"Now, I could rise to that bait and tell you 'whatever the fuck I want to', but I'm not." Jack taps his knuckles thoughtfully on the bar, fingers the edge of his shot like he's fidgety. "It's not that easy anymore, champ. The company I work for wants someone to examine the holdings of another company they're discussing a merger with. As their head programmer, that dull crap falls on me."

Head programmer, he says, and there's no doubt he says it with the intention of showing Tony he's actually accomplished something. Doesn't need this guy's approval, and he knows he's not going to get it, but on some level he wants it anyway. College man. Pulling in a decent amount. Cleaned up and alive and on the straight and narrow like no one ever thought he could be, himself included.

"And I wanted to see my girls."

Still even, still calm, but he downs another shot right after he says it.