dadication | Open Post

"It's not much work," he said softly. Just a few extra snares to check but otherwise, he had to collect the same firewood, same water. "Besides, I like the company," he added, trying to make it sound nonchalant but it coming a little awkward. It wasn't like he had company often or for many overnights. "I... could say the same thing to you after I passed out weeks ago," he murmured, looking to Gabriel. "Neither of us are used to it, I can tell." Like they didn't know what to do with it, and when the other shoe would drop and they'd be caught in a trap.

He made a point of shifting his legs and letting them drape over Gabriel's coiled body, keeping himself upright but definitely making a show of being comfortable surrounded by such a large body. "You do just fine as you are. And besides, you'll probably regain your legs soon enough once you feel better." He would miss the tail though.

Both of them had been alone for so long, or at least that is what he had gathered from the bits and pieces Jack had told him when they spoke. Maybe not alone for the same exact reasons, but it had been something steady for years. "I've been enjoying your company, too," just a little softly, head tilted so he could watch Jack from the corner of an eye. "We've a little time to get used to it- at least with each other." For however long this was going to last.

His coils shifted just enough to ensure Jack was comfortable, still leaning against his side. "Having legs will make it a lot easier for us to travel, and I'll be able to conserve heat better than I do like this." It was why he had a heating rock in most places for when he could get that easier than a bed.

His tail tip flick a little against Jack's hip. "I'm just as comfortable like this, at least."

He nodded his head, feeling a flare of heat in his chest at the idea that Gabriel had enjoyed his company. It sounded honest, which was more than he would receive elsewhere. His current fear was that they shouldn't get used to it, that if they did parting would be more difficult and they would go back to their respective isolation and be worse for the sudden parting. "What if... by the end of this, by the time we get you healed and back where you belong, we're too used to being comfortable and enjoying each other's company?"

He'd never had such a decision to make after all. He wasn't certain he would know what to do with it. Hell, he wasn't certain that Gabriel would either, what with how roughly the gorgon had been treated in the past.

"And you're going to need to conserve heat when we travel. We'll be well into Fall by then and we will have plenty of times of traveling passed dark," he said. At least that's the pace that he tended to travel at. He imagined the pair of them would keep a good pace.

Coils tightened around Jack briefly, even as Gabriel's gaze dropped elsewhere, no worry of that being seen. "We can deal with that when we get there- and you were already making attempts to keep in touch. The snakes found me whenever you spoke to them of me." Even if at first the hunter wasn't sure if it was actually working or not. "We could... continue? If by the end of this you still want anything to do with me."

Even now he was unsure of what to do with any of it, unsure if this was anything more than getting him from A to B as if the hunter felt he owed him something. No matter how often snakes came to find him he was still unsure enough.

Nodding. "I've never really liked the cold, as nice as snow looks in the places I've seen it fall." Nice to look at, but never could be in it for long.

It definitely wasn't seen on his head, but he was keenly aware of the way that the coils seemed to tighten against, around and near him. For a moment, he thought he had spoken too boldly, perhaps putting Gabriel in an awkward position. "Oh... I didn't," he murmured, falling quiet a moment. Talking to the snakes had been something he had done guessing they would never actually make it. "Did they... tell you everything I said?" Because on one night, he had definitely admitted to missing the gorgon. "Would you consider the risk of staying in touch with me?" He being a hunter and all.

Jack wasn't entirely certain what he was doing here either. It was the first time he had acted without a job or real plan when he had suited up and headed out. Yeah, he had taken a job, but that was simply to put him in the area, gave him a way to cover his tracks. He could admit that there had been a strange stirring warmth when he had finally come across the caravan.

"No, I don't suppose that you would. Snow is... well, apparently it's a good time to get to know someone." Courtship blossoming and all that nonsense he had never had. Being inside meant more visits, more opportunities to meet and get to know neighbours, friends, potential lovers. "Do you have dens to the south where it is warmer?"

"Weren't sure they would actually get to me?" He imagined that telling anyone they could talk to the snakes and they would get to him sounded crazy, or at best as if it was one way to say never talk to him again or anything along those lines. His coils kept close, but nothing uncomfortable. "They told me everything to the best of their ability, some things do get lost in translation," but he'd still gotten the just of things. "I would, but I'm not sure which of us would be in greater danger if found out." Humans could be strange when it came to even their fellow man doing something seen as out of the ordinary.

Still, he had doubts that the hunter would be going through all of this trouble to keep him safe if he was just going to turn on him. Right?

Get to know someone, huh. "I do have dens to the south, temporary and mostly for shelter. If you see me all the way to where I'm going we could use them for safety when a town isn't available." Or if there was no where safe to bed down otherwise.

"It just seemed like a long way to go just for a message," he said honestly, so no, he hadn't been certain. Snakes traveled well, but they also had to live and if Gabriel was as far away from where he was, he didn't imagine a snake in the wild would just abandon everything to go and find the gorgon. Who knew though. "That makes sense. It's not like they speak the language we are now." Must have been a great game of charades. "Oh, well that's easy. If we were found out, we'd both suffer the same agonizing fate, I'm sure. Both put to death anyway." He didn't sound perturbed by that reality.

He had no intention of turning Gabriel over. He wanted the gorgon to be returned to wherever he had lived and left to continue on. It wasn't just that gorgon's were rare either. There was something he hadn't sorted out within himself about it, and now definitely wasn't the time to explore it.

"I was just thinking it would be warmer in the southern lands, since where we are the snow can fall deep and long," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. He was certain they could travel enough to find proper shelter for the night. He had Hunter's Rights after all.

"It's passed along through various snakes- if it's a great distance at least." Sometimes the same snakes, depending on how and where certain species moved. Gabriel tipped his head, a hand moving down as a familiar garter slithered up and coiled around his wrist and fingers, lifting it up. He'd certainly seen this one a few times, and like Jack was familiar as well since it was the same that had gone in to the cage. "Death isn't what I'm worried about." Would be kinder than what could be done.

Fingers brushed along the garter snake's head slowly, letting out a breath as Gabriel finally sank the rest of the way against Jack's side. "I was caught in a winter once," so he knew what Jack meant. "Do try to get to warmer places before then."

"So whatever message they may have been carrying was probably lost in part," he remarked. He wasn't so certain on the memory span of snakes after all, though that their companion garter snake had decided to show up and looking well fed and happy was good. He hadn't wanted to leave it out here, and it seemed a good companion for Gabriel too. "You're of value in certain circles; I would just get in the way." Jack had no doubt that they would be tortured first, but in the end, they would likely be killed.

He tightened his arm around Gabriel's waist, holding the gorgon close. He nodded his head, used to traveling through harsh winters. "Likely a wholly unpleasant experience for you," he murmured. "Do you want to go south rather than where you were taken from? I know you have items you want back, but they may last until next Spring?"

He shook his head. "Only in translation, their memories are better than some would give them credit for- even if usually used for other things like migration routes or where to go during mating seasons." He allowed the snake to curl over his shoulders, noting the plait hi hair as braided in to, corner of his mouth twitching just faintly. There was a low noise in his throat, "If they decide I'm worth more dead than alive."

Would be putting it lightly, "I get cold fairly easily." There was something warm with how that arm tightened around him, however. "I need to get that I left there, or else I'd be far more willing to move south quicker."

So... the fact that he had missed Gabriel had made it to the gorgon or not? He couldn't quite decide if he had spoken too much on those nights between or even on jobs. "I did notice that snakes more readily came to check on me when I was by the fire. Some even dared to come into the inn where I was staying." He tipped his head towards Gabriel curiously. "Were you checking in on me?"

He did still at the idea of the gorgon suffering a fate like the one that Jack had come to take Gabriel from in the first place. He checked his lower lip. "They could send you to the king, I suppose. They couldn't use me against you to force you to stand down, could they?" He thought that was just mates that defended each other to the death.

Well, those blankets were very good purchases then, now weren't they? Plenty of area to keep Gabriel warm next to the fire. "Then we'll retrieve what you need and I can see about helping you move south before winter takes a tight hold on the land."

If the hunter wanted to know, he would have to ask the gorgon himself. "In a way? I couldn't think of any other way for you to know that I was getting any of what you were telling to the snakes," other than to make their presence safely known to Jack. "I guess they got a little creative with it, or a few bold ones took that upon themselves like this one." Brave little garter snake.

"I'm not sure that they would even think to try." Yet he still implied that he would do something to stop Jack's fate if he could- "For all I know, they could try and believe I've got you under some spell and want to break you free of it with how loyal of a hunter you've likely been." Which could result in the gorgon being put to death after torture to ask what he'd done. Really, he doubted they'd so easily think Jack helped him of his own free will.

"Thank you, again, for doing this."

He looked at the garter snake that had coiled itself up in that braid which Gabriel was still sporting, and he couldn't help but smile. "That one came most often and eventually decided to stay. I think it realized being inside my shirt for journeys was warmer and safer than it trying to follow me otherwise." And Jack hadn't minded either. The snake was calm enough to not musk him often, and now it seemed rather content with its lot in life. "If we ever part ways, I imagine I'll be sleeping under a pile of snakes."

It was true, what with Jack's reputation. Gorgons were creatures to fear, to tell one's children about in the night so they wouldn't misbehave. "I would do everything in my power so they couldn't hurt you," he murmured softly. It seemed a noble sacrifice as well if it came down to that, which he hoped it wouldn't. "I still... will take the risk if you will."

He stroked his palm over Gabe's side where it was secured around the gorgon's waist. "You're welcome. Now stop thanking me all the time. You're going to make me blush, and I'm so pale, it shows up immediately."

"I'm glad- and a good thing they stuck with you." He remembered this was the one who was sent in to the cage. "Reasons I kept quiet and still in that cage was because this one told me what was going on, what you asked it to." A fingertips brushing over the little snake's head. "At least no one would bother you in the night or else they'd risk snake bites." A touch amused.

What a strange, strange hunter. "So long as you are willing, so am I." He was also willing to risk his own neck for the hunter if something came to that, but felt it was wiser to not mention that at least. Not yet/

Gabriel relaxed against him, careful as his head set against the hunter's shoulder testingly. Letting himself simply be... comfortable. "Especially around the ears."

He nodded his head, glad that he had decided to listen to them and not shoo them away either. It seemed to have worked out well for them. "I didn't want you to panic, and I couldn't tell what state you were in since they had your head covered." He knew the little garter snake would due its duty, and that had been the best part of it all. They had managed all of this because of that group effort. "I suppose that's true. They will suck all my body heat out though." Just a touch amused himself.

He hadn't figured out his own motivations yet. It was better not to think about it honestly. "Then we'll make it work." It seemed they would take equal risk here. That was good. He would do what he had to in order to keep Gabriel safe.

He turned his head to both view what he could and be certain what was happening actually was happening. He slowly relaxed his shoulders into that contact. "What? I haven't flushed up yet..." Not denying the observation though.

Had been the entire reason he hadn't thrashed and fought the moment he'd come to and someone was in the cage with him. The little snake had done it's task well. "Never alone, at least." Even if the only company was snakes, they were far more than what most thought of them.

They would make it work, hell or high water if it possibly came to that.

His head rested fully on Jack's shoulder when he didn't move away, keeping that tip of his tail curled around the man's hip. Letting himself basically be held in a way. "Briefly."

"No, that's true." Neither of them were alone, especially if the snakes kept showing up on scene to be with them. Now he especially knew that they came because of Gabriel. "And we managed to get you out of there without much fuss either. I had planned for having to fight and kill some of those creatures, but it seems they were more content with easier meals." And that would serve them well when it came to their escape as well.

He finally lifted a hand to gently cup Gabriel's cheek where it rested against his shoulder, patting it lightly. He grunted at the idea that he had flushed up, but he also knew he couldn't deny it. His pale complexion never served him well when it came to blood rising in his face and ears.

"I should grab us wood and water. You okay with that or want me to stay a bit longer?"

All the better there was no fight and the creatures were starved enough to go for any bodies. "Better it was easier for the both of s than not." Could have gone worse in a few horrible ways or so he could imagine.

Eyes closed as he allowed for that touch, taking what he could get in what was given, some soft sound just under his breath, "Stay. Just for a little bit longer." To linger for just a few minutes more at the very least. He'd go back inside once Jack did finally have to move at least and make no fuss of it. Gabriel just wanted a little bit more.

"Yes, I agree. I didn't want to hurt them, but I would have to get you out of there," he said. He had hoped that the other creatures would leave them be to cover their escape. After all, a drugged out gorgon wouldn't get far if pursued. Perhaps it was as close to a thank you as he could expect from the other captured creatures.

Stay.

Jack couldn't recall a time when someone wanted him to sit tight for anything other than a mission or a debrief. His fingers caressed over Gabriel's cheek in response, and he hummed a low sound of agreement. He'd stay. "Alright, just a little while longer." His fingers continued to lightly stroke, keeping Gabe's cheek against his shoulder. His other arm tightened around the gorgon's waist to hold him close.

"Things worked out." Even if there was still danger now, he'd still escaped with the hunter's help and that was what mattered in the thick of things. The other creatures would spread and wander, aiming towards going back to anything familiar. Some may stray and have other reasons to be hunted down, and others might just be caught up in it all again. Still hoped that he wouldn't end up being one of those.

Gabriel let himself relax and sink against Jack when he didn't move to get up, something warming up in his chest. A pleasant even if tight feeling, eyes closed. "Okay," just a little while longer of this would be enough. Allowed himself to be a bit selfish and requesting for him to at all.

This moment of comfort.

"It will. They will find their way back to where they came, I imagine." Many of them had been a little injured but mostly starving. Once they were fed and watered, he had no doubt that they would stray far and wide. That was good for them, meant that many teams would be spread out in search but not clustered together and hard to fight. Gabriel was his priority, so he would use this situation to their advantage to let the hunting parties move away from them.

While 'just a little longer' was the notion, Jack still tipped his head so it rested against Gabriel's as they sat there together. His fingers caressed face and neck, and he was content to watch the world beyond their cave move on. Nothing came this way, repelled by his spell, so he was safe just sitting in front of the illusion spell that hid their entrance to glancing eyes.

Maybe he closed his eyes here and there too, dozing now that Gabriel was awake to keep a sort of watch.

They'd use his time to heal to double as allowing it all to pass, let them all out in front so that the hunter and gorgon could make the journey without worrying of hunting parties being anywhere behind. Could work with that.

His head tipped just enough to where he bared his neck a little to those caresses, tilted so his face could be reached easier as well. Showing an incredible amount of trust without hesitation. A hand rested against Jack's that was around his waist, fingers curled and encouraging it to be kept there. Tip of his tail idly curling in a sort of brushing over Jack's hip in turn.

Those snakes were keeping watch, a couple slithering to coil on top of Jack's head and rest easily.

What Jack hadn't expected was that even so little of a time between them had allowed this strange warmth to blossom between them. He understood gratitude for saving Gabriel, but this felt different than that. Honest. Warm. Affectionate. There was too much trust between them to simply be from helping one another.

His fingers stroked over the entirety of Gabe's neck, able to momentarily feel the flutter of that pulse here and there. He didn't concentrate on it, too busy just lazily allowing his fingers to soothe and stroke skin as they rested there together. With their heads rested together like that, he was keenly aware of the fact that some of Gabriel's snakes had come to settle on his head.

For a moment, he also almost thought their fingers might interlace and that would be... well, too intimate. Like they were starting an odd sort of courtship neither of them were probably that aware of. This peaceful moment soothed an aching part of him, which was why he just continued to stay.

His hand simply rested there over Jack's, not pushing for anything beyond that arm remaining around the gorgon's waist. A clear welcome that it wasn't some unwelcome touch and things were fine.

It was... Nice. Very nice, extremely nice. Couldn't help but want to linger, even if for selfish reasons; seemed that Jack didn't mind with how eased in to it he felt as well. "Let me know when you want to move," spoken softly as eyes remained closed and simply took the moment in like this.

It was strange that they unanimously stayed together after Gabe's request, hands over one another and just watching the sun as it moved through the sky for a few hours. He was in a distinct lack of hurry to remove himself from the gorgon's presence, and the pressure to get their needs fulfilled didn't affect him.

It was only when the sun seemed to be moving towards setting that he flexed his hand under Gabe's and then slowly extracted his arm back. He sat up, but not before shifting to stroke a hand up Gabriel's back. "I need to go fetch us water and check the snares. It shouldn't me too long. Do you want me to bring anything back for you?"

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