When Ashlynn question him, Jacob couldn't help but laugh. After a few moments, he sighed and shook his head. "I lost part of my leg, and took half a dozen rounds from a machine gun, so that a man infinitely my greater could live and help our brothers, even now that I'm long gone. So yes...I think it was worth it." 

Rolling his pant leg back down, he cracked his neck and thanked the waitress, who'd returned with his coffee. Taking a sip, he inhaled slowly through his nose, savoring the strong scent. "Sorry if I'm a bit of a bore. Most of the interesting stuff I have to talk about relates to my time in the Army. Lotta people give me looks for it and 'cause of the way I dress. I just had the lifestyle beaten into me for the past...eight or nine years before coming here. All about confidence, self-improvement, knowing what you're doin' and what tools yer using to do it." Taking another sip of coffee, he continued.

"I can name at least one prefect off the top of my head who's got a real nasty image of me because of the way I carry myself. I can't really change it, though. Spent my whole adult life as a model little soldier up till now. Sure, I may break curfew now and then, but I ain't some hell-blazing rebel." Inclining his head and looking up at the ceiling, he shrugged. "Ah well. Can't please everybody. I'm just glad I don't get any of that horror story people spitting on me and screaming 'baby killer!' when they see my tags."