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[He almost, almost answers with 'he deserves a decent commander'. It doesn't quite make its way in to words, instead a brief flare of indignation-anger-disgust, but even that lasts less than second before Jack snaps it back under control. Takes another second for him to reply, though.]

What would you have wanted me to do?

Something that wouldn't have reduced him to tears, to name one thing.

I know how you feel about yourself, and about what's happened. But that does not justify lashing out at those who are on your side.

I didn't 'lash out'. All I did was tell him I wasn't his commander anymore.

[And that the explosion wasn't an accident.]

And you really expect Reinhardt to have reacted well to that?

[There's a flash of irritation tinged with mild exasperation. If it were anyone else, they would have been upset, sure, but they would have been okay. But this was Reinhardt. He was emotional on the best of days.]

It's one thing to admit you have changed. It's quite another to make him see you as a stranger.

I don't see why he shouldn't.

Because he was your friend, your ally. That hasn't changed, Jack. Treating him like a stranger is unfair to him, and you know that.

Edited 2017-01-11 22:30 (UTC)

He was friends and ally with someone who's not here anymore, Ana. What's more unfair to him, making him realize that or trying to put on a show? You want to talk about being cruel, you think about him finding out how much of it is a lie.

I could've handled it better, maybe, but I did the best I could do for him.

Edited (hnow the FUCK did that get there) 2017-01-12 01:45 (UTC)

[There's a pause from Ana, and though she doesn't say anything, the emotional bleed from her end speaks enough. Irritation at his stubbornness, frustration at his self-depreciation, a hint of sorrow over the fact that he believes his own words, the small flame of anger as she wants to defend Reinhardt. They're brief, and Ana does quickly reign them back under control, but the frown on her face can practically be felt over the connection.]

The only one here who truly believes that Jack Morrison is dead and gone is you, Jack. Your personality may have changed, but last I checked, you were still you.

[But hey, at least he's admitting he could have handled it better.]

Well, your best ended up hurting him. How do you intend to fix that?

Edited 2017-01-12 06:41 (UTC)

[Sorry not sorry, Ana. Even here, without a known shadow threat, he clings to the security of his mask and number over the risk of open exposure. Nevermind it's not a risk at all.]

Keep my distance, give him time to take in everything while all that scars over.

No intentions of apologizing for being the one who caused him all that trouble? He's your friend, he deserves that much.

[not really no]

You're going to insist on it, aren't you.

I'm sure you know the answer to that.

[Translation: Damn straight she is.]

And you're not expecting things to get worse in the process.

[like he knows you have faith in him and he appreciates that despite how grumpy he may be, but um???]

It's my understanding that heartfelt apologies usually make things better, not worse. Isn't that what they teach you in preschool?

Fine.

[Eventually he'll do it. BUT NOT TODAY.]

Good. You'll do fine, Jack.

[She knows he probably won't do it that day. But a couple days later she will be pinging him again.]

Well?

[You cannot escape Ana. It's an inevitable fact.

You can, however, stall by playing dumb-]

Well what?

I think you know what, Jack.

[She can sense your stall tactics, Jack.]

[sIGH]

I've been busy.

Busy.

Yeah.

[With...stuff.]

[There's a slight mix of emotion on Ana's side; that familiar exasperation, annoyance, and mild irritation, all mingling together for a brief moment. Then, they swirl and settle on what could only be described as a sort of determation.]

Well then. I guess if you were busy, then you were busy. But seeing as how you are talking freely with me, you must have spare time now.

Edited 2017-01-14 08:46 (UTC)

[~~always having~~ Making time for Ana is different, dangit! But he can feel that emotion trickling across, and some of his own leaks across in return. No pride, plenty of stubbornness and discomfort, though.]

Talking across these is easy.

[Talking to Reinhardt again is hardt.]

[She's no stranger to Jack's stubbornness, and it only really adds fuel to her decision.]

If you were really busy, you would have said you were. So you must have some spare time right now. So, we're going to go talk to Reinhardt.

[You're going to drag him. You're literally going to drag him if he continues stalling. He knows you, Ana, and you're never going to let him get out of this.

Fuck his life.]

Fine.

[Did you know you could growl through telepathy? He can, at least.]

Where.

(no subject)

nanoscope - 2017-01-16 18:35 (UTC) - Expand