TMA!Jacobi and Jon

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Are you sure this is the place?" he asks the driver, who was already speeding off, leaving Jacobi in front of the old building.

"Thanks for your help!" he calls out with false cheer, rolling his eyes before trudging his way up to what he had been told was the Magnus Institute. He doesn't even flinch at the screech of tires that comes from blocks behind him. He doesn't have to see the car erupt into flames as a very confused driver crawls out and phones for help. That's chaos for someone else.

Instead, he takes the steps up, backpack on his shoulder. He had flown all the way out here, so it's not as if he's going to be missing any leads. Besides. He has an appointment.

The closer to the door he gets, the more uncomfortable he feels about this. It's like a whisper of wind against his skin, a suggestion of something dangerous, but Jacobi's never let something like that bother him. He walks through, hands in his pockets.

Comments

[mrballisticsdummy]

Jacobi snorts. "I don't believe in inefficiency," he tells him as he follows close behind. "Also, I kind of figured I'd get three steps in before you tried to stop me."

[epistemological]

"Yes, well, we've got quite enough enemies. Forgive me for attempting diplomacy. Try not to make me regret it."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"We?"

He shifts his backpack on his shoulders. "And I'm not going to make you regret anything. It's been - strange to have an actual decent conversation for the first time in months? Years. Definitely months."

[epistemological]

That makes him pause on the steps.

"...months? Was that- because you were in, uh, space?"

He actually looks a little concerned.

[mrballisticsdummy]

"With the worst people you've ever met? Yeah. Exactly. People I had come to - essentially police. They killed one of mine and ensured the death of the other. And then I had to pretend to be nice to them on the way home so that they didn't all gang up on me and kill me, too. Fortunately, they needed me."

He stops, looking up to him. "Are you surprised?"

[epistemological]

He takes that in, all of that, and it's... he can't help that there's a moment where he ignores Jacobi's question. Instead, he just shakes his head and seeks out the other man's eyes.

"I'm... sorry. For your loss. I- It's... very difficult to try and function in such an environment."

HE knows the man is an avatar and there's no telling what he might have been up to but the way he cares about the others, that he's angry about them: that tells him enough.

[mrballisticsdummy]

He doesn't meet his eyes, but it doesn't matter, which he's starting to realize. "Shut up. Don't be sorry for it. It happened and it's over and there's no going back. So keep walking."

It's very much an instinctive sort of reaction. To shut down the conversation, to shut down the other person. It's easy to fall back on that. It feels good when this topic feels terrible.

[epistemological]

There's a long moment as he looks at Daniel, as he considers that response. He's heard similar from Basira, but given that this man isn't-

Well, isn't Basira. Which is why he holds his gaze for a moment.

"That... won't work. I hope you realize that."

But he'll turn then and nod and now he's quiet as he leads the way to artifact storage.

[mrballisticsdummy]

Again, he doesn't meet his eyes but does follow.

"You're walking away and we're not talking about it anymore? So - I'd say it worked very well."

[epistemological]

"I wasn't talking about for me. I meant for you." Because he knows what losing people is. He just lost one, and another is...

Well, they'd never been terribly close with Daisy but her loss is still an ache.

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Yeah, I'm working on it," he says with a roll of his eyes. "You don't need to worry about me."

[epistemological]

"I never-" and he just sighs and makes an irritated noise before noting, "Fine, as you like."

And he'll lead the way the rest of the way up the stairs and down the hall towards the first of the artifact storage rooms.

"If you could please remain in the hallway?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Scout's honor," Jacobi tells him, having never been a Scout.

But he does intend on staying.

[epistemological]

There's a long, steady look before he slips through the door. It'll take him a few minutes before he comes back again, and during that time, Jacobi will feel eyes on him.

"...it's here."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Stop that," he hisses to the eyes he can only feel. The press into him, annoying him greatly.

But then Jon's voice gives him a jolt.

"Good!" he squeaks, then tries again,with less enthusiasm. "Good."

[epistemological]

There's a bit of wry amusement on his face from the 'fight' with his attentions. The squeak gets a bounce of one eyebrow.

"Good" he repeats. "Was there anything else?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"You're actually going to give it to me?" he laughs. "No fight?"

And he holds his hand out for it.

[epistemological]

He stands in the doorway.

"I hardly said that. I'd like to know what it does. And why you want it. And 'defending' it is no reason to take it out from here. We're already living here after all. You'd protect it better by staying here."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"It - burns when you use it. But not - your hands. Use it enough, hold it enough, carry it enough, it will burn the heart right out of you," he tells him.

"It was once a sacrificial knife, but - uh, changed its demeanor."

[epistemological]

There's a long pause as he looks at Jacobi.

"...and that's... why you're looking for it?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

Jacobi finally holds his gaze. Very serious. Very somber.

"There's a bit of poetry to it, right? But hey. It's worth a shot."

[epistemological]

He will step out of the room, close the door, and turn to face Jacobi as he leans his back against it.

"Then I'm afraid I can't give it to you."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Really? This is where you draw the line?"

He rolls his eyes, annoyed.

[epistemological]

He looks back at Daniel and his eyes go... not hard. But determined.

"At helping someone erase part of their own humanity? Yes, that is in fact where I draw the line."

[mrballisticsdummy]

Jacobi doesn't seem to react outwardly to that, not physically, but the air immediately around him shimmers somewhat, like heat waves on the street.

"Yeah, and what the hell has my humanity done for me? Or anyone?" he snaps, though his anger comes out of desperation more than destruction.