Collected musings, ramblings, and maybe a bit more backstory.
Generally in warfare, keeping a nation intact is best, destroying a nation second best;
keeping an army intact is best, destroying an army second best;
keeping a battalion intact is best, destroying a battalion second best;
keeping a company intact is best, destroying a company second best;
keeping a squad intact is best, destroying a squad second best.
Therefore, to gain a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence;
to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest of excellence.
That's Sun Tzu. I've been reading over his stuff lately, and I've had some thoughts on Jacobs actual reactions and style. He's read Sun Tzu at some point, and I think he's bought into quite a bit of it, which makes him a better guardian than a mercenary. He has no problem using his guns when he has to, but if he can intimidate someone into backing off from a fight, he will. He's chosen his weapons with that in mind - big, ugly, intimidating chunks of metal.
Peace through superior firepower. Prefferably without having to use that firepower, just the threat of it. That ideal shows up in his design of perimeters/security systems. He favors obvious fortifications, sentry guns, etc to deter tresspassers. If aethstethics are an issue, he'd still rather have a concealed gun turret pop up and waste unauthorized personell, rather than setting off a silent alarm.
He's not particularly good at hiding his emotions. If he doesn't like you, he certainly won't go out and say it, but it'll be hard for him to hide it in his eyes. Likewise, he can't lie for shit.
He doesn't sleep much anymore. He considers it a waste of time.
He smokes compulsively. Whether its a side-effect of his boosted reflexes and an increased metabolism, or he's just dead-addicted, it doesn't matter. More than once, he's lit a ciggarette without even realizing it. Thats a bad thing when you're in a clients living room.
Jake has no problem taking down hostiles. If they surrender, he'll generally just zip-cuff them and gag'em. Unless, of course, they're witnesses to something he needs to keep hidden. Buisness is buisness, after all.
His current selection of weapons is all he brought out of Brazil. He prefers using a shotgun, prefferably a low gauge, pump action type with a few improvements that the current tech provides. He holds automatic shotguns (i.e, the CAWs) in disdain. He prefers to take care of things with a minimum of collateral damage, if it's possible. He never snaps off shots if he can help it Ever pragmatic, he has no problem blowing shit up if that'll keep his ass intact. Likewise, he doesn't currently own a shotgun, opting instead for a more versatile SMG. In a normal combat situation, he'll use single shots and short bursts, along with full auto as required. If theres "innocent" bystanders around, he'll stick with single shots.
He -really- doesn't need a murder rap at the moment.
Musically, he doesn't give a shit. He grew up listening to corprate style country music, followed by late 20th century heavy metal while hanging around his uncle, and all sorts of shit since then. If it fits the situation he's in, he won't protest.
He doesn't watch movies. The only TV he watches is the news, if that.
He reads technical manuals and more Sun Tzu-esque stuff in his free time.
His motorcycle is a beater, but faster than it looks. It's been stolen twice, and recovered both times. Once by Jake, once by the LAPD. I'll let you guess as to which one left the perp off easier.
Speaking entirely oocly, this character was originally inspired by Gibsons character Rydell. Southern, soft spoken, etc. I'm adding in a few elements of Bobby Shafthoe (Cryptonomicon) minus the totally batshit crazy part, and tossing on that "Art of War" bit, cos I like it, and it fits his personality nicely.
Can y'tell I want to play?