Jesus. Well, hey. Look at what a little context gives us. Understanding.
[Despite the words, he does sound more sympathetic than outright sarcastic.]
Look, I'm the loose cannon. I'm the one that people don't trust. When there's a fight, it's always - what did Jacobi do wrong? You know those assholes automatically picked me as the one with the nukes?
And hey, I get it because I'm usually instigating it. But uh - this was different, alright? I didn't just rile him up because he annoys me. The last thing I wanted was for him to get more hurt.
I'm... not asking for the details of what you said. Only why you thought it was so important for him to hear it that you thought it was worth pushing him into a rage.
[He does his best to follow Eiffel's conversation, but it only works because he's usually able to gloss over whatever strange reference Eiffel's making, or guess it from context. In this case, though -- it feels important. And he doesn't understand.]
You can't tell me because you were acting based on knowledge about his future.
[He doesn't like that thought at all. Actually -- it's terrifying, in a way that makes him want to fight things, even though he doesn't know what there might be to fight.]
You didn't -- tell him something about his future, did you?
Nowhere is good about secrets -- not once anyone knows them.
[He won't push. That's a very good reason for Jacobi not to want to give details, and the details themselves aren't any of his business.]
But... if it's bad, is there any way for him to avoid it? If there is, you might want to tell him.
[His voice is low as he says that. There might not be a way around it. But he himself, if he'd had any chance to get information -- very much would have wanted to know his own future, a year ago, when it could have made a difference.]
He's a year behind me. An entire year of decisions that lead to where he ends up. A lot of dead people and he already has more information now than he did. Maybe he'll avoid it.
I'm pretty fluent in it, but I haven't practiced much lately, so I've forgotten some signs.
It's helpful when a lot of your job involves blocking your ears. And we don't do things half-assed at Goddard. So if I'm going to use sign language, then I'm going to learn the whole damn thing.
Yup. Sorry I can't tell you more, but - look, Eiffel pisses me off. And he defends the actions of his friends, who killed my own. But she's back now and I can't deny that Eiffel saved me more than once.
He deserves better than what he's doing for himself right now.
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Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
No. You came in fucking hot. That's what I meant.
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[... Jacobi actually does have a very good point about the overreaction.
The silence stretches for a long moment. At last, low:]
The last time I saw him fighting in the halls, he was rendered into a bloody mist immediately afterwards.
But you're right.
[and this takes some swallowing of pride, so there's another brief silence before--]
I'm sorry.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
He was what?
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[In a flat and matter-of-fact tone.]
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
[Despite the words, he does sound more sympathetic than outright sarcastic.]
Look, I'm the loose cannon. I'm the one that people don't trust. When there's a fight, it's always - what did Jacobi do wrong? You know those assholes automatically picked me as the one with the nukes?
And hey, I get it because I'm usually instigating it. But uh - this was different, alright? I didn't just rile him up because he annoys me. The last thing I wanted was for him to get more hurt.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
I know how reluctant Eiffel is to throw a punch, and I know you don't like him.
[He recalls Jacobi telling him about Eiffel being friends with Maxwell's killers. There had been more than just annoyance there.]
I, ah, may have been overprotective. But if I walked in on Eiffel punching anyone I'd assume they must've pushed quite a few buttons first.
Now, if he were insulting the last six generations of their family, he's likely to be the aggressor....
Why did you rile him up?
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
[He tsks.]
Can't answer that one.
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Spoiler alert.
Just by telling you that, I'm risking his blood pressure rising if he ever finds out.
I wish I could tell you. I really do.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
[He does his best to follow Eiffel's conversation, but it only works because he's usually able to gloss over whatever strange reference Eiffel's making, or guess it from context. In this case, though -- it feels important. And he doesn't understand.]
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[He doesn't like that thought at all. Actually -- it's terrifying, in a way that makes him want to fight things, even though he doesn't know what there might be to fight.]
You didn't -- tell him something about his future, did you?
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
This place has never been good about secrets.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
[He won't push. That's a very good reason for Jacobi not to want to give details, and the details themselves aren't any of his business.]
But... if it's bad, is there any way for him to avoid it? If there is, you might want to tell him.
[His voice is low as he says that. There might not be a way around it. But he himself, if he'd had any chance to get information -- very much would have wanted to know his own future, a year ago, when it could have made a difference.]
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
He's a year behind me. An entire year of decisions that lead to where he ends up. A lot of dead people and he already has more information now than he did. Maybe he'll avoid it.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
[He sighs.]
Well. I suppose it's possible he will, then. I was just thinking -- in my own past, there are some decisions I wish I'd been warned against.
In any case. I -- know you were trying to help. But I do think it's important to be careful, when you're meddling with other people's hurts.
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And, for the record, the last sign I gave him was an apology.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
All right. -- How much can you say with that sign language, by the way?
[He's heard of it, but never known anyone who could communicate with it.]
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
It's helpful when a lot of your job involves blocking your ears. And we don't do things half-assed at Goddard. So if I'm going to use sign language, then I'm going to learn the whole damn thing.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
I didn't realize it was an entire language. That would be useful.
[Although: Eiffel is radio communications, isn't he? Why would he know sign language?]
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
And it's exceptionally useful. Especially when you create your own jargon for it.
Doesn't help unless you have someone who understands it, obviously.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
[His own, for instance, which no one here actually speaks.
He lets out a breath after a moment, and adds:]
... Thank you for talking to me. I, ah, should get back to the infirmary.
Re: [audio, the day after the Eiffel fight]
He deserves better than what he's doing for himself right now.
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