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[dadication]

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[dadication]

He glanced the way of the cave entrance and then shook his head, since he was well aware that darkness was falling as the sun set behind the mountains. "Not tonight. By the time either of us make it down there, it will be dark. I brought enough food from town that we can survive the night." And really, Gabriel looked so comfortable nestled in those coils.

"Berries will go well with cheese and some bread," he murmured as he crossed his legs and rested his arms forward in them. The garter snake was moving around in his hood, tickling his neck a little.

"I know," he agreed because he did. He wasn't as in danger as Gabe, since he could hide in towns, but even that could be risky. He never liked staying in one place long. "I figure we stay here a week, maybe two and you rest up. Also, there's a satyr in the area we need to watch out for." Big brute of a creature, nasty kick to them and even worse ability to gore people with a charge.

[gr1m]

After a while Gabriel finally stretched out, walking on hands as his body followed in a slight slither. Coiling around Jack easily as his head rested a little against the man's thigh, leaving room for him to still sort through his pack. "Sounds fine."

His nose did wrinkle- "Satyr tried to court me once." Nuzzling more against Jack's thigh, Gabriel letting himself remain so very relaxed. "Should've eaten him when I had to chance with how long he tried, and thereafter tried to be an annoyance once it went through his thick skull I wasn't interested."

Handled it eventually, but it was still just... troublesome.

[dadication]

His hands paused as he dug through his pack as Gabriel moved closer, lifting the pack to rest on his thigh so that the gorgon could coil around the spot he was sitting. When Gabe's head came to rest on his other thigh, his pack moved to lean on coils of scaled body and his thigh. He made no move at all to dislodge the gorgon, finding the closeness comforting.

"Well, if its that one I set free, I imagine there will be less courtship and more goring and kicking at this point," he remarked dryly. "Though perhaps he'll have a go at you still, now that freedom has been returned. This isn't exactly a good place for wooing a gorgon, I imagine."

That story still brought a smile to his lips as he pulled out some cheese, a heel of bread and some jerky. "Maybe I'll be jealous if you get taken by a satyr."

[gr1m]

Comfortable, he settled and let his eyes drift closed as he listened to Jack talk. Far, far easier to when this close and also able to share body heat by the fire. Or at least that would be his excuse if the hunter voiced a question as to why he'd moved so much closer and coiled around him.

Snorting a bit. "The place matters extremely little with a satyr, underestimate just how quickly their libido can take over the rest of their brain." Any place and situation would be good if they spotted something they felt was fuckable. "Still might attack all the same, especially a human."

He did crack an eye open once again at the smell of food. "Only a maybe? Well, at least you won't have to worry about that."

[dadication]

Jack felt no reason to question it, able to guess why Gabriel had come over in the first place. He had taken some time out in the woods to question what they were both doing, how quickly they were becoming comfortable with each other physically and building a trust that wasn't normally easily fostered in two living creatures like them. He might be blind, but he wasn't that blind.

Instead, once he had his pack items removed, he set it on the other side of Gabe's coiled body and used his knife to cut slices of bread up. He used Gabe's coils as a sort of table to make them both half sandwiches with butter, cheese, some spices and a berries to add some sweetness to the mix. "Considering it was captured by humans, I expect it will try to kick my head off if we meet. So you'll be in danger of a swift wooing and I'll just need to keep my head on a swivel."

He was pulling up the sandwiches and offering one to Gabe. "I can't just come out and say it, you know. What would you think of me?" He was trying to tease... or was he?

[gr1m]

"I would so much rather you keep your head, too." Letting his coils be used like a table, watching the sandwiches be made as his head kept rested there on an arm. "For all we know part of that swift wooing would likely involve you as a gift in some way, more so if it put it together I was also one of those captured." How romantic?

Gabriel sat up a little as he took the offered sandwich, gaze lifting as the snakes of his hair hissed softly. As if laughing. About something. "That you were being silly for not saying, mostly." A low hum.

[dadication]

"It's hard to take you back to where you live if I'm dead," he agreed as he tucked away the unused cheese and bread away. He snorted softly and set his pack aside as he picked up his half sandwich and took a bite of it. "You think I can't take down a horny satyr? And you would be upset if I was dead." He shook his head a little, easing back against Gabe's coils so he could just relax and settle in with his sandwich.

He frowned at the hissing, still not familiar with snake language. "What are they having a chuckle about?" He tilted his head, thinking maybe his garter snake friend would translate but there was definitely no go there. "And you haven't told me about gorgon courtship? How does it work when one can't look at them?"

[gr1m]

He hummed- "They're always horny, honestly. Just a constant state of existence, it's how they end up in such odd and at times weird predicaments." Bold enough to go after dryads and all of that, and apparently bold enough to go after a gorgon as well. "I would, however, be incredibly upset if you were dead."

Taking a bite of his own, chewing slowly, tongue flicking out briefly after swallowing. "I just ignore them when they do that, honestly." Even if a part of him, sometimes it was best not to entertain when they got that odd sort of streak in them. "Likely similar to human courtship? Or whatever is brave enough to court a gorgon despite that."

[dadication]

"He didn't look so horny when I released him from his bonds," he murmured. They had all looked abused, haggard and drugged up. He hadn't been certain the satyr could even walk away, but it had stumbled off. He wanted to think that the King's choice for capturing creatures wasn't his business, but he had clearly made it so. "Me too," he admitted quietly. He had come so Gabriel wouldn't die or be set to a life of slavery.

He snorted and shook his head, expecting that it was an inside joke more than anything. "Careful or I might start to think they like me," he said with a shake of his head then took another bite of his sandwich. They let him touch them, which had to speak to that too. "So gifts? Spending time together? Saving them from dangerous situations?"

[gr1m]

The tip of his tail lifted and curled across Jack's forehead, "Outside of extraneous circumstances." And being captured and treated poorly certainly counted as something caused by an outside force that tended to come with human interference- "Hopefully he gets back to where he was." It was a more natural way of things, some order to their world outside of things that saw them as less.

He was slowly enjoying the bit of sandwich given to him, making it last- "The fact you've still got fingers probably speaks of that," said lightly. Gabriel tipped his head a bit. "More or less yes-" Wait. He did glance up again, "Well, the saving thing might not be among the norm of it, but could be counted."

[dadication]

Jack paused at he felt that tail across his forehead, and he slowly relaxed into that contact as his head tipped backwards a bit. "We'll be certain to see about not having you or any of your kind have to endure a repeat performance. You will be hunted since they know you exist, but I figure we can hide your tracks well." He was confident that they could, and somehow he really, really wanted Gabriel to return to his normal when it came to living. "Let's hope, yes. And maybe not hump his way across the country."

It was true that all of his fingers were intact and the only assault they received was nuzzles. He took a bite of his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. "They like it when I touch them it seems." The corner of his lips twitched in the slow beginnings of a smile. He was trying to say that if they weren't careful, they might accidentally fall into a courtship. He doubted Gabriel wanted that. Jack had never thought he deserved it. "Oh for some, it might be. Who knows. Life is dangerous."

[gr1m]

"Mostly only know of this form at least, so it is a little easier to hide." Once he could get a pair of legs back at least. Kept his tail where it was for the moment, the tip nearly prehensile with the amount of control had over it.

Rest of the sandwich was tossed in his mouth, jaw unhinging just a bit before he was chewing, licking a few crumbs from fingertips and dusting it off his facial hair- "There's the thing with courting. You also have to make your intentions clear with what you're doing." A brush of his tail before Gabriel was moving himself back over to the blankets, the movement of coils gradual so Jack could shift and balance himself.

"Besides, I'm not most's type."

[dadication]

He knew that Gabriel had the more human form, and that would suit them best when it came time to travel. He happened to like the giant snake tail, though it made Gabriel so much more obvious for what he was. Both forms seemed to suit the gorgon, though so far, only one had proven to be comfortable to sleep against. "You'll regain your legs soon enough," he murmured, reaching up to stroke his fingers along the tip of that tail.

He was still eating his own sandwich, though he made a bemused sound at sensing the way that Gabriel finished his off. He paused mid-bite at the words, grunting softly. What were his intentions? He supposed just the limited companionship, right? They would part ways soon enough. This was the wrong place, wrong time, and wrong want. "Doubt I'd be very good at it anyway..." he murmured as he sat up to let Gabriel slip away. His fingers caressed the length of that tail as it eased away.

"Yeah well, me neither. Hunter and have lots of scars... not anyone's cup of tea."

[gr1m]

A low hum, "Make traveling and hiding easier than this when I'm able to." Soon enough, no need to rush it.

Gabriel made up the little bedding area as he let himself coil up there again, one of the blankets thrown over himself and the other folded as if waiting for Jack to take his spot when ready. "If you were, you'd be well along." Once comfortable he settled, head pillowed against arms, snakes all settled against his hair once more.

"Already told you my opinion on your scars, Jack." Handsome and everything, hadn't just been saying it.

[dadication]

"It will. We can pass through towns rather than go around, and I can be certain to check in for information while we're there." Information was going to be a big benefit for them as much as being able to have a roof over their heads at times. There was also safety in numbers to consider.

He polished off his sandwich and reached up to remove his cloak to make certain it remained dry for the night. With the darkness settled and the fire well stocked with wood, he even took the time to remove his boots and woolen socks. He liked to think he wasn't going out again tonight, and for once, he decided to let his guard down. His spell was still active after all.

"Which means I'm not," he said dryly as he rose to make his way over to Gabriel. He pulled up the blanket so he could sneak into the circle of Gabriel's coiled body, tucking the blanket around them both. He came to rest his head on the gorgon's hip. "I know. Still doesn't change that you're about the only one that doesn't mind them."

[gr1m]

His coils shifted just enough so that Jack could find a spot easily, even shaped to him a bit to make the both of them that much more comfortable.

"Wouldn't think you'd want to try. Not something soft that could give you anything more." What most wanted, something soft that could bring a family and further a line. Likely a pity he didn't have sisters since his interests went... elsewhere.

His eyes remained closed. "You'll end up finding someone if it's what you want, eventually."

[dadication]

It was easy to find himself comfortable like this, had started to actually enjoy it since they had both found sleep last night and even this afternoon. It was cozy and this was definitely something he could appreciate about Gabriel's gorgon body. Of course, the second blanket could be spread over them for double insulation.

"I can't say that it's ever really factored in," he murmured softly, fingers playing over the smooth scutes under his hand. "Don't think I'll ever have a family; not like I'd be able to see them anyway." A long time ago he had wanted one, since it was expected, but now, it was a moot point. "Do you want a mate and a family?"

He shrugged his shoulders and rolled onto his back, letting his head rest against Gabe's body and stretching his legs out. "What if... I wanted to get closer to you?"

[gr1m]

All the better to keep warm at night, and it was probably a bit more comfortable for the hunter rather than him simply sleeping on the ground. the warmth and weight was also rather nice for him. Worked out well for the both of them, some little bit of security.

The tip of his tail curled over Jack's hip. "Never really considered it something possible- I like men, and it isn't as if I can simply take in a kid with how I live." Always on the move, and there was the whole risk of stone if not for some particular species.

"You would be the first, and we've got... time." For him to heal, and the time of travel.

[dadication]

This would suit them both and this way he could keep watch if Gabriel needed to sleep. He planned on catching a few hours himself since this place seemed to be secure. It wasn't as if he had done a lot today, but he was still tired. He had pushed himself to get here as quickly as he could, so recuperating did sound good.

He turned his head to look in the direction that Gabriel's voice came from, and he issued a soft sound of acknowledgement. For him, he had always been attracted to men, but he had once been willing to set that aside for family. To know he wasn't alone in his attractions was comforting. "Me too. Men have always held my eye," he murmured softly.

He couldn't help but grunt, accepting that it was too fast. A little sting of rejection, and it wouldn't be the first or last. He left it be. "First isn't the worst. Anyway, we should probably sleep, right?"

[gr1m]

Gabriel was quiet for a few moments, an eye cracked open as he watched Jack, thinking something over before the gorgon was shifting. Part of his upper body resting in the hunter's lap, all the easier to reach out and cup the side of his face in a hand. Claw tips rested lightly against skin, thumb just at the man's chin-

"Do you actually want to get closer to me, or was it simply a what if...?"

They should probably sleep, yes, but this had caught his attention. More so that reaction after that admittance.

[dadication]

He closed his eyes as he allowed the spell that gave him a sense of sight dissipate so that he could sleep undisturbed. The light crackle of the fire was a good noise to sleep to, and he was prepared to do that. He expected that Gabriel would as well, since the gorgon was in the process of recovering from drugs and injury.

Yet, he stiffened in surprise when he felt the gorgon shift and move against him, and his cheek tipped to those claws. He knew by now that Gabriel had no intention of hurting him, had had plenty of opportunity.

"I just... you're the closest thing to a friend I've had in a very long time. I feel like I can trust you and talk to you... " So yes, he wanted to get closer or at least maintain what they had.

[gr1m]

He settled himself there, letting his thumb brush along Jack's chin idly as he watched his head tilt into that touch. Coils were brought up closer around them both as Gabriel made sure that both of them were comfortable and supported. Did his best not to lose the blankets either.

Brought up his other hand so claws could brush over Jack's hair, trace along the other side of his face, hand rested just against the side of his neck. "I-" His brow furrowed a bit, letting out a breath as snakes hissed softly as if pushing him to get any words out.

Tilted himself a bit, all to carefully rest his forehead against Jack's, Gabriel letting his eyes close again. "I enjoy having you around even if the circumstances causing it hasn't been great. Don't want any of this with you- or you." An attempt was made.

[dadication]

His chin tipped with the feel of Gabriel's thumb, and he slowly allowed his hand to move to pull the tie that held the plait in the gorgon's hair. He let his fingers ease into the locks, letting the weave come undone with a little help. He was, as usual, careful of the snakes.

He was comfortable where he was, and he thought that Gabriel was taking particular care tonight. Given how far they had come with each other, he could admit that he liked it when they had these moments. In the dark, it felt so secretive.

He leaned his forehead against Gabriel's in return. "Circumstances aren't great, but we've made the most of it, haven't we?" His fingers curled in the ends of Gabriel's hair, giving a gentle tug. "I don't want to push you. I just... don't want to lose what we seem to have developed. Never say I've had it... for a long, long time."

[gr1m]

"We have- from the first encounter in the mines to now." And he was glad he hadn't left the hunter to simply die in the mines or succumb to the elements if he'd dumped him out in the forest somewhere. Kept his forehead rested, coils there to easily keep them held close enough together. The snakes of his hair moving so that fingers wouldn't bump against them accidentally.

Had grown to enjoy the feeling of fingers going through his hair so quickly.

His head tipped a little at that tug, but never pulled away from Jack either. "I don't either, and you haven't pushed me yet. I've been enjoying... All of this." What they've been doing, the touches an moments like this.

[dadication]

Their first encounter had been brief, Jack not pushing territorial boundaries but an introduction to one another's existence. The second had been longer and it had established an ability to take care of one another in both a combat capacity and outside of it. This one was similar to the second, but he could admit to being a lot more comfortable with Gabriel, like they had known each other longer than they actually had.

"I don't think I've experienced this kind of natural relationship since my friends and siblings when I was boy." That was a long time ago. Even his relationship with his mentor had been strained and full of its own unique violence. The Hunter's Guild was a necessary part of his identity and probably the only place that would accept him for coin.

But was it wrong to want more? Was it wrong to want a little of what he had lost all those years ago?

His fingers carded through Gabriel's hair, the locks thick and silky. "Me too. I don't... usually touch people, not like this. I just... don't know what it means, where I should stop, if I should stop." He sighed heavily. "I don't think I'm supposed to have these things."