[ the pacing stops short at Hiccup's hand reaching out for him, and then the joke, Jack going still and just staring for a moment. it's hard not to overthink reactions to a gift like this — something personal but utterly worthless aside from sentimental value, and coming from a tradition that he knows is both dated and not particularly widespread. every response can be weighed and measured for something negative, for disappointment or indifference, and he's already expecting the worst out of a defensive instinct, it's not hard to find an indication of something bad.
the stupid joke, though — that's such a typical Hiccup thing to say. it loosens some of the nervous tension in Jack's chest, only helped by the gentle press of touch on his arm. he smiles, a little wan but no less genuine, and then ducks his head with a soft huff of laughter, bare toes scuffing the floor. ]
Yeah, well, I didn't want you drinking straight out of the bowl like a barbarian.
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the stupid joke, though — that's such a typical Hiccup thing to say. it loosens some of the nervous tension in Jack's chest, only helped by the gentle press of touch on his arm. he smiles, a little wan but no less genuine, and then ducks his head with a soft huff of laughter, bare toes scuffing the floor. ]
Yeah, well, I didn't want you drinking straight out of the bowl like a barbarian.