[ if it could then his heart would probably stop there, or stutter in surprise and panic — Hiccup's dad is dead and Jack had no idea. he isn't hurt by that, because that's so incredibly personal and he doesn't know if Hiccup is just particularly secretive about it. (there's a lash of guilt, though, as Jack wonders whether he's ever actually asked about Hiccup's history and life at home or if he's been nothing but selfish; but this isn't about him right now, so his stupid anxieties are pushed back to dim background noise.) his dismay is more for the fact that this is a huge revelation, and it's important, and it's human.
it's such a terribly human thing. Jack can't relate to it and he doesn't know what to say; he's never lost anyone because he's never had anything to lose, especially not family, not a connection like that. I'm sorry is trite and pointless, and asking about what happened might just be worse. he feels awful for Hiccup and he just wants to help somehow but he doesn't know how he can.
rearranging himself so that he's kneeling beside the bed instead of crouching, he folds his arms on the edge of Hiccup's mattress and rests his head atop them, staff tucked into the crook of his arm to keep the room lit. ]
I don't really know what to say. [ his voice is gentle, and sad. maybe this is the best he can do, he decides. ] But if you want to talk about it, then I want to listen.
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it's such a terribly human thing. Jack can't relate to it and he doesn't know what to say; he's never lost anyone because he's never had anything to lose, especially not family, not a connection like that. I'm sorry is trite and pointless, and asking about what happened might just be worse. he feels awful for Hiccup and he just wants to help somehow but he doesn't know how he can.
rearranging himself so that he's kneeling beside the bed instead of crouching, he folds his arms on the edge of Hiccup's mattress and rests his head atop them, staff tucked into the crook of his arm to keep the room lit. ]
I don't really know what to say. [ his voice is gentle, and sad. maybe this is the best he can do, he decides. ] But if you want to talk about it, then I want to listen.