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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

"It could be far worse than when the mass killing of my kind was sparked." It may not be thought of often, but even creatures had their place in the balance of things. So, so easy for it to be any inhuman, including those that were so very harmless and deeply tied to nature. Something like this was just- well. A bad time in store for humanity that no one would think of until the damage was done.

The cake was still slowly turned in his fingers, looking back up at Jack when he spoke again. "While we're here that will be good for the both of us," a steady enough supply of baked goods when needed. He did carefully take a bite then, eyes lighting up a little when the flavor hit him.

"It's delicious." Taking pieces of it to eat, not letting a single crumb escape him.

[dadication]

"We can't allow ourselves to fall back into that reactive state," he said, but that was something they would have to work on together, if that challenge was to be taken on at all. For now, he considered his priority to be to keep Gabriel out of trouble and healing up. The rest could be worried about depending on how the situation shaped up around them.

He leaned a bit more heavily against Gabriel's coils, relaxing now that it seemed they were safe together. He was far more interested in finding out what Gabriel thought of the cake, since it would be a first time experience apparently. Hopefully it wouldn't be too sweet.

The corner of his lips twitched at the reaction. "It is, yes." Sounded like it was worth the effort to bring them here. "It will bring your energy up. Hopefully you won't get hyper from the sugar."

[gr1m]

Gabriel hummed, somewhere low in his throat, because Jack was right. That and they already had enough on their plate for the time being and, well. whatever time it was they would have during this meeting and his rescue from being sold in to a form of being owned as little more than an attack dog.

The tip of his tail curled over Jack's hip as he ate that chocolate cake, licking the remnants of it from his fingers. There wasn't a single trace left of it save for bits of it in his beard, which a few of his snakes pointed out an that tongue of his slipped out to gather them easily enough.

"I don't normally consume sweet things, so we'll just have to wait and see." Settling in again after with a content sort of sound.

[dadication]

So far it was a good reaction from what he could tell. It didn't seem that even a single crumb would be left over once Gabriel had finished. That the snakes seemed to point out any bits left in that facial hair was strangely endearing. He had come to wonder how much the snakes were an extension of Gabriel's personality or if they had autonomy of their own. They did seem helpful.

After all, who else could sleep and still be awake and on watch at the same time? There was a cost he was certain, since nothing was ever for free.

"Hopefully you'll be able to sleep tonight. You need your rest after all. You have plenty of healing to do," he murmured, allowing his magical sight to drop. His world went dark vision wise, but he had a greater sense of Gabriel's tail against his hip, the crackle of the fire and shift of the snakes in Gabriel's hair.

"We should consider sleeping soon."

[gr1m]

It was an odd mix of both in a way, whenever he was unconscious or just asleep and there was nothing that affected them the snakes of is hair acted all on their own. There was still influence of his own personality like they were extensions of himself, but they could act on their own fully for a time. Caused something of a disconnect, slowed his own reaction time if he was asleep and they couldn't wake him up quickly enough.

Still, came in very useful most of the time.

Gabriel settled to where he was closer to Jack in his own coils, "Going to be a cold night." Winter was still approaching, no matter how far he had gotten, the capture and being moved west put him very far away from where he wintered.

[dadication]

Jack was certain that if they stayed together that such answers would come to him, and he could observe Gabriel through this healing process. For now, he considered it a long day, and even if he had slept well and more hours than he usually did, he was comfortable and warm and knew that he could stay just like that. He could probably even sleep easily with the coil of Gabriel's body pressed so close.

Touch starved? It seemed they had that in common as well.

As he leaned, he brought their torsos together, letting them rub shoulders as he stared into the flames of the fire. He nodded, able to feel the cold at their backs, chased away by the fire and the radiant heat of their bodies. It was a good that he had bought blankets.

"I brought a couple of blankets we can use. Should keep us warm as the winter deepens."

[gr1m]

"When I heal more, I'll be able to change safely and can wear actual clothing to help conserve warmth a little better, too." Now? At most he could wear coats, but there was that length of the rest of his body that little else could be worn other than draping fabric on it if that. The reason he was remaining like this was because of the damage, unsure if the wounds would pose a greater danger or not.

Gabriel nodded, snakes moving closer and even under his hair to keep warm that way. "Do you want to cover up in one and sleep against me?" His coils and all, be comfortable and warm together that way.

[dadication]

"I did grab some extra clothing, and we are about the same size from what I remember about burrowing your clothing." So when the change happened, he was prepared for them to share clothing again. For now, he figured the blankets would do more than enough for the both of them. And if not, he was used to sleeping in his leathers. "It will take a week or more for those injuries to heal the rest of the way on their own. I only healed the worst of damage."

He could certainly heal more, but he should probably wait a day or two to recover his energy just in case they were caught together and had to fight their way out.

He moved from his position leaning on Gabriel to leaning over to grab the two blankets, both of them thick and woolen. He shook the bigger one out and helpfully arranged it over Gabriel's tail as much as he could. "I slept better than I should have resting against you." Second blanket was shook out and thrown over both of their shoulders and it was more than enough to have a strong blanket overlap.

[gr1m]

There was some twitch at the corner of his mouth, since it seemed that little bit of good will was going to be repaid as well. Funny how things happened sometimes. "I don't mind waiting, I'm as comfortable like this as I would be- it just makes travel difficult if we need to move before then." A tone suggested he meant more along the lines of ease when not traveling alone. He knew his size after all.

Gabriel was in no rush to push things, even if he was concerned more over Jack's safety than his own.

"I suppose there is no safer place to sleep than on a predator you know will not harm you." He did settle under those blankets with a soft sound, snakes hissing a little in such a way that could have sounded content. The blankets were extremely welcomed it seemed.

[dadication]

He nodded his head, unable to see the twitch of lips as he had let his magical sight slip, but that was fine. He was repaying a favour in kind, and honestly, he would have done it anyway. "There isn't any hurry. We are in a good position to remain out of sight and out of mind, so you should take the time that you need. If you heal, the faster we can eventually travel."

Jack had his own ways of dealing with things, and honestly he'd never had a reason to not take jobs and just travel his way through his life. The fact that he found himself willing to remain here was strange to him, and he knew he would need time to think about what it meant and why he was doing this.

"I could say the same to you," he replied. He was a predator in his own right, so it seemed fitting that they would apparently try a second night of sleeping near each other. "I can heal you a bit more tonight if you want?" Still tired, but he'd be willing.

[gr1m]

"A part of me does want to risk traveling back to where I was found," and captured, but that went without saying. "I had items with me I'd rather recover than simply leave there." Once healed up and they are going... wherever. It was towards warmer areas, the trip he had always taken, but now this had thrown him so off schedule he wasn't sure he'd be able to get anything back in to place again easily.

After healing, of course. "If you want to travel that way with me once I have healed up enough to do so, at least."

His head tipped, part of it rested near Jack's own, and snakes moving accordingly so as not to get trapped between them. "No, just rest. I'm in no hurry if you are willing to help me deal with the cold."

[dadication]

Jack considered for a long moment. They could risk travel, but it would have to be under the cover of darkness, and there were plenty of things out that lurked in the night they might have to contend with. "We could try, but it would have to be at night when you're like this. Also, guards, mercenaries and the Guild will be on high alert, which also will make travel tedious." However, he was willing to try if it was that important to Gabriel.

Fall was upon them after all, summer closing out and the cold starting to bite when it came to night. If Gabriel was cold now, travel would be more difficult in that sense as well. "I'll see you back where you came from, I figure. That way one of us can be on watch always." That wasn't the only reason.

He actually shifted so he could pillow his arms carefully against Gabriel's thick coiled tail, and that brought their foreheads together. Surprised by the accidental contact, he jerked slightly. "Sorry..." he murmured softly. He didn't know the gorgon's comfort level with him on such a level yet, and he wasn't exactly comfortable so up close and personal with his scars. "Alright, we can just rest then. Are you warm enough now?"

[gr1m]

His nose wrinkled as he thought it over. "I think we can afford to wait a few weeks still, try and give some time to pass, even if I doubt the alert will have lessened by then, but I would rather be in better health." Tedious travel was fine, but he was also very much willing to remain here for a while as well. He just... wanted to get what he'd had with him, a few of the items if they were still where he'd hidden them for his shedding soak.

There was a soft hum of agreement with that at least, even if he was welcoming the company of the hunter for a different reason.

"It's alright." Gabriel just tilted his head so it was a bit further away, coils shifting a bit to make the both of them a little more comfortable. Kept his coils under the blankets as well. "I am warm enough right now, yes. Thank you."

[dadication]

He nodded his head again, accepting Gabriel's logic. If the gorgon felt safe enough to leave whatever items were of value for weeks, then he wouldn't push them both to go wherever they needed to. "It will be easier to travel when you have legs, since I can take us into towns for accommodation, and I can claim that you're helping me on a job. It is less suspicious two traveling together." He sighed softly. "The alternative is I travel to where you have items and bring them back here."

It was strange how they welcomed each other's company this time more than the last. By occupation alone, they should revile each other, and yet here they were nestled under blankets warming by a fire.

He settled in, finding it oddly comfortable here. Better than just sleeping on the stone. Leaned up as he was on coiled muscle and scales, he felt like he was more ready for action despite the potential danger of those coils crushing the life out of him. "Does it bother you to travel and live alone sometimes?" Just a stray question. Curious.

[gr1m]

They'd already been left for weeks during the time he was being transported in a cage; if they were still there now, they would still be there weeks from this moment as well. "It may be best if we wait until I can change forms safely and we travel together. Being able to go in to whatever towns will also make the coming winter more bearable." Safer for them both.

Could be something said about how one treated the other and treatment in turn that caused the sort of welcoming. How both craved the same thing but spoke nothing of it after a lifetime of living alone- sometimes the smallest of actions had the largest affects.

"Sometimes." Others he didn't mind being alone. "You?"

[dadication]

"Winter will likely be harsh this year. It was a good yield on the farm crops, which usually come with a harder then usual winter," he said simply. He hadn't stopped traveling for the winter months, so he didn't plan to this time either. Extra furs and precautions were all he bothered himself with. "I can make certain we are outfitted with proper clothing for a winter journey if it comes to that."

The Guild was part of the reason that Gabriel was so rare, so they could pay for clothing and the like. It seemed a small trade for the harm done. Plus, he figured dressing Gabriel up like a hunter would allow them fewer questions and more easy passage through towns and on roads.

He shrugged in an attempt at nonchalance. "Yeah, sometimes. Been at this business of being alone that it seems like it's going to be my forever."

[gr1m]

"Reason I was trying to move earlier than usual." Make it easier to collect what he needed for his destination as well, but all of that was also... not really going to happen either. That was fine, he could try again next year to have what all he'd wanted for- well. "You may have to, I don't do well in the cold and at worst it makes it so I do actually get sick very easily." He didn't like the cold, and this just made it all feel worse at times.

Would certainly be one way for him to blend in easily, and he could make do with re-making the hood he always wore whenever he had to go out among humans. He'd gotten fairly good at it.

The tip of his tail flicked before it curled closer around Jack's legs. "Same for me as well, really." For different reasons obviously, but still.

[dadication]

"It seems like you managed it, but were interrupted and dragged all over the country." It was going to be slow going if Gabriel was so affected by the cold, and he made a point of never take a carriage if he could at all help it. Too confined and too liable for attack. "So it seems like travel will be slow. I can't... do horseback given my lack of sight, and I prefer to move on foot. Will you be alright with that?"

He could otherwise try to make other arrangements if it was going to be a problem. He shifted so he could pull the blankets higher on them both, like he was trying to give them absolute privacy. He was, of course, careful of the snake hair.

"I suppose I have no right to complain, right? My species isn't on the edge of extinction." There was a reason that Gabriel was alone. "I hope you find someone if that's what you want."

[gr1m]

Very accurate and exactly what had happened, honestly. "I always travel on foot, so it's fine. This won't be the first time something has caused me to have to travel during winter." Just on of the worst reasons as to why he'd need to. It made it a little rougher to where he had to take more precautions than usual, but- "If you can get us places to sleep inside? We'll be doing better than when I'm on my own."

Gabriel tucked a bit closer under those blankets at the arranging, even it it was just bringing his torso closer while coils curled a bit more together. Making sure he wasn't shifting Jack as well, or the blanket that had been laid over his coils. The snakes? Were apparently content to tuck in amongst his hair for all of that warmth.

The gorgon hummed softly, "You have right to complain, it doesn't make it any less, just different." Would not change the fact of why he was alone not to, and it was still a problem. "I don't really know, after so long."

[dadication]

He hummed softly, considering the complications of traveling in winter. It would definitely force them into towns more often during the cold spells and snow storms. "Then we are in agreement on how to travel then. I can cover our tracks." As for getting them places to stay, that shouldn't be difficult. The difficulty would come if anyone took an active interest in them. "Finding inns and barns to sleep in isn't a problem. We'll just have to avoid questions, but I suspect I can build a narrative that you're my new trainee and people will accept it." Except he had never taken a trainee, so they better not run into Guild hunters who might question it.

He was aware of Gabriel moving, and their shoulders brushed at the gorgon's movements. It seemed to him that it was comfortable here, the warmth growing as their blankets insulated them. His fingertips ran over scales, tracing each one. They were excellent for tactile stimulation.

He grunted softly. "People don't like my scars. They either think I'm cursed or easy pickings for robbery." He lay his cheek on those scales, feeling that they were both cool and warm underneath. "I keep myself apart, so I expect much of my issue is personal. You can't lose what you don't have, right?"

[gr1m]

"Whatever you think will work with this and ensure that we can make it through." Gabriel was putting his full trust in to Jack for this- "You'll basically be dressing me up after all, so I'll at least look something of the part."

Could feel Jack's fingers against his scales, and he couldn't help the way he relaxed. Welcomed the touch quietly, letting the hunter do as he pleased when it came to that.

Gabriel tilted his head, a snake from his hair brushing across Jack's forehead carefully. "I don't mind them at all." Softly spoken, tail tip curled over a hip instead of just the man's leg. "Suppose not, no."

[dadication]

It was strange to be trusted implicitly from someone who wasn't of the Guild, and even then, the Guild elders valued his talents and certainly not his person. If he died, he would be replaced. Aside from shop keepers and towns trusting him to do his job, but even then, their trust was fleeting and could change on a dime. "I'll... do my best. We'll get you to wherever your home is. Put this situation behind you when it is safe to travel."

Something about those scales attracted his fingers, how it made him feel calm. Most scales were even in size, overlapping perfectly for maximum coverage, and they played into every tactile attraction one could have. The fact that scales were missing for scars was only more attractive to his fingers, and he noted that Gabriel relaxed rather than tensed under his touch. Another show of trust he probably didn't deserve.

He tensed for a single second as he felt a snake brush his forehead, and then he was lifting his free hand to touch the underside of its jaw and the side of its body. Smaller scales but just as pleasing to the touch. "I think you would be the first," he murmured, uncertain what else to say. "Doesn't stop the hope of wanting something more someday. An honest connection."

...Like what he was slowly but surely building with the gorgon.

[gr1m]

The hunter's best was all that Gabriel could ask of him, really. Worried somewhat about being too much trouble, going out of his way, and endangering himself just by undertaking this task. Who knew what could happen if people found out that Jack was helping something deemed by many as a monster, especially one from a race that had nearly be wiped out completely out of fear.

Muscles flexed a little under touch, but otherwise there was nothing discouraging Jack from touching. Didn't mind it in the least, and if nothing else he was slowly starting to drift simply due to how relaxed the touch was making him feel.

"You're a handsome man, Jack. The scars do not take away from that, even if my opinion may not mean overly much." Considering he wasn't human. The scars didn't bother him a single bit. That snake leaned in to the touch as Gabriel's breathing slowed. "It doesn't stop it, no"

[dadication]

Jack had taken risks in the past, many of them, and he had survived. He might not have put himself out there this far before, but he currently wasn't concerned about the risk that he was taking. His goal was to return Gabriel to his own living space and after that, he would worry about where his life was going. He was not afraid of being caught like this, having already made his arguments in his head on the travel to set the gorgon free.

His fingers continued on their path, tracing long lines of scales as his cheek rested on those flexing scales and muscles. His eyes drifted closed, and he swore he could feel a tendril of the magic that was Gabriel's being, a fire that few could understand and appreciate.

"It means something to me. No one has called me handsome since I was a boy," he murmured softly, voice dropping in timber as he too began to slip towards sleep. His fingers played over the snake's body and head, careful not to be too bothersome to it. "At least we have this now," he murmured sleepily before he drifted off, warm and comfortable.

[gr1m]

It was far too easy to fall asleep around Jack, and Gabriel wasn't certain he could fully blame the exhaustion of what he'd endured for it still. For all he could know this possibly was some elaborate plan to lull him in to a sense of security and deliver him to some other awful fate that could be the same or worse than the one he was being pulled towards in that caravan. A deeper part of him wouldn't believe that, however.

Gabriel hummed, the sound low and rumbling, all the answer that he could give as he dozed off at the same time. That snake of his hair loosely coiled at Jack's fingers.

Another black and dreamless sleep, but at the very least that also meant it was something deep.