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[dadication]

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[dadication]

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."

[gr1m]

Easiest way to guide was a snake, one that hissed softly as if pleased with the touch and following hand. A feel of it's flicking tongue likely felt against skin before it retreated amongst the rest once fingers went for Gabriel's face. Letting his own eyes closed as so many more followed Jack's movements. Keeping still otherwise so a feel could be gotten.

There was well maintained and manicured facial hair, and it was perhaps easy to feel that the gorgon did manage to take well enough care of himself.

"The snakes are black, but there are hints of red as well, my hair is brown. Dark enough they can sort of hide in it." Those snakes did lift up under Jack's fingers, a few exploring over his hand, a brush of their scales unlikely to be missed. Pleased little hisses, likely because it had been years since anyone had touched him and not meant some hurt to his person.

Gabriel hummed softly- "Let the snakes know, it will get to me better than any written word." Even if it may seem odd. "I've a lot of scars."

[dadication]

His fingers found their way across the entirety of Gabriel's face, exploring every centimeter for flesh and hair. His fingers traced lips too in order to get a sense of orientation compared to nose and chin, and his head tilted as he built an image in his head that was filling in the details that his magical sight couldn't grant him. It was extremely rare that anyone would allow him this opportunity, so he was going to take it.

The fact that the snakes seemed to enjoy his explorations as well was not entirely unexpected, since he figured that they were linked directly to Gabriel's emotions as well. He touched any that came in his path, soft stroking touches even as he counted them while he moved along, fingers carding a little in dark hair too.

"You take good care of yourself," he murmured thoughtfully. "And you have good even proportions. Based on feel and description, my opinion on the matter is that you're very attractive and thus turn people to stone based on their minds and bodies being unable to cope with the sheer beauty of your form." A very unexpert opinion, since he had few to base it on.

"Alright, I'll tell the snakes," he said, since it didn't sound that strange. "So do I. Two peas in a pod in that way." He slowly dragged his fingertips down the full length of Gabriel's face before allowing them to fall away. Any longer and it would probably become unwanted touch or seem like he was taking advantage.

[gr1m]

There'd be a scar, even if small compared to others, felt along his bottom lip. Hard to tell what caused it, but others on his face were much more clearly left by claws, or something incredibly sharp at least. Told that there would obviously be more elsewhere, but little else for the most part.

Slight constant movement from those snakes in his hair made it a little difficult to come up with a solid number of just how many there were, but a guesstimate could be mostly reached. Gabriel tilted his head only slightly to help make things just that bit easier for Jack-

Couldn't help the chuckle, of course. "I'll take that as a compliment." Took as good care of himself as he could at least.

Once hands fell away, Gabriel leaned back in the chair again, snakes settling in amongst hair. "Feel hungry still?" As if he felt a need to check, "Still plenty of stew."

[dadication]

Not as scarred up as him, but enough that he recognized that the gorgon had seen plenty over the years. He wondered how old the gorgon was, but it seemed far too personal to ask after such details after he had been granted the opportunity to touch. It was enough, satisfied a part of him that was nothing more than deep loneliness.

He shifted to lean on the headboard again, folding his hands in his lap now that their strange amicable moment had come to a quiet close. It was the most that either of them had probably had in a long time. He didn't regret coming here, didn't regret helping with the chimera.

"Well, limit how much stock you put in my compliments. I am blind, remember?" Well, right now he was completely blind, but he had his ways.

"No, I shouldn't eat any more right now. Let my stomach settle with what it has, but it's a kind offer," he murmured before he was shifting down in the bed to lay down, wincing a little at the pull to his wounded thigh. "If you don't mind, I think I'll maybe grab a few hours of sleep. Want me to move over so you can have the warmer spot?" He assumed Gabriel would eventually want to sleep in his own bed.

[gr1m]

"Likely the only one who wouldn't shoot first, actually talk. More weight than anyone else I've run in to." And apparently he didn't seem to care or min that Jack was blind. More than well proved he functioned just as well as anyone else who had eyes that could see.

A hand set against the bed as Gabriel moved to stand on his feet. "Rest, and don't worry about it. I've a few things I need to check on before I can actually rest more than this." He meant sitting down. "I can give you something for the bit of pain so you can sleep better with that leg." Another offer, like it's what he felt was needed.

No one else would have helped him after all, and he needed to do something about that chimera.

[dadication]

"I'm not like many others from what I have seen. It sometimes takes me longer than most to ascertain what I might be fighting," he pointed out. He was also more willing to have a conversation than to go in swinging. Besides, that tactic had earned him brief speaking terms with a gorgon of all things. Who could claim that lately?

He nodded his head and slowly rolled onto his side where he could curl up, leaving more room for the gorgon when he eventually decided to make his way to bed. Of course, he reasoned that might not happen until he was up and out again, but the sentiment was there that he didn't oppose sharing a bed with the owner.

"I don't need anything for the pain. It's just an ache at this point," he murmured, surprised that it was offered. "Tomorrow perhaps we can remove the carcass. I can sell some of the parts with some of the dealers I know and split the funds with you?"

[gr1m]

Absolutely no one could claim that lately more than likely. Still, there was a simple shrug, made no difference to Gabriel because the man had more than proven himself capable. What was lacking made no difference on his opinions on the matter.

"Then part of my rounds for the night will be making sure nothing catches wind of it there." He had his ways, and the last thing needed was some other creature or person trying to sneak in if there was somehow any word of a dead chimera anywhere in the vicinity. Reset some traps and cover the damned thing enough to be harvested from tomorrow.

The chair was moved back in to place, the sound of armor and even weapons being picked back up easy to catch. "I'll be back, and you are safe to sleep here even while I'm gone."

[dadication]

"If that suits you, sure," he murmured, knowing his offer to help would be refused. No point of it then, not if he was to stay off of his feet until the poison had passed through his system. He was cozy as it was, feeling safer here than he did at the normal inn establishments he would often have to suffer through.

He listened to Gabriel's movements, guessing what he was doing and when. He had no idea when the other would be back, but he knew that he wouldn't sleep easily despite the assurances. He was too light of a sleeper, had to be in order to survive.

"I will likely still be here," he assured in his own way. "Yell really loud if you need assistance." He likely still won't hear it, but hopefully the sentiment was there.

[gr1m]

"Easier to remove and harvest from tomorrow if it's still there, yes?" He wouldn't take help in covering up the corpse when it was mainly just working on traps and runes down there, causing a few tunnels to seal and all so that nothing could get in without his knowing.

His hood was pulled up with a little hissing from snakes as they settled in under it, making sure armor was buckled securely and he had his crossbow with him. "I won't be long if you remain awake- and I will."

Once he was sure the fire was in no danger of getting out of hand he was leaving the room, steps fading away as he went about his business of fiddling about with traps to seal certain tunnels; he'd done it before for other reasons, but for now it would do to make sure there'd be something there tomorrow and only the corpse. Definitely dead at least, and the walk of rounds still went as they usually did, making sure he didn't miss anything.

[dadication]

Jack listened to the motions of Gabriel around the room and the hisses of the snakes that seemed to add commentary during changes. He supposed that was normal, and it wasn't with a sense of dread that he was left alone in an unfamiliar room. That part was actually fairly normal as he traveled around a lot. The crackle of the fire was a comfort.

He didn't sleep, couldn't yet. His mind was too wired with the strangeness of this situation, of a gorgon offering room and board to a hunter whom he had claimed to hate before. He supposed being different than the other encounters with hunters meant that he had earned a different outcome. Plus, he couldn't be turned to stone with sight.

His eyelids were closed and he looked relaxed enough, but it would probably be impossible to tell if he was sleeping or awake. He was thinking, something he found was necessary to consider the next day, and tonight he was simply waiting for the gorgon to come back to determine what would happen next.

[gr1m]

Things were in the all clear by the time Gabriel reached the end of his walk, letting out a soft breath as he made one last pass by the carcass, a few bolts collected simply so he wouldn't have to make more of them. It didn't hurt that he did know every twist and turn in this abandoned mine and the cave systems that it had run in to before it had been left forgotten.

Gabriel made his way back eventually, letting the collected bolts and crossbow both rest on a worktable before he was pulling off the hooded cloak with a soft hum as snakes hissed. Going about removing armor and some of his clothing to get more comfortable, smoothing down a looser shirt.

Did help himself to a drink, a bottle pulled from a shelf and poured in to a cup, leaning near the fireplace as he did watch the hunter quietly for a moment. Still there on his return, as if he half suspected him to be gone before returning.

[dadication]

He was already estimating for time that Gabriel was gone for, and he actually didn't doubt that the gorgon would return. After all, there was still food, supplies and a fire burning down slowly. It made no sense to abandon it unless it was some kind of betrayal and in that case, he expected that the gorgon to be a lot more stand-offish with him at the request to touch his face.

So it wasn't a surprise when he heard foot falls beyond where he was resting, and while he couldn't be certain that it was Gabriel, he didn't move all the same. It wasn't until he heard the familiar sound of hissing that he knew that the gorgon had returned a few hours after leaving.

It wasn't difficult to pinpoint what Gabriel was doing either, not with the shuffle of clothing, armour, weapons and the like. He could pick up the sound of a drink being consumed as well, and that simply caused him to shift to press more of his face into one of the pillows.

"...need me to keep watch at all tonight?"

[gr1m]

Couldn't be that surprised that the hunter was awake, or had woken up when he re-entered the room. "No, there's a ward set up for that." Which meant that the gorgon himself was likely going to let himself rest, too.

Cup emptied and given a little rinse as well, boots were slipped off-

Gabriel was walking to another side of the room, and there was a large flat rock there he moved on to. The sound of scales brushing over stone and he let himself curl there among sudden coils, relaxing on that warmth. Head rested on his own arms as even the snakes of his hair began to settle. The fire was low, giving off just a little light, an even if he knew there would be alarm if anything came down certain tunnels the snakes would still spot anything amiss.

[dadication]

"Alright then," he murmured, leaving it at that. He probably needed the rest anyway, but he was more than willing to do his fair share when it came to keeping a place safe.

He listened as the gorgon moved around the room and was clearly removing a few more items of clothing, and if he expected Gabriel to climb into the massive bed with him, he was definitely mistaken. He lifted his head at the sound of flesh on stone, curious as he tried to locate exactly where in the room it was at.

Soon he was laying his head back down and settling in himself. Seemed secure enough. It took him some time to find a comfortable enough spot and trust his surroundings even to actually sleep, but he did manage it. Definitely was much needed rest anyway.

[gr1m]

Gabriel did sleep eventually himself, rested amongst coils on that heated rock; sometimes it was needed, that urge to simply, well. Feel secure in a way that involved something so much further away from human that he already was, a long and muscled tail and body that matched the snakes that made up some of his hair.

Did sleep silently, those smaller snakes hissing on occasion amongst themselves as the fire eventually burned itself out. Remained warm, quiet even with only the snakes as a bit of noise so there was no dead silence.

He found that dead silence worse, and perhaps it was why they took it upon themselves to keep up some little bit of noise so he could sleep.

[dadication]

He slept better in silence, though it was hard to achieve for him. He didn't have sight any longer to simply pop an eye open to peer about when something was amiss, so he relied more heavily on his hearing to alert him when something required his attention. It was a unique experience sleeping with the occasional sound of a low snake hissing.

The distance was far enough away that he wasn't disturbed, and if anything, their sound made it clear that Gabriel was still settled on that warming stone and not moving around the room too much. With the first burning down, he snuggled more into the furs and slept on, letting the hours tick away.

Strange to sleep well in the presence of a creature that could kill him outright if it was wanted. The same could be said about him, since a simple spell would allow him his sight and he could kill the gorgon from across the room. Neither happened.

Instead he woke sometime in the early hours of morning, stretching in bed and sighing as he came back to himself. He whispered soft words to cast the spell of sight, allowing his world of come into focus with the help of the spell. It wasn't perfect, but it allowed him to look around the place and be aware of things. He sat up in bed, rubbing his face with the heel of his hand and looked over at the gorgon who was... well, half snake. Of course he was.

God he needed a drink.

[gr1m]

The snakes hissed louder after Jack sat up and- well.

Gabriel made a low hissing sound himself, curling up more on that rock as if he didn't want to be woken up despite the snakes trying to act more as an alarm to wake up than anything else. There was no distress, simply them noticing the hunter was awake. Sitting up and moving.

Coils shifted even, because there was a lot of that tail that more than took up the entirety of that rock that was nearly the size of the bed he'd let Jack have for the night. His torso turned, laying somewhat on his back and head pillowed on part of his own tail.

[dadication]

Well, three could play the hissing game. When it seemed that the snakes were having a right go of letting the whole room know that he was moving around and awake, he hissed at them, though he knew nothing of actual snake language. Hopefully he wasn't swearing at them mistakenly.

He watched the gorgon shift and the sheer length and girth of that tail would certainly be enough to kill a grown man. So far, not formally awake over there on the stone, so he pushed off the fur that was covering him and slipped from the bed. He walked with a limp, wincing a little in discomfort from his leg.

He made his way over to the quiet embers and built up another fire with the wood available, intent on finding his pack and making some coffee. He was going to need it today. All the while, he watched the gorgon's outline.

[gr1m]

They hissed louder as if challenged, a few lifting themselves up and swaying a little.

Gabriel, in his half asleep state, swatted at them a bit as the rest of him stretched out, part of his coils spilling on to the floor. At least that part of it was warm due to how close it was to the warm stone. So while Jack was reminded of his injuries, the gorgon was at least pushing himself up in to a sit, rubbing over his face as a few snakes moved their heads to the sides of it and others watched the hunter still.

Still wearing a loose lace-up shirt and... that was about it, hands fallen to coils, swaying a little as he sat.

[dadication]

Apparently hissing didn't work. Whatever. He wasn't about to argue with the guard snakes, though he had hoped the gorgon would sleep longer. He supposed that it was a matter of some small measure of trust between them that they had slept at all.

Fire stoked to life and needing to be fed, but he was rising to find his kitpack and pulling it closer so he could rifle for some precious coffee and his kettle to heat some water. He added some to it and allowed it to warm with the fire that was coming alive, glancing over at the gorgon that seemed rather sleepy still.


"I didn't realize you had two forms," he murmured softly. "You can choose to have a tail or legs then?"

[gr1m]

He yawned wide, jaw cracking just a little from it just due to how far it had stretched, some hair fallen over shoulders and a few snakes moving to wrap it and other snakes up as if it were some sort of hairtie. Let him deal with it all later-

An eye cracked open. "Comes with having one parent as a human, and either has it's own advantages." What those were between them exactly he wasn't going to say. He was moving off that stone, moving up as tail turned to legs and he had to grab a pair of pants to pull on. "Sometimes it's more comfortable to sleep in that form."

Personal taste there.

[dadication]

He was seated next to the fire so that he could more readily feed and build it back up, his magical sight more directed outwards so he was aware of the gorgon rousing himself from sleep completely. It was... a rather different experience since he could 'see' rather than having to feel for everything, and honestly, the mixture was good.

"Do I dare ask how many creatures you've choked the life out of with those coils of yours?" He was poking the flames, turning wood over. "And as you said before, every gorgon has a human parent out of the two." Now he knew more advantages. Soon enough he was going to be the most knowledgeable hunter when it came to gorgons.

The transition was interesting to be aware of as well, smooth and easy, like sliding into a different shirt or something. "You appeared comfortable. Slept well by the sounds of it too."

[gr1m]

"Don't think you do," because more of that had happened when he was younger and had little else at his disposal. A desperate sort of act to keep himself alive until he could do more to defend himself against those he came upon. "A human parent that loves them as much as they love their gorgon mate," or so he had observed while he'd had his parents.

Pants were tied as he let the hunter feed the fire, going in to on of his food storage to pull out a few things. Some fruit, a few pieces of wrapped meat. He could smell the coffee warming but said nothing of it.

"Well enough. How was your rest?"

[dadication]

Jack went very quiet at the little details of Gabriel's parentage, face tipping to make it seem like he was looking into the fire. His fingers laced together and he slowly nodded his head, and he could assume based on the way that Gabriel spoke that those parents were long dead. "You must miss them," he said softly. "How long ago did they...?"

He was back to poking the flames, feeding them until the size and heat was satisfying enough and knowing that the coffee would boil up nicely. His thigh ached, but it was easy to ignore as he busied himself with pulling out two mugs.

"Slept well," he agreed. "You hiss when you sleep." More like the snakes hissed, but it could be one in the same. Also a play on snoring.