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[dadication]

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[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."

[gr1m]

"I don't think you're meant to let me live, let alone help me escape from whatever fate was in store for me in claiming that bounty." Makin it clear they the both of them had both already stepped in to territories of things they were or were not supposed to anything. Never pulled away, rather indulged in that feeling of fingers moving through his hair as claws lightly traced along skin there at the back of Jack's neck.

They'd already fallen across some line mean to be drawn in the dirt. "You're the first to have touched me and not inflicted some violence, that I've let even this close willingly." And that he'd not had to kill because of it.

The first that wouldn't be turned to stone because Jack couldn't exactly look at him- "What is it that you want, Jack?" A light prompt to say whatever it was out loud if he so wanted.

[dadication]

It was true he hadn't made any move to collect the bounty. He had reasoned that it was old and thus something he could simply ignore. Jack preferred to go after problem creatures, those that ruined the livelihoods of others like his family all those years ago. Oh, he could be forced to take unsavory job, and he'd do them, but Gabriel had been different. Rare, special and a species that should have an opportunity to recover. "Probably not, but... the bounty is old, and you're not harming anyone." His mantra when it came to the gorgon.

A part of him was thrilled he was the first at something kind and affectionate rather than the usual violence he was associated with. As if to reply, his fingers moved higher along Gabriel's scalp, able to stroke the base of many snakes as his fingers passed and scritched scalp. "That's... about the same." He had been celebit for a long time, growing tired of paying for affection that was meaningless. "I don't tolerate people touching me that well, since they always seem to have ulterior motives to what they want."

And he did have a unique advantage because he had lost his eyes a long time ago and just learned to be functional without them. It allowed him to be close and comfortable like this, lounging in Gabriel's coils. "I don't... know." That was honest. Everything felt conflicted and screwed up. "I want to experience things like this though. Warm, comfortable, able to touch and trust and receive the same."

He leaned their foreheads together again. "Do you know what you want?"

[gr1m]

It could recover well without him- wasn't as if he were interested in mating with a woman, and he didn't even entertain the idea he could carry if he did ever find a man who wanted him. That wanted a life, let alone family, with him. He moved far too much for anything stable, having his stops and shelters or not. "Matters little to most because I am a gorgon," a kind humanity had tried to wipe out out of fear.

The snakes were as pleased as Gabriel was, his head tilting back against that hand with a soft rumble that could easily shift in to some odd purring sort of sound. "No longer afraid that I may have any ulterior motives?" He'd lost that fear that Jack held any a while ago at least.

His eyes opened once he felt the hunter's forehead pressed against his once more- "I want the same."

[dadication]

Neither of their lives were conducive to any sort of family, probably would be barely function between the two of them honestly. They would be at risk associating with each other and it could cost them everything in the end. But... wasn't the reward as worthwhile as the risk? Jack had given up on everything but getting through the day until Gabriel had taken him in when he had been injured, and it was the first act of selfless kindness that felt like a wake up call. "They can't look at you either. I can." Sort of. "How... did your parents make it work? Was it just a different time for such relations?"

His fingers continued to trail between the snakes and carding through Gabriel's hair. It was a rare thing to be able to have touch like this, and he was going to take full advantage of it honestly. He leaned his head up a little to nuzzle Gabriel's nose with his own. "If you did, I figure they would have played out by now. It isn't as if you have advantages associating with a hunter. I think... you're as lonely as I am."

That was difficult for them to get, wasn't it? "Do you want to fight to have it, or just... accept what it is now and leave it be when we separate after getting you home?"

[gr1m]

"It was a different time, and lived far away from people. My father would trek to a town on occasion, but that was it." They farmed, hunted, little pieces of memories he still had of life then before it all fell apart because a hunter had found them.

Gabriel brushed his nose against Jack's in turn with that nuzzling. "You listened, even if partially, to my warning rather than attacking me simply for being there." He didn't know how else to word that one, really. "You came back, wanted to warn me, and didn't simply leave when something was wrong- I..." Didn't want to loose even that much then, either. Silly as it could sound. "I've had no interaction with anyone, outside of the satyr that wanted to score because I was a 'rare beauty' according to him." A very obvious ulterior motive.

He was lonely, had been for a very long time.

"I'd fight if you were willing to."

[dadication]

It was a nice idea, wasn't it? Jack didn't think that it was a life that either he or Gabriel could sustain, not where they were at. Guild membership was for life and deserters were black listed. Gabriel also clearly had a life of his own, may not even be looking to share it with someone else. "I guess... they lived off the land, huh?" That was bittersweet, the thought of it.

Jack didn't make it a habit to shoot first unless he had to, and he had seen the warning signs clear as day. Maybe he'd been more surprised a gorgon was in the mines, even if it made sense looking back on it. "You were probably the first one that took me in when I was wounded without expecting something in return. Just... let me go on my way, didn't rob me or finish me off." And that came with a certain amount of trust of course. "I guess... that makes us friends at least, right?" This was what friends did, right? He thought he remembered nights in the barn sleeping in the hay, laughing, pushing each other around. He'd kiss his first boy in that barn... too bad it burnt to the ground.

He tilted his head, fingers combing through Gabriel's hair again, taking his time to think about it even if it had been his suggestion. "I'll fight for this." For a friend. For an ally. Even if it went no further than friendship, he'd fight. He needed this badly.

[gr1m]

There was the smallest of nods, figuring that Jack could feel it with how foreheads rested and noses brushed. "Yeah, they did. My mother used to weave fabric, she made the blindfold my father wore." Was where he'd picked up his own knowledge to create his hoods and everything to travel as safely as he could amongst humans.

"Yeah, it makes us friends," at the very least. "I was surprised when you actually... came back with gold. Figured you'd simply take off and be on your way but you... came back. Wanted to keep in touch even then." It had meant a lot to him, and that little garter snake was proof enough that the attempt had well been made.

His coils tightened around Jack a little, in some little squeeze before relaxing again, tip of his tail still curled around a hip and Gabriel's upper body practically laying on him from their repositioning. "We'll fight for us to keep this," together.

[dadication]

Jack was glad that it was dark - not that he'd know it - to hopefully hide how he gnawed at his lower lip. "How... did they meet?" He'd never really asked about someone else's family before, not enjoying how it forced him to reflect on his own. He preferred not to think about that, but he was intrigued and maybe a touch envious.

"Good. I've been told I need more friends," he reflected dryly. His mentor had been referring to other Guild members at the time, and it had been with a condescending tone too. That was typical and one of many reasons he hadn't made friends. "I might not be much of a good person, but I keep my word. Always try to." And they had sort of kept in touch; it was why he kept up with the snakes, never killed them even if just happened to be passing one by. "Besides, we made that bounty together. My need for gold was less than yours." Paid for by the Guild and all that.

He felt the squeeze, light and comfortable given the position they were in. Slowly he dropped his hands so that they rested against the small of Gabriel's back. It was an odd and pleasant closeness. "Okay. I'd like that."