[ Jack listens, quiet in a way that he very rarely is, but even so, there's that certain intensity like he's watching her, though he doesn't do so conciously. It's simply how Jack is when he's truly listening to someone, though the effect is a bit intimidating, to say the least. Even so, as Elizabeth tells her story, there are even more parallels here than he knew, and that gets the intensity to fade to a small degree. He picks up a screwdriver, twirling it in his hand as he listens, because in truth, he's nervous too.
His reasons are far more selfish, of course. He hears Elizabeth's story, sees how she curls in on herself, and he wonders if this is how Angel felt too. His memories get fuzzier with Angel, though he hates to admit that, but he still has the strongest memories and impressions that the "real" Handsome Jack had for her. He doesn't know the full story of what happened, and there's no one to push the blame onto like Jack had. He doesn't know just how the Vault Hunters play into it, so the very idea that Angel would have killed herself to escape-- There's nowhere to run from that. There's no one to blame.
So, I would rather die than be caged again, she says, and that's what gets that intense gaze to falter. He wonders if he'd made a mistake, briefly, but despite what it may appear, it's not the first time he's questioned that. So just as every time before, the myriad of excuses emerge to make that question disappear. He had his reasons. Even if no one understood them, he'd never cared, but for Elizabeth to not understand them, it means Angel never truly did either. He wants to ask, because for a moment, he's desperate to hear someone confirm that he was justified.
But the thing about monsters, about real monsters like Jack is that if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile. If he had asked the question first, it'd probably turn out differently and reveal his selfishness much more overtly, but Elizabeth beats him to the question. He looks up at her again as she asks about Angel, and his expression shifts. That's the frightening thing about Jack. Nothing he's showing here is disingenious, and yet it's sinister and manipulative all the same. ]
Hey-- [ His voice is soft there, softer than he expects, but that tone hardens quickly when he realizes it. ]
No, Liz, I felt plenty when I heard your story. I mean-- No need to mince words about it now, but you definitely... Absolutely remind me of my Angel. Not just 'cause of, [ He waves his hand vaguely ] this, but you, as a person. But that'd also be really weird to say, one, but two...
[ He trails off and shakes his head. That hand comes to muss through his hair, and his eyes are closed in a difficult expression. It definitely seems to be true that this isn't something Jack generally ever speaks of, if only by how much difficulty he's having expressing himself even when that usually comes naturally. ]
No, let me say first, I wouldn't blame you if you think I'm a monster, kiddo. You wouldn't be the first one. Won't be the last. And I can explain all my reasoning to you, if you want, but feel like that's not really the point. Because, yeah, no matter what, you're right. I kept her locked up. And-- It sounds like you're probably right about how that turned out, in the end.
[ He looks down again, and there's a longer pause before he shakes his head. His voice returns to that softness here that's completely sincere. Though whether that's for Elizabeth or Angel... That's hard to tell. ]
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His reasons are far more selfish, of course. He hears Elizabeth's story, sees how she curls in on herself, and he wonders if this is how Angel felt too. His memories get fuzzier with Angel, though he hates to admit that, but he still has the strongest memories and impressions that the "real" Handsome Jack had for her. He doesn't know the full story of what happened, and there's no one to push the blame onto like Jack had. He doesn't know just how the Vault Hunters play into it, so the very idea that Angel would have killed herself to escape-- There's nowhere to run from that. There's no one to blame.
So, I would rather die than be caged again, she says, and that's what gets that intense gaze to falter. He wonders if he'd made a mistake, briefly, but despite what it may appear, it's not the first time he's questioned that. So just as every time before, the myriad of excuses emerge to make that question disappear. He had his reasons. Even if no one understood them, he'd never cared, but for Elizabeth to not understand them, it means Angel never truly did either. He wants to ask, because for a moment, he's desperate to hear someone confirm that he was justified.
But the thing about monsters, about real monsters like Jack is that if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile. If he had asked the question first, it'd probably turn out differently and reveal his selfishness much more overtly, but Elizabeth beats him to the question. He looks up at her again as she asks about Angel, and his expression shifts. That's the frightening thing about Jack. Nothing he's showing here is disingenious, and yet it's sinister and manipulative all the same. ]
Hey-- [ His voice is soft there, softer than he expects, but that tone hardens quickly when he realizes it. ]
No, Liz, I felt plenty when I heard your story. I mean-- No need to mince words about it now, but you definitely... Absolutely remind me of my Angel. Not just 'cause of, [ He waves his hand vaguely ] this, but you, as a person. But that'd also be really weird to say, one, but two...
[ He trails off and shakes his head. That hand comes to muss through his hair, and his eyes are closed in a difficult expression. It definitely seems to be true that this isn't something Jack generally ever speaks of, if only by how much difficulty he's having expressing himself even when that usually comes naturally. ]
No, let me say first, I wouldn't blame you if you think I'm a monster, kiddo. You wouldn't be the first one. Won't be the last. And I can explain all my reasoning to you, if you want, but feel like that's not really the point. Because, yeah, no matter what, you're right. I kept her locked up. And-- It sounds like you're probably right about how that turned out, in the end.
[ He looks down again, and there's a longer pause before he shakes his head. His voice returns to that softness here that's completely sincere. Though whether that's for Elizabeth or Angel... That's hard to tell. ]
I'm sorry. Guess that's all it amounts to.