oblivious, with Zayne she's...the most normal possibly lol, with Xav she straight up chooses to ignore all the half-truths he gives her), but with Caleb she is this sheltered young girl who's just now stepping into the world and she thinks she's so strong and independent but Caleb can manipulate her 20 ways to Sunday and she just stares at him blinking prettily. Which is an interesting twist on their dynamic, both obsessed with each other to the point of being blind about everything else.

- does he want us to know? so he doesn't have to tell us himself?
I agree with you. I think he's also conflicted because in a way he doesn't want to get her involved, so he genuinely wants her to stay in the dark. On the other hand, they're clearly at a point where everything he doesn't say is pushing her away, and something has to give.

- the beginning of this whole thing. DO I HAVE A CHIP?
You know of course I canNOT answer this question

- i am super pleased to know that my fanfic attempt was right on the character money.
You were! Nailed his canon colonel characterization /slow clap

- "Who said you could start it when she was around?"
So hot. He keeps on going feral every time someone gets too close to her just because she's close to him

- did this guy just implode the chip inside Caleb?
I think the sentence is meant to be read as "Since I thought destroying the chip would be too difficult, I'll just straight up kill you instead"

- lightning turns up a lot when Caleb is overwrought. dramatic writing for ambiance you think? or actual barometic pressure inversion?
You know what, lightning twisting his warm expression into something cold + apples have always been around as imagery tied to him, but I like the idea that it's about his evol acting up.