He has ample reason to resent Jolie -- or, really, any of the Capitolites in this place. His time in the Arena was enough, all by itself, to justify dumping on her that outrage and anger that had wound its way into him since his arrival. The interactions he'd had with other Capitolites -- like the recent brush he'd had with Jason earlier, and the way Swann had made it her business to strip him, take away his personal items, and shove him into a shower -- were only more twists to what felt like an unjustified stab of a knife to the gut.

It could be that this truly was some sort of involuntary penance for all the terrible misdeeds, crimes, and not-so-heroic acts that Jack had committed in his life back home. It was hard not to think that way, even if it was shrouded in some hollow bullshit about entertainment and political scare-tactics and taking the bullet for people the pirate could not care less about. Even if they were children.

And somehow, it felt worse than his trip to the Locker, because at least back then he'd had the Pearl with him.

But all that didn't make this situation feel any less miserable to him.

Which added into the confusion, when it came to Jolie. She could be aggravating and pushy and condescending, of course, but Jack was still fond of her company. He's seen the faintest glimmers of humanity from her, and something about that drew him to her.

So Jack takes his own time to relish the close contact, to enjoy the way she leans into him and relents into the kiss. Once she eventually pulls away, Jolie will see that she's somehow elicited an actual half-smile from him, an upward press to the corner of his mouth that otherwise wouldn't be there given the mood that his death had put him in. The remark Jolie makes only serves to widen it and show off that glint of gold in his upper teeth.

His thumb moves to trace the line of her jaw, fingers on his other hand curled against her hip then slowly, reluctantly, both hands drop away.

"Naturally. What else could you expect."