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[dadication]

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[dadication]

"Lucky number four," he remarked, a touch on the bitter side. He shook his head, pushing the thought aside and just packing away his medical supplies again now that the job was done. He would need to sit for a bit longer, feeling like his legs were jelly.

Instead, he allowed himself to just be aware of Gabriel cooking food. It was strange how homely that felt, like some of those very early mornings at some of the inns he favoured where the matron of the house was bustling about cooking for the influx of people waking. Serve coffee and just let him exist in their sphere because they knew they were safe while he sat quiet by the fire. Earned himself a few free meals that way.

He turned his head when he smelled that meal come closer, surprised the gorgon took the spot next to him again. "Appreciate this," he murmured, taking the plate as if he could see it and picking up some fruit first. Still in season, which he was grateful for.

"Once we finish with the chimera later today, I'll be out of your hair."

[gr1m]

Gabriel was leaving the fruit for last, but he started on the eggs he'd seasoned while the pork fat gave them just a bit of extra flavor. He'd learned to cook from his father at first and simply picked up there there on watching humans from a distance. Easier when he'd had the basics to help him with that. "Not a problem, so you're welcome."

Did finally have a sip of that coffee, it had cooled down enough for him while he'd been cooking. Tasted fine, not something he allowed for himself to get away with the few times he did go to a human village. Wine and some ales were easier to get away with after all.

He nodded slowly. "I'll be leaving from here in a few days time, so I'll be out of yours for the rest of this season as well." Not have to worry about someone stumbling across him at least, if a worry at all.

[dadication]

Jack was eating the fruit first, enjoying the taste of it and knowing that soon enough it would be out of season and he'd have to persist on dried fruit. It wasn't the same. Sometimes he missed fruit trees and the harvest, and other times, he was glad to be away from it all and doing this simplicity nomadic life. That didn't stop him from enjoying the meal and his rather strong coffee.

He nodded and ate. The eggs were cooked well too he noticed, but that made sense of the gorgon had to survive on his own. Room for experimentation he supposed. "So... what is it you do exactly? Aside from your rounds of this place? You do odd work or something?"

And he would be able to provide more funds for the gorgon when he traded some of the chimera parts. Better it come from a hunter, and it seemed a fair exchange of their services to each other. A good parting gift, he supposed, since he doubted he'd hear from the gorgon again until next year or maybe never. Who knew.

[gr1m]

"Something like that- sometimes I get mistaken for a mercenary, and if the job sounds decent I take it." Sometimes it was just to protect a traveling group, things like that. Hell, he had gotten mistaken for a hunter before and only took up jobs for a creature that had actually lost its mind and putting it down was a kindness for both sides.

Whatever he could do to earn a little gold for himself to get by on what he couldn't hunt or make for himself. One way to get by honestly enough.

The pork was nice and crisp when it came to the skin, and the fat had rendered wonderfully to make the meat succulent. That was eaten once the eggs were done for.

[dadication]

"In these days, any coin is better than no coin," he murmured with a slight shake of his head. With the war still going on here and there, sometimes work was scarce for those that had no occupation that wasn't some kind of soldiering. Impossible for some creatures, but Gabriel could hide much of his appearance and still come across as human. "The chimera should supplement you for awhile then. I know a good buyer who will pay well."

He realized that might be the last time they saw each other too. After all, what reason did he have to follow around a gorgon? For that matter, what reason did a gorgon have to interact with him passing through the area when he was known to be relatively safe?

He ate well today, finishing off the entire meal without a single pause. His coffee was drank between sips and he was feeling a bit better with food on his belly. Still tired from the expenditure, but that was fine and expected. He sighed and rose to move to rinse his dishes. He knew about where that station was anyway. "Good breakfast."

[gr1m]

"I need it more during the colder seasons, hunting is difficult when there isn't much around to hunt." The cold did effect him some as well, which was why the places he stayed all had a heating rock of sorts in them, to help him survive better on those days that were too cold. "Can help make sure you get all of the decent parts to take."

Why would a hunter want a gorgon around anyway? no matter how friendly their interactions could be, there was no doubt that he might no be seen as a problem anyway. This was a temporary truce after all. Even if the man was in no danger from the sight of him, it didn't mean there couldn't be the potential for something to happen by accident, something turning that quickly.

He couldn't help what he was. "Should help you gain some energy back as well. Welcome to rest more if you need it, too."

[dadication]

"Well, alright, I'll be sure that you get your fair shake of the funds that are collected. It should be good enough that you can make it through the winter months, even if it is longer than usual this year." That happened from time to time and at least he had Guild outposts to return to if he absolutely had to. Didn't like them, but he could rely on them for survival in storms and the like. "We can load up whatever I can carry. I'll make several trips if I need to."

It was a chimera after all, so it was reasonable that he would go back and forth. He didn't want to risk taking the gorgon into town in cause they were assaulted with their goods or coins. It could turn out badly and then the gorgon would be in real danger if he was known to be in the area.

Sometimes he thought it would be nice to have a friend, even if it was a monster he was supposed to be hunting. Loneliness did eat at him at times. Oh well, he had survived this long with just passing acquaintances, and he could and would continue on.

"It will, yes. Just need a little more rest time, that's all." Other spells took less out of him, but healing was taking directly from himself for others. "I might lay down a bit if you're alright with that."

[gr1m]

"Don't have to go out of your way, you need to funds as much as I do." A slight shrug as he stood to wash his own plate once there was room, and the mug as well since he'd drank down the coffee. Jack could have the rest of it. "I've got a cart you can use if needed? It's a pull cart for one person of course, and a blanket to hide what you're pulling in it if that might not be too much of a hassle."

He had never really sold parts of another creature, outside of the times he did have to put one down when mistaken for a hunter himself. Didn't seem right to hunt just for that in his mind.

Gabriel shook his head. "You're fine, really. Lay down and rest, still have a bit to do up here so you'll still have some company, even if I'm just cleaning and packing a few things."

[dadication]

"I need the funds far less than you do," he said with a slight wave of his hand. "I get paid for the jobs that I do, and I don't spend a lot either." He did this so he could have little things that he enjoyed like coffee and occasionally replaced clothing rather than rely on the Guild for it. Otherwise, the coin he earned just sat buried in various places.

"A cart would be good, save me from having to make multiple trips," he remarked. He would say that it increased the chances of highwaymen coming to cause trouble, but he had taken care of his fair share over the years that they tended not to pick on the hunter with the blindfold anymore. "It would be best not to waste the carcass. Whatever we can't sell, we can leave for other animals."

He finished his coffee mug and set it aside, perfectly willing to drink cold coffee later. He returned to the bed and seated himself there. After a few minutes, he just lay back with a heavy sigh.

"Try not to cut your fingers off, okay?"

[gr1m]

He let out a slight huff- "I can walk with you to the edge of the forest, and walk back with you if it takes a few trips all the same to at least ensure no one tries to jump the cart while doing this." He could offer that much help without risking revealing too much if there was any incident to occur.

Even knowing how damned capable the man was, he wanted to give some help when it came to all of this other than harvesting parts. "I know where what cannot be sold can be safely scattered for the wild life," far away from the mine and cave system at least.

Gabriel snorted a bit, and maybe there was a passing flick of Jack's hair once he moved past to start on his cleaning. "I'll try awfully hard not to."

[dadication]

He turned his head to 'watch' Gabriel, taking note of the offer. It was more than he expected, though he supposed it could be a fact of wanting to keep track of him for as long as possible given he had the gorgon's cart and also the parts of the animal they were going to get money for. "I would appreciate the company. Never know who might be on the roads looking to take advantage of the situation."

He nodded his head, expecting that much of the meat on the back half of the animal wouldn't be able to use. Pelt, if they could get it off, would be worth a considerable fortune. "Good because I don't want to waste any part of it. It gave its life, so we should honour that as much as possible." It was a shame it had come to that, but he knew a bounty would be put on it anyway given the chimera hadn't just attacked farm animals.

He lifted a hand to touch his blond hair after the flick, almost curious of what he might find there. Just hair, but that action had been so... teasing. Like they were getting on. Like they were normal people doing normal things. It kind of threw him. "If you do, I'll think it's a plot to keep me here," he called, a little too late for the moment.

[gr1m]

"Especially if someone was coming by trying to see where a certain creature had gone," considering there'd certainly been the smell of human blood on it. Almost wondered which village close by any of the entrances would have a loss, or even completely destroyed if that thing did more than eat a few people.

There was a hum, since even he made sure every part of whatever animal he hunted for food got some use; the furs on his bed came from somewhere after all. A few other things around as well when it came to less edible parts.

"I may be holding you 'hostage' so you let yourself rest, but wouldn't keep you longer than that against your will, hunter." There was something of a joke to his words, more so with the return of 'hunter' after using his name once.

Still, Gabriel did busy himself in cleaning up around the room slowly after pulling on a pair of boots. Getting rid of bloodied water and retrieving fresh from a underground spring source to replenish every bit that had been used. What wasn't eaten of cut fruits were added to a compost around a few plants kept in as well, most of which would likely be planted somewhere within the cave system or somewhere else they could thrive. Couldn't take everything with him when he left after all.

Strangely domestic noise to rest with in the background, honestly.

[dadication]

"They will have commoners hunting it, but it takes time for a bounty through the Guild, even using one of the outposts. Villagers usually don't stand a chance against something like a chimera." Or a gorgon. Or any number of creatures that usually lived in a balance with humanity. Still, there was a strength in numbers, especially with their coin coming from harvesting chimera.

He snorted at the idea of still being held hostage here, aware that it was a play on words and the gorgon would be unlikely to put up any kind of fight if he was determined to leave. "I would fight you if you tried," he remarked, offering a sniff that he had heard nobles doing when looking down on a situation. It was all posh and fluff, nothing serious.

When was the last time he had bantered on and off like this? He couldn't recall. Maybe with his mentor.

All the same, he rested, allowing his energies to come back to him slowly and giving his injured thigh more opportunity to rest and heal. Not much, but he listened to the way that Gabriel bustled around, and it reminded him of the Guild kitchens when he was a boy, new to blindness and often left under work tables to listen and not be underfoot. It wasn't a terrible memory.

"Let me know when you're finished and we can go start to harvest." His voice was low and sleepy sounding, like he was perfectly relaxed in the current situation.

[gr1m]

"Likely, yeah." At least no one else would fall prey and become it's meal if it was alone, of course that was the usual for a chimera, solitary creatures. Still ate a hell of a lot, younger ones were a little more opportunistic while the old only came after people if it had been disturbed.

There was a sound of hissing in reply, and a dry chuckle from the gorgon himself not deigning to reply. More amused than anything as he went about his business.

He did glance over Jack, how tired he sounded, and a glass of water set on the table near the bed. "Sure you don't want to sleep for an hour before we go about cutting in to it's carcass?"

[dadication]

He sighed heavily at the seeming offer to just sleep for longer, but he knew that he shouldn't. He had already allowed so much time to get by him as it was, and there was the job to consider as well. He didn't want the Guild to think that something had happened and send someone looking for why he hadn't arrived.

Instead, he forced himself up with his elbows, turning his head at the sound of the water glass and reached for out. His fingers found it after locating the table and then brought it to his lips. He drank the entire contents in a few gulps before sitting up completely.

"No, we should do it now before its been too late. I want to get it to town under the cover of darkness anyway. There will be less prying eyes." But more curious ones. Still, he could deal with them. "Unless you aren't finished with your duties?"

[gr1m]

His head tipped then, and he stepped aside to gather the cleaned clothing and pieces of armor he'd taken off of Jack after carrying the hunter up here- "I repaired the rips in clothing as well as cleaned what needed it, simply because it needed to be done." And hadn't messed with anything else otherwise, would find everything in the right place.

Needed to get dressed after all- "You can keep what you're wearing now as well, be less for me to pack away when I move, and I've spares."

No unfinished duties it sounded like.

[dadication]

Jack made a soft noise of surprise to know that the gorgon had repaired and cleaned his clothing, which... well, probably needed it. He had been intending to get to it in the next town, but the fact that it was done now was an odd sort of kindness. "Thank you," he murmured softly, not used to having to express gratitude. He was so used to just doing it himself.

"As comfortable as this clothing is, I should step into town in an official capacity. There will be less questions," he murmured and began to pull on his clothing and armor. Since Gabriel had clearly already seen him naked, he wasn't shy about stripping and pulling his clothing on with a practiced ease of someone used to doing this with no help.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" He had to ask, even if he suspected he knew the answer.

[gr1m]

His snakes moved through his hair in some odd braiding fashion, fixing it all up in to something a little more tied back as he went about gathering his own. A soft hiss was all the response to that thanks as if he wasn't used to receiving it, better than no answer at all, probably.

"You can keep it in your pack, like I said, can keep it just to have a change of clothing on you when you can afford to relax." Did pause a little as he was pulling on one of his hooded cloaks, quiet again for just a moment at the question. In some capacity he'd expected to be asked, while the other was hoping it wouldn't come.

He pulled up the hood, allowing cloth to drop over his eyes to better obscure his upper face. "You've given me reason to be." Simple as that.

[dadication]

It was an odd sort of situation that they found themselves in, and he couldn't say that he owed the gorgon or vice versa. For some reason, they had fallen into a symbiotic relationship for the time that they were together, a fact he was definitely not used to. It was more than he ever dared hope to have with another living creature, and of course, it had come with a creature that could literally turn him to stone if he had eyes that worked.

He packed up the clothing that was given to him, only then putting two and two together that he and the gorgon were roughly the same size. That made the other seem even more human to him, a kind of companionable comparison. "Alright, they were quite comfortable, and they are light, which makes them easy to pack."

He was pulling his cloak on, setting his pack upon his back and strapping on his weapons, fingers pausing at the answer. It was an expected one. "I won't know where you go, and I definitely won't be following you, but... stay safe wherever that is."

[gr1m]

"It's a nice fabric." One he went in to certain towns for so he could make clothing easy to pack and comfortable to wear when he had the time to relax and rest. All to better prepare him for the other times he ventured out. Had enough of it he could spare to part with some and, well, why not now? Seemed the other could do with a spare set of clothing easy to pack himself.

He made sure the fabric hid his face well, acting as a sort of mask and obscuring far better than just the shadow of his hood could. Snakes comfortable as well, everything in order and ready to delve back in to the mine system.

He was already walking towards the door, easy to be followed. "You as well, and try to let yourself rest a little extra when you can. It does wonders for the body- shall we?"

[dadication]

He was nearing the end of his gearing up, and that was fine by him. After this, it was unlikely that he would be returning to the gorgon's stronghold, what with coin in his pocket and injuries healed enough that he could get by. He noted that Gabriel was making his move to leave, and he nodded his head at the offer to go.

He eased away, tilting his head as he studied Gabriel's outline and some of the details he could pick out with his magical vision. For all intensive purposes, the gorgon could pass as human with that get up, and even more easily pass as a hunter in certain context. No wonder Gabriel had survived so well for so long. Adaptable. That was good.

He eased back into the mines, taking some time to get his bearings as he looked around but also was willing to follow the gorgon until he recognized his surroundings and walked more companionably. It wasn't long before the scent of death reached his nose and he knew they were close to the chimera.

[gr1m]

It had served him well, and he'd found just how to make his hoods these days to the point he could travel amongst humans safely; for their sakes. There's be no easy way to get a look at him and turn themselves to stone, no accidental slip, and it sat comfortably on him for himself and the snakes of his hair as well. There were little details that could make it easier to believe he was some type of hunter, and it allowed him to not be questioned for that reason.

No one looked at him twice unless they were desperate for some job to be done, and perhaps he had taken some jobs from any Guilds, but better for him at times. Or the creatures where it was more a mistake than any actual need to kill anything.

There was a ways he had carried Jack, twists and turns to make it difficult to find where he slept if anything ever got past. He reset a trap and even disarmed it, opening passage to where the chimera rested. "Well, there it is." Still dead, an nothing had seemingly found it.

[dadication]

He was able to get familiar with the path that they took as he followed Gabriel, and he was certain that he could he make his way back to that place if he needed to. Maybe a few considering pauses, but otherwise, he was fine to make his own way through the tunnels.

So he was aware of the chimera where Gabriel had taken care to keep it hidden. He shifted his pack off of his shoulder and began to remove his knives and whetstone so he could keep them sharp for this. "How about that cart of yours? We'll probably need it. Or do we need to lug this collection to it?"

He was moving in anyway, starting first to skin the most important parts of the hide that were worth the most point. This wouldn't be his first rodeo when it came to salvaging parts off of his kills. Usually just proof, but he could do more.

[gr1m]

"I can go get it, fits through the mine tunnels well enough. Just shout if you need me to hurry back for any reason."

Enough trust being given that he was leaving Jack alone to do the work he'd already settled in to while Gabriel went off to fetch the cart where he kept it stored away. Took a little time to keep moving, but he was coming back pulling it along and the size of it would serve this purpose rather well. Of course he checked to make sure nothing else had wandered in, but there was an all-clear as far as he could tell.

Stopped the cart nearby, coming closer just to see progress made- "Need help with anything?"

[dadication]

"Alright, I will," he said as he continued his work. He knew that the faster they were finished with this ugly business, the better off everyone involved would be. This wasn't the kind of work he enjoyed, but it was necessary.

The fact that Gabriel went off and left him to it was interesting, like they had developed with the rapport together in a relatively short amount of time. He allowed that fact and the scenarios that surrounded it consume his thoughts as his knife worked through flesh. He had much of it skinned by the time Gabriel returned with the cart.

"I'll need a hand lifting this thing into it. Fold the fur side in when we put necessary flesh on top to hold it down," he murmured as he stood up again. "Galbladder, liver, claws, teeth, pancreas are all worth coin. Want to risk taking it all?"