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[dadication]

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[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.

[dadication]

He hummed in agreement. "That would be for the best. I am certain there are hunting parties out there trying to collect the escaped creatures. The reward was hefty enough to risk life and limb, I imagine." And he had no doubt that being so close and then failing to produce would irritate the king, though he didn't know the man personally. His moods were well known anyway.

"Then sleeping now would do you well," he said, imagining that resting in safety was the best that could be done in their current situation of living rough. The cave would serve them well, and he still had his wards up to deter creatures coming up here.

With no tie to hold it - and no effort to make one at present - Jack allowed his fingers to comb through the newest braid and then begin higher, doing one of those fancier ones that worked their way down the back of Gabriel's scalp. It was harder, and his memories not as easy to remember the old ways. He had to comb out the attempts several times and start again.

[gr1m]

Gabriel was content to keep his head rested there on Jack's leg and let him braid and comb out his hair over and over again. Even while he spoke. "I hope once I've recovered that the hunting parties will be ahead of us, rather than behind." All the better to hopefully not be found out in any way, he din't want to drag Jack down with him if something did happen.

Already had done more for him than anyone else since he lost his parents to a hunter and an unfortunate turn of events that encounter caused.

"Sleeping better than usual, too." That hum kept to his tone, eyes closed as he let himself indulge in that feeling of fingers through his hair. The snakes watched and kept out of the way, some little bit of approval from them.

[dadication]

This was the kind of closeness that he wasn't used to getting from another individual, so he was willing to take advantage of the situation for as long as Gabriel was content to allow it. Seemed to benefit them both as it was, and his fingers were still working at putting in a plait for as much of Gabriel's hair as he had available.

"That will be the benefit of keeping track of things in town. People will be gossiping, so even my going to the market or a tavern will be enough to give me insight to where the hunting groups are." He was going to be doing that before they ever headed out to make the journey back to Gabriel's territory.

Out he was combing that hair and starting again. Almost had it that time. Now he was certain he knew what to do. "Good. You'll get over that exhaustion soon." Didn't entirely associate the better sleep with them being cuddled together yet.

[gr1m]

Certainly was keeping Gabriel's head rested there against Jack's leg, eyes closed and keeping track of where his hands were just from the movement of fingers. The snakes were coiled out of the way, seemingly content to watch him work through those waves of dark brown hair.

Made sense to the gorgon. "Sometimes the simplest and easiest way to gather information is to just listen," since it was how he'd learned about the sudden hunt and tried to move out of the area quickly. Didn't know if his waiting could have saved him, or had him be found and caught up in it all that much sooner. Easier to not think about, really.

Could let himself doze just from the feeling of Jack's fingers going through his air, either coming it out or through the braiding itself. "Better for the both of us, well rested for a move."

[dadication]

He was just as comfortable, letting his fingers comb through those silky wavy locks, enjoying how it felt brushing between and around his fingers. He was also watching the snakes who amused him how they also seemed rather content with his affections. He was comfortable enough with them to comb hair that happened to be around them, nothing too close to disturb them.

"It is, and listening is a skill that some have definitely forgotten." For him, it was a lifeline. It also likely was the same with for Gabriel who couldn't exactly run around exposing himself to humanity without a disguise on. "The day before we are set to leave, I will go to town to check up on things. Or, if you like, we can go together." Two men traveling together was less suspicious than one.

He was back to plaiting Gabriel's hair, noting that the gorgon sounded sleepy. Probably a mixture of cake, sun and touch. For that reason, he held his tongue on speaking, seeing if Gabriel would simply drift off to sleep.

[gr1m]

A few of the snakes, playfully, wounds themselves in to a plait, following along with Jack's movements with long hair, wiggling a little afterwards before undoing themselves. They were all long enough for it, after all.

"Mm, I used to go in blind before I found fabrics that allowed me to see through it, but no one could see past it." So his face was hidden well that there would be no incidents, but he could see through it and give himself more of an advantage if ever it was needed. "We'll see, I'll have to make a new hood and coverings if I'm to go anywhere near a town by then."

His body curled enough that he coiled slightly around Jack, but remained stretched out just enough due to just how quickly he did end up dozing off in that bit of quiet. Comfortable and feeling more secure than he'd had any right to. Clean, warm, and well fed.