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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

They could manage, even if for a while Gabriel would be less help than he likely wanted to be due to his injuries. Still, soon enough he'd be able to do more rather than just be a bit of dead weight and an issue due to his current state of size.

Gabriel sat up enough that he could get a look at himself better, while also not getting in the way of bandage removal. "They look like they're healing and a majority of the infection is gone- cleaning the wounds will likely help get rid of the rest of it. I can create a salve with some of the other herbs you brought back to help fight any that might still remain after." All the better for the re-bandaging, really.

Did his best to keep himself still while wounds were being cleaned, uncoiling just so Jack could get at them easier. Couldn't help the shudder or the small hitch of his breath as the scrubbing of his scales started, stretching out under it as he bit his lower lip. Doing it himself had always been nothing, but the fact it was someone else apparently felt... nice. "Appreciate the help, it would take me ages to do this alone," and basking after sounded better and better.

[dadication]

He nodded his head at Gabriel's assessment of his own wounds, aware that not being able to see properly was a detriment in a situation like this where the nature of a wound required inspection. He could tell there was a bit of infection based on the smell, but he wasn't certain that it was just from the cleaning or if that corruption still inhabited the flesh in question. He had healed with magic what he could, and the bandaging and rest would have to be the other side of the equation.

"We'll clean them out properly and rebandage once I'm finished scrubbing the loose scales off," he remarked. Now that was honest work, it felt like. It felt good scrubbing away the old flesh, peeling parts away and taking out the itch that clearly went with them. Despite his blindness, he was actually very good with using his fingers to find all the scales that needed to be shed.

From the Gabriel's scales meeting flesh and downwards he went, scrubbing, cleaning and running his fingers over the scales to be certain that he had removed all the failed shed away. "It's not a problem. I have a long attention span for such tasks, and it clearly makes you feel good to have it all removed too." Scales were thoroughly washed down, soaking any stubborn old scales. "Does it hurt for me to do this?"

[gr1m]

The dead skin peeled away easily enough once soaked through, and Gabriel was practically rolling over for it just so the bits of peeling he didn't have time to get off could be gotten at. Even those on his scutes- "You can imagine how itchy it gets, enough to put anyone in to a bad and snappish mood. Reason I try to hit p a hot spring to make my shed that much easier. Painless in a figurative way," but he'd been interrupted.

He shook his head, fingers curling a bit as he let Jack work. "No, it doesn't. Hurt more to leave them alone, it can damage and impact how my scales grow if it's left for too long."

[dadication]

It took well over an hour for him to remove all the dead and unshed scales, making certain to run his palms over the entirety of Gabriel's snake-like tail at least twice without his magical sight so he was certain that he managed to remove everything. From hips to tip of the tail, top to underside, Jack was certain that he had done a good job. Plus, he would secretly admit that he had a hard time getting enough of the tactile beauty of Gabriel's form.

Once he was done, he rewashed out Gabriel's wounds and then added whatever poultice that the gorgon had made before bandaging again. "You should be alright now. I'm certain I removed it all," he said with confidence as he worked wrapping the wounds. Everyone needed to be clean and well-kept.

He moved the bucket closer to Gabriel's torso after that, so he could use a fresh cloth. "Would you like me to wash the rest of your down as well? I'm not sure how to wash your hair, I will admit."

[gr1m]

There was not a single complaint from Gabriel, moving and arching coils as needed in some effort to pull things in for Jack to get to easier. The only really tender areas were the few unfortunate patches near wounds, but he trusted that Jack would be as careful as he could be there. He was relaxed and just a little tired after, but it was good work.

"I think that you did, yes. Everything looked good before wrapping," even before Jack was applying the poultices. The random itches and irritations were gone, and there was only the slowly numbing sting under the bandages left as the mix did it's job.

Gabriel sat himself up a little more as he reached for a cloth. "If you can help with my back I can take care of my hair?" A compromise, because he knew he had some wounds on his upper body as well, especially from behind.

[dadication]

He nodded his head, and he began to remove his clothing and leathers. He was going to need a washing as well, and he figured they may as well get that sort of thing done back to back. He also had little reason to be shy with his nudity considering Gabe had already seen him that way once, and he was blind so what was the big deal being naked anyway? Besides, his trousers were wet from his previous washing so they needed to dry.

"I can do that," he agreed, though he would be trying to figure out how to wash that hair anyway. He reached out to stroke his fingers down Gabriel's back, touching the edges of each of his wounds first to find them before he applied the cloth and began to wash the gorgon down. He was careful around tender injuries but he washed old dirt, grime and blood off of Gabriel's skin.

The gorgon probably looked better. He definitely smelled better. Jack washed Gabriel's shoulders and arms too just to be thorough. Then he stepped aside to rinse out the cloth and start on himself. "I'll bandage your back and chest once I'm finished and you've had a chance to try." Air would help dry out some of those wounds.

[gr1m]

"I really do appreciate this help." Already parting his hair so he could get to washing it and the snakes, them actually cooperating with the task at hand. Hissing a little, but nothing out of distress, just more or less helping him get to places he couldn't see. Getting blood out of his hair as well.

He did get to washing his chest and stomach, going over arms as well since he had gone and washed his face while cleaning his hair. Felt so much better without the grime and smelled so much better to himself as well. Cleanliness was something high up on his own priorities simply because of how he lived.

Gabriel hummed softly. "Good way to do it, doing it while wet would just make the bandaging itchy right away."

He

[dadication]

"You're welcome. It needed to be done, and it would be stupid to come out this far just to refuse to help you further." He shook his head a little because he did know hunters like that, though they literally had to be paid in favours or coin just to come anyway. This was close to a vacation as he was likely to take anyway.

After finishing off with his part in Gabriel's cleaning, he started on himself. He washed down his skin everywhere that he could reach. He needed a good soak, but this was fine. He felt better for being clean, even as he rubbed soap into his hair and rinsed it out.

Once all of him was done except one part, he moved over to the gorgon finishing up his bathing and offered the cloth. "Could you do my back?" It was hard to reach when he was as muscled as he was. Better to just get it done.

[gr1m]

Hummed rather lowly, but it was clearly a sort of you and I both know there are people like that tone to it. It also wasn't really much worth delving further in to than that as far as the gorgon was concerned; they knew it, how some people were, that was all.

He did take the offered cloth and rested a hand against Jack's shoulder. "Sure. You want to sit down for me to do it or...?" He was offering up for the hunter to sit on his coils while Gabriel washed his back for him, already getting the cloth rinsed before starting.

Was fine to do it either way.

[dadication]

Jack understood the noise that Gabriel replied with, and it was enough. He rumbled a similar sound from his own throat. He expected that even without a massive exposure to human living that Gabriel had met all sorts of people. It was a bit of a amused sort of relief that the two of them could relate on such a subject.

He looked back at the offer, considering if he should sit or crouch and then he elected for finding an uninjured and unbandaged aspect of Gabriel's coiled body and seat himself a touch gingerly. He didn't want to hurt the gorgon, and he was aware this was first contact where he was settled so close to Gabriel without a stitch of clothing on. It was fine. The offer had come, and he had simply taken it.

"This alright?"

[gr1m]

"Yes, it's alright." A pat of Jack's shoulder and then Gabriel was washing the man's back, even smoothing his hand over wet skin to really get that lather up and going as he washed from the tops of shoulders downwards. Along side a bit as well, slow and making sure he was getting every spot, even as he rinsed the motion of hand and cloth repeated.

Took care when it came to washing, even getting the back of the hunter's neck before he was done, wringing out the washcloth once he was satisfied with the rinsing.

"That good?" His coils had kept still for Jack to sit on, looking over the man's back as Gabriel simply double checked to make sure he left no soap behind.

[dadication]

Jack sat for his own bit of washing down, leaning a little forward so that his elbows rested on his knees. It was a strange sensation to be washed by another. Normally he would use a towel and scrub that way, but this was... preferable. Gabriel did a very good and thorough job, and it felt, well, good to be touched kindly by another. Gabriel was one of the few to do so.

And he felt cleaner for it too. He rolled his shoulders and then reached back to pat the coil that he happened to be sitting on. "It's good. Thank you. Hard to reach back there sometimes," he murmured before he rolled back to his feet and grabbed their water bucket to dump outside.

He was also checking to see how far up the sun was over the trees. It was warm out there, and he was glad for it, even standing in his nudity. He'd get more water later.

"Warm out here. I think you'll have a good basking spot and some hours to it," he remarked before coming back inside. "I'll bandage your chest and you can get there, hmm?"

[gr1m]

"Always is, I at least have the advantage to have something of a look, but the reach is what still isn't great." In other words? Jack was very much welcome, and Gabriel still thanked him for having done the same for him earlier.

He sat himself up a bit more after moving out of the area they'd both bathed in just so he wasn't sitting in dirty water, hair hanging down and still wet. Much cleaner of course, the snakes sorting through it a bit to make themselves comfortable until it dried out-

His head tipped. "Sounds good to me, Jack."

[dadication]

Jack set the bucket down where it would be out of the way and moved to his pack so that he could pull on that set of clothing that Gabriel had given him on their second meeting. They were comfortable and he wasn't planning on doing too much today until later in the day. That aside, he pulled out a shirt for Gabriel too, in case the gorgon wanted to wear one.

He came close and set about bandaging the wounds on Gabriel's back and arms, checking the gorgon over to make certain he hadn't missed a spot. His touch lingered just a little here and there, but otherwise, he kept things light. "I thought maybe you'd want to wear a shirt to hide the bandages."

His fingers reached out so he could pet one of the snakes that was nestled into Gabriel's long hair. "But let's get you settled in the sun, shall we? I'll bring you some cake."

[gr1m]

Some of that bandaging would have to go around his torso and chest, but at least those wounds weren't quite as deep as some of those on his tail had been. Gabriel had guarded his upper body the best he could, but with how many had been upon him- he was lucky they hadn't been aiming to kill him, perhaps. Maybe he'd have been able to kill them all only to go curl up and die some while later himself.

"Will protect the bandaging better if I do wear one." Wouldn't interfere with his basking either. At worse he could roll up the sleeves or something along those lines.

Head tilted against those fingers, snakes moving to meet the touch. "Cake and basking? Spoiling me, hunter." A bit of an amused tease clear enough in his tone.

[dadication]

Once it was all together, Jack moved to help Gabriel into the shirt, though he had no doubt that the gorgon was fully capable of doing it himself. He just... wanted to help and maybe linger a touch close for longer. His excuse could definitely be that he was tugging the soft cotton over Gabriel's bandages and making certain that it was settled so they were hidden and wouldn't get dirty.

After that, he was moving deeper in the cave to grab the last two little cakes that he had brought back with him. He figured it would give Gabriel time to find a nice spot in the sun to settle into and warm himself. "You deserve it. You've been through hell."

He approached with their little bounty of sweets and offered the marble cake to Gabriel. "Here. Do you need anything else?"

[gr1m]

Gabriel was out the moment he was able, taking in a deep breath and getting a better look of the area outside of the cave. He did move and find a nice spot to bask, letting himself stretch out to nearly his full length so that he could warm his full body in the sun. Arms folded and head rested on them a bit, letting his hair spread out a bit so it could dry in the sun.

He did perk up a little when Jack returned, corner of his mouth twitching and taking the offered cake-

"Are you going to join me here? I don't mind you resting against my coils if it's more comfortable for you."

[dadication]

Jack had to smile at Gabriel's eagerness, probably not exactly able to understand. He liked the sun, but it wasn't something that he required to warm himself either. He noted that the gorgon's scales shimmered in the direct sunlight, and they had good colour to them now that they had been scrubbed clean and the dead scales had been removed. Gabriel also seemed wholly more comfortable as well.

He eased himself down so he could sit cross-legged next to Gabriel's shoulder instead of taking the opportunity to lean against the gorgon as he had been doing more and more. It made it hard to talk but also, he didn't want to make it seem like he was taking advantage of the opportunities.

"I'll eat some cake here and then I have chores I should do to make the night easier for us." Now that he didn't have to go to town, he could collect fire wood, haul more water, track down more food and track any footprints that he didn't like. That was... if he could make it that far and not just fall asleep on the gorgon again.

[gr1m]

In turn Gabriel rested the side of his head against one of Jack's legs one he settled, taking pieces of that cake bit by bit to eat. Savor it as he let his eyes flutter closed, feeling the warmth of the sun over his scales and even cling a bit to the shirt worn in a pleasant way. He needed the extra bit of warming up when he was like this, reason he didn't take the form often in the colder months. Conserved heat easier in the other.

"I can go to the river and set up a fish trap." Didn't need much, mostly river stones and nothing else. Was something his... well, grandmother might be the word for it, but she taught him. "That way you only have to go down to check it to see if any fish are caught."

Or he could.

[dadication]

His expression softened when Gabriel's head rested on his leg, and he settled in that much easier. He liked being this close to someone, even if it might be temporary. He supposed he could get used to it, but he couldn't let himself either. What they had was fleeting, wasn't it? Neither of them were capable of doing more than enjoy each other's company for the short amount of time it took them to heal, travel and drop Gabriel off safely.

Still, Jack appreciated the time and the company. He dug into his own slice of vanilla cake, humming in appreciation of it. He hadn't had sweets in awhile, so this hit the right spot. "Are you sure you want to travel for that? We can always do that tomorrow," he pointed out. Give Gabriel's wounds another day to heal. "I don't want you straining yourself."

He could check if fish were caught, but he was still thinking tomorrow. "You should rest today. We have more than enough food until tomorrow."

[gr1m]

He thought it over for a moment, sucking a bit of frosting from his fingertip- "I should rest and let it be done tomorrow. Just cleaned out wounds properly and likely should give that time, too." Let the poultices work to help heal to deepest wounds and everything. "I just feel like I should be doing more, not used to being inactive."

Even when injured, he was always alone and had to push through whatever pain, a reason for quite a few of the nastier scars that did cover his body. "You've a point, good one at that."

[dadication]

Jack understood the struggle on the same level that Gabriel did. Staying still even in the face of injury meant that something or someone could kill them. Inactivity meant plenty of time for thinking too, but he figured if they struggled through it together, it would be alright on the other side. After all, already he had slept and relaxed more than he could remember doing.

"Me too. Probably why I'm already trying to fill the day with tasks," he remarked as he looked out of the cave at the forest beyond. Birds were singing to each other and there was a light breeze. The sun was warm and wholesome though. "Take the day, and if you feel better tomorrow, head out."

He also felt a tendril of protectiveness over Gabriel. He didn't want the gorgon hurt or seen yet. If others found out, the mob would come.

[gr1m]

"You'd be welcome to come down with me, just in case that is still pushing it somewhat tomorrow." Walk down to the river with him, gather water from there. "You know where the river if after all, even if I could manage to find it on my own," it was easier that way for the both of them. Right? Right.

He licked a bit of cake off his thumb, still taking his time in eating it, not letting a single crumb escape him. "I should sleep more after this."The basking, even if he hadn't done much the rest would further aid the healing process.

That hair of his was already starting to dry, curling enough that it was making those natural waves in the length o it all.

[dadication]

"I could do that, yeah," he agreed, thinking that it was a good thing honestly. He could guard Gabriel, collect water and just get out of the cave a bit. "It's not too far from here, and there's a few game paths that lead down to it," he murmured as he licked a little icing from his finger. "It'd be nice to check for human tracks daily anyway." And they did seem to do things well together.

He nodded his head, expecting that answer. He set his cake aside to be next to him and stretched his back. Sun felt really nice. "You should. I doubt you managed much sleep on the trip," he said and took a risk, unthinking at first.

His fingers reached out, gathering up the wavy locks of hair at the nape of Gabriel's neck. The snakes were all higher up, probably on guard or just basking themselves, allowing him to run his fingers through Gabriel's hair, combing it out. Then he gently began to plait it, loose the first time to see if he remembered how. Then combed back out. He plaited tighter this time, making a firm braid to allow more sun to hit Gabriel's shoulders and neck.

[gr1m]

A low hum, "Don't want to be seen by anyone around, even if just a passerby out for a hunt or something." Be a matter of time before more word got out as well, and it would be best if he wasn't seen. Be enough trouble out for hi head without that as was, and who knew... the king might end up raising rewards for certain missing beasts such as himself.

"None." Couldn't call that forced state he'd been put under any sort of sleep, system fighting the poisons and even wards that tried to keep him out of it. Just how it was at times.

Gabriel's head tipped, some low and soft noise escaping him as he allowed Jack to do whatever it was he was doing. The snakes didn't even interfere, even if a couple of their heads turned to peer and watch. It felt... nice.