Jayce is usually firmly on the optimist camp with this too, mostly because of the concept of losing here is too much to bear. But he's been different since the Shimmer plant. A lot of his optimism died there, with the results of his actions, enough that he made a deal with Silco. And then accepted Viktor's death, he was at his lowest. Coming here seemed like a chance he didn't deserve but wanted to accept, but it didn't last forever.

"I'm going to have to make something I don't want to in order to get that crystal. A weapon, probably. It's my only way in. I promised it would be something we could both live with." Jayce has been approached already by this person to help make something for the army, and he refused before. Now he is the one asking, so he is the one who will have to make a lot more ground. "But there is nothing I can't live with, in exchange for his life." The question is where will the line draw for Viktor instead.

He takes in a deep breath and lets it out, reaching for her hand. Jayce often craves small gestures of affection when he's in turmoil, just something to ground him in the now. It's important that she's here, because he can't talk about this with others, not without Viktor's permission considering his condition. So much of this has been internal, something for him to carry alone.

"I'm thankful you're here. I feel very alone with all of this."