"That's good. They're not very friendly, you know. They kept trying to bite me." Jack swaps hands so he can take John's "injured" one in both of his, instead, showing no actual fear of it, unless John yanks it back before he can. "Well. As long as it doesn't hurt. I mean, it might just be like this, I wouldn't know."

Then he finally lets him go, giving an expansive, hands-included shrug. "My best friend looks kind of like this all over, only more like healthy tree bark and less... polished wood, I suppose." He doesn't want to disparage his new friend's looks! His finger might be that way on purpose for some reason!