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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

"I sometimes wonder if anyone would remember him." He never looked to find out, because it didn't matter if anyone remembered a man like that after his death, and he didn't want to interact with people long enough that he might be found out. He had his ways to remember them, and that was all that mattered.

Sometimes being good enough meant more than anything- "Even grounds, but you're not yet done saving me." Still a ways to go before he was in the clear, and he imagined now the hunt might never end. Depending on the news that Jack could get later on.

Gabriel made himself comfortable, torso laying on top of Jack's at this point, nuzzling in turn as the corner of his mouth twitched. "Need a reminder with your touch?" For those finer details.

[dadication]

"Probably not," Jack said a touch sullenly. No one remembered his family, so why would anyone bother to remember Gabriel's? They were lost to time passing and everyone moved on from those kinds of tragedies anyway. "Did he have family? They might remember him then." He supposed that Gabriel could try to find them, the human side of his heritage, but they both probably knew the inherent risk of doing that. Still, if it was important.

He hummed in agreement, acknowledging that he knew that there was a long way to Gabriel's recovery and translocation to what was familiar again. Even then, a known gorgon alive and moving about would have people on edge. "I think once I'm done all this, you might actually owe me another saving," he murmured, a soft tease in his voice.

Jack shifted but didn't dislodge the gorgon as he was definitely warm and comfortable. "No, I remember," he murmured, though maybe he would touch again in the morning just to be certain. "The point still stands, you know. Unless this is your way of asking me to touch you?"

[gr1m]

There was a brief sound, because that was simply what Gabriel thought; his father had just been a man who traveled and protected people along various roads and trading routes. "Probably, but they'd likely be better off never knowing." What might have become of him, or the family started and somewhat lost.

Did make an amused noise just there in his throat, and soon enough his had his head rested against one of his own coils, face still near Jack's. "Maybe you ought to stick close by just in case then." Soft, still curled so closely together there in his own coils.

Tugged that blanket up to both of their shoulders with how he was still laying mostly on Jack like he was. "You are touching me," hands on the small of his back and all, "but you won't hear me telling you not to."

[dadication]

"Would you be happier knowing any extended family?" He could understand the appeal, he supposed. At least there would be some kind of connection, but then again, it would be difficult for Gabriel given he was a gorgon and any extended family might demand proof. That couldn't be given without everyone turning to stone at the sight. "It is probably better off. They could be used against you if anyone knew."

He made no motion to dislodge Gabe from his torso, and he could feel the gorgon's breath against his face they came to rest their heads so close to each other. "In case I get wounded and you need to haul me off? Or so you can be my knight and save me from certain death?"

He was touching yes. As if to prove that point and maybe to make them both happy, he slid one hand up the length of Gabriel's back and the up so he could set his calloused finger tips to the gorgon's face. Like once before, he began to explore with soft touches, filling in the old imagine with new and old details. Fleshing it out. "What colour is your hair?"

[gr1m]

"No." Could be for the better than he keeps that piece of his father he had gotten to grow up with somewhat to himself and... let that be all of it. Bring no further danger to himself or whatever extended family there might have been.

His hair splayed out across scales, the snakes doing their part to keep it from falling on to his neck as they settled as well. "All the better to speak with you, and no worry of snakes being unable to pass anything to you in turn." He enjoyed talking with the hunter after all.

Couldn't help how he arched a little at the sliding hand, but any noise was at least kept to himself. Eyes closed so that Jacks fingertips could move over his face safely. "Dark brown- you've felt how long it is," and the fact it was waved.

[dadication]

Then it seemed that the family issue was a non-issue. If Gabriel wasn't going to look, Jack decided that it was no longer of any importance to pursue either. He could likely find them with enough time, but for now, it seemed to him that they were content with each other enough that what they had developed was what would sustain them. This friends business was already feeling pretty good.

He hummed in agreement. He didn't speak snake, and none of the ones that had come were very good at getting their points across. They mostly just hung out and slept on him because he was warm. "So you're keeping me around for my robust conversation skills," he murmured, lips twitching in a bit of a smile. "It's nice to know someone has my back too."

His fingers moved over cheeks, along jaw and across lips first. Then they were moving over Gabriel's brows, eyelids and that nose. Little smooth touches as he once again filled in the gaps his magical sight couldn't. "And your eyes?"

[gr1m]

Couldn't help but enjoy the touch, let himself be still and feel where fingers moved along his face. His beard was no doubt unkempt and longer than the last time simply because of how he'd been kept. At least it was smooth and clean. Scars still the same- "I must admit I do enjoy looking at you while we're talking."

A reminder that he had certainly meant it when he'd called Jack handsome, perhaps- "They're usually brown, but like this they're a little more... red." All the more inhuman, but it wasn't as if anyone had ever looked to see a gorgon's eyes and ever got to tell the tale of it.

[dadication]

How many people could Gabriel actually look at without some material obscuring his vision? Of course, there were plenty of blind people around, but they were usually beggars. Still, it opened opportunity for a gentle comfortable ribbing. "Do you say that to all the blind guys you meet, or am I just special?" He wasn't used to being called attractive after all.

He nodded his head as his fingers continued to explore, and by now he was up tracing the broad expanse of Gabriel's forehead. That he was familiar with given how often they were resting their foreheads together. "Like... the shade of wine or blood?" He could remember colour very distinctly after all.

[gr1m]

"You are so very special, Jack." It was hummed, fully relaxed there amongst his coils and under blankets. So very warm and comfortable, and he could so easily get use to falling asleep like this. Couldn't though, some small part of his mind kept reminding him when he found himself so incredibly comfortable. No matter what he wanted, could want.

Was quiet for a few seconds as he thought- "Like blood, how bright it is when first drawn in the dark," as if there was a fire burning behind his eyes, but that was how they were drawn at times. Like creatures from hell.

[dadication]

"You're going to make me blush with compliments like that," he said, giving Gabriel a tiny squeeze from the arm still around the gorgon's waist. His fingers continued their explorations still, now less looking for details and just simply touching. Few would put up with his need for touch after all, and it seemed that Gabriel thought to accept it as him putting the details on sight. "I can imagine what you fully look like. Deeply attractive that it's a shame no one can look upon you without turning to stone."

He liked the sound of those eyes and his hand finally shifted to curl around the back of Gabriel's neck. He leaned in enough to lightly brush their lips together, taking a dare on the matter. "Suits you. Let's get some sleep."

[gr1m]

Corner of his mouth twitched a bit, "Just highlight how nice your facial structure looks." Lightly spoken, but he meant every word of it with no reason to lie. Even if it was a touch teasing, arm squeezing around Jack in turn. "Suppose that makes you all the more lucky you've a way to cheat that." Magical sight, even if details are lost without something else to show them.

Eyes opened briefly at that brush of lips, Gabriel letting his own brush in turn of that dare. "Sounds good to me."

[dadication]

He snorted at the compliments and he figured that Gabriel was doing it to both be a smooth talker and encourage and flushing of his features to admire. No one complimented him like that, so he wasn't used to it, causing him to snuggle closer. "Makes both of us lucky I cheat like I do. Brought us together."

He sighed and shifted his face so he could bury it into Gabriel's neck. It was warm and nice smelling there, close to those snakes of Gabriel's hair which he had grown to trust too. He hugged the gorgon's torso close to his own, nestled in the thick coils of his body and allowed himself to relax and go to sleep.

[gr1m]

"I'm very glad of it, be a waste and a shame if you'd accidentally been turned to stone," and that was an honest truth. Seemed that Jack was someone who was safe around him, and in turn he felt he was safe around the hunter. He had wanted that for a long time, something he never spoke or let himself think of too long on the loneliest of times; enjoy it while he could.

He tucked his chin near the top of Jack's head, all the easier for him to bury his face, as Gabriel let out a breath. His eyes closed and it was soon enough that he fell asleep as well.

[dadication]

He hadn't thought that he would experience this kind of safety, but here they were. He hummed and settled in as his breathing evened out. No one and nothing would find them here unless specifically looking, so he felt just as safe for the two of them to sleep at the same time with the warmth coming off the fire.

He easily slept through the night, cuddled in close and dreams just a blank slate. No nightmares tonight, not with how cozy he was. He yawned in the early morning hours, thinking of waking but really not wanting to. All the same, he cracked an eye open when the morning light had begun to creep into the cave.

His fingers lazily stroked up and down Gabriel's spine, savouring that he could wake up slow and easy rather than jumping to his feet and having to check everything. This was nice.

[gr1m]

Gabriel slept easily and deeply himself, coils never moving and it was just... so much more comfortable sleeping against Jack like this. Both of them under a blanket while another covered the rest of his body, didn't mind acting partially as a bed for the sake of this sort of warmth and closeness.

Still slept even when Jack awoke, shifting a little at that stroking, but that just pressed is chest closer against the hunter's. Curled against him with a soft and almost pleased sound escaping Gabriel in his sleep.

[dadication]

With no sight, he used touch to assess what Gabriel's state of wakefulness and he hummed as the gorgon pressed in closer until their chests were settled together. His arm curled comfortably around Gabriel's waist while the one that had settle across the gorgon's shoulders shifted to search for the little snakes that made up Gabriel's hair.

He figured they would be watching out, not even certain if they actually slept. He wanted to touch them as he had during the nap. Blind, his fingers quested curiously but openly so the snakes knew he was coming and could avoid him if necessary.

All the while, his bare feet stroked back and forth against the thick coils of Gabriel's body both to touch and for friction to produce some more warmth.

[gr1m]

Those snakes were awake, and a few of them moved to meet those questing fingers, tongues flicking out a bit as bodies brushed. The other snakes would join slowly as well, all the while the gorgon himself continued to sleep peacefully. There was no reason for him to stir just yet, and the snakes weren't about to alert him while they were getting attention.

Safe, there was warm safety here. All Gabriel did was keep himself under blankets and his face tucked against Jack's neck this time. Nuzzling where neck met shoulder and settled still once more.

His scales were smooth and warmth built up gradually from that friction.

[dadication]

His fingers found their long bodies, and he bumped them back before stroking their undersides and just under their chins. He liked to feel them, liked knowing that they were always watching over them both and they had it in them to either let Gabe sleep or wake the gorgon. He hummed with a low sound in his throat, as if telling them a secret. How much information transferred from them to Gabriel he didn't know, but he imagined it was a lot.

"Hush, let him sleep," he murmured softly to the snakes. "We can have a time together, yes?" He didn't know if the snakes had names, if they were just all Gabriel. His head tipped as he said those words though, allowing Gabriel's face deeper into the crook of his neck.

He liked the feel of those scales, the warmth of them. He definitely liked this body that Gabriel could obtain, as much as the humanoid form.

[gr1m]

They were all Gabriel simply because the gorgon thought of them as weird little extensions of himself; but for all they cared Jack could name them if he so wished it. Little nicknames or whatever he fancied and they'd likely move in response to it. They hissed softly and moved against every little touch affectionately.

One even wound loosely around the hunter's wrist and others kept moving against his hand. Another hiss in reply, fine with them having some time as Gabriel slept.

Slept he did, too. Face tucked away, breathing deeply as his own tongue flicked out slightly. Some little tired habit when like this as if it was needed. Coils still keeping the two of them nested together snug and warm in those blankets.

[dadication]

Gorgons were fascinating creatures, and this might have been the first time in his entire life that he was glad to be blind. This was an opportunity that he would have never had otherwise, trapped on his little farm living a normal life. Instead, his fingers caressed snake hair and the corners of his lips twitched in a smile as they seemed to respond.

He twitched at the feel of that tongue against his neck, fingers dipping down to massage Gabriel's scalp before turning to touching the little snakes. He nuzzled his nose against Gabriel's temple lightly, not wanting to disturb the gorgon's sleep.

[gr1m]

No one human other than a gorgon's mate had ever gotten this close to one, not safely at least. It was fortunate despite the unfortunate circumstances of that blindness.

Those snakes were so very happy to wind around Jack's hand loosely; around fingers and around his wrist. Bump against palm and fingers. Whatever they could to seek out that attention and those touches, far easier to show their eagerness and pleasure at the fact they were being touched at all. All the while Gabriel was still able to sleep so soundly, an arm tightened around Jack but that was all.

[dadication]

Jack was well aware that it was unlikely anyone but a mate came this close, especially this often since they had reunited. He didn't take that for granted, even if they had discussed being friends. He understood that in the state of their combined loneliness, touch was important to their developing friendship. It was a source of trust.

His smile widened as the snake engaged, and he moved his other hand to join the first, all so he could touch more snakes and twist some of those locks of of hair. He leaned in so their temples rested together, and he hissed softly. "So needy," he whispered at the snakes.

[gr1m]

They trusted each other enough to get so close, remain so for as long as they were allowed. To allow each other to indulge in contact that wasn't violent in nature or intent, and was so very welcomed. It meant a lot to the both of them.

Unlike Gabriel, the snakes were far more bold in making it clear exactly what was wanted. Probably a damn good thing -and a little unfortunate- that they couldn't speak. So for the time being Gabriel got to sleep, unaware of just how clear the snakes were making it that touch was so very wanted.

[dadication]

Jack hadn't had anyone he trusted to this level. He could trust some of his Guildmates, but it wasn't like this. It wasn't as warm and comforting as being so close to the gorgon. He wasn't supposed to be allowed these sorts of attachments, but the secrecy and the risk that he took made these moments even sweeter.

Perhaps in time he could learn to communicate, but for now, touch was all that was necessary. He stroked snake heads and under their chins, curling his fingers around them so they could stroke their bodies along. All the while, there was a smile - a real one - on his lips. Sight wasn't necessary when he had this.

[gr1m]

Gabriel could trust no one, let alone get close to anyone that wasn't after something for some reason. Even other creatures had their reasons for daring to come close to a gorgon, and on occasion it was given. Never to last long or trust being fully given.

There was one snake that moved to rest against Jack's cheek, tongue flicking out and nose bumping in what could have been a little kiss. A soft hiss as it passed along. The others so very pleased to take advantage of fingers and show their own little affections there.