Questing fingers listened as Gabriel shifted to what he assumed was forward. His hands both stopped reaching at the bump of a snake's head, waiting as if he needed further permission. When a bite didn't follow, fingers of one hand walked and stroked their way along the smooth scales of that snake, touching and exploring even as he progressed until his thumb brushed Gabriel's cheek.

Now aware of the distance, his other hand moved until his palm cupped the opposite cheek, fingers splaying across the expanse and into some of the hair at Gabriel's temples. His eyelids closed, useless as they were for allowing him to see. His palm moved down along Gabriel's strong jawline to the tip of his chin, fingers stretching until they could feel the crest of Gabriel's eyebrow.

"The snakes... what colour are they? Your hair too?" He had seen colour a long time ago, so he could easily imagine those colours. Curiosity won over wariness as his one hand explored Gabriel's face with nimble and thorough touches and his other hand stroked and explored the snake, following it to Gabe's head and hair where other snakes were nestled.

"If I hear of anyone taking your bounty, I'll send word here. Should be easy for you to avoid detection," he murmured. And then distracted again. "Your skin is softer and warmer than expected. I feel scars though."