[ He'd considered Atlas as a potential business venture. Hell, he'd covertly bought stock in the company (under a different name, of course—Hyperion wouldn't exactly like him buying stock in another company), because he could tell that they were going somewhere. He's still fairly certain that he was right about that, because if not for what's her name- Athena, apparently? They would have been competition for Hyperion. He was sure of that. He'd been planning to take advantage of that, because that was how it went with him. No one expected John the programmer to actually be good with money, smart in business, and he used that to his advantage.
So, this ends up being a peek into a closer future that finally closes the distance between who he feels he is now versus this abstract idea of himself in some future that Rhys is describing. He'd been making the moves to position himself advantageously against Atlas. Hell, hiring the Atlas assassin chick was a little strategic in itself, since he figured she'd known little tidbits that he could use.
But, that?
That's so much farther than Jack had imagined that whole thing going. That wasn't the kind of casual ruin that he'd done before. Hack into some servers, find all the juicy stuff, blackmail your way to the top before revealing it anyways to clean house. Sure, it ruined lives, but it didn't kill people. It's easy to see that kind of conflict on Jack's face for a moment as he listens to Rhys, but as he continues and demonstrates that difference, it shifts into a harder one. It's not completely intentional on Jack's part, but he's suddenly aware of how much of his emotion he's showing to a person that perhaps he shouldn't.
Because, honestly? What Rhys is describing here actually thrills him. It's thrilling in that way where he knows that he has to keep it to himself, as he always has. It's a feeling that Jack has never been able to put into words, but the rush that comes with the idea of people really, truly looking up to him in that way? It's fantastic. It's almost everything he's hoped for and worked so hard to achieve, and for what Rhys describes here, he can put enough pieces together to guess at just how close he might be. If Hyperion lasts that long, that means Elpis does too. Jack is a hero, and that-- That has to be where his eventual success comes from. The story that Rhys is spinning here reeks of his future success, and it feels so close that Jack could grab it if he plays his cards right.
...But he's also not so far gone as to do it viciously. Not yet. Since for all the bits of glory he can see in between those horrifying pieces, the horror isn't something he can ignore so easily or take pleasure in. It's not ruining people who were jerks and totally deserved it. It almost sounds like doing what's necessary as Jack tries to scramble for some kind of justification for his future self (which he realizes is ridiculous in itself), but those excuses are fragile at best. He can see them for what they are here, and it twists up in his stomach uncomfortably.
He's not sure how to feel. Should this inspire feelings of disgust? Or should it be pride? As it is, he's caught somewhere between the two, and in itself, he doesn't like what that might say about him.
For the normally so talkative Jack, it makes it clear that this is something he's giving serious consideration, even if whatever that consideration is doesn't show so readily on his face. He doesn't interrupt, and he doesn't even look like he wants to. He just listens, taking in each little piece to fit it together into this jumbled puzzle that Rhys keeps throwing in front of him. The silence would have probably lingered, but that last part resonates with Jack as something a bit more recent. He scoffs, and seeming to decide it's hot enough, grabs the can and starts to shovel its contents onto the hot pan. ]
Yeah, would say that's good advice, generally speaking. You think you're an exception, and you end up with a gun pointed at your back.
[ His words are bitter and personal in a way that makes it clear that he's speaking on something specific, but he doesn't elaborate on what that is. Really, he'd be happy to diss the Merriff and tell Rhys exactly what happened, because honestly, fuck that guy. He's still thinking about the best way to get back at him and make sure everyone knows what a total asshole he was. But it's also not the point here, and Jack doesn't think about how his bitterness without guilt could tie into that future he feels apprehension over.
While the mystery meat mixture sizzles in the pan, Jack walks closer to the coffee maker with his own mug, since at this point, it's ready. Whether he's just not thinking too much about it now or he really is feeling more at ease around Rhys, he's more confident as he approaches and gets in Rhys's personal space. He'll even wave a hand to try and get him to move, since he's kind of in the way. ]
Y'know, you're right, ki- Rhys. I'm not sorry for trying to kill you, because I- I mean, I didn't. I can't apologize for something I haven't done without it sounding totally fake. And, look. I have killed people. Since that "don't know how" comment is... It's probably bad if I say it's offensive. But, whatever, point is. You don't save the moon from a friggin' crazy army without putting bullets in peoples' brains. That's just, uh. How it's gonna go.
[ Before Jack even fills up his coffee cup, though, he beckons for Rhys's. In a quiet way, this is his gesture of peace, though Rhys might not pick up on it. ]
I'm not some psychopathic murderer.
[ As compared to that quick, rambling way Jack tends to speak, that much is said with certainty as he asks through a gesture for Rhys's mug. Maybe he's saying it because he wants to prove it to Rhys. Or maybe he just wants to prove it to himself. ]
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So, this ends up being a peek into a closer future that finally closes the distance between who he feels he is now versus this abstract idea of himself in some future that Rhys is describing. He'd been making the moves to position himself advantageously against Atlas. Hell, hiring the Atlas assassin chick was a little strategic in itself, since he figured she'd known little tidbits that he could use.
But, that?
That's so much farther than Jack had imagined that whole thing going. That wasn't the kind of casual ruin that he'd done before. Hack into some servers, find all the juicy stuff, blackmail your way to the top before revealing it anyways to clean house. Sure, it ruined lives, but it didn't kill people. It's easy to see that kind of conflict on Jack's face for a moment as he listens to Rhys, but as he continues and demonstrates that difference, it shifts into a harder one. It's not completely intentional on Jack's part, but he's suddenly aware of how much of his emotion he's showing to a person that perhaps he shouldn't.
Because, honestly? What Rhys is describing here actually thrills him. It's thrilling in that way where he knows that he has to keep it to himself, as he always has. It's a feeling that Jack has never been able to put into words, but the rush that comes with the idea of people really, truly looking up to him in that way? It's fantastic. It's almost everything he's hoped for and worked so hard to achieve, and for what Rhys describes here, he can put enough pieces together to guess at just how close he might be. If Hyperion lasts that long, that means Elpis does too. Jack is a hero, and that-- That has to be where his eventual success comes from. The story that Rhys is spinning here reeks of his future success, and it feels so close that Jack could grab it if he plays his cards right.
...But he's also not so far gone as to do it viciously. Not yet. Since for all the bits of glory he can see in between those horrifying pieces, the horror isn't something he can ignore so easily or take pleasure in. It's not ruining people who were jerks and totally deserved it. It almost sounds like doing what's necessary as Jack tries to scramble for some kind of justification for his future self (which he realizes is ridiculous in itself), but those excuses are fragile at best. He can see them for what they are here, and it twists up in his stomach uncomfortably.
He's not sure how to feel. Should this inspire feelings of disgust? Or should it be pride? As it is, he's caught somewhere between the two, and in itself, he doesn't like what that might say about him.
For the normally so talkative Jack, it makes it clear that this is something he's giving serious consideration, even if whatever that consideration is doesn't show so readily on his face. He doesn't interrupt, and he doesn't even look like he wants to. He just listens, taking in each little piece to fit it together into this jumbled puzzle that Rhys keeps throwing in front of him. The silence would have probably lingered, but that last part resonates with Jack as something a bit more recent. He scoffs, and seeming to decide it's hot enough, grabs the can and starts to shovel its contents onto the hot pan. ]
Yeah, would say that's good advice, generally speaking. You think you're an exception, and you end up with a gun pointed at your back.
[ His words are bitter and personal in a way that makes it clear that he's speaking on something specific, but he doesn't elaborate on what that is. Really, he'd be happy to diss the Merriff and tell Rhys exactly what happened, because honestly, fuck that guy. He's still thinking about the best way to get back at him and make sure everyone knows what a total asshole he was. But it's also not the point here, and Jack doesn't think about how his bitterness without guilt could tie into that future he feels apprehension over.
While the mystery meat mixture sizzles in the pan, Jack walks closer to the coffee maker with his own mug, since at this point, it's ready. Whether he's just not thinking too much about it now or he really is feeling more at ease around Rhys, he's more confident as he approaches and gets in Rhys's personal space. He'll even wave a hand to try and get him to move, since he's kind of in the way. ]
Y'know, you're right, ki- Rhys. I'm not sorry for trying to kill you, because I- I mean, I didn't. I can't apologize for something I haven't done without it sounding totally fake. And, look. I have killed people. Since that "don't know how" comment is... It's probably bad if I say it's offensive. But, whatever, point is. You don't save the moon from a friggin' crazy army without putting bullets in peoples' brains. That's just, uh. How it's gonna go.
[ Before Jack even fills up his coffee cup, though, he beckons for Rhys's. In a quiet way, this is his gesture of peace, though Rhys might not pick up on it. ]
I'm not some psychopathic murderer.
[ As compared to that quick, rambling way Jack tends to speak, that much is said with certainty as he asks through a gesture for Rhys's mug. Maybe he's saying it because he wants to prove it to Rhys. Or maybe he just wants to prove it to himself. ]