(Before the fall of Overwatch) How would Jack and Gabriel react to basically a kid(18-25) being chosen for the SEP? Bonus points if they react badly to the drugs and become essentially a hair-triggered force of destruction that nobody is sure what to do with. Thanks in advance, you're the best!
Honestly. . . I imagine they're both pretty horrified. By the time that Overwatch is officially established, the Omnic Crisis is over. The Soldier Enhancement Program was highly experimental and done out of desperation by the U.S. government. So to learn that the government is continuing the SEP, on subjects that are so young. . .
Jack. . . appears to handle the kid better on the surface, but really he has zero idea what to do with them. He tries to treat them cordially at all times but their temper and lack of respect makes that façade very difficult to maintain.
They're loud, angry, unpredictable, and they break things. . . often, and are generally unruly beyond anything that would be allowed in the military. But because they're a super soldier, and this is Overwatch, the only organization equipped to deal with unruly super soldiers, they have now become Jack's responsibility.
The first thing he does is get the kid saddled up with a therapist.
The second thing he does is ask Gabe for help. Because really, he’s out of his league with this one.
Jack’s a people-pleaser at heart. While he doesn’t have trouble with keeping a stern command, I imagine that he’d have difficulty making sure the kid doesn’t chafe under his command.
The two of them would get into fights. Often.
But, Jack is the one who most often helps the kid to take care of the stuff that they need to. Stuff like paperwork and bureaucracy that would come back to seriously bite the kid in the ass if left unchecked. It’s one of the only ways he’s able to express that he does care.
is angry. Not at the kid- it's not their fault, but he can't help but get spittin' mad every time he's reminded of the circumstances that brought the kid here to Overwatch. The SEP can go burn in hell as far as he’s concerned.
Basically, the kid stresses him out. The kid's own neuroticism does not help with this.
He originally scoped out the kid for Blackwatch, but after seeing their lack of subtlety on the firing range (although effective), he decided that stealth ops would not be good fit.
But, despite the kid being out of his division, he does try to take some effort to reach out and check in on them every once in a while.
It was his idea to point the kid in the direction of the practice range whenever their temper flared up, to save on repair costs.
The kid would probably like him better despite the fact that he sends mixed messages. Like, he’s always kinda angry around them, but at the same time, he’s much more genuine than Jack is. He’s better at seeing through their unruly behavior and dealing with it appropriately.
He would also introduce the kid to McCree, who’s around a similar age range, just to help them get some more friends. No guarantees that the two of them will get along, but hey, it’s an effort!
Gabe also, on the side, talks to Moira about the kid’s reaction to the SEP drugs and what can be done about it. She might have a few ideas to help tone down the mood swings, at least.
